From Sunday Stealing
Gag Me Meme
Do you have a sensitive gag reflex? I have no idea. Let me stick my finger down my throat and see.
Where are you the most ticklish? I'm not ticklish.
What was the last situation to upset you? My husband dug up a telephone line, and we will have to pay for the repairs if insurance doesn't cover it.
Have you ever had an online argument? Yes.
Do you like to listen to music while filling out surveys? I don't fill out surveys.
How long do you spend on the phone each day, on average? Maybe an hour.
Is anything in your hair right now, like gel, hairspray, etc.? No.
When was the last time you were up before the sun? This morning.
Do you like wearing sunglasses? Why or why not? Yes, because the sun hurts my eyes and you should wear them when you drive.
Last show you watched? My husband had Treehouse Masters on but I fell asleep right at the beginning of it, so I watched it through my eyelids.
Next vacation you’re going on? We're going south before the end of the year.
Do you regret doing anything you’ve done this week? Getting out of bed.
Last night you felt? Tired.
What are you wearing right now? Sweatpants.
Have you ever kissed underneath the stars? Yes.
What are you doing now? Answering this meme.
What plans do you have for tonight? Dinner with the mother-in-law.
What’s the very first thing you do when you wake up, other than breathe? Get out of bed and go to the bathroom.
Do you like reading? Yes.
Do you ever think about stuff and start crying? Sometimes.
Have you ever kicked a vending machine? Yes.
Do people consider you smart? Some do.
Have you ever stayed online for a very long time waiting for someone? Probably.
Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you? Generally.
How much money did you spend yesterday? Nothing.
Is there anything in your past that you’d like to try again? No.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in
Sunday
Stealing posts and
leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by
them.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Saturday 9: Time for Me to Fly
Saturday 9: Time for Me to Fly (1978)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
A. Zero times. I don't expect I will ever get on a plane again.
2) Think back to your last flight. Was it pleasant, stressful, or just uneventful?
A. My last flight was in 1993. I didn't have to worry about being shaken down by the TSA or taking my shoes off, the weight of my toothpaste, or much of anything else. It was uneventful.
A. Just a stop on the way to Orlando during said 1993 trip.
4) This week’s featured band, REO Speedwagon, took their name from a truck. Have you ever driven a truck?
A. I have driven tractors, Jeeps, trucks, and other assorted equipment. That is not to say I did it well, but I have done it.
5) REO Speedwagon got their start in Champaign, Illinois, which is home to the U of I campus and, consequently, many bars. One of the most popular is the Blind Pig on Walnut Street. Give us the name of the bar, club or restaurant where you met up with friends in your younger days.
A. The high school football field. And the underage kids, including myself, bought beer and wine coolers at Watsky's Mill Grocery Store. The eateries were the Cavalier (named after the football team), Dairy Queen, and Pizza Hut. We were very rural back then.
6) Recently, lead singer Kevin Cronin appeared on an infomercial, hawking TimeLife’s two CD set of Ultimate Rock Ballads. Have you ever purchased anything from TV?
A. Not that I recall. I've never really thought I needed a Chia Pet or anything made by Ronco.
7) This song is from the CD, You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tunafish. Is there a can of tuna in your kitchen right now?
A. Nope. After I developed a shellfish allergy, I stopped buying fish at all. So no tuna.
8) You Can Tuna Piano, but You Can’t Tunafish is available on eBay on vinyl, CD, cassette and 8 track. Did you have an 8 track player?
A. Of course. I am old. I had an 8-track player and a cassette player. Every Sunday I listened to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 on the radio and recorded the top 10 songs.
9) In 1978, when this song was popular, the first Susan B. Anthony Dollar was minted. How much do you have in coins in your wallet right now?
A. 41 cents.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) How often have you flown so far this year?
2) Think back to your last flight. Was it pleasant, stressful, or just uneventful?
A. My last flight was in 1993. I didn't have to worry about being shaken down by the TSA or taking my shoes off, the weight of my toothpaste, or much of anything else. It was uneventful.
3) According to the Airports Council International, the world’s busiest airport is Atlanta's Hartsfield. Have you ever been to Atlanta?
A. Just a stop on the way to Orlando during said 1993 trip.
4) This week’s featured band, REO Speedwagon, took their name from a truck. Have you ever driven a truck?
A. I have driven tractors, Jeeps, trucks, and other assorted equipment. That is not to say I did it well, but I have done it.
5) REO Speedwagon got their start in Champaign, Illinois, which is home to the U of I campus and, consequently, many bars. One of the most popular is the Blind Pig on Walnut Street. Give us the name of the bar, club or restaurant where you met up with friends in your younger days.
A. The high school football field. And the underage kids, including myself, bought beer and wine coolers at Watsky's Mill Grocery Store. The eateries were the Cavalier (named after the football team), Dairy Queen, and Pizza Hut. We were very rural back then.
6) Recently, lead singer Kevin Cronin appeared on an infomercial, hawking TimeLife’s two CD set of Ultimate Rock Ballads. Have you ever purchased anything from TV?
A. Not that I recall. I've never really thought I needed a Chia Pet or anything made by Ronco.
7) This song is from the CD, You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tunafish. Is there a can of tuna in your kitchen right now?
A. Nope. After I developed a shellfish allergy, I stopped buying fish at all. So no tuna.
8) You Can Tuna Piano, but You Can’t Tunafish is available on eBay on vinyl, CD, cassette and 8 track. Did you have an 8 track player?
A. Of course. I am old. I had an 8-track player and a cassette player. Every Sunday I listened to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 on the radio and recorded the top 10 songs.
9) In 1978, when this song was popular, the first Susan B. Anthony Dollar was minted. How much do you have in coins in your wallet right now?
A. 41 cents.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Life's Not Fair
People have always told me "life's not fair." From my early years up to today, I have heard that.
But we all have a choice. We can try to make things fairer for all, or to take advantage of the unfairness and use it for selfish reasons. The choice is a significant one. It defines the person.
