OT January Chit Chat

[Cat Dancer]

Cat, you're doing better with the cell phone than I am. I don't have any numbers programed in the phone, but I feel like it's good brain exercise to have them programmed in my head.

What's odd is if someone asks me just for my phone number, I have to include the area code, or I get it wrong. My cell phone is training me to always include the area code!

Well, having them in your head will not work very well if you're not "in your head"! :) But then....are you ever in your head??? hahahahahaha.....

[Howie]

Both cats are pointing at me, and rolling in the floor laughing!

[Sunshine]

Cat, that sounds so dam frustrating with the insurance.

Howie, you can put your emergency number at the top of your cell contact list. That way you just hit a couple of buttons and the phone will dial your emergency contact. If you need help, you might not be able to recall a phone number, as cat pointed out.

Since this big attack, DH has consented to always have his phone on his body. I keep the phone in reaching distance so I can either call him or text "help".

I also keep it on me at work d can text my office manager "help" so she can come get me if I suddenly am spasming so bad I can't walk or anything, like what occurred during Hurricane Matthew.

[Howie]

I switched over to a cell phone because the hardline phone price kept climbing. It has really saved me money since I got it. I don't use the phone much anyway, my brother and sister mostly.

[agate]

...

What's odd is if someone asks me just for my phone number, I have to include the area code, or I get it wrong. My cell phone is training me to always include the area code!

Maybe including the area code is what everyone will have to do sooner or later. The town I live in, which thinks of itself as always on the cutting edge, makes people include the area code when dialing any local number.

[Howie]

Well then, that makes me a hip, cool, cutting edge trend setter kind of guy! Go on, just ask me my area code!!!

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Howie ~ so glad you got everything accomplished and that you took your phone. I hope you didn’t think that I was nagging you. I just feel strongly that everyone should keep their cell phone charged and handy at all times. Even when you’re in the garage or your yard. It’s possible to fall anywhere. Or have some kind of medical need. Or for Mother Nature to whip up a tornado. Or have a fender bender on the road. If you have your phone with you, you’re able to call for help.

Not only that, but your cats are pretty smart. You leave your phone at home, and who knows how many long distance calls to foreign countries they might be making?

I’m so sorry for those of you, who are contending with insurance coverage of your medications. This just shouldn’t be happening to you or to anyone in our civilized and “advanced” country. Jim and I have UHC for Medicare supplements Part B and Part D. It’s not cheap! It seems only fair that everyone should get what they need, as long as they pay their premiums. And the cost of prescriptions is outrageous. Our system is so messed up. It shouldn’t be a privilege to have health care coverage. It’s a right. A human right.

My prayers are with each of you that you get the coverage and the meds you need. I just wish you didn’t have to go through all of this stress to do that.

Love & Light,

Rose

[SuzE-Q]

Happy New Year, everyone!

Cat, this total upset over your plan(s) and coverage totally sucks. Hope it can all be worked out. What a headache. How are you feeling? Sounds like you did a lot of cooking over the holidays. Hope TC is well.

Virginia, hope your coverage can be worked out too. I decided on a quiet new years too, didn't even watch any tv programs and didn't look like I missed much except Mariah Carey lipsincing offtime.

Howie, since you can't walk far, having the cellphone with you helps to ensure you aren't stranded somewhere. Glad you brought it with you. BBS, glad you've made changes to keep you safe too.

Howie, is yours a pay as you go? I have a bare basic one, but think I want to change plans. Do you pay per minute for calls, or buy "minutes", or have a monthly plan? Glad you got lots accomplished today. Did your doc ok the increase in lyrica? Is it still helping?

Peg, glad your sister is doing well.

Parsi, Sally - hope you're both feeling better.

Nuthatch, sorry Christmas plans changed, you must have been disappointed. Hard to travel with young kids though. Unfortunately, it happens.

Jeanie, I sure am wishing for your sunny, warm weather about now!

