Jodie and Don's Travels

Fall Foliage Cruise 2015

2015-11-09T15:37:00.000-08:00

Northern California has beautiful fall colors, but, I've always wanted to see the East coast in all its glory, so we booked a fall color cruise on the Royal Caribbean's, Serenade of the Seas. Flying into Quebec showed very little color change in the trees. Their recent warm weather has prevented the normal brilliant colors to show by this time of the year, but, the upside is the beautiful weather we enjoyed. We were fortunate to miss the storm that hit two ports a few days prior to docking, causing a lot of downed trees, and heavy rains.

After taking the red eye to Quebec, going through a long line in customs, finding that our luggage was taking a later flight, taking the bus to the ship, standing in another long line to check in and get our Sea Pass cards before boarding the ship (during which their computers went down twice and they had to reboot), familiarize ourselves with everything, have lunch and take a nap, we did not get off the ship at all the first day.

I was concerned about our luggage, when it had not arrived by 8:30pm. I called the number provided to check on it's progress. Using the ships phone in our room, I ended up having to make 2 calls to track it. They assured me the luggage was on its way. Sometime between 11pm and 3am our 2 bags showed up outside our door. Charges for the 2 calls, $90.

QUEBEC CITY, Quebec (Day 1 & 2)

Our ship is docked at Vieux-Port, a part of the Old City's Lower Town, perched atop a cliff overlooking the Saint Lawrence River. You see in the distance, many old 18th and 19th century stone houses, monuments and churches etc., with cobblestone alleyways and streets. Steep stairs and a funicular connect the Lower Town to the Upper Town, which sits atop a bluff and is protected by ramparts and defensive walls.

We planned our excursions at home and chose the countryside tour for Quebec. Unfortunately, the tour did not allow us time to explore the town. Our tour started out at 8:00am. The bus took us through the foothills of the Laurentian Mountains, and rural landscapes on this scenic drive around the Lake Beauport area and Ile d'Orleans Island. We visited an authentic Sugar Shack to learn about the history of Canadian maple syrup and tasted some sweet maple taffy. From the 7 liters of liquid you drain from a tree, you only get 1 liter of actual maple after being processed.

Our next stop took us to the Montmorency Falls which is 275 feet high, 98 feet taller than that of Niagara Falls. You can admire the falls from a vista point across from the bottom of the falls, where you are able to catch a tram to the top. There are also stairs you can climb, up the side of the cliff. To get a view of the falls from above, you cross a suspension bridge where there are many more view points. Our bus let us off at the restaurant near the falls where we first had tea and a delicious apple pastry. After, we had 1/2 hour to look around before boarding the bus again. To access the bridge you continue along a boardwalk, which takes you past another viewpoint below the bridge. The falls empty into St. Lawrence River.

Throughout the morning, we passed by some beautiful farmlands, homes and barns that were well kept, with perfectly manicured lawns and minimal landscaping. The drive skirted us past most of the old town, so we really did not get to see much of city of Quebec up close.

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CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edwards Island (Day 4)

Canada's smallest province is famous for it's intensely green hills, red sandstone cliffs and miles of red-sand beaches, and white beaches in some areas. In the19th century, PEI was the fashionable destination for British nobility. Then in 1864, the capital city of Charlottetown hosted the inaugural meeting of the Canadian Confederation, where delegates first met to discuss bringing Canada together as a nation.

I'm sure most of you have heard of the classic tale and movie, Anne of Green Gables, written by L. M. Montgomery. She was so inspired by the islands beauty and rural farmsteads that she chose it as the setting for her novel, which takes place in the Victorian era. In real life, the farm was the home of her grandfather's cousins. You feel like you've taken a step back in time when you explore the house and grounds that have been restored and decorated as Montgomery described in her novel, and depict a typical Prince Edward Island farm of the late 1800's. Watching a short video, then taking a self guided tour enticed me to purchase her book, which I'm now in the process of reading. Her descriptive writing makes you wish you lived in those simpler days. Montgomery wrote over 30 books, and poems.

We drove a short distance to the coast where we saw the red sandstone cliffs, and some white beaches off in the distance. Driving back to town we passed by more beautifully maintained homes and yards. You never see fencing to close off your property for privacy, nor do you see inoperable cars or trucks, graffiti or trash laying around. After returning to the ships dock, we ate lunch at a small restaurant close by where seafood is the main part of the menu. We walked a few short blocks to the "downtown" area where they had your typical tourist shops, a museum, large conference center, many churches. Did not notice any bars, but of course there was one Starbucks, but no other fast food restaurants.

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HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (Day 6)

Today we chose to take the Big Pink Bus around town. The double decker buses were originally from London, built in the 1960's. They are painted pink, supporting breast cancer awareness and the fight for a cure. Hop on for a narrated tour, hopping off where you find a stop that interests you.

The British officially founded the city in 1749, recognizing its potential as a military base. In the decades to follow, tens of thousands of Irish and Scottish immigrants landed in Cape Breton. It became a haven for loyalists, and later for black runaway slaves.

Our first stop was the beautiful Public Gardens, a 17 acre Victorian garden filled with trees planted by visiting royalty. At the center stands a gazebo built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. Concerts are held there during the summer. Nearby a fountain was also built for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Lawns are kept well trimmed, and there were scattered gardens throughout with flowers still in bloom, including dahlia's and some roses. They also incorporated vegetables with flowers including marigolds. While I strolled through taking photos, Don sat at the cafe enjoying an ice tea and reading his Wall Street Journal and Fortune 500 magazine he picked up at a small bookstore nearby.

Our next stop was the Citadel, built between 1828 and 1856, with it’s commanding view of the harbour. Today it is Canada's most-visited National Historic Site. The forts military routines are carried out as they were in 1869 to 1871. Students play the roles of soldiers from the 78th Highlanders and Royal Artillery, as well of Naval Brigade sailors. Though the Citadel was never attacked, as a military deterrent, it was a success.

Just below the Citadel stands the Old Town Clock, a gift from Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, head of the garrison at Halifax from 1794-1800 (the 4th son of George III and later, the father of Queen Victoria), that has stood since 1803. Ironically, given the Prince's reputation for demanding absolute punctuality, it arrived late from London, where it had been built by the royal clockmakers.

In 1917 a French steamship Mont Blanc and the Belgian relief vessel Imo collided in the Narrows of Halifax Harbour. When the two ships were separated, it created sparks which ignited the Mont Blanc that was carrying gun powder, cotton picric acid, TNT and benzol. The ship drifted toward the shore and soon after it exploded. The blast leveled the North end of Halifax and Dartmouth (across the river), killing nearly 2,000 people, blinding (from glass flying) or maiming 9,000 others. It was the deadliest explosion before the atomic bomb.

As the closest major port to where the Titanic sank, Halifax played a significant role in the recovery and burial of its victims.

The harbour is one of the largest ice-free natural harbours in the world . Virtually every Canadian soldier and sailor during the World Wars sailed out of Halifax Harbour on the way to battle, in huge convoys that stretched out on the horizon. As the last ships sailed past a certain point, rumblings could sometimes be heard in the distance as the lead ships were attacked by German U-boats waiting beyond the harbour mouth. The navy remains the city's single largest employer.

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SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick - Bay of Fundy (Day 8)

After the American Revolution, a group of Loyalists fled to the North to start a new life. The settlement of Saint John became the first incorporated Canadian City in 1785. A few decades later, thousands of Irish immigrants also seeking refuge-sailed into the Bay of Fundy and by 1859, the population of this town had skyrocketed, and is the largest city in New Brunswick.

One of the most interesting features of Saint John is the Reversing Rapids. Our first tour started on the Bay of Fundy Scenic Railway, which took us above the bay, into the countryside and stopping over the rapids on the train trestle. We witnessed the power of 100 billion tons of water, and learned how the world's highest tides battle with the flowing Saint John River to cause the rapids to switch direction and flow upstream twice a day.

The rapids are part of the UNESCO Stonehammer Geopark (North America’s first Global Geopark), a site of exceptional geological heritage. With a landscape created by the collision of continents, the closing and opening of oceans, volcanoes, earthquakes, ice ages and climate change, the SG includes geological stories from the late Precambrian, a billion years ago, to the most recent Ice Age, and almost everything in between - a geological playground has been created in Southern New Brunswick!

Next to the Reversing Rapids is J.D.Irving Pulp and Paper Ltd. Mill, manufacturing plant. Trucks haul in the wood chips used in the pulp production, where it’s unloaded by the driver placing the truck on a lift that tilts the truck at an angle, to slide the chips out. Started in 1882 the Scottish immigrant founded J.D.Irving Ltd. a privately owned conglomerate company headquartered in Saint John. It’s activities include many industries: forestry, paper products, agriculture, food processing, transportation, shipbuilding. The company forms with Irving Oil, Brunswick News, the bulk of the Irving Group of Companies which regroups the interest of the Irving Family.

In the historic west side community of Carleton, a Martello tower (a small circular fort first built for defense purposes in the south of England during the Napoleonic War) was built for the war of 1812, to fight off the Americans.

After the Scenic Railway ride, we returned to the dock where we caught the pink Hop On Hop Off bus for a ride around the Uptown area, driving past museums, churches, a beautiful lake with a 1 mile walk around it located in Rockwood Park, Canada’s largest municipal park with 50 km of hiking trails, 13 manmade lakes, encompassing 2,200 acres.

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BAR HARBOR, Maine (Day 9)

On this day, our ship docked in Frenchman's Bay where they used tender boats to carry us to the port, a 10 minute ride. Tender boats are used when the port infrastructure cannot accommodate a cruise ship the size of ours. First, we had to go through immigration prior to getting off the ship. I thought it would be smart to have breakfast in the Dining Room, where we often have our evening meals. We could have a delicious breakfast then just walk up the stairs to the second level of the Dining Room, pass through immigration then move on to the tender boats. Much to our surprise, we were directed to follow a line that snaked from one end of the ship to the other, down to the stage of the theater and halfway back up the other side of the theater. We thought it would take an hour to get through, but it only turned out to be 30 minutes. They just looked at our passport and sent us on our way.

Bar Harbor is nestled on the Northeast tip of Mount Desert Island, approximately 170 nautical miles north of Boston. Settled in 1763 and originally incorporated as the town of Eden, Bar Harbor has been home to lobstermen, shipbuilders, artists, outdoor enthusiasts and wealthy "summer people". In the late 1800’s the wealthy -- Astors, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Carnegies and Morgans -- began to arrive, building extravagant homes called "cottages". They might have up to 100 or more rooms with servants' quarters, stables, and guest houses. In 1947 though, a fire started in a cranberry bog burning for 10 days, covering more than 17,000 acres in Bar Harbor, including 8,000 in Acadia National Park. Few of the grand houses were rebuilt, and many of the summer people did not return.

The rugged, mountainous terrain surrounds 3 sides of Bar Harbor and hugs the coastline and offers gorgeous, elevated views of the sparkling Atlantic. In 1901, Harvard President C.W.Eliot and G.B.Dorr created a public land trust dedicated to preserving Maine's natural beauty for future generations. They petitioned President Wilson to establish a national park, which he did in 1916. In years to follow, philanthropist J.D.Rockefeller,Jr. donated 11,000 acres on which he designed and built 45 miles of carriage roads, using local workers that quarried granite from the island. Acadia National Park now covers more than 49,000 acres, encompassing nearly half of Mount Desert Island, a scattering of smaller islands and the Schoodic Peninsula. It's the only National Park in the Northeast.

On this day, we chose the ANP scenic drive on a bus covering a 27-mile Park Loop Road, which gave us views of the coast, mountain and forest scenery. We drove 3.5 miles to the 1,530-foot summit of Cadillac Mountain made of lichen colored, pink granite. From there, we had views of a few of Maine's 3,166 islands. Mount Desert is the third largest island on the US eastern seaboard. Only Long Island, New York is bigger; Martha's Vineyard, off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, comes in second. Another interesting fact is it's the highest peak on the Atlantic Ocean north of Rio de Janeiro. Those atop the mountain at dawn can lay claim to being the first people in the US to see a new day.

Our next stop was the Wild Gardens of Acadia in Sieur de Monts. It is maintained by volunteers, and reflects typical habitats as found on Mount Desert Island. On display was a replica of a water tight birch bark wigwam made by the Native American Wabanaki tribe.

Driving down Park Loop Road, we passed "High Seas" Estate, a beautiful red brick mansion, one of the last remaining summer cottages, looking out over Frenchman Bay. It's now owned by Jackson Laboritories, which does biological and cancer research and is surrounded by National Park land.

Thunder Hole is a small inlet, naturally carved out of rocks, where waves roll into. At the end of the inlet, down low, is a small cavern where, when the rush of the waves arrive, air and water is forced out, causing a booming sound like a clap of distant thunder. Water may spout as high as 40 feet. If you look north you can see Sand Beach in the distance. It's actually made of millions of sea shells ground up over the years. From Sand Beach, you can follow Ocean Path, a walking trail which stretches 3 miles, past Thunder Hole.

After our tour, we walked across the street to the restaurant where we originally bought our ANP tickets, and had lunch. Lobster rolls are extremely popular, so I ended up ordering one. It's small pieces of lobster on a buttered grilled hot dog bun. Yummy. Dons choice, a hamburger. Maine lobster is a well-known icon around the world. Last year, 100 million pounds of lobster were harvested in Maine. Reading another piece of visitors info, it stated the annual yield is 40 million, nearly 90% of the nation's supply, so I don't know what's correct. It's a felony to rob someone else's lobster pot.

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ROCKLAND, Maine (Day 10)

In the 19th Century, Rockland prospered as a center for shipbuilding, granite quarrying, lime processing and commercial fishing.

Another port where we were transported by a tender from the ship. Rockland, midcoast Maine, has a working wharf bustling with activity, a harbor full of schooners, and several lighthouses along its rocky shoreline. The world's largest lobster feed takes place here, over 20,000 pounds. People come from all over just to taste this succulent lobster at the Annual Maine Seafood Festival.

