Tuesday, December 31, 2019

New Year’s Eve 2019

Tomorrow 2020 begins 

A Decade in Focus 

The Future To be Determined

We are Grateful 

Our new life in Virginia is a blessing of the decade.
Still stunned reminiscing about the long journey to get here.
We got out of Vermont in the nick of time,
Before the taxes and other expenses did us in.
We adopted Meela who is an aggressive little cat.
She tough, beautiful, and lovable.
That’s all I have to say for now.
Stay tuned for my new decade of blogging.
I write for You as well as Me,
Travelers through the Universe 
Pausing to share a moment in a Time.
12.31.2019
Meg

We spent yesterday on the porch. It neared 70 degrees f.


Monday, December 30, 2019

Cognitive function


Another great posting by the Mouse 🐁 Doctor 👨‍⚕️...



My comment:

Good thinking, Doctor. As an old nurse assessor, I had to assess patients for Vermont Medicaid long term program care eligibility. We often saw the person at their home. Cognitive deficits were the hardest to assess. We sometimes heard from families. The patient wasn’t bathing or uncharacteristically disorganized, left a pot on the stove and forgot things, got lost. Sometimes subtle signs. It was detective work. One man seemed fine. In reality, his candy dish had cat food in it, and he snacked on it. These were mostly Dementia patients. But sometimes a person just couldn’t hold it all together. They were often aware. They often didn’t want us to know or couldn’t put into words they needed help. A teacher was so organized she nearly was denied. It’s sometimes more Focal. For me, the travel, daily grind and heavy decision making exhausted me. Holding it together. Fatigue multiplied the falling apart, the tethered thinking. I think assessment only at clinic visits misses so many signs. Even before home visits, cognitively impaired patients often got up early, covering any signs of falling apart, Pulled it together. Nobody wants to fail any test. Sometimes you can hold it together for a two hour visit. Then they often collapsed after I left, their cognitive reserve spent. This was the hardest type of patient to assess. I really think that a series of computer testing could capture more information. Even a game that required different areas of thinking. Then, over time, you would get more complete information. There are inherent difficulties in trying to measure cognitive function while you’re watching them. They may perform well, then go home and fall apart. If you knew the finer points of their cognitive function, disability qualifications might be easier for the patient and the assessor. I kept a journal of sick days, feelings on those days, how all my energy was spent at my job and nothing left when I got home from work. Fatigue has an impact on cognitive ability as well. It’s all so invisible on the outside.

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Adios Imus


Saturday, December 28, 2019

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Looking Forward

Fred got me a most amazing gift for Christmas 🎄 Now I just need to begin writing ✍🏼 in it, my Journal I named The Book of Mary. I’m in Awe 📚



Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Christmas Eve

Rerun of an old favorite 🎄🎁


Candy Canes or Just red and White Stripes

Candy Canes?
Search the news for Charlotte Central School Vermont and candy cane like stripes done by a 4th grader and her dad. I did the following piece in time to need an inspiration for our darkest season.
Merry Christmas or holiday of your traditions.

Yes Virginia
By Mary E. Gerdt 2008
On the unfortunate opposition to red and white stripes on Charlotte Central School pillars
Allegedly a symbol of something someone found offensive.
Yes Virginia
There are atheists
And ACLU lawyers
And people who will try to destroy
Your dreams
Yes Virginia
There are those who say they hate you
Or what you believe in
And how is that so different
After all.
Yes Virginia
You can pray for people who don’t believe in what you do
Because
They probably need it
At the end of the day when no one else would pray for them
Yes Virginia
People will say what you do represents religious or other beliefs
And it might make you sad or cry
Do they mean to hurt you?
I don’t know
Yes Virginia
When you do the nice thing
And someone says, “who cares” or “Why” or “You can’t”
Just tell them you are who you are
And they are who they are
And this is a free country so that really works both ways
In fact always.
Yes Virginia
Your youthful optimism and blind love only a fourth grader could muster
Is fragile and might be squished like a bug
Or you may hold on to it if you try very hard and believe twice as hard
That people might change or start to believe
Or at least feel comfortable enough to accept that you have a right believe enough to try to brighten someone’s day
Unsuspecting that behind the pillars stood one man who said Bah Humbug
Who tried to negate your good deed
That brought so many joy and a smile.
Yes Virginia
That is the miracle of the season no matter what you call it, no matter what your beliefs, there is no question that the days get shorter and shorter
until the light returns to shine on us all
Believers and non believers alike.
Yes Virginia
Don’t let that sinking feeling persist in the pit of your stomach
when you thought
You created trouble or
got in trouble for trying to brighten someone’s day.
You are the shining light we all seek
Believe it or not.

