How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie 1936 - A Book Review

What ranks at the top of our problems? Some say it's the issue of getting along with people in our everyday business and social life. How do we win an argument? Is this ever possible?

One of the top selling books of all time, translated into virtually every language was written by Dale Carnegie in 1936. Since that time, his homespun philosophy has helped millions in their day to day interactions.

For years, it was the title that put me off reading the book. I thought this was another collection of gimmicks like many other self help books. When I finally did read it my only regret was not having read it much sooner. How many of my past relationships might have been saved? How much further might I have gotten if I had known some of the things written in this classic best seller, How To Win Friends and Influence People? For example, these Five Things to Consider in an Argument:

• You can't win an argument. There is no winner in an argument. Mr. Carnegie explains this in his quote, "You can't because if you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it. Why?...If you triumph over the other (hu)man and shoot their argument full of holes and prove that they are non compos mentis₁ then what? You will feel fine. But what about him/her? You have made him/her feel inferior. You have hurt their pride. They will resent your triumph."
• "There is only one way to get the best of an argument - that is to avoid it. Avoid it as you would avoid rattlesnakes and earthquakes. Nine times of ten, an argument ends with each of the contestants more firmly convinced than ever that he/she is absolutely right."
• "Will my reaction drive my opponents further away or draw them closer to me? Will my reaction elevate the estimation good people have of me?...What price will I have to pay if I win?"
• "You will never get into trouble by admitting that you may be wrong. That will stop all argument and inspire your opponent to be just as fair and open and broadminded as you are."
• Begin and end in a friendly way. "Scolding parents and domineering bosses and husbands and nagging wives ought to realize that people don't want to change their minds. They can't be forced or driven to agree with you or me. But they may possibly be led to, if we are gentle and friendly, ever so gentle and ever so friendly."

I'll never forget the conversation I had with my best friend on the elevator heading out for lunch one day. We were engaged in a heated discussion during most of the morning and she, a fiery redhead with a generous sprinkling of freckles, finally had enough and said, "You just can't disagree without being disagreeable." At that moment I was thankful that most of the people on that elevator didn't speak English or I would have been mortified. The fact was, not only was her statement true, she had nailed the root cause of many arguments that plagued my early life. I wish I could say that I changed my ways that moment faced with the truth, but it isn't so. I went about for years believing that confrontation and trying to prove myself right was the way to go.

Carl Rogers, a psychologist, wrote in his book On Becoming a Person, "When someone expresses some feeling, attitude or belief, our tendency is almost immediately to feel 'that's right,' or 'that's stupid,' or 'that's abnormal,' or 'that's incorrect..." He further says it is of "enormous value to permit ourselves to understand the other person" rather than give in to our first reaction which is to evaluate or judge."

Though this may be something that everyone else already knew, it had never occurred to me. The idea of giving in on smaller stuff was a foreign concept to me.To that point, I had traveled through life believing that I must correct wrongs and prove myself right in every instance. The words should and ought to came into my thoughts so often that I lost sight of the forest for the trees.

Sheryl Crow says it well in this song, "The Difficult Kind."

"One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing." Socrates to his followers in Athens

In his youth, Ben Franklin was known for his habit of constant argument. He was once told by a friend, "Your opinions have a slap in them for everyone who differs with you...You know so much that no one can tell you anything".

After hearing this, Ben learned to deny himself the pleasure of contradicting everyone he thought to be in error. He said, "I made it a rule to forbear all direct contradiction to the sentiment of others and all positive assertion of my own." He changed to become one of the most diplomatic men in American history.

"If you will only change, everything will change for you." Jim Rohn

This book provides the guidelines for change that will lead to a happier and more productive life with a whole less conflict; a valuable read.

1 Non compos mentis - when one is in a confused state, intoxicated, or not of sound mind

The Whole Truth, David Baldacci - A Book Review

Can a corporation spin a lie so believable that the public  would be staggered by its implications? In David Baldacci's book, he details a scenario where the entire world believes one thing but the real truth is another matter.

