Yes, insurance.
Rick was accepted into the pre-existing insurance plan that is now offered to all who have been refused insurance due to having a pre existing condition. All thanks to my President. We are just happy as shit about this. His new policy begins on November 1st.
The first thing I am making him do is get an Xray on that knee.
He is sure hobbling around and the old fart is stubborn and waiting until he gets his ID card to go to the ER/Urgent Care. This bruised knee as he calls it is really not getting any better so I think he needs an Xray. Last night he was on a roll and had me laughing so much. His last suggestion was that he didn't need no stinkin' Xrays he just needed some medicinal marijuana for the pain. He was making me laugh.
Oh that man can make me laugh and I love him for that.
Due to me not having insurance I had a free mammogram that is offered here in October at Innova Dulles South where I live. I had it and then they asked for my older films from another imagining center to compare. They found a lump you see.
I had a feeling which is why I went for the free one this year. Sometimes ya just know.
But seriously I wish I hadn't. I don't have insurance so what good does it do to know this? They will review the films I dropped off today along with the CD of a sonogram done last time to be absolutely certain I need to have more imagining.
I have been having a lot of pain on that side for awhile now. Pain they usually say is nothing. But now the pain is constant and more, if that makes sense. Anyway this is where they found this "thing" so maybe its the same as last time.
Either way I am in a bit of a panic not having insurance.
Shit. This all sucks. I will remain positive until we know something more.
I also think I will wait until the completion of the sale for more imagining if necessary since I don't have insurance.
In good news. We are getting closer to the closing on the lake house.
November 16th is the magic day. It can't get here soon enough.
Honestly all the piddly shit from the inspection is so annoying.
A storage unit doesn't have a outlet cover and they are making a big deal of shit like this.
I will be buying a cover for a whooping 50 cents and put it on when we get there tomorrow night. Jeez.
In other good news this realtor we have has been the best realtor by far we have ever had the pleasure of working with. So fair, up front, no hidden agenda etc. I love the kid. Sure he looks like a hillbilly but he is so nice. After I win the lottery I will be using him to buy my big fat house on the lake.
The party at the former co-worker's home for my former boss was nice.
Only nice. So many couldn't come at the last minute due to the storm.
Those were all the people Deb and I wanted to see so much.
Because my regional team of co-workers were from the northeast most couldn't get a flight here and driving would have been worse.
My friend and co-worker Deb was coming up from Charlotte so she was the only one that arrived that was really fun for me. Deb did stay at our home and that was fun to catch up.
Seeing my former boss and his wife was perfection!
I adore him and it was fun to see he is still the irrelevant funny man I remember.
Cute as can be as well. He is cuter than before.
Why do men age so damn well. Not fair.
We all laughed a great deal and that is always fun right?
The hostess is quite the pretentious woman and Deb, Bruce and I had some good chuckles about that in private. I took some photo's but not as many as normal so nothing really to share because you don't know these folks. Pretentious people make me giggle though.
She's a cold woman. The tags on her clothes and her furnishings mean more to her than a person or warmth and kindness. She has such pride and wanted to show us around her massive home as soon as we walked in. All Deb & I wanted was to go out to her patio to see everyone was out there partying. I didn't care that her bedroom was the size of my entire first floor. But she wanted us to know the cost of this or that as she would point them out.
Who does that shit? Oh jeez. I prefer the friends over the stuff.
I was asked to bring an appetizer.
Now, I was going to make my crab and sausage and cheese stuffed mushroom caps.
But I had a busy week and shit with the sale etc decided to go for something simple, yummy and what I knew was going to be very pedestrian for her standards.
I made a 7 layer taco dip and brought along the chips for dipping as well.
I asked her if I could use her oven and when I took the foil off my dip she turned up her nose and said in the most snotty tone it made Deb spit out her wine and laugh...."what is this?"
I told her it was 7 layer taco dip and she rolled her eyes.
I pretend I don't notice as I look at Deb wiping up her wine that is now all over the kitchen island. I asked for a bowl for the chips. I think her head about exploded that my appetizer could be put on her silver platters as the rest were done.
When my dip was done I went inside and got it out of the oven and took my "slum" pampered chef stone platter to the patio table with the chips.
EVERYONE swarmed immediately to the dip.
Deb whispered, "oh my this is going to piss her off because her silver platters are still full with her bite sized icky things."
We laughed. I am thrilled that everyone loved it. I was a bit concerned.
Bruce said it was so yummy I was not allowed to take the remainder home.
I'm glad the guests loved it. And there was none left to take home so ha ha to snotty hostess.
Dinner was sit down of course. No buffet for the pretentious.
We had salmon and lentils.
I hate salmon, lentils are okay if there is nothing else to eat.
Because I am not pretentious I felt that salmon was an odd choice for people who like me don't eat seafood. Half of us didn't take the salmon at my table as it was brought to us by the hostess on a another silver platter.
We were all asked to bring wine as well. We were to share our bottles with everyone.
I know she is a snob so I was sure to bring a great bottle of Cabernet.
It is from one of my favorite wineries in Sonoma.
She said she had never heard of it and turned up her nose.
I said, "my goodness Susan you have heard of all the wineries in Sonoma? God love you"
That made everyone laugh.
I know that was mean but she's such a bitch that I stooped to her level.
Bruce had her taste it. He did and said, "Oh Peg you may not get any of this, this is a very good cab." I smiled and walked away. I turned around to see her drink her first sip and I heard her say to Bruce, "Oh my this IS very fine wine. Who knew? "
Yes, only you Susan have taste the rest of us are the dirt beneath your shoes.
She then made a bee line to me to tell me the wine was very good and how did I know of this winery? I told her about my private tours that we had the opportunity to do while in Sonoma. Apparently that impressed her. Big deal. BFD seriously.
I just hate people like this.
It reminds me of a saying that one of my sister always says when someone is acting all stuck up and snobby like her, "oh smell me!'
It fits this pretentious bitch.
Then again she is 60 yrs old and she lives alone (well her mom lives with her with dementia) and has never married. Maybe she is like this because that is all she has. She has looks, money and 'stuff'. Maybe she's just miserable and that is why she behaves this way.
Or maybe not.
People are funny. Look, I like a nice home. I like nice things and I really like good wine.
But if you served me wine in a box and it wasn't sweet I would still be happy.
My hubby, my family and my friends mean more to me than the stuff and sometimes I feel badly for those that don't get that. Because while lying on my death bed do you really think I'll say, gee I'm glad my furniture and accessories were top notch or will I want to be surround by my loved ones and happy I had these rich relationships?
Maybe it's just me.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
One More Thing.....
I meant to say this on the last post but forgot.
I learned of a new app during this storm.
It's a flashlight app.
Now don't laugh it works.
I downloaded this app yesterday in the midst of this storm in case we lost power.
It makes your cell phone a flashlight and my goodness it is damn bright.
The best part was it was free.
I love free.
The app is called Brightest Flashlight.
We tried it last night just to see how much we could really see if we had to use.
We were pleasantly surprised.
Yes, of course we had flashlights and batteries.
But I downloaded it anyway and thought it could sure help in other situations I am sure.
So there ya go.
Free advice and a free app.
I learned of a new app during this storm.
It's a flashlight app.
Now don't laugh it works.
I downloaded this app yesterday in the midst of this storm in case we lost power.
It makes your cell phone a flashlight and my goodness it is damn bright.
The best part was it was free.
I love free.
The app is called Brightest Flashlight.
We tried it last night just to see how much we could really see if we had to use.
We were pleasantly surprised.
Yes, of course we had flashlights and batteries.
But I downloaded it anyway and thought it could sure help in other situations I am sure.
So there ya go.
Free advice and a free app.
Whew.
Here is what I have learned from Sandy.
Everyone around us has lost power.
We did not. We are damp and cold but fine.
The wind was unbelievable but it has died down.
I think we'll even see some sun Wednesday.
We have reached out to friends without power to come over to eat and if nothing else bathe in warm water and enjoy electricity. I made a big ole pot of beef stew and other yummy's to feed a household should people stop by. Hey, it's the Italian in me....we feed and eat the pain away. :-)
My water dog hates rain. Go figure.
She will roll in puddles of water.
She dives off docks to fetch a football.
She swims looking for fish for hours on end.
She gets us to go out to do her business and she sticks her head out the door and sees rain.
She then backs up into the foyer and turns around and heads back to any spot that isn't outdoors.
We finally get her outside to do her business and I am holding the umbrella over her and holding it from blowing inside out and all the while I am getting drenched.
Hmm....what is wrong with that picture? Then she RUNS back to the house as I am running behind her.
My crazy dog doesn't like wind either.
Everything hitting the house or the howling of the wind kept her awake which in turn kept us awake.
It's not as much fun to have a snow day or a rain day when you're an adult I have noticed.
That sucks.
Although hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps is good on a rain day off work.
Okay so technically I am not off work. Minor detail.
Been dealing with customers all morning. But that hot chocolate made me happy.
Rick is off work today and he is enjoying it somewhat.
The dumb ass hit a flower box on Sunday while taking down all the things on our patio that could fly and impale a neighbor. As he was doing this he ran into a flower box with his knee.
He hit it hard. We laughed. Later that night he was in pain. He bruised the bone.
It's much better when he is upright than if he tries to sit or get up from sitting.
I told him to just not sit then, to clean, vacuum, empty the dishwasher - you know things you can do on your feet.
He gave me the stink eye and said, "You're so funny Margaret"
Hey just trying to help a guy.
Local channels did not have any programming last night. It was all weather all the time. C'mon we know the weather you really have to interrupt regularly scheduled programming? I understand intererrupting if there was a new emergency but to just keep rehashing everything was mind numbing. That is just silly to me. We have over 200 channels and nothing was on. This song pretty much says it for me.
Everyone around us has lost power.
We did not. We are damp and cold but fine.
The wind was unbelievable but it has died down.
I think we'll even see some sun Wednesday.
We have reached out to friends without power to come over to eat and if nothing else bathe in warm water and enjoy electricity. I made a big ole pot of beef stew and other yummy's to feed a household should people stop by. Hey, it's the Italian in me....we feed and eat the pain away. :-)
My water dog hates rain. Go figure.
She will roll in puddles of water.
She dives off docks to fetch a football.
She swims looking for fish for hours on end.
She gets us to go out to do her business and she sticks her head out the door and sees rain.
She then backs up into the foyer and turns around and heads back to any spot that isn't outdoors.
We finally get her outside to do her business and I am holding the umbrella over her and holding it from blowing inside out and all the while I am getting drenched.
Hmm....what is wrong with that picture? Then she RUNS back to the house as I am running behind her.
My crazy dog doesn't like wind either.
Everything hitting the house or the howling of the wind kept her awake which in turn kept us awake.
It's not as much fun to have a snow day or a rain day when you're an adult I have noticed.
That sucks.
Although hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps is good on a rain day off work.
