parsley, sage, rosemary, and...

To paraphrase the Simon & Garfunkel song, let me proffer this stanza.

"Lemon, orange, frankincense, and Thieves,

 Some are singular, some are a blend,

Take them on their own or mix and you'll see

they will treat you just like a friend."

 

Cheri Hester, as a representative of Young Living's line of essential oils, held a seminar this evening, over at Asbury Memorial, s she has done for at least six years now.

"Finding Your Fabulous" is what she titled it, and each of us were given a little vial of "Feeling Fabulous" - a particular blend of oils - to carry home with us.

Which oils are in "Feeling Fabulous"?

I'll have to ask her.

In addition to being misted by that blend when we checked in, we were also given drops of the blend called "Abundance" to rub on our hands.

I was not a fan of that one, as it smelled a bit acrid.

Later, we were given a drop of "Joy", another blend, for our hands.

I rubbed it on my arms instead.

All I can say for sure is the combination aggravated my sinuses.

I think I would have preferred just 'Lemon' or even the "Citrus Blend".

There were about a dozen of us there in Holliday Hall, will some being regular customers of Rev. Billy's wife.

A few were there like me: to find out what the buzz was all about.

For those into homeopathic remedies, aromatherapy, and the like, these different oils and their uses in diffusers and foodstuffs is already familiar.

I don't use scents in my home, so I was definitely sensitive to them.

Still, I'm glad I was there.

Cheri had studded her presentation with the word "chemicals", as if all were malevolent, and I started in to educate her, and the others, that the proper word she wanted was "toxins".

As I told all there, our bodies contain millions of chemicals working together to keep us alive, the air is full of chemicals that allow us to breathe, our food is full of chemicals that provide all the nutrition we need to survive.

Even all of these essential oils are full of chemicals!

I added that I had told 25 years worth of future nurses in my classes that they should laugh at anyone trying to sell them something 'chemical-free'.

Why?

Because that meant the salesman was pushing them to buy a vacuum!

Only a vacuum is devoid of all matter, meaning it doesn't contain any atoms and molecules, making it truly free of any and all chemicals.

By the end of the first hour, she had it straight, especially with Lynn and Holly helping to remind her.

Success!

Right place, right time.

As for the products, I may recommend some to Christina and Carolyn.

The "Stress Away", with its lime, vanilla, lavender, balsam, cedarwood, and ocotea (related to cinnamon) oils, might be beneficial for taking the edge off for my first niece and her ADHD girls, if used in a room diffuser.

As for Carolyn, with all the pulmonary and sinus infections she has, the Thieves blend may be of help. 

I might even purchase some of the Thieves cleaning products, as they are all antibacterial... and smell pretty good!

That's a blend of lemon, eucalyptus, rosemary, clove, and cinnamon oils, all of which I like individually.

The church has had the Thieves liquid hand soap in the ladies bathroom for several years, so I'm accustomed to it, too.

I didn't buy anything tonight, but I'm glad I was there to learn about her products... and to stand up for science!

I had nice conversations with Lynn and Holly afterward, too.

Lynn is married to a scientist, and Holly used to teach math and science.

I'll have to keep an eye out for them at future events! 

(smile!)

bday gifts from the SavVA

This doesn't look like it contains almost $2000 worth of goods, does it?

Just an inconspicuous plastic delivery bag, right?

I'm just glad that I was home yesterday when it arrived.

If I'd left home before it was dropped off - with no one even knocking on my door - I would have been concerned.

The contents were the Eliquis, Lisinopril, and Levothyroxine for the next three months.

Thank you, the Savannah VA and the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, for taking care of me.

Then, today, another package arrived, this time delivered by the post office, by my regular mailman.

He came at his regular time, even rattling my mailbox to let me know he left something for me.

He's such a sweetie!

I had not realized what was coming until I saw the box, though.

My new eyeglasses!!!

I picked the Blue Marble for the frames and just love it!

Thanks, Dr. Urban at the Sav VA, for setting me up!

research that's paying me to participate!

