Says Amy, "Let me tell you why all the neighbors think I'm crazy ...
A little after midnight the other night I was talking on the phone with my significant other, who is working in Massachusetts (I'm in Florida). I became aware of the deafening drone of a helicopter overhaed; it's spotlight was illuminating a nearby house. Said house was surrounded by police cruisers.
My seven year old son was sleeping over at that house! Still on the phone & in my pj's, I hopped into the car and drove right into a roadblock. I jumped out of the car babbling about my baby being home alone and my son spending the night at the house they had surrounded. Turns out the police had been engaged in a high speed chase and the fleeing felon had crashed into the house and the occupants of the house were safe."
Friday, July 31, 2009
Stubborn Stye Saga
I'm disgustingly healthy. Over the years I've managed to pretty much avoid doctors (except for medical necessity such as broken bones), but have spent more time & money in the last three weeks on a !@#&* stubborn stye! First visited a local eye doctor who tried for two week, unsuccessfully, to treat this thing. Some improvement but no cure.
He sent me to an ophthalmologist who prescribed a steroid ointment and a super antibiotic. The warnings on the antibiotic were scary -- stay away from dairy products, vitamins & sun. Do not take within two hours of a meal. Remain upright for at least 30 minutes. Then we got to the really nasty side effects. All this for only $80 (with health insurance!). Doctor also requred a referral from my primary care physician (PCP), whom I'd only met once two years ago.
PCP yesterday prescribed yet another med. His office staff is also trying to rope me in for a full physical -- along with a full battery of tests (they say it's a requirement of my health insurance!).
In the meantime, being a fan of natural medicine, I looked online for a natural cure. Interesting results! Along with the usual concoctions one would expect is the suggestion to rub the eyelid with a gold wedding ring (Does it have to be a wedding ring? Does it even have to be a ring? Would any piece of gold do?). My favorite suggestion was to grind a garlic clove into a paste and apply it to the eyelid (don't think I'll try that one). Settled on brewing a nice cup of tea and applying the tea bag to the eye while sipping the tea. I do see an improvement (couldn't have anything to do with the steroid ointment I'm also using along with the antibiotic -- could it?).
He sent me to an ophthalmologist who prescribed a steroid ointment and a super antibiotic. The warnings on the antibiotic were scary -- stay away from dairy products, vitamins & sun. Do not take within two hours of a meal. Remain upright for at least 30 minutes. Then we got to the really nasty side effects. All this for only $80 (with health insurance!). Doctor also requred a referral from my primary care physician (PCP), whom I'd only met once two years ago.
PCP yesterday prescribed yet another med. His office staff is also trying to rope me in for a full physical -- along with a full battery of tests (they say it's a requirement of my health insurance!).
In the meantime, being a fan of natural medicine, I looked online for a natural cure. Interesting results! Along with the usual concoctions one would expect is the suggestion to rub the eyelid with a gold wedding ring (Does it have to be a wedding ring? Does it even have to be a ring? Would any piece of gold do?). My favorite suggestion was to grind a garlic clove into a paste and apply it to the eyelid (don't think I'll try that one). Settled on brewing a nice cup of tea and applying the tea bag to the eye while sipping the tea. I do see an improvement (couldn't have anything to do with the steroid ointment I'm also using along with the antibiotic -- could it?).
Printer Problems
I've always used an inkjet printer but, over the years, my volume of printing has increased to the point I've been purchasing a black in cartridge every week and a set of color cartridges about once a month. In addition, the printers have only been lasting about six months before reaching the end of expected lifespan for parts. So, I'd decided, the next time this happened I'd go the laser printer route. In the meantime, a company I was connected to was giving away their inkjet printers -- and I got one.
Last Sunday my old printer announced it was on its last legs. No problem, I thought, I've got the new one. So, bright and early on Monday, ventured out to the local office supply store to purchase ink for the new machine.
When the old printer ran out of ink on Wednesday, rather than invest another $20 in an ink cartridge and have old printer give up the ghost immediately after, I decided to install the new printer. Unfortunately, my computer couldn't recognize the new printer (which came with no driver), so I called the manufacturer. An hour later they gave up, saying it was a Microsoft problem. Microsoft first told me I probably needed to upgrade my operating system (I erroneously thought it was Windows NT) and gave me a choice of Windows XP or Vista. Since I've not heard good things about Vista, I opted for Windows XP -- only to be informed that Microsoft no longersupports Windows XP! Four hours later, after talking to half the technicians in the world, my new printer was up and running.
The next morning I discovered the paper sensor on the new printer wasn't working (I bet that's why it was being given away!) and I trudged back to the local ffice supply store to pick up a really new laser printer -- which I love!
