My Doctor's Old Fort Office

 He has an office in a little nearby town called Old Fort NC. It was the staging point (probably a fort at the time) from which the first settlers to Black Mountain left. (known as Greybeard at that time)

But in order to see my Doc on Tues. I drove over the big Swannanoa or Old Fort Gap. That means on I-40 going east about 10-12 miles, most of which is coming down the mountain side in multiple switchbacks, with the semi-trucks in their own lane to the right, and the hot-rods in the leftmost lane, while I put put along at the speed limit or below, all the while staying within my lane. Today only one truck decided to pass the others, but it was in the return trip, so he was going slower uphill, and apparently whoever he passed wasn't keeping up with the 35 MPH speed the trucks were limited to travel. I veered into the hot-rod lane and they just had to deal with it...me passing the semi, passing another semi.

They (hot-rods) got ahead as soon as I went back in my safe zone.

Anyway, Old Fort has a nice history, and some nice places to have a brew and lunch, but I didn't have that in mind.

I liked finding the quilt on the side of the train station. It, like Black Mountain's depot, no longer has any rail trade going through it, though freight trains will toot as they go over the streets in each town.

Sounds like a good crowd for the Fourth...with free ice cream and watermelon! And a friend said there's also a rodeo!

Ah, this explains why the entrance doesn't look very businesslike!

Across the street is the famous (?) Arrow Head.

Family Care...as it looks on the outside.

I don't know how they got the door to look like black blocks, but it had a window in it.

My guess is this is Catawba falls, very near town. However it's closed as there were dangerous areas where people could fall. That says to me that some re-engineering may happen.

I stared at this for long time, till I noticed the Arrowhead is covered. It must have been the unveiling of it.

I believe this is Linville Falls, Upper Falls.

Andrews Geyser is a fountain which used to be controlled by the inn pictured here, which burned. But someone does turn the fountain on, because we went to see it after my Doc visit!

A feed and seed store...and I don't know if it's still standing.

The entire waiting room has this lovely mural of old times in Old Fort.

It's along a curved wall...with all these glass bricks to bring light inside. I've probably posted about this office before, because it is so outstanding. But I don't particularly like it because there are all these hard surfaces and high ceilings so the sounds all kind of sound very loud.

It was fun to see a print of a puzzle of a Norman Rockwell print. I felt just a bit like the boy, but only got a new prescription, no shots this time! 

Sharing with Sepia Saturday, for there are plenty of sepia photos in the waiting room!

Studies in pink/purple

 

The hanging impatients are beginning to get sort of scraggly...and so I picked up a medium size purple mum at the grocery store the other day.

The other impatient looks over the African violet that's blooming again, after being out in the summer heat and humidity. I will probably find someplace inside in the winter for these beauties, though they do tax my caregiving urges...just some of the time, though. If I start coughing as soon as they're inside, they will have to be given away or left to freeze. I don't like that they have those very wet planters, and I believe it's harboring some mold too.

Today's quote:

We’re a nation hungry for more joy: Because we’re starving from a lack of gratitude.

BRENÉ BROWN

PS...more from yesterday actually.

A challenge about patience. Dealing with medical insurance and doctor's offices.

An appointment that I had made maybe 6 months ago, and an echo test on my heart, and I was hoping to get off some of the meds I've been on for over a year. But I found out at 5:30 last evening that my insurance hadn't approved the test that was scheduled, so the Dr. office rescheduled me for Oct...and when I called the insurance people, they said they hadn't received any requests and the needed documents. So today I've been hounded by the same Dr. office that I missed my appointment...but they always say at the end, if you've rescheduled your appointment, please disregard this message. 

I'm not even sure they say please.

And I did take a photo of my Chinese take-out yesterday. But forgot to include it, so here it is.

The veggies are in a Tofu Homestyle...though they may call it bean curd. A bit too much oil for my taste, since I now do stir fry without oil. But very yummy.

Pulmonary doctor visit and Congressional members with COVID

A few weeks ago I arrived early, and took this photo of their new (to me) sign.

A nice old building just down the street from the hospital (and like most medical practices, is now married to the for-profit corporation which bought our Mission Hospital system two years ago.

Waiting for the doctor, I took a couple of shots of the examination room. I'd already had an Xray taken of my lungs. 

Pretty nice doctor's office art. I didn't have to get on the exam table at all, but just talked with the doc, and he listened to my lungs. All good for this visit! Yay!

Xray had minimal something that he's going to be watching. He's been doing so for the last few visits.

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And an addition from Tues. news...about the members of congress who have had COVID...or not.

COVID AND CONGRESS
By Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews
Correspondent

Here in the COVID part of the 21st century, the battle between humankind and nature is self-evident.

