Mesothelioma Awareness

I was surprised and honored to be approached by a gracious and courageous lady named Heather Von St. James at the beginning of the month, asking that I collaborate with her on a blog entry for Mesothelioma Awareness Day.  As I considered her request, I felt totally unqualified to do such a post.  A little reading and reflection changed my mind.

The information you need to know is out there on the web. Just follow the links in this post for a good start!  What makes it appropriate for L & F is twofold:  my own Pete was screened for mesothelioma a couple of years ago and Veterans have the highest rate of the disease in the U.S.  As a supporter and an advocate for our service men and women, it is only natural for me highlight this disease.

I'm sure many of you are wondering about Pete.  He checked out okay at the time of the screening, although there was diminished lung function.  While getting an all clear was great, that doesn't mean he is forever out of danger.  He worked as a mechanic, a carpenter, a roofer, in the oilfield and in refineries all of his years.  

As part of the screening, he was asked to look through a book with pictures of products known to contain asbestos.  He was to identify any he had worked with and tell to the best of his ability how often and how long he had worked with those products.  Sitting beside him, while he went through this exercise, I was shocked to learn just how many dangerous things he had worked with over the years! Since it can take twenty, thirty, forty years or more after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma to develop, he is not in the free and clear.

Even people who have never worked in a dangerous industry can be exposed to asbestos in old buildings, in remodeling situations and other instances.  We all need to be aware of our surroundings, aware of safety precautions, and aware of the symptoms associated with this form of cancer.

Please join with us in getting the word out about Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2015 and let's paint the world blue!



#curemeso

Test - Can you see Alan Jackson?

Just testing something out, folks.  Can you see the album cover of Alan?

Quantum Leaping

My latest guilty pleasure is watching reruns of Quantum Leap episodes on COZI TV.  The series first aired over 25 years ago and starred Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell.  Pete & I were regular viewers back in the day.  

Why am I into watching these reruns when I don't usually care to watch old rehashed series?  Because they still stand up.  The premise that through Quantum physics Dr. Sam Beckett begins to time travel within his own lifetime is a theory that has yet to be decisively proved or disproved. Since each episode is set in a different year, nothing looks obsolete.  Instead, you actually feel like you are stepping back into history with the show.  I adore looking back at how things used to be!  

They tackle many issues that were prominent in the time period the episode is visiting. For example, the Watts riots. There are also episodes that are more fluff and fun.  

There is an understanding by the characters, that Sam leaps into these lives to set right a wrong.  He believes it is Divine Providence that brings him to these situations.  Saving lives, catching murders, exposing corruption, restoring relationships, putting someone on a career path that makes a difference are just a few of the "fixes" Sam achieves.

Maybe, I am enjoying it so much because I have never seen it aired anywhere since the original run on TV.  I think that the predominate reason is that it is excellent escapism in a world that is running amok.

If you have access to COZI TV in your area, I heartily recommend this show. You can catch it on Wednesday and Saturday evenings.  

  

The Anchor Holds

There is a beautiful hymn, that was written by Lawrence Chewning and Ray Boltz, titled "The Anchor Holds".  Our little church's Minister of Music, Bro. Eric, does this song like no one else.  He did it for us last Sunday.  I cannot listen to this hymn without tears coming to my eyes, because I know first hand the impossible truth of the song and what it means to be carried in the hand of God.

Are you in the midst of one of life's storms?  Loss of a loved one.  Troubled marriage.  Child gone wild.  Betrayed. Depressed.  Life in this world sends storms.  If you live long enough, you will go through at least one or two.  If you try to navigate the storm on your own, your ship will break apart. Even if you survive it, you will never be whole.  Never be complete.

If you turn to God to help you in the storm, you'll find Him waiting with a strong extended hand to lift you up out of the angry waves.  You'll find the strength to endure it, for He will lend you His.  You'll find comfort, for He'll wrap you in his arms.  You'll find a friend that understands completely.

"How do I do that?", you say.  Get a Bible, get alone and read and pray.  The Psalms are a great resource.  And a concordance can guide you to verses that speak to your plight.  But it is in how you read where the help lies.  Take just one or two verses at a time.  Read them.  Pray about them.  Be honest and don't be afraid.  Then read them again. Listen and be still.  Let God's Holy Spirit have a chance to speak to your heart.  Confess any sin on your part that He points out.  Thank Him and praise Him for any comfort you receive.  Ask Him for clarification and direction.  Don't be afraid to question Him.  Honesty is key, as He already knows the truth of your thoughts, intentions, pain, hopes, etc.  

