What?????

I spent today running around Empangeni, seeing my headshrink and hitting the local supermarket shelves. I often buy things at Woolworths, which is seen to be an upmarket supermarket. I find that if I buy salads at Pick and Pay or Spar (slightly - a lot - downmarket from Woolies) I often get to throw more than half the salads away. If I buy at Woolies, I may pay a bit more for foodstuffs, but you get to eat everything instead of throwing away half of what you buy! I find that you pay slightly more, but rand for rand, what you buy ends up cheaper than the local Pick and Pay.

I have however found a store that is almost as good as Woolies. It is called Wyatts, and apart from anything else, they sell Snapple soft drinks. These are imported, so are more costly than local soft drinks, but I find that they are not sweetened - much! If you buy a Coke, the sugar content is pretty high. Just about the only use that I can see for Coke is to clean metals. If Coke can strip tarnish off of a metal object, what on earth does it do to your insides? I do suppose that it helps to clean your teeth, by stripping off the dirt. I also am convinced that the soft drinks, tend to damage the enamel of your teeth. As Christine has grown up, she has had many fillings. I grew up where I only had maybe 2 cokes a month. The upshot is that I have had one filling and recently, this filling fell out - after 35 years use - and the dentist had to perform a root canal! If it takes another 35 years to fall out, I will probably be past caring - as I will be nearly 85! I will probably be past worrying about what the ladies will say! Having been run down (literally) and surviving to be disabled, I kind of am past the funny looks that some people throw my way!

I often get really strange looks, and sometimes comments , when I park in the Disabled bsys at the shops. Maybe my owning a fancy 4x4 or a Porsche, gets some people riled up that I can park in these bays, and they have to walk! I always think that I get no other benefits from humanity, so if "they" choose to allow me to park there - close to the shop doors - then I will gratefully accept it! It is not as if I really am unable to park furher from the doors, but it is great, as I will NEVER lose my car. There is nothing worse than coming out of the movies, and you have "lost" your car in the thousands of others in the parking lot!

What I also kind of enjoy is that generally you can find an empty bay in the Disabled Bays, no matter how full the parking lot is. I also get miffed when I park in a parking lot and some twit has opened his door up against my car! Now I get to park in bays that are larger than average (I need the space with my monster 4x4) and are generally with a low wall around them, so other cars cannot come near my car! Maybe this is what other drivers are upset at! I have often stopped at car windows where they have parked in "my" bays, and said to them "Do you want to be disabled, because I CAN arrange it, but take it from me, disability is no picnic!" Generally it is fat Vaalies (holiday makers from the old Transvaal) park there because they are too lazy to walk 20 meters further to get to the liquor store! Really riles me when they try to argue with me!

Maybe I'm overcooked?

Thinking about things, I have a really hard time acceoting some of what I had forced down my throat as a teen. Belonging to the LDS Church (Mormons) I truly believe that I have a greater grasp on what is taught!

Evolution

Is it true that Man is evolved from creatures that crawled out of the primeordial ooze? If we evolved, why have we stopped evolving, and who do we look similar to beings from places as far apart as Iceland and Equatorial Africa? The whole evoloution arguement does not exactly answer that!

Thinking about it, Sir Isaac Newton only put forward an idea of evoloution and the "learned" scholars latched on to this theory and suddenly it is taught as gospel truth. They go to incredible lengths to "prove" this theory, and kids who do not subscribe to this theory fail their exams!

Greenhouse Gasses and Global Warming

If we subsribe to this theory (and again, it is just that - a theory, not proven fact) how does that explain that the ice ages big freeze, has thawed. Were we guilty of millenia ago, causing global warming? Surely they did not use gasses that affected the ozone layer thousands or millions of years ago? I dont think that they had even considered creating cars that would "spew out gasses that ruin the Ozone atmosphere!" Call me cooked (Hundreds do!) but that is kind of putting man ahead of our creator! Are we more powerful than God to be able to be allowed to create "Global Warming"? Sure we abused some powers. Looking at the Amazing Race on TV, you see that in the less affluent areas of the globe, the national flowers are dead grocery packets. Not so long ago, that was our problem in SA, but since they started chargeing for plastic bags, the townships that were bad examples of where these bags were abandonned, are fairly clean now!

