Beer and the blues in terms of emotion... not the music genre. That’s what this is about. I’ve been drinking so much wine lately, that I decided to drink a good old American beer today (not Budweiser which although Im proud is an American icon... well of course it is because it is basically the inventor of what we call American Ale...but it tastes like dirt and I would rather lick the stones on my drive way than drink Bud) so I cracked open some Sam Adams Winter Ale.
Well, as the background here, it was actually 48 degrees today which is warmer than the past few weeks, so I opened up the house. Really, it wasn’t the weather but the fact that I wake up and Nanna is giving me hell about the food choice again. She won’t eat. I know she will yack if she doesn’t and the past few days she has gotten raw egg in her dry food in order to coax her to eat. She is about a stubborn as her mother, and this morning I will be damned if I am going to give into this game.
She looks at me and sits. Stares. Still staring. "Goddammit Nanna! You’re going to eat your damned food. Tuesday stares at Nanna wanting only to eat Nanna's food too. "Fine. No breakfast for you." Nanna walks over to her food. Sniff sniff. Sit. Stare. Grrrrr! That is I growling and not the dog.
Take them outside to do their business. All is well. Im still sticking it out. Come back up stairs and Nanna still wont eat but she sure as hell will guard the food in order to prevent Tuesday from eating. Fine then. You’ll just go hungry.
What does she do? yack on my cream colored carpet. What do I do? Put egg in her damned food to get her to eat so that she doesn’t yack again. Damned dog wins every time. Grrr!
So, I steam cleaned, mopped the floor, did dishes, ran some laundry, cleaned the bathroom, cleaned the bedroom and various other chores. Its 4.10 pm right now, so it is definitely time for a beer. I have not left the house today, but I feel exhausted and with the day beginning as it did, I feel that I deserve to kick back. Crack one open, and it goes down like water. Crack beer number two and I am totally depressed.
On a day like today, alone and bored, I would generally call my sister. We would talk about nonsense that only we found funny. generally we would laugh about JW4, then move onto Dad and laugh about him, and then the Robin conversation would begin and we would pee our pants laughing about Indian heritage, Jewish conversion and her mixed racial heritage... (all of which is totally untrue and a product of her psychosis). Jeff would look at me and say "On the phone again with Sara?" which translates to "You’re going to be on the phone for the next two hours and then be drunk when you’re finished, right?". I would say, "Yes" which translates to "Yes".
Today Im miserable. I can’t call her. One, she is at work and its only 10 am *there, not here) for Pete's sake. Two, it costs $15 to talk for 30 min. Our phone calls would be insanely expensive. Three, well, I don’t know what my three was but Im sure I had one and Im sure it was as miserable as I feel right now.
The summary is this; I miss Sara, I miss my friends, and I miss just being a phone call away. I may love being here and this experience is not something I would trade in for anything, but I do miss the people I love desperately. So cheers to drinking by one's self without the ability to call anyone. Ugh. Ok, well Im off to hang out with the bitches.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
COMMENT: The Healthcare Throwdown
Here is an addition to the previous post. A friend emailed me with information, and I got back on my soapbox and added to the rant. Below is an excerpt with some changes to protect the privacy of the friend…
My close friend writes, “The assembly line scenario really hit home too. I had my post-op last week. My [doctor] did NO follow-up care what so ever. I came ready to pee in a cup. Did they want a sample? No way Jose? I told the nurse I was ready to provide a nice cup a pee for her. She said she didn't want it unless there was a problem. I ask you this...how are they going to know if there is a problem or not if they don't take a sample??? Duh!! And I am not even a rocket scientist! I didn't get weighed, no blood pressure, no [additional questions]. Just a quick [exam] and a $30.00 co-pay. I had to practically corner the doctor to get answers to my barrage of questions... which was a little hard to do when I wasn't wearing anything [but a paper gown]. Well...Eastern or Western health care...I don't know...but what I do know is that I am getting a new [doctor].”
My response…
I totally feel that people are simply rushed through, but I firmly believe that it is not from the incompetence of the employees, caregivers or doctors, but instead a function of the insurance. That pee in a cup causes HOURS of additional work (to get it to the lab, to get it APPROVED by the insurance, to get the paperwork to submit to insurance, to get the billing straight, to get it back and give results, and the time it takes) and in the end, if these items can be cut out of the process, then they are because offices can no longer afford to offer comprehensive care because they cant afford the time and hassle it takes to get paid... I imagine it is HOURS of work for a 5-minute procedure. Peeing in a cup has become such a complex, cumbersome and burdensome process that it simply gets cut out of the picture.