Okay so technically I am not off work. Minor detail.
Been dealing with customers all morning. But that hot chocolate made me happy.
Rick is off work today and he is enjoying it somewhat.
The dumb ass hit a flower box on Sunday while taking down all the things on our patio that could fly and impale a neighbor. As he was doing this he ran into a flower box with his knee.
He hit it hard. We laughed. Later that night he was in pain. He bruised the bone.
It's much better when he is upright than if he tries to sit or get up from sitting.
I told him to just not sit then, to clean, vacuum, empty the dishwasher - you know things you can do on your feet.
He gave me the stink eye and said, "You're so funny Margaret"
Hey just trying to help a guy.
Local channels did not have any programming last night. It was all weather all the time. C'mon we know the weather you really have to interrupt regularly scheduled programming? I understand intererrupting if there was a new emergency but to just keep rehashing everything was mind numbing. That is just silly to me. We have over 200 channels and nothing was on. This song pretty much says it for me.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sandy is coming.
No, not Sandy Duncan or Sandy Kovacks (for you old folks who remember these)
But the hurricane Sandy.
Now I will admit that this area goes into such a panic and tailspin each and every time we don't have sunny 85 degrees. But I think this time it really may be something.
The federal gov't is closed and all the schools are closed here as well as some businesses.
Not us though. This morning Rick is in Arlington at a customers home.
I work from home, so lucky me I get to go to work.
It's raining like crazy and the winds aren't too bad right now as I type this.
This afternoon it will be much worse and this evening even worse than the afternoon.
But tomorrow will be the full on 70mph winds and devestation they are talking about.
Power seems to be the thing everyone is talking about right now.
We don't normally lose power when everyone else does because we have underground power lines but I suppose it could still happen. We don't have a generator here and even if we could go out and buy one you won't find one. Shelves are bare of water, food and generators. So we are hunkered down with everything I think we need. As Rick said, we have booze if we run out of water. Gee he's a good boy scout isn't he?
I hope you are all safe and warm where you are.
But the hurricane Sandy.
Now I will admit that this area goes into such a panic and tailspin each and every time we don't have sunny 85 degrees. But I think this time it really may be something.
The federal gov't is closed and all the schools are closed here as well as some businesses.
Not us though. This morning Rick is in Arlington at a customers home.
I work from home, so lucky me I get to go to work.
It's raining like crazy and the winds aren't too bad right now as I type this.
This afternoon it will be much worse and this evening even worse than the afternoon.
But tomorrow will be the full on 70mph winds and devestation they are talking about.
Power seems to be the thing everyone is talking about right now.
We don't normally lose power when everyone else does because we have underground power lines but I suppose it could still happen. We don't have a generator here and even if we could go out and buy one you won't find one. Shelves are bare of water, food and generators. So we are hunkered down with everything I think we need. As Rick said, we have booze if we run out of water. Gee he's a good boy scout isn't he?
I hope you are all safe and warm where you are.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Drought
Nada, nothing, zippo, zilch.
I got nothing people. Making apple pie and other fall goodies my spousal unit loves.
Otherwise it's a blog drought here. Boring.
I'll have some goodies I'm sure next week and after my weekend of partying with old friends and some are even staying here for the weekend. It should be a plethora of blog tales.
Ya'll Come Back Now, Ya Hear!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Random Items Rounding out my Week
It's a gray rainy Friday. I love these days.
Now if only I could sit in a big chair and read with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee.
Green Mountain Coffee makes the best pumpkin spice and it's my crack this time of year.
I was told I must read "Where'd You Go Bernadette"
Library is out right now so I must wait.
I hate not buying books when I want one. Will I ever get used to this new life?
Whine, whine, whine. Shut up Margaret!!
Have any of you read this one?
Crazy good reviews and also good ones from people who I admire so I will give it a go.
**A friend called and wanted to talk. She's been in a funk. She wants to talk.
God how I know a funk. I said to come over after work and we'll open a bottle of wine and shoot the shit. No, she wants to go get a wine somewhere. How many times do I have to tell people I can't go drop $100 + on cocktails/wine before they get it? And no I do not want them to buy me drinks. That's a slap in the face too. Shit.
**Rick got a cash tip yesterday and when he told them he couldn't accept it because he was the owner they insisted anyway. He finally gave up and accepted it and said thank you very much. ($50)
This morning they called me to tell me how impressed they were with the whole remodel and how well Rick cleaned up etc. (remember they do not know I am anything more than some dumb chick who works here - not wife) She went on and on about this good experience that they just couldn't believe from the service to the job done.
I told them I was glad they were happy with everything we did.
She said she wanted to send me a gift for all the calls she made around the clock and how patient I was with her as well as making her feel she was in good hands.
OMG no one is nice to me here as you all know from my bitching about it here.
I about hugged her through the phone. I told her that wasn't necessary thanking me was enough. She kept telling me she told my boss Rick how great I was. (he told me) and thanking me wasn't enough to her. I told her that since most don't take the time to be nice or kind to me thanking me was a big deal and it was more than enough. I did not give her my address. That is my job and I did it well and a thank you is all I need.
But I will take that $50 she gave Rick and have a glass of wine with my friend tonight.
That I did not share with her.
**My Yankees looked like shit to me all year. I know they won their division but they weren't playing like a Yankee caliber team all year. The injuries, the slumps and don't get me started on the manager who drives me nuts with taking out pitchers who are on a roll etc. Last night after being clobbered I was actually glad it was over. They need rest.
They are old, tired, battered, bruised and worse. Will Derek ever come back from this surgery and be able to do that jump,spin, throw he is famous for again on his new surgically repaired ankle at 39? It's going to be a long long time before we are in the World Series again. I miss George Steinbrenner and I never thought I'd say that in my lifetime.
**I want this election over just so that I don't have to listen to these damn commercials anymore!!!! On that note this was funny to me.
**Next weekend is my big weekend with old friends flying into town and the big party for our old boss. He's not old, in fact a decade or more younger than me. But a former boss.
I can't wait. I still haven't lost that 30 extra pounds or had a face lift. Damn.
I can't wait to see everyone. I am picking up two girlfriends at the airport and it's going to be a good time. One is staying at my home. This is a friend who I have had since 1987.
I've known her just two weeks less than Rick. This is how we met.
I had to fly into a training class in Houston. I got there late due to weather in Cleveland.
I arrived at the hotel and checked in. They had a table to pick up your weeks itinerary and book etc. I was told that my "roommate" was already there. Her name was Deb and she was from Syracuse NY. I hated that they made us room with co-workers. Hated it.
I grabbed books and binders (but not full of women) my key and headed to my room.
I couldn't wait to get out of these clothes and wash my face.
When I entered the room there was this cute blonde thing sitting on her bed in her pj's.
We shook hands and introduced ourselves. I told her I just had to wash my face.
I got undressed and went to wash my face. I came out of the bathroom in a long T-shirt and my underwear. She said, "I hate that I always get roommates with big fuckin' tits"
That made me laugh so loudly. I knew I was going to be friends with her right then and there. I couldn't believe she just said that but I loved it. She then asked if I wanted to go downstairs for a few beers. I had just washed all my makeup off and had my long hair on the top of my head like Pebbles in the Flintstones. But I said "Sure why not!"
We went downstairs and bellied up to the bar and drank a lot of beers and ate some great spicy popcorn and got to know one another. We have been the greatest of friends ever since. In the mean time she bought herself some new boobs so she doesn't have to worry about getting roommates with big ones anymore. It will be so great to see one another to talk in person rather than the phone, emails and texts. I can't wait until next Saturday.
That means this week a lot of cleaning will be done. One way to get my ass in gear isn't it?
**This young girl who was a prostitute in Kennebunk with her Zumba studio makes me laugh. She sure is a multi-tasker I'll tell ya. She is teaching her Zumba classes which is lot of cardiovascular exercise. Then she has sex later or before or in between or all of the above. She is in good shape for sure with all those various workouts. They said she was doing 150 dudes. I personally believe that prostitution should be legal. I don't care. I think the same guys who go while it's illegal will go if it's legal. But if she gets prison time I think the men should be listed and given the same. If it's illegal all should be given the same punishment.
I still just can't get over the fact that the whole time she had to do all these men and still have the energy to Zumba several times a day. Better woman than I (or is it me?)
Either way....I'd need a nap!
**I loved this about Maine. I loved the sense of humor here.
This week if you didn't hear they had an earthquake.
I believe it was 4.5 or something around that.
In other words not that big. So when I saw this I thought it was a hoot!
TGIF.
Now if only I could sit in a big chair and read with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee.
Green Mountain Coffee makes the best pumpkin spice and it's my crack this time of year.
I was told I must read "Where'd You Go Bernadette"
Library is out right now so I must wait.
I hate not buying books when I want one. Will I ever get used to this new life?
Whine, whine, whine. Shut up Margaret!!
Have any of you read this one?
Crazy good reviews and also good ones from people who I admire so I will give it a go.
**A friend called and wanted to talk. She's been in a funk. She wants to talk.
God how I know a funk. I said to come over after work and we'll open a bottle of wine and shoot the shit. No, she wants to go get a wine somewhere. How many times do I have to tell people I can't go drop $100 + on cocktails/wine before they get it? And no I do not want them to buy me drinks. That's a slap in the face too. Shit.
**Rick got a cash tip yesterday and when he told them he couldn't accept it because he was the owner they insisted anyway. He finally gave up and accepted it and said thank you very much. ($50)
This morning they called me to tell me how impressed they were with the whole remodel and how well Rick cleaned up etc. (remember they do not know I am anything more than some dumb chick who works here - not wife) She went on and on about this good experience that they just couldn't believe from the service to the job done.
I told them I was glad they were happy with everything we did.
She said she wanted to send me a gift for all the calls she made around the clock and how patient I was with her as well as making her feel she was in good hands.
OMG no one is nice to me here as you all know from my bitching about it here.
I about hugged her through the phone. I told her that wasn't necessary thanking me was enough. She kept telling me she told my boss Rick how great I was. (he told me) and thanking me wasn't enough to her. I told her that since most don't take the time to be nice or kind to me thanking me was a big deal and it was more than enough. I did not give her my address. That is my job and I did it well and a thank you is all I need.
But I will take that $50 she gave Rick and have a glass of wine with my friend tonight.
That I did not share with her.
**My Yankees looked like shit to me all year. I know they won their division but they weren't playing like a Yankee caliber team all year. The injuries, the slumps and don't get me started on the manager who drives me nuts with taking out pitchers who are on a roll etc. Last night after being clobbered I was actually glad it was over. They need rest.
They are old, tired, battered, bruised and worse. Will Derek ever come back from this surgery and be able to do that jump,spin, throw he is famous for again on his new surgically repaired ankle at 39? It's going to be a long long time before we are in the World Series again. I miss George Steinbrenner and I never thought I'd say that in my lifetime.
**I want this election over just so that I don't have to listen to these damn commercials anymore!!!! On that note this was funny to me.
