-=> Ben Collver wrote to Dave Drum <=-

 DD> Hang in there. I was having fairly severe back pain - so I sought medical
 DD> help. Once they determined it wasn't my kidney causing the problem I was
 DD> X-Rayed and C.A.T. scanned. Then my croaker told me that since I'm 82 YO
 DD> I'n not a candidate for surgery - so they will give me a shot to deaden
 DD> the nerve pain followed by an "ablaition" which will kill the nerves
 DD> causing the discomfort.

 BC> Getting old ain't for weaklings!  These kinds of stories scare me.
 BC> What have you found that helps the most in the meanwhile?  An older
 BC> friend of mine said they eat an anti-inflammatory diet.  Among other
 BC> things, it excludes all nightshades.  I like eggplants, peppers,
 BC> potatoes, tomatoes, etc, so i would not give them up lightly.

Oddly enough the pain has abated to nearly zip-a-dee-doo-dah. I can still
feel something in that location. But on the doctor's usual pain scale of
1 to 10 it's less than one. Go figger.

 BC> I used to have back pain that interfered with my sleep and i had to
 BC> walk with a stick.  Then i lost a bunch of weight and started doing
 BC> yoga, and i haven't had back pain for well over a decade now.  I am
 BC> dealing with other kinds of arthritis.  Over time i am needing to do
 BC> increasing amounts of exercise, physical therapy, etc. in order to stay
 BC> mobile and feel comfortable.

I've not lost a bunch - about 35#. But it makes my primary doctor smile.
And make me glad I use suspenders instead of a belt. No new holes to add
nor long excess to deal with.  Bv)=

 BC> This summer i spent less than a month in homeless camps.  I saw people
 BC> from many walks of life, not all junkies.  There were men, women, and
 BC> once my neighbors were a mother and her teenage daughter and son. I was
 BC> surprised how many people came up to the portapotties in the morning
 BC> with walkers, etc. In my book that counts as a challenge: involuntary
 BC> camping while disabled and elderly in a community that is openly
 BC> antagonistic toward the unhoused.

Were you an inmate or a volunteer/helper? We have a fair amount of homeless
here and are currently hassling through a project to build a cluster of
"tiny homes" which has generated big discussion recently as the Springfield 
City Council tries to decide if it should provide financial backing for 
a resource center that would serve a planned east-side housing development 
for homeless veterans.

NIMBY - big time.

 BC> Friday i chatted with a local man around my own age who was concerned
 BC> about his investments, stock market performance, etc.  He didn't think
 BC> it was fair that the unhoused were provided with free camping,
 BC> portapotties, and handwashing stations.  Because the camp is fenced in,
 BC> he called it a gated community, and said nobody ever gave him those
 BC> things for free.  I invited him to go pitch a tent there and see for
 BC> himself how good the amenities are.

I know people like that - born to and live in privelege. And never had to
scrabble for their next meal or a roof. And mean-spirited/selfish.

For the past 10 years I have bought U$100 woth of McDonald's gift cards
which I pass out to the hard-core homeless at holiday time. Two years
ago I was returning home from an "Interfaith Breakfast" at Temple B'rith
Sholom when I spotted a guy with a cardboard "HUNGRY HOMELESS" sign out
in front of a McDonalds. I had one last U$10 gift card which I gave him
before realising that Xmas day was the only day in the year that Mickey
D's was closed. So, I took him back to the Temple and bought his morning
meal.

I may have to raise my budget this years as inflation/greed has driven
even fats food prices out through the roof.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06
 
      Title: Copycat Mcdonalds Breakfast Burrito
 Categories: Pork, Vegetables, Breads, Cheese
      Yield: 10 servings
 
      1 lb Pork sausage; mild
    1/2 c  Yellow onion; diced
    1/4 c  Fresh tomatoes; diced
      1 tb Diced green chilies; from a
           - can
     10    (6") tortillas
      9 lg Eggs
     12 sl American cheese
    1/2 c  Salsa
 
  Crumble and fry pork sausage, stir and separate meat so
  it will fry in small little pieces. Remove from heat
  drain excess grease.
  
  Place drained sausage in frying pan add onion, green
  chilies, and tomatoes, heat on medium temperature just
  until sausage and vegetables are heated through, stir
  frequently.
  
  Measure 2 cups of eggs and beat. Add the eggs to the pan
  with the sausage mixture. When cooked remove from heat.
  
  TO ASSEMBLE: Place two tablespoons of the sausage and
  egg mixture onto 1 tortilla, tear each slice of American
  cheese into two even portions, then place the cheese on
  top of the sausage mixture, and roll the tortilla.
  
  If you make these all ahead of time, you can wrap in
  plastic to store them in the refrigerator or freezer,
  and then heat them up in the microwave for a moment or
  two.
  
  Serve with your favorite taco or Picante sauce. You will
  find these are milder and really great for breakfast. I
  also like to serve sour cream and avocado with mine.
  
  Author: Stephanie Manley
  
  RECIPE FROM: https://copykat.com
  
  Uncle Dirty Dave's Archives
 
MMMMM

... Those who don't smoke end up dead too but with better smelling breath.
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