A Jaded View

Ohio County Courthouse & Library Woes

2011-09-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, September 13, 2011, I went to the Ohio County Clerk's office in Wheeling with my friend, Tom. A resident of Louisiana, I was in the Wheeling area for four days and had planned to spend half a day at the courthouse.

We encountered a very friendly, flamboyant woman on the courthouse elevator, who was none other than the Clerk of Court herself, Patricia Fahey. She directed her staff to help us, and they did.

The problem arose when I could not find a particular book I needed. The book was not at the courthouse, we were told, because it was "restricted," due to its fragile condition.

The restricted book was stored in the basement of the Ohio County Library, and, according to Mrs. Fahey, the book could be viewed at the library "if you know someone there." She specifically asked if I know Glenna Dillon. I do. She tried to think of the name of another person at the library and could not remember it. I suggested "Diane" and she said, "That's it!"

Since I have been doing a free website for the Wheeling Area Genealogical Society for fifteen years, I know two people who work at the library, one of whom is Diane. I also know Glenna Dillon, but she does not work at the library. She is a volunteer in the Wheeling Room, the genealogy library of the W.A.G.S, of which she and I are members.

Thinking I would have no difficulty gaining access to the restricted book, Tom and I walked to the library and asked about the book. A member of the staff stated that a permission slip from the Clerk of Court is required to see a restricted book.

Recalling Mrs. Fahey's statement that the book could be accessed if I "know someone," I asked for Diane. While waiting for Diane, I spoke to other members of the library staff, all of whom claimed they had no authority to provide access to the book. Past incidents of "helping" researchers by allowing access to restricted books had resulted in being admonished by the Clerk of Court. For that reason, the library instituted the policy of requiring the authorization slip from the clerk.

By the time Diane arrived, I understood that a pass from the clerk would, indeed, be required, and I would not even consider asking her for assistance.

Tom went back to the courthouse to see Mrs. Fahey about the permission slip, but by that time, she was in a meeting, could not be disturbed, and no one knew how long it would be before she would be available.

In Mrs. Fahey's absence, there was no delegation of authority, apparently, and, therefore, no one to provide the permission slip required to gain access to the restricted book.

Questions: Should anyone be required to "know someone" in order to access public records? Shouldn't there be a policy in place so visitors don't have to be in the middle of a conflict between the clerk and the library? And shouldn't the clerk know the standing policy of the library if there already is one? Why would Mrs. Fahey suggest that Glenna Dillon, not even a libary employee, would be able to provide access to the restricted book? Isn't the clerk in charge of the county records, including those stored in the library? Shouldn't the clerk delegate authority in her absence so that matters, such as the authorization I required, can be promptly processed?

The entire morning was taken up with this deadlock, and viewing the restricted book was not in the realm of possibility. It was very disappointing, a complete waste of my time, and entirely unnecessary.

Moving on. Since I was in the library, I thought I would look at the Wheeling City Directories in the Wheeling Room. Outside the door is the nice plaque I donated to the W.A.G.S. for their 35th anniversary, inscribed with the names of the charter members.

But the Wheeling Room door is locked. The good news is that I was permitted to go in. The bad news is that my purse had to be handed over to a staff member who promptly locked it in a utility closet.

Over the years, people have stolen all kinds of things from the library, including from the Wheeling Room. I understand the need to take steps to prevent theft, but this seemed rather discriminatory - and unreasonable. A woman with a purse, regardless of its size, has to relinquish it. Period. Never mind that it might be too small to conceal more than a paper clip. And when people want to steal things, couldn't they, even more easily, put it under a shirt or jacket - or in their pants? And don't people, as my son once did, tear pages out of books and put them between pages of a notebook?

If purses and other similar potential recepticles for stolen goods are confiscated, then why stop there? Is it fair to take a purse and then not do "pat downs" to insure that someone didn't slip a book under his shirt?

And do I really want to hand over my purse - containing cash, camera, iPhone, check book and credit cards - to a library employee who is a complete stranger to me? I have no idea how many people have keys to that dark storage closet. If my purse - or contents - turned up missing, what proof would I have that I ever gave it to a staff person in the first place?

It would make sense to me to post a sign indicating that the libary reserves the right to inspect bags upon leaving. But what about items secreted under a shirt or jacket? That's probably some violation of a Constitutional Right. - But, as it is, the current practice of locking up purses is discriminatory, and, from my point of view, very risky.

Our library in Baton Rouge has a magnetic security system, and I thought they had the same in Wheeling. Each book has a magnetic strip that is desensitized before the patron leaves the library. An alarm would go off if someone tried to abscond with a book that had not been desensitized. It seems to work.

This experience highlights some issues that need to be addressed - IMO.

A Coleman's-Like Fish Sandwich

2010-08-25T15:36:00.001-07:00

Coleman's Fish Market at the Centre Market in Wheeling, West Virginia has been making fish sandwiches since 1914. The sandwiches are part of the nostalgia for those who of us left Wheeling and return to visit, and they are regular fare for many lifelong residents of the area.

The simply delicious fish sandwich is deep fried fish on white sliced bread.

Inquiring minds have wanted to know the recipe, but that information is never forthcoming from any of the Coleman's employees.

The Centre Market website reveals that the fish they use for the standard fish sandwich is pollock, which is not readily found in Louisiana. And, anyway, getting the fish is no help if the recipe is not known.

ENTER BOB AND LOIS MOORE OF IDAHO.

On a recent visit to Wheeling, I met with Bob and Lois, who left the Wheeling area half a century ago. They return annually and invariably eat at Coleman's. They, too, have wanted to know how the sandwiches are made, and this year they achieved that goal.

