This entry is pretty long & pretty personal but includes a lighter touch, if you are patient or just skip to the end.

How to tell when I'm in a slump

I had expressed the concern as early as last spring that I might not cope well with the lead-up to & beginning of a new school year. After all, as I continued on my "enforced sabbatical," this would mark the first time in my professional, educational career, that I would play no part in the planning of or launching of a brand-new school year. *

While it's true that the Board strongly encouraged me to take an indefinite, medical leave of absence back at the beginning of November, 2014, & I concurred, due to increasing signs of burn-out **, & while I technically continue on this indefinite leave of absence ***, because issues re:  my mental health have not not been fully resolved, I knew back in March that I would not be continuing as principal of Lutheran High Northeast in 2015-16.

The potential I feared was a slip into a depressive cycle--a slump, so to speak--& it's happened. A big question is whether I've talked myself into a slump; whether what I'm experiencing is a true depressive cycle or merely a pity-party. Whatever. Here are clues for me that over the years I've come to recognize are signs that I'm in a slump, signs that I've entered a depressive cycle. Whatever. [Oops, that's getting redundant, & I'll try to avoid that word again. No promises.]

• Strong feelings of apathy. An example would be something which may sound simple but is significant to me--losing interest in shaving. Throughout my "sabbatical," I have made it a point to keep up my personal appearance by shaving regularly, getting my hair cut regularly, dressing up in slacks & a sport shirt when I have medical appointments . . . in response to the knowledge that strong feelings of apathy are a symptom of depression.
• Hibernation. An example would be staying away from Beef Blast on SUN 8/30. LHNE held its 1st Beef Blast in Aug, 1997, & I have participated in every single one . . . until yesterday. **** My absence broke a string of 18 consecutive years, but I just couldn't summon the ambition to show up & expose myself to a lot of questions. Also, I had a hard time overcoming a feeling that I might not be welcome. I know, I know. Paranoia, but you know what they say. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there aren't those who aren't out to get you! [Just kidding . . . I think.] Another example: I've chosen to skip Sunday morning Bible class the last two Sundays, mainly because I'd rather stay at home & not be around people, even though I treasure the relationships I have with people at church. Also, Pr. Wilke leads a mean Bible class. The man's knowledge & insights, especially re:  the Old Testament, are truly a blessing!
• More sleeping. I've probably been averaging a one-&-a-half to two hr nap just about every day for at least the last few weeks. And it doesn't seem to be keeping me from getting 7-8 hrs of sleep per night. On the other hand, this could still be a residual effect of amitryptalene(sp?), which my neurologist added to my meds at the end of July, due to my cluster headaches. A side effect is increased drowsiness, so I take this medicine at night. You'd think after a month, my system would have gotten used to this side effect, which makes me suspicious it's more than just the medication. [A really, really good side effect = no cluster headaches for almost a whole month. Now that I think of it, it could be that having ongoing cluster headaches pretty much from April thru the end of July played a role in my current slump. They definite disrupt my sleep cycle & add to my anxiety.]
• Re:  sleep . . . On the other hand, after going to sleep usually by 10:00 p.m. or sooner each evening, I almost always wake up by or before 5:00a, the next morning. From then on I "sleep" very fitfully & end up getting up when Lois gets up to start getting ready for school, which is around 6:00-6:15a. I doze, wake-up, doze, wake-up . . . often I have racing thoughts. Yet I rarely am wide awake the entire time, so I'm not entirely sure what to think. I sleep thru the night, but I don't wake up feeling like I've had a quality night's sleep. Lack of sleep & depression go hand-in-hand.
• Once again the clutter is beginning to build up on the dining room table, like it was building up on my desk at school [prior to my leave of absence in November], & like it built up & stayed built-up through most of the time at home from November through late summer. At the beginning of last week I completely cleared it off, which made me optimistic, & I made a [what I hoped might be] a resolution to move my "base of operations" into the study/nursery/Rachel's former bedroom upstairs. Well, that burst of energy last exactly, oh, I'd estimate, 1 day.
• Carb loading. That would be a euphemism for binge eating  carbs. This morning it meant a trip to Casey's for their biscuits & gravy [2nd only to or perhaps tied w/Hy-Vee's biscuits & gravy] after I took Sammy for his a.m. walk. Other examples would be (a) buying sweet rolls to "share" w/Lois in the morning, making it easier for her to take care of her breakfast before she leaves for school, then eating the rest throughout the day; (b) making sure we're stocked up on vanilla ice cream & root beer, so Lois & I can enjoy a root beer float for dessert at night [Sounds unselfish right? It would be if I didn't help myself to additional root beer floats throughout the day.]; (c) buying other dessert to enjoy after supper in the evening, like miniature pies from Hy-Vee or Wal-Mart, warmed up in the microwave & topped off w/ice cream. [Now I need to move on, because this is making me think I'm hungry, there is no ice cream in the freezer, no sweet rolls, no pie, & I feel a trip to the grocery store may be coming on if I don't quit soon.]
• Obstacles to my "quiet time." One of the blessings that I've treasured during my sabbatical has been my "quiet time." More time on my hands has meant more time to spend in scripture, meditative devotions, worship, & prayer. When I'm in a slump, you would think I'd turn more toward "the one thing needful," and you would be wrong. I am ashamed to admit it, but--& this may be tied to the apathy thing--I have a harder time feeling motivated to just sit down & spend time w/the Lord. Spiritual apathy is what this is all about. This task becomes a grind, a chore, not the blessing it's meant to be.

This morning I'm feeling a little more inspired, so I'm cautiously optimistic. Sammy & I have been sitting on the deck now for about an hour. It's 10:40a (CDT). I finished my coffee, had a bowl of cereal w/skim milk & a banana. As I confessed above--& if Lois reads this, I may hear about it when she gets home later today *****,--I made a conscious decision to drive to Casey's [It's only a 5-minute drive from my house] for biscuits & gravy earlier this morning,--but I think I'm going to overcome the temptation to make another side trip to Casey's or Wal-Mart [Can't go to Hy-Vee today; ran out of Scrip, but I know I have some Wal-Mart Scrip left.] for sweet rolls. Also, I found myself more motivated to do my "quiet time" after I got back home from Casey's, instead of stalling by taking care of other responsibilities first.

* For the record, during my professional career, I have helped launch new school years at Luther High North in Chicago--as a rookie teacher straight out of Concordia Seward--Lincoln Lutheran Jr High in NE, Lutheran High School of Hawaii in Honolulu, & Lutheran High Northeast in Norfolk.
** A layperson's term. A more accurate medical diagnosis in my case would be chronic, clinical depression, along w/a general anxiety disorder.
*** Technically, I am on disability. I have NOT taken early retirement. I continue to be on the synodical roster, but my status is "inactive," meaning that I cannot receive a call at this time. I like using the word "sabbatical" to sum up my leave of absence. It sounds way more positive to me.
**** I recall one year when I went to school early on that Sunday as part of my routine, took care of my share of the final setting up but was experiencing achiness & chills & went home about the time when people started showing up. Turned out I was running a fever & actually stayed home the next day, too, but I showed up that Sunday, so it counts.
***** This is not a bad thing. She functions nicely as my conscience in many, many ways.

One more note before I lighten things up, & it's by way of a reminder. This particular blog is pretty personal again; also pretty long--longer that I initially intended. However,

• My selfish reason for blogging is self-therapy. Both my psychiatrist & therapist have encouraged me to use writing as a way to help myself "get better." I can tell that it helps me think--I've always been able to think better "on paper." I had asked my Board if I could continue writing devotions for LHNE's Daily Announcements, but they felt it was in both my & the school's best interests to move on. I really enjoyed that task, which I began at the beginning of Lent, 2014, & continued thru the end of the '14-15 school year. Good therapy AND helped keep me feel connected. While this disappoints me, I respect their decision.
• My unselfish, I really, truly, hope, reason, is that perhaps someone "out there" who also struggles w/issues related to depression, anxiety, maybe even OCD, might gain some insight by reading my Mental Health Monday entries. That's what I tell myself anyway.

Reasons for Anxiety . . . 

