Can You Say Burnout?

I fear that it is going to be coming sooner rather than later. Lately I've had about three too many balls in the air and at some point something is going to come crashing down.

I've been procrastinating severely on several items for school - I'm so close to finished yet don't seem to have the energy left to just "get it done". It may be that things are just so in flux and have been for a while, that I'm totally zapped out by the time I get home in the evenings that that isn't enough of me left.

I'm looking forward to getting out this coming weekend with friends for a movie, a cookout with family, and that extra day off on Monday. I'm betting that I can put that day to really good use on creating a champagne box, and perhaps at least one other assignment.

That being said, it is a plan, unless Walter comes up with a whole laundry list of things that he would like to get help with.

Cross your fingers for me. Time to plow forward and get on with it.

Do You Have A Gun In Your House???

I got this in my email this week, I haven't done any 'fact-checking' on this, but even if there is a hit of truth to this we really need to pay attention. Better to err on the side of caution that be caught unaware.

When I had my gangrene gallbladder taken out and spent 10 days in the hospital for what should have been an overnight stay, the insurance company kicked me out. I had home nurse visits for two weeks and was asked if I had guns in the house. I responded that if I did I would not tell them. So the below information has some merit.

FYI , I am passing this along...there are comments from two other people have also been asked if we keep guns in the house. The nurse just kinda slipped it in along with all the other regular questions. I told her I refused to answer because it was against the law to ask.

Everyone, whether you have guns or not, should give a neutral answer so they have no idea who does and who doesn't. My doctor asked me if I had guns in my house and also if any were loaded. I, of course, answered yes to both questions. Then he asked why I kept a loaded gun close to my bed. I answered that my son, who is a certified gun instructor and also works for Homeland Security, advised me that an unloaded, locked up gun is no protection against criminal attack.

The Government now requires these questions be asked of people on Medicare, and probably everyone else. Just passing this along for your information: I had to visit a doctor other than my regular doctor when my doctor was on vacation. One of the questions on the form I had to fill out was: Do you have any guns in your house?? My answer was None of your damn business!! So it is out there! It is either an insurance issue or government intervention. Either way, it is out there and the second the government gets into your medical records ( A s they want to under Obamacare) it will become a major issue and will ultimately result in lock and load!! Please pass this on to all the other retired guys and gun owners...Thanks

From a Vietnam Vet and retired Police Officer. I had a doctor’s appointment at the local V A clinic yesterday and found out something very interesting that I would like to pass along. While going through triage before seeing the doctor, I was asked at the end of the exam, three questions:

1. Did I feel stressed? 
2. Did I feel threatened? 
3. Did I feel like doing harm to someone?

The nurse then informed me, that if I had answered yes to any of the questions, I would have lost my concealed carry permit as it would have gone into my medical records and the V A would have reported it to Homeland Security.

Looks like they are going after the vets first. Other gun people , like retired law enforcement, will probably be next.

Then when they go after the civilians, what argument will they have? Be forewarned and be aware. The Obama administration has gone on record as considering veterans and gun owners potential terrorists. Whether you are a gun owner , veteran or not, YOU"VE BEEN WARNED! If you know veterans and gun owners, please pass this on to them. Be very cautious about what you say and to whom.

Meandering Road Trip

Old truck along the roadside on 360.

This past weekend Mom & I headed out on a journey to visit our cousin, Wanda, in Hillsville. Now when we head out on a trip it isn't your quick trip down and back no, we wander and meander our way about.

It is amazing the things that you can see on just a four hour trip. 

We decided to begin our journey by taking 360 West to 58 West then on to Hillsville.

We stopped along the way to get some pictures of plants, ponds, bugs, buildings and such until we reach South Boston.

Goats milling around the sculptures
in Bob Cage's Sculpture Farm

It was about that time that we came across Bob Cage's Sculpture Farm! Amazing.

The field was filled with an huge assortment of sculptures with an added bonus of a donkey, burro and bunches of goats. They were all hanging out and playing around the sculptures.

We had a grand time taking pictures of the animals interacting with the sculptures. There was a couple of kids fighting with one another, leaping at one another and butting heads a few times.

Bears!
This could be interesting.

Further down the road we got to Lover's Leap lookout, spent some time there taking photos from the overlook. The rhododendron were also in bloom and the light was just right.

As we were getting ready to leave that was when we saw the bear crossing sign!

With cameras in hand we went on a bear hunt.

Needless to say we were disappointed when we didn't see a single one.  The sign LIED!

We finally made it to our destination in the early evening. Off then to visit with Wanda.

The Darlings - Mayberry RFD

After a dinner out with Wanda, we all headed across the state line to Mt. Airy. It was a dual purpose trip, I had purchase to make and we got to visit several of the attractions there dealing with The Andy Griffith Show.

We were even allowed to go into the mock up of the Courthouse/ Sheriff's office. It was a time capsule of television history. They even had a brick with a sign above it, "In Memory of Earnest T. Bass".

There was also several of vehicles from the series, the Darling's truck, a taxi, and Wally's tow truck.

Day Two

The second day of our journey started with a visit to Carroll House to spend some more time with Wanda. Instead of a couple of hours it turned in to nearly half a day.

Southwest Virginia Farmers Market

We were given a tour of the facility, took loads of photos of several of Wanda's friends and learned about all the activities that they were involved in.

Finally breaking away we stopped at the Farmers Market. The vegetables and flowers were beautiful.

Mom even found some new flowers for the deck and  her Hummingbirds.  I'm looking forward to new pictures from Mom featuring the flowers and the Hummers.

Our final major stop was the New River Trail Park at Foster Falls. As we were checking in we found out that it was the park's 25th Anniversary - a free day of parking!!

Cycling near
Foster Falls

We headed straight for the river and the falls, and were we in luck. The weather was beautiful. There were wild flowers in bloom and the Canadian Geese were on the water with their chicks. It was interesting to watch them swim against the current - both parents keeping the chick between them - buffering them from the current.

There was a Boy Scout troop from Mecklenburg, NC, camping and cycling throughout the park. Mom spoke to several of the boys who said they were there working on their cycling merit badge. They all appeared to be having a grand time.

We finished up our journey home by traveling back along 21 and 460, back to 360 and only tracing our path for only about 45 minutes.

More Photos from Our Meandering Road Trip

iBooks

Just learned how to create an iBook - looking forward to using this one.

I already have multiple projects that I would like to attack. Creating office manual with embedded videos; redoing my genealogy books to make them portable.

I'm sure that there are about 15 project that are out there for me to utilize the technology on.

Off to find one to get underway.