Over the years, they gleened bits of information about the preparation, but this year they know enough to call it a recipe!

After Bob and Lois saw a fish box in a trash recepticle at Coleman's, they knew where Coleman's gets the fish: Atlantic Sea Pride, Inc., Boston, MA.

Next, they figured out the process: Dip the fish in water, shake, dredge in flour, dip in egg wash, dredge in cornmeal/crackermeal breading. - Coleman's sells the breading in plastic bags.

The fish is cooked in Canola Omega3 oil.

The bread they serve the fish on is from Nickles Bakery.

SO, today, I made my first Coleman's-like fish sandwich.

Atlantic Sea Pride said they only deliver to businesses, so I ordered ten pounds of pollock from Always Fresh Fish in Tom's River, NJ. It arrived via FedEX and was "somewhat" cool to touch upon arrival. Probably best to order in the depth of winter, rather than when it is 100 degrees here.

Lots of places have pollock, especially in the north, and it can be bought inexpensively. It was expensive to order from New Jersey because of the shipping, which was almost as much as the fish. But I saved by buying 10 pounds.

We don't have a Nickles Bakery in Baton Rouge, but our "Bunny Bread" brand worked just fine.

I followed the Bob and Lois' "recipe" and I have to say that the result was excellent! REALLY.

Why I'm Getting Fat: Favorite Recipes

2010-04-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

ROASTED GARLIC & CHERRY TOMATOES WITH PASTA

Link: www.grouprecipes.com
[I usually add Johnsonville Hot Sausage and onions. It is still good without it.]

Ingredients
•2 lb cherry tomatoes, halved
•16 garlic cloves, peeled
•1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
•1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
•1/2 tsp salt
•1/4 tsp black pepper
•1 lb dried spaghetti or other strand pasta.
•1 handful torn fresh basil leaves
[1 package Johnsonville Hot Sausage]

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)
2. Arrange tomatoes, [chopped onion], and garlic cloves so they fit snuggly in an oven-proof pan.
3. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
4. Roast until garlic is soft and golden, 25 minutes. (Don't overcook or the garlic will get too brown and taste bitter)
5. Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water; until firm to the bite. Drain.
6. Return pasta with tomatoes and garlic to the warm pasta pot. Toss well to coat. Sprinkle with basil and serve. - [And don't forget the shredded Parmesan Cheese.]

ANNA'S SPAGHETTI AND PESTO TRAPANESE
Lidia's Italy: lidiasitaly.com
[Spaghetti alla Pesto Trapanese alla Anna]

[I use grape tomatoes from Sam's Club. Available all year and they are great!]

¾ pound (about 2-1/2 cups) cherry tomatoes, very ripe and sweet
12 large fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup of whole almonds, lightly toasted
1 plump garlic clove, crushed and peeled
1/4 teaspoon peperoncino or to taste
½ teaspoon coarse sea salt or kosher salt, or to taste, plus more for the pasta
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound spaghetti
½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Grana Padano

Recommended equipment:
· A blender (my preference) or a food processor
· A pot for cooking the spaghetti

Rinse the cherry tomatoes and pat them dry. Rinse the basil leaves and pat dry.
Drop the tomatoes into the blender jar or food processor bowl followed by the garlic clove, the almonds, basil leaves, peperoncino and ½ tsp salt. Blend for a minute or more to a fine purée; scrape down the bowl and blend again if any large bits or pieces have survived.

With the machine still running, pour in the olive oil in a steady stream, emulsifying the purée into a thick pesto. Taste and adjust seasoning. (If you’re going dress the pasta within a couple of hours, leave the pesto at room temperature. Refrigerate if for longer storage, up to 2 days, but let it return to room temperature before cooking the pasta.

To cook the spaghetti, heat 6 quarts of water, with 1 tablespoon salt, to the boil in the large pot. Scrape all the pesto into a big warm bowl.

Cook the spaghetti al dente, lift it from the cooking pot, drain briefly, and drop onto the pesto. Toss quickly to coat the spaghetti, sprinkle the cheese all over, and toss again. Serve immediately in warm bowls.

SAUSAGES WITH POTATOES & HOT PEPPERS
Lidia's Italy: lidiasitaly.com

3 medium sized potatoes
1/2 c extra virgin olive oil
6 cloves garlic crushed and peeled
1/2 tsp pepperoncino
kosher salt to taste
1 1/2 lbs sweet or hot Italian sausage [I use Johnsonville Hot.]

Cook the potatoes in olive oil, add salt - add the sausage in one section, add garlic and the red pepper flakes.

MY MOM'S BEEF STROGANOFF

Sirloin steak cut into strips.
1 stick real butter
1 big sweet onion, chopped
sliced mushrooms
About 1 Cup Sour Cream.

In skillet, melt butter, add onion and cook until wilted. Best to cook the mushrooms in the microwave and drain the water off - add to skillet. Add sirloin steak pieces and stir until cooked as desired. Remove from cooktop and stir in sour cream. Serve over rice, which in my house is Uncle Ben's long grain cooked in a rice cooker with a little salt.

CHICKEN FETTUCINI - [WITHOUT THE USUAL 2 STICKS OF BUTTER]
My recipe.

Cut 2 whole chicken breasts into strips. [I use kitchen shears.]
Chopped onion [optional]
6-8 garlic cloves, chopped
White pepper
Sea salt to taste
Olive oil
Half & half or heavy cream
1# cooked pasta

The amounts are sort of iffy. This is a VERY simple and quick recipe.

