Spent a long night in the hospital emergency room at ERLANGER at Hutcheson. Pat, my husband, had a severe asthma exacerbation. We stayed all night while they observed the effect of the medication given him. Lucky for him no hospital stay is necessary as of now.  I dread the bill when it comes. We have no insurance and not eligible for state aid. EKG, lab work, x-ray, breathing treatment, IV antibiotics and steroid treatment will add up in costs! The IV medicine will most likely be the most expensive of all. Today I went and filled his prescriptions. The prednisone was not too bad at $20. The one that almost sent ME to the hospital with a heart attack was the antibiotics. $120 for* _4_ * pills. Yes, you read  that right. I had to pay. He is limited as to what he can take because of allergic reactions to other medicines in the past. 
Here in the United States the drug companies have us over a barrel. We pay the price they want or do without. Doing without can lead to death for some people. Pat's regular medicines run us over $600 a month for 2 prescriptions.  With the cost so high he is having to scrimp on his dosages to stretch it out longer than a month. He needs 4. To pay for all 4 would total more than his retirement check. He is not old enough for medicare and was unable to continue working due to his breathing. We will make it. It won't be easy. Next week we have an appointment with the VA.With luck we will get help there.

Step into Sexy

Bouncing down Highway 24

Leaving Logansport was hard and easy. I was ready to get back on the road but at the same time we were sad to be leaving Vickie behind. We do not get to see her enough. Might be time for another trip up there. Never mind. Cold weather is already setting in up there.
We decided that we were going to take Highway 24 across most of the country headed west. We started running into road construction right away. I am talking take up the old road and start over type of construction. Gravel, loose gravel, no bridges, detours with no signs, miles of roads with no names. Like the old pioneers, we sometimes had to use the sun as our indicator that we were going in the right direction!


Illinois did not impress me. Rough roads are not fun on a motorcycle. It was not just a few miles but almost all of Highway 24 was under construction. In most places, no work was being done. The roads were torn up. We rarely saw any workers, just signs and torn up roads. Did I tell you the roads were torn up? Due to this I found very few photo opportunities.

We finally get to Peoria, IL. This turned out to be a scary part of our ride. The road lead us along side of the waterfront. Trust me when I tell you, DO NOT STOP! Buildings with boarded up windows,broken glass, gang graffiti, and busted doors lined the streets. When stopped at a red light, we were showed drugs by a young man. I guess he figured, we were on bikes so we were not cops and maybe wanted to buy some. All along the road, I saw cars stopping and someone running out to it and exchanges taking place. This was a rough part of town.


In all honestly, we had no plans of stopping in Illinois. Due to the late start we knew we would have to find a place to stay. The sun was getting low in the sky and after the waterfront drive I really did not want to explore any other part of what may be a lovely town. Sorry Peoria.

From checking my maps earlier in the day I knew there was a park near Canton IL, Rice Lake State Conservation Area. We headed down the road to it. It was a race for time. Would we make it before dark? The sun was dipped below the horizon we we arrived. The park has a small campground and we had our choice of spots. No one was around the office to check us in so we proceeded to set up camp. The camp host came over after we had everything mostly set up. She showed us where an outlet was so we could air up our mattress. I am so glad about that! The hand pump was not working out!


The skeeters were big enough to carry us away. Lucky for us I was prepared. I had some SSS Expedition Bug Spray. People this works great! Neither one of us were bit. It does not stink like some of the other products I have found.

The next morning found us up early with the sunrise. The lake had whiffs of fog and the sound of frogs greeted me as I stretched. A quick breakfast of cereal and sweetrolls and camp was broke. Before leasving we walked around a bit. Not a lot to see where we were. This was a fishing lake not a playground, unless of course you are a fisherman! We met a couple of fisherman coming off the lake. They had a bucket of fish ready for cleaning. Not a bad little spot. I do recommend it.

Well that is it for now. More memories later and more photos. To see all the photos in one spot click the tab that says 2011 USA Motorcycle Trip 

WOW looks like I have a lot of catching up to do. We are home from our trip and I will be sharing my memories with you. The timeline may be off on some things as some memories are stronger than others. Let's say this, riding across the country on a motorcycle is an experience I will never forget. I have been asked, " was it worth it?". My answer is a firm YES. Every day, every mile, every person I meet, every place I saw was worth it. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat I would.
I confess I suffer from wanderlust. I do not get to indulge in that lust as much as I would like to Our trip cross country on the bikes has scratched my itch, so to speak. Pat on the other hand, is a home body. He whined some but I really think he enjoyed the trip almost as much as I did.
I hope you enjoy reading about my adventures as I recount them.

