September 2018 - Health And Welfare

This autumn has presented a devastating hurricane to the south eastern states.  Seems that, Florence hurricane - without a  rating is worse than one with a definite rating. Folks were told to evacuate, however, some did not for whatever reasons.    Some of these folks  are the ones needing rescue right now.  They sit on their roof tops without food, water, electricity, etc., shivering from  shock.  Several poor folks, bless their souls, have died because of Florence.   Many people and animals were affected by this storm and not just the old and disabled. Thank Goodness for volunteers who help save the victims and animals hurt or lost because of this hurricane.   Sending money or groceries does not seem like such a good idea because we do not trust that it will get to the people that need them for whatever reasons.

Wow, it is unimaginable the things that happen to money and supplies sent to help people.For example, Puerto Rico's devastation.  Hubby saw pictures of hundreds of thousands of bottles of water still sitting on pallets at an airport.  None has been distributed at all.  Same for pallets of supplies and foods left to rot in a warehouse, that were never distributed to the people.  We wonder why and who to point the finger of blame at??  Hubby and I wish that we could go and help out. However, we are old and disabled ourselves, struggling to survive our own money and health issues in today's world. 

 Our own health care provider, Kaiser, is abandoning us because we are old and sick.   According to Kaiser, I have a weak heart and cannot ever be operated on for kidney stones, or colon cancer - 
Hubby, he needs a hip replacement and can barely walk with a cane in his attempts to take care of both of us. Kaiser says he must get dental work (very expensive) done and go to classes (40 miles away) first before they can consider the operation.  I cannot get a new wheelchair until I go to physical therapy and be evaluated.  If, I could get there, I would not need a new wheelchair!  Then Kaiser only pays fifty percent.  The catch is that they pick the company to buy it from at  very inflated prices.  I end up getting equipment on line at a fraction of the price, although it is not brand new, of course.  What's up with all this?

 Although, I am very angry at Kaiser's  policies, other health care programs would probably do the same, if they would even accept us as new patients!!      Do doctors really know what is best for me, or are they just trying to save themselves money.   I guess the old adage that doctors can only treat the symptoms or cut it out - could be correct, for us anyways.  No place for sick people in this world.
One day the powers that be, will probably euthanize people like they do cats and dogs.....so sad.

Keep the faith,
Lora Jason :)

End Of Summer 2018

My grand children return to school the day after Labor Day holiday as usual this year.  However, they are not really looking forward to going back to school. School creates more problems for them to deal with.  I will miss their faces and miss being able to talk to them during the week like we did all summer.  The weather is changing rapidly, thus, heading into autumn and cooler weather.  This is a good thing.

Such problems students face includes but not limited to: to much homework, peer pressure to dress accordingly to the popular kids' styles, among other things, like kids that bully other kids always and forever.  School is really a pain in the neck for our children from K-12.  I feel the system is broken, starting with the amount of days they have to attend school.  Bullying is still very much a problem K-12 to include teachers who bully students.  It is amazing what teachers can get away with.  Just like the coaches -  who bully players into achieving a goal far exceeding what they need to accomplish. Not many make it to the NFL or other professional ranking organization.

  I and hubby noticed that, it was not as hot this year as in the past few years.  Summer seemed to go through all its normal phases, i.e., bugs, heat, spiders, locust, vacations at the beaches, traveling, etc., however, the rain was excessive..  It would have been nice, if the rainfall, headed to California to help with the forest fires that continue even to this date.  Soon the old school buses will be lumbering through our tiny neighborhood, rumbling along loudly with its doors and brakes squeaking.  However, Buses still make less noise than our Trash pickup service.  It comes at four a.m., waking everyone up  early even, if they do not want to be woken at that hour.  Then, rush hour traffic begins around the same time.  We hear neighbors' vehicles doors slamming when they get into their car and leave for work.  Such noisy mornings and evenings coming our way soon.

Oh well, lets look on the bright side of school starting at the end of summer.  These include:
The weather is cooler, holidays are on the way, beaches close, pools close, and some sports are now held inside the gym.

I am sure there are more bright things to look forward to?  Did I mention hurricane season coming about now.  Poor Hawaii Islands will be getting hit tomorrow with a category 5 hurricane.  God protect them.

Take care,
Keep the faith
Your friend
Cooky :)
 

August 2018 - Reflecting Re Vacation Time Off

Summer vacations surely go by so quickly.    There is hardly time for teachers and those off during the summer school vacation, to take a deep breath and relax before they are headed back to the school regimen again for another school year. Those jobs offering only a two week vacation are slave drivers in my opinion.  Breaks for vacations and commercials are ridiculously to short or too interruptive.

