UPDATE AND TRIVIA

Hello again, Blogging Pals!! Glad you're reading!

Alright. The Update. There is none. After the successful MRI and a doctor visit for an opinion, I have been referred to a neurosurgeon in Alexandria, La. My appointment is October 8th so you won't have to hear any more about it until after that! :)

On a related note, I received a call from a gentleman who apparently was affiliated with the MRI facility where I had the horrific experience. Interestingly enough, he mentioned they also managed the second MRI facility where I had a completely acceptable experience. At any rate, he did apologize multiple times and assured me the situation that was so horrific would be resolved. I didn't ask for detail as it didn't really matter to me. I will not return to that facility. A friend of mine, however, will be going there in the near future and advised I would receive a "report" as to whether or not things have improved. We'll see.

A little trivia for you to fill your brain with totally useless information!

The Autumnal Equinox will occur on September 22nd this year. The link I have provided will give you LOTS of information about that event. If you are not familiar with the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes or the Summer and Winter Solstices, you might want to do a little catching up! (Remember... this is essentially useless information for most of you!) Thanks to my pal, Adele, for reminding me this one is upon us!

While I like pork as much as the next person, I've got to say that I don't think I could actually sit down and eat at the establishment pictured below. That little piggie is just TOO cute!! I might feel guilty. If you are on Hwy 171 on the north side of Lake Charles and have a need for pork, check it out. Let me know if it's good! Welcome to the Pink Pig BBQ!!

In the interest of dining establishments, my friend, Jo B., felt she had found a blogworthy one in New Orleans. While the photo was difficult to capture and one can't really make out the entire name, I assure you this is the Voo Doo BBQ and Grill!! (I'm guessing they have to do something with all those chickens used in curse-making?)
In related news, there are two (count them, TWO!) new restaurants that have opened here in the past few weeks. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to visit them but I will provide a critique once I do! There is a "new" Presley's Barbeque restaurant. Understand there has been one of those in the past but the "new" one is run by the son of the original owner. There is also a new El Giro restaurant offering Mexican food. We'll have to see if it measures up to the Tex-Mex available in Austin! I am VERY hopeful it will!!

So... not a whole lot going on at this point. The Beauregard Parish Fair, reported on previously in this blog, will arrive in October. Hopefully we can get out there to report on this year's for you.

I hope you are all well and having a lovely September.

Until next time...

9/11/2010 PLEASE RENEW YOUR ACQUAINTANCE WITH SGT. MAJ. LARRY STRICKLAND

*** This was posted in 2009 as my tribute to Sgt. Maj. Larry Strickland. I repeat it here as I will continue doing so on each anniversary of 9/11 as long as I am able. There are a couple of notes and updates this year in bold/italic.

Please meet Sgt. Maj. Larry Strickland. He was 52 years old, born in Washington State, and had a Bachelor of Science degree. He had served our country in a lot of places including Germany, Washington State, Washington DC, Texas, and Virginia. He had many awards and decorations. Most devastating for me to learn was his plan to retire upon completion of 30 years of service... at the end of September 2001. After all of his service, he was close to spending more time on his hobbies (fishing, hiking, gourmet cooking, and needlepoint) and especially looking forward to spending more time with his family. SGM Strickland left behind a wife, Debra, who was the Garrison Command Sergeant Major of Fort Belvoir, VA. at the time, three adult children, and one grandson who will never know his grandfather as he was only a year old when SGM Strickland was taken. His parents also were left to deal with the untimely loss of their child.

NOTE: I posted a note to the family at Legacy.com and received two emails.

One was from SGM Strickland's son-in-law and read, in part:
"I came across your blog today while searching for SM Larry Strickland. I am lucky enough to be married to his daughter Julia and I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for caring enough to research this remarkable man. Everything you read about him and his character is true. He left behind an amazingly strong wife, a beautiful daughter, his two sons, and his grandson. His grandson was 4, not 1 as many newspaper articles claim, so he does remember his grandfather, and fondly."(I was SO happy to read that his grandson did remember his grandfather and wanted to share that with you all! MNC)

The other email was from SGM Strickland's daughter and read, in part:
"Mary, thank you very much for your kind words. I am Larry's daughter, and it is wonderful to know that though it's been 8 years, remembering him and this tragic event is still as important now as it was the day it happened. He was truly a wonderful man, and the best father anyone could ask for."
SGM Strickland headed out to work that day at the Pentagon as there were some meetings he deemed important enough to attend even though he could have skipped them. He had annual leave built up that needed to be used or lost. He chose to go to work. If you knew nothing more about him than that, you would know the character of the man. It was that character that had him in his office on the second floor when the wing he was in was struck by American Airlines Flight 77.