Let me take a moment to thank facebook for offering me this opportunity.

Let me also thank my friends for having participated in other studies advertised on that social media, so I could trust it to not be a scam.

That said, I don't know anyone who has been part of these two studies, but I went ahead and chose to enroll in them.

How was I even eligible for them?

I have an upcoming colonoscopy and both need to compare their study results to those from the physical examination of my colon lining.

I chose the two studies because they are using different materials from the body to try to find cancer markers.

The first one I enrolled in is actually called the FIND CRC STUDY.

That's literally "find colorectal cancer study", being done by Natera. 

I was drawn to it back in May, when I originally had the colonoscopy scheduled.

Then I decided I didn't want the medical procedure to interfere with my bday68 plans, so I backed off.

Two weeks ago, I approached this study again and was accepted - yeah!

Today, they sent a phlebotomist to my house to withdraw 9 vials of blood.

That's all: Danielle was in and out in less than 20 minutes.

I'll receive $125 for letting her take that blood donation.

Plus, I'll get another $150 for the questionnaire and providing them with my colonoscopy results.

The study will continue for two more years, with them getting more blood each year and providing me a stipend for that service.

That's very beneficial income for a retiree!

The second study is from a company that has already obtained FDA approval for their CRC home kit.

Colosense is all about using the actual fecal matter to determine whether cancer is present.

After Marni called me and verified that I was a viable candidate, I was sent the kit and very detailed instructions on the collection of a suitable stool.

Not only will they examine that fecal matter, but they will also investigate the DNA material which I collected from it in a special tube.

So, if they've already been approved by the FDA, then why this study?

Like true scientists, they are interested in improving their data base.

Hence, the ad on fb for more volunteers in the name of science.

I sent my kit back to them yesterday.

After they receive the results from my medical procedure on Monday, for comparison to their study, I'll get $200.

Yes, please!

I must say, this has been the best part of getting a colonoscopy: feeling like I'm part of a team effort to keep others from dying like Mother Pat.

I'll be curious how the results from these two studies compare to each other and to the result of the colonoscopy.

SCIENCE!!! 

(smile)

new owner at msg, new rules

It had been such a scorcher today, with summer trying to come in hot.

After all, yesterday was the official first day of that season.

So, when Marcia sent around the text about meeting up for Music Bingo, I was all for it!

Gathering for fun and singing with friends, in air conditioning I didn't have to pay for?

Yes, please!

I was one of the first ones there, joined soon by Amanda and Merritt.

Marcia came in next, with her granddaughter, Batsheva, in tow.

The girl had a new short 'do for summer, though the reason for the cut had been too many snarls in her hair.

Her mom said cutting the hair was the only recourse.

The bob looked very cute though!

 

Sandy didn't arrive until my Nachos were already on the table.

Just look at that mass of chips and cheese and chili!!!

Russ came in just before 7, with his bag of Bingo paraphernalia in tow.

Hooray!!!

Then Chris, the manager, came over to break the news to us.

There weren't enough players there tonight.

The Music Bingo session was canceled.

Say what???

The new owner has some such nonsense about needing to have at least 8 players for the game to be held.

Ah, but there were  of us and two players at the bar... that's 8!

It didn't make a difference.

We even said we'd play for no prizes, just the joy of listening and singing along with the music being played!

Nope, that wasn't going to happen, captain. 

Well, drats.

I certainly wouldn't have ordered those $15 nachos if I'd known that.

They all felt the same way... but at least we had each other's company.

sunshine and some last words...

One of my favorite things about these vacations at Chez Kosmach is having breakfast on the back porch.

I especially enjoy that experience when the sun is shining brightly!

The view offers something different and interesting all around, from the tree with the thirteen birdhouses to the bouncy toy animals to the clusters of trees of different types near the blue-dyed canal.

Then there are the sounds!

Birdsong of several types!

Chimes on the back porch merging songs with the front chimes!

Even the sounds of cars passing on the street seem more charming.

I remembered that I needed to write in Dawn's guest book.