Heat some olive oil in a skillet. Add the chicken and cook until brown. If you want onions, add them, and also the garlic. Cook until the onions are done. Add white pepper (maybe a teaspoon?). - Cook the pasta at the same time.

For the cheese, you can do it two ways: (1) add about 3 cups of heavy cream to the chicken mixture and bring to a boil. Add about 2 cups or so of shredded parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and then pour all of this onto hot, drained pasta. (2) You can cook down the heavy cream in saucepan and then add the cheese and melt it. Then add to the chicken mixture. -- I use the one-pan method.

CHICKEN LICKEN

I saw this recipe in a magazine about 30-35 years ago (or more) and I've been making it ever since. Since it is so good, it is no surprise that it is online.

I add extra ginger and chili powder.

Ingredients
1/4 cup butter
4 large chicken breasts, halved
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup canned tomato [I use a whole can - or use roasted grape tomatoes]
1 cup chicken broth
1 can sliced mushroom or 1/2 cup fresh sliced mushroom
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup heavy cream

Directions
Brown chicken with onions and garlic.
Add seasonings, tomatoes, broth and mushrooms.
Simmer covered for 40 minutes or until chicken is tender.
Remove chicken from sauce and keep warm.
Blend corn starch with cream to make a smooth past and stir into sauce.
Stir in remaining cream and simmer gently for 5 minute stirring constantly.
Pour sauce over chicken.
Served with hot noodles or rice.

Health Care - The Future

2010-03-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

When my mother started out as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1960, she was paid $7.50 a day, for an 8-hour shift. When I began working as an L.P.N. in 1966, I made $9.50. In January 1967, the Minimum Wage took effect and my hourly wage was dramatically raised to $13.75, which may have included $.75 for working evenings or nights. By the time I began practice as a registered nurse in 1983, I was making about $14 AN HOUR.

Wages are not the only thing that evolved during the last half century.

As a young nurse in the 1960s, I was particularly sympathetic to the elderly. Surgery on a senior was very high-risk, not to mention costly, and was, therefore, discouraged and not often done. The cost-benefit analysis was not necessarily stated but, in general, it seemed to me that if the patient was about seventy or older, he/she was viewed as one who had lived a long life -- long enough.

When I was nineteen, I wrote about my perceptions of the treatment of the elderly in this country. Based on my own experiences, although the care was still very much patient-centered, I thought the elderly were the very lowest priority for doctors.

At that time, I didn't know anything about the business end of health care. But now I know that in 1965, when Medicare began, less than 50% of the elderly had health insurance. Unless the person had money, or found a charitable doctor or hospital, they didn't have many options. The same for the poor.

But as a result of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the old and the poor became valuable commodities. These government programs, as well as the phenomenal advances in medical diagnosis and treatment, greatly enhanced the lives of the old and poor over the last 40+ years. And health insurers, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies are among the entities that have been greatly enriched, as the government reimbursements, particularly for care of the old and poor, have flowed into their coffers.

I don't know enough to understand the nuances in the current system that result in the dramatic daily reports about people not receiving health care, losing their homes, etc. But, in general, health care has been a lucrative industry for decades, and most people have become accustomed to a high standard of care. They may not think it is high, but it is when compared to the pre-Medicaid/Medicare days.

But these advances came at a great cost to most citizens, and brought us to the place we're at now.

And the place we're at now is not a good place because, despite the high taxes we pay, the government programs are in financial trouble, and insurance policy premiums continue to rise. Something had to be done... but what is the best approach to providing quality, affordable health care to everyone?

I don't know.

In my own practice, I witnessed the health care focus shift from PATIENT to PROFITS. When my place of employment changed from a general hospital to a medical center in the early 1980s, it became a big corporation, with the charitable nuns replaced by business managers. The change was reflected in all aspects of the facility, as every detail of care was weighed in terms of how much money could be made from a patient's pain and suffering - about how the most amount of money could be made by providing the least amount of care.

Medicare and Medicaid, mismanaged and under-regulated, got way out of control!

For many years, I have believed that far too many unnecessary surgeries are performed, and too many drugs prescribed. Many doctors get kick-backs from pharmaceutical companies every time they write a prescription. It's all about taking advantage of the current payment system... Lots of money has been made by lots of people, all at the expense of the taxpayers, to the point that the system is facing bankruptcy.

During the two years I worked in a convent, the nuns, who had good insurance, were very easy prey to doctors who saw the gold mine inherent in such a community. Surgeries for carpal tunnel syndrome, cataracts, and joint replacements were among the elective procedures performed on a high percentage of the sisters. And a podiatrist found reasons for nearly all of them to see him regularly and have good foot health by ordering his custom-made arch supports that cost a few hundred dollars each. At various times, I was appalled that an 85 year old would be given "Shock Treatments" (Electroconvulsive Therapy) or a heart bypass - or numerous dental procedures to save a tooth, rather than extracting it.

But people have become accustomed to the many options available to them, at almost any age, in the health care industry.

We desperately need solutions. And, admittedly, I was more in favor of an incremental approach because I am fiscally conservative and do not think we should do anything to add to the federal deficit.

Regardless of what I think, changes are coming very soon. Politics aside, because of being on the verge of bankruptcy, changes must be made. But whatever changes are made will result in a shock to many people. We will be living on a budget and, in time, the abundance of options that many people have now will disappear. How can it be otherwise?

My own thoughts are that there will be favorable and unfavorable changes and, in the end, not too many people will be completely happy. I think the costs of any new program will probably exceed expectations, and costs will have to be cut, one way or another. That is the part that people will like the least.

