Hot Diggity

I GOT MY CAR BACK. This may not sound like a big deal BUT IT IS! I have been without my car for 2 full weeks. Now mind you I don't go out much but when I do go out, I would rather get to places with my "automobile" than walk... and if it came to walking well I probably just wouldn't go. Tom went and got it for me Monday -- the 3rd Monday it was at the geerage.

This morning I just had to give it a try -- word was they didn't even know how it started let alone moved. Went and had my blood work done but it got me out the door and into my "automobile". It moved out pretty good and now that I think about how it rode, I'm wondering if my car had a case of pulmonary hypertension!!!

Before it was fixed when I drove along, it would slow down when I went up a hill and gave it some gas -- does this sound familiar? If I were on a level it would go ok. If I had one of those "situations" I would pull off to the side of the road, shut it off, count to 10 and start it up again and it would be fine. Well, that one doesn't quite work when you have PH but I think you get the drift. It did have a transplant -- new fuel pump and gas tank.....

It now has more zip than I remember it having for quite some time. Guess it really needed to see the "automobile" doctor. *;*

Remember to SMILE -- it's contagious

Merle

For better or worse ~ from better to worse

Some of you know that last Monday Tom brought my car to the dealer -- 8 a.m. to be exact. He called me at about 8:10 saying it would be a while for them to look at it and for me to come get him. He had taken my car the night before, left the pick-up for me and the plan was put into place. The Aurora is an automatic and the pick-up is a stick-shift. Now one car prior to the Aurora was also an automatic but before that all the vehicles I owned were stick shifts... even had a little sports car once. When you are in business for yourself you need the right "tools", one being a nice car.
Anyway, I get into the truck which in itself was a challenge because it is a TRUCK and off I go to the next town over which is about 10 miles away. Tom had backed the pick-up in so all I had to do was go forward.... *;* does this sound like I am leading up to something :o) I haven't driven a stick shift in about 6 years but I guess it's like that saying about riding a bike... once you learn you don't forget how to do it. I chugged a little at first but finally got that smooth motorin action I needed... had 5 lights to go through and wouldn't you know every one of them was red when I got to them. I was doing pretty good, I got Tom, we came back to my place. We waited all day and finally just before 5 p.m. the car dealer -- service department -- called to say they really didn't get a chance to look at it !!!!! But they had taken it for a drive and there is a problem.
Tuesday comes and they call and say it needs a new fuel pump and that the computer thingie they put it on said a lot of other things were showing up. Now John -- service department -- is thinking once the fuel pump is put in, it will take care of most if not all of those other glitches but of course won't guarantee that. The cost for the fuel pump and labor will be about about $800. Tom called a couple of places and got a better price but not by much and he calls John who then tells him if they use another fuel pump they cannot guarantee the part or the labor even if they do the labor. So we decide with the kind of luck I have it wouldn't be worth the few bucks saved. Then I'm thinking where am I gonna get that kind of money -- that's more than I get a month plus another 1/3 again... Tom is all upset about the money and I'm not sure why because he's not allowed to help me out financially and he wouldn't have that much anyway. I've learned not to worry any more about money -- I can only do so much and worrying isn't going to help with the condition I'm in. We gave the o.k. and they were to order a fuel pump -- it will take a day to get there.
Wednesday comes and so does the fuel pump. We get a call -- ut oh -- while they are working on taking out the old fuel pump, guess what!!!! The "neck" connection which is from the gas tank is all rusted out and falls apart so now it needs a new gas tank.... AND GUESS WHAT ELSE... the car, my beautiful Aurora, is 12 years old and they don't make them, the gas tank, like that any more... soooo they start to call all around to see if they can find one. THINGS ARE GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE and I'm thinking I should pull my hair out, I have enough hair and it might make me feel better. Nah, that won't make me feel better and besides, it will hurt, no mights about that one.
Tom calls me when he gets home and I can tell by his voice that something is wrong -- he says guess what :o( I say what and he said when he got home and backed in the garage the brake line broke so there he is out in the country no truck, me in town no car... he is so upset. I'm thinking, well I won't tell you what I'm thinking. I try to calm him down and told him we'll worry about that tomorrow... He calls Tim, our son, who doesn't live that far from him, Tim comes up, looks under the truck and says Dad I think we can fix it. They go to the auto parts store buy a new break line and viola, they fixed it. Tom calls me later and said he was just so worried if something else or anything should happen to me likle needing a ride to the hospital etc... he worries about me sooo much. Although right now I'm doing ok, it seems there are times when something will happen and it's a trip to the Cleveland Clinic -- I have pulmonary hypertension and my specialist is there. It's a life threatening disease and I and anyone else who have it has to be very careful with maintenance of this disease and it has totally changed my life.
Thursday comes and no call. The last estimate is between $1200 and $1400. Now Saturday is my support group meeting just outside Cleveland and no car. John said if it wasn't fixed by tomorrow, Friday, then we could have a loaner for the weekend. Glory be.
Right now I need to take my own advice -- SMILE ~ it's contagious *;*
Merle - OHPA