But the sheer number of our leaders who have been infected is easily missed in the pandemic haze. Which is why we‘ve been keeping track.  

In the past week, we have seen a boom in COVID positive cases announced by members of Congress. Five members disclosed they have tested positive, making it the biggest surge in lawmaker cases since the January 6 riot and one of the biggest surges on Capitol Hill since COVID arrived.

Here is a look at the 83 members of Congress who have announced that they had COVID at some point.  

Publicly-known Positive Covid Cases - 116th and 117th Congress
(Tweet me if I’ve missed anything here. @LisaDNews. Appreciate any folos! )

HOUSE

1. Ben McAdams, D-Utah (March 18, 2020)
2. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. (March 18, 2020)
3. Seth Moulton, D-Mass. (March 25, 2020, presumed w/ symptoms)
4. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C. (March 27, 2020)
5. Mike Kelly, R-Pa. (March 27, 2020)
6. Nydia Velaquez, D-N.Y. (Late March, 2020, presumed)
7. Trey Hollingsworth, R-Ind. (Symptoms late March, 2020, announced positive for antibodies in July.)
8. Neal Dunn, R-Fla. (Early April, 2020)
9. Tom Rice, R-S.C. (June, 2020)
10. Morgan Griffith, R-Va. (July, 2020)
11. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas (July 29, 2020)
12. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. (Tested end of July, 2020, positive antibody test)
13. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz. (Aug. 1, 2020)
14. Rodney Davis, R-Ill.  (Aug. 5, 2020)
15. Dan Meuser, R-Pa. (Aug. 22, 2020)
16. Jennifer Gonzales-Colon, R-P.R. (Aug. 24, 2020)  
17. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn. (Sept. 20, 2020)
18. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif. (Oct. 5, 2020)
19. Mike Bost, R-Ill. (Oct. 11, 2020)
20. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich. (Oct. 15, 2020)
21. Drew Ferguson, R-Ga. (Oct. 30, 2020)
22. Michael Waltz, R-Fla. (Nov. 7, 2020)
23. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. (Nov. 7, 2020 tested positive for antibodies. Unsure when he had COVID.) 
24. Don Young, R-Ark. (Nov. 12, 2020)
25. Tim Walberg, R-Mich. (Nov. 15, 2020)
26. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill. (Nov. 16, 2020)
27. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo. (Nov. 17, 2020)
28. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo. (Nov 18, 2020)
29. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash. (Nov 18, 2020)
30. Brian Steil, R-Wis. (Nov 22, 2020)
31. Joe Courtney, D-Conn. (Nov 22, 2020)
32. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C. (Week of Nov. 23, 2020)
33. Rick Allen, R-Ga. (Nov 24, 2020)
34. Susie Lee, D-Nev. (Nov. 25, 2020)
35. Austin Scott, R-Ga. (Nov. 30, 2020)
36. Ken Calvert, R-Calif. (Late Nov. Announced Dec. 15)
37. Ted Budd, R-N.C. (Dec. 1, 2020)
38. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala. (Dec. 4)
39. Devin Nunes, R-Calif. (Antibodies, announced test Dec. 11, 2020)
40. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga. (Dec. 15, 2020)
41. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.  (Dec. 16, 2020)
42. Mike Rogers, R-Ala.  (Dec. 17, 2020)
43. Cedric Richmond, D-La. (Dec. 17, 2020)
44. Rick Larsen, D-Wash. (Dec. 23, 2020)
45. Maria Salazar, R-Fla. (Dec. 23, 2020. Was member-elect then, but was quarantined still when Congress began)
46. Gwen Moore, D-Wis. (Dec. 28, 2020)
47. David Valadao, R-Calif. (Dec. 31, 2020)
48. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. (Antibodies. Test in December 2020. Story first reported March 2021.) 
49. Kay Granger, R-Texas (Jan. 3, 2021, test)
50. Kevin Brady, R-Texas (Jan. 3, 2021, announced)
51. Michelle Steel, R-Calif. (Jan. 6, 2021, announced.)
52. Jake LaTurner, R-Kan. (Jan. 6, 2021,  test) 
53. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla. (Jan. 6, 2021 test) 
54. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn. (Jan. 10, 2021) 
55. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. (Jan 11, 2021)
56. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J. (Jan. 12, 2021) 
57. Brad Schneider, D-Ill. (Jan. 12, 2021) 
58. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y. (Jan. 13, 2021) 
59. Lou Correa, D-Calif. (Jan. 15, 2021) 
60. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif. (Jan. 19, 2021) 
61. Ron Wright, R-Texas (Jan. 21, 2021) Died. Feb. 7.
62. Lori Trahan, D-Mass. (Jan. 28, 2021) 
63. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass. (Jan. 30, 2021) Note: he had received both doses of vaccine by Jan. 20.  
64. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla. (July 19, 2021) *Fully vaccinated.
65. Steve Scalise, R-La. Antibodies. (Revealed antibodies positive July 20, 2020, unclear when was tested or contagious.) 
66. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. (Aug. 5, 2021) *Fully vaccinated.
67. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas (Aug. 6, 2021) *Fully vaccinated.
68. Barry Moore, R-Ala. (Aug. 20, 2021) Note: vaccination status unknown.
69. Troy Nehls, R-Texas (Aug. 22, 2021) *Fully vaccinated.

