I'm Still Squirting Away!!!

February 4, 2016

Good morning.  I won't chat very long this morning as I just want to crawl back under the covers.  I must say, my doctor was spot on.  Squirting these nose sprays up my nose several times a day has me well on the path to feeling super.  NOT!!!  But I'll keep squirting.  If I'm not better by Monday, I'll call the doctor again to see if he has any other super ideas.

Later today, I'll make up a small shopping list and Joe can pick up a few things for me.  Dwarf Mike will take Joe to the market again this week.  Or they can wait till tomorrow and go shopping in the snow.  Yup, I said snow.  It's supposed to start late tonight and snow till mid afternoon tomorrow.  Ah well,  it is still winter.

I borrowed this puzzle picture from the web, and found it to be very interesting.  The idea is to see how many faces you can find in it.  So far, I've only found twelve.  Good luck.

Now I'm going back to bed.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Oh The Wonders Of Modern Medicine

February 3, 2016

Good morning.  Today will be another wonderfully warm day, but we are expecting a bit of rain.  I suppose though, that a bit of rain might be nice for our reservoirs and our yards.  I'm not planning on going out today anyway, so no biggie.

I had a doctor appointment yesterday to see if he would give me something to help clear up this cold or bug or whatever it is that I have.  As expected, he said just go home and use your nose sprays.  That'll clear it all up.  Really???????  I told him okay, but that I may have to come back next week for something that will really clear it all up.

I did ask him to send a prescription to the oxygen company for me to have a portable Inogen concentrator.  He did, and the company called me later in the day.  Medicare won't cover it.  Last year, the oxygen reading for "okay" was 96.  It has since been changed to 90.  Folks, at 92, a person is not breathing very easily.  Yesterday my oxygen was reading 92 sitting down.

Today my oxygen is much better, but it bothers me that Medicare does not take better care of us old folks.  We're the ones who paid into the system our whole lives.  It's sad if us old folks have to take out bank loans to pay for medical equipment that we might need.  Nuff said.

I found this absolutely adorable cartoon on the web and had to borrow it to share here.  For years, I've been wondering why men shouldn't also be mandated to have precious parts of their bodies slammed by this medical marvel machine.  If they did, we'd have new technology rather quickly.

While I was out yesterday, I stopped by a couple of stores to see if I could find the yarns that I am wanting for my afghans.  I did not have much luck.  It's the same answer everywhere when you ask the clerk why the inventory is not very good.  "We only have what the main office sends us.  We don't get to order what we need or want."  Does this make sense?   How can someone in the mid-west know what someone on the east coast might need for yarns?   This could be another rant, but I'm not going to go there. 

Today I will call around different stores to see who has a decent yarn inventory, and then maybe one day I can make a trip to wherever that may be.  I was hoping to have these afghans done for next Christmas but that not might happen if I can't find the yarn I want.  Oh dear, such a problem!!

Well, today is Wednesday, and I have another quick page for you.  This one is a bit whimsical.  Have fun with it.

Here is your download link:
Expired

That's about all the news for this morning.  Now I must go to the kitchen and make some breakfast and a cup of coffee.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Happy Ground Hog Day!!

February 2, 2016

Good morning.  Woo Hoo!!!  Punxsutawney Phil says that Spring is right around the corner.  Yeaaaah!!  Let's give a big cheer for this fabulous Ground Hog!  I borrowed this photo of Phil from the web.

Did you know that Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip?  Here's a little more information about him.  He weights 20 pounds and is 22 inches long.  This is his 130th year predicting the weather. 

Every summer Phil drinks a magic punch that gives him seven more years of life.  The last time he predicted an early Spring was back in 2013.  He has an accuracy rating of 40%.  That makes him about the same as most all the other weather forecasters.

Lately I haven't been working on my afghans because I'm just not loving how the new yarn is looking with the main colors.  I can't give something away as a gift unless I'm happy with it.  Unfortunately, I can only buy the colors that the local stores decide to stock.  Walmart is the closest store, but their yarn department is really sucky!  It's always messy, and not re-stocked very often. 

Speaking of Walmart, Here's a photo I borrowed from the web.  I find this to be a sad reflection on what we are willing to tolerate from the people who live here.

I think it should be mandatory for everyone wanting to live here to at least learn to read and write the English language.  Signs like the one shown here should not be necessary.  I also read on Facebook that some schools are going to stop teaching cursive.  I don't know how accurate this report is, but I think it's a really day for our people when they stop learning how to write and read English.

