SIDEBAR #53 - Travis Alexander forum

[Zuri]

Moving on from almost tragedy to triumph, my granite countertops were installed today. Yay! I never knew countertops could make such a difference lol.

 

[LinasK]

Sounds lovely to me! Renovations seem to take forever don't they! Your home sounds very lovely with all the windows and doors. Happy Painting!

Eventually it might be. Kinda hard to enjoy right now because everything is in the family room, living room, dining room, even my bedroom. I cringe at people coming over right now, I feel like I'm living like a hoarder...
DH has promised to take another day off so that maybe we can get the den completed- at least the furniture moved back in by the time school starts in two weeks, so that DD can study in there.
Did I mention that it looks like we will get to see a Kelly Clarkson concert for free???

 

[Bernina]

Bernina, will this toxic mess affect your drinking water? I can't believe they were so stupid and didn't even report it for 24 hours. Unbelievable. I saw on the news that it is headed towards Lake Havesu where so many people vacation and enjoy the water. Is there anything they can do before the water goes any further to dam it up or impede its flow without hurting anyone or anything?

It shouldn't affect the drinking water in this area, it's all from wells the comes from several underground aquifers that are fed by underground springs. I'm right there halfway between the white dot for Prescott and the "F" in Flagstaff on that map. There's a pretty solid and deep series of mountain ranges that protect our water source.

I have no idea what can be done. If communities down stream would have known sooner, they might have been able to impede the toxic mess from moving further down stream, heck, they might have been able to put up a dike..........
All those rivers go through irreplaceable bird and animal sanctuaries, fishing areas, protected lands, sacred Indian grounds, livestock grazing (the "Arizona Strip" between Az and Utah), recreational areas...........what are they going to do? Shut the dams down? No electricity for major parts of Az, Nv, Cal, and no water for a LOT of the agricultural areas specifically in Cali.

It's unforgivable. How will any of it be replaced, even with the "best case scenario"?

 

[Bernina]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...jo-nation-epa-mine-wastewater-spill/31399517/

 

[Spellbound]

Zuri, the new countertops make your cabinets like new. Beautiful.

Linas, I love your paint choice. Gorgeous.... and very time consuming work.

 

[GigiG]

I love all of you here. Your prayers and jingles worked. Knox is coming home (to the barn) this evening. Roberto, one of the barn staff, caught it in time. As he has done this so many times before, Roberto and Juan can tell immediately when he is uncomfortable and they medicate him immediately. If he gets no relief, the vet gets called and off he goes to New Bolton. I don't even mess around treating him at the barn anymore by having my most excellent vet go there.

Since I have Louise (foremost scholar on equine colic in the world) at NBC on speed dial and she answers my call, I don't hesitate. Walking in the door of NBC is $1500 and I don't think twice, yet agonize over a roof and granite. I have my priorities messed up I am sure, but that is just me. When the time does come, I am leaving Knox's body to NBC so they can study him further. He has already helped countless other horses with colic treatment as he is so atypical and the vets have learned a lot.

I really appreciate your comforting words as there was no comfort rendered here... I knew I could come here and share and you all would understand. I am just so blessed to have all of you in my life. Thank you...

First off, HOORAY!!! I doubted that the worst of your fears would come to pass, but hesitated to put that in writing in the midst of a crisis moment. I am so thankful and happy for this positive outcome.

BBM

I'd say your priorities are right on. Inanimate objects will never rival living, breathing things to which we've become emotionally attached. Costs be damned.

Also, give yourself a pat on the back for having the levity to let such thoughts enter your mind. Human foibles are both humbling and humorous if you allow yourself to take a step back. I'm glad you were able to recover your good-natured sense of self so quickly after being swallowed up by fear and anxiety. That takes tremendous character and inner strength. You've got that.

