14 Degrees Below Normal..

It's cold here in Maryland. In fact, very cold for this time of year. Our highs over the last week have been in the upper 30s, which are January/February temperatures. They're 14 degrees Below normal, and like everyone we're feeling it!
This morning, when Tom set out for work at 4:30am his car wouldn't turn over, so the dogs and I got dressed (yes, they put on t-shirts in extreme cold like this morning's 28F) and drove Tom to the metro (subway) in our truck. We'll have to tend to the dead car this weekend.
I walked the dogs this morning for about 20 minutes. They were wearing their "Spiderman" and "FBI" Tee shirts, and I was wrapped in my winter jacket, with scarf, gloves, hat and lots of kleenex. Dry cracked skin on my hands has already reared its ugly head, a month or two ahead of time, so I'm chock full of moisturizer.
As I think about all this, I wonder, how in the world do my friends in Maine, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota do it for a longer winter period? Maybe I'm just getting old! Oh yeah, did I mention another day of snow showers here in Maryland today? Christmas music is now on the radio, and I'm okay with that- given the weather.

Superhero Movie Update: SHAZAM! / The Spirit

Captain Marvel Moves to Warner Bros. Source:Variety November 20, 2008
Variety reports that Get Smart director Peter Segal and his Callahan Filmworks partner Michael Ewing have signed a three-year first-look deal with Warner Bros. Pictures.
As part of the deal, Warner Bros. has also acquired the John August-scripted Captain Marvel; Segal will direct the DC Comics adaptation. He and Ewing began working on the film two years ago at New Line, but the property has moved over to Warner Bros. The film tells the story of teenaged Billy Batson, who transforms into the superhero when he says the word "Shazam!" (I can't wait!)
The Spirit Coming to Theaters on Christmas Day! Will Eisner's superhero from the 1940s finally comes to life in this action-packed movie. I'm not really familiar with him, (read only one comic from the 1940s), but he looks interesting. In appearance, he looks like the Green Hornet with overcoat, hat and mask. Set in the 1940s (I think) this trailer looks great! http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809838857/video

Click on "Animal Rescue Site" to help give free dog food

Thanks to my friends in MD and FL who sent this: The Animal Rescue Site is having troublegetting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota ofgetting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (How about 20 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals' for free. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising. Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know. http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/ (Photo: Hil and Richard's new dog, Amy!)

ANY Help Appreciated for MD Family Who Lost House in Fire

Some friends of my friend Lynn lost EVERYTHING in a fire yesterday. See email below. ynn's son Jeffrey has been in school with their middle child, Kaitlyn, since nursery school. If you want to help, please either send your monetary contributions to me, and make any checks payable to: Brian and Laurie Whiting
You can send a check:
c/o Lynn Chandler
3928 Calawasse Road
Edgewater, Md 21037
IF you have any clothes, (and live between Annapolis and Washington, DC) Lynn will come pick them up. Anything you can do would be so appreciated. This entire family is involved in everything in the community and always have been. They are so generous of their time and now is the time for us to give back to them.

Baltimore/Washington's First Snow of the Season!

It's Tuesday, November 18th, and we're receiving our first snow (at least pretty good on-and-off flurries)! - Thanks to an arctic air mass that's settled over the region, we've got high temps in the upper 30s, with gusty, cold winds!
At 2:20pm EST,it was only 36 Fahrenheit, with a gusty NW wind to 28 mph, and the WIND CHILL is NEAR 25F!!
From the National Weather Service: 1235 PM EST TUE NOV 18 2008 .NOW...
SCATTERED FLURRIES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON. NO SNOW ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED. IT WILL BE BLUSTERY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID AND UPPER 30S AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH. WIND CHILL VALUES WILL BE IN THE UPPER 20S.

GIFT CARDS: Choose Wisely this Holiday Season!

There are a number of stores that have filed for bankruptcy this year because of the poor economy, and if you have a gift card - Good luck! - Be VERY careful which gift cards you buy over the holidays. I have a SOLUTION: Only Buy Dunkin Donuts Gift Cards! - Rob
Here's the news on some others:
Circuit City said it will continue to honor outstanding gift cards, and will continue to sell them. But Circuit City also announced that it's closing 155 stores, which means some card holders will have a harder time finding a place to redeem them. And if the company's efforts to reorganize fail, the cards could become worthless.
Linens 'n Things filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May. Consumers who still have gift cards for the retailer will have a hard time redeeming them: After failing to find a buyer, Linens 'n Things announced that it's liquidating its merchandise and closing its stores.
Bombay Co., which filed for bankruptcy protection last year, didn't fare much better. In August, the retailer won approval from the bankruptcy court to pay off gift card holders 25 cents on the dollar.
Tweeter, a consumer electronics chain that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early November, originally planned to stop accepting gift cards on Nov. 15. After several state attorney generals intervened, the company agreed to accept gift cards through Dec. 31, or until its stores close.
S ome consumers have already been burned. When Sharper Image filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, gift card holders were informed they could no longer use their cards. The company later asked the court to allow it to accept gift cards if holders spent twice the value of the gift card on a single purchase. Consumers Union estimates that unused Sharper Image gift cards totaled $20 million.

