Monday, April 30, 2012

More Monday Murals!

I had hoped to have the newest Lake Placid mural to show you today, but as you may already know, my trip to Florida was cancelled because of my hubby's heart attack on Tuesday.  However, I still have murals to show you - so here is the latest offering.

This one is here in Virginia Beach - I thought it was a particularly cheerful one, and a fitting one for the business!


This one was done by the same artist that did the ones honoring the fallen comrades - T.A.L.Ent.  I don't have any dimensions on this one, but you can get an idea of the scope by the door directly below it.

Linking to Monday Murals.


Saturday, April 28, 2012

Spiritual Sunday

I am deviating from my usual Sunday post to do an update on my husband, Dan.  He is scheduled for an angioplasty and stent on Monday after suffering a heart attack this past Tuesday.  He has 3 blocked arteries, 2 of which will be corrected.  The 3rd is an artery on the right side of the heart that is not in the usual place, is 100% blocked, and is unable to be corrected.  The consensus is that the damage has already been done from that artery and other arteries have taken up the slack, so they are not worried about correcting it.  What I wanted to share today is the miracles that occurred this past week.  I briefly mentioned these when I posted on Thursday.

First, the timing of the attack...on Monday, Dan had been at a beach cottage with a friend, 2 hours away from the nearest medical facility.  If it had occurred then, things would have been vastly different.

Second, when he told me of the chest pain, I had only been home from errands for 2 hours.  At first, he only mentioned chest pain, he thought from the bean burrito he had eaten for lunch.  It was only when he said the pain had gone down his arm that I became alarmed and we started for the doctor's office.  I wanted to take him to the hospital, but he thought the doctor could take care of whatever it was.  I got him in the car and we started out - the doctor's office is across the street from the hospital, so we were headed in the general direction.

Here is where what I am calling miracles starts.  I was being caught by a stoplight when I looked over at my husband and realized he was sweating profusely, even though it was quite cool in the car.  I glanced around to see if I could get around traffic, and noticed a police car stopped next to me.  (How many times have you asked the question, "Where are the police when we need them!?)  I honked my horn and motioned for him to lower his window.  He did, and I asked him to help me get to the hospital.  He asked why and I told him I thought my husband was having a heart attack.  He directed me to pull over so he could call an ambulance for me instead.  I was able to cut across traffic stopped at the light and pull into a parking lot.  He immediately followed, blue lights flashing.  His car was followed in very short order by 4 more police vehicles, all with blue lights flashing.  (Strange thoughts running through my head at that time...I thought - wow!  I look like a really, really bad criminal - needing 5 cars to apprehend me!)  Meanwhile, I stopped the car, got around to the passenger side and had the door opened for the officer to see Dan.  The officer asked him to tell him his name, which he did, and asked him how long he had been having the pain.  Imagine my chagrin when he said "since about noon" - since it was now 5 PM!

Just as the chaplain walked up, I looked out and saw the ambulance arriving - literally 2 minutes from the time I had pulled over!  The paramedics came and took over from there.  They did whatever it is that they do in the ambulance - hooked him up to EKG, started an IV, administered medicines, and then took off for the hospital.

I followed (at a safe distance, not speeding, as instructed by the officers!) and arrived at the hospital shortly after they had taken him back.  When I arrived in the room, they were viewing his EKG and making arrangements to draw blood.  The ER Doctor came in and said it looked like he just had some irregular heartbeat going on, and they were going to do a chest X-Ray and do the blood work, probably keep him overnight for observation.  Lab techs came in and drew blood, then he was taken to X-Ray.

He was brought back to the room and situated on the bed.  Everyone left the room, leaving me alone with him.  He was talking to me about the pain in his arm, when he suddenly grabbed his chest and started to convulse.  He fell back, I screamed for help, and everything began to happen in hyper-speed.  I was rushed out of the room, and they began to work on him.  I could hear them calling his name, trying to get a response, with no luck.  Someone (he says a guy with arms the size of tree trunks was jumping on his chest) started CPR, and they got him hooked to the paddles.  I heard the monitor emit the sound we have all heard on TV hundreds of times - the sound of a flat line - and heard them say "clear", and administer the shock.  The monitor still had the same sound - flat line - and I was unable to breathe.  I heard them say "clear" again, administer the shock, and thanks be to God, I heard a heartbeat!  A nurse stepped out of the room and gave me a thumbs up sign.

Shortly afterward, he had a cardiac catheter done, they found the blocked arteries, and on Monday, will have the surgery.  He was sitting up in a chair when I left him this afternoon (Saturday) and looking almost normal!

On Thursday, 2 of the paramedics who had been with him came to visit him in the ICU.  One told us why they had been able to get to us so quickly - they were headed toward me when they heard the call on the police scanner and responded before their dispatcher could even get the call out!  They were less than a mile away at the time.

We have had many visits from friends and family, and have shared our story with all of them.  Obviously God is not through with Dan yet - and though he is not completely out of the woods yet - we still have to get through the angioplasty and stents on Monday - I felt compelled to share the goodness of the God we serve.  Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.  I have been overwhelmed by the love and support from the blogging community.  I am proud and honored to be a part of such a wonderful group of people.  May God bless you richly!



I am linking to Spiritual Sundays.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Wake-Up Call!