The results are people leave on office for another, so it becomes a double hit for the office. The office is stretched to its limits and they have a choice... cut insurance companies and then they are cutting patients in need of care, or cut procedures and rush people through, in which they lose patients like you because of the decrease in service level. Do they want to cut this out and make less for more work? I would say no. I have to believe no. But the insurance companies have created this monster.
The insurance companies win because what happens is the patient blames the caretaker and the caretaker is essentially powerless to change anything without the public's hand in the matter, but then the public individual NEEDS coverage and generally gets coverage through an insurance company, so they aren't going to make waves because insurance paid on ones own is out of this world expensive. So, what happens is the patient does nothing other than switch doctors (and not blaming them either because who the hell has time to deal with this or become an activist as a full time job???) and then the doctors just get more and more patients rushed through and the insurance companies sit comfortably behind the scenes because they know that it is way too much hassle for the little man to do anything about this, AND on top of this all, THEY (the insurance companies) have WAY MORE RESOURCES to lobby OUR govt in keeping this whole stupid system. Who suffers most? The kids and the elderly and the impoverished. The groups in our society MOST IN NEED! At least the average Joe can switch doctors. Some have even less choice. Some do not have healthcare at all!
This is a call for healthcare reform! I would LOVE to do more, but I don't know where to start. Can one man make a difference? Sadly no. I cannot make a difference, but if WE collectively pushed for change, we CAN make a difference. This last election proves this to us. I suppose this is a call to keep the movement going and to really evaluate the root causes of some of these problems. It is not the patient screwing with the system. It is not illegal aliens using emergency services. It is not the malpractice insurance screwing the doctor. It is not the greedy uncaring physicians who simply want more more more. Does anyone think that this is propaganda of those few who run this scheme? Maybe or maybe not. I truly believe it is the structure of the healthcare system that is hurting us and benefiting the few at the top. Sound similar? Maybe we have a structural issue with more than just healthcare.
My close friend writes, “The assembly line scenario really hit home too. I had my post-op last week. My [doctor] did NO follow-up care what so ever. I came ready to pee in a cup. Did they want a sample? No way Jose? I told the nurse I was ready to provide a nice cup a pee for her. She said she didn't want it unless there was a problem. I ask you this...how are they going to know if there is a problem or not if they don't take a sample??? Duh!! And I am not even a rocket scientist! I didn't get weighed, no blood pressure, no [additional questions]. Just a quick [exam] and a $30.00 co-pay. I had to practically corner the doctor to get answers to my barrage of questions... which was a little hard to do when I wasn't wearing anything [but a paper gown]. Well...Eastern or Western health care...I don't know...but what I do know is that I am getting a new [doctor].”
My response…
I totally feel that people are simply rushed through, but I firmly believe that it is not from the incompetence of the employees, caregivers or doctors, but instead a function of the insurance. That pee in a cup causes HOURS of additional work (to get it to the lab, to get it APPROVED by the insurance, to get the paperwork to submit to insurance, to get the billing straight, to get it back and give results, and the time it takes) and in the end, if these items can be cut out of the process, then they are because offices can no longer afford to offer comprehensive care because they cant afford the time and hassle it takes to get paid... I imagine it is HOURS of work for a 5-minute procedure. Peeing in a cup has become such a complex, cumbersome and burdensome process that it simply gets cut out of the picture.
The results are people leave on office for another, so it becomes a double hit for the office. The office is stretched to its limits and they have a choice... cut insurance companies and then they are cutting patients in need of care, or cut procedures and rush people through, in which they lose patients like you because of the decrease in service level. Do they want to cut this out and make less for more work? I would say no. I have to believe no. But the insurance companies have created this monster.