SENATE

1. Rand Paul, R-Ky. (March 22, 2020)
2. Tim Kaine, D-Va. (April, 2020, antibodies test)
3. Bob Casey, D-Pa. (May, 2020, antibodies test)
4. Bill Cassidy, R-La. (Aug. 20, 2020)
5. Mike Lee, R-Utah (Oct. 2, 2020) 
6. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. (Oct. 2, 2020) 
7. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. (Oct. 3, 2020) 
8. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa (Nov 17, 2020) Was president pro tem at this point, highest-ranking Congressional official to test positive.
9. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga. (Nov 20, 2020)
10. Rick Scott, R-Fla. (Nov 20, 2020)
11. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. (Aug. 2, 2021) *Fully vaccinated
12. Roger Wicker, R-Miss. (Aug. 19, 2021) *Fully vaccinated
13. Angus King, I-Maine (Aug. 19, 2021)  *Fully vaccinated
14. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo. (Aug. 19, 2021) *Fully vaccinated

Were in vaccine trials

1. Steve Daines, R-Mont. (enrolled in Pfizer trial, positive for antibodies)
2. Rob Portman, R-Ohio (enrolled in Johnson & Johnson trial)

117th Congress-elect

1. Ashley Hinson, RElect-Iowa (Nov. 12, 2020)
2.  Letlow, RElect-La. (Dec. 18, 2020 announced. Died Dec. 29.)
3. 
   

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This only includes the few members, who have reported as of Tues! It's interesting to note some of the more recent cases had had both of the vaccine doses.

Today's quote:

Gratitude celebrates life with a joyful "yes" at every knot of the great network in which everything is connected to everything.

BR. DAVID STEINDL-RAST

Visiting the Doctor's Office in the Time of Covid-19

A recent follow-up-visit with the Dr. changed my meds...he added a new one that should have side-effects - meaning more bathroom visits than I already have. Ugh.

But my blood pressure has sometimes been a bit high, and he thinks this diuretic will help the med I'm already taking for it.

After checking in (not having to sign in at least) I used the hand sanitizer at the front counter since I'd just opened the door to the office with my hands.  I noticed they weren't providing masks any more for the waiting room.

I was interested to see if there was any difference in the medical procedures because of the corono virus epidemic.  Yes, the Dr. didn't shake hands, and I said I didn't want to either.  I said I liked the idea of one person bowing to the other, and the other (whoever had been bowed to) would then curtsey. I like the idea of bowing, and said as much, saying the Japanese had a good thing there. Come to find out, my Dr. had spent 4 years there.

He then typed for a good 5 minutes to update my chart. Apparently it doesn't get updated sometimes...this was from my visit a month ago.

When my blood pressure had just been taken (earlier) I asked the nurse if they had test kits. No need to ask for what. After he said yes, I asked him how many.

Fifteen.

I said "I hope you don't have to use them all."

But I thought, you serve about 100 (at least) elderly people, and I think the Dr. goes to a local nursing home also. That's nowhere near enough! I didn't say anything. I do hope the tests just gather dust on a shelf for years to come.

The nurse did ask if I had a frequent cough or a fever. I said I had chronic cough due to bronchiectasis, but am not sick. I even found myself coughing into my sleeve later while the doctor was there, and he commended me for an elbow cough. But apparently (and we didn't discuss this) a sleeve can also carry the moisture and spread it, so using a tissue which is immediately thrown in the trash is recommended for sneezing and coughing. Didn't do that though.

I used my sleeves to open the doors to leave the office...both from inside the exam area and to get out the front door. Then came home and scrubbed my hands with soap and water before coming to this keyboard. I think it will be hardest to clean of all! But nobody else will have access to it, anyway.

Incidentally, I just attended a meeting and wore my mask, since I'm prone to coughing. Then I wore it at grocery store to get some fruit and yogurt. I was the only one. I've also told friends I don't plan on coming to church for a while. I usually have to leave because of my chronic cough already...and I don't want to sit there coughing into a mask. I'm glad the sermons are recorded these days.

Stay safe everyone. Wash your hands, disinfect those knobs that others touch.