I think that it is someones idea of global scaring! Are they making money from fear? I cannot see a way, but then I am not a scaremonger. Maybe it is simplistic, but I see that our creator would not have created something that would destroy the world! So, we let off a few nuculear bombs (about 65 years ago) and even that could not knock the world off of it's axis!

Sure we need to conserve our planet, like we need to sweep our houses and wash ourselves, but when did Man get powerful enough to destroy the planet created for us? That elimintes the existance of a Supreme creator!

The noise of daily life

I am distinctly of the opinion that something - and it is not the Holy Ghost - that creates everyday noise! Where I live, there are 3 cars a day that pass my home, and 2 of them live in my gasrage - a Porsche and a Landrover. I really dont enjoy Johannesburg where at rush hour only 1 000 cars an hour pass your gate, and only then because of traffic snarl ups. I moved away from big cities for that exact reason.The noise of heavy traffic (more than 3 cars a day) curdles my blood!

I often drive to Durban where there are things like shops (I hate shopping, but sometimes, have to go out!) and cinema's. I really dislike having to be there at Christmas! There are way too many GP registered cars on the roads and sleeping in MY parking bays! I have even found that when I park in the Disabled Bays - even though I can legally park there - I get asked "Why are you parking here?" I thought that the stickers on the front AND back windows announced my right to park there!

I also receive really strange looks when I park there as if I am driving either my Porsche or my 4x4, and this is not expected of a disabled driver!

A new week

Amazingly the weekends are way busier for me than are the weeks. This weekend, I was busy with sorting out the screening of the film "Fireproof".

After the film was finished being shown, we settled down to Boerewors Rolls. I really enjoyed the screening, although I spent the time the film was on, in doing the cooking! In recording the film from DSTV, I had watched it already!

Comments afterwards were extremely favourable and I think it will be a regular (every quarter) activity!

After we had eaten, I went back to the apartment that I was using, to draft a talk for Sacrament the next day. I really wanted to test my theory that since I was so badly stung, that I speak more clearly in the Bay. I have long felt that the bee venom in my system, affected my diaphram in such a way that I speak better in the Bay - where the air is usually foul with pollution.

I usually get to represent the District Presidency once every 3 or so months, and usually give a 20 minute final talk. I enjoy talking out at Port Durnford or Esikhawini, where the air is no where near as polluted as it is in the Bay. I gave a 5 minute talk, and really felt that I could continue for much longer!

I know this week, that I was heard - and understood - as the teachers for both the Sunday School and Priesthood sessions that followed, referred directly to points in my talk! I must say that since I was so heavily stung, I speak far more clearly, and these talks give me far better insight into the scriptures!

I feel that the frosty facade that the Branch President has shown me for decades, is thawing! I know that when he was on Mission, he had the idea he would complete his mission and then marry the woman whom I married, whilst he was on mission. I think that to start with, he resented me for this, but has accepted me now!

Maybe it is just a negative feeling of mine, but I find that generally my feelings are not that far from the truth. That scares me sometimes, but most times, I am grateful that I can sense the right from the wrong! My psycologist is kind of currently of the opinion that some of my feelings are completely screwy, but I think that the Holy Ghost is working overtime with me! I still have the opinion that my impressions come from a higher source and are definitely NOT my own work!

What is current?

