Masshysteria's Weather Or Not Blog 

Good Sunday Afternoon, Everyone ~

Sorry that I haven't addressed a few posts left on my previous June blog, as my computer's been acting up and increasingly difficult to use. Hope it doesn't get worse in the days/weeks to come. For now, I've been able to start my July blog without much incident and, hopefully, will be able to continue getting online in the weeks/months to come!

I wanted to post to Pros and Kat my deepest concerns and prayers regarding their and others safety from either the recent turbulent storms effecting parts of Virginia or continuing wildfires that have vastly spread and decimated parts of Colorado. It appears many are faced with yet another challenging season ahead and, in some cases, are worsened by further cutbacks in governmental financial aid to FEMA and the like. Truly gut-wrenching! I hope that you and yours manage to miraculously avoid any/all annihilation of lives, homes and property during these most stressful and painful times. By all means, keep in touch with any one of us if and when you are able!!

On a much lighter note, it's been a gorgeous morning my way, with temps rising from a dry 70F to a current high of 86F and rising still. It's amazing how comfortable high temps can feel when devoid of any oppressive humidity. I truly wish that this warm, sunny, dry, gentle breezed day could be bottled for future use! It feels like a long time has passed since we haven't felt the need for using either an air-conditioner or furnace. Hope there's more of the same to come!

Unfortunately, to date, our local meteorologists feel that a 4th of July evening t'storm could interfere with a few major Independence Day celebrations scheduled for that time. Fingers crossed that the annual Boston Pops orchestra, its headliners (Jennifer Hudson and Michael Chiklis) and the huge fireworks finale' won't be effected or hampered. Many weeks of time, money and effort go into this actual July 4th event, which is held on the Boston Esplanade, (next to the Charles River), and broadcast on a major Boston TV station between 8-10 or 11:00 pm. I will try and link people up to their website, on Wednesday, in case there are a few people, in other states, who would be interested in viewing it as well. I hope this station continues streaming it as they've done in the past!



May you all have an enjoyable remainder to your Sunday!

Quoting Proserpina:
I heard from KAT, she is ok. B is ok as well. It is hot there, and the fires are burning uncontrolled and destroying homes/acres of land. They are away from her home, fortunately.

(((Prose))) ~

Thanks so much for taking the time to post updated news regarding CO-Kat. I certainly hope that she and B will remain safe and out of any nearby fire zones. I didn't realize that her hubby's health was still in question. If you happen to hear from her again, please forward my warmest best wishes and prayers to both.

Speaking of prayers, I hope that the "derecho" included in OGal's copied and posted weather report for West Virginia, etc. miraculously fizzles out! It seems much of Virginia's had enough serious turbulence for one week, let alone, an entire month! Hope we can all get through the remainder of this season in one piece. Glad to know of your protective "windowless bathroom"! It's a great idea and gives new meaning to the phrase " to serve and protect". LOL! (Just my lame attempt to add a little levity).

I'm looking forward to watching the Pops and Jennifer Hudson perform on local TV this Fourth as well. She is a very "classy lady", as you say; who not only has shown enormous talent, but strength in overcoming the sudden major losses of her mother, brother and very young nephew a few years ago.

May you, yours and everyone stay calm, cool, collected and SAFE today and everyday!

Good Morning and HAPPY 4TH OF JULY to all my US compatriots!

I thought that I'd repost the updated Boston Pops 4th of July concert news, just below, in honor of tonight's annual celebratory event. I'm including the postings of two older Youtubes containing both sections of the famous "1812 Overture". It is usually performed by the Pops (with trained Army Specialists firing cannons) at the tail end for added emphasis. This famous symphonic tune is also perfect to mark this year's bi-centenial or the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812.

WEATHER PERMITTING, THE FAMOUS BOSTON POPS WILL ONCE AGAIN PLAY THEIR FAMOUS ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY CONCERT IN THE HATCHSHELL ON BOSTON'S CHARLES RIVER ESPLANADE.



Actor and Andover, MA native, Michael Chiklis, is to be the Master of Ceremonies at this year's annual Boston Pops 4th of July Spectacular.
...Grammy-winning singer and Oscar winning actress, Jennifer Hudson will be performing as the main headliner.

Unfortunately, our local meteorologists feel that a possible t'storm could interfere with tonight's performance and subsequent fireworks display. Fingers crossed that it won't, as any weeks of time, money and effort go into this annual holiday event which is broadcast first locally then nationally.

