Visit to doctor okay, but stomach is not

I get a call from the doctors office telling me the doctor has seen some problem with my heart and needs to come to his office    in two weeks to check further.  I report but the doctor does not see me; in fact, the doctor did not see me the earlier visit,

I ask the physician's assistant what  problem the doctor had seen,  She informed me it was water around the heart and I was to take Lassix.

For three days I have been suffering from stomach distress, vomiting and unable to keep anything     on my stomach.  During this time I have to ignore my blog.

"Always there echoes and re-echoes Durty, Honor, Country."

President Obama addressed the West Point graduates Tuesday, May 27, in a speech that was  at best confusing and uninspiring.

My mind goes back to May 12, 1962, when a true hero, General Douglas MacArthur, addressed the Corps, concluding with the sentence above.

General MacArthur believed that if you are in a war you try to win.  He was fired as America's military commander of troops in Korea for trying to defeat North Korea on the battlefield.   Instead, Americans died as negotiations dragged on and on.

Remember what was later termed the Philby conspiracy? Three young Britishers -- Philby, McLean and Burgess -- were traitors and spies for the Soviets.  Every decision by  the United States went immediately to England, the traitors, then on to the Soviets, the Red Chinese, and North Korea.  MacArthur wasn't aware that the enemy knew every action and decision made by the United States went immediately to the enemy.

Snowden was not the first traitor within a spy  agency.

Memorial Day

Most of us will enjoy the day with recreation  and food, and that's okay, but let us not forget that many gave their lives for this nation. Beginning with World War I there has been few years when some war was not being waged, some more popular than others.  In all these wars some have made the ultimate sacrifice and they should be remembered.

Obama -- Bush shares blame with Founding Fathers

After blaming former President Bush for every problem the nation has, President Obama now says  he can't do every thing to the nation he wants to because the Founding Fathers left the constitution with the "wrong structure."   

Obama is especially upset that each state has two senators.

Thank God for  the wisdom of the founding fathers.                   

Congress at its silliest

Urged by its chief nut, Harry Reid, the US Senate got 50 signatures on  a letter  demanding the Washington Red Skins drop the name of the team from Red Skins. Then after so much brilliant effort, Congress left on holiday.

Our foreign policy is a mess, Abamacare threatens our health system, half the people are out of work, and the VA is denying help to veterans.

Thank goodness, our federal government is in good hands and attacks our serious problems.

Will VA scandal stain Obama?

The screw-up of the Veteran's Administration may be the scandal that President Obama cannot escape.  He finally commented on  the ever-growing charges of uncaring treatment of veterans  by the VA, but his solution is to investigate and then if there are problems fix them.  That is not satisfactory to anyone.  A black congressman was visibly angry with Obama's seeming lack of urgency in correcting the abuse of veterans.

Obama has been able to ignore or deny a list of scandals (I count 24) but people are angry at reports that a false list was kept of  veteran's waiting times for treatment, even leading to deaths,

Can Obama ease by this scandal as so far he has done with Benghazi, (which is really three scandals),  the IRS targeting of Obama's enemies, Solyndra, Fast and Furious, and more than  a dozen more?

We are concerned for Sarah (our cat)

Sarah was missing for more than a day, finally making herself known with cries Sunday evening.  Sarah is no young flighty girl who stays out late at night.  She seeks her bed early in the evening and behaves like any cultured elderly lady  should.  After all, she is nearly 20 years old.

Congratulations, Jessica

On completing your first triathlon Sunday morning. You had a goal of at least 90 minutes and you easily beat that with a time of one hour, nine minutes

When I walked the quarterdeck of a sailing ship

No, I really didn't except in my imagination.  I don't know how others survived a boring job where you had only mules for company but I carried on exciting lives in my imagination.

One of my jobs in spring was to guide the mules as they pulled a harrow across newly plowed ground. The harrow was composed of three big timbers with huge spikes driven through them to break up clods and smooth the ground.  I would stand on the rear timber, which swayed with action  similar to a ship riding the waves.  At times I was captain of a war ship; other times I captained a pirate ship. I ignored  the danger; if I had fallen and the harrow ran over me, I would not be here today.

