Amen!

As many of you know, I play the piano for the Harmony Quartet. Recently we had a few things happen that are worth (but probably not appropriate) sharing!

What must be a surprise to some groups has become second nature to us. We've been to several churches and performed our little concerts. At the end, there would be a time of announcement. Some pastors have used that time to (gulp) RESIGN!! Oh yes my friends. They invite us to be seated in the fellowship hall while they "take care of a little business." - That has happened twice. We've also found out that weeks, and even days later of a concert that a pastor has left. That has happened about 5 times. But our last outing made history. While in Athens, we witnessed for the first time the pastor - JOINING the church!!

It's a NEW year folks. I guess we've raised the bar...?? - Whatever the case, we know better than to expect a normal service.

I should also learn to expect anything from old people! LOVE me some old people! - One reason is, they say WHATEVER is on their mind during their prayer. I guess they think nobody's listen while they're talking to God. I guess that's fine, but it makes the ole' awkward meter go up once they start naming names!!

Here's your highly anticipated example! ;)

Ironically, during that same service in Athens, I got there early and was asked to play for the congregational song right before Sunday School.

Once finished an elderly saint of a lady (probably, I don't know) was called upon to pray. As she wrapped up her Heavenly conversation, she closed with "and bless the lost like our president and his family, and turn this country back from Islam." -

Back? He can't even get healthcare reform to take place.

Love me some old people.

See you next time. (Try not to resign after you read this!)

Thwart of the Union

Come on in!



I thought I'd give my thoughts on the recent State of the Union Address. As if you wanted to hear my opinion. - But...you are reading this so, here goes!!



First, I'll start with all of the positive things about President Obama's speech.

1. His tie was straight... now for the negative...

That was a joke!



Actually I think he has quite the task in front of him for the next three years of his one and only term.

Which I didn't think would be the case after he first took office.

The party's are certainly split between themselves, but that's not new. It seems as if he is an outsider among his own administration. If the Republicans want something, the Democrats throw a hammer. If the Democrats try something, the Republicans are surely going to try to thwart. (I like the word thwart) - I've stopped blogging for like two minutes just saying thwart. Using different accents, yelling it. Ok, I'm done now.

But if Mr. Obama brings something to the political table....both sides say "Hold up a minute young man." "This ain't gonna work." - Gives me a warm feeling inside. I assumed that everything he wanted would be granted immediately. Awesome in the face!

Or is it? I don't want other countries laughing because of our lack of respect for leadership. I mean, nothing happens outside of God's divine permission. So, Mr. Obama is there for a reason. Darned if I know what the reason is!!



So, I won't dissect him personally. But I will take my amateur cheap-shots at the address he gave.



The number 3 problem I have with the speech, is his jabs at the previous president. Saying things like "The deficit was this bad before I ever took office" or "We've done it that way for eight years, and look where that's got us" - would be fine if he wasn't trying to preach in the very next phrases that we need to "put aside our blaming and come together" or "take responsibility and move foward" - that kind of two-handed talk chaps my hide!

Problem number 2 is this global warming, I'm sorry, "undeniable scientific evidence" of global warming. What the Flagnod? Google stories from the mid-70's where global "cooling" was an issue. Do we really have the weather THAT high up on the list of things to do before I get voted out in three more years? If you concentrate on that which we have no control you'll end this presidency hardly making a positive difference and I'll have to pick at the next president or presidentess, about complaining that he/she "inherited" a mess from the previous president!

Not that it shouldn't be a concern, and not that we shouldn't do what we can to improve the environment around us....but let's leave that to the people that have that time on their hands to guilt trip the guilty into recycling and driving energy-efficient vehicles.

And, the number 1 problem I had with the Address was that he stated that he inherited this country in this condition.....Really? Ya mean it doesn't automatically start over every term?

Listen, your entire campaign was basically huling insults at Mr. Bush citing what a horrible job he has done. Entering two wars, ignoring health care and so forth. - If YOU can say that you inherited this mess, my question is - Can Mr. Bush ever say "Oh, I'm sorry, we were attacked 9 months into my first term" which would be a jab at Mr. Clinton's security system already in place. What if we did NOT go to war? What if he would have concentrated on healthcare? We would have needed it, I suppose, to make sure that we were taken care of because of the routine attacks that would have been on our soil because these countries would have had enough time on their hands seeing as how we weren't over there bravely defending us and securing their govt. - but I digest...



