Wesley Dumont’s Neighborhood

December 10th

Pat
Yesterday
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In the morning Rich went to visit the podiatrist and I played with iMovie. In the afternoon I went to pottery class.

I made one plate that I really like, but it still has to go to 'leather' stage and then 'bone' stage before it gets bisqued fired...then it's glazed and then fired again. Rich asked me if I did anything today, because I didn't bring anything home.

I don't want to keep doing bowls and plates and mugs which are thick walled. I want to spend time practicing and practicing to get thin walls especially when I'm using porcelain. Today I had 'deferred success' with two bowls. I read on my friend's FB page a clipping he posted from a London newspaper where teachers want to remove the word 'fail' from student reports, and use 'deferred success' instead. I kinda like that. So today my collapsed pieces were not failures...they were 'deferred successes'. Yes, that'll work.

I was not happy to hear Lindsay say they would be relocating to NC in the spring. I'm not giving it too much credence because they've talked about moving to other places, and they are still in VB. Down deep I think this plan might actually come to fruition. Lindsay will introduce me to a local potter here where I might possibly buy clay, and use this new person's kiln and even her wheel. Nothing is definite, but it's good to know I can still do pottery. I doubt I will take another class unless I want to learn some new technique. Lindsay has taught me so much and I have much to practice. Maybe one day I'll get my own wheel..I don't know. I could set up the upstairs loft as my studio. I told Lindsay she and Kim could stay with us when they come back to visit VB. I could pick her brain when she's here.

Lissa invited me/us to join them on the 19th at the Resort Hotel...which is down the street from here.....I could walk. They'll be joining her friend Sharon and Sharon's family for 'Christmas Breakfast with Santa'. I might go, but it's at 9AM, and if I'm not sleeping well I may not be able to get up that early. I told her if I have a good week...I will join them.

Got an email from a neighbor who is organizing gift giving for a needy family somewhere here in VB. I plan to donate money ..the family has many medical bills and the mom is the sole survivor. There's a 10 yr. old girl and an 11 year old boy. Not knowing what to get them or what they'd like I decided money might be the best thing.

Got this family picture in a Christmas card today from Brother Jim's son Peter and his wife Kate and their darling son who celebrated his first birthday December 7th.

Pete, Kate and Colin 12:09

They are doing well and having a great time as first time parents.

Tom Miller just called and Helen's biopsies were OK, but they still don't know the cause of the problem so more testing there.

He mentioned one of our high school classmates (Ben Brenner) retired 5 years ago as the Fire Chief for the Atlantic City Fire Dept. In addition to his $107,000 annual retirement pay he got $500,000 in unused sick time. His brother John retired a few years earlier as Deputy Chief making a huge retirement pay as well. I'd read this in the AC press and at first thought it was awful that they could get unused sick time up to that amount. It's perfectly within the law for the Police and Fire Departments to do this, but the state is investigating the practice. Half a million dollars blew my mind, but then I thought heck, celebrities make $20 million or more in one year as salary. At least Ben ran a dept. that saved lives over and over, and he did it for more than 40 years. He still is good looking too. I saw him at our last high school reunion and he still looks like Clark Gable.

Today (12/9) my Dad would be 117....Happy Birthday Daddy.

Pat
3 days ago
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If he was 20 when I was born, I'd be approaching my 98th birthday in February. I was of course his last child. I'm sure glad he didn't marry at 19 which many folks did 'way back then'.

This year when I hear the Academy Award announcement for 'editing' and 'special effects' I will share in the praise of these folks. It's a lot of work to edit a film. I never gave it much attention prior to playing around with MACs iMovie and iDVD applications. I enjoy it, but I now appreciate what must go into making a professional film.

In between cleaning the bathrooms and vacuuming I worked on my latest DVD...'Trevor'. I haven't begun to edit yet; I'm still sequencing the many photos and video clips I have. I think it'll be finished by Christmas and I'll wrap it for him as one of his gifts. He's probably wondering why I did one for Brooke and not him. So, this'll be a surprise.

The two Rich's met for lunch and apparently enjoyed the time together. Neither Rich sr. nor I slept well last night. We were both feeling some anxiety regarding my discussion yesterday with our Internist about his kidney function tests. I'd hoped his kidneys would function better following placement of the renal artery stents in July. I was dismayed to see his two tests...BUN and Creatinine have both gone up. Plus his B/P is creeping upward. Dr KF said it may be stabilizing at these levels, but we might have to consult with Nephrology (kidney docs)....and of course worst case scenario....dialysis. We can't risk his B/P getting elevated too much because he has an inoperable abdominal aneurysm near the one that was repaired in '02. So, we both were feeling anxious. We discussed it and actually, there's nothing to do at this point. His lab work will be rechecked in March. It might be good for him to get off the Lasix (used for his leg edema). Lasix is hard on the kidneys for someone with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease). He's in the process of getting the appliance for assisting him to apply his compression hose. He says he will wear them. Now that we want to do all we can to conserve his kidney function, he will. Our anxiety has abated and we'll deal with this just like everything else. I told Rich no one gets out of this life in perfect health. Heart disease, Stroke, Cancer, Dementia, COPD, Diabetes are the major chronic illnesses facing all of us. Our bodies wear down and we simply manage the changes.

