I Love Pictures

 

Gorgeous Winter Sunrise in Vermont and Rhode Island

This is Vermont 

By Dr. Cliff L.Wood

Vermont Sunrise 🌅 

Rhode Island 

RI

RI

The first three images were lovingly shared with me this morning from Vermont by my dear friend, Dr. Cliff Wood in Vermont, a state of quiet majesty and breathtaking beauty, never fails to stir the soul. If you have never been, I wholeheartedly recommend experiencing its charm.

The next three photographs were kindly shared with me by my friend Carrie, all the way from Rhode Island.

Here in New York, delicate flurries drift through the air, while whispers of an approaching blizzard remind us that winter is far from over ✨❄️

Happy Sunday 

Pal Ronnie 

Mass Readings and Reflections for Sunday, February 22, 2026 the First Sunday of Lent

First Reading: (Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17)

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. 

Second Reading: (Romans 5:12-19)

Alleluia: Gospel: (Matthew 4:4b)

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Gospel: (Matthew 4:1-11) 

Reflection:

I made it to Mass last night at St. Augustine’s in New City, New York.

The church was packed, as a major snow blizzard is forecast for tomorrow, Sunday. Many people came today to fulfill their Sunday obligation ahead of the storm.

The homily was deeply centered on temptation and trials.
The priest concluded with a simple but powerful recommendation: “Guide your hearts.”

That invitation echoes beautifully with today’s Gospel. Today we celebrated the First Sunday of Lent. Every year, as we begin this holy season, the Church revisits the temptations of Jesus in the desert. Today we hear Matthew’s account, and it invites us to reflect deeply on testing, temptation, and spiritual battle.

“At that time, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry.”

Let’s begin with that number: forty.

Forty is a highly symbolic number in Scripture. It appears again and again, always associated with testing, purification, and preparation. The Israelites wandered forty years in the desert. Moses fasted forty days. Elijah journeyed forty days. The flood lasted forty days. Jesus remained with His disciples forty days after the Resurrection.

Whether literal or symbolic, one truth remains:

We all experience our own “forty days.”

We all have seasons of dryness, struggle, and uncertainty, times when God feels distant. Yet Scripture reminds us that our greatest trials often precede our greatest blessings. The desert is not abandonment; it is preparation.

Notice something striking:

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert.

The same Spirit who descended like a dove at His baptism now leads Him into hardship. This reminds us that not every difficult season is a detour. Sometimes God leads us directly into the places where we will be strengthened.

The Greek word often translated as “temptation” can also mean “test.”

There is a difference:

• A temptation seeks to seduce and destroy.

• A test seeks to reveal and build.

The same experience can become either, depending on how we respond.

And here lies the heart of the struggle.

We have a fallen nature. We experience disordered desires. Satan works precisely within these desires, whispering the same ancient lie: “This will make you happy.” sounds familiar? The new car, house, job, the vacation? Do whatever it takes. When we get there we realize it was all a lie. 

Every sin carries that promise. If sin did not appear attractive, no one would choose it. The fruit is always “pleasing to the eye.” But it is a trap, because sin always delivers misery instead of fulfillment. After forty days of fasting, Jesus is weak, hungry, exhausted.

That is when the tempter strikes.

“If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.”

He begins with doubt.

“If.” Doubt and fear are the taproots of temptation: fear that God will not provide, doubt that God is enough, suspicion that obedience means deprivation.

Jesus answers with three powerful words:

“It is written.” He does not argue. He does not negotiate. He stands on the Word of God. We should all learn from this. To argue with the devil is a guarantee that we will lose. 

“One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”

Bread represents all we try to create for ourselves-security, comfort, control. Yet how many people gather abundance and still lack peace? Because we do not live by bread alone. Many of us know a few people here and there who has more than they can ever enjoy for 100 life times and yet they are very troubled just like everyone else. Bread alone is not the answer. 

The second temptation:

“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.”

Again: doubt. But now mixed with fantasy- the temptation to force God’s hand, to demand spectacle, to prove worth.

Jesus responds: "It is written: You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”

It is never God’s will that we prove ourselves. 

The third temptation:

“All these kingdoms I shall give you, if you will worship me.”

Here lies the most subtle lure: the shortcut. Power without sacrifice. Glory without the Cross. I always think about New York City every time I read this part of the temptation. 

