October chitchat

[agate]

Now we're in October, and thanks to everyone who has been stepping up to the plate lately!

We're interested in what's going on in your life even if it seems boring to you. So prattle on about whatever is on your mind. This space is here for you.

The Medical Guardian emergency response system I've been subscribing to has put out a newsletter, and this latest one includes a Fall Prevention Guide.. It's a .pdf file, filled with colorful graphics (and puffery for Medical Guardian), and some people here have problems with .pdf files but I'm going to try to post some of the suggestions here soon. Stay tuned in case you missed previous fall prevention information.

I'm hoping that strong winds or hurricanes aren't making life difficult for people in Florida and points north. Please check in and let us know that you haven't been blown away. The news stories have been alarming.

[agate]

Howie, I tried sending you an e-mail but in case you didn't get it--I don't know what came over Social Security but they paid today even though their Website was saying that the payment would be on Monday. Hope this means good news for you too.

[Snuggles2]

In Western PA we are getting the remnants of Ian which is just an all day rain. Steady rain but no winds. Seeing the complete devastation in some areas in Florida makes me very sad. It's hard to believe that a storm could do that much damage. My heart goes out to all who have lost their homes and livelihoods in the hurricane.

Making pizza for dinner tonight. I never did make it to the local farm to pick up some apples. I like to avoid the crowds on the weekends since the farm has a lot of activities during the weekends that attract crowds although with the rain today who knows if it is busy. I will try to go next week.

This weather makes me want to curl up on the couch and watch TV. Some of the shows we watch are starting their seasons. We have the Chicago series (Med, Fire and P.D.) recorded so I am sure that is what we will watch tonight. We also watch Grey's Anatomy, Blue Bloods, The Good Doctor and Survivor. What is everyone else watching?

Stay warm and dry!

[agate]

I watch TV shows only as they become available on DVDs a bit later. I like being able to interrupt a DVD and return to it later without missing anything. With a TV program, if I miss part of it because I get interrupted, I'm out of luck. And sometimes I don't hear or see part of a scene--with a DVD I can just replay it or put it on Pause long enough to read whatever it was that I missed.

I'm glad you mentioned some TV shows you find worth watching, Snuggles. As a former and long-time Chicagoan (3rd generation there in fact) I'm interested in watching movies about Chicago and looked up "Chicago Fire" for a start:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

I feel less homesick when hearing familiar street names or seeing familiar landmarks. Chicago is homeground for me but I have to admit much of it has changed beyond recognition since I lived there.

[Snuggles2]

I get why you like to watch DVD's because of the potential of interruptions. We only watch news programs live, the rest of the programs we record. WIth the recording we can pause/stop/resume play at will. I usually need a bathroom break while watching TV or sometimes someone will phone and I will stop the show and resume watching it the next day.

I never lived or have been to Chicago but I do enjoy watching the series. I especially like Chicago Med as I am drawn to medical shows of all kinds.

[agate]

Yes, I do watch news live.

Years ago I watched "The Simpsons" and "Judge Judy" and even (I'm embarrassed to admit this) "Cops." Nowadays I wait for the next seasons of some of the PBS shows to come along. Not just PBS shows though. I went through the entire run of "Treme," "The Wire," "The Good Fight" and even "Mad Men." I tried "Succession" but couldn't get into it.

[Virginia]

Yesterday we got our part of the hurricane. We got enough wind that there are lots of small limbs in front of my house. My storage room door is standing wide open from the wind. I don't know how the wind did that due to the position of the door. It is still open because the deck is so wet I didn't want to go out there today. The rain was very heavy. I was lucky and did not loose power, however I did loose my TV. and internet service. I watched my DVR where I had recorded episodes of Love it or List it. Naturally with me it is about houses, decorating and stuff like that with me.

Snuggles, like you, I seldom watch TV live except news. I record everything, so I can watch when I want and fast forward through the commercials. It came in handy yesterday when the cable went out. Since I had power I could still watch the DVR.

PAN (Patient Assistance Network) is going to put on a program telling all about prescription part D new program that was passed recently. I tried to sign up for it, but for some reason it wouldn't take my information. If anyone sees anything about it please post all information you can find.

It got real cold here yesterday during the storm. Not as cold today, but still cool.

[Ikoiko]

Tonight I watched the first episode of season 11 of Vera. I am grumpy about it, because it used to be free on PBS, but I now have to watch it through Brit Box through my Amazon Prime account. I have a 7 day free trial of Brit Box, so maybe I can finish the whole season by then.

[agate]

Ikoiko, I've been following "Vera" too. I'll be on the lookout for Season 11--I've seen the first 10 seasons.

Virginia, I'm glad you escaped the worst of the hurricane. Your area seems to specialize in dramatic weather, and so that may be why you're taking this in stride.

I don't know much about the Patient Assistance Network but did find their Website--which you probably already know about. The recent changes to Medicare Part D seem to be scheduled not to happen for a while--January 2023 for some but much later for others, according to this from the AARP:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[Howie]

Well, I was taking the car to get it inspected, and got out on the main road, and heard the whomp, whomp sound of a flat tire. I pulled into the place I get gas, and pulled over to where the air pump is, and was ready to put air in which ever tire it was.

I found the flat tire and saw why. It had a hole big enough to put my hand in. How and where I did that I'll never know. I limped it home and called my sister.

The place I was headed to get it inspected is sending a tow truck tomorrow to pick it up and take it to where I was originally headed. They will replace to tire and then inspect it, and then I guess my sister will take me to pick it up.

I guess the question of what I was going to do with my money this month has been answered.

[agate]

Bad luck, Howie! Maybe the place you're dealing with will accept installment payments? I know you don't deal in credit cards but they come in handy....

What is it about money? Every time a person gets some of it, something costly comes along that has to be paid for, and then the money is gone. Did some clown say, "It's only money"? That's the kind of saying that doesn't speak to me.

[Howie]

"It's only money"? That's the kind of saying that doesn't speak to me.

Me either. It's usually someone with lots of money that didn't have to work for it that has that kind of outlook.

[Howie]

I just went and got my car back. I swung by the grocery store and got a few snacky things on my way home. And I wanted to get a book of stamps, but they said they had been out for a long time. Must be a price increase on the way. I don't know what their price is now. I just ask for a book of stamps, and they ring it up, and toss it in the bag.

That was a good turn abound time with the car. I'm all legal for another year!!!

[agate]

If you buy Forever stamps, you can keep using them no matter how often the price of stamps goes up. But running out of Forever stamps means you do have to pay the current price to buy more of them, and that price has been going up so fast that it's scary.

[Virginia]

I think I read what I was referring to about PAN coming out with a program on Medicare changes, especially pertaining to drug coverage. I read in Medpage Today that beginning in 2024 the maximum anyone on Medicare will pay out of pocket for drugs is $2,000.00 per year. This could definitely effect anyone who is on a DMD that they pay for, such as the injectables, and the oral drugs. The infusions that are given in the office are already covered so they will not be affected. I am not sure about Linda or Snuggles, but I think they would be the only ones, other than me, who takes a drug that would be affected.

Just as an aside, I was going through some papers and found that my Rebif cost more than $72,000 per year in 2015. This year it is costing $130,800. Quite an increase.