How Animals React To Changing Situations

I love my dog Pepper, and am thankful that he is so adaptable.  He's a high energy dog, loves to play and run, and that can't be done in our house anymore.  He has figured that out, and has adapted his behavior to fit ours.

When Ron became unable to walk him and play with him as he used to do, Pepper figured out other ways to be with Ron that they would both enjoy.  When Ron is at his desk, which is quite frequent, Pepper would sit with him, on a little Cubs blanket, next to his desk.  When Ron would nap, Pepper would be right by his side to offer moral support.

Now that I cannot take him on long walks, I have our wonderful friend Dan, who does that for me daily.  Thank you Dan for all you do.  I am trying to get back to walking Pepper, and I do so with the help of a walker.  I want to be sure that if he does pull, which he often used to, he will not send me flying.  Funny thing, he must understand that he has to walk slowly.  He walks right by my walker, and almost never pulls on the leash.  He knows what I can and can't do.  Such great instincts.  Since I can drive now, I am able to take him to the park in the afternoon, walk him down a small ramp to the park, and let him play, and me socialize.  It's good for both of us, and gives him a chance to rough house with other dogs and get some energy out.  Then when he gets home, he's back to being calm and quiet, the perfect companion for both of us.  Thank you Pepper!

Ida B. Wells, African American Civil Rights Leader

Ida B. Wells began life as a slave in 1862 in Holly Springs, Mississippi.  She was freed during the Civil War by the Emancipation Proclamation, and went on to be an investigative journalist, educator, and early leader of the Civil Rights Movement.  She was one of the founders of the NAACP.  Her life centered on combating prejudice and violence.  She fought for equality for African Americans, especially women.

Ida's parents and a young brother all died around 1868 from the yellow fever epidemic.  Ida, in order to keep her family intact, went to work.  She got help from her grandmother, and the family was able to stay together.  In order to improve their quality of life, Ida moved the family to Memphis, where she secured a good teaching job.  She soon became involved in newspaper work, and co-owned the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight, two local newspapers.

As a journalist, Ida B. Wells wrote about many incidences regarding racial segregation.  She document lynchings, and exposed it as a barbaric practice that southern whites used to intimidate and oppress southern blacks.

Ida eventually moved to Chicago, where she married, and continued her work as a civil rights leader, with special emphasis on black women.  She preached peaceful means to change, long before Martin Luther King, Jr. was even born.

Remembering Past Events: Write It Down!

By sheer accident I was checking my blog today, when up popped a post I had written on August 8, 2014, four weeks after the partial knee replacement of my left knee.  I couldn't believe what I had written.  I remember correctly the positive part of the surgery and recovery, and completely forgot all the negative.  What I wrote 5 years ago, was that the first 10 days went very well, and I was back to the gym and thought everything was going easily.  When I got to week three, I experienced lots of pain, difficulty getting off the Norco, not feeling well, and not sleeping, all the things I am now experiencing.  What a shocker if was for me to read this.

It has been 17 days since my surgery, as I write this blog.  My physical recovery has again been quick.  The physical therapist released me, as my movement and range of motion are all above normal.  My problem is pain.  I want to get off Norco, because it makes me feel bad, no appetite and fuzzy in the head, so I have switched to Aleve and Tylenol PM, as my basic pain relievers.  This time around I have an additional problem, and that is lower back pain on occasion.  It's hard to get rid of, and sometimes the only thing I can do is sit in a straight chair in the kitchen in the middle of the night until it subsides.  Really interrupts my sleep.

So, here's my advice.  If you really want to remember an event, document it either by writing about it or taking a video.  You won't remember it correctly years later.  The mind protects us, I think, from negative experiences and pain, otherwise why would anyone ever have more than one child?  So glad I read this old blog this morning and realized that what I am going through now, is not all that different than what happened 5 years ago.  I will keep on my pain med regimen, and hope, in another 7-10 days that most pain will subside.

Artist Lee Krasner

Modernist abstract painter and collage artist Lee Krasner, wife of Jackson Pollock, lived in the shadow of her famous husband for much of her married life.  Born in 1908 in Brooklyn to Russian-Jewish immigrants, she was the youngest of six children, and the only one born in America.  After high school, she was awarded a scholarship to attend the Women's Art School of Cooper Union.  She finished her studies under the renowned German artist Hans Hoffman.  Through her exposure to Hoffmann's modernist theories, her formerly naturalist paintings and drawings took on a cubist approach.  Krasner joined the American Abstract Artists, which afforded her more opportunities to exhibit her work.