Advocacy is the extra bag I tote

A new bill was recently presented in the HOUSE - HR 1030. It is about Pulmonary Hypertension and what this disease can do and now we desperately need to have our Federal Representatives co-sponsor this bill. I have written to several and will continue to write to more until we can get this bill to pass in the HOUSE and move on to the SENATE. This is what I emailed.

Honorable Congressperson (you can copy this and fill in your Representatives name):

As a member of the pulmonary hypertension community, I urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 1030, the Tom Lantos Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Education Act of 2009.

Pulmonary hypertension is a simplified name for a complex health problem--continuous high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery in the lungs, resulting in an enlarged heart which can lose its ability to pump. Many associate PH with common high blood pressure instead of a distinct and grave illness. Someone with high blood pressure can live 30 or 40 more years. Without treatment, 50% of PH patients die within 2.8 years of diagnosis.

Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension may include: Shortness of breath with minimal exertion, chest pain, unusual fatigue, a dry cough, edema, heart palpitations, fainting and dizzy spells. Pulmonary hypertension is described as progressive and fatal.

The sooner a PH patient receives effective treatment, the better their prognosis. Several treatments are available, but patients see an average of three physicians before a fourth makes an accurate diagnosis--often losing a precious year, or more importantly, the deterioration for quality of life.

The Tom Lantos PH Research and Education Act of 2009 Co-sponsorship of H.R. 1030 brings us one step closer to...

• preparing more physicians for prompt and effective management of PH
• raising public awareness about PH symptoms
• increasing the effectiveness of clinical researchers in the PH field

Your co-sponsorship supports improved diagnosis, improved treatment and the search for a cure to this deadly disease. Please help slow the progression of this dastardly disease and extend our quality of life.

Thank you in advance for your valuable support.

You sign your name along with address and phone number. To find out who your Representative is go to: http://www.house.gov/ type in your zip code (may need those additional 4 digits) and send it on.

To those of us with Pulmonary Hypertension this is so very, very important. We almost made it last time -- and every minute counts with the 111th Congress -- politicians can be slow as busy as they get.