YOUTUBES BELOW OF THE BOSTON POPS, WITH KEITH LOCKHART CONDUCTING, PLAYING THE FIRST AND SECOND HALVES OF THEIR TRADITIONAL FAMOUS RENDERING OF TCHAIKOVSKY'S 1812 OVERATURE:

.......



PLAP ~ Glad to know that you're still alive and kicking. I noticed, after posting concerns about your health and noteworthy disappearance on your blogsite, that you had posted a hello on Alley's. Hope you and yours find a nice cool comfortable spot to chill during the heatwave going on in La Prairie. I know how heat can effect people with serious health issues!

PAT ~ HAVE A SAFE & HAPPY 4TH, AS WELL, AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE, AS A FORMER MARINE, TO PROTECT AND SERVE OUR COUNTRY!


MAY YOU ALL HAVE A SAFE, RELAXING AND HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Good Afternoon, Everyone!

Well, last night, July 4th, between 8:30pm - 9:30 pm, a few vicious t'storms swept down the middle to eastern portions of New Hampshire and Mass. and created quite the conundrum for those communities that were about to set off their annual fireworks display around that time. There were moments when it was difficult to tell which was louder, thunder or the not-to-distant roar of fireworks. Thankfully, our side of town miraculously escaped damage caused by lightning strikes that resulted in a power outage. I heard that their problems were fixed (fallen trees on power lines, etc.) and electricity has been restored.

Remarkably, the annual Boston Pops Concert, was interrupted, only briefly, by a well-run mandatory evacuation due to seen approaching lightning. Many calmly walked to the closed underground portions of nearby Storrow Drive's overpasses until the go ahead was announced for safe return. It appears the storm cells remained east enough of the area before heading out over the harbor, but "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Once it was safe to snap my tv set back on, I resumed watching the Boston concert and found I hadn't missed any of the main attractions after all. Jennifer Hudson performed well and the spectacular fireworks, begun at concert's end, went off without a hitch in an unhampered sky. We're lucky to have such great traditions in our Commonwealth and Nation despite periodic glitches or delays caused by annoying weather events.

Plap ~ I read on your blogsite earlier that you experienced a TIA or transient ischemic attack yesterday while in a nearby Canadian hospital's ER. Glad to know you were in good medical hands while it happened and hope your doctors/specialists can collectively work together to resolve your persistently difficult health issues. Please stay in touch with any one of us by posting updates when you're able.

(((Prose))) ~ I so wish I could share our better weather with you and others. Last night's storm cooled us down but high humidity levels remained a slightly uncomfortable factor. This morning, it's much more comfortable outside with sunshine, warmth and much less sticky feel. Hope your electricity and now functioning air-conditioner remains fully operative until your unbearable heatwave breaks. Something tells me that we, in the Northeast, will probably make up for our recent good fortune in other ways in the days/months ahead. Fingers crossed that things will get better for all, especially, before the Mayan calendar draws to a close on Dec. 21st! Are you listening Nostradamus??

NEw ~ I left you a post on your site earlier and am equally outraged by the negligence shown by a certain well-off resident in Pelham, NH. Despite it being legal to purchase fireworks in that state, he should have known better and been held criminally liable for the extreme danger and resulting critical harm posed to several of his houseguests. HOW STUPID TO STORE SOOO MANY IN HIS HOME AND BASEMENT! Now, due to a so-called accidental spark setting everything off at once, a 2 yr old boy lies in an induced coma in the intensive care unit of the Boston Shriner's Burn Unit, with second to third degree burns! Additionally, an 8 mos. old girl has been slightly less but still seriously harmed and hospitalized. Altogether, 11 people were moderately to severely hurt. You can't imagine the silent expletive deletives that are running through my brain about that jerk of a man right now! PEOPLE WAKE UP, GROW UP AND THINK ABOUT THE COST IN INNOCENT HUMAN LIVES!

Jus ~ I just caught your post below after typing my ever-lengthy meanderings. LOL! Glad to see you online today and hope you and others in the mid-West and mid-Atlantic regions are finding safe ways to beat the unbearable heat. As I mentioned above, I truly feel lucky right now, but it's anyone's guess how all these increasingly extreme weather patterns will eventually play out in our future. Hope you and yours are healthy, doing well at work or play and find some relief and summertime enjoyment any where you can find it!

