Disaster Trip!

Have you ever been on a trip that turned into a disaster? I've been on a few like that. For instance, years ago when my children were young we went to Ohio to visit my husband's family. We had a great visit and when we were leaving for home we came to a traffic light at a 4 way intersection in a small Ohio city. All four lights turned green at the same time and, consequently, we got into an accident. We had to rent a car to get home and we sold our totalled car then and there to a local mechanic. What an ordeal! But, somehow we made it through.

Last weekend we experienced another disastrous trip. My daughter and her family now live in the Baltimore area of Maryland. My sister, Stacey, also lives in Maryland nearby. I planned a 4 to 5 day trip to Maryland to visit my family and to throw a baby shower for my daughter as she is pregnant and due in June with my third grandson! My sister was going to host the shower at her house. We were going with the Red Neck theme. It was going to be hilarious! Stacey and I had all kinds of funny red neck things to do. We had a great time planning this funky little shower. Rachael has a weird sense of humor like the rest of her family and we knew she would get a kick out of it.

My husband and I decided to drive down. It's about a 12 hour drive according to traffic and weather. On top of building my business, Air Companions, I also take care of people in my home. I have done this for years. Presently, I have been certified to be a VA Medical Foster Home and I care for a disabled veteran. He suffers with frontal lobe dementia; also called PICS disease. I have been caring for "DC" for almost 4 months. Overall I find him to be relatively easy to care for. So, I decided to take him along with us. I thought he might enjoy the trip. DC's son told me that his father did not like to travel. But, I thought that since he was with me he would do okay. Bad decision!

DC did well on the trip down to Maryland. He likes to ride in the car. However, once it was time to go to bed things went downhill very fast. Due to his dementia DC is almost nonverbal. But, when he realized he was not going to sleep in his own bed he started demanding to go home. He tried to run away and he kept us awake all night long. Still, I wanted to try to stay through Sunday as that was when we were doing Rachael's shower. So, we stumbled through Saturday with no sleep since Thursday night. Things went okay during the day but, sure enough, when it came time for bed DC would have none of it. He was even more insistent than the night before and he was making himself physically ill from all the stress. We made the agonizing decision to drive home through the night.

Once in the car DC calmed right down and fell asleep almost immediately. My husband and I on the other hand, had to drive home on no sleep for almost 2 days. And to make things really challenging it was raining all the way home! Without going into all the details I will just say we did make it home in 12 hours. It took my husband and 2 days to recover. DC slept like a baby all the way home and once he was home he was fine.

The baby shower did go on without me. My sister saved the day and went on with the show. Every one had a good time at the red neck shower. Johnny, Stacey's husband, is in the picture holding a shot gun and greeting everyone when they arrived at the shower. Everybody got a big kick out of it. I really feel bad that I missed the shower. I was so looking forward to it.

Lesson learned: Sometimes you don't take your work with you!

Transportation Security Administration

I went on the Transportation Security Administration Website and copied and pasted the information below. I think you will find it interesting. You can find out more by visiting the website at www.tsa.gov


Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions

Air Travel




TSA Cares Help Line

TSA Cares is a helpline to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. TSA recommends that passengers call 72 hours ahead of travel to for information about what to expect during screening.

Travelers may call TSA Cares toll free at 1-855-787-2227 prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. TSA Cares will serve as an additional, dedicated resource specifically for passengers with disabilities, medical conditions or other circumstances or their loved ones who want to prepare for the screening process prior to flying.

The hours of operation for the TSA Cares helpline are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. EST, excluding federal holidays. Travelers who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to contact TSA Cares or can e-mail TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov.

When a passenger with a disability or medical condition calls TSA Cares, a representative will provide assistance, either with information about screening that is relevant to the passenger’s specific disability or medical condition, or the passenger may be referred to disability experts at TSA.

TSA recommends that passengers call approximately 72 hours ahead of travel so that TSA Cares has the opportunity to coordinate checkpoint support with a TSA Customer Service Manager located at the airport when necessary.

For more information visit: TSA Cares Information

One of the primary goals of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is to provide the highest level of security and customer service to all who pass through our screening checkpoints. Our current policies and procedures focus on ensuring that all passengers, regardless of their personal situations and needs, are treated equally and with the dignity, respect, and courtesy they deserve. Although every person and item must be screened before entering each secure boarding area. All disability-related equipment, aids, and devices are allowed through security checkpoints once cleared through screening.

Please click on the links below for specific information about screening of disabilities and medical conditions.
Introduction
Before You Go
Tips For The Screening Process
Mobility Disabilities
Hearing Disabilities
Visual Disabilities
Hidden Disabilities
Breast Prosthetics
Sexual Trauma Victims
Pacemakers, Defibrillators, Other Implanted Medical Devices, & Metal Implants
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine
Medical Oxygen and Respiratory-Related Equipment
Diabetes
Medications
Assistive Devices and Mobility Aids
Prosthetic Devices, Casts, and Body Braces
Walkers, Crutches, and Canes
Augmentation Devices
Orthopedic Shoes, Support Appliances, and Exterior Medical Devices
Dressings
Service Animals
Children with Disabilities
Medical Conditions and Special Situations
Military Severely Injured Program

March is Women's History Month

In honor of Women's History Month I went on the web and found an interesting article on Women's History web site telling of the inventions of women. I have posted it here. I think you will find it interesting and uplifting.

10 things invented by women

1. Clothes wringer/mangle In 1880, an African-American woman named Ellen Elgin invented the clothes wringer. Sadly, she never made a fortune, selling her patent rights for a pittance because she believed if white women knew the wringer was invented by a black woman they wouldn’t want it.

2. Suspension bridge supports. Invented in 1811 by Sarah Guppy, 41, from Birmingham, UK.

3. Windscreen Wipers Invented in 1903 by 37-year-old Mary Anderson, 37, from Alabama, USA.

4. Hydrometer This instrument, which calculates the relative density of liquids, was invented in around 400AD by Hypatia of Alexandria, Egypt and is still in use today.

5. Solar powered fridge Invented in 2006 by Emily Cummins, 19, from Leeds, UK.

6. Paper bags Invented in 1871 by Margaret E Night, 32, from Maine, USA.

7. Computer programming In 1843 aged 32, Ada Lovelace from London, UK, wrote the world’s first computer programmes for the Analytical Engine – an early mechanical computer invented by Charles Babbage.

8. Feeding device for amputees Bessie Blount, 37, an African-American physiotherapist who worked with soldiers injured in World War II, invented an electrical device that allowed amputees to feed themselves in 1951.

9. Disposable nappy Invented in 1950 by Marion Donovan, 33, from Indiana, USA.

10. Dipped headlights Invented in 1908 by Emily Canham from London, UK after being dazzled by the headlights of the newly invented automobile.

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Since I am a Maine girl I was very impressed to see that Margaret E. Knight, the inventor of the paper bag was born in York, Maine. I have posted a link to her biography beow:

Biography of Margaret E. Knight