Last Sunday my old printer announced it was on its last legs. No problem, I thought, I've got the new one. So, bright and early on Monday, ventured out to the local office supply store to purchase ink for the new machine.
When the old printer ran out of ink on Wednesday, rather than invest another $20 in an ink cartridge and have old printer give up the ghost immediately after, I decided to install the new printer. Unfortunately, my computer couldn't recognize the new printer (which came with no driver), so I called the manufacturer. An hour later they gave up, saying it was a Microsoft problem. Microsoft first told me I probably needed to upgrade my operating system (I erroneously thought it was Windows NT) and gave me a choice of Windows XP or Vista. Since I've not heard good things about Vista, I opted for Windows XP -- only to be informed that Microsoft no longersupports Windows XP! Four hours later, after talking to half the technicians in the world, my new printer was up and running.
The next morning I discovered the paper sensor on the new printer wasn't working (I bet that's why it was being given away!) and I trudged back to the local ffice supply store to pick up a really new laser printer -- which I love!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Amy's Corner
Can I just tell you how much I love my kids --
First, my three year old discovered the fun one can have with crayons -- all over my newly painted walls.
Sunday, after spending the day at the beach, I decided to make one of the kids' favorite dinners - fully-loaded baked potatoes.
I had all the ingredients except sour cream and shredded cheese, so I ran quickly to the store down the street to pick up these two items. Thirty dollars later, I returned home, only to realize I had forgotten the sour cream. I threw the potatoes into the microwave and put the steak on to cook. Leaving instructions for my fifteen year old to turn the steaks after six minutes, I raced back to the store.
Upon my return home, I discovered the steaks burned to a crisp. My son had forgotten he was cooking and became involved in something elsewhere in the house.
While cleaning up, I asked my son to get me something in the other rom. He returned with the news that there was water all over the room we had just finished redecorating. Yep, that's right, the main water line burst (this is a slab house).
We cleaned up the mess and opened the windows to help dry things out. I didn't think too much of it when my on announced that the window had fallen out (15 year olds are prone to exaggeration). As the evening progressed and it started getting cooler (and buggier) in the house, I asked my son to close thewindow. "I can't," he declared, "it fell out" -- and there it was, on the ground outside.
In the midst of all this chaos, my seven year old announced that his school was having an awards ceremony the next morning at nine o'clock, and would I please, please come because I "never go to any" of his school events. (Evidently seven year olds are prone to exaggeration too!) I'm not a morning person but, at nine o'clock I'm sitting at the school watching several other grades get their awards and struggling to stay awake. I finally went to te office to see if I had possibly missed my son's award ceremony and was informed that his awards were scheduled for one o'clock in the afternoon!
I do love my kids!
First, my three year old discovered the fun one can have with crayons -- all over my newly painted walls.
Sunday, after spending the day at the beach, I decided to make one of the kids' favorite dinners - fully-loaded baked potatoes.
I had all the ingredients except sour cream and shredded cheese, so I ran quickly to the store down the street to pick up these two items. Thirty dollars later, I returned home, only to realize I had forgotten the sour cream. I threw the potatoes into the microwave and put the steak on to cook. Leaving instructions for my fifteen year old to turn the steaks after six minutes, I raced back to the store.
Upon my return home, I discovered the steaks burned to a crisp. My son had forgotten he was cooking and became involved in something elsewhere in the house.
While cleaning up, I asked my son to get me something in the other rom. He returned with the news that there was water all over the room we had just finished redecorating. Yep, that's right, the main water line burst (this is a slab house).
We cleaned up the mess and opened the windows to help dry things out. I didn't think too much of it when my on announced that the window had fallen out (15 year olds are prone to exaggeration). As the evening progressed and it started getting cooler (and buggier) in the house, I asked my son to close thewindow. "I can't," he declared, "it fell out" -- and there it was, on the ground outside.
In the midst of all this chaos, my seven year old announced that his school was having an awards ceremony the next morning at nine o'clock, and would I please, please come because I "never go to any" of his school events. (Evidently seven year olds are prone to exaggeration too!) I'm not a morning person but, at nine o'clock I'm sitting at the school watching several other grades get their awards and struggling to stay awake. I finally went to te office to see if I had possibly missed my son's award ceremony and was informed that his awards were scheduled for one o'clock in the afternoon!
I do love my kids!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Amy's Corner
My daughter, Amy, has three children and, as you can imagine, a number of amusing stories about raising them. Amy doesn't have a computer so, from time to time, I'll post some of the best, in Amy's own words. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
What Do They Do?
It seems tht every magazine, newspaper, etc. today has suggestions on surviving the economic crisis. My question is, what do people do who are already following all these suggestions, who are working two or three jobs, who don't have health insurance -- or have health inurance but can't afford the copays. What do they do to survive in this economy?
Friday, July 10, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
