25 posts tagged “things that irritate me”

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Sore jaw

6:40AM the wake up call announced itself.  Our phone service offers wake up calls.  I was sleeping so nicely.  Got up and did most of my routine things and then had some breakfast with Rich.


Presented myself to the periodontist at 9AM.  He answered my questions regarding the donor bone to my satisfaction, and the assistant reviewed the post op instructions.  It took about an hour.  All went well, but he did find some decay under the crown next to the one he was grafting.  He was able to place a temporary filling there so the decay wouldn't affect my bone graft.  In about a month I'll need to go back to my general dentist to have the crown removed and replaced.  One thing leads to another, does it not?

The Gold crown that needs to be replaced was the very first crown I ever had ...I think.   It's gotta be 45 years old.  I erroneously thought crowns were forever.  I never knew 'til a few years ago cavities can develop under a crown.  So what's a thousand dollars here and another thousand there ....I'm grateful we have the wherewithal to correct these things.  Which leads me to comment on something that bugs me about health care/dental care etc.

I have always been for helping those who do not have the means to get health/dental care.  Folks who have lost their jobs....folks who don't make enough money to pay for health insurance....folks who are disabled (mentally or physically)..... these groups and even some others need the rest of us to help them.  But I really get ticked off at people who assume someone e.g. government will 'take care of them'.    These are the folks who make enough money for cell phones, big screen TVs, pot, wine, lap tops, hair coloring etc., but they don't put any money aside for emergencies.  And you know what?  They often get very ill and then, we pay for their care via high costs of health care.  They don't have private MDs and they use the ER.  Whom do they think is paying for their care in the ER?  I know folks who have told me "I don't care who is paying for it".   Sheesh.   Again, I'm not talking about the truly impoverished of this country, I'm talking about the people who would rather spend their money on cigarettes, alcohol, gambling, or maybe getting their dog groomed.  

When I got my first job as an RN...I made something like $60/week.  The hospital did not pay for our health insurance.  This was 1960.   My mother told me to put away $5/week for BC/BS which I did every week.   I rarely had money for extras.  I did not own a car or have a huge wardrobe.  Fortunately I wore a nurse's uniform.  Once Medicare was enacted c.1964 salaries increased considerably.  We weren't suddenly wealthy, but we made more money.  Then in the 70s salaries really went up.  AND the hospitals paid for our health insurance.  But it wasn't always so.  

Yes, we all have different priorities, and how you spend your money is up to you.  But when you expect me (and everyone else) to pay for your health care or long term care because you think you shouldn't have to pay for it....I get ticked.  I guess I agree with the Libertarians in this regard, but not necessarily on all their other issues.

So that's my two cents for what it's worth.

It's almost 5PM and the nerve block the periodontist did is starting to wear off.  He gave me a script for Vicodin, Amoxocillin and a mouth rinse, so I think I'm covered.  I'm supposed to keep this ice bag on my jaw for 15" on and 15" off.  Not sure how long I'll keep this up.  It's a bit of pain.  Tomorrow I switch to warm heat if swelling continues, but I think this ice bag will have kept the swelling at bay.

Rich had gotten some frozen fruits for Smoothies.  I put them in the blender with some yogurt and they were delicious.  I figured it was a good way to get some fruit...although I could have eliminated the mostly sugar packet that came with the fruits.  Next time I'll use Splenda or maybe nothing at all.  I'm not supposed to have anything hot tonight....till the clot fixes itself around my bone graft site.  I have some sutures and will go back in one week.  

I'm glad this is behind me....let the healing begin.

Post a comment Tags: teeth, beliefs, things that irritate me

Decorating too early...Thanksgiving etc and Helen Hobbs death

My neighbors have put up their outside Christmas decorations while their pumpkins sit nicely arranged in the walkway.  This just blows my mind.  It is still Autumn, isn't it?  My pumpkins are still on the columns of our walkway, and I'm leaving them there at least another week....geez people...what's with Christmas the day after Thanksgiving?