I can't wait. I still haven't lost that 30 extra pounds or had a face lift. Damn.
I can't wait to see everyone. I am picking up two girlfriends at the airport and it's going to be a good time. One is staying at my home. This is a friend who I have had since 1987.
I've known her just two weeks less than Rick. This is how we met.
I had to fly into a training class in Houston. I got there late due to weather in Cleveland.
I arrived at the hotel and checked in. They had a table to pick up your weeks itinerary and book etc. I was told that my "roommate" was already there. Her name was Deb and she was from Syracuse NY. I hated that they made us room with co-workers. Hated it.
I grabbed books and binders (but not full of women) my key and headed to my room.
I couldn't wait to get out of these clothes and wash my face.
When I entered the room there was this cute blonde thing sitting on her bed in her pj's.
We shook hands and introduced ourselves. I told her I just had to wash my face.
I got undressed and went to wash my face. I came out of the bathroom in a long T-shirt and my underwear. She said, "I hate that I always get roommates with big fuckin' tits"
That made me laugh so loudly. I knew I was going to be friends with her right then and there. I couldn't believe she just said that but I loved it. She then asked if I wanted to go downstairs for a few beers. I had just washed all my makeup off and had my long hair on the top of my head like Pebbles in the Flintstones. But I said "Sure why not!"
We went downstairs and bellied up to the bar and drank a lot of beers and ate some great spicy popcorn and got to know one another. We have been the greatest of friends ever since. In the mean time she bought herself some new boobs so she doesn't have to worry about getting roommates with big ones anymore. It will be so great to see one another to talk in person rather than the phone, emails and texts. I can't wait until next Saturday.
That means this week a lot of cleaning will be done. One way to get my ass in gear isn't it?
**This young girl who was a prostitute in Kennebunk with her Zumba studio makes me laugh. She sure is a multi-tasker I'll tell ya. She is teaching her Zumba classes which is lot of cardiovascular exercise. Then she has sex later or before or in between or all of the above. She is in good shape for sure with all those various workouts. They said she was doing 150 dudes. I personally believe that prostitution should be legal. I don't care. I think the same guys who go while it's illegal will go if it's legal. But if she gets prison time I think the men should be listed and given the same. If it's illegal all should be given the same punishment.
I still just can't get over the fact that the whole time she had to do all these men and still have the energy to Zumba several times a day. Better woman than I (or is it me?)
Either way....I'd need a nap!
**I loved this about Maine. I loved the sense of humor here.
This week if you didn't hear they had an earthquake.
I believe it was 4.5 or something around that.
In other words not that big. So when I saw this I thought it was a hoot!
TGIF.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Quick Clip
I couldn't sleep again the other night when Rick and the dog headed upstairs to bed.
There wasn't anything on so I watched this show.
This clip made me laugh out loud. It always sounds so much louder when you are all alone in the dark watching tv.
I don't catch this show often because honestly I am not Chelsea Handler's biggest fan.
But this skit cracked me up. Maybe I was just real tired. Either way I'm sharing.
It looks like Sandra Bullock was about to laugh towards the end there.
There wasn't anything on so I watched this show.
This clip made me laugh out loud. It always sounds so much louder when you are all alone in the dark watching tv.
I don't catch this show often because honestly I am not Chelsea Handler's biggest fan.
But this skit cracked me up. Maybe I was just real tired. Either way I'm sharing.
It looks like Sandra Bullock was about to laugh towards the end there.
Had to remove video due to the playing loop.
Had to remove video due to the playing loop.
Don't want to annoy you guys so you don't come back.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Relieved and Yet Very Very Sad
As I told you here before life for us is very different after losing our jobs.
Then we started a company and we were back to normal.
Or so we thought. It didn't last long enough.
Then we had a recession.
Crap. Nothing is like it was.
Everything is upside down and we have a new normal that is frightening to me.
We knew if we wanted to continue to eat we had to sell our vacation home that was to eventually be our retirement home.
It took 19 months to sell and it sold at rock bottom prices.
We sure aren't walking away with a bag of money. No such luck.
We even sold it furnished. But we are walking away from a 2nd huge mortgage that will allow us to exhale. We close in alittle less than 4 weeks unless something crazy happens and with our luck one can't be sure it won't. We had 9 great summers there! That is something right?
Here are some old photo's of the house before all the updates and changes.
This will be our first Thanksgiving we won't be there.
So we are incredibly sad.
A bit (okay a lot ) of pride and shame as well that we couldn't hang on to it.
But like I have said, we like to eat and we want to continue to eat so therefore we had to sell it.
We are keeping our boat moored down there. We can go on weekends and play.
We can always rent a place for a vacation just like people rented our home.
But we won't rent our home from the new owners. That would kill us.
I can't imagine Rick or I will be able to even ride by the house by boat for a few years.
It is what it is. We were so damn lucky to have been able to afford a 2nd home right?
it was fun while it lasted.
These two on a Thanksgiving weekend. That Big Fella won't miss walking up that incline!
We have a wooden sign above our dock that says, "We don't skinny dip, We chunky dunk."
We are leaving that for this woman who bought the house.
She better be chubby.
Then we started a company and we were back to normal.
Or so we thought. It didn't last long enough.
Then we had a recession.
Crap. Nothing is like it was.
Everything is upside down and we have a new normal that is frightening to me.
We knew if we wanted to continue to eat we had to sell our vacation home that was to eventually be our retirement home.
It took 19 months to sell and it sold at rock bottom prices.
We sure aren't walking away with a bag of money. No such luck.
We even sold it furnished. But we are walking away from a 2nd huge mortgage that will allow us to exhale. We close in alittle less than 4 weeks unless something crazy happens and with our luck one can't be sure it won't. We had 9 great summers there! That is something right?
Here are some old photo's of the house before all the updates and changes.
This will be our first Thanksgiving we won't be there.
So we are incredibly sad.
A bit (okay a lot ) of pride and shame as well that we couldn't hang on to it.
But like I have said, we like to eat and we want to continue to eat so therefore we had to sell it.
We are keeping our boat moored down there. We can go on weekends and play.
We can always rent a place for a vacation just like people rented our home.
But we won't rent our home from the new owners. That would kill us.
I can't imagine Rick or I will be able to even ride by the house by boat for a few years.
It is what it is. We were so damn lucky to have been able to afford a 2nd home right?
it was fun while it lasted.
This gal is really going to miss the water!!!!!
These two on a Thanksgiving weekend. That Big Fella won't miss walking up that incline!
No more Rum Naps!!
But Izzy and I will still have our fun boat rides together!
We are leaving that for this woman who bought the house.
She better be chubby.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Labels
There was a dish I grew up with that I found out later in life that was endemic to my hometown.
I have never lived anywhere that had this on a menu or if I mentioned it, no one had ever heard of it.
There are four things you need to know before I tell you about my meltdown.
One, my parents made us eat everything on our plate. We didn't get to have a mom who was a short order cook. The words "Peggy won't eat that so I'll make her chicken nuggets" were never uttered in our home.
If mom made it we had to eat it or not eat anything at all.
Never was there an exception to the rule. A tablespoon of everything was the only rule at mealtime. But a tablespoon of lima beans or beets can seem HUGE when you hate them.
I hate beets and by God she always made beets. "Why?, I would ask, when you know I don't like them?"
I was always told I wasn't the only person in the house.
I hated that damn answer. I get it as an adult but as a kid, I hated that answer.
Oh there was plenty of drama about food at my house.
My younger sister, Pam, hated peas and carrots.
Another one of those things my mom made all the time.
Canned peas and carrots no less. Yuck.
I like peas and I like carrots but canned? Yuck! But I ate them.
My sister being the drama queen would give an Oscar winning performance and gag and then vomit them up on her plate. She would gag with the dramatic flair of noises and then heave her body against the table and then the chewed up food would be on her plate. Gross. How did they not see through her tricks? They never made her finish them or give her more. I was in awe of her talent. I could never do that trick. And my goodness she could make Meryl Streep proud!
When it was lima beans I would torture myself and play with them until I was yelled at. Then I would hold my nose and shove them down and chug my milk. I would make a face and of course be yelled at for being so dramatic. ME? What about Pam who regurgitates them on her plate?
Oh if only I could have done that I wouldn't have to eat these awful things. I think this is why I could never be bulemic. Besides the fact that I love food I just can't make myself throw up. I think it's a skill that I don't possess.
The 2nd thing you need to know is what I did when I made the mistake of refusing to eat eggplant once. My father was so angry he began his "there are children in India, Africia...name the country" speech.
You know the one where they have no food so I should be thankful and eat what is on my plate.
Well this one night after my father went on his tangent of poor kids in India I told my father to, "Name one"
OH. MY.GOD.
If you want to see your fathers face turn beet red and his head explode tell him to name one of those kids in India that would eat your awful eggplant.
I was slapped across the face and sent to my room with no dinner.
I cried but I was so okay with not eating what I thought at the time was horrible eggplant parmesan.
The 3rd thing you need to know is that dish I referred to earlier as something only found in my hometown was the final straw for me.
It's called, "City Chicken"
City Chicken is veal and pork cubes on a wooden skewer.
My mom rolled them in egg then breaded them and fried them crisp then baked them in cream of mushroom soup and then this all went over egg noodles.
They were baked in this soup on the stick.
One of the few things we ate that were what I called "American" and not Italian food.
The 4th thing you need to know is I HATED CHICKEN.
Gnawing on a chicken thigh/leg creeped me out as a kid. I would not eat chicken. Period.
Thankfully my father wasn't a big fan of chicken so we didn't eat it much so I didn't have to deal with the angst of chicken for dinner. (He worked on a chicken farm as a kid and he no longer would eat chicken.)
On this particular night of my meltdown my mom made city chicken.
I was convinced this was chicken.
I sat at that table refusing to eat it.
Oh I ate the noodles and I drank my milk but that city chicken wasn't being eaten by me if I could help it. It just sat there on my plate.
My father said I was not getting up from this table until I ate my dinner.
I got the lecture that he works hard for the food on our table and damn it I was going to eat it.
We ate dinner between 5-5:30p. I sat there until after it turned dark.
The table was cleaned off and mom was doing dishes.
I was still sitting at the table staring at my 'chicken'.
My mom was bustling around the kitchen with dishes etc.
She kept telling me over and over again that it was veal and pork and not chicken. "Just eat it, she'd say, you'll like it Peggy"
I just kept saying,"Then why do they call it chicken if it's not chicken?"
She tried to explain because it was on these short skewers it looked like a chicken leg.
I was more inclined to believe my mom than my dad but I was still buying none of this.
I began crying and having a wailing meltdown about this whole thing.
Not good. That just made my father come into the kitchen.
He yelled at me. That made me worse.
He gave me 30 more minutes or I was going to bed hungry.
I told him I wasn't hungry under my breath very quietly.
He yelled, "What did you say?"
