Stay at Home Morning

I didn't have to work this morning. Our new office is being built right outside our old office and they were delivering something-or-other that was going to entail a big crane truck. And I guess they didn't want anyone or anyone's cars to get crushed so they closed the office for the morning. So. I had the morning off. I had also had the day off yesterday, when I ran my errands and whatever and visited my Mom and sister. So I determined that I could do "nothing" and just relax this morning. I didn't get up until 8:15. Wow! And I watched Regis and Kelly/Ellen (flipping back and forth). And then I watched an old rerun of ER. It wasn't that old actually. It wasn't from way back. It was from that murky time during the 7-8-9th season when I wasn't really watching it. I am watching it now because it's the last season and I want to see all the old characters come back like they keep advertising they're going to. At 11 I wasn't sure what was on. So I flipped a bit and came upon Tyra. I NEVER watch Tyra. BUT.....she had Rosie O'Donnell on. And I always used to like Rosie. I watched her talk show every day. How did I do that? I've been working for a long time. She must have been on in the late afternoon and I'd watch her after work. And I really, really liked her show. I was sorry to see her getting weird after her talk show was over. But she wasn't weird today. She seemed to be back to her old self. She was charming and funny. When Tyra asked her for her opinion about current events (ie. the Michael Phelps scandal) she gave thoughtful and tactful answers. If she went back to doing another talk show I would totally watch it again. If it was on at a time when I could watch it. Which is now either early morning or early evening. sigh......... Anyway, back to the original reason for the story. So I stayed in my jammies all morning. Yes! All. Morning. And I did want to launder the sheets on my bed. 'Cause I couldn't really just do absolutely nothing all morning. But of course our laundry room is downstairs. And I live in an apartment building. Was it wrong for me to go down to the laundry room in my nightgown and bathrobe? That's my question. I'm not talking about cool printed pajama pants and a T-shirt. I'm talking about a bona-fide flannel nightgown and robe. No slippers. Of course the cute guy from downstairs who plays the guitar happened to come into the building as I was trying to hurry back into my apartment. And on the second trip to switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer, another guy from upstairs was in the hall. I smiled and nodded at both of them and neither one of them fell down onto the floor in horror or amusement. It's a good thing my kids don't still live with me so I can embarass them in this way. Kids can be funny about stuff like that. I remember when I was a kid my Mom would sometimes have curlers in her hair. Remember curlers? Now she didn't wear them out and about to the grocery store or anything like that. But she would have them in her hair when our friends would come over to play in our pool. And we would chant in a sing-songy voice "Curlers in your hair! Shame on you!" We were such nice kids that way. The two guys who saw me in the hall in my jammies didn't chant any songs to me. But I bet my kids would have if they'd seen me.

Off to Visit

We drove down to Leominster last night to visit Stepdaughter Wendy and her Boyfriend Allan. Stepson Kenny joined us for the dinner we were supposed to have on Sunday but that was cancelled cause of weather. This is a new apartment for them....they just moved beginning of the month. The place is really nice. Clean, nicely painted and with an extra bedroom for the baby. They already had it set up pretty nicely. We had a good visit. Of course baby Noah was the center of attention. He's five months old now and a bundle of energy. He smiles easily with the big toothless grin and the drool rolling down. I got a bunch of great open-mouth, wet, mushy baby kisses. I love it! Wendy made a delicious spiral ham with mashed potatoes and veggies. It's so funny to see your "child" become an adult. Adult? She's a kid! Yea, a kid who's 23, living on her own, working, with a serious relationship and a baby. hmmmmmmm....I guess that IS an adult. But it's hard for me to see it that way. I still freak out that my 30 year old son is an adult! He talks about finances and investments and whatever and I'm like.....didn't I change this kid's diapers?? Today is my first full day off in months. (not counting Sundays.....I mean day off when everyone else is working....that's the only real day off). It was nice to sleep in and now I'm going to visit my Mom whom I haven't seen in weeks.

Still Alive

Yes, I am still alive. Unusual for me not to post for three days, but you know how it is. Sometimes you just don't feel like it. So what's going on?

*I'm still sick but not hacking up a lung like I was a couple days ago. I haven't taken any cough medicine for two days. But I'm kinda congested.....and my throat is kinda tight.....and when I do cough, it's that rumbly, old-man-clearing-his-throat kind of cough. Gross. And I'm tired......just tired.

*We had my sister and her husband over for dinner Friday night. We don't get to see them except for holidays. And holidays at my Mom's house are crazy so you never get to talk. This was a nice evening. I did the old-fashioned pot roast in a bag, and we talked and ate and relaxed. I'd really like to do it more often. It's so hard to keep up with visiting everyone when you have a large family.

