On My Way To The Dentist ...

On my way to an appointment with the dentist this morning, I got to thinking about being a patient, and the art of having patience.  

Rotator Cuff Injury

As some of you know, following rotator cuff surgery, I am wearing a specially designed arm sling much like the one in this photograph. 

Cumbersome, and on my primary arm, I felt that driving was going to be an anxiety ridden, and scary undertaking.  Believing this to be true, in advance of knowing with certainty, cautiously I proceeded.  At the speed limit!

Driving in the slow lane.  Dead-still  at all stop signs, carefully over the speed bumps, it began to occur to me how others may have felt in the same or similar situation. 

With this experience came a renewed appreciation for the art of patience.

 1. the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

2. an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow driver.

3. quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to drive with patience. 

 

Have you been reminded of something similar lately?

Today Is Flag Day ~ Fly Your Flag!

Prior to Flag Day, June 14, 1923, neither the federal government nor the states had official guidelines governing the display of the United States’ flag. However on June 14, 1923, the National Flag Code was constructed by representatives of over 68 organizations.
The American flag consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton (referred to specifically as the “union”) bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars. The fifty stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the original thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British monarchy and became the first states in the Union.

American Flag Hanging On Wall

You can hang the flag vertically or horizontally, although the Union should always be in the upper left corner as you look at it.

American Flag Display Podium

When displaying the American flag near a podium, it should always be to the right of the speaker. Any other flags on display should be placed to the left.
Display US Flag With Flags Of Other Nations

Here is where it gets a little more interesting, as international law forbids one flag above another nation’s flag when grouped together.

Here is where it gets a little more interesting, as international law forbids one flag above another nation’s flag when grouped together.  You must display the US flag with flags of other nations on separate staffs of the same height and display the US flag with flags of other nations of the same size.

How To Fly American Flag With State Flags
The American flag must be at the center, and at the highest point of a group of state flags.
The order of precedence for flags generally is National flags (US first, then others in alphabetical order in English), State (host state first, then others in the order of admission) and territories (Washington DC, Puerto Rico, etc.), Military (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard), then other.

How To Suspend American Flag Across Street
The flag suspended across a street must hang vertically. It should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.

It is not just any old red, white and blue, it is American flag Dark Red (Pantone 193 C), White (Pantone safe), and Navy Blue (281 C).

Evening with Friends ...

... We arrived just after 4pm, and were all in the pool by 5.  82 degree's of warmth and floating, taking the pressures off of life and the old body did the trick, especially for my husband who is today on his 7th working day in a row.

After about in hour, it actually felt cold to get out of the pool and into Florida's sweltering weather.  Wrapped in a beach towel, I stole myself away and back into my street clothes, after that it was not too long before the four of us were in the kitchen and the game was on...

My husband chopped fresh herbs, and enjoyed creating steamed muscles for all of us to enjoy.  Garlic, butter, rosemary, thyme, parsley, white wine, lemon and such, as he steamed those babies delicious.  We lingered at the dinner table digesting the tasty morsels with homemade garlic bread, beer and wine.  I had the pleasure of introducing our friends to the garlic bread, toasted with fresh chopped garlic mixed into melted butter with rosemary, thyme, salt, and parsley.  Oooh la la!

About an hour later, it was back into the kitchen where the salad was prepared, first course dishes were washed, the kitchen was tidied, table reset, and conversations were struck as we continued to laugh and learn about one another. 

Shrimp, yellow squash, vadalia onion, and red pepper, skewered and cooked on the outside grill.  Earlier I had created a marinade for the shrimp to bath in, to include homemade italian salad dressing, soy, worchershire sauce, fresh chopped garlic, rosemary, and fresh squeezed lemon juice.

With a salad of romaine lettuce, cucumbers, red onion, parsley, dill and feta cheese, more of the garlic bread, and we were in taste bud heaven!

Today the memories, and looking forward to our next amature gourmet dining experience...

What have you eaten lately that made your taste buds dance?