Texts From Bacon

Oh my friends.  I know it’s been a long time since I’ve shared some of my Texts from Bacon but I was waiting for a great one between me and mom.  This one is it.  My texts are in blue and mom’s responses are in gray.  Hope you enjoy it!

          

 

Happy New Years! – Article from my Mom :)

 Happy New Years my friends!  Can you believe that it is already 2015 – Where did 2014 go?  Today, I’m going to do something a little different here on my blog.  I want to share with you something that my mother wrote recently on handicaps.  It may be a little long, but I hope you take the time to read it.  I think this will be perfect to start this new year with awareness and kindness and paying it forward.  Enjoy and let me know what you think 🙂

Let’s play a game.  Close your eyes, tight now no looking.  Now, I want you to try to do things around your house.  Go to the kitchen and get a drink; try going to the bathroom; turning the television on; or making a phone call.  Can you do it?  Can you remember the layout of your home?  Can you remember what your phone looks like and where the numbers are?  What about the remote control?

 These are all problems that my husband encounters everyday.  You see in 2004, he was in a minor car accident and almost died. That’s right I said minor accident.  He was only going 30 miles per hour when a car accident happened and his airbags deployed.  The force of the airbags against his chest caused massive blood clots in his lungs.  He was in intensive care for nearly 12 weeks coming close to death several times.  In fact at one point, the doctors asked mommy if she believed in miracles because it was time to start praying for one. 😦

Within two years of his accident and many, MANY surgeries that we lost count, he lost his vision.  This is not a story to say, “Oh dear, you poor thing”.  This is a story to enlighten people, restaurants and businesses.  Handicaps are not just visibly seen by wheelchairs, walkers or canes.  Some handicaps you would never know unless you knew the person.  This is my husband Jim.  He does everything we do just with a little help.

 When we go out together, we are always holding hands.  This is something that we have always done for the 26 years we have been together.  But now, it’s also to help guide Jim.  He doesn’t use a cane and it’s not because of vanity.  Jim and others with vision impairments want to be ‘normal’ as much as they can be and I can deal with that.  Wouldn’t you?  He does everything you and I do but just with a little help.

 When we go out to eat, we hold hands walking to the table.  If you are close enough to hear us, you might hear me say, “Walk straight, your chair is to the left.”  And you will see Jim walk straight to his chair just like he ‘saw it’.  You may hear me discussing the menu just like regular people do on, “What do you want to eat?”  You might even hear me tell him when the food comes to the table, “Chicken on the bottom, green beans to the left and corn to your right.”  But other than that, Jim can eat all by himself just like a big boy. 🙂  So, you might not ‘see’ that he has a visual impairment.  And after dinner when we walk to the car, you will see Jim open my car door for me and then walk to his side and get in.  Does that ‘look’ like a handicap to you?

 But here is where we need to step up in businesses and restaurants.  We are all for a little romantic dinner in a restaurant where the mood is set and the lights are low.  But some restaurants tend to push the envelope a little more these days.  But for someone with a visual handicap that might ‘see’ perhaps a little light to guide them, a little mood set with lights low makes them completely blind.  The little bit of tunnel vision Jim might have in one eye is now completely blocked by low light setting and where he might be able to look ‘naturally’ before now he can’t.  You add the low lighting with a white table cloth and white dishes, he is going to stumble around on his plate.  His drink might get bumped.  He may drop his napkin.  Waiters/Waitresses – please note this is not something that he is doing ‘on purpose’.  Please don’t say something to him negatively.  Please don’t “talk down” to him like a child.  And by all means watch what you say not to insult.  People with vision impairments don’t do these things on purpose.  They don’t want the extra attention.  They want to feel normal in every aspect that they can.  When we ask for a table with a little more light, don’t make a big deal by the request.  I mean we could eat at home and we often do but don’t we all want to go out from time to time?

 And bathrooms in public – sigh.  More businesses and restaurants really need to come up family bathrooms.  We have come across these in our travels and they are fabulous!  Why do you ask?  Well, hopefully in your own home you know the layout of your bathroom.  But in a strange place, can you imagine closing your eyes and feeling your way around in a bathroom when you have to potty?  There have been a lot of times that I will walk Jim to the door, open it and try to peak in to tell him where everything is – beware men – I’m not trying to look at what you are doing 🙂 Really, I’m not.

 If you see someone that is acting ‘off’ and it doesn’t ‘show’ that they have a handicap, they may just have a visual handicap that you don’t see.  Instead of walking by or acting like you might catch it, why don’t you stop and chat.  Don’t worry, they won’t bite.  Believe me, just because they are visually impaired,  they do have a sense of humor still.