Excerpts from Omaha World Herald (8/25):  "Coffee grinding emits suspect chemicals. Workers who roast & grind coffee in factories & cafes have more reason for concern about exposure to lung-destroying chemicals. A study reported in the online journal Toxicology Reports found high levels of diacetyl & the related chemical 2.3-pentanedione in the air at a small coffee-roasting plant. A 2nd study, simulating a cafe setting, found a potential risk to customers who stay in coffee shops for hours socializing or lingering on their laptops." [I own a coffee grinder & used to buy whole beans & grind them myself. Mostly I stopped due to laziness & less frequent trips to Trader Joe's, where Lois & I always bought a container of their Dark Coffee beans. * However, besides grinding more than my share of coffee beans in the past, I am anxious {well, at least mildly concerned} for my brother Mark & son Nathan, who, to the best of my knowledge, continue to grind their own coffee beans. However, & this may sound hypocritical, I will continue to enjoy their coffee & not ask questions when I visit.]
* Which ordinarily I would highly recommend, but I can no longer in good conscience, due to the results of this study. **
** How do we know, on the other hand, that scientists aren't just making up the names of these chemicals? ***
*** I also enjoy my side trips to Barnes & Noble, where I gladly use my Starbucks Gift Card ****, buy a coffee drink--either a latte' w/no flavor, or an Americano, or a simple cup of dark coffee, loaded w/half & half, & relax while reading copies of "Entertainment Weekly," Wild West," or a "Pearls Before Swine" comics anthology.
**** Just remembered--I think I saw elsewhere on FB that Starbucks is a leading contributor to Planned Parenthood, so I may be boycotting their establishment. But not Barnes & Noble. ***** On the other had, those who gave me the Starbucks gift card already made the donation by way of the purchase of the gift card, not me, so maybe I can use of the gift card w/a clear conscience. What do you think?
***** It dawns on me that a boycott of Barnes & Noble, since they allow Starbucks as a vendor into their business establishments would be more in keeping with the idea behind a boycott. I'm somewhat conflicted about this ethical dilemma & may need to ruminate about it within the contact of a Theological Thursday post.

Also from OWH 8/28:  "What dust in your house reveals about you. Even if you live by yourself, you are not alone. In a recent analysis of dust samples collected from 1,200 homes across the U.S., researchers report that most of us co-habitate with a few thousand species of bacteria & about 2,000 species of fungi . . . [Co-habitate with wait . . . what?] *

. . . Or Not

Excerpt from Norfolk Daily News (8/25):  "Split not permanent. Members of One Direction have confirmed the band is taking a break but are reassuring worried fans that it won't be permanent. Niall Horan tweeted that 'we are not splitting up,' while Louis Tomlinson posted, 'It's just a break ... Promise.' Liam Payne tweeted Tuesday that 'there's so much more to come.'" [That's reassurance enough for me, although Liam, buddy, I didn't receive a Tweet. What up, bro?]

* What dust in your house reveals about you, continued from above:  " . . . But don't reach for the scrub brush & disinfectant just yet. 'I don't want any readers to be paranoid about this,' said Noah Fierer, a microbial ecologist at the University of Colorado. 'Most of the organisms are completely innocuous, & some may be beneficial." [Well, okay, if you say so, Noah, but we are not entirely reassured when you use words like "most" & "some." And we are also not reassured, since one could logically assume that at least some of your research is being conducted in Boulder, CO, & I think we all know what makes up a significant % of the dust in Boulder, Co.?!]

Weekend Bonus Blog Entry Aug 29-30

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NEBRASKA (Go Big Red)!

Excerpts from Omaha World Herald (6/22-I know, a little dated):  "One hour & 18 minutes into my tater tot waiting game at TD Ameritrade Park, * I spotted Bill Long . . . holding the object of my desire:  an order of the Grounds Crew Tacho. As soon as I tried the mammoth pile of tots w/oodles of toppings created especially for the College World Series by the chefs at Levy Restaurant Group who cook for the park, I knew I wanted to track down an actual diner willing to try the dish during one of the CWS games. 
      "Just after 5 p.m., Long dropped a tenner for his half-lb of potatoes w/nacho cheese, hickory-smoked brisket, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, & 2 sauces:  bbq & 'Cobra sauce'--buttermilk ranch dressing kicked up w/a spicy combination of sriracha & buffalo wings sauce. 
        "The reason Long decided to try the tachos? He saw them on Omaha.com . . . 'I actually couldn't find the brat burger,' Long said, 'so I decided on this instead . . . he planned to make the tachos his dinner. 'I don't even want to know how many calories,' Long said, but he did plan to demolish the whole dish himself."
      [Other accolades, as quoted in the column, followed:] "Tot's & spicy cheese. What's not to like." (Dustin Pischell, Verdigre, NE) "Tater tots. Brisket. Barbecue. Hell **, yeah." (Dave Feit, Lincoln, NE) "While Feit waited for his buddies, he took his first bite of tots. 'Pretty good. Pretty damn ** good.'" 
* OWH food critic Sarah Baker Hansen, reporting from the College World Series in Omaha last June.
** While this blogger neither condones nor typically uses such profane language, in this context it seemed appropriate to make the point.

Also from OWH (8/10--It's my blog; deal with it):  "Kroc Center offers the latest in swine dining. BaconFest is really a pork lover's fantasy posing as a fund-raiser for the Salvation Army's Kroc Center in South Omaha. About 1,500 people jammed the campus at 2825 Y St. on Sunday for the 3rd edition of what is rapidly becoming one of Omaha's most popular foodie events. Attendees had the chance to taste--over & over again--18 bacon-focused items created by local chefs . . . BaconFest Omaha raises awareness & money for the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center's mission & activities for all ages. [Bacon? Fund-raiser? There truly is no place like Nebraska!]


Excerpt from Lincoln Journal Star (8/5--Get over it!):  "Nebraska will fight Clean Power Plan. Attorney General Doug Peterson said Tuesday that Nebraska had joined a coalition of other states to fight implementation of new federal regulations to reduce power-plant carbon emissions . . . 'Left unchecked, this inappropriate jurisdictional overreach of the federal government will have serious consequences by driving electrical costs up for all Nebraskans across our state.'" [Why not save this entry for my Political Tuesday blog? Because WE ARE NEBRASKA! We don't need the federal government telling us what we can & can't do with our carbon emissions! It's our air! What about our air drifting across our borders into adjoining states? Let them move THEIR blue-state, federal-regulation-loving boundaries!]

CALIFORNIA? *
* Did you notice the color-symbolism attached to both the Nebraska heading at the top of the column & the California heading above? You didn't?! Well, I can't explain everything to you.

Excerpts from Norfolk Daily News (8/17):  "Hold It! City uses paint to fight urination. Public urination has gotten so bad in San Francisco that the city has painted nine walls w/a repellent paint that makes pee spray back on the offender. It's the latest effort to address a chronic problem in a city where the head of public works calls himself Mr. Clean:  Walls are coated with a clear, liquid repellent material that goes on much like paint. Any urine that hits it splashes back on a person's shoes & pants.
      "Mohammed Nuru, director of S.F.'s public works dept., said offenders will need to make the mistake only once to get the idea. 'If you have to go,' he said, 'go in the right place.'" [This being California, I'm thinking that any day now a lawsuit will be filed by PETU. *]
* You know, People for the Ethical Treatment of . . . You guessed it! Sometimes I just crack myself up.]

Also from NDN (8/26):  "Bugging out: Outbreak of insects irks California. (dateline Lone Pine) The gas station's ground was covered w/the small winged bugs. Piles of carcasses, inches deep, sat swept to the sides. On the road, they rained onto car windshields. They flew by the thousands toward even the smallest sources of light, & crept along windows & kitchen tables.
      "Such has been the skin-crawling reality for the past two months in the high-desert communities where residents have seen an explosion of the black-and-red seed bug special Melacoryphus lateralis . . . 
      "Gas stations & rest areas along Hwy 395--a roadway that crosses through sparsely populated & rural areas--are prime bug targets because of their lights. After dark, the bugs swirl like surreal artwork, below the Pearsonville * Shell gas station's overhead lights. 'Millions, tens, twenty, we can't count it,' gas station owner Soma Praba said."["Plenty of room at the Hotel California-da-da-DA-da-DA-da-da-Any time of year{any time of year], You can find it here . . ."]
* According to Mapquest, Pearsonville is 252 mi. south & east of San Jose. I'm just sayin'.

