COVID Update

Like everyone else in the world, we're ready for our Anti-COVID vaccinations.   And since we're in the high-risk (old age) group, we hope to be in the first wave of those receiving word to 'come get it.'

Meanwhile, Sweetie and I have been trying hard to stay away from crowds (larger than 1 or 2 people), wearing our masks when away from our house, washing our hands frequently, and just being mindful of our surroundings no matter where we are.  It has worked so far but LOTS of people are dying every day, some of whom were doing the same thing as us before they contracted COVID.  

Scary....

Even so, there was one large-gathering event that we just didn't want to miss - the annual Terra Mariae Christmas Luncheon at Keith Young's Steak House.   

A lot of thought went into planning it and, so far, that planning seems to have paid off.  We had a good crowd, yet small enough that we could have some extra breathing room if we felt the least bit uncomfortable.  

The result was a delightful gathering and delicious meal with our neighbors and friends, something we all needed.

I made a video if you would like to see what I'm talking about.  

Then we all returned to our routines of self-preservation, mostly through isolation, caution, and bewilderment that we wait patiently for it to end.

So far, so good.

Another Storm Headed Our Way - 4th Time

Just when things were calming down, Tropical Storm Zeta appeared out of nowhere and was determined to visit Covington, Louisiana, passing through New Orleans on the way.  It is projected to reach minimum hurricane status for a while but will make landfall as a tropical storm dumping lots of water.  And, of course, wind.

The last three also had us in their sights but two went west and one went east.  Zeta appears to be more determined to visit us.

So we went into hurricane mode and put away everything outside that could fly, fall, tumble, roll, get too wet, bend, break, explode.  It didn't take long.  We had three practice sessions already this season.

Tomorrow should be an exciting day.

Looks Like We Dodged Another Hurricane

 Once again the early forecasts said Hurricane Delta was headed straight to the New Orleans area.  And could possibly grow to a Category 5.  So once again, the New Orleans area started preparing for another disaster, possibly as bad as Hurricane Katrina.

                                                We are just outside the orange into the yellow

But once again (for the third time this season) the projected path changed.  This time moving more toward the Southwest Louisiana coast.  Yes, the same area that was hit by Hurricane Laura six weeks ago.

We consider ourselves fortunate, of course, but our joy is stained with tears for those who will suffer again.

Even so, we're expecting lots of rain and some pretty strong wind gusts.  We'll know more tomorrow just how much, if any, damage there is.  I'm sure it will be minor compared to thousands of others in Delta's path.

A Wonderful Popcorn Story

On February 26, 2018, I ordered a Popcorn Machine for the Coop, which wasn’t even built yet.  I thought, rightfully so, that it would help introduce us to the new community we were now a part of.  It helped and now we have multiple neighbors claiming that we make the best popcorn anywhere, although some said they can’t have the salt, and some said they have to suck the kernels instead of chewing them.  Old people will find a way if they want popcorn LOL…

We kept the machine in the garage for a while as we grew accustomed to making popcorn for ourselves and neighbors who happened by.  This is the one we chose, mostly because it would fit into the Coop Cabinet I had planned to store it in.

We use it frequently, always making a full batch of popcorn.   We often bag the leftovers (usually a gallon bag full) to put in the mailbox for the mailman.  He loves it. 

 For the past year, I’ve had to deal with the cooker’s ceiling getting rusty.  It got to the point where I have to turn the machine upside down so I can scrub the rusty sheet metal with a stainless steel scrubber and wipe it very clean before I can cook popcorn.  Then, after the popcorn is cooked and the machine is cooled down I have to turn it upside down again and scrub the panel, wipe it clean, and apply a coat of cooking oil.  Other than that, the machine works flawlessly.

 Obviously, the cooking oil does nothing to stop the rust because within a few days there will be more rust particles all over the kettle top and the floor of the cooker.  Of course it would all have to be cleaned of rust again before I could cook another batch. 