Remember to SMILE ~ it's contagious

Merle

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

It's called sweethearts day -- and many other endearments. We send or give or receive flowers, candy and sweet cards or notes saying how special someone really is in our lives. We write romantic poems or fun and lovey sayings. Something to make this day special and loving.
The history of this day has a few mysteries that follow it, one being: "One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. While in prison he fell in love with his jailers daughter and sent her notes signed "from your Valentine"..... So there you have it -- or one of them.
Now I didn't get flowers for Valentine's Day but I did get a HUGE box of chocolates. I couldn't find an appropriate picture of a box of chocolates so hence the picture of roses -- another symbol of love and affection. This box of chocolates is too big to fit on my lap now that's a lot of candy. I have limited myself to only 3 pieces of chocolate a day -- I should be done in about a month. It really is big.
Tom and I celebrated Valentine's Day by giving each other lovey dovey cards... he is so good about getting cards and buys just the right one and he also brought over lunch and the chocolates.
Our one daughter invited us for dinner on Sunday (the 15th) -- we had steak and shrimp and fixings and this was also to celebrate our anniversary which is today. I told the kids today is so special because it is our anniversary and it is also a Holiday (President's Day) *;*. Again special cards but no special lunch == I had made a meatloaf Saturday night and we had ml sandwiches... good enough for me and it was for Tom too.
Remember to smile, it's contagious...

Merle

Be Prepared

This past Sunday was Boy Scout Sunday at the church my daughter and her family attend. Jerod is now a Boy Scout and Nolan is a Webelos or Tiger Cub -- not sure on that one, whichever is the youngest. I was invited to attend this special service to honor scouts and scouting.

With the exception of the Pastor doing prayer requests and upcoming notices, the whole service was conducted by the Scouts. From the Scout Master, Den Mothers, Scout Leaders to the scouts themselves, a brief history of scouting, the religious aspects of scouting; Bible scripture being read and applied to their daily living. It was a very impressive presentation. Of course, anything involving my grandchildren is going to be impressive and emotional for me... *;* Jerod carried the Boy Scout Flag in and also did a "reading", Nolan helped with the collection and had a proud toothless smile when they all sang their songs.

"Scouting has always been about preparing boys for life," says Chief Scout Executive Jere B. Ratcliffe. "Through the Scout Oath and Law, almost 99 million youngsters have learned to help and respect other people, exercise their minds and bodies and know right from wrong." A recent study by Louis Harris & Associates found that three-fourths or more of Boy Scouts believe the program teaches them right from wrong, helps them feel more self-confident and provides them with new skills. I think we all know this part of scouting.... To be prepared.

And being prepared brings me to one of my adventures that has almost become typical for me. Last Friday, Hailey, my granddaughter (cousin to the above boys), was having a concert at school. As mentioned, if I am able I will attend anything I can that involves the grandkids. Well, it happened to be a night that my friend was coming for dinner; she also was looking forward to seeing the kids preform. So when Mary Lou arrived, off we went to the Middle School; next town over and about 10 miles away. I drove. We were about half way there when my car started to act up. It slowed down when I gave it gas and then it would (pardon my English) fart :o) I haven't a clue as to what would cause this. Mary Lou said be sure when I go out again to have someone with me -- JUST IN CASE. Wow, does that sound familiar. (I might get into that later)

The concert, I think a better description would be talent show, was awesome. Those kids; 6th, 7th and 8th graders were amazing. Some sang by themselves, some in groups of 2 or three. Some had amazing voices, some sang off key. Some played the guitar, some drums one even played the piano. Just brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes -- and it was soooo LOUD. But a great performance by all. I got goose bumps when Hailey and her friend sang their song. They done good. (I also brought my tape recorder and recorded her singing -- and remembered my camera this time)

The trip back home was pretty much ok, my car did act up a bit but not like on the way over. We made it home, cooked dinner and chatted the evening away and I think maybe my car needs to be used more than once or twice a month.

