Reflexology

Posted on February 21, 2021 by Sharon Elliott

What’s a word meaning a step less than orgasmic? That’s how I describe the experience I had the other day.

Imagine this…. You are lying on an oversized recliner covered with a thick warm blanket. In your hands you are holding a hot rock and behind your neck is a warm support. The room is dark and there is spa music playing. Only your feet are exposed and ready for an experience. Then the magic happens. The master, or mistress of all that’s good, begins in this case, to touch your soles. As she presses and massages you may have twinges of discomfort and as you report this or flinch she will ask you if you have problems with areas on or in your body. In my case she identified my back and shoulder problems.

I have a background in western allopathic medicine and have had doubts about eastern remedies and homeopathic approaches to healthcare. I returned home feeling pretty relaxed. The morning afterward I was aware that when I stood up straight, I had no back pain. As I lifted weights my shoulders did not cry out in agony. I have made another appointment and plan to go back regularly.

Another resident in Timber Valley has taken advantage of this treatment on a regular basis. (I hope Norm does not take issue with my unmasking him). This article is not an advertisement for a business in town however if you might be interested in the same experience I just shared I would be glad to give you information where right here in town is available.

Posted in Editorial, Featured, General Interest | 1 Comment

Cold Weather Part 1

Posted on February 19, 2021 by webadmin

By Fred Prout

When you are adopted by a dog you quickly learn that you get many benefits. Companionship, unconditional love and an opportunity to take walks. Sometimes many walks.

Rule #1 in the dog parenting manual is the importance of setting a schedule. Times to eat, times to play times to go outside and get it done. The advantage to the human part of the equation is that by rigorously staying on schedule, it allows you to make the best use of the remaining hour and fourteen minutes in the day.

However, there are two occasions when your dog’s waste elimination systems go horribly wrong.
#1 The sound of a sports event on TV,
#2 Cold weather

Tie score, third and goal ? Forget it. The whining, pacing and desperation eyes win out every time. That is if you are a decent compassionate human being and don’t own a carpet cleaner. Outside NOW!

Which brings us to cold weather.

Cold weather changes a dog’s sniffing mechanism. The place where they always killed or fertilized the grass is just plain wrong now. Gotta sniff every blade of grass and nose every pebble to find the right place. ”Take your time.I’m in no hurry.”

We just came in from our first walk of the day. It’s thirty three degrees outside and I’m freezing my yes off. (A recognized medical condition whereby it is impossible to say the word yes for at least four hours)(Very severe cases have resulted in altered male vocal ranges)

I’m not sure when I became a cold weather wuss but it wasn’t that many months ago (ok at least six hundred) that I welcomed cold weather as an opportunity to go skiing. I started waxing my skis in July in anticipation. I loved it.

Before we met, Rita had never had the opportunity to experience the exhilaration of the slopes. So a new adventure for both of us.

Now, before you go to the mountain you need the appropriate clothing and equipment. Rental equipment for beginners is the best bet,but clothes? It’s true that guys do not have the same eye for fashion as girls. When Rita wanted a white ski suit, I had to gently and lovingly explain that with her beautiful white hair and lovely pale complexion she could become lost in a snow flurry until spring. So black it was.

So off to Okemo mountain in Vermont. It is said that the name Okemo is native for
“ Let’s watch these idiots break some bones “.

After a few lessons on the basic things to do and the one thing to NEVER do, she was ready to solo.

She got in line for the easy hill and I went for a less easy one. As I was ascending, I looked down and saw an almost invisible person in a black outfit happily lying on her back making snow angels and yelling what I took as words of encouragement and hopes that I would have a wonderful downhill ride.

I may have misunderstood her words and gestures.

The last run of the day we went downhill together. Unfortunately, one of the unsupervised little &)++”#/s cut in front of her and she panicked. She started to barrelass (Norwegian for going very fast) down the hill missing the ski patrol by two feet. Fortunately he was too shocked and too busy checking his clothing to pursue us.

Over the years we skied many times.I loved it and she tolerated it so she could do something with me and make me happy. How great is that?

Fred and Rita

Posted in Creative Work, Editorial, General Interest, Humor, Life at Timber Valley | Tagged | 16 Comments

Covid Vaccine

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Dick Shanahan

Fire District 2 is making appointments for Covid Vaccines. Currently they are doing the over 75 group, but are making appointments for the next group.
They are located at 1400 Buckhorn in Roseburg.
Call 541 673-5503 to make an appointment.
If you have any problems with this process, please give me a call.

