Martins (Near Andice)

Reconnecting with Japanese Latter-Day Saints

2011-10-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

Today in General Conference we heard about a Japanese member of the church re-connecting with the missionary that baptized him.

I would really like to hear how some of the members I met so long ago are doing.

Here are a few names...

Yoshiki Hayase (Hayase Yoshiki) ... one of my companions... young man from Osaka

Kachiko Furuya (Furuya Kachiko).. a young woman from Matsue who served a mission in Anaheim in 1980.

Misao Fujiwara and Hideko Noma .. devoted young women from the Hiroshima area (Kure-city)

And Sister Fujimura and her daughter who were baptized in Okayama.

But... I am not sure how to proceed

Amazing Maui Vacatiion Photos

2011-07-16T21:10:00.001-07:00

Beach on West Side of Island

From earlier this year...

Shark fishing without the sharks

2011-05-28T22:20:00.001-07:00

David kayaking in the surf

These pix below are David's friends

Hawaii Trip!

2011-03-11T19:13:00.001-08:00

The coast south of Hana at Halemano.
The grounds at Halemano.

Sunrise at Halemano

Open air Kitchen - Halemano

Waves breaking on volanic rocks

Ocean view at Halemono

Breakfast on the porch at the old Maui Lu Resort

Volcano Hike ... Hale'akala

Kehei beach morning walk

Black Sand Beach

Snorkeling in Kehei

Grandma and Carolyn

Riding the big waves

Check out the video

Christmas Holiday Birds & More

2011-01-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

Cedar Waxwings

Red-Necked Woodpecker, according to my local expert Leann

Yellow-Rumped Warbler, according to my local expert Leann.

Eastern Bluebird with nice color - I knew this by myslef almost.

OK, He is not a bird, he's Aimee's armadillo. Even Aimee could identify him.

Eastern Bluebird with nice poses

This is my washboard.

Baby Wyatt Comes

2010-12-26T20:23:00.000-08:00

On Thanksgiving morning....

Carolyn & I got the call to come up to help tend the Larson kids while Christine and Gavin went to the hospital for the new baby's arrrival.

But.. no baby came.

So...

We went to the park.

Then... and had a nice Thanksgiving dinner together.

Geoffrey asked if he could say the blessing. Gavin said "Yes, but this is our Thanksgiving dinner, so you have to say everything your thankful for, including that Grandma and Grandpa could come".

Geoffrey prayed, We're thankful for the food, we're thankful for... the turkey, the mashed potatoes, for the stuffing, and for whatever that red stuff is... and that Grandma and Grandpa could come"

We returned home Friday morning, but then drove back to Fort Worth for the real delivery Saturday night late.

Carolyn & I got to take the kids to the hospital to meet their new baby brother Sunday morning.

Carolyn was a wonderful Grandma

Wonderful weekend.

Progress on the Addition

2010-12-26T10:11:00.000-08:00

Framing and installing the bay windows... begins with pouring the concrete piers.

The framing was kinda tricky.

Tony helped a lot with the sheathing.

Todd Hanks works 10 times faster than me... if not more... with the last bit of house wrap.

Windows in place... with Todd's expertise.

David, Tony, Nathan and Grandpa Lee all helped install insulation on the walls and ceiling.

Baby Boy!

2010-09-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

Darling aren't they?

(At least 3/4ths of them)

Shark Fishing 2010

2010-09-05T18:56:00.000-07:00

Fishing for Bait at Daybreak

Kayaking out the baited hooks

Big Bull Shark & Smaller Black Tip Shark

See that last truck back there?
That's our 2005 F150 4x4

4-wheeling back

Red Rock National Wildlife Refuge, Rocky Mountains

2010-08-23T18:45:00.001-07:00

August 23, 2010 Birding Adventure - Red Rock National wildlife Refuge;

Rocky Mountains in Montana near Yellowstone

Mountain Bluebird

Northern Harrier

Catbird

Upper Lake, looking west

Rockies, looking south

Squirrel

Swainson's Hawk

Tiny frog Matt caught

Trumpeteer swans (near Island Park, Idaho)

Birdwatchers

Vole

Western Peewee

Matt collecting

Hairy Woodpecker

Seed head of the Yellow Salsify

Hikers

The whole crew

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

(or Cooper's?)

Oncology Pharmacist Vocabulary

2010-06-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

chemotherapy treatment
safe handling procedures
dose calculations
complex dosing regimens
adequate white blood cell count
laboratory results measuring kidney and liver function
trained oncology technician
clean room
final product check
clinical research
research protocols
oncology residency program for pharmacists

ICU Pharmacist Duties

2010-06-22T17:57:00.001-07:00

For the quiz next week...

Prospectively reviews drug therapy
Assists in managing adverse drug events (ADE’s, or drug side effects)
Performs pharmacokinetic monitoring (interpret drug levels in the blood)
Provides drug information
Provide IV fluid compatibility information
Provides drug education to the ICU team
The pharmacist provides interesting written drug information for hospital newsletters
Whenever problems related to drug use are found, the pharmacist should help fix those problems.
The ICU pharmacist looks for opportunities to lower drug costs.
The pharmacist works with ICU team members to improve quality.

