Feeling Good

I am feeling less stiffness and ache each month and each week. I am quite satisfied with myself. I am still on a medicine that does not heal but is in tended to relieve stiffness and pain. It is such a small dose. I doubt if it is the medicine that is the reason for the good feeling. I think that maybe something in the body is at work and I do not know what. If I could figure it out I could be easy to develop enough fortune for myself and all the rest of the family.

Feeling Good

I am feeling less stiffness and ache each month and each week. I am quite satisfied with myself. I am still on a medicine that does not heal but is in tended to relieve stiffness and pain. It is such a small dose. I doubt if it is the medicine that is the reason for the good feeling. I think that maybe something in the body is at work and I do not know what. If I could figure it out I could be easy to develop enough fortune for myself and all the rest of the family.

Feeling Good

I am feeling less stiffness and ache each month and each week. I am quite satisfied with myself. I am still on a medicine that does not heal but is in tended to relieve stiffness and pain. It is such a small dose. I doubt if it is the medicine that is the reason for the good feeling. I think that maybe something in the body is at work and I do not know what. If I could figure it out I could be easy to develop enough fortune for myself and all the rest of the family.

Blog Comments

There is no know way of knowing how many people in the family or in the world read these blogs. It would be interesting to know. I would suggest that you check each blog to see it there is any comments to read; sometimes there are and they may be interesting.

Today nothing new or unusually activity or thoughts may happen but you never know so keep checking.

Comfort

This one room, a bath and kitchen cottage has six windows, three on north and three on the south. I have gotten all of them working easily and so there is not any trouble with cross ventilation. The temperature in the oceanic air of Santa Monica is seldom uncomfortable so it is rare for a home to have air conditioner. So far a fan is all that has been need for comfort.

Saint Johns

I will be off with the Segway in a few minutes for my usual Thursday breakfast at Saint John’s. The breakfast is not as good as it used to be. They are have moved the cafeteria and torn down the original hospital that was constructed in 1941 to make room for more of the new buildings. The cafeteria no longer has a fry cook and that is the reason for less of a fine breakfast.

UAL Pension

I am sure that most have heard about UAL and their pension plan troubles and how it might concern me.

When a pension plans terminates without enough money to pay all benefits, the Pension Benefits Guarantee Corp steps in to pay pension benefits. UAL pensions plan benefits were different than the PBGC’s government guarantee plan. At UAL you could under certain condition retire before 65 with full benefits. The PBGC pays less benefit if you retired before 65 under than under the UAL plan.

I retired at 62 without the full benefits and I am not not effected.

Food Quote

Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what your like and let the food fight it out inside.

Mark Twain

Corrina

Elisza presented Ryan and all the family with a daughter, Corrina, early on Saturday. She will make a beautiful addition to Lisa and Gary’s and all of our family. Lisa and Gary now have son Ryan and daughter Rachel and grandchildren Jered, Dylan and Corrina. A fine family that all lives quite close by to each other in Sacramento. Corrina, Elisza are doing well as are all the family. Wishing them all the best.

Sunday In July

This should be a normal Sunday by my going to the UU, lunch at St Johns and dinner at the UCLA cafeteria.

Birds

It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds. I have seen male sparrows teaching their young to find seeds and how to shell and eat them. I have seen a flock of crows protecting a young crow that was unable to fly from a dog, or a flock chase and harrow a hawk until they released a young crow stolen from a nest. It is not strange that we are fascinated by birds as they are about the only animals that we see that are not tamed, caged stay hidden.

Warmer

Not much activity is planned for to day, It is warmer here than usual. My indicator showed 85 degrees. This unit is not as well insulated as was 1440 23rd street and the temperature inside is therefore higher. A fan keeps help keep the living more comfortable. There are very few home or apartments air conditioners in Santa Monica. On most days the ocean breeze is our air conditioner.

Steak Dinner

It was nice to get all the best wishes for a Happy Birthday, Thanks.

