For those of you who have health insurance I would like to ask you to take a few minutes and think about where you would be without it. When did you last see your doctor? If you have health insurance you probably either paid a copay or a percentage of the visit and home you went. What about an x-ray? The charge for a PET scan is $6K. Bone scan is a bargain at $2K. One visit to the oncologist for a 30 minute Zometa drip -- $3K. In one month, it is possible to accrue medical bills adding up to over $11,000 THOUSAND dollars without much effort. If you are fortunate to have health care you could end up with a $30 copay for Zometa, $200.00 for the bone scan and roughly $400 for the PET. Grand total is $630.00. Thank goodness radiology takes payments. The balance should be paid off just in time for the next bone scan and CT scan.
This is not about Democrat or Republican. Who cares who comes up with a plan. Do you think it really matters? Something has to be done or people will continue to be forced into choosing between being buried with medical costs or literally being buried.
Much like that well known commercial... Equal access to health care.... PRICELESS
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Squirrel 0 Donna 1
Lesson 1: Squirrels love bird feeders
Lesson 2: Squirrels are pigs
Lesson 3: Squirrels are very, very persistent
We have a great bird feeder in the back yard. It is located right long the common area where there are trees and bushes. Proof that Ron and I technically have no life, we like to watch all the cardinals come in and feast. We have counted at least 8 out there all at once; some on the feeder, some on the ground under the feeder and others in the bushes or trees near the feeder. Unfortunately, we have found that where there is a feeder, there will be squirrels. Not sure why it makes me crazy that they get up on the feeder and chow down because as we all know, squirrels gotta eat too! They are just pigs though. It would be like serving an all you can eat buffet and the hot dog eating champion shows up hungry. Just not good.
We have tried the BB gun route but apparently squirrels have heard that the biggest risk of BB guns is that maybe it can put an eye out; so not much to fear. But, thanks to our son Daniel, we did discover a BB gun can put a hole in a bird feeder and actually even kill a bird, but that is another story.
I came up with the idea of taking Crisco and putting it on the bird feeder pole. Have no clue what I look like out there smearing it all over the place, but thankfully my neighbors are pretty used to me at this point. I looked out today and there were not 1, not 2, but 3 squirrels!! They were taking turns shimmying up the pole, getting up on the feeder, causing it to list to its side, dumping seed on the ground, so the squirrel buddies on the ground could reap the benefits.
I decided the rain had let up enough that it was worth trying the Crisco. I applied it and came back in the house. I sat at the table to do the puzzle and looked up and there was 1 squirrel shimmying his or her way up the pole. He or she made it half up and then slid completely back down. It tried it again and down it came again. It actually gave up after the third try. Do you think it went back to its buddies and reported a problem? Do you think the birds were laughing at it? Do you think Ron and I need to watch our back for squirrel payback? I can confirm for you that it is pretty funny seeing a squirrel losing its grip, holding on for dear life, sliding back down the pole.
My only concern now is fear that PETA will pick this blog up and we will be in big trouble.
Donna B
Lesson 2: Squirrels are pigs
Lesson 3: Squirrels are very, very persistent
We have a great bird feeder in the back yard. It is located right long the common area where there are trees and bushes. Proof that Ron and I technically have no life, we like to watch all the cardinals come in and feast. We have counted at least 8 out there all at once; some on the feeder, some on the ground under the feeder and others in the bushes or trees near the feeder. Unfortunately, we have found that where there is a feeder, there will be squirrels. Not sure why it makes me crazy that they get up on the feeder and chow down because as we all know, squirrels gotta eat too! They are just pigs though. It would be like serving an all you can eat buffet and the hot dog eating champion shows up hungry. Just not good.
We have tried the BB gun route but apparently squirrels have heard that the biggest risk of BB guns is that maybe it can put an eye out; so not much to fear. But, thanks to our son Daniel, we did discover a BB gun can put a hole in a bird feeder and actually even kill a bird, but that is another story.
I came up with the idea of taking Crisco and putting it on the bird feeder pole. Have no clue what I look like out there smearing it all over the place, but thankfully my neighbors are pretty used to me at this point. I looked out today and there were not 1, not 2, but 3 squirrels!! They were taking turns shimmying up the pole, getting up on the feeder, causing it to list to its side, dumping seed on the ground, so the squirrel buddies on the ground could reap the benefits.
