Tall Tales from Kansas

vaccination story - part 2

The chatter at work by those who “know someone” who has received their second vaccine injection, is that the side effects in terms of body aches, fever, and overall malaise were worse with the second shot. I got my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday afternoon. Once again, I had no immediate reaction - no flushing, weakness, or dizziness. Thirty six hours later I remain symptom free, except for a sore arm that is expected with any vaccine. I have not required any Tylenol or Advil.

Above is my my friendly, competent, efficient vaccine giver. Below is my sticker. I may have taken 2 so I could also put one on the new everyday journal I am getting to initiate.  

As unpredictable as this virus is, in terms of how it knocks some people on their butts, while leaving others completely without symptoms, I guess it's no surprise that the vaccine should impact us all differently. Our individual immune systems are just that - very individual. 

Consider this a public service announcement. If you are fortunate enough to be offered a dose of the vaccine, I hope you choose to take it. If not, there will surely be someone else in line thankful for the opportunity, and willing to roll up their sleeve. I see no reason to try and "convince" those who don't want a vaccine to take it. Instead lets focus our energies on seeing that those who do want it are able to get it. 

Frankly, trying to sway others to my way of thinking on this whole pandemic, is an exercise in futility that only serves to leave me feeling depleted of the energy I need to do my work, and stay healthy. Below is a great link to frequently asked questions about the COVID 19 vaccines. Only for those who are interested. 

FAQ's about Vaccines 

the trifecta of of holy water, frankincense, and myrrh

I do NOT engage in political discussions on this blog. BUT, I am going to have to respectfully insist that those responsible for overturning the Kansas governor's ban on gatherings of larger than 10, on the basis that it is a violation of religious freedom, please instead go to church - instead of coming to the hospital if they become ill. 

Those of us on the front lines of the pandemic, who have witnessed the death of individuals whose illness can be traced directly to contact from a church gathering, can not understand the logic behind politics as usual. Not in the face of science and the evidence that social distancing will help decrease illness and death.

While I can not enforce it, I would like to absolutely insist that those individuals who insist on attending services and not following social distancing guidelines, who subsequently become sick and infect countless others, shelter at home and utilize the trifecta of holy water, frankincense, and myrrh and forgo standard treatment with hospitalization, oxygen, and perhaps an opioid.

If this seems harsh, and I realize it does, please imagine your sister, brother, spouse, or child as one of the ICU providers I witnessed this week working tirelessly, at tremendous risk to themselves, to resuscitate a patient who ultimately died.   

Thanks for allowing me to rant. Just a bit. 

P.S.  in case you hadn't heard what our legislators have been up to - read about it here.

P.P.S.  I also want to say that the vast majority of religious organizations in this area, have already cancelled services voluntarily.

if you are attracted to quirky, unusual, wildly creative sorts of individuals

This is a post about one of those things I meant to tell you about, but forgot. It was lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but I still want to show you the pictures and tell you the story. In the event that you might might find yourself in the vicinity of Ft. Bragg and want to check it out.

In something I was reading before we went on the Moss Sisters trip to Mendocino in August, I came across an article about a museum of common sense. I tucked it away in the "try and find this" file in my brain. Because doesn't that sound like something that should be seen?  

So there we were, on August 2nd, driving around Ft. Bragg, headed in a southerly direction, after we left the Headlands Coffee Shop, when I spotted Redwood Ave. This is how a 60 year old mind works. Random sights trigger things which may or may not lead somewhere, but in this case it did.

We pulled over and went into Lost Coast Found, drawn by the magnetic pull of Larry Spring's spirit and inventions which are housed right inside of the second hand store. Though we did not know it until we entered. 

He discovered something called magnespheres, a form of electromagnetic energy, which I will not begin to try and tell you about. Mo, who runs the Lost Coast, can give you the low down when you are there. 

In addition to inventing things, he clearly had a great sense of humor and a penchant for "making" art out of found objects.

You will want to check it out if you are attracted to quirky, unusual, wildly creative sorts of individuals. Because that is what I would call Larry Spring. 

Also, Lost Coast, in and of itself is a wonderful spot to poke around in. With many things you may or may not need to bring home with you. Like the green pottery vase below on the right, which just happens to be made for the window sill in front of my sink.  

The end.  

More stuff about Larry Spring for the curious minded.

the stomata in the leaves stay shut during the day

This is a story about succulents, teaching methods, and getting outside when you can.  

Last week when we walked outside on rounds at work (our patients are often in 3 or 4 different buildings - which I love), we noticed the landscaping people had added a bunch of succulents to some flower beds.  