What should I do for her this time?

 

How about a different scribble flower and a poem?

She would not be expecting that!

Yes, that would serve as a mighty fine start!

"Rain, rain, would not go away,

refusing to let Stella and Coco play.

But Saturday's sun

allowed them to run and have fun,

until the night storm at the end of the day."

 

Yes, that really sums up the vacation rather nicely!

Now, they should be home any minute from Chicago.

Time to take Stella by the front door to welcome them!!!

(smile!)

back to back bananas for me and stella!

For my last vacation in Georgetown with Stella, I'd been surprised to find the Banana Ball game on TV.

This time, I made sure to check their schedule!

That was a good call.

That meant I was prepared yesterday for the night game...

and I was prepared tonight for the second in that series of three!

 

Of course, I made sure to dine with my brothers last evening.

I wanted to talk with them about our Aunt Linda, who is in the hospital.

I am so grateful Smitty and Tony came with me for her Birthday Tea last year, spending quality time with her!

Nice for me to spend this quality time with family and friends at the S&K Friday Fiesta, too.

I jetted off about 7 PM, though, to make sure I got back to Stella before night fell... and before I missed too much of the game!

I arrived in time for the bottom of the 3rd inning in this game that pitted the Savannah Bananas against the Indianapolis Clowns in their home city of Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Great American Ball Park.

How very cool those aerial shots were, with the downtown surrounding that diamond of green!

The Bananas took the point for the first inning, the Clowns got the one for the second inning, and neither got a point for that 3rd one.

However, the Clowns, playing on the field they'd last been on 37 years ago, got a fire lit up by the crowd, taking the points for the next three innings!

That meant that at the bottom of the 7th, they led, 4 to 1.

Then Joe Gray, Jr. smacked a walk-off home run, bringing it to 5 to 1!

The Bananas managed to get the point for the 8th inning, but couldn't score again in the 9th, leaving the final at Clowns 5, Bananas 2.

Great game!

Tonight, here's the scene, with the same teams, same field, bottom of the 3rd inning.

Kyle Luigs was the starting pitcher for the Bananas and he had kept the Clowns from getting any runs.

That streak fell apart in the third, with the Clowns getting that point!

The Clowns also took the point in the 5th inning to tie the score 2 to 2.

Not to be outdone, the Bananas took the points for innings 6 and 7!

So exciting, with the thunder rumbling outside!

Their lead may have been aided by Hall of Famers for the Cincinnati Reds doing cameos on their team.

Both Adam Dunn and Aaron Harang played in those two innings!

But it wasn't time to count out the Clowns!

They got three runs in the 8th inning to take the point, bringing their score up to 3 against the Bananas' 4.

That's when they brought in Peanuts the Elephant to pitch in the 9th.

Although the fans loved it - as did I! - that may not have been the best for the team in this close game.

See, the Bananas had already scored three runs that inning.

However, Peanuts kept them from scoring any more, so that was good.

Sadly, the Clowns didn't score any runs that inning, so the Bananas took that game, 7 to 3.

There'll be a third game tomorrow, but I'll miss that.

Can you imagine?

The folks in that Ohio town are getting three Banana Ball games in a row!!!

Wow!

That means over 120,000 fans will have seen the games over this home stand.

That's amazing!!!

what a reunion at the patio!!!

Stella and I had arrived first.

I wasn't even sure if the party on the patio would come to pass, but I had made the choice that morning that we would be at the patio at 5 PM on this first sunny afternoon in days!

We were there about ten minutes early, just hanging out and hoping.

Then we heard it: Terry had turned on the speakers!

Rock music stirred the air!

Then Susan opened the back door and stepped out... 

with Coco close behind, but moving slowly...

until she saw Stella coming across the patio...

and justthatfast, the two dogs made a beeline for each other like friends who'd been apart too long!!!

What a glorious display of love and friendship!!!

They played and played!!!

That was well worth getting carried away by sand gnats for thirty minutes...

I'm so glad we finally had this party on the patio!