Well today I went and got my driver's license renewed. The price doubled since the last time I did that -- it was $21.00. The picture is really good, too. I don't mind the process of getting a new license. In Kentucky you don't have to get a vision test or take any other kind of test. You just walk in, give them your old license and twenty-one bucks, and they take your picture, and in a minute you have a new laminated license which will be renewed in 2013.
At the same time I was getting my license renewed, Alan was registering the two cars. The taxes on the two vehicles are horrendous in Kentucky. To register the two cars we had to pay to the state of Kentucky -- or is it commonwealth? -- $465. Isn't that awful?
In KY they value your car according to the Blue Book, then they tax it accordingly. It's always a shock when we have to pay up each year.
I'm really enjoying the LIGHT at NIGHT. We had a neat storm yesterday -- all rain, little thunder. But the rain was like a bucket was poured over our little community. I couldn't even see the clubhouse. It only lasted a few minutes, but boy did it rain!
So tonight, I'll enjoy the light until around 7:30 p.m. I don't mind the lack of light in the morning because I'm usually in bed, although lately for some reason I've been getting up early -- like at 7:00 a.m. I don't know why that is. But I don't mind getting up in the dark, and I don't know why that is either.
I'm rambling, dear diary/journal, and I'm going to stop writing now. Well, in a minute. I must add that my little brother called me on Saturday and it was so nice to talk to him again. I really need to remind myself to call him more often. I keep in touch with his children via Facebook, but he's not computer literate, so the only contact I can have with him is by telephone. Same with my other brother. What's up with that? Both brothers couldn't care less about learning how to operate a computer, get e-mail, or use the Web. Oh, well. I guess they are just too old to learn new tricks.
ttfn.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
I can't believe it's been a whole week
For all you followers of this BLOG (all 1 of you) I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up on my daily journal as I go through life. I am now 66 years old. That means I'm well into social security living. And medicare is a bust. You HAVE to be part of that program. And you HAVE to pay them back $90 per month so you can get the benefits. Go figure. And what do I gain from this $90 a month? Well, if I am ever hospitalized I get full/free hospitalization for the time spent in the hospital. Yippee! I don't get meds benefits, at least I haven't figured out how to do that, and no one at Medicare seems to want to tell me how to do that. And Medicare pays a whopping $1.69 for every office visit I have with my GP, or any other medical doctor. Dentists? Forget that. Eye doctors? Forget that. Tests? I don't know yet. I haven't had the opportunity to see how that side of Medicare works.
Enough of dissing medicare. You young people out there, be glad it will be really broke by the time you're eligible. It's not worth a dime, even though I put more than one dime into the system through mandatory payroll deduction. Like social security. I get about one-half of what my sister gets and it seems to me I've worked all my life. But apparently I didn't earn enough during all those working years to get a higher check each month. Alan doesn't even qualify for SS because he was in the government employees plan, which is one of the things BO is going to cut in his effort to save money. If you're young, check into seeing if you can opt out of the program. It's not worth all you're putting into it, and you could have more to spend on things you really want. Plus with the new BO health-care program you won't need Medicare anyway!
And then there's our stocks and bonds. I don't even want to talk about that. I just notice that when BO doesn't say anything to the press or hold a press event the DOW goes up (as is the case today), but if he opens his mouth during the day in the press room, or in a photo-op event, the down tanks. Please Mr. BO, please, please, please keep your mouth shut for the next 500 to 600 days so my stocks and bonds can recover. Thank you.
Physically I've had good and bad, and the bad have been really bad. It seems the bad are getting worse all the time. But the good are getting better. And I live for the better/good days. When the days are good I get things done and I don't feel like a burden to my husband or anyone else. I don't like the feeling of being a burden. And I dislike immensely not being able to even walk to the bathroom without going ouch very loudly.
And I've noticed that the world is getting light earlier, and the light is staying light later each day. I love it. More light. The dark days are over for another season.
So, dear diary, I'm having a middle to bad day, but I'm glad I have this day to praise my Lord, because in praising Him, I feel better in my head. He is my healer, I know that. And He is my life and my light and my salvation. Glory to His Name!
ttfn
Enough of dissing medicare. You young people out there, be glad it will be really broke by the time you're eligible. It's not worth a dime, even though I put more than one dime into the system through mandatory payroll deduction. Like social security. I get about one-half of what my sister gets and it seems to me I've worked all my life. But apparently I didn't earn enough during all those working years to get a higher check each month. Alan doesn't even qualify for SS because he was in the government employees plan, which is one of the things BO is going to cut in his effort to save money. If you're young, check into seeing if you can opt out of the program. It's not worth all you're putting into it, and you could have more to spend on things you really want. Plus with the new BO health-care program you won't need Medicare anyway!