In my opinion, school is  a strict and unforgiving regimen of hurried classes and fun.    The school  routine for many classes is based on 15-30 minute increments of rushed time - most of which is not classroom instruction.  Glorified babysitting is kind of how I feel.  Oh well, it gives lots of jobs to lots of teachers. So it is ok, so to speak, until something better comes along.  I worked in the school system, not in an administrative position, for twenty years. It was most rewarding, working with the children, however, rushing things was not very relaxing as we tried to cram as much as we could into a four or eight hour day.  Days off were few and far between even to take my own children to appointments.

Jobs of all kinds today are lower management-driven vehicles to get the most work out of employees per day regardless of the job itself.  There is no time for inefficiency in time management!  Like the commercials on television.  You have thirty minutes of commercials in an hour of show.  Most are repeat commercials - therefore, one is repeatedly listening to the same commercials.  These commercials are more interesting than the actual show you are watching sometimes.  And the commercial breaks disrupt those shows, that we like, even more often than should be allowed.

Summer 2018

Its June, almost July 2018.  School is out and family is heading for vacations.  It is an exciting time of year for all of us.  Free time on my grandchildren's hands to work, play, or follow their dreams.    My grands are getting so grown up, its amazing how mature they act. However, next school year will be short for two of my grands, because they will graduate early.  The next generation is on its way! My oldest granddaughter is expecting her first child in July.  It is a boy and we all cannot wait to have him here.  Her family will be happy to welcome him into their home.  Hope he does not arrive while everyone is at the beach or on vacation.....lol.   Lots of us in my family are on a Keto diet plan.  Low carbs and high protein. It seems to be working so far.  My eldest daughter has lost 50 lbs.  I have more clarity in my brain-thought patterns and am feeling more energetic as well.  Hubby and I are keeping track of the Washington Nationals' baseball team and looking forward to watching all of this season's games.   The political unrest in D.C., hopefully, will not impact on sports.  That is all I will say about that.

Cooky (lora) :)

   

   

Christmas 2017

December 25th is close - five days away.   I have only been thinking about it so far with all the hassles shopping brings. The traffic is deplorable and the lines are endless.  We are all bombarded with sale ads from before Thanksgiving right on up to Christmas Day.  Then the after Christmas sales begin to bombard us on television and newspaper ad media.  Hubby and I  have decided to give them all a  gift card versus trying to shop for them. It is the easy way out.  lol

We are wishing everyone out there a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.

Keep The Faith

Your Friend

Cooky :)

Happy Thanksgiving To All -2017

Let us all truly believe in the sanctity of love and good deeds no matter what religion you are.

           November has gone by so fast, it makes my head spin.  Now its a few days from Thanksgiving.  I am so very thankful for so many things, it would be impossible to list them all.  Mostly I am grateful for God letting me live this long.  Next, would be gratefulness for my husband and family.  Of course, I am grateful for friends and relatives everywhere who assist us in our daily lives. So many people contribute to our well being on a daily basis, I am not sure how I would survive without these folks in my life.  The small and large acts of kindness and charity are what I am talking about.  Where would Puerto Rico and Texas be right now with out the love from others shown through donations and help after those terrible hurricanes.?
           For instance, our doctors, ministers and volunteers,  who honestly care about us all and my hubby and myself, are right up there with God.  Firefighters, rescue squads, nurses and organizations all over the world stand up and contribute to those in need.
         There are GOOD people in this world and they outnumber the evil ones in my opinion.  Christianity is alive and well in this world.    Although, we only hear about the evil acts of violence on the media for this area and all over the world.  It does not take away from  good deeds  and love,  that is shown to those in need by Christian people and caring persons all over the world no matter what faith they are.

Take care, keep the faith
Your friend
Cooky

June 2017

July 4th is just around the corner and so is the heat.  I've never seen that holiday where the weather wasn't super hot and steamy.  Holidays come and go so quickly for hubby and I,  that we barely can keep up with them.   Three-day weekends are especially nice, because our family members pay us
a short visit before or after they complete their own weekend plans.  My busy, active,  family drop by mostly on the weekends.  Of course, we  do keep in touch by phone and face book during the week but in person is so much nicer.

