Southern Porch Extension

[Carole L]

My cousin just posted This on FB about his son Joe.

Joe is back in the Cleveland Clinic ICU. Had bleeding on the brain from blood being too thin. Gave him platelets to clot but put the LVAD in jeopardy to clot. The bleeding is stopped but cannot go back on blood thinners for 5 days. He is also going into heart failure again with too much liquid in his body backing up into his liver. The right side of his heart is not keeping up with the pump because of that. He is back on a drip to get the water out of his body to help the right side of his heart to function properly. His liver was tender for over a week but the doctors fluffed it off to a pulled muscle.

[Carole L]

We are expecting actual temps today of 104 here today. Not fun!

[Ms. Barbie]

Hi all! I pop in on occasion but I don't interact. It seems that since I realized that writing is not one of my gifts or even a passion, I feel like an outsider. Yet... I will take a peek at the challenge theme to see if there's any spark that would ignite inspiration. So far there's been none. I've been enjoying learning photography yet even that comes in small spurts. It would be fun to combine the two somehow.

When I check out the forums, I go down the list of new posts to see what catches my attention- I don't even notice what neighborhood they are assigned too.

Anyway, my niece and her family will be moving to North Carolina in the next few months due to a job transfer. I believe they will be living around the Raleigh area- they are also looking at the area of Fuquay-Varina. Of course, I will be visiting there as soon as feasible. Mariane, is that fairly close to you?

[Joanney]

I found this hanging in the Kids Company office at work this morning. It was written during the school year by the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at Jeffers Pond Elementary in Prior Lake, MN during Kids Company (the before and after school program.) I kept the spelling for humor sake.

Things that can go wrong on a trip:
-you die
-you get sick on the plane
-you get stine by a jellyfish
-you forget your cloths
-you get lost at sea
-you get pushed in a fire
-you get kid napped
-your flight gets canciled.


I couldn't resist and sent it to the leaders for the Czech mission trip.

[ready2go]

This morning while listening to the tv news on a popular local news station, I heard a brief news report about jobs vs applicant's age. However, they presented no facts to back up their report. Based on today's economy, I did not agree with these statements:

"The older you are, the more likely you are to land a job."

"Statistics show that the majority of jobs are being awarded to people over 50 years of age."

"Most employers are looking for experienced workers."

What??? What statistics? Who issued that report, and what is their agenda? What kind of jobs are being awarded to the older folks? Are the jobs temporary/part-time jobs, or fulltime? And, at what pay scale, or perhaps no pay at all?

Based on that report, then, of the 14 million+ "official" unemployed job seekers, very few of them would be 50 years old or older. We know that is not true.

My guess is that many of that older age group would be willing to accept any job at any amount of pay since retirement plans have evaporated, investments have tanked, interest earnings are next to nothing, their unemployment checks have ended, and welfare assistance programs will not support a house and family.

What say you?

Don

[Edy]

My guess is that many of that older age group would be willing to accept any job at any amount of pay since retirement plans have evaporated, investments have tanked, interest earnings are next to nothing, their unemployment checks have ended, and welfare assistance programs will not support a house and family.

What say you?

Don

Don, I haven't seen or heard that news report, yet. But, my suspicions would be that if it could be accurate that employers prefer hiring older workers, it wouldn't necessarily be just for their experience. I think your analysis is more likely. That, plus some young job seekers might be more interested in the money and benefits (which many employers can no longer afford to provide) than doing good work.

Instead, rather than wasting time interviewing a young person, someone with a good resume is a lot more appealing. My 2-cents worth, anyway.

I couldn't resist and sent it to the leaders for the Czech mission trip.

