Tonight...

Tonight...

The Batman

Movietime.... The Batman. 

Expectations where not too high.

And I was still disappointed. 
Extremely disappointed. 

So what was good? 
I didn't go to the movie and pay to see it. 

The story line is dark,

and excessively creepy and weird.

Entertainment value = nothing! 
Bright spot... rolling the credits.

I never have been a Robert Pattinson fan.

Nothing has changed. 

But... To each their own. 

As for me...

Wasted 3 hours of my life.

( had to... Family movie night) 

Victims?

Are they really victims?

Like everything... It's about perspective.

Drug addition, illegal drug abuse.

People dying from tainted illegal drugs.

Or simply overdoses.

Perspective.... I would say that if you, a family nemeber, or a friend uses illegal drugs or are an addict, than you would view their problem with respect to it being a illness or sickness. 

Perspective.... A best, they are repeated recreational users of illegal substances that made a conscious choice knowing the risks. 

Perspective.... If you take the logical outlook that it wasn't something that simply happened like a disease or illness ... it didn't just happen... It's started with a choice... a bad choice.  A bad choice that was consciously constantly, and continually made, over and over again. It was a choice!

The Controversy... They are setting up memorials and commemorative events to honor  drug users as victims. And to bring to light the risks and dangers, which should already be known. If any activity that has the risk of injury or even death, and the person engages in that activity, and is killed just by the nature of that activity being risky... it may have been an accident... it may be a tragedy... but they are not a victim... it was a conscious choice to put their own life at risk. 

Medical professionals would say that after a time from when the abuse started, and later hospitalized, that their addiction is a sickness or illness.

But it still started with a choice,  knowing the risks. 

So... Are those that died from illegal drug use / addition victims? 
Yes? ... No?... or victims with themselves as the perpetrator of their own demise. A victim of themselves. 

Perspective... Opinions ... Debate... Controversy... 

Logically... if they suffered with addiction, they will suffer no more. 
Their family and friends will not continue to live under their burden.
They will not be a burden on medical resources. 
And another aspect... drug abuse promotes crime... problem solved.

Perspective... There are many extremes to illegal drug use. From occasional Recreation to full-blown addiction. Doesn't change the fact that it all started and continued with a choice. 

Just some things to consider... Victims?  Or victims of themselves?

Watching...

The joy of bird watching...

Birds we have seen this year.

Right outside the rv window

Cpap Nightmare

The Philips Cpap Recall Nightmare continues...

It all started in June 2021.

Actual replacement process started September 2021.

Originally was to be 100% completed by September 2022.

Moved back to December 31 2022.

Now they say that 60% will be by end of year.

Millions of people still waiting...

to have their defective units replaced.

 

Forests for the Soul

Nature walks in the woods. 

Healing for the Soul

Wildflowers

Wild flowers on the mountain. 

Spring has sprung

Despite the variations in temperature. 
One week 50°/ 30°
Next week 85° / 55°
Then 60° / 35°

But springtime flowers prevail...

P & P

Prejudice and persecution...

When you think about Prejudice 

you think about this country

The United States of America. 

When you think about persecution 

you generally think of other countries. 

But when you stop and think about

Society today, the realization of the facts

is much closer to home. 

First off... The United States of America. 
It's a great concept but nothing could be 

further away from that concept.

Government,  Politics, and Society

Could not be more divided on everything. 

Not only divided, but offended by everything

That doesn't agree with their concept of

what they believe life should be. 

Leading to judgement of everything, 

and prejudice against everything or anyone,

that doesn't meet the beliefs. 

But it doesn't stop there...

Prejudice quickly leads to persecution. 
And while it sometimes leads to physical violence, 

The socially acceptable method to 

elevate prejudice and persecution

is to enact laws that not only judge how others 

live their lives,  but actively force control 

Over their lives to confirm with what amounts

To religious beliefs.

Now... Stop and think about that. 
No matter if you think that this is right or wrong, 

Religions judge, prejudice, and persecute,

Anyone that doesn't confirm to its teachings. 

Now that's another story,  

Religions forcing their beliefs upon others, 

While picking and choosing what teachings

Apply to them within countless contradictions. 

So,  what's the hot issue today...

Abortion.

Don't kid yourself...

It's a religious based issue.

That legally via laws, seeks to control others.