 

[GigiG]

Moving on from almost tragedy to triumph, my granite countertops were installed today. Yay! I never knew countertops could make such a difference lol.
View attachment 79819

View attachment 79820

Zuri, this looks even lovelier than I had imagined. The granite blends beautifully with the cabinets. So all-in-all, today's a good day!

 

[GigiG]

This EPA spill into the Animas River is horrible.......Animus goes into the San Juan which ends up in Lake Powell/Lake Mead/Colorado River, it's going to affect 6 states, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California, the 4 Corner's Reservations (Hopi, Navajo, and Ute), Havasupai, Jicarilla, Hualapai, Mohave, Chemehuevi, etc.,............and Mexico.

EPA: "Environmental Pollution Agency". Those SOB's, and during this extended period of drought, smooth move idiots. This is THE main water source for the Southwest. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I'm still trying to figure out this debacle. It sounds like they don't even know what happened or why. WTF?

Still, I know a lot of good people who work for EPA, albeit in administrative roles. The folks I know are very committed to the mission of helping environmental efforts, and are absolutely heartbroken about this. I just want to draw the distinction between greedy corporations and well-intentioned civil servants.

Understandably, a lot of people outside the Beltway might want to lump them all together, but as bad as government is, it's still our best and last defense against ruthless profiteers who don't give a damn about the planet. JMO

 

[Bernina]

http://www.kpho.com/story/29764048/5-year-old-found-dead-in-kaibab-forest-probably-died-first-night

5-year-old found dead in Kaibab Forest probably died first night

More than 1,000 people, including a nearly unprecedented number of volunteers, took part in the search for Jerold.

"The support from the community was overwhelming," Blair said. "There were close to 900 people from the community who collectively volunteered thousands of hours of their time to the search efforts, not only in the field, but also by providing meals and other support. A great majority of these volunteers were from the community of Colorado City, [Jerold's home town], who gave their full support to the search efforts.

"This was the largest spontaneous volunteer response the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has handled, and the cooperation of the community was greatly appreciated," Blair continued.
In addition to the hundreds of volunteers, personnel from more than a dozen local, state and federal agencies lent their support to the effort to bring Jerold home.

• Coconino County Sheriff's Office
• Yavapai County Sheriff's Office
• Pima County Sheriff's Office
• Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
• Kane County Sheriff's Office
• Washington County Sheriff's Office
• Coconino County CERT Teams
• Arizona Wing Civil Air Patrol
• Utah Wing Civil Air Patrol
• Arizona Department of Public Safety
• U.S. Forest Service
• National Park Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• FBI
• Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• U.S. Air Force Rescue community

 

[GigiG]

Eventually it might be. Kinda hard to enjoy right now because everything is in the family room, living room, dining room, even my bedroom. I cringe at people coming over right now, I feel like I'm living like a hoarder...
DH has promised to take another day off so that maybe we can get the den completed- at least the furniture moved back in by the time school starts in two weeks, so that DD can study in there.
Did I mention that it looks like we will get to see a Kelly Clarkson concert for free???

LinusK, this is almost the exact color I had in my bedroom for over ten years. (Mine was called Canton Jade, I believe it was a Benjamin Moore paint.) Not too dark, not too light. I found it very soothing. I've since moved on to a more neutral shade, but I did really like that color...

 

[Spellbound]

RIP, little Jerold. :tears:

 

[Bernina]

I'm still trying to figure out this debacle. It sounds like they don't even know what happened or why. WTF?

Still, I know a lot of good people who work for EPA, albeit in administrative roles. The folks I know are very committed to the mission of helping environmental efforts, and are absolutely heartbroken about this. I just want to draw the distinction between greedy corporations and well-intentioned civil servants.

Understandably, a lot of people outside the Beltway might want to lump them all together, but as bad as government is, it's still our best and last defense against ruthless profiteers who would don't give a damn about the planet. JMO

What gets me is it took 24 hours before the EPA even told the community..........GRRRRRR!!!!!!