Posted in Announcements, Events, General Interest | Tagged | 3 Comments

Lost Dogs

Posted on February 17, 2021 by webadmin

By Kathy Perry

Several years ago, I had gone to the carpet store to pick up a remnant for a project.

I went inside and picked the one I wanted. The salesman said he would take it to the car for me.

I told him to be sure and not let the dogs out. Shortly he came back in and said…….there were no dogs in the car. I responded, yes, there are two. A black and white one and a cream colored one both Shih Tzus. He said no, there were no dogs in the car.

Of course, I panicked. Went to the car to find my driver’s side window down and no dogs 

in the car.

There was a horse event next door at the fairgrounds and Hwy 199 right in front of the store. I panicked, my babies were going to get killed on the road or by a horse.

So we called and called. Katie, Shadow where are you. Come on, come to mama. The salesman went one way around the building and I went the other. The clerk in the store was going thru the warehouse. We were all calling the dogs. Needless to say, I was in a panic.

After a while we finally gave up, there were nowhere to be found. I left my contact information with the carpet store and they would call me if they returned. I reluctantly went home so upset. Just before I got home, I realized…………..yep……I didn’t take them with me. I was so embarrassed. ……I really didn’t want to tell the carpet people.

So I called and spoke to the salesman and told him the dogs had been at home the whole time. He said to me that he was going to ask me that at the time, but thought I might have been insulted by the question.

So, that’s just one of my little adventures with an aging mind.

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest, Humor | Tagged | 3 Comments

BLAME IT ON THE ALGORITHM

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Jackie Deal

Get the Covid vaccination?  Where?  When?  How?  Questions and no answers.  Well, you can blame it on the algorithm says “The New York Times”.  I admit I had to look up algorithm to be sure I knew what it meant:   “A process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations especially by a computer.”

The New York Times says: “Trump administration officials came up with a seemingly simple formula last year to streamline distribution of the shots.  First, federal administrators would run an automated algorithm to divide vaccine doses nationwide, based on the size of each state’s adult population. Then each state would decide how to dole out the shots to local hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.”

The federal algorithm divides the total amount of vaccine available each week among the 50 states — as well as U.S. territories and a few big cities like New York — based on the number of people over 18 in each place.  (This was based on the census, which may not have been the most complete count.) Some states say that they have received fewer doses than the algorithm allotted them or that the federal system canceled their vaccine orders without notifying them.  (Oops!)

Should have been simple, right?  Leave it up to the states to do the allocation of shots. The algorithm requires states “to come up with multiple delivery plans for their weekly quotas of Pfizer and Moderna shots, even if the different shipments are destined for the same clinics and hospitals. The federal agencies, states, local health departments and medical centers have each developed different allocation formulas, based on a variety of ethical and political considerations. The result: Americans are experiencing wide disparities in vaccine access.” And we, as well as state and local agencies are slowly losing our minds!

How have some of the allocations been done?  Oregon, for instance, has prioritized teachers over the elderly for Covid shots to help schools and businesses reopen. New Jersey has put smokers ahead of educators, which could save lives. (All you smokers better move to New Jersey!) Florida and Alaska, for instance, have given residents 65 and older priority for the vaccine. Massachusetts began allowing residents 75 and older to get the shots in early February. Oregon is opening the shots up to people 80 and over this week.

  1. Enough of that nonsense! What is the status of OUR vaccinations? oregon.gov website, or at getvaccinated.oregon.gov basic questions of eligibility and links to information about vaccinations in the counties are available. Users can sign up for alerts to get notified about vaccination events or find out when they may become eligible.
  2. Or you can call 211 or 1-866-698-6155, between 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, including holidays. Wait times may be long due to high call volumes. Governor Brown announced the Oregon National Guard will help 211 answer phone calls, starting February 8.
  3. In addition, Biden administration is sending shipments of the shots directly to thousands of retail pharmacis. Oregon has opted into this program  offering seniors the option to get vaccinated at 133 retail locations across the state. Seems sensible, doesn’t it?  Many of us have received our flu shots from pharmacies, why not the covid shots?

So if you’ve had both shots (two doses of either Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine) and it’s at least two weeks since the second shot, you can skip quarantine if exposed to someone infected with the virus, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

How long does the protection last? CDC doesn’t know, so people who had their last shot three months ago or more should still quarantine if they are exposed. They also should quarantine if they show symptoms, the CDC said. You should watch for symptoms for 14 days after you have been exposed to someone who is infected.

A warning:  vaccines prevent symptomatic illness but they have not yet been shown to prevent asymptomatic illness. While people with no symptoms can spread coronavirus, the CDC said, “symptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission is thought to have a greater role in the spread of the disease.