Last evening the good things continued as the two neighbors and one of their girl friend and I had a steak dinner around the BBQ. We have a good group of neighbors.

Dr. Rosen

At 8:30 I will be at my ophthmologist, Dr. Rosen, for the preparation for the next Macugen injection on August 9. They are doing me some good. The trouble is worth it even if the results are not great.

Birthday

Last year so many of us had such a wonderful time celebrating my 85th birthday it was decided that this 86th birthday will be as unobserved as possible. I friend did not think that was not appropriate and suggested that we see the movie `Wedding Chasers’. An offer I will not refuse. I am fortunate to be so pleased with my health and happiness at the starting of the rest of my life.

Voluteering

The volunteering at Saint Johns has been changed a little. On Mondays for more than six years, Eldon, Miriam and I have been at the information desk informing patients and doing some preliminary registration. There has been a change. An employee has been added to the desk. The patients feel better about dealing with a full time employee. We agree. We are not sure about how it will all work. The three of us should still fine plenty to do be of help to the patients and to the hospital.

Book On Tape

If anyone is looking for a good book on tape try “Pudd’nhead Wilson” by Mark Twain. The plot may appear deceptively simplistic it comedy I almost farcical. The reader makes the listening pleasant. It was written in 1894 two years after my father was born. Anything that has been enjoyed that may years has to be good.

Santa Monica

Today I am going to be like a tourist in Santa Monica. The city is celebrating its 130th birthday. It was officially founded in 1875 with about 1100 residents and in a few years it had only 472. I had lost its location for as the shipping point for Los Angles. Now there are 88,000 residents in its eight square miles of land, The number of people often is between 300,000 and 400,000, due to its popularity for visitors. I will spend time as a tourist spot at the 3rd street promenade, the pier and the palisades. I will also spend time at some of the local’s favorite, the library. The weather is to be mostly overcast and so will be comfortable, near 70 at the beach.

Walking

Last evening after walking ten blocks to and fromWhole Foods to purchase a pound of almonds for $4.49. I use the almonds as snacks and for sometimes for making chocolate almond clusters. I was pleased with the walking. At about Easter time I had done some similar walking and found it to be very difficult. My body made a good recovery during the last three and half months. I am feeling like about the way that I would like to feel after taking 2.5 mgs of prednisone daily. I will see the rheumatologist on August 5.

Breakfast

Today is my day for breakfast at Saint Johns Medical Center. Thursdays are my days to have bacon, eggs, toast and coffee. I will also have a dish of cut up peaches brought from home. The other days of week I do my breakfast here at the cottage.

Antiques

Antiques have never been of much interest to me. Outstanding works of art have been. Of course there was never enough money to for either. A new reason to appreciate these things have been brought to my attention thatis that maybe some people who try so hard acquire them may have. If you have them you are living with something that has been around before you and about the only thing that will survive you for long. Not including family, of course. I will look at them from a different prospective.

Better Sight

A week ago I had a Macugen injected into my eye that had ARMD. The resultant pain that feels like a large grain of sand in the eye resulted and lasted for about ten hours. I found relief by closing the eye and applying pressure. I am pleased with the result, as before the procedure I was unable to distinguish someone sitting across the table. Now with normal lighting I can recognize the individual. He is to continue with the injections each month and so if a small improvement happens each time that will be a big help.

Qoute

The following quote from a source that I am not sure about seems where it comes from but seems apt.

I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.

Picnic

After the 10:00 o’clock UU service they are having a family picnic in there lot across the alley. It is a lot bought after the earthquake and had planned to expand the Religious Education facilities. After they bought the home and lot next door they sold the lot for $1,000,000 and leased it for $100.00 for a year. They are now raising more money to build on the new property. I plan to get from a Pizza Hut, located a few blocks away, an individual pepperoni pan pizza and a soft drink for my lunch. The picnic should be fun.