I decided the rain had let up enough that it was worth trying the Crisco. I applied it and came back in the house. I sat at the table to do the puzzle and looked up and there was 1 squirrel shimmying his or her way up the pole. He or she made it half up and then slid completely back down. It tried it again and down it came again. It actually gave up after the third try. Do you think it went back to its buddies and reported a problem? Do you think the birds were laughing at it? Do you think Ron and I need to watch our back for squirrel payback? I can confirm for you that it is pretty funny seeing a squirrel losing its grip, holding on for dear life, sliding back down the pole.
My only concern now is fear that PETA will pick this blog up and we will be in big trouble.
Donna B
Monday, November 30, 2009
What If
I woke up at 3 a.m. this morning wondering what if this Thanksgiving was my last one. Morbid thought. Probably normal though. While I am pretty OK with walking through what is coming my way, I have my moments and apparently 3 a.m. this morning was one of those moments. I laid there for awhile just kind of feeling those feelings and then thinking about how many people probably had their last Thanksgiving and have no clue that it possibly could be. People die suddenly every day; some very tragically. Would they have spent Thanksgiving any differently had they known?
I decided a long time ago not to live my life by the what ifs but also realized early this morning that it is not such a bad thing to consider the what ifs. I enjoyed the holiday tremendously. I spent Thanksgiving morning at Fredericksburg Baptist facilitating breakfast for the community. What made it very special is that Ryan was there too. He chopped potatoes and cooked eggs. It was a nice mom moment. Michael arrived later with Frankie and later, Michael, Ron, Ryan and I all enjoyed a nice dinner. Frankie and Ginger parked themselves on the floor near the table in hopes that we would include them in the fun. No stress; just a nice day.
Candy cane Saturday was a lot of fun. I made a new pie which Michael willingly ate first in case it was not good so we could quietly remove it from the dessert table should it have been a failure. Is he a great son or what?
I have no clue if my re-diagnosis has helped me appreciate the days a bit more, but I will take it. I have said for years that my biggest fear as a parent would be that my children did not truly know that they were loved. My diagnosis years ago and this re-diagnosis helps me see that I have not failed and therefore I have nothing to fear.
I decided a long time ago not to live my life by the what ifs but also realized early this morning that it is not such a bad thing to consider the what ifs. I enjoyed the holiday tremendously. I spent Thanksgiving morning at Fredericksburg Baptist facilitating breakfast for the community. What made it very special is that Ryan was there too. He chopped potatoes and cooked eggs. It was a nice mom moment. Michael arrived later with Frankie and later, Michael, Ron, Ryan and I all enjoyed a nice dinner. Frankie and Ginger parked themselves on the floor near the table in hopes that we would include them in the fun. No stress; just a nice day.
Candy cane Saturday was a lot of fun. I made a new pie which Michael willingly ate first in case it was not good so we could quietly remove it from the dessert table should it have been a failure. Is he a great son or what?
I have no clue if my re-diagnosis has helped me appreciate the days a bit more, but I will take it. I have said for years that my biggest fear as a parent would be that my children did not truly know that they were loved. My diagnosis years ago and this re-diagnosis helps me see that I have not failed and therefore I have nothing to fear.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Tasing Grandma and Suspending 6-Year-Old Boys
It must be time for me to truly quit watching the news. Many may remember or have seen the YouTube of the grandmother down in Texas who the cop pulled over to give a speeding ticket to. She resisted arrest and he tased her. The whole thing was caught on tape. First she refuses to sign the ticket. She is then seen refusing to follow instructions and he warns her that he is going to taze her. She dares him and he is left with really no choice, other than to do it. While tasering a little old lady looks pretty ridiculous, what would have been terrible is if this same little old lady did something to the cop, because he let his guard down, being deferential to her. She was on the Today show this morning talking about the $40,000 that she was given for her troubles. The department paid her off versus going to court because they thought $40,000 was a savings, given what the legal bills would be. Who knew we could hit the lottery so easily? A couple of shocks and you get $40,000.
Flip over to the 6-year-old boy who took his multipurpose camping tool to school to eat his lunch with. He ended up suspended and sentenced to 45 days at reform school. The great offense? The camping tool had a little knife on it to go with the fork, spoon, and bottle opener. Instead of just taking it away, sending a note home to mom and calling it a day; the school system gets up on its "Zero Tolerance" policy bandwagon and ends up looking ridiculous. The child was asked what he learned from all of this. I was hoping he would say that he learned that adults have lost their minds and he would like $40,000 for his troubles. Instead he was very gracious and offered up that he learned he should ask an adult whether he should bring something to school out of the ordinary.
So you tell me. Who would you rather meet on the street? Grandma who is disrespectful and so self rightous that she cannot just apologize to the cop and the world for putting his life and hers at risk, or a well armed 6-year-old who just wants to eat lunch?