In David Baldacci’s fourteenth bestselling novel, The Whole Truth, perception becomes reality when, motivated by profit in the trillions of dollars, the Ares Corporation, the world’s largest defense contractor, sets the stage for an arms escalation that threatens to return the world to a state of Cold War.

Nicolas Creel, President of Ares, hires public relations firm Pender and Associates to spin a lie so believable that the public consciousness is staggered by its macabre implications. The twisted outcome of this devious lie pits Russia against China engaging each other in open warfare for Creel’s purpose of raising demand for his military products. In doing so, Creel can return his company to profitability and continue living the life to which he is accustomed; sailing around Italy on his enormous yacht and traveling aboard his private jet which has been converted into an airborne block of boardrooms, a movie theater and private suites.

Richard Pender, founder of Pender and Associates, employs perception management in his creation of “facts” sold to the world as truth; a term even the Department of Defense takes seriously enough to be included in one of their manuals. Its usefulness in developing a scenario of untruth is played out in this novel that pits the main character, a secret agent trapped in a job he can’t leave, against the unrelenting resources of the nefarious Mr. Creel. Along the way the protagonist, known only as A. Shaw, joins forces with his employer, Frank, to battle the tide of public fervor and expose the real truth. 

Nestled into the action, Shaw tries to find a way to escape his coerced employment and find a way to marry the love of his life, Anna Fischer. Their love is an arduous affair, plagued by the relentless tactics of Shaw’s employer, Frank, who uses his own form of perception management to separate Anna from her commitment to Shaw. Frank, who will stop at nothing, elicits the hatred of Anna’s parents in Wisbach to taint Anna’s belief in Shaw.

Katie James, the award winning journalist, rises from the pit into which she’s fallen after a lull in her career, to join those few who are trying to expose the real truth. An unlikely pairing, she and Shaw uncover Creel’s corrupt empire, upending the status quo and battling the forces of evil.

Full of twists and turns and unexpected outcomes, the book takes the reader on a journey of outrage and disbelief, stunned by the depths to which certain people can operate with a clear conscience. This novel will keep you awake into the wee hours of the night, turning page after page to get to The Whole Truth.

Quinn Moosebroker Mysteries | A Book Review

Five mysteries fill this volume with twists, turns, danger and a splash of romance. The main character's appeal grows with each story until he becomes like one of the family as he shares adventures and good times. 

Beloved author Michael Friedman, Fiction Award Winner and poet, shares some of his best work in this collection of stories. Ride along with his characters as they uncover clues and solve mysteries. 

Quinn Moosebroker is a faithful, observant, former cop who delves into the mystery of murder and intrigue while venturing into the murky depths of understanding women. In Quinn's case, it's one particular woman, a widow, Betty Atwood, who through the encouragement of his daughter, Quinn finds himself courting. His career as a police officer is in the past, but the call to unravel long-unsolved mysteries remains. Together, he and his new-found companion travel internationally, getting to know one another while chasing down clues.

2nd Street Playhouse Theater

Betty, Quinn's sidekick, is a widow who finds a way to overcome the loss of her mate by falling in love and solving mysteries of blackmail, stolen artwork, precious gems and murder. The unlikely couple turns a friendship into a relationship that grows with adventures of shared danger and good times.

Each story is rich with twists, turns, danger and a splash of romance along with original poetry, artwork, and good old- fashioned values from their creator. His faithful readers that follow his work on the Emerald Wells Café series will discover a new source of entertainment in this book.

Quinn and Betty's first date takes them to the coffee shop near the 2nd Street Playhouse where Quinn sees a man accost a woman, slapping her across the face. His detective brain takes note of the scene before they cross the street to watch the play written by a local bookshop owner and playwright friend of Quinn's. The coffee shop is owned by Millie, who, together with Brad, a photographer, sources the props for the theater at thrift stores in the city. Both Brad and Millie, active in the community, were the featured Key players in tonight's "Thin, Red and Deadly."

