~*~CASUAL COMMUNITY NEWS~*~
 

Issue XIX July 6th 2003
 

Editorial.

Hi Folks,

 Summer has arrived <hooray> The kids are finished school <groan>. You will all have to read Tallie's article to get tips on surviving summer with kids. Me? I've given up surviving, I just look forward to September!

So, the news on the home front, well, I have sat my final exam for the moment and passed <VBG> So I have to think what I would like to do next. I seem to have caught the education bug and feel quite lost without my desk piled up with text books. My summer project is in hand, I intend to build my next system, complete with go faster stripes. <S> I am looking forward to getting one of those nice flat screen monitors. It will be a relief to finally get my desk pushed into the wall because the whopper of a 19" CRT monitor I have at the moment makes it sit out about six inches.

I'm another year older on Saturday which is really quite depressing, I don't know where the years go! I can't beat last year, so I'm not even going to try. Last year Marie Ange and myself spent it in quite a luxurious hotel in Edinburgh, and forced ourselves to sample the local vintage. <S> It doesn't seem that long ago, I think someone has stolen six months out of the year or something like that.

The sprogs are in top form. This time they have mysteriously managed to make one of the shades of my light fitting disappear. I asked "OK... who broke it?" Funny enough, all three denied any knowledge of it. So, if anyone has heard any rumours about small bad elves sneaking around houses stealing bits of light fittings, I can tell you that they have reached Ireland and I wish they would go and give someone else a turn sampling their behaviour!

I have solved some of their worse bathroom habits though. Remember I told you before that I thought it was only women who filled bathroom units with every lotion and potion known to mankind? Well as you know it applies to sprogs also! Now, the little b... b..  darlings had the most annoying habit of leaving all the bottles and sprays and tubes all over the place, no matter how often I told them to place everything back where they belong. So, I devised a plan of action and every time I found something that was where it shouldn't be I promptly placed it in the bin! After about a week or two of them bin-hoking they soon got the message and it's surprising how tidy they are in the bathroom now!

Though, I think I will now have to enlarge on my plan and implement it in every other room in the house!

That's all the gossip for this month folks, I hope you all have a wonderful July!

Lynda

Any comments. articles, tips etc, please mail to LyndaAtCasual@Compuserve.com

Contents.

Editorial.........................................................................Lynda

Summertime Blues!......................................................Tallie

FIREFLY on the Wing.................................................Hubcap (Cappy)

I'm Working the All-Night Bus!...................................Tracey

The Terrible Twins and More.......................................Taffy

Drownings......................................................................Cookie

Lil'bits from Ma'am......................................................Maureen

Judge's Debate.............................................................Judge Bill

Summer time blues!

Now that kids are out of school, parents and even grandparents are watching kids explore the world during their waking hours - such fun most of the time, that is, until one of the kids 'gets sick'! Childhood illnesses range from a mild tummy ache to dramatic, forceful vomiting. Sometimes, it's obvious when to consult your child's doctor. But there are many not-so-obvious occasions when you might wonder whether to call the doctor.
When in doubt, consider the telephone one of your best friends. Armed with basic information about the child, call your pediatrician's office for advice. Be prepared to tell the doctor how long the problem has been going on, what differences you see in the child (or what descriptions the child can share), any details you think may be important, and what your specific concern(s) are. You know your child better than anyone. If you sense something is wrong, make the call.
Here are some general guidelines on when to call the doctor and when to manage things at home. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules. When in doubt, call.

Behavior changes. Call your doctor if your child is not acting like his usual self. Changes in behavior can include sleeping more than usual, not staying awake as expected, not playing or eating as usual, acting strangely, or not speaking clearly. Trust your instincts; you know your child best.

Head trauma. If a baby falls or is dropped from any height, call your pediatrician immediately for advice. If an older child has more than a minor head bump, check with the doctor about what should be done.

Pain. Call your doctor for severe, worsening or persistent pain, especially pain that interferes with your child's normal activities. Remember that an older child can tell you that he has pain, but a younger child may get the message across through inconsolable crying or other behavior changes.