ETA: Rose, we posted at the same time, but I agree with everything you say - good health care and prescription coverage should be simple and cost effective, not unmanageable!

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

I Met You Today

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Here's the second installment of my post ...

Now, for my little story ~

Today, I went to the grocery store, which I haven’t done in over a decade. Jim is the shopper. It’s hard for me to get in and out of the van, and to lift groceries. So, Jim took over. Now, Jim is ill, so I’m the shopper.

I used to take my boys in their wheelchairs to this store, pushing and pulling their chairs and a loaded cart. I can’t believe I used to do that, but I was young and fit then.

The store is bigger than I remember and overwhelming. I didn’t know where anything was located, and I didn’t have a list (never again!). It was inventory and stacking day at the store, so every aisle had one or two employees and at least one pallet of products. And for some reason, everyone and their brother decided to shop this morning! This made maneuvering difficult. Glad I didn’t have two wheelchairs in addition to the cart!

In the frozen food section, I encountered a lovely lady in the store’s motorized scooter. Snow white hair, perfectly coiffed. A sweet smile and kind eyes. She opened the freezer door, then tried to hold it open with her cane, just as I approached her. So I walked up next to her, and I said, “May I help you get that?”

She turned to me and thanked me, as she moved forward in the scooter. I asked her how many pizzas she needed, and she replied only one.

When I placed it in her overflowing cart, she told me that she was buying food for a needy family, who “need warm food in this cold weather.” (It’s 55 degrees here, but it’s also Southern California. And it’s been raining a lot recently.)

I asked her if I could help her with any more groceries, and she said that she was finished. I laughed. “It’s a good thing, because I don’t think you can put one more thing in there!”

Then I asked her if I could help her with the checkout. She put her hand on my arm, smiled, and she said, “You are so kind, and I thank you. But I can manage. I wish you a happy new year, dear. God bless you!”

“I’m glad I met you and very happy I could help you. Happy new year to you too, and a healthy new year as well. God bless you.”

This beautiful lady reminded me of each of you (even you Howie ), and all of your discussions about shopping and motorized carts. The moment I saw her, I said a silent prayer, “Thank you God for putting me here right now so I can help this woman.”

For me, helping her was symbolic of helping you. I don’t know her diagnosis, of course, but she needs to use the store’s very nice motorized carts. And if I could be near each of you, I would help you joyfully. Today, I helped your surrogate, if you will, and she and I both left our encounter with lighter hearts and a certain symbiosis.

Love transcends all boundaries. And it feels good.

I love you, respect and admire each one of you. And I pray for you.

HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL ~

Love & Light,

Rose

[SuzE-Q]

And yet SHE was there to help others, Rose!

[Howie]

Suze, just full of it tonight, aren't you? No I mean the need to find out things.

I'm with Consumer Cellular, and the plan I have is $25 for 1000 minutes. I don't use close to that, but the next plan down is $20. Sometimes my brother and I get into a talk-a-thon, so I got the extra minutes for $5. I like Consumer Cellular.

It took half the day to get my scripts filled, but I was taking 100mg 3x a day, and now I got a script for 225mg 2x a day. I was starting to get a little pain before the next dose, so I'm interested to see how I do tomorrow.

It doesn't give me any kind of buzz, just kills pain. The one thing it does do, is how it affects your dreams. I woke up today thinking it was afternoon, and it was 8am. Not exciting or sexy dreams, but rather long and boring.

Well, having the phone with me is a good idea, and I thank you all for nagging....er...I mean making me realize it is a good idea. I did feel safer today driving. Something unexpected could happen, and now I could call someone to help.

Okay, get those swelled heads to bed.

[SalpalSally]

You hooooooooooo!!!

[Virginia]

You hoooooooo right back at ya Sally. Hope you are having a good day.

[Howie]

Even though I JUST got up, I have a HI! for our sweet Sally. The cats say Hi too.

[Frog42]

Hi Sally! How are you feeling today?