It is good to keep up with how everyone is doing.  Face Book is good for everyone to post items that  each doing or planning to do this summer.  We are all older now so there is less drama.  Knock on wood, don't need problems.  The economy creates enough problems as it is.  Food prices go up weekly and the housing market is sky high when you want to buy something.

May God Bless each of you and your families like He has mine.  Take care and keep the faith.
your friend
Cooky :)

April Showers Bring May Flowers - Happy Easter 2017

HAPPY EASTER

Spring brings pastel colors, Easter, buds and blossoms.  The ole rustic cross. 

Beautiful, isn't it?  It surely is a nice homemade religious item.  My hubby is going to make one for me similar to this one.  So happy to be eating fresh vegetables and fruit again, even, if they come from a foreign country. I wish they all came from Canada because they have the most wonderful grocery items from their gardens and lakes. 

The salmon and seafood from there are so  tasty.   This time of year the water melon and cantaloupe are sweeter.  The pears, carrots, potato's  are a lot tastier this time of year as we move into garden season.

Health Issues In March - Spring 2017

This a good but limited chart that,  I use sometimes for my Warfarin diet -  High Vitamin K is a no-no if you are taking Warfarin for blood clots. 

Sinus problem abound for all who live in Virginia it seems.  Pollen and weather, pets and food present allergy problems constantly.

I got the flu this year and, it landed me in
the hospital.  Worse flu I have ever
experienced.  Very painful to the lungs and body.
It's symptoms and cough lingers for weeks to months sometimes. Highly contagious.

Arthritis is another health issue affecting joints all over one's body. Deteriorating knees and joints post a major obstacle in mobility for me.

Fibro Myalgia is always present in the shoulders and back muscles.

 Dry Skin issues are constant in the dry winter weather.  Sunburn post a grave danger, if you are on blood pressure medications during the sunshine days. Seborrhea is a problem on the scalp and other areas.  Yeast infections and cysts are also painful items one must endure at times. 

If I have forgotten anything, please let me know.  lol  

My Personal Two-Cents

At my Singer, I have been sitting all winter sewing up a storm. However, my storm is nothing in comparison to America's political storm  over immigration control.   Many foreign countries have dug their claws deep into American soil as they milk America for all its worth.  We sit passively by and watch as our very existence become controlled by foreigners.     It may be too late for President Trump to change things but at least he is trying.   My personal opinions follow:

Sometimes, I do feel guilty for having the basics in life, i.e., food, clothing, shelter, love and the ability to work and provide these thing for my family.  No wonder poor and wealthy people alike  on this planet want to migrate to the United States.   In addition, we  suffer being compromised in our democratic way of life.   Huge numbers of immigrants streaming into the USA compromise all our resources.  

 Is it hate or envy that foreigners feel for America?   They are taught from childhood to hate Americans aren't they?   Don't many foreign countries  burn our flag and fight against us.    Many foreigners, not just immigrants from other countries are rude, distasteful, pushy, greedy, grabby, sour apples bitter and resentful toward Americans.    I have been pushed  aside in the grocery stores, crowed out of  store lines, sneered at, among other things and I am in a wheelchair.   Look at Wal-Mart for instance.     There are so many internationals, in their native costumes, pushing ahead in the lines, talking in foreign languages acting rude and indifferent.   I hate to go shopping any more.  Foreigners from all countries are crowding the health system, as well as, the retail stores.  Foreigners are taking advantage of all opportunities in all our systems, as quickly as they arise, until nothing is left for us. They are buying up land and businesses everywhere.  You got to be fast, if you want anything new and fresh in the stores, because they get gobbled up by  hordes of foreigners  Sharing is noble but wait a minute..??? 

I fully believe that international peoples coming to the U.S.A are trying to take over our country and change our opinions and traditions.    Americans are now on the reverse-prejudice side of society.   We are losing the battle.  They are conquering over us due to their many numbers.   They have already changed many of our  traditions and values.  They want us to accept their beliefs.  For instance, Muslims wanted to add their holidays to calendars versus doing American holidays.

Immigrants deserve a better life than afforded them in their own countries.  However, at what expense to poor Americans. It is liberals, that have paid/paved the way for fleecing America. Millions of families  in America are starving and dying with no medical care and horrific living conditions.  Foreign aid has staggered our budget in so many ways, depriving our veterans, old folks and poor peoples, including children of the necessities of life.   American families are starving and need  help even more so than refugees.