I see a health care system in the future as being far better for the rich.... because they will still be able to afford the realm of options they have now. But for average people, I think their choices will be more limited. The elderly will again be a lower priority, as they were before Medicare, and they will qualify for fewer procedures. After all, the elderly are extremely expensive to maintain and they will put a severe strain on the budget.

Cost-containment is going to be the name of the game, and what passes for "cost-containment" now will be unrecognizable in the future. Every patient and procedure will be subject to a cost-benefit analysis.... Will premature babies that often cost hundreds of thousands of dollars - or more - be saved? Will a 65-year old with liver failure be eligible for a transplant?

I guess we'll see because President Obama's health care plan is set to be the law of the land.

[And, since I live in a state that seems to permit a large percentage of the population to inherit the right to qualify for government assistance, I wish the government would dramatically cut welfare progams by actually investigating welfare and Medicaid recipients. Far too many able-bodied people here work at lucrative jobs, such as in construction, get paid big $$ under the table, don't pay taxes, and STILL collect welfare. - This goes on generation after generation..... to the point that it is so widespread that there are not enough investigators to scratch the surface of the problem. When it comes to the statistics, these people are included with the indigent that the goverment has to take care of.... In reality, they are given a free ride on the system, at the expense of taxpayers. It would be a huge savings if these slugs could be eliminated from the system.]

The Little Cockayne House

2010-03-06T17:15:00.001-08:00

It seemed like every time we went past this house on Wheeling Avenue in Glen Dale, Mom would say, "Oh, I just love that house.....!" or "I would love to have a house like that some day....." or "It looks like a little cottage...."

Usually at Christmas, the little house would have wreaths with big red bows at the four front windows. "Look at those decorations... It looks just like a Christmas card," Mom said.

The house was not the grandest one in Glen Dale, but it's the one Mom liked. For some reason, it suited her far more than any of the mansions in the area would have. It was somewhat small, but very neat... understated, yet extremely appealing.

Mom worked as a nurse for twenty-five years at Reynolds Memorial Hospital, a couple of blocks away from the little white house. When I was still at home in the 1960s, she was hopeful, with dreams and aspirations, which included having a house like that.

Mom never advanced beyond the trailer in Allendale, and her life ended when she was only 55, in 1984. By the time she died, her dreams were simpler: she wanted a diamond ring, and she wanted a fireplace. She ended up buying a tiny little ring for herself but she never got the fireplace.

But every time I see the little house in Glen Dale, I think about my Mom.....

NOW, the house is an important part of the "Cockayne Farmstead Preservation Project." I do a website for it: http://www.cockaynefarm.com/

When the last owner of the Cockayne farm died, he bequeathed the farmhouse and property to the City of Glen Dale. The Marshall County Historical Society has taken over the farmstead to restore it as a museum.

The little white house was owned by a Cockayne family member and it adjoins the farmhouse property, all originally part of the same tract. The Historical Society didn't have the money to buy the little house when it was for sale, so two attorneys in Moundsville bought the house temporarily, with the idea that the society would lease it, and then eventually have the money to pay for it.

The time has come for the little house to be owned by the Cockayne Farmstead Preservation Project.

I am far from being independently wealthy, but in honor of my beloved mother, I am going to donate $1000 toward the purchase price of $87,500.

$87,500 sounds like a great deal of money..... but if 87 and a half people donate, it seems entirely manageable. A group could solicit $5 from 200 people - or $10 from 100 people - and donate $1000...

I believe in this project because the Cockayne Farmstead is an important part of Marshall County History -- and the little white house is important to me because it's a reminder of my mother and the hopes and dreams she once had...

The Bowl of Fruit

2009-12-14T12:13:00.001-08:00

December 22, 1995

Ever since Mom died in 1984, Dad and I have hated Christmas. For us, Mom WAS Christmas and without her the magic is gone.

This is the twelfth Christmas without Mom, more than enough to compare to the three dozen with her. And this year, it suddenly came to me that it's not just Mom's death that made us lose our Christmas spirit; the bowl of fruit has a whole lot to do with it, too.

It's not like we look back at our past Christmases and remember them as being better than they really were. They WERE wonderful and exciting, and we knew it at the time. And now I know WHY.

The bowl of fruit we had every Christmas tells the story more completely than anything else. It was very much a symbol of the times of struggle for countless families following World War II, a time when luxuries were few, and home and family love were what mattered most.

So it's about the way our values have changed. Or about how prosperity has taken away the appreciation for a bowl of fruit.

Mom and Dad worked hard all year long to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. But at Christmas we celebrated. It was the ONLY time of year we had such a celebration, and that's what made it so important. It was a time for extras, a time for anticipation and surprises.

Mom loved Christmas and she loved creating the mystery that didn't unfold until Christmas morning. She gave the house the best cleaning of the year, and she worked until the early hours of Christmas morning preparing for the "events" of Christmas that she loved so much.

One of those events was the Christmas tree. Sam and I never saw it until Christmas morning, after Dad got up and went to the cellar and fired up the coal furnace. Then we would go to the living room and Dad would plug in the lights ....

It was thrilling.... It was truly an event!!

Then we would look at our presents under the tree. There weren't many, but there was always the extra-special something that we had wished for all year. And our Christmas stockings, hung on the arm of a chair, had more little surprises, like candy canes or bubble gum.

And we had a five pound box of Brach's chocolates .... What luxury!

But it was our awe and our appreciation of having a whole bowl of fruit on the kitchen table that strikes me now as the best example of what we've lost in our lives and, sadly, what we can never recapture.

