Keep the change

For many years now I've had apothecary jars that I throw change into and when they are full I empty them and roll the coins and make a deposit at the bank. It's one of the few reasons I ever set foot into the bank. Today I rolled my coins and behold, I had exactly $175. No chump change, for sure. But these days with doctors taking $25 copays three times in one week and $100 charges for not-covered services, it seems hardly worth the effort. What a disgusting propoasition for medical necessities to take the joy out of little pleasures like an occasional windfall of change! It makes me determined that I am going to get a medical deduction on my taxes this year. I never make the threshhold no matter how what expenses I've had in the past. I need retribution! I can't believe this current situation won't add up, especially given three pay cuts in one year and a fourth pending. However,surely it is a sign of age when a windfall of change deosn't provide its customary delight. There is a bit of twisted fiendish delight that the bank teller has to count all the rolls when I deposit them. I like when the bank has to exert a little effort because the interest they pay on my money is insulting. Interest bearing account is an oxymoron. I just wish I could save change faster.

Phone limbo

There's just a few more hours. That's all the time they've got! A few more hours - that's Verizon. Once again I lost the dial tone a few days ago. Apparently it came back, but I'm not sure when. People have been calling me and all the phone does is ring and ring and ring. I've tried calling my number with the state cell phone several times a day, and again, all it does is ring and ring and ring. It doesn't ring here. The other day, the phone rang in the basement, but not in the bedroom. I ran to the basement to try to catch the call, but didn't make it. I wanted to see if by some miracle I could have a conversation. Not to be. Tomorrow my new cell phone is supposed to work. I am going to a picnic, and I'll take it with me just out of curiosity. I don't know who would be calling me on a holiday, but curiosity trunps everything. I will be glad to bid Verizon adieu. Then I want to see what happens when I call to complain about the bill for two months of non-service. It should be interesting. Surely more interesting than doctor's appointments!

Transferring phone systems

The Verizon saga gets curiouser and curiouser. It seems there are multiple people around my circle of acquaintances that have been having Verizon troubles. Apprently, Verizon now believes it can only make money from its FIOS bundle. It WANTS to lose customers with land lines as these are not profitable. They no longer have their own technicians, but contract the work because it does not pay them to keep technicians on payroll. If you have trouble with a land line, you wait weeks for service and the service never occurs. If you sign up for FIOS, they can take care of you in a matter of days. Tonight, there is no dial tone on my Verizon land line. At this point I have no way to know why that is so. The new wireless phone is not yet receiving calls, so the transfer is not yet complete. I can make calls on the new wirelss, but I cannot yet receive them. I was able to set up voicemail this evening. But if you call my number right now, it just rings and rings and rings. I am anxious for this all to be history. I would like to know that I have reliable phone service. Come on, Monday! Oh, did you notice my brain fart? What is the difference between chord and cord? Musical knowledge crowding out other knowledge?

Cut the chord

Verizon has done me in. It is as simple as that. On Monday, May 25, I will join the wireless generation, move in to the 21st century because my home phone will be wireless. No more wires to worry about. I do not have to change my number, so you will call the same number you have called for years. The best news is that I get a 15% discount because I am a state employee and went with AT&T. That means my bill will basically just a bit higher than what I was paying Verizon. I now have two useless cordless phones and two useless chorded phones in good working order, if anyone is in need of a phone for a land line. I have to figure out what to do to hide the wall jack in the kitchen. I am NOT going to carry my home phone with me most of the time because I have a cell phone for work that the state provides. However, I got GPS- (global positioning system), so if I have to go somewhere and don't know where I am going, I can take the phone and let it guide me. And I have to load up the phone with all my contacts. Then there will be no paper phone book nor appointment calendar. I am wondering how long it will take me to input all the people and numbers I might want to call. I have free night and week-ends which means I will probably make phone calls after 9 p.m. as often as possible during the week, or on the week-end. Reserve the daytime minutes for incoming calls. BUT, they are rollover minutes, so I can save them also. The sales person says it will not be long before I start carrying two phones with me all the time. I hope not. I hope there is new freedom and respite from aggravation in having cut the chord!

Spray paint premier

I don't ever remember using spray paint in my life. Well, my Victorian-style iron bistro set that sits on my kitchen balcony and is powder coated to look like a verdigris finish was showing signs of rust - even though it was never supposed to rust! So how does one cover up the rust and NOT change the finish noticeably? Spray paint - specifically hammered metallic gray/green and black - Rustoleum, of course! A few shots at the rusting spots and voila! - you have to look closely to see that something has been done to the finish. I even did nearly all of the table top and it looks like nothing has been done. So, while checking the spray paint aisle at my favorite Home Deopt, I also spied spray on finish for frosted glass!. Yes, I've seen this on HGTV! I can get rid of the stupid cafe curtain on the back basement door!. Another can of spray paint and another chore discarded from my life! Never again will I take down curtains, wash them and return them to the basement door. Of course, one chore leads to another and I notice the door itself actually could use a coat of paint. Probably one day during my impending hermit days when I cannot speak. It's nice not to write about doctor's appointments.