Armed Forces Day

Just a reminder that today (Saturday) is Armed Forces Day.  Also, Monday, May 26, is Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is when we remember those who gave their lives for their country. 

Provide vets needed treatment now

As a World War II veteran and member of two veteran organizations, I am especially concerned about the treatment veterans are receiving from the Veterans Administration.  Personally, I've never called on the VA for any aid, but I want those who served our nation to get the assistance they need and are entitled to.

Inspections are in progress to find out why services were denied or delayed for some veterans. That is fine but we should begin right now to assure that adequate services are given and all needs are met.

Not good

I was given an Echo test Tuesday morning and at 7:20 Wednesday morning the doctor's office called and told me my heart is not performing well.  I'll know more in two weeks after I have another exam.

This is May?

After a record breaking winter and  a dismal early spring, we were entitled to better than the cold and rainy middle of May.  Does the weathergirl not know that April showers bring May flowers?  Not cold and two days of rain.

Jen and I bought tomato plants and flowers in early April.  For several reasons we never planted them and they finally died.  We waited until May to buy again  and were able to get some tomatoes growing. I wanted to get some late blooming flowers going but the flower beds are a mess of mud.

The joy of doctor's waiting room

One of the great pleasures in life is to occupy a doctor's waiting room along with dozens of others.

Obviously, I did that this morning, but the best part is that I must return Wednesday for some tests. The tests will take about 45 minutes and could have been done today, but first, approval had to be obtained from the insurance company.

I don't recall this being done before.  Is this because of Obamacare?

Happy Mother's Day, Jen

And best wishes to all mothers. Just as information, Mother's Day became an official holiday in 1914.  We  observe it each year on the second Sunday of May.

Today, May 8, is VE Day

Today, May 8, is recognized in the United States and Great Britain as VE  Day (Victory in Europe Day)

 The war continued with Japan, the large and bloody battle going on in Okinawa.

     

Pickens to cross equator

War was still being waged in Okinawa with high casualties on not only the United States and Japan but on natives, also.  Meanwhile the USS Pickens was taking it easy at Saipan.  There was no shortage of rumors of what the Pickens might be called on to do.  The favorite was Australia where the word was women were plentiful and friendly.

There was some disappointment when we learned we were to visit the Solomon Islands. but we were excited to learn we would cross the equator. This would divide the crew between those who were Shellbacks, having crossed the equator previously and most of us who would cross for the first time and until initiated were called Pollywogs.

More on this later.

Are we closer to geting answers on Benghazi?

Will a select committee get the truth that we haven't gotten so far? Of all the many scandals of the Obama administration Benghazi is the worst because Americans were abandoned and left to die. I believe with my heart and mind that the betrayal goes all the way to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. If they were not guilty they would openly reveal all documents.

We know that a request to boost security at the compound was refused by the state department.  We know that once the terror attack began, the Americans were refused help from our military.  We know that lies were told, blaming a video for stirring up the attackers was a  lie.

School lunch leaves student hungry,

My  l0-year-old grandson was headed to a Cub Scout meeting with  his grandmother when he said he had not eaten lunch at school and wanted something to eat before going to the meeting.  Asked what he would like he gave the answer you would expect -- peanut butter sandwich.

Asked why he didn't eat lunch at school, he said he seldom does, maybe finding one item he can eat. I ate at his school once this year in connection with some event. I cannot remember what was served that day, but I ate some of the food on the tray.  It was low calorie, all right!

Often, persons who mean well do wrong, and the lunch program is an example.   Lunches are supposed to be healthy and low calorie.  The calories allowed are based on the complete tray of food, which results in many children going hungry.  No matter how healthy a food might be, it is no food at all if the students refuse to eat it.

We need to take another look at the school lunch program

I'm late planting flowers

May, the best month of the year, has arrived and I have not planted the  first flower.  Even worse, I do not have a single tomato plant in the ground.  Last year we were eating grape tomatoes in May.

Some of the blame goes to the days of bad weather we had earlier.  Most of the reason is my back problems which does not  permit me to use a shovel or a hoe. I gave up gardening two years ago but grew tomatoes with the flowers. It is not too late if I can get a little help preparing the flower beds.