For Mom, putting that fruit in the fruit bowl, virtually empty the rest of the year, was a Christmas highlight. And when we saw it on Christmas morning, it was as wondrous as anything could be. We had fruit at other times of the year, maybe bananas or apples, but we never had a whole bowl of fruit. Only on Christmas, Mom filled the bowl with oranges, tangerines, grapes, apples and bananas. With the focus of an artist, she arranged and rearranged the fruit until it was the magnificent centerpiece for our Christmas table that she wanted it to be. Maybe she'd separate the bananas and hang them over the sides of the bowl, or she'd put the tangerines in a circle on the plate under the bowl.

But, even as a child, I appreciated having that whole bowl of fruit. I'm not saying that I would have chosen fruit over the gifts under the tree in those days, but it's just the fact that I once valued a bowl of fruit that is the point.

When that FRUIT BOWL was transformed into a BOWL OF FRUIT at the end of each year, it made a statement. It said that life was good, our family was doing OK, and we were truly blessed. How much better could life get?

So, it is the fact that we have so much that has ruined Christmas. When we can have what we want all year long, Christmas isn't special anymore. It's hard to get excited about much of anything, let alone about a bowl of fruit.

Mom was the creator of our wonderful Christmases, but I think that if she was with us now, she would feel the loss of the magic, too. But, then, maybe if she was here, it wouldn't hurt as bad.

Gecko Psycho!

2009-08-28T05:58:00.000-07:00

This month marks 20 years that we have lived in Louisiana. Although I have never been wild about being here, I have adapted, with one exception. - About 6 years ago, I realized that Mediterranean geckos were also living in Louisiana, in Baton Rouge, IN MY HOUSE. And I am psychotic on this point!

Last night, I encountered TWO of these things in my bathroom, so, naturally, I am now terrified to sit down on the toilet.

Yes, I killed them... Sorry, but, like snakes, I don't want these things in my house!

These hideous-looking creatures are not native to Louisiana and some articles say they threaten the native species. This particular article shows the distribution of Mediterranean Geckos in Lousiana: http://www.herpconbio.org

[One of those stars is obviously my house.]

The article states there are no predators of these awful, ugly things, so they are thriving! They come out at night, and they are stuck all over the outside of the house, including on the ceilings. And they live in the walls of houses, meaning IN houses.

At the first house we bought when we moved here in 1989, I never saw this type of gecko. We had skinks (black with blue tails) and a variety of other similar creatures, such as the black one with a red head that ran out of the wood in the fireplace one night, thus eliminating any possibility that I will ever burn wood again.

But these Mediterranean geckos are different and scarier because of their ugliness. At night, they are flesh-colored - sort of translucent - with big eyes.

Last year, I was on a plane leaving from Baton Rouge. The lady seated next to me started chatting... She was about my age, and a life-long resident of Baton Rouge. She asked how we like living in Louisiana after coming from the north. Of course, I launched into the gecko story. The woman said, "I've never seen anything that looked like that -- and if I did, I'd move!"

And that isn't the first time someone has said that.... Lived here all their lives and never saw any of these hideous things.

Granted, we have plenty of the green kind of gecko or lizard - or whatever they are. - I don't want them in my house either, but they don't terrify me.

So, I guess I'm saying it is the appearance that makes the difference... "Judging a book by its cover..." "Discriminating on the basis of skin color...."

I'M GUILTY! But you don't see GEICO using Mediterranean Geckos in the commercials.

Post-Hemilaminectomy

2009-04-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

Mindi was discharged yesterday and this is part of the summary report, from admission through discharge:

Thoracolumbar CT Scan: Severe spinal cord compression at L1-L2 and moderate compression at L4-L5. Both lesions extradural and arising from ventral and slightly right-sided. The compression is caused by mineralized material.

Surgery: A right hemilaminectomy of L1-L2 spinal segment was performed 3/27/09. Moderate amounts of mineralized disk material were removed in addition to large quantities of fibrous capsule protruding into the spinal canal.

Case Outcome: Mindi recovered uneventfully in ICU where she received IV pain medications and fluids. A urinary catheter was placed to prevent overfilling of her bladder. On 3/29/09, Mindi was moved to the general wards where she continued to receive oral pain medications (Tramadol and Rimadyl) and urine production was monitored. Rehabilitation exercises were started to help promote joint health and maintain muscle memory. Over the next week, Mindi's neurologic function slowly improved although motor function in the rear legs was not detected. The urinary catheter was removed on 4/04/09 after she was noted to be urinating around the catheter. Oral medications were discontinued as well as she was no longer assessed to be uncomfortable. Mindi was noted to urinate voluntarily outside in the grass later that day and on 4/5/09 slight movement of the right hind limb was detected when her front end was supported. - We expect Mindi's neurologic function will continue to improve over the next weeks to months although we cannot predict how much function will return. It will be imperative to her recovery to continue with rehabilitation exercises at home and to promote significant weight loss with an appropriate diet.

So that's the story. The recommendation for her diet is Science Diet Canine R/D - 283 kCal/day to reach and then sustain a weight of 15-17 pounds. She is currently 23 pounds.

She got home about 4:30 and was still panting and excited. She settled down and eventually urinated in the grass. We got her a kennel, and she seems comfortable in it. Molli appears detached and is terrified of the kennel and, also, Mindi. She smelled her initially but has not bothered since.

We were told to hold Mindi's back side up by putting a towel under her. It is very awkward and a strain on our own backs. I had also bought a harness called 'Bottoms Up' that is for the purpose of holding up the back end. Didn't have much luck with it yesterday but will try again today. I also ordered a 'Belly Sling' today on eBay. Hopefully, she will walk again but no signs so far.

Three to four times a day, we have to do passive range of motion exercises on Mindi's hind legs, as well as weight bearing, and stand-to-sit.

