Brightening up the guest bath

Who would think to write about a wall switch plates? Me, of course. And reason being I
think it's a very attractive switch plate. I got to looking and thought the old standard plane,
boring, off-white switch plate had to go.

colorful alcohol ink switch plate

Now, doesn't this make for a more attractive switch plate?   Then to make it a bit more
interesting, I found just the shower curtain to compliment my switch plate.

tropical scenery shower curtain

So, now the room is looking a lot more colorful and inviting. Every time I walk past the
bathroom I see this scenery and I can almost imagine smelling coconut, sipping on a
mimosa and walking along the beach of a tropical island. Oh, yeah.

Need I say more?

Oh yeah, I'm planning to decorate more rooms with switch plates of Renee's hand-painted
alcohol ink designs from her etsy shop- ReneeKDesigns.  Her colors 'pop'. I promise you'll
think the same thing.
And, it just wouldn't have been right to not get a matching outlet cover to match the
light switch plate cover.

My attractive Renee K Designs outlet cover

 So, what I did was add a shower curtain complimenting the colors in the wall switch plate
and outlet cover, and find some small rugs, and voila, not too shabby for decorating a guest
bath, huh?

Throw rugs from a dollar store

But all in all, I have to say what I like the best are the hand painted wall plates. They're one
of-a-kind, artsy, hand-painted originals.  Pretty cool! Now, wouldn't you like to perk up a
room or two? If you do, send me a photo. I want to see what you came up with.
 Challenge- do if for under $65.

American Red Cross won't take blood for how long?

It's been a few years, correction, a couple decades since I last donated blood to the American Red Cross. I wasn't surprised to see the intake screening questions a bit more in-depth, and good reason
 to be.
Last time I donated blood I had to be weighed to make sure I met at least the minimum weight to donate, and, AIDS wasn't on the scene yet.


Photo credit: puravida from morguefile.com
 
Besides showing a picture ID and completing a questionnaire of about twenty questions concerning hepatitis, certain medications, blood transfusions, traveling to certain countries, and if I've had
sexual contact with prostitutes or with person(s) who practiced or might have been exposed to
anyone who partook in questionable sexual practices, the most interesting thing I read was the American Red Cross does not utilize blood from a man who's had any sexual contact with another man at any time after the year 1977.  That's 35 years! That's a long time.

video-'Ban on gay donors gets a second look'.

I even had my finger pricked to test my iron content because donating blood naturally is going to deplete iron available in the body.


Photo credit: cohdra from morguefile.com
 
 So, the American Red Cross does not want blood from any man who's had sexual contact with another man for a many years. Of course people, and gay men especially, who practice sex with other men are going to claim discrimination that their blood is as good as the blood as those who are of heterosexual persuasion.
The answer is there has been problems and there are risks to the person receiving the blood. The American Red Cross doesn't want that at all.

The Red Cross screens to keep a safe blood supply, and here's why-

-The first case of post-transfusion HIV since 2002 was recently reported (CDC link: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml… . Specifics on the donor indicate unreported high risk activity over many years. Until pathogen inactivation technology has been perfected to treat donated blood components for transfusion-transmissible diseases, donor questionnaires and screening tests provide the best chance for a safe blood supply-  This is from a medical director at a regional blood center.

The screenings are a precautionary measure to keep blood supplies as safe as possible for recipients.

Here's an article that the Red Cross wants to amend the restrictions to a shorter time.  I hope if this happens, blood recipients get to choose if they want the blood of a gay/bisexual man or not.
It's a matter of receiving blood that is safe, not discrimination, and, of having a choice in what goes into your body from someone else's body.

Here's an article stating the FDA's goal also is to keep the blood supply safe. That is not discrimination, that is being responsible.  That is no way at all being discriminatory towards anyone. The blood supply needs to be 'clean'.  There should remain a strict intake to ensure guidelines and practices to have the blood supply as safe as possible for people needing transfusions.

If there is any hint of a possibility that a person wanting to donate blood may cause the recipient to become sick, then no question, their blood should not be used.

Of course nothing is 100% full-proof. I'm sure gay men and those with HIV have lied on the blood screening questionnaire and donated blood anyway. And, if they can lie about that, who knows what else they can lie about?
That's not being considerate of the well fair of another person and the purpose of donating blood is to help someone. Again, if there's any risk of donated blood being risky, then that defeats the purpose.

All blood may be red in color, but under a microscope, unseen by the naked eye, the cells can be carrying some different cellular material.

Precautions are needed-all blood is not the same

Photo credit: darrenhester from morguefile.com
 
Why do those practicing alternate lifestyles have problems accepting their lifestyle choices bring them unwanted challenges? Do they wish their choice of having a same-sex partner to be equal in every way to a heterosexual relationship?  No matter how you may wish, the two are very much different. But still, discrimination and unfair are cried out.

Simply put, there is no way a man/man relationship can be compared as equal or the same as a  man/woman relationship.  It was never designed or intended to be that way. But, if that is of your choosing, and you do have a choice, but there will be complications you may not like concerning that choice. And, it's not fair to push or force the consequences of an alternative lifestyle upon those who do not care for any association with the gay/same-sex lifestyle.