D
Flip over to the 6-year-old boy who took his multipurpose camping tool to school to eat his lunch with. He ended up suspended and sentenced to 45 days at reform school. The great offense? The camping tool had a little knife on it to go with the fork, spoon, and bottle opener. Instead of just taking it away, sending a note home to mom and calling it a day; the school system gets up on its "Zero Tolerance" policy bandwagon and ends up looking ridiculous. The child was asked what he learned from all of this. I was hoping he would say that he learned that adults have lost their minds and he would like $40,000 for his troubles. Instead he was very gracious and offered up that he learned he should ask an adult whether he should bring something to school out of the ordinary.
So you tell me. Who would you rather meet on the street? Grandma who is disrespectful and so self rightous that she cannot just apologize to the cop and the world for putting his life and hers at risk, or a well armed 6-year-old who just wants to eat lunch?
D
Friday, September 11, 2009
Please Don't Muzzle Joe Wilson
We need the Joe Wilsons of the world to be allowed their free speech. Never ever do we want to restrict someones right to say what's on their mind. How else do we truly understand the mind behind the face?
How great is it to be a South Carolina Republican in 2009? First we have Sanford who has shared the fact with the world, that he found the love of his life. Too bad it does not happen to be his wife. Now we have Joe Wilson making his mark in Congress. God bless you both. It is just like the Peter Pan fairies who need us to clap our hands to believe in them. The American people need you to just keep on speaking your mind because every time you open your mouth, you make your Democratic opponent's day.
So please Joe Wilson. Get an invitation to Meet The Press. Share your thoughts. I can only hope you get invited to the Today Show. Share your thoughts. I am sure you are a shoe in for any Fox network program. They will probably give you your own show. Keep on talking. Invite Sanford to appear with you; be a two for one deal.
Keep on talking. Your Democratic opponents will appreciate it, the American people need it.
Donna B
How great is it to be a South Carolina Republican in 2009? First we have Sanford who has shared the fact with the world, that he found the love of his life. Too bad it does not happen to be his wife. Now we have Joe Wilson making his mark in Congress. God bless you both. It is just like the Peter Pan fairies who need us to clap our hands to believe in them. The American people need you to just keep on speaking your mind because every time you open your mouth, you make your Democratic opponent's day.
So please Joe Wilson. Get an invitation to Meet The Press. Share your thoughts. I can only hope you get invited to the Today Show. Share your thoughts. I am sure you are a shoe in for any Fox network program. They will probably give you your own show. Keep on talking. Invite Sanford to appear with you; be a two for one deal.
Keep on talking. Your Democratic opponents will appreciate it, the American people need it.
Donna B
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Irony
I am in the process of cleaning out a closet. I have a black belt in being a pack rat and find I fight a losing battle on this. I hate to throw out things but thankfully I am not to the hoarding level... yet. I try to keep it contained to a large rubber maid container in a closet and periodically I will go through and convince myself to part with things.
My latest "find" was the letter I received in July of 2002 telling me my mammogram was normal and I would not need another until July of 2004. Those who know me, know that in February of 2003 I found my breast lump and in March of 2003 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and in April of 2003 I had my mastectomy and in June of 2003, right after Michael's graduation from high school, I started chemo.
Lots of "ands." But the biggest AND is, if I had waited, I would not be sitting here in 2009 writing this.
Ironic
D
My latest "find" was the letter I received in July of 2002 telling me my mammogram was normal and I would not need another until July of 2004. Those who know me, know that in February of 2003 I found my breast lump and in March of 2003 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and in April of 2003 I had my mastectomy and in June of 2003, right after Michael's graduation from high school, I started chemo.
Lots of "ands." But the biggest AND is, if I had waited, I would not be sitting here in 2009 writing this.
Ironic
D
Friday, August 7, 2009
Grub Day
Definition of a grub: A worm-like larva from beetles; also can mean an informal meal.
Grub has a special meaning from my childhood. I think back now about 6 children and a very young mom all participating in "grub day." I look back now and realize what it really meant. No one seemed to think it strange for children ages 2 to 10 to have a mental health day. These days were had, when he left town. We were all co-conspirators. He never knew and no one ever told.
How sweet life would be for children to never have a need for another Grub Day!
Grub has a special meaning from my childhood. I think back now about 6 children and a very young mom all participating in "grub day." I look back now and realize what it really meant. No one seemed to think it strange for children ages 2 to 10 to have a mental health day. These days were had, when he left town. We were all co-conspirators. He never knew and no one ever told.
How sweet life would be for children to never have a need for another Grub Day!
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