So sure, life's not fair, but it is because as a society we have chosen that route. We could make it a more level playing field, with better referees and balls that aren't deflated and body weights more evenly matched.
We don't do that, though. We allow the big dude to run over the little guy on the high school field, just like we do in life. And some people laugh about it. Look at the bully, ha ha. I turn my head in shame.
Thoughtful dialogue is a thing of the past. If it weren't, perhaps we could have a discussion about this among the halls of our government, but since we've all apparently bought into the dictum that "life's not fair," nobody wants to do anything to change it.
So what is not fair?
It's not fair that we have the great income equality in this country that we do. It's not fair for any CEO to earn massive amounts while the employees can't pay the rent. That is a choice someone made, to overpay a "leader" and leave lesser amounts for the underlings.
It's not fair that women are considered chattel, and that their bodies are not their own, essentially make then "less than" and not a person.
It's not fair to attack people you don't know simply because you can.
It's not fair to create expectations of fairness when you know that society has set it up so that fairness will never exist.
It's not fair that justice now serves the wealthy and diminishes the poor.
It's not fair that corporations pay less tax than individuals.
And on and on . . . yes, the world is not fair. But this unfair world is a world made thusly by our choices, and the choices of those with power, and yes, the choices of those without power. And there are some who say why of course, it's all a choice, and if I'm the cream that rises to the top while you're sour milk, that was your choice and obviously you made bad ones. But the choices of some are greater than the choices of others, and the limits of humanity vary by individual. Does that mean we should not help our brothers and sisters? Who are we to proclaim ourselves king of our little castle and watch others wilt away?
I feel keenly the choices I have made. Some of them have been good, some have been bad. Some were choices I had no control over - it was either do one thing (have surgery, for example) or die. So of course you choose to live when you're confronted with that basest of choice.
But on other levels, the choices are many. Just standing in line offers you a plethora of choices. Do you talk to the other people in line? Do you smile? Do you read a magazine or text on your cell phone? Do you grumble and complain? Do you compliment the check-out clerk, or curse her for being slow? Do you chose the fair and kind action? Or do you push, shove, curse, and complain?
So life's not fair. Can't we try to make it just a little more fair, every where we go?
But we all have a choice. We can try to make things fairer for all, or to take advantage of the unfairness and use it for selfish reasons. The choice is a significant one. It defines the person.
So sure, life's not fair, but it is because as a society we have chosen that route. We could make it a more level playing field, with better referees and balls that aren't deflated and body weights more evenly matched.
We don't do that, though. We allow the big dude to run over the little guy on the high school field, just like we do in life. And some people laugh about it. Look at the bully, ha ha. I turn my head in shame.
Thoughtful dialogue is a thing of the past. If it weren't, perhaps we could have a discussion about this among the halls of our government, but since we've all apparently bought into the dictum that "life's not fair," nobody wants to do anything to change it.
So what is not fair?
It's not fair that we have the great income equality in this country that we do. It's not fair for any CEO to earn massive amounts while the employees can't pay the rent. That is a choice someone made, to overpay a "leader" and leave lesser amounts for the underlings.
It's not fair that women are considered chattel, and that their bodies are not their own, essentially make then "less than" and not a person.
It's not fair to attack people you don't know simply because you can.
It's not fair to create expectations of fairness when you know that society has set it up so that fairness will never exist.
It's not fair that justice now serves the wealthy and diminishes the poor.
It's not fair that corporations pay less tax than individuals.
And on and on . . . yes, the world is not fair. But this unfair world is a world made thusly by our choices, and the choices of those with power, and yes, the choices of those without power. And there are some who say why of course, it's all a choice, and if I'm the cream that rises to the top while you're sour milk, that was your choice and obviously you made bad ones. But the choices of some are greater than the choices of others, and the limits of humanity vary by individual. Does that mean we should not help our brothers and sisters? Who are we to proclaim ourselves king of our little castle and watch others wilt away?
I feel keenly the choices I have made. Some of them have been good, some have been bad. Some were choices I had no control over - it was either do one thing (have surgery, for example) or die. So of course you choose to live when you're confronted with that basest of choice.
But on other levels, the choices are many. Just standing in line offers you a plethora of choices. Do you talk to the other people in line? Do you smile? Do you read a magazine or text on your cell phone? Do you grumble and complain? Do you compliment the check-out clerk, or curse her for being slow? Do you chose the fair and kind action? Or do you push, shove, curse, and complain?
So life's not fair. Can't we try to make it just a little more fair, every where we go?
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Thursday Thirteen
Things to look for in a good doctor -
1. Caring. I think this is number one. A doctor should genuinely care about people as people, and be there to help and heal. Some doctors are just in it for the money, I guess, because they certainly don't act like they want to help.
2. Personality. If a doctor has no personality, or an off-putting personality, or for some other reason you cannot relate well to the physician, then run. This is also known as "bedside manner."
3. Availability. Your doctor should be available to see you or speak with you on the phone during emergencies. With today's technologies, some doctors correspond with patients via email (mine does this).
4. A caring staff. If the staff is more interested in talking to one another than in keeping you from standing at the window waiting, you might want to factor this into your decision about your health care giver.
5. Location. If your doctor is far away from you, then #3 becomes problematic.
6. Cleanliness. Make sure the facility looks like it is cared for. The bathrooms should be clean, the floors swept, and the tables should have paper on them.
7. Experience. New doctors may be up on current knowledge and that can be helpful, but older doctors have seen more and dealt with different scenarios. Ideally, you should have a doctor who is still young but been in practice for 7-10 years.
8. Listening skills. If the doctor only hears what s/he wants to hear and doesn't hear what you are saying, you will not get the care you need. Some doctors immediately sum up patients and their own prejudices and biases get in the way.
9. They offer a solution or say "I don't know," not "You're just crazy/depressed/female, or whatever." For example, if a doctor tells you to lose weight and doesn't give you specifics on how to go about that, then what good is that advice? I'm pretty sure you know if you're overweight or not, and if you knew how to lose weight, then you'd do it.
