Family Hurricane Evacuees

Wednesday evening I called Cindy to find out what their plans were since they were under a mandatory evacuation. I offered our camper or Dayna's home as a refuge. She told us they were going to make a final decision yesterday morning as to their plans. We haven't heard from them since so don't know what they finally decided to do. . . Just got word from Mom Lafferty that they decided to stay put; traffic, pets, vehicles running out of fuel, etc.

I'm sure you're hearing the town of Beaumont being mentioned in the news as a place the hurricane is headed for. That's where Brian is going to college, at Lamar University. From the sounds of things it may be awhile before he is able to go back.

I hadn't heard he'd been drafted by the Houston Astros but had to turn down their offer as he'd already registered for school. They have an excellent pitching coach staff there and in three years, when he's eligible for the draft again, he'll be a much improved pitcher and will be able to garner a better contract. So look for the name Brian Needham in a few years as a rising baseball star!

Hurricane Relief

I had wanted to do something to help the evacuees from Hurricane Katrina so two ladies from the park and I drove to Dallas yesterday to work in Salvation Army's warehouse sorting donated items. They also serve meals at Reunion Arena and the convention center but by the time I got ahold of someone they had the meals covered. So we went to one of their warehouses only to be told they needed us at a different one. We managed to get lost on our way to that one but, after asking for directions (I know - this is a foreign concept to you men out there!), we found it.

It is an absolutely huge building and we were in only one of many they had there. It was hot, too. No air conditioning. It was an unbelievable site to see what all has been donated for the hurricane victims---and this just in the Dallas area. They are no longer accepting clothes as that is the first thing people think of in times of disasters. But, like one of the women said yesterday, "People don't die from lack of clothes. They die from lack of food, and shelter and water."

We worked in the personal hygiene section. A lot of the donations came from businesses as the wrappings were still on many of the items. Most of the rest was new but some people just emptied their medicine cabinets and donated partially used items (which were promptly thrown out).

We didn't stay as long as I had planned as one of the ladies was not doing well with the heat. But it was an wonderful experience to see the outpouring of caring and support by so many to help others. To see what all has been given and to see so many volunteers in action.

When we got home I realized I hadn't taken my key with me! So I went to a few neighbors and asked if I could try their keys in the lock. Of course, none of them worked. So I finally called Richard to tell him of my plight. He had gone in to work late yesterday so I really didn't think he'd come home early for me. But a little over an hour later he called me on my cell to ask me how many men would drive home on a scooter in a thunderstorm to rescue their wives. I told him, "not many"! I was so grateful he had!!

Slides

I've been scanning slides again. I am just about finished with the job. I haven't counted them yet, but I think I will end up with well over 2,000. Some are in pretty bad shape, and the colors in many have not held up as well as I thought they would. Digital photography will solve this problem forever.

Anyway, I have posted a few photos that some of you all might be interested in, or not. They are just a sampling of what I have been finding. Check them out here if you like.

Doctors, Hospitals and More Doctors

Sunday we got word that Mom Widener is in the hospital. She had severe abdominal pains and headache. At first they thought it was her old diverticulitis acting up again but when the surgeon who performed her surgery last year saw her yesterday he told her she can't get it again since she had had the surgery. I guess they finally decided she has a partial bowel obstruction and, hopefully, laxatives and more fiber in her diet will resolve the situation. She was due to come home today.

I donated blood on Monday and had a mammogram (the highlight event of my year!) and blood work done yesterday. I received a call from the doctor's office this afternoon and was informed my cholesterol and triglycerides are way high. I asked if my having given blood less than 24 hours before doing the blood work would have made any difference and was told it wouldn't. Cholesterol is 233 and triglycerides are 293 where normal is 150. I eat low fat and though don't do as much exercising as I used to I can't figure out what could be causing this. So I now have an appt. with a PCP next week to, probably, start on some medication. They told me today that diet and exercise alone won't drop the cholesterol to the healthy range and won't help the triglyceride level at all. This is not what I had wanted to hear today!

Daddy found out yesterday he has to have more surgery on his face next month. He's to see his PCP today to see if he can handle the surgery. His surgery is scheduled for the 7th and I will be there on the 18th for about 10 days.

Don't we just love going to doctors when we get older?!

Grandparents' Day

Yesterday was designated Grandparents' Day at the Denton schools. Both grandkids called and invited me to join them for lunch. Unfortunately, the time constraints of getting from one school to the other wouldn't allow me to get to both. I went to Deidra's school last year so felt I should go to Dom's this year. One set of grandparents, from his class, was there for the morning school session but I was the only one, from any class, there for lunch. I was surprised as there were many at Deidra's school last year. Dom wanted me to go to recess, too, so I went and played ball with him and several other students. I'm glad I had the opportunity to go; he seemed very pleased I made the effort.

Labor Day Ride

It was a long weekend and we had no major plans so Monday afternoon we took a scooter ride to Lake Bridgeport, a lake about 50 miles west of us. We were surprised at how little traffic there was on the roads and how few boats were on the lake. Perhaps the cost of fuel changed a lot of plans.

We took the main road, highway 380, on the way out but returned on local roads. I have a GPS on the scooter so it makes finding the local roads possible. We would never be able to take such routes without it.

We were out all afternoon and traveled about 150 miles. We got 64 MPG for the trip.

Boy, did I luck out!

I had no idea that gas would be over $3 per gallon when I bought my scooter a couple months ago, but it sure has worked out. It now costs me about $3 per day to go to work, whereas it would be costing $18 per day if I was still driving the truck. That works out to over $300 a month savings.

I was in the motorcycle shop yesterday to pick up a couple screws and the place was crawling with people. Every cycle and scooter had a large hand lettered sticker on it with the estimated gas milage posted.

I am seeing a lot more motorcycles and scooters on the road this week than ever before. Last night on my way home from work, I stopped at a stop sign along side another motorcyclist. In my rearview mirror I watched two other motorcycles pull up behind us. Four of us sitting at the same stop sign!

If anyone wants to know what to get me for Christmas, think about an electrically heated jumpsuit and gloves. I fear I may be riding the scooter for quite a while. Gas may come down in price in the future, but I really think the days of cheap transportation in this country are gone forever.