OT December Chit Chat

[stillstANNding]

Virginia, you would need to get a phone but you might be able to go in on one of your brother’s plans. We added my mom to ours. It added only $20 a month for unlimited talk, text and data. And yes, she insists on sending us checks!

ANN

[Pegakafarmgirl]

Hi,, I am also worried Jeanie, is falling,, and glad she did find away to get help,, Cat,, I bet its going to feel good to be at home,,,I hope everyone gets to feeling better, its no fun being sicker then we are,,

not much else going on,, X/Mas presents are bought,, we have our big Christmas party Saturday night,, around 60 people at a community center we tried houses, but not enough space,, Joe and I are making oyster stew,, {sorry >>> I hate it,,lol},, but alot of people like it,,

well better go,, >>>>> Merry Christmas !

[agate]

Wow, Peg, that is the real Christmas spirit--being ready, willing, and able to whip up oyster stew for 60 people when you don't like oyster stew!

Virginia, ANN mentioned possibly getting a phone on a relative's plan. I've known of a number of people who do this. One neighbor here is on her daughter's plan though her daughter is in Phoenix.

I'm really ignorant about these phones. I have a vague idea what a flip phone is but don't understand about "data." When I get e-mails from Assurance Wireless about waiting for "SCRTN" to appear on the screen, and to make sure the "PRL" has been updated, I start to wonder if I'm on another planet.

Years ago I read a book called Stranger in a Strange Land, about someone from another planet who turned up on Earth. Sometimes I feel like that person.

The book about Android for dummies will get here this week.

Android. It even sounds like something from another planet. They've recorded the sound of wind on Mars now. Some of those people (?) out there may have taken over our planet.

[Howie]

Agate, I heard the sound from mars this morning. Erie to think what you are listening to.

[stillstANNding]

Howie, I heard the wind on Mars. Weird and awesome. Did you get any gifts for your birthday?

Virginia, you don’t have to get a new smart phone. There are plenty of used ones including refurbished from Apple and probably the Android brands, I imagine. One of your brothers might have an old one in a drawer.

ANN

[Lazarus]

I heard it too..

Agate, I heard the sound from mars this morning. Erie to think what you are listening to.

It sounds like wind.

[Howie]

Yes, but it's the sound of wind coming from another planet.

Ann, I got a card from my sister, and a call from my brother.

[Virginia]

Thanks for tips on phones, but I don't want to get anything financial involved with either sister-in-law. It might be alright and it might not be. Rather than let anything have any effect on relations, I had rather try on my own. Besides, even though they keep their same numbers, both of them are very bad about buying new phones every time a new one comes out. Younger brother bought a new Apple recently. I can't remember what middle brother has. I just see them with their phones and see that they have a new one. They trade them in, so they do not keep the old ones. Sister-in-laws are about the same. The latest gadgets I guess.

They are easy because they talk a lot into theirs - at least sister-in-laws do. That keeps you from having to use fingers as much. However, they both can text if they want. One is a prolific texter.

By the way, looks like older brother in S.C. is going to move to Winston Salem, N.C. He and his wife looked at an independent living facility in Burlington, NC where her daughter lives. You had to buy into it and it was over $200,000. You still paid the same monthly fee. If for any reason you had to leave or wanted to you got none of your money back.

They then looked at one in Winston Salem, NC which you buy. It is a condo and not a villa. Anyway, plans are to completely renovate the bath and redo some other things such as kitchen. They are on first floor, and if needed a golf cart will come to the end of their corridor and carry them to dinning room for meals. I hope they go through with it because his daughter who has been such a help to them is only about 4 to 5 miles away and his son is closer. Of course it is a smaller place and they are having to decide what to keep and what to get rid of in SC, and also see if any of the kids want any of it. It is close to 1300 sq feet, and if laid out well that should be quite sufficient for them. Especially since they will not be taking their big dinning room furniture.

[Catdancer]

Yes, going home. TC "passed" his test as caregiver, I did all my testing. So why are they keeping me another day?? I don't know. But I'm going home on Wednesday morning....... TC will be glad to have his cook back! He's been eating sandwiches, or microwaved baked potatoes, scrambled eggs, while I've been away. He's ready for a hot meal...And I'm ready for some decent food. The food here really is not good. So on the way home we are going grocery shopping, then I'll go home and cook!

[Lazarus]

Cat, this is great news! I hope you do get to go home. I know TC will be so glad to have you back, and those dear little cats miss their Mommy. This is good news.

Agate, I am still putting off getting a phone that is more than my flip phone. I know that my fingers will not handle one. Too many years of Raynaud's have left them numb. However, I have checked some prices and they are very expensive and the plans that would be available to me are very expensive. So that is another reason I have put off doing anything. The only reason I would want one is to have Uber and Grubhub. Would like to know that I can call them if I need them, and I can't do that on the flip phone.

I am glad you have a smart phone and it sounds like you are going to be real happy with it. Knowing you, you will have everything about it down pat in no time.

Virginia,
My phone service is Consumer Cellular. It is a great company. I use an old fashioned flip phone but they also have smart phones. You would have control over your plan and it is really good. I pay $ 50 a month and that covers my phone, John’s phone, unlimited everything including texting. It does not connect to the internet. But it does have a medical emergency capability. Check out the company.

Also, on YouTube they have videos demonstrating every instruction for setup.

[Cherie]

Howie,
How is your BP on the new meds? Any side effects that are unpleasant the the three new ones?

The last of the restoration/cleaning work was done today and paid for so I should be getting a final check from the insurance company later this week. Plates and new car mats are in for my new car (they are giving me new all weather mats for the entire car since the one I test drove had them) so I am getting those tomorrow.

[Virginia]

Linda, thanks for the tip about u-tube and phones. I had not thought of that.

I have wasted my whole evening. I had a printer problem and took the back off. Then I didn't know how to get it back on. Sometime I feel so dumb. Finally, did it.

[Virginia]

Linda, I forgot to say that on the plan I now have with Verizon I pay upfront once a year. I pay $100.00 and that more than last me for the whole year. I like to talk on my landline phone and not my cell phone. This is one reason I keep putting off getting another phone. I don't use a cell phone enough to warrant paying for it. Yet, I would like to have one so that if I am ever stuck and need a ride I can call Uber, which I can not do with my flip phone.

[Howie]

Cherie, I'm doing fine with the new meds. They all are actions other meds I was taking were doing. The only thing that worries me is that all my meds have no refills written on the bottles.

I think it's some new policy CVS has, or maybe all pharmacies have. I'll find out next year when they all are due to be refilled. Thanks for checking on me. I really appreciate it.

[Cherie]

Cherie, I'm doing fine with the new meds. They all are actions other meds I was taking were doing. The only thing that worries me is that all my meds have no refills written on the bottles.

I think it's some new policy CVS has, or maybe all pharmacies have. I'll find out next year when they all are due to be refilled. Thanks for checking on me. I really appreciate it.

I think when you get a med at the ER or a minute clinic now they only give you a limited supply and you must follow up with your PCP if the med is tolerated to get more. With something like the BP which may or may not respond to the meds, they will often (even the PCP) not do refills till they know it is tolerated and working as hoped for. So...are you checking your pressures to see how the new meds are working? That would be very helpful to the doc.