As you can imagine, it was getting to the point of annoying the hell out of me.  I figured the warranty had long run out.  So I went on the manufacturer’s website to see if they had any idea on how to remedy the rust problem.  They wrote back asking for photos of the rust, the model #, a copy of the receipt, etc.  So I went to work taking photos of the rusty area first.  But this time I forgot to remove the door before I flipped the machine.  You guessed it – millions of pieces of tempered glass all over the floor of the Coop.  But, undeterred, and determined to get the photos and model # information, I continued with my picture taking.

Then I went looking for the receipt.  I had all of the purchase information in a file folder along with the manual and even a $10 gift card.  Imagine my surprise to find two receipts - one for the purchase price of the machine through Amazon.com and the other for a 4 year extended warranty policy for only $8.  I had completely forgotten about the extended warranty policy.  

So I eagerly read through it hoping for a miracle.  But the more I read the more I was convinced that they would not honor a claim for normal cosmetic rust, and definitely not for clumsy fingers.’  Having no realistic claim I instead wrote my letter to the manufacturer and explained that I’m almost 80 years old, live in an over 55 community where friends and neighbors enjoy my popcorn.  I was much too old to even attempt to disassemble the machine in order to replace the rusty panel.  All I was seeking was advice as to what I could do about the rust.  Surely someone else had experienced the same problem and there may be an easy solution.

I also added a PS to my email explaining that during my efforts to get a photo of the rust I dropped the glass door.  And I would need a price for purchasing a new door.

Well, shortly after I sent the requested information, they wrote back saying a new machine was being shipped to me.  Yes… I don’t even have to pay the shipping or return this one.  In a few days, I will have two popcorn machines, albeit one is now without a door and leaks rust from the ceiling.

Judy suggested that if the replacement door is too expensive, I could just go to Home Depot and have them to cut a piece of acrylic to replace the broken glass.  The glass never actually gets past ‘warm’ during the two or three minutes the popcorn is cooking, so acrylic will work just fine. 

Now I’m trying to figure out what is causing just that particular metal to rust.  I’ve come to the conclusion that the moisture is from condensation.  If I can clean the metal down to bare metal again, it may be possible for me to paint it with a high-temperature paint or coating that would stop the rust.  And if it worked on the old one, I could do the same on the new one before the rust even gets started.  Pro-active popcorn rust preventive maintenance, if you will. 

I’m just thrilled that they provide way more customer service than I expected.  Once my new machine is in place and working, I will write a glowing comment on Amazon and on their own web site. 

Before they told us we would be getting a new machine, we actually wrote on the Zip-Lok bag of popcorn we left in the mailbox for the mailman, “Last Bag of Popcorn – Machine broke.”  He will be thrilled when he learns that we are back in business.  So will we.  

I just thought it was a really great story that needed sharing. 

 

Hurricane Sally - Missed Us By This Much

The first time we heard about what would become Hurricane Sally, was early on when it was pretty much just a little rain that we should keep an eye on.  

It wasn't long before it was growing and starting to create a path in our general direction.  Then it had its cross-hairs directly on top of us.  And it was still growing.

Like everyone else along the Louisiana coast, we started to worry.  After all, just a few weeks before, Hurricane Laura was dead-set on hitting us, but took a westerly turn at the last minute and destroyed a large area of SW Louisiana.  Now Sally was apparently going to take out Southeast Louisiana, including New Orleans.

Then while our preparations were still being made, Sally decided to turn east away from us.  By the time she came ashore in Alabama, she was no longer a threat at all to us.  But she damaged and destroyed a lot of communities along her new route.  

On the map, she missed us only by an inch.  And once again, we were spared by what can only be attributed to our good luck.

Double Whammy Not So Bad (For us)

Talk about the luck of the Irish, once again we avoided being struck head-on by a powerful storm, Marco.  It moved to the west of us before landfall.  

And this morning it is becoming increasingly likely that Hurricane Laura will land well to the west of us.  

I'm sure we will get some really wet rain for a day or two, but that's about it.  

So what to do during a 'no-show-hurricane' after we took all the necessary 'securing and shoring-up' steps?  Build something is one option.  The other option is to pressure wash the driveway.  Or just sit back and wait for the official 'all clear' signal.  I'll need more rum for that.

Even though we lucked out on this scare, there's always another one trying to form up and deliver its message that we didn't do enough.