Bleeding. Most childhood cuts and scrapes are minor. However, call your doctor for cuts that seem large, deep, or have edges that are spread apart and may need stitches. Call for emergency assistance (911 or your local emergency code) if the bleeding is severe and cannot be stopped or if your child is in shock (signs are pale, dizzy, confused; the child may even become unconscious).

Burns. Call your doctor for advice if a burn produced anything more than slight redness of the skin (first-degree burns). Second-degree burns penetrate down through the top layer of skin causing pain and blisters that may break and become infected. Third-degree burns destroy all layers of skin and may involve deeper tissues like muscle and bone.

Minor (first-degree) burns involving only the top layer of skin can be managed at home. If your child has a burn over a small area (the size of a dime or nickel) that just turns red, hold the burned area under cool running tap water for about 10 minutes. Don't use ice; it can injure the burned areas. And don't cover the area with butter, creams or ointments - oil preparations can hold the heat in the tissues and cause more damage.

In summary, if your child becomes ill, write down on a piece of paper the time of day it started and what you observed or saw about your child - for example, if the child fell or was injured, how did it happen, where was he hurt, what did the injury look like? If the child became sick, what did you first notice, at what time, did the child have a fever, vomit, have diarrhea, or complain of pain, if so, where? Write down the child's temperature each time you take it and the time with the name of any medicine you gave him. Bring that piece of paper with you if you go to the doctor's office or the emergency room for help. That will save time in the treatment of your child. It is hard to remember all the details when you are in an office or emergency room, worrying about your child.
Oh and by the way, have a great summer!

Tallie

Now as some of ya’ll know our Firefly.Aka…Taffy has been winging it across country…again.

Miss Lizzie, relayed word to me one Firefly landed over night in Colby Ks…world-renowned home of the largest prairie dog. After seeing said prairie dog among other critters…gathering a souvenir or so for the wee men of the family the youngin snuggled in for the night.

Still being a fur piece from Tater and Cappy’s she’s up at the ungodly hour of 5:00am…(so not me…no wonder I never get past the front porch). Mean time in her clapboard shanty shack ol Cappy (that’s me) is pacing the floor-making calls to the Caddy dealers for service and pestering Tater on how long it will take her to arrive.

THERE SHE IS!!! At last safe in one piece…Tater sprinkles rose peddles at her feet while she walks in for a special welcome. We grab each other and talk about a hug well we are hugging each other and it is ever so much better than by keyboard /;-)

A real super hugs! Then we start talking –laughing and near went past time the Caddy shop closed. Tater gave me directions. (Oh did I mention we are known as the Air Capitol?). Rush hour on a Friday night on highway 54 its utter terror. (For me that is).

Home to find Tater had started dinner. Well he finished it also. He does real good for a beginner and even told us to go on he would clear and do the dishes…was to give us more time together. Hey he may not be a 6 ft. hulk but he is all I want and need in this life. Taking our after dinner drinks off to the office we went to go online and let friends know herself had made it safely to the Air Cap. This after 8:00 boy tis hard to try and eat and talk at the same time…and I do love to talk. All too soon her little blinker started to fade-well it was after 12:00 way after and she had been up and on the road at 5:00-long day. No wonder this sweet little voice ask, "what time do you go to bed" nights were said and off to bed we went.

Sadly the elegant-classical and most interesting Firefly had to wing her way towards Miss Lizzie’s, where she rode the bull a good part of the day. Miss Lizzie, did inform me

Firefly is an experienced bull rider (wish I could’ve seen that).

On with her trip to meet more family then off to her sister’s to celebrate her mother’s birthday and have a great visit.

She is home safe now which we give thanks-Tater put her special coffee in the deep freeze where it will await her return….I just have to chuckle when I think how our Firefly, got her oil changed plus lost in Wichita. What a funny movie that would make …but they already did "Planes Trains and Automobiles" with those two guys.