I think we're in pretty good shape with the available health care in our area. Right now, we both feel good and have no outstanding symptoms that impede our lifestyle. So that's where we are.

I talked with Cousin Helen earlier today and she is getting somewhat anxious with the demands of Christmas. I suggested they scale down the decorating and use only the ornaments they love. They have a big house and it always looks beautiful, but it's a lot of work.

Got a nice note from nephew Peter that he finally got the e birthday card I'd sent. Apparently it went to his junk mail. He said they had a party for baby Colin the other day who is now the big 1. Pete says he's walking all over the place. Now, the fun escalates with Colin exploring all the things he couldn't quite get to when he was on all fours.

Weird weather here...right now at 7:45PM it's 73. I had the windows opened for a good part of the day, but it got windy and I didn't want sand (we live on a sandpile pretty much) blowing in while I was trying to clean. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 52 and then down to the 40s for the rest of the week. I'm sure glad I don't live in the land of blizzards and wind chills below 0. You really need your snuggies in that kind of weather.

Pat’s humors

Pat
3 days ago
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If I don't write on this blog everyday, I am forced to live 'in the moment' ...hey, that's what you're supposed to do Patricia. I know, but I like to look back and recall what was going on last week etc. I guess I just like to reminisce. Now you know.

The title up at the top was added by Vox. If I don't put one there, they do. I guess their robot gets the gist of what I'm saying from one paragraph....schmart robot. Anyhow, I have no idea what that means...'Pat's humors'....will go to dictionary and check it out...BRB*.

OK, back again. I guess from reading the dictionary definition, the Vox robot thinks I'm funny. All the definitions relate to being funny except for the one on body humors as opposed to body odors. In case you've forgotten The humors are blood and phlegm and yellow and black bile"). I copied that right from the dictionary and that's why it's such a small font size.

So what did I do yesterday....well, I've started making another movie/DVD...this time it's all about Trevor. It's a lot of work, but I enjoy the process. I also cleaned our bedroom which was so dusty even I couldn't stand it. I washed some clothes and oh, I remember ...neighbor Jean came over and brought us a fruit cake which she had made. I'd told her last year I hated fruit cake. Nevertheless she brought some for Rich and when I ate a piece I was surprised to find I liked it very much. So the other night when she called and asked "Do you want ..." I answered "yes" before she even finished her sentence. I think we'll freeze it and when we want it, we can simply slice off a piece. It slices easily when frozen.

Today I had my follow up visit with my primary. I was hoping to get the dosage of my B/P med reduced, but unfortunately I seem to have what is called 'white coat syndrome'. At home my B/P is now in the 120s and 130 (systolic/top number)...but today in the office it was 170. I said "I can't be one of those people", but I'm afraid I am. In the past 'white coat syndrome' was not given much, if any attention by the medical community, but Dr KF says today it is not ignored. B/P medicine should be able to keep the lid on the pressure, but if stress is causing it to go up then it's not a good idea to decrease the medicine based on the times when you are stress free. She may reduce my statin if my cholesterol continues to go down. I bet it will.

I told her my hair was still thinning and I'd read Dr Gott in the local paper comment that B12 levels, zinc and biotin may be low and may be the culprit. It's costly to test for a level, but she said I could simply get these supplements OTC. Apparently B12 is poorly absorbed from the intestines of older people and perhaps mine is low even tho' I am very young. She advised taking the B12 that you put under your tongue...thereby bypassing the intestine where it would be poorly absorbed. So, I'll give these a try and see if the hair stops coming out ....I realize some will come out with aging tho'.

Used the slow cooker today for a chicken breast which was delicious. I should have gotten acquainted with the slow cooker years ago. I'm a believer now.

Called my SiL Pat tonight and things are stable at their house. Brother Frank never wants to get on the phone except on rare occasions and we're all used to that.

Well, my humor is deteriorating so I'll sign off.

Tomorrow I must clean the rest of the house. Gotta clean before I decorate next week. I'm thinking now I'll give in around the 15th, but my presents have been wrapped for over a month.

Memories

Pat
5 days ago
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The photo below made me sad when it appeared in the AC Press yesterday. Yes, that section of the boardwalk is in near ruins, but it didn't have to be. Why the local government didn't repair it, I don't understand. It must be linked to casino development.