I added a new tab on my blog. It has the photos,or rather, some of the photos of my cross country trip.

Day 3 USA Cross Country motorcycle trip

Day 3 has us in Indiana doing nothing but enjoying Vickie's company. A good shower and a full belly goes a long way to soothing raw nerves. Weather is a bit on the iffy side for today but that is ok. No riding just relaxing.
Yesterday found us riding the interstate for several hundred miles. Through Louisville KY and Indianapolis IN. We had to ride in the rain some but it was not too bad. Pat thought he forgot his rain pants so he had to get wet. All he had to do was look in his saddle bag a little bit deeper.
We had a good visit with his sister. We all went and played pool and bowling. I did not bowl. I watched. My arm was hurting(had been for a month). Pat bowled them over. LOL He is not a great bowler but he was better than Tom and Vickie.
the next day Pat, Vickie and I went fishing. The first spot we went to, the fish were not biting so we wnt to a dam. There Pat and Vickie started pulling them in. Me? I read a book and watched them. I wanted Pat to have some one on one face time with his sister.
We decided to leave the next morning. Of course we got a late start. Being a second shift person for almost 30 years makes for hard to get going in the morning for Pat.
On the road again. Next stop, Missouri and my good friend Donna and her husband Cliff.

Day one is done

Pat and I got up early this morning to start on our trip. Did we leave EARLY? A RESOUNDING NO! If anything could go wrong it did. Tempers started to flare but I held my tongue and did not say forget it, you go I am staying home.
Once on the road I was alarmed at the sheer stupidity of "cagers".  There was an SUV with a cute message on the back and side windows that said "precious cargo". If there was precious cargo inside then the driver, I am assuming was the mother, was an idiot and did not consider her cargo precious. She sure did not give a flying flip about us!. She ran up on the back of Pat. She was within a car length of the back of the trailer. I was in the other lane and she was riding beside me. I could see her talking on a cell phone also. I waved at her in a not so friendly way(not with my middle finger). She responded by flipping me off! I yelled in a not nice way and called her a not nice name and gave her a not nice gesture. She finally backed off and I was able to get behind Pat. She then went by us, cut in front and got off the highway. Witch.
I forgot my camera cord so I cannot download the pictures I took. I may get a reader so I can. I am sure in the next few days I am going to find other things I forgot.
So far everything has been going slow. Only one mishap so far. My backpack popped loose and I had to pull over to fix it.
Instead of camping out tonight we are staying in a motel. The late start made it hard to get to our camping area and set up. Ok I am out of here. going to go work out, then a hot shower and bed.
We are in Cave City,KY. Mammouth Cave is near by. Tommorrow we will be in Monticello IN to visit Pat's sister for a few days.

Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776.
THE UNANIMOUS
DECLARATION
OF THE
THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WHEN, in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's GOD entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the Causes which impel them to the Separation.
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their CREATOR, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that Governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.
HE has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.
HE has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
HE has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People, unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyranny only.
HE has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the Depository of their public Records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures.
HE has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.
HE has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining, in the mean Time, exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within.
HE has endeavoured to prevent the Population of these States; for that Purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither, and raising the Conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
HE has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
HE has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and the Amount and Payment of their Salaries.
HE has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance.
HE has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the Consent of our Legislatures.
HE has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
HE has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
FOR quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:
FOR protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
FOR cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:
FOR imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
FOR depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:
FOR transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended Offences:
FOR abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary Government, and enlarging its Boundaries, so as to render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule into these Colonies:
FOR taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
FOR suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever.
HE has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection, and waging War against us.
HE has plundered our Seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.
HE is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with Circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.
HE has constrained our Fellow-Citizens, taken Captive on the high Seas, to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their Friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
HE has excited domestic Insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes, and Conditions.
IN every Stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every Act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.
NOR have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them, from Time to Time, of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common Kindred to disavow these Usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our Connexions and Correspondence. They too have been deaf to the Voice of Justice and of Consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the Rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
WE, therefore, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in GENERAL CONGRESS Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connexion between them and the State of Great-Britain, is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that as FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which INDEPENDENT STATES may of Right do. And for the Support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of DIVINE PROVIDENCE, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honour.
John Hancock.
GEORGIA, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, Geo. Walton.
NORTH-CAROLINA, Wm. Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn.
SOUTH-CAROLINA, Edward Rutledge, Thos Heyward, junr. Thomas Lynch, junr. Arthur Middleton.
MARYLAND, Samuel Chase, Wm. Paca, Thos. Stone, Charles Carroll, of Carrollton.
VIRGINIA, George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Ths. Jefferson, Benja. Harrison, Thos. Nelson, jr. Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton.
PENNSYLVANIA, Robt. Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benja. Franklin, John Morton, Geo. Clymer, Jas. Smith, Geo. Taylor, James Wilson, Geo. Ross.
DELAWARE, Caesar Rodney, Geo. Read.
NEW-YORK, Wm. Floyd, Phil. Livingston, Frank Lewis, Lewis Morris.
NEW-JERSEY, Richd. Stockton, Jno. Witherspoon, Fras. Hopkinson, John Hart, Abra. Clark.
NEW-HAMPSHIRE, Josiah Bartlett, Wm. Whipple, Matthew Thornton.
MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, Saml. Adams, John Adams, Robt. Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry.
RHODE-ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE, &c. Step. Hopkins, William Ellery.
CONNECTICUT, Roger Sherman, Saml. Huntington, Wm. Williams, Oliver Wolcott.
IN CONGRESS, JANUARY 18, 1777.
ORDERED,
THAT an authenticated Copy of the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCY, with the Names of the MEMBERS of CONGRESS, subscribing the same, be sent to each of the UNITED STATES, and that they be desired to have the same put on RECORD.
By Order of CONGRESS,