Next, the reader meets Mary Helen, who plays Morgan, the art gallery owner and Gladys, the set's hairdresser. The mystery begins with the quiet clicking of a hidden camera as Mary dons her costume and puts on makeup in the dressing room.

There's also Jasmine, the tech, watching from the rafters in the control panel booth above the stage, and Pepper Bishop, Master of Ceremonies of the production.

Soon, a mysterious figure dressed in black, breaks into the business of Brad Jensen, photographer, removing certain files before taking off in a VW bug. The mystery deepens as the reader learns of a blackmail extortion that is being foiled by the intruder.

We see signs of Betty's pluckiness as stirrings of trouble come from backstage. The rest of the audience scrambles toward the exit as sirens begin to wail. Betty refuses to leave the scene.

Blake Knightly is taken aback when he discovers images of scantily clad women he recognizes in copies of "Detective Confidential" magazine. Clear that he could not sell these items in his bookstore, he sets out to find out the source of the photos.

A host of new characters enter the story as a tangled web of intrigue, blackmail and murder come into play. Through the sleuthing efforts of Quinn and Betty, the mystery is unraveled, cementing their new bond of friendship with accomplishment.

Night of the Falling

When Big Jim Brady turns up dead, book collectors are scrambling to grab his collection of one-of-a-kind first editions. One particular piece, "The Night of the Falling," is missing, a desirable manuscript in high demand, likely to bring a price of nearly $30,000 at auction.

Detective DeLaMonte of the Clearview Police Department is stunned at the "crime wave" with two murders occurring in as many weeks in the small town. When he arrives at the scene, he discovers Eleanor Pennyworth, Big Jim Brady's significant other, already there. While packing her things in a rush to beat the arrival of Brady's greedy sons, she finds the contact information for Quinn Moosebroker, with a note "trusted" beside the info. She contacts the Private Detective for his help knowing that DeLaMonte likely would pursue the theft with little enthusiasm.

The siege for the rare books begins with prospective buyers coming out of nowhere like buzzards while the homicide investigation smolders.

He Dreamt of Murder

Quinn and Betty become entangled in a mystery inspired from a ghostly dream that is overheard from a stranger at the barber shop. Later, Betty is haunted by a similar dream that inspires the duo to investigate the origins of the shared murderous images.

As they make the road trip returning from North Carolina, in the "Radio Players Club Mystery" story, an unexpected radio broadcast gives the reader details about the night Quinn was shot and his former partner, Clark, was killed.

"The Case of the Chocolate Girl" takes off following the discovery of an oil painting at a second-hand store. Betty and Quinn seek out the origins of the painting and its value is shared by those who wish to steal it. Their quest to determine the authenticity of the ancient painting leads them into associations with nefarious characters like Major Garrity who shares insight along with a desire to own the treasure. As they track out the painting's origins, they discover that the Major isn't the only one who wants it.

Uncovering clues in the age-old heist sends Betty and Quinn into foreign countries where they mingle with castle dwellers, Lords and Ladies. While attending a costume party, the couple narrowly escapes the nefarious motives of guests at the castle. Their journey takes them down scenic country roads and into the hands of gangsters who attempt to thwart the investigation with kidnapping and thievery. An encounter with the owner of a country school and her dedicated students provides a glimpse into European culture and the ideal venue for a wedding.

• 2nd Street Playhouse Mystery
• The Night of the Falling
• He Dreamt of Murder
• Radio Players Club Mystery
• The Case of the Chocolate Girl

Clowns, vagrants, gangsters, artists, thieves, murderers, actors, playwrights and book store owners number among the memorable characters who bring these stories to life. Peppered with engaging plots and quirky characters, they incorporate life lessons woven between the lines as the protagonist and his woman delve into crime solving while their relationship evolves. As a bonus, there’s even a stray dog rescue.

A mixture of reality and fantasy, the reader will be captivated by the down-to-earth nature of characters who make this book enjoyable and memorable.

