Nature Songs ~~~~
JUNE, 2002 ~
continued
June 11, 2002 ~ Ozone Code Orange ~~ Can it really be happening? Summer weather conditions are being squeezed into spring. With all this sultry hot late summer Southern weather transpiring now, I have heaps of amazement and am a little stupefied about what we may experience in August. Temperatures in the nineties and it feels more like a hundred or more. Everyone having breathing problems, heart conditions and such are being warned to stay indoors since a code orange is posted for this afternoon. Charlotte expects a code red which is bad for everyone.
Mother is always singing, "The old gray mare ain’t what she used to be many long years ago." That could be altered to say "The weather around here ain’t what it used to be only a few years ago." Constant winds blowing through spring and summer was the beginning signs of the change following. So far this spring we have broken the high and low temperatures going all the way back into the 1800’s. Shall we now aim for winning the most ozone dangers and out-of-control fires ever? I hope and pray not.
Watching the wild fires raging out of control in Colorado so early in the season brings on thoughts of what could be ahead for us here in North Carolina. We’ve already experienced many fires. With the draught continuing, predictions have been made by those working with the forest service and fire fighting that this will be the worst fire season ever to occur in this area this fall.
Here on the home front is a sort of ozone code in effect. Perhaps a health code would be a better description. No matter how much it is desired, that green safety zone will not appear. It keeps jumping up in that orange level way too many times. Guess, the truth be known, I would have to say that I live in the yellow zone. Thank goodness it keeps out of that dreaded purple zone of critical.
There has been a touchy spot along the cheek bone/gumline for a while. I don’t really remember when it began. Last night it was bothering me so much I decided to take a peek at the gum. Whoa! That didn’t look good at all. There is an infection there. My first thought, "Well, looks like I will be needing another root canal." Having some antibiotics here, I took some last night with the intention of calling the dentist first thing this morning. However, feeling around the teeth on that side of my mouth, there were none that felt sensitive or in trouble. Even the dental floss did not show any problem. That could only point toward one thing - another sinuses abscess.
Thoughts of calling the doctor did enter my mind, but all he would do would be to give me another prescription for what I already have on hand. I’ll refill it and see how things progress. Allan came in to check on how I am getting along. His first comment was, "That’s the same side they stuck that tube in! It could be that the hole it made did not close completely." Gee! What a wonderful thought ... maybe I should see a specialist about the sinuses ... In such a specialized world, it is difficult sometimes to decide where you really should go when advice, knowledge and treatment are being sought. I decided to begin with the Ophthalmologist and see how my eyes are progressing since I should have gone to have them checked back in February. From there I’ll see where the road leads while I continue the antibiotics to combat the infection raging within.
Little Miss Giggles has been sending out her own code since Tbird and DynoKid left. She decided that she was going to stay with me until they return in three weeks. At times her message has registered up in the red zone as she announces, "No! I don’t want to go home!!!" "I don’t want Daddy to come get me!" "I want to stay with you, Momma Jeanne." It has been my aim to ease her back home with Dad. After all he is home all alone unless she is there with him. NascarKid returns from Florida Friday afternoon.
She mellowed somewhat last night when I mentioned that she could take some of the VCRs home with her to watch the stories and cartoons. I allowed her to tell me which ones she would like to take. That changed her attitude enough that when Dad arrived, we were able to lead her out to the truck and he buckled her in the car seat without a repeat battle of this past Friday.
Tbird called from Australia yesterday morning before eight o’clock. All is well with them. DynoKid was not a really happy camper yesterday when they went on a twenty minute boat ride in a small motorboat. He went, but it upset him to be in the little boat going through the rough water .. no, he was not sick ... he had this aversion to boats - a code purple one. On the other hand he wants to go on the larger boat out to the outer reefs. Tbird said the ride would not be as choppy and she hoped he would do better. I have to wonder if he was able to overcome his fears enough to enter the water and follow the rope along the water pathway and see the wonders seen only around the coral reefs there. I don’t think he would be one of those to don scuba gear and venture down below and see the natural glow only experienced from the deep. His experience was at least a code orange and possible code red for the ride out to the reefs. Only his desire not to miss out on the occasion would take him out beyond himself and his fears. After all he did exceptionally well on the long airplane (jet) ride getting to Australia. I’m proud of him. At the age of nine they are calling him the mascot for the group. His best friend is there beside him, so that would make it two mascots and possibly his friend is that strength he is drawing from.
June 12, 2002Enticing Drugstore Bargains ~~ Conceivably bargains may not abound, but with the coupons, displays, special offers and buy-one-get-one-free items it is likely that a little money is saved. I have to be careful not to buy things that are not needed or likely will not used. Albeit, there are always some special offers I had not intentions of buying that seem to jump into the shopping buggy when my back is turned. Of course I go ahead and purchase them at the checkout counter since they are in the buggy.