I choose to hope that the parties do come together. Because people are growing tired of the three-way fighting. Let's bring it back to the classic boxing-style grudge match between two entities that we've grown accustomed to. Or, let's ALL focus on global warming and see where we end up!



Later.

Not So General Hospital

Dr. Toussaint at welcoming return














The Forest Park crew heading out















Our Faithful Nurses



- Hi there!

...So there I am. Sitting at my desk, keying away, minding my own business and CERTAINLY not looking on Facebook....and I hear, from the office behind me, the voice of the president and founder of our hospital..."I think we're going to Haiti."

That lackadaisical verbal comment started what will surely be a small part of history now.
If you've watched the evening news in our area any recent evening you have, undoubtedly, seen the story.

Dr. Toussaint ("T") made the decision to fly his jet full of medical/surgical supplies, a team of physicians, a group that I will affectionately refer to as "security" to a country recently devasted by an earthquake.

Now, to get the team together...it was basically a line that automatically formed as if a military summons had been sent. Physicians, nurses, and techs alike literally asked if they could join. I dare say that I have never witnessed a more solemn display of medical patriotism from any group of people.

Originally scheduled for Friday morning, due to an unreceivable airport, the team lifted off Saturday morning loaded with prayers, thoughts, supplies, medical personnel, and a unified goal of simply helping just because "they need it."
"They" being men and women that would inevitably lose their limbs, or have physical changing trauma as a result of falling objects i.e. buildings! Or, children that have become the head of their respective households because their parents were crushed.

Upon arrival the team was greeted with up close scenery that the most graphic war movie would have trouble copying. The smell. The sounds. People crying out for help.

And here is Forest Park Medical Center, volunteering to enter circumstances that would rock their emotional world. Stories of desperation have been shared with me. I would like to share some with you.

They land. They start working.
Once set up in a 2-OR hospital FPMC became the FIRST civilian medical response team in Haiti. Now...the difficulty really begins. The language barrier. Unfamiliar territory. Environment that becomes somewhat more hostile due to a growing panic.
Tents were created just outside the facility. Patient introductions begin.
The decision of "moving on from this patient because they are too far gone" is now a repetitive process. One of our nurses received a patient and the census was to give Morphine and move on - to ease their pain as best they could. The nurse wanted to continue to administer medical attention, but, due to the large volume and deleting time frame.....reality set a little deeper. It must be difficult to triage people with your eyes welling with tears knowing that it's too late for some. Or maybe, as in some of the children there, they had to deal with this - a 6 year old girl who was communicating with some of our staff was asked where her mom was. She said "I am mom"
"No, no, where are your parents?" we asked. "It is only me" she replied.
She had a 5 year old brother, and a two year old little sister that she had been forced to take care of since her parents had been crushed. She managed to look after them for several days until getting taken care of....did I mention she was 6?!?
What a heartmelter!

They would have to place a pain block, and give the children suckers (dum dums) to distract them from the relocation of their joints! As they would reach for the candy...their arm would be jerked back into socket! On-the-fly skills from an exhausted team.
Working hour after hour. Getting chunks of sleep in a couple of hour intervals the team went on. Surgeons doing over 30 procedures in one day. Supplies running out. Hungry. Nervous. They kept providing care.
One physician, who could speak French, one of the languages represented there, woke up to a crowd of people that was pointing and saying "he is the one" - in other words, he can help us AND understand us. At the very least they provided hope for this devastated country.

Amputations were performed. Infections were healed. Dressings placed. - but the biggest obstacle of all......dealing with what they saw, smelled, heard, after returning home.

Many of the group had emotional relapses. Their human side showing. - A side I will never see due to their heroic efforts. I stand proudly and applaud every one of them. Not because they had the skills to do it....not because they expected/received no payment....but because of the instant desire to go just because "they needed our help."

Love you guys!!! - Pleasure working here with ya!

