Monday, November 7, 2022

Thoughts... wandering aimlessly... through the brain!

 So...If there ever was a sign from the Almighty....



 

Thank You, Lord!  I think tomorrow is going to be a good day!

If not, well...It's gonna be bad for quite a while to come.

Yes, Sarge, I'm not feeling well.  Not sure what the issue is, but tummy has not been being kind to me for about a week.  Since I'm not running a fever or any other symptoms, pretty sure it's not You Know What.  However, it is bad enough that Mrs. J and I have held off visiting our youngest granddaughter in the NICU.  Just in case it's something which would be VERY bad for a Preemie to encounter.  

She's spent enough time in the Hospital to qualify for Doctor's Scrubs.

She's doing quite well, however.  5.9+ lbs and appetite is growing.  The last time we visited late week before last, the formula in the tube was going down faster than a chug-a-lug beer contest on initiation night at Sarge's college Frat.

So...She's got that going for her.

All that having been said, we did get a bit of bad news from Little J's US government embassy staff.  He had to send a hospital report of MG's medical condition to them about a month ago.  It described the issues she was having with her birth at 27 weeks, 8" and 1.2 Lbs.  Bureaucracies being bureaucracies, the committee in Hong Kong that makes the decision on authorizing her arrival, disapproved it.

Granted, there were several concerns with her state at the time of the report (about a 6-8 weeks after her birth).  However, her actual (current as well as condition at the time the report was sent) situation has improved since then and is still rapidly improving, to the tune of expectations of release sometime in the next few weeks.  But...Gummint being Gummint, they won't allow her entry with out a "Review" board.  Which will have to be scheduled sometime in the future, blah, blah, F'ing blah!

Depending on their "final" decision, Little J's decision matrix becomes quite complex vis a vis, a State Dept career.  Suffice it to say, this conundrum is #1 on our Prayer List, with #'s 2-20 blank, before resumption of other life changing requests. A pox on all Gummint Bureau-rats.

To change subjects (Yes...Please juvat!), we went to a local BBQ joint recently, here in town.  I'd heard lots of good reports about it, mostly that it wasn't like every other BBQ joint in Texas.  Seems the Pit Mistress is from Korea, married a USAF Master Sergeant (no...it wasn't our Sarge) and retired in the 'Burg.  Started a BBQ pit and put just a bit of "homeland" into Texas BBQ.  My Goodness it was tasty!


Had the Ribs with Gochujang flavored BBQ sauce.  They were fabulous!  Gonna add them to my "BBQ currency" list.  Not Money, Beans! Time between visits!

On the Rancho Juvat side of things, Christmas Present projects have resumed after a rather prolonged supply chain issue.  Seems one of the key ingredients needed for the projects was having transportation issues.  Ordered it from the supplier twice over the space of about 6 weeks.  Both times the status on the order was "Awaiting Transportation" then later "Cancelled".  

HMMMM!!!

Looks like the party in power is doing a fine job keeping the economy going.  "Diesel Fuel?  We ain't got no steenkin Diesel Fuel.  We do have wind power however, just attach a windmill to the top of the truck.  That'll work!"

Finally, went to Lowe's to see if they had this product, found a very helpful person in the area I needed (projects are still TS, can't provide any hints) and found exactly what I needed.  Just lost about 6 weeks of construction time.  Gonna be close!

Yeah...I'm in a very pissy mood.  Hope tomorrow's election goes well, that will do an awful lot towards improvement of a lot of contributing factors to my mood.

If you haven't voted yet, VOTE!  or we can't be friends.

If you need another good reason.  

 

Saw this recently on the bumper of the vehicle owned by one of the employees of the cleaning service for our guest houses.  The Flag was presented to her at her husband's funeral.  As they say "Freedom isn't Free!" and it ain't money that is the usual cost.

Peace y'all. God Bless America!



30 comments:

  1. That's YAY for LJD medical progress and NAY for bureaucratic procedure. Watching too much of the political circus can stress that stomach some juvat. GOOD choice on the video, another person oblivious to what's going on around him much like our current Commander in Chief.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nylon,
      Thanks. The only addition I'd make to your comment is an exclamatory in front of the NAY in the first sentence. Simple Nay is way too easy on them nowadays.