Yesterday (Saturday), the Elders Quorum (with me as First Counsellor) put on an activity where we showed a film for the branch. We chose to screen the film "Fireproof"

This film was seen first by the EQ President on DSTV and he felt it was worth the Quorum seeing it! Whilst the film was showing (the DVD being screened on the chapel screen) the EQ President and I fired up the braai's (Barbeque for the less civilised of you! :-) ) and put the Boerewors (Farmers Sausage - made from beef rather than pork) on to cook. About 20 minutes from the end of the film, the wors was cooked and we put it in the oven till the film was finished. As usual, only the faithful few were at the screening, but we all really enjoyed the Wors Rolls we made.

By all reports, the film was pronounced as excellent, and one High Priest admitted to having a tearful reaction. I had made 2 copies of the DVD - from rcordings from my DSTV - and gave one to him so that he can show it at a fireside at his home ward in Durban. I have the impression that it was a really successful quorum activity!

Typically, the general membership (and not only members, but everyone) in Zululand complain that there is NO ENTERTAINMENT, but when we show a great film - and cook them a simple supper - only the faithful attend! Just goes to show that you can take a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink!

I heard comments after the really successful screening that generally, they would appreciate similar screenings of the two Dan Brown films - "The Da Vinci Code", and "Angels and Demons". I am confident that this can hardly be classed as piracy, as we are not making any cash from the screenings - and the films are no longer on general screening! I anticipate that we can hold similar screenings every quarter or so! I know that the "Da Vinci Code" is somewhat contaversial, but pracically, the message of Jesus' Church is marriage and family. If Jesus had no experience of marriage, how could he hope to preach on marriage?

I am divorced, and I have an idea that this sad experience was gone through by me, to give me an insight into being a Church Leader who counsels troubled spouses (spice?) with marriage problems. Advice from someone who has experience with divorce, is more likely to be heeded than advice from someone who has never experienced this tragedy!

I have just noticed how I think that I can include photographs on my blog. I have digital camera's so I can publish photographs. I still have to photograph my two trusty steeds - my Landrover 4x4, V8 Auto (stunning vehicle) and my Porsche 944 - when I talk of my vehicles, I sound to be really wealthy, but I enjoy owning a 4x4 offroader AND a serious sports car! When we were growing up, we once heard a comment of "Look, it's a FAST car - it's yellow!" Blondie, my Porsche happens to be a really loud yellow!

Further

I commented that after 45 minutes or so, my spastic diaphram muscle starts acting up, and the asthma pump tends to stop working. When I was last in hospital (after being stung by several thousand bees) I was constantly with oxygen being fed into my lungs via a pipe with nose attachments. It was either this or the face mask!

Anyway, I managed to breathe better, The problem with this was that the oxygen was distributed from a wall connection. It would be extremely unpleasant to have the oxygen connection at the pulpit and not in hospital! I suppose that I could have an oxygen bottle to carry with me, except they weigh plenty! I found after I was released from hospital, that I was breathing badly because my diapram was extremely swollen by the effects of the bee venom! This cleared up, and now I find that I breathe better in the Bay than I have before!

I also have discovered 2 further items:-

I am (apparently) now likely to be allergic to shellfish. This is hardly a problem as generally, I dont eat shellfish (crab, prawns, crayfish etc)

If I am stung again, my anti venoms that were built up, will react just as if I have been stung by another several thousand bees! After 10 or so have stung you, you tend to lose count, not that counting is a concern when you are trying to escape the stings! The effects of this is then that I am now allergic - to me! I think that the stingings were a case of live and learn - I lived (just) and the bees learned - the hard way!

Christine is really concerned that I am now allergic to snails, the same way that I am allergic to shellfish! I am not worried, as snails are hardly shellfish! I am not convinced that I am allergic to shellfish, but I am hardly inclined to put this to the test! I rather order calamari when I eat sea food!

When I lived in Zimbabwe (I was in the army at Independance) the RLI Pay Office often used to go and eat out in a restaurant downtown. We always had excellent service in this restaurant, but thinking back, this was more likely because the waiters and staff were scared witless that the 4 army guys would get upset and start using their 4 FN rifles, or the 4 holstered pistols we had - 1 set each.

retirement

As usual, the pressures of modern life, dictated that I could not upgrade my blog for the past few days! Is this modern life in the fast lane, or am I just too involved in what goes on around me!