I had visions of what happened when I told him to name a starving kid in India.
I was smart enough at 8 to know to shut the hell up now.
He left the kitchen.
I sat there staring at the friggin' city chicken wanting it to just get up off my plate and walk away. I was convinced it was a leg of a chicken anyway.
My mom sat down next to me. She calmly tried to tell me again how this wasn't chicken. How I loved veal and this was veal. That I was making Daddy really angry and did I really want to go to bed without eating? I knew my mom was frustrated and she didn't seem to be lying but I was not completely convinced this wasn't chicken. My mom was then summoned into the living room by my father. I guess she was talking to the enemy and had to go into the living room with my dad. She kissed the side of my head and ran her hand over my hair and said, "Peggy just eat it baby please." (I remember that vividly.)
At 5 minutes before my time was up I held my nose and took a bite.
Oh my goodness this was so damn good! Even cold.
I wolfed it down. This wasn't stinky chicken this really was pork and veal.
I inhaled it.
I put my plate in the sink and went into the living room and told my parents that I ate it.
My father just said, "good. now go get ready for bed."
My mom came into my bedroom and said, " Thank you Peggy. Now wasn't that good?"
I didn't want to tell her it was good because she'd tell my father but I adored my mom so I did anyway. "yep it was really good. It tasted like the veal cutlets you make."
She laughed and hugged me and said, "Thank God"
Now what I would do for some city chicken!!
I have never lived anywhere that had this on a menu or if I mentioned it, no one had ever heard of it.
There are four things you need to know before I tell you about my meltdown.
One, my parents made us eat everything on our plate. We didn't get to have a mom who was a short order cook. The words "Peggy won't eat that so I'll make her chicken nuggets" were never uttered in our home.
If mom made it we had to eat it or not eat anything at all.
Never was there an exception to the rule. A tablespoon of everything was the only rule at mealtime. But a tablespoon of lima beans or beets can seem HUGE when you hate them.
I hate beets and by God she always made beets. "Why?, I would ask, when you know I don't like them?"
I was always told I wasn't the only person in the house.
I hated that damn answer. I get it as an adult but as a kid, I hated that answer.
Oh there was plenty of drama about food at my house.
My younger sister, Pam, hated peas and carrots.
Another one of those things my mom made all the time.
Canned peas and carrots no less. Yuck.
I like peas and I like carrots but canned? Yuck! But I ate them.
My sister being the drama queen would give an Oscar winning performance and gag and then vomit them up on her plate. She would gag with the dramatic flair of noises and then heave her body against the table and then the chewed up food would be on her plate. Gross. How did they not see through her tricks? They never made her finish them or give her more. I was in awe of her talent. I could never do that trick. And my goodness she could make Meryl Streep proud!
When it was lima beans I would torture myself and play with them until I was yelled at. Then I would hold my nose and shove them down and chug my milk. I would make a face and of course be yelled at for being so dramatic. ME? What about Pam who regurgitates them on her plate?
Oh if only I could have done that I wouldn't have to eat these awful things. I think this is why I could never be bulemic. Besides the fact that I love food I just can't make myself throw up. I think it's a skill that I don't possess.
The 2nd thing you need to know is what I did when I made the mistake of refusing to eat eggplant once. My father was so angry he began his "there are children in India, Africia...name the country" speech.
You know the one where they have no food so I should be thankful and eat what is on my plate.
Well this one night after my father went on his tangent of poor kids in India I told my father to, "Name one"
OH. MY.GOD.
If you want to see your fathers face turn beet red and his head explode tell him to name one of those kids in India that would eat your awful eggplant.
I was slapped across the face and sent to my room with no dinner.
I cried but I was so okay with not eating what I thought at the time was horrible eggplant parmesan.
The 3rd thing you need to know is that dish I referred to earlier as something only found in my hometown was the final straw for me.
It's called, "City Chicken"
City Chicken is veal and pork cubes on a wooden skewer.
My mom rolled them in egg then breaded them and fried them crisp then baked them in cream of mushroom soup and then this all went over egg noodles.
They were baked in this soup on the stick.
One of the few things we ate that were what I called "American" and not Italian food.
The 4th thing you need to know is I HATED CHICKEN.
Gnawing on a chicken thigh/leg creeped me out as a kid. I would not eat chicken. Period.
Thankfully my father wasn't a big fan of chicken so we didn't eat it much so I didn't have to deal with the angst of chicken for dinner. (He worked on a chicken farm as a kid and he no longer would eat chicken.)
On this particular night of my meltdown my mom made city chicken.
I was convinced this was chicken.
I sat at that table refusing to eat it.
Oh I ate the noodles and I drank my milk but that city chicken wasn't being eaten by me if I could help it. It just sat there on my plate.
My father said I was not getting up from this table until I ate my dinner.
I got the lecture that he works hard for the food on our table and damn it I was going to eat it.
We ate dinner between 5-5:30p. I sat there until after it turned dark.
The table was cleaned off and mom was doing dishes.
I was still sitting at the table staring at my 'chicken'.
My mom was bustling around the kitchen with dishes etc.
She kept telling me over and over again that it was veal and pork and not chicken. "Just eat it, she'd say, you'll like it Peggy"
I just kept saying,"Then why do they call it chicken if it's not chicken?"
She tried to explain because it was on these short skewers it looked like a chicken leg.
I was more inclined to believe my mom than my dad but I was still buying none of this.
I began crying and having a wailing meltdown about this whole thing.
Not good. That just made my father come into the kitchen.
He yelled at me. That made me worse.
He gave me 30 more minutes or I was going to bed hungry.
I told him I wasn't hungry under my breath very quietly.
He yelled, "What did you say?"
I had visions of what happened when I told him to name a starving kid in India.
I was smart enough at 8 to know to shut the hell up now.
He left the kitchen.
I sat there staring at the friggin' city chicken wanting it to just get up off my plate and walk away. I was convinced it was a leg of a chicken anyway.
My mom sat down next to me. She calmly tried to tell me again how this wasn't chicken. How I loved veal and this was veal. That I was making Daddy really angry and did I really want to go to bed without eating? I knew my mom was frustrated and she didn't seem to be lying but I was not completely convinced this wasn't chicken. My mom was then summoned into the living room by my father. I guess she was talking to the enemy and had to go into the living room with my dad. She kissed the side of my head and ran her hand over my hair and said, "Peggy just eat it baby please." (I remember that vividly.)
At 5 minutes before my time was up I held my nose and took a bite.
Oh my goodness this was so damn good! Even cold.
I wolfed it down. This wasn't stinky chicken this really was pork and veal.
I inhaled it.
I put my plate in the sink and went into the living room and told my parents that I ate it.
My father just said, "good. now go get ready for bed."
My mom came into my bedroom and said, " Thank you Peggy. Now wasn't that good?"
I didn't want to tell her it was good because she'd tell my father but I adored my mom so I did anyway. "yep it was really good. It tasted like the veal cutlets you make."
She laughed and hugged me and said, "Thank God"
Now what I would do for some city chicken!!
Monday, October 15, 2012
Boss's Day
Tomorrow, the 16th is the offical Hallmark Holiday known as Boss's Day.
What do you give as a gift when you work for your husband and it's Boss's Day?
BJ? Is that sexual harassment in the workplace?
He tells me it is only sexual harassment if it's unwanted.
He tried to convince me that since he was VP of HR he knows.
A generic card and a gift card for lunch?
A week of not giving him the wrong addresses?
Working at my desk topless?
These are all the gifts I know he would appreciate.
I had more in a mind a card and something to make him laugh because well, that's how I roll.
I did work topless once. Before we had employees of course. But it wasn't on purpose per se.
It was winter and it was getting warm upstairs and I didn't have time to go downstairs to lower the heat. I also didn't have a fan above my desk at the time.
Instead I slowly unrobed during the course of the day.
By the end of the day when he walked into my office I was sitting there in nothin' but my headset and panties. Hey, I work from home don't judge.
I didn't have Izzy to walk then and who was going to see me upstairs?
He told me he liked that look and he may just have to implement that as our office uniform. Technically he isn't my boss so I don't have to listen to him. (thank goodness)
But I do call him my boss while working.
No one who calls here knows he is my husband and I always refer to him as my boss.
So a gift for Boss's Day seemed appropriate to me.
I shuffled off to the Hallmark store last week and bought a card for another occasion and didn't see any Boss's Day cards. I asked and they told me they took them down to put up Christmas Cards.
Now don't you think that is silly?
The 'holiday' of Boss's Day wasn't even over, in fact it was 2 weeks away and you took the cards down? Bad marketing to me.
Christmas is a few months away.
Putting the cards in back just didn't make smart business sense to me.
While I was at the cash register another person asked where the boss's day cards were.
The Hallmark employee told her they took them down.
The woman asked if they had some cards left and if they were in the back could they bring some out for her, preferably funny ones.
The Hallmark women all looked at one another like this was the most horrific request ever made. No one even answered her. They just stared like a deer in the headlights look of fear.
The customer huffed and walked out of the store.
I said nothing! I paid for my card and left.
But really that was a simple and logical request and they should have done it.
They weren't busy except for me and 1 couple.
Two of the women were just standing around.
Customer service is just damn non existent anymore.
So with that being said maybe for boss's day I should be the one getting a gift.
Maybe it should be Employee Day.
I deal with bad people all day long. Idiots on most days. Rude more often than nice.
They have no phone skills, social skills, manners or common politeness.
I do it all with a smile in my voice and they tell Rick how wonderful I am.
(which always makes me laugh after I tell Rick how awful they were to work with)
I vent about these numb nuts on my blog and to Rick of course.
They don't know that because I make them feel good and I do the right thing by them.
It's called customer service.
So back to Boss's Day.
I may have to take my shirt off since I couldn't find a damn card.
Any suggestions? I've only 1 day left.
What do you give as a gift when you work for your husband and it's Boss's Day?
BJ? Is that sexual harassment in the workplace?
He tells me it is only sexual harassment if it's unwanted.
He tried to convince me that since he was VP of HR he knows.
A generic card and a gift card for lunch?
A week of not giving him the wrong addresses?
Working at my desk topless?
These are all the gifts I know he would appreciate.
I had more in a mind a card and something to make him laugh because well, that's how I roll.
I did work topless once. Before we had employees of course. But it wasn't on purpose per se.
It was winter and it was getting warm upstairs and I didn't have time to go downstairs to lower the heat. I also didn't have a fan above my desk at the time.
Instead I slowly unrobed during the course of the day.
By the end of the day when he walked into my office I was sitting there in nothin' but my headset and panties. Hey, I work from home don't judge.
I didn't have Izzy to walk then and who was going to see me upstairs?
He told me he liked that look and he may just have to implement that as our office uniform. Technically he isn't my boss so I don't have to listen to him. (thank goodness)
But I do call him my boss while working.
No one who calls here knows he is my husband and I always refer to him as my boss.
So a gift for Boss's Day seemed appropriate to me.
I shuffled off to the Hallmark store last week and bought a card for another occasion and didn't see any Boss's Day cards. I asked and they told me they took them down to put up Christmas Cards.
Now don't you think that is silly?
The 'holiday' of Boss's Day wasn't even over, in fact it was 2 weeks away and you took the cards down? Bad marketing to me.
Christmas is a few months away.
Putting the cards in back just didn't make smart business sense to me.
While I was at the cash register another person asked where the boss's day cards were.
The Hallmark employee told her they took them down.
The woman asked if they had some cards left and if they were in the back could they bring some out for her, preferably funny ones.
The Hallmark women all looked at one another like this was the most horrific request ever made. No one even answered her. They just stared like a deer in the headlights look of fear.
The customer huffed and walked out of the store.
I said nothing! I paid for my card and left.
But really that was a simple and logical request and they should have done it.
They weren't busy except for me and 1 couple.
Two of the women were just standing around.
Customer service is just damn non existent anymore.
So with that being said maybe for boss's day I should be the one getting a gift.
Maybe it should be Employee Day.
I deal with bad people all day long. Idiots on most days. Rude more often than nice.
They have no phone skills, social skills, manners or common politeness.
I do it all with a smile in my voice and they tell Rick how wonderful I am.
(which always makes me laugh after I tell Rick how awful they were to work with)
I vent about these numb nuts on my blog and to Rick of course.
They don't know that because I make them feel good and I do the right thing by them.
It's called customer service.
So back to Boss's Day.
I may have to take my shirt off since I couldn't find a damn card.
Any suggestions? I've only 1 day left.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Oops!
Tammie read my post Rituals and asked to hear the story of when I sent Rick to the wrong address. I swore I wrote about this before but looking through all my posts and then doing a search I could not find it. So I will write about it.
If I did write about it before let’s just think of it as Flashback Friday.
I scheduled an appointment for Rick to refinish a woman’s tub.
She lived in a high rise condo in Arlington, VA.
She was not able to be home during the day so she told me to have the technician (Rick) call Carlos the condo engineer when Rick arrived to let him in.
Rick would then just lock up as he leaves.
She was going to also let Carlos know to be on the look out for Rick.
Easy Peasy right?
Oh you'd think so wouldn't you?
I filled out the work order as usual with the address, phone number, the job scope and included all the information regarding Carlos along with Carlo’s phone number for Rick.
He arrived at the condo and said to the concierge in the lobby that he was here to do work at #623. The concierge told him that there was already a cleaning crew on that floor so just have them let him into the condo. Rick thought that was great. No need to bother Carlos.
He gets off the elevator and sees the cleaning crew and he tells them the concierge told him they would let him into unit 623. They open the door to 623 and off Rick goes to work.
He goes into their master bathroom as is the directive on his work order and begins to put into place his drop cloths and his equipment.
He gets down on his knees to prep the tub and to clean it and he thinks that it sure looks awfully good and doesn’t need to be reglazed. Does he call me to question this? Hell no.
He continues to really clean this tub of soap film etc. When he is done cleaning the tub with his chemicals it looks like it is brand new. He doesn’t think it needs to be reglazed at all.
He said it was showroom shiny again.
Rick looks at his work order and calls Carlos to ask him.
Now wouldn’t it make sense to call me?
Well he reaches Carlos and says, “Hi Carlos this is Rick from XYZ and I am here to refinish the ‘Smiths’ bathtub. Before Rick can say anything else Carlos quickly says, “Yes unit 723, she told me you’d be calling. I’ll be up on that floor in just a couple of minutes to let you in.”
Oh oh!!
Rick realizes he has just cleaned the wrong family’s master bathtub to a showroom sheen!
He picks up all his equipment and high tails it out of there.
Of course on the elevator ride up to the 7th floor he calls to give me hell for putting the wrong number on the work order. I just took it because damn it I was wrong. Damn it.
It was my fault. I apologized profusely and then asked him, “What do you think these people will think when they get home? Gee bathtub fairies came while we were at work?”
He laughed and said, “who knows I said nothing to anyone and I sure as hell didn’t tell Carlos that I was in the wrong apartment for the last hour when I called him.”
We still wonder if they ever noticed. I know I would have.
From dull and soap filmed tub to shiny showroom new looking?
Thankfully Rick laughed about it all later. Whew.
But it’s getting old now and I admit I have sent him to the wrong numbered homes or condo units over the last 6 yrs.. Now he calls me first. I see my error and it is fixed. Not without a huff from my Big Guy and a giggle from me.
Good thing he can’t fire me huh?
I wouldn’t mind though if he did.
If I did write about it before let’s just think of it as Flashback Friday.
I scheduled an appointment for Rick to refinish a woman’s tub.
She lived in a high rise condo in Arlington, VA.
She was not able to be home during the day so she told me to have the technician (Rick) call Carlos the condo engineer when Rick arrived to let him in.
Rick would then just lock up as he leaves.
She was going to also let Carlos know to be on the look out for Rick.
Easy Peasy right?
Oh you'd think so wouldn't you?
I filled out the work order as usual with the address, phone number, the job scope and included all the information regarding Carlos along with Carlo’s phone number for Rick.
He arrived at the condo and said to the concierge in the lobby that he was here to do work at #623. The concierge told him that there was already a cleaning crew on that floor so just have them let him into the condo. Rick thought that was great. No need to bother Carlos.
He gets off the elevator and sees the cleaning crew and he tells them the concierge told him they would let him into unit 623. They open the door to 623 and off Rick goes to work.
He goes into their master bathroom as is the directive on his work order and begins to put into place his drop cloths and his equipment.
He gets down on his knees to prep the tub and to clean it and he thinks that it sure looks awfully good and doesn’t need to be reglazed. Does he call me to question this? Hell no.
He continues to really clean this tub of soap film etc. When he is done cleaning the tub with his chemicals it looks like it is brand new. He doesn’t think it needs to be reglazed at all.
He said it was showroom shiny again.
Rick looks at his work order and calls Carlos to ask him.
Now wouldn’t it make sense to call me?
Well he reaches Carlos and says, “Hi Carlos this is Rick from XYZ and I am here to refinish the ‘Smiths’ bathtub. Before Rick can say anything else Carlos quickly says, “Yes unit 723, she told me you’d be calling. I’ll be up on that floor in just a couple of minutes to let you in.”
Oh oh!!
Rick realizes he has just cleaned the wrong family’s master bathtub to a showroom sheen!
He picks up all his equipment and high tails it out of there.
Of course on the elevator ride up to the 7th floor he calls to give me hell for putting the wrong number on the work order. I just took it because damn it I was wrong. Damn it.
It was my fault. I apologized profusely and then asked him, “What do you think these people will think when they get home? Gee bathtub fairies came while we were at work?”
He laughed and said, “who knows I said nothing to anyone and I sure as hell didn’t tell Carlos that I was in the wrong apartment for the last hour when I called him.”
We still wonder if they ever noticed. I know I would have.
From dull and soap filmed tub to shiny showroom new looking?
Thankfully Rick laughed about it all later. Whew.
But it’s getting old now and I admit I have sent him to the wrong numbered homes or condo units over the last 6 yrs.. Now he calls me first. I see my error and it is fixed. Not without a huff from my Big Guy and a giggle from me.
Good thing he can’t fire me huh?
I wouldn’t mind though if he did.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Rituals
We have our morning rituals.
All of us in our home are creatures of habit and enjoy our patterns for the most part.
Rick and the dog both like their habits and I find them comforting as well.
In the morning I don't like to be chatty Cathy like my husband.
He wakes up all happy and whistling and singing and I want to punch him.
After my 2nd cup of coffee I begin to chat.
By the time he is leaving for work I ask the same questions every day.
You would think by now he could remember these things on his own wouldn't you?
He rolls his eyes most days but it never fails that he has forgotten something.
Rick do you have your cell?
Of course I do Margaret - right here on my hip. He always smiles that mischievous smile when I ask him this like a kid who did something wrong.
Rick did you read all the work orders in case you have any questions?
No worries I'll be fine.
Rick do you have your extra XYZ product because remember this home has a baby and you'll want it on the truck.
Thanks I remembered and I read it on your paperwork! I appreciate it, he says with another eye roll.
Okay that conversation is how it works maybe once a year.
Normally it goes like this.
Rick do you have your cell?
Oh yea....as he walks back to the charger to get it laughing. I laugh too because seriously people, every day I have to ask him this! Every day!
Rick did you look over the work orders? Do you want to go over anything so you don't have questions and have to call me?
Oh shit I didn't look at them. He puts his water jug, his binder, his lunch cooler down and now reads them making him 5 minutes late. For "Mr. I must be on time or all hell will break lose" He is now in a panic. Then he just grabs everything and says, I'll just call you if there are issues. Of course there will be issues. Why he asks for this information on there if he isn't going to read it drives me bat shit crazy. Yet he doesn't look at them without being told.
I'd fire him if I could.
Rick don't forget to put the XYZ off the shelf from the garage in the truck for this job because you will need it, they have a baby.
Jeez, now I'm going to be late. Damn it why didn't you tell me that earlier.
Its on the work order just like you ask for it to be so if you read them you would know.
Yep this is mucher closer to how my morning ritual actually goes.
Mr. Happy Singing and Whistling man becomes an idiot.
Yesterday morning I was not home when he was leaving.
He left his phone here and who knows what else.
Once I zeroed in on that phone I didn't continue to look at his trail of items left behind.
I came back into the house at 8:15am and saw his phone in the charger.
I just shook my head and said, This is going to be a bad bad day for us.
I get to the office at 8:30a and there is already a voicemail.
It is Rick's 2nd appointment who forgot he has physical therapy and won't be home.
He wants to reschedule for later if possible.
Sure, but now I can't call Rick to tell him not to drive to that city because the customer won't be there. I instead call the customer to reschedule him and thank him for the heads up.
Next I call the 1st customer and I tell her that Rick left his cell at the office and when he is finished if she could please have him call his office.
I felt silly and unprofessional to do that but what other choice did I have?
Thankfully she laughed and said she would indeed tell him to call when he completed the job. She was laughing when she said with such pity to me. "you poor thing it's like you have a 2nd husband you have to take care of."
I laughed and said, "Oh you have no idea!"
She doesn't know he is my husband because if she did I would tell her working with ones mate is sometimes very frustrating.
I'm sure Rick would say the same thing like when I send him to the wrong address.
But I'm not telling you that story today.
So yesterday when all of our morning rituals were turned upside down our whole life went off kilter. Rick was out there with no phone. He couldn't call a customer if running early or late. He couldn't call in for messages. Without a phone he couldn't take credit cards and the customer had to call the office to give me the cards. No phone meant he didn't have his contacts while on the job for other contractors numbers if necessary....and it was necessary.
He called me from a customers home from their phone. Our conversation was making me laugh. He had on his professional voice and was speaking to me like I barely knew him and I got what was going on. I just had to play with him. He was asking for this company's phone number to give our customer to help them with some additional work.
I, of course, did not help him by whispering, "whatcha wearing big boy?" and a few other dirty ditties. I know not nice but c'mon it was fun and he deserved it a bit.
He just kept talking in his professional manner in front of the customer and I kept busting his balls. Okay that was mean but way too much fun and easy.
I envisioned him coming home a bit cranky, but he surprised me.
Mr. Forgetful arrived at home tired with no whistling or singing at the end of his day.
But with his humor in tact.
His mean wife just kept laughing.
This morning we went through our ritual list.
Today should be smooth sailing.
All of us in our home are creatures of habit and enjoy our patterns for the most part.
Rick and the dog both like their habits and I find them comforting as well.
In the morning I don't like to be chatty Cathy like my husband.
He wakes up all happy and whistling and singing and I want to punch him.
After my 2nd cup of coffee I begin to chat.
By the time he is leaving for work I ask the same questions every day.
You would think by now he could remember these things on his own wouldn't you?
He rolls his eyes most days but it never fails that he has forgotten something.
Rick do you have your cell?
Of course I do Margaret - right here on my hip. He always smiles that mischievous smile when I ask him this like a kid who did something wrong.
Rick did you read all the work orders in case you have any questions?
No worries I'll be fine.
Rick do you have your extra XYZ product because remember this home has a baby and you'll want it on the truck.
Thanks I remembered and I read it on your paperwork! I appreciate it, he says with another eye roll.
Okay that conversation is how it works maybe once a year.
Normally it goes like this.
Rick do you have your cell?
Oh yea....as he walks back to the charger to get it laughing. I laugh too because seriously people, every day I have to ask him this! Every day!
Rick did you look over the work orders? Do you want to go over anything so you don't have questions and have to call me?
Oh shit I didn't look at them. He puts his water jug, his binder, his lunch cooler down and now reads them making him 5 minutes late. For "Mr. I must be on time or all hell will break lose" He is now in a panic. Then he just grabs everything and says, I'll just call you if there are issues. Of course there will be issues. Why he asks for this information on there if he isn't going to read it drives me bat shit crazy. Yet he doesn't look at them without being told.
I'd fire him if I could.
Rick don't forget to put the XYZ off the shelf from the garage in the truck for this job because you will need it, they have a baby.
Jeez, now I'm going to be late. Damn it why didn't you tell me that earlier.
Its on the work order just like you ask for it to be so if you read them you would know.
Yep this is mucher closer to how my morning ritual actually goes.
Mr. Happy Singing and Whistling man becomes an idiot.
Yesterday morning I was not home when he was leaving.
He left his phone here and who knows what else.
Once I zeroed in on that phone I didn't continue to look at his trail of items left behind.
I came back into the house at 8:15am and saw his phone in the charger.
I just shook my head and said, This is going to be a bad bad day for us.
I get to the office at 8:30a and there is already a voicemail.
It is Rick's 2nd appointment who forgot he has physical therapy and won't be home.
He wants to reschedule for later if possible.
Sure, but now I can't call Rick to tell him not to drive to that city because the customer won't be there. I instead call the customer to reschedule him and thank him for the heads up.
Next I call the 1st customer and I tell her that Rick left his cell at the office and when he is finished if she could please have him call his office.
I felt silly and unprofessional to do that but what other choice did I have?
Thankfully she laughed and said she would indeed tell him to call when he completed the job. She was laughing when she said with such pity to me. "you poor thing it's like you have a 2nd husband you have to take care of."
I laughed and said, "Oh you have no idea!"
She doesn't know he is my husband because if she did I would tell her working with ones mate is sometimes very frustrating.
I'm sure Rick would say the same thing like when I send him to the wrong address.
But I'm not telling you that story today.
So yesterday when all of our morning rituals were turned upside down our whole life went off kilter. Rick was out there with no phone. He couldn't call a customer if running early or late. He couldn't call in for messages. Without a phone he couldn't take credit cards and the customer had to call the office to give me the cards. No phone meant he didn't have his contacts while on the job for other contractors numbers if necessary....and it was necessary.
He called me from a customers home from their phone. Our conversation was making me laugh. He had on his professional voice and was speaking to me like I barely knew him and I got what was going on. I just had to play with him. He was asking for this company's phone number to give our customer to help them with some additional work.
I, of course, did not help him by whispering, "whatcha wearing big boy?" and a few other dirty ditties. I know not nice but c'mon it was fun and he deserved it a bit.
He just kept talking in his professional manner in front of the customer and I kept busting his balls. Okay that was mean but way too much fun and easy.
I envisioned him coming home a bit cranky, but he surprised me.
Mr. Forgetful arrived at home tired with no whistling or singing at the end of his day.
But with his humor in tact.
His mean wife just kept laughing.
This morning we went through our ritual list.
Today should be smooth sailing.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Cold Weather and Food
My ass is not happy about this cold weather.
Oh no, not because it gets cold back there.
Nope.
It's because in cold weather I like to eat and my ass is not going to fit in my jeans at this rate.
For heaven's sake it's only October.
My ass will be the side of a barn by March!
What the hell is with the cold upon us and me wanting to have more food?
I work very hard at eating a lean protein veggie filled clean diet.
But this past week I failed. Failed miserably.
I had cheesecake, and that was 2 pieces on 2 different days no less but my God was it good if I do say so myself. I had a big ass bowl of awesome chili, a corn meal jalapeno muffin. (oh yummy) and scrambled eggs with chiptole cheese.
All things I know I shouldn't eat because my ass gets mad at me.
I can't eat like normal people and I know it.
What is normal for you makes me gain a few lbs.
These were all things I normally would not eat at all or eat very very little of.
But not this past week. Oh no you can hear the oink oink noises from my house.
Now I know for normal people that is not a big deal or a lot of food or even bad food.
BUT for a gal who has to watch what she eats to maintain her chubby with an adrenal and thyroid issue that is 5lbs in 5 days. I know better.
I know now what I can and can't eat yet I did it anyway. Dumb ass.
Or should I say, Fat ass!?
So today I will be hungry! Today I must be back on this damn lonely hungry wagon.
And wouldn't you know it I found this recipe over at the blog The Girl Who Ate Everything.
I have to stop going over there. She taunts me and she doesn't even know it! Bitch.
She has some of the best damn things to make and eat and so many are gluten free.
Sadly not calorie free. I have made a few of her gluten free recipes or adapted them for me.
So know if you go you go there at your own risk. You have been warned.
I went there this morning and my ass didn't leave my chair.
My ass knows better.
It should get up off the chair and walk away but it didn't move.
We've had this talk with one another many times before.
It defies me.
Today I saw her cinnamon roll cheesecake recipe.
I could stare at those pictures without my reading glasses on and drool.
But they were on. I did see them. I didn't look away.
I stared at that page like The Jersey Shore kids longingly stare at their tanning beds.
I wiped the drool off my keyboard and felt my ass growing so I jumped off and came here to warn you all. See how nice I am?
To my male blogger friends - go on over there - you men don't gain weight even after you eat a side of beef with side dishes of carbohydrates washed down with a 12 pack of beer.
You know we hate you for that don't you?
But to my female blogger friends.....don't go. Save your ass.
Look away, help yourself because I tell you if you look at those pictures your ass will grow.
Trust me on this.
Do you eat more or want to eat more when it gets cold outside?
Please don't let it just be me.
Oh no, not because it gets cold back there.
Nope.
It's because in cold weather I like to eat and my ass is not going to fit in my jeans at this rate.
For heaven's sake it's only October.
My ass will be the side of a barn by March!
What the hell is with the cold upon us and me wanting to have more food?
I work very hard at eating a lean protein veggie filled clean diet.
But this past week I failed. Failed miserably.
I had cheesecake, and that was 2 pieces on 2 different days no less but my God was it good if I do say so myself. I had a big ass bowl of awesome chili, a corn meal jalapeno muffin. (oh yummy) and scrambled eggs with chiptole cheese.
All things I know I shouldn't eat because my ass gets mad at me.
I can't eat like normal people and I know it.
What is normal for you makes me gain a few lbs.
These were all things I normally would not eat at all or eat very very little of.
But not this past week. Oh no you can hear the oink oink noises from my house.
Now I know for normal people that is not a big deal or a lot of food or even bad food.
BUT for a gal who has to watch what she eats to maintain her chubby with an adrenal and thyroid issue that is 5lbs in 5 days. I know better.
I know now what I can and can't eat yet I did it anyway. Dumb ass.
Or should I say, Fat ass!?
So today I will be hungry! Today I must be back on this damn lonely hungry wagon.
And wouldn't you know it I found this recipe over at the blog The Girl Who Ate Everything.
I have to stop going over there. She taunts me and she doesn't even know it! Bitch.
She has some of the best damn things to make and eat and so many are gluten free.
Sadly not calorie free. I have made a few of her gluten free recipes or adapted them for me.
So know if you go you go there at your own risk. You have been warned.
I went there this morning and my ass didn't leave my chair.
My ass knows better.
It should get up off the chair and walk away but it didn't move.
We've had this talk with one another many times before.
It defies me.
Today I saw her cinnamon roll cheesecake recipe.
I could stare at those pictures without my reading glasses on and drool.
But they were on. I did see them. I didn't look away.
I stared at that page like The Jersey Shore kids longingly stare at their tanning beds.
I wiped the drool off my keyboard and felt my ass growing so I jumped off and came here to warn you all. See how nice I am?
To my male blogger friends - go on over there - you men don't gain weight even after you eat a side of beef with side dishes of carbohydrates washed down with a 12 pack of beer.
You know we hate you for that don't you?
But to my female blogger friends.....don't go. Save your ass.
Look away, help yourself because I tell you if you look at those pictures your ass will grow.
Trust me on this.
Do you eat more or want to eat more when it gets cold outside?
Please don't let it just be me.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Things You Love that I don't.
Today I read at Irregular Tammie a blog post she wrote that was one of the funniest list of things she hates that others find wonderful. She has done this before and they never fail to make me laugh.
We all know I could do this list and it would be oh so much longer being the curmudgeon I have become. So I decided to discuss only 1 thing that you all love that I hate here on my blog today.
For me the biggest thing on a 'list of what I hate that you probably love' would be Facebook.
I know you gasped just now didn't you?
Okay calm down, take a deep breath it will be okay.
How could I say that you ask?
Mark Zuckerberg is a brilliant man with such foresight.
I check facebook 100 million times a day.
I couldn't live without facebook.
I have heard all those things uttered.
yea, yea, yea.
In fact on Friday I got a text from my neighbor, Pretty Carrie.
She asked if the power was out.
I wrote back and said, "yes it was. Are you home already?"
She replied, "No I'm at work."
So being the slow old woman I am I wonder, "how the hell does she know we have lost power in our town when she is in Arlington?" So I text her back and ask her.