“Expanding Clinical Pharmacy Services in the Community” Donald Francke , 1978

2010-06-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

Vocabulary Words & for
“Expanding Clinical Pharmacy Services in the Community” Donald Francke , 1978

Federacion Internationale Pharmaceutique
(Federation of International Pharmacists), FIP

High blood pressure screening program

High blood pressure monitoring program

Physician-accepted criteria

Pharmacist’s role as a counselor

Monitor therapy

Drug reactions (adverse drug reaction)

Drug interactions

Response to therapy

Non-compliance

Reinforce compliance

Enteral vs. Parenteral

Protocols

Diabetes screening program & Diabetes monitoring program

“Free of charge” vs. “Fee for service”

Clinical Pharmacy in Outpatient (1978 article)

2010-05-25T18:10:00.000-07:00

The "clinical pharmacy" in the outpatient setting article is here in .jpg format.

"CLICK" the picture and you can read it;

"CLICK" again and it makes it even bigger

Doripenem Pharmacokinetics in Critically Ill Patients

2010-05-18T18:21:00.000-07:00

For next week, please see
Doripenem Pharmacokinetics in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Continuous Hemodiafiltration (CHDF)
87
Seigo HIDAKA, Koji GOTO, Satoshi HAGIWARA, Hideo IWASAKA and Takayuki NOGUCHI
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI Vol. 130 (2010) , No. 1 P 87-94
LINK: http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/yakushi/130/1/_contents
We will focus on the abstract, which I will post here.
Abstract
Objectives of the prospective, open-label study were to investigate pharmacokinetics of doripenem and determine appropriate doripenem regimens during continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) in critically ill patients with renal failure (creatinine clearance <30 ml/min) in the intensive care unit at a university hospital in Japan. Six patients received intravenous (IV) administration of 250 mg of doripenem every 12 or 24 hours during CHDF (dialysis rate, 500 ml/h; hemofiltration rate, 300 ml/h) via a polysulfone hemofilter. Doripenem concentrations in pre- and post-membrane blood (plasma) samples collected at specified times during one dosing interval were measured in order to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters and clearance via hemodiafiltration. Mean half-life (+/-standard deviation) of doripenem was 7.9+/-3.7 hours. Total body clearance of doripenem was 58.0+/-12.7 ml/min, including clearance of 13.5+/-1.6 ml/min via CHDF. An IV dose of 250 mg of doripenem every 12 hours during CHDF provided adequate plasma concentrations for critically ill patients with renal failure, without resulting in accumulation upon steady-state. Thus, under the conditions tested, CHDF appeared to have little effect on doripenem clearance. Therefore, the blood level of doripenem can be satisfactorily controlled by adjustment of doripenem dose and dosing interval, in accordance with residual renal function in patients receiving CHDF.

the Asheville Project: Pharmacists Providing Diabetes Care

2010-05-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

See this link: http://www.centervbhm.com/bp/diabetesashevilleproject.html?rotation=46845786&banner=223101460&src=1&kw=p6605814187

Case Study:
Diabetes and the Asheville Project
Diabetes Management
Two employers, the City of Asheville and Mission-St. Joseph's Health System, (In North Carolina) participated in 2 initiatives targeting asthma and diabetes. A total of 194 employees met the criteria for participation in the diabetes program. The study assessed both clinical and economic outcomes for up to 5 years.1
Program Components:
· Pharmacy care services by trained community pharmacists
· Diabetes education center, staffed by certified diabetes educators
· Patient participation incentives
· Free home blood glucose monitor
· Waiver of copayment for all diabetes drugs and related supplies such as lancets and test strips
Asheville Project (2001); Mean Cost Per Patient Per Year (USD)

Program Outcomes:
· The mean insurance cost per-patient-per-year (PPPY) decreased by $2,704, $3,609, $3,908, $5,480, and $6,502 in the first through fifth follow-up years, respectively.
· Prescription costs increased. But total mean direct medical costs PPPY decreased every year compared to the baseline.
· For one employer group, sick days were reduced for 5 consecutive years. Increased productivity value was estimated at $18,000.
· Prescription costs increased every year compared to the baseline. For the first through fifth years, increases of $656, $1,487, $1,932, $1,942, and $2,188 PPPY, respectively, were observed.
· Mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels decreased (improved) at every follow-up.
· HbA1c levels compared to baseline for enrolled patients improved at each follow-up visit in 57.7% to 81.8% of patients.
· Mean HDL-C levels increased (improved) at every follow-up with 53.3% to 75% of patients.

Reference:
1. Cranor CW, Bunting BA, Christensen DB. The Asheville project: long-term clinical and economic outcomes of a community pharmacy diabetes care program. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2003;43(2):173-184.

Pharmacy Times
http://www.pharmacytimes.com/files/articlefiles/TheAshevilleProject.pdf

The Asheville Project: Taking a Fresh Look at the Pharmacy Practice Model
by Barry Bunting, PharmD, and Bill Horton, RPh

Our message needs to be: “It is broken.
Pharmacy can help fix it.” We need to teach physicians that we have information they need and convince them we can and will help them manage their patient’s illness.

