Stacy

keep steps 1-7. after that stay on I4 until you get to the exit for lakeland/98- exit # 32. head north 14 miles or so (through the town) and make a left on CR 54. 4 miles or so, make a left on Chancey Rd. DZ is on the right hand side on CHancey.

pretty much I4 all the way. It's a straight shot.

"at work" when doing some hurricane relief in Hattiesburg last month. I'm in the blue shirt. The other woman is another one of our grief specialists here. That tree was the oldest standing tree in Hattiesburg and locals pinned memories, etc to it in those baggies.

Having a belated open house and party. Hoping the dog behaves. Probably waking up to a lot of people sleeping on the floor and extra bedrooms and a big mess.

I have some great memories of Bill. We built and named the bar at Cross Keys "Ottleys." Bill was there for the dedication, and did hte first shot off one of our packers that evening. It was an absolute hoot. He was always a bright face to be around. Blue ONes, Bill!!

7:30-4. I don't take lunch.

I'm cooking the usual turkey day goodies for me, galen & gizmo. I fully intend to sleep in late. Very much looking forward to a day off!

A little late but 24:64:0 24 hours of driving, 64 hours of post-Katrina counseling groups in Biloxi, Pascagoula (sp), Moss Point, Ocean Springs, Wiggins, & Hattiesburg (Mississippi). I'm exhausted, my brain hurts from all the counseling, my butt hurts from driving, and I'm tired of fried catfish!

Anyone know anything about this area and the Biloxi area? I'll be headed there Sunday for a week of hurricane support and we're trying to plan what we need to bring, what is open and functioning, etc. Any insight is helpful. We're staying at a state park in Wiggins, but working down on the Mississippi coast area. Thanks!

Actually, Sarasota is a neat little town. If you're looking for ideas of things to do here, shoot me an email or PM, I'd be glad to suggest some things.

David Bruce Pinot is wonderful. but a few bucks over 20. Larkmead Merlot is in the 15 range and pretty good. For 10$, Castle Rock makes a damn good Pinot.

yes it is- a little over an hour

A friend and I peeled and ate bananas in freefall. The video is a riot.

the good thing about it is just as easily as you sign in, you can sign out. Patients can revoke a benefit at any time, whether it is to try the latest treatment, etc. Let him know that giving it a try is worth a shot. The other perk is they treat not just the patient, but the whole family. counseling services and respite care are available for spouses, children, etc. Sometimes it benefits the loved ones mroeso than the patient at times even.

ARGH! Wrong. Sorry erk. I've worked for two different hospices iwhtin the last 5 years (moved). I wouldn't work for anyone else now. Hospice IS NOT home health. Hospice provides case management services and an interdisciplinary team to complement someone's attending physician, nursing home staff, or private health agency. They hold a seperate license under medicare/medicaid than home health and skilled nursing. Entirely different benefit from home health. Hospice patients can qualify for home health services, but not all home health patients can qualify for hospice. Guidelines state that to qualify for hospice admission, a patient has to have a prospective life span of 6 months or less IF whatever condition they havve follows an anticipated course. Of course we all knwo you can't predict things to a science- cancers, alzheimers, parkinsons, they are all very different in paths. Patients aren't kicked out of hospice after 6 months, they are constantly reevaluated. We have people who get better on hospice care, they get discharged and are eligible for re-admission when things start to go awry again. Signing up for hospice basically means you just want to be kept comfortable. Some people still have palliative chemos- they realize the chemo will never cure them but it may keep a tumor small enough to leave an airway open or not press on a nerve. Hospice case management usually includes visits from an RN 1-5x a week depending on need, a social worker as needed (not just the typical nasty social work services, but counseling services, end of life planning, etc), spiritual care if desired, and if the situation warrants it a home health aid or CNA 1-5x/week. Some hospices contract with expressive artists, all should have a volunteer program (volunteers relieve caregivers so they can do errands, help transport, etc etc), they all have wonderful post-death bereavement services. Some have hospice houses that when pain or a symptom gets unmanageable in teh home there is a place to go to be monitored by a physician for a short time. May hospice patients have home health in addition, as they need 4 hours a day of care- that isn't provided by hospice, it is additional. Hospice (at least the not for profit ones which are in my educated opinion the best beyond a doubt) shold not charge for services. Any reimbursement they recieve is via medicare/medicaid benefits and insurance. They will cover all hospice diagnosis related meds (IE if you have cancer som epain medds, or with parkinsons thigns to control tremors, etc etc). If I missed somethign let me know... it's hard to sum up 5 years of work in one post. I can say the families I've been lucky enough to work with dont' know how they did without the complementary care. Hospice isn't saying "this is the end" it's just allowing someone to live how they want to at a delicate time. It focuses on quality of life, not quantity of procedures.

I think I have to go to work this afternoon, but only after Sarasota's EOC gives an all clear. We aren't allowed to be on the roads with winds greater than 35 mph or so. Right now it looks doubtful. We didn't lose power/or haven't yet. amazing! All my plants even stayed put in the garden. Lots of branches down in the yard though. It's still pretty gusty out there, but we're supposed to be out of the woods by noon.

no, I haven't heard from them. They're usually well-prepared for things though.

we're boarded up, stocked up on the necessities (beer, non-perishables, clean laundry, and things to keep the dog from driving us NUTS since she won't be able to go outside). Trying to watch something besides the weather channel, but everything is interrupted by beeps about tornadoes, etc.

$1000 for a used sam. New canopies are pricey. Check the classified ads.

have yo tried a basic obedience class? We just started one today, and they really teach you how to teach your dog anything you want, and how to break any of those "nuisance" behaviors. Our dog is a jumper.

Zhills is the place to be between christmas and new years, hands down. Huge crowds, great parties, great facilities, and organizing for all levels and all disciplines.

Last year Frances & Jeanne made landfall over in West Palm. Charley made landfall in Pt Charlotte and look how devastated arcadia and inland cities got. If Wilma stays as strong as she is, at a 4 or 5, and I lived on the opposite side of the state, I'd be getting the hell out. You can bet if this thing is pointed anywhere within 100 miles of us (and right now it is) here we're on the road.

**sigh** the monkey was in FL, within 45 mins and didn't tell us. married people, you just can't trust them.

alligators, they're alligators.

call salvation army or good will. They'll come pick it up.