Swine Flu in Humans

Human Swine Influenza Investigation
April 25, 2009 17:30 EDT

Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the U.S. in San Diego County and Imperial County, California as well as in San Antonio, Texas. Internationally, human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in Mexico.

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection State # of laboratory confirmed cases
California 6 cases
Texas 2 cases

International Human Cases of Swine Flu InfectionSee: World Health Organization

As of April 25th, 2009 11:00 a.m. ET
Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with similar swine influenza viruses.
CDC is working very closely with state and local officials in California, Texas, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. On April 24th, CDC deployed 7 epidemiologists to San Diego County, California and Imperial County, California and 1 senior medical officer to Texas to provide guidance and technical support for the ongoing epidemiologic field investigations. CDC has also deployed to Mexico 1 medical officer and 1 senior expert who are part of a global team that is responding to the outbreak of respiratory illnesses in Mexico.

JoAnn Stores VS JoAnn Internet

Today I had a surprise . . . not neccesarily a good one. We had driven over to Albany (GA) to let me do a bit of craft/yarn store & book store cruising~ And it was a good time to return some horrible gritty blue, supposedly poly-filling that I had ordered from JoAnn's via the internet.

Per the store manager . . . . . . they could not take it back because they are not affiliated with JoAnn's on-line.

Huh?

After picking my jaw up from the floor, I told the lady at the register to use it, give it away, or throw it in the trash and left.

Just thought I'd tell y'all~

Scarfing Denver, Crochet that is~

While watching CNN Headline News this morning, we saw a video of women in Denver who were tagging Denver with crochet scarves. Lightposts, benches, anywhere they could put them.

Finally, crochet makes National News!

Scarfing Denver - AOL Video
Scarfing Denver Video on AOL Video - KUSA talks to a group of women in Denver who say it’s their duty to put crocheted skirts on the city.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/scarfing-denver/1037405830

More Amigurumi & Finger Puppets

You might notice that there are more Amigurumi and Finger Puppets on our entertainment center now. My daughter has chosen the 8 that will go to her grandchildren, so they are missing. Of course I've replaced them with more. Actually there are more now than when I snapped this photo~

If you are wondering why so many, they will be going to the local chapter of the Elks Club, to be distributed along with the Christmas Baskets that they give out at Christmas, to those families who cannot afford to buy gifts for their children, or food for their tables.

This is a photo of what makes up one Finger Puppet, except for the 'basket' with a handle. The little cup is one that holds Sugarless Crystal Light powder. It's rather obvious what the pill bottle is~:o) I crochet around the little cup, to make a sort of base for the FP, and slip the FP over the pill bottle, then sit it inside the base.

Here is the FP and its base;

And here is the finished project.

They are very easy to make, take very little yarn, and will make a child happy. Won't you join me in making them for children who need a tiny friend?

Invisible Illness Week

While I appear healthy, and some say that I look younger than my years, the fact is that I am not as healthy as they think.

Why? Because I have what is known as an "Invisible Illness" I have Peripheral Neuropathy in arms and legs. PN causes 24/7 pain, some generalized, some tingling, feelings of electrical shock and stabbing pain, numbness which can cause us to fall, drop things, run into things. And the most unbelievable thing for most people is that while we have areas that are numb, those same areas (fingers, hands, legs, feet, etc) can and do hurt like the dickens!

I also have Fibromyalgia. It too causes generalized pain and weakness in our arms, hands, legs, and extreme exhaustion.

Add to that the bone spurs in my spine, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disk disease, osteoarthritis throughout my body, two mal-functioning heart valves, carpal tunnel in both wrists, and a few other invisible problems, on some days I'm a walking disaster~

So Please, the next time you see a "healthy" person park in one of those special Blue Parking spots, give them the benefit of doubt. They too, may suffer from an

~Invisible Illness~

My RAK for July 26, 2008

Saturday morning we had to go into town to pick up the things I forgot to get when I went shopping. Since we were in town anyway, I got hubby to stop at Starbucks for a nice icy cold Frappiccino.

While there, a couple with two young boys came in. They appeared to be traveling through and had gotten off the Interstate for a short break, and coffee to stay alert.

I had three finger puppets in my bag, each one in its own little crocheted home, so I asked the mother if the boys could each have one. She was so surprised, and said that they were perfect and exactly what they needed. They still had several hours to go before reaching their destination, and the boys had gotten a bit bored. She thanked me several times, and the boys thanked me over and over - sometimes as themselves, and sometimes as the puppet.

It was a win-win-win situation. The parents won a break, the kids won a new toy, and I won the enjoyment of seeing how much the boys loved them and how relieved their mom was.

The "home" for the puppets is a little cup that Crystal Lite comes in - the powder cup. I crochet around it and the puppets fit perfectly. It keeps them "standing" without falling over.

After finishing our drinks, we dared the heat again to drive home. A nice morning out and a nice day to finish up at home~

Sock pattern link

Forgot . . . In case you are interested, the sock pattern is from;

http://www.crochetandknitting.com/socks.htm