The trip to the drugstore yesterday was oddly just the opposite from what it usually costs. I never know for sure what prescriptions I may be picking up since they are filled automatically by the druggist. (It’s nice not to have to phone in the refills or drop them off and come back later.) Through the end of this month I have a zero balance to pay since I met my deductible for total amount paid for the year. The pharmacist mentioned that I should go through my list and refill those that I can before the month ends. She pulled up my files on the computer to see which prescriptions could be filled now. A quick call to the house to check and make sure I am still taking a few of them and then she was busy filling more prescriptions for me. That means another trip uptown to pick them up for use when the present bottles of pills and capsules are consumed. Yesterday I saved close to $500 if I had paid full price. Normally, I would have to pay under $100 with my insurance plan.
Coupons in hand, it was time to play hide-and-seek along the aisles of the shelves displaying a multitude of come-hither- and-buy-me’s. First came the Tylenol and only one bottle was left of what was on sale. With the sale and two coupons I saved over three dollars on it. That’s all I can take anymore for arthritis. Cute little leggings jumped into the cart for Giggles and by some sort of black magic this huge yellow and red dump truck filled with shovels and stuff fell from the top of a row of shelves. The little ones will be happy when they lay eyes upon it.
Some beautiful wind chimes and glass designs to hang around have been hounding me since early spring. Yesterday, with the two dollars off sign posted, they won out and I chose a lovely butterfly to hang in the kitchen. My original intention was to buy mother a wind chime to hang in her room at the nursing center. Her eyesight is failing once again and I decided she would not enjoy something that required her to watch in order to enjoy. The noise would probably bother her when the metal bars hit against each other with a wind chime. She gets more enjoyment from visits than anything else.
We are supposed to have a code red ozone warning for this afternoon here in our area. Last year there was only two of them posted for the whole year. Methinks I shall stay indoors this day and not venture out until later in the evening. Oreo is staying in as well. I’ve noticed when he goes out lately, he comes back in the house and spends a lot of time coughing and scratching. Fleas are avoiding him so it must be dry, sensitive skin and allergy working on him. Yep! Weather like this affects animals as well as the Homo-sapiens.
June 13, 200206/13/02 ~
Lumbee Indians ~~ Many trips made to Myrtle Beach was on a path that led by the road sign announcing the left turn leading to the area where the Indians lived. This seemed more like a mystical experience inasmuch as I knew so little about the Lumbees. I had never heard of the tribe except along that short stretch of the highway. A few occasions we would happen to see a few along the side of the road. Each time, a flood of pity would come to mind as I noted how worn their clothes seemed to be and when the weather was cooler they appeared to be scantily clad. This happened to be a tribe of Indians forgotten by the masses and in dire need of assistance. In fact, they were in need of much more as they lived secluded from others and trying to hang on to their earlier upbringing.
During my college years, some mention was made of the tribe, but only in passing through the pages of the history book. Little time was spent learning more about them. The Cherokee Tribe in the mountains is well known and recognized easily. People spend a lot of time in the area as they sightsee, trout fish, shop, visit the casino, and interact with the tribe members. It’s one of the most visited attractions in North Carolina. The Lumbees, on the other hand, have none of this activity happening around them. They have an outdoor drama portraying some of the heritage of the tribe, but I’ve read several times about the money problems they have trying to keep it open. People don’t flock to see them.
Josephine Humphreys has written a novel about the Lumbee Indians, Nowhere Else on Earth where the plot is centered along the swamplands of Robeson County in North Carolina.. They live along the Lumbee River and all the families believe practically the same things. 50,000 members strong, it is the ninth-largest Native American tribe in America. It is the largest east of the Mississippi.
Suppositions about the beginning of this tribe link it to the Lost Colony as well as many of the other tribes located in North and South Carolina. There is no written history concerning the Lumbee Indians making them more illusive; leaving many unanswered questions of "Who are the Lumbees?"
June 14, 2002 ~
Fact or Fiction? ~~ Per the doctor’s suggestion when he dismissed me form the hospital, I took the giant step and bought me a magnetic copper bracelet this morning. I haven’t bought any of the flaxseed oil capsules, but this is the month he said I could begin taking it. This is not my regular doctor, but one that was taking care of me while my doctor was out of town. Not many doctors in our area will mix home remedies (natural supplements) with prescriptions medications. The general consensus is that these supplements are not controlled or tested and therefore should not be used.
