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Borrego Springs, CA

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

A clarification and working on a surgery date

In last night’s post I talked about how I thought 32 hours/week for a solo volunteer at our National Wildlife Refuges was a bit too much.  I still feel that way, but I want to clarify something about the volunteer lifestyle.  It really is not a matter of economics of what my volunteer hours are worth.  I volunteer because I want to, and I want to give something back in my own way while helping to insure that these wild places remain in our country.  I believe my strengths lie in educating the visiting public to the worth of these refuges, and the plight of the wildlife that they support.

As I expected, Sharon of The Odd Essay blog brought me to task for my opinion.  Sharon and her husband are dedicated volunteers that put in many hours with the Fish and Wildlife Service.  I respect her opinions, but we have agreed to disagree on this issue.  I responded to her comment with a personal email. I prefer to avoid a big public bear pit.  While I disagree with the policy of requiring more hours from solos, I do continue to volunteer at various refuges by choice.

_MG_1213               I think Emma wants to visit China.  She’s working on getting there by digging a deep hole.

Since I had today off, there were several things on my ‘to do’ list.  Among them was trying to nail down a date for my hip replacement surgery.  I eluded to several challenges in this area in a previous post.  The doctor I am comfortable with is being transferred from Jacksonville, FL, on December first to the Mayo hospital in Waycross, GA.  His surgery schedule was fully booked for November in Jacksonville, so I’ve been trying to get a date in Waycross (which is closer to me) in December. 

_MG_1217

                             Emma is always on guard in our front yard for any marauding squirrels.

It’s been a little frustrating since promised return calls have not occurred.  I finally got a number for the facility in Waycross today, only to be told a calendar of Dr. Brodersen’s surgeries has not yet been created.  I was told it would be created by the end of this week or early next week.  I stressed that I didn’t care about the holiday season approaching, and that I just wanted to get in as soon as possible.  We’ll see what happens.  You can be sure I’ll be calling them again on Friday.

IMG_1209 IMG_1210

I’ve got a little tree frog visitor hiding under the knob to my gas grill tonight.  I guess it’s looking for a slightly protected area from the predicted lower temperatures tonight.  Winking smile

I took a drive to Kingsland, GA, this afternoon to stock up on groceries and such.  It’s a 75 mile round trip journey.  It was the first time I’ve been in a Publix store.  It was a very nice grocery, and you can guess what happened since I broke the rule of grocery shopping when I was hungry. Confused smile

_MG_1223It was mostly cloudy all day today, but the skies cleared just before sunset.  Emma and I jumped in the car and headed for alligator pond hoping for a spectacular sunset.  That didn’t happen, but it was a pleasant experience anyway.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

26 comments:

  1. My Goodness! When I first looked at that photo of Emma I thought you were seeing bears at the Okie! Hey.... Alligators are exciting enough. Sure hope you get this surgery thing worked out soon. I certainly know that can be frustrating.

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  2. Wow, love that last photo with the tree trunk reflections. Very artistic!

    I miss shopping in Publix - it's a great employee-owned store. Hope you bought some yummy 2-fer-1 special treats!

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  3. Hope the timing works out so it is best for you. Have you worked out a helper yet?

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  4. Good luck with the surgery schedule! I think Emma has awhile before she needs to get an entry visa for China:) We have those frogs in our back yard, they are amazing climbers and for some reason very interested in getting inside the house.

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  5. I think my comment yesterday was because I am frustrated with a few things here, no orientation (I was told we would drive around in about 3 weeks when another couple arrives), no one to show me where things are, when I asked a question about something I was told the answer is in the book under the counter. I have never been here as a visitor before arriving as a volunteer. I am not giving up, not leaving early, maybe its just this location, but not a good feeling for my first time volunteering. At my job at Mesa Verde, I felt like part of the team of employees, but here I don't feel that.