Community pharmacists in particular have information that primary care physicians need. Physicians need to know if their patient filled the prescription they wrote (nearly 15% of patients don’t); they need to know if they are taking it (about 13% of patients don’t, even if they get the prescription filled); they need to know if the medication is working; and they need to know if the medication is causing their patient any problems that need to be resolved, especially if those problems have caused the patient to stop taking the medication.

Most important, the physician needs to know these things before the patient’s next appointment, which is months away.

The Initial Consultation
Once a patient has been matched up with a pharmacist, the pharmacist calls the patient to arrange for a counseling session time that is convenient for both. The initial sessions take about 60 minutes on average.

If the client is not familiar with the service being provided, help him or her understand what you hope to accomplish together. Take a detailed history using standard forms provided for that purpose.

Help the person set goals regarding lifestyle changes he or she would like to make. To many people, just knowing that they are going to be monitored is an incentive. Let them know that this is a team approach and that they are the most important members of the team.

Provide any necessary training, such as how to use a glucose meter or how to mix insulin.

Record and document everything in a standard format.

Plan follow-up visits.
These should take place at least once a month, and in our experience they average 20 to 30 minutes per patient per month.

Pharmaceutical English: May 12, 2010

2010-05-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

Assessment of Palliative Care Team Activities
Myotoku et al. Osaka Ohtani University (2008)
Yakugaku Zasshi 128 (2) 299-304 (2008)
Link =
http://yakushi.pharm.or.jp/FULL_TEXT/128_2/pdf/299.pdf

1. What is “palliative care”? How is it different from “hospice care”?
2. What are examples of “opioids”? What are they typically used for?
3. What are “NSAIDS”? Why is there a goal to increase the used of NSAIDS in this patient group?
4. What are “laxatives” used for? Why is there a goal to increase the use of laxatives in this patient group?
5. What are “antiemetics” used for? Why is there a goal to increase the use of antiemetics in this patient group?
6. What did the pharmacist actually do to improve prescribing in his/her hospital?

Answers to last week's questions
***********************************Pharmacist-Managed Vaccination Program Increased Influenza Vaccination Rates in Cardiovascular Patients Enrolled in a Secondary Prevention Lipid Clinic

Susan M. Loughlin, Pharm.D., et al Pharmacotherapy 2007;27(5):729–733
http://www.atypon-link.com/PPI/doi/pdf/10.1592/phco.27.5.729

1. Where do the authors of the paper work? (See bottom of page 1).
University of Houston College of Pharmacy AND
Department of Pharmacy, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston, Texas.

2. What kind of clinic do they work at? Who works with them? Who pays the pharmacist’s salary?
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic is a large, multispecialty, group practice in Houston, Texas.

The lipid clinic staff includes three cardiologists, a clinical pharmacist, pharmacy students, and postgraduate pharmacy residents.

The secondary prevention lipid clinic is a collaborative effort between the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic and the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. (The College pays at least some of the clinical pharmacists’ salary because they provide clinical rotation sites for the pharmacy students

3. What does “secondary prevention” mean when talking about “lipid management?”
The patient has already had one heart attack. They are trying to prevent another.

4. Why are the authors interested in giving flu vaccinations?
The patients are at high risk for complicated flu infections

5. What kinds of patients are helped the most by a flu vaccination?
The elderly (> 65 years old) , and those with chronic illnesses such as lung disease or heart disease

6. Were the authors successful in increasing flu vaccinations?
Yes. The prior year’s rate of 39% of patients getting their flu vaccinations rose to 76%

7. How many states in the US allow pharmacists to give vaccinations?
Pharmacists have the legal authority to administer vaccinations in 44 states (including Texas, where our study was conducted),

8. Do the authors believe that all clinical pharmacists focus on vaccinations as part of their overall care to clinic patients? Yes. It did not take a lot of time, but was beneficial in preventing the flu.

9. Is vaccination a good activity for retail pharmacists to be involved in? Yes

Sing-along in Provo

2010-04-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

Adam and Debra Grimshaw are the musically talented downstairs neighbors

I told them I'd play the bass with them.

They liked that idea.

They were surprised to see the washtub bass!

For next week's lecture (4/21/2010)...Pharmaceutical English

2010-04-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

Articles and Study Questions
***********************************

Pharmacist-Managed Vaccination Program Increased
Influenza Vaccination Rates in Cardiovascular Patients
Enrolled in a Secondary Prevention Lipid Clinic

Susan M. Loughlin, Pharm.D., et al
Pharmacotherapy 2007;27(5):729–733
http://www.atypon-link.com/PPI/doi/pdf/10.1592/phco.27.5.729
.

Questions:

1. Where do the authors of the paper work? (See bottom of page 1).

2. What kind of clinic do they work at? Who works with them? Who pays the pharmacist’s salary?

3. What does “secondary prevention” mean when talking about “lipid management?”

4. Why are the authors interested in giving flu vaccinations?

5. What kinds of patients are helped the most by a flu vaccination?

6. Were the authors successful in increasing flu vaccinations?

7. How many states in the US allow pharmacists to give vaccinations?

8. Do the authors believe that all clinical pharmacists focus on vaccinations as part of their overall care to clinic patients?