The advice relayed to me was that some of the doctor’s patients used the copper and magnets and swore by them about how well they worked. He said they work for some and not for others and that I could give it a try to see if it would help my arthritis and pain. He did stress that I should buy a good grade of the flaxseed oil (know the company that made them) because some of them are not mixed the same strength in the same bottle and may not be safe. That is only good common sense.
Copper has been used for medicinal purposes dating back through history. Information recorded in Dollwet & Sorenson’s "Historic Uses of Copper Compounds in Medicine." list ancient Egyptians, Greek, Roman, Persian, Hindu, and Aztec writings record various consistent medicinal uses of copper.
Alternative medicine and home remedies are gaining in popularity. Some doctors and alternative medicine workers are merging together to maintain the best care possible for the patient. Apparently some people do not have enough copper in their bodies. The copper bracelet is used to possibly ease the pain from arthritis. Some of the copper leeches from the bracelet and is absorbed through the skin. Studies have indicated that copper that enters the body through the skin is more efficient than pills taken orally.
Magnets have been used throughout the world over the years. People believe that magnets worn on the body promote good health. The theory here is that magnet therapy may be beneficial by affecting the circulatory system, increasing the blood flow in the body and helping increase distribution of needed nourishment.
Now is the time for moi to come to the aid of her body and try a different approach for maintaining health and freedom from pain. It’s worth a try...
June 15, 2002 Root Beer Floats ~~ Those memories of days of yore were brought back to mind today. NascarKid returned from Florida with the church youth group yesterday afternoon. Bright and early this morning he and Giggles arrived here to spend the day. He wanted me to take him to Wally World to buy a CD. We finally made it to buy his special CD after stops at three other places.
Stop number two happened to be at Kmart. It had a steady supply of shoppers going in and out its doors. NascarKid went in to see if they may have what he was looking for while I sat in the car with Giggles sleeping soundly in her carseat behind me. He walked out empty-handed. They had the artist, but not the particular songs he was in search of.
My turn came to enter through the doors in search of some shoes for Giggles. Those sandals she has been wearing, blister her feet because they are heavy and cumbersome when it comes to running and walking in them. My aim today was to choose some that are lighter weight and having fewer straps to rub and blister. Life for her at such a young age should not include wearing shoes that are not only uncomfortable, and moreover leaving blisters to contend with. I have to add they are dark colors and she loves pretty things.
Giggles appeared at home this morning wearing her Barney slippers, and the bottom of one was wet clear through the sole and inside. That was when I got the idea to buy her shoes the way Mother used to buy shoes for me. (Mother always traced around my foot, cut out the outline and bought my shoes, with me left at home. She took me very few places when I was with her.) I traced around Giggles’ sandal to see how wide the total shoe was. While she slept in her carseat I traced around the bottom of her foot inside the first tracing. That gave me a ballpark idea of the size to look for.
While NascarKid went into Wally World, I was able to try on Giggles shoes since she was now awake. Alas! They were a tad too small for comfort. I forgot to allow for additional space for the thickness of her foot. We backtracked to Kmart long enough for me to take the too-small shoes in to the service desk and pick up a larger size. For a moment, I had a sinking feeling. The pretty white sandal with the shiny pink heart on it was the one Giggles hugged to her chest and then said, "I’ve always wanted that shoe!" as she rubbed the glittery pink heart. On the bottom shelf stuck in a size five box was a pair of eight’s - just what I needed. The second pair was purchased for half price. These shoes are more like light-weight shoes being constructed of denim sprayed with sparkles. Surprisingly they sported the same pink heart with Snow White on it like her top she wore today.
Our next top brought back the memories. The Sonic is reminiscent of the fifties with its music and ordering from the car. Today a coupon was to run out that we used to order two root beer floats for only ninety-nine cents each. NascarKid loves root beer and drinks it instead of water where he has a choice. That’s all he drank on his Florida trip. Miss Giggles chose Sprite for herself today, and actually spent most of her time putting on her brand new denim shoes. She chose sitting on my lap the rest of our time spent parked beside the speaker and menu in our car listening to the fifties music.
This was my first root beer float in over forty years. OOPS! There I go telling my age. Oh, well, at this locality in my cycle of existence, it doesn’t actually carry much weight if a personage familiarizes herself/himself with my deterioration or numbered notch in this era. That first sip after stirring in some of the ice cream was familiar, but yet a shock. I had forgotten how sharp and strong the flavor would be. The memory jumped to mind of the A&W Root Beer Parlors. We were one of the lucky towns to sport the drive-in and have the girls to skate out to the car with the tray of frosty glass mugs filled to the brim. My favorite was always the ice cream float.
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©2002 by Stormy Jeanne