HAWAII?

Also from NDN (8/26):  "Sewage spill prompts Hawaii beach closure. Most of the famed beach fronting Waikiki was closed after heavy rains triggered a half-million gallon sewage spill near Hawaii's world-famous tourist district, officials said. The inundation overwhelmed the sewage system, causing 500,000 gallons of wastewater to spew from manholes . . . " [Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Honolulu city official admitted, "We usually have to shut down Waikiki once or twice a year when we have a half-million gallon sunscreen spill overwhelm our sewage system."]

IOWA?

Excerpt from Omaha World Herald (8/24/15):  "Prisoner again escapes from work release program. (dateline Coralville) Iowa authorities are searching for an inmate who walked away from a prison work release program for the second time in less than two years . . . [The prisoner] walked away from the same work release facility in April '14 & was missing for 4 months before he was found." [Authorities are said to be exploring the possibility that there may be a pattern to this man's history of walking away from work release programs.]

Also from OWH (8/25):  "Board member accused of harassment quits. A Sioux City school board member accused of sexually harassing a district employee has resigned. Paul Speidel resigned Friday. Earlier last week he acknowledged sending inappropriate texts, but said he would remain on the board. He said the communications had stopped . . . Speidel said he'd exchanged texts w/the woman for years & was surprised that she did not tell him she was offended by his communications." [I can neither confirm nor deny that this man was the product of a blue-state public school cultural sensitivity curriculum.]

MINNESOTA?

Also from OWH (8/16):  "Do you need a license for that?" [What followed was a list of 5 categories of jobs--bounty hunter, fortuneteller, florist, interior designer, & manure applicator--& which states require & which do NOT require a license for each profession. Tellingly, Nebraska, a red state, as one would expect, does NOT require a license for any of these professions. Also tellingly, as one might expect, MN requires a license to be a manure applicator "as a 'commercial animal waste technician.'"]
      In all fairness, so does Iowa. Iowa also requires a license to be a bounty hunter, as does CA, TX, NJ. Massachusetts requires a license to be a fortuneteller. [Dept of Imaginary Conversations:  EXAMINER:  Can you tell me if I plan on issuing you a license or not? ASPIRING FORTUNETELLER:  Yes, I foresee you handing over a license in return for my $175 in cash. EXAMINER: Wow, you're qualified! Here's your license. Gimme your cash.]

NEW YORK?

Also from OWH (8/17):  "Blizzard babies arrive right on time. Last November, a pair of freak snowstorms dumped a historic 70" of snow on the area around Buffalo, New York, in a matter of 5 days. Now a Buffalo maternity ward is dealing with a different kind of blizzard. Officials at Mercy Hospital told the AP they've seen a 'mini baby boom' . . . almost exactly 9 months after the 'Snow-vember' storm.
      "You know, those 9 months. * 'Nowhere to go, nothing to do,' new parent Stephanie & Jason Brueggeman said of those chilly November days.'" [Such a romantic reminiscence. And what a special story to share w/your child some day. "We were trapped in the house & didn't have anything better to do, so . . . "]
* Yes, I am an English major, not a math major, but it doesn't mean I can't count backwards. Duh.

Is Sammy Stereo- or A-typical? Adventures with a Squirrel & More!

Sammy:  Atypical? Stereotypical?

Twice recently I "got in my dog's face", figuratively speaking, & expressed some disappointment for what I considered to be stereotypical dog behavior. One incident happened while we were taking a walk. Sammy stopped to sniff at an inanimate object. About the time I recognized said object as the partial remains of a candy bar wrapper & gave his leash a tug--too late! He had gobbled it down. I looked him in the eye & said, "Really? Seriously?? You just swallowed a candy bar wrapper!? How stereotypical is that?" He seemed to shrug, & I was left to ponder whether (a) he didn't care, or (b) he doesn't comprehend the meaning of the word 'stereotypical.' Either way, I was disappointed, because I want my dog to be atypical.

The second incident happened on MON 8/24. It was coming up on 5:00 p.m. I decided to go outside & get the mail. I had my cell phone recharging next to the sofa & didn't want to unplug it. The alarm was going to go off @ 5:00, reminding me to take my "one-hour-before-supper" meds. I opened up the alarm app & turned off what I thought was the 5:00 alarm. As I was walking back from the mailbox, I heard a dog howling. It sounded like a dog from inside our house. Could it be Sammy?

Yes, it was Sammy. He was standing over my cell phone, & the alarm was sounding, because I had inadvertently turned off the 6:00p alarm, not the 5:00p alarm. Sammy was not only standing over it, HE was howling.

After I turned off the alarm, I got in his face again. "Seriously," I repeated. "Howling? Really?? At a cell phone alarm?! How stereotypical." Once again he appeared to shrug, so once again I am left with the possible conclusion that he is a stereotypical dog, not an atypical dog. This distresses me somewhat, in light of other behavior that has seemed to suggest that he is a genius. *
* Let me qualify that. Maybe highly intelligent? **
** Pretty darn smart? ***
*** Smarter than average? ****
**** Whatever.

Sammy & the squirrel

Sammy has met the acquaintance of a squirrel who hangs out at least part-time in our back-yard. How do we know? The other night while Lois & I were in the basement, watching back episodes of Burn Notice on Netflix/Apple TV, Sammy was contentedly sitting between us on the couch [Go ahead, criticize us. It's OUR dog, OUR basement, OUR couch.], he startled us by leaping from his stupor, rushing to the back door, barking hysterically. Something had obviously gotten his attention. It was a squirrel. I let him [Sammy, not the squirrel] outside, & he frantically sprinted down the hill to one of our four pine trees. Too late! Continuing to bark frantically at this wicked intruder, he rushed over to Tree #2, then Tree #1, back to Tree #3, then on to Tree #4, before giving up & returning to the back door. *
          In this particular incidence, neither Lois nor I saw the squirrel, but a quick repeat confirmed our suspicions. Sammy's behavior followed suit, & we did spot the little critter. The next time it happened, we leaped (leapt?) frantically from our seats & joined his hysterical rush outside. We spotted the critter as it rushed up into Tree #3, w/Sammy in hot pursuit. [Technically speaking, Sammy did not "rush" up into the tree, though not for lack of trying.]
          As an aside, I do not like squirrels. In fact, I loathe squirrels, dating back to an unpleasant experience with them while dwelling in our first house in Lincoln, NE, back in the the 1980s. But I digress. It would not hurt my feelings if he caught one & gave it a sound thrashing, but for aesthetic reasons I do not want him to destroy & consume one in our backyard. 
          In any case, the next morning Sammy & I were upstairs in the living room. The sliding glass doors to the deck overlook the back yard. Sammy was perched by the doors, surveying his outdoor domain, & I was comfortably situated in the chair, drinking my morning brew [Seattle's Best Dark #5] & relaxing, ** when Sammy went berserk. As I let him outside, I quickly made eye contact with his nemesis, who was on the ground adjacent this time to Tree #4.
          As Sammy scrambled *** down the deep hillside, his nemesis easily climbed the tree, then scooted over to the nearby power line, which technically lies [lays?] a few feet in the air above our neighbor's property to the north. A new & exciting drama unfolded. The squirrel scampered [Dare I suggest 'happily'?] back & forth along the high wire, while Sammy scampered back & forth on solid ground, barking his fool head off, all the while keeping his eyes firmly fixed on his adversary. Meanwhile, I stood on the deck & laughed. ****
* For a sense of geographical perspective, our backyard is on the north side of the house. The four pine trees are at the bottom of a hill, running parallel to the house, from west to east, #1, #2, #3, #4. You're welcome.
** Reading the Omaha World Herald? Browsing the Drudge Report? Blogging? Conducting my "quiet time?" But I digress.
*** "Scrambled" is probably a more accurate term than "sprinted," given Sammy's size & the force of gravity.
**** Postscript. Sammy eventually came back inside. but the squirrel returned to the backyard twice. Each time Sammy went berserk & I had to interrupt my comfortable repose to let him repeat this nonsense. Then it dawned on me. THE SQUIRREL IS TAUNTING MY DOG! The squirrel is enjoying this! Is Sammy cognizant of this psychological warfare? I bribed Sammy w/a dog treat & put him back in his kennel until I finished my coffee.