THE TERRIBLE TWINS, AND MORE

Whewwwww, 3300 miles of driving alone in my car, but here I am safely at home again in Colorado. After a cool start to summer, it has finally heated up a bit to the high 80's, and predicting low 90's for the next few days. It seems strange to "feel the heat," although not humid, while looking westward
and seeing the snow high up on the mountain peaks. I do love those Rocky Mountains, but as a former Californian, there are times when I miss living near the ocean. Perhaps one of these days I'll have the pleasure of meeting HARDTACK and LYNN when I visit there again.

But back to the "terrible twins." We're talking CAPPY and MIZ LIZZIE, whom I met during my sojourn. I'd never say such things about them, < sure!>, but that was exactly the term that Irish lass, LYNDA, used when discussing my contribution to the CASUAL NEWS. I should have told her I wouldn't tell everything, because information of a certain nature wouldn't be acceptable in cyber
space! Something closely akin to that old term, "Banned in Boston."

My first stop was Wichita, where CAPPY and her adorable husband, TATER, greeted me like family. (Told me to get my own darn coffee.) LOL...no, actually, they had sprinkled rose petals at the front door! I was very touched by the gesture, and still wonder why I got such royal treatment. It was like that the entire time, and their gracious hospitality was the epitome of "Southern hospitality." Cappy is exactly as you would expect: warm, interesting, sentimental, a great conversationalist, plus she keeps a beautiful home filled with some exquisite antiques, paintings and collectibles. Now if only she would stop wearing that belly dancing outfit around the house, clanging her finger cymbals together (zills as they're called..oh, yes, Cappy has nice zills), every time Tater walks by! As I left, I said, "I shall return," and indeed I shall.

Then on to Indiana where that one and only LIZZIE greeted me from the front porch, her rottweiler charging when she said, "sic her!" Whew, I was glad Cappy had given me some pepper spray, or I would have been a goner! Ha! What a great gal Lizzie is, and again, just as it was with Cappy, I felt like we had known each other forever. We sat around the kitchen table talking about everything under the sun, and nothing was sacred.
Sweetie pie hubby, PAUL, came home and gave me a warm Hoosier welcome, and then it was off riding the bull (actually, Lizzie's golf cart) all around the farm, including the back 40 where daughter CATHY's beautiful new home was nearly completed. Not very far away was the picture-perfect setting of Lizzie's new house, overlooking a peaceful pond. Newly framed, we walked through,
and she showed me where my room would be <s> And yes, I'll be going there again since I have family in Indiana; however, I hope Lizzie will get rid of those short shorts...was a bit embarrassing while she was climbing ladders and the carpenters going into chin-dropping, drooling, foaming-at-the-mouth stupors! <Reminding self to have pepper spray handy when I go back!>

No travel for me until the end of August when I will be going to the Festival of Wales in Vancouver. It's an annual event held at different venues in the US and Canada where people of Welsh descent gather to sing the music of Wales--usually about 1000 of us. Folks come from everywhere, including Wales, for this wonderful Labor Day event, which is usually for three days of not only singing, but seeing old friends, and the impromptu after-hours singing, which is sometimes in the hotel lobby or nearby pubs. There's usually a male voice choir from Wales. This time it's the Dunvant Male Choir from S. Wales, 120 strong. Gee, I wonder if I might find Mr. Right amongst them? <S>

Hugs to all,
Taffy
 

Drownings.

    When I was twelve years old I was setting on the front porch and watch three teenagers go by wearing swimming trunks and towels on their necks. I knew these boys and knew that none of them could swim. So I asked them what they were up to. They told me that they had a raft and were going rafting. Now I knew rafting and knew that you could not stand up on one and that it takes two people to guide using just your hands one on either side you manuevered it like you were swimming.
These boys had no clue as to how to handle one and I knew it. So I told them "you will drown" They laughed and told me to "Play with my dolls"

The river was just across the street with a steep bank. I didnt not go across and see their raft I knew what would happen if I did. I could not save them all they would do is add me to the list of the dead! I was a small twelve year old . they were all good size boys from the neighborhood.
All three drowned!               