I do not feel  guilty because the USA is blessed with an abundance of food and everything one can imagine. However, since we are readily giving it all away, no wonder there is so many people migrating to America. American men and women  are angry to say the least.  Take away food, shelter and jobs.  That is what American's are facing now.  Crime is rampant with so many being frustrated with our democratic system.    So many are homeless and dying according to the television news stories.  American's are homeless, dying and starving as well.   There is no end to the misery inflicted on humanity, because of our liberal leaders' generosity with American folks' money.      People all over the world deserve a better life.  Why do we poor folks in the USA have to always foot the bill for political decisions made by our so called reps in congress.  Our Veterans, service members and all Americans pay the price of footing the bill for immigrants.  Our forefathers never saw this coming when they signed the Declaration of Independence.

The drain on our resources and contributions awarded the newly arrived immigrants' welfare must end somewhere. There should be a limit to our contributions to other countries and its peoples.  Here in the US and abroad, American tax payers are footing the bill for every illegal alien that comes across a border from all countries, not just Mexico, South American, Middle East and Asia, etc.    In fact,  some immigrants have been in the United States all their lives and never paid a penny of taxes. Many are trying to force their religious beliefs on Americans.  It shows up in schools and across every television news report daily. There are tribes of immigrants living together that know how to milk the system and get free everything from food to no taxation on their jobs. The impact on American resources is dangerously reaching an all time high, that is draining the life out of this country and its people.   Then of course, there are the terrorist who were born here.  They are just as dangerous as those who cross the borders selling drugs. So many want to crush America.

 I don't have the answers. We are all immigrants, that come from immigrants that started America hundreds of years ago.  Christianity was big then.  It is a minority now.   How could anyone have known that America would be the destination for the rest of the planet?   I would think that all Americans should support President Trump in trying to halt the flow of peoples from other countries on this planet from entering America and taking over the country, squashing our principals, Christianity, beliefs and yes, compromising our own freedom.  Freedom of choice is at risk, for all of us now.  There is no freedom in America anymore.  Our rights have been compromised.  I feel, our leaders have done this to us.  I cannot put all the blame on immigrants crowding into the U.S.A.

Keep the faith
Cooky

February 2017

Snow Is On Its Way For Christmas 2016

There are snow storms heading to northern VA.  The weather has been so mild for the last couple months and it has been very enjoyable.   The thought of all the white snow throwing everything into a deep freeze is not comforting at all.  Each winter seems to get harder and harder putting up with the freezing cold weather. Being warm and comfortable is costly.  Heating bills get higher each year.  Worse than summer air conditioning bills.  The cold weather can cause such havoc for wild birds and animals.  Some survive but many succumb to the harsh elements of winter. 

Florida must be a nice, warm place all year long.  No heating bills and no snow.  Sure, some folks love the white snow. However, if you do not get snow where you live - one can long for the colder weather and wish for snow.  However, if you live with snow every winter, then it can be uncomfortable, to say the least,  having to trek around to work, school and shopping in the snow.
The winter's beauty of snow doesn't last long and is usually melting in a couple of days.  This leaves black ice and sludge on the streets and everywhere.

Bundling in layers of clothing to keep warm is for the young.  I used to think the cold weather was
invigorating to my old bones.  With the passing of time and the inevitability of ageing, the colder
weather just becomes a nuisance, that we have to deal with during the severe cold parts of winter.  Staying inside out of the weather can get boring, when one has exhausted all ideas for inside work and play. By January and February, the coldest months of the year, cabin fever invades our brain and we get a little stir-crazy.

Thanksgiving's Over - What's The Hurray For Christmas?

Christmas is a man-made holiday, supposedly to celebrate God's gift to us of the birth of his son Jesus.   Now, the word Christmas is taken out of the equation. It is call Happy Holidays, vs Merry Christmas. 

 We shouldn't wish our lives away.  Since Thanksgiving is over,  its time too hurry, hurry to make it fun and feel like Christmas... What's The Hurray?  I say: "Slow down and enjoy life if you can." We make the "happy holidays happy", not necessarily the gifts. It is an attitude of joy and wonder that abound around the holidays. I have tried for years to teach my adult children this concept.   Most people just need a few days off from their jobs to make them happy.

The holidays are consumer driver by the big retail stores.  Shoppers can actually find Christmas décor out in Sept.   Some stores are specifically open all year round for Christmas shopping. Many people have put up the Christmas Tree and decorated it by 1 Dec.   Many people keep their Christmas tree up all year.  Trying to keep the "happy"  that was felt during last Christmas. 

