"Losing a Parent..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday) ---Our condolences---

We are sorry to hear of the passing Judith's father, 'Bert Meyers.'

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York.

 She has worked in the ophthalmology field
 of medicine for over 30 years
Looks like the warm weather agrees with Judith!.

Losing a Parent

Losing a parent has to be on the top of the grief list along with losing other loved one’s. My mom passed away 16 years ago and left my dad to carry on alone.  He led a full and wonderful life with my mom and did find a way to keep himself very busy until recent years when his body and mind began to fail him. 

He lived independently first in senior independent living and then about  about  3 yrs ago he could no longer manage even though we continued to prop him up with frequent visits.  He entered  local  nursing home continuing care where he needed constant help with his inability to walk any longer.  

When he was admitted into nursing care,  my real mourning began.  For him the loss of dignity and independence was a fate worse than death.   He was a stoic and independent man whose feistiness took over along with his growing  dementia; he had fleeting moments when he was with us in mind but chose to use only a few 
words to communicate for the remainder of his life. 

The people working in the nursing home knew very little about the person he really was; so full of life, funny, friendly and flirty with the ladies.  

There was only one real queen for him and that was the love of his life, my mom. He always was very social though and knew many people who began to pass away one by one.  When you reach your nineties, even though your health holds  up, it is inevitable that you will be joining God in the last chapter of your life. 

There are many levels of nursing care ranging from poorly paid aids to LPN and RN’s.  There are many people who work in a nursing home setting that clearly do not want to be there.  It takes a special 
person to fulfill those positions and it is very  clear some are in it for the long haul and others are just putting in their hours.  

We were able to check in on my dad just about every day and in his recent months of living brought him the foods such as matzo ball soup that he loved and was able to eat.
   
Nursing homes are on a  budget  but foods like pizza and  peanut  butter sandwiches etc were not on my dad’s diet.  He never ate pizza a day in his life.  He did not have the desire or amount of teeth to eat many foods.

God help the people that have no one to advocate for them in a nursing home setting of which there are many.  Few and far between get visitors as we observed and it can be a lonely and frustrating attempt to live out the rest of one’s life.   

Many nights I prayed that God would show mercy and take my dad in his sleep; my prayers were answered. Only 10 percent of seniors get to pass away this way; the others become sickly and linger with unhappiness.  My dad was an early riser and when I got the call at 5AM I knew what had happened.  

I am fortunate to have had parents living through my children’s upbringing so they could partake in the 
enjoyment of a family full of love.  My husband recently lost his mother who was in her 90’s as well.  

We now will continue on enjoying life and looking forward to new experiences with our growing family and will continue to draw strength from all the wonderful memories that we will keep close at heart from our parents. 

 I am sure they are all resting in peace and still watching over us in spirit.  I still feel their presence in many ways and will draw comfort from that for  all of eternity. 


"In the early morning hours this past Wednesday, 03-11-15, my dad peacefully joined my mom in heaven; it was the best way to pass away I could have asked for, no suffering, with a peaceful end to 95 years of life" Judith Whitehead
The below link will take you to the Obituary of Wilbert Meyers in the Buffalo news;
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/wilbert-meyers-veteran-retired-ge-salesman-20150311

If you wish to sign the guest book click on the link below for Wilbert "Bert" Meyers;
http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/buffalonews/wilbert-meyers-bert-condolences/174376691?#sthash.kj6qNoji.gbpl

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"How the US Government works..." 'Robert Bitos Gandia' (Source)

Guest-blogger,Robert Bitos Gandia.

Robert is an avid cook (ono gandule rice) and always laughing!!
Robert lives in Kekaha on Kauai's west-side and loves football!!

How the US Government works

One is from Chicago, another is from Tennessee and the third is from Minnesota.

All 3 go with a White House official to examine the fence.

The Minnesota contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring then works some figures with a pencil.“Well”, he says, “I figure the job will run about $900. $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me.”