The Night After Christmas 2015 - Extreme Weather

Willard's Gas Station or what's left of it.

We were watching a DVD when the tone sounded on our phone. Extreme alert was the message. We immediately turned on the TV to discover severe storms were in the area. Some communities were being advised to take cover.

It was already dark and the newscasters advised people not to go outside because with the rain a funnel cloud would not be visible. The warning was set to expire at 7:30 pm. We lost power at 7:20.

The view from the south toward Willard's

At that moment what goes through the mind is a jumble of thoughts. What should I take into the shelter?

I grabbed my engagement ring, my purse, cell phones, the weather radio, batteries, a blanket, flashlights and the dogs. Do we have candles? Yes. I ran to get them along with a lighter. 

We strained listening for the telltale sounds that everyone describes after a tornado: the freight train, the howling wind, the slamming of objects against the house, the roof creaking with the changes in air pressure.

The Emergency Broadcast System kicked in with the announcement often deemed "a test". This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This was not a test. This was the real thing. 

"A funnel cloud has been spotted in the Rowlett area, heading north east along a path expected to cross Lake Lavon." We live near Lake Lavon!

"A wall cloud has been spotted in Wylie heading along Highway 78. It is difficult to determine the extent of damage in the darkness with power poles snapped and lines downed."

Power Lines Down

Moments later, a rerun of the EBS announcement. Old news by now. Then, live broadcasters announce that several locations took a hit with high level winds involving multiple tornadoes. 

First responders assisted with a possibility of five fatalities in the Garland area, about twenty miles from us. Later more deaths were confirmed.

Next, news came of the twister in Farmersville. Correction, "a small town south of Farmersville where a gas station has been demolished and one person has been found, deceased. Another, critically injured, has been transported from the scene." They listed the FM crossroads. We Googled the location - about a mile and a half from our house. Our familiar gas station leveled; search and rescue teams going house to house looking for survivors.

By the dim light of our LED flashlights, we huddled in the only room with no windows, the bathroom, texting what might be our last messages to friends and family expressing our fears and our love before the all clear signal was announced.

Debris near our house

As dawn broke the next morning, Sunday, torrential rain pelted the area. TV breaking news showed photos of devastation in the surrounding communities and we counted our blessings, having dodged another close call.

Insulation, roof shingles, siding lodged in the trees.

A computer board  is wedged in the branches.

Our hearts go out to the residents of this house and to others in the area.

Pumpkin Bread Makes A Great Gift for a Neighbor

This tasty pumpkin bread comes out more like a subtle spice cake than bread.

You can use pumpkin puree from the jack-o-lantern that sat on your front porch during October. But if you don't have any fresh, it's okay. Canned pumpkin turns out great. Be sure to use plain canned pumpkin, not the pumpkin pie mix.

There are no special tricks or experience needed to make this bread. I baked it for the first time this weekend and it was wonderful. Here's the recipe. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt

Add:
3 large eggs
1 can pumpkin (15 oz.) or 1 1/2 cups puree
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk (or water)
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Mix thoroughly and pour into two generously greased 8 inch bread pans.
Bake for one hour at 350 degrees. Mine was done in 57 minutes since my oven runs hot.
Cool in the pan for ten minutes before transferring to a cake rack.

I wrapped each loaf in Glad Press 'n Seal wrap, then a layer of wax paper. For the second loaf, once it was completely cool, I wrapped it again in aluminum foil and put it in the freezer.

Sunday afternoon we enjoyed a nice hot cup of tea with a thick slice of Pumpkin Bread. It was yummy!

The recipe makes two loaves making this ideal for sharing.

Beach Scenes - Florida Gulf Coast

Vacationing on the Gulf Coast of Florida has become a tradition for me over the past two decades.

Every year, during the same week in September, my long time friend and I set out for the beach where we spend seven wonderful days together at her timeshare right on the coast.

We start the week off with a trip to the store to pick up our groceries and ingredients for our bottomless pitcher of sangria.



