Miracle in the Hudson

Well, this story may be redundant to any reader that watches or reads news, but there was an incredible event that happened yesterday afternoon in New York.

Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III was piloting a commericial jetliner for US airways with over 150 passengers when he had a "double bird strike" shortly after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia airport.

With the loss of both engines, he made a split second decision to put the plane down in the Hudson River. The most recent reports are that he had been offerred to return to LaGuardia-an earlier report stated that request had been denied and he had been routed to New Jersey. In any case, he quickly realized that he would be unable to make the New Jersy terminal, (in a residential neighborhood), and chose to put the plane down in the Hudson River.

Miraculously, all the passengers and crew escaped alive. Photos on the news showed the plane half sunk in the river, with folks standing ankle deep in water on the wing. It looked as if they were standing on the water.

The water was 36 F and the air temps were 20F. Commuter ferries and coast guard vessels along with other emergency vessels rushed to their aid, pulling everyone to safety. The plane drifted 4 miles in the current before everyone was saved.

I had a lot of thoughts on the subject. One was, when I have flown and the attendents are covering the emergency procedures at the beginning of the flight, I haave always chuckled inside at the directions for a water landing. Because I always thought that in the case of a water landing, you wouldn't need those life vests and rafts because the plane would break up and you would pretty well die instantly. Guess I was wrong about that one.

The other thought was about the plane that crashed in the Potomac river, as an example. 5 people survived that one. It was mostly body recovery. Turns out that crash was 27 years ago almost to the day.

Jee-maniny. What a story. I was moved to tears this am when I read that one passenger had just enough time to text her husband, "my plane is crashing."

Hubby spent a frantic 30 minutes trying to find out her fate.

Well, I suppose the new most popular boy name will be "Chesley", or "Sully". Thank you, Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, for a miraculously talented landing in an emergency. I am sure you would also thank your co-pilot, Jeff Skiles and crew-as I am sure many folks are thanking all of you right now!

Hooves again

Just a quick update-Julius had his feet done today. For a goat with such a bad reputation, he was a dear to work on. I did him by myself and he lifted each hoof in turn, breathing gently on my exposed back when I was bent over working on the front ones. The front were horribly long-his back ones just needed a touch up.

Still more little goats due to have their hooves worked on-will try to work in one a day unless the weather warms up. Bitter bitter cold forecast for the next few days.

Hooves and Cholesterol

Moonshadow had been looking a little gimpy, so in spite of the plummeting firgid temps and howling winds, I did his hooves today. They were very long! One of them had an ice ball caught up in it that I had to cut out before I could get to the hoof. It took both the saplings to hold him for me, and he was shaking like crazy. The feet came out well, though.

I got my cholesterol bloodwork back, and it came out "very good" according to the doc. The good was high and the bad was low. I am LMAO since I live on butter and double cheeseburgers-ok, that's an exageration, but really, I do like it fat and sweet. My food, that is. ;)

Still waiting on the rest of the test results-out of all of them, I think I would have taken high cholesterol-so say a little prayer everything is fine. Thanks. :)

annual physical

I had my first physical in 7 years yesterday. Now I know why I have been putting it off. First waiting in the exam room for an hour-then having to go through my entire familial and personal history so the doc could put in on the computer-I know they already have most of this info-must have been a test for Alzheimer's.

I guess the most positive thing about that was, given my family history, doc ordered up some cholesterol bloodwork. My bp was fine at 110/62. Then it was dicovered I hadn't had a tetanus shot in 12 years ( I knew I was overdue) so that was added to the list. Then I agreed to a flu shot as well.

Then the actual exam took place-

Then I had a mammogram added to the list-will be my first-and a pelvic sonogram since I was complaining of side discomfort but physical examination didn't turn up anything major.

Finally I was through in there and went over to the lab for bloodwork and injections. Well, the highlight of the day was that I lucked out and the person who drew my blood had been an IV therapist and she was GOOD. I told her so, many times. If anyone has had blood drawn, they will admit that sometimes it can be very painful.

Some techs just have a magic touch.

Not so with the tetanus and flu shot-the flu shot hurt worse than the tetanus-until last night. I had one in each shoulder, and I like to sleep on my side. Either side. Haha. Let's just say I didn't sleep too well and my tummy feels upset today.

At least I am safe from tetanus-my granpa died from it many years ago-and hopefully I will be protected from the flu as well. It's a wait and see game on the other test results and I still have to have the last two scheduled. They better not be on my birthday-the New Year's Eve prod and poke was more than enough holiday glee for me. :P