Religions advocate 
Judgement, condemnation, and promote prejudice,

and persecution of anyone that doesn't

Conform to their beliefs. 

In history,  religions simply murdered 

Hundreds of Thousands of people that 

Refused to Conform to their beliefs.

Today... They enact laws to control others,

And forces compliance to their beliefs.

Nevertheless... Prejudice

Separation of church and state? 

But like with everything...

Believe and think as you will. 
Live your life as you wish.

Everyone should have personal freedoms... Right?

No one telling you how to enjoy your personal life.

Funny how no one is telling religions how to 

have followers enjoy their personal freedoms. 
That would be inconceivable! 

So why are we not be offended and allow

Religions to force control over others?

Religions have some positive attributes,

So long as they govern themselves.  

Sadly... They don't stop there.

Never have, never will.

Just one more major player that

Activity promotes 

Judgement

Condemnation

Prejudice

Persecution 

and

Social Division. 

 

 

I have become...

I have become my grandfather...

For several years I've kinda felt this way, 

Every time I look at prices. 

I don't say what he used to say...

All the time...

(about prices)

" That really burns my ass" 

And

" That gives me a case of the red ass".

Not really sure what this actually meant

when you actually think about the words. 
But I could tell exactly what he meant. 

And.. that's me today...

as prices go up and up. 

I have become my grandfather 100%.

Okay, maybe only 99%...

I'm never gonna say it how he did. 

Or,  at least I didn't think so. 
But... Ya just never know. 

Guess I picked the wrong year

to keep eating. 

Cheat day...

Cheat day...

Being healthlier, feeling better, and losing that extra weight. It's a long journey to weight loss. Quick loss gimicks generally only work short term, if at all. My journey started last August.  Since then I've lost 17 pounds. I started by logging and counting calories, carbs, and fat. My goal in the beginning was stay under 2,000 calories per day. Generally I found it easy to hit a daily 1,800 calorie average. I stopped logging carbs and fat early on because controlling calories automatically controlled the carbs and fats very well. 
Portion control has been the greatest value. Not really denying myself favorite foods, just controlling how much and how often. The last several months I've maintained a 1,600 calories / day average. Lower calorie veggies etc have been given priority over high calorie foods / snacks. Again, not denying anything... Controlling quantities and frequently of higher calorie foods.  Weights and measures of all foods have been an important key to success. Log everything in a spiral notebook with calorie values. Using an ongoing reference sheets for all foods broken down into categories for easy reference helps greatly... breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Cumbersome in the beginning, but it quickly becomes easier. A food scale helps greatly. Small bowls for measured snacks ideas a huge help, rather than eating snacks right from the bag. Eating out is the hardest thing to control.  If we are going out for a meal,  we carefully control or cut down calories for home meals. Occasionally eating out is a blew out of 2,000 - 2,100 calories for that day... Cut backs the day before and after help keep the 1,600 daily average within reach.  Snack bags also the control intake... 2-3 oreo cookies for a serving, rather than 10-12. Bulky low calorie foods can give you that full feeling.  After several months, it seems that the stomach contracts and less food can still make you feel full.

A piece of dark chocolate with 4 ounces of milk (rather than 12-16 ounces) is a evening treat. 
All in all... not denying types of foods, but controlling quanities helps with the emotional and mental stress of dieting. But it's not really a diet... It's changing how you eat... Eating healthlier. 
So... That's what has worked for us.

There's always the cheat days... Our best called treat days. 
Yum! But watch the quanity of sauces... Must are high calorie.

The best news... Louisiana hot sauce has no calories.

My favorite... Crystal Hot Sauce.

  

 

One second

One second of humor... 

One second of humor in one of the midst of a absolute tragedy that is happening in Ukraine. How does the powers of Russia justify the human tragedy in Ukraine to the Russian people?  I can't help but believe that Russian people do not support the actions of their government. On the world stage Russia is being condemned. 

Ongoing atrocities perpetrated by Russia, which in the worst possible way would in any war would be considered the most grievous war crimes... but this didn't start as a war... It started and continues acts terrorism... on civilians, homes, businesses, schools and hospitals. No matter how the Russian leaders try to  justify the invasion, on the world stage, nothing can justify what is happening. It seems that the world is not doing enough to help Ukraine. 