Back at the efficiency apartment, I begin by measuring out sugar and cinnamon into a large pitcher.


Then I cut up the oranges and apples and add them to the sugar mixture along with a cup of brandy.

The fruit infusion pitcher is my newest online purchase and I'm delighted with the shape and quality of it. It arrived promptly and in perfect shape to put it to use.

We like to garnish our glasses with the brandied fruit and after the first batch, we found it easier to not use the plastic insert.

Afterward, we made our way down to the water's edge to put a toe into the Gulf. The water was warm, but rough. The temperature was pleasant with a light breeze to combat the humidity.

Flocks of birds were there to greet us and share their view of the water.

Day one ended with our customary viewing of the spectacular sunset on the beach.

More beach photos from the week will follow soon.

Taking a stroll down the beach, I found a couple of birds fishing underneath the pier.

This one was determined to catch a fish and while he was busy, he let me approach to within about five feet.

The water was really rough as the tide came in right after the rain and thunderstorm. The pelican in the background was taking a break from fishing.

The Skinny on Weight Loss and Diets

Aunt Inez and friend, 1925

Dropping a few pounds is tough, even for skinny girls.

Recently I discovered, to my dismay, that fifteen pounds found their way onto my normally thin frame. In terms of weight gain, I couldn't believe I put on over ten percent of my body weight.

Anyone who has lost a substantial amount of weight, like my BFF who has taken off nearly one hundred pounds, can tell you it is no easy task. However, I had no idea just how hard it was to shed even a few pounds of unwanted weight.

Since April of this year I've been trying a variety of ways to get rid of the baggage: cutting out sweets, ice cream and desserts; eating two rather than three meals; eliminating the sugar from my one cup of coffee in the morning. This didn't solve the issue.

So, I tried eating mostly salads. What could be better for me than a hearty, healthy diet of vegetables?

Well, I may be healthier, but I still have those extra pounds of muffin top blubber. Gasp! I haven't carried this much weight since I was in Flight Attendant Training and there was a free buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

My classmates and me right before graduation.

Three days before we were to graduate when we were called in for a weight check, the impossible numbers on the scale told me the bad news: If I didn't lose three pounds in the next two days, I would fail to complete the course.

Naturally, that was unacceptable after six weeks of intense training and studying. Besides, it had been my life's ambition to fly the friendly skies.

I literally starved myself while walking practically non-stop during every free minute during those two days. Someone suggested I take a laxative, which I did, and try spitting rather than swallowing. These methods, although crude, seemed to do the trick and I barely squeezed past the guidelines of weight restrictions.

These four decades later, I discovered the real key to taking off a couple of pounds. If you've struggled with this at all, you know that those last few pounds are the toughest to lose.

I began scrutinizing every little thing that passed between my lips, from a glass of juice, to a fast-food meal. Everything has more calories than you can imagine. I reduced my caloric intake in the most obvious ways:

• Eating only from a plate
• Carefully measuring the portions
• Limiting condiments
• Drinking lots of water
• Writing down everything I ate

I was shocked to find out that the Ranch dressing that I loved to glop on my healthy salad had one hundred and thirty calories per two tablespoons! (130 calories per two TBSP). That may not seem like a lot unless you drown your salad in it like I do.

The beauty of a salad is the low caloric count on the greens. Looking at the bag of prepared Iceberg salad mix, I discovered that one and a half cups of greens were only about fifteen calories! (1.5 cups of lettuce mix equals 15 calories). A huge salad of three cups was only thirty calories until I added half a cup of Ranch dressing which added about six hundred calories.

With 6 TBSP of low fat ranch dressing 240 calories plus salad (without ham) 30 calories.

My solution was switching to Fat Free Italian dressing which is only fifteen calories per two tablespoons. (15 calories per 2 TBSP) and cutting out all the added olives, ham, turkey, boiled eggs and extras I was putting on it. "I only had a SALAD!" I used to say...Slowly, over the past two weeks I've taken off two, then three, now five pounds. HOORAY!