Walking the Dog . . . Enquiring Minds Want to Know

My worrisome nature has been bothered by the following. Often, when I take Sammy for a walk, especially the longer walk to the lake, especially when it's warmer outside, it doesn't take long before he starts panting, & his tongue starts hanging out. [When I first mentioned this to Lois, she helpfully asked if it might be possible it was ME doing the panting instead of Sammy. I resented that comment but couldn't deny the possibility either.] I fear that I might be over-exercising and/or under-hydrating him. On the other hand, I can't get him to take a nice, long, healthy drink before we leave for a walk. When we return, the first thing I do is get him a nice bowl of refreshingly clean water, but he won't immediately start lapping at it. On TUE 8/25, when we walked to the lake, I walked him right up to the edge of the lake for the first time. I guess I expected him to sniff at the water & lap at it. Nope. A few quick sniffs, following by total indifference. 
          I've seen videos on YouTube of big cats--lions & cheetahs for example--who, while in a reclining position, exhibit the same behavior--panting heavily with tongues extended outside their mouths, & the explanation is that this is a behavior comparable to "super-inhaling," allowing them to take in even more scents than normal, naturally alerting them to potential threats, potential game, etc.
          The thought occurs to me that maybe Sammy is exhibiting the same behavior. Any comments or insights?

Once & awhile I'll encounter someone during a walk who remarks on what a fine looking animal Sammy is & notes the lab in him. I am always gratified to hear "fine looking animal" but also note that he's a mixed breed & point out that he certainly does not posses the tail of a lab. While walking him several evenings ago, I encountered someone who commented that he had the tail of a beagle, but his tone of voice [the human's, not Sammy's] struck me as being complimentary in nature. Any comments or insights?

I still find it highly distasteful to have to pick up his "comments" & carry them along in a plastic sack [if you catch my drift]. This is aesthetically unappealing to me, & I find it to be beneath my dignity. This is especially true when I'm using a clear plastic sack. * I try to take solace in the fact that failing to pick up after your dog can result in a $500 fine. [It's true! I've seen the signs down the street on my way to the lake; also along the hiker-biker trail around the lake.] Also, I made up my mind some time ago that part of God's plan behind my "enforced sabbatical" was to humble me. This would seem to be a rather straightforward way of accomplishing that plan.
* I think you would be proud to know what we recycle our smaller plastic sacks in this manner, & I've grown quite adept in picking up Sammy's specimens w/o coming into direct contact, although I still find it abhorrent, &, no, I'm not exaggerating when I use that--love that--word. **
** Technically, I suppose it's not really recycling when the plastic sack still ends up heading to the landfill. However, our only other option for recycling plastic sacks in Norfolk is to take them to a box @ the main entrance to Wal-Mart, which we are happy to do occasionally when our supply grows too large. Otherwise, we "recycle" larger plastic sacks for use in our waste baskets in the house ***
*** Yes, I realize that this is technically not recycling them either, since they still would end up in the landfill, but does anybody really know what Wal-Mart does with those sacks?

My Dog, The Fearless Hunter

Last Saturday we had Bentley with us. Lois & I took him & Sammy in the backyard & had great fun. We have a vole [Google them. I can't do everything for you.] infestation, & Sammy started digging at what I presumed to be a fresh vole hole. I say "presumed," because I didn't actually expect him to find anything. I walked over to the site & was amazed to find that Sammy had dug down about 8" into the soil, which did not make me particularly happy. I called Lois over to have her take a look. She, too, was impressed, & went to get some potting soil from a planter, devoid of flowers, that has been sitting on the patio under our deck. Sammy, who was standing by, pridefully I might add, suddenly started what looked to me like "tracking" behavior, back & forth across the lawn, but I didn't see him catch anything, so I didn't give it too much thought. 
          The humans retired into the basement through the patio door, while the dog remained outside. Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw him toss something into the air. I went back outside just in time to see him drop what appeared to be a carcass on the ground. It was--I'm 98% certain--a vole carcass. I spoke sharply, "Sammy!" He quickly grabbed it in his mouth & gobbled it down, presumably under the impression that I would snatch his prize from him & gobble it down instead. [After all, we are both mammals, both omnivores, as far as he's concerned.]
          As far as I know, he's suffered no ill effects. Lois & I hope that word spreads quickly throughout the vole community, & that will be the end of our vole issues. 

A Special Message for My Brother-in-Law

Word has gotten back to me that my brother-in-law, who shall remain nameless *, has expressed some worries about my dog ownership, based upon his recollection of an incident that happened many, many years ago in, as I recall, Ulysses, KS, where he & my in-laws lived. Yes, I remember the incident. I was playing with his dog, & I tossed it in the air, expecting it to land on its feet, just like our cats did. Well, needless to say, it did NOT land on its feet. It landed awkwardly, & it yelped, & it limped away. I felt terrible, & I was dutifully chastened by my in-laws for thinking that the dog would behave similarly to the cats. I also recollect that I apologized profusely, but this incident may have left deep emotional scars, for which I, once again, apologize profusely, because that's just the kind of guy I am.
* It was John.

Fact Check Friday

Healthcare is near to my heart. As a young man, I was briefly uninsured. At that time, Minnesota Care, a state insurance program funded by Medicaid, kept me from tens of thousands of dollars of medical expense debt.

It frustrates me when I hear the complete lack of nuance in opinions on healthcare. I have some pretty strong opinions, so I'll put them out there before diving into some of the facts:

• Healthcare should be affordable, accessible, and doctors should continue in the Hippocratic Oath's dictum of "First, do no harm."

• Medical school should be subsidized. If students can pass the MCAT, the government, state or otherwise, should pay for their schooling. Instead, we ask medical students to borrow a tremendous amount of money, then pay doctors handsomely when they get out of school. How about treating doctors like the professionals they are? Make them state or local employees, pay them a reasonable salaries, and require them to treat everyone. Unfortunately, money and greed corrupt, and there's too much money at stake for this to happen anytime in the near future.

Here's some facts:

• Instead of doctors acting as public servants, many act like businessmen. Look out for these doctors. You could end up a whole lot worse off after a medical procedure than before. Read, "Making the Cut" on ProPublica. You may be surprised at how bad certain surgeons are at their jobs.

• Or, how about the medications your doctor recommends? Be careful. Read about how doctors made millions of dollars promoting drugs for pharmaceutical companies. ProPublica went so far as to call them out in, "Dollars for Docs: The Top Earners." Many of the doctors declined comment, and those that did not only didn't see a problem with the hundreds of thousands of dollars they made speaking on behalf of drug companies, they believed they were providing a public service.

Here's the issue for me: anytime you're making big money from a company or individual, it's in your best interest to do things that please that company or individual. If a doctor is making big money from a drug company, that doctor's going to want to make the drug company look good.

My bias: doctors should be in the profession for the patients and public health, not to make big money. This goes for all health care providers, administrators, etc. Many, if not most healthcare professionals are in it for the right reasons. Unfortunately, with so much money at stake, those who continue to make huge sums--pharmaceutical companies, ethically questionable doctors, insurers, etc.--will fight to protect the status quo.

So, what to do to fix healthcare? The debate rages. What isn't up for debate is the fact that health care in this country is a mess.

• The Federalist suggests some strategies for "fixing" health care in, "Four Little Steps And One Big Leap To Fix U.S. Health Care." I would beg to differ, however, on the author's assertion that workplace wellness programs don't work (point two). For one thing, that's a pretty broad statement. All workplace wellness programs? Check out the New York Times article, "Do Workplace Wellness Programs Work? Usually Not." What the Times article points out, in contrast to the Federalist Editorial, is that the issues surrounding wellness programs are complex. Part of the problem is a lack or true research as to their effectiveness, and the fact that the programs and the studies they cite to tout their effectiveness are funded by the wellness program industry.