Acupuncture magic

Today was my second acupuncture treatment. It was magic! After everything was in place, I relaxed and felt as if I was floating. The therapist explained that it was seratonin release in response to the acupuncture that gives the body its feeling of well-being. I could have remained there all afternoon, but alas, treatments are time limited. Now if it rids my arm of pain and tingling, I will indeed be a convert. I have homework to do again - a questionnaire. I think I could grow accustomed to this. Isn't the point of Harry Potter that magic used for good can indeed be a good thing?

Julie Andrews Day?

Today I had my second appointment in Philadelphia about my voice. Really bad news: I have to have my granuloma surgically removed from my vocal chords. When the doc told me this, I went into apoplectic fear. I thought he had just announced my own Julie Andrews day. While nothing surgical is ever guaranteed, again, as with my prostate, my doc is a foremost expert in the world. He is world-famous for vocal surgery, and has done this particular thing many times. Still, I just broke down in the car coming home, after I made the appointment for the surgery. I can't believe it has come to this. I have to do a baseline analysis with his vocal team of a speech pathologist and a vocal pathologist so they can outline my recovery. I will have to remain silent for an entire week after surgery, but can expect that recovery after that will be rather quick over 4 -6 weeks. This is totally incredible to me. He says that after his vocal team does their thing, I can continue with MY team being my vocal coach in Lancaster who helped me for recover for 2 years following the intubation/bruising incident, and the speech pathologist at Hopkins who referred me to Philadelphia. I know I will dread this worse than either of my previous surgeries!!! Tomorrow is acupuncture. I will really be happy when there is more to write about in this blog than medical stuff. I have lots of profound thoughts, and even some amusing thoughts at times. It's just that this medical stuff keeps overwheling me!

Colonoscopy Chapter 2

What a way to begin a week - a colonoscopy - my second in my 21000+ days. That means do the prep on Sunday evening. What a way to end the Lord's day! What an excuse to catch up on sleep, after the fact! I took three naps of about an hour each throughout the day. No wonder they won't let you do anything for the day following the procedure. However, in my case, one has to wonder how much is anesthesia and how much is the nagging lack of sleep from the pinched nerve/arm pain. But, my goodness, I really could not have done much of anything today, if I wanted to. The urge to sleep was so strong and my body was telling me not to challenge the urges. The colonoscopy went well with nothing to worry about in that department. Now on to the continuing voice problem and the pinched nerve. And I have to figure out how to get Verizon to fix my phone line. That may be more difficult than any of the health issues. What is American business coming to?

Tintillating tomatoes

The beginning of May means time to pot up some tomatoes for summer. Everyone knows there is nothing like a fresh tomato off the vine. So, this morning I bee-lined early to Valley View Farms to gather up my annual allotment of tomato plants. My experience has taught me that beefsteak types of tomatoes and its cousins don't seem to grow well in pots. Also, some heirlooms have produced mixed success for me. Of course, I never know how much success is due to my travel and watering schedules and the interplay of that with the weather. It is always interesting to see the array of varieties that Valley View offers. The consistent price rise is aggravating. When I started buying my plants at Valley View they were $1 each. They're now $1.49 - 50% in ten years or so. I decided that buying plants for a dolloar was better than starting my own because I could have more variety. I really like the taste of yellow and orange tomatoes. But, it doesn't matter what color they are. When they are grown in the back yard, they are the best. I decided this year to plant more cherry tomatoes as I generally eat more of those than I do regular tomatoes. They're easy to go for lunch. Last year by August, my tomatoes were finished. This year we'll see what a dozen tomato plants contirbutes to life. Well, they're pretty, even if they don't produce like I might like. And I always like whatever I get for the effort!

The Lusty Month of May

For me, it is not National Workers Day nor National Law Day, just the first day of that lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray! So what did I do? Sit home and wait for Verizon. And they NEVER showed! Who me, pissed? Why? Of coure, when one is home bound, there are just too many things that need to be done that you need to be somewhere else. What a week it has been - three doctor's appointments and the 12 hour wait for Verizon who never shows. Do I still have a job? Yes, I really do. And my schedule just keeps filling up 6 weeks ahead. It kept raining off and on all day and the weather says it is supposed to do that for the next week. Rainy weather and waiting for Verizon can surely put a damper on lust. So what am I to do? Well, change the sheets and the shower curtain and bathroom rug, for starters. There are always chores. I always have something piled up. I cleaned out the linen closet. I have enough light bulbs to last until my demise. I guess I got a little overexuberant about energy-saving light bulbs. I put light bulbs in the linen closet because the hall light is the one that I can't do without. It is interesting the things that got shoved under the sheets and towels that have not been used in years. I keep getting better at getting rid of things now too. But now, I have to fight with Verizon AGAIN! I got rid of them because of their poor service with DSL, even though it was cheaper than Comcast. One would think they would learn. Well, maybe by the end of the lusty month of May!