The insurance companies win because what happens is the patient blames the caretaker and the caretaker is essentially powerless to change anything without the public's hand in the matter, but then the public individual NEEDS coverage and generally gets coverage through an insurance company, so they aren't going to make waves because insurance paid on ones own is out of this world expensive. So, what happens is the patient does nothing other than switch doctors (and not blaming them either because who the hell has time to deal with this or become an activist as a full time job???) and then the doctors just get more and more patients rushed through and the insurance companies sit comfortably behind the scenes because they know that it is way too much hassle for the little man to do anything about this, AND on top of this all, THEY (the insurance companies) have WAY MORE RESOURCES to lobby OUR govt in keeping this whole stupid system. Who suffers most? The kids and the elderly and the impoverished. The groups in our society MOST IN NEED! At least the average Joe can switch doctors. Some have even less choice. Some do not have healthcare at all!
This is a call for healthcare reform! I would LOVE to do more, but I don't know where to start. Can one man make a difference? Sadly no. I cannot make a difference, but if WE collectively pushed for change, we CAN make a difference. This last election proves this to us. I suppose this is a call to keep the movement going and to really evaluate the root causes of some of these problems. It is not the patient screwing with the system. It is not illegal aliens using emergency services. It is not the malpractice insurance screwing the doctor. It is not the greedy uncaring physicians who simply want more more more. Does anyone think that this is propaganda of those few who run this scheme? Maybe or maybe not. I truly believe it is the structure of the healthcare system that is hurting us and benefiting the few at the top. Sound similar? Maybe we have a structural issue with more than just healthcare.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
RESPONSE: East versus West, the Healthcare Throwdown
This is a response to East versus West, the Healthcare Throwdown. Please click on embedded link to read the original posting. The following is a reactionary essay to A's original thoughts. Any complaints, please email Ombudsman and remember interesting complaints will get posted for public ridicule. Thank you, the editor
~~~~~~~~~~~~
You know, I agree and disagree. I agree with everything that you said, but I don’t think that it is an issue of comparison. Why? Well, A. Im so glad that you have asked. Because when we compare A to B, and conclude that B is vastly better, then we are viewed as in favor of B over A.
The reality is that Western healthcare works ok too. For example, I too have had acupuncture and some other alternative treatments. For the most part, a good massage can do the trick for my back, but acupuncture does not even the slightest good for me. Western medicine sadly has been the only pain relief for me. The actual healthcare is a matter of choice. If eastern style works, great! If western works better, wonderful! I don’t think it is a match up of Eastern vs. Western, but is should be Eastern & Western vs. Insurance & Administration.
On a side note, I would also argue that acupuncture be considered a normal western medical practice rather than alternative or eastern therapy. There is good (western) scientific data on how and why acupuncture works so well and provides long term health benefits that are not limited to the health complaint but also extend to ones heart and joints and mental well being. I mean listen, in today’s world we view “alternative” or holistic therapies as shaky. Some believe, many do not. Some therapies are questionable, I agree, but some are definitely not and are proven time and time again. Acupuncture is definitely one of these and should be widely accepted in the same sense as chiropractic therapies.
However, let me get back to the main point. I think mainstream healthcare in this country is totally out of whack without the need of comparisons to other functioning forms of healthcare. It is a drive through process where general practitioners are paid based on the number of patients that they rush through and not the quality of care. Couple that with the insane amount of work it takes to submit claims as well as the rising costs of insurance, and your hometown doctor is unable to make enough money to stay in business. Doctors are then faced with the choice of giving up the practice, moving into a specialty field or simply rushing more patients through the door. Honestly, thank god some still rush patients through the door or else no one would have healthcare! But seriously folks, this is the HMO system that created this monster. Another side note, I heard a report about a study done on doctors and malpractice claims. Doctors who spent more time with their patients had far less claims than the ones who rushed people through. The also found that there were on average the same numbers of incidents between the two, but that people actually pressed charges less on the ones who spent more time. Food for thought.
Now one of the reasons that I argue that we shouldn’t compared the alternative therapies to the mainstream is because the single mother in Baltimore working for minimum wage needs a general practitioner when he 5 year old girl gets sick. Not an acupuncturist. So we need to be wary of people thinking that this is a choice. An “either or” situation. Yes, I believe holistic medicine offers a better overall experience, but I truly believe that for the most part, it is the HMO structure and not the doctor. I realize that there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that some doctors are plain ass holes and they probably are, but I really worry about the state of the nation when we created this system where healthcare has turned into a fast food drive through.
