Saturday, November 23

[Colliemom]

Good Morning from the chilly 45th. Light Misty rain out there this a.m. Might be a little mix, as I’m seeing a little white on part of neighbors roof. Chance of lake effect rain showers today with highs in low to mid 40’s. Would like to put up my outside Christmas decorations on my porch rails, just some fake garland and lights and wrap red ribbon around the posts. We shall see. Doesn’t matter if it rains on and off as other than the stair rails which are short, I’m under the porch roof. But some areas may see some partly cloudy skies, so may luck out. I usually don’t put anything up, but decided to this year. I can enjoy looking at them as will the neighbors going by. With exception of my neighbors lamp post light, it’s pitch dark on this part of the road. Neighbor has a green bulb in his light right now. When there’s snow, it turns the snow green. Looks festive for the holidays.

Martha, glad you founds some New Balance shoes. Those are favorites of mine too, but having a hard time finding my size in wide width. It’s why I went to Orthofeet. Some of their shoes are waterproof, the Delta boots I am wearing now, are, and great for this wet weather. Nice having shoes that I can go out in any kind of weather, wet grass, etc. I’ve noticed LL Bean has the New Balance I like my size and width now. So may order a pair later. Tine to put summer shoes away here.

Neighbor started prepping for the new post installation at the entrance yesterday. Discovered when he dug down to get what was left of old posts out of the ground, that they were encased in cement about three feet deep Took some digging to get down under that and work them loose. I noticed on my way in from having dinner out, that he got them out. Don’t know how, but seeing two of the old posts laying next to the holes, must have leveraged them out. On to the next step now. Cement in the bottom of the hole to set the new posts on and not in.

Got that crazy picture frame taken care of. Gal couldn’t get replacement glass in either, so grid a different one, no go there either. So finally got a slightly smaller one and bingo. Also trimmed down the backing just a smidgeon too. No charge for that glass and got a refund on the one I bought to replace the original. Thank you Hobby Lobby.

I too must be lucky with doctors, as I can call my PA when I need something. Might have to wait on the phone a bit though. Just had the Medicare visit, so done with that. Colonguard test came late yesterday, but not doing anything with that till Monday as it needs UPS to pick it up. Anne, your mention of the portal reminded me I need to get a new access code for mine. Will have to remember to do that

Was thinking about Barbie yesterday. Now that she’s moved and started a new chapter in her life, she’s been AWOL on here. I’m sure she’s busy with Brother and SIL among other things. Enjoying her new lifestyle. But at same time hoping all is okay. Hasn’t posted on FB either.

Time to get my day going. Need to run the vac and then get the DP framed and hung up. Need to move one to another spot to do that, so those are the Morning chores.

[OregonLuvr]

Morning. Another rainy day here, guess I can just say "ditto" for the next week or so. I know we need the rain BUT it is getting a tad annoying with not a ray of sunshine. I like the rain but needs to know when to quit for a few days.
I spent yesterday doing a bit of cooking. Made a couple small chicken pot pies, and a pot of chicken soup. I put the roasted chicken carcass and bones in the instant pot for a few hours for some bone broth so then thought I would just make some soup and freeze the extra broth. So not sure what today will bring yet. Got my winter wardrobe (ie: sweatshirts, long sleeved shirts, sweaters, vests and some fleece lined pants) out of my totes. I think I am going to need them. I always keep some out all year long just in case it is chilly or I go to the coast or mountains. Now need to launder them so they are ready to use.

Got a message from my doctor in the portal saying she wanted to start me on a statin because my cholesterol was elevated. My cholesterol is the same as it was 5 or 6 years ago so NOPE I told her I would pass for now. Too many issues with statins for my liking. Now if I had heart disease, heart attack, stroke, etc then I would definitely consider it. Thank goodness she isnt pushy about it or I would have to push back.
I have very good results using the portal. I was lucky to find a few good docs here in Roseburg. They come and go here too quickly. My primary is a wonderful PA-C was born and raised here, has a family and enjoys the area. My pulmonologist has been here for many years so think she will be staying at least until she retires. My neighbor is on her 4th primary. They come here pretty new, get a couple years in, and then poof gone on to bigger and better things. My retina specialist isnt in this portal tho as he belongs to the group in Eugene. They have satellite offices here and at the coast but I really dont have a need for the portal for him. I could join his I suppose but nothing much to read anyway.

Well guess I should get another cup of coffee then get my day started. Might go out and install my new dash cam in my car when it warms up a bit. I have it pretty much figured out just have to be a bit of a contortionist to run the cable. Laura installed my last one but she is a bit far away for an installer ha ha

[Cudedog]

Never did hear from my Dr.s office about my meds. No response on the portal, no response to the typed letter I dropped off at the Dr.'s office. Nuttin'. Zip.

I guess on Monday I will need to call the Patient Advocate for the corporation to see if I can shake things up.

I really don't know what to do besides just going back to the office and refuse to leave until I can get some answers. But that might do more harm than good.

Sorry for venting, and thanks to those of you sharing similar problems with your medical care providers. I know that al lot of medical practices and even medical corporations are being bought up by hedge funds and the like. Once the hedge fund gets control, the cost-cutting begins. I'm starting to wonder if the corporation that my doctor works for is one of these.