She responded quickly with, "Duh. I was on facebook"
OMG. Do you all really just update and stay on this page 24/7? She was at work!
Oh my God do I feel old and antique.
But hey antiques are interesting unless of course you are Billy Bob Thornton and you're afraid of antiques.
I just don't understand how I would use this in my life.
I have a blog so if I want to show you all the minutiae of my life it goes here.
Those with children and family all over the world I sort of get how they can see how gorgeous Susie and Johnny are and how big they have gotten. I sort of get that.
But now you're really going to squeal.....I find it like high school and juvenile for the most part. "She wouldn't friend me" Oh please.
If you're an adult man/woman and you have uttered that phrase in your life - slap yourself!
Now do it again. You know you deserve it!
While I do understand why a blogger would make a facebook page for their blog to put their readership through the roof, I don't get why for any personal needs.
That is where you lose me.
Do really you have 288 friends? Well then I'm a big fat loser because I can count on my one hand my true friends. Then with acquaintances and people I used to work with it would add up. But do I really want to tell them all my business all the time? (believe it or not I even edit here and you don't know everything....I KNOW -GASP!)
So am I missing something? Gee I don't think so.
I am attending a party later this month for an old boss who I adored.
(Best boss ever....in the history of bosses!)
He has returned to the states and will be here for a short time.
Since leaving the U.S. he has been living in India, South Africa, Ireland, England and probably more that I have forgotten.
A woman who lives in my state is having a party for him and all those who worked with him, for him, and who know him in the U.S. are coming to this party.
I wrote to him to say, "Welcome back to the states."
(he and his wife are from Ireland not America)
I told him that I was so excited to see he and his wife and couldn't wait to share some red wine and talk.
We used to do this for hours on end when we traveled together for work.
Oh how we'd laugh. A lovely man with a lovely wife and a great life.
They are so damn interesting.
So what was the first thing this man asked me?
"Are you on facebook Peg?"
Geez! It actually disappointed me.
Really? You are 48 and you ask me if I am on facebook?
Oh well, he is smart, gorgeous, funny as hell I guess he had to have a flaw somewhere.
I do get a lot of peer pressure about this facebook thing and so far I have rebelled.
Wonder if I can keep this up?
But for the love of all things good I do not know what the hell I would put on a facebook page. Do you? So unless I am hit by lightening or paid to do it (yea, I'd whore myself for the money and do it.) I don't think it will happen any time soon.
What do you hate that everyone else loves?
We all know I could do this list and it would be oh so much longer being the curmudgeon I have become. So I decided to discuss only 1 thing that you all love that I hate here on my blog today.
For me the biggest thing on a 'list of what I hate that you probably love' would be Facebook.
I know you gasped just now didn't you?
Okay calm down, take a deep breath it will be okay.
How could I say that you ask?
Mark Zuckerberg is a brilliant man with such foresight.
I check facebook 100 million times a day.
I couldn't live without facebook.
I have heard all those things uttered.
yea, yea, yea.
In fact on Friday I got a text from my neighbor, Pretty Carrie.
She asked if the power was out.
I wrote back and said, "yes it was. Are you home already?"
She replied, "No I'm at work."
So being the slow old woman I am I wonder, "how the hell does she know we have lost power in our town when she is in Arlington?" So I text her back and ask her.
She responded quickly with, "Duh. I was on facebook"
OMG. Do you all really just update and stay on this page 24/7? She was at work!
Oh my God do I feel old and antique.
But hey antiques are interesting unless of course you are Billy Bob Thornton and you're afraid of antiques.
I just don't understand how I would use this in my life.
I have a blog so if I want to show you all the minutiae of my life it goes here.
Those with children and family all over the world I sort of get how they can see how gorgeous Susie and Johnny are and how big they have gotten. I sort of get that.
But now you're really going to squeal.....I find it like high school and juvenile for the most part. "She wouldn't friend me" Oh please.
If you're an adult man/woman and you have uttered that phrase in your life - slap yourself!
Now do it again. You know you deserve it!
While I do understand why a blogger would make a facebook page for their blog to put their readership through the roof, I don't get why for any personal needs.
That is where you lose me.
Do really you have 288 friends? Well then I'm a big fat loser because I can count on my one hand my true friends. Then with acquaintances and people I used to work with it would add up. But do I really want to tell them all my business all the time? (believe it or not I even edit here and you don't know everything....I KNOW -GASP!)
So am I missing something? Gee I don't think so.
I am attending a party later this month for an old boss who I adored.
(Best boss ever....in the history of bosses!)
He has returned to the states and will be here for a short time.
Since leaving the U.S. he has been living in India, South Africa, Ireland, England and probably more that I have forgotten.
A woman who lives in my state is having a party for him and all those who worked with him, for him, and who know him in the U.S. are coming to this party.
I wrote to him to say, "Welcome back to the states."
(he and his wife are from Ireland not America)
I told him that I was so excited to see he and his wife and couldn't wait to share some red wine and talk.
We used to do this for hours on end when we traveled together for work.
Oh how we'd laugh. A lovely man with a lovely wife and a great life.
They are so damn interesting.
So what was the first thing this man asked me?
"Are you on facebook Peg?"
Geez! It actually disappointed me.
Really? You are 48 and you ask me if I am on facebook?
Oh well, he is smart, gorgeous, funny as hell I guess he had to have a flaw somewhere.
I do get a lot of peer pressure about this facebook thing and so far I have rebelled.
Wonder if I can keep this up?
But for the love of all things good I do not know what the hell I would put on a facebook page. Do you? So unless I am hit by lightening or paid to do it (yea, I'd whore myself for the money and do it.) I don't think it will happen any time soon.
What do you hate that everyone else loves?
Friday, October 5, 2012
YIPEE TGIF.
I have seen this week on television 2 shows featuring the so called craze of Gluten Free.
I don't understand why this is a craze.
The good thing is there are so many new products that taste great that are gluten free.
Sometimes I like the option of not having to make homemade soup but to just buy a can. Now there are some good gluten free soups out there in a can. But mostly I still make everything from scratch.
You see I can't eat gluten for medical reasons.
But it seems that everyone thinks this is a new weight loss fad.
What the hell is wrong with you?
Yes, you who thinks eating gluten free donuts will help you lose weight?
Does that even make sense to anyone? Eat donuts, cakes and cookies and lose weight.
Yes, you will feel better if you limit your gluten intake.
But gluten is not a big fat enemy nor is sugar evil in moderation.
Anything you take in too much isn't good for you.
There is a saying in my house that is, "If sense were really common more people would have it."
I think that applies here.
Yes, if you take gluten our of your diet you will feel better, lighter, less bloated, more energy.
I understand why an athelete would do this.
It is amazing how much better I felt once I eliminated gluten; medical issues aside.
When I cheat not only do I feel badly because of my medical issue it also just makes me feel heavy,bloated and all around icky. So I get why one would want to eliminate it from ones diet to feel their best.
Yes, if you take gluten out of your diet it is a whole new way of life.
It is not a diet though.
If you are eating gluten free brownies, gluten free breads and gluten free pasta this is not a way to diet or lose weight.
You are not stopping your glycemic index from spiking because you are still eating rice pasta and things that cause weight gain in the first place dumb ass.
So if you are doing this to lose weight - just don't eat gluten period!
Skip the gluten free cakes and breads on a regular basis.
This shouldn't be your new fad.
If you're doing this because you have to for medical reasons then you understand my newest rant.
In other news.....
I had a phone interview this week.
YIPEE someone after looking for work for over a year called me after seeing my resume.
I thought it went great but we'll see.
She told me the next step was an in person interview.
She expected me to hear from someone early next week.
I don't understand why this is a craze.
The good thing is there are so many new products that taste great that are gluten free.
Sometimes I like the option of not having to make homemade soup but to just buy a can. Now there are some good gluten free soups out there in a can. But mostly I still make everything from scratch.
You see I can't eat gluten for medical reasons.
But it seems that everyone thinks this is a new weight loss fad.
What the hell is wrong with you?
Yes, you who thinks eating gluten free donuts will help you lose weight?
Does that even make sense to anyone? Eat donuts, cakes and cookies and lose weight.
Yes, you will feel better if you limit your gluten intake.
But gluten is not a big fat enemy nor is sugar evil in moderation.
Anything you take in too much isn't good for you.
There is a saying in my house that is, "If sense were really common more people would have it."
I think that applies here.
Yes, if you take gluten our of your diet you will feel better, lighter, less bloated, more energy.
I understand why an athelete would do this.
It is amazing how much better I felt once I eliminated gluten; medical issues aside.
When I cheat not only do I feel badly because of my medical issue it also just makes me feel heavy,bloated and all around icky. So I get why one would want to eliminate it from ones diet to feel their best.
Yes, if you take gluten out of your diet it is a whole new way of life.
It is not a diet though.
If you are eating gluten free brownies, gluten free breads and gluten free pasta this is not a way to diet or lose weight.
You are not stopping your glycemic index from spiking because you are still eating rice pasta and things that cause weight gain in the first place dumb ass.
So if you are doing this to lose weight - just don't eat gluten period!
Skip the gluten free cakes and breads on a regular basis.
This shouldn't be your new fad.
If you're doing this because you have to for medical reasons then you understand my newest rant.
In other news.....
I had a phone interview this week.
YIPEE someone after looking for work for over a year called me after seeing my resume.
I thought it went great but we'll see.
She told me the next step was an in person interview.
She expected me to hear from someone early next week.
I hope I do. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Here's to Friday and the fact that red wine and Tanqueray gin are gluten free naturally.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Updates on Insurance Nightmare
The insurance nightmare goes on and on and I swear it is like being a guinea pig on my wheel. Round 'n round I go and there seem to be no way to get off.
To update those that don't know here is a synopsis.
Rick and I had corporate jobs that had wonderful insurance.
We both lost our jobs within 6 months of one another.
We took advantage of Cobra until we found our own policies.
Our policy started at $900 per month. $2500 deductible per person.
The 2nd year it went to $1800 per month. WHAT? Called Blue Cross and they said it was just a rate increase across the board.
The 3rd year it went to $2100 per month.
Before the 4th year began we got a letter saying that Blue Cross was raising rates 33% across the board. (that seems to be their favorite phrase, across the board)
Two days later we saw on the evening news the same report about Blue Cross saying they were raising the rates. I felt it was time to shop because now this seemed like a 3rd mortgage payment and we just couldn't afford it.
We met with some brokers, picked one and picked a policy.
We gave him a check. He said that by the 15th of the month our policy would begin.
Then I did a very bad thing. I did not make my 15th of the month payment to Blue Cross thinking I would have new insurance for only $900 a month so why spend the $2100+.
But we then received a letter saying we were denied. I called the broker and he immediately asked if we lied about anything on this. He went on to explain that if we told the truth there would be no reason to be denied. I told him we did not lie, why would we do that? He said he was sorry but suggested we get a look at our medical records because something caused this rejections. In the mean time Blue Cross dropped us for not paying. Lovely. My mistake obviously.
