Changes

I don't know where to begin. It seems like there have been lots of changes in our lives recently. Scout moved back home after he and his girlfriend broke up, then Don's mama passed away, and his uncle died a few days later. Don's sister's husband had surgery for an aneurysm and had a hard time. He has been hospitalized ever since. He's taking therapy now. It seems like everywhere I look there is change.

I went to Doctor Phillip about three months ago and he removed the bonding from my front teeth. It was very painful and left one tooth loose. When I went to Doctor Frank for my bi-yearly cleaning they told me I needed my teeth bonded again to save that loose tooth. Naturally I was upset and worried about losing my tooth. I had to have the tooth re-bonded. It didn't take very long.

Doctor Frank had his beautiful, big dog at the office. I told him that his dog looked like a dog that I saw on the news because people had mistaken it for a baby lion on the loose. He said his dog was the same kind, only it didn't look as much like a poodle. It was shaggy but not poofy. I liked having the dog in there to scratch his head and calm me down. Pets are supposed to help calm your heart and breathing when you pet them. It's a two way relationship because they feel calm, too. 

I needed something to make me feel calm after I asked the doctor how much the bonding was going to cost. I told Doctor Frank I should go back over to Doctor Phillip's and knock a knot on his head for removing the bonding and loosening my front tooth.  He cost me a chunk of change. I'll never get rich at this rate, or anything else, for that matter. I have many unfulfilled dreams and they all hinge on money. I've put too much money in saving my teeth to give up now so I had to have the bonding again.

I lived through all that and even survived the flooding we endured during the heavy rains. I've watched Scout painting and decorating his room, getting it in shape to live in again.

Mama decided to buy Scout a new bed for his room so we went to Dalton Auction to see what they had. That's where I bought Scout and Colt's twin beds last time. We had moved Scout's bed to Marietta when Colt got an apartment so we needed another bed for Scout again. I hadn't expected him to come back home when I let Colt have his old bed. 

Mama, Scout and I went to see if they had any twin-XL's, like the other ones. They had a foam mattress "like the twin beds in the Marriott", we were informed. The mattress cost a lot more than I expected. Mama wanted to buy it but I said we should think about it and check out a few more sales.

We went to Mur-Maid Mattresses in Dalton but they weren't any better, or as thick, as the first one we saw. Scout and I headed back home to think about it. Mama kept insisting that we buy the mattress from Carmichael's. The next day she called Scout and convinced him to go back to Dalton Auction with her to get the bed. Yeah! Scout doesn't have to sleep on the pull-out couch any more.

Near the end of the old year one of my friend's and I got back in touch with each other after her father passed away. We've known each other and loved each other forever but we are both very strong personalities and we don't always see eye to eye. We disagreed about everything during the electoral season until she finally decided not to interact with me anymore. I still couldn't let that stop me from sending my love and condolences when I saw her father's obituary in the paper. I know how much she loves her parents. Mr. and Mrs. S were wonderful when we were kids. I never saw them angry or upset and we did lots of dumb things when we were kids to make anybody want to scream. 

We liked to sleep in her older brother's room and lay on the bed all night  long reading his comic books. That's where I developed my crush on Superman.

Another friend of mine got in touch when she called to offer her condolences when Don's mother passed away. She has always been an avid reader and loves sharing her books with me. She mailed The Land of Painted Caves to me. I have a stack of her books I need to return.

I don't know what it is about this time of year but I've noticed a lot of change. I had been living in fear of the possibility that President Obama might lose the election and have been disgusted by the Republicans tricks and underhanded tactics. I was horrified to imagine a Mitt Romney presidency. It was painfully obvious that he didn't give a damn about people like me. I wasn't rich enough, or conservative enough, or important enough for his consideration. 

I've always lived by the philosophy that riches are the things you value in your heart, not the things you can purchase. I never wanted to impress anyone or live up to other people's standards. It seemed like a losing game. I'm thankful that I am finally of an age when I don't have to try to fit in. I prefer to stand out. I'm not like anyone, and nobody's like me. Nobody would want to be.

Maybe the changes I feel in the air are affecting everyone because there has been a strong change across America. People amazed me as they turned out to vote for President Obama again, and exercise their civil rights. I think people are getting tired of the conservative rhetoric which was polluting the country with it's ultra-conservative chants denouncing the hardworking people who really keep America up and running. It's time for America to get back on track and for the government to quit using scare tactics to control us.

I welcome change, as long as it's for the positive and to create better conditions for all Americans. I used to think we would be living in the space age when I was a kid. It's really disappointing to see that we've moved back about fifty years in the political rhetoric in this country. We should be aiming for the stars, not the past. 

