-
Reasons to Be Proud and Hopeful for the Future
As the month of May Mental Health Awareness draws to a close, I reflect a little on the Make It OK calendar items that are salient for me: 3 things I’ve done that I’m most proud of and 3 reasons I’m hopeful for the future. I’ll keep it short. One thing I’m most proud of…
-
What’s Up with Tree Bags?
Sena got some tree bags for keeping our trees watered. They don’t come with explicit instructions; I’ve never had to deal with them. As always, I suspect extraterrestrials and other strange beings are involved. Apparently, the tree bags are supposed to provide enough water for young trees so they grow and thrive in your yard.…
-
So, I Got the Covid-19 Booster Today
After giving the Covid-19 summer booster a lot of thought, I got it today. What the heck. I’m an old guy and the experts all agree that the summer surge is real, including the current leaders of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (Vinay Prasad, M.D., M.P.H and Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H.). I read their article…
-
An Anecdote About “Supportive” Psychotherapy
I just read Dr. George Dawson’s excellent blog post on supportive psychotherapy (“Supportive Psychotherapy—The Clinical Language of Psychiatry.” If you’re looking for an erudite and humanistic explanation of supportive psychotherapy, I think you’re unlikely to find anything superior to Dr. Dawson’s essay. Now, about my take on “supportive” psychotherapy—there’s a reason why the word supportive…
-
Find a Tee for Mayree!
Sena alerted me to a news story about an Iowa City 8th grader landing a 68-pound flathead catfish yesterday in Iowa. While it’s not the all-time record, you have to admit he landed a monster fish. The record is an 81-pounder caught in 1958. Now why would that remind me of KCCK Jazz and Blues…
-
Finally Got Pics of Gray Catbirds!
I finally got pictures of gray catbirds this morning! They’re swooping around our back porch, like a lot of other birds have been doing lately. See my video from yesterday about the sassy robin! The last time I got photos of them was about a year and a half ago. As Mr. Charles Muntz said…
-
A Robin Attacks Our Windows!
Tonight, a female robin attacked our windows. My guess is that it’s attacking its own reflection. A lot of backyard birds are out, nesting, stealing our herbs, pooping on our deck. Sena saw a Baltimore oriole and we both saw a female goldfinch trying to do the same thing as the robin—bite the screen. We’ll…
-
Big Mo Blues Show Tune
I was all set to hear the Big Mo Blues Show on KCCK 88.3 tonight starting at 6 pm and guess what? I must have fell asleep sitting up in my chair and didn’t wake up until this song “Bye Bye Blues” by Larry McCray came on a little past 6:30 pm. It makes me…
-
The FDA VRBPAC Meeting Today on Covid-19 Vaccines for 2025-26
The FDA VRBPAC meeting today on the Covid-19 vaccines for 2025-26 is so far leading me to believe that the best choice for the voting question- Based on the evidence presented, please discuss considerations for the selection of JN.1 and/or a specific JN.1-lineage strain for COVID-19 vaccines (2025-2026 Formula) to be used in the U.S.…
-
It’s The Clay
I ran across something quotable in Ray Bradbury’s novel, “Something Wicked This Way Comes.” It’s another one of his books I’ve never read but which I’m reading now. “God, how we get our fingers in each other’s clay.” In the novel, it’s about how two friends influence each other. On the one hand, it’s a…
Go Retire Psychiatrist 