Which triggered Brice to recall a lecture from his favorite class, taught by Dr. Craig Martin at KU, who did not use PowerPoint presentations, favoring colored chalk and a blackboard to illustrate his points.

Which clearly has merit, given that he recalled in detail the fact that succulents are CAM plants and have a unique method of photosynthesis that allows them to survive with very little water.  

He remembered that the stomata in the leaves stay shut during the day when it's so hot, but open at night to take in carbon dioxide.  Which is a good reason to choose them for your hot/sunny areas in Kansas.

Although I favor them for their beauty and wide array of colors and shapes. 

 
There will be more updates on the succulent pots as we move through the summer.

If Brice shares more of the science of succulents with me the next time we work together, I will of course pass that on as well.  

good feng shui

When the bourbon bottle is too pretty to throw away, my recommendation is to cut some of whatever flowering bush or tree is doing it's thing right now and bring it indoors.  Three stems is best.

This is called zen decorating that relies on re-cycling to create good feng shui.  

It's a theory founded on very solid science.  In the Universe of Carol.

there are lots bigger fish to fry out there right now

A computer medical emergency meant a trip to the best diagnostician we know today.  

If it were a person, there would be a clinical exam, some vital signs (all dire on my assessment), and then a CBC, CMP, ultrasound, and perhaps a CT scan, followed by an exploratory laparotomy.  We wait with fingers crossed.  Totally aware there are lots bigger fish to fry out there right now.  

See you when we see you.  

the inner workings of the universe

On Monday, Emily and Christi and I ventured to a park near the hospital.  To experience the solar eclipse.  In nature.  Not from a window. 

Glasses were worn.

Spots were selected.

Viewing began.

From sun or shade, chairs or blankets.

You can't tell from this photo but it was like dusk out at the time of the full eclipse here.  We only had about 36 seconds in Kansas City, Kansas.  But the temperature began to drop at about a 3/4 eclipse.  The cicadas stopped their racket.  A cricket started her song.  The street lights came on.  The light went from golden sun to a silvery hue. 

It was magical. 

I will admit right up front that I can't comprehend the inner workings of the universe.  Happily, that wasn't needed to just enjoy the moment.

a hard core stargazer

In case you were wondering, yes we ARE completely prepared for the solar eclipse.  We are working, but plan to steal some time to catch a glimpse on Monday. 

At work, in Kansas City, Kansas I think I will be darn close to the "path of totality". 

Chris will be practicing neck tilts all weekend.  I already have mine completely down.  It comes from traveling with my sister, a hard core star gazer, who is always trying to expand my horizons.    

to do some more intense concentrating

The other morning while I sat on the front porch drinking coffee and giving my plants a little bit of water, I watched an industrious pair of robins building a nest. 

I was completely unaware what excellent gatherers they are.  They can hold quite a load of building materials in their beaks at one time. 

I also observed them in the tree searching for twigs that broke off easily to use in their nests. 

 

Fascinating, the things you can see when you are just sitting.  Meditating. 

When I finally came back inside Chris told me he just read that "the combination of intense concentration and relaxation may trigger the growth of new brain cells".   So I poured another cup of coffee and went back outside. 

To do some more intense concentrating... and practice my bird in flight photography skills.

 

I wouldn't say it like that in front of your family doctor

In back of Tall Tales headquarters, on Wednesday, when it was close to 70 degrees, in January, in Kansas, and I was off.   Sigh.  I spotted the cardinal while I was outside "getting some sun on my pineal gland".  

The truth of the matter is there is no way to get actual sun on your pineal gland because it is located deep in the middle of your brain.  But somehow Chris and I got in the habit of saying that and it stuck.  If you have been married over 30 years, you and your spouse have ridiculous sayings like that too.  Don't try to deny it. 

Getting "sun on your pineal gland" is like "taking the waters", a therapeutic treatment, so to speak.   Please feel free to use this saying (and therapy) in your home now that I have introduced it to you.  In case you are wondering, it's pronounced pie-knee-ul when it is associated with sun therapy.   I wouldn't say it like that in front of your family doctor though. 

each success as completely miraculous and each failure as an expected consequence

Siberian iris, weigelia, clematis, hollyhocks, and the Johnson's Blue geraniums are all starting to bloom.  I just stare in amazement at the wonder of these plants doing that thing they do again and again, year after year.

When I was a younger gardener I got frustrated when things died.  The lilacs that got too wet the year we moved in, the first Japanese maple that got zapped by a late freeze, the forsythia that tried it's best to thrive in several spots before it finally fizzled out, and on and on and on.  I have learned with time and some schooling from my gardening mentors that some things only just last so long and have to be replaced.  