Joanney - yesterday we took Sonia, our Czech-Polish friend (who graduated and is returning home to the Czech Republic in July), down to Spillville, Iowa, to show her the Czech community, St. Wenceslaus church (where Antonin Dvorak played the organ for worship during the summer of 1893, in exchange for using the organ for his music composing), and especially the Bily Clock museum. See: http://www.bilyclocks.org/Spillville.html

Info at this link might be a unique introduction for the team planning your Czech mission trip. Howard first told me about Spillville and the Bily brothers' clocks, and we've since acquainted others with this charming little treasure nestled in the hills of northeast Iowa. I wouldn't mind spending a writer-retreat summer, there, and with a church called St. Wenceslaus, it sounds like it should be a Christmas setting as well!

I bought another book at the museum gift shop (last time, it was a biography of Dvorak) - this one composed of diary writings of the Bily brothers' mother, from the time she was around seven until after her husband died. What a lovely way to read history through the eyes of a real person, and gain insight into the personalities of her children and other family members! I read from it out loud on the three-hour trip home to help keep the driver awake.

http://www.amazon.com/Bily-Brothers-Car ... y+Brothers - will show you the book cover, but no other info. I shall have to write the first review!

Conover buildings huddle down the railroad track a half-hour walk – a town that somehow got cheated out of great expectations.

—Marie "Mary" (Andera) Bily, Diary, 5 March 1884, Spillville, Iowa[2]
2. ^ a b Hutchinson, Duane (1993), Bily Brothers: Wood Carvers and Clock Makers, Lincoln, Nebraska: Foundation Books, pp. 128, ISBN 0-934988-30-7

Oh, how I relish "living" history!

[Joanney]

Info at this link might be a unique introduction for the team planning your Czech mission trip. Howard first told me about Spillville and the Bily brothers' clocks, and we've since acquainted others with this charming little treasure nestled in the hills of northeast Iowa. I wouldn't mind spending a writer-retreat summer, there, and with a church called St. Wenceslaus, it sounds like it should be a Christmas setting as well!

Edy, that sounds like that would be a great introduction to the Czech culture for those going on the trip. The ones who are leading it have been going for 12 and 8 years so they have had a pretty good introduction already. It might also be a good experience for Greg once he gets back. Might have to consider it. Not sure where Spillville is, but I know Cedar Rapids also has a Czech museum. I've thought about stopping there sometime while going to my sister's house (she lives between CR and Iowa City.)

[Verna]

Greetings, fellow porch dwellers. I have not dropped off the earth, nor have I taken my football and gone home. I still want to play. I have, however, been buried in an edit of a book for the editing business I sometimes work for. Now I've finished it and have come up for air.

As always, dear Mariane, my heart hurts for your pain. You have had so much to endure. And I'm sorry about the results of John's knee surgery. I hope the coconut oil helps. I have a jar of it that my daughter gave me once, but so far, it's pretty much in the dresser drawer. If you all find it to be a miracle worker, please let me know.

Edy, you're always quick with an encouraging word and a remedy or two. I appreciate that.

Barb, I don't think any of us consider ourselves Hemingways or Frosts! I've read some of your writing and enjoyed it. Don't force it. Just write when the mood strikes. Your photography is lovely.

Laurie, Just keep on keeping on. God has helped you so much so far. You can trust him to continue.

Joanney, I like your list. I'll be checking your article. I'm glad your creative juices are flowing again.

Carol and Carole, Your prayer requests have been added to our list. Carol, when is your surgery scheduled?

Don, the Southern Porch Extension is broad enough for people from all locations of the United States and even beyond. I can't see how it will make a difference under which forum it's posted. I'll be glad to "drive" over to our new location.

Deb, I appreciate the changes you're effecting to make Faith Writers more user friendly, and I'm delighted that the challenge books are coming out. I'm always happy to see you on the porch. We have a special chair just for you!

[Edy]

Joanney - look for Decorah just below the Minnesota-Iowa border south of Rochester, MN. Then about 10-12 miles south and a little west of Decorah you'll find Spillville. We have always done day-trips (three hours drive each way from Minneapolis). We come home exhausted, but refreshed, anyway!

Here's the review I wrote for the Bily brothers' book at amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R2ZL2B3HJYJ3GR

[ready2go]

Don, I haven't seen or heard that news report, yet.