Free samples never stink.

Vocalpoint’s giving away FREE samples of Glad® ForceFlex® OdorShield® with Febreze® Freshness bags. Get yours!

Almost forgot to breath

Lately it seems as if I am forgetting to breath.

BBQ, parades, flag waving

Barbecue's, flag waving and parades are not how I am going to honor this day. I cannot call it a celebration because to me it is not. Today is a day of mourning and honoring the ones that gave the ultimate sacrifice, their life for their country.
Veteran's Day is a day set aside to honor all veterans, dead and alive. Armed Force's Day is to honor those that are serving now. Flag day is a day of celebrating our first national flag. I asked a group of people what Memorial Day meant.I was sad to hear their answers. Not a single one of them knew that it was a day of mourning. I received answers that it was the first day of Summer (still a month away), sales holiday, Veterans Day (Nov. 11th), the day the pool opens, last day of school.
Does the schools not teach anything anymore? Sad thing, one the ones that did not know was a TEACHER.

Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom
October 7, 2001 to May 16, 2009
4,967 Total deaths

Persian Gulf War
1990-1991
382 Total deaths

Vietnam Conflict
1964-1973
58,209 Total deaths

Korean War
1950-1953
36,574 Total deaths

World War II
1941-1946
405,399 Total deaths


World War I
1917-1918
116,516 Total deaths

Spanish-American War
2,446 Total deaths

Civil War
498,332 Total deaths

Mexican War
1846 - 1848
13,283 Total deaths

War of 1812
1812-1815
2,260 Total deaths

Revolutionary War
1775-1783
4,435 Total deaths

source(s):


Congressional Research Service Report for Congress - Casualties/Statistics

http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/american%20war%20casualty.htm



Global War On Terror 2001-2009 Total Deaths by Service

http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/gwot_component.pdf



U.S. Department of Defense - Source for Casualty Reports & Information

http://www.defenselink.mil//

Tornado aftermath updates; how you can help - KOAM TV 7 Joplin and Pittsburg

Tornado aftermath updates; how you can help - KOAM TV 7 Joplin and Pittsburg

bright sunshiny day

It is a bright sunshiny day and I WILL enjoy it if I have to kill someone to do so.

I don't understand

I don't understand why a person would tell someone that someone said something to them that they did not say. I am not talking about someone saying that so and so said hey kind of thing. I am talking someone (person A) telling a person (person B) they claim to love that someone (person C) said something to person A that person C did not say about person B and person A and person D. What do they have to gain from it?Why does person A want to cause problems between person B and C? Could person A actually think she can have a relationship beyond the one she has with person B?
I just don't get it. and it hurts.

Weekend over thoughts

This past weekend was a busy one and not so productive one or maybe it was. I don't know. The important thing is, it is over and I survived.

Help Us Find Missing Horses Used With Special Need Kids Who Disappeared After the Tornadoes | WDEF News 12 | News, Weather and Sports for Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley

Help Us Find Missing Horses Used With Special Need Kids Who Disappeared After the Tornadoes WDEF News 12 News, Weather and Sports for Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley

Mother's Day, my day?