2 comments:

  1. feed em lead and let em eat candy canes
    Fred
    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks to my wonderful husband for his as usual warm and straight through the heart comments, always brief, to the point and relevant to life in the Wild (North) West of Monkton.
    ReplyDelete

Monday, December 23, 2019

Christmas with #Meela

Meela, our new cat since July 4th continues to test our devotion and our flexibility. We started to put up our metal tree but Meela started right off to destroy it. 



So Fred went out and got a little tree that we can plant outside when holidays are over. Meela won out. 




Thursday, December 19, 2019

Monday, December 16, 2019

OPINION: Decriminalize Marijuana

I woke up in pain 
.. Again 
meg 


OPINION: Decriminalize Marijuana: The criminalization of marijuana is needlessly punitive and has lasting consequences on the lives of offenders.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

New Rules for Legislators


Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Gadolinium It never seems to go away


Monday, December 9, 2019

#Gadolinium

This subject always on my mind..  

Updates...

Podcast link:


 And more...



Saturday, December 7, 2019

Mom’s Recipes

It is an old Mother’s Day Gift our elementary school class did. You might recognize the mimeograph print 😎

We got some rye flour and going to try to make the bread.

Mom’s scribble on the cover. She was always doing that ❤️ Missing her.






Thursday, December 5, 2019

Gadolinium


Wednesday, December 4, 2019

#Gadolinium What, Me Worry?



 Symptoms as varied as colors in a Rainbow 🌈 

Making me wonder about gadolinium 
Is it contaminated by other toxic metals?
Can it be pure?

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Daily Bread


My blog is my Daily Bread
My Devotion
Feeding my Head
Memories of Moments
Gone
But not Forgotten
They sit here,
Waiting for me to Reminisce.
Our 35th Wedding Anniversary
Seems like such a long time
Where did it all go?
Then a tweet like this one pops up in my Twitter Stream...
And I know it’s just the One.
Like Fred is Just the One
For Me ❤️

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Gadolinium, And Other Toxic Metals

Yes, I said it, Toxic.



Toxic
Toxic
Toxic
Metals in all the wrong places



Friday, November 29, 2019

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Healthcare... Reform?

My thoughts follow as I read this blog by a favorite neurologist...


My comments:
“I woke up wondering how I could get my next 90 day allotment of Glatopa shots 💉  before the end of the year because I’ve met my $750 deductible for 2019. Glatopa is he generic of Copaxone, both of which seem old school, so yesterday. But at 61 on Medicare and a Supplement, Why should I expect More?
There’s something cruel about making me pay $750 USD in January right after Christmas 🎄
Then I thought about young Serbians, without even Access to DMT’s and I felt Rich, Elite, Privileged. Am I really worth it?
Now,
Maybe we can leave President Trump out of this.
He didn’t devise the ill fated Obama-Care, which put high premiums, deductibles and penalties for not participating.
He didn’t tout “Medicare for all “ like the Democratic Party Candidates.
He didn’t give the Legislature better healthcare insurance than their constituents.
The Legislature did that.
He didn’t propose employers stop using healthcare as a benefit of employment.
In fact, that is why some people work.
I realize I’m rambling in the wee hours but the Healthcare Morass is easy to get stuck in.
A system so complicated and so emotionally charged,
A system we rely on to give us Health and Life.
A system of Incrementalism.
A battle of Legislative Priorities.
Lobbyists from Pharma and Healthcare systems compete to buy the lawmakers drinks 🍷
I sit here typing letters to my legislators and get a generic “Thanks for sharing “ email back.
You may not want to hear my theories about Gadolinium, a rare earth toxic metal used for better MRI pictures.
In fact, no one wants to talk about it.
Isn’t that part of the problem when the USA FDA , Food and Drug Administration can get thousands of patient reports of ill effects of Gadolinium while big Corporations like Bayer, GE, Make bazillions pushing this toxic metal?
The source Of Gadolinium is China, where God only knows how it is mined and refined.
Nobody is listening  as I sing like a canary, “Gad is Bad”.
Meanwhile consider your municipal drinking water supply probably contains Gadolinium,
Source? The  urinary tracts of  MRI Patients.
The Theme of this Healthcare Quagmire is Money and Profits
Disregarding Humans and True Science.
Stay tuned.
Healthcare “reform” is coming.
It’s a bitter pill.”