With 6 TBSP of fat free Italian dressing 45 calories plus salad 30 calories.

Morning Has Broken and Reflections

Morning Has Broken, a song made popular during the 1970s, was originally a Christian hymn. It was based on a Scottish Gaelic melody known as a "Bunessan" which is a small village in the south-west of the island of Mull off the west coast of Scotland.

The song was originally a Christmas carol known as Child in the Manger, written by Mary MacDonald who lived 1789 to 1872. Words were added by children's author and poet, Eleanor Farjeon, born in 1881, who earned a living as a poet, journalist and broadcaster. The song was first recorded in 1931 and was sung mostly in children's services as a religious hymn.

And this is done by music artist of the seventies, Cat Stevens.

Songs and melodies can reach out with a few notes and take us back, bringing a flood of memories of our youth. These thoughts, lost in the sieve of time, remain buried until a tune like this one plays on the radio. Without warning, memories often come flooding back, the good times right along with the bad.

Young love, first love, unrequited love: we're never again the same once we've experienced it.

"Oh, to be young, and feel love's keen sting," says Albus Dumbledore of Harry Potter fame. The kind of youthful love that's never forgotten, love that brings with it stinging, burning passion, often times is remembered as far better than it was in reality.

Some memories are better left to rest in the corners of our minds, "Fading like a flowered print on a sunny wall," quips Paul Winfield, of City Confidential.

I'm remembering a fellow writer today, Dusty, gone from this earth and yet not forgotten. He wrote this comment on my article when it was published elsewhere. Thanks, Dusty. You are missed.

Patient Advocate Issues

When you’re ninety to ninety-five years old who will watch over your best interests? The duty falls heavy on my heart ensuring that my mother and her sister are well cared for at the skilled nursing home where they live. 

For the previous ten years, they shared a home in the country with a fenced yard, private bedrooms, bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen, where they shared meals, watched television and spent quality time together.

In 2014, a nasty fall while taking care of her cat sent Louise to the hospital. She needed physical therapy, rehabilitation and rest. A month later, there was an opening for a bed and Mom joined her at the skilled nursing facility. At eighty-nine, unable to hear well and finding it hard to remember her address or dial the phone made it unsafe for her to remain alone. The potential for disaster became clear after a grease fire in the kitchen nearly took its toll. When it came to taking prescription medication, meal preparation, kitchen cleanup, shopping for groceries, or performing household chores, things were no longer simple for these two home-bound ladies. They tried to manage for a time with a home health aide and maid service. Ultimately, it was clear the best solution was to take a room at a skilled nursing facility where they would have a full time staff of nurses, dieticians and aides.

It's been fourteen months since they moved in. This week at the quarterly family conference to discuss how things are going with residency, satisfaction on food service, meals, their treatment by the nursing staff and their medication issues, I had a list of concerns to bring to the table.

Last Wednesday, I arrived at 8:00am for breakfast with the ladies. Mom had already finished eating, yet, Louise was still not at the table an hour after her usual time. Heading down the hall to find her, an aide yelled that Louise was "on the way". I found the door to their room open and the bathroom door open. My thoughts went to the privacy, dignity and respect this lacked. Louise was on the toilet crying saying she needed help to get up and back into her wheelchair. She had been sitting there for an indeterminate time, long enough to become agitated and distressed. She told me she had a bad headache and her eyes were runny. Standard procedure is to get the residents up and on the toilet where they hand them a warm washcloth to clean up before getting dressed. She was already dressed but had not washed.

The problem touched me on several levels. No, she had not pushed the nurse call button. She is afraid of technology and doesn't want to bother anyone. Whoever put her on the toilet already knows she's there and knows she needs help. Wouldn’t they check on a patient after a while? Some training on compassion might help matters.