I circled my old beach in red

The red circle shows the spot where I used to go to the beach all through my school years. It was called Drexel Ave beach, but it was more like Adriatic Ave. It was all sand where that red circle is marked. It was a much larger beach area, and I loved it.

The stretch of boardwalk was a wonderful walkway from the famed Hackney's restaurant to Capt. Starns' at the far end. Starns' and Hackney's are long gone and there have been many changes in the Inlet where I grew up. I walked to that beach everyday from my house which was just 2 or 3 short blocks. The house in which I spent my school years was torn down along with many other houses. They've made some improvements and no doubt some developer has long range plans for that whole waterfront. Still, it hurts to 'let it go'. Like so many other things in life....change is taking hold.

This beach was a great place to learn to swim...no breakers here. My brother Frank came home from the Navy and taught me how to 'float' just beyond the second pole. That would be the second pole of the boardwalk.

You could usually walk out to the first pole, then you'd have to swim to get beyond the boardwalk. As a little child my mother would give me instructions as to how far I could 'go in the water'....up to my knees for a few years then the 1st pole and once she knew I could swim, I would be allowed to swim out to where the big kids were. I remember once being too close to the boardwalk pole, and I brushed against some barnacles. To this day I sill have faint scarring on my leg from that occurrence. My father used to go up on the boardwalk and I'd be swimming below where he'd be standing watching me...it's as clear to me now as if it were yesterday.

I had my first job dipping ice cream in the ice cream stand at Capt. Starns which would be at the end of the boardwalk where it curves left. The trolleys used turn around there also.

The beach and boardwalk don't look like they did when I was a child, but the ocean is still the same...always calm.

And so....another farewell. My memories will live forever, because they are mine...all mine..no matter how many casinos take over my Atlantic City. Plans are in the works to demolish that whole section of boardwalk. It'll probably cost as much to demolish it as it would to repair it.

Not to be missed

Pat
7 days ago
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I found this posted on Carole Wimberg's FB page and thought everyone might enjoy this. What a wonderful way to increase awareness of the need to conserve energy, and to use some personal physical energy to do it and get healthy all around. Enjoy!

Rockettes

Pat
7 days ago
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Lissa and Brooke treated me to a wonderful performance of the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes' Christmas show today at the Norfolk Scope arena. The Rockettes are delightful to see. Brooke was impressed and said it the best show she's ever seen ...and she's been on this earth a little more than 7 years so she knows a good show when she sees one. ;-)

Lissa and I were both pleased that the show included the Nativity story which was done so well. The narration, costumes and set were first rate. In fact the visual effects used for the entire production were outstanding. In one scene they had a back screen of hundreds of Santas dancing behind the live Rockette Santas. This produced the effect of unending rows of Santas.

The music and sound were excellent. I would have liked to have heard more familiar Christmas music. There were several familiar songs, but more 'Winter Wonderland' type songs would have added that special touch for me.

There was another huge movie screen with scenes of NYC e.g. Rockefeller plaza, skaters, huge lit tree, shoppers department stores etc. In front of the screen and on the stage was a double decker bus with the Rockettes onboard 'touring the city'. The background film on the screen combined with the on stage bus turning made us feel like we were actually in NYC going up and down the streets. It was so creative.

We told Brooke you have to be able to kick to eye level and she showed us that she could do it, and go even higher with one leg. I told her to do that the rest of her life and her muscles will be so flexible.

It was good to see the show. I'd been to Radio City Music Hall in NYC a few times in the 50s and 60s and seeing this show today made me nostalgic to be there once more at Christmas time.

Here's a video that I shouldn't even post ...it's so bad..we were too far from the stage for my little digital camera. Our seats however were great for viewing the performance because we were right in the center. High up, but in the center. Click on it and you can hear the music.

Rockettes Christmas Show comes to Norfolk, VA

The biggest thing for me was to be with Brooke for this experience. I think she'll remember this for a long time --that she saw the Rockettes with her Mom and GrandmaPatti when she was 7 years old. When I look back on this post in years to come this little video will bring back a warm memory. Thank you Lissa.

Here it is via You Tube

Pat
Dec 3, 2009
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The DVD version has a nice opening presentation, but YouTube doesn't upload DVDs. This version does have all the sound and content. SKC, I hope you can view it. BTW, I read in the Pensacola News Journal online that Patrick Madden is retiring from SHH ...looking forward to discussing same with you...another lay person and a woman (yay) at the helm...hmmm. If you watch the whole video (less than 5 minutes long)...be sure to note the credits and see that the studio still has the logo carrying the name of the famous J Wellington Cat.