• For an in-depth look at healthcare reform check out, "The Strategy That will Fix Health Care" from the Harvard Business review. There is a summary under the byline if the article is looking like too much to read.

That's all for this week. Don't forget to click on some of the links to check some facts. Thanks to Paul Leckband for letting me share my journalistic and social justice oriented bias on his blog.
 

Pies, Cakes, Oreos, Pot, & Hardened Criminals

Food for Thought

We've been having beautiful, fall-like weather recently. When Lois gets up to go to school, I've been getting up, too. I make her "chick" coffee, * which she takes to school, then take the dog for his morning walk. Temperatures have been in the upper 50's & low 60's at that time in the morning (between 7:00-7:30a), with fair skies. Well, this morning was dark, gloomy, & rainy, which matched my mood. I just didn't have the mental energy or capability ** to take on a Theological Thursday blog post, so you'll have to settle for a post that's on a lighter side. I thought maybe it would help cheer me up. The jury's still out on that.
* Flavored coffee, & yes, I know it's a sexist comment. It's related to Lois & her sisters & one of their Sister Bash traditions. They're good sports about it. ***
** Did I just hear someone snicker & comment, "How can we tell the difference?" Hey, was that really called for?
*** Usually.

Excerpts from Norfolk Daily News (8/19):  "2016 Candidates hit the gym, try to skip pie." [Thus ending any aspirations I may have had for campaigning for public office.]

Also from NDN (8/25):  "Let them eat cake. A Florida couple--married 60 years--are still enjoying a tradition from their wedding day. Every anniversary they take a bite from the top layer of their wedding cake stored in a coffee can in their freezer. Ann & Ken Fredericks said they pour brandy over the dark fruitcake to moisten it & break off a piece. Ann said her children are appalled, but she said it's actually quite tasty w/the brandy & has never made them sick." [Appalled? Really?! Tradition is good. So is fruitcake, which makes me wonder if I can find a fruitcake @ Hy-Vee this time of year . . . ]

Excerpts from Omaha World Herald (7/7):  "Skinny Oreos not meant to be twisted or dunked. Oreos are getting a skinny new look, & its maker says the new cookie is a "sophisticated" snack for grown-ups that isn't meant to be twisted or dunked." [Somehow "Skinny", "sophisticated", & "Oreos" just don't seem appropriate when used in the same context.]

Also from OWH (7/10):  "Twinkie's revival proves sweet. In 2012, Hostess, the iconic American giant behind Ding Dongs, Ho Hos & Twinkies, was bankrupt, w/plans to slash more than 18,000 jobs & close its door for good amid a crippling nationwide strike. In 2013, a snack-cake savior appeared. The Missouri-based sweets maker was bought for $410 million by a partnership between private-equity giant Apollo Global Management & C. Dean Metropoulos, a Billionaire turnaround artist known as 'Mr. Shelf Space--for his revival of brands like Vlasic, Hungry-Man & Chef Boyardee.
          Now, the iconic dessert titan is resurgent, selling its golden cream-filled Twinkies across the world under the name Hostess Brands & turning down $2 billion offers from hopeful buyers . . . "  [My uncle drove a truck for Hostess. Whenever we made family visits on vacation, he had treats for us, including Twinkies. One year he had double-stuffed Twinkies--they had apparently gone through the "assembly" line twice. He kept them in the freezer. They were beyond delicious! To this day, I'm not sure any of my cousins can look a Hostess product in the face w/o getting nauseous, but I will always have fond memories of Twinkies & other Hostess snack cakes.] *
* My personal favorites are still probably Hostess Cupcakes. **
** No, my blood sugar levels are none of your business.

Also from OWH (8/27):  "Settling their beef w/a 'McWhopper'? This probably isn't what the United Nations had in mind when it established the International Day of Peace:  Burger King is asking McDonald's to join forces to create a 'McWhopper.' In full-page newspaper ads Wednesday, BK said it's calling for a truce w/McD's so that they can create a mashup of their most famous burgers--the Big Mac & the Whopper. Burger King says it wants to serve the concoction for a single day at a
popup location in Atlanta, a midway point between the headquarters of the two chains. BK is tying the publicity stunt to a nonprofit called Peace One Day, which says it promotes Peace Day . . .
          "In a response posted on its Facebook page, McD's CEO Steve Easterbrook said that the proposal was an inspiration for a good cause & he thinks the two companies could do 'something bigger to make a difference.' Then he took a dig at the ploy by BK. 'Let's acknowledge that between us there is simply a friendly business competition & certainly not the unequaled circumstances of the real pain & suffering of war,' Easterbrook said." [I for one would drive out of my way to buy this product, especially for such a worth cause! Personally, I think this has as good as or possibly even more realistic chance of bringing about peace than the current treaty being proposed with Iran. I'm just sayin'.]

Criminal Minds

Also from NDN (8/8):  "Man guilty of assault, gets life in matrimony. An East Texas man who pleaded guilty to assaulting his girl-friend's ex-boyfriend has been sentenced to life--in matrimony. Josten Bundy, 21, pleaded guilty on July 2 to assault w/bodily injury for a Feb. fistfight w/the ex-boyfriend of Elizabeth Jaynes, 19. Bundy said the ex was 'saying disrespectful things' about Jaynes & admitted he eventually punched the ex in the jaw.
          "At the sentencing hearing, Smith County Judge Randall Rogers asked Bundy whether Jaynes was 'worth it' & whether the couple were married . . . Then the judge said, 'You know, as part of my probation, you're going to have to marry her ... within 30 days.' Otherwise, he would send Bundy to jail for 15 days . . . Fearful of losing his job, Bundy applied for the marriage license & scheduled a date w/a justice of the peace." [I give this marriage 2 years, maybe 3 years, tops.]

Also from NDN (8/11):  "Pay for cake. Officials in Washington state want a former city employee to pay back nearly $800 in taxpayer money she spent on cupcakes for her own office farewell party. The Yakima Herald-Republic reported that when former Yakima Human Resources director Cheryl Ann Mattia resigned in December, she order $757.40 worth of gourmet cupcakes from a local cafe . . . Mattia said the cost of the cupcakes stemmed from a misunderstanding between her & a staff member when the order was placed. But she said it was a legitimate expense." [Connect the dots . . . blue state . . . taxpayer money . . . "it was a legitimate expense."]

Also from NDN (8/14):  "Say cheese. An Iowa City police officer said he 'happily obliged' a motorist who asked to take a selfie w/him after the man acknowledged that he'd smoked marijuana before driving . . . The officer wrote in a police complaint that, after taking Phelps in for alcohol & marijuana intoxication tests, Phelps 'requested to take a Snapchat selfie w/me, to which I happily obliged.'" [I had to go back & re-read this article twice to confirm this incident happened in Iowa City, not Boulder, CO.]

Also from OWH (8/14):  "Gambler pleads guilty after fake chips clog toilet. A man [in Atlantic City, NJ] admitted Thursday that he brought millions of dollars in counterfeit poker chips to use in a casino's poker tournament, a scheme that was uncovered when he clogged a pipe by flushing the chips down the toilet. [As a member of the Gamblers' Assistance Commission of Nebraska, it would not be ethical for me to comment on this item. *]
* Seriously, I really am I member of GAC; appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts & confirmed by the Nebraska State Legislature. ** I have the certificate to prove it!
** Did you know that Nebraska has the only unicameral form of state legislature? Stick with my blog entries regularly . . . you never know what useful information you will pick up.

Nebraska vs Iowa, Criminal Minds, Food for Thought, No Worries, John!

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NEBRASKA

Excerpt from Lincoln Journal Star (8/5/15):  FFA, church provide fresh produce for needy in Adams. Two community groups in Southeastern Nebraska are working together to provide fresh vegetables to residents who might otherwise have a difficult time putting food on the table." [Because that's just the kind of people we are, he said, while straining his shoulder, trying to give himself a pat on the back.]