Krasner had the misfortune of graduating in the midst of the Great Depression.  She supported herself by modeling and waitressing.  In 1934 Krasner got a break.  She landed a job painting murals for the WPA public works of art project in New York.  Thanks to FDR's New Deal art program, Krasner was able to work steadily up until 1943, when the agency was dissolved.

In 1941, Krasner became involved with Jackson Pollock, whom she married in 1945.  They moved to East Hampton, Long Island, where Krasner became a champion for Pollock's work.  Her marriage to Pollock unraveled due to his alcoholism, and Krasner's art took a turn too.  She began experimenting with multimedia collages, and held an exhibition in 1955.  The following year Jackson Pollock was killed in a drunk-driving accident, so Krasner, struggling with grief, moved to Paris for a while.

Back in Manhattan in the 1960's, Lee Krasner returned to refining nature-inspired works.  She had lived in her husband's shadow for a long time, but the 1960-1970's was her time.  He had a retrospective sol exhibition at London's Whitechapel Gallery, later another solo exhibition at the Whitney.  Krasner never got the recognition she deserved, living most of the time in the shadow of her famous husband.

What is Arnica?

Many people, from my sister to nurses and physical therapists in the hospital, recommended I add arnica to the list of meds I was taking after surgery.  I had tried it before and was unimpressed, but I decided to try again.  It couldn't hurt.

Arnica is an oval-shaped leaf with a bright yellow, daisy-like flower, that when dried, is primarily used to reduce bruising and pain from wounds.  Arnica is classified as an unsafe herb by the US Food and Drug Adminstration.  (why am I even thinking of taking it?).

The flowering heads of arnica have been used medicinally for hundreds of years.  Aarnica was used extensively in European folk medicine and alcoholic tinctures were produced by early North American settlers to treat sore throats, as a fever reducer, and to improve circulation.  Homeopathic uses include the treatment of surgical or accidental trauma, as a painkiller, and in the treatment of postoperative inflammation of the vein caused by a blood clot.  It has been used externally for bruises, acne, sprains, and muscle aches.

Overall, there does not appear to be sufficient evidence to support the use of arnica as an anti-inflammatory or pain relief agent, or to prevent bruising.  However, differences in doses and delivery forms in clinical studies make generalizations difficult.

My personal experience with arnica is that it does absolutely nothing.  It has not reduced inflammation or pain, nor has reduced bruising.  It is listed by the FDA as toxic because it unsafe to ingest orally.  Many people seem to believe in the this homeopathic treatment, but for me, no.  As with so many homeopathic medications, the testing is spotty.  Fortunately there are no serious side effects, so there is little harm in trying it.  I have a tube of it if anyone wants to try it.

Always Changing

I had my first partial knee replacement almost 5 years ago.  I was 69 years old, in excellent physical shape, and was back at the gym in 12 days.  5 years later I underwent a total knee replacement (other knee), was not in great physical shape, and am suffering the consequences.  Right now I am 18 days post surgery, and still having a difficult time.

Yes, I realize that 5 years makes a big difference, but I feel the physical shape I was in for my first knee replacement had a great deal to do with my quick recovery.  I had been taking spin classes for several years, three times a week, prior to surgery.  Now, most of activity is walking.  Walking is good, but it doesn't build the muscles around the knee as spinning does.  I will be patient, knowing that within a few weeks I will be feeling better.  It's hard to wait.

Hospital procedures are always changing, and I noticed a big difference in the way things are done now, and the way they were done 5 years ago.  What hasn't changed, is the days in the hospital.  It's usually one night, sometimes two nights, and if Medicare requires, three nights.  A friend of mine had her surgery done at Kaiser and she had surgery and came home in the same day.  That's quick, I think.

Even prior to arrival I was swabbed for Mersa.  This is a change from five years ago.  In addition to special soap for washing that was used five years ago and is still used, an added level of cleanliness is added.  Right before surgery, my entire body was swabbed with antibacterial towels.

I was surprised when I went to skilled nursing after one night in the hospital that the  first thing they did was give me a TB test.  They wanted to make sure I didn't pick up anything in my 24 hours in the hospital.

Because of high rates of infection in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, cleanliness is at the top of their priority list.  I still can't figure out with all the anti bacterial procedures they use that infection would be a problem, but it is.  The best thing to do, is to avoid the hospital.  It's a catch 22.  They want to get you in and out of the hospital as quickly as possible, often risking other complications because of the short hospital stay.