My niece in TX said she's into decorating for Christmas big time, and she's started already.  I was baffled when I first moved into the deep South to see that folks down there (VA is mid-South) put their trees up the day after Thanksgiving and  take them down the day after Christmas.  Lissa and Rich put their outside lights up today...Lissa said the next weekends come too quickly and they wanted to get it done.

(The fonts on Vox today are doing their own thing...I bolded one little part and tried to turn it off and now I get this.  Some fonts just have to be the center of attention...must take after the blogger, right?)

Anyhow, it's not that I don't like Christmas, I do.  I love the music...religious and commercial.  I like Santa Claus and family gatherings.  And I love the food.  I like seeing houses decorated.  I just don't like seeing it this early.  I hope my Yankee friends will assure me this day after Thanksgiving decorating is not occurring up North.  I don't remember such a thing. 
I wonder if people even know what Advent is.  Doesn't it have something to do with anticipation?  If these people are going to decorate this early, I'm leaving my damn pumpkins sit until the first day of winter...unless they rot first.

Glad I got that out of the way.  On Thanksgiving we had dinner at Linda and Robin's (Lissa's brother and SiL).  I think there were 11 adults and 2 children.  Linda is so organized and did everything herself.  I love holiday meals so I indulged, but modestly.

The next day Rich and I met up with nephew Mike who was visiting long time friends of his who live in Portsmouth, VA.  We all gathered at The Cheesecake Factory in VB.  It was great to see Mike...he's my first born nephew and a super nice guy.  

Friday I met with Lindsay for a pottery lesson.  She's letting me do more on my own now, and she said that's how it'll be in the future unless I'm learning a new technique, or if I want her to show me something in particular.  I liked being on my own at the wheel.  You really have to feel the clay and get comfortable with how it changes with various pressure applied by your hands.  

I got an email from Norm...my gastroenterologist friend in Pensacola saying Helen Hobbs died.  I'm so glad I called her last week and spoke with her in the hospital.  Helen was a long time member of our Thursday group which met weekly at 7AM ....yes, I used to be in that group, and I was there at 7AM....I missed very few gatherings.   Helen was the only other woman in the group.  

(Well one font has gone to sleep...maybe the Bold font will follow the italic font.)

The Thursday group had been meeting weekly for 15 years before I was invited to join.  In the beginning, I felt so intimidated to meet with them. The group comprised the Head of the Psychology dept. (a former RC priest) at the local university, a Physics Professor, an Episcopalian Church Music Director, an Orthopedic Surgeon, Helen (a retired nursing director at Baptist Hospital), two retired Baptist ministers, a retired Psychiatrist, a Chemical Engineer, Norman (Gastroenterologist) and me.  I thought to myself...what on earth will I have to say that could hold the interest of this group?   

Each week one person chose a topic for discussion....it could be anything at all.  When your turn came up you presented the topic and spoke to it for 5 to 10 minutes and then opened it for discussion.  The group would fly with it or simply change the subject.   Some of our topics I remember....The Celestine Prophecy, Chocolate, Toxic Lies, Fruit flies.....I did a whole thing on Chocolate.  I grew to love those people.  We were open to opposing viewpoints and we trusted one another.  I was sad when I left the group to move back here.  I'm still in touch via Norm and hearing about Helen's death left me feeling a profound loss.  
At the time of her death Helen was 87.  She was the mother of 7 children who for the most part she raised alone after her husband left.  She helped me with meditation when I was facing my hysterectomy.  She's the one who introduced me to Jon Kabat-Zinn and his book 'Wherever you go, there you are'.  You've often heard me say it isn't necessary to always be doing....it's ok just to be.  That's from Kabat-Zinn. 

So Helen's gone and that group is aging fast. They've had a few younger folks join, but not enough.  I was in it for almost 15 years.   

In addition to the Pensacola group Norm also runs a listgroup online for folks to discuss various points.  I am turned off by bloggers who 'preach to the choir' and do not seek any opposing viewpoints.  Not so with Norm's listgroup.  He moderates it, and he'll end threads if they become redundant, but he posts opposing viewpoints.  

Recently he put forth Karen Armstrong's latest book 'The Case for God'.  I've read 2 of her books and find her very appealing.  She has written in response to the latest books on the market by famous atheists e.g. Dawkins, Hitchens and others.  I don't join in on many topics with this group, but I wanted to comment and wrote the following:
"Norm,
I think it'll be a long time before we can stop giving human attributes to God.  Feminists are doing their best to have God be known as Mother God, and then there's the group that just sees God as some kind of force.  Some of us learned that God sent us Jesus so we could 'see' God in our familiar human form.  Who knows?  

I think educating the masses will lead people to view God much differently.  When you can't read you are more likely to believe what is preached to you.  Same thing with Catholics.   For years we didn't have Bibles in our homes....didn't read the Bible...just did what we were told.  Once we started reading and asking questions about things that didn't make sense many of us no longer 'believed'.  Once we studied the origins of other religions we began to start asking the really hard questions....to which there are no answers.  One simply agrees to accept the tenets of a religion or they don't.  Acceptance and belief do not require proof. "

I miss that kind of discussion group.  My Women's Issues group is good, but it's totally focused on Women's Issues which is certainly important, but I would also like to find another group similar to my 'Thursday group' (as we called ourselves).  


And so dear Helen you will be missed from near and far.  I learned much from knowing you and you helped me develop my self confidence knowing I could hold my own with even the Thursday group of 'thinkers'.  Thank you for that, and thank you for introducing Rich and me to 'it's OK just to be'....which isn't the same as being lazy.  Read the book fellow readers, you'll find it to your liking, I feel certain.



4 comments Tags: niece, beliefs, pottery, things that irritate me

Videolog

Movie on 2009-11-05 at 21.16
2 comments
Addendum:


5 comments Tags: niece, pottery, ww, things that irritate me

CT...Jib Jab....Satisfaction from Billing Dept

Had my CT with contrast today.  First time for me to have it done with contrast (IV dye).  The dye gives a warm sensation in the back of the throat and in the 'kegel exercise region'...you are doing your kegels, aren't you ladies?  I'm glad the tech told me to expect it.


I didn't think I'd ever had the dye before, and I was a little afraid I'd have an anaphylactic reaction.  I asked her before she left the room, if she'd be able to hear me.  You never know...my throat could have closed off and there I'd be...gone for a routine exam....never to go home again.  Hey, it does happen.  The test was over in a matter of minutes and the 'warm feeling' was gone.

I asked the tech if I could get the pictures on a CD along with the radiologist's report.  She said I should be able to pick up both tomorrow.  They are so accommodating at this place.  I may want to send them to Terry to have one of her radiologists read them as before.  It depends on what the report says.  Next week I'll call my oncologist to see what his recommendation is based on the local radiologist's report.

Rich has been replacing the screening in our window screens, so I used the opportunity to clean the windows. Things are sparkling around here.  

Fooled around with JibJab and we had some good laughs looking at the final results.  I'm doing one for my cousin's big birthday, but I'll have to tell her to be sure to open the JibJab that's being sent to her.  I know she doesn't open things unless she knows from where they originate.  I'm the same, and I will not open any forwarded stuff either.  Super abundance of caution reigns within me.

The billing department at the hospital called to tell me the nurse audit was done regarding the charges I had disputed.  The nurse found no documentation that the meds in question were given so they are being deleted from the account.  YES!  A mistake must have been made....surely the hospital wouldn't be engaging in 'cost shifting'......where everyone pays a little more for those not covered...I thought they had to stop doing that several years ago.  Anyhow, I was thrilled.  It took me several hours over 2 days to call the hospital billing department and then several back and forth calls to Medicare and our secondary.  I forgot to tell the billing person to send me a zero balance statement.  I don't want to go thru this again next month when the bills go out.  I'll call tomorrow.

I knew Rich never got those meds least of all self-administer them.  Maybe someone without a medical background would have thought it was just fine. Just think how much money a hospital could make by adding $680 mistakes onto 1500 patients' bills.  Hmmmm. Yes, we were only going to have to pay $268 of that sum, nevertheless the government shouldn't have been charged either.   
Even if you can't understand your entire bill...at least check to see that the procedures listed are what you had done.  

I asked Rich if this makes up for my not sending back last night's meal at the restaurant.  He said I'm a wimp... and for some things, I am.  Heck, I had no problem walking out of Ruth's Chris in Baltimore last spring when they seemed to be ignoring us.  We'd eaten our appetizers and left...don't you dare ask us to pay for what we ate either....and they didn't.  

In case today's JibJab didn't show up on Facebook..here it is.  Even Rich got a good chuckle from this one.  Those slippers are Rich's, but Rich has a better body than the guy in the flick. You have to have audio to get the best effect.

1 comment Tags: niece, things that irritate me

Friday

For some reason I kept 'forgetting' about my noon dentist appointment today.  First I forgot all about it until last night.  I wrote a special note and put it in a prominent place, and told Rich to remind me.  I was doing inconsequential things when Rich said "aren't you supposed to be at the dentist in about 3 minutes?".  Geez, what is wrong with me?  I called and they were very nice saying if I could "get there in 15 minutes....no problem."    See, that's the way to use 'no problem'.   It shouldn't be used to say 'thank you'.  But I'm showing my age by forgetting, and getting irritated by idiomatic uses of various expressions.


Didn't do much the rest of the day.  Read some of my book 'Half the Sky'.....did you know more girls were killed in the last fifty years, precisely because they were girls, than men were killed in all the battles of the twentieth century? Check it out in Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn's book 'Half the Sky'.  My Women's Issues group is reading this book to raise our own consciousness, and to help us decide on a program that will raise the consciousness of others.

Post a comment Tags: women's issues, things that irritate me

Tuesday

Checking Medicare statements along with physician/office/hospital bills is a must.  Today, again, I noted we must pay $268 to the hospital where Rich had his renal artery stents placed in July.  This baffles me because I was of the understanding that Tricare for life (TFL) picked up what Medicare did not ...based on the allowable amount for the procedure/visit/surgery.   We have never had to pay anything....TFL is our secondary insurance and until the episode with payment for the shingles shot....we have been covered.  


I understand the shingles shot was not covered by Medicare, but I had no idea any part of the stent placement procedure would not be covered.  After back and forth phone calls a Medicare rep told me "self administered meds etc were not covered".  Hello???? What self administered meds?  He was having a procedure under anesthesia.  "Well, sometimes the nurses apply a lotion or ointment or something"....What???  The rep said he could not read the list to me, but would snail mail it to me.   I tried to access the summary report online, but for some reason that part wasn't available. 

I know we always sign a statement that we are the guarantor for those things not covered by insurance.  BUT aren't some things part of the flat fee for using the recovery room etc?  AND what kinds of things did the nurses use that were not covered?  Do the nurses even know if the unspecified items are covered?  Should they ask the recovering patient..."Mr Rogers, we think you need this item and it's not covered?"  Mr Rogers could then say...."no I don't want it".  This is unbelievable and I will insist on seeing the chart where said item was indeed used/given and why and who ordered it.  Yes, thousands of dollars were paid by Medicare, but $268 is worth a challenge.  If they had 1000 patients who simply pay this balance they'd have a nice chunk of $$$...like $268,000.   In fairness maybe there is a reasonable explanation, and I will update my viewpoint.  Until then.....grrrrr.  I must have spent 2 hours with this whole deal.

We did get a call back that Rich is a candidate for the H1NI flu vaccine as soon as it's available.  With his diagnoses I was sure he'd be.  Me, I guess I'll have to wait til the general public gets it.  By that time we'll all have had the H1NI.  I did get the regular seasonal flu shot and we are careful not to be in big crowd in closed spaces.  We do go to the movies, but we pick a day when it's not crowded.  Not neurotic...just cautious.  