Temptation rooted in frustration:

“Does it really have to be this way?”

Jesus answers once more:

“It is written: The Lord your God shall you worship, and Him alone shall you serve.”

Three temptations. Three responses. One weapon:

The Word.

From this Gospel we learn: Temptation derives its power from a promise- the promise of happiness apart from God.

But it is a lie.

We live in a world filled with anxiety and restlessness. At the deepest level, this is because this world is not our home. We are made for communion with God.

That longing itself becomes the battleground.

Satan plants seeds of fear:

“You are missing out.”
“God is holding back.”
“You will not be satisfied.”

But do not believe him.

All sin leads to misery. God alone leads to life.

And remember this:

The devil cannot make you do anything.

He can tempt. He can whisper. He can harass. But the victory has already been won in Christ.

That is what the Cross declares.

So what do we do during these forty days?

We return to the weapons Jesus Himself used:

• Prayer

• Fasting

• Trust in God

• The Word of God

We stand firm in the truth.

We reject fear.
We reject fantasy.
We reject shortcuts.

And we remember:

We are not abandoned in the desert.
We are being prepared.

In the meantime:

Guide your heart for the battle has already been won by Christ. 🙏 

God bless you 

Mass Readings and Reflection for Saturday February 21st 2026

 

The First Reading : (Isaiah 58:9–14).

The Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 86).

Response: Teach me, O Lord, your way, so that I may walk in your truth.

The Gospel: (Luke 5:27–32).

At that time, Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he left everything, rose, and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his house. And there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them.

The Pharisees and the scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Homily:

On this fourth day of Lent, the Church reminds us that God is always ready to give us opportunities to repent of our sins and return to him.

The great message of Lent is repentance:

Repent and believe in the Gospel.
Turn away from sinful ways.
Return to God, who is always ready to welcome us back.

God does not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that they turn from their evil ways and live.

This message was central to the preaching of John the Baptist:

“Repent, for the Kingdom of God is close at hand.”

It was also at the heart of Jesus’ proclamation:

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Luke 5:32)
“It is the sick who need the doctor, not the well.” (Matthew 9:12)

If you, O Lord, were to mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive? But with you is forgiveness.

Jesus constantly gave sinners opportunities to repent. He ate with them. He forgave them.

Remember Zacchaeus the tax collector.
Remember the woman caught in adultery.
Remember the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son.

Jesus was never focused on the sinner’s past, but on their future- the saint they could become.

In today’s Gospel, he calls Levi (Matthew), a tax collector- a public sinner. Tax collectors were despised because many abused their position, taking more than required. Yet Jesus called him.

When Jesus said, “Follow me,” he was saying:

“Matthew, I know your past, but I see your potential. I am not concerned about your yesterday. I am concerned about your tomorrow.”

Matthew accepted the invitation.
The sinner became a saint.
The tax collector became a Gospel writer.

My friends,

During this Lent, God is extending the same invitation to us:

“Follow me.”

What must we do?

Like Matthew, we must leave behind our past.
Matthew left everything- meaning he left behind his old life.

One powerful way to respond is through the Sacrament of Confession.

Make use of Confession this Lent.
Seek forgiveness.
Make the effort not to return to sin.

Sometimes, sadly, we make others feel unworthy of coming to church.

I once spoke with a Christian who told me:

“Father, I feel terrible coming to church because I am a great sinner. If I come to church, the church will catch fire.”

But God is not worried about our past. He is concerned about our conversion.

Jesus came for sinners.

Where else should sinners go if not to God’s house?

The Church is not a museum for saints.
The Church is a hospital for sinners.

Let us therefore be careful with our words, so that we do not discourage others from seeking God’s mercy.

And when we come to church as sinners, let us come sincerely -not to hide our sins, but to seek transformation.

Do not let your sins scare you.
Do not let your past define you.

God is not finished with you.

He is concerned about the saint you can become.

Like the father of the prodigal son, God’s arms remain open.

So let us find the courage of Matthew and say:

“Yes, Lord. I will follow you. I will leave behind my yesterday and embrace the new tomorrow you offer.”

Amen.

