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Everyone needs goals in life.
By this point I imagine almost everyone's heard about the elderly driver who plowed into a farmer's market yesterday down in southern CA and killed and injured a bunch of people. Apparently he was 86 and confused the gas and brake pedal. Seeing pictures of bodies covered in yellow tarps lying on the street where they fell and reading the accounts of all the witnesses left me rather dumbstruck. I have argued for many years that people over the age of 70 should be required to take at least bi-yearly driving tests (not just the written ones, but actually demonstrating skills) in order to hold onto their licenses. And it should certainly be yearly for those over 80. Driving a car is not a right, it's a privilege, if you are no longer mentally or physically capable of doing it safely you should not be on the road. Yes, it may make your life more complicated or unpleasant, but it makes the rest of us a great deal safer.
Sorry, just needed to get that off my chest.
Was very sad to miss the Mehndi party last night, but instead I went to meet with the volunteer coordinator for the PA Humane Society which apparently only deals with cats. They trap strays and feral cats and do their best to rehabilitate them and turn them into good pets. They don't believe that feral cats can never become pets and I met several last night that disprove that theory quite nicely. One of the most heartbreaking stories was a little black and white female who had been kept by a "collector" shut up in a cabinet for two years. She's still a bit skittish and prone to hiding, but a sweet little animal nonetheless.
The amount of love and attention devoted to helping the cats was almost overwhelming and the home that they're kept in is absolutely amazing. They're safe, happy, and have a great deal of freedom as well. I think working with them is going to be a really rewarding experience, and well worth giving up some sleep on the weekends to do.
And of course there's already a little calico kitten that's worked her way into my heart. I do hope she gets adopted, but if she doesn't I may end up making puppy-eyes at Aelf to bring her home myself. And if that didn't put me well on the road to becoming a "cat-lady" I don't know what would.
Finally made it home a little after 8 and watered the plants and yard. I was delighted to note that my scheme involving morning glories and the ugly shed seems to be going according to plan. The weird thing is that I couldn't get the damn things to grow in good potting soil, but put them in hard baked clay and they go nuts. Right, ok. Should've gotten some vaccuuming done but I ran out of steam and ended up watching "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" instead. So far we've gotten through Catherine and Anne and I really like the historical re-enactments, the costumes are stunning, and the information fascinating. I highly recommend it if you can catch it!
Sorry, just needed to get that off my chest.
Was very sad to miss the Mehndi party last night, but instead I went to meet with the volunteer coordinator for the PA Humane Society which apparently only deals with cats. They trap strays and feral cats and do their best to rehabilitate them and turn them into good pets. They don't believe that feral cats can never become pets and I met several last night that disprove that theory quite nicely. One of the most heartbreaking stories was a little black and white female who had been kept by a "collector" shut up in a cabinet for two years. She's still a bit skittish and prone to hiding, but a sweet little animal nonetheless.
The amount of love and attention devoted to helping the cats was almost overwhelming and the home that they're kept in is absolutely amazing. They're safe, happy, and have a great deal of freedom as well. I think working with them is going to be a really rewarding experience, and well worth giving up some sleep on the weekends to do.
And of course there's already a little calico kitten that's worked her way into my heart. I do hope she gets adopted, but if she doesn't I may end up making puppy-eyes at Aelf to bring her home myself. And if that didn't put me well on the road to becoming a "cat-lady" I don't know what would.
Finally made it home a little after 8 and watered the plants and yard. I was delighted to note that my scheme involving morning glories and the ugly shed seems to be going according to plan. The weird thing is that I couldn't get the damn things to grow in good potting soil, but put them in hard baked clay and they go nuts. Right, ok. Should've gotten some vaccuuming done but I ran out of steam and ended up watching "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" instead. So far we've gotten through Catherine and Anne and I really like the historical re-enactments, the costumes are stunning, and the information fascinating. I highly recommend it if you can catch it!
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Do you think this should be something that we only check the elderly for? Or do you think that people of all ages should be checked to see if they can still manage the responsibilities?
Re:
Sticky question, but personally after having driven in California for a few years, I'd say everybody *should* be re-tested every 4 years or so, but the elderly really *need* to be re-tested and right now there are few to no safeguards in place.
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Re:
Well part of my reasoning here is, of course, that I need to keep up with you. I mean I can't let you own more than me for very long };)
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The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Ooo. Is this based on the Alison Weir book by the same name? I think I've seen Amazon recommending this DVD to me for a while, and been wanting to watch it. Are you catching it off cable? Or do you have the tape/DVD?
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And working at this place I am so on my way to accomplishing that it ain't even funny...
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Ooo. Is this based on the Alison Weir book by the same name? I think I've seen Amazon recommending this DVD to me for a while, and been wanting to watch it. Are you catching it off cable? Or do you have the tape/DVD?
KQED, I think for the next few Wednesdays, 9-11:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/sixwives/
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re-testing the elderly
Thus ends my long winded opinion.
Re: re-testing the elderly
It's quite off the subject...really
Re: It's quite off the subject...really
Just got your package yesterday and I was terrified at first as it looked like it had been dropped in a lake (the box kinda disintegrated as I was opening it). But everything inside was just fine. Aelf and I thank you for the chocolates and the pics are fantastic! I'm currently listening to the CD in the car and nearly went off the road laughing when "USS Make-Shit-Up" came on.
Re: It's quite off the subject...really
aww kitty