More on Willing Workers Yahoogroup

Everyone I talk to thinks this is a good idea. I know there will be pitfalls and issues that need to be resolved, which is just part of the process.  I figured out a long time ago, it's better to start something and work out the kinks, than wait till it's all figured out.  Pre-planning is sometimes overrated. 

Got one handyman already signed up, suggested he input his information into a folder.  He seems very computer literate so curious to see what he comes up with.

I contacted the local newspapers and radio shows with a short blurb to publish. 

Got a great suggestion today to buy the domain name "WataugaWillingWorkers.com" or .net.  Will got on that soon. 

You can't punish yourself into change. You can't whip yourself into shape. But you can love yourself into well-being.~~ Susan Skye

Watauga Willing Workers

Let's see what happens.  Some ideas will fade, others will take off.  Freecycle took off and is helping lots of folks recycle and help others at the same time.  WataugaBuySellTrade allows local folks to sell or buy items at a reasonable cost.  Maybe this new group will allow those with a fix up need to connect with those that can do the job effeciently. 

It has been created.  Here are the links you need.    If you use Yahoo email, you can subscribe right there.  If you use something else, you will have to send an email to subscribe.

Visit the site at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/WataugaWillingWorkers/

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I want to test the waters, and start small with this, in effect, making and keeping it local. 
Your thoughts are appreciated.

Honeydo listserve idea

Help me think this one through.  I'm thinking of starting another yahoo group or maybe a google group but this time it is to match people up who need something done but don't know who to call, or at least want to make it available to maybe a high school kid, or unemployed person looking to do a little work.  I might call it something like "Watauga HoneyDoers".  I don't really trust something like Craigslist for something like this...I would want this to be more local, or community oriented.

Recently,  I wanted to hire someone to locate and dig the hole to access my septic tank.  The septic company wants $100...well heck, there has to be someone willing to do it for less than that, some strong college kid, high school kid, etc.  But how do you find them? 

A friend tells me about the Job Board at ASU for students looking to do odd jobs.  I posted it, and got one response so far, but the kid charges $15/hour...a little more than I wanted to spend.  I offered $12. but why should college kids be the only ones getting in on the all the work?

So I'm wondering about creating a list.  Folks that are available to do side jobs, be it catering, construction, repairs of any sort could be on the list, and then homeowners and such could send an email to the group saying something like "Looking for one or two people to clean up the yard, rake leaves, dig up flower beds.  Willing to pay $10/hour plus a little for gas.  Cash.  Must be done on weekend so I can supervise."  They send the email and wait for the response, which might come from any number of folks.  Each responder might want to share references, experience, or negotiate a different price even. 

I've got a buddy who is very skilled at repairing and replacing well pumps.  Had I known, I would have called him and paid him instead of the local well people that did a great job, but for $700, they should have.  Wonder what my buddy would have charged. 

The ups and downs of listening.

Listening

Here are some random thoughts as usual. 

·         How well do I listen?

·         What do I have a hard time listening to?

·         How do I respond when I don’t want to listen, and does it depend on whom I’m listening to?

·         Do people listen to me?

·         When do they and when do they not?

·         What do they do when they don’t want to?

·         What is the appropriate way for a person to exit a conversation they don’t want to be part of?

I’ll answer those questions to the best of my ability later.  You might have some input.  But if you are going to say what a lousy listener, at least couch it in humor or as constructive criticism.

Chivalry

Chivalry

noun, plural -ries for 6.

1. The sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms.

2. The rules and customs of medieval knighthood.

3. The medieval system or institution of knighthood.

4. A group of knights.

5. Gallant warriors or gentlemen: fair ladies and noble chivalry.

There is a term you don’t hear often anymore.  When I think of the wars in the Middle East, and Viet Nam, and Korea, I think, brave soldiers fighting unnecessary wars.  WWI and WWII, now those were necessary.  I know only a few veterans from WWII.  My dad was one of them and my friend John too.  It is difficult to imagine men that are so talented, kind and generous spending so much energy on killing other human beings.  But those were necessary.  I imagine that they were chivalrous.  Yes, this is war, it sucks, and I hate killing.  As for Hitler, there was no other way to stop the genocide and innocent killing of others.   If we didn’t stop it ,it would have taken over the world.

There is a short film at http://spiritclips.com/films/chivsky.  It is especially heartwarming to watch if you were in WWII, and even more so if you flew.