AS ALWAYS

PIO

I Feel Tense

For the last few weeks a lot has been going on around here. First, we lost our little dog Jack, and then Buddy got sick and we had to take him to the vet. One week Donny had to go to the doctor, and Buddy went the next day, then I went the day after that. On top of that, I had a mammogram that looked suspicious so I had to go back for another test on my boob. 

My blood pressure was a little high when I went to the doctor. It's never high. The doctor told me to come back for a consultation after my second mammogram. I was worried that he might tell me some bad news, although the technician said it only looked like a cyst. Instead, I had to have my blood pressure checked again. It was high, but not as much as my first doctors visit. They tested it again before I left and it was getting closer to normal. 

On my first visit with the doctor he told me that he had recommended a hysterectomy when I had been to him four years ago. I was dumbfounded because I didn't remember him saying that. I do remember him telling me that I should come back and he would put me on a pill to stop my menses and then he would put me on a hormone pill for menopause. 

I told him that I didn't want to go on hormones because my aunt had died from breast cancer and my momma and all her sisters had been told by Crick's doctor that they should never take hormones. Crick's doctor told them all to get a good mammogram and take care of themselves. I wasn't about to take hormones, if I could help it because of that.

I had avoided going to the doctor for four years because I didn't want to take medicine or be on pills. On the second visit, he was more concerned with my blood pressure than the mammogram and told me that it was okay, but I needed to have another mammogram in six months. 

I have to admit I was kind of pissed about coming back because of my blood pressure, especially when the doctor told me to keep taking "those pills I gave you". He hadn't given me any pills. When he told me he'd prescribed blood pressure pills, I began to wonder if he was the one losing his mind. He never gave me a prescription, or told me to take blood pressure pills. If he had, I would have told him I didn't want to take them anyway.

Donny takes blood pressure pills, and he has to go back twice a year for a new prescription, and for them to check his blood work. I know I may be wrong but I believe it's a big scam to keep getting money out of you. The only time my blood pressure goes up is when I get upset when I go to the dentist or doctor, or it's election time. 

I also went to Doctor Phil for my six months visit and he finally took the bonding off my front teeth. Now, when I smile, I have big gaps around my front teeth. He had to scrape the adhesive off and use a grinder to get it loose. It made my teeth sore again. I was warned not to eat apples or corn on the cob until they tightened up again. I'm sure that experience didn't help my blood pressure any.

I've been feeling like a rubber band wound tight on a balsam airplane, here lately. The presidential election is three weeks away and, depending on the outcome, I should be able to settle down and feel less uptight after that. Otherwise, I'll probably stroke out before the next election. I nearly blew a gasket when George Bush was president. I can't imagine how bad it will be if Romney wins. 

I can understand people who are stressed out because of Obama. That's how I felt when Bush was president but I hope President Obama wins a second term. I'm afraid the Republicans will destroy the social systems that help poor people. Despite their protests, most Republicans don't care about the needy.

Speaking of needy, and stress, it won't be long before it's Christmas. I hate the hustle and bustle of the people as they climb all over each other shopping for crap that most people don't want or really need. I've always thought that Christmas was too commercial. This year won't be any different.

If we can make it through the holidays, and December 21st, the day of doom on the Mayan calendar, we can look forward to another new year, with new hope for a better future. Let's all hope we get one.

Now, do you understand why I'm so tense?

AS ALWAYS

PIO

SEPTEMBER

I created Resaca Rose last year in the hopes that I would be able to share my life and, um, adventures with my family and friends. I have learned so much and have felt so empowered as I learn more and more about the computer world. Whenever I got stuck with something I would ask my son for help. When he wasn't around, or couldn't answer my question, I turned to my wonderful and savvy cousins for advice. Their generosity was limitless. They never left me hanging without an answer, and I am grateful for that. I finally started understanding what I was doing, a little bit at a time. Now I look back and wonder why it took me so long to catch on to everything. 


Computers are so much easier than they used to be. I was a data entry operator. That's a glorified title for a typist. I worked in data entry back in the dark ages. We used keypunch cards. Half of the data team typed in information and the other half verified our work. It was very tedious. If a card was wrong the machine would spit it out and it had to be re-punched. Everything was stored on huge spools of tape. A computer would take up a whole huge room. Terminals, or keyboards and monitors, were in a separate room from the computer. The computers were very touchy and 'wend down' all the time.


At the time I never could imagine the day would come when nearly everyone would have their own computer. Now there are computers everywhere, even on people's portable phones and in their cars. We've come a long way in a short amount of time. I credit the space program for the great strides in technology we have reached today. 