Chevrolet Silverado 2025

 

The Brown Bear and Salmon

A Brief Piece on Bears and Salmon

Bears have a natural tendency to load up on salmon and gain fat by design. This built-in storage prepares them for winter, when food becomes scarce. The accumulated fat helps preserve energy and maintain body warmth during the colder months.

When a brown bear catches a salmon, it typically begins by eating the skin, then the brain, and sometimes the eggs. After consuming these high-energy parts, the bear often leaves the remainder of the fish and returns to the river to catch another. On average, brown bears abandon roughly half of the salmon they capture each year.

Although this behavior may appear wasteful, it is actually efficient. Obtaining food is not limited to catching it; it also involves processing, consuming, and digesting it. During the salmon spawning season, fish are abundant. In this context, eating an entire salmon is not always worth the time and metabolic effort required for digestion.

Brown bears therefore prioritize the most nutrient-dense components, skin, brain, and eggs, which provide the highest fat and energy return for the least effort. The remaining portions, which contain comparatively less fat, offer diminishing returns.

Importantly, what is left behind supports the ecosystem. The carcasses provide nutrients for birds, fish, insects, and plants, contributing to a broader cycle of energy transfer within the environment.

Next time you eat salmon, like I did today, you might think about this. Who knows -you may have more in common with the brown bear than you realize.

Stay curious.

-Pal Ronnie

Mass Readings and Reflection for Friday February 20th 2026

First Reading: (Isaiah 58:1–9)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 51)

"Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned".

Alleluia:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Seek good and not evil, so that you may live,
and the Lord will be with you.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Gospel: (Matthew 9:14–15)

Reflection: 

The mass readings reflects on the true meaning of Lenten fasting. The lesson drawn is that Lenten sacrifices should not become burdens placed on others, but should transform the heart. We shouldn't just fast because everyone is doing it or the Church asked us to. 

The prophet Isaiah reminds us that fasting is not about outward displays of suffering but about conversion expressed through love: freeing the oppressed, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and caring for those in need. Lenten practices are meant to move us away from self-focus and toward deeper union with God.

Fasting is not meant to be spiritual performance or quiet self-pity, but a path to freedom, freedom from disordered attachments, from ego, and from the illusion that worldly comforts bring lasting happiness. Prayer, almsgiving, and sacrifice help us recognize Christ present in the Eucharist, in prayer, and in the poor.

When practiced with sincerity, Lent reshapes our relationship with both God and the world. It prepares us to rejoice authentically at Easter, having learned to desire not merely earthly satisfactions but the enduring joy found in communion with the Bridegroom.

Amen

Have a blessed weekend. 

@Ava: She is at the Collison Shop

 

Blood Transfusions: A Clinical Education

What Is a Blood Transfusion?

A blood transfusion is the administration of blood or blood components (most commonly packed red blood cells – PRBCs) through venous access to a patient who has low red blood cell levels.

Purpose:
To restore oxygen-carrying capacity and improve tissue perfusion.

Why Do Patients Need Blood Transfusions?

1. Blood Loss

• Surgery

• Trauma

• Gastrointestinal bleeding

• Internal hemorrhage

2. Decreased RBC Production

• Severe anemia

• Renal failure (↓ erythropoietin)

• Bone marrow disorders

• Cancer / chemotherapy

Why Are Red Blood Cells Important?

Red blood cells (RBCs), via hemoglobin, perform two critical functions:

✔ Carry oxygen (O₂) from lungs → tissues
✔ Remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from tissues → lungs

Signs & Symptoms of Low Hemoglobin

• Pallor

• Fatigue / weakness

• Shortness of breath

• Tachycardia

• Dizziness

Hemoglobin Values

Patient	Normal Range
Male	14–18 g/dL
Female	12–16 g/dL

Transfusion Threshold (general guideline):
≈ 7–8 g/dL (depends on patient condition & protocols)

Nurse’s Role in Blood Transfusion

Blood transfusion is a high-risk procedure requiring strict adherence to policy.

1. Preparation Phase

Type & Crossmatch

• Correct patient identification is critical

• Prevents hemolytic reactions

• Clerical errors = most common cause of reactions

Verify Blood Compatibility

Universal Donor: O negative
Universal Recipient: AB positive

Obtain Informed Consent

Nurse responsibilities:

✔ Explain procedure
✔ Assess understanding
✔ Ask about:

• Previous transfusions

• History of reactions

• Allergies

Premedication (if ordered)

May include:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

Used for patients with prior febrile/allergic reactions.

