I ain't Lichen this!

Lichen on a tree - click to enlarge
Photo: www.aboretum.harvard.edu

  I have confirmed with my doctor yesterday that I have Lichen Planus.  It got the name because it looks like the Lichen you see on trees or stones, I don't have that kind because I didn't eat a baseball bat or something.
  This is an auto immune disease that can be treated by not cured; it is not life threatening.  It can be painful or maybe itchy.  It is in my mouth and on my neck and affects two fingernails.  I will receive a medication the apply to my mouth.  I may use an over the counter gel on my neck - itches like the dickens.  Anyway; I'm not Lichen it.

You never know...

....what sleep will bring,
but I'm sure it won't be spring.
I just got up!  Look at the time,
gosh this old guy is way behind.
And please forgive that last line,
he's even forgotten how to rhyme.

The Eyes have it, both ways

In2012 after voting, and after 30 years together
Photo: Stacey Guerin, State Representative

  Today is year 32 and the "ayes" have it.  I am a happily married man.  Yesterday the "eyes" had it and they were examined again.  My eyes are in pretty good shape for their age.  Oh, there's an indication of cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration but I don't foresee any real problems for the near future.
  The machinery those doctors use keeps getting more complex.  For instance the camera used to map the optic nerves isn't too large but you place your chin on one side or the other (depending on R or L eye) and the machinery moves your head on way or the other; it's a bit unnerving.
  Anyway that was just one day in an increasingly long line of days.  I just want to say "I love you" to my lovely wife, Linda.

Stop

Is that a brick wall?
Photo: www.ba-bamail.com

  The United States of America just hit a brick wall.  Republican control of Congress and a Democrat President.  Stop.  Dead standstill.  Enough said.  Well that and Maine just reelected the dumbest son of a bitch in the country.

Why? And not many answers.

Photo;www.pbpp.state.pa.us

  I went down to Bangor yesterday when I got intown I discovered there were no traffic lights and places were closed.  What a freaking mess!  Stop and go, BUT most drivers cooperated.  The City of Bangor Forestry Department has its work cut out, there are trees uprooted, trees broken off at different levels, and some are split.  Electrical Companies are working long, hard hours to restore power but I think this morning close to 100,000 customers are still out.  We here in Levant (only 7 miles out of Bangor are mostly lucky).
  Why is it that only passenger cars have owners that clean snow off the roof?  I saw some dangerous things waiting to happen.  I drove over the remains of ice and snow that had slid off vans, trucks or all sizes and trailers.  Did any of those go through someone's windshield?
  Go forth and vote!  It's important.

There was snow, a lot of it

It was this wet kind of snow
Photo: Linda Grant, March 2014

I was having coffee when the snow came to town
And I had thoughts of just laying back down.
But I stayed and watched all through the day,
As the goldenrod bent over like new mown hay.
It started to add up about half an inch an hour,
It heavy and wet not the nicer dry like flour.
Supposed to gone all through the night,
And let up and end just about daylight.
There'll be no coffee with the other guys,
No thanks from me for the snow laden skies.

We ended with maybe 14 inches of the stuff, probably all frozen now.  I cleaned the car off about 4pm so the yard could be plowed.  Miserable stuff and the first of the season - fall didn't let us down easy.  The birches are all bent over, even some maybe 6 inches through.  It's going to warm up during the week with rain on Thursday at 45 degrees so most of this will be a memory.

Out for half day

Orono Bog Walk in early autumn
Photo: Linda Grant

Google Blogger is uncooperative this morning so the type size and spacing are off, I apologize.  It's one of the most aggravating parts of writing this blog.  It is also a problem that's getting more frequent..  I spent yesterday morning out with Hollie, it went very well, but it's tiring because she talks the entire time and expects me to look at things while driving.  That will not change it's imbedded in the process.  I didn't do much of anything the rest of the day except make some scones and help a little bit with the laundry.  Now the space isn't moving down so I can't see what I'm writing.  Have a good day.