Changing Mindi to this low-cal diet was not something we thought would happen easily. But, to our amazment, she gobbled it up! Even better is that Molli also ate it! So, that is the diet from now on.

Mindi made a poo this morning and she ate most of her food. However, when Mindi had not urinated for 24 hours, I was concerned. She went to see the regular vet at 5 p.m. and she was too tense for her bladder to be felt. An X-ray was done and her bladder was not distended. She did have pain and her temperature was elevated. They put her back on her pain meds. She came home and slept on my bed; I massaged her and did passive range of motion on her paralyzed hind legs. At 9:15, we were going to put her in her kennel for the night. We brought her to the kitchen for water, which she drank, then she ate all of her dog food. We took her outside and held her up with the towel -- and finally, she urinated. She was probably in pain all day and she became very tense. The meds decreased the pain and let her relax.

Mindi's Back Surgery

2009-04-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

Mindi had emergency back surgery on Friday, March 27, 2009, at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Veterinary Clinic. After she was anesthetized, an MRI and other tests were done. We still don't know what the tests showed or exactly where her spinal cord was injured. The surgeon would have answered these questions after the surgery but we didn't think to ask.

There is a chronic progressive disk herniation, very common in the chondrodystrophoid breeds, such as dachshunds, Pekingese and Shih Tzus. Although Mindi probably had this disease, she also had additional trauma to her back when Molli attacked her the night of March 24. Unfortunately, we didn't know how badly she was hurt until the next day when she was in extreme pain. Our vet gave her pain meds and said she would need surgery if she wasn't improved in 48 hours.

March 27: Surgery was late afternoon and she made it through. We don't know the precise surgical procedure that was done. We think the surgeon removed a piece of the disc.

March 28: In ICU with a catheter; on pain meds; alert; not eating.

March 29: Don't know about ICU or catheter; drinking water & "showing interest" in baby food; some improvement in hind legs; rehab starts this afternoon. - Molli, Mindi's sister, has been tense, possibly related to Mindi's absence. She was in great pain tonight and acted like she did when she had a back injury. Gave her some of Mindi's pain meds and she went to sleep.

March 30: Mindi essentially the same as yesterday; not eating and still has catheter. Molli, at home, walking gingerly but ate and peed. Vet said to give her one half of a Rimadyl if she is in pain. Hopefully, she will improve.

March 31: Mindi shows superficial pain sensation; standing with assist; ate baby food meat; not drinking. Catheter remains until movement in hind legs. We visited Mindi: wagging tail; urine appears clear; vet student said they will produce urine even if not drinking. Odd that it was so clear after 4 days. - We gave her water and she drank it; also ate Beneful. Still panting, so very stressed. - Meanwhile, Molli is somber with flat affect....

April 1: Mindi eating & drinking; hind legs not moving but responses getting better. Vet student said catheter could have come out and they could manually express urine but Mindi's obesity is an issue and catheter will remain until she can urinate on her own. She said Mindi is moving in the right direction. Will work on standing to sitting today. Once the catheter is out she will go to the PT for swimming. Husband visited today at 4 p.m.

April 2: No change as of this morning. Surgeon is optimistic but can't say for certain if she will ever walk. Level of spinal cord injury prevents urinary sphincter from releasing urine; bowel movements are voluntary, according to surgeon. "Daddy" visited after work.

April 3: Vet student reports "doing well" but no significant change. "Possibly" encouraging is that Mindi is wiggling her behind in a way that might suggest motor improvement. "Daddy" visited after work.

April 4: Visited Mindi between 8 & 9 this morning. Leaking around her urinary catheter so the surgeon had the vet student take it out. They are going to commence expressing the urine from her bladder 5-6 times a day. Mindi's obesity makes this more difficult and we will have to learn to do it. (I had done it on people-patients with spinal cord injuries, but never a dog.) She has a strong medicinal odor and is very dirty after her ordeal. Now that the catheter is out, she will have a bath. On Monday, she might start swimming for Physical Therapy. She will probably be discharged early in the week, but if it is recommended, we will take her back a few days a week for PT. - She is still on Rimadyl for pain but that will be discontinued soon. She seems comfortable and wants to walk. She just drags her fat body along and it is heartbreaking. She will be on a strict diet when she comes home - which she should have been on long ago.

April 5: We dreaded visiting Mindi this morning. She did not seem to be progressing as quickly as we hoped, and we thought we would have to learn to express her urine today. Taking care of an invalid dog seemed overwhelming and we didn't feel very hopeful. But we got a big surprise: Mindi can urinate on her own! This is huge because now she can go swimming tomorrow and then come home in the afternoon. After that, she will go three times a week to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine for Physical Therapy. - We are greatly relieved that she can urinate and defecate on her own! She seems very stressed and we know she will thrive once we get her home.

April 6: Got the call this morning that Mindi can come home this afternoon. Will do swimming in PT and will be discharged at 4 p.m. Our vet student/clinician said she thinks Mindi is using her right hind leg. - Meanwhile, Molli is either in pain or she is extremely depressed. She won't eat and she looks despondent.

Our Best Friends, M & M

2009-03-27T17:50:00.001-07:00

If my husband and I had known forty years ago that dogs were so wonderful, we would probably have added dogs to our family unit instead of children.

Our two shihtzus are our best friends. They love us unconditionally and they NEVER ask for money. They appreciate everything we do for them and they show it in countless ways. They are cute and affectionate and fun - and they warm our hearts! They snuggle against us, and they seem to value every minute they spend with us.