You write in conclusion “I really am quite perplexed at our inability to see why Eastern medicine is better than our traditionally conceived notion of Western medicine” citing that Western medicine is overpriced and that Eastern medicine is rarely covered. I think here you are touching upon the heart of the matter. It is not the procedures per say from either western or eastern healthcare providers, but the infrastructure in healthcare payment. I would argue (but it would be another doctoral dissertation all together) that there are many practices that aren’t worth two cents in BOTH western and eastern practices, but the insurance industry has done a poor job of regulating what practices are worth the money and which are not. For instance, if you can get an insurance company to pay for preventative treatments, you’re a fricken genius. Most preventative medicines (such as cholesterol medicine and the such) aren’t even administered until after there is a problem. My sister in law was not allowed the continuous insulin pack (for the life of me, I cannot remember what it is called, but it continuously monitors sugar levels and administers insulin when needed). She wanted this device because she is young and by controlling the ups and downs with sugar early on, she vastly prolongs her life span. Would the insurance pay for this? Hell no! What did she have to do? She had to eat crappy food and feel like total dirt for months (where normally she is super good about her diet) so that she could go back to the doctor and be told that she is really sick so that she could be approved for the damned thing. Now if everyone who was severely diabetic had one, think of the cost savings of complications down the road? It is totally insane.
So in summation, I don’t think intrinsically that western medicine is any worse or better than eastern. I think they are apples and oranges and they both have their benefits. The key factor however is the administration of the healthcare. If eastern style practices were covered by your neighborhood HMO, I suspect access would be crappy, the co-pays would be out of this world and your acupuncturist would be rushing through patients in minutes rather than hours in order to keep their practice open for business. It is a sad state we are in. I totally agree that they rush you in and out, but the more I hear and read, the more I am convinced that this is out of necessity and not because they do not care or do not want to spend more time. The problem lies with how we pay for healthcare and who is in charge of what we pay to our doctors, for our drugs, and for procedures and therapies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
You know, I agree and disagree. I agree with everything that you said, but I don’t think that it is an issue of comparison. Why? Well, A. Im so glad that you have asked. Because when we compare A to B, and conclude that B is vastly better, then we are viewed as in favor of B over A.
The reality is that Western healthcare works ok too. For example, I too have had acupuncture and some other alternative treatments. For the most part, a good massage can do the trick for my back, but acupuncture does not even the slightest good for me. Western medicine sadly has been the only pain relief for me. The actual healthcare is a matter of choice. If eastern style works, great! If western works better, wonderful! I don’t think it is a match up of Eastern vs. Western, but is should be Eastern & Western vs. Insurance & Administration.
On a side note, I would also argue that acupuncture be considered a normal western medical practice rather than alternative or eastern therapy. There is good (western) scientific data on how and why acupuncture works so well and provides long term health benefits that are not limited to the health complaint but also extend to ones heart and joints and mental well being. I mean listen, in today’s world we view “alternative” or holistic therapies as shaky. Some believe, many do not. Some therapies are questionable, I agree, but some are definitely not and are proven time and time again. Acupuncture is definitely one of these and should be widely accepted in the same sense as chiropractic therapies.
However, let me get back to the main point. I think mainstream healthcare in this country is totally out of whack without the need of comparisons to other functioning forms of healthcare. It is a drive through process where general practitioners are paid based on the number of patients that they rush through and not the quality of care. Couple that with the insane amount of work it takes to submit claims as well as the rising costs of insurance, and your hometown doctor is unable to make enough money to stay in business. Doctors are then faced with the choice of giving up the practice, moving into a specialty field or simply rushing more patients through the door. Honestly, thank god some still rush patients through the door or else no one would have healthcare! But seriously folks, this is the HMO system that created this monster. Another side note, I heard a report about a study done on doctors and malpractice claims. Doctors who spent more time with their patients had far less claims than the ones who rushed people through. The also found that there were on average the same numbers of incidents between the two, but that people actually pressed charges less on the ones who spent more time. Food for thought.