*Which leads me to...........Hubby got a call from his SIL Saturday night. She had been to visit Hubby's mother and Mom was wondering if Hubby was still alive. Cringe! He called her the next day and she thanked him for calling and said she guessed she'd talk to him again in another two weeks. Cringe!!

*I worked Saturday morning and then lay on the couch watching "A League of Their Own". Have you seen it? It's awesome. I've watched it seventy million times. Gena Davis, Rosie O'Donnell, Madonna, Tom Hanks. Best line...."There's no crying in baseball!" I didn't really feel like doing anything.....so I didn't.

*We had planned on going out Saturday night and after some debate decided to go anyway. Hubby and I like to dance.....YES! Hubby likes to dance!!! But of course at our age, it's not easy to find a band we like. We go see The Classmates as often as we can. They play classic 60's and 70's music. You can sing along to every song. They were playing at a new place called Focaccia's. The food was excellent. We ate in the bar because that's where the band was setting up. They played their first set with the wall between the bar and dance floor closed because there was a function going on. Then between sets they opened the wall and we were able to dance. Despite not feeling great I had a ball. I think it did me good to go out.

*Sunday I got dressed only to walk to the store for my newspaper and then stayed in and vegged the rest of the day. We were supposed to have Hubby's kids over, but the weather was bad ....snow/rain/sleet/mush/crap.....and we didn't want the kids coming out in it. So we stayed home and I watched Amazing Race. The hick couple got knocked out.....good thing because they couldn't find their way out of a paper bag. Although I did feel badly for the wife when she was lost and she was crying.

*Tonight we are going to Step-daughter's house for our make-up from Sunday. I am excited to see my grand-son. I haven't seen him since Christmas. Step-daughter did send a photo though:

Apparently he's incredibly intelligent. I think I might see if he'd like to do my taxes.

I'm Sick

It finally hit me. After making it through most of the winter I finally caught something. I don't get sick too often anymore. I used to be sick all winter long.....especially when I was doing daycare. But four or five years ago I started taking Echinacea. And it's really helped.

I started on Thurday with the little cough from the tickle in the throat. Then the tickle became worse. It's weird cause my nose isn't stuffed, but there must be some post-nasal drip because I've been hacking up a lung for the past two days.

I don't usually take medicine because I'm very sensitive to medicines. But it wouldn't be great if I was hacking away at work. So I took some Robitussen with decongestant. And now I feel like a zombie. Like I could seriously put my head down on my desk and take a nap. But I'll try not to.

%$*$#$% Insurance Company

I had my appointment for my physical yesterday. No...I did not get the actual physical. Last summer I decided to swtich my primary care doctor. I never liked my doctor.....he had zero bedside manner. Then he left the practice and I was left with a succession of doctors that changed every time I went there. Finally, they messed up on some tests and were very cold about it so I finally decided I'd had enough. Since I was on Hubby's insurance now, I thought maybe I could go back to my old doctor, whom I loved. Last August I called the insurance company to check and see if Dr. L was on my plan. They assured me she was so I called her office. Yes, she was taking new patients but her next opening for a complete new patient physical was February. I took it. Then I blew off my physical in August at the old doctor because I knew the insurance company would not pay for two physicals in one year. I waited until January to request my files be transferred because I couldn't visit Dr. L if I was sick until she'd seen me for the physical and I wanted to be sure I had a primary doctor in the interim. The old doctor then sent me a form asking me why I was leaving the practice, and I sent it back fully filled out with a scathing reply. yep.....burned that bridge. Yesterday was finally the day. I did my 12 hour fasting (no ice cream for me before bed) and went in at 830. They asked for my insurance card at the window and I gave it to them. And it started. "We don't take this insurance." I answered, "I called my insurance company in August and they said you did." She double-checks her list. "Oh.....it says Open Access. That means we do." I was relieved. I didn't want to have gone through all this to find out I couldn't use this doctor. They take me immediately into the back and weigh me (cringe), I pee in the cup and they bring me to the room to get undressed. The nurse comes in and sticks me for blood. As usual, my veins don't cooperate and I will have to go to the lab for the bloodwork. That's fine. I'm used to it. So I'm sitting there in my paper vest with the opening in the front which doesn't quite cover my boobs.....okay....doesn't even come close to covering my boobs.....and the paper 'blanket' that leaves my backside totally open.....when the nurse comes back in. "Honey," she says, "I hate to tell you this, but we checked again and we do not take your insurance." I just sat there in my paper attire and stared at her. "Are you kidding me?" "Nope. I'm so sorry. We can still give you the physical but you would have to pay out of pocket." Well that doesn't make any sense. Even if I paid out of pocket for the physical.....which would be insane.....I wouldn't be able to keep her as a doctor unless I paid out of pocket every time. So the nurse left, I put on my clothes and cried in the car all the way home because I was so angry and frustrated. Yes, I called the insurance company. Yes, they were sorry. They will "re-train" the girl who made the mistake so it wont' happen again. But there was nothing they could do. And now I have to find a new doctor. Soon.