But for now, no more worrying about Marco and Laura (but keep a good eye on Laura).

Double Whammy

The next time someone asks me when was the last time two hurricanes were in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time, I can tell them it was in August of 2020.  And I was there.

Their names: Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Marco.  Both are just tropical storms now but expected to become Category 1 Hurricanes before landfall.

 The last time there were two at the same time was in the 1930's.  Yes, it's a rare event.

Even as I write, both storms are headed toward the Louisiana coastline with the projected landfall somewhere between New Orleans and Morgan City starting tomorrow  

We live just north of New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain and a few miles inland.   We are on high ground and do not plan to evacuate.  Even so, we'll be keeping an eye and an ear on the news.

Sciatica Nerve

The Sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It begins from nerve roots in the spinal cord in the low back and extends through the buttock area to send nerve endings down the lower limb.

Symptoms: Pain

That being said, if you've ever experienced it, you know you in for a painful few days.

Well, it snuck up on me once again.  It happened when I either reached, turned, bent over, twisted around, lifted something, set something down, belched, farted, or even sang the National Anthem.  When?  I don't know!  I seemed to have forgotten what I was doing to that point when I couldn't do anything but look for something to brace myself while I figured out what to do next.  The pain was excruciating.  And familiar.  I felt like cussing.

I finally collected myself enough to sit down and try to relax every muscle that suddenly went into "Cringe Mode."  Even when I tried to consciously make every muscle relax, some didn't want to.  They seemed to be fearful of what might happen to them if they relaxed, at least for the time being.  

Gradually, over a period of several minutes, I was resigning myself to the annoying fact that I had just strained my sciatic nerve once again and the best thing to do right then was nothing.  

As I sat in my recliner, in severe pain, I began to think of what I did to strain myself, and my sciatic nerve. My memory was blank.  It's funny how your mind simply won't answer your questions about what you were doing minutes ago.  No matter, it's done and no amount of recollection is going to fix it.  The focus now was to get through it as quickly and painlessly as possible.

So I took a hot shower and let the hot water hit the spots that hurt most.  It seemed to help if only for a moment or two.  

Two Tylenol tablets this time instead of just one.  Oh yeah - and apply some of that CBD salve I've been saving for situations like this.  Then to bed and eventually, glorious sleep.  

Three hours later, the pain was back.  Go vertical, slowly, gently, and apply more CBD salve.  Sit up a few minutes while the CBD takes effect.

Repeat.  

And so on until today - three days later.  I feel a lot better.  The pain is still there but doesn't dominate my mind.  I can actually think and do things, as long as they don't involve bending, turning, or lifting.  Tonight I should sleep soundly with the help of my two Tylenol tablets and my CBD salve.  (Note to file: buy more CBD Salve).

Don't plan tomorrow until tomorrow.  

History Repeats Itself Again And Again

This is an interesting article that confirms the need for and emphasis on science when addressing medical challenges, especially at the pandemic level.

You may not have heard of some of these historic epidemic events but you can understand why listening to and following the advice offered by Dr. Fauchi and other medical science experts will give you a much better chance of surviving a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Science and Pandemics

And So It Continues

I just saw where there's a possible third new coronavirus coming on fast in China.  I'm not surprised, but I'm not fully convinced that it's the truth either.  With all that's going on in China, I'm not sure they can handle another crisis.

But neither can the United States where COVID-19 is still uncontrolled in most states.  

And this was also announced today: "The US on Thursday surpassed 4 million officially recorded Covid-19 cases -- and a quarter of that count came in just the last 15 days."  

At that rate, there will be another million recorded cases two weeks from now.  Or more...

We are just two individuals among the millions of Americans who are trying our best to stay as far away from people, places, and things that might expose us to the virus.  Or, that we unknowingly expose to others.  

My doctor visit today was just routine check-up but I very much appreciated the fact that every staff member was wearing their masks and repeatedly washing/cleaning their hands or equipment.  Yet they found a way to be professional and attentive to me, the patient.  

Even the waiting patients were wearing their masks and maintaining their distance.  There was no complaining at all.  That's an indication that we've accepted the fact that we all have to do what's right if we plan to survive this pandemic. 