Excerpts from Omaha World Herald (8/13/15):  'Scool' flub not cool on parking passes. The new school year started with a lesson in proofreading for students at Millard West. Student parking passes were all labeled 'Millard West High Scool.'" [Emphasis added . . . & just a quick geography lesson--Millard West is in the Omaha area, which is just across the Missouri River from Council Bluffs, Iowa.]

Also from OWH (8/20):  "5 State Fair Foods on a Stick. This weekend in De Moines, the Iowa State Fair (so grand they wrote a Broadway musical about it) continues with a butter Monopoly board, all kinds of exhibitors & a whole bunch of animals--& that's just the presidential hopefuls. If grandstanding politicians aren't your thing, head to Grand Island in another week for the Nebraska State Fair, where we'll have an honest-to-goodness music star (Keith Urban) play an outdoor concert.
          "But let's be real. The true draw of all state fairs isn't the music, the Ferris wheel or the White House aspirants. It's the food.
          "Whether you're heading west or east, make the trip worthwhile by gobbling down these amazing eats.
#5:  Apple pie on a stick (Iowa State Fair):  Tiny apple pies, ready to plop right in our mouths? Yes Please!
#4:  Fried peanut butter & jelly on a stick (both fairs):  Regress a little & tap into your inner child w/a greasier take on the PBJ).
#3:  Chocolate-covered Chocolate chip cookie dough on a stick (Iowa State Fair):  A little on the rich side, sure. But they're small enough bites that they work.
#2:  Baon-wrapped meatballs on a stick (Nebraska):  What can possibly improve a meatball (or anything really)? Bacon, of course!
#1:  Deep-fried Twinkie on a stick (Both):  This is actually pretty disgusting. But you should try it at least once--just to say you've experienced the bad idea of deep-fried breading."
[You've gotta give the edge to Nebraska. Why? It's true that Apple Pie on a Stick rates quality points, but so does Deep-Fried Twinkies, & those are available at both fairs. In a word, "Bacon." Nebraska has Bacon-Wrapped Meatballs, & Nebraska would have to be considered an underdog, so this critic chooses the Nebraska State Fair over the vaunted ISF. Gotta problem with that?!]

OR PENNSYLVANIA?

Excerpt from Norfolk Daily News (8/20):  "One killer deal. (Dateline Perryopolis, PA) Celebrate your purchase of this lovely 4-bedroom Victorian w/some fava beans & a nice Chianti. The house that was used as the home of psychotic Killer Buffalo Bill in the 1991 film 'The Silence of the Lambs' is up for sale." [This is one of those movies, along with Aliens 2 & Jurassic Park, that Lois refused to watch w/me.] *
* To the best of my knowledge, Lois has no clinically-diagnosed mental health disorders.

CRIMINAL MINDS

Excerpts from Norfolk Daily News (8/17/15):  "Driving drunk dad. Police say an upstate New York man had his 10-year-old drive his pickup truck while he was sitting in the passenger seat drunk." [Let me just hazard a guess . . . This man is no longer under consideration for Father of the Year in Stillwater, N.Y.]

Also from NDN (8/20):  "Lawsuit has chance of proceeding. An unprecedented House lawsuit against President Barack Obama that was once derided as a certain loser looks stronger now & may soon deliver an early legal round to Republican lawmakers complaining of executive branch overreach.
          "A federal judge is expected to decide shortly whether to dismiss the suit, but thanks to an amended complaint & a recent Supreme Court ruling, the Republican-backed case has a much better chance of proceeding, attorneys agree." [Now hang on just a second! I could have put this in my Political Tuesday blog, but chose to post it in my Whatever Wednesday blog instead. So, I'm commenting on this within a humorous context, not a partisan context, okay? I'm NOT a hater, okay? Seriously, okay?!]

Also from OWH (8/19):  "Seeking prizes, thieves uncap 1,200 beers in store. Police in western Germany are looking for thieves who broke into a store selling alcohol & stole the caps off 1,200 bottles of beer--presumably to collect points for a prize contest--yet left the suds themselves untouched." [Now this is just plain wrong. I am going to assume that although this took place in Berlin, there's no way these thieves could have been Lutherans. Or Catholics for that matter.] *
* I apologize IF I offended anyone with those last two comments.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Also from NDN (8/21):  Quinoa grown right here in U.S. Quinoa is an ancient grain high in protein & fiber. This nutritious grain is indigenous to Bolivia & Peru, where ancient Incas held the crop to be sacred & referred to it as chisaya mama or 'mother of all grains.'" [Indigenous to Bolivia & Peru? Ancient Incas held the crop to be sacred & referred to it as "chisaya mama"?! First of all, this is supposed to make us proud? Secondly, there is no getting around it. 'Chisaya mama' just plain sounds dirty. Thirdly, by describing it as "nutritious" and "high in protein & fiber," you're just planting in my mind that it's in the same category as kale. No thanks.]

Also from OWH (8/22):  "Even in Siberia, finding a Big Mac isn't out of the question. Should you find yourself in western Siberia, you'll soon be able to spot the Golden Arches. McDonald's is branching into western Siberia after reaching a new deal w/a franchisee, the company said Friday." [Thereby causing me to put Western Siberia back on my bucket list.]

MISCELLANEOUS

Also from NDN (8/20):  "Grizzly bears responsible for increased livestock killings. Growing numbers of grizzly bears venturing east from the Rocky Mountains are attacking more domestic cattle & sheep. Montana's livestock-loss program has reimbursed ranchers for 42 animals killed by grizzlies so far this year--8 more than in all of 2014, not counting the 22 cattle lost this year to bears that have not yet been claimed." [In a related story, a lawyer claiming to represent grizzlies noted, "As always, grizzlies make a convenient boogieman. My clients can attest to many examples of stray bison & antelopes literally frightening simple-minded cattle to death." In a 2nd related story, Montana Game & Parks officials would neither confirm nor deny rumors that they've been trying to make contact w/a controversial dentist who earlier this summer was in the news for his bow-&-arrow killing of a lion in Zimbabwe." Said the official, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity, "Yes, of course it would be controversial, but a bow-&-arrow would certainly even the odds, & Montana doesn't allow baiting big-game animals, as far as you know."] 

Also from NDN (8/21):  "Fire starter. A suburban Detroit official is trying to extinguish the use of personal flamethrowers, which are being sold online by two companies in his city. The companies, located in the Detroit area & Cleveland, claim their devices can be used for recreation or to control weeds & insect hives, clear snow & ice, clear brush & start a bonfire."   [I'll make two points, all too familiar to some of us but not to others. Whose out to control these devices that can be used relatively harmlessly for recreation, weed & insect control, snow & ice removal, & yard work? A blue-stater, that's who! Secondly, flamethrowers don't cause fires. People cause fires.]

Also from OWH (8/20):  "Zoo thinks mom of giant panda is pregnant again. Officials at Washington's National Zoo say they think the mother of nearly 2-yr-old giant panda Bao Bao is pregnant again. The zoo said veterinarians performed an ultrasound Wednesday . . . detected what they believe is a developing panda fetus."  [In a related story, zoo keepers first became suspicious when [the panda] refused to eat her usual diet of bamboo unless it was drenched in habanero sauce first. In a developing story, so far unconfirmed, an anonymous source within Planned Parenthood, speaking on condition of anonymity, was quoted as saying, "Let's remember that this is a fetus, not a panda."]

Excerpt from Norfolk Daily News (8/21):  "Anti-Hillary obituary. A New Jersey woman has used her obituary to make a final request to friends & family:  Please don't vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton for president. Elaine Fydrych's husband said she was a registered Democrat & not 'a political person.'
          "But he said she grew to strongly dislike Clinton after the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi & believed Clinton's handling of the matter as secretary of state was 'terrible' . . . The last line of her obituary says:  'Elaine requests, In lieu of flowers, please do not vote for Hillary Clinton.'" [I applied the test I put into place last spring, when I dared to suggest that maybe we were all ganging up on "She Who Shall Not Be Named" & her family. I substituted George W. Bush & asked myself  what standard I would hold him to re:  his handling of the Benghazi incident & aftermath. Well, actually, a pretty high standard. Chalk one up for George W. Wish I would have known Elaine. May she R.I.P.]