And then there's our stocks and bonds. I don't even want to talk about that. I just notice that when BO doesn't say anything to the press or hold a press event the DOW goes up (as is the case today), but if he opens his mouth during the day in the press room, or in a photo-op event, the down tanks. Please Mr. BO, please, please, please keep your mouth shut for the next 500 to 600 days so my stocks and bonds can recover. Thank you.
Physically I've had good and bad, and the bad have been really bad. It seems the bad are getting worse all the time. But the good are getting better. And I live for the better/good days. When the days are good I get things done and I don't feel like a burden to my husband or anyone else. I don't like the feeling of being a burden. And I dislike immensely not being able to even walk to the bathroom without going ouch very loudly.
And I've noticed that the world is getting light earlier, and the light is staying light later each day. I love it. More light. The dark days are over for another season.
So, dear diary, I'm having a middle to bad day, but I'm glad I have this day to praise my Lord, because in praising Him, I feel better in my head. He is my healer, I know that. And He is my life and my light and my salvation. Glory to His Name!
ttfn
Monday, February 23, 2009
Long time, no write
I know it's been several days since I added to my "diary." And I know you are all wondering how the fat lady is getting around.
Well, all is not well, but all is not bad either. Fortunately, I have a husband who doesn't mind if I spend the whole day in bed, and since we're both on a diet (we've both lost 8 pounds so far), and I've told Alan exactly what he can and can't eat, and how often he can eat the food, he is able to get his own stuff, which is a big help.
Yes, I spent the whole day of Saturday in bed, and I slept almost the whole time, including into late Sunday morning. I think I slept for almost 36 hours. I must have needed the sleep.
I go through times of sleep and wakefulness, then sleep, then wakefulness. So after weeks of little to no sleep, I finally crashed.
I am in the midst of a fibro flare up which is very uncomfortable, but I'm pushing through it, since being in bed doesn't really help any.
We are coming up on a season of birthdays. Annie's was last Friday, Rachel's is on the 3rd of March, the new baby will be born in a couple of weeks, and Ellie's is the 20th of March. So, if I can, I shall get to the toy store. I have asked my shopper to do this for me, but I'm not sure she'll be able to do that for me this week. If she can, that will be great, if she can't, I'll stumble around the store and hopefully find what the children want in as few steps as possible
I am walking every day now, getting my stamina up for the boat trip we're taking in the spring. I am walking with mild pain all the time, but I push through that as well, because I know I have to do this.
Alan's back is doing better and I think it's because he's taking a muscle relaxer, which seems to help relax him and he doesn't tense up as much, causing him so much back pain. He's back in bed for a few hours each night, still spending most of his sleeping hours in the recliner. He is trying to find out how much time he can spend at the computer, in the recliner, and in the bed in order to relieve the back pain. He hasn't had much problem with the shingles pain lately, which is good.
Why is it that as we age pain increases? I have some neighbors who are 20 years old than Alan and I and they are spry as can be, no pain in their hips or knees, and few health problems. I have other neighbors who are my age or a little older and they are in the same condition as I am. We compare notes but can not find the similarity which would cause us to have such bad knees and hips. I have often thought the bad knees I have is because I was so active in gymnastics in high school and college. But I don't know if that is the reason or not. Sounds good, anyway.
On to something more cheerful. I have finished completely 3 New York Times crosswords. Yippee. And I read in the Times that a group of economist professors from Columbia U, Harvard, Yale, U of PA, and CUNY reviewed very carefully the new stimulus jobs package. They found that at most the stimulus will provide 127,000 jobs, not the millions that we're being told will be the result of the package. Something to think about.
ttfn
Well, all is not well, but all is not bad either. Fortunately, I have a husband who doesn't mind if I spend the whole day in bed, and since we're both on a diet (we've both lost 8 pounds so far), and I've told Alan exactly what he can and can't eat, and how often he can eat the food, he is able to get his own stuff, which is a big help.
Yes, I spent the whole day of Saturday in bed, and I slept almost the whole time, including into late Sunday morning. I think I slept for almost 36 hours. I must have needed the sleep.
I go through times of sleep and wakefulness, then sleep, then wakefulness. So after weeks of little to no sleep, I finally crashed.
I am in the midst of a fibro flare up which is very uncomfortable, but I'm pushing through it, since being in bed doesn't really help any.