We have the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), don't ask me why we don't have the EPA.

http://www.azdeq.gov/index.html

ADEQ's response, to the spill, from yesterday:

http://www.azdeq.gov/function/news/2015/download/081015.pdf

I honestly don't remember anytime the EPA got involved in Arizona. I and several neighbors had called them 20 years past about a neighbor's commercial hydraulic lift for vehicles he put in without a concrete bay, and underground hydraulic storage containers the weren't approved. They came out the same day from one of their field offices 2 hours away.

The ADEQ people are really good. Never met an EPA person.

Why is Arizona so "different"? If I moved, I'd probably be in for some major culture shock!!! Cali was culture shock for me, never got used to it, but I think it's that way for quite a few people.:scared: I was used to Cali from the 1960's.

 

[LinasK]

LinusK, this is almost the exact color I had in my bedroom for over ten years. (Mine was called Canton Jade, I believe it was a Benjamin Moore paint.) Not too dark, not too light. I found it very soothing. I've since moved on to a more neutral shade, but I did really like that color...

Cool! This is my den and I've always envisioned a foresty look for it. Couldn't afford to get a faux finish done, so it had to be a solid color. I think we're going to go with Billiard Green for the baseboards for maximum contrast, but I was too exhausted today to get back to Home Depot to buy it. Hopefully we'll get them repainted in the next couple of evenings.
It was previously white painted over two different wallpapers- a beige Mickey Mouse one and a white plaid with orange and red stripes, then they ripped alot, but not all of it off!!! I've had to live with it trashed for almost 20 years. It's time.

 

[Bernina]

RIP, little Jerold. :tears:

Sad resolution, but the search teams, volunteers, and local, county, state, and Federal agencies really stepped up to the plate. If only all searches had such support..........it was an incredible effort by everyone, just so sad it didn't turn out better.
It gets cold at night and there was rain that first evening........a little 5 year old just can't survive that. I hope he caught that grasshopper.

 

[GigiG]

Cool! This is my den and I've always envisioned a foresty look for it. Couldn't afford to get a faux finish done, so it had to be a solid color. I think we're going to go with Billiard Green for the baseboards for maximum contrast, but I was too exhausted today to get back to Home Depot to buy it. Hopefully we'll get them repainted in the next couple of evenings.
It was previously white painted over two different wallpapers- a beige Mickey Mouse one and a white plaid with orange and red stripes, then they ripped alot, but not all of it off!!! I've had to live with it trashed for almost 20 years. It's time.

BBM

OMG, when I bought my 1920s era house it had 2 - 3 layers of wallpaper on all the walls and ceilings!!! I guess that was a "thing!?" I not-so-fondly remember being 6-8 months pregnant with my first child, day after day, up on a ladder scraping that stuff off, layer after layer. The ceilings were the worst! Now that I think of it, perhaps that was the genesis of my current back problems...

I've seen some beautiful hand-painted wallpaper, but I will NEVER be tempted by it. Once bitten, twice shy.

 

[LinasK]

BBM

OMG, when I bought my 1920s era house it had 2 or 3 layers of wallpaper on all the walls and ceilings!!! I guess that was a "thing!?" I not-so-fondly remember being 6-8 months pregnant with my first child, day after day, up on a ladder scraping that stuff off, layer after layer. The ceilings were the worst! Now that I think of it, perhaps that was the genesis of my current back problems...

I've seen some beautiful hand-painted wallpaper, but I will NEVER be tempted by it. Once bitten, twice shy.

We did some re-wallpapering when we moved in. It's a 60's house and the original owner wallpapered the furnace room with bright orange, green, red, blue, and yellow flowers! And when we stripped the paint off the fireplace down to the brick, there were 6 coats of paint on it, with a bright green stripe at the top! DH is getting away from wallpaper. He wants to tear it out in the hallway now and repaint it.