Stay in shape.  It's your best chance for a quick recovery.  I am paying the price now, with a slower recovery.  I know in a few weeks I will be feeling better, but for now, most of my time is spent resting and sleeping.

Margaret Knight: American Inventor

Margaret Knight (1838-1914) was an American inventor, called by many "the most famous 19th century woman inventor."  Born in York, Maine to James and Hannah, her father died when Margaret was a small child.  Margaret went to school until she was 12, then worked in a cotton mill from ages 12-56.  While living in Springfield, Massachusetts, Knight invented a machine that folded and glued paer to form the flat bottom brown paper bags that are used by everyone today, worldwide.

Knight built a wooden  model of the device, but need a working iron model to apply for a patent.  Her design was stolen by Charles Annan, who was working in the machine shop where her iron model was being made.  Knight filed a successful interference lawsuit, and was awarded the patent in 1871.

Knights other inventions include a numbering machine, window frame and sash (1894), several devices relating to rotary engines.  Her original box-making machine is in the Smithsonian.  Margaret never married and died at age 76.  She was awarded an honorary plaque recognizing her as the "first woman awarded a U.S. patent" and holder of 87 U.S. patents.  We're not sure why she got this recognition, because she was not the first female patent holder.  The first was Hannah Slater, wife of industrialist Samuel Slater, who invented two-ply thread, becoming in 1793 the first American woman to be granted a patent.

Finaly, Feeling Better

It's been 13 days since I had my right knee replacement.  This is the first day I have gotten up and felt human again.  Actually, day 1 and 2 were fine.  That nerve block they give you makes you feel invincible.  But, being a veteran of several surgeries, I knew what was to come.

On day 2 I moved to Seacrest Village for rehab.  I was there because going home and taking care of Ron was out of the question.  Dan, our nurse, driver, dog walker, cook, housekeeper and all round fantastic companion, was home to help Ron.  That worked out better than I could have imagined.  Ron was happy and well taken care of, and I could comfortably rehab at Seacrest without worry.

I spent 7 days at Seacrest, working hard at physical therapy, visiting with lots of friends, and resting.  Not much sleeping, but lots of resting.

I walked out of Seacrest  on May 10, and I have been recovering at home ever since.  A full replacement, I would find out, is a lot harder than a partial.  I am now on  day 13, am taking meds every 6 hours, doing PT at home (Iknow all the exercises) and sleeping.  Finally, I sleeping better.  I think the lack of sleep is due to the Norco, which makes me edgy and unsettled.  The sooner I get off it, the better I will sleep.

I will have more to say about the surgery, the meds, the rehab, and the incredible support I've gotten from family, friends and neighbors, in future blogs, but for now, I just wanted to let you know that I'm back among the living, feeling good, but not great.  As if knee surgery weren't enough, I have a torn rotator cuff too, which the doctor has been treating with every 3-4 month cortizone shots.  It's been 4 months since my last shot, I'm really hurting, so I'm off to Scripps Rancho Bernardo this morning for a shot.  I know I will be smiling when I leave Dr. Alberton's office.  More later.

You're Never Too Old To..........

Have you ever wanted to do something you've never done before, learned something you've always wanted to learn?  A new language?  Piano or guitar?  Ballroom dancing?  Painting or sculpture? We've all done this, and often the answer we give ourselves is "I'm just too old."  That is just not so.

Some Friday mornings I teach bridge at the Solana Beach Library.  Most of the students are in their 50's, 60's, and 70's.  I was teaching one Friday morning and was introduced to a 100 year old woman named Mimi, who has just started learning bridge!  Imagine that.  I was surprised, not only because she looked to be in her mid 80's, but her attitude in general was so youthful.  She has been coming every Friday for several months, and although she'll never be Charles Goren, she is learning, progressing, keeping her mind active, and above all, having fun.

So when you think you're too old to try something new, think of Mimi, and get out and give whatever it is, a try.  You may surprise yourself.

How Farmers Markets Have Changed

I love spending time browsing farmers markets.  They're no longer just a place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.  Fran and I spent a Sunday morning walking to the Encinitas Farmers Market on Vulcan, and when we finished our time there, I realized just how much farmers markets have changed.