Ongoing tragedy that will breed even more tragedy.  There is a bigger agenda than just Ukraine, that will bring the world to global war. 

Everyone looses... 

Everyone in all countries worldwide. 

So what does Russia have to gain? 
Compared to what it will loose?

What's happening?

What's on my mind? 

What's Happening? 

Time for some Magic!

Good Morning

The Cpap issues

The Cpap Issues 

If you were lucky enough to get the new Dreamstation 2 to replace your recalled Dreamstation 1, then you can see the differences between the two units.  Of course the comparison is entirely a matter of perception.

 

DS2

ORIGINAL Dreamstation (1)

As for me,  the DS1 was much better than the newer version DS2. 

Of course... Opinions, preferences, and perceptions will vary. 

For me the DS2 appears and feels like it's made cheaper than the DS1s.

Failings of the DS2: 

I don't like the water tank set up. The humidifier setting of 2 (ranges 1-5) runs the tank out of water after 5 hours, not even enough to last all night. Then you wake up to a burning smell. Refilling the tank on the DS1 was much more to my liking.

The menu screen should have been much larger and easier to read.  And the parameter settings are much less than the DS2.

The filters setup was much more convenient on the DS1.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY... My DS2 is noisy compared to my DS1. With the DS2 sitting on the night stand,  the unit is especially noisy when I am inhaling... you can really hear the turbine ramping up.

Some people have said that the DS2 is more quiet. Maybe something was wrong with their DS1... Or maybe something is wrong with my DS2, making it more noisy. 

It's hard to understand that with a 3 years lead time to develop the DS2, they couldn't come up with a better design. But given the fact that Philips knew about the foam issue in the DS1 more than 3 years ago, and knowing of the impending recall... they developed a cheaper unit which could be producted cheaper and quicker. After all, they wouldn't develop a premium unit to address the recall issues which was already going to be a major expense.

So.... If you got a new DS2 and sent in your DS1 as part of the recall, you may have to wonder about the cheaper unit... But at least the DS2 is new. If you got a refurbished DS1 , you probably have a better unit,  but it could be much older than what your old DS1 that you returned.

 
If you were sent a DS1 (refurbished) or  new DS2, and kept your original DS1... You have the best of either situation.

People that kept their original DS1 to keep using... They have replaced the air chamber with a foam free or safe foam aftermarket assembly. Or have removed the foam from their original DS1 air chamber. All are fairly easy to do if you a mechanically inclined.
Otherwise... Don't even attempt it. 

Amazon

Some say that you can not be sure you can trust this product. 
Absolutely safer that the original Philips foam recall.

Our you can deal with the DS2.

For me the ideal situation is to repair your own DS1 making it safe... keeping it as your primary...  And save the replacement unit as a travel or backup unit. 

As for the Cpap masks... I prefer ResMed 

Verses Philips Respironics

  

Ultimately... In three years when I'm eligible... I'll switch to ResMed!

Goodbye Philips.

Well... There you have it.  Y'all sleep well. 

 

In case you were wondering what 

others have to say about the DS2

14 out of 15 reviews were negative

Absolutely Negative. 

Another kick in the head! 

Some people have reported issues with insurance. They had the DS1 and were eligible for a insurance replacement in 18 months.  Since they got a refurbished DS1 from Philips that had already been used for almost 4 years ( by the total used  hour readings),  insurance considered the replacement unit as if it was new and reset the eligibility for a new cpap unit at another 5 years. So the refurbished unit will have almost 9 years of use before their insurance will buy them a new unit. Ain't that a kick in the head. 

  
 

Seniors

Seniors... 

I don't feel like I'm older than dirt...

Most times... I truly don't mind. 

Good News

Good News... Bad News...

Some time in the distant future...

Unless something catastrophic happens

to hasten the cycle.

The Appalachian Mountains 

will become on waterfront property. 

But climate change isn't real...right?

More frequent... more intense...

and much more destructive.

Why is everyone so surprised? 

 

Nature Hikes

Nature Hikes on the Mountain...

Nature is beautiful. 
( be mindful of your footing )

Wildlife is everywhere. 
Deer, chipmunks, racoons, birds,

And Bears!

Be alert for bear, 

What to do... What not to do! 

And then there's snakes.

Be mindful of where you step & put your hands,

And where you sit. 
Yes... several varitues are poisonous.