Excerpts from Omaha World Herald (8/4):  "Amy Schumer, Sen. Schumer call for more gun control. Actress Amy Schumer is teaming up w/New York Sen. Charles Schumer to call for tighter gun control. She joined the senator Monday in unveiling a 3-part plan that would make it harder for violent criminals & the mentally ill to obtain guns . . . " [Because the person whose opinion re: gun control I would have the next highest level of respect for after Sen. Schumer would be his Hollywood celebrity daughter.]

Also from OWH (8/5):  "Kelly Osbourne apologizes for remarks about Latinos. Kelly Osbourne apologized Tuesday for remarks she made on 'The View' that suggested that if Latinos were expelled from the U.S., there would be no one to clean Donald Trump's toilet's." [I saved this clipping from 8/5, wondering how loud the outcry would be against Kelly around 2 weeks later. Kelly is another Hollywood celebrity. I rest my case.]

Also from OWH (8/8):  "Venezuela's top beer scarce amid heat wave. Venezuelans are facing the prospect of a heat wave w/o their favorite beer, the latest indignity in a country that has seen shortages of everything from disposable diapers to light bulbs. Cerveceria Polar, which distributes 80% of the beer in the socialist [emphasis added] South American country began shutting down breweries this week because of a lack of barley, hops & other raw materials, & has halted deliveries to Caracas liquor stores." [Bernie Sanders is a self-professed--make that LOUDLY self-professed socialist. Beer-lovers take note. You might want to take that into consideration if you have any thoughts of voting for him.]

Also from OWH (8/15):  "Sam announces he is stepping away from game. Michael Sam is stepping away from pro- football. Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by the NFL, has told the CFL's Montreal Alouettes that he is leaving the team. He tweeted Friday that 'The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned w/my mental health. Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time.' [Comment #1:  Although I could point out that it was not that many years ago that the American Psychiatric "Bible" listed homosexuality as a treatable, mental disorder, I'm not posting this to suggest a link between this young man's professed homosexuality & now his professed concern about his own mental health. I am not, I repeat, not a hater. Comment #2:  From the very first, am I the only one who felt that he was being badly used by those w/an agenda in order to promote a certain "cause" when, by many credible reports, he almost certainly did not possess the tools required to play pro football?]

Also from OWH (8/20):  "U.N. agency will let Iran inspect own nuclear site. Iran will be allowed to use its own inspectors to investigate a site where it has been accused of developing nuclear arms, operating under a secret agreement with the U.N. agency that normally carries out such work,according to a document seen by the A.P. 
          "The revelation on Wednesday riled Republican lawmakers who already have been critical of a broader agreement to limit Iran's nuclear program, signed by the Obama administration, Iran & 5 world powers in July. Those critics have complained that the wider deal is unwisely built on trust of the Iranians, while the administration has insisted that it depends on reliable inspections." [Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Iran gets to inspects its own nuclear site. Wait . . . what?]

Symptoms of Depression, Including Personal Reflections, & Thoughts about Anxiety

In previous entries re:  mental health & depression, I've usually advised going to credible web sites for descriptions of depression, as well as lists of symptoms. For your convenience [because that's just the kind of guy I am], I've taken it upon myself to provide the following list of symptoms & the description that follows from the Mayo Clinic's web site, which I heartily recommend. My comments are interspersed [which are highly personal & not meant to be taken as professional advice].

Symptoms

• "Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness [Perhaps in my case based summed up by the phrase "What's the use?"]
• Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters [My beloved spouse would vote a resounding AYE to increased "irritability," & she would be right.]
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports [Hobbies? What hobbies?]
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much [I experienced lots of sleeping problems, primarily insomnia in the form waking up w/racing thoughts, followed by difficulty falling back asleep. There is medication that helps with this; medication which has side effects, but that might be a topic for a separate entry.]
• Tiredness & lack of energy so even small tasks take extra energy
• Changes in appetite--often reduced appetite & weight loss, but increased cravings for food & weight gain in some people [I always envied people who lost their appetites when they were stressed. I always had the opposite problem. Interestingly, I've lost a lot of weight while on "sabbatical."]
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness [One of my clinical diagnosis is a "general anxiety disorder," which seems to go hand-in-hand w/the depression.]
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements 
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself for things that aren't your responsibility [At District Worker Conferences I watched w/envy--no, I'm not proud of myself--as educators from around the Nebraska District were honored for example as Educator of the Year. I LONGED for an opportunity such as that, & it finally appeared possible in 2004. I was nominated. I also recognized that I was entering a deeply depressive state, subsequently confirmed by a psychiatrist. At the All Professional Workers Conference that afternoon, while Lois & I were at the motel, prior to that evening's banquet, I expressed to her my total lack of enthusiasm for this award. I told her that I was totally unworthy of such an award & hoped & prayed that any of the other nominees would get it. After all, every single one of them was far & beyond a worthier recipient than I was. If I received the award, I would be exposed as the total undeserved fraud that I knew I was. I absolutely dreaded going to that banquet, but of course we went, & I received the award. I have the plaque. There was absolutely no joy in it for me. Am I grateful for it? I supposed I should be. I can't help but think that in part this was the Lord's way of humbling me. In any case, to this day there's a side of me that feels cheated, because I had coveted that award, & when I received it, there was no rejoicing, no satisfaction whatsoever on my part. Seems fair somehow.]
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions & remembering things [I definitely can relate to this one. I've experienced lots of trouble w/short-term memory, but this is also a side effect of both sleeping medication & anti-depressants. Trouble concentrating became an issue for me, as well. Lois noticed for example that it was taking me much, much longer to do something as simple as read the newspaper.]
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide [This is one of the scarier symptoms. I don't remember ever feeling suicidal. I do know what it's like to feel so apathetic that one doesn't really care anymore, i.e., "Lord, you can take me any time. Doesn't really matter. I'm not looking to die, but maybe it would be just as well." That's a sign of dysfunctional thinking.]
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches [In hindsight, it seems like I've had more issues with back pain during depressive cycles, so it makes me think there's a correlation. Maybe it's that I'm more sensitive or have less tolerance for it, since I do have genuine back problems. The cluster headaches that have plagued me off & on since the late '90s are another story, because the research linking this type of headache w/stress & depression is inconclusive. I do believe that the severe cycle of cluster headaches I experienced in the spring & early summer of 2013 contributed to my eventual burnout by November 2014. They impeded my sleep, left me unable to complete work expediently & effectively, led to over-medicating {side effects included fogginess, memory problems, & I was the one over-medicating myself, not the doctors}, & digging myself into an ever-deepening hole that I eventually couldn't dig myself out of.]

"For many people with depression, symptoms usually are severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others. Other people may feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why."
          My clinical depression was first officially diagnosed in 2004 or 2005. In November 2014, I was officially declared medically disabled, due to clinical depression & a general anxiety disorder. In layperson's terms, I was burned out, & I continue to be on disability for those reasons. I've had other depressive cycles in the past, but I've always been able to bounce back and/or cope with them. For whatever reason this time around, it's taking quite a bit longer. Both my psychiatrist & therapist agree I've made a lot of progress, & I feel the same way, but we also agree that progress still needs to be made. Why so much longer this time? Hmmm. Perhaps a topic for another blog one day.

Reason for Anxiety? You be the judge!

Excerpt from Norfolk Daily News 8/21/15):  "Federal employees w/sensitive jobs used cheating site. U.S. government employees w/sensitive jobs in national security or law enforcement were among hundreds of federal workers found to be using government networks to access & pay membership fees to the cheating website Ashley Madison, The AP has learned." [Did you catch that? "National security or "law enforcement"? And by AP we're talking Associated Press, not Animal Planet!]

This morning I was up early. I knew from the forecast that we had a good shot at winning a Leckband Temperature Challenge, so @ 6:30a, CDT, I did a quick check. Sure enough! We rated 1st w/a low temp of 44 F. Sanborn, IA, finished a close 2nd w/a temp of 45. Unfortunately, due to a set of circumstances beyond my control, I had no opportunity to post an official Temp Challenge until 9:23a, by which time the following ratings were recorded by the NOAA web site (all temps in F):  1) Sanborn, IA, 54; 2) Tie: Eagan, MN; Norfolk, NE, 56; 4) Beatrice, NE, 58; 5) Tie: Garrison, IA; Lincoln, NE, 61. I experienced unwarranted anxiety between 6:30-9:23, because I had a gut feeling we would be cheated out of a 1st place finish. Sure enough, we were. 