How many of you found all the words hidden in yesterday's puzzle image?    These are the words that were hidden:  mirror, tiles, straw, cord, couch, cat.  If you found all the words, congratulations.  Now if I could just find a whole book of these puzzles I'd buy it!  It's good to make the brain work a bit each day.

I read an article in our local newspaper that says:  "A new study published shows that drug shortages in emergency rooms across the United States increased more than 400 percent between 2001 and 2014.  There was a huge increase in the shortage between 2008 and 2014.  More than half of the shortages were of life saving drugs, and 10 percent affected drugs with no substitutes.  The more common drugs on shortage are used to treat infectious deseases, relieve pain, and treat patients who have been poisoned. 

The shortages are real, they're happening, and they're getting worse, even though Emergency Rooms are implementing things like providing posters with quick alternative drug options.  (WHAT ARE THESE?)   The primary reasons given for shortages were manufactiuring delays (25.6%), supply and demand (14.9%), availability of raw materials (4.4 %).  Pharmaceutical companies listed "business decisions" as the reason for a shortage 2.1% of the time.  For more than 46% of the shortages, no reason was given at all."  (all info taken from the Patriot Ledger)

I find this information appalling.  I can't prove it, but I sincerely believe that these shortages of drugs in the ER's has something to do with the government and the insurance companies trying to make it more difficult for young people taking the drugs and over-dosing.    

I also don't understand why a lot of us folks are being denied drugs that we need to keep up our quality of life?  There is no shortage of drugs on the street.  So, obviously it is not our drugs that is feeding the street addicts.  Somehow, I do believe that if there really is a drug shortage, then it is a planned shortage.

Little by little, a lot of us are noticing that it is getting more difficult to fill some of our prescriptions now.  Doctors don't want to prescribe, and pharmacists don't want to fill.   Drugs that I need have been replaced with inefficient drugs.  I have to learn to deal with more pain and more spasms, and yet the addicts are still od-ing. 

I have not figured out the logic of all of this yet.  If you know it, please explain it to me.  I'm not alone.  I know of many other folks in the same situation with their meds.  ( NOTE:  everyone I know with this same problem is over 55, with most of us over 65.)

Enough of my babble.  Before I leave you today, let me share a beautiful scrap layout that Beth made for Pogo.  Thanks Beth.  We love it!  Pogo sends you and Cisco woofs and a big lick!

Now I'm off to see what kind of fun mischief I can get into today.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Hello February!

February 1, 2016

Good morning.  I've been very busy this morning.  First I cleaned out a few things from the refrigerator.  Today is trash pickup day.  Then I made some breakfast, and started working on some new quick pages. 

In case you haven't noticed, it is already February!!  This is going to be a very busy month for Pogo and me.  We have appointments for Pogo - physical and grooming, and with the tax accountant for me.  I have to arrange for our rental car in Florida and buy a new suitcase.  Then of course, there's the packing and lots of other little things that will have to be done.  Yup, a very busy month. Here's the February page from my calendar.

Today is supposed to be a wicked gorgeous day in the 50's.  Woo Hoo!!  This super weather gives me the energy that I need to finish working on the less fun projects.  (like taxes)  I mostly have to match up tons of receipts to credit card statements, then put the figures in the correct columns for the tax work sheets. 

I often wonder why we have to pay so much money to an accountant to do our taxes.  We do all the leg and foot work, provide all the figures and totals, and pop lots of headache pills.  It seems that the accountant looks it over to make sure we did everything right, then he uploads the information to his computer and files it.  Then he sends us a huge bill.  I wonder if it would be alright to deduct appropriate amounts of money from his bill for all my hours of work???  Seems only fair to me!!

I must remember to call Wayne today and make an appointment for him to come by and check my laptop.  He also needs to check out my small laptop to make sure it is ready to travel.  A couple blog friends have given me advice on how to fix my task bar, so I'll give that a try after I've finished this post. 

Pogo is walking back and forth between me and the refrigerator.  I think he's trying to tell me that he wants food.  I guess it's time for me to get a move on.  Before I leave, let me post this cute puzzle image that I borrowed from the web.  There are six words hidden in the picture.  See if you can find them all.  I'll post them all here tomorrow.   Have fun.

That's all my news for today.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Only 48 Days Till Spring!!

January 31, 2016

Good morning.  It's a little after 7 a.m. and I've been up for a couple hours.  I crocheted a bit, made some breakfast and checked my emails.  I'm also learning my way around my laptop again.  Yesterday I must have touched a button somewhere (don't know what or where) and everything on my desktop went cookoo. 