10. Make sure the doctor can explain things. If the doctor talks in "doctor talk" and you have no idea what s/he is saying, you've gained nothing.
11. S/he will work with you on fees, charges, insurance, and other financial concerns. They can't carry you financially forever, but they should work out a payment plan if necessary.
12. A good doctor is respectful of you, your family, and your time.
13. A good doctor welcomes second opinions and may even ask you to get one if you have a serious health concern.
Good doctors are hard to find but they are out there. Keep looking if you're not happy with your physician. You have the right to find someone you want to work with. After all, it is your body and it is the only one you will have. They haven't invented head transplants yet.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 412th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
1. Caring. I think this is number one. A doctor should genuinely care about people as people, and be there to help and heal. Some doctors are just in it for the money, I guess, because they certainly don't act like they want to help.
2. Personality. If a doctor has no personality, or an off-putting personality, or for some other reason you cannot relate well to the physician, then run. This is also known as "bedside manner."
3. Availability. Your doctor should be available to see you or speak with you on the phone during emergencies. With today's technologies, some doctors correspond with patients via email (mine does this).
4. A caring staff. If the staff is more interested in talking to one another than in keeping you from standing at the window waiting, you might want to factor this into your decision about your health care giver.
5. Location. If your doctor is far away from you, then #3 becomes problematic.
6. Cleanliness. Make sure the facility looks like it is cared for. The bathrooms should be clean, the floors swept, and the tables should have paper on them.
7. Experience. New doctors may be up on current knowledge and that can be helpful, but older doctors have seen more and dealt with different scenarios. Ideally, you should have a doctor who is still young but been in practice for 7-10 years.
8. Listening skills. If the doctor only hears what s/he wants to hear and doesn't hear what you are saying, you will not get the care you need. Some doctors immediately sum up patients and their own prejudices and biases get in the way.
9. They offer a solution or say "I don't know," not "You're just crazy/depressed/female, or whatever." For example, if a doctor tells you to lose weight and doesn't give you specifics on how to go about that, then what good is that advice? I'm pretty sure you know if you're overweight or not, and if you knew how to lose weight, then you'd do it.
10. Make sure the doctor can explain things. If the doctor talks in "doctor talk" and you have no idea what s/he is saying, you've gained nothing.
11. S/he will work with you on fees, charges, insurance, and other financial concerns. They can't carry you financially forever, but they should work out a payment plan if necessary.
12. A good doctor is respectful of you, your family, and your time.
13. A good doctor welcomes second opinions and may even ask you to get one if you have a serious health concern.
Good doctors are hard to find but they are out there. Keep looking if you're not happy with your physician. You have the right to find someone you want to work with. After all, it is your body and it is the only one you will have. They haven't invented head transplants yet.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 412th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Autumn Light
The slant of the sun and the lighting on the leaves makes this one of my favorite times of year. Such a contract between light and dark.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
Goodbye to the Garden
This is all that is left of my garden. Sunflowers and weeds.
I dub this the worst garden we've had in many years, maybe in 32 years. The groundhogs ate everything. I think we managed a few tomatoes and a couple of squash. Everything else did not produce or was eaten by critters.
We had fencing around the garden, which my husband took down so he could mow over the dismal area.
My suggestion for next year? Raised beds. I'd like for him to take that space, cut it in half, build me two containers that are about waist high, and fill them with dirt. Then I could get out and work in the "garden" without having to bend over and further irritate my health issues.
Will that happen? No. But it is a good idea. If all we want are squash, kale and tomatoes, I think it would work splendidly.
Maybe next year I'll just plant things in containers on the deck, although since the animals eat my deck and the wood on my house, I daresay the veggies would not fare well there, either.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Sunday Stealing: Mac'n Cheese
From Sunday Stealing
Mac'n Cheese Meme
1. Can you ever get enough of mac ‘n’ cheese? A. I can. I rarely eat it.
2. Are you allergic to nuts or diary products? A. I do not drink dairy because it makes my asthma worse.
3. Do you think age matters in relationships? A. It does if the guy is 50 and the girl is 14, so yeah.
4. Has anyone ever called the cops on you? A. Yes. And wouldn't you just love to know the details?
5. Did you talk to someone until you fell asleep last night? A. My husband and I kissed goodnight.
6. What’s the connection between the last person you texted? A. I don't text. My last email was from my physical therapist.
7. Are you in a good mood? A. Not particularly.
8. Excited for anything? A. I have a vacation scheduled before the end of the year. I'm hoping I will feel well enough to enjoy it.
9. Do you have a hard time controlling your emotions? A. Sometimes.
10. Do you like your height? A. I would like to be a little taller so I didn't have to ask someone to get things for me from the top shelf of the grocery store. It's so embarrassing.
11. How long have you lived in your current home? A. 28 years.
12. Could you go a week without brushing your teeth? A. Well I could, but I certainly hope I never have to.
13. Have you ever given any amount of money to the homeless? A. Yes.
14. Own anything from Bath & Body Works? A. No.
15. Have you ever had your nails so long that they curved down at the ends? A. No. I bite my nails and/or keep them clipped short.
16. Have you ever swallowed a bunch of salt water by accident? A. Yes. I certainly didn't choke on it on purpose.
17. Does it take you over an hour to go to sleep sometimes? A. Sometimes.
18. When you get home from school/work do you change into your pjs right away? A. No.
19. Have you ever stayed up all night and the whole next day without any sleep? A. The closest I have come to that in recent years was in 2010, when we drove for seven hours to Myrtle Beach only to discover our hotel room was awful. We couldn't find another, so we drove all night, arriving back home around 10 a.m. We're the only people I know who drove six hours for dinner and then turned around and came back.
20. Has anyone ever told you that you have pretty feet? A. I had an acupuncturist tell me that once.
21. What is the temperature currently in the town you live in? A. It's in the 70s.
22. Do you ever actually drink milk alone? A. I don't drink milk.
Mac'n Cheese Meme
1. Can you ever get enough of mac ‘n’ cheese? A. I can. I rarely eat it.
2. Are you allergic to nuts or diary products? A. I do not drink dairy because it makes my asthma worse.
3. Do you think age matters in relationships? A. It does if the guy is 50 and the girl is 14, so yeah.
4. Has anyone ever called the cops on you? A. Yes. And wouldn't you just love to know the details?
5. Did you talk to someone until you fell asleep last night? A. My husband and I kissed goodnight.
6. What’s the connection between the last person you texted? A. I don't text. My last email was from my physical therapist.
7. Are you in a good mood? A. Not particularly.
8. Excited for anything? A. I have a vacation scheduled before the end of the year. I'm hoping I will feel well enough to enjoy it.
9. Do you have a hard time controlling your emotions? A. Sometimes.
10. Do you like your height? A. I would like to be a little taller so I didn't have to ask someone to get things for me from the top shelf of the grocery store. It's so embarrassing.
11. How long have you lived in your current home? A. 28 years.
12. Could you go a week without brushing your teeth? A. Well I could, but I certainly hope I never have to.
13. Have you ever given any amount of money to the homeless? A. Yes.
14. Own anything from Bath & Body Works? A. No.
15. Have you ever had your nails so long that they curved down at the ends? A. No. I bite my nails and/or keep them clipped short.
16. Have you ever swallowed a bunch of salt water by accident? A. Yes. I certainly didn't choke on it on purpose.
17. Does it take you over an hour to go to sleep sometimes? A. Sometimes.
18. When you get home from school/work do you change into your pjs right away? A. No.
19. Have you ever stayed up all night and the whole next day without any sleep? A. The closest I have come to that in recent years was in 2010, when we drove for seven hours to Myrtle Beach only to discover our hotel room was awful. We couldn't find another, so we drove all night, arriving back home around 10 a.m. We're the only people I know who drove six hours for dinner and then turned around and came back.
20. Has anyone ever told you that you have pretty feet? A. I had an acupuncturist tell me that once.
21. What is the temperature currently in the town you live in? A. It's in the 70s.
22. Do you ever actually drink milk alone? A. I don't drink milk.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Saturday 9: That's All, Folks
Saturday 9: That's All (1983)Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) In the lyrics, Phil Collins sings of a time he was wrong when he thought he was right. Tell us about a recent time when you got it wrong.
A. I have a tendency to think other people don't like me, and I get that wrong a lot. Actually, they do. So I get that wrong with great frequency. For instance, I recently thought that another player of this meme had for some reason decided she didn't like me. And maybe she doesn't, but we have never met and probably never will, so it's a silly thing to think and worry over.
2) The song is addressed to a lover that Phil clearly feels is contrary. When he says, "day," she says, "night." Is there anyone in your life who seems to disagree with you all or most of the time?
A. Yes. About half of my community.
3) This was Genesis' first Top 10 hit in the US. Can you name another Phil Collins or Genesis song?
A. "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh no. And I've been waiting for this moment for all of my life, oh no." It's called In the Air Tonight.
4) Phil Collins is a model train enthusiast. Is there anything special that you collect?
A. I have a small collection of Christmas mice. And a lot of books.
5) Collins was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. At the ceremony, he delivered the commencement address. When did you last give a presentation or deliver a speech?
A. My last presentation would have been in January, when I taught a class on keeping a journal at a writer's conference at my alma mater.
6) One of Phil Collins' early solo albums was called, Hello, I Must Be Going. He took the title from a song in the 1930 Marx Bros. movie, Animal Crackers. What's the last black and white movie or TV show that you watched?
A. The Andy Griffith Show. I watch it almost every day. It comes on at 5:30 here just before our local news, and that is when I'm in the kitchen cooking dinner.
7) In 1983, when this song was popular, the Lotus 1-2-3 program made it easier for PC users to build spreadsheets. Are you answering these questions on a PC or a Mac? Laptop or desktop? Tablet or phone?
A. A PC desktop. I don't see how anybody types on a tablet or a phone. And I am not a fan of Windows 10, not that anybody cares.
8) 1983 is also the year when McDonald's introduced McNuggets. What's your favorite chicken recipe (assuming it's not McNuggets)?
A. I like chicken pot pie, or just plain baked chicken. I don't eat fried food anymore. And I try not to eat things don't actually look like food.
9) In 1983, President Reagan signed the bill making Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday a holiday. What's your favorite holiday?
A. My favorite holiday is Halloween, but I don't celebrate it. No one comes to say "trick or treat" when you live 1/4 mile off the road and you're out in the country. I used to like Christmas but I don't enjoy it much anymore. I am surrounded by scrooges who seem hell-bent on taking the joy out of the holiday. So I guess my most favorite holiday really is my birthday, which isn't a holiday, but it means I survived another year.
1) In the lyrics, Phil Collins sings of a time he was wrong when he thought he was right. Tell us about a recent time when you got it wrong.
A. I have a tendency to think other people don't like me, and I get that wrong a lot. Actually, they do. So I get that wrong with great frequency. For instance, I recently thought that another player of this meme had for some reason decided she didn't like me. And maybe she doesn't, but we have never met and probably never will, so it's a silly thing to think and worry over.
2) The song is addressed to a lover that Phil clearly feels is contrary. When he says, "day," she says, "night." Is there anyone in your life who seems to disagree with you all or most of the time?
A. Yes. About half of my community.
3) This was Genesis' first Top 10 hit in the US. Can you name another Phil Collins or Genesis song?
A. "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh no. And I've been waiting for this moment for all of my life, oh no." It's called In the Air Tonight.
4) Phil Collins is a model train enthusiast. Is there anything special that you collect?
A. I have a small collection of Christmas mice. And a lot of books.
5) Collins was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. At the ceremony, he delivered the commencement address. When did you last give a presentation or deliver a speech?