Now one of the reasons that I argue that we shouldn’t compared the alternative therapies to the mainstream is because the single mother in Baltimore working for minimum wage needs a general practitioner when he 5 year old girl gets sick. Not an acupuncturist. So we need to be wary of people thinking that this is a choice. An “either or” situation. Yes, I believe holistic medicine offers a better overall experience, but I truly believe that for the most part, it is the HMO structure and not the doctor. I realize that there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that some doctors are plain ass holes and they probably are, but I really worry about the state of the nation when we created this system where healthcare has turned into a fast food drive through.
You write in conclusion “I really am quite perplexed at our inability to see why Eastern medicine is better than our traditionally conceived notion of Western medicine” citing that Western medicine is overpriced and that Eastern medicine is rarely covered. I think here you are touching upon the heart of the matter. It is not the procedures per say from either western or eastern healthcare providers, but the infrastructure in healthcare payment. I would argue (but it would be another doctoral dissertation all together) that there are many practices that aren’t worth two cents in BOTH western and eastern practices, but the insurance industry has done a poor job of regulating what practices are worth the money and which are not. For instance, if you can get an insurance company to pay for preventative treatments, you’re a fricken genius. Most preventative medicines (such as cholesterol medicine and the such) aren’t even administered until after there is a problem. My sister in law was not allowed the continuous insulin pack (for the life of me, I cannot remember what it is called, but it continuously monitors sugar levels and administers insulin when needed). She wanted this device because she is young and by controlling the ups and downs with sugar early on, she vastly prolongs her life span. Would the insurance pay for this? Hell no! What did she have to do? She had to eat crappy food and feel like total dirt for months (where normally she is super good about her diet) so that she could go back to the doctor and be told that she is really sick so that she could be approved for the damned thing. Now if everyone who was severely diabetic had one, think of the cost savings of complications down the road? It is totally insane.
So in summation, I don’t think intrinsically that western medicine is any worse or better than eastern. I think they are apples and oranges and they both have their benefits. The key factor however is the administration of the healthcare. If eastern style practices were covered by your neighborhood HMO, I suspect access would be crappy, the co-pays would be out of this world and your acupuncturist would be rushing through patients in minutes rather than hours in order to keep their practice open for business. It is a sad state we are in. I totally agree that they rush you in and out, but the more I hear and read, the more I am convinced that this is out of necessity and not because they do not care or do not want to spend more time. The problem lies with how we pay for healthcare and who is in charge of what we pay to our doctors, for our drugs, and for procedures and therapies.
The Misery of Misery: A Tale of Separation Anxiety
So, Jeffrey just left. He got my up at 3:30 am to take him to base. I was dreaming that I was climbing a stone wall that was many stories high and I got super scared at the top thinking that I was going to fall. A friend helped me up and then I woke up with a start because I had fallen back asleep. I have become used to ignoring Jeff’s alarm, which is really his cell phone because he refuses to use my fancy little European alarm clock that I bought. Here is the kicker that really chaps my ass. I cant even plug in my alarm clock from the states, which we didn’t like anyway because it has this huge nightlight on the top which doubles as a spot light where Jeff will either cover the thing up with a t-shirt making the damned thing useless because who wants a clock that you cant see? Or he whines about the ridiculous spot light and puts on his little eye patches to keep the light from his eyes, which is really the sleeping patch that Delta Airlines gave us on the flight over to Italy. Anyway, everything is this dumb 220-volt, so to use anything, you need to buy a converter. 300 watts (which ain't much folks) could probably cover the clock and a light but even that costs $60. For the 2000 watt (which covers my coffee maker, or the vacuum cleaner, or the stereo but not any combination of the three without blowing circuits and burning out every electronic appliance in the house) it costs $200! This is highway robbery! Why the hell does the US have 120 volts and the rest of the world has 240? I mean a 60-watt light bulb uses just that, 60 watts regardless of the voltage. This is not an energy saving scheme we have going on here. It is just a moneymaking ploy to screw travelers out of using previously purchased electronic equipment. And don’t even get me started on the plugs! Ok, the plugs… Italy has these stupid two prong plugs that are like meat thermometers. This is just fine and dandy except that every damned country in Europe has something different, and here is where I blame the Italians… Germany (who makes my cute and fancy little cordless digital alarm clock, which I adore because it is like a Rubik’s cube because I cant read any of the labels on the buttons so programming is like a little puzzle to be solved every time) has these meat thermometer plugs too, except theirs are thicker. Now it appears that Germany is the major manufacturer of stuff here so everything you purchase needs a plug adapter. My American shit needs a plug adapter AND my Italian (German made) crap needs a plug adapter. It is annoying. I cherish the memory of being able to simply plug something in without blowing a circuit (which we do on occasion) or digging around the house for a spare adapter or worse, an expensive converter. Ugh.
Anyway, Im off track here, because the purpose of this post is that Im miserable about being miserable. My week will go like this…
Wake up and email, check the news, hunt for a job. Ill probably makes myself an omelet (god, how Im addicted to eggs!) and then rewrite another resume. I may get bored and clean a bit all the while listening to my Podcasts. Then 3:30 pm will come around, and just when Im getting antsy for Jeff to come home from work, I will feel like poo poo caca because he is gone. Ill be miserable and try to drink some wine but that will only make me feel worse because Im not much of a drinker when I feel crappy. I suppose that is a good thing or else I would have a serious alcohol problem.
Anyway, Wednesday starts and the dogs are thinking, “Where the heck is the other human?” so they will follow me around at my heels all day. ALL DAY! It is insane. They become nervous and needy which really shouldn’t surprise me since they are insane and have separation anxiety. If you’ve ever read about separation anxiety, the experts will more often tell you that the dog is bored and you should walk your dog more blah blah. Not my dogs. They fit the bill for the serious version. They are totally insane, but that is another story. Anyway, they will be testing my every nerve. Sadly, I know this will go on for days. DAYS I TELL YOU! Right about now, you should be feeling sorry for me. It is totally irritating to have your dogs literally within 12 inches of you for days. I cant even go to the bathroom without them pushing the door open and sitting next to me staring at me with sad eyes. Ugh.
This will probably last until the weekend, but right about then I will be even more miserable because Jeff is not here to hang out on the weekend. And this misery will go on for weeks. It stinks.
So, here I am writing. Im not yet miserable, but miserable about the fact that I will be miserable shortly and there is not a damned thing I can do about it. I know, I know. He is only gone for a few weeks, but I swear I have the human version of separation anxiety and I just plain don’t like it. Not one bit. Wish I could call my friends, but the hour difference is so weird and the calls are so expensive. So, I need a way to occupy some time. There is only so much one can do when you’re tight on money. I guess I could go to the gym, but that doesn’t sound like much fun now, does it? Anyway, suggestions are welcome. I need some busy work. I need to not be miserable about being miserable, because the misery is coming anyway, and there is no good reason for a bout of pre-misery, is there?
Anyway, Im off track here, because the purpose of this post is that Im miserable about being miserable. My week will go like this…
Wake up and email, check the news, hunt for a job. Ill probably makes myself an omelet (god, how Im addicted to eggs!) and then rewrite another resume. I may get bored and clean a bit all the while listening to my Podcasts. Then 3:30 pm will come around, and just when Im getting antsy for Jeff to come home from work, I will feel like poo poo caca because he is gone. Ill be miserable and try to drink some wine but that will only make me feel worse because Im not much of a drinker when I feel crappy. I suppose that is a good thing or else I would have a serious alcohol problem.
Anyway, Wednesday starts and the dogs are thinking, “Where the heck is the other human?” so they will follow me around at my heels all day. ALL DAY! It is insane. They become nervous and needy which really shouldn’t surprise me since they are insane and have separation anxiety. If you’ve ever read about separation anxiety, the experts will more often tell you that the dog is bored and you should walk your dog more blah blah. Not my dogs. They fit the bill for the serious version. They are totally insane, but that is another story. Anyway, they will be testing my every nerve. Sadly, I know this will go on for days. DAYS I TELL YOU! Right about now, you should be feeling sorry for me. It is totally irritating to have your dogs literally within 12 inches of you for days. I cant even go to the bathroom without them pushing the door open and sitting next to me staring at me with sad eyes. Ugh.
This will probably last until the weekend, but right about then I will be even more miserable because Jeff is not here to hang out on the weekend. And this misery will go on for weeks. It stinks.
