When I heard that the government was working on healthcare reform, I was thrilled. As someone who has no health insurance, I know what it’s like to have to do without needed medical treatment. I’ve needed to go to a better doctor regarding my lack of energy and inability to concentrate for some time, but it just hasn’t been an option due to lack of funds. I’m done talking to my current doctor about these things. As much as I like her as a person, I just don’t think she’s going to be able to help me.
And then there are the problems that I can’t justify spending our limited funds on. Cavities that need to be filled, vision that needs to be checked, anxiety that is driving me nuts. If I had insurance I could get all of these things taken care of. And from the sound of the early healthcare reform plans, I thought maybe insurance would be in my near future.
Now, I’m not so sure. Each time I hear about it, the latest bill has been defeated and the upcoming one is a little more watered down than the last one. They were supposed to be sealing a deal several months ago, and then again before the holidays, and the latest reports are saying early next year. Ugh.
I got a letter from Blue Advantage last week, and I looked into it online. They’ve got some great plans, and from what I’ve seen with other health insurers, their rates are reasonable. But I can’t even afford that right now. I wish I could, because I’ve had Blue Cross/Blue Shield before, and it’s the best insurance I’ve ever had.
So until I start making more money or they get moving forward on healthcare reform, I guess things will remain as-is. I’m just thankful that Pumpkin still qualifies for Health Choice (although I’m not sure how much longer she will qualify). And Hubby has insurance through his work that’s company paid. It isn’t great, but it doesn’t cost him anything and it will cover him if anything major happens. As for me, I’m just glad I don’t have any life-threatening health problems. That said, I’m going to go knock on wood for good measure.
This holiday season has been a doozy for my family. The thing that I still don’t feel inclined to write about is improving, not completely resolved, but considerably better. But it has left me in a very stressed and depressed state of mind. I’m trying to get through it as best I can, because money is insanely tight right now and I can’t bring myself to make things worse by going to the doctor. Maybe someday soon.
As for Christmas itself, it was… interesting. We weren’t able to get Pumpkin much, but we did manage to get her one of the big things on her list (a portable DVD player). She was happy with what she got, but commented that Santa didn’t bring her much. I’m really beginning to hate the whole Santa notion, and Hubby and I have decided that the next time she asks if he exists we’re going to tell her the truth. Then maybe she won’t have such high expectations, and won’t be disappointed.
The biggest Christmas present we got was a flooded basement. And when I say flooded, I mean flooded. It has flooded a few times, but never this badly. There was lots of snow still laying on the ground from the week before, and we got a buttload of rain on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The trenches we had dug were full of snow, so they were no help. We had to get out in the rain shortly after opening gifts and clear those trenches out, then Hubby picked up two of his brothers and had them come help finish the job and get some of that water out. Once again, I’m thankful that we had a pump to pump it out with, because there’s no way we could have rented one on Christmas.
With the water being pumped out, we tried to relax for the rest of the day. We had a scrumptious Honey Baked half ham for dinner. I cooked it all day in the crock pot, and it came out nice and tender. We gave some of it to Hubby’s family, Pumpkin ate one piece, and Hubby and I had the rest of it gone by the next day. Too bad we didn’t have some Solo Slim on hand – maybe it would have lasted a little longer.
After dinner we went to the inlaws’ house to play cards. Then we came back home, had a few drinks, and hit the hay. All in all, it wasn’t a bad Christmas. We got to spend time together as a family, and as far as I’m concerned that’s what it’s all about. I just hope next Christmas is less stressful.
I was listening to the weather on the radio this morning, and if what they said was true, we’re going to have one snowy weekend. They’re calling for 3 to 6 inches tomorrow, and by the time it’s all said and done, possibly 10 inches or more. Nooooo!!!!
I hate the thought of snow at all, but if we have to have it, I wish I could push it back a few days so it would be on Christmas. I don’t really care if we have any snow on Christmas myself, but Hubby’s dying to have some then. And I’m sure Pumpkin wouldn’t mind it either. Of course, if I had my way, it would just miss us altogether. They’re giving a 100% chance, but I’ve seen snowstorms miss us with those kind of odds before. I can hope, anyway.
The other day, Hubby’s cousin asked if he could put a pot of water on the wood stove to keep the air from getting so dry in here. I was happy to oblige, and wondered why I hadn’t thought of it myself. So I went straight to the kitchen, filled up a pot, and put it there on the condition that he help keep water in it.
A couple of days later, Hubby went to put some more water in it. I was in front of the bathroom mirror putting on some makeup, and he came in there and said, “What’s this in the water?” He brought the pot in, and I saw a bunch of blue stuff floating on the bottom of the half-full pot. Yuck!
I don’t know what it is, but I do know one thing: It’s high time to start looking at water filters. Whatever that stuff might be, I really have no desire to be drinking it, or particularly to have Pumpkin drinking it. We don’t drink much tap water anyway, but I like to be able to without having to worry, you know?
Anybody have any idea what that could be? I’m assuming that it’s some sort of mineral, but everyone I’ve asked doesn’t know what it is. If anyone can shed some light on this, please let me know in the comments!
I saw a huge flock of crows the other day, and realized that they were probably making a pit stop on their way to fly south for the winter. I sort of wished I could sprout wings and go with them. I don’t like winter as it is, and the weather here is shaping up to be particularly unpleasant this year. It has already been quite cold, and we’ve narrowly missed quite a bit of snow and ice so far.
I doubt I’ll be growing wings any time soon. And I’m certainly not one of these well-to-do folks who can just pick up and reserve one of the best hotels New Orleans or Orlando or Atlanta has to offer for a week or two. So it looks like I’m stuck toughing it out.
The idea of getting away for a while sure sounds good. Things are getting a little better on the home front, but it would still be nice to have a change of scenery. Guess I’ll have to settle for the occasional trip down the mountain for now, and hope and pray that a vacation is in the cards for next year.
We got quite a bit of rain yesterday. It rained pretty hard for a little while, but it wasn’t a total washout. So we didn’t think about checking the basement. This morning I decided to go down there and take a look, and guess what? It was flooded again!
At least we’ve got a pump to pump it out with now. It’s going to take a while to get all that water out, though. Every time this happens, I find myself considering just tearing this place down and replacing it with a manufactured home. I really don’t think that would be a bad idea at all, but I don’t suppose the mortgage company would like it very much.
I’ve got more than enough crap going on right now without this. Just gotta keep telling myself that things will get better.
I used to enjoy Christmas very much. Now, I kind of dread it. I still like decorating and having fun with the family, but the whole gift giving thing just stresses me out. I keep telling myself that I’m going to start knitting or something so that I can make gifts instead of buying them for most of the people on my list, but it hasn’t happened yet.
We had planned to go Christmas shopping today, but I’m pretty sick and Hubby is tired and has a pulled muscle in his leg. So instead, we’re sitting around the house all day. I was sort of looking forward to going, since Hubby and I both just got paid and we might actually have a little money to spend, but in a way I’m relieved. Still, I know that if we don’t do it now, we’ll just have to do it later.
Hubby insists that he’s going to buy me something this year. I keep telling him not to, but he keeps insisting. So I guess I’ll have to buy him something too. It’s not that I don’t want to get him a gift – he deserves the most awesome gift in the world. But we really can’t afford to buy much, and I’d rather just spend what little we do have on Pumpkin and a little something for everyone else.
Oh well. At least I’m reasonably sure that he’s not going to spend a lot of money on me. I don’t think I’ll have to run out and buy mounts for that Plasma TV I keep telling him I’d like to have. I just wish I knew what he had in mind. Maybe there’s still time to talk him out of it.