 

 

 

Posted in Announcements, Creative Work, Editorial, Featured, General Interest, Life at Timber Valley | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Poetry Corner – Connections

Posted on February 12, 2021 by webadmin

CONNECTIONS
by Ruby Bonham #127

Lives mingle, touch and intertwine
A chance encounter on a jagged line
Fleeting glimpses of life run amok
Was it divine or just dumb luck?

A child meets another, a connection made
Through God’s wisdom a new path is laid
Others come who’s lives touch the two
Forming a web then starting anew.

Blending then separating in a cosmic dance
Energy flashing caught in an instance
Years pass by as they ebb and flow
Each searching with a need to know.

A moment in time has led to this now
But none can see the why or the how
Of life’s little connections glimpsed today
Of a master plan that guided the way.

Some say life just happens by chance
No rhyme or reason of the circumstance
God just smiles and gives them dreams
Knowing His way is more than it seems.

One day they awaken and look around
Stunned by the connections they have found
Each stage of life had been carefully laid
Orchestrated by God in the connections He made.

Ruby Bonham
1-8-2015

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FEBRUARY HOLIDAYS

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Jackie Deal

February is sort of a blah month.  Winter excitement has grown old and spring isn’t about to spring and so here we are.  Bur did you know?  There are some really neat holidays in February?   Come on, let’s take a look at some of them and maybe even celebrate!

First off (we’ve already missed it) is “Spunky Old Broads day”. This very special day was created by Dr. Gayle Carson in 2002. She started it because she found that once a woman hit 50, she was almost invisible.  Fifty?  What about those of us who are 60, 70, 80 plus:  we’re not just invisible we’re nonexistent?  If you’re interested, she has a monthly newsletter.

Technically, to participate in National Shower with a Friend Day, you have to take a shower.  Now for many of us with little dinky R.V. showers, taking a shower with a friend would be quite an adventure. However, it is perfectly okay to take a bath with a friend; maybe taking a bath with a friend would be even more fun than a shower. If you try it, let me know.

“Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day, this special day was created out of sheer winter boredom in the 1960s. A mom in Rochester, NY. decided it was time to give her kids something to look forward to.  So, she created this day for her two young boys. Now with Covid and the kids staying home, this might be a great idea. Come to think of it, some of us grouchy old broads and guys might enjoy it too.  After all, don’t we all like ice cream?

“Cheer Up A Grouch Day”: We’ve all been grouchy at one time or other. And I’m sure you know some people who are grouchy all the time. No, don’t start naming names, that wouldn’t be nice, besides we don’t have that much time! Just find someone who is in a grouchy mood today and practice on them. There’s plenty of grouches out there to practice on.

“International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day” is a day for the dogs.  I mean, have you ever tried eating a dog biscuit?  Who can really appreciate the true value of a dog biscuit but a dog? And, it will definitely be his day, when you give him some extra tasty dog biscuits. Today’s Quote: “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” – – Roger Caras

“Lame Duck Day” is quote, “A day to celebrate political losers; any politician whose term is coming to an end because they were not re-elected, or are choosing not to run for re-election…”And you thought this was a day about birds!

Then of course there is “Sticky Bun Day”, oowie, gooie good!  Just watch it if you’re eating out in public with folks you’d like to impress.

And after the sticky buns have their day, we have “Sweet Potato Day”.  Why sweet potatoes are singled out for honor I’m not sure.  Maybe plain old white potatoes have their day another month.

So take your pick, don’t worry about what day is appropriate, just take any old day and CELEBRATE

Posted in Editorial, General Interest, Humor, Life at Timber Valley | Tagged | 4 Comments

Life Can Always Get Better

Posted on February 8, 2021 by webadmin

a guest post by Fred Prout

I am writing this for one person. I don’t know who, but hopefully at least one of you who will have a better day after reading this. Let’s begin with the year 2020 a disaster for many of us.For me personally it was the worst ever.

After leaving a place that I loved (many of you know that my wife Rita and I were part of Timber Valley for many years), I spent five and a half months helping my wonderful wife fight cancer. I spent the next six and a half months grieving and trying to deal with the terrible isolation caused by covid.

As RVers and travelers we have been to many places, talked to many people, and had many different experiences. I have found that remembering some of these things can be a very good way to try to avoid serious depression. If I may, I would like to share one of my experiences with you.