A day in the life of..

A couple of geezers - click if you dare
Photo by Hot Dog

  Well now you see, we were on the Bangor Foot Bridge and taking some photos of the remaining leaves and the Hot Dog walked out and asked if we'd like a photo of us together.  There it is.  The Hot Dog was actually a woman in a costume who works at a local agency nearby.  She was on her break.
  Most of the color is gone but in a few spots the oaks and a few maples still have some color.  That and what the heck we needed something to do, and besides the "good" bakery is nearby and the doughnuts are great!

It's the end of October

Carved pumpkins in Brunswick Maine - click
Photo by Seth Koenig for Bangor Daily News

  It's damned near winter and it's 32 degrees as I write this, brrrr.  It's also almost to the end of TV season for political ads (thankfully).
  It is now the third day of basketball season and last night LeBron James and the Cleveland team were beaten, I'm almost giddy.  James has the worlds largest ego, believes HE is the team but managed 15 points in 45 minutes of play - and the idiot was still smiling.
  Please remember to go and vote and then maybe the politicians will shut up.  Not really I know they won't the constant bickering will continue to erode government in this country.

Window shopping

Windmills on Mount Waldo from the Loggin Road with Marsh Stream, Winterport, Maine
Photo/Illustration: Eolin Energy via Bangor Daily News

  There aren't any windmills on Mount Waldo yet but this is what it would look like if there were.  It's not a good place for them, my opinion, the site is where some famous granite came from, it's in almost every large city on the east coast.
  Linda was shopping for shoes.  I took her to Super Shoes in Bangor and found a pair.  Then we went to Macy's at the Bangor Mall and looked for some on sale "at huge discounts".  Same shoe-same price, even with a "huge discount".
  The window shopping came at table after table full of colorful silk neckties.  I don't had any use for a necktie but I have a couple just in case.  It was tempting, of course there were too many to choose from so you'd have to buy a dozen!
  A little sad that the Giant's won the World Series, I had other hopes, but they didn't let me play.

I can almost see what I'm writing

Take a close look
Photo: PPH

  I moved a little too sideways yesterday morning so it was back to taking the muscle relaxer.  The result was less pain but the blurred vision came calling too.  I can see what I'm doing but have to watch closely right now.  No trouble with distance so driving isn't any danger, it's just reading and writing.
  A friend of my wife sent her a listing on www.baba.com interested stuff everyday if you have time to spare.  Here's an example:
  In a article on aging it was noted that as we grow older lists become more common.
  A man told his wife he was going to the kitchen.  She asked that he bring her some ice cream.  He didn't need to write that down he said, then she added strawberries and whipped cream.  He still contended he didn't need to write that down, he could remember that he said. 
  He appeared twenty minutes later and handed his wife an empty plate.  To which she replied.
  "Where's my toast?"

An update

Well, my friends, I'm back, but limited.  The problem is a spine with "a lot" of arthritis, particularly in the lower back.  One of the medicines I am/was on is a muscle relaxer and causes blurry vision.  Plus the fact that I need new glasses, appointment next week.
It's been a painful experience but I am on the mend and going back to my regular schedule.  It's been a busy few days with appointments for my and the missus too, now we have even more in common.  Too bad it's not something more pleasant.

I just don't know.

  I did have something to write about today, it was half-written in my head.  I do not know, now, what it was.  So you'll have to hear about yesterday.
  I woke up at 12:15AM, yes that's right, and I did not go back to sleep.  I had planned on going to a 10AM and a Noon meeting with Jeff The Sponsee.  We went to the 10, he went to the noon.
  I slept quite a bit at times during the afternoon, but I worked on the computer some, and watched the college softball tournament and/or golf too.  I went to bed at 7:30 and got up this morning at 1:15!

Now what?