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Healthcare for All?

While UK Citizens struggle with the unintended consequences of a Socialist approach to Medicine,
USA Citizens fight each other, one proclaims “Healthcare For All” “Government Run Healthcare” “Medicare for All”
The Status Quo in USA is Public and Private Insurance.
Some Government controlled:
Medicare benefits of aged and disabled workers,
Medicaid: State run benefits for poor and children with special health needs
Private: Commercial Insurance and HMO plans, Employer sponsored Or Self insured individuals
Private Pay: no insurance. Several reasons: can’t afford, Preexisting conditions make premiums unaffordable,
May be Irresponsible, lazy, sick, depressed, didn’t think they’d get sick
Last the Non Profit Hospitals under Hill Burton Act must provide some free care in order to maintain their Non Profit status.
Some people in USA say we should just let The Government run this.
I feel like our system is working as well as it can at the moment.
Incremental changes to insure a safety net.
Mandate free care provision in non profit healthcare systems.
Just don’t let the Government take care of you.
We can’t afford that.
About a Questionnaire study of the Diagnosis-Treatment-Outcomes comparison,
Might want to do a worldwide study.
Don’t forget Serbia where patients get the Least.

Here’s the article that started my thoughts ruminating...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Thursday, November 21, 2019

#Gadolinium More info you might not want to know 🤦‍♀️








Wednesday, November 20, 2019

What have you been drinking?


Tuesday, November 19, 2019

#Gadolinium

Well, if I couldn’t get your attention regarding IV Gadolinium as an Iatrogenic Nightmare we have yet to wake up from, Maybe you’ll see how our finite water supply is being infused with the dreaded metal. Drink this up!



Monday, November 18, 2019

Music Link for Monday 🎶🎸

Stellar Music Link by Moonalice 

From their YouTube channel 
Been looking for a great version of a favorite of theirs
In the Nick of Time... 🎶🎸


Sunday, November 17, 2019

#Gadolinium


Friday, November 15, 2019

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

A Patient Pleads, NHS Listens,

Baby steps...


Sunday, November 10, 2019

#Gadolinium

From Dr. Wagner’s Twitter Feed...


Thursday, November 7, 2019

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Spring cleaning in the Fall

Just couldn’t handle the same old familiar string in my blog’s right hand margin. Even if someone might miss my fracking protests, that cat’s 🐈 🐱 out of the bag 💼 Even if I chopped out all my complaints about the various ways my constitutional rights were violated by progressive town fathers and mothers

These fights are past
Gone
Not forgotten 
Not forgiven 
Separate at last 
Did it leave a seed of hate in me?
As long as I don’t nurture it, it will wither further.

Today our second time voting 🗳 in Virginia We’ll gladly bring our photo ID’s

A good day to sever with our memories of small town Vermont “Gubmint “
Hope to lighten up the margin a little.

Cool and crisp this morning 
There’s a cleansing in frost.
Meg

#Gadolinium

Well I’ll be a Monkey’s Uncle 🐒 


Sunday, November 3, 2019

Friday, November 1, 2019

Sunday, October 27, 2019

#Gadolinium


Saturday, October 26, 2019

Crossing over.. BBB

Connections?






Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Angels

All my mentions of Angels surprised even me, familiar yet sometimes different 


Sunday, October 20, 2019

#Gadolinium

more and more comes out every day...


Saturday, October 19, 2019

Smoldering





Smoldering…like
A Cold Fire Burning inside
A Smoky Stench, neither Burning nor being put out
Depressing Thoughts?
Oh yes.
Refreshing Viewpoint?
That too.
My clinic days they test me a say, are you taking meds?
You look pretty good.
I pulled myself together to get there.
I perform for the Doctor, Trying to do my Best
Or they won’t like me
Or they would feel a failure
Or they’ll give up on me.
My Adult side knows they care for me.
My Child side is scared of what a Doctor I worked with called “The Dwindles”.
You’re on the right track, Dr. G