A. My last presentation would have been in January, when I taught a class on keeping a journal at a writer's conference at my alma mater.
6) One of Phil Collins' early solo albums was called, Hello, I Must Be Going. He took the title from a song in the 1930 Marx Bros. movie, Animal Crackers. What's the last black and white movie or TV show that you watched?
A. The Andy Griffith Show. I watch it almost every day. It comes on at 5:30 here just before our local news, and that is when I'm in the kitchen cooking dinner.
7) In 1983, when this song was popular, the Lotus 1-2-3 program made it easier for PC users to build spreadsheets. Are you answering these questions on a PC or a Mac? Laptop or desktop? Tablet or phone?
A. A PC desktop. I don't see how anybody types on a tablet or a phone. And I am not a fan of Windows 10, not that anybody cares.
8) 1983 is also the year when McDonald's introduced McNuggets. What's your favorite chicken recipe (assuming it's not McNuggets)?
A. I like chicken pot pie, or just plain baked chicken. I don't eat fried food anymore. And I try not to eat things don't actually look like food.
9) In 1983, President Reagan signed the bill making Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday a holiday. What's your favorite holiday?
A. My favorite holiday is Halloween, but I don't celebrate it. No one comes to say "trick or treat" when you live 1/4 mile off the road and you're out in the country. I used to like Christmas but I don't enjoy it much anymore. I am surrounded by scrooges who seem hell-bent on taking the joy out of the holiday. So I guess my most favorite holiday really is my birthday, which isn't a holiday, but it means I survived another year.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Caught in the Act
We have a had an awful time with squirrels eating on our house and deck this year. First a squirrel about gnawed its way into the house via the back door. This one has eaten the deck.
As we are planning to replace the deck soon, I don't particularly care about that, but the door was another issue. We ended up having to put siding over the wood to keep the squirrels from gnawing on it more.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Thursday Thirteen
Things on my desk . . .
1. A catalogue for The Great Courses, which offers many DVDs and CDs about various subjects.
2. A light therapy lamp.
3. Two boxes of colored pencils.
4. Nasal spray.
5. A calculator.
6. A pair of binoculars.
7. Two 1/2 pound weights.
8. Bach Rescue Remedy.
9. A Kindle Paperwhite, a Kindle Fire, and a MS Surface (1st generation).
10. Elmer's Glue.
11. A packet of blank notecards.
12. A digital tape recorder.
13. A microfiber cleaning cloth.
And a lot of other stuff. I really need to clean up in here.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 411th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
1. A catalogue for The Great Courses, which offers many DVDs and CDs about various subjects.
2. A light therapy lamp.
3. Two boxes of colored pencils.
4. Nasal spray.
5. A calculator.
6. A pair of binoculars.
7. Two 1/2 pound weights.
8. Bach Rescue Remedy.
9. A Kindle Paperwhite, a Kindle Fire, and a MS Surface (1st generation).
10. Elmer's Glue.
11. A packet of blank notecards.
12. A digital tape recorder.
13. A microfiber cleaning cloth.
And a lot of other stuff. I really need to clean up in here.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 411th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, September 09, 2015
Could Someone Explain . . .
I am not in the health insurance business, and have nothing to do with health care except that I use it. I spend a lot of time at doctors' offices these days, and as a result I spend a lot of time looking at my EOBs (Explanation of Benefits) from the insurance company.
What I'd like to know is why we're not all yelling "fraud" from the billings between healthcare providers and the insurance company. And before anyone yells "Obamacare," I know for a fact this has been going on long before that went into place.
Here is an example of my complaint: my orthopedic doctor gave me a brace for my ankle. The company that makes the brace charged my insurance company $92.19 for it. The insurance company "allowed" a charge of $54.69 and paid $43.75 of that, leaving me with a 20% copay of $10.94.
The company sells the exact same brace online for $33.94. If they'd charged the insurance company that amount, my copay would have been $6.79.
Why isn't this fraud? If the company can sell the thing online for $33, why is it okay for them to charge $92, and accept $54?
Here is another example: one of my doctors charged the insurance company $117.00. The insurance company "allowed" only $80.57. I had a copay of $20 so the insurance company paid them $60.57.
So can someone out there explain this to me? I don't understand why this isn't fraudulent. To me it is. If you can sell an ankle brace for $33 and still make a profit, then why are you charging the insurance company $92 only to agree to accept $54? If you will see a patient for $80, why isn't that the charge?
What the heck is all of this "allowable" charges BS? And I bet that it differs from plan to plan. I bet your plan might get charged $192 for the same ankle brace, or maybe it would be charged $72. I guarantee that nothing is same across the board.
This is what is wrong with our healthcare, and it wasn't addressed in the Affordable Care Act, apparently, since companies are still doing these kinds of billings.
Can I be the only person out there who thinks this is wrong?
I remember a very long time ago, if a merchant advertised something at a certain price, that was the price they had to sell it at. If there was a misprint, they ate it. I don't know when that changed, but at some point it did, and it became acceptable for companies to backtrack, change prices, and do all sorts of price-fixing that I long thought was illegal. I suspect the rules changed under Reagan and his deregulation movements, but I can't be sure of that. I'm not a business major, either.
What I'd like to know is why we're not all yelling "fraud" from the billings between healthcare providers and the insurance company. And before anyone yells "Obamacare," I know for a fact this has been going on long before that went into place.
Here is an example of my complaint: my orthopedic doctor gave me a brace for my ankle. The company that makes the brace charged my insurance company $92.19 for it. The insurance company "allowed" a charge of $54.69 and paid $43.75 of that, leaving me with a 20% copay of $10.94.
The company sells the exact same brace online for $33.94. If they'd charged the insurance company that amount, my copay would have been $6.79.
Why isn't this fraud? If the company can sell the thing online for $33, why is it okay for them to charge $92, and accept $54?
Here is another example: one of my doctors charged the insurance company $117.00. The insurance company "allowed" only $80.57. I had a copay of $20 so the insurance company paid them $60.57.
So can someone out there explain this to me? I don't understand why this isn't fraudulent. To me it is. If you can sell an ankle brace for $33 and still make a profit, then why are you charging the insurance company $92 only to agree to accept $54? If you will see a patient for $80, why isn't that the charge?
What the heck is all of this "allowable" charges BS? And I bet that it differs from plan to plan. I bet your plan might get charged $192 for the same ankle brace, or maybe it would be charged $72. I guarantee that nothing is same across the board.
This is what is wrong with our healthcare, and it wasn't addressed in the Affordable Care Act, apparently, since companies are still doing these kinds of billings.
Can I be the only person out there who thinks this is wrong?
I remember a very long time ago, if a merchant advertised something at a certain price, that was the price they had to sell it at. If there was a misprint, they ate it. I don't know when that changed, but at some point it did, and it became acceptable for companies to backtrack, change prices, and do all sorts of price-fixing that I long thought was illegal. I suspect the rules changed under Reagan and his deregulation movements, but I can't be sure of that. I'm not a business major, either.
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
Monday, September 07, 2015
Pink Full Moon
The last full moon rose lovely pink. I wasn't home in time to catch it on the horizon, but a bit later I went out to try to capture a few shots of the orb that so fascinates me.
During this little misadventure I managed to bash myself in the face twice with camera. I forgot to tighten a doodad on my tripod. Then I couldn't walk back to the house and my husband had to rescue me.
It's become difficult to take good photos with my limited mobility. It's hard to find the best angle to get the capture when you are limited in where you can place the camera. At least I'm still trying, eh?
Sunday, September 06, 2015
SS: Checking It Twice
From Sunday Stealing
Making a list Meme
1. Do you like making lists?
A. I don't particularly like it, but I do it.
2. Do/did you play sports with your siblings?
A. That was 40 years ago. I am sure I did, but I can't think of anything specific at this moment.
3. Would you rather go to a University or a community college?
A. So long as I am learning, I am fine with either one.
4. What’s your favorite kind of bread?
A. The kind you eat.
5. What toppings do you like on your pizza?
A. I like veggies on pizza.
6. What color or design does your shower curtain have?
A. It's blue.
7. What kind of car does/did your mom drive?
A. My mother's last vehicle was a Jeep.
8. What’s on your cell phone’s home screen?
A. Um. I have an old flip phone. I don't think it has a home screen.
9. Do you like to watch the National Geographic channel?
A. Yes.
10. Are you the type of person to correct the grammar and/or spelling of a survey?
A. I have been known to do so, yes. Sometimes I have rewritten the questions, as I did above.
11. What color is your microwave?
A. Black.
12. Do you have a fan in your bedroom?
A. Yes.
13. Mountain Dew or Sprite?
A. Sprite, but I don't drink colas much.
14. Does it rain a lot where you live?
A. No.
15. Do you shop at Walmart regularly?
A. I shop there but not on a regular schedule.
16. Does it bother you when animals lick themselves?
A. Eww. I've never really thought about it and I have to wonder about the mind that created this question. Seriously.
17. Have you ever been to a Trader Joe’s?
A. No.
18. What’s the longest time you’ve ever been stuck in traffic?
A. I have no idea.
19. Do you wear black a lot?
A. Yes.
20. Are there stairs in your house?
A. No.
21. Have you ever held $500 in cash?
A. Yes.
22. Do you like onions on your burger?
A. No.
23. Could you ever give yourself a shot?
A. I have done it before, so yes.
24. Do you wear shoes in the house?
A. I wear shoes all the time, including in the house. I have problems with my ankle and it requires support.
25. Have you ever worked as a cashier?
A. Yes. I did a little stint in retail back in the early 1990s.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Making a list Meme
1. Do you like making lists?
A. I don't particularly like it, but I do it.
2. Do/did you play sports with your siblings?
A. That was 40 years ago. I am sure I did, but I can't think of anything specific at this moment.
3. Would you rather go to a University or a community college?
A. So long as I am learning, I am fine with either one.
4. What’s your favorite kind of bread?
A. The kind you eat.
5. What toppings do you like on your pizza?
A. I like veggies on pizza.
6. What color or design does your shower curtain have?
A. It's blue.
7. What kind of car does/did your mom drive?
A. My mother's last vehicle was a Jeep.
8. What’s on your cell phone’s home screen?
A. Um. I have an old flip phone. I don't think it has a home screen.
9. Do you like to watch the National Geographic channel?
A. Yes.
10. Are you the type of person to correct the grammar and/or spelling of a survey?
A. I have been known to do so, yes. Sometimes I have rewritten the questions, as I did above.
11. What color is your microwave?
A. Black.
12. Do you have a fan in your bedroom?
A. Yes.
13. Mountain Dew or Sprite?
A. Sprite, but I don't drink colas much.
14. Does it rain a lot where you live?
A. No.
15. Do you shop at Walmart regularly?
A. I shop there but not on a regular schedule.
16. Does it bother you when animals lick themselves?
A. Eww. I've never really thought about it and I have to wonder about the mind that created this question. Seriously.
17. Have you ever been to a Trader Joe’s?
A. No.
18. What’s the longest time you’ve ever been stuck in traffic?
A. I have no idea.
19. Do you wear black a lot?
A. Yes.
20. Are there stairs in your house?
A. No.
21. Have you ever held $500 in cash?
A. Yes.
22. Do you like onions on your burger?
A. No.
23. Could you ever give yourself a shot?
A. I have done it before, so yes.
24. Do you wear shoes in the house?
A. I wear shoes all the time, including in the house. I have problems with my ankle and it requires support.
25. Have you ever worked as a cashier?
A. Yes. I did a little stint in retail back in the early 1990s.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Saturday, September 05, 2015
Saturday 9: Working My Way Back to You
Saturday 9: Working My Way Back to You (1966)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) We're celebrating the last holiday of summer with The Four Seasons. Which season is your favorite?