9. Is vaccination a good activity for retail pharmacists to be involved in?
**********************************************************************
Assessment of Palliative Care Team Activities

Myotoku et al. Osaka Ohtani University (2008)
Yakugaku Zasshi 128 (2) 299-304 (2008)
http://yakushi.pharm.or.jp/FULL_TEXT/128_2/pdf/299.pdf

1. What is “palliative care”? How is it different from “hospice care”?

2. What are examples of “opioids”? What are they typically used for?

3. What are “NSAIDS”? Why is there a goal to increase the used of NSAIDS in this patient group?

4. What are “laxatives” used for? Why is there a goal to increase the use of laxatives in this patient group?

5. What are “antiemetics” used for? Why is there a goal to increase the use of antiemetics in this patient group?

6. How did the pharmacist improve prescribing in his/her hospital? The pharmacist improved prescribing by participating in “ward rounds” of the palliative care team. They also attended weekly conferences and presented educational material.

New Class: Toho University Pharmacy Students

2010-04-13T15:22:00.001-07:00

Here are some notes & pix from class:

This is the Mastudo City Hospital pharmacist in the ICU medication room. He keeps medications in a cart, and is assisting the nurses in providing drug therapy.

He is the first pharmacist to work up in the ICU. The doctors and nurses are learning to work with him. He helps them with "drug information" questions.

Vocabulary words:

Medication use system
Traditional dispensing activities by pharmacist

Clinical pharmacy activities, "Pharmaceutical Care", patient-centered care

Curriculum

Experiential Learning = "rotations", special projects

Classroom learning

Pharmacist preceptor

Community Pharmacy

Hospital Pharmacy

Pharmacy technician

Over-the-counter medications

Prescription medications

Herbal medicines; Complementary medicines

Caregiver

Decision-maker

Communicator

Manager

Life-long-learner

Teacher

Leader

Researcher

Easter pix

2010-04-04T17:00:00.001-07:00

Easter Weekend Shots

There's more, just ask

Construction Update

2010-04-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

This is the door to the tornado shelter.
Steven is going to make a door frame for me.

Getting the ridge beam up (orange colored) was a big feat. Its two pieces, each are 33 feet long. I think they must weigh 200 lbs each.

We had some friends over for conference.

They lended us some energy.

An inclined plane is a simple machine.

I placed one reddish colored roof rafter up against the house.

Another shot.

Construction Update & Bailey Vist

2010-03-27T21:46:00.000-07:00

First wall is up!

Great Saturday! Bailey visited while her parents went to the coast.

Aimee makes good use of her readings skills

2010-02-21T16:50:00.000-08:00

...by reading to the other 1st grade class and asking comprehenson questions.

Last Christmas Remembered

2010-02-14T17:17:00.000-08:00

I found these pictures on Amber's site, and have borrowed them and posted them here because they are SO cute.

Construction Update - Floor Framing & Subfloor

2010-02-07T20:21:00.000-08:00

Almost final floor framing - December 2009 in-the-snow

Final floor framing - 2/6/2010 in better weather

Subfloor time

See the pix for the details

Making Progress

The Wii: Dancing with the Rabbids

2009-12-26T19:41:00.001-08:00

If a picture is worth a 1000 words, a video speaks volumes.

Christmas PJ's

2009-12-24T21:01:00.000-08:00

Christmas Birding Trip 2009 (Aransas Nat Wildlife Ref)

2009-12-23T21:36:00.000-08:00

Great weather for birdwatching!

& Other critters, too.

Our first Whooping crane sighting, with raccoon in foreground

Leann & Matt and Emory saw lots of birds

Roscoe Arrives

2009-10-27T13:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome Home

"Roscoe Nathan Howe"

Great Hair

Family of FOUR!

Family Update

2009-10-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

Emory & Carolyn

Sherrilyn

David the "almost Dentist" with Emory the patient

Jennifer & Nathan Howe, with Ryleigh (and baby Roscoe on the way)

Leann & Matt Crook (with college degrees on the way)

Leann the Wilderness Biologist

Christine & Gavin Larson Family at the School Carnival

Children -Aimee, Geoffrey & Niall Emory

David & Amber Martin's baby Bailey (with Grandpa Emory) at the San Antonio Zoo.

David & Amber Martin & baby Bailey

FEMA-approved Above Ground Tornado Shelter

2009-09-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

Tornados do not strike this part of Texas very often,

but the F5 that struck within 30 miles of us 12 years ago in Jarrell

killed 27 people.

So .. we finally began an above ground concrete tornado shelter following the plans provided by FEMA. Here is their website.

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/saferoom/shplans/

We are almost ready to fill the blocks... 2 more rows to go. Because the limestone is so close to the surface and so porous when water runs through it, we thought above ground would be more strainght forward. We are building it as a 10x5 interior shelter inside an addition we are building onto the house.

We dug some deep footings and poured a 4 inch thick slab floor... about 4000 pounds of concrete. This is my first cynder block (concrete block) project. As an alternative to always mixing the mortar exactly correct and spreading out consistantly to maintain nice even rows like an expert, we used a small "help" that doubled our speed at laying and kept us level.

The "helps" were small metal spacers that fix the morter bond width and keep the rows level. Great investment when your crew is 16 year old -21 year old young men from church who know just as little as you.