It must have been about 30 years ago that farmers markets started popping up everywhere.  We lived in Los Angeles at that time, and my favorite markets were the Westwood market and the Santa Monica market.  They both encompassed several blocks of fruits  and vegetables, some bakery items, often some fresh caught fish, and maybe a booth or two of freshly prepared food  if you were really hungry.  Fast forward 30 years and you will find farmers markets every day of the week within a 15 mile radius of where you live.  We all have our favorites.

Since we moved to the San Diego area in 2003 I have been to many markets, but my favorites still remain.  Encinitas on Sunday morning and Little Italy on Saturday.  The Little Italy market is vast.  Blocks and blocks of fruits, vegetables, spices, drinks, dried meats, fresh fish, crafts like jewelry, paintings, and wood work items.  Fresh food and prepared food are in abundance.  So many new products, new foods, that were not available (actually no one even had heard of them) years ago.  A booth called Salt Farm, with dozens of varieties of salt.  Who heard of that years ago?  It was kosher salt or plain salt, that was it.  Microgreens are everywhere.  I never heard of them years ago.  Kombucha?  Still not sure what that is.  Companies like Brodino Broth Company make bone broth, an item never in existence until a few years ago.  Pour over coffee?  Another new creation.  Lots of coconut products from companies like Aloha Spreads, from yogurt to peanut butter spread.

The very best part of farmers markets is the prepared foods.  Booth upon booth of every ethnic food imaginable.  Last week we saw a booth selling Kenyan food, Egyptian food, crepes, paella, grilled sausages, great Mediterranean platters, and so much more.  Next time you have a few hours and want to enjoy a great lunch and do some shopping, visit your local farmers market.  It's so much fun!

Why Are So Many Libraries Burned Down?

I'm reading a book called The Library Book by Susan Orlean.  It's specifically about the 1986 Los Angeles Downtown Library fire, most likely set by arson.  In the book she gives readers a wonderful history of Los Angeles, and a history of libraries.  What I learned upon further research, is that because of vandalism, arson, war and religion, libraries have been burning for centuries.

There are too many libraries that have burned to go into detail, but dissidents were burning libraries 2000 years ago.  More recently, during WW1 and WW11, libraries were destroyed during war.  In some cases the destruction was collateral damage, but in many cases, like in the case of the Germans in WW11, libraries were targeted.  Often throughout history libraries were destroyed because the government did not want their people exposed to ideas that differed from what they were being told.  Get rid of the books so people cannot learn about other points of view was their philosophy.  Below are just a sampling of more current library disasters, and how and why they occurred.  Tragic, really.  At least in modern times documents and rare information is saved digitally, but originals can still be lost.  As a library lover and lifelong library user I find this so sad.

Who Was Jeannette Rankin?

When you look at Congress today, especially the House of Representatives, you see a sea of female faces, old, young, black, brown, white, Native American and Asian.  It seems like it's taken forever to get strong female representation in Congress.  In fact, it has been just about 100 years since Jeannette Ranking became the first woman to hold federal office.

Ranking lived from 1880-1973, and was known as both a politician and women's rights advocate.  She became the first woman in the House of Representatives in 1916.  She served in the same capacity in 1940, representing Montana.  She is still the only woman elected to congress from Monatana.

Jeannette Rankin was a lifelong pacifist and supporter of non interventionism.  She opposed the U.S. declaration of war in 1916, and she was the only member of congress to vote against declaring war on Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  She was a member of the Republican party during the Progressive  Era, and was instrumental in initiating legislation that eventually became the 19th Amendment.   Where did that Republican Party go?  Truly a woman who did much for women's rights, yet somehow I just recently learned about her, and I thought you'd like to know  of her too.

Birch Bayh: Champion For Equal Rights

Former Senator from Indiana, Birch Bayh, passed away in March, at the age of 91.  He was instrumental in writing and helping get passed some of the most important legislation in the past 50 years.  A farmers son, Bayh came from a simple background.  He became a giant in the senate, where he served from 1963-1980.

Birch Bayh is responsible for two Constitutional amendments and one very important amendment to the Equal Rights Amendment.  Bayh played a large part in both the 25th amendment, and 26th amendment, which have had an enduring impact on American life.  The 25th amendment dealt with presidential disability and vice presidential vacancies.  If the president is unable to serve, this amendment can be used to remove him from office.  Also, if the Vice President takes over for the president, the new president can pick his vice president.  The 26th amendment gave 18 year olds the right to vote, in both state and federal elections.