Directed at the food service manager was the issue that her apple juice had been poured an hour earlier and set out at the table next to my mother. There were two flies sitting on the glass. Had I not been there, she would have consumed that tainted juice and never known. I suggested they serve the resident after they arrive or at least put a protective cover like cellophane wrap on the glass. Also requested was that Mom’s daily food menu have a notation about black pepper allergy and no onions and remove the note that says, “No bananas.” She likes bananas. This is the second request to change her food preferences.

Mashed potatoes with black pepper

A week before this meeting, Mom asked if there was a chance they could move back to the other wing where they spent the first months before moving to long-term resident’s wing. Her belief was they received better service and treatment in the other location. When questioned at the meeting, she meekly said, “No, they're treating us better now that they are getting used to us.” In one week, I was doubtful that things had improved much; rather, she didn't want to make a fuss and have people angry with her.

The last topic was on concerns over the added medications in the past year of residency. When admitted to the facility in April 2014, Mom was taking only three prescription drugs and two over the counter pills (for acid reflux and a laxative). 

Med List March 2014

A three page report received from the insurance company listed more than a dozen prescriptions in the past month. The staff printed out a list of her current medications and we reviewed these medications line by line. 

For a fact, she currently has nineteen medications on the list, some taken daily, others, on an as needed basis.

My primary concern is about drug interactions and side effects of the added drugs which include:

•  Increased risk for heart attack or stroke 
• Increased blood pressure 
• Increased heart rate and heart palpitations 
• Breathing problems, upper respiratory tract infection (which she had when taking this Rx in the past) 
• Cough (the issue for which the product was prescribed) 
• Muscle pain 
• Shakiness, nervousness, dizziness

Results: Six medications that were duplicates have now been eliminated (or DC, discontinued) including one for Hydrocodone (Tier 2 Narcotic Drug for pain) which I have asked twice to be removed due to ongoing issues with dizziness. Once I spoke to the Doctor directly and he said he would mark this as an allergy so it would not be ordered again. At a later time by phone I requested the same thing with the physician’s assistant. The medication appeared on the list of current prescriptions today. I was assured the order would be discontinued.

Overall, I was pleased that they took time to address each of my concerns and (hopefully) will take action to remedy these issues.

The main point is to bring awareness that although the competent care of a loved one is something to be expected, for the patient advocate it's an ongoing process requiring constant vigilance. We’ll see if any of the changes actually take place.

Treasure Hunt in Farmersville

Singer Sewing Machine

The tiny downtown of Farmersville, Texas always yields a treasure or two and today was no exception. The stores have changed somewhat over the years, somehow adding more sophistication and newer things. Or perhaps it's me who has changed.

Red Door Antiques moved across the main street into a newly remodeled space. It's beautifully decorated and full of lovely things. Even so, I miss their old space that was drafty and dusty, just like I like it.

Downtown Farmersville TX

Found amid the current items that seem to outnumber the aged and vintage things of previous days, an enamel dishpan from the 1940s, white with red trim awaited. Another customer remarked that they used to bathe their small child in a pan like that. Yes!

Enamel Dishpan with Red Trim

At my favorite store, Main Street Antiques, there was a vintage Singer Sewing machine, the hand crank kind like one that sold in my own store long ago. Of course it was a must purchase after spotting the twenty percent off sign. A little Goo Be Gone and a wipe down with a cotton rag and it sparkles like new.

The best find of all today was a Christian Hymnal that contains most of the songs we sang in church as children. This book was published in 1961 and has a soft cover along with a classic image of the Savior rescuing a lamb. Sweet!

One of my Dad's favorite tunes...

Rainbow Bridge

Saying goodbye is never easy. Today was one of those days when it was necessary to bid farewell to a good friend.

Probably tougher than it was on us, it was harder for Tony who has watched the recent decline in his constant companion.

She's been with him since the day he arrived as a nine-week old puppy who wanted nothing more than to play with and lie next to his big sister for the past five years.

His surrogate mother, nursemaid, friend, playmate and bunny- chasing pal left for Heaven today.

For a couple of weeks she's been unable to walk after a few months of needing help to get up and get outside. We've been dragging her around on a comforter to whatever room we happen to be occupying. Otherwise, she let us know with her constant barking that she was not happy to be left behind.