Technology Brings Elvis and Martina Together on "Blue Christmas"

I think this is kind of cool - a new CD of musical collaborations with Elvis- but what's most interesting is the VIDEO below. What incredible video editing!!!- rob
A 'Blue Christmas' with Elvis and Martina McBride
By Brian Mansfield, Special for USA TODAY
Elvis and Martina McBride spend a Blue Christmas together.
Martina McBride was just shy of 2 when Elvis Presley filmed his 1968 "comeback" TV special. This year, the country singer steps back in time 40 years to join the King of Rock 'n' Roll in a video for Blue Christmas.
"They took Elvis out of the '68 special and put him on the Idol stage," he says. "We were taking Martina to the '68 special." The posthumous collaboration also appears on Elvis Presley Christmas Duets, a new album that pairs Presley with singers such as Carrie Underwood, Amy Grant and Olivia Newton-John. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-11-14-elvis-mcbride_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Sad State of the Economy: Homeless won't leave pets to get off streets

This is an article from today's Nashville Tennessean newspaper (which I read on-line daily, because I love Nashville). It's outrageous that so many people are homeless in this country. Thankfully, we'll be getting new leadership that doesn't cater to the rich anymore. Regardless, people NEED their pets even in extreme hard times. Our pets ARE our children. This will really make you think, and make you thankful for what you do have.
Laurie Green, founder of the Southern Alliance for Animal Welfare, checks out Mike and Rebecca's elderly spaniel, Sheba, at Tent City, a homeless encampment in Nashville.

November 17, 2008
Homeless won't leave pets to get off streets
By Jennifer Brooks
THE TENNESSEAN
The leaves are falling, the nights are cold and Carolyn Garton would like nothing better than to move out of her makeshift shelter in Tent City and into a nice, warm house. But not without her Sunshine.
"She's my baby. God brought her to me," said Garton, pulling Sunshine into a hug. The black and tan shepherd mix thumped her tail and wriggled closer to lick her owner's chin. Garton, who's known around Tent City as Mama Bear, has been homeless for two years. Sunshine's been by her side for most of it.
"She was brought to me at a hard time in my life," said Garton, who took in the abandoned puppy on a bleak, rainy day a year and a half ago. A look around their camp shows the lengths she's gone to provide for her pet. Sunshine has her own pillow and a nest of blankets in the tent they share. Volunteers have donated kibble, veterinary care and flea drops — enough to ensure that the homeless pet is living at least as comfortably as her homeless person.
FULL STORY: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20081117/NEWS01/811170332

Sunday- Fun Day

Sunday was a nice day, although extremely brisk, due to a gusty NW wind to 35mph under clouds and sun, with highs in the upper 40s.
After a nice 7am breakfast at Panera Bread (as usual), we went home and walked Dolly and Franklin (clad in tee-shirts because they have short fur). It was BRISK!
- I talked with Beverlee and learned she was safe in PA with her neice and her husband, so I was able to relax. She also managed to get someone in her apt. complex to take care of her cat (yes, a retirement apt in Baltimore does allow elderly folks to keep a cat or small dog- which I think is a good thing).
- Tom and I decided to go shopping as a local store was closing, and had discounts. Not much there. We also got my younger brother a birthday present at Barnes and Noble. We really think he should run for Congress. He's incredible.
- We ended the day by attending a funny production put on at the retirement community where Tom's parents live in Annapolis. It was a mix of humor and music. Some of the skits and costumes were outrageous, especially because it was performed by all residents! Tom's stepdad Bob, was in several skits, and really made me laugh. He's such a funny guy and has a talent on stage. Some of the people who sang, though, could've shattered glass and made cats and dogs wail! Tom's mom sat with us (she wasn't in the production but was the lead of the cleanup crew for the room/stage area in the community's lodge where it was held).
Afterward, we all had a nice dinner/breakfast at Denny's and Tom and came home to the dogs, and watched "The Amazing Race"- which we love! A nice Sunday overall!