"No' is often meant for protection and safety

Photo credit: penywise from morguefile.com
 
Yes, God allows you to choose, but there are consequences that go along with certain choices. And those consequences will not ever go away, no matter how loudly you cry.

And, no judging of anyone is intended or implied. God loves the sinner, but hates the sin.

Let's not take any risks and keep the blood supply as safe as possible. Every dear person's health and well being depends upon that being so.

Finally, Male 'Birth Control" - RISUG !

Male birth control! When I read it, I actually said out loud,"Finally! For the man, he can do more in the birth control department so it's not 99% on the woman's part!"

This is the article I read, and who ever came up with the contraceptive procedure called Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance, RISUG,  needs to be given a Nobel prize right now! This is how it works. Women all over the world need to line up and shake the hand of this person responsible of designing this simple solution, RISUG, whose time has been so long awaited.

Let's fill the waiting rooms with men 

Photo credit: mensatic from morguefile.com

Now, men can take their time and visit their doctor, but still not as often as women had to for her birth control. but still, man can go into the doctor's office for a visit to get this done while women can sit outside reading a magazine for a change. Let the man drop his drawers and be a major/equal contributor in the pursuit of controlling births other than the stand by condoms or a vasectomy procedure.

Could they be on their way to do their part to control birth population?

Photo credit: click from morguefile.com
 
 This male contraceptive IS reversible, too, and, it lasts 10, yes, 10 long years!! It sounds very promising with more clinical studies to pass, let's keep our fingers and toes crossed. And it just a gel! Not a male IUD that would be uncomfortable or irritating.

I, for one, want to help spread the word about RISUG, since word of it has not spread far and wide very well. There should be billboards and commercials, but mostly just word of mouth so the cost remains reasonable. That would be the best. Something inexpensive, that works, and the drug companies can't boost the cost up 1000%. It would be nice if for a change if we could block out the drug company on this one from making a billion dollar profit-they make enough already. Let this procedure and contraceptive gel be reasonably attainable for all men the world over. Please!

I'm just so happy there's finally an effect male birth control that us women can know works but we don't have to take or remember to take or go to the doctor to renew. It's on the man this time, finally!

Kentucky Wonder

It's Summer. The wait is over. Time has arrived for digging into a good, fresh watermelon! Today, compliments of Carla, who brought a harvest of home-grown produce from her garden, I got to do just that.  The watermelon had it's own seat, literally, in one of the chairs until slicing time and this bad boy was packing. It wasn't weighed, but it measured in length as what I call 'a big'un'.

Kentucky Wonder coming in at 22 inches

Just like fresh tomatoes from the garden, it's a sweet Summer pleasure when a watermelon is sliced open and you smell that savoring aroma. You know already it's a good 'un.
I enjoy my watermelon WITHOUT any enhancement- no salt on my slice. I want to taste the goodness from nature, and that's all. It's good without sprinkling or adding anything to it.

Thank you Carla for all the garden fresh delights.  Especially, my first lip-smacking, Summer doozie of-a-watermelon.

Zombies and such

They're baaaaaack. I remember years ago watching in black and white, movies of Abbott and Costello running from zombies. They somehow got themselves in come situation that they were running from mummies or werewolves or something ugly.  There were movies of the Three Stooges encountering inhumane beings, too.  And, back in the early 60s, I watched a show called Dark Shadows, a vampire soap opera in the afternoons after I got home from school. Now, zombies are back big time and I'm wondering what's all the fuss?  I see new books written on how to survive a zombie attack, for 'they' are coming.


Photo credit: guilanenachez from morguefile.com

 
I have a difficult time understanding this phenomena of zombies. It's not scientifically possible for a person to get up and walk again after they've been decomposing.
Can a virus reinvigorate life back into a brain and make it be half-alive? I don't think so.   When the brain's been deprived of oxygenated blood, brain cells die inside of 10 minutes. So how can a dead person think even with part of their brain kick-started by a virus?

So zombies function on basic reflex and hunger to eat living flesh. I guess that's the zombie virus telling a half-dead brain that it instinctly needs living flesh so the virus can replicate itself, because viruses need a live medium to stay viable. This means zombie brains must somehow get the rest of the zombie body functioning-like the sense of smell and/or sight to locate and go after living flesh to eat.  How do cells of the nervous, olfactory, bone and soft tissue systems all become functional again? Decomposing tissue can't function. How can zombie hearts beat to circulate blood? And whatever the virus is  that attacks zombie brains, it's got to be some powerful agent if it can control muscle coordination for standing, walking or shuffling for seeking out their prey and keeping a half-dead brain functioning.

How can zombies go on an attack or do anything? Or are they supposed to be not all-the-way dead? Nothing can be a little bit dead and a little bit alive.  If you're infected with the zombie virus, by a zombie, does the virus kill your brain and make you go delirious? If zombies have hunger for live flesh, do they go after the brain tissue for their meal or any live tissue? 