Our bus tour took us along the picturesque coast to Camden, a beautiful seaside village featuring unique shops and cafes. Hollywood put Camden in the national spotlight in 1956, when the movie Peyton Place was filmed there, as well as several other movies. On the way to Camden we passed Rockport, one of Maine's most beautiful harbors. When we first arrived, Don and I stopped at a local cafe where we enjoyed coffee and fresh berry muffins. I left him there to read while I wandered the shops, and enjoyed browsing their Harbor Arts and Book Fair by the local library next to the harbor. Then we traveled to Mt. Battie summit in Camden Hills State Park, where we viewed Penobscot Bay and much of Maine's mid-coast, including its many islands. We could see our ship off in the distance. We also were able to see off in the distance Mt. Cadillac, that we visited the day before.

Back in the town of Rockland, Don decided to head back to the ship, while I found a place where they served soup, sandwiches, pizza and ice cream. Since we had coffee and a delicious blueberry muffin in Camden, I wasn't very hungry, so chose their carrot and roasted leek soup with a piece of wheat bread. It tied me over while I browsed through their local museum, Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center where you view a collection that spans more than 200 years of American art, and highlights works by all three Wyeth's. It currently contained an exhibit of some of Andrew Wyeth's best known works of Maine and the Sea. The Wyeth's are the "first family" of American art. Family patriarch N.C. Wyeth called Cushing home, a farming community nearby, where his son Andrew painted between 1939-1968. His most famous works were of the Olson House, where Christina's home and saltwater farm is portrayed in "Christina's World" painted in 1948 and now in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

I couldn't pass up going back to the cafe where I had lunch, and buying a scoop of their handmade ice cream. I wandered down to the next block to Project Puffin Visitor Center. In 1900 there were only a few puffins left in Maine. Audubon and its partners reintroduced them to their historic nesting islands in the Gulf of Maine. I watched a video of a puffin colony on an island 20 miles away. It showed the chicks being raised and scientists at work.

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PORTLAND, Maine (Day 11)

Our last stop on our trip. Maine was part of Massachusetts - first colony and then the state - until 1820, when its residents voted to secede. From its 17th century beginnings as a fishing and trading village, Portland grew to become New England's largest and busiest port. Portland served as the original state capital for the first 12 years, when state government was moved to Augusta, a more central location.

Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, famous for "Paul Revere's Ride" and Song of Hiawatha," was born in Portland in 1807. He nicknamed his hometown, "Jewel by the Sea". Colorful boats line the shores of Casco Bay, and freshly cooked seafood abounds in this picturesque seaside town, located on a peninsula in Southern Maine. The town was completely destroyed on a few occasions. Indian attacks, war and fire kept Portland on its toes for the past 200 years. The 1800's brought about sounder times, with a bustling trade industry. It has more than 65,000 inhabitants making it the largest city in Maine.

We chose an excursion taking us through the narrow streets of Old Port, past original brick warehouses transformed into restaurants, bars, cafes and art and fashion boutiques. The district features a working waterfront, where fisherman haul in the daily catch. We traveled along the rugged Maine coastline to visit the state's oldest lighthouse named Portland Head Light, in Fort Allen Park. It's the most photographed lighthouse in the US. PHL was built in 1791, commissioned by George Washington. Next, we drove past elegant Federal and Victorian-style mansions to visit quaint Kennebunkport, where we had 2 hours to have lunch, then explore the shops, boutiques, and galleries in the town square. Our bus as well as 10 others, came in about the same time, so it was quite crowded. A few more weeks, and the town would be "deserted". Many of the shops closing up for the winter, and the restaurants that cater to the tourists where they serve food outside.

Kennebunkport is a longtime summer retreat for prominent East Coast families, including the former U.S. President George H.W. Bush. He and Barbara spend much of their summer here in their large home on "Walker's Point". They have been visited by presidents, foreign heads of states and celebrities alike. Jeb Bush just built a home next to his mom and dad, and it has been a haven for generations of Bush family members. Our guide said the two can be seen quite regularly at the local restaurants, and Barbara takes a daily walk along the waterfront along with her dogs and of course the secret service following her.

Maine is not only known for their lobster, which they catch in abundance, but their wild blueberries. Before departing Maine, I had to have a slice of Blueberry pie. Our guide suggested Two Fat Cats Bakery, just a few blocks from where our ship was docked. They've been featured this year on PBS "A Few Good Pie Places,” as well as "Best Mail Order Pies" in Bon Appetit Magazine 2014; Top 10 Best Pies and Chocolate Chip Cookies in America on Yahoo.com 2013; The Best Thing I Ever Ate - Cake Walk - Food Network 2010; Featured in People Magazine and as a question on Jeopardy. It was 4pm, so I thought I would have a slice of pie with a cup of coffee. They didn't have coffee, and the only place to eat was outside where they had a few tables set up. OK, I'll take a slice back to the ship, and enjoy it with ice cream and coffee later. While I'm at it, I bought a couple of their day old chocolate cookies, and a chocolate Whoopie Pie (2 cookies filled with a cream filling). Don said, “you won't be able to take those on board,” but I thought that was only back in one port going from Canada to the US, where you couldn't bring it on board. I didn't bother putting them in my backpack, just carried them through the checkpoint on dock before boarding the ship. After it went through the Xray machine, I was told I would have to eat it there or throw it away, because it was not sealed, like you would buy in a store. Well, I wasn't about to throw it all away, so I ate the pie right there, and gave the other food to some of the employees. Don't know if the on board Xray machine would pick it up if I had stuffed it in my back pack. The pie was delicious, but I would have enjoyed it more with coffee and ice cream.

CAPE LIBERTY, (Bayonne) New Jersey (Day 13)

We cruised into Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal at 7am. From our dock, we could see the Statue of Liberty, and downtown New York across the bay.

The night before we packed our bags, except for the next days wear and our essentials. They are placed in the hallway just outside our door by 11pm, and sometime during the night they are hauled down to the holding area where they are to be unloaded in the terminal which is also US Customs and Protection. We have breakfast, then disembark using our Sea Pass for the last time. Once in the terminal, we look for our number assigned to us the night before, and search for our bags. Next we board the bus that will take us to the Newark airport. Our flight for Atlanta, GA was leaving at 1pm, so we did not have the opportunity to take a tour of New York. We spent a week there 4 years prior (along with cousin Terri), through our Marriott time share where we stayed a few blocks from Times Square, otherwise we would have stayed in the city for a few days.

Our flights home on Delta were smooth, arriving on time, 7pm. Enjoyed some beautiful views from the plane on our flight from Atlanta to SFO. After picking up our bags at baggage claim, we caught the airbus to BART. A train was right there waiting us, and after a 1 1/2 hour ride we arrived in Bay Point where William, Rachael, JJ & Sidney were waiting to pick us up. A quick goodbye with the kids, and after making a stop at In & Out, we arrived at home safe and sound. A most enjoyable and relaxing trip, interesting sights, lucky on the weather, just missed the glorious fall colors of the East coast.

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Shades Of Green

2015-06-01T14:59:00.001-07:00

Dublin, Ireland
Home of Two World Renown Authors
Dublin Part One

Founded as a Viking settlement, the Kingdom of Dublin became Ireland's principal city following the Norman invasion. The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century and was briefly the second largest city in the British Empire before the Act of Union in 1800. Following the partition of Ireland in 1922, Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State, later renamed Ireland.

Touring the city today, with even a little of Ireland's historical knowledge, demonstrates progress within their independence. They have incorporated history into modern day architecture. Holding dearly to traditions, while at the same time molding modern day progress into their lives.

What is impressive is their religious grasp that not only Ireland, but the entire United Kingdom have upon their faith. Their religious conviction matches those of the Jewish religion.

Pope John's sermon attendance was over a million. One elderly gentleman died while in attendance and one new born entered the world during the Pope's sermon. The baby was a boy, and he was named "John."

The hill that Pope John gave his sermon from

Cultural Divide

A north-south division did traditionally exist, with the River Liffey as the divider. The Northside was generally seen as working class, while the Southside was seen as middle to upper-middle class. The divide was punctuated by examples of Dublin "sub-culture" stereotypes, with upper-middle class constituents seen as tending towards an accent and demeanour synonymous with the Southside, and working-class Dubliners seen as tending towards characteristics associated with Northside and inner-city areas. This has changed in recent times and both Northside and Southside Dublin have become indistinguishable from each other. Dublin's economic divide was also previously an east-west as well as a north-south. There were also social divisions evident between the coastal suburbs in the east of the city, including those on the Northside, and the newer developments further to the west.

Colored Doors - Its Tradition


Black door of a residence

The Irish love for a good time is well known throughout the world, as is their love for drink. The women of Dublin, went to their parish priest informing them of an on-going problem. The men, after work, would meet at the local pub. While socializing, they drank a little too much. The men would stumble home, and because all the doors were painted black, the men would enter a residence, climb into bed with their wives. In the morning, both husband a wife would awaken to discover that it was not their husband, nor their wife. The men had no problem with this error, it was the wives.

The priest finally tired of this sinful act, purchased different colored paint, and went throughout the neighborhood paint the doors different colors. Made note of the colors and the occupants of that home, then informed all the husbands of their colors.

This wife wanted to make sure

Well Known People of Dublin, Ireland

Molly Malone

"Molly Malone" (also known as "Cockles and Mussels" or "In Dublin's Fair City") is a popular song, set in Dublin, Ireland, which has become the unofficial anthem of Dublin City.

The Molly Malone statue in Grafton Street was unveiled by then Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Ben Briscoe during the 1988 Dublin Millennium celebrations, declaring 13 June as Molly Malone Day. The statue was presented to the city by Jury's Hotel Group to mark the Millennium.

Since 18 July 2014, it has been relocated to Suffolk Street, in front of the Tourist Information Office, in order to make way for Luas track-laying work to be completed at the old location.

Lyrics of Molly Malone - 1790

In Dublin's fair city,
Where the girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she wheeled her wheel-barrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"
"Alive, alive, oh,
Alive, alive, oh,"
Crying "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh".
She was a fishmonger,
But sure 'twas no wonder,
For so were her father and mother before,
And they wheeled their barrows,
Through the streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"
(chorus)
She died of a fever,
And no one could save her,
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone.
But her ghost wheels her barrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"
(chorus)x2[7]

Even Royalty takes their religion serious

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish author, playwright and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. Today he is remembered for his epigrams, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, his plays, as well as the circumstances of his imprisonment and early death. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wilde

Bram Stoker

Abraham "Bram" Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912) was an Irish author known today for his 1897 Gothic novel, Dracula. During his lifetime, he was better known as personal assistant of actor Henry Irving and business manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London, which Irving owned. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bram_Stoker

Shades Of Green

2015-05-27T08:30:00.002-07:00

Discrimination Is A Shade That Should Be Eliminated
Dublin Part Two

My grandmother was born and raised just outside of Dublin, Ireland. She was one of four girls and a brother. The girls shared beds as well as in the labor of the farm; early to rise, late to bed.

Not having a firm grasp of my great grandfather's reason for moving to the United States and my great grandmother remaining in Ireland, I can only speculate from history told to me from this tour? Though the short version was "he sought better opportunity and escape religious persecution." As history unfolds during our tour, it was revealed that men moved out of Ireland seeking opportunity with employers or armies to support their families. Catholic men sought these opportunities due to discrimination that was inflicted upon them because of their faith. These men would return home as did my great grandfather.

City Of Dublin, Ireland

Dublin, Ireland

It's exciting to discover the awakening of family traditions. Ancestral practices that become a requirement that we may or may not fully understand the why of practice or meaning. Trying to understand why the men would adjourn into a separate room from the ladies and children after dining. The male participants smoking cigars, drinking brandy and discussing the fate of the country or political views. These practices are self event, but religious practices, discussed below, and discrimination are not as evident. How I desired to join in listening with the men. I wanted that respect that seemed to fill the room as each gentleman spoke or injected an opinion.

I intently listened to the music playing for dancing, the young were taught to dance traditional steps. I was always partnered with my grandmother. My feet and legs moved in many different directions with soles striking loudly upon the wooden floors of the flat, they called home.

Irish House Party

The tour included an Irish house party that seduced all those childhood memories back. Though this party omitted the heated opinions and injected jokes, jigs, music and stories into their show. We laughed, clapped, stomped our feet and listened to stories. Yes, Guinness was a part of this gathering. It is traditional and a must see to gain the feeling of Irish history.

Founded 1759

O'Connell's restaurant where the proprietor visits each farm that the meats and vegetables are purchased from. This ensures quality control, the experience was quality.

The truth about Guinness

Guinness in America, does not taste the same as in the United Kingdom. Its about climate control that maintains its rich creamy taste.

Like All Beers - "Its the water"

Arthur Guinness started brewing ales in the year 1759 at the St. James's Gate Brewery, Dublin. On 31 December 1759 he signed a 9,000 year lease at £45 per annum for the unused brewery.[6][7][8] Ten years later, on 19 May 1769, Guinness first exported his ale: he shipped six-and-a-half barrels to Great Britain.

There have been claims that Arthur Price, a Welshman, took the original recipe with him to Ireland where he hired a servant, Richard Guinness, whose son later opened the brewery.[9][10]

"Stout" originally referred to a beer's strength, but eventually shifted meaning toward body and colour.[11] http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness

Carved Mug with Guinness Foam created by Irish Linen

Shades Of Green

2015-05-17T02:08:00.003-07:00

Tour Of Killarney Trek To Dublin - Part One

Bog Village - a seventeenth century working village that resembled those that Oliver Cromwell captured to enlarge his kingdom. Capture a village, charge tax to the villagers, and share in the profits from the products that the villagers produced. Though not all villages were captured.

Puck saved the village from Cromwells Army

Puck the Crowned Goat saved the village from the English troops marching toward them to kill those who resisted.

"The fair itself is purported to be ancient but can only officially be traced back as far back as 1603 when King James I issued a charter granting legal status to the existing fair in Killorglin. Despite this fact, its roots are still unknown, however there are several legends of its origins.

One of the legends of the fair is that the event pays tribute to a goat that broke away from its herd who warned the town's inhabitants of the advancing army of Oliver Cromwell during his conquest of Ireland in the 17th century, the goat's arrival alerted the inhabitants of danger, and they immediately set out to protect the town or simply hid until the forces left."