If they are trying to go to the restroom, why don’t you volunteer to guide them.  Trust me, they won’t hesitate for your help.  If they drop their flatware on the floor, why don’t you replace it and touch their shoulder and say, “No problem sir”.  If you have someone that asks for a more lit table, don’t belittle them or act like it’s a big deal – accommodate

And don’t think Jim is being a snob if he doesn’t shake your hand when you offer yours.  Just a heads up – most people with a visual impairment can’t see your hand.  🙂  Sometimes it helps if you touch their shoulder and say, “Good to meet you”.  And of course, if I’m there I will be glad to tell Jim your arm is extended.  Don’t worry.  You can shake hands.  You won’t catch his blindness.

Most handicapped people don’t want a free pass.  They want to feel like they fit in and can still do what they once could.  Jim is the same.  He knows our house like the back of his hand.  He takes care of the kids and the house.  He can clean like you wouldn’t believe!  He makes the beds.  He does all of the laundry.  He does the dishes.  He can cook for himself.  Astonishing huh?  It just takes a few tweaks on my part to make his life like it once was.  The microwave is marked, the washing machine is marked, the dryer is marked – all with little tabs that he can ‘feel’ to turn on and off.

 I’m not writing this story for sympathy.  I’m not writing this story for money.  I’m writing this story for knowledge on visual impairments.  The next time you see someone with a visual problem – where you see it with someone using a cane or being guided by someone, don’t fear them or treat them differently.  Be kind and helpful.  And hey – why not even help their caregiver out for a while.  Do you know that must people with visual impairments still like to do things for their loved ones.  This has been one of the biggest downfalls to Jim’s vision.  There are times that he would love to go get me a card or some flowers but how can he when he can’t drive himself to do such a wonderful gesture?  Perhaps if you know someone with a visual problem, offer to take them out for such a trip 🙂

In the new year let’s start practicing a little Luke 6:31, “Do to others as you want them to do to you”.  Happy New Years!

 

It’s the Middle of the Year

It’s the middle of the year – hasn’t 2014 just flown by so fast?

It’s time to check those New Years resolutions and see how far you’ve gotten on them and how far you have to go.  I personally like to do this double check around this time of the year.  So let’s see what I have/have not accomplished so far.

My 2014 New Years Resolutions:

• Take more naps – check.  It’s hard maintaining this beauty – it requires many, MANY naps a day.  I try to get as many in as possible during the day so I can play with mom to keep her active when she gets home from the worky place.  
• Continue to eat healthy – check.  So far so good with eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.  The only problems I have this nowadays is keeping daddy out of my piggy stash – snorts.
• Maintain this sexy physique – check. Someone has to be the piggy sexy star at the Hotel Thompson!   Daddy is trying but his pot belly is not as adorable as mine – double snorts…. don’t tell him I saw that okay.
• Become a Super Pig Hero – Still working on this one.  I do have Piggy Power when I need/want to run around and get into trouble save the world. 
• Keep mom wrapped around my hooves – check check – this is a full time job! snorts

What about your New Years resolutions.  How far have you come on your list?  Mom/dad are still working on theirs as well.  Some things they have crossed off while others are still sitting there waiting for them.

 AND with this being the middle of the year, do you know what that means??

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It’s only 176 days until Christmas!!

Happy mid year Christmas!!

 

Happy New Years!

It’s finally here – 2014!  Time for a new year.  Time for a clean slate.  Time to let by-gones be by-gones and start out on a fresh start.  We stayed up last night at the Hotel Thompson and watched the ball drop on the television, watched the fireworks from the front porch and popped open some bubbly.  Don’t tell anyone but mom let me have a sip.  Those bubbles tickled my snout – snorts.  And as the clock struck midnight, I saw daddy give mommy a huge kiss on the lips.  It was like something out of the 60’s movies that we like to watch.  He swooped her back, told her he loved her and gave her a huge one.  I drew the line when he wanted to do that to me.  I just let him shake my hoof.

Every where you are in the world, there are ‘special’ traditions that cultures do for New Years.  Here in Georgia, it’s a tradition that for dinner we eat black-eyed peas and turnip greens.  It’s a superstition that these items bring good luck and prosperity for the new year.  Supposedly, the peas represent copper and the greens represent dollars.  The more you eat, the more prosperity you will have.  Other places in the south substitute the turnip greens for cabbage.  Either way – I love them all 🙂

Now for 2014 Resolutions.  This is going to be *THE* year.  I just feel it in my miniature pot belly!

• I’m determined to help mom/dad on their new way of eating.  Notice I didn’t say the “D” word.  It is a life time change.  Baby steps you know.  I made mom get on the scales this morning.  They laughed at her.  I don’t think that is a good sign.
• I’m determined to get some fan mail from my personal idols.  Miss Piggy is tops on the list.  I need to let her know that I’m alive and here for her.  Second on the list is my good friend Maxwell.  You know him from the Geico commercials.
• I’m determined to be more positive, write more and keep my friends in blogville laughing.
• I’m determined to get more organized.  Yeah, this is a toughie.  I’m not shall we say a organized piggy – I’m all hooves.  But I will try in the new year.
• I’m determined to be nicer to the purr things here at the Hotel Thompson.  Okay, we all know that Hemi rules the hotel here but I’m talking about Mouse Girl.  I promise not to start something if she doesn’t start something.  That sounds fair, right?