When the boys were layed out two were at home. One in a mortuary
I walked down the the brothers house back then a wreath was placed on the doors. of mourners homes and it also meant walk in which I did

There in the living room ,with their parents weeping lay the two dead boys. The room was small and the coffins were placed end to end heads facing the same direction. The parents were both legally blind and one was deaf!
They had cried so long they're faces were all puffed but she was still whimpering. I hugged them both and stood said a prayer for them and couldnt take the sobbing so I left and walked down to see the other one

His parents werent there. No one was there so I viewed him too but I couldnt resist saying to him "I told you so"


Cookie

 

Lil'Bits from Ma'am.

Here we are in July and the Summer is well on its way. Happy Canada Day and Happy 4th of July to all and hope everyone enjoyed their holiday. This was the firs 4th of July that I did not have to be in the kitchen or at the BBQ cooking. Dear Daughter, for those of you who may remember wanted Ma'am to get off the internet and take up knitting several years ago <rolling eyes> decided to take on the holiday. The granddaughters wanted me at the house at 9:00 am to ride bikes to the local parade. I declined <LOL> For many years we as a family and neighborhood would build a float and enter the parade representing the Sheriff Service Center. We had a great BBQ and great view from the front yard of the big firework display. Very enjoyable and relaxing day. Tech and I have been busy at the Napa ranch. The rains this last winter did some damage to roads and fences so we are up there several days a week. I looked out the kitchen window and two bucks were staring in the window, a huge three pointer. Generally when they see people the run like heck but they just kept eating the grass and glancing back at me. I did tell them, deer season was approaching so run and hide!! <LOL> Our travels in the RV are on hold for awhile. That's about all the exciting news on the home front..

Forum News.. We have three hostie birthdays this month. Becca on the 2nd of July. Lynda on the 5th of July and Tracey on the 22nd of July. Becca and Lynda have been blessed with the birthday greetings by tech and I. Lynda was lucky to have rascal join in as baritone for her greeting. We were all dressed appropriately, "red dress" for ma'am and the guys in tuxedos.. Very festive I must say..

Tigger is now running a game on Saturday evening after Lynda's game. She has been helpful by pinching in when we needed some additional coverage. We wish her luck and glad to see her join us. There has been a lot of banter and fun going on and seemed to be enjoyed by all.. The Thursday evening debate seems to be going well and a different topic each week. The rest of our schedule is about the same, just be sure to check the Forum Home Page and or Newsflash for any changes. With summer, there are times we have to make a change or a cancellation.

Da Boss aka Trisha aka twista is recovering very nicely. She has completed PT and so thankful for that to be over. Nurse Tom has survived and we all prayed for him <nods>"What a Guy" !!!!

Here is hoping you all are having a good time in Casual Chat Forum, again thank you to this great staff and thanks to our members who help keep the place running. We are discussing some idea's and hope to present some additions to the forum that you will all enjoy.

Until next month, have a great summer and huggs to you all

~Ma'am~

 Judge's Debate

Well Casual chatters it's July already. Summer is here, kids are off from school, families are going on vacation, and spending time in the long beautiful days of July.

Through all this the Political Debate keeps pulling on. The month of June was a fun and exciting month. During June our numbers did drop from 10.5 people on average in May to an average 8.75 people in June. But that is understandable, it is the summer after all. We did have four good discussions, "Flag Week", "Smoke Week", and "Teen Trouble Week" parts one and two. Each
interesting in their own ways.

For July we will be looking into the aspects of same sex marriages (7/10/03), and also out of race relationships (7/17/03). Both of these topics should bring quite a number of responses and thoughts. Please tell your friends to join in for these, as well as all of our Debates.

I hope everyone has a safe, happy, and healthy summer. As always any questions, comments, and or suggestions for the Debate, please address those to myself at yank100@cs.com.

Enjoy the summer,
Judge Bill~[Moderator]~