Hospital Stay

Ain't it great when things work as they should.  Below is my thank you letter to Watauga Hospital.

November 11, 2011

To the staff of the emergency room and 300 Hall,

I want to thank you for the wonderful care you provided me on Monday and Tuesday, November 7 and 8.  I arrived at the hospital around 1:00 to a non-scheduled CT scan and the kind people down there were able to fit me in.  It was a good thing to as my appendix was inflamed, I was in pain (and had been for three days) and who knows what would have happened if I had waited another day. In fact, the CT also discovered a small hernia and a gallbladder full of stones that at present don’t seem to be causing any problems, though it might explain my pre-coffee crankiness first thing in the a.m.

I believe Dr. Crumpler was the first to see me in the emergency room.  She was great.  And considerate.  All of you were, knocking first before entering a room.  I was the one that responded with an “Enter at your own risk!”  No one got scared away.  Andy, whose last name I forget started my IV and checked with me a few times, and we had a good conversation.  Small world too.  Turns out he and his wife contributed to my daughter’s baby shower just in the last month.  It is worth noting that Andy and his wife don’t know my daughter.  This was an event created by a group of kind people sharing love and resources.  It meant a lot to me to be able to thank him to his face.

As for the prep for the surgery, I couldn’t ask for anything smoother.  Scott Vandiver, the anesthesiologist made me feel safe and sure that I was in good hands.  Then there was this big guy, with a biker type bandana.  I wasn’t intimidated.  I wear one myself, and they are more functional than style, and not meant to intimidate (except for the ones that says things like, “if you look at me, I’ll kill you.”  We chatted about bikes, scooters, hogs, but ran out of time before getting to the fun stuff, like accidents, near misses, and top speed coming up Hwy. 421.

Before going into surgery, I facetiously told my siblings that if I didn’t make it, who would get the truck and the tools.  Maybe I was tempting fate but I feared not, thanks to the confidence imbued by the staff.  My sister was somewhat disappointed to receive the text message that I had in fact made it through, and she would have to wait for another life threatening crisis to get the truck.  I appreciate what Doc Edmisten was able to do for me, and the aftercare follow-up. 

The wonderful staff on the 300 hall made sure I was comfortable Monday night and Tuesday day.  And the food…OMG.  It was perfect for hospital food.  Bland for those that need something mild, plenty to fill you up, and hot to make you feel like a grandma might have cooked it. 

I came home Tuesday and am taking it easy, which is hard for me to do.  I’m pretty active.  I have lots of sedentary or low activity things to do but there’s nothing like cutting wood with a burly chainsaw on a crisp sunny fall day.  But that will come soon enough. 

Thank you for your kindness (and effectiveness) during my stay at Watauga Hospital.

With many thanks and high regard,  

Richard Tidyman

My letter to AAWMAG

I wrote this letter to the editor of All about Women and can be read at their archive page at http://issuu.com/mtimes/docs/aawoctober2011/1

One man’s take on women’s fashion

I read the October article “falling for the look’ and was amused, confused and addled at different points.  I know, I know, I’m a guy and you aren’t marketing your rag to my ilk.  And I’m a dues paying member of AARP and a closet bohemian with an opinion. 

I am amused at the conscious or unconscious attempts by the author to implore others to go out and spend their hard earned money on the latest fashion nuances. “The “must-have” for most closets”.  And the “can’t do without a cape” followed later by “crucial time to build your wardrobe” is laughable.  And to what gain is this encouragement to go out and fill your closet?  To do so will make you look “trendy, classic, and Bohemian” and you too can have that “bold and daring look or an “edgier look.”  And I ask, is that a good thing? The author seems to think so. Is there a reason maybe found in the phrase “blouses that result in a classic, feminine feel.”  So is that to say that feeling feminine is based on what is worn?  I did an experiment to see if I feel more masculine in my Carhartt’s compared to my sweatpants. Same either way.

I along with many men think women’s fashion makes little sense e.g. capes.  I would assume they wore capes in olden days because they were easier and cheaper to make than a coat with arms and buttons.  So what advantage is a cape now, other than to look edgy, bold and daring?  Give me a break. 