But this is a tribute to SGM Strickland's life. And I've got to tell you the things said about him and written about him are absolutely glowing!! What a wonderful thing... to have those left behind remember you so well and so lovingly. It's not just family. These were friends, co-workers, people who knew him on a "business" level where, many times, the feelings are not so great. I would suggest you take a few moments today to review three different web sites where there are tributes (and from where I gathered much of the information I am sharing with you). It really won't take that long and, thankfully, most of us did not actually know anyone who was lost that day. Perhaps it would be good to learn about at least one of them. I know it gave me a very new perspective.

Pentagon Memorial Fund - Names of the souls lost at the Pentagon are alphabetical by last name. Scroll down and click on SGM Strickland's name to read about his service career.

Columns - The University of Washington Alumni Magazine- Read a really great article here about SGM Strickland's personal life. Sounds like someone we would all like to have known.

The Washington Post - This project is a database of all of the souls lost that day and has a very nice tribute to SGM Strickland.


Legacy.com - This is where folks can leave notes for the family. Many folks were positively impacted by SGM Strickland. Some commented here about their appreciation of the man. I invite you to take just a moment to leave a note here to let the family know the loss of their loved one is something we all remember.

9-11 Heroes - This is another site where a note can be left. Again... take a moment to leave a note on at least one of the sites. You have no idea how much this can mean to family members.

Thank you, SGM Strickland, for your service, for your honor, and for your character. I'm glad I got to know you.

We should never forget.

9/11/2010 PLEASE MEET MAJ. RONALD D. MILAM

Major Ronald Dutrell Milam was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and had a Bachelors degree from Eastern New Mexico University earned in 1991. He served his country in Germany, Korea, and Saudi Arabia. He had recently received his assignment as Military Assistant for the Secretary of the Army. He had also recently married Jacqueline on January 15, 2000. Things were definitely going well for Major Milam and his new family. His future was clearly a bright one and who knows what wonderful things he would have accomplished!

On 9/11/2001, Major Milam, who had just turned 33 the month before, was at work at the Pentagon. His wife, Jacqueline, five months pregnant with their second child and an Air Force officer, was also at her job at the Pentagon. Neither had an office in the area where Flight 77 struck that morning. Jacqueline was not terribly concerned immediately after the attack assuming they would connect in the parking lot. Major Milam had been attending a staff meeting that morning... right where the aircraft crashed into the Pentagon.

But this post is a tribute to a man who lived well, with honor and with dedication to his country. His college basketball coach had no doubt Major Milam was a leader and a role model during his years working with him. When Major Milam told his coach he had chosen the military as his career, the coach, who thought Milam should pursue a career in law, told the young man he supported him 100%. Major Milam clearly touched many lives during his own. What a great legacy to leave!! We should all be proud of this young man.

Take a few moments today to visit the sites below. If you can, leave a note for his family at either Legacy.com or at 9-11 Heroes. All of the sites below are links to get you there quickly.

Eastern New Mexico University News Release - Review this page for comments from Major Milam's high school principal and his college basketball coach. This will let you know the caliber of the man we honor today.

Arlington Cemetery Site - If you read nothing else, read this tribute. Major Milam's wife recounts the events of that day and what has kept her going.

Pentagon Memorial Site - This site has a full obituary providing information on Major Milam's life.

The Washington Post - This site has a short remembrance from Major Milam's father about the Major's love of golf.

Legacy.Com - Take a moment and leave a note for the family here, if you wish.

9-11 Heroes - Or you can leave a note for the family here, if you wish.

Thank you, Major Milam, for your service, for your honor, and for your character. I'm glad I got to know you.

We should never forget.

PROJECT 2996 AND TWO POSTS FOR 9-11

Hello again, Blogging Buddies! Welcome back!!