Interview

My friend at Zoo Askew is interviewing people. The game goes like this.....I will answer her questions, and if you would like to be interviewed, leave a note on my comments saying, "interview me!" and I will send you my questions. What is your greatest accomplishment/of what are you most proud (besides being a mom)? Tough one because being a mom IS my proudest accomplishment....but since you said I can't use that, I guess my biggest accomplishment is finishing my college and getting my degree at the age of 45. It took a lot of determination to get it done and work full time and take care of a family at the same time. What is the most recent skill/hobby you have learned? I think that would be working in an office. I've worked in child care all my life and working with the public in an office is a whole 'nother thing. I feel like the management skills I learned in college and used on a daily basis when running my daycare has helped me tremendously. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? Did you follow the advice? The best piece of advice I ever got was from my brother John, which was, "do not go into business with friends or family." I did not follow that advice and it was the most horrible time of my life....and I lost my best friend as a result. What is your zodiac sign and do you feel like it is accurate? My zodiac sign is Gemini. A web site told me a Gemini is: A great thinker - so true, so true. Notice the aforementioned college degree A people person - very true. Seriously...I love people, love to be with them, love to watch them. An avid Reader - very much. I read several novels a week. has an affinity for word puzzles - no no no no no.....I stink at puzzles Multi-talented - sure...why not. Why do you blog and what made you start blogging? I blog as a way to stay in touch with friends and family. I like to write and this gives me an outlet. I started blogging thanks to my friend Joan who was a good friend years ago and then moved away. We stay in touch by blogging now. Would you like to be interviewed? Comment me!

This and That

Typical February in New Hampshire. Not so much going on: *The weather has actually been decent. 40 degrees out and sunshiny. We haven't had any precipitation in a while. I guess that's supposed to change tonight when we get snow/rain/mush. Only an inch or two or three.....really not enough to even mention. *My work has been getting busier. They put up a great big sign so now people know we're there. Still, when they call, we have to give directions then say, "it looks like a construction site, but don't worry, that's us....we are in the trailer mobile office." *I have a tickle in my throat. I have to do that annoying one syllable cough every two or three minutes. I'm hoping I'm not going to get sick. Everyone around me is sick....colds, flu, kids are sick, barfing, coughing, sneezing, etc. And they all come to work! So far I've been good. I'm a big proponent of Echinacea. I've been taking it for several years and truly, truly believe it boosts my immune system.

*Last night I went out with my Girl scout leader friends for our monthly dinner. We ate at New England Seafood, which was delicious. We had a nice time visiting and catching up.

*Speaking of Girl Scouts, my husband bought cookies from a guy at work.....or I guess really from his daughter. The kind I like used to be called Samoas. Now they're coconut caramel something or others but whatever you call them, they're delish.

*Tonight was supposed to be babysitting night for Emily. But DIL just called to say they are staying at her mother's house for a few days. They have a guy putting a new floor in the kitchen and the project has taken over the house. The refrigerator and kitchen table are sitting in the middle of the living room. There's no place for the baby to be and no place for son and DIL to sit. I told her maybe I could call this weekend and visit so I don't have Emily withdrawals.

*I have my annual physical tomorrow. I'm going to a new doctor. The old one really ticked me off. It's a long story. Oh....you want me to tell it? Here's the short version. I had a problem last summer with blood in the urine (sorry...I know...TMI) so they sent me for tests. Then they sent the results of those tests to me in a letter, rather than the doctor or anyone else at the office calling me.....including the letter that said, "suspicious mass in your kidney." I was quite furious. After lots of tests it turned out to be a fluid filled cyst in my kidney...totally benign. I had no allegience to this doctor's office anyway because doctors went in and out of there like a revolving door, so when I got the chance to go back to my old doctor ....whom I'd reluctantly left because of a change in insurance.....I decided to go back. I hope she's as nice as I remember her. The other doctor made the mistake of sending me a "patient exit interview" asking why I left them. I filled both sides, front and back.

*I finished my secret project and shipped it off today so now I can finally begin Noah's birth announcement cross stitch. Here's why I don't like kits: They send all the pieces of thread with no names or numbers on them! I spent two hours last night sorting the threads and trying to figure out which color is which. Some of the colors are just the tiniest hair difference from the next one. On this pattern there's Pale Terra Cotta, Light Terra Cotta, Terra Cotta and Dark Terra Cotta. They all look the same!

* The new seasons of Survivor, Amazing Race and American Idol have started. I am in heaven!