Hi Bogon, (((PROS))) and other WU friends ~

Sorry that I haven't been on the WU blogs lately, as my hubby had a health scare last Tuesday, July 24th, which was brought on by familial stresses and possible dehydration. I rushed him to the ER for immediate treatment and, thankfully, his full battery of tests, including a CAT scan, came back as normal at that time. He seemed to rebound rather well after being given a full bag of saline, so he was discharged several hours later. Unfortunately, his speech seems to have become a bit compromised, i.e. difficulty in getting his words out sooner and an increased slurriness when he does, but thank God he can still talk and be understood. He also has problems with his blood clotting which became obvious to all when the nurse abruptly removed his IV just before discharge. Oy Vey! What a mess! A tourniquet and compress applied to and around the area worked well but his arms remain very tender, black and blue while slowly healing.

I have continuously reminded him before and since this episode that he must consume enough water or other decaffeinated beverages throughout the day due to his age, disability (from a previous stroke) and any hot humid weather. Well, you can lead a horse to water, but .... He has now more than gotten the message and been scared into drinking plenty of essential fluids throughout the course of a day. He'll also do anything to avoid a re-visit to our local ER or be admitted to any hospital for quite some time to come. He saw his Neurologist last Thursday and has been scheduled for an MRI this Thursday, Aug. 2nd, to get a more definitive look-see and diagnosis. Hopefully, the test results will prove negative or show only minor changes to his speech center which would be adaptable and/or livable for him.

In the meantime, if anyone spots any trolls or spammers that come on here, please flag to the WU administrators ASAP. I've noticed on Aubie's blogsite that he and others have noted recent spam bloggers or trolls on WU and have taken up the collective mantle to eliminate them. I hope the WU Administration knows that I neither promote nor condone the nefarious behavior or acts from any trolls/spammers who come on board. I just don't want to end up being permanently banned from WU or my blog site while in abstentia. I don't need any more unnecessary agita in my life, and it's very important for me to retain access to my caring supportive WU family. Thanks and God Bless!

Quoting Proserpina:
Mass, if you get a chance, please let us know that you are ok. Thinking of you and praying that all is ok.

Dear (((Pros))) and Other Dear WU Friends ~

Sorry that I haven't found the time to get online or post much of anything these past few weeks, as I've been rather harried since my hubby's confirmed mild stroke on July 24th (increased impairment to his speech and total inability to hold a pen and write his name). If that wasn't bad enough, this past week, he somehow contracted a low grade fever and cough which culminated into a diagnosis of pneumonia in his left lower lung (per his doctor after a chest xray and labwork returned on Weds. afternoon.) Fortunately, it's not severe enough for him to be admitted into our local hospital, and he has been resting and recuperating nicely at home. As of today, he's showing improved signs after just completing his 5 day course of Azithromycin (Z-Pac - strong combo of antibiotics), while continuing on with his 10 day course of Amoxicillin (Penicillin)to be taken twice a day till next Sunday. He returns to his primary care doctor on Thursday for a follow-up visit and must wait nearly a month for another chest xray to insure that his treatment took full effect. Right now, I feel fairly confident that we caught and treated things early enough for the pneumonia to be found totally eradicated by then.

What surprised me the most about this is that he received, what I thought to be, a preventative pneumonia shot last November during his annual exam. Now, I know that it only reduces the risk rather than eliminate it. Nevertheless, I feel that matters could've been a whole lot worse had he not received one at all and, believe you me, he'll continue receiving one every November along with his flu shot in October.

Thanks to those WU friends who've given us prayers, concerns and lovely sentiments left here for my hubby and me. Any/all are and have been truly appreciated!! Naturally, I've been quite anxious and depressed, at times during these past few weeks, but am now doing my best to take things one day at a time, while dealing with these sudden setbacks. I also realize that I must find some moments for myself each day to relax or decompress a bit.

Hopefully, in the month ahead, our lives will adjust more to normal, so I can catch up on what's been happening here with my WU friends. I certainly hope that all of you remain well and are not experiencing any seriously challenging health, personal or weather related issues of your own! If so, my thoughts are prayers are with you as well!

At least, today's weather, in my portion of Mass. is absolutely gorgeous with temps in the low 70's and finally much more comfortable drier air to breath. I think many of us have felt we've been in competing in Olympic-sized swimming meets ourselves with all the high humidity felt by many of us thoughout most of this month. UGH! Gotta run but will attempt to update again ASAP.

Big hugs and thanks to you all!



P.S. Happy Birthday Gamms! Hope your special day is well celebrated! You deserve it!

(((Rob, Spathy, Jaime and Pros, etc.))) ~

Thanks so much for your kind posts, left yesterday, that are so full of love, support and encouragement! They're all gratefully appreciated by both hubby and me and do definitely lift our spirits!