The Tennessee contractor also does measuring and figuring, then says, “I can do this job for $700. $300 for materials, $300 for my crew,and $100 profit for me.”

The Chicago contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over the White House officials and whispers, “2,700.”

The official, incredulous, say, “You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?”

The Chicago contractor whispers back “$1000 for me, $1000 donation to your party and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence.”

“Done!” replies the government officials…

And that is how government works.

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"Pierre Omidyar, free enterprise and Hawai'i dairy farms..."Kimo's world #62-James"Kimo" Rosen

 Warning to all serious folks reading this,
please beware this blog contains some truths
 and some tongue-n-cheek sarcasm.
James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired Professional photographer 
and publisher.Rosen lives on the  beautiful Garden Island of Kaua'i
 with his best friend Obama Da Dog. 
Rosen also posts the Sunrise daily on his Facebook Timeline.

Pierre Omidyar, free enterprise and Hawai'i dairy farms

For well over a year the Garden island news has published numerous letters and articles on the proposed and highly controversial dairy farm to be erected on Kauai's south shore.

 The breaking news back in November 2014 was Kauai County approved building permits  for a proposed dairy farm in Mahaulepu funded by Pierre Omidyar, eBay founder and Hawaii’s wealthiest resident.

Nobody wants a landfill or prison in their backyard,now on Kauai you can add dairy to that list. Really?
Lets face it, no matter what is  being built on Kauai is met with opposition.

The number 1 and number 2 issues apposing the dairy farm is exactly that, #1 and #2 from the cows.

If you want to preserve Ag  land, you must put it to good use. If the land  is not used for farming or agriculture it faces the certainty of other uses,most likely housing. 

My previous brain child of a dairy on a fairy never took off,therefore my newest idea for those opposed to the dairy is to build next to Kaua'i coffee plantations. Think about it!The coffee people could have all the fertilizer they can use with the cow manure that seems to bother so many.The coffee people would be able to walk next door for fresh milk and cream for themselves and the people who frequent the visitor center and drink coffee.

If this wasn't a dairy but a shopping center,hotel, big box store,affordable housing development  or another form of mass transit to  travel off island it would still be be met by a group of people known as 'anti's' that are opposed to anything and everything. Ironically most anti's representing local politics are transplants. Go figure.

The reason most don't want a dairy is simply an animalistic territorial act of reason.I understand nobody wants their space invaded. it's like a dog not wanting other dogs on the territory where they have just urinated. 

Le'ts say the dairy is built  and it keeps away visitors as some are predicting? This would then lighten the traffic flow island wide. Traffic is the number one problem island wide. So, this is a good thing, right? But, not to worry. I all but  guarantee a dairy would only increase tourism as another site to see on every visitors itinerary.

This meme was used to promote
this blog on social media...

I feel it's a travesty the way most anything and everything on Kauai that tries to make a success is shut down before it starts. 
For Gods sake people, the dairy is not a nuclear power plant. Just imagine the government wanting to erect a nuclear power plant on Kauai?

I stand in support with Pierre Omidyar, Hawaii dairy farms  and free enterprise!  

Last but not least  remember the dairy mans motto,"be kind to udders."

P.S.
Read a similar blog about the dairy farm;
"For Gods sake, the Dairy is not a Nuclear Power Plant..." (Blog #1491)
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2015/03/for-gods-sake-dairy-is-not-nuclear.html

P.SS.
Antis’ shouldn’t block dairy farm
An edited version of this blog appeared in the 03-12-15 edition of the Honolulu Staradvertiser;
The Staradvertiser has a paywall, therefore I copy and pasted below;
http://staradvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx?noredirect=true
The breaking news in November 2014 was Kauai County approving building permits for a proposed dairy farm in Mahaulepu funded by Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay.
Whatever is built on Kauai is met with opposition.

The No. 1 and No. 2 issues against the dairy farm are exactly that, No. 1 and No. 2 from the cows.
If it wasn’t a dairy, but a shopping center, hotel, big-box store, affordable-housing development or another means of mass transit, it would still be met by a group of people known as “antis.”
It’s a travesty the way most anything and everything on Kauai that could be a success is shut down before it begins.