Bayh is probably best remembered for Title 1X.  Title 1X was drafted by Bayh, and was the landmark federal legislation which barred sexual discrimination in schools and colleges.  It greatly expanded sports programs for women.  It was passed in the 1960's as part of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society Program.  Title 1X was developed while Congress was considering the Equal Rights Amendment.

Bayh was also responsible for pushing through another amendment that would have abolished the electoral college, but failed to get it ratified.  He was a principled man who got so much done.  Getting an amendment to the constitution passed is difficult enough, but Bayh got two amendments passed, and women today are still aware that the efforts of Birch Bayh to make Title 1X a reality, have given them opportunity like never before.

Remember John McCord?

John McCord was one of the five burglars that were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in June of 1972.  He died of pancreatic cancer in 2017, but his death was not widely reported until now, almost two years later.  Can't  figure out why.

James McCord was born in Oklahoma, worked for the FBI, then the CIA, where he was described as one of the finest men they had.  He also  served as a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force Reserve.  In 1972 he resigned from the CIA.  Shortly thereafter he was hired by Jack Caulfield for "strict, solely defensive security work for the Republican National Committee and the Committee to Re-elect the President.  He was arrested for the Watergate break-in, which set off a chain of events that led to the resignation of Richard Nixon.

James McCord was one of the first men convicted in the Watergate trial.  He was charged with eight counts of conspiracy, burglary and wiretapping.  He received a sentence of 25 years.  Later on, McCord wrote to US District Judge John Sirica, stating that some of his plea and testimony was perjured.  He said he was compelled by pressure from White House counsel John Dean and former AG John Mitchell, to testify as he did.  The letter to Sirica implicated senior individuals in the Nixon administration of covering up a conspiracy that led to the burglary.  As a result of the letter, McCord flipped and became a cooperating witness, and was released from his sentence for time served.

Why did his death go unreported for nearly two years?  I find this unusual, but could find no information as to the reason.  I remember the shock and sadness  during the Watergate scandal often as we live through the current scandals in the Trump White House.  No longer am I shocked, just saddened as I think how our leaders' ethics have sunk, and how long, if ever, it will take for our our democracy to recover.

Welcome To The Neighborhood, Richard Walker

Finally, we're getting some good breakfast places in the Carlsbad/Oceanside area.  First Toast, and now Richard Walker.  The new Square at Bressi Ranch is now home to the sixth Richard Walker's Original Pancake House.  Here's how this family owned business began.

In 1948, Victor and Everett (brothers) Walker opened snack shops in Evanston, Illinois.  In 1960 they opened Walker Brothers Original Pancakes in Wilmette.  In 1981 Ray and Richard, sons of Victor, opened Walker Brothers Original in Glenview.  Finally, in 2006, Richard Senior relocated to San Diego and opened another location in Downtown San Diego.  I guess Richard Junior decided life in San Diego sounded good, so he moved to the west coast too, and opened two more restaurants (same name) in La Jolla and Carlsbad.

Ron and I stopped by for a late breakfast on a Thursday morning, thinking the big crowd would be gone.  We waited about 10 minutes for a table, so expect a wait, no matter when you go there.  The food is delicious.  Their specialty is pancakes and waffles, but everything is big, good, and beautifully presented.  Spinach crepes, blueberry and sour cream crepes and cherry crepes looked delicious.  We split the apple pancake, and still couldn't finish.  They also have the German pancake and a cinnamon pancake.  Belgian waffles are light and fluffy, and topped with fruit and whipped cream.  Omelettes are huge, bacon is thick and crisp.  They serve corned beef hash and eggs benedict too.  My only criticism is the coffee.

Richard Walker serves Boyds coffee, which they say is excellent, dark and smooth.  At best it was average, and at $3.50 a cup, I thought it was way too pricey.  I can accept higher prices for the food, but not for a less than good cup of coffee.  I guess I'm a coffee snob.  I've said this before.  I usually ask the wait person how the coffee is before I order.  I tell them that if it's not good, I'm going to send it back.  I didn't do that this time, so I drank the coffee.  Next time I go I will not order a drink, and if I really want coffee I will bring it from Peet's just a few doors away.  I don't know how they'll like that, but really, how hard is it to make a good cup of coffee, especially at $3.50 per cup?

Richard Walker is a wonderful restaurant.  The food is outstanding, and most things are big enough to split.  They even have a children's menu (grandchildren?), which consists of chocolate chip pancakes, silver dollar pancakes, and and egg and pancake dish.  Try it, you'll like it.