 

[ILikeToBendPages]

A quite night for Zuri,


[video=youtube;KiviKbxP9xM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiviKbxP9xM&feature=player_detailpage[/video]

 

[Niner]

Hi all! :wave:

:tears: for Jerold... RIP Little Boy :rose:

now... the doctor had NO answers for all my Huz' symptoms... So
Zuri when you get time after hugging Knox - can you read these off to your DH and "see" what he thinks??

*Joint/muscle pain - seems to migrate from one place on my body to another - every day something new - always lower back and hip pain though - (definitely not arthritis per doctor). Like whatever controls the muscular joint around the bone, it feels like it goes limp and all my support disappears. (it's not the joint itself, but the area around it that does the pain).
*headaches
*bad taste in mouth
*food tastes like crap
*nausea, vomiting in the mornings (me: no he's not pregnant! LOL!)
*more forgetful than normal - (me: I can vouch for that!!)
*tremors
*loss of appetite
*loss of sexual function
*general fatigue
*chills and sweats and shaking
*hip and knee joints prevent confident in walking (hips go out) (me: he did fall once on the balcony... )
*feel pretty much like **** all the time
*swollen feet and lower legs
*hair stopped growing
*labored breathing
*constipated
*sleeping too much (me: he takes a LOT of naps during the day)

and the blood test came back negative for Lyme's Disease.

So.... :waitasec: What does your Huz say?? and a BIG :tyou: in advance!!

Okay - off to read my e-book, as someone beat me to the library to get the actual book... :gaah:

See you all tomorrow - take care!! :grouphug:

:seeya:

 

[GigiG]

Hi all! :wave:

:tears: for Jerold... RIP Little Boy :rose:

now... the doctor had NO answers for all my Huz' symptoms... So
Zuri can you read these off to your DH and "see" what he thinks??

*Joint/muscle pain - seems to migrate from one place on my body to another - every day something new - always lower back and hip pain though - (definitely not arthritis per doctor). Like whatever controls the muscular joint around the bone, it feels like it goes limp and all my support disappears. (it's not the joint itself, but the area around it that does the pain).
*headaches
*bad taste in mouth
*food tastes like crap
*nausea, vomiting in the mornings (me: no he's not pregnant! LOL!)
*more forgetful than normal - (me: I can vouch for that!!)
*tremors
*loss of appetite
*loss of sexual function
*general fatigue
*chills and sweats and shaking
*hip and knee joints prevent confident in walking (hips go out) (me: he did fall once on the balcony... )
*feel pretty much like **** all the time
*swollen feet and lower legs
*hair stopped growing
*labored breathing
*constipated
*sleeping too much (me: he takes a LOT of naps during the day)

and the blood test came back negative for Lyme's Disease.

So.... :waitasec: What does your Huz say?? and a BIG :tyou: in advance!!

Okay - off to read my e-book, as someone beat me to the library to get the actual book... :gaah:

See you all tomorrow - take care!! :grouphug:

:seeya:

Wow, Niner, that's quite a list! I was almost certain it was Lyme Disease. I sure hope Dr. Zuri can provide some beneficial insight. Please tell your husband how much we hope for a good resolution for him.

ETA

Interestingly, I have all the symptoms in your first bullet point:

"lower back and hip pain though - (definitely not arthritis per doctor). Like whatever controls the muscular joint around the bone, it feels like it goes limp and all my support disappears. (it's not the joint itself, but the area around it that does the pain). "

For me, it's a combination of having "strained hip flexors" (which are what you rely upon to get up from a chair, or to walk up a flight of stairs--or sometimes just plain walking!) and long-term sacroiliac issues (stubborn lower back problems, difficult to get rid of permanently). That could be one distinct thing, and the other symptoms something else. You/he might be looking at a confluence of physical problems that are not necessarily related...

 

[Nore]

Hi Spellbound, I am so sad to hear of the little one passing. I read over there and it didn't sound good..still one keeps hoping. Just sooo sad. :crying: