Frustrated

So after I got that letter from one of my doctors telling me that my insurance is not accepted by him I wrote to my useless piece of work Senator John Kerry to tell him he is a useless piece of work.  I told him that I didn't expect him to do anything that would benefit his constituents unless they were union wokers or high paid public "servants".  I probably just put a big target on my property to be confiscated for the "public good" down the road.  I called Blue Cross and told them that this insurance card is not worth the paper it's printed on if there are no doctors that will accept it.  I ranted and raved and spit and spewed and now?   I am exhausted and frustrated and yes, frightened.  What a world.  I would email Scott Brown but HAH!! there is no email address set up in the Congressional Website.  Normal Delay?????   I think not. 

Have to find a Doctor who will care for Old Folks.....maybe in Canada

It has begun already.  I got my first letter from one of my doctors telling me that he no longer will accept my Medicare HMO insurance.  I can still see him of course and try to get some pittance of reimbursement from the insurance company but.. . . . .  can't wait for the real ax to fall.

Gee.  Do you think that maybe the doctors can see that they won't be paid as much as they have been? Think that health care might suffer with the plan these IDIOTS have in store for us old F's?  Think that when they move on our health care and then take over the retirement accounts and then totally destroy our Social Security . . think that then we can say they are what we already know they are?  Ya think?  And their Obama man leader is nothing more than a despot and a tyrant and a rotten little piece of ...... who still is upset that in the third grade someone wasn't as nice to him as he thought they should have been and he married a piece of work who feels the same way......Ya think????

Ready for Spring

Doctors and dentists and haircuts - oh my!  That's the week and then some.  Shopping and errands and walking the dog.  Shoveling snow and bringing in pellets for the wood stove and laundry and laundry and then doing dishes and cooking and serving and more of the same.  Cleaning the toilets and vacuuming and dusting and occasionally washing the windows where the dog's nose hits them as she waits for us to return from the shopping and errands and doctors and dentists and haircuts.  Such is the way we spend the winter.  Hurry Spring and get here.

I'm Ready!!

A Lovely Holiday

Happy Presidents' Day

Enjoy

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday

Happy Birthday Abe.

This is how I like to think of him....warm, nurturing, good father.

Also a supreme leader during a horrendous war.

We are lucky to have had him and we should take time to honor his memory and his legacy. 

An Unfinished Outburst

Honestly, I know this sounds nuts and it sounds as if I am some kind of conspiracy crazy but tell the truth.  This crowd, the bunch running the country, they are totally whacked.  If they aren't trying their damndest to destroy every shred of capitalism that keeps our wheels running, I don't know what they're up to.....these job things aren't the way to do it since the only jobs that are being tended are those public servant level types ... the union workers who

Just Checking In

This week has been a tad dizzy.  Oral surgery for the hubby yesterday so most of the week was filled with his anxious mood changes although he will deny every word of that.  He did have valium to take prior to the appointment and although he said they did not help at all, the muscles of his face denied that.  He kind of started to look like a melted candle and at one point he was staring at nothing and became a mouth breather.  Glad that part is over.  It all went well and only one more appointment on Tuesday.

Weather is the topic of the day and since I have the dog walking duties of late, I can testify to the nastiness of 10 degrees with a brisk wind in your face.  Last night I wore silk inserts for my gloves since during the morning walk, even though I wore my heaviest duty gloves, I could not feel my fingers when I got home.  The inserts really helped but they are my husbands and too large so I still could not feel my fingers because of the thickness of the gloves over the inserts but my hands stayed warm.  My forehead was frozen and felt inside like that old "ice cream freeze" thing.  Hurry up April!!

I am typing with band-aids on just about every finger since this below freezing weather cracks my skin.  Once cracked, forever until Spring cracked.  Johnson&Johnson stock should soar.  I try my best for the economy folks.  I truly do.  Last year I discovered that using Polysporin every day for two months creates a bigger issue than the cracked skin you are trying to heal.  It seems that you develop a reaction to that stuff and it actually begins to burn away the healthy tissue.  Also.  Once that occurs.  Don't use it again.  It does the same thing but immediately.  Trust me!

Lunch with one of the nieces today and we are looking forward to it.  She's a peach, as are all of them but you know, she's here or will be later and so we have always worked with the "your favorite is the one you're with" method.  They all know this and too bad for those who aren't with us.  They will be favorites next time, if we see them.  Love them all to pieces.

Have to go load up the pellet stove for the day.  It will be running non-stop if the temperature doesn't move in the upward direction.  At least the sky is blue and beautiful.  Later.

More Scott Brown Fun

Well...congratulations to us!!  Have to say it feels good.  We did a good job here in MassTaxachusetts.  For a change.  I know you will find this hard to believe but my husband and I had Scott Brown yard signs in front of the house and along the side, we're on a corner lot.  Today I heard someone knocking on  our front door.  No one ever uses the front door.  It took me a while to realize that was where the knocking was coming from.  I answered, finally, and it was a very cute little man with a large smile and he introduced himself and told me where he lived.  He said his wife was MADLY in love with Scott Brown and he wondered if he could have one of our yard signs to take home to her.  I gathered that he was not as much in love and probably was afraid of the backlash from his other party neighbors if he let her put a yard sign out during the campaign but now.....now....all was well and up the sign could go.  I said fine...go with the sign and peace and love and oh yeah, WE WON!!!!!

How fun was that?

Later that same day I am doing my domestic duties, dusting and such.  Hah!  Like that could be true.  I was sitting here at the computer reading everything there is to read about the afterglow of the election and some one knocks at our side door.  What? is? going? on?  This time of year no one knocks at any door.  It's winter.  We are at Cape Cod near the ocean in a very summer area.  Two in one day is incredible.

I answer the door to a very tall guy, gray hair, big smile who grabs my hand, shakes it and thanks me for Scott Brown.  He said we saved the country.  I am not kidding.  He's from New Jersey, drove by, saw the yard sign and wants to take it back with him.  I direct him to the side of my garage where I have a couple.  "You're just in time," I said.  "I have these that I was wondering what to do with."

"You could sell them for a fortune back in New Jersey."  he said.

"Go for it."  I told him.  He then proceeded to tell me that he was a retired exec from a health insurance company.  Forty years in.  He was disgusted with all the deals and pay offs and bribes and generally with the direction this in power crowd was trying to move our country and how they were willing to do it.

New Jersey sure did their part when they could.   We pushed back in Massachusetts.  Now who's next?  What exciting times we live in.

GO SCOTT BROWN !

GO SCOTT BROWN!!! I love him.......he is such a normal guy!!!  Common sense and so decent. 

Good news Sunday

The husband will be home tomorrow if all goes well today.  He is about to eat real food, of course it will be low fiber and low sodium and low taste and . . ., well you got the picture.  If that real food causes no disturbance then he will more than likely be discharged tomorrow.  My days will be easier since he will be here.  The 4 or 5 hours spent at the hospital (I include the commute and errands to and from) will be better spent here.  I can sit and read and nap or knit or . . . .

Happy Sunday and hope you have good news today too.

Starting the New Year

Happy New Year!  We start off with a hospital stay.  My husband is back in with emergency surgery.  The colon surgery he underwent in October left him with adhesions that were cutting off circulation in his small intestine and the pain hit on Friday evening.  We were in the emergency room on Saturday and that afternoon he was whisked away to surgery.  All went well and he is recovering as I write.  The incision is in the same spot but larger and the recovery will be as long if not longer than before.  Sigh.

So there you have it.  God is good though.  He saw to it that we moved quickly and He arranged for the surgeon who operated on him in October to be on duty so there would be no delay in correcting the situation.  Everyone was in the right place at the right time.  Thank You Lord.

And now on with my day.  Once again I realize how much that man does when he is home and well.  My chores seem to never end now.  At least when I hit the pillow I sleep like a rock.  We're expecting snow today...oh, that's right, it's January.  I must find that darned shovel.

Hopey New Year

Hope for 2010

• Had breakfast yesterday at a really lovely place in Hyannis. The waitress was chatty and one thing led to another and the next thing you know we are talking about our resolutions for the New Year. She is not going to be so immersed in the news. She then proceeded to immerse us in the news and her opinion. We found that her opinion is our opinion. We are conservative to the core and disgusted with the direction this state and this country is going in. We, the waitress and my husband and I, are total supporters of the Tea Party movement and backing Scott Brown for Senator all the way. We both pray fervently that our “leaders” in Washington have a good life somewhere other than in power. If she and I can so clearly see that our country is being led by the wrong people…I have hope that many others can see that as well and 2010 will see some major shake ups in the political world.

• I read that the Mayo Clinic in Arizona is dropping Medicare patients in advance of the Obamacare roll out. Currently they are losing money and they see nothing but bigger losses ahead. A friend of mine, ostrich like in her view of the world, feels that I am a drama queen when I predict my future under this administration. Since I am 66 and on Medicare through no choice of my own, it’s mandated, and I have some cardiac issues, I know I will be cast to the pain pill heap and left to pay my own way as well as pay for the non care Medicare will be providing. She poo poo’s that and uses her vast knowledge of the medical world to cast aspersions on the insurance companies. She has worked in the Medical world and her take on insurance companies is that they are evil. For some reason she doesn’t translate that knowledge into what the government will do when they ARE the insurance companies. Maybe this Mayo Clinic thing will change her mind. At least it might begin to change some of the blindered fools who think this will be wonderful.

• God is always on His throne and totally in charge of the Universe. Things can change in the blink of an eye and God never blinks.

There are more reasons than these that there is hope for 2010 and as I have the time and energy I will throw them out here. Happy New Year to all.

The Day Book entry a Day Late

I think that simple things are in order today. I can only vent so much before my blood pressure feels it.   Unfortunately this took me more than a day to do so

FOR YESTERDAY
December 28, 2009
Outside my window...  I see piles of snow which are as hard as rock or they would have melted with all the rain we have had
I am thinking... as little as possible
I am thankful for... my husband and his family.  They are all such great people (mostly) and are always there when we need them.
From the kitchen... I see a cluster of plastic containers waiting to be put away.  We have so little space here that they have to be nested and cuddled up in just the right way or when the cabinet door opens they fall out on your head and scare the bejeepers out of you.  It is a chore to do it correctly and so, they tend to sit and wait for my patience to accrue before they go back to their allotted spaces.
I am wearing... a pair of black slacks that look good from a distance but I fear they are a tad too snug if checked out carefully.  I also have a baby green long sleeved tee on with a black and green and pink scarf.  I'm hoping the scarf will keep everyone looking above the waist and not notice the snug trousers.
I am creating... a white cable knit cardigan.  We called them Hong Kong sweaters back in the day and I have scoured the earth to find this pattern only to discover it was in a magazine rack here in my own house.  Guess when that magazine rack was last sorted through.  No don't, I can't tell you if you are right because I don't remember.
I am going...to Westport to visit my very dear friend and bring Christmas presents as well as her birthday gift.  I will take her to lunch and hope the too snug pants hold up until I get home. 
I am reading... A Long Shadow by Charles Todd.  It's a Victorian mystery and the main character is Inspector Rutledge who has returned from the trenches of France following WWI.  It's quite engaging and the third of the series I have read so far.  I recommend it highly.
I am hoping... that I will rein in my appetite and lose the couple of pounds that have moved in following the holiday.
I am hearing... my refrigerator running and that's a good thing. 
Around the house... clutter from Christmas abounds but it's a happy clutter and so I will sit back and admire it.
One of my favorite things... is to sit and knit and watch Midsomer Murder DVD's.  Talk about relaxing.  Can't beat it
A few plans for the rest of the week: Husband is off to the dentist on Tuesday and since his teeth are being renovated, the rest of the week will involve dealing with soft foods and possible trips back to the dentist for adjustments.  Have to clear the week to do what may need doing dentist wise.

Here's a picture for thought I am sharing.