Irish Wolf Hounds used to work the farms

Bog logs used for fire in the fireplaces

Lambs love even the big guys

"Scholars speculate that the fair's origins stems from Pre-Christian Ireland, from the Celtic festival of Lughnasa which symbolised the beginning of the harvest season, and that the goat is a pagan fertility symbol.[6]"

"In 1931, Margaret Murray tied the Puck Fair into her version of the witch-cult hypothesis, asserting that it was a pre-Christian festival in honour of the Horned God.[7] However, historian Jeffrey B. Russell and Brooks Alexander have asserted that "Today, scholars are agreed that Murray was more than just wrong – she was completely and embarrassingly wrong on nearly all of her basic premises."[8]"" Wikipedia - http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puck_Fair

A Jaunty Cart ride around Killarney exploring the National Park Lands of Ireland.

http://www.killarneyonamap.ie/things/id36/

Jaunty

Adjective

-tier, -tiest
sprightly, self-confident, and cheerful; brisk ⇒ a jaunty step
smart; trim ⇒ a jaunty hat

Collins Dictionary - http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/jaunty

Jaunty

Ring of Kerry

Killarney very much part of the "Ring Of Kerry," and hub of tourism.

Even before the famous visit of Queen Victoria, Killarney had earned its stripes as a tourist hub.

http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/destinations/republic-of-ireland/kerry/articles/killarney/

Evening Entertainment

Irish House Party - traditional re-enactement of a Irish House Party or gathering of friends and family. It is traditional for families and friends to gather at the home of an elder for food, celebration, dance, story telling, and jokes.

Each culture has their own version of a House Party. Here in Dublin Ireland experience the Irish cultures house party; http://www.theirishhouseparty.com

Shades Of Green

2015-05-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

Tour Opinion, just over the half way point:

Our tired opinion at the half way point of the tour.

Pace

Pace too fast trying to cover too many sites. Not able to connect with sites that would have been very interesting.

The stops between destinations was for the benefit of the bus driver and to allow tourist opportunity to utilize restrooms. Bus drivers are regulated by laws.

Hotels

Quality of the hotels, only two that were not comfortable.

The Tower Hotel Waterford - I had better accommodations in basic training.

Dining

Restaurants Grosvenor Pulford was excellent.

Tours

Tours with a separate tour guide:

London - okay

Dublin - okay - The tour guide in Dublin needed to research their history and statistics before making statements.

Edinburgh - below okay.

Collette tour guide - excellent.

Side Tours

These are paid at the last night

Windsor Castle - Interesting but not enough time for the money

Irish House Party - Fun

Cardif - dinner - Excellent

We skipped one - Scottish Nights.

Collette Employees Opinion of Collette

What does the average Collette employee say about working for Collette:

http://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Reviews/Collette-Vacations-Inc-Reviews-E197109.htm

Bus Driver

Employed by an independent transportation company in Ireland - Excellent

Suggestion for the bus - have wifi and plug in for charging laptops, iPads/tablets, iPhones/Cell Phones and camera batteries.

Historical & Local Discussions on bus

Tour would have benefited by utilizing DVD's on history. This would have broken up the the discussion and gained more attention of the tourist.

Final Opinion Will Appear As Final Posting Of "Shades Of Green" Series

Leaving Wales

Leaving Fishgard

Ferry - Bus, Trucks, Cars and People "All Aboard"

Waterford, Ireland - Originaly a Viking Settlement

Shades Of Green

2015-05-11T14:18:00.000-07:00

Ireland’s Crystal & The Gift Of Gab

House of Waterford tour was fascinating, watching the process of glass blowing which will become fine crystal dining ware. Art pieces from molds made from molds of wood for bowls, footballs, vases, animals and much more. Blocks and slabs of crystal are also used for many fine art pieces. After the general shape is created, the process of sanding, polishing, washing then on to the artist for carving and cutting. The more complicated design work, is placed into a precision cutting machine controlled by computers for cutting the design into the crystal.

A sense of pride and accomplishment is displayed when meeting these artist and discussing their careers with Waterford. Michael Murphy, whom I had the privilege of discussing his art work, shown in this blog. Excalibur, crystal harp, a piano, a many other pieces, one we purchased, Michael has been with Waterford for forty years, and will be retiring in seven years. He has two apprentice’s working with him. One of them confirmed how he drives them to learn, pushing for perfection within their own artwork.


Glass blower while in the wooden mould or a metal mould

Meeting Artist Michael Murphy showing the detail of his craft

Cutting the design into the crystal

Adding shape

The Guinness Harp

Grandfather Cloek

Excaliber

Blarney

Our Tour Guide told the story that McCarthy helped the Bruce's gain their independence in the 1300's. For this assistance, the Bruce's gave a stone that they acquired from the Holy Land to McCarthy. McCarthy was in the process of building the castle and had the builder incorporate the stone into the castle wall. It was set high into the wall for safe keeping. The stone is a different color.

Blarney Castle

Legends of The Stone

An early story involves the goddess Clíodhna.[3][4] Cormac Laidir McCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle,[5] being involved in a lawsuit, appealed to Clíodhna for her assistance. She told MacCarthy to kiss the first stone he found in the morning on his way to court, and he did so, with the result that he pleaded his case with great eloquence and won. Thus the Blarney Stone is said to impart "the ability to deceive without offending." MacCarthy then incorporated it into the parapet of the castle.[6]

The proprietors of Blarney Castle list several other explanations of the origins of the stone on their website.[7] Many of these suppose that the stone had previously been in Ireland, was taken to Scotland and then returned to Ireland in 1314.[7] The stories listed include one suggesting that the stone was presented to Cormac McCarthy by Robert the Bruce in 1314 in recognition of his support in the Battle of Bannockburn.[7] This legend holds that this was a piece of the Stone of Scone and was installed at McCarthy's castle of Blarney.[8][9] Although colourful, this folk legend does not account for that fact that it supposes that the stone was removed from Scotland 18 years before Bannockburn, and modern analysis suggests that the stone is not related to the Stone of Scone.[1]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blarney_Stone

Clíodhna was queen of the banshee's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cl%C3%ADodhna

Kissing the stone

Getting ready to kiss the stone

Castle in ruins

Shades Of Green

2015-05-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

Bath

The same day we visited Stonehenge, we visited Bath, Wales. Early Great Britain was occupied by the Romans and before the Romans, this area was occupied by Celtic.

The Town Of Bath In Wales

When the Romans occupied the area they discovered hot water springs that supplied natural hot water. We know today that this water is filled with Iron and it is the iron that colors the stones a copper, blood red.

Romans built baths for bathing to heal the body. Baths were a social meeting place, much like pubs or bars and much business is conducted within the Baths. They were also used for the ill to soak allowing the minerals to heal the body. Natural minerals and herbs have always played a major role in medicine throughout history.

The Abbey Of Bath

The largest Abbey in Bath has an interesting story on its founding. The Abby priest had a dream where God sent angels from heaven instructing him to build a magnificent church. The illustration on either side of the large original main entry of angels descending from heaven with their instructions from God, who is seated above Father King (the priests sir name was King) looking down on Father King standing directly above the doors of the Abbey. Those angels carrying the instructions from God, are climbing down from heaven on the ladder, head pointed down towards earth as they climbed downward. Those who had already delivered the message to Father King, are climbing the ladder head pointing towards heaven.

Notice the position of the Angels Ascending & Descending

Celtic - This is a term that refers to Irish, Scots and Welsh.

The Celts (/ˈkɛlts/, occasionally /ˈsɛlts/, see pronunciation of Celtic) were people in Iron Age and Medieval Europe who spoke Celtic languages and had cultural similarites,[1] although the relationship between ethnic, linguistic and cultural factors in the Celtic world remains uncertain and controversial.[2] The exact geographic spread of the ancient Celts is also disputed; in particular, the ways in which the Iron Age inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland should be regarded as Celts has become a subject of controversy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celts

Read More About Bath
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath,_Somerset


This is not a replica, This was uncovered when Archaeologists discovered the baths

Shades Of Green

2015-05-05T08:17:00.001-07:00

Stonehenge Mysteries

There have been many schools of thought concerning Stonehenge mysteries. Variations of beliefs of why these stones have been placed or erected the way they have. Debate on the mysteries connected to one philosophy or another have been argued for centuries. Were these stones arranged to align with the stars for the purpose of witchcraft, celtic rituals, or even sacrifices? Some have suggested that visitors from other planets arranged the stones as directional markers. No matter the theory you subscribed too, it causes the creative juices to flow within our minds.

Stonehenge located in Chitteren

More and more discoveries are being uncovered at this huge site, which actually extends for miles surrounding the stones and more of the evidence may lead to farming and religious or spiritual truths.

The main two stones are arranged for indication of the raising and setting of the sun during the summer and winter solstice. This is important for planting and harvesting of crops.

Spiritually speaking, the solstice is apart of all forms of religions and paganism. Religious traditions set on calendars are based in relations to the solstice, both winter and summer.

The stone with the small cap on top aligns with the summer and winter solstice

The tribes who built Stonehenge were people who moved around the country to different locations, always returning to the same spots each year. These stones where important markers utilized for many reasons.

What about the burial mounds located all around the area? The bodies could be of the workers who planted or helped to erect the stones. Maybe tribal leaders, witch doctors, medicine men, or maybe it was for the thought that the souls or spirits were needed to insure that the stones performed as needed.

Many possibilities.

This breed of sheep are raised for the meat the wool used in carpeting

Inside a hut of what archaeologist think the tribes might have built


Stone pointing easterly direction

The neat and considerate thief of England’s, Buckingham Palace

2015-05-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

In the early 1990’s a gentleman was able to climb the palace wall and trekked across the garden. He gained access through a palace first floor window that was left opened. This considerate gentleman removed his shoes, so he would not track mud across the clean floors. Approaching a closed door, which he opened slowly and quietly, he even closed the door slowly and quietly so not to disturb anyone. Once in the room he came face to face with the queen who sat there reading the news paper a sipping her morning tea.

Guard Arriving From Their Barracks Down The Road From The Palace

Buckingham Palace hasn't changed

To the queens surprise, the gentleman helped himself to a seat upon her bed, and began talking with her. She pressed the alarm button that sounded within the security office, but to her dismay, no one responded. Security silenced the alarm thinking it was a false alarm.

The queen cleverly decided to sound the alarm by making a very unusual request. She pickup the telephone receiver connecting herself to security and without the gentleman knowing her true intentions, she requested wine and cigarettes. Security responded and arrested the gentleman. No no wine or cigarettes were served, the Queen doesn’t smoke.


The Day This Pub Opened For Business Princess Victoria Became Queen

The tour this morning of the city and watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace has been experienced in our earlier posting of 2012, http://www.jodiedontravels.com/2012/08/london-england.html

Meeting & Eating the first night with our fellow travelers

Something New

The original Windsor Castle had been standing upon its estate grounds for over one thousand years. Each and every monarch has added their own personal touch to the castle causing it to grow over these years. The castle has survived attacks by foreign forces and fire. The castle is utilized officially to entertain heads of States. The queen is said to have a personal fondness to Windsor castle, this is where she spent most of her youthful years growing up and being primed for the throne of England.

Windsor Castle

One Retired Royal Air Force Pilot, now seventy-six years old, told me that he has worked at the castle for twenty years and has decided to retire from service at the castle. I asked him why he stayed for twenty years, since he received a full pension from the military?

He said I enjoyed the Christmas gifts from the Queen and her Family each year that they personally delivered to the castle staff. Though at seventy-six, it is truly time to retire.

The village of Windsor surrounds the castle

When visiting Windsor Castle, be sure to visit when you are not rushed or on a tight time schedule. We were unable to complete the self tour of the State Apartments. So much to see and so rich in history.

We have already found fault with this Collett tours, to much too see and not enough time to experience the trueness of our surroundings.

A Princess Is Named

The newly arrived Royal Princes has been given the name Charlotte Elizabeth Diana Windsor.

Shades Of Green

2015-05-01T16:47:00.001-07:00

Off We Go

When revisiting Countries and Cities that we love, it becomes a challenge to discover new topics to write about. Of course there are current events, but there's always the news on the television or utilize one of the news apps on your streaming device.

Our intent in authoring and sharing photos on this blog, has always been to provide you with discoveries from the past, from our current day adventures and from our personal life experiences.

May 1, 2015 we are sitting in San Francisco International Airport waiting to board for London. Instead of narrating the flight to London and a general introduction of the City, it may be best to provide you with the link to our past posting - http://www.jodiedontravels.com/2012/08/london-england.html

Our adventure throughout the United Kingdom this time may be viewed through this link;
http://marriottvacationclub.collettevacations.com/exploring-britain-ireland

I, Don, apologize for the grammatical and punctuation errors that may appear within my past posting(s), which can not be reconciled or excused even by stating that I was a lazy author along with the battle between automatic spell/grammatical check and myself. Time in retirement and on-going writing has taught me self editing.

We hope that our authorship and photography will provide you with insights for your next adventure.

Women Over Diagnosed When A Certain Breast Cancer Is Found

2015-03-02T13:00:00.000-08:00

    This families new journey is "Breast Cancer" attacking Jodie. No history in her family of breast cancer striking, which needs to be taken into consideration. Why, what caused it, and what decisions concerning treatment should she make? She was prescribed estrogen by her doctor. Estrogen causes cancer.

    Amazing how many knowledgeable people come out of the wood work as physicians and clinicians. Many have not had cancer, but everyone of them knows everything that the patient should do. Those who have had cancer, speak about what their doctors advice on which treatment to use. Discussions of out of date treatments that are approved by the government. Radiation, Hormone, Chemo, Mastectomy. Really, is this all you can offer? Yes, again our medical industry is controlled by the Government Agencies and the Pharmaceutical Companies.

    What about new discoveries in other countries? Canada, Spain, UK, Israel, to name a few. These countries are all our allies, we respect their opinions, we have used their medical research within our own country treating diseases. But with cancer, we ignore their findings and proven treatments. Or are we? Is the US finally opening the door to new discoveries?

    The government (FDA) allows the medical industry to prescribe certain treatments that they approve, Radiation, Hormone, Chemo, Mastectomy. Pharmaceutical Companies lobby the government not to use the research from other countries. This is obviously self serving, they want MONEY.

    What the doctors did not tell Jodie was - Radiation will cause cancer - and a high probability that in twenty years - death. When questioned about this, based on Don's father’s death, twenty years after being treated at Stanford with radiation. Reluctantly they admitted to this ill fate. One doctor stated, "but JoAnn will be eighty-three in twenty years. Jodie thought, "so its okay for me to die at eighty-three and not fight this with my own research?”

