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Monday, January 2, 2017

A New Start to Whining

A new year...so far, I have
* eaten the requisite (for my people) black eyed peas and cornbread (for luck and gold, respectively)
* foregone the requisite (for my people) greens (for money. Foregone because they are yucky and money and gold both seems like double coverage).
* started the new position
* seen a high school friend

Whines:
* too much screen time for Baboos is sucking out my brain cells.
* have not slept well for the past two nights.

How is 2017 going for you, pixies?

48 comments:

kathy a. said...

YAY about starting the new position, and seeing an old friend!

We substituted white beans (for blackeyed peas; still delish) and green beans for greens.

It has been cold, and so I have had 2 cats in proximity the last few nights. One is old and sick, but she seems to do better with some body to sleep on, or next to. Can't believe this sweet girl took until near the end of her life to become so lovey (with both humans and the dog), but it's a good thing.

Best to everybody! xoxo

kathy a. said...

AW: The last professor recommendation went in today, so daughter's law school applications are DONE DONE DONE! (Most aren't due until Feb. or sometimes March.) This is all on her; but I'm sharing her joy.

esperanza said...

Hooray, daughter!

Liz Miller said...

Hooray Daughter!

Hooray Esperanza for starting the new job!

I was really hoping I'd wake up on Sunday to find that we were doing 2016 over again "Groundhog Day" style. I guess not. Fireplace.

kathy a. said...

If you think congress should have ethics oversight, today is time to play "call your congresscritter," because there was a surprise move yesterday to eliminate the office looking into things like representatives accepting bribes and etc. Full vote is supposed to be today.

AW: Think our drought is finally getting busted this winter! Been plenty of rain lately. At last!

Sue said...

Happy New Year, everyone!

Yay for seeing a high school friend and starting the new job, esperanza!

Yay daughter for getting those applications in!

Sorry Liz, no Groundhog Day. :(

W: we've been hit with a tin of snow, to be followed tomorrow by a bone-chilling cold snap.

AW: I didn't have to drive to the funeral home today, so I wasn't part of the insane driving/crashing party going on all over the city. The funeral director picked me up in the limo.

kathy a. said...

OMG, the limo! I think if you have to go to the funeral home and there's snow, and everybody's crashing, that is definitely a good ride. (Also, very sorry about some family's loss.)

My friend successfully placed her husband with dementia in a facility yesterday -- a place that seems to be perfectly suited, and so far so good! There has been family dissent about this, but she had good support from several, including at least one tearful apology for not realizing how bad it was. (Hint: bad. If you can't keep someone safe at home, or ensure your own safety -- it's time.)

Sue said...

I'm glad your friend was able to make the right choice amid family strife - that adds a tough element. Yes, safety is everything.

kathy a. said...

My friend's first choice was all lined up, the social worker came out to do an evaluation to decide which "house" her husband would be in -- and then that place bailed at the last minute, because of behavioral issues. That development might have been a wake-up to certain family members who thought things weren't bad enough yet...

But it is so good she found this other place, which really is better equipped for his issues, and patient about working with him. He thought it seemed like a nice hotel, and all is calm!

esperanza said...

Why, oh why, do the Baboos not go back to school until tomorrow? We are driving each other bananas.

kathy a. said...

My desktop is (finally) off at the computer hospital, and the Wizard lives very close to my house! Plus, break in the rain while I drove over!

Daughter's birthday is this weekend! (Don't know how I got so old...) Another excuse for a sweet family dinner, though -- this time at a Japanese place.

Sue, hope the in-laws are doing OK.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh Kathy, I'm so relieved for your friend that her husband's placement has worked out, and at least some family members have backed off. And hooray for Daughter's applications being complete!

Congratulations on starting your new position, esperanza!

I'm in the middle of the cold snap too, Sue! Ugh. We had slight melting + heavy snow + sudden deep freeze, and now everything is dangerously slippery. At least we had pleasant (but snowy) weather for Christmas.

Li'l E would like to whine that the Christmas season/vacation is almost over. I explained to her that we'll take down the decorations on Saturday, and she grumbled, "No more Christmas is BORING." I promised her that, after the decorations are down, we'll immediately start working on making Valentines for all of her preschool friends, using her new fancy craft kit.

Liz Miller said...

Esperanza, TOMORROW? Really? Muffin Man's school went back yesterday.

AW: The house is currently redolent of zucchini bread and ersatz chicken divan. Mmmmm baked curry.

kathy a. said...

I'm going to Liz' house for dinner.

Lil E needs some kind of calendar of all the holidays, everywhere. Or maybe not, since you'd have to celebrate them; but at least it wouldn't be a month or 2 for other holidays....

Liz Miller said...

QWP, do you folks celebrate MLKJ Day? The US observes Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday on the 3rd Monday of January. We don't typically decorate, but you could if you'd like.