I found them on http://blockandbrickspacer.com/

The youtube video helped a lot, too.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4109169/11078960

Bailey Stays with Grandpa & Grandma

2009-09-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

... while David & Amber go to Florida for residency interview and touring in the rain

Bird Watching at Aransas Wildlife Refuge & Port Aransas

2009-08-25T19:27:00.001-07:00

The first bird Leann added to her Life List was this Common Moorhen

I like the reflection this Black-Necked Stilt made in the first light of day.

Leann's shirt matches the kayak.

This was Leann's first alligator in the wild. We think his mother alligator was burrowed into the mud hole behind him.

Great white egret

Thirsty raccoon

This White-Tailed Hawk was my favorite.
We launched the kayak and paddled around for about 2 hours. I did not take the camera with me.. so the next two pictures came from the Internet.

I wish I took this picture of the Roseated Spoonbill, but I didn't. He is my next favorite birds we saw. Probably the same one I saw here with the Boy Scouts 3 years ago!

We were within 8 feet of the dolphins . We took the ferry to Port Aransas and walked to the end of the jetty.

Saw a lot of wildlife.

Leann's first sea turtles.

The reddish brown bird on the right is a Ruddy Turnstone.

The pelicans were floating in the sea by the dozens out at the end of the jetty. I got a good diving picture.

Great shot of a Cara Cara, huh?

We broke for lunch at a mexican restaurant Sherri Map-quested for us.

Trip to the Zoo

2009-08-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

See the pix

Martin Martin, Our First American Forebear

2009-08-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

Martin Martin, Our First American Forebear

As indicated in his son’s US census data, Martin Martin, was born in Scotland in about 1750. He came to South Carolina before the Revolutionary War. During the war he served in Captain Baker’s company of the 6th South Carolina regiment, and may have been involved in the Battle of Charleston (1775-76), a series of skirmishes with the British-backed Overhill Cherokees (1776) in South Carolina and defending Savannah (1778). The regiment was merged with the 2nd South Carolina Regiment in 1780. The war was over by 1783.

Martin and Isabella Graham married about 1780. Although Martins’ roots in Scotland are difficult to establish, Isabella’s family came to South Carolina from North Knapdale, Argyllshire, Scotland – the Scottish highlands along the western coast. The Martin clan was well established in this same area of Argyllshire. The name of the nearby town of Kilmartin means “followers of St. Martin”.

The Martins first lived in South Carolina, but by 1804 they were living in the Midway settlement of Liberty County in southeast Georgia along the Sunbury Road where land grants were given after the war. There they attended the Congregational Church.

Fifty years earlier, Midway and its church had been established by a group of English Puritans from South Carolina. Martin & Isabella’s family came to Midway during a time where many other non-Puritan families from England, the Scottish highlands, and South Carolina were receiving land grants in the area. Midway settlers commonly cultivated rice, indigo, and other crops. Occasionally they had conflicts with the nearby Creek Indians. The Midway Church built in 1792 still stands near the old cemetery.

Martin Martin & Isabella were blessed with a large family of five sons and five daughters, and they eventually moved north up the Sunbury Road to the small community of Taylors Creek, Liberty County, Georgia. They established their family farm was just north of the village on the bluff over the Little Canoochee River. We are related to two of their sons.

The Midway Church

“Brothers Martin” Marry “Daniel Cousins”
Martin & Isabella’s 4th child Nathaniel (b. 1787) and 7th child William (b. 1795) are both our forebears.

With all that Scottish blood resulting in a small stature, Nathaniel was known as “Little Nat Martin”.[1] As the Martin brothers came of age in Taylors Creek, Georgia, Nat married Elvira Appelus Daniel (who went by her middle name “Appelus”, a Danish name apparently liked by her parents) in 1817, and his younger brother William married Appleus’ cousin Elizabeth Daniel four years later. Just like the brothers, the first cousins were seven years apart in age.

Nat & Appelus farmed and raised cattle, pigs, and sheep.

William & Elizabeth also farmed in Taylors Creek. Both families were active members of the Methodist Church in Taylors Creek. William served as superintendent for a number of years.

“He and his family took a keen interest in the annual camp meetings at Taylors Creek Camp Ground.”[2]

His marker in the Taylors Creek Cemetery contains the Bible quote, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Elizabeth’s marker reads “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”

More on the Daniel Cousins Who Married the Brothers Martin
As cousins, Appleus and Elizabeth Daniel shared a common pair of grandparents – Aaron & Elizabeth Whitfield Daniel. When Aaron Daniel’s father Thomas married Elizabeth Lanier in 1716, the Lanier family tree became part of our Martin family tree. The Lanier family has an interesting history with some roots in Italy.
[1] The Martin Family. Compiled by Danella Martin Holden 1998.
[2] History of Taylors Creek Camp Meeting, Liberty County, Georgia. By Emory S. Martin Sr. 1933

What's the best time to visit your son the dentist?

2009-07-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

Tooth-hurty

UTHSC School of Dentistry- Great dental care at an affordable price, as long as you don't mind hearing about every detail of the treament plan being discussed with a professor, and each professor telling you how pleased they are with your son's academic and professional performance. :) Amber & Bailey helped make the day even more special with the nice picnic lunch!