Summary Of Jodie's Pathology Reports

    The size of her DCIS tumor (ductal carcinoma in situ) was .4 cm or 40 mm. She is not a candidate for chemo, hormone, or even mastectomy based on up-to-date studies. But the male oncologist hated the fact that she did her own research on this type of cancer. His statement, "refuse radiation, then hormone, not hormone then mastectomy.” She held off on her decision to perform more research. Here are her findings provided via links. Once again, she is a very lucky lady and now well informed. Though it must be said, the research will continue indefinitely.

    DCIS = ductal carcinoma in situ - This is where I must state, that you, the reader, must dig deep should you be diagnosed with DCIS. The reason you will need to dig deep, is that depending on the size, how far did it spread within your system, along with other factors that must be taken into consideration.

    Here is an article published in USA Today - Many women are over-diagnosed when DCIS is found, along with being over treated - http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-04-02/mammograms-overdiagnosed/53956730/1

    We, as a team tackled the research. We spoke to two research physicians from Canada. Their treatments are now expanding to new treatments and breaking ground. These new treatments are being used in Israel (Hebrew University), Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden, and other European countries have also performed their own studies.

    One of the two research physicians we met with over three days to go over various studies. The final study was performed over eighteen years. Summary - Death from only having a lumpectomy and no radiation equals 1 to 5 percent. Re occurrence based on Jodie's tumor size, lumpectomy performed and no radiation, 5 percent. With lumpectomy and radiation, re occurrence drops to 1.5 percent, no change in death rate. One study shows that death actually rises over twelve years when radiation is introduced with lumpectomy.

    Here is the Van Nuys Study: http://dcisredefined.org/dilemmas/assessing-risk/van-nuys-prognostic-index/   This rating system has been utilized by the physicians within the United Kingdom since 1998, with success. Jodie's score based on the Van Nuys study, equals 2 - low.

Quote from one of the Van Nuys research physicians:

"When counseling a patient with DCIS, it must be emphasized that she has a borderline, noninvasive lesion which, at this time, is not a threat to her life. In the Van Nuys Series through December 1997 which consists of 733 patients with DCIS, the absolute breast cancer-specific mortality rate is 0.7%. The eight-year actuarial breast-cancer-specific mortality rate is 0% for mastectomy patients, 1.4% for all patients, and 2.1% for breast-preservation patients. Numerous other DCIS series (scores) [7-9] confirm an extremely low mortality rate for DCIS."

    This never was stated to Jodie.

    Why radiation therapy was not her choice? Radiation causes cancer, mammograms cause cancer. Radiation will burn the skin and can leave scaring. Radiation builds up to cause reoccurrence or new tumors. Radiation can cause problems with the heart. This is slim, but will increase risk when the tumor is in the breast over the heart - left side - Jodie’s is on the right side. Keep in mind Jodie has AV Septal defect with a ripped mitral valve that could not be repaired. What is the probability of radiation effecting her heart? A great deal to consider and keep in mind.

    Study Summary for Jodie: Van Nuys study was conducted with 1,673 patients with 86 months of follow-up.

    Jodie's Score = 2 - tumor size was .4 cm or 40 mm - with lumpectomy only - 12 year reoccurrence equals less then 7%. Age factor was added to the Van Nuys study, though here is a quote from the research team.

“At a later time, a fourth factor, "patient age" was added to the index. However, it is generally thought that the 'age' factor did not contribute all that much to the overall picture, as it is a well known fact that breast cancer risk increases with age.”

New Treatment Discovery - Based on in-depth medical research - Israel, UK, Canada, Spain, and surfacing in the United States.

    We are all born with CBD's attached to our receptors. When we experience, cancer, heart attack, diabetes, epilepsy and other major illnesses, the brain tells the receptor to release the CBD cell to cure the illness or kill the invading cell. It is thought that once the CBD is used, it is not replaced. How do we replace the CBD, the use of Marijuana oils, made from plants grown to reduce the THC and capture the CBD is grown and made into oils.

    CNN, 60 minutes, provided in-depth reports on these studies. Much of the information was edited out of the video reports, why? When we contacted Canada directly and spoke to a research physician, they provided the full data on the studies. CBD's attacks the vein that feeds the cancer cell. Once the vein is destroyed, the cell dies and disappears.

STATEMENT - Perform your research digging deep, to verify that your physician actually has your best interest at heart. Search other countries for their research studies.

WARNING - So called friends will turn against you when performing your own research and becoming informed. Do not allow this to sway your final decision.

Now many will try to say - Kaiser Permanente is at fault. In performing our research comment on why the United States uses old technology, was all due to the restrictions placed on the medical industry from the government. The United States is now opening up the doors to CBD medical research. It has been reported that Kaiser Permanente, Los Angles group is presently researching the use of marijuana in medicine.

Old technology was our word of choice. Each of the mention treatments do have a place within the medical field and need to be seriously considered. There are many forms of cancer and each one of these forms must be treated based on a treatment that best attacks the invading cell. As you can see within the Van Nuys study, radiation is used and that decision is based on the size and pathology of the DCIS tumor.

A Historical Location For The Family

2014-11-29T13:55:00.001-08:00

Missouri and Arkansas
A Historical Location For The Family

Brothers fought against each other for their beliefs, vote for secession from the Union or not? This was an economic decision that State governments faced in the 1860s. Missouri and Arkansas were divided in their vote to end slavery. Missouri did not succeed from the Union, but Arkansas did. The belief among those who did not want to end slavery, was slavery provided cheap labor which fattens the bottom line.

Located on the outskirts of Springfield, Missouri a National Parks site that was exemplary of the many battles that took place between our States. Wilson Creek Battlefield where the Confederates overpowered the Union Troops.

John Ray migrated from Tennessee and settled along Wilson Creek. He stood on the porch of his home watching the battle unfold for six hours while John's family hid in the cellar. Union and Confederate doctors took over their home, turning it into a hospital. Doctors of both sides operated on each other's soldiers trying to save lives. The Ray household assisted with the dying and wounded. The children traveled down the slopes fetching spring water for doctors and patients who lay in the families beds and of the homes exterior.

Cannon Positioned On Top of Bloody Hill

John Ray's Farm House

Two famous brothers joined together fighting against the Union forces. For the youngest it was not about slavery as much as it was for revenge.

Frank James, older brother of Jesse, fought at

Wilson Creek. Frank was captured later in February 1862. He was released after being forced to swear his allegiance to the North. Frank and eventually Jesse, fought with school teacher William Clarke Quantrill. Jesse joined Quantrill and Frank after Union soldiers, trying to gain knowledge of Frank’s location, raided the family farm. Jesse was questioned as to the whereabouts of his brother Frank. He would not provide any information. Union soldiers beat him so severely that he had to crawl from the farms fields to the family home. Upon arriving he discovered his step father hanging from a tree. His devastated mother and sisters were trying to cut him down. The father experienced brain damage from the lack of oxygen to the brain. Quantrill and his soldiers went on to become notorious fighters. The James brothers were joined with the Young brothers who went on raiding and stealing after the war.


Jesse & Frank James (Jesse left / Frank right)

Bloody Hill Seen From Ray's Farmhouse Porch

Wilson Creek

Fighting in the civil war will make a traveler hungry. A family style restaurant that Frank and Jesse didn’t have available to them is Lamberts Cafe home of the “Throwed Roll.” In 1942 the original Lambert's swung open their doors for the first time in Springfield. Grab a bite to eat on your way to Branson. Country cooking, fried chicken, catfish, pork chops, chicken & dumplings, and more. Low on sides, want more. Servers walk around with large bowls of potatoes, okra, black-eyed peas, macaroni & tomatoes, and of course hot rolls.

The tradition of the “throwed roll” was established when Earl Lambert walked around the restaurant serving freshly baked hot rolls, a way to meet and greet the customers. One crowed evening patrons instructed Earl to throw the rolls to them, the tradition was born. Today a server yells out “hot rolls” and those wanting a roll will hold up their hands to play wide receiver.

Lambert's Home Of The Throwed Roll

South of Springfield is Branson Missouri within the Ozark, Mountains. Lights from the theaters, resorts, restaurants and attractions line main street. Shows featuring fiddlers, jug and wash board tunes of the local legends to top name country performers entertain the entire family. Performances change seasonally allowing visitors the opportunity to visit several times throughout a year or over several seasons.

Branson Water Show

Branson Old Country Store

Cooper Run Distillery a short drive north on highway 65 from Branson to Walnut Shade, Missouri. Moonshiners are notoriously known for being located in out of the way areas, this distillery is no different. The only excitement you will not experience is the greeting of the moonshiner's double barrel shotgun.

Moon Shiner

Sample moonshine in their tasting room bar. Tour the distillery were the moonshine corn mixture travels along the copper snake into the jugs. Mash made of hopes and other additives for fermenting the mixture. Here is a simple recipe;

Thin Mash Whiskey cooking a thin mash is an easy way to double the quantity of mash while retaining some of the natural grain flavor of corn whiskey. It's made by starting with an actual mash, such as the one above, and then adding water and granular sugar to increase the quantity of wash.

Ingredients:
10 gallons of water (5 gal to start then 5 more)

8.5 pounds of flaked maize

1.5 pounds of crushed malted barley

6-8 pounds of sugar

Procedure:
Creating a thin mash is accomplished in two steps. First, cook the standard corn whiskey mash described above. However, after the final rest period, add 5 gallons of cold water and 6-8 pounds of sugar. Once the mash temperature has dropped to 96 degrees, it is ready for aeration, yeast and fermentation, as described in the Corn Whiskey recipe above.

Advanced distillers should shoot for a specific gravity of about 1.08. Dilute with water if high.
(Claw Hammer Supply)

Kettle Beginning of the Mash

Tasting Room

Kettle

Yeah! That Makes up for the weak coffee

Eureka Springs, Arkansas an hour and half drive north of Branson. A favorite vacation, wedding and retreat community in the Ozark's. Since 1850 hundreds have visited drinking of the natural springs to cure and heal various disabilities. Dr. Alvah Jackson founded the spring in 1856 claiming the water cured his eye ailment.

Eureka Springs was an active area during the civil war. Dr. Jackson established a hospital in a cave for surgical procedures on wounded soldiers. He gave the wounded spring water during their recovery.

Vacationers in 1886, arrived by train, taxied by modern day carriages two miles to the Crescent Hotel. The hotels renovation costs was two hundred ninety-four thousand dollars.

Prior to 1886, the Crescent was a seasonal girls school then retrofitted as a cancer hospital. It is said that many of the patrons checked in and some of them still float around the halls of the hotel today.

Eureka Springs a retreat for all those of the arts, literary, culinary, visual and more visit here for inspiration or seclusion. A Writers Colony is located in Dairy Hollow, a quiet section of the town. Here a chef can work on a recipe, an artist on a painting or an author can complete that best sellers manuscript.

Famous & Politicians Hide Away

Well known vacation retreat


Many checked in/Some never checked out

Y'all come back soon, ya hear!

Super Hero's Bat Kid & Sidney

2013-11-20T14:11:00.001-08:00

The entire country heard about the recent crime fighter's victory against two of our countries notorious criminals, Joker and Penguin, he also rescued a damsel tied to a bomb on the cable car tracks. Not only the victims, citizens of San Francisco, the mayor, police Chief were deeply grateful for the super hero's victory, but the President of our country expressed his gratitude.

Five year old Miles is in remission from leukemia. He is a recipient of Make A Wish Foundation's coordination with San Francisco for putting on this special event.

Parents who have experienced children with life threatening illnesses or disabilities can relate to the relief of the reprieve from the on-going stress in fighting for and with a child to conquer these hurdles. Our family, my aunt and uncle, along with ourselves can more than relate.

Organizations like Make A Wish Foundation, actors (Robin William's), Salvation Army, and recently Hospital Visiting Service Dogs provide a wanted relief for Vets, Children, adults and families from their fight with life threatening conditions.

Our Service Dog Sidney, visits the pediatric ward at Kaiser Walnut Creek to bring a small smile to the children she visits. She will raise up to place her two front paws on the bed side allowing the child to rub her soft ears, providing a small lick on the patients hand, and before she leaves, she turns to say good bye.

Jodie's Special Visitor

During Jodie's open heart surgery, Sidney visited her twice in the hospital. The smile she placed on her face provided the healing energy for her goal to be discharged and head for home.

Sidney is one of hundreds of visitation service dogs in the San Francisco Bay Area. These dogs provide unconditional love to patients of all ages. Not all of the patients that are visited will leave for home, but still the smile is remembered by family and handler for eternity.

Monarch Butterfly, Surfing and University

2013-11-12T18:11:00.001-08:00

Santa Cruz is a town that dates back to the early Spanish settlers and California Missions. As this area evolved from farm to boardwalk, surfing, beatnik, hippy, artists, academia, resort and so much more. The town sits proudly along the California Coast between Half Moon Bay and Monterey.

Remnants of the past are all around. A mission, buildings from the 1800's, craftsmen homes, beach front homes and modern University Campus. This town is not short on fine eateries, shops, a wharf with all of the sea food delights, beaches and of course the Boardwalk.

Things To See This Time Of Year

November is the time when the Monarch Butterfly emerges from their cocoons and populate the eucalyptus trees along the Santa Cruz coast line. Like Pacific Grove these beautiful creatures are in great abundance.

School Children watching the Butterflies

Shhhhhh!

Butterfly Clusters

School children lay on a deck fabricated by the State Park's in order to gain a vantage of seeing the butterfly's movements. The discussion is all about these wonders. A butterfly can travel three hundred miles in a single day.

Yesterday, November 5, 2013, was the cold water surfing challenge that takes place this time every year. Surfers from all over the world attend this event sponsored by O'Neil. The winning purse was $50,000. No I did not win. The locals are surfing as soon as they are off work or out of school. The waves follow the rocky coast line, those who are skilled will ride these waves even a few feet away from the jagged rocks.

One Of The Competitors

The mission of Santa Cruz is a replica. There is only one of the original structures standing which has been taken over by the State Park Service. The history is still interesting especially when the rangers inform you of the history.

The first mission in Santa Cruz was built in the valley. This building was destroyed by floods. The monk decided to relocate the final mission on top of the hill over looking the ocean. All of the missions began with a small temporary building, while the permanente working mission was being constructed. Follow this link for a more in-depth history of the Mission -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Santa_Cruz

The Board walk is closed during the week, this time of year. You feel that you are walking through a ghost town.