Okay. I feel like I have been having a "poor, pitiful Pearl" couple of months and today, as I worked on my tributes to two souls who were lost on 9/11/2001, I was a little ashamed. My concerns are really so very nominal in the overall scheme of things, I am truly blessed. I apologize for my wallowing about and hope that most of you recognized the humor I was trying to impart.

So... I am letting you know I am once again participating in Project 2,996. I found this project last year and feel it is truly a mission that is worth participation. You can read about it more thoroughly, if you wish, but know it is the quest of one wonderful individual attempting to find anyone with a web site or a blog willing to post a tribute to one of the 2,996 souls lost on 9/11/2001. The idea is to generate a "blog burst" on 9/11 each year to remind folks of the loss of these innocents and to make certain we never forget that day. It is non-commercial, non-political, and non-invasive (you don't have to read the tributes!). I like that.

Watch for two tributes posted on 9/11 on this blog. There are many souls who do not yet have someone posting tribute to them. This is why I have chosen a second soul to honor. Please take a few moments to read them and perhaps leave a note to the families at the web sites I will provide you in each.

Thanks to all!! You are the BEST Blogging Buddies in the world!! :)

SEPTEMBER... ???

Howdy, Blogging Pals!!

Well, the title of this blog is based on the fact that both July and August were not stellar and the current month is "up-in-the-air" in my world. We'll see if it's the month to break the streak of insanity!!

Okay. Some of you have inquired about what has happened since the nightmarish, aborted MRI attempt locally. Let me bring you up-to-speed on that. The spousal-unit drove me down to the "open-air" MRI facility 45 minutes south of here. We entered a BRIGHT, CHEERY environment with a window to the reception desk. The young lady behind it had my paperwork ready to go. After checking a few items on the paperwork and signing it, it was only moments until a woman called me back. I was ushered into a BRIGHT, WELL-LIT room with the machine stationed in such a way that one could actually easily see out of a window which had open blinds. I quickly advised the ladies who were there about my dismal experience the previous week and suggested I was not in the mood for a repeat performance. The tech-gal assured me she would be right there with me in constant communication. I eased myself onto the PADDED "shelf" after tech-gal had LOWERED it to a level that made it easy to climb onboard. A proper padded bolster was gently set under my knees and time was taken to make certain it was comfortable and in the correct place. Tech-gal explained every little thing to me before I was "rolled" into the machine. (I guess she believed me when I said I wanted to know each step of the process.) During the process, a radio was playing in the room (although I was not allowed a selection of music and listened to one that was not my favorite... but hey!) and the configuration of the machine allowed my head to move from side-to-side while under the overhead portion of the unit. I could see out of the window. I could see the wall of the room where I walked into it. Hmmmmmmm. Let's see. Is this really a 180-degree difference from the local experience? Oh yes. It is. Tech-gal popped in on the speaker to tell me each step and how long it would last. She didn't lie. I knew exactly what was going on. That doesn't seem to be a demand that is too difficult to handle and she handled it perfectly. So... want to know the "kicker" about this deal? The cost for "self-pay" was $150 LESS than what I would have had to pay locally. Huh? Isn't that amazing?

Okay. So the first doctor's visit resulted in pretty much nothing. The MRI report, which I obtained a copy of, does not appear to show much difference from the MRI report from 6 years ago. ??? The first doc, who had made the MRI referral, is not a specialist. He had a few suggestions regarding the pain... but I want to know WHY it keeps happening and HOW it can be resolved... IF it can be resolved. If it boils down to pain management, fine. But let's try to "fix" it first. The doc has offered to refer me to an ortho spine guy in the same town where the successful MRI was conducted. I am seeking a second opinion at this point before heading into the world of specialists. A good friend of mine has suggested she had a very similar issue and her doc has apparently figured it out and managed to relieve her situation with a very simple treatment. I'm going to check with him for that second opinion. That is scheduled for this coming Wednesday.

There you have it. You know what I know now... which is essentially nothing, really. Sorry 'bout that!! I will keep you posted. In the meantime, I am able to drive myself short distances now and have resumed my lunch runs to the aunt's house. Still carrying the "Moses stick" just in case I need to part a swamp... but using it less and less. :)

Until the next "General Hospital" update...