A. Autumn. I like that the weather is cooler and the changing colors of the deciduous trees. I also always loved school and this is the time of year for buying new notebooks and pencils.
2) Before they settled on The Four Seasons, they called themselves The Four Lovers, The Romans and The Village Voices. If you were/are in a band, please share the name. Or just make up a cool name for your pretend band.
A. The band I was in during my high school years was called Almost Famous.
3) Lead singer Frankie Valli has occasionally fudged the year of his birth. Have you ever lied about your age?
A. Not that I can recall. I don't really see the point. You were born when you were born.
4) Frankie Valli, Frank Sinatra, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen . . . New Jersey has given us many music superstars. What is your state known for?
A. Virginia is for lovers. We're the Mother of Presidents (8 have come from Virginia). We settled the country in 1607 at Jamestown. My beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are here. We also spawned Dave Matthews and the Carter family, not in that order. We have Virginia ham, Virginia wine, and Virginia furniture, though the latter not so much these days. We have the great colleges of William & Mary, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech. My alma mater, Hollins University, was founded in 1842, making it one of the oldest single-sex universities in the country.
5) In 1965, Frankie was arrested in Columbus, Ohio. But it wasn't his fault! The bandmate he trusted to pay the group's hotel bill neglected to do so. Tell us about a time when your trusting nature got you in trouble.
A. I once went flying over Botetourt in a two-seater airplane with the county's known drunk. My husband was furious with me.
6) Clint Eastwood directed the movie version of the Four Seasons biography, Jersey Boys. What's your favorite Clint Eastwood movie?
A. Sigh. I am such a non-movie watcher. I do know, however, that I don't particularly care for Clint Eastwood and never have. The only movie I remember without looking anything up is The Outlaw Josey Wales.
Since Labor Day is the holiday established to celebrate the American worker …
7) According to the U.S. Census, more and more Americans are working from home. Are you one of them?
A. I was when I was able to work.
8) Of those of us who work outside the home, 75% travel to work alone. 15% take public transportation and the remaining 10% carpool. How do you get to your job?
A. I walk from one room to the other. When I was working as a news reporter, I drove to wherever the story was.
9) Do you have any big plans for this holiday weekend?
A. Nope. Nary a single one.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) We're celebrating the last holiday of summer with The Four Seasons. Which season is your favorite?
A. Autumn. I like that the weather is cooler and the changing colors of the deciduous trees. I also always loved school and this is the time of year for buying new notebooks and pencils.
 |
| Ain't that just the prettiest site? |
2) Before they settled on The Four Seasons, they called themselves The Four Lovers, The Romans and The Village Voices. If you were/are in a band, please share the name. Or just make up a cool name for your pretend band.
A. The band I was in during my high school years was called Almost Famous.
 |
| Me rockin' it out circa 1979. |
3) Lead singer Frankie Valli has occasionally fudged the year of his birth. Have you ever lied about your age?
A. Not that I can recall. I don't really see the point. You were born when you were born.
4) Frankie Valli, Frank Sinatra, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen . . . New Jersey has given us many music superstars. What is your state known for?
A. Virginia is for lovers. We're the Mother of Presidents (8 have come from Virginia). We settled the country in 1607 at Jamestown. My beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are here. We also spawned Dave Matthews and the Carter family, not in that order. We have Virginia ham, Virginia wine, and Virginia furniture, though the latter not so much these days. We have the great colleges of William & Mary, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech. My alma mater, Hollins University, was founded in 1842, making it one of the oldest single-sex universities in the country.
 |
| Hollins University Chapel |
5) In 1965, Frankie was arrested in Columbus, Ohio. But it wasn't his fault! The bandmate he trusted to pay the group's hotel bill neglected to do so. Tell us about a time when your trusting nature got you in trouble.
A. I once went flying over Botetourt in a two-seater airplane with the county's known drunk. My husband was furious with me.
6) Clint Eastwood directed the movie version of the Four Seasons biography, Jersey Boys. What's your favorite Clint Eastwood movie?
A. Sigh. I am such a non-movie watcher. I do know, however, that I don't particularly care for Clint Eastwood and never have. The only movie I remember without looking anything up is The Outlaw Josey Wales.
7) According to the U.S. Census, more and more Americans are working from home. Are you one of them?
A. I was when I was able to work.
8) Of those of us who work outside the home, 75% travel to work alone. 15% take public transportation and the remaining 10% carpool. How do you get to your job?
A. I walk from one room to the other. When I was working as a news reporter, I drove to wherever the story was.
9) Do you have any big plans for this holiday weekend?
A. Nope. Nary a single one.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Friday, September 04, 2015
It Was 20 Years Ago Today
It wasn't Sergeant Pepper that happened 20 years ago today. No, it was the first episode of a Hercules: The Legendary Journey spin-off show.
This was the day that Xena: Warrior Princess, debuted. I was already a Hercules fan and had fallen for the character of the Warrior Princess on the three episodes featured in the fantasy series about the legendary Greek God.
Xena was no goddess. She was a sometimes deranged and damaged woman who decided she had to "do good" to circumvent her dubious and dreadful past. It took viewers six seasons to learn what that past was, and it wasn't pretty.
The first episode was called Sins of the Past and it set up the premise of redemption that ran throughout the entire show. It also introduced us to Gabrielle, Xena's sidekick. Gabrielle was a feisty non-warrior who saw something in our heroine that intrigued her enough to cause her to leave her home to travel with her. The relationship between these two became something of a tease - were they or weren't they lovers? - at a time when such things still weren't overly accepted on television. (It was the late 1990s, remember.)
The show was a campy fantasy, and while Greek gods and goddesses popped in and out, XWP was irreverent with history. The writers didn't care if the Trojan Horse took place when Caesar was alive or not. It had a weird timelessness about it, as if Xena and Gabrielle were constantly popping through some dimensional porthole that the viewers never saw.