All my friends – I wish you all the happiness and prosperity for your New Year.  May 2014 bring you everything you wish and desire.

Bacon, Hemi, Mouse Girl, Bashful and the Rock Clan, Journalist Rocky the Squirrel, Mom and Dad

From the Hotel Thompson – much love!!

Oh, and I couldn’t get away without giving all of ya’ll a kiss from the piggy!

 

Bye Bye Don Juan

Thank goodness the holiday season is done and over with. Christmas decorations are put up… With the exception of the Mickey Mouse lamp pole. Mom has decided that she likes looking at the lamp in the dark. Tell you the truth, I do too.

It’s been a great Thanksgiving and Christmas. We’ve napped, shopped, rode around in the Smart car looking at lights and eaten ourselves into oblivion. Not that I’m complaining but I can kind of relate to how mom feels during her “fat” phases. Like a balloon ready to pop!

So with the first holiday of 2014 this week, all of us here at the Hotel Thompson want to turn over a new leaf and start off on the right foot and hoof. I guess that will be on the top of our New Years resolutions.

But speaking of Christmas decorations. I’m glad to report that our evil elf on the shelf Don Juan has safely been boxed up and secured in the attic. Of course I wanted to hog tie him and cover his mouth but mom said no. On the other hoof, dad was all for it. Why do you ask? Because Don Juan left one little thing for daddy before he was captured put away until 2014. I snapped a picture for you. Adios Don Juan.

 

It’s the Middle of the Year

It’s the middle of the year – hasn’t 2013 just flown by so fast?

It’s time to check those New Years resolutions and see how far you’ve gotten on them and how far you have to go.  I personally like to do this double check around this time of the year.  So let’s see what I have/have not accomplished so far.

My 2013 New Years Resolutions:

• Take more naps – check.  As you can see with Hemi hi-jacking my computer this weekend, this is working.
• Continue to eat healthy – check.  It’s hard but it’s a work in progress
• Maintain this sexy physique – check. Someone has to be the piggy sexy star at the Hotel Thompson! 
• Become a Super Pig Hero – still working on this one.  I need a magic CAPE bad… in red… with Power Pig written on the back. 
• Overcome my anti-nature stance – still working on this one.  I’m in therapy and almost to the end of it so hopefully I can mark this off soon.
• Keep mom wrapped around my hooves – check check – this is a full time job! snorts

What about your New Years resolutions.  How far have you come on your list?  Mom/dad are still working on theirs as well.  Some things they have crossed off while others are still sitting there waiting for them. 

 

AND with this being the middle of the year, do you know whart that means??

 

It’s only 176 days until

Christmas!!

 

Happy mid year Christmas!!

 

Happy New Years!!

I made it to the new year!! Happy 2013 – I hope you had a wonderful night last night ending 2012. Did you do anything exciting and fun?

I did stay up. I was so happy with myself. Mom fixed cheese crackers and sparkly things to drink. She let me try some of the non alcoholic sparkly stuff. It had bubbles and they felt funny against my nose. It was okay but I prefer my water. Now the cheese crackers on the other hand are a different story. I love cheese crackers. Mom fed them to me putting them into my little mouth. They were delicious! She said the cheese was called pimento cheese. The best stuff! Have you tried this deliciousness?

 

 

Mom told me I had to take a short nap while her and dad finished up their snacks and bubbly. Afterwards they came and got me to watch the show. They opened the front door and left the storm door shut that you can see through. Mom told me to sit there and wait for it, to keep looking up at the sky.

For a while, I thought I was searching for stars or aliens. Nothing happened. I kept looking at her and she kept telling me to wait for it and be patient. I’m not so good with being patient – snort.

Then all of a sudden, I saw it. I was in awe. I couldn’t move anything but my little head watching everything. The sky lit up in beautiful colors. Not just a little dot here or there but the colors spread out in a beautiful display so pretty like a water fall.

And the noise was so loud! I would have been jumpy but mom was right behind me holding me going oohh and aaww as well. Even she was sitting there in amazement. It was such a wonderful sight to view and mom was right. I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it for myself.

Afterwards, mom tucked me in for the night. I dreamed of Disney and fireworks. Just like the picture below. Did you see any beautiful colors in the sky?

 

Happy Weekend!

YAY – It’s weekend time.  I’m so excited.  Mom got me so spoiled last weekend being off so much.  She says that she has to work Monday but after that, she doesn’t go back to work until next year.  That’s awesome.

Do you have anything awesome planned for this weekend?  Mom says it’s the last weekend of the year.  (ppsstt – I’m still not real sure about all of this end of the year stuff… what does that mean?)

I plan on hanging out with mom and getting even more spoiled if you think that is possible – snort.  My Aunt Tina is in town.  I’m hoping to see her and play with her some as well.  It should be a fun weekend.

I hope whatever you have going on that you have fun and be safe.  Hogs and Kisses!