I did another video for my version of Story Corps.  I will post clips here as I get them.  The Story Corps you hear on NPR consists of 3 minute stories that have been edited down from a 40 minute interview.  I'm not that good, so mine are a bit long.  Here's Rich adding on to a story about his school days.  It's too big to put here so I'll put it on You Tube where larger videos can be used.

I did some Wii activities, and will do some each day.  They are fun and you don't feel like you are exercising, but when I hit the punching bag, I reach my target heart rate.  The archery is more skill than exercise, but still it's fun and does help with eye hand coordination.  I think I need to do some resistance training too....later for that tho'.

2 comments Tags: stories, things that irritate me

Monday

Never heard back from the 'Product Specialist' at Apple.  Not a good sign.  Guess I'll have to call tomorrow.


Spent too much time on the phone trying to get the billing office at our primary care office to explain to me why we were billed for the 'shingles' shots we got in August.  Apparently Medicare does not cover the 'shingles' shot and we must pay.  I could not decipher the billing statement from the office and the billing person persisted on telling me I had to pay.  She could not explain why and referred me to Medicare.  Calling Medicare is like calling a giant box in the sky.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to find they have made inroads into their robot answering machines.

Medicare referred me to Tricare4U.  I told that person I was looking at an EOB that said on the bottom that our balance was $0.00.  She then said it was a computer glitch and we did have to pay. I called the primary office's billing person back to tell her she indeed was right.  There was a glitch in Tricare's computer.

I was ticked that no one in the doctor's office told me Medicare did not cover the shingles shot.  Maybe the doctor did....but I don't remember it.....and I think I would remember $194.00 for a shot of vaccine and then $31.00 for the LPN or Medical Assistant to give me the shot.  Now that is a major rip off.  I realize we always sign a financial statement when we sign in, but it's part of several papers we must sign.  I think someone should tell the patient...'Medicare will not cover this and it cost $225'.  They should have you sign another form so it would ring a bell..'hey I'm going to have to pay this'. 

I noted on the caller ID Ken and Rosie called yesterday. I called today and enjoyed talking with my former Pensacola neighbor now living in Illinois.  She said they had a dusting of snow yesterday ...oh boy.  Winter is on it's way for them.

We went over to Rich and Lissa's with our gourmet cupcakes for everybody to sing Happy Birthday to Rich sr, Rich jr and Lissa...all of whom have birthdays in October.  Brooke insisted on giving GrandpaBuck(Rich) some little animal figurines.  He didn't want any gifts, but she persisted.  GrandpaBuck made a big fuss over the cards she designed and made for him.  She told us she made all the cards and shopped for the gifts and cards.  I told her Trevor will have her doing that from here on in.  

The kids were delightful.  Trevor told us about his campaign for Treasurer.  Here he gives a glimpse into his 'schtick'.  
Trevor's campaign poster
Some of the letters on the above poster aren't visible--the V in his first name and the E in the last name are missing.  I thought the fake money on the poster looked like real money.   He lost by one vote.  He said he broke up with his girlfriend because he found out she didn't vote for him...What?  She told him she did, but one of his friends saw her vote and said she voted for 'Charley'.  Hmmm.  They talk about 'going out' with so and so, but Lissa said they don't go anywhere...they just use the language.  I thought 10 year old 5th grade boys thought girls were yucky.  I guess I'm getting too old to understand these modern times.  

The cupcakes were super good and a big hit.  It was different than a cake.  Choice of flavors made it special too.  

When we got home Brooke called to tell me she forgot to give me a gift she made especially for me.  She wouldn't tell me what it was.  She suggested I come to her soccer game Saturday and she'll give it to me then.  She knows I don't get up til late, but she thought 11AM should be OK for me.  I'm supposed to be at WHRO to help with the October phone-in fund raiser, but I'm sure I can change my day.  We'll see.

Post a comment Tags: imac, brooke, trevor, things that irritate me

2sday i.e. toosday i.e. day after Moonday.....whatever

There I go using that expression that used to...and still does...drive me up the wall.....'whatever'.  It, along with 'no problem' and 'awesome' make me cringe.   Just as my mother did when I said things like 'Stop it' back in high school.  