Good News for Those Who Suffer from Anxiety?

Excerpt from Lincoln Journal Star (8/5): From Ask the Food Doc--Bob Hutkins. "Q: My go-to-strategy for dealing w/stress is to eat chocolate. It seems to work. Is there any science behind this? A: Let's be honest, would it really matter if there was or was not a scientific basis for eating chocolate for any reason? That being said, I have very good news for you. Several recent studies do suggest that dark chocolate, in particular, might reduce your stress level & provide other related benefits." [And that's when I stopped reading, just on the chance that I might stumble across later caveats, i.e., if you eat more that 1 oz/day, you increase your likelihood of heart disease by 1 gazillion %.]

Since I am on "sabbatical," I will not have an occasion to take as many professional trips, hence, not as many hotel stays, hence, not as many opportunities to harvest hotel soap. * I've been concerned--what happens when my supply is depleted? I noted recently that I was down to my last 7 bars of hotel soap. Then I remembered a shoebox full of hotel soap on a shelf in our bedroom closet. I think David & Carmen were responsible for gifting me most of its contents, but other faithful family members have contributed. Just for fun I did a quick census this morning. There are 76 bars of hotel soap in reserve. My anxiety was put to rest. For now. * For those of you who don't know, I "collect" hotel soap, shampoo, & conditioner. You might want to keep that in mind the next time you're on a road trip & looking for a cheap yet inexpensive but thoughtful gift for me. **
** I have no shame.

I guess I'm not quite done w/my New Dog Owner Odyssey blog entries yet.

I implied recently that I was getting a little worn-out keeping up my New Dog Owner Odyssey entries, but here's at least one more entry, back by popular request. *
* Okay, one person that I know of let me know he liked these entries. {Hint:  That's all it takes.}

On MON 8/17, after I finished my breakfast sandwich [whole wheat English muffin, egg, American cheese slice, McD's mild picante sauce], there was some cheese remnants on the plate, so I placed it on the floor next to my chair. [I've been VERY consistent about NOT giving the dog any table scraps, but I confess that occasionally I place a plate of crumbs or other "remnants" such as these on the floor for him to enjoy.] He started licking the plate but couldn't get any traction on the wood floor. After having it slide all over the place, he picked the plate up with his teeth & carried it to underneath the dining room table, which is on a carpet. He dropped the plate--where it could no longer slide--& finished licking it. Is this not a sign of super-duper intelligence or what?!

Sammy continues to respond less than positively when in the proximity of other canines. I'm learning what his concept of proximity is, as I take him on our walks. * When he spies one of his peers **, he's instantly "on point." If the other dog is, across the street, he strains at his leash & may give a "woof" or two under his breath. Unless the other dog barks. If we're any closer than that, he gets down into what I identify as "attack position," puts his ears back, & barks. And I think I can tell the difference now between his bark when someone is approaching our front door & his bark whenever another dog is in proximity. The 2nd bark is more like a sharp-guttural-barking-snarl. He strains mightily against his leash, as if to launch himself at the other critter.
* Who am I kidding? I'm sure that there is no doubt in his mind that HE is taking me on HIS walks.
** Fellow pee-ers

So, I've been telling Lois * that we need to get a choke collar & teach him to heel. When I mentioned this to my daughter Sarah the other day, she said that the preferred nomenclature [love the word!] was "pinch" collar. [Oh, great, I thought to myself. PC-talk is part of dog-obedience jargon.]
Instead, Lois brought home a special harness, suggested by the vet, which slips over his head [the dog's, not the vet's] & front legs. When the leash is attached, it definitely restricts his movements.
* As an aside, I suggested to Lois that maybe this was Sammy's way of being fiercely protective of his master; that maybe this was his way of warning other dogs that he was prepared to defend me against potential threats. After laughing hysterically, she responded, "Really? Seriously??"

Sammy definitely does not care for this contraption. In fact, he's given to nipping at us when we are in the process of slipping him into the harness. Sarah suggested giving him a doggie treat while we slip the harness on, as a way to (a) reward him for cooperating; & (b) distract him, which also serves the purpose of keeping him from nipping at us. Although my personal moral code abhors bribery, even in the case of animals, we've been resorting to this, & it seems to be working.

He still strains mightily against the leash when we encounter his pee-ers [sometimes I just crack myself up], but he's easier to restrain. He still won't listen to me at times, however, & stop or sit. The need to teach him to heel is definite, so I am open to suggestions. I am also going to check out YouTube one of these days. [Whenever I detour there, I seem to get distracted by WatchMojo Top 10 lists {which I heartily recommend} or Jimmy Fallon Hashtags {which I also heartily recommend; they almost always make me laugh & Lois & I often take a peek at one set after we do our daily devotion at the end of the day--a good de-stressor & we usually both find ourselves laughing. *}]
* Yes, this may be a sad commentary on the state of our mutual mental health.

When we went for a walk TUE 8/18, as we strolled the perimeter of Bel Air school during recess time, I pointed out to him that when the teacher blew her whistle, kids stopped playing almost immediately & lined up to go inside, i.e., when I say "stop" or "sit", he should stop or sit almost immediately. He either was unimpressed or failed to make the connection, thereby casting doubts on my previous comments about "super-duper" intelligence.

I'm a newspaper guy. * [Bear with me. This is dog-related.] We subscribe to both the Omaha World Herald (morning) & Norfolk Daily News. (afternoon) When we travel to Lincoln to spend time with the kids, I try to pick up a Lincoln Journal Star. When we're on the road, I'm always disappointed if our hotel does NOT include a free local newspaper and/or USA Today [despite some misgivings about the latter], & I will make it a point to try to purchase local newspapers when we're traveling, if necessary. ** My point? As I browse the comics in every newspaper I peruse, I am selective in my choices, but I have yet to develop an affinity for Marmaduke. This is oddly reassuring to me.
* After reading this particular musing, you may conclude that my newspaper habit is related to my OCD. You may be right. Whatever.
** My MAIN objective in garnering multiple newspapers used to be acquiring comics. Now my main objective has shifted to perusing for news & commentary that can be incorporated into my blogs. Too bad, so sad.

A Continued Fascination * with the Facebook Analogy

When I took Sammy for our noon-time stroll by Skyview Lake the other day, which is usually the longest of our 3 daily strolls, I took a few more side trips than usual off the pavement in order to encourage Sammy to "do his business" [if you catch my drift]. I did this because when we did our morning stroll, no #2 was forthcoming [if you catch . . . pardon me for being mildly graphic]. As we continued our noon-time stroll, he seemed less & less inclined to "post" this particular type of message [if, blah, blah, blah]. So, for the sake of encouragement, I began making frequent side trips, as aforementioned, to what looked to me like suitable FB sites, i.e., additional sign-posts, shrubs, trees, posts, etc. I am not one that usually finds myself speaking my thoughts aloud to my dog, but suddenly & without forethought, as we headed off-trail toward a set of three parking lot posts, I verbalized aloud, "Let's check these new Facebook sites out, Sammy."
          Well, he gave each of these three sites a quick glance but moved on quickly w/o making any comments [If . . . ]. Eventually, he did leave a suitable comment, which gladdened my heart. As to my verbalization, it caught me by surprise. What does that say about my ever-evolving [oops, don't like that word; let's say 'developing'] relationship w/my dog? The state of my mental health? Deteriorating social skills? Whatever.
* Obsession? Whatever whatever.
          As an aside, I'm very careful to teach my side-kick to avoid inappropriate sites. These would include trees & shrubs located well within people's yards, vehicles [I've seen other people let their dogs post comments on tires. I find that repugnant.], small children, & houses. Although I've avoided them so far, my political leanings have left open the possibilities re:  government buildings, such as public restrooms at Skyview Park, which Sammy seems oddly attracted to.