How "Pharmaceutical English" Came About

2009-07-06T20:26:00.001-07:00

Since 1992, in order to expand patient-focused pharmacy practice, Mr. Ozaki has periodically brought small groups of Yuai Medical’s pharmacists to the Texas to speak with pharmacists in a variety of care settings.

In their 20th Anniversary conference held in Chiba, Japan I had the opportunity to speak after the keynote address given by Dean Hayao Ide of the Toho University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He spoke of his college’s plans to implement a new entry level Pharm.D. curriculum.

We discussed one of the goals he expressed in his lecture of offering an elective course in “Pharmaceutical English”.

I volunteered the option of my teaching an Internet-based long-distance lecture course. We pursued the idea and conducted two “test lectures” to determine the feasibility. The dean was pleased with results, and we planned the course with the assistance of Professors Watanabe and Takahashi. The first course was taught Spring 2009. Based on the time difference, the live lectures I give on Tuesdays at 6:45 pm are seen by students attending an 8:45 am class at Toho University on Wednesdays.

A sample of the screen I see when I lecture

Day in Tokyo

2009-07-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

Lots of Fun with Yoshi and Eri.

We toured the Imperial Palace grounds. It rained most of the time.

We also toured the gardens.

Then we visited the Senso-ji Temple.

The incense smoke brings good luck. We saw someone waving smoke into his wallet.

Teppan-yaki is where you cook food on an iron skillet... typically at your own table.

Eri cooked us some monja and okonomi-yaki

July 1 Lecture to Toho University

2009-07-01T07:04:00.000-07:00

Rather than lecture from Temple Texas via the Internet, Carolyn and I arrived in Chiba prefecture on Monday afternoon, and I began the lecture from one floor above the Toho University pharmacy students.

A few minutes into the lecture I asked them to wait one minute, and I walked downstairs right into their classroom. We should have recorded audio - they screamed in surprize.

The pictures tell the story pretty well.

Nobody fainted, but the secret of my showing up to deliver the lecture in person was well kept.

TOHO students... Please confirm I have the names matched to the faces correctly. Once students took off their glasses I have a hard time matching!

The Big Project Begins

2009-06-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

So... after 10+ years the long planned addition that was to join the house thorugh the double doors finally begins.

After planning just how big it needed to be.. how really big it needed to be...

I plotted and marked the spot for drilling pier foundation holes.

Used the same company that drilled the holes for the house 10 years ago.

Hand dug footings for the tornado shelter and fireplace...mostly after work..it was a lot cooler.. with help from Antonio.

Cleared all the rocks and dirt created by the drilling, and the residual rocks that kept falling back in the 2 foot wide holes....with help from Antonio as well as my Boy Scouts Mitchell H., Jesse H., Mitchell S., Vaughn S. form Serenada Ward,... and Michael D. from the singles ward.

Prepared the pier tubes and secured them, with a lot more help from Antonio

And poured concrete.... with help from Anthony S. and two hired hands..and Mac Shakespear.

Sherri caught the first run coming out of the shoot.

Jose and Greg were the hired help. They saved the day with all their can-do attitude.

Now... recuperating and letting the concrete cure.

Name That Bird

2009-05-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

Took a picture this morning at the feeder.

Wow.

May 09 Trip to Post Aransas

2009-05-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

Bailey, Amber, David, Sherri, Carolyn & Emory went on a fishing trip.

David caught a nice spanish mackeral, with sharp teeth.

We saw black terns in migration (flying around the larger white sandwich tern). David snagged a sandwich tern, but we let it go... after we untangled it and it snapped my hand a few times.

New Grandkid Pix

2008-10-13T21:39:00.001-07:00

Oct 4 Weekend

2008-10-05T17:36:00.001-07:00

Aimee Sings in Church

2008-09-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

Grandparents visit the Larsons... with audio provided by Aimee.

Hog (and Arrowhead) Hunting Near Rocksprings

2008-09-14T19:16:00.001-07:00

6 hrs drive out..4 hours back.. Lots of adventure in between.
Brian Black was kind enough to invite us. David Martin (not pictured) encouraged me.

But.. no hogs were seen or harmed.

Both Babies Get Blessed

2008-09-14T18:59:00.000-07:00

Bailey Delaina Martin & Ryleigh Avonel Howe wore white dresses as they received their "Baby's Blessing". Amber's parents the Nielsons were in town for the big event. More pix to follow.

Ozaki Family Invite Emory & Carolyn for a Visit

2008-09-06T13:38:00.001-07:00

In 1988, Mrs. Ozaki opened her first community pharmacy in Japan’s Chiba prefecture. Over the last 20 years, with the business management expertise of her husband Mr. Ozaki and the hard work of their company’s staff, the You-I Medical Group has now grown to 40 pharmacies. The pharmacies are known for promoting a uniform quality of patient care with a focus on promoting e-prescribing and in-depth patient counseling. They were kind enough to invite me to speak at a company conference, accompanied by Carolyn.

