Pawlenty 0-2...

So the Twitterosphere has Pat Ryan as Mitt Romney's vice-presidential candidate.  That would make the last two elections where former Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty, has been the bridesmaid, not the bride.  That is fine with me, because he consistently put his political career ahead of what was best for Minnesotans.

Ryan is supposed to be very bright, but is he a guy that is going to pull more people to vote for the Republicans?  I don't know that Ryan pulls more people into the election.  Is there not a conservative Hispanic woman anywhere in the country?

I can't wait to see what the pundits have to say about this pick.

I love that Pawlenty sold us out, and he can't get anyone to pull the trigger and have him be part of the group.

Not Even a Stop Light...

So this morning, I woke my father up, fed him breakfast, showered him (much to his delight), clipped the toe nails, piled him in the car with his clothes, and headed north.

At one point during our two hour ride north Dad asked why were doing this, and I explained that his brain had quit filtering and he was putting his hands on people and that kept getting people upset.  We are hoping that the new combination of drugs will make it so that he doesn't bother anyone.

So we get up to Onamia - and find the hospital, and then the senior center.  They interview dad and then they tell me I can go.  I go into room 30 and dad is laying down sideways on the bed.  I say, "Goodbye" and head out to the car.

I am touched that dad just trusts that all this is in his best interest.  I know that later that morning he will wake up and not know where he is, why he is there, or what is going on.  I hope this works out for all.

I don't know what we will do if they aren't able to figure something out.  No one will want to take dad, and then we are really up against it.

237

Searching For the Right Door

Today's sojourn.

So in the SMR travel tour, today we head north to Mille Lacs, and the geriatric/psych unit up there.  Paula at Wellstead helped get up in there, which is nice - but I wonder if this is her way of dumping dad.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no drug cocktail that cools down the libido, and so we are entering the realm of voodoo medicine.  They will throw the dice and try to find something that works at cooling Dad off.  If by, chance that works, then - presumably, Dad could re-enter at Wellstead.

So, I think the bottom line is, that I need to search for a new home for Dad.

I try to be helpful to the places that house dad, but it is always clear that the people who run these really think about their building first and they are less concerned about how this effects you...

I hope Mille Lacs isn't too scary today....

237

Notes for 6 August 2012

1. Hat tip to the men and women of NASA.  You stuck the landing.  Here is the first shot the Curiosity mailed back to earth after successful landing on Mars.

2. We remember.  6 August 1945.  Hiroshima.

3. Yesterday morning, Garret Reid was found dead at the age of 29 in the Lehigh dorms where the Eagles are having their training camp.  My heart goes out to Andy Reid.  I can't imagine the pain of losing a child.

4. Dad has been doing his General McArthur imitation, "I shall return".  He is back with us after being a rude guest at the Wellstead of Rogers.  They are seeking a place where Dad can be hospitalized until this behavior is under control.

5. Dad's plans have changed mine, but I shall have to adjust and move on.  Time to belly up to the bar and do some history reading.

6. Women's soccer is on at 11:00 a.m.  Japan vs. France.  It shouldn't be hard to get behind Japan in that match.  The US women play after that.  Is this a great day or what!

Valencia & Nishi....

So the Twins made a trade today, and you have to wonder what the sub-text is.  Danny Valencia, former third baseman, who has been rightly banished to Rochester this season was traded to Boston just before today's game.  At the end of the game we learned that Tsuyoshi Nishioka has been recalled from Rochester to take Valencia's place.  It will be interested to see what Nishi's game looks like now.  I assume they will throw him in there when he comes up.

Twin's color commentator, Dan Gladden, suggested that this move had nothing to do with batting average, but everything to do with clubhouse.  Given his Twitter picture is from the University of Miami, you can see Gladden's point.

Last night, during the late innings in the game against Boston, Gladden and our announcer, Cory Purvis (?), commented that in the eighth inning, when the Twins needed a pinch-hitter, Valencia was chatting at the fence with teammates as compared to getting batting gloves on, and taking a couple of swings to warm up in case the team needed him.  

So today Valencia is gone.  Connection -- Who knows?
Valencia was gracious to the Twins in his Twitter account.  Hat tip to Danny for that good move.  I wish him well in Pawtucket.  I hope he takes advantage of the fresh start.

237

Focus....A Metaphor for...

 Last week I went up to visit Dad and then I stopped of at Elm Creek Park Reserve and walked around a bit.  I found this baby bird in the bottom of a tree and in the shot immediately below you see one of its parents who would swoop it with food.

I have been trying to take some pictures this summer and so far it has been more frustration than reward.  As with much in life, focus seems to be the key.  I do feel like I am learning, but the baby steps seem pretty small at this point.  There is taking the pictures, then getting them to look decent on the computer and the ten million settings to fool with on the camera....All things in time I suppose.

American Goldfinch in the middle background, chowing on something.

Sigh.

A Summer of Fun with a Great Team

Kia L, Lucy L, Mee P, Kate B, Solomon A, Chee C  - BSP 2012