WCCO TV channel 4

I think the report was done during the 5:00am local news hour.

That's when all true Minnesotans are up and at 'em for the day, ya know!

Don

[Edy]

Don, I haven't seen or heard that news report, yet.

WCCO TV channel 4

I think the report was done during the 5:00am local news hour.

That's when all true Minnesotans are up and at 'em for the day, ya know!

Don

You are such a lark, Don! The only time I'm up that early is when we have to leave town at 7 a.m., like yesterday - and then I'm too challenged just getting myself ready, let alone listening to any news on TV. Our mornings are strictly radio. If we can't get the news in a five-minute slot, it's not worth wasting our brain cells to digest. Haha!

[Laurie]

Thanks for your prayers for the auction. We had a beautiful day, about twice the people we expected, and my mom got more than she expected. We figure I knew more people there than anyone. I kind of played hostess for the day, and I enjoyed that. On Sunday night, I felt that Monday would be a time to honor my dad, and that helped.

There were times it really got to me. I cried during the auction more than anyone. My mom managed much better, but it hit her harder this morning. She is very pleased with the auction itself, though, and she is relieved that it's over.

We left the house for the last time last night. That was hard, too. I couldn't sleep last night because I just kept crying. So I only slept for two hours. And I've cried buckets and buckets of tears today. Some of it is grief, but I feel that a lot of it is the release of the tension leading up to yesterday. There's just been a LOT going on and then the family tension has been so thick on top of it. I've been on emotional overload for about five months now.

My mom went back with my sister today and will stay with her for a week. I'm so glad she's going, but I'll miss her, and I can't remember the last time we went this long without talking to each other. Sure, either of us can call. But I do think it's important that she get a break from things here. And I also really need some time to myself. I haven't had a break since my dad died, and all of my siblings have. Not a break from my mom, of course, but just some days that I'm not involved in the overwhelming amount of things we've been doing. And even if we weren't actively doing things, we've talked every day, so we've been discussing things constantly because there's just been so much.

I hope to work on some things for my business this week. And I really want/need to spend some time journaling.

Again, thanks for your prayers. It was a nice day in so many ways.

[Green Leaves]

Laurie, I am so glad it is finally over for you. That had to be an ordeal and grief would be natural. But it is comforting to also know that the separation from your dad is temporary. We all look forward to being reunited with loved ones.

Verna, my surgery is scheduled for July 12...so I have awhile to wait. I admit I will be glad when this is over. I am assuming I will feel much better when the six or eight stones and stent are out of there. Today has been rough.

Debby sent a message to say she is doing "General" duty this week while her daughter and husband are vacationing. I think packing is much easier. Little ones require so much energy.

[ready2go]

This will give you a tiny clue as to what kind of shape I've been in lately.

After lunch each day a good nap is a "must do" event...lasting anywhere from a 1/2 hour to 2 1/2 hours long. Today was one of those nap days...as usual. I normally sleep/nap so soundly that a truck could roar through the house without waking me. However, if our telephone rings it's like an alarm clock, but I'm not always wide awake when I answer it.

Today I got all comfy in the recliner, and was fast asleep in about 30 seconds. Of course, twenty minutes later the phone rang. I picked it up...pushed what should have been the talk button...and said "Hello" twice. The stupid phone kept ringing. After I pushed the talk button again, I realized I had been saying hello to the TV remote control.

I thought, "How dumb is that?"

By the way, the phone call was a wrong number. It's been a long day...as usual.

Don

[Edy]

The tyranny of the telephone! I sympathize, Don; we're supposed to be on a no-call list, but I betcha we have more "unknown," "anonymous," or "toll free" calls than ones we want to take. Thanks to the caller ID, I can ignore those, but they are still an interruption, especially aggrivating when my hands are wet or I have to run up the basement stairs to check.

Hugs to you, Laurie, and Carol. You've each had a long haul of burden-bearing.

What's that quote that would fit Verna to a tee: something about her words being apples of gold in a silver vessel? You do say so much in few words, I wish I could learn how to do that!