He's seemingly doing better each day and currently has had no signs of a fever, but only a periodic slight cough. It appears his strong meds, begun last Weds., have taken full effect. His appetite remains uneffectedly good and he appears far less lethargic. I'm encouraged that we may have possibly nipped this in the bud by acting swiftly on his symptoms last week and reduced by the pneumonia shot he received last fall. Fingers crossed! I'll keep you posted once all is said and done. What a tumultuous four weeks!

On a sad nostalgic note today, I just read where former 60's singer Scott McKenzie passed away on Saturday, Aug. 18th, at age 73, from Guillain-Barre Syndrome which attacks the nervous system. How I so fondly remember his late 60's hit tune, "San Francisco", which I would play (45 rpm records - remember those Baby Boomers?) incessantly on my home stereo phonograph while still a teen back in the day. It was written by former composer/singer, John Phillips, of the "Mamas and Papas". Thought I'd post it here as a fond tribute to him, his talent and the once "Love and Peace Generation" the song espoused. ~ RIP Scott ~

Quoting TexNowNM:
So sorry to hear about your husbands illness. Your photograph of the two empty deck chairs is poignant. My own husband reacently had a glioblastoma removed and is now being treated for a subsequent brain infection. It is astonishing how quickly one's world can change. I look forward to reading a good outcome on here for your family and I hope you have many happy days together ahead of you.

Dear Tex ~

How incredibly thoughtful of you to take the time to post such kind well wishes to my hubby and me; especially, when your hubby and self are dealing with such overwhelmingly challenging issues of your own!! It's so true how our lives can be so swiftly upended by some of life's most unexpectedly difficult trials, but please know that our collective thoughts and prayers lie with you both while facing this most anxious time together!! Let's hope and pray that those two metaphorically empty chairs, of which you refer to from the pic, (taken by WU member, Den117 two years ago), posted in my blogheader and mentioned in your post below, won't remain so for very long! God Bless and do keep us posted on how you both are faring, too!! You have our full support!

Quoting Alleyoops:
MASS, prayers for you and your hubby. Hope he get's well soon. Come back when you can, until then know we are with you in spirit. BIG HUGS

Quoting Proserpina:
"

"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze. "
- John Updike, September


LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR RETURN TO WU. MISS YOU!

Quoting Proserpina:
Mass, you have been in my thoughts lately. I do hope that you and your hubby are ok. Keeping you in my prayers.

Quoting auburn:
Thinking of you guys!hope all is well!!!

Quoting RobDaHood:
Hey Mass!
Just peeking in to see if you've been by.
Thinking of you guys and sending good wishes!

Good Morning Everyone!

Firstly, I wish to thank all my good WU buddies above who've continued to check in and leave such caring supportive posts on my previous blog, etc. It means a lot.

Sorry it's taken so long for me to respond, but August also posed more unexpected twists and turns while hubby was recovering from his July 24th small stroke and then pneumonia on
August 15th. He suffered a trans-ischemic attack (which is related to a stroke) in the am of Aug. 29th and had to be admitted overnight into our local hospital for more tests and medication changes. The good news is these changes have seemingly done wonders for him. He's far less lethargic in the early am and feels more energetic during the course of the day. He's been diligently working on his speech (pronunciation of words) which remains a bit slurry but is audible and understandable to me, and is using old physical therapy equipment for the strengthening and flexibility of his right hand. Fingers crossed that he continues to improve without further unexpected incidents setting him back. (Although, he became ambitious the other day and, while cutting some hedges outside got stung by a wasp on his right hand). Poor thing had one huge hand but no allergic reaction and it's slowly returning to normal). Can't win for losing! LOL!

I, too, have finally caught up on some much needed rest as well as other personal matters, so I'm finally able to get online to say hello and THANKS FOR ALL YOUR KINDNESS AND SUPPORT!!! IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED!

I hope that those of you who may have suffered from Hurricane Issac or that challenging Northeastern cold front, both of which resulted in severe weather damage to many places, are now getting back to normal yourselves. I watched these events on TV and my prayers were with our WU friends in FL, LA and New England. Fortunately, we only received some rainfall alone! WHEW!

As a closing note, I'm hoping that I'll be able to continue posting here, when time and my computer allows (still suffering from freeze-ups and glitches) but want to also note that a couple dear WU friends have birthdays coming up this week! EMMYROSE - our Pyrate Queen on Weds., Sept. 19th and KAT - on Sept. 24th. Hope each will post on those days for some reminiscent posting banter and celebrations!

God Bless you all and I'll try to post on your respective blogsites shortly. Currently, I need another cup of tea right now. LOL!