Back in our w#$@king days (they said no dirty words) we took a trip from our home in Florida and went to Arkansas. On the way back we drove through Jackson Mississippi. As it was a beautiful day we drove with the windows open. Suddenly a bug flew into Rita’s eye. Now as many of you know, Rita suffered from albinism and was legally blind. The limited sight she had was doubly precious.

We found the nearest hospital and rushed straight to the emergency room. Didn’t have high hopes as this was a rural area of a rural state. We were pleasantly surprised when we went in and everyone rushed over to help. The doctor provided some salve and told us to contact an ophthalmologist when we got home.

Of course it was now Saturday and we were prepared to have to wait. Not so. The doctor was in his office and said come right in. Took a look, changed medicine and said all should be good in a couple weeks. He also commented on Rita’s eye problem and told us that his wife was also an eye doctor and was working with low vision patients. He would be glad to call for us if we were interested. Well duh!

Monday first thing she does a very extensive exam and says she thinks she can help with special glasses. It will take a week to get them. What a long week. The following Tuesday we went to get the glasses. She was able to correct Rita’s vision to 20/60 in one eye and 20/70 in the other. The chart goes to 20/200.Rita had been worse than that.

On the drive home Rita was in tears looking at the things she never could see. When she saw a giant American flag at a car dealership she said “I can see the stars on the flag. ” I had to pull over as I was in tears. As I am now. Putting these words down is bringing back the feelings I had at the time.

The reason I’m sharing this is simple. Something as potentially devastating as a bug in the eye and the fear of losing part of your very limited vision can be the one thing that can change the lives of two people for the better. It is amazing how things fell into place for us.Maybe, just maybe, one of you will read this and get it. Life can always get better.

Fred and Rita

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DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID VACCINATIONS

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Jackie Deal

“Still waiting in the wings for their shots are the county’s seniors, “says the Roseburg News Review. (Tell us something we didn’t know!) The first group of seniors, those 80 and older, don’t become eligible until Feb. 7. Douglas County Public Health Officer Bob Dannenhoffer said the group of providers lined up to administer vaccines to county residents as they become eligible includes all the major clinics — Aviva Health, Evergreen Family Medicine, Umpqua Health Alliance, South River Community Health Center in Winston and Lower Umpqua Hospital in Reedsport. It also includes many smaller clinics, several emergency medical service agencies and even a dental practice. So far, it doesn’t include any pharmacies.

Seniors 80 and older are in Group 2 of Phase 1B becoming eligible Feb 7.

Group 3, people 75 and older, become eligible Feb. 14.

Group 4, people 70 and older, become eligible Feb. 21.

Group 5, the last group of seniors aged 65 and older become eligible Feb. 28.

The general population isn’t expected to be eligible for vaccination until sometime in spring 2021.

Oregon’s vaccine supply is limited. It is estimated it will take 12-15 weeks to vaccinate groups 1-5 of Phase 1B.

But the detailed schedule doesn’t guarantee vaccines will be available on those dates, Dannenhoffer said. So far, the demand for vaccination has exceeded the supply and that means shortages on the ground and delays for some people who want the shots.

“We are working on a plan for the vaccine release for seniors, but it will not be published until we have more information.” Dannenhoffer urges seniors not to call doctor’s offices now with questions, since neither the county nor the clinics knows how many vaccines it will receive for seniors or when it will receive them.

You will still need to continue to wear a mask, wash your hands frequently and physically distance even after you are fully vaccinated. Things can’t go back to normal until enough people are vaccinated. If we all work together, we’ll get to that point faster and save lives in the process.

You are encouraged to visit the CDC website for updated guidance. (I got the above information from “CDC Vaccine Schedule” and “Douglas County, Oregon Vaccine Schedule”.)

Posted in Announcements, Featured, General Interest, News | Tagged | 1 Comment

Poetry Corner — Autism

Posted on January 30, 2021 by Thom Hoch

THE FACE OF AUTISM
a poem by Ruby Bonham Lot #127

A young boy stands by the window
Lost in a world only he can know.
His hand flaps in rhythm to an inner beat
His eyes unfocused, his song incomplete.

Where will life take this extraordinary boy
Whose actions often disturb and annoy
No way to tell us of his innermost fears
He struggles and silently flow his tears.

Society shuns him when he doesn’t comply
His human worth they seek to deny.
They fail to see the beauty within
That needs expression, a place to begin.

This child of God was created just so
For a special purpose that we might know
Compassion for one different from the rest
His song is ours and we are blessed.

So I strive with each passing day
To open the door that keeps him hidden away
To bridge the gap between his world and mine
I enter his world and touch the divine.

Ruby Bonham
2-16-2015

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