Movie all about Brooke...click right here folks

Rainy day in VB

Pat
Dec 2, 2009
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Spent most of the day finalizing my 2nd movie 'Brooke's Movie'. I learned how to add sound effects and use the Ken Burns effect to show off still shots. Loved adding script. It's too big to put here on Vox so I'll add it to You Tube tomorrow. Takes too long to add it right now. The whole movie is less than 5 minutes long, and I think Lissa will be quite pleased with it. She wanted something to house the many photos of Brooke to give Brooke when she gets older, and I think Apple has made this a fairly easy thing to accomplish.

Because of a recent update from Apple I wasn't able to use the scanner function of my All-in-One HP scanner, printer, copier. I called HP, but I'm out of warranty and he told me I could pay to renew the warranty or go to HP.com and look for support and drivers; I would then be able to download a new driver for free.

None of the above meant very much to me, but heck, I played with it and after some time I now have a functioning scanner. I'm not really a techie...most of these things just take patience, and I can easily see why some folks would say "let someone else fix it". On a rainy day I was happy to be 'too busy' to clean the house, I chose to work on my movie, and it was a good feeling to finalize it.

Tomorrow I go to pottery and Rich sr. will meet Rich jr. for their weekly lunch date. Rich sr. also met an old Navy JAG Corps friend for lunch yesterday. They'd served in Japan together, and Don D. is now retired and also living in VB.

Got a letter from the endocrinologist who said my timed cortisol test (24 hour urine test) was normal and he is considering this tumor on my adrenal to be benign requiring no further follow up. Yes. I like that. No one seems to know why my hair is thinning so I guess I'll just live with it and adapt as needed. The endocrinologist thought perhaps my thyroid was the culprit, but that test came back normal too....so, all the more reason to simply adapt.

What's my take on Tiger Woods and the WH intruders...I couldn't care less. I'm just not interested.

December 1st

Pat
Dec 1, 2009
4 comments

Received our first Christmas card from Ed and Cathy. I gave up sending cards years ago, but I still like to get them....thanks Cathy. I understand folks who say they cross people off their list, if they don't get a card from someone. That's OK too. We do get fewer cards than in years past, but I think many folks have stopped the tradition themselves. Whatever works....is OK by me...just don't decorate your house the day after Thanksgiving or I'll make sure Santa leaves coal in your stocking.

Met with the Women's Issues group today, and we continue to discuss the Kristof book 'Half the Sky'. Kristof's focus is the oppression of women. Our discussion today led us to agree on the complexity of the problem with so many underlying variables especially cultural influences. There are many Americans who have no idea what goes on in China or India or that trafficking of women goes on right here in the USA.

Many folks are truly concerned about war, poverty, health care, education, equal rights for gays/lesbians, jobs, the environment etc. Many people are in groups trying to come up with ideas to address these problems. However, many of the groups become so focused on their own mission, they fail to see how closely the problems are connected. A common thread needs to be identified and folks from various groups, beliefs and backgrounds need to search for the common thread/causes. If this can be done perhaps then, workable solutions may emerge.

After the meeting I went to the commissary. Not a good idea for me to see all that candy ....I did buy some for Christmas..but not too much. I also bought the makings for Toll House cookies which I always make and Rich jr. looks forward to devouring. I know I will eat lots of them when they come out of the oven; I'll just accept that I'm deliberately doing it. Then, I'll send the major portion home with Lissa, Rich and the kids.

Tomorrow I should clean this house, but as I told Rich he is my priority and if he wants to do something....heck with the house. I do find excuses to avoid housework.

𝄞Celebrate ♮good times𝄞 c'mon𝄞

Pat
Nov 30, 2009
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I'm here to tell ya....I've been following the online Weight Watchers' program for 6 months and today I met my 10% goal* which means I have lost 10% of my starting weight....a very BIG achievement says WW.

Everything they say about losing just 10% is true. I had my blood work done last week and my cholesterol levels etc haven't been so good in 20 years. My B/P is stable and I look fantastic....yes, even if I say so myself....well, maybe not fantastic, but pretty darn good. I can't wait to see my Internist next week. She was anxious to see my lab work after 6 months on the program.

This morning the email I received from 'Real Age'...that's REAL AGE..click here says to check your heart status...see if you can touch your toes while sitting....and YES, I CAN. So, as the saying goes....I'm pumped.

Now, I'm motivated to keep doing the treadmill which I'd stopped for about 4 months....I don't like to exercise and the treadmill is boring....yes, I could walk around the neighborhood, but NGH (not gonna happen). I think I'm now motivated to do the treadmill once more.

*I don't want to state the # of pounds because you'll be able to figure out what my starting weight was ...having lost 10%. I have too much pride to divulge that number...a girl has to keep some secrets. Age ..... no bigger with me.....weight ...yes, even if I am taller than the average 70 year old femme fatale. ;- )☺