So today is Mother's Day. Supposed to be my day right? I am a mother. I am suppose to celebrate or is someone else suppose to celebrate because I am their mother?

Good, busy, grassy day

Today was a pretty darn good day. Amazing how a snoot full of grass and dirt can make you feel good. Spring has finally arrived and with it comes all the things I have to do. this year is different though. I get to share the fun things and the hard things. Pat being home all the time just may turn out to be a good thing after all.
He started his day off with what looked to be a disaster. He decided he needed to get outside and start cutting the fields(with a little bit of prompting, NOT nagging! LOL) He checked the oil on the tractor and yikes! It looked like it was full of water. When he smelled it, it smelled of gas! NOT good. Good thing, the gas smell was on his hands because he had just poured gas in the tractor. He immediately drained the oil and yes it was water WITHOUT antifreeze  in it. That was a plus. That meant water got in from the storms not the radiator. Good thing is we had enough oil to do the change! So off he goes on the tractor cutting away!
In the meantime I am busy with my own stuff. A load of dishes, a load of clothes, tea made, cats thrown out, dog thrown out and then I go out. I get out my lawnmower and start cutting the front I get part of it cut then I get stranded! Out of gas and no gas in the cans! So I decided to start picking up the sticks I had cut a couple days before and took them to the burn pile.
Pat came in and we had lunch, left over pizza from Rafael's . After lunch we played around a bit on Facebook. Then Pat hooked up the trailer and we headed to the gas station to get some gas.
A lot of yard work got done, a lot of field work got done and a real sense of satisfaction on a job well done.
Next comes dinner, then off to Sonic's for a sundae. maybe Wally World for cat food or maybe just wait until tomorrow for the cat food. I am tired. maybe wait on the ice cream too...

Holidays and celebrating them

Today is Easter. I had a pretty good one with Pat. We saw Brook earlier today and took her a basket then we went on a ride on the motorcycles. Beautiful day for riding and soaking in all of the glorious scenery. The only problem is, holidays are not going the way I want them too. I thrive on the tradional celebrations.
Trick or treating door to door at Halloween, to me, is the only way to go. Circling a block while people put candy in your bag, everyone walking 3 or 4 deep and not moving at time is not my idea of fun. Oh sure stuff happens, it happens all the time. The only people I know that got razors, posion, or needles turned out to have done it to themselves. Kidnapping? Not likely.
Thanksgiving means parades, and not just any parade, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. I want turkey and pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving with a huge spread on the table. I want to overeat and enjoy it.
I want the Christmas decorations, the tree and all the trimmings and of course Santa Claus. Cooking, baking, wrapping presents are all part of my traditions.
New Year's Eve means watching the ball drop on TV and Dick Clark's Rocking New Year's Eve party. New Years day means a bike ride and black eyed peas and cornbread.
Easter is Easter bunny, church , food and candy, egg hunts and hiding them again!
The one thing they all have in comman is family and eating together as a family. I miss that. When mama died traditions started changing. I did not like it. I want us together on the holidays, at least once a year. My own daughter, 10 miles away and since she married and started visiting his family and I am not sure what else is moving further apart from me. I don't know, I just don't know. I think the rest of this year I am not going to be home for holidays then maybe, I won't feel so alone.

Not really a White Whine but, damn, that is good. - White Whine - A Collection of First-World Problems

This is an absolute must read. People never cease to amaze me. Not really a White Whine but, damn, that is good. - White Whine - A Collection of First-World Problems

Stupid ad

Found this in my email this money. I will not say the company. Note the NEW LOWER PRICE

Walmartstores.com: Walmart Coupon Policy

Walmart has a new coupon policy. Print this out and take wityh you and you should have no problem at the store.

Walmartstores.com: Walmart Coupon Policy

Shopping and boys

Have you ever gone shopping with a boy? How about

weather and whatever

This has been a long winter. I am ready for it to be over. We have had not one but several major winter weather events.

2011 U.T.A. Georgia Martial Arts Festival

Today Brook competed in the 2011 U.T.A. Georgia Martial Arts Festival. I could not be more proud of her. She started out

gas stinks

For at least the past year I have been having trouble with gas. I know, i know. It is a subject that no one wants to talk about yet everyone talks about it.

What's new?

WOW 10 months has passed since I last blogged. Life has really been moving along since then. Where to start?. I am not going

Blogging again

I never intended to take such a long break from blogging. I am back in the saddle again so to speak. Most of my readers have likely fallen to the wayside but that is okay. Out with the old and in with the new and life continues in a cycle. So here goes. Hello old friends and welcome new friends.