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  6. It really is frustrating waiting around for doctors and hospitals to get back to you and get things set up. How well I know. Have you got somebody to help you with Emma and with your getting around the first month or so? My friend back in Billings had both hips replaced. Said it was the best thing she ever did. The first couple of days she may not have thought that though.

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  7. I certainly hope you can get that hip taken care of soon. Good luck with everything. Love your sunset photo, and those pines are gorgeous.

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  8. Good luck with the scheduling process. Doesn't it seem that things are much more complicated than they need to be? I sense your frustration.

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  9. I agree that your sunset picture is simply magnificent! But I still don't agree that solos should be required to do more hours than couples. It seems almost a punishment.

    We sympathize so much with your doctors/hospital problems. I hope it all will work out to your satisfaction. It takes time and a stiff upper lip we have found to deal with the health care system in this country.

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  10. Ahh that little tree frog is so cute. I just love them, he seems so relaxed and sleepy.
    Good luck getting your hip surgery scheduled. That may be harder than the surgery....speaking
    from experience getting surgeries scheduled.

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  11. Finally got caught up on your blog, great NWR, great photos as usual. Good luck with your surgery and recovery. Having just had surgery Bob knows what fun that can be. We will be praying for you.

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  12. Love the tree frog, I have one one my glass patio doors, every night. He is bright green. Sounds like you are staying on top of things as far as you surgery is concerned. I know you will be glad when it is done and you are re-habing. Wish I was closer so I could to help you with things, but I can offer moral support and well wishes. Keep us posted on your progress. Thinking and praying for a safe surgery and a swift recovery.

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  13. Wow. . .that last pic is pretty spectacular. . .I add my best wishes for a speedy solution to your nagging hip problems. . .all the best!

    Janice
    ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing Blog
    FaceBook.com/ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing

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  14. You are going to feel so much better after the surgery!

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  15. We got a chuckle out of your pictures of Emma and her hole to China. That tree frog is the cutest!

    We certainly empathize with your frustration in getting your surgery scheduled and hope it's resolved soon.

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  16. Particularly like that last photo. Best of luck getting that hip replacement problem sorted out with the Doctor. It's one of those things you just want to get done & over with so you can move on with a better quality of lfe.

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  17. I love the last photo. Mystery and beauty all wrap into one.
    We are all told how much doctor's care, and that may be true, BUT I think the office help needs a lesson on empathy. They are an extension of the doctor and should act the role!

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  18. Trying to schedule surgery this time of year could be difficult. I hope you can get it all done and be on the mend very soon.

    Love the last picture....the frogs....not so much. Tree frogs scare me just looking a picture.

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  19. Good luck with the surgery schedule and hope it all works out to your satisfaction.

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  20. I really miss living with tree frogs. I used to love chasing my brother around the house with one. And once I had a housemate that was terrified of the one that lived in our atrium. But I could watch them move all day and love their calls.

    Hope you get your surgery scheduled soon.

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  21. Sunny greetings to you from La Palma in the Canary Islands - it's been a while since I've left a comment.
    I just visited a friend who broke his hip last week (in two places - ouch!). The surgery methods are improving all the time by the sound of it, so I hope yours gets done ASAP and it goes really well.
    Best wishes, Ann.

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  22. Hope all goes smoothly getting that appointment. More importantly getting the surgery done so you can go back to hop, skipping and jumping around the refuge. ;c)

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  23. Glad you are getting that hip done
    you will be glad too when you can
    walk again...You take the best pic's!

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  24. I hope they get you on that schedule quick so you can feel better.

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  25. I've heard from a couple of friends lately that they can't get scheduled for surgery. Hope you get a breakthrough soon. One of the nice things about being at Ft. Pulaski in Georgia was being able to shop at Publix. Best supermarket I ever shopped at, anywhere in the world. I loved that the bakery sold French and Italian bread by the half loaf. With so many singles today it is a shame to waste half of what you buy because one person can't eat it fast enough.

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