Carol's philosophy of zen gardening is in seeing each success as completely miraculous and each failure as an expected consequence.   Pretty deep, I know. 

we also recommend wrapping your head in a warm towel

I almost forgot to tell you about something I learned when I was at Big Cedar Lodge a few weeks ago.   It started with me bemoaning the fact that Dottie got all the hair in the family.  I have never been able to comprehend this.  She said it had nothing to do with heredity.  

She swore me to secrecy then revealed that if you go out on the night of a full moon, after having collected the spit of a turtle and combined it with flowering quince petals to make a paste that you rub on your head while standing on one leg it encourages the development of new hair follicles. 

I thanked her for this tip and told her I was going to think long and hard on it.  Then I ran back to our cabin, took the cinnamon rolls out of the oven, made coffee, and told Mary Ann what she said.  We decided rubbing the extra frosting from the pan on our scalps while talking to a female cardinal might just do the same thing.

We also recommend wrapping your head in a warm towel after the frosting application and taking a nap. 

If you guessed this was a tall tale carefully crafted in order to allow me to show you 6 more pictures from Big Cedar Lodge you would be right.  Everything except the part about wrapping your head after the frosting.  That is the whole truth, and nothing but.  

 

can you experience countertransference outside the boundaries of a therapeutic relationship

Tonight I spy only one solitary fat bud remaining to pop open on the hardy hibiscus.  It looks lonely.    Could I be experiencing countertransference with a hibiscus?   Can you experience countertransference outside the boundaries of a therapeutic relationship ... with a flower?  

Don't answer that question.  Let's pretend I never asked.      

What I really mean is that I have just loved racing outside every evening when I get home from work to see what is happening with my crazy beautiful hibiscus.   Our time together for this year is coming to an end and I am going to miss it.  

Luckily the petunia in the pot next to the hibiscus is covered with a fresh set of blooms to occupy my mind and see me through my time of inner turmoil.

it's crazy fun

If you read Tall Tales on a Reader please bear with me as I struggle through my new method of posting.  It consists of using my iPad for pictures and then racing upstairs to get on the computer to see what is messed up as in pictures rotated sideways, editing not finished, you get the general idea.  Imagine one person in a warehouse running around trying to get out shipping orders at they same time they are pulling the stock from the shelves, answering the phone, and putting together the payroll.  That's me.  Carol, the blogger.  Using a band-aid approach until a computer surgeon can be found.  It's crazy fun :-)  I recommend it highly. 

Carol's theory about beauty

If you are someone who likes to make resolutions around the first of the year, go read this before you start.  I have been meaning to share it with you since my sister sent it to me, but I keep forgetting.  When I read it I thought to myself - "that girl can write!"  I wanted to call her up and arrange a meet so I could high-five her for giving voice to some of the sentiments that have wormed their way into the heads of many of us from time to time.   

Who among us has not been disappointed by some or another aspect of our physical presence over the years?  Attractiveness is such an elusive thing.  In the event that you have not heard my spiel about beauty, here it comes.  It is simple, plain, common sense.  I think you all will be able to see the validity of it when you read it.  I expect you to let me know if you do not agree.

Ready?  Here it is.  Carol's theory about beauty.

Every single human being on the face of the earth is given the same exact amount of beauty for our journey from conception to death.  The differences in how we appear on any given day is directly correlated to the rate at which we use up our supply.   Some individuals are born cute,  while others grow into their looks slowly.  There are some people who use all their beauty between the ages of 17 and 37.  There are those who have beautiful skin or hair or hands or eyes or whatever... you get the point.  We each spend it differently (though it goes without saying I will also mention here that inner beauty has to be paid for out of the same account).  Because I am planning to live a long and fruitful life, I have been on a budget - holding back a portion of my beauty account for my "later" years.  I used to intend to spend like there was no tomorrow once I reached 60 but now that doesn't seem that far off so I will likely hold out longer.   

Truth be told it just isn't that important anymore.  Don't get me wrong though.  It's still sort of important.  Thats why I am saving.  When I am 70 I do plan to be more attractive than all my friends who are using up their va-va-voom dollars now.   Stay tuned.   I will be posting a photo here on May 11, 2029 so you will be able to see for yourself. 

are you a chaos muppet or an order muppet?

Today I read something that has finally helped me understand why I am the driver in our family.   It makes a lot of sense.    You might want to check out the Muppet Theory for yourself.   Even if you do not discover the answer to some deep mystery you will be highly entertained.   Plus they talk abut the cookie monster. 

Photo from BuzzFeed.com