Experience The Machine

Today I experienced this machine.  Readers of this Blog will know that I fell. And that I went to the doctor and that he suggested I have an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - the appointment was today.  At 12:30.  I decided to run through Micky D's on the way to the doctor just a quick run through, but I had to wait - you know one of those "please pull ahead and we will bring it out to you. It took 10 minutes.  I was still on time but I didn't feel like I was on time.

I got there and had to fill out a questionnaire.  (I just love those) and then it was off to the Imaging room where I had to take everything except my underwear off.  I had one of those assistance who said things like "Now we will just go right down this way"  and "are we all right."  I was told to take my shoes off.  But I can't do that,  I had this ankle fusion operation and I have to wear the shoe over the brace I have to wear and without the shoe I would have no traction and would fall right on my keister.  Well we worked that out  She brought in a wheel chair and rolled me to the side of the torture machine and I could hop on it.

OK fine.  I thought.  Next she got some things for me raise my legs up and a pillow.  A cuff was placed over my shoulder and sand bags used to hold it in place. ear plugs and head phones were placed on my head, I was warned not to breathe deeply and not to move.  Well that was OK but they then shoved me up into the machine... I lasted for one rotation and had to have another pillow for my neck which was needing support.

I eventually got through the procedure (I closed my eyes so I would not have claustrophobia kick in) and was released.  I could hardly move my arm or sit up.  Pain.  I drove home using mostly my left arm and got into my recliner after taking two aspirin and covered up with my warm blankie and took a nap. For three hours... My arm was really sore as were various other parts of my body. But I had survived the Machine.

I made it out to York Rite (dinner at Buford's) and got home. Jon came over and took Miles for a run. He likes the look with the trimming Miles got on Monday.  My arm and shoulder are still sore.  I go see the Dr next Tuesday to find out the next step on what we are doing with the shoulder. Thanks for stopping by.  Hugs, j

Music

Lodge Brother Kurt had this posted on Facebook.  Intense.

His n' Hers

 Once a month I make the trek down to Main Street to visit my "groomer"  -  The boys went on Monday and I went on Tuesday.

His N Hers is a very pleasant place to go.  Marsha and Kim (owner) are a lot of fun and it is always nice  to visit.

I don't have many hairs to cut so it doesn't take long but it is good to have it done.  I always feel better after a visit there.


This is the view as you walk in the front door.  Just to the right is the waiting area but I have seldom had to wait.

Marsha is always waiting for me.

  Just as I got ready to sit down the phone rang and as Kim was washing a lady's hair so Marsha had to answer it and take the appointment.  Kim is filling up for Thursday and she is getting ready to go to California for a wedding so she will be busy.

 I make like Yoda and hunker down hairs to cut for the moment.

Marsha is one of those people who make connections for me.  She used to do my mother's hair and she does my Aunt Jo and I really like her. (I like Kim also)  Because she knew my mother I feel like I am close to her when I am in here.  She sometimes has more current news about the family than I do.  I get (or I used to get until I cut back) really busy and don't see family a lot so she sometimes knows when Aunt Jo is going north to the cabin in Minnesota before I hear about it.

Kim stopped by to see how we were doing after her appointment left.

It was kind of fun.  This lady (that Kim was working on) came over and said "Are you Jay Simser?"  I recognized her as the daughter of one of our stalwart Masons from years ago.  I told her that I really missed her parents.  Mac and Margaret were great friends.

I saw some of the Art work on the walls for the first time today.  It is funny when you are taking pictures for the blog you see things you don't usually see,  These are in the back part of the Salon where I don't ordinarily go.  I think they are fun.

One last shot and it was time to go.  I had been cleaned up, spruced up and made to feel good and it was fun to see my friends.  Appoitnment made for next month.

Monday Meanderings

 Jon came and picked up the boys and took them to be groomed.  I was able to meet Wayne and Ken at Cafe Diem for coffee.  Wayne is a friend from Ames.  Ken is his son and a Lodge Brother, Past Master of Lodge Vitruvian in Indiana.  We have been Blog friends for a long while and then it was great to actually meet him and have him come to a meeting of Specialis Procer Lodge in Des Moines and give a talk at one of our Festive Boards.

We had a great conversation.  He is reading the same book I am currently reading. He lives in New Mexico with his lovely wife Bette who I also met when she was here a while back.  Ken tells me they are both fans of the Found For Friday Feature and that last week's puns had them both groaning.  I told him I have enough puns stored up to do another one.  I get them from a Facebook friend who puts up a pun every day.  I, of course, love puns, always have.  And yes, I groan and then I laugh.

After I walked out of the Cafe Diem I snapped this shot of the beautiful sky over Main Street.

I went up and picked up the boys and brought them home.  They look good.  I posted their pictures on Miles on Monday which you can see if you scroll down.  Then it was off to the doctor.  I love my doctor.  He is one of the nicest guys around and he takes good care of me.  After my fall I was sore. I finally broke down and contacted the doctor though "My Chart" which is a new service from McFarland Clinic.  So he wanted to see me and I was going out last week and there was a lightening strike so I couldn't get my car out of the garage. I went today.  And I had an x-ray and now I am going to have an MRI on Wednesday to see if I need rotator cup surgery.  God it is fun to get old.  NOT!

I am still struggling with the Internet.  I only have it about half the time and then it is slow.

I was looking over some of my old posts and my posts on Facebook.  I seem to have been enraptured with the religious events going on because of one old confused man who hornswaggled a whole lot of people out of money.  It is really sad when I think of how people who are supposed to be pastors following Christ's teachings and helping folks and yet they take advantage of poor frightened people and bilk them out of life savings and who build up their own self importance by scaring them instead of hearing the words of Christ when He said "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people."  I guess in the end they will have to answer for their actions.  Oh well.

After I got home I watched the Netflix movie that came today.  I wanted to watch it because it was filmed in large part in the Scottish Rite Temple in Des Moines. The movie was titled Dylan's Wake when they were filming it and now is is called dead awake.  I have to admit I was not thrilled with the movie.  It is verrry slow and I did not like the "fuzzy" cinema effects but it was fun to see it in light of the fact that while they were filming it I was all over the place taking pictures.  You can see them
here  here here and here.  It is what I would call a semi-horror story but unless you want to see the Consistory Building in a film I would not recommend it.
Addendum:  Second thoughts on the movie. Yes it is slow and fuzzy but I keep coming back to the story and it is pretty well acted (except for the pseudo Irishman who keeps saying "Shite") and I guess if I am still thinking about it this morning it might be worth your while to watch.  Just be ready to fast forward through some of the slow scenes.
Thanks for stopping by. Hugs, j

Miles (and Bailey) on Monday

Jon told them to give him a good trimming - and they did.  He doesn't seem to mind it.  It should be cooler for him

 Just beautiful!

 Bailey did not want to be outside so he came right back in.

The toys that were carried outside during the winter are on the ramp. You can also see the tree seeds which cover my lawn.  I will try to get more pictures later.

Recommended Reading

I found that these folks are not the wicked sinners I was taught about. They are just good-hearted Americans from all faiths and cultural backgrounds, trying to pay their bills, care for their families and have a few good times with their friends and lovers."I strongly recommend that you Click on the title below to go  read:

I Was a Right-Wing Evangelical Pastor -- Until I Saw the Light

The fundamentalist political movement is the beginning of a cultural revolution that will take our nation to a very dark place.