Mindi and Molli are very special because they have suffered and survived. They were born in 2002 and, soon after, we were told they had Demodectic Mange. I chronicled their ordeal at http://www.lindapages.com/mindi-molli/puppies.htm.

The dogs were physically tortured by innumerable dips in Amitraz (Mitaban), in an effort to deal with the mites that took over their bodies and practically killed them of demodectic mange, and the related staph infections, in the first year of their lives.

If someone else had bought these two sisters from a breeder (no doubt, of the puppy-mill variety), they probably would have chosen euthanasia for them because their cases of mange were so severe.

In the end, we paid to read a Canadian study that shows that Interceptor, the drug used to prevent heart worms, is an effective and SAFE treatment for Demodectic Mange. We think that vets in the US don't want people to know this because treating Demodectic Mange is great business! Never mind if the dog suffers with tortuous itching, pain, and damage to their nervous systems! And Amitraz, the only APPROVED treatment, CANNOT kill mites that are between the eyes, inside the ears or under the toenails! Period. A systemic drug is required.

We made a choice and paid for the Interceptor. It worked miracles and Molli has been asymptomatic for more than 4 years. Mindi still has a little flare up, here and there, but we have been working to build up her immune system.

Since the ordeal in their early years, they have, admittedly, become very spoiled. They rule our roost and Molli is, clearly, the alpha dog. This means that in terms of our family pack, she is in charge. She is very particular and she "talks" until her communications are understood. Otherwise, she will not shut up. Obviously, she knows she will prevail in the end.

Mindi is very sweet and passive and she seems OK with Molli being in charge. She never challenges Molli's authority and she rolls over when Molli is aggressive. In fact, she rolls over when someone goes near her because she knows it is futile to resist what has been the inevitable far too many times in her life.

Molli had a back injury a few years ago but she recovered well, after a few days of rest and pain medication. But Mindi sustained a back injury - a slipped disc - this week and she required surgery today. She had been having some problems for a few months and we noticed that she could no longer jump onto the bed. She had not been playing with Molli and that really should have been a red flag. She was even worse after they returned from the groomer's two weeks ago.

On Tuesday night, Molli, the Alpha dog, got upset over some perceived misdeed by Mindi and she jumped on Mindi's back. Since then, Mindi has not been able to walk, and she shivered and panted, as if in tremendous pain.

The next day we took her to the vet and she was diagnosed with a slipped disc. Dr. Kleinpeter said to let her know if she showed no improvement or got worse in the next 24-48 hours.

By today, 48 hours later, there was no improvement and our poor baby Mindi had to go for more X-rays to confirm that. She was rushed to the LSU Veterinary Hospital in Baton Rouge, where she was promptly evaluated and then taken to surgery. The surgeon said they had admitted six dogs that day with the same condition.

The cost of the surgery was $3500, but she is in the best possible place. We are assigned to a clinician, a vet student, who calls us at least daily with status reports. It is a day-by-day recovery and we simply won't know the prognosis until we see if her motor skills, as well as bowel and bladder functions, return.

Mindi is fat... OUR FAULT. She does not eat nearly as much as Molli but she is obese and Molli isn't. Mindi's thyroid is fine, so we can't blame it on that. When she comes home, we have to use tough love and monitor her diet so she can be healthy. It is our responsibilty. We know that her obesity was a factor in this condition...

Privacy On The Internet

2009-01-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

There is NO good reason to post personal information on the Internet about living people, other than yourself.

I am constantly amazed at the detailed information people post in family trees about relatives who usually don't even know it is posted. In my own experience, I have had altercations regarding the private details posted about my family.

ONE TIME, when I first got online, I mailed our genealogy (USPS) to a Family Society. It is a long-established organization and I didn't think anything about it. Seven or eight years ago, they did not have a website and one could not have imagined that they would eventually put every scrap of information online. - But they did.

My sister had a month-long brush with genealogy in 1997, at which time she sent out our genealogy files with abandon! But, again, at that time, one could not have forseen the countless serious issues, such as identity theft, that have proliferated on the Internet.

YES, vital records are a matter of public record. But that does not mean they should be posted on the Internet! These records, related to living people, should remain at the COURTHOUSE! Some states, as well as the District of Columbia, do not issue birth information to outside parties until 100 years have passed; for deaths, it is fifty years. Otherwise, ONLY immediate family or legal representatives may obtain the information

If someone wants information about you, they should at least be required to get off the couch and put forth some effort to get it!

Divorces, adoptions and other court actions ARE in the public domain in SOME states... but in others they are CLOSED and require a COURT ORDER to access. So why should some distant cousin have the right to post information that is really no one's business? Again, PERSONAL RECORDS should remain in the COURTHOUSE and not be posted online for immediate public consumption by the curious and the criminal.

One of the first forums for posting genealogy information was Rootsweb.com's WorldConnect. Of course, Rootsweb is owned by Ancestry.com, a lucrative BUSINESS that sells genealogy resources and information. They CLAIM to PROTECT PRIVACY.

After finding a particulary disturbing file at WorldConnect that contained erroneous information about my immediate family, I tried to write to the person who submitted the genealogy file. I received no reply so I wrote to Rootsweb/Ancestry. I was told that they do NOT edit or remove files -- EVER. They claim they have NO responsibility or obligation to remove ANYTHING. Rather, I had the responsiblity to track down the file submitter and deal with it. NEVER MIND if the submitter had died or no longer had the posted email address. According to Rootsweb.com/Ancestry.com, it was "NOT" their problem...

