THE TALE OF THE ELECTRIC NEEDLE

Something like this - not quite as large - left hand

My hands hurt, they are black and blue,

what in the world did that doctor do?
He started up his diagnostic machine;
he had no honest thought of being mean.

 

He poked and he prodded with needles so small,
one would have thought they were nothing at all.
But when the electricity flowed they came alive,
he turned up the juice, I jumped, no jive.

 

He did my arms, my hands and my neck,

and today some of them hurt like heck!

I'll do no writing while this stuff goes on,

but it shouldn't be long, please check…I'm not gone.

Shocking!

I have improved (a little)

  Well the test was some experience and shocking it was.  Electric shock is the way nerves are tested and mine were tested, retested both at the surface and inside the skin with needles stuck into muscles.  Yowsa!  I was a little sore at the end.  I was amused by the doctor saying "you bleed easy, don't you?".
  The news is this:  I do not have Carpal Tunnel, I have arthritis which I already knew.  So that's it, I'll continue with the paraffin baths (just the hands, mind you) which help some for short periods of time.  I'll keep typing as long as it's reasonably comfortable.

origin unknown

This should be interesting

This is what's left of me....

   This is what's left of me that useful, see photo,  some of the rest will be tested today at 9:45AM.  It will be interesting to find out if anything can be salvaged.
   What's really happening is that I'm getting an EMG test to see how much damage to the nerves is, if any.  The test is for Carpal Tunnel.  I am having great difficulty with my hands.  Just about anything and everything I do is painful.  Things like taking the cap off a marker can hurt like hell. 
   We'll know more soon - you know how that is the people testing will pass that on to my doctor and sometime in the future he will share that with me.  When I know I will pass it on.

Astounding! Presidents, geography and vacations

Photo: Harry Whittier Frees

  I was going to write about which President took the most vacations, but I wondered how many people really knew who was the President.  Here are a few things I found:
  Of young people ages 18 to 24 (who shouldn't have left school too long ago):
  Only 94% could find the USA on a world map.
  Only 88% knew where Mexico is.
  and, only 79% could find the Pacific Ocean.  The source: National Geographic

  30% of Americans do not know who is Vice President.  source gawker.com

  According to The Daily Mail at www.dailymail.com
  70% of American don't know what the Constitution is, a full six percent don't know when Independence Day is.  An amazing 63% of Americans do not know how many Justices are on the United State Supreme Count!

  And, oh yeah, President Obama has taken 125 days of vacation so far.  Compare to President George W. Bush who took 407 days at the same point in his Presidency.  Trips to Camp David are not included for either man.  Source: www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter

  So there you have it.  I know, I know.

 

He's got sole

Jonathan Lambert in his shop - click to enlarge
Photo: Ashley Conti, Bangor Daily News

  Jonathan Lambert is a cobbler in Bangor, Maine.  Cobblers were once common in our cities and towns, now there are but a few.  When is the last time you wore shoes that a cobbler could work on?
  He is a busy man because he's the only cobbler left in the area, to my knowledge, and people bring him work, lot's of it.  Repairing shoes or favorite hiking boots, repairing a purse, belt or other leather item.
  Read more, see more: http://bangordailynews.com/slideshow/bangor-cobbler-carries-on-centuries-old-tradition-of-repairing-fine-shoes/

Grinding to make a perfect fit. - click to enlarge
Photo: Ashley Conti, Bangor Daily News

Yacht builders houseboat home

Boatyard owners home in Belfast Maine  - click to enlarge
Photo: Gabor Degre Bangor Daily news

  The owner of the Brooklin Boatyard where fancy yachts are made, and part owner of the Front Street Shipyard in Belfast is at home in this floating home.
  The home has two bedrooms, a large kitchen and deck; it very nice.  While the owner works in Belfast he is at home, or a guest has a nice place to stay.
  Read more-see more: http://bangordailynews.com/slideshow/home-sweet-houseboat-recycled-shipping-containers-enliven-belfast-waterfront-2/

A partial view of the interior - click to enlarge
Photo: Gabor Degre Bangor Daily News

 

A new National Park for Chicago?

  If I asked how many have heard of a Pullman railcar, I think most of you could give an answer.  The famous cars built by the Pullman Company, in the then, suburb of Chicago named Pullman were used from the end of the Civil War until the near end of passenger railroads.
  The Secretary of Interior is thinking of asking the President to make the Pullman neighborhood a National Park to preserve the place made famous by a railcar.
  George M. Pullman built a factory, a neighborhood with housing, church, schools and the factory; all in one place.  The buildings are beautiful (to me) and worth preserving.  Take a look.

The housing - click to enlarge
Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
 

The factory
Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast  AP

The Hotel Florence
Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast  AP

Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Pullman
or: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Chicago-s-Pullman-site-could-become-national-park-5707669.php#photo-6763974