Aimee's First Soccer Game

2008-09-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

Sherri visits Bailey & Family

2008-09-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

...and cooked them dinner

Scouting High Adventure 2008

2008-09-06T12:08:00.001-07:00

See the colage

Baby Bailey Video

2008-09-03T20:35:00.000-07:00

Click and Enjoy

Aimee, Geoff, & Niall Are Doin' Great!

2008-09-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

Pictures stolen from Christine's page

Bailey Is Born 8/24/08

2008-08-30T19:04:00.000-07:00

It was a happy day for everyone!

Grandpa Visits Bailey in San Antonio

2008-08-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

Got to see her first trip to the park, first mosquito bites, and first pizza party out.

Emory's Five Chili Chli

2007-12-30T17:02:00.000-08:00

Emory’s Chunky Five Chili Chili
Modified from allrecipes.com “Boilermaker Tailgate Chili”

PREP TIME 30 Min; COOK TIME 2 Hrs; READY IN 2 Hrs 30 Min; Yield: 10 Servings

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds lean ground beef chuck
1 pound skirt steak, chopped/shredded before cooking

2 (15 ounce) cans chili beans, drained
2 (15 ounce) can chili beans in spicy sauce, not drained
2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, not drained
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

1 large yellow onion, sliced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and sliced
1 large Anaheim, seeded and sliced
2 green Serrano peppers, seeded and sliced

4 cubes beef bouillon
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco™)
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Optional …Top with
1 (10.5 ounce) bag corn chips such as Fritos®
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS
Heat a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Crumble the ground chuck and chopped skirt steak into the hot pan, and cook until evenly browned. Drain off excess grease.

Pour in the chili beans, spicy chili beans, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Add the onion, celery, green and red bell peppers, chili peppers, & bouillon. Season with chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, oregano, cumin, hot pepper sauce, basil, salt, pepper, cayenne, and sugar. Stir to blend, then cover and simmer over low heat for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

After 2 hours, taste, and adjust salt, pepper, and chili powder if necessary. The longer the chili simmers, the better it will taste. Remove from heat and serve, or refrigerate, and serve the next day.

How to Make Maria's Tamales

2007-12-23T15:44:00.000-08:00

Maria’s Tamales (Makes About 60)
**************************************
Excluding the meat pre-preparation, preparation & cook time is about 3 hours. Read through the entire directions first.
***************************************

Ingredient List
MASECA instant corn masa for tamales (pink bag; 2 kg, 4.4 lbs)
3 bags of corn husks
1 whole chicken (or 2 lbs. breast meat)
5 lb. pork roast
1 lb. butter = 4 sticks (or 2 sticks butter plus ½ lb. lard), warmed to room temperature
1 package or 1 pound of whole dried red chili peppers (about 12-15)
2 lb. tomatillos
6 gloves garlic
1 large onion (cut in half)
2 jalapeno peppers
4 cans chicken broth (if you are using breast meat)

Spices, etc.
baking powder (“Rumford” is the Maria’s preferred brand)
salt
cumin
chicken bullion crystals

Equipment List
KitchenAid Mixer: The larger the better. A 6 quart mixer bowl will allow you to prepare the masa dough in one batch; otherwise plan to divide the ingredients and mix in two identical batches.

Steamer: Large tamale steamer with lid, or a large stewpot with a lid converted into a steamer (place empty tuna fish cans with both lids removed under a metal rack to keep tamales above the boiling water)
**************************************

Meat Pre-Preparation (Day Before)
You need to cook the meat and allow it to cool before you handle it. The day prior to making the tamales is good, but if you will be making tamales in the evening, you can cook the meat that morning. If possible, you’ll want to chop & shred the meat, too in order to “get ahead”. Boil or slow cook a whole chicken; debone, shred & chop meat. Set broth aside to cool. Skim off fat. Boil or slow cook a 5 pound pork roast; shred & chop meat. Set broth aside. Skim off fat. Mix together chicken broth and pork broth. Dilute with water if needed to make 8 cups. ***************************************

Tamale Red Sauce
Rinse the 12 pack of dried red chili peppers (NOT Ancho, but "Red Chili"). Place in saucepan with water to cover, bring to boil then simmer for 40 minutes. Add ½ an onion (broken apart) and 3 cloves garlic (whole). Remove from heat; Pour all the contents into a large bowl leaving the pan empty. Break off pepper stems. Spoon the peppers, onion, and garlic into blender. Begin blending the peppers, etc. Add some of the water you boiled the peppers in into the blender for consistency.

The blending must be very thorough in order to shred the red peppers into very small bits - smaller than the seeds. After blending, strain the pepper sauce with a large metal mesh sieve to remove seeds as you pour it back into the saucepan.

Add 2 Tablespoons of chicken bullion crystals and 2 teaspoons of cumin to red sauce. Reheat and stir. Gradually stir in 2 Tablespoons of corn meal to thicken red sauce. Pour this sauce into the shredded chicken & stir. Use only the sauce you need to obtain the desired consistency. You may have left over sauce. Note: This recipe can also be used to make enchilada red sauce. Maria likes to add a little peanut butter and chocolate to make it creamier when making enchiladas.