Aging and Difficulties- Part 2

It's Saturday, two days after I took my 86-year old friend Beverlee home from the ICU at a Baltimore hospital (she's on oxygen and in failing health). I called to check on her, and she's not well. She's totally disoriented in her studio apartment, and panicking. She hasn't been able to eat, and doesn't want to call the folks in her complex to assist her -
Fortunately, Beverlee was able to give me the phone number of her neice in PA, and I called her. She and her husband are coming down immediately to get Bev and bring her back home with them. At least Bev will be safe and watched.
Since I picked her up from the hospital on Thursday night, Bev has been going back and forth with her timelines in her conversation. She's not been totally coherent-which has me very concerned. Bev also mentioned what she wants for funeral arrangements, etc. which tells me she's preparing to "go home" to her husband that passed some 46 years ago. I stayed on the phone with her for quite awhile today, helping keep her company until her neice arrives.
The tough thing is that I have no power of attorney to assist her in the ways she needs it- that's where family is so important. As we grow old, we really need to make sure we have someone to look after us. - I'll update this over the weekend.

The Sadness in Getting Old - last night

Last night gave me a lot to think about. My 86 year old friend, Beverlee called me during the day and asked if I could pick her up from the VA Hospital ICU in Baltimore City and drive her home after I got out of work. Of course, I did.
Bev had lung cancer and recovered successfully years ago. She's also had other lung-related ailments, although never a smoker. Over the last year, she's lost about 20 pounds and stands around 4'7" and weighs around 80 pounds. She's extremely frail, has severe breathing difficulties and has used a walker for the last two years. She's also been on oxygen 24/7 since about 6 months ago. I've watched the physical abilities fade from her over the last two years, mostly the last 6 months.
Bev's husband passed away some 40 years ago when he was around my age. She's never forgotten him. He was and always will be the love of her life. His pictures adorn her apartment.
Beverlee has one son who lives in another state with his family. She doesn't like speaking with him, because he's apparently very selfish. She wonders often how he turned out that way. She tells me that she can only turn to a niece and her husband for help, who live in Pennsylvania (a 90 minute drive), so she called me.
Up until last night, Beverlee has had all of her faculties. However, pulling out of the VA Hospital parking garage last night, she kept asking me "where did you park?" I told her we were driving in my truck. She asked again. Finally I asked who she was talking to, and she said "Darlene." I told her Darlene wasn't in my truck, then she realized where she was.
She also kept talking about a nasty young woman that she was currently "working with in an office" - so it sounded like she was remembering something from the 1950s or 1960s. Then it got mixed in with being at the hospital. I couldn't follow it. She became paranoid that that nasty woman would follow her and I back to her apt. or call her and harrass her. I told her there was no one.
When I got to the apt. bldg where she lives (a retirement building, but NOT assisted living, which she so desperately needs), I parked outside (on Charles Street, a main street in Baltimore) and ran and got a wheelchair to bring her inside.
Once inside her apt. she collapsed on her bed, while I helped organize things a little. She looked very frail, and I wondered how long it would be before she wanted to join her husband in Heaven.
Her oxygen machine wasn't working either, so I called an emergency technician who arrived 1 1/2 hours later with a replacement. While we were waiting, she lay on her bed talking occasionally about the hospital, and how she needs to immediately move to assisted living. (I gave her a bunch of places to contact, several months back). Once rested, she seemed more coherent, and the technician arrived and left. So I headed back home. I call and check on her almost every day, as I do with my own mom (300 miles away).
I think the big fear is growing old and not having anyone to help us. Tom and I talk about that, as we won't have children. However, at least we can be there for others. That's what life is about. Please keep Bev in your thoughts and prayers.

Dog Risks Life to Be With Owner in Fire

Here's a story from the Chicago Sun Times today. There is NOTHING like the unconditional love of a dog. If you don't have a dog, you're missing one of life's greatest gifts. Here's the story:DOG ON MEND FROM FATAL FIRE
November 14, 2008 BY DAN ROZEK Chicago Sun Times Staff Reporter (Photo: Richard A. Chapman/Sun-Times)
Regis is on the road to recovery, but he's not there yet, said the veterinarian treating the 13-year-old mixed-breed dog that survived a Cicero house fire after his owner refused to flee the burning home without him.
Regis' owner, 68-year-old John Petrik died of heart disease and smoke inhalation after being removed from his home early Wednesday by firefighters.
Regis is being treated for injuries at the A American Veterinary Hospital in Oak Park. Petrik initially refused to leave without his beloved dog, which was rescued later by firefighters -- though the 55-pound German shepherd mix suffered smoke inhalation and a burned tail.
On Thursday, Regis showed signs of improvement -- including resuming eating -- but he was still having difficulty walking, possibly because of the smoke he inhaled, said Cesar Agustin, the Oak Park veterinarian treating him for his injuries. "He's much better, but he's not 100 percent yet," said Agustin, who added he was "highly optimistic" the dog would recover.
The dog was given oxygen treatment and antibiotics, along with a salve for his burned tail, though Agustin is still awaiting the results of blood tests to see if he suffered internal injuries. Regis also was treated for fleas.