Board Walk At The Beach - Roller Coaster

The pier stretches out into the ocean. Shops and restaurants line this structure. Great sea food.

Time To Reflect

One can sit and stare out over the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. Like Mendocino, Fort Bragg, Half Moon Bay and other coastal villages, the inhabitants sit and watch the sun rise or set. Throughout the day, individuals will park to eat their lunches while resting their brains for the return to work.

Time To Dine

515 Kitchen and Beverages is fine dining, with a menu of pork, beef, chicken, fish and fresh vegetables. Beverages of all fine wines, cocktails, and nonalcoholic beverages are served. Enter on the first floor where there is a nice dining area, bar and kitchen or climb the stairs to another dining area and patio. Black & white silent movies play for visual entertainment, but will not detract from the conversation with your partner.

Gabriella's Cafe uses all of the local fresh vegetables for their dishes. The menu changes throughout the year, so be sure to drive by to see what is in the oven for that night.

More Than One Inn To Stay - But This One Is Fantastic

Babbling Brook Inn on Laurel Street provides comfort, breakfast, comfort, wine, cheeses, along with atmosphere. This is one of several Inn's owned and operated by "Inn's By The Sea." We first stayed at the sister Inn (Cypress) while visiting Half Moon Bay.

Babbling Brook Inn

The retired couple, but especially for those who are working on advancing their career, these Inn's provide the escape that is needed to rejuvenate the body and clear the mind.

No Time To Say Good-bye

2013-11-10T22:37:00.001-08:00

Closing the door of The Territorial Enterprise's office, Sam walks twenty-five steps down the dirt street, then turning right to decline downward approaching the busy Main Street of Virginia City. He turns left, once on the board walk heading to one of the many saloons in town, he could barely hear the steps from his leather soled boots. Each clap of the soles striking the boards, was softened by the loud voices and piano music escaping from these saloons in this town of silver sin. His nostrils filled with cigar smoke from not only the one he maintained in his mouth, for that one had burned out some time ago, but from the smoke drifting from the saloons and men walking by him,

Several nights past, he and Bill had attended the annual affair, put on by societies ladies of Carson and Virginia Cities. Politicians, newspaper men, soldiers from Genoa along with many other high society people who attended this function. It was to raise money for schools, political offices, meet the candidates, medical supplies, and more.

Held in Carson City, within the rotunda of the State Capital building. The music bounced from the walls, to the top of the dome and back down again. As the band played, swirling dance couples verbally expressed their joy as they glided across the marble floor. Laughter filled the room from the bystanders who freely consumed the booze and the rich food.

Sam wrote humorous articles about each attendee or group of the yearly gathering. His words left no congregate untouched. He directed his commentaries mainly towards the male attendees, sentences were rarely directed towards the female attendees. This year his article was a tad more focused on the female organizers. These lady’s demanded each second of the event to be perfect their agenda had many pieces of a puzzle to be placed. Crowds of servants hurried to accomplish what the socialite instructed.

The night was successful in raising more funds then projected. The organizers accepted the gratitude of politicians, councilmen, teachers, and societies gentlemen, even though it was from their pockets the contribution had flowed.

Sam walked towards the saloon that he and Bill always met. His mind still on the article he had written of this grand event. Smiling on the reflection of the article, he stopped to light his cigar. Drawing in the smoke he glanced down onto the street there laid the occasional drunk. If some sympathetic citizen took pity on the drunk, the body would be rolled next to the boardwalk so they would not fall victim to a team of horses pulling a wagon of merchandise.

His gaze turned upward as he began walking. Women sat on the rails of their second story brothels, or their derrière protruding from the window ledge of their second floor rooms. The makeup applied heavy to hide their hardness of age or life experiences.

Merchant's sweeping in front of their stores, nodding as citizens passed by or entered their establishment. This was a city of twenty-four hour activity, work, and silver production. A city that literally sprung up from the mountainside overnight because the discovery of silver. Mines worked by all of the abled male population.

Young male children played in the streets, knowing that once they reached the age of eight, they too would be entering the mines. That is unless they were a child of the upper class. Upper class sent their children to the local school until it was time for their higher education, then they were shipped off to boarding schools. Wealthy children escaped the fate of working in the mines.

Hot, lacking in air circulation, dust so thick your lungs were scratchy with each labored breath. The miners would cough constantly once topside from breathing the fresh air. Their mucus was the color of a dirt-blood mixture. Later established mines followed the design and lay-out of Mr. Sutro, an engineer from the San Francisco area who was able to situate the mine entrance to allow air circulation some distance into the mine. His design was to position the entrance facing away from the direction of wind flow rather then into the wind. As the wind currents flowed over the mountain top and down the face, this would cause a suction that drew in the cool air to circulate within the interior of the mine shaft. This helped to eliminate some of the dust and heat.

It did not eliminate the danger of cave-in's. This solution was discovered a few years after Sutro's discovery of air flow. A young miner, John McKay, began shoring up the caves every twelve feet with timbers that formed a box to carry the weight of the cave ceiling and walls.

John McKay started several mines which had crews that worked twenty-four hours a day. He and all mine owners had received instructions from President Lincoln to keep the silver flowing to Washington in order to fund the war against the South. John began to establish more and more mines, which produced thousands of dollars a week which provided the needed funds for the war. Of course this made McKay the wealthiest man in the United States.

Society’s ladies referred to Virginia City as the Silver City of Sin. The city was divided into sections of class, which provided servants for the rich, All sections except the that that housed the prostitutes. These ladies also worked in the saloon’s.

The miners wives washed, cleaned, cooked, and performed the daily duties within the rich homes. The working class kept society ladies informed of husbands activities while visiting the various sections. The husbands paid the price when caught visiting the section of prostitutes.

Lawmen of this city had their hands full with the complaints from the lady’s concerning their husbands. These wives insisted the sheriff do something about the prostitutes. He informed the ladies that if they would keep their husbands happy at home, there would be no need for their husbands to visit that section of the city. He reminded them that he had his hands filled with theft, crime against the citizens, stagecoach robberies, train robberies and killings. The duties of the lawman never ended. It was a rarity that he was able to just sit to watch the city activities, never the less baby sit their husbands.

Sam came upon the sheriff sitting on one of the chairs in front of his office. James Gracey was a burly, hard hitting Irishman. Black hair protruding from under his hat, blue eyes, unshaven, and dusty clothing.

"Sam!" The sheriff stated, at the same time touching the brim of his hat.

"James," Sam nodded, sitting in the other chair.

"Howdy Sam, its sure hot.”

“Yeah, no breeze,” Sam replied.

“I find it hard to breathe when the heat sets in like this?"

"That stifling feeling subsides with a cool beer and once the sunsets." Sam replied.

"Would be nice to have a beer. Though it would only slow my senses and ability to out think rogues like James Finney. He's in town at the usual saloon. Telling his stories to anyone who will listen, about his claims and riches."

"Ever find out from his home town in Virginia if he is who he claims?" Sam asked.

”Yeah, he just a common outlaw, thief, and he may be associated with a few killings. Not on the wanted list, no bounty on his head. In fact the sheriff said he was glad to be rid of him." James chuckled. "Now he is our worry. I'm sure if the founding fathers discovered that Virginia City was named after a common thief and murderer, Virginia City would be renamed."

Sam laughing, "I agree, so don’t allow the word to get out, especially to societies ladies, they would order him shot and the city named Daisy City." Both broke out laughing. They had to hold their stomachs muscles. Those who passed by, looked at the two of them as if they went crazy.

"What are you two no-goods up to? I'm sure it involves the lassies of our fair city?" John McKay said, as he approached them on the boardwalk. "Neither of you laugh that way for any other reason."

"When did you get back to Ol, Virginie," asked James?

"Arrived on the midnight stage from Carson City. Clarence and Marie, are under sail to England. I'm to follow in a month. Wanted to have a few items in order before I left San Francisco."

"Haven't seen you either Sam, where you been?" James asked.

"Up at the lake at mine and Bill's retreat cabin. Needed some time and quiet to write. I caught the stage from Genoa to Carson for the shindig."

"Yeah, I think that was the first time I saw you for some time. My sister, brother and I attended the gathering. We never gave anything to the cause. Marie has always had a problem with the organizers of the function. The Irish, especially the women of Ireland, have a problem with ladies who have their noses in the air." James chuckled at the thought of how the ladies acted throughout the function towards those who didn't fit into their class. They ruled over their husbands, instructing them from taking any strong drink. "Behave yourself, and do not embarrass me," they would demand as they shook their finger in their faces.

"Our fair lady’s were in their realm that night," Sam chuckled. “Flitting here and there, instructing their servants to carry out their orders.”

“Didn’t your wife instruct you not to drink?” Sam questioned John with a broad smile.

“Well, yes she would have if she had been there, but she and Clarence were in San Francisco waiting to board the ship for the trip to England, so I was a free man. Though I would have paid the price for even the small amount that I drank. What about your sister, James? Didn’t I see her shaking a finger at you and your brother?” John asked.

“My sister was shaking a finger at us because we didn’t bring her a drink. She could drink the best man under the table.” James burst out laughing. “I feel for the lad that marries that lass. She will never allow him to be the man of the home.”

James, Michael and Marie were all from Belfast Ireland. Two brothers and a sister, each enjoyed the skill of fist-a-cuffs. Marie had been known for taking on some of the biggest and strongest of men of the mining crew, if they dared to get in her way. If one of her brothers stepped in to aid her, she would turn on the brother yelling to stay out of her affairs, at the same time she would be throwing fists in their direction.

“She becomes as rough and tough as any man when she drinks, never allowing any man to out drink her, win any argument, or out fist her.”

“Sounds like all high class Irish lass,” John commented with a proud smile on his face. “And she describes herself as a high class lass with the most fierce bite that Satan himself quivers.”

"Well that is the description that Marie uses," chuckled James. "But we are never to let Father know she part-takes in the drink or she threatens to place our noses into our asses so deep no one will be able to retract it." Both laughing hard again.

“My wife would say the same,” John replied. “It appears that there really isn’t much difference from you in the North Ireland as we in the South. Well, maybe our religious and political beliefs are different?”

Sam had to ask, “What is the main reason for the conflict between north and south?”

“England!” Both John and James stated with a loud chuckle. “England favored the north over the south. The north cooperated with the English Planters who took over their land at the same time they were given special privileges. The south would not give up their land to the English.” James stopped, turned to John. Is that why you are going to England to have another dining silver set crafted, as a special favor," chuckled James. "You know the South Ireland will craft your lady something so beautiful that even the queen herself will be jealous."

"Not sure about the Queen being jealous, but San Francisco's Society is sure jealous of the set. Marie has had at least one social event a month to show it off. whenever we entertain while in the City." She informs our guests that our mines produced the silver that was shipped to France to be crafted into the serving set. She smiles broadly with each ohhh or aww.”

"Now there's a city of sin," Sam interrupted. "Wonder where San Francisco got its name?"

"The Spaniard's built the mission and named it Mission San Francisco de Assisi, or Saint Francis of Assisi," smiled John from his demonstration of knowledge. "Sam, you do know the story of how our city got its name, don’t you?" asked John.

"Yes! Ol Virginie was James Finney's nick name because he was from Virginia. He always seems to work his way into the center of the social circle. Though he doesn't know that the Sheriff has discovered the actual reason why he left Virginia. If he did he would high tail it out of town." Sam stated.

“What was the reason?” John inquired.

“He is connected with several murders in Virginia.” James informed. “But the sheriff said that they do not want him back, and stated he was glad Finney was now our problem.”

"If we kicked him out of Virginia City, he wouldn't survive out there. He would surely die walking from here to Carson." John chuckled. “The man would dry up from lack of alcohol and clasp to die from exposure.”

“We can banish him from Virginia City as his punishment if he murders or commits any other crime within these City limits,” James stated.

Sam stood, his six foot stature towering over those seated. His black curly locks glistened in the setting sun. His black mustache emphasized from the cigar protruding from his mouth. As he extracted the cigar, he smiled broadly. "Gentlemen, I must depart your company. I'm tardy in meeting Bill. We have a few work related discussions, then the evening will be ours to have a few drinks, play cards and laugh."

John rose from his chair, "may I join you?"

"Of course, if you are prepared to lose some of that mound of money you have?"

The sheriff laughed, "you could play for a decade, and win every hand and you would never reduce the sum he has. Those mines are producing an unbelievable amount of silver on a daily basis." They all laughed.

From where they sat and stood they could feel the vibrations of the axes making contact with the rock walls within the mines under the City. The trollies could be heard running along the rails carrying the rock from the tunnels.

John rose from his chair, departing, the sheriff's company with Sam. Both their leathered soled shoes clicking on the board walk as they walked away.

The sun was already behind the Mountains and darkness was setting in, the heat had subsided drastically. The coolness from the altitude here on top of Mount Davidson was the relief that all the Cities population looked forward to during the summer months. September was the time of year that the population looked forward to winter coolness to set in, of course after snow fell, they would want the summer to return.

"What do you hear from Washington, asked Sam? Any end to the war?"

"Mr. Lincoln is still drawing silver as fast as we can mill it. I receive the same news as you. All of the Washington papers do not provide much hope to an end."

Sam shook his head in disbelief, "the war is good for businesses like yours or newspapers. Though the loss of lives that have been taken has a deep effect on our country as a whole. Any war is devastating to all, family or country. Until we mend human differences, those differences will cause wars."

“I can not understand that Southerners believe they can own a human, take away their born rights because of the color of their skin. What is your opinion, Sam?”

Sam stopped, turned to face John, “I take the stance of a sympathizer. No individual has the right of ownership over another human. Though I also understand the need for slaves, the plantations would not have the money to pay each of them for their work.”

Sam turned and both started walking in the direction of the saloon.

“Couldn’t that be said of we mine owners? We do not have enough money to pay those who labor to dig the silver from the mines? With the cost of replacing tools, trollies, starting new bores, a great deal of profit is put back into the business.”

“Isn’t it due to the commodity that the owner produces? Tobacco, cotton, is quite different from silver. Also the silver is purchased by the government, tobacco and cotton is not? There is more profit in silver.” Sam asked.