Donny's mother used to be a telephone operator when they lived in Summerville. Donny's daddy was a line man for the phone company. It's hard to believe that every phone call used to have to go through an operator. If it was like that today, half of the population would have to work for the phone companies just to keep up. Just about everybody has a cell phone today.

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It was time to go to my dentist today. My hygienist Rachel cleaned my teeth. Doctor Frank wasn't there. He was in France. Rachel said he went to climb Mount Blanche, but the climb was called off because of a rock slide, or something. On top of that, he lost his passport. I hope he finds it so he can come home. Maybe next time I go to see him I'll get the full story. I told Rachel she was a hit on the internet because people were checking out My Dental Visit.


Our baby girl, Layla, had to go to the dentist, today, also. She's only four years old. The pediatric dentist had to put Layla to sleep. She filled Layla's cavity and pulled her two front teeth. They were damaged and the dentist was afraid they would make her permanent teeth bad. Little Layla will be five in October. Her mother is teaching her to sing, "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth".

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I forgot to mention that I saw a Model A in Dalton this morning. When I finally caught up with it, I saw Daddy driving. He was going to meet his buddies from the antique car club for coffee. 


After I went to the dentist, I stopped by Momma's and Daddy's to see how they were doing. Daddy came home while I was there. He told me an incredible story. 


Daddy said a woman stopped him one day and asked if she could ask him a question. He said, 'okay'. She asked him for $10 to buy gas because her mother was sick and out of town and she didn't have gas to get there. She offered to give him $10 on her credit card if he would give her gas money. He refused to give her any money. One day, after that, he was home talking to his neighbor, Jack, in the front yard when a little silver car pulled up. The woman driving the car asked Jack if she could ask him a question. She wanted $10 to buy gas to go visit her sick mother. Daddy started yelling at her and told her to get the hell out of there. She wasn't getting any money from them. Jack didn't know what to think until Daddy explained about that woman approaching him before.


Daddy went to visit his car club friends and told them about the woman driving around in a silver Chevrolet soliciting money. Two women told him they had been hit up for money from the same woman. When they started to leave the Burger King, Daddy helped his friend, Jimmy, get into his car. Daddy's other friends, Creed and another guy, were getting into their car when a little silver car pulled up and a red-headed woman asked them if she could ask them a question. She told them she was out of gas and needed money to visit her sick mother. Since Daddy had warned them, both men offered to buy her gasoline at a gas station nearby. She said, 'no' she didn't use that kind of gas. Then she sped off. The men told Daddy about the woman pulling up and trying the same scam on them. Daddy reported her to the police and the sheriff because he was in the city one time when the woman approached him and in the county another time. He got the tag number and reported her.


That woman has been riding all over town and begging people for money to go visit her mother. She is playing on the sympathy of men, and women, so that she can scam them out of money. Don't let anyone play on your sympathy to con you out of your hard-earned money. Use common sense and offer to get her in touch with some organization who can help her, preferably the police. She is only trying to steal money from goodhearted people. Be sure to report her to the sheriff or the police. Maybe they can catch her and make her pay for her duplicity. I hate thieves and liars. Don't you? I especially can't stand a mooch.

Oh yeah, Go Daddy Go!

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Other links to My Dental Visit and JUNE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Butch, Katy, Kim, Susan, Larry, Corbin, Gail, Melissa, Melody, Erin, Emily, Debbie, Jesse, and to everyone celebrating this month

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Resaca Rose
and everyone celebrating this month


RIP
REMEMBER 9-11

Gary McNamer, Robert Burchfield

AS ALWAYS

PIO

JUNE

Another clean bill of health from my dentist.

My hygienist Cindy.

My backyard pool.

It looks like we are in for a scorcher this summer. Temperatures have been in the 90's for weeks now and there isn't much you can do about it except sit in the air conditioning or take a dip in a pool. This is a picture of my little pool I set up in the backyard to cool off in. It doesn't look like much but it sure is refreshing. I bought a little pool for the dogs and cats to play in, too. Maybe they will stay out of mine.

I went to my dental surgeon this week. My hygienist, Cindy, told me that my teeth are looking better. I didn't get to take a picture of my dentist, Doctor Phillip, because he had surgery and was only there for a minute. I am so grateful to them both for their compassion and the help they have given me. Doctor Phil saved my teeth.

We spent Memorial Day at Momma and Daddy's house. They had a cookout. My aunts, Mary Jane and Patsy, came to the cookout. Scout brought Kim and Layla. Of course Donny and Colt and I were there, too. Momma is amazing. She makes the best baby back ribs. We had a wonderful time visiting and stuffing ourselves. I am so grateful for my family and so thankful that Momma and Daddy are feeling well enough to have a cookout. Naturally, I forgot to take pictures.