      Delete
  2. As Nylon12 said, Yay and Nay.

    Fusion BBQ. That sounds good.

    I suspect that the Christmas projects involve woodworking, looking forward to more information.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JiP.
      Thanks,
      The BBQ was excellent. The ribs were fall off the bone, just the right amount of mesquite smoke flavor and the Gochuchang based BBQ sauce added just the right amount of sweet and spicy. Kimchi instead of Fries probably will give me Doctor's permission to revisit somewhat regularly. So...I got that going for me.
      You might be right on the last. The good news is I'll have a few weeks of in-progress posts ready.

      Delete
  3. That is wonderful news about MD - but ugh on the bureaucracy. That is annoying at best and infuriating at worst. I will add it to the list.

    The video - not that I inherently practice augury in the flights of flocks of birds, but that was pretty dramatic. A smart PR department would be filing that away for two years from now.

    Korean BBQ alone is delicious, but there is a lot of good fusion going on with it as well. I am no foodie, but will almost always say "Yes" to any offer of Korean anything.

    And Yes - Always add the Kimchee.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. THBB,
      Thanks and agreed. Re: the video. The guy looks like a thug, not a Senator. Lord help us if he's elected.

      I've been a big fan of Korean food since my first assignment in the ROK, and am glad there's an option here in the vicinity. No, San Antonio is too far and too big for regular visits for Korean Food hits, especially after MG is released.

      Delete
  4. Yay!! for a gain of about a pound a week for LJD!! To go from about the weight of a pound box of butter to a nice sized roasting chicken is AWESOME!!! Stuff the bureaucrats!!!!
    That clip is pretty funny of the current Lt Gov of PA...and for folks that don't think it is any big deal who the Lt Gov is...just look to NY where our Lt Gov became THE Governor when Cuomo was forced out...and at the mess that has resulted/continued...just proves that equality is alive and well, at least in NYS...the female gov made as much of a mess of things as the male gov did. Why ANYONE would want to have Mr Fetterman represent them is beyond my understanding. He should be home working on continuing to heal from his stroke...which can take up to a year...he could always run again in a year or so if he felt that strongly about needing to be in politics...just my $0.02...worth about what ya pay for it.
    And, yes, absolutely, go vote. I always figured if I don't vote, then I have not a leg to stand on to whine and bitch about the results.
    PS: My baby sis showed me a pic of her adopted son (who hasn't kept in touch much) yesterday as I was leaving my parents place...he joined the Army, and just showed up on the doorstep after completing boot-camp. Heading for Fort Drum for his next assignment. She was a bit gob-smacked...is a very blue Lib type...but I told her it was a good thing. He was more than a bit wild when he was a kid/teen, here's hoping the discipline in the military helps him grow into a good man and to help stay out of the gangs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suz,
      I'm usurping Sarge's authority and declaring you the winner of this week's "Best analogy of the Week". "Pound of Butter to a nice sized Roasting Chicken." Where DO these sayings come from?
      As I mentioned above, the guy looks more like a gangster thug than Senatorial/Governal material. That alone would make me not vote for him. His avowed policy promises just solidify that choice. Thankfully, he's not representing me. Unfortunately, I can't vote for his opponent as his vote in the Senate still can have some impact on my family and I.
      Yes, he should tend to his health and run again when healthy.
      Good on your nephew. The military can have a VERY positive influence of folks and with the right type of leadership, it still will. If you know what I mean.

      Delete
    2. That particular analogy comes from a nursing instructor who was trying to get through to the class how little little can be, and how big 5-6# is when you hold it in your arms. Never forgot it.

      Delete
    3. Suz,
      Well, thanks for that tidbit. Makes sense, and explains the dead arm I generally have after holding her for an hour or two lately.

      Wouldn't trade it for the world though!

      Delete
  5. Crusty Old TV Tech here. While the workplace's cafeterium/food simulation lab was down for overhaul, the Powers That Be brought in food trucks. One of them was Foreign Policy, a fusion of combinations of 'Murrican, Tex-Mex, Greek, and Korean. The Korean Fries, fries with Korean BBQ, kimchi, and queso, oh man, words cannot describe the serious gustatory delight! have to check that Tex BBQ/Korean place out.