Go to Him often.  Even when you hurt too much to word a prayer.  Just go to Him and be still and let your heart speak for you.  The Holy Spirit will pray for you.  And don't give up! Keep at it, even if it takes weeks or month's for the storm to subside.  

Along the way, keep you eyes open for changes, for answers to your prayers.  Never neglect to thank Him and praise Him for even the "smallest" answer.  You'll find yourself growing and changing.  Becoming a salted seaman.

When the storm is over, whether it ends the way you imagined or not, you'll find a peace and know a way to proceed.  Don't keep it to yourself.  Share it.  There are others experiencing a storm who need an Anchor that will hold.  

At some point down the road, you'll look back on your time in the storm.  With a twist on Dickens, you'll realize "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times."  Because, you'll find you cherish that close, personal relationship you had with the Lord.  It will stand out like a bright beacon in your mind's eye and be a treasured memory of your heart.  The God of the Universe took the time and care to hold you in His hand! Even though you'd never choose to go through that storm again, it will be a treasured, sweet memory in your soul.

The closest thing I could find to Bro. Eric's version

I Saw it on Facebook

I was shocked when I realized I hadn't made an I Saw it on Facebook post since the middle of July! That's just crazy.  So, tonight, I'm going to rectify that.  While most of my "saves" from Facebook are on the funny, lighthearted or sarcastic side, this one is more on the serious side and involves a truth that can free you if you learn to apply it.

As much as human nature leads us to try to change others, the plain truth is that the only person you can change is yourself.  The converse side to this is that no one can control you, unless you allow it. 

It takes a combination of introspection to determine what is important to you, what things matter in the long run, and how much weight and value you are going to give to each.  And it takes evaluation of the scenarios that upset you, or yield an outcome that unsettles you.  

Questions to consider include:  What could make him always act that way toward me?  How do I usually respond to it?  How much does this matter to me? What other ways could I respond?  You have to think it through.  You have to come up with an idea of what you might try differently.  If you don't, you'll just do what comes easily to you, which is what you always do and you'll have the same outcome. 

The next time you are placed in that situation or those words are spoken to you, try your new response.  Afterward, things to consider are, how did your response change their next behavior or words? Was this outcome more agreeable to you?  If not, what could you do differently the next time?  Can you do anything to change how it makes you feel even if the outcome doesn't change much?

There are people in our lives we can't avoid, that upset us or hurt us. All we can do is try to divest them of some of the power to do so.  Then there are others in our lives that we can choose to avoid or expunge from our lives.  Who's important enough to you to do the work?  Remember, also, that forgiveness frees you from the burden of the pain and anger.  Forgiveness does more for the one forgiving than it does the one forgiven.

Whether a dear friend, a family member, a boss, a clerk or a stranger; remember and be aware that most of the time however much they hurt, disappoint, annoy or make you angry the larger part is the response you choose, the lesser is what they did, said or didn't do.  

No matter how high the pile of shit, it's your perspective that makes it a mountain or a molehill.

Disclaimer:  While I can practice this far better than I could in my younger years, I am still on the journey.

     

Windows 10 - To upgrade or not? That is the question.

I had a PC with Windows 8.1 for the operating system.  It wasn't my choice.  I have free replacement on my PC through AOL and last year my mother board died in my old Vista system and when they sent my new PC, it had Windows 8.  I had finally learned how to get around to everything I use regularly, but it had been a long, hard fight.

When I started getting the notices about a free upgrade to Windows 10, my first thought was "Oh, no!  Not another system to learn to navigate."  Over the weeks leading up to it's release, I started reading up on it.  I found the start menu would be back.  By and large, mostly a good word for the new system.  Things I loved and missed about Windows 95 and Windows 7, and new things that might be cool or useful.

I finally decided to put in my reservation for the free upgrade. When I found it was ready, I used a tool I had to create a system shot on a DVD in case of emergency.  Then I downloaded a program to create a full system backup on a partitioned part of my hard drive to make sure I could go back to Windows 8 if I so desired.  

I was able to schedule the upgrade to a time that was convenient for me and that wouldn't eat up my any time data. I went to bed, and the system did it's thing.  The next day, there were a few choices to make for personal preference, and in no time Windows 10 was up and running!  Easy, peasy!

I immediately, liked what I was seeing, compared to Windows 8! The start menu is back, and in my opinion better than ever! If you were one who actually liked the boxes in Windows 8, they are still there, just moved over to the right side under "Life at a glance".  On the left, you get a quick view of the most used.  But here's my two favorite things about this new start menu:  one, it has an option to display all your programs in A to Z format!!  Click on All Apps in the bottom left-hand corner.  No chasing down through endless popup panes.

If you right click on the Window pane that identifies the start menu, you get a useful set of short cuts to things like System, Control Panel, Run.  Awesome!