So Far, So Good...

Yes.... So far, so good...

We are still among the untested for COVID-19, and we are not experiencing any of the more popular symptoms that would give us reason to worry or visit our doctor.  We will assume we are not victims of it - yet.

We try to keep abreast of the latest news, alerts, and protective steps regarding COVID-19 while being wary of the source or intent or even the truthfulness of the information.  Even the latest news and advice is questionable these days.  It's the least we can do while the virus is still out of control.

Also, given there are confusing data coming from you know where, and no real plan to even slow down the daily records of new cases,  our plan of keeping ourselves as far away as possible from people, places and things that could be a threat to us seems to be working.

We realize that our ages and health place us squarely in the high-risk category for not only getting the virus but also dying from it.

Meanwhile, we read where many other countries are also suffering from major problems with the virus.  But at the same time, some countries, including a few third-world countries, have at least slowed it down to a more manageable level.  That's wonderful for them but disheartening for us to hear when we in the United States of America are being told by our leaders that it's under control and that we are 'light years' ahead of everyone else with our medical capability and response

And therein lies the reason we stay away from any and all threats.

I just wanted to go on record as to why you don't see us in public as often as we use to be.

Cardiologist Report

First, the bad news - "You (meaning me) could lose some weight." 

"And knock a few points off your (meaning me) cholesterol."

"And wear your compression stockings."  (Mine are full of runs and holes at the moment)

Next, his reply to my response to the question about my exercise program - "I would rather see you (meaning me) doing regular exercises instead of digging holes for planting huge trees."

On the other hand, "You (meaning me) are doing well.  No fluid problems in the legs and the heart is strong,"

But, "I (meaning my doctor) would like to run a couple of ultrasound tests just to make sure."

And just like that, it was over and we headed for home via a lunch stop at Saltgrass Steak House.  We both ordered salads.

Guess what's for dinner tonight... Nothing. 

The Plot Thickens

We humans are accustomed to dealing with threats of all kinds, including many that we create ourselves. 

Most of the time we get some sort of break between them, but not always. 

Such is the case now.  And I say "now" because things are seemingly happening faster than usual.

It was only a few months ago that we heard that some very large areas of Earth were being 'plagued' once again with locusts after their17 years of hibernation.  Entire crops in some countries were wiped out in a single day. 

At about the same time, the Chinese introduced us to a new coronavirus that was later dubbed, COVID-19.  Within a few short weeks, the entire world was irreversibly changed as people began to distance themselves from each other for fear of contracting the virus.  It still continues to decimate the economy, infect millions, and kill thousands of people with no end in sight.

Earthquakes and fires, political instability, and riots seemed to take advantage of the chaos.  And now we have a growing danger of a tropical disturbance in Central America turning into a major storm that could grow into a hurricane.  We will know more in a couple of days.

Meanwhile, on a smaller, more personal scale, we discovered a poisonous water moccasin right where Judy was trimming shrubs.  It's the first actual snake 'threat' we've had since moving here almost three years ago. 

About the only thing left to add more challenges to us is for some idiot to start a war.

Coronavirus Update

As of yesterday, May 15, 2020

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, 33,837 coronavirus cases have been reported in the state. There have also been 2,382 COVID-19 deaths recorded.

Neither Judy nor I were among them.  Today is starting off well.

Meanwhile, the Governor has lifted some of the precautions.

Louisiana moved to Phase One under the White House COVID-19 guidance yesterday, Friday, May 15, which removes the Stay at Home order for Louisianans and allows additional businesses to open under strict occupancy, protection, and social distancing guidelines, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday. High-risk individuals should continue to stay at home, except for essential activities, like getting food or medical care.

Given that Judy and I are considered 'high-risk individuals' due to our age, we plan to stay at home as much as possible.  We both feel 'worn down' from the continuing threat from the virus and from the political games being played at our expense, including the White House's constant issuing of false or premature information about treatment and prevention.

To keep us busy, Judy has her stained glass and I have a couple of woodworking projects in the works.  I just wish I had more energy to do them.