My family celebrates the Latest Sunrise (January 5th) and the arrival of the statistically Coldest Day of the year on January 20. After that, we're nearly to Spring! (According to Mr. Spock. YMMV).

kathy a. said...

The computer wizard called asking about a program called F@$t C0nn3ct -- something my ISP keeps trying to foist on me, and I don't want -- and he thinks that's causing the problem. Jeepers Louisers. Can I get a cluestick for my ISP?

kathy a. said...

Worldwide holiday calendar! Skip past all the countries at the top; then there is a calendar including stuff for many countries. I suggest not celebrating them all (especially things like Leprosy day), but it could be fun to pick out a date here, a date there. https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/

kathy a. said...

Also, I want to point out that this is an *overly-inclusive* list, since the US does not celebrate the birthday of Robert E. Lee, fireplacing founder of the confederate army that led us into civil war.

Liz Miller said...

How long's it been since you've lived in the South, Kathy? Many parts of Virginia celebrate Lee/Jackson day instead of MLKJ Day. Same day.

esperanza said...

Yes, tomorrow.

Major W: insurance screwup, doctor's office fault version. Mr E is on multiple phones trying to fix it. Unclear if it can be fixed before scheduled surgery at 6 AM. Surgery center won't do it if insurance isn't cleared. This is not helping Mr E's blood pressure at all.

kathy a. said...

What?Really?theFireplace, Esperanza???? Oh, i hope this gets straight. NOW! xoxoo

Liz, I left the South in 1988, and know some folks celebrated that awful man, in local pockets, but -- c'mon. On the other hand, it was just the other year that S.C. took the confederate flag down from the state house, so I guess progress is slow. It's still a jackass minority, and not a national holiday.

kathy a. said...

Also, it is incredibly bad to have school starting the same day as surgery. Sending love, and may the video goddess keep everybody else calm for a bit. xoxoxo

esperanza said...

W: surgery not happening. As best he can piece together, here is what happened: Insurance company says doctor's office submitted it as an in-office procedure, which was approved. Dr's office says they submitted it at surgery center. Someone is not speaking the truth here, or something got screwed up. So now insurance will not approve it at surgery center. Appeals have been made, by Mr. E and by doctor's office. No dice. I had only a brief conversation with Mr. E as he went out the door for a meeting, so I"m not sure what's next, other than un-making all the arrangements that have been made. They will either do it as an in office procedure or he will have to change ENTs and start over.

W: I have a headache

AW: My mom is here anyway--she was already on her way to come and help out with Baboos. She's relieving a bit of the pressure. Not sure how long she will stay now.

kathy a. said...

Esperanza! That so totally stinks. Glad your mom is there.

Cluesticks for all the insurance people, and whomever else screwed this up. And kudos for mom. xoxo

Anonymous said...

((((esperanza and Mr E))))
--Neighbor Lady

w: so many canker sores in my mouth-- I bit my lip, and then there's one near the back of my throat, so it feels just like having a sore throat, only it's from the canker sore (which is better than a sore throat, but still)

Sue said...

Ugh, esperanza, that's just awful. I need to go to my happy place and not think about how barbaric it is to put money/insurance bureaucracy/office mix-ups ahead of people's health care needs. It's fireplacing barbaric.

QWP - It's only a month or so until Family Day, right? You could decorate early for that one!

AW: Quiet day here, which is just what we both needed. All's quiet on the in-law front. It seems MIL does well with expected routines. Now that she's settled in with the careworkers, she's doing much better, fewer outbursts, better mood. She's still confused, but has adjusted to the care being provided.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

So many cluesticks got everyone involved in the surgery not getting coverage, esperanza!

Sue, thanks for the reminder about Family Day! While I have no idea how to decorate for a new holiday, we are having a belated Christmas celebration up north, with Mr. Q's extended family that weekend. (Liz: no MLK Jr. Day outside of the US. Our next holiday is on February 20. It's called Louis Riel Day in Manitoba, but it's Family Day in most of the rest of the provinces. With the exception of BC, which uses the weekend before as their Family Day weekend, to encourage local tourism to be offset from the out-of-province tourists.)

esperanza said...

Thanks for the outrage, Canadian pixies. As I was attempting to explain things to the Baboos, I realized how NONE OF IT MAKES SENSE. See, Baboos, we pay this company so they can help us pay for Daddy's surgery. But since they don't want to promise to pay the hospital, Daddy can't have surgery tomorrow. What. I finally went with, "It's really complicated, even for grownups to understand."

The latest is that the insurance company is going to approve it, just not in time for surgery this morning. So it will get rescheduled, in the surgery center. And no, that word from the doctor's office was not good enough for the surgery center to go through with it anyway.

My mom and I are going to replace the kitchen faucet today instead.

esperanza said...