It is hugely tempting to just get down, turn off the television and just type like a madman. Truth is, I must be slightly cooked, as I definitely need to see my psychiatrist once a week. This is for 2 reasons:-

She is hugely easy on the eye, and very friendly to boot! We often go to lunch together, and she is one of the few people who actually understand me when I try to communicate. That must be on of the biggest blessings of being divorced - I felt finally that I was not an impact on the human race, whilst my head shrink gives me the feeling that I matter! I find that since I recovered from my coma, that most people that I meet tend to nod and smile as if they have understood, but when you look at their faces, there is no glimmer that they have understood much - if anything!

I am particularly enjoying my membership of the LDS Church, based locally in Richards Bay. This is District Headquarters, with the original Bay ward having grown to around 350 active members each week. We were split into a District comprising 5 branches, and 1 twig that is dependant on the mother ship at Richards Bay.

These branches are visited pretty well once a month by the District Council, of which I am the senior councillor. As such I get to tour the District and to give the final talk in Sacrament meetings.

The one blessing(?) is that these "new" branches - eSikhawini, Port Durnford, Nseleni and Ngwelezane/eMpangeni - do not have the built in loudspeaker system that exists at the Richards Bay chapel. Luckily the chapels are not huge and even my voice can be understood at the back of the room! I have had comments after my talks that what I have said has been enlightening, and by the way, heard at the back o0f the hall.

I think that the main blessing is that at the outlying branches are outside of the limit of polluted air in the Bay, and in the Bay, I find that the air tends to make my diaphram constrict and I battle with breathing. This is as a result of brain damage when I was run down. My brain connections to my muscles was damaged, and reconnected whilst I was in my coma. THAT is the reason that I can no longer catch tennis (or any) balls! I can see them coming, but they bounce off my palm before the instruction to close my fingers, gets to my actual fingers!

First thoughts

On April 5th 1991, I was involved in an accident where my sports car was smashed into me by a speeding bread truck. How many can claim to have survived a speeding load of bread rolls? I survived - just - but my car did not!

I was in a coma for 4 months, whilst my smashed bones, healed and I came to terms with my injuries. I was then in hospital for a further 4 months whilst I learned the basics again - the most simple things like breathing or eating - and even more complex things like speech and movement. Even now - some 20 years later, I have times when out at restaurants, where I forget to swallow properly, and choke! Sometimes, I even choke on my own saliva.

I spent maybe a 2 month period where I could not get out of bed, then a period where I was up, but I was bound to a wheelchair. Then one day, a really scary nurse told me to walk, and I took the first few faltering steps. I used to hang onto the back of the wheelchair, for stability. Eventually I could walk with no visible assistance, although I can get around without holding onto anyone or anything! I still - 19 years later - have a fear of stairs, although this improved.

I found a few years back that the lump on my leg was causing me problems. It was a lump of hardened blood that had arisen from the bruise where my car had struck me! I felt that it was a problem for me as the lump was really affected by cold weather, and I could barely walk. I had the fear that my hip was collapseing and the surgeon who opened me up, found that he could drain the hardened blood out! All I now have to show for the huge bruise that I had, is an operation scar that stretches from my knee to my bum. I grew up to the age of around 31 with only a scar on my left leg where I had a bougainvillia thorn fester in my flesh. I was maybe 6 when I fell into a load of clippings, and this thorn that festered left a scar on my leg! About a decade ago, I had the scar left by the trachae in my throat, removed by plastic surgery! This was not so much a vanity thing as needed to improve my self confidence, and also my speech! I found that before, I often felt that people speaking to me, were staring at the scar from the trachae and not listening to me! Once it was gone, I feel that I am more confident at speaking and so speak better!