When Old Folks Break

My mother fell and broke her hip. The options are:

- Do nothing, which means she'll be bed-ridden, more than likely get bed sores and eventually die from complications of the sores, or pneumonia.

- Screw the ball at the top of the long bone back to the bone, spend weeks recovering and probably not be able to walk, due to constant pain.

- Attach a synthetic ball to the top of the long bone and start aggressive physical therapy within days of the surgery. The typical method is a controlled rehabilitation environment for weeks before considering a return home. This method will allow her to walk.

Her cardiologist says the risks of either surgery are equal, so he deferred to the judgement of the orthopedic surgeon, which suggested the partial hip replacement.

This happens tomorrow in early afternoon. After that, it's a crap shoot, due to my mother's age and her willingness to keep on trying.

The waiting process has started. The results will only be known after it's all over. I can only hope for the best and pray for her relief.

Update: The surgery went well. The surgeon said the surgery is the easy part; rehabilitation is the tough road. She'll be in pain, the therapist will be aggressive and nobody knows how a person will react. While my mother always was a fighter, there's no guarantee she won't throw in the towel for the peace of passing. 

Time will tell. 

The First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Considering the actions by some administrative branches of the government, this amendment is something they don't like, and ignore. To make matters worse, the media ("press", when this was written) has abandoned this precious right to fall into lock-step with political figures that don't want dissension and use their power in an effort to remove this right. 

I don't know about you, but I feel betrayed by the media and our government. They've abandoned what was  so important, people gave everything - including their lives - to secure this right. May the future hold a realization by both of their errors, a strong push for cherishing these rights and a feeling of relief they never allowed their dereliction to reach the conclusion that created the right in the first place.

Just In Time For Summer Vacation

Human breast milk lollipops.

"... I don't know if it's because I'm getting older, but it seems like all of my friends are having babies these days," Jason Darling, the owner of Lollyphile, said in a statement. "Sure, the kids are all crazy cute, but what slowly dawned on me was that my friends were actually producing milk so delicious it could turn a screaming, furious child into a docile, contented one. I knew I had to capture that flavor..."

I know there are some that are curious about the flavor; they may even buy some. Personally, I find it a little creepy.

This Is Disturbing

A secret Israeli military installation was revealed by bid requests, including a substantial amount of pages with accurate details of the proposed facility. From a strategic standpoint, it sucks for Israel. From the standpoint of a U.S. taxpayer, of which I am one, it follow the rules of transparency, which requires the government to show expenditures and details methods to secure bids.

So, this one is disturbing. From the article, you can see a substantial amount of money is being funneled into Israel, which is constantly fighting for survival. Also, you can see how feckless the U.S. government has become and how the hand that feeds may not be feeding who is intended.

Meanwhile, our government fights against energy independence, which forces us to continue buying oil that helps fund the enemies of Israel. It's madness and I'm tired of sweating all day to pay for it.

A Needed Invention

I occasionally have to stop for a school bus. The law says I have to stop, or face terrible fines and a social stigma. It can be maddening to wait, especially when the kids take forever to wander from the bus.

We need a small, air-powered spring board to help them unload. They just walk to the door and  "poof" they fly a few dozen feet away from the bus.

It's a good idea and I don't care what you think.