About 3 years ago I wrote about kids saying 'shut up' all the time, and I could not figure out what it meant.  Then darling Shay sent me all the way from Brussels, a sequined applique outlining the phrase.  I could be cool and wear it whenever I pleased.  

I don't hear 'shut up' any more, but damm 'no problem' drives me nuts.  How could someone think I thought there might be a problem when I say 'Thank you'?  What happened to 'You're Welcome'.  I guess 'no problem' is a bit like 'de nada' in Spanish....it's nothing.  I'd rather be welcomed when I've just thanked you for something you did.   I hope what you did was more than nothing or 'not a problem'....grrrr...

OK, back to today.

Met MaryJane for lunch at Deuce McGee's.  I had half of a delicious smoked Montreal beef....I think the menu said Montreal beef...and a little cole slaw and iced tea.  Great catching up with MaryJane as usual.  Then she spotted our former boss from the free Beach Health Clinic.  

Angela was having lunch with her new husband.  What a good feeling to run into her again.  She was the Exec Director of the clinic after she'd left her VP job at DePaul.  For the last 4 or so years she's a VP with United Way of South Hampton Roads.  She's a dyamo and definitely a leader and visionary.  

I told her we should open a 'nurse-run clinic' and she would be the perfect one to get it going with all her connections and previous experience.  It wouldn't surprise me one bit if she does something like this.  
Her new husband is a guy she dated in high school and hadn't seen for years.  After her divorce she met him again.  After a year or so they got married.  He's a retired Fire Chief....super nice guy.  
She poked fun at my social justice interests and said we'd be fighting all the time because she's still a hard core republican and even likes, of all people Glen Beck.  We laughed and I told her I can't stand him.  It's funny when you like a person, it's so easy to overlook the fact that you are on different wave lengths.  I guess Angela and I have mutual respect for each other, and it's OK for us to be on opposite sides of an issue.  Same with MaryJane.  MaryJane is pro choice and I'm pro life, but we have no problem in that area.  We don't try to prove "I'm right and you're all wrong".  

Just now a phone call came from some surveyor out of DC.  "Do you support the right for people to have guns"?  Me...."NO".   Are you Pro Life?  Me...."YES".  Boy, he hung up fast.  Yes, I'm pro life.....anti war and anti capital punishment.  You may believe differently....I think it's essential for people to find 'Common Ground'...find those areas on which they can believe.  Otherwise we're just spinning our wheels.

I've written more about this on my other blog.  If you care to read my opinion and beliefs...go here.  CLICK

Otherwise have a great day.  For the record...I slept well last night with Ativan 0.5 mg and Vicodin 5/500.  I'll stick with this for a few nights at least and then re evaluate.  

2 comments Tags: beliefs, things that irritate me

Office workers/gate keepers who need a course in customer service

Called the dentist who had told me after he completed the bonding procedure two weeks ago..."Pat, be sure to call me if you have a problem...I don't expect any, but call me".  Well, I did so on the next day after he applied the bonding.  A piece seemed to break off and I wasn't sure if it was an extraneous piece or the bonding itself.  The receptionist was not helpful in 'fitting me in'.  Grant it, I wanted to come in around 11AM when I was in that area as opposed to driving home and then back again.  She was adamant ...he was "double booked" and I could come at 3PM.  I insisted it would take no more than 3 or 5 minutes at the most.  I would come back later if it needed to be corrected.  Then she said..."maybe I could get one of the hygienists to see you".  Great.  I think they are quite capable.  When I got there I was seen by a dental assistant.  There is a difference, but she probably thought I wouldn't know that.  The assistant who is very nice, and was the one who assisted Dr O. with the bonding procedure wasn't sure either.  I showed her the piece that came off.  She wasn't sure where it came from, and said it looked alright.  She didn't indicate for me to come back and see him, and I figured I'd let it go til the next time I see him in 6 months.