“Maybe it is just greed on the business owners part. Free labor provides higher profits, correct? It's not much different from those miners who would not expend the effort to start the dig and manage the process. Too many of them wanted to make claim on others labor.”

"Look at what we have here. Speaking of making claim on other's labor." John stopped, standing in front of a lifeless person, slumped against the edge of the board walk in front of the saloon. “It appears Ol' Virginie had too much of a good drink."

"What a fine representative and namesake of our city." Sam said chuckling.

"The first time I met this gentleman, he was digging through my pack. He had my pouch of gold in hand by the time I turned to face him. I was in the process of arguing with him about who's pouch it was! He slipped the pouch into his pocket during our discussion. The sergeant from the fort in Genoa, had to step in to retrieve it from this scoundrel. If the sergeant hadn't stepped in, I would have killed him on the spot."

"You would have performed a social justice by shooting him. Our city and the state would be better off without him. He has stolen more from honest individuals in these parts and never worked a day for what he has."

John chuckled out loud, "Yeah he tried to convince myself and partner that we were digging on his claim. He wanted a fifty-fifty cut in whatever we uncovered. My partner and I told him that unless he could provide us with the claim papers, he was going to get nothing. He cursed and threatened to return with the calvary from Genoa and that we both would spend the rest of our lives in prison."

Sam questioned, "he still tried that shenanigan after what took place at your first meeting? Didn’t he learn a lesson then at the fort?"

"Not really sure what the post Commander and Sargent thought or even if he told them. Ol' Virginie never returned until this City sprung up from dirt. Even then he didn't remember me. He melted himself into the population as if he was the most important person and that the silver would never had been discovered if not for him."

They continued their discussion as they both walked into the Silver Saloon. The piano played loudly, but not loud enough to cover the laughter and crowd of men coercing the lady’s in dancing. The cigar smoke was thick, drinks flowed and every table was filled with poker players. The crowd changed with each shift of workers from the mines, but this was the normal scene twenty-four hours a day.

Sam asked, "Didn't the founding fathers know he was a scoundrel?"

"No, he had the gift of gab and conviction. The City was growing so fast that know one had time to check his background. Besides, there were actually no real founding fathers of this City. The brothers who first discovered the silver, both died on their way to San Francisco. They never divulged their findings or their claim. Henry and I stumbled upon their shaft, about a year after our first tunnel. The only way we knew it was their shaft and claim was from finding all of the note books and milling books in their cabin. They had written their names in each book."

"Good day gentlemen," Bill Wright said while smiling at both of them and pointing to the chais across from himself. “What delayed you, Sam?”

A bar maid strolled over to them just as they both were seated, "John, Sam, would you gentlemen care for a drink?"

"Beer," John said.

"The same," Sam stated. "Wait, Milly, could you also bring us a bottle of whiskey and three glasses. We may want to sweeten the taste of that beer once we start playing cards?"

"Sounds like I may be a lucky lady later this evening and have one of you fine gentlemen joining me in my bed?"

Milly wiggled her derrière as she strolled away to retrieve the drinks. They all stared and smiled.

"What were you discussing, the Grosch brothers," Bill asked?

"Yes," John continued, including Bill in the discussion. "I was explaining to Sam, that our City really had no founding fathers. Henry and I were actually looking for another area to start digging vents into our shafts. Our men were having difficulty working with the heat, dust and lack of ventilation. We thought by digging above the shafts, bores facing into the wind, we would relieve the heat. The thought was the wind would blow through the shaft atop of Mount Davidson and the tunnel opening would act as suction pulling the air through. Didn't work as thought."

"How does this explain the founding fathers?"

"The area was populated by a group of miners, struggling each day to solve problems that were discovered in digging silver and gold as fast as possible. Strike their claim to riches. The people came by necessity for the mine owners needs and a city was established not by design." John McKay kept explaining. "We needed supplies, tools, all that any mining town would require. With the growth of merchants, crime also moved into the area. All of those who were already here, came together and tried to establish law and order. The sheriff from Carson was pleased to move. His brother and sister saw the opportunity and the entire Gracey clan swooped in, Henry opened up this saloon, it was one of the first buildings built, the Silver Saloon. While drinking, and playing cards around these tables, we realized the need for order and someone focusing on establishing structure and law; with growth came crime without structure, chaos was the law."

Sam asked, "Are you saying that chaos established order?"

"I'm not sure if this City will ever have order? Though we do have a form of structure and meaning, silver. Don't you agree Dan, John asked?"

"I arrived just as that structure was established. I had just started with the Territorial Enterprise as a journalist. I was assigned to write about what was taking place here. Once I completed my article, Joe Goodman had the foresight to relocate so the paper would not miss one minute of news. He was correct, and our periodical is one of the most important papers that Mr. Lincoln reads. We provide the Silver news. Details of mine operations, flaws and improvements. The President has written Joe informing him that the details help him to understand that Silver production is continuing with thought to safety for each miner, which will result in a steady flow of Silver to fund the war effort."

Bill Wright or William also known by his pen name, "Dan DeQuille" was well known for his detailed description of mine structure and operation. These assignments where important for the paper. Dan had an inside lead to every mine, miners, millers, and the owners. Sam had used those contacts with the help of Dan, for his own journalistic articles.

"Gentlemen, your beer." Millie interrupted as she placed their order on the table. "Here are your cards," she extracted a deck of cards from between her cleavage and placed the cards in the middle of the table. "I will return with the bottle and glasses."

"So out of incertitude came orderly and lawful chaos," Sam laughed. "These are confusing times, with the war and a country trying desperately to establish its roots, freedom and independence. The final departure from the mother land and her Queen."

"Yes, but the lives lost in a country establishing itself,” John stated. “First the revolution, then the tribes of the frontier and now the war between the States.”

"Not much different from each of us within our respective trades. John you described chaos in the development of Virginia City from the chaotic establishment of mines. We,” pointing to Dan, “write, at first stumbling over our disorganized words to establish some form of structure to report the story. During that establishment of quality, I used pen names so I would not be attached to the muddled writings. This also allowed me to hear what the general public said about the writings without being attached to the story or article. Pen names provide the agent for a journalist or novelist to develop their writing style."

"In disguise one might say," John asked.

"How did you come up with Dan DeQuille as a pen name?" Sam was always curious in pen names. The task of choosing a name was a challenge for any author.

"I started mining in California, in the southern valley's where Spanish influence was predominant. As I moved north I landed in the Sacramento valley, again predominantly spanish. I had been drinking heavily and paid with some of the gold nuggets from one of my pouches. The saloon was crowded, every individual in the saloon saw were I kept my gold sacks. The guy next to me at the bar struck up a conversation asking me where I was staying and eventually my name. I didn't tell him the truth as to where I was staying and told him my name was Dan."

"Ah, you suspected he may come looking for you and your gold, tracking you to where you were staying and ask for you by name, as if he was an aquaintance." John McKay smiled at his own shrewdness in guessing Dan's foresight.

"Yes, though I never found out if he did. I left soon after our discussion and headed towards Donner Pass. I had been penning stories for money and sending them to Mormon Station, the Enterprise. I had heard from a few wagon party leaders and scouts that the Enterprise used them. I crossed over King's pass into the Station. I was becoming frustrated in my lack of luck in striking my claim to riches."

"Was that when you and I met," McKay asked?

"Yes, remember I left you for awhile when we first entered the Station. I dropped off another story. The next day, Joe offered me a position as journalist and he would teach me type setting."

John McKay smiled, "This was the same time we first met Ol' Virginie with his hands in my pack."

Dan laughed out loud. "Since I now had a position as journalist, I felt the need to establish a pen name for my writing. I used Dan and the spanish word pen, "DeQuille or in English, Dan of the Pen."

"Creative," Sam stated. “Though that is the task of any author, to be creative and stylish.”

"How did you stumble on Mark Twain," John asked. "This should be interesting."

"Not many know that before the war started, I was a riverboat captain. I navigated the riverboat up and down the Mississippi River. The river had many shallow areas, and it was easy to ground if you didn't know where those shallow spots were. These areas change throughout the seasons."

"What did the time of year have to do with the depth of the river?" Dan asked interested.

"The Mississippi feeds into the Gulf. The Gulf is part of the ocean, and with the time of day, along with the time of year, the ocean recedes down and rises up. Its known as the tide. When the Gulf is at its low point, so is the Mississippi. Therefore, there are more shallow parts when the tide is low."

"Ok, I think that explains it," Dan said.

"During those times when the river is low, the Captain has two leadsmen standing on each side of the boat with ropes. Knots are tied in the rope to mark a fathom or six feet. A riverboat needs approximately two fathoms of water to travel safely through shallow waters. When a leadsmen yelled "Mark Twain," he was stating "Safe Depth or two fathoms. Early in riverboat travels up and down the Miss, there was a riverboat captain that wrote all the stories of the Mississippi. He adopted the pen name Mark Twain. Buy the time I was to choose a pen name, he was long gone. Like yourself Dan, I needed a pen name to write for the Enterprise, I came up with..."

“...Mark Twain,” each of them laughed.

John asked while he poured himself a drink from the bottle of whiskey. "What is the purpose of a pen name? Do you have other pen names?" John quizzed.

"I think every author has more than one pen name," Mark injected. " Remember earlier I mentioned we need to develop our style?”

John answered, “yes!”

“As an author experiments with their style of writing, they may feel it harmful if the majority of their readers do not like the style of writing. If the style develops over time to become well received, then that style can be written in the main pen name."

Just as Mark Twain picked up the cards, to shuffle, Finney broke through the doors. He staggered around from chair to chair trying to ensure he would not fall over. Any observer could tell that he was attempting to make his way to the bar.

"I'm freezing out there. Who threw me into the street?" He yelled. "I woke up with horse shit all over me," he exclaimed loudly stepping up to the bar.

Everyone in the bar roared with laughter. Those who were leaning back in their chairs, balancing on the back two legs, fell backwards landing hard on their backs. This only made the laughter louder and more gut wrenching.

This infuriated Finney more. "Shut up you assholes. How humiliating. How would you like waking up covered with mud and horse shit?"

"Well Finney the horses were tired of smelling you as you were. They only covered up your normal smell."

The bar roared with laughter once again.

It was not long that Mr. Finney was once again dragged out of the saloon passed out from drink. One of the patrons yelled out, "Finney is once again shit faced."

The roar of laughter was louder than the piano.

"What made you decide to come out west and leave the glamorous world of river boat captain?" John asked leaning back in his chair waiting for Dan to deal a new hand.

"The war was just starting. River boats were not needed since river travel had all but stopped. In order to provide my manliness for the war cause, I joined the ranks of the confederacy, but quickly discovered that my heart was that of a chicken and not of a lion. I left, to travel back home to join my brother Orin. He had written to inform me that if I was going to defect, he needed a secretary for his new position in the newly formed State of Nevada. Once home we secured stage tickets for the journey."

"Stage, why not ride your own horses, it would have been better and more comfortable?" John stated.

"You have never seen me handle a horse, have you?"

By the time Sam completed the statement, Dan was laughing out loud. "You would laugh for years watching him try to lead a horse across the street. Never give him the task of purchasing a horse for you. He will return with the queen of all nags."

By the time Dan was finish making his statement, all three were laughing.

Sam explained for John’s inclusion, "When we first arrived in Carson City, I attempted to purchase a horse so I could travel around our new State. I had never owned a horse, but I was out west. I trusted the guy who sold me the nag for eight dollars. He was kind enough to throw in a saddle for another five dollars. It was hilarious watching me stand there with reins in hand and a saddle on the ground trying to picture what I was to do. The sheriff, James, came to my aid and informed me that I had been cheated and the horse was not meant to be ridden, it was a plow horse."

"What a fool you must have felt?" John chuckled.

"That only proved that I needed to stay with what I knew best. Good did come from misfortune." Sam laughed.

"What was that, Sam," asked John.

"With the help of the sheriff, I was able to sell the horse to the soldiers of the fort in Genoa and the saddle was sold to a guide who was setting out to lead a party through the pass in the mountains. I recovered all my money and learned an important lesson. I am not to ever purchase a horse."

They sat late into the night, drinking and playing cards. Each told their stories of success and failure. The all laughed at the expense of one another.

"Dan, before it gets too late, I meant to tell you that the paper is printed and ready for delivery." Mark Twain assured Dan DeQuill.

"I hope you did a better job setting the type for this edition not like the edition reporting the social affair in Carson. I'm waiting for the earth to shake from your article of the fair ladies who sponsored the fund raiser."

"Dan you have little confidence in my ability to share humor. Do really fear that there would be recourse?"

"Yes!"

John McKay was the first to dismiss himself. "The two of you have wiped me clean of my money, work awaits me. The mines are still producing for the war cause and I need to prepare operations for my departure."

Dan shook John's hand and Sam raised his last shot of whiskey. "Yes, it is time to depart, he exclaimed."

Dan was the only one to stay seated, the other two left going their own way. Millie approached Dan as Sam rose to leave.

"Are you the lucky one, Dan," she questioned with a smile.

Sam strolled up the incline of Main Street, he turned right readying himself for the steep incline to the boarding house that he and Dan resided.

"Mr. Twain," a voice exclaimed from the shadows. A figure leaning against the building wall. Mark Twain met with a dark figure holding a pistol face height.

"Yes, I am," he stated quietly to the dark figure. Once he noticed the pistol, Mark Twain stiffened his stature.

"Mr. Twain, do you understand the predicament you have placed many husband's in with your insulting article of the ladies who organized the social event last week. We are men who must stand up for our wives honor. They are furious over the statements you made in the article concerning their integrity."

"Sir, that was not my intent. The article was humorous not insulting," Twain defended.

"Well Mr. Twain, all the years of humor between the papers or of us gentlemen is one thing. But when your humor insults our wives, that is an insult. How do we live with our wives when your fun'n shamed them? Now those ladies are making several husbands lives unbearable. If I didn't like you so much, I wouldn't be here now. The plan was for all of the husbands to approach you tomorrow evening when no stage would be around. We were going to decide on the spot what to do! But a rope was to be brought along, if you get my meaning. I can give you two choices. One, pull the trigger of this pistol and serve you head on a silver platter to our wives, or two, allow you to mount the stage across the street and leave this City and even the State, never to return. The choice is yours?"