The dairy is not a nuclear power plant.

I stand in support with Pierre Omidyar, Hawaii dairy farms and free enterprise. 
James “Kimo” Rosen

Kapaa, Kauai
http://staradvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx?noredirect=true

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Touring The Los Angeles Zoo..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Condolences to Judith and her family)

We are sorry to hear of the passing Judith's father, 'Bert Meyers.'
Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York( A suburb of Buffalo, N.Y.)

 and has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years
Looks like the warm weather agrees with Judith!.
All photos taken by Judith!

Joel, Steve & Judy enjoying
the few days left on vacation.

Touring The Los Angeles Zoo

Part of Griffith Park in L.A. is the Los Angeles ZOO.  We had heard that a new baby monkey had been born and since it had been a long time since we had been to a Zoo, we decided to make the trip. 

What a great way to spend the day with 80 degree weather.  Our Buffalo Zoo pales in comparison to the LA Zoo. It is a well thought out and natural Zoo with plenty of park benches every few yards, restrooms in every area of interest and small  food areas with different foods to pick from.  It is a winding trail that you need a map to follow with.  

Every animal area is most natural and roomy with small fences and shrubs with a moat to separate the animals from the humans but it allows you to get very close to the animals. It also provided excellent picture taking opportunities.  The animals actually seem to be happy, centered in the most natural environment surrounding them. 

A real effort is made for the giraffes to reach high to feed themselves with branches  actually placed daily,  hanging for them to eat off of.  It was very clean along the whole pathway  which is not the case in many zoos. 

By the end of the day, “our dogs were barking” and we were glad to sit down. I highly recommend visiting this attraction in LA if you are in the area, both young and old will enjoy the visit. 

We are sorry to hear of the passing Judith's father, 'Bert Meyers.'

"In the early morning hours this past Wednesday, 03-11-15, my dad peacefully joined my mom in heaven; it was the best way to pass away I could have asked for, no suffering, with a peaceful end to 95 years of life" Judith Whitehead
The below link will take you to the Obituary of Wilbert Meyers in the Buffalo news;
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/wilbert-meyers-veteran-retired-ge-salesman-20150311

If you wish to sign the guest book click on the link below for Wilbert "Bert" Meyers;
http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/buffalonews/wilbert-meyers-bert-condolences/174376691?#sthash.kj6qNoji.gbpl

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"Sharing..." 'Robert Bitos Gandia' (Source)

Guest-blogger,Robert Bitos Gandia.
Robert is an avid cook (ono gandule rice) and always laughing!!
Robert lives in Kekaha on Kauai's west-side and loves football!!

Sharing

An old man ordered one hamburger, one order of French fries and one drink. He then unwrapped the burger and carefully cut it in half, placing one half in front of his wife.

He then carefully counted out the French fries, dividing them into two piles and neatly placed one pile in front of his wife.
He took a sip of the drink, and then his wife took a sip and then set the cup down between them.

As he began to eat his few bites of hamburger, the people around them kept looking over and whispering. You could tell they were thinking: "That poor old couple -- all they can afford is one meal for the two of them."

As the man began to eat his fries, a young man came to the table. He politely offered to buy another meal for the old couple. The old man said they were just fine -- they were used to sharing everything.

The surrounding people noticed the little old lady hadn't eaten a bite. She sat there watching her husband eat and occasionally taking turns sipping the drink.

Again the young man came over and begged them to let him buy another meal for them. This time, the old woman said: "No, thank you, we are used to sharing everything."

As the old man finished and was wiping his face neatly with the napkin, the young man again came over to the little old lady, who had yet to eat a single bite of food, and asked: "What is it you are waiting for?"

She answered:"The teeth."

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"Change..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Vintage Bettejo)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.