Another great plus, is that the search bar is now right on the task bar!  You can set it to be an icon that opens search or leave it to type straight in!

There are oodles of new programs and tools in this build.  
3D builder, music apps, readers, camera app, useful things for students like dictionary, encyclopedia.  If you are into the whole share it across devices from anywhere scene, then you have a system made to accommodate that.

I've been using Windows 10 for 10 days now.  There have only been a couple of negatives that I have found in my experience.  One, when it upgraded, my McAfee Security Center didn't work.  The Windows 10 covered me with Windows Defender and Firewall, so I wasn't left unprotected. When I went to investigate, I found I had to totally remove McAfee and reinstall it.  Everything went fine.  I have had no problems with any other apps or software that I use on my PC.  My other issue with this new Windows is a cranky old woman issue.  I like to choose when I get Windows updates so that they download only on my Bonus Bytes and not on my Anytime Data.  In this new build, I can't find where I can choose to do that.  It claims it won't download over a metered connection, but do they understand the concept of how Hughes Net works?  That I want all of my Anytime Data for fun and to use the Bonus Bytes for the workhorse stuff?  I will be investigating this in the near future.  

By and large, I love the new Windows 10, compared to Windows 8.  If there are things about Windows 8 that aggravate you, I'd recommend the upgrade!

Do you currently use Windows 8?  Have you upgraded to Windows 10 for free? What was/is your favorite Windows version?

This is an account of my personal experience with the Windows 10 Upgrade and Windows 10.  Your experience could be different, depending on your system and what apps and software you regularly use.  I am a PC user of moderate experience and tech savvy. - Barbara in Caneyhead





  

Weekend Coffee Share

Well, hello!!  It's so good to have the time to visit with you once more.  Life got a little out of control for awhile.  

Come on in where it is cool.  It has been so hot here in Texas!  You say, "How hot is it?"  



Seriously, the
hens aren't 
laying very much 
at all!



And here is me when I get home in the evening.....



That's why I think we'll have some iced coffee today. 

Doesn't that look refreshing!  I found this image and a yummy recipe by Domestic Goddess on Food.com.  Very similar to how I make mine.  I use fresh brewed coffee so I can use my Folgers's Half Caff.  I switched to it a couple of years ago, so I could have my caffeine without over indulging.

Let's take our drinks outside under the shade of the pecan tree.  There's a sweet little breeze blowing this morning. 

So, to the reason I have been so absent on Saturdays. Well, to tell the truth, for the first couple of weeks in July, I was just blown away and in shock from the things I was seeing and hearing online.  


Then I spent a Saturday taking Hannah shopping. She made out like a bandit!  My girl is practical.  We went to Ross's and she found five adorable new tops there.  Also picked up a new swimsuit top to go with her swim shorts.  Then we stopped by a Goodwill store that we know gets a lot of high end, gently used merchandise and she picked up three new pairs of jeans.  New wardrobe:  $95  A day with Hannah: priceless.  

That very next day, I ended up taking Pete to the hospital after church.  Severe stabbing chest pains and some shortness of breath and a severe headache on his right side.  He had also been extremely dizzy and having some of his "blind spells", too.  They kept him two days.  Once again, his heart checked out all okay.  They checked his arteries this time, as he has had these symptoms recurrently for years.  The cardiologist said his arteries were lovely.  So, he came home, still hurting and with a two week recovery time from the procedure.  

While we are all very thankful and grateful his heart keeps checking out good considering all of the family history, we are stumped as to what to do about the recurring chest pain.  He is supposed to have sinus surgery in the near future to fix a deviated septum and rinse out all the crud in his sinus cavities. We are so hoping that will solve most of the headaches, dizziness and blind spells.  

I myself, have fought off a summer cold and recently been having issues with my blood pressure.  Some days I've just preferred to sleep in and some I just felt too dreadful to sit and stare at a computer screen.  Looks like a visit to my doctor is in order in the very near future.

My son has been home from South Texas and I've enjoyed spending some time with him and his whole little family.  They are very near closing on a piece of land and a home up here in the woods, not too far from us. I'm very proud and happy for them.  Glad they are getting off the side of that little highway they live on.  

Easter 2015

And of course Baby Ruth is amazing!  She told me recently that I was her "bestie". You don't know how it touched my heart to hear my grand baby say Maw-maw was her best friend.  Or at least one of them.



Well, I've also been very lapse in visiting others in these past few weeks, so forgive me if I go in and get ready to start catching up.  You're welcome to enjoy the quiet as long as you like.  

Bye, y'all!

  
Join the fun of the #WeekendCoffeeShare at Part-Time Monster.