Mark Twain's last glance of the Silver Sin City was as he mounted the stage headed for San Francisco. He felt himself slipping downward in mood, as the stage jolted along the road out of Virginia City.

Room Card Keys

2013-08-27T12:48:00.001-07:00

We reported on this WARNING in an earlier post. Though updates and reminders never hurt those who travel.

Always take a small magnet on your holiday, they come in handy at the end of it.

Thought you all needed to know this This is pretty good info. Never even thought about key cards containing anything other than an access code for the room!

HOTEL KEY CARDS

Answer:
a. Customer's name

B. Customer's partial home address

c. Hotel room number

d. Check-in date and out dates

Correct Answer e.

Customer's credit card number and expiration date! When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner.. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense. Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee reissues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest's information is electronically 'overwritten' on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process. But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT! The bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them into the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader. For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip! If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the card. Information courtesy of: Metropolitan Police Service.

This is also true when traveling on all Cruise Lines

PLEASE FORWARD to friends and family .

She discovered how to see again!

2013-08-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

We are creatures of habit. We travel the same roads repeatedly because of comfort and rarely for adventure. Though when it is required to participate in visiting a new friend or attending a meeting in a different city, all you have to do is pickup a newspaper and look at the points of interest page, behold, you may discover a venue that grabs hold your interest.

San Jose California use to be a booming white collar city. During our visit on a Wednesday noon we had no problem finding parking or a restaurant for a sandwich which had more than enough seating, no waiting. Having a meeting to attend, we seized the opportunity to visit one of our idols display at San Jose Museum of Art.

ANNIE LEIBOVITZ well known for her photography of the famous. Many of them requesting her to photograph and photo-document their lives. She is the recipient of many honors. Two of which Commandeur in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government and designated a Living Legend by the Library of Congress.

She was born 1949, in Waterbury, Connecticut. Began her photography career as a photojournalist for Rolling Stone magazine in 1970 while attending the San Francisco Art Institute.

Her display in San Jose is a new adventure for her and is entitled, "PILGRIMAGE."
A new direction in photography, one that fulfilled her desire. She was not on assignment, nor pressured to meet a deadline and allowed to tell a story.

She photographed:

Emily Dickinson's home

Niagara Falls

Virginia Woolf's house & Studiou

Charles Darwin's English side cottage

Sigmund Freud's final home in London

Thoreau's cabin at Walden Pond

Ralph Waldo Emerson's home

Vanessa Bell (Virginia Woolf's Sister) home and paintings

Daniel Chester who sculpted Lincoln seated in the Lincoln Memorial

The house in Gettysburg, where the bloodiest battle took place during the Civil War

The glass negatives of Lincoln and the gloves he had in his pocket the night he was shot.

Annie stated that this personal journey taught "her to see once again." She was caught in the Merry Go Round of being a "creature of habit" in her trade. Her portraits were almost mechanical in the shoot. Changing from portraits to historical documentation or historical landscape forced her to open her mind and forced her to use her eyes to see the final product. She also used digital, changing from 35mm.

Order your book "PILGRIMAGE" from Amazon. At the right side of this page, type the title "PILGRIMAGE" into the Amazon search box and you will be taken to the book on Amazon.

Note:
Paula Leibovitz, Annie's sister, shared the office with our attorney, Kathryn Korn. The office is decorated with portraits of famous celebrities that Annie photographed.

Half of a Moon by the Bay

2013-08-10T13:38:00.001-07:00

Half Moon Bay 2013

Originally settled in 1776 as farm land, for cattle, horses grazed and raised for Mission San Francisco de Asis This was the extension of the Missions land. Candelario Miramontes received this land as Rancho Miramontes from the 1839 Mexican Land Grant. The town name became Rancho San Benito in 1841.

The town was later renamed Spanishtown. It's population was well diverse with Germans, Irish, Pacific Islanders, Chinese, English, Scots, Canadians and many more cultures. With the diversification of cultures, soon established a thriving fishing industry.

Levy Brothers opened a department store and the town was once again renamed Half Moon Bay in 1874.

During the 20's and 30's, the area played a big part in the prohibition. The rum runners were well hidden in its coastal dense fog and the many inlets along the coastline. These rum runners supplied many of the roadhouses and Inns of the area.

Today Half Moon Bay houses golf courses, Bed and Breakfast, restaurants and a historical main street. Today many of, these establishments operate from these inn's and roadhouses of the past.

Our Experience

After stopping at the Chamber of Commerce for suggestions of lodging, restaurants and sites. We chose two Bed and Breakfast, as well as two Inn's to visit hoping to chose one that fit our expectations. We chanced visiting the area without reservations. With the Internet we thought looking at the reviews and visiting each place would result in our accommodations for three nights. We also wanted ocean front property and a room over looking the Pacific.

Our first stop was a Bed & Breakfast with no ocean even close. Second stop at least was closer to the ocean, but set a few streets back.

Third stop was Cypress Inn on Miramar Beach, that we passed in route to our second stop. Ocean front, full view of the ocean, comfortable setting with homemade breakfast in the morning and a selection if wine an hors d' oeuvres in the late afternoon and at 7:30pm is dessert, such as yummy warm chocolate chip cookies.

The sound of the waves breaking on the beach. The power of those was vibrating softly through the buildings structure. All this helps you to sleep deeply through the night.

Just a few blocks from the Inn is the beach access, where we took Sidney to run to her hearts content and play with some of the other dogs. We also went for a walk along the Coastside Trail which connects at the road in front of the Inn. Just a few miles north is Maverick's, the famous coastal point where surfers from around the world come to ride some of the largest waves in the world. This only happens for a brief time in early winter, and some years it's canceled because of the lack of waves.

Our first full day was spent slowly walking through main street of Half Moon Bay. Architecture of the 20's and 30's still stand, many from the speakeasy era. Renovated buildings housing art, jewelry, dress, book shops restaurant and coffee houses.

I mentioned earlier that the town was once called Spanishtown. Today there is a restaurant called the same. The Mexican food is good and the owner is delightful.

Along highway 92, just before entering or leaving Half Moon Bay are art studio's and shops housing a combination of art and plants that will take hours of your time strolling through viewing the merchandise. Life size metal sculptures of anything from dinosaurs to horses and ceramic pots of all sizes. One hot house is full of orchids at very reasonable prices. Orchid blossoms will last up to 6 months if they have bright light and you don't overwater. Jodie wanted to buy one of each, but we certainly don't have enough room...

Pastorioni's Pumpkin Farm grows sunflowers, pumpkins and flowers. Great farm to visit with children or to have a birthday party for the younger children.

This is an area where you leave the news and world behind. The pace is that of the turtle and the pace of the rabbit was what was left behind.

March 23, 2008 was our last evening here when we first wrote about Half Moon Bay. The Lady in Blue is still the talk of Moss Beach Distillery. The waiters still talk about the caves, and the boxes suddenly stacked in front of the supply room door, blocking their exit. She waits for her piano playing lover. He is most likely resting peacefully in bliss while she roams the restaurant.

July 29, 2013 - we choose to have our big meal of the day at 3:00 pm. We dined at Cameron's.

Cameron's British Pub

Traditional English - read the mixed reviews on Yelp, the diners of American taste would not overly enjoy an English menu. Yes, there is an under lying American flair, but over all this Pub screams English.

Economy

This area was hit hard financially during the economic down turn;

"Due to the financial setbacks from a large legal settlement and a poor economy, Half Moon Bay is currently considering major cuts to city services and possibly disincorporating.[2][needs update] Under a disincorporation plan, Half Moon Bay would revert to an unincorporated area within San Mateo County. Tax revenues would flow to the county, which would remain responsible for police and road maintenance. Current Half Moon Bay residents would remain responsible for the bond payments resulting from the legal settlement, which would be added as a lien on their properties." Wikipedia

Political Representation

In the state legislature, Half Moon Bay is in the 8th Senate District, represented by Democrat Leland Yee, and in the 19th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Jerry Hill. Federally, Half Moon Bay is in California's 14th congressional district, represented by Democrat Jackie Speier.

According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[8] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees

1 Ritz-Carlton 550

2 Nurserymen's Exchange 400

3 Bay City Flower 340

4 Cabrillo Unified School District 206

5 Half Moon Bay Golf Links 201

6 Sam's Chowder House 140

7 Ledyard Company 120

8 Safeway 120

9 Coastal Repertory Theatre 100

10 Ox Mountain Sanitary Landfill 100

2013 Population 13,000

Traveling With Your Service Dog

The Department of Justice has defined service dogs as those who provide service for the handler. Many individuals are catching on to the fact that you can order a vest and ID over the Internet that will identify the canine as a service dog. It is our responsibility to inquire within our States and with the Department of Justice on how to legally license our Service Dog. The process is lengthy and requires an in-depth interview with the Director of Animal Control. They are highly trained on Guide and Service dogs and their abilities.

Companion dogs are not service dogs and are not allowed full access. Nor should they be because the family pet is a companion dog.

Please remember those who have service dogs are in need of them, those who claim they have service dogs jeopardize the disabled individuals civil rights to have the freedom that they deserve.

The disabled individual must remember to be sensitive to the needs of those who may be allergic to dogs, or fearful of dogs. Please ask those who are seated around you if they are sensitive to dogs?

Read More About Half Moon Bay

See our posting of March 23, 2008

The view looking north from our room

Giant Mosaic Pumpkin

Walking trail along the coast - in front of the Cypress Inn

Dead Sea Lion

Sidney our California Licensed Service Dog

The Road To Full Recovery Is Not Always Easy

2013-06-15T17:06:00.001-07:00

The process from the hospital to full recovery is not as pain free as told by some cardiologists. One cardiologist kept stating over and over that one month after my heart surgery, I would feel like dancing. Actually I am in the hospital one month after surgery and I do not feel like dancing.

Pulmonary edema formed inside my lungs. I had two liters of fluid extracted from my left lung. Once extracted, the lung started the process of retaining fluid again making my breathing more than labored. I had to go to the Emergency Room, where they admitted me for further observation.

Lasix will be used to try and dry out both lungs. Oral medication was not performing the task of off-loading the fluids. If the Lasix is unable to remove the fluids from the right lung, the extraction by inserting a needle through the ribs into the lung to extract will need to be performed again.

Why, the retention? No one seems to know. But theMayo-Climic provides some excellent descriptions of what causes pulmonary edema.

Heart valve problems. In mitral valve disease or aortic valve disease, the valves that regulate blood flow in the left side of your heart either don't open wide enough (stenosis) or don't close completely (insufficiency). This allows blood to flow backward through the valve. When the valves are narrowed, blood can't flow freely into your heart and pressure in the left ventricle builds up, causing the left ventricle to work harder and harder with each contraction. The left ventricle also dilates to allow more blood flow, but this makes the left ventricle's pumping action less efficient. Because it's working so much harder, the left ventricle eventually thickens, which puts greater stress on the coronary arteries, further weakening the left ventricular muscle.

The increased pressure extends into the left atrium and then to the pulmonary veins, causing fluid to accumulate in your lungs. On the other hand, if the mitral valve leaks, some blood is backwashed toward your lung each time your heart pumps. If the leakage develops suddenly, you may develop sudden and severe pulmonary edema.

To read more about pulmonary edema causes, click or paste into your web browser http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pulmonary-edema/DS00412/DSECTION=causes

Heart valve problems were the main focus of my surgery. Could the scare tissue be forming in the mitral valve like it did in my son, William? It was detected one month after surgery and after eight months the need to re-enter to cut the stenosis and open the Mitrual valve was necessary. The scare tissue is referred to as stenosis.

How will they be able to tell if my residual regurgitation is the cause of the edema? It will never be detected that easily, but having an echocardiogram will be able to detect stenosis. Though it will not be until several months after surgery before it will be detected how severe the stenosis.

The words of the cardiologist who stated I would be dancing in a month, will be filed away in the round file.

The three bottles of fluid extracted from my left lung. This procedure landed me back in the hospital. Will the right lung have to under go the same procedure?

Jodie to You - Close to Going Home

2013-05-19T14:05:00.001-07:00

Getting better everyday. Pulled the chest tube yesterday which was draining fluids from the heart. The neck IV drip is in the main artery for medication which they also pulled and put in a Pic Line in my right lower arm which can be kept in for months, this is needed for drawing blood and suppling some medications. They can't keep the one in my neck for long because of chances of infection. Things are looking good enough to move out of the ICU in a few hours to a single room on a different floor, where Don will have a recliner that converts into a bed to sleep on.

Poor Don has had little sleep since Sunday, first due to uncomfortable beds in an otherwise modern and comfortable hotel in Japan Town, decent priced rooms under $175 because of 3 sports events this weekend, one of them the Bay to Breakers, a run from the Bay Bridge to the Pacific Ocean at the end of Golden Gate Park. Hotel Kabuki in Japan town for next 3 nights, haven't heard how he slept.

We stayed in Hotel Tomo Sunday, very uncomfortable beds, but nice otherwise including their restaurant.

(Up-date on Don's hotel stay. When he made the reservations, he was so tired that he made them for the wrong date, this mistake was the reason there were rooms available. He walked from the hospital carrying his two bags and then back. He discovered that he would no longer make it through boot camp at his present age.)

Have fluid build up all over trying to get rid of with the aid of Lasix. Hoping I won't have a permanent pacemaker installed.

During surgery they found three more heart defects that they didn't detect before surgery.

XOXO TO ALL.

Will have Debbie forward this on, even if you want to put it on 69 Facebook. BTW, did u ever get any photos from the HOF Dinner from Phillip?

Getting ready to tackle the walk around the unit. A task that normally I would not give second thought.

We will be entering an opinion of my care, the obstacles that we met with, and opinion of the physcian's. The purpose of this public communication, to our followers, is for knowledge for you and your advocate. PLEASE remember, the physicians, nurses, are professionally trained and most have experience under their belt, which will qualify them to provide excellent care. The difficulty seems to be with those who have newly entered the medical field, or they feel they are God.

Chest tubes

Feel like James Bond ready to take off

Medical Treatment 2013

2013-05-19T09:01:00.001-07:00

This is a YouTube link showing 3 of the procedures Jodie had performed. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bYbnGxychKk&feature=relmfu

In an earlier posting the art of being a GREAT physician has died was discussed. Younger physicians graduate with the "God Mentality, I demand respect." These physician's were compared to those who we referred to as "quiet giants," referring to their bedside manners, which were excellent.