Birthdays

Cynthia’s birthday is tomorrow and Anola’s is on Tuesday and Ryan’s on Thursday. A large number of our family becomes a year older starting in late June and early August. Ryan and Eliasa are expecting a new daughter any day now. The family is growing and growing older. Viva LA Faemili, the best wishes for our family.

I should have included Jane Smith's, Norna's sister, whos birthday is on Monday the 11th.

Domestic Day

Today is my domestic day. No big tasks in this small place. Dusting is the biggest thoughts so you can tell that my day is not going to be too important. There will time to enjoy my home.

Memory Study

Today will be the second PETCAN in the continuing studies for Alzheimer (AD) disease. These tests are conducted in the Neuropsychological Institute at the University Of California Los Angles (UCLA). I was part of the memory study group about five years ago and so this is part of that study. My idea is that they need a normal brain to compare with some that are not. I am being a bit egotistical and I hope accurate. They are making some break thoughts in the diagnosis and treatment of AD. I can put with a couple of hours of discomfort that may be of some help to us older people and maybe a big help to future generations.

ARMD

The left eye was not feeling so good after yesterday Macugen injection by ophthmologist Dr. Rosen at the Kaiser Medical Center. It burns he says but it felt like a large grain of sand. After about six hours it was okay. The time, six weeks ago, when I had this injection the vision improved some and I expect good results this time, also. If there is improvement it will be an every six weeks event. The treatment is for age related macular degeneration, ARMD.

On The Beach

The time spent at the beach yesterday was good but cooler than you would expect it to be at this time of the summer. My thinking is that with the wind flowing from the west and slightly north it is coming from Siberia, across the Pacific Ocean and to the sand on Santa Monica’s beach. It is quite comfortable if laying on the sand and the wind seems to be just above you. With the sunshine bright on the sand and you then you are comfortable. The beach on the 4th is more crowded than on any other day of year but there is still room for everyone. I am lucky to be able to enjoy it so easily.

The Beach

Happy 4th Of July

No volunteering today.

I will do my usual 4th celebrating by going to the beach. Last year the weather was not suitable. Tomorrow looks okay after the June glum, morning clouds, clears out before noon. I have my chosen spot at the beach, will buy a cup of coffee and with my umbrella and a book will spend sometime on crowded sand. The crowds do not bother me as I don’t need to drive or park and I like to watch the people.

Minnesota Nice

The following piece of writing has an appeal to me and hope that those of us with some Minnesota connection will find it interesting.

Minnesota Nice

Minnesota Nice is stereotypical behavior of Minnesota residents to provide hospitality and courtesy to others. In recent decades, many have said their Minnesota nice is not as prevalent as it one was, although many visitors from outside the state still report that Minnesotans are generally nicer than other around the United States. A particularly common story is that of a Minnesotan doing his or her best to help a lost traveler, giving precise instruction rather than just the wave of the hand---even mapping a route on a sheet of paper in some cases.

Stereotypes of Minnesotans often overlap with qualities of other Midwesterners, including the perception that many are quiet and do not wish to often others or cause a disruption. Sometime area residents who move away, or otherwise come in contact with others who don’t subscribe to the ideal, say that they have to shed their Minnesota nice in order to interact properly with others to get out troublesome situations.

Minnesotans also tend to have a fairly quirky sense of humor, laughing and smiling easily. This may help to diffuse tense situation and add to politeness of state residents.

Jered Johnson

Gary let me know that our birthday list missed
Jan 30, 1999, Jered Johnson my oldest grand son. Sorry.

Great Grand Father

I have finally gotten some information that I trust about my great grandfather. From it is tells that we have Holland ancestry on my father’s side. The information is from the 1880 Minnesota census.

James Edward Elias Male
Birth Year <1816> Birth Place NY
Age in 1880 64
Occupation Farmer
Marital Status
Race White
Relation Self
Father’s Birthplace Holland
Mother’s Birthplace Holland

Source Information:

Census Place Milton, Dodge, Minnesota
Family History Library Film 1254618
NA Film Number T9-0618
Page Number 297A