We are coming up on a season of birthdays. Annie's was last Friday, Rachel's is on the 3rd of March, the new baby will be born in a couple of weeks, and Ellie's is the 20th of March. So, if I can, I shall get to the toy store. I have asked my shopper to do this for me, but I'm not sure she'll be able to do that for me this week. If she can, that will be great, if she can't, I'll stumble around the store and hopefully find what the children want in as few steps as possible
I am walking every day now, getting my stamina up for the boat trip we're taking in the spring. I am walking with mild pain all the time, but I push through that as well, because I know I have to do this.
Alan's back is doing better and I think it's because he's taking a muscle relaxer, which seems to help relax him and he doesn't tense up as much, causing him so much back pain. He's back in bed for a few hours each night, still spending most of his sleeping hours in the recliner. He is trying to find out how much time he can spend at the computer, in the recliner, and in the bed in order to relieve the back pain. He hasn't had much problem with the shingles pain lately, which is good.
Why is it that as we age pain increases? I have some neighbors who are 20 years old than Alan and I and they are spry as can be, no pain in their hips or knees, and few health problems. I have other neighbors who are my age or a little older and they are in the same condition as I am. We compare notes but can not find the similarity which would cause us to have such bad knees and hips. I have often thought the bad knees I have is because I was so active in gymnastics in high school and college. But I don't know if that is the reason or not. Sounds good, anyway.
On to something more cheerful. I have finished completely 3 New York Times crosswords. Yippee. And I read in the Times that a group of economist professors from Columbia U, Harvard, Yale, U of PA, and CUNY reviewed very carefully the new stimulus jobs package. They found that at most the stimulus will provide 127,000 jobs, not the millions that we're being told will be the result of the package. Something to think about.
ttfn
Monday, February 16, 2009
I put them all away
I put all the snowmen away -- boxed them all. I also finally put the three small trees away. I haven't had them lit at night for several weeks and they were just collecting dust, as were the snowmen.
What precipitated this activity? Well, the weather has been so spring-like and the herbs are pushing throw the soil in their pots on the sunporch, so I thought it was time.
I'm reading more Louis L'Amour. Love those books and they're a quick read.
I've asked around and am trying to find out why the New York Times -- a subscription to which we did not order, but appear to be receiving -- has a crossword puzzle everyday that has stupid, far out hints. I mean, one clue was 17 across led this campaign. Well, the whole crossword was about civil war battles, so "campaign" was in my mind as another battle. 17 across was Abraham Lincoln. You know what the proper response was? It was "republican party". Duh!
Today is another lovely day and I've really been enjoying the porch again. It's very dirty and dusty and I have another riddle to solve -- how does a room that is basically hermetically sealed from November 25 through February 10 become to dusty and dirty when it was cleaned very well on November 25. It's so dusty out there that I was sneezing almost constantly and had to come in, and no there was no pollen, and I'm not allergic to herbs.
Today I have to clean the furnace filter. I can smell the dust when the blower comes on, and I forgot to do it in January, so it's time again. A monthly chore I don't relish, but which I must do.
Well, I'm off to get my daily Bible reading in and then Alan and I are going out to dinner. Yippee!
ttfn
What precipitated this activity? Well, the weather has been so spring-like and the herbs are pushing throw the soil in their pots on the sunporch, so I thought it was time.
I'm reading more Louis L'Amour. Love those books and they're a quick read.
I've asked around and am trying to find out why the New York Times -- a subscription to which we did not order, but appear to be receiving -- has a crossword puzzle everyday that has stupid, far out hints. I mean, one clue was 17 across led this campaign. Well, the whole crossword was about civil war battles, so "campaign" was in my mind as another battle. 17 across was Abraham Lincoln. You know what the proper response was? It was "republican party". Duh!
Today is another lovely day and I've really been enjoying the porch again. It's very dirty and dusty and I have another riddle to solve -- how does a room that is basically hermetically sealed from November 25 through February 10 become to dusty and dirty when it was cleaned very well on November 25. It's so dusty out there that I was sneezing almost constantly and had to come in, and no there was no pollen, and I'm not allergic to herbs.
Today I have to clean the furnace filter. I can smell the dust when the blower comes on, and I forgot to do it in January, so it's time again. A monthly chore I don't relish, but which I must do.