I checked my temperature yesterday using one of the digital under-the-tongue thermometers and it showed me to be 96.1°.  Four subsequent checks showed me to be 96.5°, 96.7°, and 97.1°, all within about ten minutes' time.  I knew something was wrong, so I read the booklet that came with the thermometer to see if there was a way to calibrate the thermometer.  All it said was to "calibrate every two years.'  But it gave no instructions as to how I should do it.

So I checked the warranty and discovered it has a lifetime warranty.  That was a surprise, so I called the 800 number and a nice lady asked a few questions and determined that it was defective.  Another one will be in the mail free of charge.  Another plus for a seemingly, mostly negative period in our lives.

And my blood pressure was 122/45 this morning. 

I think it's going to be a really good day.

Made it!!! Yes... Another Year Older

In spite of the threat of catching the popular COVID-19 coronavirus and dying before my time is up, here I am alive and well two days after my 79th birthday.  Yes, I've started working on being 80.

That being said, the DNA in me that regulates 'patience' is becoming a bit frayed from having to defend myself from COVIDE-19 exposure at every level, including in my own home.

Meanwhile, the government is compounding the issue with politically and stupidally (to coin a phrase) bad and confusing leadership.  But I've learned to ignore them in favor of common sense - avoid being around people or things, and washing my hands many times a day.

But, May 8th was a long-scheduled birthday party for my sister-in-law and me (we both celebrate the same birthday together for over 45 years).  Only this time it would have to be very low key and brief.



So we decided to have a Birthday Lunch at our house for just the four of us - her Sweetie and my Sweetie.  No other family, friends, or neighbors.

We kept our distance as best we could and had a great time.

I actually made a brief video of it.

Joyce and Leroy's Birthday

Leading Causes of Death in America According to the CDC

With the Coronavirus running amuck amongst us the topic of death and dying certainly raises its ugly head.  So when I saw this article about what the leading causes of death are in America, it got my attention.  I'm sharing my thoughts and the links to the data below.  It's interesting reading.

Sad News About a Friend - Blair T. Hill

We just learned that a long-time friend and fellow Egghead died in a fire at his home in Fort Myers, Florida on 4-27-20. He was unable to get out and perished in the fire. A neighbor heard him call for help but the fire was too hot to get inside to help him.

Blair "Gator Bait" Hill was quite a character long before we met him through the Egghead Forum. Years later we finally got to meet him in person at one of the Florida Mini Eggfests held in Melbourne.

He was always cheerful and upbeat in spite of many life-long medical problems, the latest being the loss of his leg. Even so, he was determined to get back on his recumbent bike and kayak. Both were custom-built to his specifications. But the loss of the leg made that dream impossible. Even so, he kept the dream alive.

He was also an excellent photographer and enjoyed taking photos of the many species of birds in the area and on Sanibel Island. I even assembled a YouTube slide presentation of the photos he shared on the Egghead Forum. He was thrilled that others could then enjoy the birds as much as he did.

But it was the Big Green Egg that brought us together. He was obviously a great cook and frequently shared recipes with other Eggheads via the Egghead Forum. And even though his strict diet prevented him from eating the foods I cook, he enjoyed me telling him about them.

Needless to say, his death will leave a hole in our hearts.

Goodbye Blair... It has been a pleasure knowing you.

TV News: Man Dies in Fire

New Table Saw = New Woodworking Project

I've only owned two table saws during my 50 years of woodworking.  The first of the two was the cheapest Sears Craftsman tablesaw offered back in the early 1990s.  As cheap as it was it more than paid for itself time and time again as I made increasingly complex wooden projects.

The only reason I sold it in 2015 was to make room in my garage for both our vehicles, one of which was so large that I only had one-inch clearance between the rear bumper and the garage door. 

I immediately regretted the decision to sell it and started to look for another one that could fold up to fit in the only place it could go.  And it turned out the be the cheapest one I could find - a Ryobi from Home Depot.  It too served me well from 2015 until April 1, 2020.  Then it would never serve anyone again, except as landfill fodder.

That put me in the difficult position of purchasing another tablesaw, but hopefully, with features and quality, I had only dreamed of.  And yet, it still had to fit neatly into space I allocated for it in the garage.  That meant a folding frame for sure, and definitely cost more than I wanted to spend.

