Home again, Home again, Jiggidy-Jig!

We're back!!!

Had to get up at 5:30 to go to Myrtle Beach airport and fly back to Hartford.

John, our friend, had a driver to bring us home.

Brigit was already here--picked up by our next door neighbors Mark and Naomi. They told us "she was the best dog ever."

But we knew that.

I've never seen Oak Island so crowded--and it's June!

We've been in July, August and early September over the years--but I've never seen so many people on the beach before.

Eleanor and Mimi and Tim were a blast.

John wondered what Eleanor (almost 7) will be like at 15.

I share that wondering.

She is so smart and so insightful and manipulates us all even now!

Look out for 15!

It's so good to be home.

The older I get the more I dislike NOT being home.

But it was a good week.

And, I'm glad it's over.

 

Early tomorrow

About 6:30 in the morning we'll be picked up to go to Bradley Airport ("you're airport, Mr. Bradley", a kind stewardess told my father as we landed when I brought him to CT.)

We fly to Tampa (of all places!) and then back to Myrtle Beach. The return flight is direct, thank the Lord!

On the plane with Bern and I are three dear friends from New Haven.

Mimi, Tim and Eleanor will meet us on Oak Island.

Then the sea and surf for a week--and Eleanor, God love her.

I have to write a sermon by the Ocean.

Gene, a good friend from Trinity, told me to let the surroundings write the sermon.

I may just do that.

I'll miss blogging--but maybe I'll write some to forward when I get home.

We'll see.

And we'll 'sea'.

 Have a great week, beloved.

We will.

 

One more day

 We're leaving for vacation on Oak Island, NC early, early Saturday morning.

We'll take Brigit to the kennel tomorrow--alas!

So, I only have tonight and tomorrow the blog.

We'll be gone until June 10.

I will miss blogging to you--but not that much since three friends, our daughter, son-in-law and grand-daughter will be with us at the beach.

And it's none to soon.

Since I cracked my ribs, Bern hasn't let me do ANYTHING!

I often said, "I've never been bored."

But I was getting close until Bern let me drive to the bank to get cash for our trip.

All went well.

I am almost always 'the other driver' for the car we rent in Myrtle Beach to drive to Oak Island.

I think I can do it.

Mimi, Tim and Eleanor will bring another car from Raleigh, where they fly to.

I'm feeling fine.

Still some soreness in the rib area, but nothing I can't handle.

I'll post tomorrow before we go on Saturday a.m.

Rhododendron

 We have two Rhododendron plants--two in the front yard and two in the back.

I didn't say "bushes" though the ones in back are. But the two in front could as easily be called 'trees'--they are that tall.

Bumblebees love the blossoms--not so much honey bees.

It's the state flower of West Virginia where Bern and I grew up.

So, it reminds me of my once home from time to time--a place I'll never visit again.

They soothe me, not just with memories, but with present pleasure.

I love them and am glad to share the earth with them.

Two in a row

         Today is full of sun, a slight breeze, temperatures in the 70's and not a cloud in the sky.

    Yesterday was the same. Two lovely mid-Spring days in a row.

    All is well in Cheshire.

    But not in our country.

    Some of the idiots we sent to Congress want to block the debt ceiling rise.

    Whether they are right wing Republicans or left wing Democrats they should be drawn and quartered for opposing the debt ceiling rise.

    Don't they understand what going in default would mean for Americans and the whole world?

    Bern and I wouldn't get our Social Security checks.

    The stock market would crash putting my pension--which comes from stocks--in danger.

    But we have enough savings to be ok.

    But lots of folks wouldn't be. Welfare checks and food stamps would dry up. Medicaid and Medicare would not pay. Money from the government for unemployment benefits and payments to children in poverty would go away. Retired vets and active military would not be paid.

    It would be a world wide disaster since the world economy relies heavily on the U.S. economy.

    Don't they understand that this could put the US and much of the world back to Depression-era situations?

    How do you work in Congress and not realize what I realize?

    Has our country become so divided that we are willing to put our civilization at risk?

    God help us all if the debt ceiling isn't raised....

 

The TV writers strike...

 ...is ruining my YTube viewing.

Most days I watch Steven Colbert, Seth Meyers and both Jimmy's monologues and none of them are doing shows.

Doesn't leave me a lot of viewing time.

On another subject: the U.S. needs to severely limit AI.

I did watch on You Tube a scene of four police officers tackling and handcuffing the former President.

I'd like to see that if it were real--but it was created by Artificial Intelligence. 

AI recreates voices as well.

Chris Murphy, one of CT's Senators played and AI fake of his voice on the Senate floor.

I would have thought it was him.

This could get out of hand real fast.

It needs to be closely regulated if not banned.

(Just AI me typing....)

I haven't blogged...

...because I've been in the hospital.

(I'll spare you the details by coping and email I sent to Trinity, Milton when I got home today.)

 

Dear All--I fell on Sunday and fractured cracked two ribs. It didn't hurt enough the first two days (and I didn't know the ribs were cracked!) but by Tues. I was in such pain I went to urgent care. They send me to Mid-State in Meriden by ambulance because my blood oxygen was 84. They found the cracked ribs but don't handle such cases and sent me by ambulance to Central CT hospital in New Brittian. Which I obviously can't spell!

They did great work and by this morning the pain was controlled, my blood oxygen was 97 and the fluid in my lungs (too painful to cough before) was gone.

So, Bern and I got home at 3:30.

Please let everyone know on Sunday that I'm on the road to recovery.

Also let them know I am not to exert myself for 2 weeks, so, I'm sorry that I can't be there on Wed. 31 at noon.

Steve has the next two Sundays anyway--So that's good for the parish.

We're supposed to be in N.C. June 3 to 10. I won't go unless a Dr. says ok.

That's my tale of woe, but the tale is looking better starting right now.

Shalom, Jim