Well, I'm off to get my daily Bible reading in and then Alan and I are going out to dinner. Yippee!
ttfn
Friday, February 13, 2009
Valentine's Day
I used to hate Valentine's Day. You see, from the time I was in kindergarten, until about 5th grade each classroom had a box, all decorated in red and white with hearts all over it, and it had a slot in the top. It was the designated the class mailbox for Valentine cards, and each student who was giving cards to their friends were to deposit their cards (for giving away) into that box.
Usually, the boxes of cards we could buy at the 5 and 10 contained 20 cards, but we almost always had 30 kids in our class. So which 10 did you knock off?
Or, if you were rich enough, your mom would buy two boxes and save the left-overs for the following year. That never happened in our family. Mom bought one box per child, and we had to make do.
The main reason I disliked this holiday was because when the cards were distributed by the designated "mailman" (which could have been a girl) you really hoped you would at least get 20 cards back, not 16, not 15, not 18, but at least 20. After all you had sent 20 cards.
However, year after year I came up short. And year after year I went home depressed knowing who in the class didn't really like me. It was a time to find out if your friends were truly your friends. Of course, on the other side I guess, some classmates discovered that they weren't on my top-20 list as well.
Well, tonight we had a Valentine's banquet here at our Community Clubhouse. It was a catered affair. The average age of the attendees was 70! Alan and I are the kids of the group. But we had a really, really good time. We laughed, we played games, and we ate. And there were no cards distributed, no mailbox to even put cards into, and therefore, I know that all the people there are truly my friends.
Missing, though, were some who have passed away and therefore their respective spouses didn't come. I can understand that. I don't think I would go either if Alan was called Home before me. But, I can't say that for sure because I truly enjoy all the planned events here at Chardonnay, and would miss them and the camaraderie if I didn't attend. I have to say, one of the newer widows was there tonight and was the "life of the party." But she has always been that. And, she attended many events when her husband was so ill.
We have several widows here, and a few widowers. They seem to stay here after they lose their love one, which is nice, and I think that's because this is a caring community where neighbors look after their neighbors, and "everybody knows your name." We don't think of each other as couples. In fact, most of the time the men sit on one side of the room, and the women on the other.
Tonight, however, the "couples" sat together. The singles sat together -- men on one side, women on the other!
It was a really nice event.
ttfn
Usually, the boxes of cards we could buy at the 5 and 10 contained 20 cards, but we almost always had 30 kids in our class. So which 10 did you knock off?
Or, if you were rich enough, your mom would buy two boxes and save the left-overs for the following year. That never happened in our family. Mom bought one box per child, and we had to make do.
The main reason I disliked this holiday was because when the cards were distributed by the designated "mailman" (which could have been a girl) you really hoped you would at least get 20 cards back, not 16, not 15, not 18, but at least 20. After all you had sent 20 cards.
However, year after year I came up short. And year after year I went home depressed knowing who in the class didn't really like me. It was a time to find out if your friends were truly your friends. Of course, on the other side I guess, some classmates discovered that they weren't on my top-20 list as well.
Well, tonight we had a Valentine's banquet here at our Community Clubhouse. It was a catered affair. The average age of the attendees was 70! Alan and I are the kids of the group. But we had a really, really good time. We laughed, we played games, and we ate. And there were no cards distributed, no mailbox to even put cards into, and therefore, I know that all the people there are truly my friends.
Missing, though, were some who have passed away and therefore their respective spouses didn't come. I can understand that. I don't think I would go either if Alan was called Home before me. But, I can't say that for sure because I truly enjoy all the planned events here at Chardonnay, and would miss them and the camaraderie if I didn't attend. I have to say, one of the newer widows was there tonight and was the "life of the party." But she has always been that. And, she attended many events when her husband was so ill.
We have several widows here, and a few widowers. They seem to stay here after they lose their love one, which is nice, and I think that's because this is a caring community where neighbors look after their neighbors, and "everybody knows your name." We don't think of each other as couples. In fact, most of the time the men sit on one side of the room, and the women on the other.
Tonight, however, the "couples" sat together. The singles sat together -- men on one side, women on the other!
It was a really nice event.
ttfn
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
It's windy out there!
Well, we are under a high wind advisory, still. It started early this afternoon, and once again I feared for the back porch windows as they bowed inward with every gust of wind. We lost power three times, which means I have several clocks to reset, but I'm waiting until the wind calms down. I already set them twice. Two times is enough for one day, right? You know what I mean? There's the stove, the microwave, the coffee pot, the alarm clock in the bedroom, the alarm clock in the office, the clock on Alan's desk. I think the ones in the car are safe. At least my watch didn't lose power!
