Lighthouse

I recently turned 50 and had to choose a new primary care physician for my Medicare program. After two visits and exhaustive lab tests, he said I was doing "fairly well" for my age.



A little concerned about that comment, I couldn't resist asking him, "Do you think I will live to be 80?"

He asked: "Do you smoke tobacco or drink alcoholic beverages?"

"Oh no," I replied. "I don't do drugs, either."

"Do you have many friends and entertain frequently?"

I said, "No, I usually stay home and keep to myself".

"Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?"

I said, "No, my other doctor said that all red meat is unhealthy!"

"Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, playing golf, sailing, hiking, or bicycling?"

"No, I don't," I said.

"Do you gamble, drive fast cars, or have a lot of sex?"

"No," I said. "I don't do any of those things."

He looked at me and said, "Then why do you give a sh*t?"

......and so has The Pope.

I truly am surprised, but I must admit, very pleasantly surprised.

"Thank you L."

................. a young blackbird, only a few days out of the nest.

How it had managed to get so entangled was a mystery as the netting was rolled up and stored in a large plastic pot. I do encourage birds, especially robins, to treat the greenhouse as home. It keeps down the bugs and slugs, but this little fellow had been too inquisitive by far.

There was nothing for it but to cut, as gently as possible, the netting away from the bird. Blunt nosed scissors did the job with quite a bit of noisy protesting and wriggling from my feathered friend. It's now free, probably looking for more trouble to get into. Lets hope it's as lucky next time.

It's caused some concern because no one has been able to find out the 'who' and 'how'. Was it a road traffic accident, there have been several in that area? Perhaps a jogger who suffered a heart attack, many use the path? A traveller who died of old age, waiting for a 37 bus that never arrived?

But at last the reason has come to light. One of our neighbours has been responsible for setting up the shrine. With respect I asked him why he was placing flowers at the side of the road, and he replied, "Some bastard ran over my cat!"

I hadn't the heart to tell him that my dog had watered them as we walked pass them a few days ago. My dog must have known, he hates cats!

It's my own fault. I have been suffering withdrawal symptoms, after having just spent the day without a Broadband connection. I still have a P.A.Y.G, which takes a lifetime to load, and just enough patience to clear my mail boxes using it.

I, and others, have been having trouble with the amount of Spam we've been receiving, and my I.S.P has been forced to do something about it. Their mail system was 'compromised', and so it's now been modified..................... until the next time.

They suggested I change my password for extra security, which I did. I knew I would have to amend Outlook Express, but I forgot about the Broadband router............Opps! So no connection until I finally figured how to alter the password there.

Like all these things, it was quite simple, but not so simple if you haven't got your 'thinking head' on. By the time I'd finished, there were papers and instruction booklet scattered all over the room. Anyway, all is well for now and I'm now getting my daily dose in Blogsville.

Don't you just love a fellow with a sense of humour!