I thought it ironic that the author is a psychology major.  I’d love to read an article sometime in your magazine about how the fashion industry psychologically manipulates the populace to throw away or fill their closets with perfectly good clothing only to buy overpriced, lower quality clothing often made in sweat shops, or at least, by people paid barely a living wage.  Till then I’ll read my second hand copies of Adbusters.

As for the reasons for certain clothes over others, is it only to imbue a feeling?  Is it to communicate a statement to the competition (I can afford to buy (or fit in) this, and you can’t, therefore I’m better or more desirable than you).  I wonder if in a few cases, some might dress to appear to be more attractive to a potential partner.  And that is about the only thing I can say I know anything about…what is attractive to me.  Clothes communicate a message.  I like the person whose clothing says “I shop smart, looking for quality, clothes that are functional, feel good, fit good, look good, made by people earning a fair wage.  I abhor pretense and anything over the top or glitzy. I live by the Latin saying Esse Quam Videri – To Be Rather than to Seem.”

Just sayin’.

Richard Tidyman 

Down but not out

11/9/2011

I should have called this..."It only hurts when I laugh".

Do you think you are pretty strong?  In good shape for your age?  Build your life around the fact that you can lift, climb, reach, pound, pull and push?  That’s not a bad thing as that’s pretty much how I operate all the time.  But one’s plans can require some adjustment if something like a case of appendicitis hits you. 

On Friday evening I started feeling very achy around the middle section and tired, exhausted.  Went to bed about 7:00 p.m. and slept fitfully, on and off.  I attributed my achiness to a failed attempt to remove a flat tire.  I yanked twice real yard on some lug nuts but gave up. 

Saturday, I was definitely achy but crippled.  I spent the day taking it easy, cleaning up the driveway, cutting scrap wood into kindling, burning scraps of wood.  By 7 pm, I was spent once again but with increasing pain around my middle.  Again slept fitfully.  I didn’t have an obvious temperature and no sinus issues, so I started to think this was not the flu but just throwing my back out of alignment. 

Sunday, I was worthless…all day.  Slept on and off all day but not for long and not deeply.  Monday morning I went to see my chiropractor, Stuart Kaplan, and he figured out pretty quick this wasn’t a structural issue, and suspected the appendix.  From there, I went to Blowing Rock Hospital and saw Dr. Charlie Davant, Jr.  And he too was 99% sure it was appendix.  From there, went to Watauga Hospital for a CT scan which showed not only an inflamed appendix but also gall stones and a hernia.  Surgery Monday night took care of the hernia and the appendix.  Doc thought maybe I could go home in the a.m. but surgery was complicated the length of time my appendix was irritate my insides, and being in the wrong place.  The anesthesiologist also had a rough time getting a breathing tube down my throat.  Multiple attempts left me with a minor sore throat.

I was released about 6 p.m. and given a prescription for pain pills and antibiotics.  Hannah hung out with me some and brought me home.  Doug and Jo came by and had me laughing so hard, I kicked them out before I split a stitch, internal or external.  Ben came by, chatted and offered his assistance as well. 

While no one likes to this stuff to happen, I’m lucky in several ways.  I have health insurance.  I have a pre-tax account to cover the deductible.  I have great friends and neighbors who have expressed a willingness to help if I need it.  I’m in pretty good shape and expect a pretty rapid recovery unless I do something stupid and overdue it too soon.  One of the best lucky breaks is that I got this out of the way before Hannah delivers her baby.  I could use a week or two to get ready for that, even if the house isn’t exactly ready yet…but I’ll get there.  The doc said I couldn't lift anything more than 20 lbs for the next two weeks.  I told Hannah...she seemed so concerned that I told her the doc said I couldn't do dishes, or vacuum for a year...she ain't buying it.

I have to say, the hospital staff treated ne vert well, other than the fact that they said they were too busy to give me a CT scan on Monday and I'd have to wait til Tuesday.  The good doc in Blowing Rock leaned on them and they got me in, actually quite quickly. 

I had a nice "six degrees of separation" experience.  A male nurse named Andy came in to hook me up to an IV.  We chatted about one thing, then another.  Turns out, he is friends with our next door neighbor Tammy and Ken, but his wife was at the baby shower they threw for Hannah.  I was able to thank him in person for his generosity. 

All this makes me appreciate my health.  I hope and expect to be pretty functional for a while, so this little temporary setback will inspire me to take better care of myself.  It will also teach me to get checked out as soon as possible if I don’t know what is going on.