So I read the specs and reviews on every model I could, including watching woodworkers using their tablesaws in action.  The one that everyone rated highest was a $600 DeWalt that was specifically designed as a high-end job-site saw for professional carpenters.  I certainly was not a 'professional carpenter' but it sure would be nice to have a quality saw. 

I was ready to order another cheap tablesaw similar to the last two saws I had when I suddenly received notice that my Coronavirus stimulus money from Washington was on its way.  Ah ha... perfect timing.  I  promptly went to Lowes and bought the DeWalt tablesaw I wanted - Model # dwe7491rs

It didn't take me long to start assembling the folding frame.  I got totally lost in the instructions and finally switched to my instinct.  It took less than an hour and the saw was ready for use.

A few days later my first actual project was to build a ramp for a neighbor's little dog to use when she wanted on or off the sofa.  A few measurements and some lumber, along with some leftover carpet was all it took to make.

After a 'trail of treats' was laid out, Bella eagerly made her way to the top and back down.  She must have decided that this 'thing' was useful. 

Bella's owners sure did.

And I got to use my new tablesaw for a successful project.

Life is good, even when wearing masks and distancing ourselves from other humans.

Coronavirus / Pandemic / COVID-19

Coronavirus / Pandemic / COVID-19

Everyone on Earth now knows what it is and what it can do to their lives.

As of today, few places on Earth are COVED-19 free. People who do not yet have it are taking extreme measures to keep from getting it. Social Distancing and outright isolation are about the only effective methods of avoiding it. The number of people who have it, whether diagnosed or un-diagnosed, is in the millions. Deaths from it are 200,000 and are expected to continue, possibly into millions unless the stay-at-home and no-close-contact programs work.  It would help to have a vaccine to cure it and prevent people from getting it.  Scientists world over are working on it.

So, when did it start? "It's hard to say exactly," but the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states in their Situation Summary that:

On March 11, the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the WHO

Today's date is April 22nd - only 42 days after the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic, we are, to coin a phrase, treating it like 'The Plague.'

Remember that from your history lessons:

The Black Death, also known as the Pestilence and the Plague, was the most fatal pandemic recorded in human history, resulting in the deaths of up to 75–200 million people in Eurasia and North Africa, peaking in Europe from 1347 to 1351.

As we huddle in our homes, distance ourselves from others, even relatives in their final moments, we all know and accept the fact that we are not safe from this menace.

Even as I write this yet another bit of bad news associated with COVID-19. It has been reported in the Washington Post that

"A mysterious blood-clotting complication is killing coronavirus patients"

And even when it is finally controlled, the world we return to will be very different from the one we made for ourselves before the power of nature reminded us that we humans cannot control everything.

Social Distancing - An Odd Combination of Words

Until a few weeks ago, Social Connecting via a smorgasbord of recently introduced 'electronic communications' made interacting with others a phenomenon unlike anything else in human history.

Suddenly, we pretty much rely on that electronic communication to be our life-line to the rest of humanity.  The reason - Social Distancing.  As odd as that sounds in today's world, here we all are trying our best to keep a safe distance from everyone else, even our friends and family.

But what caused it?

Well, actually 'panic' started it, but only after word got out that a new killer virus had suddenly materialized in China.  People started dying at an alarming rate and others were being infected by this strange new threat - a Coronavirus.  It was eventually dubbed COVID-19.

Projections of multi-millions of people would get it, and thousands, even hundreds of thousands would die from it, we were told.

How to protect yourself???  Washing hands thoroughly was quickly advised and encouraged, but the numbers of people getting the disease continued to rise at an alarming rate. 

What other protection do we have???  Social Distancing - make people stay home and away from each other.  And even when people are together, limit the size of the group and the distance they should remain from each other...

Whoa!!!  Is that even possible?

Well yes.  And in fact it may be the only option.  Early reports indicate that the number of people getting the virus and dying from it seems to be ebbing slightly.  And with that little bit of encouragement, our president is pushing for dropping our guard and going back to work and to normal activities.

Idiot!!!