Whoa ! I did that once on the first day of December. Never again.  I was so sick of those decorations by the 25th.  Another year, I wrapped and shopped during the spring and summer sales.  There was nothing left to shop for by December. Bummer, it was.  That was no fun.  Even the tape on the wrapped gifts dried out and many popped open from the heat inside the house. 

As the kids get older and become young adults, we do slow down some regarding the holidays and expenditures.  Santa Claus is for the very young.  A belief, that when they find out it is not real, hurts their hearts when they are older.  Green Eggs And Ham is weird and old German tales could be confusing to children. Why do we try to confuse the little one with old poems, sayings and songs? I also wonder why we decorate with little ceramic cottages covered in snow and have trees.  Why do we try to recreate the old days when displaying Christmas.  Oh Well. 

I am not a scrooge, but the glamour of the holidays have certainly dimmed in my eyes.  There is Not enough money to buy what everyone actually wants. One to save all year in a Christmas Club to do the holidays; or use credit cards.  All that does not make me happy.  However, to be able to sit quietly and reflect on the birth of Christ.  All the  while,  listening to sweet Christmas carols and being safe and warm makes me very happy.

Saying prayers for all those people and countries that will not experience "happy holidays" this year is important.   Paying it forward, backward and sideways, if you can, help others this year.

Keep the faith,
Lora (aka cooky)

October 2016

Halloween is right around the corner.  Many folks have decided to give stickers or trinkets to kids this year versus candy.  I think that is a great idea.  Little plastic rings and other tokens of Halloween are plentiful and won't rot the teeth. 

September 2016 - Life Changes

Many folks are sad to see summer ending and autumn begin when September rolls around.   School starts  and once again we will hear the clunky buses rumbling through the neighbors and along the roads transporting excited children to their local schools.    Cooler temperatures are a blessing, along with the leaves starting to turn with hues of yellow and brown that catches the eye when looking out at the landscapes.

Summer went by very quickly this year it seems.  The temperatures were higher than ever - reaching 110 plus for weeks on end.  The air was heavy with the heat making it hard for some of us to breathe outside.  Insects such as ticks, aphids, spiders, wasps and other bugs were not as bothersome this year.  Probably because of  all the insecticide we had to spray last year.  Beautiful morning glories and plants growing bigger and better than ever in the shade of our small deck.   Not many blooms on the morning glories, however, the leaves are greener and bigger than ever.  My few rose bushes bloomed smaller this year.  The heat burned the delicate petals quickly along with the grasses and weeds. Traffic is worse and noisier than ever.  It is as if someone turned up the volume outside during the daytime.  At night, the cicadas are loud as ever, along with the frogs and insects.  Flies are trying to come inside and are a menace.  That is a sure sign of cooler weather coming.

Life cycles of all things are coming to an end.  Hopefully, they will have spread their seeds far and wide for regeneration of the species next spring. The same for all life forms, especially, human beings.  Humans seem to me to be the most vulnerable of beings during their life cycles.  One gets older more noticeably, when the movie stars they once watched as a child began dying off one by one, such as Gene Wilder, our Willy Wonka.  Soon we older folks will follow him to heaven. 
Think on the brighter side of life.  Football and its constant ramble of yadda has started.  I hate to see baseball and golf stop its reporting. Before you know it, basketball and hockey will be everywhere.

Keep the faith.
Your Friend, Cooky.

August 2016 - Election Time Almost Here

Voting is a privilege....do it.

Flag Chicken - No Pun Intended

I was struggling to draw, then paint a plain chicken.  It looked so barren:

I just had to jazz it up a bit:  No pun intended.  I am not saying the U.S. is chicken....or am I?????

Keep the faith. 

Dog Days Of Summer Are Upon Us - 2016

If it's too hot out there for ya, just stay inside and paint pretty pictures.  It is fun, creative and makes you feel good.  No matter what your age is, or your state of health, painting is a wonderful diversion from problems.  Don't watch the news - it's depressing.  I recommend staying  in tune with your happy self and keep a positive attitude. 

July Is Hot - 100 Degrees In The Shade

All I can think about is how to stay cool.  Staying inside in the air condition.  Wish I could go to the beach, but the heat would be hard to handle.  Here are a couple new digitally created paintings.
It is very nice to be able to paint by hand and then clean them up on the computer. God  Bless You.
Always, your friend, Cooky :)

Have A Safe Fourth Of July Holiday