Additionally, Rootsweb/Ancestry HELPdesk person, (name provided upon request), stated that people often disagree on genealogical information. When I stated that MY immediate family was the subject of my concern and I KNOW who was married to whom and who was divorced, I was told that they do not have the time and/or the staff to deal with people's conflicts regarding genealogy information; it is not possible for them to sort out who is right and who is wrong. - Each message from the alleged HELPdesk person was more condescending and belittling than the last. It was hopeless.

And the subscription site, Ancestry.com, owner of Rootsweb.com (all under the umbrella of THE GENERATIONS NETWORK) is ONLY interested in how much money they can make from our personal information and genealogies. On the one hand they claim to protect the privacy of children but they post the names, addresses, phone numbers and sometimes ages of members in a family in their PUBLIC RECORDS index, which gives NO specific source for the data. They simply say it came from "public records." It is hard to imagine what PUBLIC RECORDS would contain this much information about a family! I would like to know ONE example......

There is a REASON why the FEDERAL CENSUS records are not released for SEVENTY YEARS! It is about PRIVACY! - So on my sites, I abide by the SEVENTY-YEAR RULE.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE think before you "share" your genealogy file! Sharing information about long-dead ancestors is one thing but consider the LIVING, especially children, before posting information about them.

Smoking? - Just STOP!

2008-07-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

As I have said 1000 times, I don't think intermediate remedies, such as gums, patches, etc., are the best type of intervention to stop the act of suicide-by-cigarettes.

#1, I truly believe that the pharmaceutical companies do NOT want people to stop smoking and get on the path to better health. And the tobacco companies certainly don't want people to stop smoking either.

Since I stopped smoking TWICE, I have the lived experience. Of course, individuals are different and stopping smoking is a unique experience for each person.

I always think the problem with stopping is that the common perception (gleaned from various sources) is that stopping is going to be UNBEARABLE.

This is the same regarding pain, such as when people go for a dental procedure or have surgery. In psych, I was taught that much of experiencing pain is LEARNED. And then a fear of pain develops.

A friend recently had a root canal, which used to be a major ordeal. Now, the minute a root canal is done, there is no pain because the root is dead; I have had 6 of them. But my friend took Lortabs for 48 hours after because he feared pain. He figured that if the dentist gave him the pills, he must need them - all of them - for the excruciating pain that must be coming.

This is so common with all sorts of minor procedures. - I take nothing and there has never been any pain that an Advil couldn't relieve. After major surgeries, I took nothing (because of sensitivity) and it was not unbearable either.

The point is that we are conditioned to think that we will suffer if we have surgery --- AND if we stop smoking.

By TV commercials, we are told that we need the lozenges, gum, patches and pills to gradually wean ourselves away from the nicotine addiction.

NO WE DON'T.

And I smoked A LOT! Even as an RN, I worked in psychiatry, the only part of the hospital that, years ago, allowed nurses to smoke while on duty. It was considered therapeutic to sit and smoke with the patients, 99.9% of whom smoked, as well. It was certainly not a place for non-smokers because with no ventilation, there was a constant haze of cigarette smoke that affected everyone.

So I know about being addicted and about the difficulty of quitting.

COLD TURKEY IS THE WAY TO GO and in THREE days I was fine. It was ONE DAY AT A TIME but, honestly, it was OK, and the three days were NOT unbearable.

I had stopped for about 10 years and then made a choice to start again... maybe because I knew I could quit when I wanted to. The second time, I smoked for about 2 years and then my mother died and I quit.

Having said this, I do accept that some people simply don't seem to be able to stop. Maybe it is a matter of having a strong enough conviction about what is important in your life. If you want to live to see your children grow up, marry, have children, then you have to do whatever you can to be healthy.

Stop The Spam.... Blockers!

2007-12-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

The only thing worse than SPAM itself is a SPAM BLOCKER.

Well, actually, the worst is a spam blocker & anti-virus combo.

My advice: If you use a SPAM blocker, please check the folder often and don't choose the setting that automatically deletes spam and suspicious messages.

As the webmaster for many websites, I often receive a hundred messages in a day. I answer each and every message promptly. If someone writes to me and does not receive a reply, chances are, they are using a SPAM blocker/firewall program that is interfering.

The problem is getting worse and I am frequently assailed with caustic messages about how awful, rude and inconsiderate I am for not having the courtesy to reply to a reasonable question.

I DID reply to the original message and also to each subsequent message - but they can never get there if they are blocked - or automatically deleted.

God only knows how many people think I am simply not answering messages.

ONE reason my messages are blocked/quarantined/deleted is because "FLU" appears in my email address and also in my surname - Fluharty.

It is bad enough having the surname and now I am stigmatized in cyberspace because of it. - Get it? FLU is a VIRUS - Ergo, that means the message must contain a VIRUS. How irrational is that?

Well, no more irrational than the numerous people who hear my sister's surname, WHITWAM, and ask, "Is that an Indian name?" Because it sounds similar to wigwam?

My sympathy really goes out to people with other surnames. They must have a heck of a time on the Internet!

A few months ago, I was trying to send a text file to the West Virginia State Archives. It was simply a transcription of a letter related to the Civil War. - I sent it 30+ times and could not get it to go through.

The WV Archives uses a SPAM filter/firewall called Barracuda. - Trust me, if you want to stop spam and viruses, that is the program for you! The downside is that it is so sensitive that you may never receive another email in your lifetime!

It turned out that the reason the message was stopped by BARRACUDA is because it contained the surname PRICKETT. This is not an uncommon name but it was stopped cold!

At least people who use that program don't have to worry about getting cussed at in an email.

But I have to wonder what communications on the Internet are like for people with surnames like Prickett, Raper, Shitler, Shittle, Cuntz, Bastardi, etc.