Animal's attack, shark week

As I write this, four Bison and eight shark attacks happened this year. There have been coyotes walking New York City streets and in Central Park and fish killing little girls in the South!

Maybe animals are nearing their breaking point and blame humans for ruining the way things were. Think about how we have forced ourselves on their land, and trashed their homes and habitats. We've been building them further in the hills, and not paying critical attention to problems we have caused, (poor polar bears which may become extinct within the next 10 years.)

Oil balls are still found on the beaches of Louisiana five years after that 210,000 gallon oil spill, and there is little media coverage about the problems being seen after the 3K oil spill north of Santa Barbara that hit more than 800 acres of ocean and 135 miles of coastline in May.

Those batches of water-based animals, if they live, are probably shaking their little heads and saying, “Jesus Christ,” (in the manner of Joan Crawford’s daughter Christina after the wire hanger incident in the movie, “Mommie Dearest.”)

When I was in the U.S. Navy, I got written up for having a monthly allotment going to Greenpeace efforts; and jeez, I have been recycling for 30 years (too bad that never took lol) and celebrating Earth Day even longer. I have written a lot of stories regarding our great outdoor neighbors, and wrote one of the first stories about fracking, (early 1990s).

I even remember the electric car in the 1970s which was squashed, literally and figuratively, by Big Business – which is why we are so dependent on overseas oil. Great film on that: “Who Killed the Electric Car?”

Americans spend more money on their pets than their children. A sad commercial can fund a shelter, which by the way is sort of a scam when you are paying $300 for a rescued cat. In my day, lol, we got our animals for free, just for wanting them. 

And there are certainly more sites online that cater to animals rather than helping humans.  And don’t forget the U.S. money being spent in other countries while nearly 2 million kids in America get one meal a day, if they’re lucky! I’ve always wondered why we bomb cities and then spend a lot of money to build them back up!

It's all a little skewered in my opinion. Wait until the trains start crashing and spewing their toxins, (which happened over the weekend, and are owned by Warren Buffet, which explains why we keep buying oil) Decks and bridges are falling down. I do believe human lives over anything else – money, business, exploitation, et al.

You know, it may be silly, but I still believe one voice, one vote can make a difference in how we treat this planet, humans and animals, forests, prairies, et al.  I’m just going to keep screaming for what is just right!

Everybody hurts sometime

Getting a Karma payback is a bitch. Getting one in the form of serious pain is ridiculous!

When I was around 11 years old, I would announce to anyone who would listen that I was never getting old. I continued that sentiment and during my teens, it sort of developed into a fear of the elderly. Seriously, I would ditch them as soon as they got near.

My grandparents were no different to me. I had no empathy for them walking slowly, or complaining about pain.  I swore I would not get old. However, once caregiver for my Grandma Ruth that sentiment started fading.

My family lives to be in their 90s, and I find myself at the dreaded Middle Age – which sounds awful – "the plaque is near!"

After refusing for many, many years that I was aging, I finally had to accept it – which I did very recently because I cannot just jump out of bed.

I would age like a powerhouse with graceful aging!  Yeah, right. That delusion ended last October, when my hips started hurting. Walking was getting a bit more difficult as I was in pain.

Being a Veteran, and broke, I depend on the Veteran Affairs and my local VA hospital, which I have been associated with for three years now.  I am being treated for pain in the jaw, but that’s another story!

If you are a Veteran, you know:  “Hurry up and wait.” It is a pain in the ass to get anything resolved through the VA. It takes months to get appointments and years to get what you actually need. We have a saying that waiting gets you dead. The squeaky wheel gets the oil, and I am a squeaky wheel. I hate to imagine how many have died due to VA medical treatment or lack thereof.

Anyway, my pain got worse, but was getting somewhat livable with ibuprofen, aspirin, Lyrica, muscle relaxer, cold and warm packs and especially acupuncture, which I can get about every 40 days!  The pain in my hips really helps me tolerate my jaw pain! lol

However, on April 16, I did a backward lunge, (probably my last) and knew instantly something was/is seriously wrong. Physical Therapy isn’t helping because I am in too much pain to do the exercises. This pain is constant. I literally hurt to sit, stand, or lay down. I just walk – averaging my 10K, so there’s a plus! But my sleep is so much worse. The pain is really unbearable. It is a unseen force but, in my case, it is definitely vocal. I yell out when it hurts, so my voice is getting hoarse.

Did manage to finagle an appointment with the Pain Clinic (!) Monday, and am hoping for some epidural steroids, which will dull the pain? It got me thinking when I heard epidural, if I was being a baby (pun intended) to the pain because I have never experienced labor. My PT guy, Chris, said no.

Elated after getting instructions what to demand from the VA from my sister today, who is a longtime nurse, I kind of jumped onto the couch, and tried to cross my legs. OMG! That pain I was just talking about – it has definitely doubled.

Happy Independence Day!

The Fourth of July is our national holiday to celebrate the creation of America by our strategic military prowess 239 years ago.  America is not that old; considering my Grandma Ruth is 94!

Fun fact: we’ve been in war for 222 of those 239. When is enough is enough?

Spending the Fourth of July with my parents, sisters, grandparents, in-laws, cousins and friends, nieces and nephews is my favorite way to spend the holiday!  We used to set up fireworks displays with the neighbors and the entire block would party together.

Being estranged from my family for many years, both literally and figuratively, I’ve had my fair share of memorable July 4 celebrations. For instance, in 2009, I ended up at Balloon Fiesta Park in New Mexico with a blind date, who actually showed up wearing an Iraqi soldiers’ uniform! It was so inappropriate on so many levels! Lol

At that same affair, seven nearby people ended up getting electrocuted as the soldier and I huddled under a blanket. The whole holiday was horrifying, but by the end the Iraqi ‘soldier’ was belting out songs about America with the rest of the crowd, me included!

Last year, I was with several thousand other people to witness the world-renowned Boston Pops Orchestra play. Rescheduled for July 3, 2014, I weathered aspects of Hurricane Arthur and ran drenched for my car before the fireworks ended. I caught the rest on TV later in my home. As I get older the thrill is gone – somewhat.

Remember those women and men who are serving the military worldwide.  And don’t forget the Veterans who can be triggered by fireworks – respect them for their service and subsequent maladies.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!  And please come back soon to 50ishUnderdog.