Posted By RichC on January 29, 2022
Although I don’t place all that much faith in forecasting weather, I don’t mind seeing the Farmer’s Almanac predict a relatively mild February 2022 prediction. Sunny and turning mild is something to look forward to next month … even these GIFFY rabbits are “looking up” with interest. HA! Ah, memories of Pumpy Umpy.
Front yard and gazebo AM and PM view on January 28, 2022
Posted By RichC on January 28, 2022
In an attempt to start 2022 off right, I’ve updated MyDesultoryBlog.com‘s WordPress to the current 5.9 … along with the interface that I’ve never learned to use or appreciate. Someday perhaps?
Since this was a pretty short Tech Friday blog entry, I’ll include a JAMA guest link from my daughter that reminded her (and me) of MomC’s final days … and I thought about DadC too. Thanks Katelyn.
January 25, 2022
Poppy’s Final Lesson — Nickolas Fouladpour, MDAs a specialist in pulmonary and critical care medicine, I spent most of 2020 and half of 2021 treating patients with severe COVID-19. I managed ventilators and communication with their loved ones in a maelstrom of fear, grief, and exhaustion. The late spring provided a brief, but welcome, reprieve in the number of COVID-19 admissions. I received a call about a gentleman in his 80s, experiencing chronic pain and dementia. For the last 4 months, he resided in a long-term care facility requiring assistance to move between his bed and wheelchair. He had presented with sepsis and a myocardial infarction, but medical management had stalled over the past week and he remained hospitalized with persistent hypotension and worsening kidney function. His family had decided against heroic measures and wanted my opinion on what to do next.
This hospital was new to me, and I clumsily waded through the COVID-19 screening protocol, making my way into his room with unfamiliar trepidation. Upon entering, I saw a frail man writhing in pain as his nurse and daughter looked at me expectantly. He appeared delirious and I worried he wouldn’t recognize me. I grasped his hand and looked into the piercing blue eyes of my grandfather, “Poppy.” He looked up moaning and pleaded, “Son, please do not let them hurt me anymore than they already have.” I closed my eyes, sighed deeply, and looked back at his nurse and across to my mother and slowly nodded my head in resignation. In just over a month, I would begin a “midcareer” fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine.
Posted By RichC on January 27, 2022
Well I don’t enjoy dealing with insurance companies or claims … that is for sure!
Brenda’s Acura RDX was backed into in a Kroger parking lot last week so the insurance adjuster phone tag begins (a previous time it was the Honda Pilot and a CVS parking lot). This time the young driver who backed his 2014 VW Jetta (ironic) into her Acura was 
very nice and nervously shared his Geico insurance and drivers license information with Brenda. Thankfully no one was hurt. Unfortunately on talking with the claims adjuster, “we have yet to determine who was at fault” (even though Brenda was parked). Of course they didn’t call the police or file a police report (who does with minor bumps?) so it falls on the driver’s honesty. Hm … no wonder witnesses, police reports and cameras on/in the car are critical these days?
Hopefully after uploading the “minor plastic parts damage and being shoved out of place” to the adjuster there won’t be any hassles BESIDES having to get the car to a body shop to get fixed. For now, I’ll archive the photos I took on 1/18/2022 to the blog.
Posted By RichC on January 26, 2022
Brenda and I stretched out a cooler than expected weekend in Florida to get the condo ready for our Canadian renters. It worked out nicely since we had enough 
sun to start in order to go to the beach and plenty of time over the weekend to clean things up AND watch some excellent NFL playoff football – wild games!
It was difficult to part with granddaughter artwork … but I’ll archive it on the blog for posterity. Besides fixing a leaky toilet, I updated the WiFi and tested the speeds … as usual, downloads are fine, uploads a bit more challenging.
Posted By RichC on January 25, 2022
So … how’s the economy doing in 2022? Well, if you measure it based on the stock market or maybe finding a job (if you want to work) … then the façade looks ok.
Dig a little deeper and you’ll find out that your paycheck doesn’t go that far … IF you can find what you are looking for on store shelves. The prices are high and going higher, rents are rising, real estate is way up, energy prices are through the roof … in part due to progressive Democrat’s “war on fossil fuels” … and big ticket items are even “bigger ticket items” … or in many cases aren’t even available due to chip shortages, pandemic related shipping delays and lack a of workers. Don’t even get me started public education costs, college tuition, insurance and health care … because what was pre-pandemic outrageous, is now unaffordable for the average American family. From the masks to shutdowns to mandates, the failures coming from central planners and politicians in Washington DC this last year are too numerous to list. I think all of us understand and know that sending out more checks (and now free Covid tests) is not the way to run an economy and a country.The Biden administration policies aren’t working and no matter how much they spend and how much propaganda is spinning it, big, inefficient government (an oxymoron) and socialism never works.
I read an economics article towards end of last year when searching for Milton Friedman quotes … and it concluded that the cure for our current government money printing, inflation and excessive spending will not be what “We the People” want to hear.
Inflation happens because someone benefits from it. To stop inflation, you have to stop providing those “rob Peter to pay Paul” benefits, meaning that Paul will be unhappy.
Posted By RichC on January 24, 2022
This is not the usual kind of Music Monday. Michael Winslow and folk pop-musician Odd Nordstoga performed “Whole Lotta Love” on the Norwegian talk show back in 2011 (mp4)… although just recently saw it! A crazy talented “voice and microphone” artist.
Posted By RichC on January 23, 2022
Right-Click to download the full 2649 x 3288 Hubble photograph of spiral galaxy
NGC 976. It’s located 150 million light-years away, in the constellation Aries.
Posted By RichC on January 22, 2022
Archiving a couple office update photos after completing the crown molding, painting and “test” fitting of my new Samsung TV that Brenda bought me for Christmas. I also mounted the Yamaha soundbar on a couple special brackets so that the wires, etc remain behind the “skinny” television.
As for the crown molding after making the jig, it went smoothly … so obviously using a jig (actually it is a “fixture”) is the way to cut them … although this was a “penny wise, pound foolish” purchase on my part – bought very cheap Wayfair clearance crown molding material (never again – don’t be tempted).
Also … noticed the half-staff list of days arrived in my email box and since I regularly raise and lower the flag in front of our house, wanted to post it.
Posted By RichC on January 21, 2022
The hefty book (1139 pages) that I tried to finish by the end of 2021 is finally done (halfway into January 2022) … so now in that same World War II Pacific vein, I’m starting Martha MacCallum’s “Unknown Valor” this week. I remember hearing about it last year, but never added it to my to-read list at the time, but having it pop up on WSJ+ (and finishing “Shattered Sword”) sealed the deal.
Hopefully between tinkering in the workshop and finalizing the NFL season on TV, I’ll get through a a chapter an evening?
Posted By RichC on January 20, 2022
Give this heated candle or wax stick a try if you ever break a key off in a lock.