The problem still exists.  The underside of the area above my lip gets caught on my teeth.  I decided today to make an appt with Dr O to have him check it and if needed, give me a referral to an oral surgeon.  I could not believe the response from the other receptionist who answers the phone.  I guess they are supposed to assess the urgency of a call, but I told her I could not tell if the bonding was still in place.  She said "you can't tell?". Her tone was patronizing.  She went on "I remember when you were in and Mary said nothing looked like it was missing, you should be able to see if is in place or not".  WELL DAMMIT, "I can't tell"  is what I felt like saying to her.  She said "wait til I go talk with Mary".  I then said "I want to see Dr O".  She came back on the phone and said "The next available opening is on day X at 8AM"  I told her I can't get there that early so she said the next afternoon opening is on Feb 24th at 3PM.  I said "good, thank you"....she didn't even say you're welcome, and hung up  What a 'be atch'!

I was going to call her back and tell her I am a paying client...not pro bono and not insurance.  Rich told me not to do so.  I will definitely tell him that if I didn't like him....I'd be looking for another dentist.   I think she doesn't like me questioning anything.  Dr O. and all the assistants and hygienists who work for him are most congenial.  I am surprised there have not been other complaints against this receptionist.  I don't need her diagnosing my problem over the phone or telling me "it could just be an extraneous piece of bonding material".  This kind of stuff is so frustrating for me.  I guess some folks can just 'blow it off'.  I resent office personnel who act like they are doing me a favor when I call them.  They should act like they are 'working with me' to find the best time to see the doctor/dentist.  I won't let this slide.

We went up to the Navy Exchange.  The camera I'd purchased is now on sale for $10 less than I paid for it.  Rich said they have a policy of 'price matching' so we took it back.  The policy is only for 14 days, and we were at 18 days post purchase, but she let us have the credit anyhow.  Now, wasn't that nice.   We stopped in the commissary for a few items and came home. 

Here's a short movie of Brooke rebounding for a basket at Saturday's basketball game.  She's 6. Her number is 1. She has a pink headband on.  She insists on wearing her pink shoes.  She's a trip.
Brooke shoots
1 comment
 

Post a comment Tags: brooke, things that irritate me

Wednesday and Thursday...Doctor visit and surprise phone call

''If you have never been called a defiant, incorrigible, impossible woman… have faith… there is yet time." from Women Who Run with the Wolves 




Just signed up for College Board QOD and got the two quesions I answered right...both were grammar questions. College Board will track your answers for you, and so far I'm at 100%.  That'll drop big time with the Math questions.  Anyhow, I love this stuff.


Had a good visit with Dr K....so glad I switched to her. She can't believe I will be 70 on my next birthday.  Yes, keep saying that Dr K.  I told her I wonder if my body appears to be less than stated age on the inside.  I did inherit good skin from my mother.  No credit to me. I don't feel anyway near my chronological age.  I'm still pretty sharp.  Yes I could/should lose several pounds, but can't do it all.  I don't drink or smoke...don't think either are good for me.  I may drink a Manhattan on my birthday or on some special occasion.  I wish I could feel the same about carbs.   

Dr K thinks it's still too soon to conclude my hair thinning is due to the B/P med. She was kind enough not to say it was due to the aging process. We'll wait a bit longer.  I won't see her again for six months so that should be enough time.  It may actually be due to my leaving the coloring agent on too long.  Too soon to know for sure.  My cholesterol is acceptable....I asked about fish oil capsules and she said they may give an added benefit, but I should get the kind that are mercury, PCB and odor free.  Yes, I don't want to wreak of fish odor.  While there I got my Flu shot.

I was a little ticked at the LPN who takes your B/P etc.  While taking my pulse she was chattering away telling me this and that.  I said "how can you count my pulse while you are talking?"  She said "oh I can multi-task, I can do lots of things at the same time".  Bull.  She cannot.  I didn't say anything to the doctor, but if she does it the next time I will.  I wonder what she writes down for a patient's pulse.  It is possible to talk and determine a patient's rhythm at the same time, but not count the rate.  It burns me up that some of these health care workers act like they are physicians and many times they don't know diddly. For example, why do so many not pull back on the plunger when they give an injection.  Does it not matter if they are in a blood vessel? I hope my nurse friends comment on this.  