I have used the above format found at  http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ .  Go forth and do the same if you wish.  It really is a nice spot

Power Rangers

The top of my head wants to explode when I read the manipulative junk I just read about this rotten to the core health care bill. Yes! Now you know how I feel about it and the Congress and this administration and this President. They are manipulative nasty creatures putting something horrible into our lives while telling us it's so good for us.

This story I just read helps those manipulators out in so many ways and I'm sure we will see more and more of this as the bill crushes along in the regulatory process. The story was telling us that so many lives are lost or ruined because the patient delays the treatment. The co-pay is too high or COBRA was not established following a job loss because the payment was too high or not offered because of the circumstances of the job loss. Delay causes early death or life changing harm.

Helloooooo! What happens when Medicare is altered to include a gazillion more members and there are not enough doctors to treat all of these newbies? Yup. Delayed treatment. What happens when the money is cut from Medicare to treat things that used to be on the treat list? Yes. This is a fact. Billions of dollars are being cut from Medicare and yet millions of people might be added. How is this possible without patients suffering delays or denials in treatment?

I have known addicts in my time and they will lie cheat and steal to get their fix of whatever it is that they are addicted to and there is never enough of that stuff. The addict keeps needing their fix and they keep needing more and more of it. Well, this health bill is all about the power that will result once it is passed and these politicians are addicted to the power. Every. Single. One. of. them. Every one from the President on down to the little clerk at the Registry of Motor Vehicles is addicted to the power that they have and there is never enough of that. They need more every minute and they will lie and cheat and steal to get it.

The health bill is about the power. The health bill is not about our health. It surely is not about our economic health since it will bankrupt us and the system once it hits in all it's glory. It for sure is not about our physical health since every one of the country's with similar health systems can vouch for long waiting periods for appointments and denial of services that we take for granted now. Why else do we have so many Canadian citizens arriving here for treatment and why did Castro have to leave the country held high by Michael Moore when he needed treatment?

The power addicts also known as "public servants", now there's a joke, are in need of more and more. If you think it's tough to wend your way through the insurance claim process that exists now, or to fight a denial of service, you ain't seen nothin' yet as they say. Patterned after the Registry of Motor Vehicles or the Post Office, our new Health Commissars will set up a dream world for the power crazed. Can't wait.

Oh, and by the way, get ready for this one. I'm sure that "it's for the children" that we must do this. That always works when all else fails doesn't it?

A Very Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good nap. Whew! We had the crowd in last night and what a mad flurry of activity. Food, food and more food and good food and good moods and for the first ever Christmas Eve we had not one emotional break down. It was just wonderful, festive and grateful family members enjoying each other.

Our four nieces are the sweetest and best. I sat back and watched the table as everyone ate and talked and laughed and I realized that I have known these girls for all of their lives and for just about every big holiday we have been together here in our home or maybe our other home. My husband said this morning that he was so gratified to hear the girls reminisce about holidays past and remembering the special things that we have done for them. You would think that they were old ladies reliving the good old days instead of young things in their early twenties. It was heartwarming though to see that we are their memories.

Remember that I only have a niece and nephew left from my family...I often feel truly orphaned. My nephew is always with us since his Dad passed away but my niece lives some distance from us and although we keep in touch we don't visit often. Last evening was a joy. Hope you all had a similar Eve.

God bless us Everyone.

How I Came to Lose Trust in the Media

Anne Applebaum in Slate Magazine writes this:

"There is no nihilism like the nihilism of a 9-year-old. "Why should I bother?" one of them recently asked me when he was presented with the usual arguments in favor of doing homework. "By the time I'm grown up, the polar ice caps will have melted and everyone will have drowned."

Which prompts me to relate this tale from the dark halls of history.

When I was a Sophomore in college I had the most intense crush on Andy Williams. Yes. You have it right. Andy Williams.

He had a weekly show back then and I could never, NEVER miss it. We only had one TV in the dorm and it was in the community room called the smoker where couches and ashtrays also were present. On the week night of Andy's show, I would arrive with whatever I was trying to study and a pack of cigarettes (yes, I smoked and who didn't?), turn on the channel and await his opening number. Most of the other occupants would groan and complain and often, I was the only one left in the room to worship at Andy's pedestal. So now, you have the picture.