I then went on a hunt to get all my medical records for Rick and myself. I called all doctors who were listed to get our records. Do you know that some charge you? They are my records? I will pick them up. You can't make copies for me? Pissed me off. But that is nothing compared to what came next.
As I combed through these records I found on Rick's dated back to early 2001 that they have it listed that he has Stage 4 lung cancer as well as cardiovascular disease. He has neither nor has he ever had either. Besides if he did and he is so healthy today in 2012 he should be in a medical journal for still being alive!
I called the doctors office with this erroneous information and asked to speak to the doctor about this. Oh he was always too busy. I was promised he would call and he never did. This went on for over a month. I was always told he was very busy. Well lady so am I tell her on my last call and if I do not hear from the doctor by 5pm today then I will be contacting an attorney next. He called me within 5 minutes. Amazing how he was no longer busy!
The doctor was so damn cavalier and said his transcriber made this mistake. He said all that like it made a damn bit of difference. I asked if he could please take this off. He told me it could not be done because of HIPPA laws. I said I understand the HIPPA law because you can't take information off a record but that is if it were TRUE. THIS IS NOT TRUE!!
He insists he can't take it off. He told me that he would write an addendum and also give us a letter stating it was information about another patient and state the mistake and insurance would be granted to us. He made it sound oh so easy peasy.
It was not! We have tried.
They get the letters, the addendum and all other things to show this is an error.
No matter we have now been rejected by all companies and telling us "denied for life"
Great, that's even better yet.
Oh sure I have written letters to two presidents, congressmen, state insurance commissions, the AMA and on and on. Nada - no one gives a shit except me and Rick.
We were told that the computer reads your application.
Words are picked out and it is rejected. No human actually reads them.
We were approached by another broker to file an appeal.
We jumped through those hoops and were again rejected this past week.
The broker suggested we apply for the government's new insurance for those who have a preexisting condition. My response was, "but he doesn't have a preexisting condition. it was all an error." He told me to try.
So I went online and read all about this.
It made me cry because I may be able to get insurance but I am lying.
What if I am found out that he doesn't have a preexisting condition would it be insurance fraud? How can this be so fucked up? I don't need to end up in jail.
There was an option to apply online or you could call.
I called and explained the situation.
I shared my fear of being caught.
She said, "do you have a letter of rejection?"
" Absolutely. Yes, I do."
"Then you can apply."
"But it's not a real preexisting condition." I am thinking she wasn't listening to me.
She said, "I can't hear you. Did you just say you have a letter of rejection?"
I say dumber and louder, "Yes, but....."
Before I could finish she said, "I thought you said you did, so just include the letter with your voided check and your insurance will begin on xxx date"
The light bulb went off.
Dumb ole Margaret said it louder but what she was trying to do was just help me.
She was saying, I don't hear you to tell me to just do it. She heard me loud and clear. Someone was actually trying to help me. It has been so long I didn't even recognize it.
That too made me cry. Seems all I do lately is cry. I have become a big fat wuss.
So I sent in our voided check so this can be debited from our account.
I have done the paper work.
If we get insurance for Rick I will be so damn thankful.
He is now having heart issues. They just began recently.
I think it could be stress. Doctor said that doesn't help.
But after the money we just forked out for echo's and other tests we just can't keep doing this. I had to actually call my mom to ask for money.
Do you know how hard that is at my age?
I feel like a failure. It's all so much right now.
But Rick's new doctor has him on some medication that should help his skipping heart beats. If it doesn't then a pace maker. But some more tests are needed and hence why I had to make that call to my mom. Oh God.
And to think when we started he was healthy and no reason to be a preexisting condition and now he just may have one.
I am thankful for this new insurance and I say FUCK YOU to the insurance lobbyist and all those nut jobs who think I believe I am entitled to anything more than what is the right thing to do. We have been screwed over every which way possible. The doctor should be sued. No attorney will take it unless Rick dies I was told. How people can even utter that to someone blows my mind.
But yesterday I had a meeting with an attorney for something else all together.
He thinks he knows someone who can help. I hope it's true. I don't want millions.
I am not doing this just to sue. I am not the hot coffee lady at McDonalds.
I want reimbursed for all the money we've had to pay out for the years due to his mistake.
I want him to pay for our insurance for ever!
Blood work last month was $900 for Rick and I skipped mine due to the cost.
Sadly my thryoid has to be checked every 6 weeks. I am no longer doing it and had to have a talk with my doctor. I know she won't give me my medication for much longer without blood tests. But she has given me some time to get this worked out.
So here's to having this new opportunity for insurance before the possiblity of a new president who can take it away from us.
President Obama I thank you from the bottom of my heart.... we who do all the right things the right way and we still get screwed thank you.
To those who think I am the 47% who think we are entitled to something for nothing well I have 2 words for you and hand gestures too.
To update those that don't know here is a synopsis.
Rick and I had corporate jobs that had wonderful insurance.
We both lost our jobs within 6 months of one another.
We took advantage of Cobra until we found our own policies.
Our policy started at $900 per month. $2500 deductible per person.
The 2nd year it went to $1800 per month. WHAT? Called Blue Cross and they said it was just a rate increase across the board.
The 3rd year it went to $2100 per month.
Before the 4th year began we got a letter saying that Blue Cross was raising rates 33% across the board. (that seems to be their favorite phrase, across the board)
Two days later we saw on the evening news the same report about Blue Cross saying they were raising the rates. I felt it was time to shop because now this seemed like a 3rd mortgage payment and we just couldn't afford it.
We met with some brokers, picked one and picked a policy.
We gave him a check. He said that by the 15th of the month our policy would begin.
Then I did a very bad thing. I did not make my 15th of the month payment to Blue Cross thinking I would have new insurance for only $900 a month so why spend the $2100+.
But we then received a letter saying we were denied. I called the broker and he immediately asked if we lied about anything on this. He went on to explain that if we told the truth there would be no reason to be denied. I told him we did not lie, why would we do that? He said he was sorry but suggested we get a look at our medical records because something caused this rejections. In the mean time Blue Cross dropped us for not paying. Lovely. My mistake obviously.
I then went on a hunt to get all my medical records for Rick and myself. I called all doctors who were listed to get our records. Do you know that some charge you? They are my records? I will pick them up. You can't make copies for me? Pissed me off. But that is nothing compared to what came next.
As I combed through these records I found on Rick's dated back to early 2001 that they have it listed that he has Stage 4 lung cancer as well as cardiovascular disease. He has neither nor has he ever had either. Besides if he did and he is so healthy today in 2012 he should be in a medical journal for still being alive!
I called the doctors office with this erroneous information and asked to speak to the doctor about this. Oh he was always too busy. I was promised he would call and he never did. This went on for over a month. I was always told he was very busy. Well lady so am I tell her on my last call and if I do not hear from the doctor by 5pm today then I will be contacting an attorney next. He called me within 5 minutes. Amazing how he was no longer busy!
The doctor was so damn cavalier and said his transcriber made this mistake. He said all that like it made a damn bit of difference. I asked if he could please take this off. He told me it could not be done because of HIPPA laws. I said I understand the HIPPA law because you can't take information off a record but that is if it were TRUE. THIS IS NOT TRUE!!
He insists he can't take it off. He told me that he would write an addendum and also give us a letter stating it was information about another patient and state the mistake and insurance would be granted to us. He made it sound oh so easy peasy.
It was not! We have tried.
They get the letters, the addendum and all other things to show this is an error.
No matter we have now been rejected by all companies and telling us "denied for life"
Great, that's even better yet.
Oh sure I have written letters to two presidents, congressmen, state insurance commissions, the AMA and on and on. Nada - no one gives a shit except me and Rick.
We were told that the computer reads your application.
Words are picked out and it is rejected. No human actually reads them.
We were approached by another broker to file an appeal.
We jumped through those hoops and were again rejected this past week.
The broker suggested we apply for the government's new insurance for those who have a preexisting condition. My response was, "but he doesn't have a preexisting condition. it was all an error." He told me to try.
So I went online and read all about this.
It made me cry because I may be able to get insurance but I am lying.
What if I am found out that he doesn't have a preexisting condition would it be insurance fraud? How can this be so fucked up? I don't need to end up in jail.
There was an option to apply online or you could call.
I called and explained the situation.
I shared my fear of being caught.
She said, "do you have a letter of rejection?"
" Absolutely. Yes, I do."
"Then you can apply."
"But it's not a real preexisting condition." I am thinking she wasn't listening to me.
She said, "I can't hear you. Did you just say you have a letter of rejection?"
I say dumber and louder, "Yes, but....."
Before I could finish she said, "I thought you said you did, so just include the letter with your voided check and your insurance will begin on xxx date"
The light bulb went off.
Dumb ole Margaret said it louder but what she was trying to do was just help me.
She was saying, I don't hear you to tell me to just do it. She heard me loud and clear. Someone was actually trying to help me. It has been so long I didn't even recognize it.
That too made me cry. Seems all I do lately is cry. I have become a big fat wuss.
So I sent in our voided check so this can be debited from our account.
I have done the paper work.
If we get insurance for Rick I will be so damn thankful.
He is now having heart issues. They just began recently.
I think it could be stress. Doctor said that doesn't help.
But after the money we just forked out for echo's and other tests we just can't keep doing this. I had to actually call my mom to ask for money.
Do you know how hard that is at my age?
I feel like a failure. It's all so much right now.
But Rick's new doctor has him on some medication that should help his skipping heart beats. If it doesn't then a pace maker. But some more tests are needed and hence why I had to make that call to my mom. Oh God.
And to think when we started he was healthy and no reason to be a preexisting condition and now he just may have one.
I am thankful for this new insurance and I say FUCK YOU to the insurance lobbyist and all those nut jobs who think I believe I am entitled to anything more than what is the right thing to do. We have been screwed over every which way possible. The doctor should be sued. No attorney will take it unless Rick dies I was told. How people can even utter that to someone blows my mind.
But yesterday I had a meeting with an attorney for something else all together.
He thinks he knows someone who can help. I hope it's true. I don't want millions.
I am not doing this just to sue. I am not the hot coffee lady at McDonalds.
I want reimbursed for all the money we've had to pay out for the years due to his mistake.
I want him to pay for our insurance for ever!
Blood work last month was $900 for Rick and I skipped mine due to the cost.
Sadly my thryoid has to be checked every 6 weeks. I am no longer doing it and had to have a talk with my doctor. I know she won't give me my medication for much longer without blood tests. But she has given me some time to get this worked out.
So here's to having this new opportunity for insurance before the possiblity of a new president who can take it away from us.
President Obama I thank you from the bottom of my heart.... we who do all the right things the right way and we still get screwed thank you.
To those who think I am the 47% who think we are entitled to something for nothing well I have 2 words for you and hand gestures too.
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