Now for my being prepared. When I go out anywhere I have a routine of sorts. I have my back up medicine -- JUST IN CASE -- I have enough oxygen, plus extra -- JUST IN CASE -- I bring my cell phone -- JUST IN CASE. I am ready for any minor inconvenience -- JUST IN CASE. Well, Sunday on my way to church, I did have my medicine and oxygen but I forgot my cell phone -- left it on the charger. Dang. I was about halfway to the church when I remembered and I thought to myself -- self, people survived many years without cell phones. I will be fine. I get to the interstate area (have to drive past it) when the car started acting up. Now luckily the speed limit isn't too fast at that point because my car was barely moving. I knew I couldn't stop there as I was on the overpass and I was soooo hoping I would make it across the bridge. I did put my flashers on so those behind me would know I wasn't being some senile old person not knowing how to drive *;* and finally found a spot where I could pull over. Well, low and behold who comes pulling up behind me but a State Trooper. Whoo Hoo. He comes to the car and asks if everything is o.k. I explained that my car was acting up and even mentioned the farting -- well how else can you describe what was happening. It put a smile on his face too.... He said he didn't know that much about things like that and asked where I was going. It would be another 3 or 4 miles down the road to the church. He said he had something to do and would drive out that way after to make sure I made it. I made it -- the church service was great -- I made it home with a couple of fartters... Life is good. I'm not going to get into living life and having pulmonary hypertension and all the restrictions and complications that are involved with that. This is long enough -- read some previous postings.... :o)

Now don't forget to SMILE -- it's contagious

Merle

Steeler Fans

Now I'm not much of a football fan BUT I do know when you live in Steeler Country it is something special to behold and that's not just for the Pittsburgh area. There are Steeler fans all over this country and I'm sure else where in this world. :o)

Now don't get me wrong -- I may not enjoy watching football but I am a Steeler fan. I will root and cheer along with the best of them and it's a thumbs up for a win or a mention of their name. And BTW -- they, the Steelers, need another Super Bowl ring for their other thumb. *;* That would make 6, yes 6 Super Bowl wins.

The first Super Bowl game was played in 1967 in Los Angles and in 1979 the Steelers had their first win. Only 2 other teams besides the Steelers have won 5 Super Bowl Rings. The Steelers really are an awesome group of players and I wish them well. I guess I don't really need to say that as they will WIN... Go Steelers. Over the years the Super Bowl has become the most-watched U.S. television broadcast of the year. Super Bowl parties are a "thing". Team items are a "thing".

One of my friends asked me what the Terrible Crying towel is -- so I took a picture of mine on my sofa.... And this is a little bit about it: In 1996, Myron Cope, a radio broadcaster for the Steelers, created a gimmic. This has become a legend in its time and in 1996 he gave the rights to The Terrible Towel to the Allegheny Valley School in Corapolis, Pennsylvania. The agency provides care for more than 900 people with mental retardation and physical disabilities, including Cope's autistic son. No proceeds went to Myron Cope and trust me when I say, it's a big seller. Just watch a Steeler game and see them being twirled around.

Here we go Steelers, Here we go.... Pittsburgh's goin to the Super Bowl ~ Here we go....

THEY WON!!!!

Now don't forget to SMILE -- it's contagious.

OHPA

Well, Glory Be

I know this may be a weird picture for this time of year BUT I just figured out how to get pictures off my cell phone. This was taken last November at the Symposium the Cleveland Clinic had and yes that does say 503 lbs on the pumpkin. Using my head for once, I thought if I just take a picture of the pumpkin it would look like a pumpkin BUT if I took a picture of a nurse NEXT to the pumpkin you would realize just how HUGE it was... HUGE PUMPKIN ---->

Now for the Glory Be part. I'm sure you all get those wonderful automated phone calls about the warranty on your car has expired OR maybe one about getting free dish service for a month if you pay for the installation WELL.... yesterday the phone rang, I answered it and before I hung up on the recording I heard "to be remo".... I was just about to press the off button but I waited. The message said to be removed from further calls press 9 now. I did -- now lets see if that works. Today I received another one of those calls, and I thought.... hmm I wonder if pressing 9 will work on this one. I pressed 9 and I heard my phone number being read off and low and behold the next statement was this number has been removed!!!! Glory Be!!!!

I just had to pass it on. Don't know if it will work but hey, it's worth a try. My thought is once you press 9 be sure to wait for your number to be read... then I believe it will work... I' sure hoping it does. One of those won't hurt to try.

SMILE -- it contagious

Merle