The demand in medical school is high and much like our elite military forces, the drop out rate is high. Always pushed, always challenged, always questioned, always be-littled. Specialize in a field like cardiovascular, thurastic surgery, and start becoming big in demand in your field, you have become part of the elite. Does one's head swell?

We have listed some of the silent giants, some obstacles that we had to over come, what occurred when you are a patient and when you are an advocate for the patient. It is a challenge.

Challenges:

* Dopamine a chemical used for treating shock but in my case, it releases a hormone, the same as released by the adrenal gland.

Outside the central nervous system dopamine acts as a hormone, released by the adrenal gland into the bloodstream, where it circulates to every part of the body. This peripheral dopamine has significant effects on the kidneys, heart, immune system, and sympathetic nervous system.

Dopamine is available as an intravenous medication, producing effects such as increasedheart rate and blood pressure. However, because dopamine cannot cross the blood–brain barrier, dopamine given as a drug does not directly affect the central nervous system. To increase the amount of dopamine in the brains of patients with diseases such asParkinson's disease, L-DOPA (the precursor of dopamine) is often given because it crosses the blood–brain barrier relatively easily.

Click here to read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine

Norepinephrine - increases the rate of contractions of the heart.

One of the most important functions of norepinephrine is its role as the neurotransmitterreleased from the sympathetic neurons affecting the heart. An increase in norepinephrine from the sympathetic nervous system increases the rate of contractions.^[5]

As a stress hormone, norepinephrine affects parts of the brain, such as the amygdala, where attention and responses are controlled.^[6] Along with epinephrine, norepinephrine also underlies the fight-or-flight response, directly increasing heart rate, triggering the release of glucose from energy stores, and increasing blood flow to skeletal muscle. It increases the brain's oxygen supply.^[7] Norepinephrine can also suppressneuroinflammation when released diffusely in the brain from the locus coeruleus.^[8]

Want to read more about it, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norepinephrine

One of the side effects of dopamine is nausea, pressure on the chest. In my case I become zapped, worn-out from the side effects. I had the problem of blood pressure and heart rate when I had my two "c - sections." I was given dopamine then and had the same problem. Don remembered this and tried to inform the doctor of my experience. The doctor refused to listen because of the "I'm God," mentality.

I have a high tolerance to pain, and a low tolerance to medication.

Experience: a recently graduated doctor from med school who we experienced had the "I am God, get out of my way." She was loud and abrasive towards my advocate and to myself. When you do not feel well from a cold you do not want be confronted by such an attitude, let alone after having open heart surgery.

After experiencing this attitude more than once, Don acting as my advocate told her - "if you were professional, you would ask to be excused from my wife's case." This was not taken well, so the social worker came in to attack. My response, I don't need this ... She was asked to leave my room. Not sure what part of "open heart surgery they do not understand." Yes, I was feeling better but still did not need this attitude.

When a physician allows their personal opinion of the patient or advocate dominate their thinking, that opinion clouds their judgement and their ability to keep the patients well being in focus.

* Recovery - one of my nurses described the entire process from surgery to being able to leave the ICU. "We keep them alive until that process is completed. Some a few days, some longer."

* Family cooperation - Don must take insulin which is required to remain cold. He has a traveling ice pack for this purpose. A nurse was kind enough to place it in the Nurses lounge refrigerator freezer to freeze. The next day he asked for the ice pack and soon the unit manager came to him very angry about him asking for such a favor. It was discovered later that the director of the unit implemented the attitude and rule.

"Translation as one nurse stated - "we do nothing to help family members of the patient."

We have extensive experience with UCSF Medical center when our son went through similar procedures 3 different times, by the age of 13. This medical facility will bend over backward for the family knowing that the family actually helps the staff over-all. They also listen to the advocates.

Great experiences:

* Off Dopamine - I began wanting to do everything I could to get out. Vomiting went away, drive increased.

* Appointed a new critical care physician who was more experienced in the art of bedside manners. He made the final recovery process pleasant. He was informative without arrogance. He took the time in getting to know the patient.

* Surgeon - a "Quiet Giant"

* Cardiologist who was assigned my case, was a fellow, and is on his way to establishing GREAT bed side manners.

* My cardiologist at home, "Quiet Giant."

* Cardiovascular Intensive Care Nureses - each one a "Quiet Giant."

* House Keeping to food prep - all great

* Physicians Aid - "Quiet Giant."

* Pic Line Specialist - "A Real Quiet Giant" and a comedian.

* Floor One Cardiovascular Ward - "Quiet Giant with care and passion."

* NURSES - every nurse whom I was assigned was more than a "Quiet Giant," they were "Angels."

* Admitting - Went the extra mile.

* PCT (patient care technician), at your beckon call, bringing you everything you need for you comfort - "Quiet Giant."

Summary: We refrain from mentioning names, each person knows who was an obstacle and we made sure to verbally commend those who were not. It is our hopes that each member of this institution will read this and learn.

We have had several experiences with other medical facilities. They provided our family with good care.

We are a BIG Advocate of Kaiser Permanente. They have come a great distance from the Henry Kaiser days. The care is excellent, the training is superb, the team work is a model to emulate. Their association with the great Medical Universities throughout the United States is reflective in the quality of nurses, physicians, pharmacists, lab technicians, and more. Their development of the computer has led the way within the medical industry. We have experienced that the attitude and quality care is reflective in each of the many Kaiser Facilities. This is not true with independent medical facilities.

Closing: We pass through this dimension once. The experiences we carry with us through eternity. The obstacles and the successes develop our minds into positive or negative thinking, which affects our over-all being.

We both hope you enjoyed and was able to learn from this mini series in life's travels.

Remember we support "Build My Heart Foundation" http://buildmyheart.org/ this Foundation are advocates for families of infants and children who will travel down the road we described in this series. The obstacles that we met with, they meet with for lodging, parking, meals, emotional support, and much more. We hope you will donate to aid to the success of these families challenges.

View From My Last Room

Remove the pace maker wires & reduce the swelling are the last hurdles

What An Adventure

With Any Open Heart Surgery

2013-05-16T10:32:00.001-07:00

Medicine has leaped into the computer age. Nurses input all of the critical information that is needed to develop an on-going database, trending, analysis, and more. Doctors sit more behind the screen of these computers observing charts, graphs, input, and more to make decisions of care based on trends, not on the patients over all reaction to medication (side effects) and how the numbers turn out based on the medication combination.

Nausea, chest pressure, anxiety is a side affect of many various medications utilized for treatment after an open heart surgery. These medications alter or tell the receptors of the heart what it needs to do to perform for the bodies needs in blood supply. If the heart has developed a-fib or block, then the heart will beat twice for one beat. This can happen on either side of the heart. Of course this is not favorable, but not life threatening, unless it is mixed with other combinations of difficulties.

The medication is what helps to correct the various problems. But the medications side effects impact the patients willingness to work towards recovery. What the computer says, again based on trends and averages, give the patient nausea medication. No human factor is taken into account. The patient may or may not respond to nausea medication. Their willingness to work may be drained from the combination of all these medications, "But the computer says," is todays doctors response. We met o e of these three of these doctors at Kaiser. we know everything, and the patient doesn't count. I'm not singling out Kaiser, this is the attitude among this generation, which carries into all medical groups and industries.

The days of the first heart transplant, the human factor was relied on heavily. The doctor had to think and research alternatives. Yes, as the physicians aged, gaining more and more knowledge of their own data base, they averaged out the responses to various medications. But the human factor was involved with the ability to think outside the box, per sai. Change a medication, the end result would be the same but the side effects are altered, which then alters the patients over all response and willingness.

There are so many factors that go into such an evasive surgery like the one Jodie went through. It is never going to be easy and of course not everyone can recover based on the averages that the computer spits out.

The true artist of open heart surgery were in my opinion two gentlemen that relied heavily on the human factor. Norman Shumway, MD the first thurastic surgeon who performed heart transplants here in America. http://med.stanford.edu/featured_topics/obituary/shumway/ Paul Ebert, MD, a gentle giant who also pioneered many techniques within cardiology and thurastic surgery. Jodie and I know both these gentlemen and it was Dr. Ebert who performed our son's first surgery (William) at the age of two.

Computers do and will play a fantastic part in medicine, our medical teams will rely on the information that develop these database's, averages, trends, patient responses, along with more, but the human factor, or response needs to be taken into account.

Great if not fantastic physicians, besides those mentioned above:

* Anthony Azakie, MD, CM http://pediatricct.surgery.ucsf.edu/faculty/pediatric-cardiothoracic-faculty/anthony-azakie,-md,-cm.aspx

* Michael Cooper, http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-michael-cooper-yw8nl

Note: My opinion, Don's, is based on growing up with a strong father in the medical industry who was well respected.

Around various physicians and being exposed to their philosophy, practice, bedside manners. Listening and asking

for their opinions of the physicians today.

One well known physician who I will quote: "today's doctors think of themselves as God; I will never go to one." He

eventually did go to a physician.

Last research everything about the illness' that you or your family members have and continue to be an advocate for them.

Respect them unless otherwise deserved.

Hurdles and I am not a track star

2013-05-14T09:55:00.001-07:00

Sleeping is the easy part of surgery. That is as long as the pain is managed well. She has had so much liquid pumped into her, via IV's that she is swollen from head to toe, literally.

When I first arrived this morning, I'm informed that overall they were pleased. As if she heard the conversation (actually she did) and her body said "oh yeah." Blood pressure dropped into the 60's, too low. Two nurses and a doctor scatter to perform a task, injections for nausea, pain, blood pressure along with more than I know. They put a CPAP machine on her to aid her breathing. Her body is not exhaling the carbon monoxide because of shallow breathing. She starts to settle down about 15 minutes into the roller coaster ride.

Maybe the body, heart and brain are saying they need to make some adjustments from not having to work so hard, "We're not use to this ease of labor."

She is firmly encouraged to start moving her legs while in bed. Her response, "no one ever told me to move my legs." She remembers when she had her cath and was unable to move her legs. Breathing exercises, are another challenge she begins to tackle, every hour on the hour.

The surgeon returns once again, speaking with the critical care doctor. Get her on Lasix, to reduce the fluid. From the echo they did earlier, they see that there is of leakage from the incessions in the heart the volumn of leakage is moderate to high and the valve is not functioning the way that was hoped.

Early afternoon she agrees to get out of bed and sit in a chair doing her breathing exercises. She even ate four plastic spoon fulls of strawberry jello. One small cup of chipped ice, all this causes her to feel nausea. She doesn't give up pushing to remain in the chair for 3 hours.

End of day, the story, she willl most likely not be released from ICU again tomorrow. More hurdles to over come. Twenty-six years ago, William went through the same challenge from the same surgery, it took 3 weeks before he was released from ICU.

There will be no pictures for awhile.

Please Give to the "Build My Heart Foundation" http://buildmyheart.org/

Do I Even Remember?

2013-05-13T10:30:00.001-07:00

After surgery she had:

* Tubes in her mouth, nose, neck and a pace maker wire coming out of her chest, along with all of the other medical attachments, IV, monitor wires, etc.

* Deep in sleep - something that she needed from lack of; last night.

* When she starts to wake, show awareness, they start monitoring to remove the tubes as fast as possible - she struggled with this. Finally came out 5 hours after surgery.

* when they tested her ability to breathe on her own, she would stop breathing as she fell asleep.

* Tubes removed from mouth and nose, they start feeding her ice chips

*.chest dressings changed a few times

* constantly asking her about pain

* having problems with irregular heart beats, keeping her on the heart pace maker

DAY AFTER SURGERY

* Breathing exercises every hour while she is awake

* Helped out of bed and walked - this will occur as many times as possible, minimum 3 times

* Sit in a chair as many time as tolerated

* If clear liquids are tolerated, solids will start

* Tests and x-rays

* chest dressings changed

* Pain management

Mini-Maze & My Morning Thoughts

2013-05-11T19:22:00.001-07:00

,Monday 13, 2013, 5:00 AM wishing I was in my warm bed at home. I check in, enter my hospital room, change into, well I don't need to go into details.

I'm stretched out on the guerney, IV in, anesthesiologist welcomes me to the OR after introducing himself to me. I quickly say hi, and go back to my thoughts.

Mini-maze is a new procedure to destroy an area of heart tissue where irregular heart beats begin. By destroying this are of tissue, the reduction or elimination of the risk of stroke, symptoms and weakening heart from persistent rapid heart rate. Never having gone through all this heart stuff before and never being the book worm my husband is, I am just learning all of the techniques used for this extensive surgery. Want to learn more about "Mini-Maze Procedure," click on this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimaze_procedure

I'm getting sleepy, so it is time to turn this journal over to my husband. He has been through all this and I have asked him to explain what they are going to repair. Good night all or maybe Good morning.

I watched her dose off and they wheeled her into the operating room. In 32 plus years, I have only seen her really anxious twice. The first time when or two year old son was taken away for his first surgery and now. She is one positive lady.

What will they repair?

Simply stated she has a hole in between the top two chambers (Artrial) and bottom two chambers (Ventricular) these need to be patched. The surgeon most likely will use part of the pericardium sack (the outer covering of the heart) and Teflon to patch the holes.

The above diagram shows all four chambers along with a vertical section of the Mitrual valve.

The valve is where the major repairs need to be performed. The above cross section shows the valve shaped like a funnel where oxidated blood feeding the body goes though. This valve has two problems. The funnel does not close, so good oxidated blood rush back to mix with un-oxidated blood. The surgeon needs to tighten the valve so it closes or at least is significantly is reduced in how much blood flows back. Everyone has some regurgitation.

The bottom diagram shows a top section that same valve. The two leaflets are the funnel and open when the heart muscle pumps. Jodie has a cleft or rip in one of the leaflets which needs to be closed.

The entire procedure from start to finish is around five to eight hours.

Imagine this procedure being performed in a new born or child. The anxiety that the entire family must contend with. Add having to find a reasonable rate hotel, parking, shuttles, buses, who do we need to speak with, what is going to happen after the surgery and so much more. This is where "Build My Heart," steps in to aid families with all of these tasks. http://buildmyheart.org/

Jodie and I are attached to this non-profit foundation.

The Hotel Tomo in Japan Town has very hard pillows and beds. Bad for the back and neck.