    On the bumper sticker, we had an "other duty as assigned", Mortuary Officer, at Da Griff. No, it was not looking after dead bodies in the mortuary, it involved (in my case) being OIC of a funeral detail as assigned. Yes, that bumper sticker hits home. One funeral, no one talked the whole way back to the Home Drome on the big blue bus, some 4 hours driving. An honor, privilege, and sometimes a gut punch of a sobering experience.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. COTVT,
      Loved the Food Truck's name, absolutely perfect. Send it down here, please.

      Never had to perform that duty, not sure I could have maintained my Military Bearing, for the reason's you suggest. Did lose 3 comrades in three separate accidents. The first two I had PCS'd away from them, so the impact was somewhat lessened. Not, went away, just lessened.

      The one I was impacted the most, I posted about here. One of my guys. Squadron Commander went back to the States for his funeral with the family. He presented the Flag. On return, in the bar, he said it was the hardest thing he'd done.

      So, yeah, that bumper sticker means something to me.

      Delete
  6. Juvat, great news on LJD! Continuing Prayers UP. In addition, hope your stomach issue is minimal and doesn't balloon into a visit with the staff of Hill Country Memorial.
    Lost count of the numbe of times I've passed the Korean BBQ place on Hauptstrasse here in the 'Burg but continue on to the similar business on Tivydale as I recall a dinner in Seoul with our local sales rep. "Hold the Garlic" immediately comes to mind.
    Share your opinion of dealing with bureaucrats. The issue I have with bureaucrats is, in many cases, "the 'crat" has extreme difficulty realizing which of us was hired to assist who. Have an on going situation with a Texas bureaucracy and after a year plus of pushing and prodding I am starting to see a glimmer of hope that a resolution will be forthcoming in a couple of months. Being a realist, I won't be surprised should bureaucrat Lucy pull the football just as Charlie Brown is ready to kick.
    Cletus

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cletus,
      Highly recommend you try it. "Hold the Garlic", yeah, I understand. But, I'm Italian on my Mom's Side. I really do love it.

      "Which of us was hired to assist who." Bingo, I think that is the modern way of saying something that was written on July 4, 1776 called "Consent of the Governed." Just re-reading (Re-Re-Re-Re...) that document still reminds me that some things never change. I also believe that the word "Sedition" does not mean what Fetterman believes it means, rather the opposite.
      Hope things work in your favor vis-a-vis the bureaucracy.


      Delete
  7. You little pumpkin taught me something new. I remember when the kilogram kid was about as small as you could hope to survive. Now, a 1.2 lb bundle of joy can make it?? WOW! Praise God from Whom little blessings flow! What a treasure you have. Prayers up for the parents, too.

    Side note on kimchi... When I eat mine, I usually get a cramp and feel a bit off for a day or so. The stuff tastes wonderful, but since it's fermented, it reinforces the natural bugs in my system. They start a joyous celebration of the new kids on the block and kick up all kinds of crud that starts the slide to daylight. That usually results in an "evacuation event". Don't know if that's what you are experiencing but it's a possibility.

    Good on the projects and finding a local source for the needs. Good stuff. Local is gonna be our watch word going forward I imagine.

    I was only a pup, but I have a vivid memory of Grandma getting a folded flag from a dress blue Marine, and my uncle's girl sobbing softly next to her. I have mixed emotions now when I see it. I know what it took to keep it flying and seeing 'crats abusing citizens under it's shadow now.... Cognitive Dissonance. It's heartbreaking... And infuriating...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. STxAR,
      Thanks. Yeah, I've been extremely impressed with the caliber of folks working the NICU she's in. Holy Mackeral! They've got to have hearts of gold and guts of steel given the various outcomes there. We'll be breathing a big sigh of relief when she's released, but will be missing those folks. (Guess we'll invite them to come visit us, more relaxing surroundings.)

      Hadn't thought of the Kimchi as a cause. The episode did start shortly after the Ribs were demolished (and fingers licked, I might add). I'm feeling better now and asked Little J to discuss with the NICU staff about re-entering the visitation cycle. We'll see.