The night of the Cuban Missile Crisis Andy Williams was on. Every student was lined up to call home. We only had pay phones in the center of the hall on each floor of the dorm. I saw the length of the line and realized it would be long after Andy's show before I got to call the parents and say goodbye which was what everyone was doing. We also had an exam the next day in some course or other and I should have been buckled down with the text and notes to ensure a good grade. I thought it over and said..."I am watching Andy Williams and then waiting in line and then going to bed. I'd rather be asleep and unaware when the big one hits. As for the test? Why bother with that? The world is ending tonight."

It didn't. I am almost ashamed to say that I was very disappointed that next day. I believed the hype and never studied for that test. I think was the beginning of the cynicism I have developed for the press and politicians. I should never have believed them then and I don't now.

The end of my story. I am glad, however, that I watched Andy Williams. I still have a soft spot in my heart for him.

Can I have an Opinion Now?

Oh. By the way. If it's all right to criticize Tiger Woods' behaviour and not be accused of racism, is it ok now to criticize Barack Obama's leadership methods, or economic theories, or strange need to apologize to every country in the world for my country without being called a racist? Is it?

Wild and Wet and Windy

Wild and windy outside my windows. The puppy girl and I just returned from her morning constitutional and let me tell you, the umbrella? when it blows inside out is quite a jolt to the pup. She picked up the pace each time and it happened way more than once. The wind is so wild and weird. It sounded like a car coming up behind us and as I turned to be sure, the umbrella would go again. I was never comfortable, when I heard that sound, that there wasn't a car coming up on us and so, over and over I repeated the move like some obsessives do. I think I have a tad of that going on.

Well. We got home safe and sound if not wet and cold. I wish that I had taken my camera so that I could have pictures of that HUGE ocean. It is all puffed up and chopping away. Glad to be on land.

Stay dry and warm where ever you are. I'm thankful it's rain and not snow or we would be dealing with this again. Brrrrrrrr - that Global Warming is killing us!

Hold on and Pray

What a week and it's only Wednesday. The brother of one of my very dear friends died unexpectedly over the week end. It was a terrible shock for her most certainly and for the rest of us as well. Another dear friend is having gargantuan financial woes and is trying to sell a building to undo some of that. There is a person in her life doing everything he can to make this effort as difficult as he can and he is trying his best to be sure that she will be even further in debt after the sale than she is now. It's a long and nasty tale and they never had a relationship other that business, imagine how bad it would be otherwise.

I feel so helpless. I have talked with both ladies and really have nothing to offer but a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on. There is nothing I can say to make any of this better. In both cases I can truly empathize since I have suffered both the loss of siblings and panic inducing financial issues. It really doesn't help though in the advice area....I have none other than hold on and pray for strength.

I hope the rest of the week smooths out. Tomorrow I go to the cardiologist for the results of that stress test I took two weeks ago. A sense of dread is hovering over me thanks to the week so far. I guess I'll take my own advice. I'll hold on and pray for strength regardless of the outcome. God is on His throne after all and He will work everything for good for those who love Him and I do.

The Day After

Well, the refrigerator is filled with leftovers and I am here waiting for the downpour to abate so that I can walk the dog without drowning. She may have to cross her legs for a while. It appears that we will have rain all morning and it is pounding down driving rain. It's very hard to hold her and the umbrella and the pooper scooper.

I learned this about the Thanksgiving feast. It takes as much work to cook and clean up for three as it did in past years for twelve. The big difference is the kitchen is not at all crowded and the table did not get moved into the living room with a card table extension.

My nephew is with us. He is, as he says, "high functioning" but cannot live alone. He is in a house with two other men and a wonderful staff that feels like family. I have him with me for every holiday and some weekends in between. I asked hime what his favorite part of Thanksgiving was expecting him to say turkey or pumpkin pie which I know are his favorite things on the table. He said, "Being with family." I cried.

I am so thankful for him and my husband and all the others in my extended family. Everyone this year on Thanksgiving Day were healthy and safe. I only wish we could have all been together but some years that's the way it is.