Assess Fluid Status

High-risk patients:

• Congestive heart failure (CHF)

• Renal failure

• Fluid overload

Possible order:

• Loop diuretic (e.g., furosemide/Lasix)

Ensure IV Access

Preferred:

✔ 18-gauge or larger

Why?

• Prevent RBC damage (hemolysis)

• Allows proper flow

Consider:

✔ Second IV site for medications

Gather Supplies

• Y-tubing with inline filter

• 0.9% Normal Saline (NS)

• Infusion pump

• Biohazard disposal bag

Important Rule

🚨 ONLY 0.9% Normal Saline with Blood

❌ No dextrose (causes RBC clumping)
❌ No medications

2. Blood Administration Phase

Timing Rules

✔ Start within 20–30 minutes of receiving blood
✔ Complete within 2–4 hours
✔ NEVER exceed 4 hours

Reason:

Risk of bacterial growth → sepsis

Blood Warmers

Used when:

• Rapid / massive transfusion

• Hypothermia risk

Two-Nurse Verification

Check together:

✔ Physician order
✔ Patient ID
✔ Blood unit number
✔ ABO & Rh compatibility
✔ Expiration date
✔ Blood appearance (no clots/leaks)

Baseline Vital Signs

• Temperature

• Blood pressure

• Heart rate

• Respirations

🚨 Report fever before starting

Educate Patient

Report immediately:

• Chills

• Itching / rash

• Chest or back pain

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea

Starting the Transfusion

✔ Begin slowly (~2 mL/min)
✔ Stay with patient first 15 minutes

Why?

Most reactions occur early.

Vital Sign Monitoring (varies by policy)

Common practice:

• Baseline

• 5 minutes

• 15 minutes

• 30 minutes

• Hourly

• Post-transfusion

Transfusion Reactions

Mnemonic: “REACTION”

Letter	Symptom
R	Rash
E	Elevated temperature
A	Ache (back/chest/head)
C	Chills
T	Tachycardia
I	Increased respirations
O	Oliguria
N	Nausea

Types of Reactions

1. Hemolytic (Most Dangerous)

Cause:

ABO incompatibility

Signs:

• Fever

• Chills

• Back pain

• Chest pain

• Hypotension

• Hemoglobinuria

Complications:

🚨 DIC
🚨 Renal failure
🚨 Death

2. Allergic

Cause:

Reaction to donor plasma proteins

Signs:

• Hives

• Rash

• Itching

• Wheezing

• Possible anaphylaxis

3. Febrile Non-Hemolytic (Most Common)

Cause:

Recipient antibodies vs donor WBCs

Signs:

• Fever

• Chills

• Headache

Prevention:

Premedication (if indicated)

4. GVHD (Rare but Fatal)

Onset:

Days to weeks later

Signs:

• Fever

• Widespread rash

• Diarrhea

• Liver dysfunction

5. Circulatory Overload (TACO)

High-risk:

• CHF

• Renal failure

Signs:

• Dyspnea

• Crackles

• Hypertension

• JVD

6. Septic Reaction

Cause:

Contaminated blood

Signs:

• High fever

• Chills

• Hypotension

If a Transfusion Reaction Occurs

Immediate Actions

✔ STOP transfusion
✔ Keep vein open with new tubing + NS
✔ Stay with patient
✔ Monitor vitals frequently
✔ Notify provider & blood bank

Do NOT Discard

✔ Blood bag
✔ Tubing

Send to blood bank for investigation.

Possible Treatments (Provider Orders)

• Antihistamines

• Antipyretics

• Corticosteroids

• IV fluids

• Vasopressors

• Diuretics

Labs May Include

• CBC

• Renal function

• Electrolytes

• Coagulation studies

• Urinalysis (hemoglobinuria)

Documentation

Record:

✔ Time of reaction
✔ Symptoms
✔ Interventions
✔ Provider notifications
✔ Patient response

Post-Transfusion Care:

✔ Flush line with NS
✔ Dispose per biohazard policy
✔ Obtain post-transfusion vitals
✔ Reassess patient

A Quote from Mr. D. Washington