I tried to make a bit of order on the desktop but learning to use the task bar while it is running up and down the side of the screen is a new thing for me.  I don't know how to change things back to what they used to be, so I'm just doing the best I can with it.

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day.  SIL Eddie and a friend came by to take away all the bags of recycle bottles we have stored in the basement.  The money will be given to a local animal shelter.  Meanwhile, Pogo spent hours in front of his door enjoying the sunshine'

Doesn't he look like a tiny lion?  I will have to give some thought to what type of hair cut he'll get next trip to the groomer.  I love the clean look, but this tiny lion look is beautiful too.   Hmmm, we'll see.

Well, we've come to the end of January, and now I really must buckle down and finish putting all my tax stuff together, adding lots of columns and keeping my bottle of Excedrin Migraine handy.  What I could really use is something to keep the nerves from being so jittery.  I know it's all because of the tax stuff, and it will go away in a few weeks, but it still makes me sick to my stomach until it is finished.

This year, I'll be working with a new accountant, so that in itself will be a new experience.  Oh gosh, I'm too old for this stuff!!  Ah well, I'll get over it. 

I borrowed this next image from the web.  What a great idea for a flower or berry garden when space is limited.  It's made with pvc pipe and could make a very interesting garden.  I'm thinking that it will be fun to see what other kinds of plants can be planted this way.

Now I really can't wait till Spring gets here.  Only 48 more days!!  Woo hoo!!  It's time to start taking a serious look at the seed and flower catalogues.  First on my list of plants is the citronella plant.  I usually keep a couple of these near my door. 

Soon it will be time to renew my contract with the Lawn Doctor.  I enjoyed having a mosquito free yard last summer.  We didn't see any ticks either.  So, I guess the yard treatments worked just fine.

Well, the morning is slipping by quickly and I have laundry waiting to be done.  So till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

An Unexpected Mistake Found (And Corrected)

January 29, 2016

Good morning.   I'm back, sort of.  I feel much better this morning, but I'm still a tiny bit woozy on the feet.  I'm sure that will get better as the morning goes on.  I'm not sure what hit me yesterday and the night before.  I worked on tax stuff all Wednesday afternoon, so maybe that's what did it.  Yup, I'm sure it was the tax bug!

I want to thank everyone for the good wishes.  It really does help one to feel better.  And of course, my little fellow Pogo.  He was right beside me, or on me, the whole day yesterday.  He's the best little nurse I ever did have.

SIL Eddie and Dee Dee came by yesterday to check up on me and to do a couple errands for me.  My kids are awesome!!  I had Dee Dee take the large bag of new baby things home with her to give to Bobby and Amber.  I got an email this morning saying that another big box of baby things should arrive here on Monday.  The only box that is not rushing to get here is the yarn box!

I did get a box yesterday, and it was my two new Blog Books.  I looked through both of them, and was extremely pleased at how they came out. 

Sorry the photos aren't the greatest, but I tried.  I was in a hurry this morning to take them with my phone so that I could post them here.  Earlier while I was napping, a little bell went off in my mind that said there was a problem with my blog books.  So I checked them again, and finally decided to check Volume One again. 

That's when I found my problem.  I had totally missed two whole months, May and June.  Now what shall I do?  I finally decided to make a Volume One "B."   So I cropped two more photos for the covers and proceeded to make another book.  Lucky for me, Blog2Print was running another coupon promotion and I got 25% off my new book. 

I will have to be more careful in the future.  I like to blame things on old age, but to be honest this mistake was my own fault.  I had forgotten that the first volume only had four months in it.  Ah well, all is fixed.

Yesterday at work, Joe's boss brought in a big jar of jelly beans.  He does this every year.  The employee who comes closest to guessing how many jelly beans are in the jar gets the next day off work paid.  Last year Joe won this.  Guess what?  He has today off with pay!  Yup, he won again.

I don't really feel like trucking around the market today, so maybe I'll just take Joe to the market and give him a small list for me.  Pogo and I will stay in the car and wait for him.  I don't really feel like being around a lot of people just yet.

Well that's about all my news.  I'm going to curl up in my lounge chair and watch a bit of TV.  So, till Sunday, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Under The Weather

January 28, 2016

Good morning folks,  No post today.  I'm feeling just a wee bit under the weather.  I'll be back tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by.  You have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.