Not much else going on today. I received a passel of Louis L'Amour books last night at Life Group. Yeah! There were only two in the bag of about 30 which I have already read, and I've read a lot of LL's books! Three of them are short story books, which some of my grandchildren love me to read to them. I make good horse noises!! (and good gun shot noises)
So, maybe, this weekend, I'll get a couple of the older grands over and read them a couple of LL's stories of the wild west. There just something about his books that draw me in.
During the day, when I'm between "jobs" I read Louis L'Amour. His descriptions of the west are amazing and I want to go back West and enjoy it without either Alan or I being ill. We had such a great time for five days until he got sick, then the trip was rather one-sided, and I don't really enjoy one-sided trips. I prefer his company, even if it's just sitting in a rented trailer looking at the majesty of the Tetons.
ttfn
Not much else going on today. I received a passel of Louis L'Amour books last night at Life Group. Yeah! There were only two in the bag of about 30 which I have already read, and I've read a lot of LL's books! Three of them are short story books, which some of my grandchildren love me to read to them. I make good horse noises!! (and good gun shot noises)
So, maybe, this weekend, I'll get a couple of the older grands over and read them a couple of LL's stories of the wild west. There just something about his books that draw me in.
During the day, when I'm between "jobs" I read Louis L'Amour. His descriptions of the west are amazing and I want to go back West and enjoy it without either Alan or I being ill. We had such a great time for five days until he got sick, then the trip was rather one-sided, and I don't really enjoy one-sided trips. I prefer his company, even if it's just sitting in a rented trailer looking at the majesty of the Tetons.
ttfn
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
I know, I know
I know I haven't written in this "journal" for several days. I've been laid low. Figured it was the weather, which went from cold and icy -- to which I was getting accustomed -- to warm and balmy, to which I was not accustomed.
Sunday was not good for either me or Alan. His back which has been giving him fits of late, was at a really high pain thresh hold. I was just as miserable he was so I just didn't walk much. Laid flat that day and suffered through another migraine. Where are they coming from? I know it's not what I've been eating, because after learning what not to eat in order to prevent those blasted things, I have avoided certain foods --no matter how much I love them -- like the plague.
But headache I had added to the joint pain and muscle pain. I was sure I was getting the flu. But on Monday I arose and was fine and didn't even have the normal first-in-the-morning walking pain.
I pray that God gives me some wisdom and knowledge about why I have good days, so I can work on having relatively pain-free days all the time. It's hard to plan anything because when you never know whether you'll be able to move, you can't say, "Yeah, I'll see you next week on Tuesday" because Tuesday might be a day when the pain returns.
Monday was so beautiful - weather wise - that I decided I would walk to the mail box -- a total of 248 steps each way. I decided to count the steps (that's 248 for each foot). And I didn't get winded, and I didn't fall (walker was included in the walk) and I didn't hurt. Yeah!
Today is Tuesday and I'm still enjoying the warm, balmy weather, and the freedom of movement I enjoyed on Monday. While the weather is warm we are having on and off showers, so I don't know if I'll get to the mailbox today on foot, that is. We will be passing it on the way out tonight as we head over to Bible Study, we'll probably pick up the mail then.
2-10-ttfn
Sunday was not good for either me or Alan. His back which has been giving him fits of late, was at a really high pain thresh hold. I was just as miserable he was so I just didn't walk much. Laid flat that day and suffered through another migraine. Where are they coming from? I know it's not what I've been eating, because after learning what not to eat in order to prevent those blasted things, I have avoided certain foods --no matter how much I love them -- like the plague.
But headache I had added to the joint pain and muscle pain. I was sure I was getting the flu. But on Monday I arose and was fine and didn't even have the normal first-in-the-morning walking pain.
I pray that God gives me some wisdom and knowledge about why I have good days, so I can work on having relatively pain-free days all the time. It's hard to plan anything because when you never know whether you'll be able to move, you can't say, "Yeah, I'll see you next week on Tuesday" because Tuesday might be a day when the pain returns.
Monday was so beautiful - weather wise - that I decided I would walk to the mail box -- a total of 248 steps each way. I decided to count the steps (that's 248 for each foot). And I didn't get winded, and I didn't fall (walker was included in the walk) and I didn't hurt. Yeah!
Today is Tuesday and I'm still enjoying the warm, balmy weather, and the freedom of movement I enjoyed on Monday. While the weather is warm we are having on and off showers, so I don't know if I'll get to the mailbox today on foot, that is. We will be passing it on the way out tonight as we head over to Bible Study, we'll probably pick up the mail then.
2-10-ttfn
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