Bettejo is a regular opinion writer in the Garden Island news and is the author of the

famed novella, "The Scam."  Her latest fiction

 "Children of Extinction" is now  released and available on Amazon!

www.bettejodux.com

www.amazon.com

Change

It seems to be a time when everything changes. Fast. Too fast. Some people like change. Some people don't. Not every change, good or bad, pleases everybody.

I'm recalling a kind of old-time joke-my style-when the crank of the town was asked about change, He replied, "I seen lots and been agin every damn one."

Don't think I'll go that far, I loved movies in living color. I love DVD discs that shoot real movies in Technicolor on a screen. WOW! I can turn my living room- great room a new fangled description-into a theater by pulling down a hidden screen and connecting an EPSON projector. I can watch, with great delight,  thirty hours of Sherlock Homes half hour TV segments in black and white and love every minute. I can remember in the first grade watching Rin Tin Tin on a white sheet in a classroom. It was a treat we got when we were good kids. My father bought me a toy  film projector so I could watch cartoon characters race about on a white wall. No sound and the film had to be rewound on a reel and kept in a safe  place. I could watch the same magic  over and over and over, but I loved Rin Tin Tin  best.

I didn't like it when we had to drive the car  to San Francisco instead of taking the ferry. I loved cold foggy days and smell good  soup inside.. I loved to walk on the deck in the fog, snuggled warm. I loved fog. Weather. Climate changer. Global warming. Don't like that much. I accept the fact we are experiencing this change and hope someone figures out a way to slow it down.  This is a change that bodes no one on the planet good. What did we used to say? "It's an ill wing that bids no one good." This is one.

I don't like over population and huge dirty  cities where people live stacked on each others shoulders. A high-rise, to me, is a monstrosity. I must feel the earth beneath my feet. Climb and sit in a tree. Even at eighty-four. Clean stalls, make compost, groom a mudder-that's a horse who loves to roll in the mud.

That the sound of birds-singing, crowing, tweeting, trilling, raking fallen leaves with clawed feet and munching worms and other creepy crawlies-has been displaced with the sound of motorcycles, revving engines, growling trucks, boom boxes, horns, traffic, drones, helicopters, jets and other annoying what nots, offend my ears.

Ticky tacky dwellings- suburban sprawl-lined hump roof  to  hump roof , eating up space and rich soil saddens  my sense of order. We used to sing, "Don't fence me in." Today we sing of paved paradise.

I hope it will never be I who  decide which changes must be made , and hope they who must make them, think of the common good, of the planet, of the living things who abide here and not of cipher  in banks and paper in wallets and pockets. They who put profit first. Living things nowhere.

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"The trick to great customer service..." 'Kimo's world #61'

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired Professional photographer 
and publisher.Rosen lives on the  beautiful Garden Island of Kaua'i
 with his best friend Obama Da Dog. 
Rosen also posts the Sunrise daily on his Facebook Timeline.

Kimo's world #61
The trick to great customer service

This meme was used on Facebook
to promote this blog!

I don't know about you but customer service has gotten out of control. Many companies employ people in foreign countries for their customer service. Our local cable company Oceanic Time Warner cable employs agents in India and some Mainland states with cheaper labor laws.

Whenever I call customer service and hear someone with a very defined sharp accent I will usually hang up. I always call back and wait until the person fielding the call has a voice I like, a voice that I feel compatible with. The voice that works best for me is a higher soft pitched female tone. After-all, if your comfortable with the agent your bound to get more accomplished.

I once called the cable and tried to get a reduction on my cable bill since I thought I was being taken advantage. I went on and on about how the cable company is like  buying a used car or real estate in that nobody in their right mind pays rack rate or sticker price. Plus, most people have found a way to get shows for free or next to nothing by back dooring them via the Internet, Netflix  and Hulu. I had this out with a male supervisor, he wouldn't budge. I called back 2 days later and found a female voice that I liked, I plead my case and they accommodated me with a discounted fee.

Don't be afraid to hang up on a voice you don't like, it will reflect in your overall customer satisfaction.

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