Before going to the doctor I called my brother Frank.  He's doing fine while home alone.  The girls check on him.  He was just waking up when I called, and he had the phone in bed with him. Good.  He had taken off the 'lifeline' bracelet, and wasn't sure where he left it.  I told him to find it, and wear it....especially in bed at night.  He may have to get up to go the bathroom, and he could fall. He agreed.  Apparently Pat was doing as well as expected on the the 1st POD for a knee replacement.  When she transfers to rehab, she'll have the phone turned on in the room, and I'll call her.

I had a surprise phone call from Dr Norm V. in Pensacola.  It was great to talk with him.  He said he hadn't heard from me and we figured out that he was still using my old WebTV email addy.  He updated me on everyone from the Thursday group.  The Thursday group was a group of professionals that met every Thursday at 7 AM.  We had about 10 in the group.  Each person was assigned a date to present something worthy of discussion.  It could be anything.  After presenting the topic for 5 -10 minutes the group discussion took off.  If the group didn't like the topic...no problem...something else got the group engaged.  This was not a therapeutic group...it was a way for us to have meaningful conversation.   

The group had been meeting for 20 years before I was invited, and I was active in it from 1986-1999.  I try to attend a meeting whenever I am in Pensacola. 

I was intimidated by the educational and professional backgrounds of these folks.  There was only one other woman.  While I was in it the members comprised physicians, a physics professor, a renowned organist, a chemist, an ex RC priest and two former Baptist ministers.  Several had been in the group from its inception.  New ones have come and gone.  No one had less than a Master's degree.  Even tho I have a Master's I was not conversant in world affairs, literature or history.  I learned so much from these folks.  Most of the topics were presented in such a way that we all could contribute something.  Except for the chemist...he was 'out there' and didn't stay long in the group. I developed a strong bond with each of these folks.  After 10 years one does get to know the real you....you can only bluff for so long.  

I was saddened to learn that Frank C (a retired psychiatrist) died in October.  I loved that man.  He was gentle and kind.  Some of our gatherings were borderline explosive.....some docs can be a bit arrogant, but no one remained offended.  I've never found a similar group.  I haven't looked for one either....I was fortunate to fall into that one. 
How'd I get into the group? The former priest was married to a gal who worked at the hospital and she recommended me...thinking they needed balance from the feminine perspective  The lone woman was not enough even though she could handle those guys quite well being the mother of 6 grown men and only one daughter. Norm told me the ex-priest is now on his second marriage. 

I loved the fact that they were not judgmental.  They had opinions and strong ones at that, but they pretty much accepted those opposing their own.  Anyhow, I was thrilled that Norm thought of me ...he and I had been at loggerheads a few times and we're still friends.  I told him to give my best to everyone when he meets with them today.  Norm is now retired and very active in the Jazz Society of Pensacola.  He is also a Master Gardener taking the greatest pride in his camellias.  He and Betty are finally going to scale down and move from their house to a smaller place.  BTW, no spouses were in this group and rarely were they mentioned. 

Today Jill came to make an adjustment to the valence she'd made.  She brought me a gift of a pillow for the loveseat made with some of the left over drapery fabric.  It's lovely.

Brooke just called.  She wanted to know my opinion about her getting her  ears pierced.  She's 6.  All of her girlfriends have pierced ears.  I said if Mommy and Daddy think it's OK, then I do too.  She's been wanting to do it for several months, but backed out.  Today she said she is ready.  She wanted to know if it hurt.  I told her I don't remember it hurting.  I've already gotten her a pair of little bear earrings for one of her Christmas presents. I told her to call me afterward and tell me all about it. 
3 hrs later:  Brooke called again.  She did it and it didn't even hurt.  She loves her beautiful sparkly turquoise earrings.  





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