I loved it. I loved the characters, the dialogue, the fanciful play with the notion of redemption, the idea of gods and goddesses interfering with lives. I loved the fact that these two women were roaming about ancient Greece all by themselves. I loved that Xena was strong, powerful and quick to fight while Gabrielle was a writer and poet who preferred peace to the sword.
The show had a different tone from Hercules, which grew darker as the seasons progressed. Xena had some dark moments and a few story lines that were, well, horrifying, but the show eventually always came back around to finding itself (except for the last two episodes, which set up a hue and cry from every Xenite on the planet).
XWP gave me something to look forward to, and it was also the first big fandom to develop courtesy of the Internet. Star Trek fandoms were already in place, but Xena fans took things to a different level. Xena fans had online arguments over shows. They developed the term "shipper" with regards to fandoms.
By its second season, Xena was the top-rated syndicated show in the United States, and it remained in the top five throughout its run. The show ended in June 2001. It's always had a cult following, which continues to this day.
Okay, yes, I am among those followers. I became a weekly contributor to Whoosh!, an online magazine devoted to all things Xena.
Around the Xenaverse, I was Bluesong: Spoiler Princess. I had a C-Band satellite back then, and on Sundays the show would "feed" to the various shows that would then play the episode at some point during the week. I watched the feeds, making me among the first folks in the U.S. to see the episodes, and I wrote a synopsis for nearly each and every show. At first they appeared in a newsgroup, and then after Whoosh! became established, they showed up there beginning with episode 19 in the first season. After that, I did most of the synopsis updates. Folks waited anxiously for those things to go up.
Eventually I was given the title of Associate Editor at Whoosh!. You can find me listed on the "Staff Emeritus" page.
More importantly, I made friends. I can't believe I have known some of these folks online now for 20 years. They're on my Facebook feed. One of those Xenites is my email pal, writing to me nearly every day for 15 years. We've talked about everything from the show to the state of the world. We even exchange Christmas and birthday presents.
No TV show has captured my imagination as much as this one. There are others I've enjoyed (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer), but this is the show I would watch multiple times. It's been about six years, though, since I last pulled out the DVDs. Maybe its time for a reunion of me and Xena?
"You are what you do. You can recreate yourself every second of your life." - Xena in Forgiven.
Opening lines of the show:
"In a time of ancient gods, warlords and kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero. She was Xena, a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle.
The power.
The passion.
The danger.
Her courage would change the world."
This was the day that Xena: Warrior Princess, debuted. I was already a Hercules fan and had fallen for the character of the Warrior Princess on the three episodes featured in the fantasy series about the legendary Greek God.
Xena was no goddess. She was a sometimes deranged and damaged woman who decided she had to "do good" to circumvent her dubious and dreadful past. It took viewers six seasons to learn what that past was, and it wasn't pretty.
The first episode was called Sins of the Past and it set up the premise of redemption that ran throughout the entire show. It also introduced us to Gabrielle, Xena's sidekick. Gabrielle was a feisty non-warrior who saw something in our heroine that intrigued her enough to cause her to leave her home to travel with her. The relationship between these two became something of a tease - were they or weren't they lovers? - at a time when such things still weren't overly accepted on television. (It was the late 1990s, remember.)
The show was a campy fantasy, and while Greek gods and goddesses popped in and out, XWP was irreverent with history. The writers didn't care if the Trojan Horse took place when Caesar was alive or not. It had a weird timelessness about it, as if Xena and Gabrielle were constantly popping through some dimensional porthole that the viewers never saw.
I loved it. I loved the characters, the dialogue, the fanciful play with the notion of redemption, the idea of gods and goddesses interfering with lives. I loved the fact that these two women were roaming about ancient Greece all by themselves. I loved that Xena was strong, powerful and quick to fight while Gabrielle was a writer and poet who preferred peace to the sword.
The show had a different tone from Hercules, which grew darker as the seasons progressed. Xena had some dark moments and a few story lines that were, well, horrifying, but the show eventually always came back around to finding itself (except for the last two episodes, which set up a hue and cry from every Xenite on the planet).
XWP gave me something to look forward to, and it was also the first big fandom to develop courtesy of the Internet. Star Trek fandoms were already in place, but Xena fans took things to a different level. Xena fans had online arguments over shows. They developed the term "shipper" with regards to fandoms.
By its second season, Xena was the top-rated syndicated show in the United States, and it remained in the top five throughout its run. The show ended in June 2001. It's always had a cult following, which continues to this day.
Okay, yes, I am among those followers. I became a weekly contributor to Whoosh!, an online magazine devoted to all things Xena.
Around the Xenaverse, I was Bluesong: Spoiler Princess. I had a C-Band satellite back then, and on Sundays the show would "feed" to the various shows that would then play the episode at some point during the week. I watched the feeds, making me among the first folks in the U.S. to see the episodes, and I wrote a synopsis for nearly each and every show. At first they appeared in a newsgroup, and then after Whoosh! became established, they showed up there beginning with episode 19 in the first season. After that, I did most of the synopsis updates. Folks waited anxiously for those things to go up.
Eventually I was given the title of Associate Editor at Whoosh!. You can find me listed on the "Staff Emeritus" page.
More importantly, I made friends. I can't believe I have known some of these folks online now for 20 years. They're on my Facebook feed. One of those Xenites is my email pal, writing to me nearly every day for 15 years. We've talked about everything from the show to the state of the world. We even exchange Christmas and birthday presents.
No TV show has captured my imagination as much as this one. There are others I've enjoyed (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer), but this is the show I would watch multiple times. It's been about six years, though, since I last pulled out the DVDs. Maybe its time for a reunion of me and Xena?
"You are what you do. You can recreate yourself every second of your life." - Xena in Forgiven.
Opening lines of the show:
"In a time of ancient gods, warlords and kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero. She was Xena, a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle.
The power.
The passion.
The danger.
Her courage would change the world."
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