And duh. I came over here to say that my little buddy Waylon is having brain surgery today, which is a much bigger deal than Mr E's cancellation

Liz Miller said...

((((Esperanza)))) our medical system is so fireplaced up and it's only going to get worse in the next few years. Sending hugs and kisses to your family and to Waylon's.

esperanza said...

Kitchen faucet replaced! It is a good thing that I am not very big, or I would not have been able to get under the sink at all. My mom was a huge help with fetching and handing tools and helping me figure it out.

kathy a. said...

Esperanza, sending love and thoughts for Waylon.

Yay about the faucet! I nominate you for the handyperson award.

NL, ouchie on the canker sores!

Sue, so glad things are quiet and MIL's settling down.

I brilliantly forgot to wake up early for my mammo, and forgot to put gas in the car yesterday. But in and out in 10 minutes, and that's done for the next couple years.

kathy a. said...

Computer is fixed! Problem appears to be a couple of programs I didn't want and didn't think I had, plus a small contribution of dust and cat hair. I cannot imagine how dust and cat hair got in, since I'm well known for meticulous housekeeping...

Liz Miller said...

Senate voted 51-49 to repeal the ACA. That's all folks.

kathy a. said...

NO. Call your congresscritters. Call other people's critters. That cannot be all.

Also, w.t.fireplace do they think is gonna happen when millions are suddenly out of insurance? When all those insured because companies couldn't exclude pre-existing conditions are suddenly not covered?

kathy a. said...

I was afraid to actually hook up the computer and check it, until now. But it's all there again! And I figured out where to put the speaker wire thing.

Sue said...

esperanza, how's Waylon doing?

I am finding I can only have the news on for short periods of time - there are only so many times in one day can say WTF? and look for soft things to throw at the tv.

Unfortunately, what they are going to do when folks aren't covered is, nothing. They don't care. That much is clear.

kathy's right, call your congresscritters, load up their phone messages with your entirely appropriate rage.

kathy a. said...

Here's one of my beefs, which I expressed to my own congressperson -- the Speaker of the House has enormous national power, and appears to be key to what does and does not get taken up in the House. But his online email is only available to people who live in *his district* -- and I've gotten busy signals when I try calling. You know, if he doesn't want to open more phone lines, he could at least have the courtesy to shift the excess to voicemail. Grumble grumble.

I just don't really watch TV. At least on the computer, I can pick and choose my poison. (That is also where I watch those TV shows I want to watch, albeit usually later than other people see them....)

We've got sunshine again today! But predicted to have pouring rain tonight and lasting for the next week, which seems like over-compensation for that drought thing. Spread it out, Universe!

esperanza said...

I can't watch the news, either. I don't think I've watched it on a regular basis since the shooting at Sandy Hook.

It is so fireplacing cold here. 30 degrees F, 30 mph North wind. For the next three days, too.

I came over here to share excellent news that Waylon is doing great. MRI shows that his brain has already started (in 24 hours!) to grow new tissue where the tumor was removed. The other small lesions in his brain had started to shrink on their own, so they are likely dead tumors. He'll probably be discharged tomorrow to go to a Ron@ld McDon@ld-type facility near the hospital (in Grand Rapids, Michigan). They took out the tumor yesterday and will test it to see which drugs it is vulnerable to, and they will treat him with those drugs for chemo, which may be able to happen from his home hospital. So, as good as the news could be, really. He's up and moving and talking.

kathy a. said...

Wow! Esperanza, that is great news!

Sue said...

Great news, esperanza!!

esperanza said...

W: I'm exhausted from all the surgery drama. Surgery is rescheduled for this coming Friday. My mom has gone home for a few days and will return Thursday afternoon. She can stay until Sunday, when she'll go to my brother's house to help him with his kids while my sister-in-law is out of the country, helping her mother through a health crisis. Whew. At least that's the plan now.

AW: Mr E is staying home with the Baboos today. I'm at his office doing some work. I came nowhere near putting in the hours I need to this week. :(

kathy a. said...

Your mom is apparently some kind of saint, Esperanza. Wow!

I am so glad the surgery is all pre-approved and rescheduled.

Think this past week had way too much going on, but with Baboos back in school, and less drama-drama, that you'll be able to work out a rhythm.

esperanza said...

About five hours' worth of steady work this afternoon, so that felt good. Got a little bit of advance planning, so I feel less like I'm drowning.

This past week did have way too much, especially with Baboos only in school two days.

kathy a. said...

It's my baby's birthday!

esperanza said...

Happy birthday to your baby!

Three ring circus at church this morning was pulled off with only small hitches.

A visitor returned (!) and brought a friend with him (!)

kathy a. said...

Yay, esperanza! And thanks for hosting this week.

Anonymous said...

Yay esperanza!
Happy birthday to Kathy's baby!
Hope all enjoy the celebration!
:)Neighbor Lady