Tamale Green Sauce
Peel & rinse 1 lb. of green tomatillos.
Place in saucepan with water to cover, bring to boil then simmer for 15 minutes.
Add ½ an onion (broken apart), 3 cloves garlic (whole), and 2 jalapenos peppers. Remove from heat;
Pour all the contents into a large bowl leaving the pan empty. Spoon the tomatillos, onion, garlic & peppers into blender. Begin blending the tomatillos, etc.
Add some of the water you boiled the tomatillos in into the blender for consistency. Blend. Pour it back into the saucepan.
Add pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon of cumin. Reheat & stir Pour this sauce into the shredded pork & stir. Use only the sauce you need to obtain the desired consistency. You may have left over sauce.

Fluffy Tamale Dough
8 cups MASECA corn masa meal
8 cups broth
1 pound butter, warmed to room temperature
4 teaspoons baking powder
4 teaspoons salt
Note: If your mixer bowl is small, you’ll need to divide ingredients in half and complete this in two identical steps. Whip butter in Kitchen Aid mixer.
This will take at least 10 minutes. Butter must take on the consistency of cake frosting. Begin adding the masa meal and broth; 1 cup at a time and continue to mix. Add salt and baking powder and continue to mix. Add ¼ cup water to dough and continue to mix. To test how fluffy the dough is, place a pinch in a cup of water and see if it rises. If it does, your dough is good and fluffy. If it does not float, your butter was not whipped enough, and the dough will be a little heavier (but there is nothing you can do at this point!). Place the dough in a large bowl.

Tamale Building
Remove the husks from their package and run them through hot water and let them soak in the sink to make them pliable (5-10 minutes).

The husks have a rough side, and a smooth shiny side as well as a narrow end and wide end.

You will take about 2 Tablespoons of the dough and spread it in the middle of the smooth shiny side of the husk, leaving the narrow end and each side without dough. This allows you to fold it side to side and the bottom, too.
Place a Tablespoonful of meat sauce onto the masa dough.

Fold sides, then bottom. The top stays open. Stack folded tamales on table.

Steaming
Add 1 inch of water to the steamer- -add a few coins to alert you when the water is boiling. Also add 2 Tablespoons of salt. Begin heating the water.

Load the tamales on the rack, above the water line – open tops up.

Use about a half of a pack of tamales wrappers to moisten and lay on top of the tamale tops.

Then place a damp dishcloth on top of the cork husks to make it air tight.

Put on steamer lid and do not lift the lid. (Else Maria is upset!)

Once you hear the coins dancing, steam the tamales for 50 minutes.
After 50 minutes, test tamale.
It should roll out of the husk.

Other notes
When you are about done, you can just stir the meat sauce into the remaining dough and spread the combination onto a husk. This is a “lump tamale”.

Fossil Hunting

2007-11-23T14:47:00.000-08:00

Found a nice snail fossil and ammonite fossil while fishing at the Lewis Ranch, with David, Amber, Sherri, CJ, Mike & Jennifer.

Here is a chart from http://paleo.cc/paluxy/gr-fossils.htm

A. Ammonites (coiled-shelled animals related to squid), B. serpulid worm tubes, snail steinkerns (internal molds) such as C. Tylostoma and D. Anchura, bivalves such as F. the oyster Texigryphea, G. the scallop Neithea (left), and the clam Lima waconensis (right), H. Various clam steinkerns, often called "deer hearts" by locals; I. regular (round) urchins, J. heart urchins, and K. Porocystis, which looks like a ball with many small pores and a larger opening at one end. It has often been mistaken for a sponge, but is actually an algal fruiting body.

Halloween

2007-10-28T19:54:00.000-07:00

Which one is Captain Jack Sparrow?

Which one is Captain Barbosa?

You can guess who is Elizabeth Swan.

LLANITE Expedition

2007-10-28T14:59:00.001-07:00

You only find llanite near Llano.

You also find Cooper's BBQ there.

Christine is 28!

2007-10-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not

Cloud Lessons - the Weather Merit Badge

2007-10-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

Great opportunity to learn all the cloud names

1) "Shape"
Puffy clouds are Cumulus.
Sheets of cloud are Stratus
Wispy clouds are Cirrus
Add the suffix "nimbus" if they are producing rain

2) Sometimes a "Height" identifier is used, too

Low clouds are Stratus

Middle clouds are Alto

High clouds are Cirrus (they are so high they are hard to take Cirrus [serious])

3) Dual nmulaming conventions
Cirro-cumulus are high puffy

Cirro-stratus clouds are high flat clounds

Alto-cumulus are not very low, but not way high up either.. just in the middle
Cumulo-nimbus are puffy raining clouds

4) Basic simple clouds
High wispy Cirrus clouds are just called Cirrus
Low Stratus clouds are just called Stratus

5) Small, medium, and big Cumulus clouds
Small = Cumulus humilus (longer than high; "fair weather" cumulus)
Medium = Cumulus mediocris (its vertical growth makes about round)
Large = Cumulus congestus (taller than they are wide; thunderhead)

Snorkeling in Belize

2007-10-07T14:50:00.002-07:00

It was great.
It's harder to take pictures underwater than you think.
You have to remember to breathe.
See the pix

Camping at Wolf Mountain

2007-10-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

It was a lot of fun.
Found a lot of cactus.
See pictures.