Over the past week, she's lost interest in food. That and her whimpering and heavy panting, gives us indication that she's not at all comfortable. As the last of the fearsome foursome - Slick, Dolly, Buddy and Cookie - it was a tough decision to let go. It's not one for the feint of heart, probably the worst phase of pet ownership, this responsibility.

Our veterinarian is a kind, compassionate man who has cared for Cookie for the past fifteen years. I do not envy his task in this part of his practice. But it is done and as we made our way back home with reddened eyes and sore noses, we did not look forward to breaking the news to Tony.

Four Star Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

With the possibility of our first ninety degree day of the year, I decided to bake cookies in the cool of the morning.
Of all the recipes I've tried that include oatmeal, this one is my favorite. It comes from my old Farmersville Garden Club Cookbook published in 1994.

The book is full of amazing food ideas, recipes, emergency substitutions and household cleaning tips. This recipe came from Mary Pope.

The recipes remind me of pot luck dinners and social gatherings where families would bring their favorite casseroles and desserts tightly covered in aluminum foil, ready to peel off and share.

The ingredients are simple, the prep time is quick and the results are delicious.

Ingredients:
1 Cup plus 2 Tbsp. Unsifted All Purpose Flour
1 Cup Quick Cooking Oatmeal (Not instant)
2 Tbsp. Unsweetened Cocoa
3/4 tsp. Baking Soda
3/4 Cup (1 1/2 Sticks) Butter or Margarine softened
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 Cup Firmly Packed Light Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 6 oz. Package Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts or Pecans (Optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Stir together the flour, baking soda and cocoa in a small bowl.
Beat together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until it's light and fluffy.
Add the egg and vanilla extract.
Add the flour mixture and blend at a low speed until combined.
Hand stir in the oatmeal, the chocolate chips and the chopped nuts.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets and bake for ten (10) minutes.
I like to use two cookie sheets and prep the second one while the first one is baking.

Remove the cookies from the oven and leave them on the warm baking sheet for about three (3) minutes before transferring onto a wire rack to cool.

This recipe makes about four (4) dozen cookies.

To change it a bit, I deleted the nuts, substituted two (2) sticks of butter and added a couple of Tablespoons of additional flour rather than grease the cookie sheets. The cookies come out firm and round and disappear quickly.

The Rain's a Pain and Falling On the Plains

Highway 78 Spillway Creek

The Texas drought has been replaced by the hundred year floods. For the past two months we've had rain nearly every day taking the Lake Lavon level from fourteen feet below normal to eleven point one feet above normal.

Old Highway 78 which is often used as a fishing pier, where the cows wandered freely on its dry lake bed is now completely submerged. Even Thompson Cemetery next to the lake has suffered with rising lake levels.


We feel lucky to be on an elevated location where the saturated ground drains away from our house. Even so, the yard is pooling with water making it impossible to mow.

The Weather Experts have predicted this morning's rain will end the long running stream and record breaking amounts of rain these past weeks. Hopefully, the yard will dry out enough to trim back the jungle.

The blueberries are getting plenty of water.

Those who live closer to bodies of water aren't as lucky as we've been with Duck Creek in Rowlett overflowing its banks and flooding homes. White Rock Lake and the Trinity River have overflowed their banks and are affecting neighboring communities flooding homes and sending many to shelters from the storms.

Even major highways have felt the impact of too much of a good thing. Northwest Highway was closed yesterday morning about 5:30 am when an underpass became flooded with over six feet of water. Despite barricades and warnings to "Turn around, don't drown," seven cars attempted to traverse the water and ended up being rescued by the National Guardsmen in floating rafts. It's expected to remain closed for a couple of days until rain water can be pumped into overflowing drainage canals that feed the already swollen waterways.

I'm wondering if all the prayers for rain during the drought over the past four years have finally reached their destination.

No more drought like we had in 2011 - 2014