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Other links to My Dental Visit and SEPTEMBER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Aaron, Dustin, Tyler, Sara, Colt, Tim, Eddie, Jimmy, Gary, Steve, Dana, Nancy, Hanna, Keegan, and Shanda

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Chase and Krista

RIP

J.L. Strickland, Mary Bell Carter, Sam Burchfield, Charlie Burchfield 

As Always

PIO

My Dental Visit

One thing I always dread is my dental appointment. I developed gum disease and have to go to two dentists now. My dental visits are staggered between dentists. I love Dr. Frank and started going to him after his father, Dr. Frank Sr. retired. But I love my hygienist even better. She is gentle and knows me. She knows I get scared and she takes pains to make sure I am comfortable. (Haha I made a joke and didn't even mean to.) Anyway, I want to keep my smile as long as I can.

Smiling at ya'

I really like having my teeth and being able to chew things. I don't think I'd be near as happy without them.

See that glamorous gap in my front teeth, ala Lauren Hutton? That's what happens when your teeth shift.

Getting old is not for the faint hearted.

Rachel says everything is looking good. Some of my gaps aren't as deep. The new gum graft is looking good.

My teeth aren't as loose as they once were. That's good news. I just have to keep my dental appointments and let them treat my disease.

Did I mention I hate going to the dentist?

Getting them cleaned.

Rachel and I have deep conversations while she is working. She is cheerful and upbeat. She's in the right profession. I, on the other hand, am a nervous wreck.

I learned that Rachel became a hygienist because her older brother was a dentist. I think that is neat.

Rachel's son went to SPSU so I tell her about Colt going down there.

Oddly enough, this is one of the most relaxing places I've been in a while.

Rachel gave me a clean bill of health and the usual encouragement that I always need.

It's a lot less stressful since I've been going to Doctor Frank and Doctor Phillip, my periodontal dentist.

Note the cool bow-tie and bright shirt. Doctor Frank is a character. His old bird dog was laying in the hall when I came in the exam room.

He thought I was funny for bringing my camera. I told him I might as well put my pictures on my blog. Little does he know I'm going to make him famous.

Doctor Frank

He thinks I am doing very well. It looks like we will be able to keep my smile for a while. Doctor Frank is a mountain climber. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (I think).

Doctor Frank's father Doctor Frank Sr. was my dentist for years. After he retired I didn't know what to do but I finally came to see Doctor Frank.

Hygienist Rachel

That's my girl Rachel. I've been going to her since I was first married years ago. She's a wonderful person.

I found out that Donny and Rachel went to school together when we went to one of his class reunions one time.

Rachel is a beautiful woman and a gentle hygienist. I am grateful to Rachel for her calm nature.

AS ALWAYS

PIO
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Other dental visits are JUNE and SEPTEMBER

I am having lots of traffic to this post. I would like to know what is drawing so many people to this particular post. Are you all in dental school? My next dental visit is in JUNE  Check it out. 

Thanks for your replies. Or not.

Why Everybody Needs Health Care

I've been going though some dental problems for the last couple of years and it's not cheap. I was diagnosed with periodontal disease. First they planed and scaled my teeth close at the gums. My teeth started getting loose and backing out so I had to go to a specialist. He had to do a bone graft. My teeth were finally healed enough for him to do reconstructive surgery on my gums. I am having trouble with them and don't know what he will do next. We don't have dental insurance so the entire cost is on us. My hygenist said that periodontal disease has been linked to heart disease so the health of my teeth is very important to me.

When we need glasses or contacts we have to pay the entire cost for those, too, because the insurance we have doesn't cover it. My son's have to have a special prescription because their eyes are so bad and the contacts have never been cheap. I don't know how people can afford to go to the doctor and the dentist and the eye doctor and take every member in their family to make sure everyone is healthy and their needs are provided for when it costs so much for glasses and everything. The economy is bad and people have lost their jobs and can't afford to pay that COBRA (or whatever it is) to keep their insurance and they can't even get proper medical care.

I know someone who looks as healthy as a horse but he developed diabetes and has had to be admitted to the hospital because his sugar was so high. He has never had a good job with benefits so he doesn't have insurance. He would never even qualify for insurance if the government hadn't approved the health care act. He doesn't check his sugar every day because he can't afford the test strips. Never mind the fact that he should be on insulin. His blood sugar has spiked over 600 and it is destroying his body. He can't keep it down. He should be able to go to the doctor and get proper attention and medicine to regulate his body but he can't. He is probably just one of millions of people who really do need to go to the doctor, whether they can afford to or not.