      Not sure the "local stuff" is entirely the answer either. Our local HEB (grocery store) has more and more empty shelves as days go by. I think it's not only a problem with delivery, but folks buying stuff to "Stock Up". Can't say as I blame them, but...

      Yeah, I've been to a few of those ceremonies. Never left with a dry eye. And...yes, it infuriates me to see the Flag disrespected. Although that was a pretty strong statement made in that video. I've got to give credit where credit is due.

      Thank You, Lord!

      Delete
  8. Sorry to hear about LJ- having to worry not only about his daughter, but also his career. That Fetterman clip is funny- not even the flags respect him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tuna,
      Yeah, me too. He's smart as a whip, he'll get through whatever. But...He enjoys what he's doing and says it's important. I understand that feeling (as do all of this blog's commenters), so am praying things work out. He'll make the right decision when the time comes.

      Yep. Zackly! If so, why should we? If he and his staff aren't smart enough to check the weather, why should we assume they're smart enough to govern?

      Delete
  9. You write above, "Hadn't thought of the Kimchi as a cause." Sometimes the beloved stuff turns tail and attacks. It could be anything. Just enjoy everything - once. And see. If you say "hold the garlic", you'll get an empty plate!
    That's how I got the Miss Jeanie to eat artichokes and enchilladas. She, being from North Florida (Live Oak) had never had anything like it.
    Yaay! LJD is actually looking plump! What an answer to prayer. I'm frustrated for you and yours when the bureaucracy doesn't work.
    When we were in Korea in '62-'63 on "alert" two weeks every three months, we cocked the Deuce and parked them in front of the Huns who were uploaded with some kind of blivet. When needed, I went to the club for a shave. All I can say is "Beware the barber's breath!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LtFuzz,
      Yeah, it does and mostly at the most inopportune times. C'est la vie. Good point though about "holding the garlic." But why would anyone want to? ;-)
      Artichokes were a reward growing up. Mom was raised in San Fran, so she was used to them. She somehow managed to procur them in the mid-50's early 60's in thriving metropolis's like Finley North Dakota and Miles City Montana. Still love them, but save them as a reward for something I'm happy I accomplished.
      Yeah, she's doing pretty well, she's down to only a couple of things coming into parameters before she can be released. But hopefully soon, and then Little J can readdress the bureaucracy.
      Re: Korea. Sat the same alert as the Huns in my first tour. Sat the same alert as you did in my second. Liked the second one better. Read you loud and clear on the barber. But, one did get used to it fairly quickly. Eating kimchi seemed to lessen the effect.

      Delete
  10. Thanks everyone for the continued prayers!! She's officially 6.1 lbs as of this morning and is doing great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LJ, so glad to hear it. She's been at the absolute top of my prayer list since before day 1. Not sure if Big Juvat (gotta avoid the initials!) told you, but I had a 2lb5oz preemie in Japan. He's a big strapping 26 year old now doing great. Took a while to get out of the NICU, but those NICU folks are angels.

      Delete
    2. I should say "we" had a preemie. She did all the work and put the time in with him at Camp Lester in Oki.

      Delete
    3. Whoo-Hoo!!! You go kiddo!! Keep slugging down that formula!!!!
      Prayers up for continued positive progress...figure if we all nag about it, after a while the good Lord will say "All right, all right, I will make her to be just fine!" Of course it's probably the only time in her life that she will want to be gaining weight...I would donate some of mine if I could figure out a way to do that!

      Delete
    4. Wohoooooo! God is good! Next week, she'll be riding a bike and you'll wonder where the time went. And yeah, I ain't joking much.

      Delete
    5. Thanks Guys. We all appreciate the support and good humor.

      Delete
  11. Great news about the little one! Hopefully the dawn of the 9th will return us to something approaching sanity.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh hell, you tripped the bureaucracy threshold... Might as well get used to having them around... sigh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Old NFO,
      Yeah, I know. Needed but not wanted. They just need a head slap every once in a while to refocus them on what their role in life really is. Provide needed service to the citizens of the country, not leather furniture to their offices.

      Delete

Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

NOTE: Comments on posts over 5 days old go into moderation, automatically.