Maybe the 'undead' don't need air or blood in their tissues. Maybe all the fuss about zombies is they're looking for someone to take them all-the-way out of their misery. But that can't be either. They don't feel anything. They're just beings without knowing or thinking. Just half-existing to kill and eat to stay half-alive, or half-dead. Whatever. 

If zombies and vampires are back, are the mummies not far behind?

Take a look at this blog.

And here's something about zombie-proofing your house.


FYI-
I'm fascinated that people are so fascinated in zombies. Could it be zombies symbolize that we as a people are becoming so disconnected from caring for each other and the sanctity of life? I also find it a bit disturbing that I've taken time to write on the subject of zombies.

Zombies eat flesh, vampires suck blood, what is it that mummies do?

People who overcome obstacles

I like to hear about real people who did things in spite of obstacles. For instance, Helen Keller, FDR, Aimee Mullins, and Ray Charles are only four known for the accomplishments they excelled in, but rather paid little to no attention to their personal, physical obstacles they each had.

I've often imagined what it must have been like to not see, or hear.  How different it would be to relate to a world without color or sound, and live in dark silence?

Navigating a hiking path blindfolded


Photo credit: jppi from morguefile.com
 
I went hiking with a friend one time and blindfolded myself to experience how it would be like to navigate the trail without sight. I had a walking stick so I could have something to hold on to and my friend gave instructions to walk straight or turn or step up. It was fatiguing.  Then I've put in ear plugs to experience a few hours without sound. That experience left me numb and unfulfilled. Sounds are very needed for everything. Even small insignificant small sounds tell us information. For instance, when I don't hear birds outside, the  silence indicates something is going on with the weather without having to hear a weather forecast. Without sounds and sight, I wonder if another of my senses would really become more sensitive? Maybe I could become a super food or wine taster. I could gather more info of my world through a heightened sense of touch. What I'd really like to be is a nose. I think that would be very interesting occupation to have. But for now, I enjoy seeing others excel over obstacles and soar.


Dance and soar to your desire


Photo credit: wallyir from morguefile.com

 
Regardless of physical obstacles, the human spirit wants to fly high. This young man, a Little League pitcher, flies over his obstacle,  which happens to be a physical shortcoming to you and I. Rather than letting his physical handicap of having only one arm be an excuse to this young man, and limit the height he wishes to soar, he doesn't. He chooses to make the best of things-he pitched a no-hitter. His parents and family have got to be so thrilled of his accomplishments. That's the sort of spirit we need to all have. Determination, and motivation without hesitation. That shows us there's nothing too high or too wide that a determined spirit can't tackle, persevere, conquer and win.

Obstacles, what obstacles?

Check out this for running/sprinting.
And view this amazing ballet. Read their story below the video.
And check out Clair Lomas, completing the London marathon. in spite of being paralyzed from the waist down.

Missed white deer opportunity

I will never forget the day. I missed a once in a lifetime opportunity to record in photo my white deer sighting.
Let me tell you about it.


Spotted in a country field similar to this.



Photo credit: thegipper from morguefile.com

 
Early one morning I decided to drive to the beach so I could be there for breakfast one nice Sunday morning about 10 years ago. I was between Troy and Brundidge driving happily along when off in a field I spotted deer. I've seen deer a lot when driving, but not usually in the mornings.  So it was unusual, and even more unusual was these weren't ordinary looking deer. They were  white deer. Maybe they were albino, I couldn't determine that, but they were unlike any deer I had ever seen. I couldn't believe my eyes! A male with females and little ones, maybe 10 to 12 in all, just grazing but walking slowly as a group in the direction of the highway which I was passing by. I slowed down to feast upon this rare sight. No one was behind me so I opened my purse to get my camera. Uh oh, no camera.

So I turned around and made another pass to get another look at this beautiful grouping of deer. Yes, they were all white, not just white tails or light, brownish-gray in color, or no spots of white mixed with another color. My eyes were seeing them clearly and each of them was white in color from head to tail. They didn't run or even seem to care about anything around them. They were walking slowly, but also eating as they walked. The sun was coming up and they stood out against everything else in the field just 30 to 40 yards from the highway. I turned around and made another pass as I still was about the only vehicle headed South on the highway.

My terrible thought was I'd forgotten my camera, and so my opportunity to capture on film my sighting was not to be. It would take me at least 15 to 20 minutes to drive back to Troy or ahead to Brundidge, purchase a camera and drive back. I had to face reality of this missed opportunity and made a promise to myself to never be without my camera again. I just had to burn this image in my brain for my own visual memory.

I'll never miss a rare opportunity again


Photo credit: procrastinator from morguefile.com

 

Below is a website featuring an article and photo of 'the mysterious albino deer herd' in Wisconsin.

http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/big-buck-zone/2010/05/mysterious-albino-deer-herd

Video showing a white buck and a normal buck fighting.
 



There are white deer in Alabama. I witnessed them early one morning. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.