I dread it when my husband retires because we won't be able to afford insurance. I can remember my grandmother sitting at the table writing payments for her insurance and it was ridiculous. The cost of health care is outrageous and insurance is sky-rocketing. If everyone had yearly health exams people could be monitored and treated for any unforseen health problems. Fewer people would develope chronic diseases before they were out of control. That should cut down on health cost and provide a healthier nation. It shouldn't be too expensive to go to your GP or gynecologist or dentist.

I don't know how many times I have to say that. "Everybody should be able to go to the doctor." No doctor or dentist, no matter what their specialty, should be able to refuse service to you because you are poor or don't have insurance. Lower income people should have government supplements, if that is what it takes, to make doctors care for patients.

I can remember when being a doctor was a noble profession and doctors didn't turn you away because you didn't have insurance. I doubt many people had insurance years ago. Dear old Doctor Rosen had a first come, first serve service. You went into the waiting room and gave the receptionist your name and she put you on the list. After everyone  who came before you had their turn you was led into the exam room and got the doctor's full attention. I can even remember the last time I saw Doctor Rosen make the last house call in our family. He would come to the house with his little black bag and take care of you if you was too sick to go to his office. He even came to the house when there was a death in the family and he gave my aunt a sedative. You won't find any doctors doing things like that in this day and age. They're in too much of a hurry and aren't willing to go that extra mile. They're probably afraid of law suits, too.

I don't understand why the general public is so against universal health care. Most people don't go to the doctor because they want to; they go because they are sick. It would be a lot cheaper for everyone to have their own doctor than to have to run to the emergency room whenever they are sick. I hate to go to the doctor so I wouldn't go to the hospital unless I thought it was a real emergency. If people had a regular doctor he could monitor their medicines and make sure they weren't mixing medicines or overdosing or taking something that wasn't good for them. He could educate them on how to care for themselves and help them feel empowered about their own health.

I also know someone who had little kids and didn't know better than to let them sleep with a bottle in their mouths and these gorgeous little kid's teeth started rotting at the gum line. Nobody had bothered to teach them not to do this to protect the kid' teeth. I made the horrible accident of giving one some candy and he started screaming in pain. I was so sorry that I had given him candy. If they had of had a caring doctor he should have taught the young parents how to care for their kid's teeth.

As we grow older our bodies start falling apart and you can be healthy one day and falling apart the next. My sons, who are young, think I am kidding but it happens to everyone.

We live in one of the greatest countries in the world in this 21st century. We believe in freedom for all and that includes all men and women and all races and ethnicities. We like to pride ourselves on our generous and humanitarian attitude. As one of the greatest democracies ever established we should extend the protection of LIFE to everyone, not the least of these being the poor and regular people.

I am perplexed with people who are adament that the government shouldn't be involved in health care. Insurance companies aren't going to voluntarily cover people who are sick and need coverage. They hunt for every loop hole they can find to cancel a policy if they can, especially if someone is running up thousands of dollars with a long term illness. Lobbist's work to protect the insurance companies. Nobody is working to protect the people.

Gordon County has a man with a cancer that has eaten up his face. He is one of about 16 people who have contracted this disease and the only one who has survived so long. He had reconstructive surgery and was beginning to look normal again until his face started to split and he is back to living with a hole in his face. He is pitiful but, thank God, he is still optimistic. The doctors are going to try to reconstruct his face again. His family has to be facing millions of dollars in doctor and hospital and surgical bills but the community has had some fund raisers for him. Nobody should have to face such a devastating medical condition and also have to worry about paying his medical bills. He and his wife need all their energy to fight this disease and not worry about money. His name is Donnie Fritts.

I know some people who contracted Tuberculosis in this community and they had to be treated at the county health center for the disease. Since it is a potentially contagious disease the health department treated everyone without charge. One or two people refused to take the medicine on schedule so they were given some shot, I think. I don't know if this would qualify them as having a pre-existing condition but if it does they wouldn't qualify for insurance without the changes that have been enacted in the congress.

Health care isn't a luxury. Health care is a primary need. It is as important as clean water, sanitation, and safe food. We shouldn't differenciate between rich people and poor people. We shouldn't point fingers and blame others. We should be our brothers keeper.

If America can afford to spend billions of dollars for two wars and borrow money from a communist country, China, to pay for it, surely we can afford to make sure every American man, woman, and child has health care. We have poured millions of dollars into rebuilding Iraq after we blew it up and yet we refuse to make sure our own citizens have health care. I am ashamed that people are so callous and uncaring towards their fellow men. I am doubly ashamed that Christians think this is right. All I can say is "What would Jesus do?"

PIO