Mirlisa's Bits and Pieces

Anyone watching the Florida-Auburn might be wondering if the Auburn hit to UF running back Pierce was targeting. Let me assist you. The following is verbatim from the rule book: (see underlined text)

Targeting and Making Forcible Contact
With the Crown of the Helmet
ARTICLE 3. No player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown of his helmet. This foul requires that there be at least one indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below). When in question, it is a foul. (Rule 9-6) (A.R. 9-1-3-I)

Targeting and Making Forcible Contact to Head
or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player
ARTICLE 4. No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent (See Note 2 below) with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. This foul requires that there be at least one indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below). When in question, it is a foul (Rules 2-27-14 and 9-6). (A.R. 9-1-4-I-VI)
Note 1: “Targeting” means that a player takes aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball. Some indicators of targeting include but are not limited to:

• Launch—a player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make forcible contact in the head or neck area
• A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area, even though one or both feet are still on the ground
• Leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area
• Lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact with the crown of the helmet

So, yes, Gator fans – it was indeed targeting. This wasn’t a difficult call yet the officials muffed it badly. I was mostly curious about what rule book actually said.

But I won’t lose any sleep over it. It is just a football game and there are so many other things to worry about…like climate change. I was listening to Steve Russell’s phone in show after the game and couldn’t help but think that if these effing football fans were as passionate about the extinction of humanity due to climate change the world might be a better place. Isn’t it something how fans will spend thousands of dollars over the course of a season but cry bloody murder if their property taxes go up $100.

There is no hope – we are doomed. Thankfully, I’ll be long gone before the worst comes.

Ciao.

We will be entering another renovation phase in the coming months. The items we will be tackling are fairly simple and straightforward. The kitchen needs some task lighting. We’re also going to pull up the tile floor and restore/replace with heart pine that will match the rest of the house. With the floor change, the backsplash will need to change. We’ve already determined the tile for the backsplash and it’s going to have an island look and feel. I almost forgot to mention that the french doors into the office will also be replaced. The mullions from the original have been chewed by various dogs through the years. We’ve picked out some gorgeous replacement doors.

The tile floor resides on top of the original pine floor. We’re not confident that much of it can be restored given the way the “bad news contractors” gouged it back in 2001. So, we have met with Rudy (the floor guy) and he will be installing, sanding and finishing the floor. Our contractor suggested we take a ride out to Goodwin (near Micanopy) to see their offerings and talk about our floor.

Out at Goodwin’s we met a terrific guy named Jeffrey who talked to us about everything and even took us on a tour of the operation. It’s quite fascinating. The above log pond is where reclaimed logs from rivers are stored. Back in the day, before the railroad, logs would be transported via rivers and they typically lost 10-15% of them along the way. The resin in the logs protects the inner part from water.

Our floor is combo of heart and elder pine. See the tile at the top of the image? This is what we’re going to replace.

Our floor is 2 3/8 inches wide. It’s not a standard size these days so our wood will be milled custom for us. It’s not an inexpensive venture but replacing the kitchen floor is going to transform the space.

We’ll check back in as renovations begin.

Ciao.

Peanut has had a bit of a setback. She banged her surgical leg and started limping badly. We tended to her for a few days and it was getting worse so we decided to bring her in for a recheck with her surgeon.

X-rays indicated no damage to her hardware! Yay! We were so worried the screws or plate got messed up. She does have swelling around the knee that goes down to her ankle. It’s possible she has a small infection that is causing some of the swelling so we’re going to give her another round of antibiotics.

We’re so relieved no damage was done to her hardware. We’ve both been sick to our stomachs thinking a serious setback had occurred that might require more surgery. The surgeon wants an update next week on her progress.

Relief.

Ciao.

On July 20, 2019 Peanut ruptured her left cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). We were able to get her assessed a few days later by Pea’s primary. It was confirmed, Pea had blown out her knee and would most likely require surgery to repair her injury.

We consulted with a specialty surgeon who gave us Peanut’s options and after receiving a very comprehensive evaluation- we committed to surgery. Although, Pea’s 13 years old she’s in good health and we felt the procedure was warranted so she could enjoy the remainder of the time she has left. If you know anything about the “Nutter” then you know that to describe her as active is an understatement.

The procedure she had is called a Left CORA Based Leveling Osteotomy (CBLO). Yep, it’s a mouth full. She came through the surgery well and from all indications, appears to be recovering well. We did receive a 15 week protocol for post op therapy. Yes, it’s going to take several months to get her back on track.

As Pea’s dutiful caregiver, I was able to work from home her first week back so she didn’t have to be confined to a crate or wear the cone of shame all day. She’s been good about resting and not licking her wound. We just need to get through another week and she should be off cone restrictions soon.

We’ll post some periodic updates on her progress. Please keep Peanut in your thoughts…

Ciao.

The 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee was accepting comments recently. This was one of the best. Take a listen…it’s only 3 minutes.

I couldn’t have said it better. But will anything change? Doubtful. Too many vested interests involved in the decision making. It will take “we the people” to demand change after we’ve been able to reverse our own diminishing health with real food.

When reading study results, particularly for statin drugs, pay attention to the language used.

Ciao.