See what I mean?
Photo: www.oocities.org

  I am finding, the longer I'm retired, that I no longer have time to work; even if I had a job.  Yesterday was a fine example.  I went for a two mile walk which ended at 4:45AM, then I had coffee with some friends at 5.  After coffee a trip to Wal-Mart for some frozen fruit (for smoothies) and a box of cereal.  I got home at 6:30AM for a couple of hours of sports on TV and some reading online.
  I left again at 9 and picked up Flo for some tests at the Vascular Care joint at Eastern Maine Medical Center.  They took Flo in at 9:45, and I waited.  I had told my friend I'd pick him up at 11:00AM so we could go to a meeting - but at 11 I was still waiting so Jeff (my friend) walked and I finally got to the meeting at 11:51AM!
  After the meeting, which was great, I took Jeff on a couple of errands, dropped him off and I was home at 2:15PM.
  Whew!  I wasn't that busy in my last 15 years on any job I had, there were two.  Waiting is a killer for me.  What's wrong with reading old magazines anyway?

Think! Man, think!

Just about says it.
Photo: www.happysimpleton.com

  After I took Hollie home, and had her try on some pants and shoes I came home myself.  When I usually get home I change in to some "flannel pants" - like pj bottoms.
  My wife decided she would like to do some shopping, she has been house bound for a couple of weeks - so what the heck, let's go.
  I had removed my wallet from my pants pocket when I got home too, so I could make the entries in Microsoft Money.
  When we were leaving to house I couldn't find my wallet, I slapped my "rear pocket" - nothing!  I only had my underwear, shoes and socks and a shirt.  Going out with no pants on!
  Ahhh! The joys of aging, I love the seventies.

What now?

  I have run out of ideas.  After four years of running my mouth by way of this blog, my head has gone cold.
  We'll see what I may be able to find of interest today.
Or, write me at flattop12senior@gmail.com and give me a clue.

A short(?) vacation

I am having significant right elbow pain; most of it probably caused by computer use.  Soooo, that means I have to cut back, especially the things that require typing.  Soooo, I am taking a short(?) break from my block.  I'll keep you informed.  Larry

What's up doc?

  That's the problem, a blanked brain, and no I don't have a backup.  Oh well!  The visit went okay, no surprises, well maybe one.
  The diagnosis was pneumonia and that certainly wasn't surprising; it was the acute renal insufficiency thing that bothered the most.  The kidney function and pneumonia are probably related and will cure at the same rate. Blood test again this week and more doctor talk a week from now.  Blood pressure problem is no more, it's back to near normal and continues to improve, still not taking any high blood pressure medications (I use 2).
  So, there you have it.  Only one dream about a company called 0 (zero), it's non-profit with no employees but issues 1099's to just about everyone, the fields are all filled with zeros too. 

Once again

  My first clue would have been that I slept until 7:00, that's about 5 extra hours.  My second clue was that I had dreamed that I touch a TV electronic board from another planet, and that it made me sick.
So, I got up, had little energy and Linda took Peggy to the doctors.  I had to go to the bathroom and felt woozy when leaving, so I leaned against the door frame, the next thing I knew I woke up on the bathroom floor, I'd been asleep about 20 minutes.
  I was able to get an appointment for the afternoon.  My blood pressure was only 84/52 - that's low for me and just about anyone else.  I also think the pneumonia has returned but the biggest concern was the blood pressure.  I have three meds to take for the next five days.
  I may try to resume the blog very soon.

The geezer

Even rocks get old!

The archway at the beach
Photo: Robert Wills

  At Tennessee Beach in Marin County, California (just north of the Golden Gate Bridge) a Cal-tech student and his parents were walking and heard a noise.  The student, Robert Wills, caught on camera the whole event.
  The arch, shown above, broke and the rocks came rushing down.  The resulting pieces of rock momentarily turned the surf brownish red with the small pieces.

The arch lies in ruin
Photo: Robert Wills

Visit:

www.its.caltech.edu/~rwills/blog  for more information

Falling!
Photo: Robert Wills