Thoughtful Thursday

Take a Moment - Right now, and send a prayer, a good vibe, or healing, helpful and loving energy. My heartfelt hopes for good health to you and everyone.

This is my list for today, so if you are reading, send a positive thought or prayer for these people - they could really use it. Updates are at the end, with gratitude for your help!

Barry - He's had the fluid drained from the sacs around his lungs, had some complications, and was in ICU for a bit. He's now in the Thoracic wing, getting rest, hydrated and preparing for additional draining of fluids. My prayers are not just for him, but for his wife Linda to help her deal with navigating all of the medical stuff along with the G20 being in her town, near the hospital.
Mel - Recently diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, she suffered a stroke last week and reduced blood cell counts, and her chemo is postponed to deal with those.
Audrey - Still praying for her.
Jacob - a nearly 2 year old who's family is dealing as best they can with his recent diagnosis of Leigh Syndrome.
Rick - a very dear friend who has sunk so low in his depression that he is admitting himself for psychiatric observation this week.

Great News:
Jet - My godmother, who now has a path forward in her treatment, that only includes a lumpectomy and radiation - no chemo!
Hanan - Is now home, and up and around!

May good health always be your's,

J9

Music Monday Tropical edition

Spent Father's Day cleaning and doing laundry while The Boys were out at the movies.
Listened to this:

And this:

Thought about the gulf coast, and bp, and the benefit concert to be broadcast on CMT on my birthday this year. You can read about it here.

I won't be watching (likely), as that is the day I share with my recently deceased uncle, and we are going to place his ashes in Colma then.

Blogger Community Photo Cahllenge - Flowers

This is a shorter than normal challenge, with only a week to post, so I'm pulling my favorite recent flower photo taken earlier this spring:

Thoughtful Thursday

Take a Moment - Right now, and send a prayer, a good vibe, or healing, helpful and loving energy. My heartfelt hopes for good health to you and everyone.


This is my list for today, so if you are reading, send a positive thought or prayer for these people - they could really use it. Updates are at the end, with gratitude for your help!

Barry - This round of chemo is kicking his but.
Hanan - She is still in the hospital for the infection of unknown origin which followed a rod being placed in her spine to strengthen what this new round of cancer has weakend.
Audrey - Cancer is back, this time in her neck. Still there.
Jet - My godmother, who had biopsies last week on lumps found in her breasts, and has now found out that they are cancerous. She is meeting this week with her team of doctors to discuss path forward.
Jacob - a nearly 2 year old who's family is dealing as best they can with his recent diagnosis of Leigh Syndrome.

There are other people in my life who have been on my mind lately. People whom I need to call and touch base with - I can feel that need.


Great News:
Abby - Was solo circumnavigating the globe, this 16 year old was found and rescued, is alive and well! She and her family are now being questioned on their decision to take on this adventure. I am just grateful that she is alive to sail another day.

May good health always be your's,

J9

Boy, oh Boy is it shaping up to be a Looooooong summer

This was my day yesterday - officially day 2 of summer break for The Boys. The day started OK - my work day looked like this:

Leaving me little time to do anything for The Boys.