So, here I am writing. Im not yet miserable, but miserable about the fact that I will be miserable shortly and there is not a damned thing I can do about it. I know, I know. He is only gone for a few weeks, but I swear I have the human version of separation anxiety and I just plain don’t like it. Not one bit. Wish I could call my friends, but the hour difference is so weird and the calls are so expensive. So, I need a way to occupy some time. There is only so much one can do when you’re tight on money. I guess I could go to the gym, but that doesn’t sound like much fun now, does it? Anyway, suggestions are welcome. I need some busy work. I need to not be miserable about being miserable, because the misery is coming anyway, and there is no good reason for a bout of pre-misery, is there?
Monday, January 26, 2009
Swiss Nursing Home
Hey everyone. Did I tell you that the place that Jeff booked in Switzerland was a nursing home? Not kidding. Not one bit... check back. Ill write the story and post the email in a bit. Ciao!
Flight to Italy
This is an old email, but it sparked some laughter. It is posted on the other site. Click here to read. Flight to Italy
By the way, if anyone ever heard news about this, let me know. We pretty much shut down Dulles for a bit, so I would love to hear if this was reported in the news.
recipe corner
Hey there folks! I have been trying out new recipes left and right. Some are ok and some are "knock your socks off" good, so I've decided to post some on my blog (not this one) so if you're interested, check it out.
All of the recipes need to be healthy, easy and DEEEEE-lish!
Those are my qualifications for a great recipe, so check them out. You are sure not to be disappointed. And remember to post a comment if you've tried one and let me know what you think! This is very important as cooking is my daily therapy. I love to be in the kitchen. There is something so incredibly satisfying about cooking delicious food for loved ones. Since you are all so very far away, I figure this is the next best thing.
Love, me
Happy Cooking!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The New HP Pavillion Carnivorous Laptop.
So, my sister and I are IMing. I go dormant for a bit and she is wondering where I ran off to.
I write (and I quote) "...Actually, I was getting some frozen meat for the laptop. It likes to eat frozen chicken and steaks."
She responds with "Meat for your computer...Interesting concept."
My response is "Yeah. Its strange. Basically, with the 220 volt electricity here, the lap top cord (you know the little box on the cord) over heats and then the lap top wont charge. Its insanely annoying, so we found if we lay the cord sticker side up and then put some frozen meat on it, then it keeps it cool enough to charge. So, we feed it meat. Really, the frozen bread does the best, and Jeff trued green beans yesterday but then forgot about it and I woke up to wet mushy greenbeans on the PC. So, I have gone back to chicken breast which also works well."
So yes, the HP Pavillion dv6000 has taken a liking to frozen meat. And really, the pumpkin apple bread that was in the freezer really worked the best. I do not have a scientific explaination as to why, I just take it on faith.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Adventures in Pedicures
So, poor Tuesday (the little yellow one). She is such a nut and so scared of everything... Their nails are awful (Im a bad dog owner for not having them clipped) so I finally decided to brave it and try it myself. The nail clippers are many years old but never used because of my fear of what may happen. Anyway, bring Tuesday into the kitchen and close Nanna out, so she is shaking and cowering already because she knows her crazy human is up to something. I clip her gangly nails and get one too short. Oops! Get the rest of the nails done and she is now bleeding everywhere. The dumb human that I am, I let her out of the kitchen because I felt bad. She is now bleeding everywhere and I need to put the Kwik Stop stuff on the nail to keep it from bleeding. I finally catch her as she is acting like she was just electrocuted and out of fear (no no! The human is trying to kill me!) she pees everywhere on the kitchen floor, which incidentally I had just mopped because Nanna had the Hershey squirts in the kitchen two times yesterday. Now there is pee and blood everywhere on the floor, I hold her down and put the kwik stop on the nail. She runs for her life and whimpers. I assume that she truly believes that her life is in danger from the one person who is supposed to take care of her. I notice blood everywhere still. So now I have cleaned up the blood and pee, and need to catch the dumb dog again to fix the stupid nail and keep her from bleeding on the carpets. God is shining down upon me however because for some strange reason, Tuesday avoids the white carpet. Halleluiah! At least I don't need to steam clean the carpets.
Nanna's turn and she sits next to me patiently while I clip away as if she is bored with the whole experience. Tuesday at this point is no longer bleeding or peeing, but is still acting like the devil is upon her. Sigh. I am definitely taking them to the vet next time to handle this nonsense. My fears of the clippers have come true and found that the cost incurred for the vet to handle certainly does not supercede the value of having them deal with this nonsense.
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