I am currently sitting in a hospital room in ICU with my husband, who suffered a heart attack yesterday afternoon.  He is scheduled to be moved to the Cardiac Center in Norfolk on Friday for surgery - possibly stents or bypass.  We will know more today, but I am doubtful that I will get to reading everyone's blogs and commenting.   I just wanted you to know what was going on.  I will post and visit as I can.  I am not exactly thinking clearly at this point!  Thinking only good thoughts...we were already at the hospital when he went into arrest - had been complaining of chest pains.  There were many angels attending yesterday, from the police officer who assisted me and called the ambulance, to the doctors and nurses who were here when he arrested and were able to bring him back so quickly.  My sons rushed to be here with me, my mother and sister offered to come if I wanted them, and so many people have made offers to help, I am totally overwhelmed.  At times like these, you realize what is important - tell those you love how you feel, while you can.  30 minutes longer at home while he was not telling me about the pain in his chest and arm, and the result would have been a lot different today.  As it is, I still have a husband and partner, and I am grateful to God,the angels I was surrounded with yesterday, my family, and the prayer warriors in many states.

Until the next time...Linda

PS: For those who follow both of my blogs, I am posting the same thing over at Taking Time and a Walk.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday - photos that need no words.

Fishing the wake!




Linking to Wordless Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday But With Words.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Love Those Barns!

A trip to Northern Virginia to replenish the barn coffers was a success!  There were some beautiful barns and the weather was gorgeous (at least until Sunday...but the rain was sorely needed!).


Different view of the barn...

Drive-by barn...hiding in the trees...

Nestled in the valley...


That's all for now.  Travel over to Tricia's Barn Charm to see more barns captured by photographers everywhere!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Surprise Murals!

I took a ride on our relatively new light rail this past week - went downtown to have lunch and wander around town.  I was waiting for the train to arrive, watching the dismantling of the setup for the celebration of the one millionth rider, when I noticed these murals on the wall of the Post Office behind us.








I had no idea they were there!  I can find no information online about them...and have not taken the time to contact the city to find out anything about the artist.  Makes me wonder what else I am missing!  Guess it is time to "take another stroll around town".  (Anyone else remember which song this line came from?  My dad used to sing it to me...)

Linking to Monday Murals.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

I'll Fly Away

Some glad morning when this life is o'er, 

I'll fly away; 


To a home on God's celestial shore, 
I'll fly away (I'll fly away). 


When the shadows of this life have gone, 
I'll fly away; 


Like a bird from prison bars has flown, 
I'll fly away (I'll fly away) 








Just a few more weary days and then, 
I'll fly away; 

To a land where joy shall never end, 
I'll fly away (I'll fly away) 



I'll fly away, Oh Glory 
I'll fly away; (in the morning) 


When I die, Hallelujah, by and by, 
I'll fly away (I'll fly away). 




  

Linking to Spiritual Sundays and Your Sunday Best.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Lunch, Anyone?

The red panda at our local zoo has a lovely space, complete with a tree whose branches extend over the walkway.  This makes for some fun shots!

On the prowl...tummy is hungry!

Are you my lunch?

You don't smell much like my lunch...

And you don't look much like anything I've ever eaten before...

Mom!  Have you seen my bamboo leaves???


Linking to Misty's Camera Critters.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Rural Fences

Since I posted about my "city fence", I thought it only fitting that I pay homage to the true working fences...the rural fence!


This first one is courtesy of DJ, my other half...last night, he was going through his photos and organizing them (no way does his method make sense to me - I would never be able to find anything - ever!) and he casually asked if I had this one.  Of course, I had never seen it before - he took it on one of HIS photo trips - so he sent it to me, and I am using it!  I do believe that is a barn in the right corner...anyway, thanks!

These next two are definitely working fences...sortof...

Not sure this fence would keep anyone out!

This one either...

But then again, I'm not sure they WANT to keep anyone out!  These were taken on a very rainy day, when we were completing the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 


Linking to Friday's Fences.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Redneck Yacht Club


(With apologies to Craig Morgan)

I’m meeting my buddies out on the lake 
we're headin out to a special place we love 
that just a few folks know 


there's no signing up, no monthly dues 
take your johnson, your mercury or your evinrude and fire it up 
meet us out at party cove 




come on in' the waters fine 
just idle on over and toss us a line



basstrackers, bayliners and a party barge, 
strung together like a floating trailer park anchored out and gettin loud 


all summer long side by side there's five houseboat front porches





astroturf, lawn chairs and tiki torches 
regular joes rocking the boat that's us 

the redneck yacht club!
(If you don't know the song, you can listen to it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTwDr0B0i5M)







Linking to Thursday Theme Song.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Bearing the Flag...

Cherokee, North Carolina

The inscription, just in front of the eagle's wings reads: "In memory of all our men and women's service to our great nation", and on his head is the well-known POW-MIA symbol with the words: "You are not forgotten".




Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down...

On Thursday of last week, I took my promised "barn storming" trip.  We headed west, to explore an area that we hadn't covered previously.  While there were some decent barns in the area, the vast majority of barns were in obvious states of disrepair.  I find this very sad...





See the dog house under the tree?



To see more barns from all over, visit Tricia's Barn Charm!