The Dude took them to swim practice, as I'd unsuccessfully tried to obtain wifi at the pool the day before.
Once home from swimming, they were all worn out and The Dude napped while I was on conference calls, and that is when the shenanigans took place. Following my calls, I emerged into the house to a weird smell. great. But it was a chemical smell, not a gross smell, so I thought it might actually be cologne, or something equally harmless. I entered the living room to 2 "cat that ate the canary" looks.
The following exchange took place:
I asked, "What's that smell?" The Oldest replied with a shrug, the youngest just ignored the question.
J9 (more emphatically and likely sounding more angry): Really, What's that smell?
The Oldest - another shrug
The Youngest - still silently ignoring the request
J9 (Now pissed off and moving to turn off the TV): WHAT. IS. THAT. SMELL?!?!
The Oldest: What smell?
The Youngest: I don't smell anything.
J9 (gesturing to the air): This smell, the smell that is NOT what our house normally smells like - THAT smell!
The Oldest (removing a can of hairspray from behind him): Well, I accidentally sat on this.
J9: Accidentally? You expect me to believe that you ACCIDENTALLY sat in the recliner, on a can of HAIRSPRAY that was no where near the recliner earlier?! Really?
[I must state that at this point what flashed though my brain was, "Oh dear God, he's going to be one of those people that show up on RN reports as having "accidentally" sat on a vibrator or something.]
The Oldest - shrugged again.
J9: Just so you know, this is hair spray, not air freshener. When you spray it all over the house, it makes everything sticky, thereby creating more cleaning work in the house. Also, it's poisonous for people and animals. To. Your. Room.
At this point The Youngest decides to chime in. I cut him off and went back to work.
Minutes Later, The Dude (from the bedroom): What's on Augie's fur? - Augie is the Mini Daschund puppy.
Upon emerging from the office again and seeing Augie walk by, I scooped him up and carried him to the living room, calling for The Oldest to join us.
J9 (to The Boys): What is on Augie's fur?
The Oldest: I dunno
The Youngest - again ignoring the question.
J9: I Asked, WHAT is on Augie's fur?
The Oldest: Where?
Mind you, this is a dog that is less than 18 inches long, so there isn't much examination needed...
J9 (presenting the dog to The Oldest): Here. On His Back. See? From his collar, to halfway down his back.
The Oldest (likely thinking it better to come clean at this point as I'm sure my face was red): Deodorant.
J9: DEODORANT?!?!?! WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU PUT DEODORANT ON THE DOG?!
The Youngest: Well, he did it. (Likely story)
J9: SERIOUSLY! Deodorant is poisonous to a small dog like Augie, if he licked his back he will get sick. Deodorant is for people, NOT DOGS!
At this point, The Dude comes out and asks where they got deodorant. I interrupted to say I'd bought some at the store, and hadn't had a chance to put it away yet. I'm sure he was thinking none of this would have happened if only I'd put it away. Not true, but worth thinking about.
I sent The Oldest back to his room, where he wailed like we were beating him. Decent performance, but not Oscar worthy.
I got out towels and washed, partially dried the dog and handed him over to The Dude. The whole time, I was thinking, doesn't this burn animal's skins? Isn't that what the PETA ads are about? Crap! I hope Augie will be okay.
I put away the deodorant.
I found a coffee mug on an end table, and called The Oldest out to ask him about it.
J9: What's in this mug?
The Oldest: Butter for my popcorn.
J9: Put it in the sink please.
After all of this, I got The Boys into their Tae Kwon Do uniforms and drove them to the studio. While they were in class, I walked nearly 3 miles, in an attempt to release some of the stress. It was mostly successful.
When we got home, I made breakfast for dinner - eggs, bacon and toast for The Boys, and toast and celery with Yogurt Blue Cheese for me. The Dude declined dinner.
As I was doing dishes later, I came across the mug of "butter" from earlier, and it didn't look like butter, so I called The Oldest back over.
J9: What is really in the mug?
The Oldest: Deodorant and butter.
J9: I hope you didn't eat the deodorant.
The Oldest: No
J9: Why did you choose to waste the deodorant like this?
The Oldest (with a shrug): I dunno.
At this point I could really only sigh, and ask that they not play with any personal hygiene items, or medications, or chemicals of any kind.
I also need to talk to The Dude about leaving The Boys to their own devices.

Today was better, and easier, and I was able to get decent wifi. And we didn't leave The Boys alone for a moment.

It's likely going to be a Loooooooooong summer.

Music Monday New Sarah edition, oh and Sunday's earworm

New Sarah McLachlan - enjoy:


And then THIS was in my brain ALL DAY Sunday:

My Town Shoot Out - Public Art.

Public Art is the choice this week from Barry and Linda. "Public Art is the way our various towns represent themselves to the outside world. By definition Public Art is artwork that is free, publicly displayed and tells the world something about us. Often it is represented by the ubiquitous general on his horse, sword raised in triumph, the poet in his robes clutching his books to his chest, the heroine in flowing robes. Sometimes it represents a famous moment in local, national or world history or transports us back in time to remind us of our roots.

In a more modern context it may be represented by a work that is more abstract and serves as a design element to bring a public building to life.

Whatever it is in the context of your town, here is your chance to share it with us for next Friday's shoot out!"

I encourage you to go and see everyone's contributions here or here.

I decided to look up the Public Art here in Dublin, as I've photographed much of it already, and actually thought I'd done most - I was horribly wrong! I went here, printed the map, and headed out the door. I did shoot 2 places I'd never been to, and couldn't find the art listed at two others. All were shot between 5 and 6PM June 10th.

My first find is Archway:

And a detail:

And Black Pool, which evidently from which the name Dublin was derived.

Happy Weekend all!