Knock Knock!

Greet to tha tings Peeps!

Ever been in a bathroom in a public place and someone (that you would assume shares your untimely bowel/urinary habits) tries to come in? But instead of knocking, or jiggling the door handle....they forcefully try to turn nearly ripping the doorknob of the hinge! Wow...they had to GO!
Next time, try gently grabbing, and ever so slightly turning until you discover that it is locked. You may move on to find another one, without reduntantly scaring the crap of anoyone currently on the throne!

Enough Potty stuff already!

Flavored toothpicks may be one of the most geniously invented items of our time. The ones with the attached floss thingy's are the best! Plus, they make pretty handy little weapons. You would NOT want to take one of those to the eyeball!

A couple more things. Why is it that light bulbs go out at different times? A fan with those 4 to 5 light attachments never has bulbs that synchronize? I put them in at the same time when I first got the thing. When did the space time continuum get so far off?

Oh well, just remember it's always darkest before the dawn! - Well, that's not really true because the sun is pretty close to coming up so it's not THAT far. I guess it's always darkest when the sun is on the other side of the Earth!
Whatever, if my brain was taxed...I'd get a rebate!

Later

Happily Clever After

Suppness!!

Ever say something out loud, then hear someone a decent way down the hall laugh? You turn to give them the acknowledging bow only to discover that they were talking with someone else and laughing at them instead? - Yeah...me neither!

It's not that it's cold, it't that it's soooo far from being hot! The closer the health care bill gets to being implemented the closer Hell is to freezing over methinks!
Speaking of commercials that make me laugh (?) - I was within ear shot of an advertisement that said "And if you act now you can get this for only $399.00"
I'm sorry but "only" never applies to three-digit cost!!
Speaking of signs that make you turn your head...I noticed a vehicle the other day cruisin' on down the road with a signage on it that read "Crash Research Car"! - Wow. how many tests can you actually run? Do they EVER pass? Where can I sign up?!? :)

Enclosing (and speaking of something that I wasn't currently speaking of...get it?)
Whilst (yes whilst) at Starbucks, I was handed my White Chocolate Mocha with Caramel on top without one of those little sleeves. I didn't accept it. The girl said "Oh, you want a sleeve? I was gonna say "Oh no, that's fine" Then, when she handed it to me, I was gonna make her hold on to it 'til she DROPPED it due to the excessive heat that they are speaking of when they label RIGHT THERE on the side of the cup! - And then I'd say "it's hot ain't it?" 'causeing a chain-reaction of never giving out a hot beverage without one of the sleeves.......but, alas, I said yes to the offer, took it, enjoyed it on my ride in considering I paid ONLY $4.89 for it!!

Later

Bring me your tired, your needy, your complaints?

Howdy in the face!

You know anyone that is negative, dramatic, or in a bad mood ALL the time? And you think "I wish they would be in a good mood for a change." - Then, the day they are.....you realize that they are the most ANNOYING person ever??
I have the privilige of be co-employed with such a person.
He's usually very determined to let things upset her. *(yeah, i switched up the sex to throw you off!) - Now, I wish they'd go back to being ticked off and quieter!!

This is the time of year that we save money on gas. It's too cold to stay outside and pump for more than half a tank! I trust your Christmas. I had a trampoline - It flew away. We're getting another. A HEAVIER one!
Have you re-gifted? I think I got something that someone else didn't want and may be "three-gifting" soon!

You know what I like? Ii like....when people come up to me and complain or question things that I have ABSOLUTELY no control over! LOVE that! - So, in turn, I'm-a-gonna start sending them random mail from made up names complaining about problems in far away places.

EXAMPLE: ('cause ya know I got 'em)
"To whom it may or may not concern" "It's come to my attention based on an episode of Dateline that there are starving people in Africa." "Please do something about this." "Do you like it that kids are starving?" "I can't believe you let it get to this point."

OR -
"The girls that work at the local Sonic are rude" "Please go to each one, order, then criticize them on their tone and educate them on how to deal with customers" "Start with the one in Washington State"


Ahh...that's better! :)

Well, off I go to put $2.00 of gas in at a time!

Dave