And I agree with those who say things are going to get worse.

Anne

[JudyJB]

A bit of sun today in Napa, but there are nasty looking clouds to the north. My son picked me up and we went to the bank to transfer the safety deposit box from his name as the person to bill, to my name as the person to bill. Yesterday, I also set up a savings account at that bank, and deposited a small amount of money in it today. I have my regular checking and savings accounts in a credit union in Michigan, but this way, I can have a second ATM card with access to a small amount of money in this Napa bank. This might sound silly to have an extra account, but there was a year quite a few years ago when my only ATM/Debit card got demagnetized in London, and I had a terrible time getting cash. I went to a UK bank that tried everything to get cash for me, even entering the numbers in manually, but no luck, plus my bank would not send me another debit card unless I agreed to spend a couple of weeks in one place. This will just be a back-up, but as most of you know, when you travel alone there is no second person if your purse and credit cards are lost or stolen while you are abroad.

Then my son fixed some things I needed help with in my motorhome. I cannot lift my left arm past my ear, so it's hard to do things like hold a screw while holding a screwdriver in the other arm.

Rain starting again tomorrow for a few days, but at least it will not be hard rain, nor constant rain!

[OregonLuvr]

Judy you are smart to have 2 accounts. This happened to me when I was working in Sacramento. We went over to Reno came back, so I went to the store for some groceries. My card was declined........what??? I knew I had plenty of money in it. The manager came over and let me use their phone (this was a while ago obviously) I got to the fraud dept and was told the gas station I used in Reno was suspected of fraudulent activity. Well apparently they were sending a letter (like I was not home, working in another state. And would be sending a new card in 7-10 working days. I had cash so just paid for the groceries. Then marched my self over to the bank, wanted to draw out $1000 They kept wanting me to swipe my card......fine I will swipe it but it wont work. And it did not. Finally after much ado verifying I was me I was given the money. Went across town and opened up another account at a different bank. So now had 2 debit cards, 2 checking accts. And to this day still have them. I lost a debit card shortly after I moved here so called and they were sending me a new one. Then few months later my credit card had some issue, fine they are sending me a new one. I will never be without 2 cards ever again. And that is what I have is 2 credit cards. Oh I guess 3 as I have a Lowe's credit card but usually only use it in the spring ha ha 5% off on any and all purchases but that is it.

[Acadianmom]

I get ticked off at my bank often. I have only been a customer for 50 years and they treat me like a criminal. I only have two credit cards except for gas cards. One only has a $1,000 limit and I won't let them raise it. I use it for gas sometimes if I don't have a card for the station and if I order something on line. I always pay cash when I'm eating out. I don't want someone walking off with my card. Almost every place wants to charge you a fee if you use a credit card. It's bad enough that they think you should tip 20%.

I went to my Meetup for breakfast. The restaurant's biscuits are so good. Probably a good thing I can't make biscuits that good. I stopped to pick up some cat litter at a store I seldom go to so I had to wander around to see what they had. I saw a Dolly Parton Buttermilk Biscuit mix so had to get it. It was almost $4. Kind of expensive but I wanted to try it. She also has some cake mixes too. I haven't decided if I want to cook a Thanksgiving dinner or not. I have a small turkey roast but I would still be eating on it for a week. The monthly hospice dinner is tomorrow but I'm not going. I don't like the restaurant they are going to.

I went by Academy and didn't find any shoes I like. I managed to get out of there without spending any money. I ordered a pair of shoes form Orthofeet and a pair of the Easy Spirit shoes I like to wear. Shoe Station didn't have any Easy Spirit shoes. A couple of my Easy Spirit shoes need to go in the trash.

Martha

[snowball]

I picked up that same mix Martha haven't used it yet though.... did try one of the cake mixes but not sure if I baked it too long or what but seemed dry to me... I rarely use cake mixes so perhaps that is the nature of them....
went and got grocery's today had french dip's for supper think tomorrow will have hamburger soup hopefully I have all that I need for it... didn't remember to look and see before I left for the store
been working on my great nieces hat it seems soooo big I know her mom says she has a big head but I truly wonder about this... I've been trying to increase a pattern for a young child of 4-5 up to a 11 year old with a big head so looked at a chart and looked at a small adult and it gave a almost 7 inch for the crown which is where this one is at... guess if it's too big her mom can wear it and I will make her a new one but not sure it would fit the niece oh well I am thinking of taking it to church and putting it as is on her head and see what it looks like
we had some sprinkles but nothing to write home about
Judy it's good that your son was able to give you some help
Anne so sorry you are experiencing communication issues with the medical field ... I need to see about making an appointment I've not had the problems that you are having so far...
you all have a great day
sheila

[JudyJB]

ANother bank lesson learned---About 40 years ago, I had my purse stolen while I was working at a local college. Had left it in my desk drawer, but did not lock the drawer. Anyway, it was gone and my kids and I were going to go on a long trip in a little over a week. I got a temporary driver's license, but I now had a driver's license that had been listed as stolen. The worst problem was that I had had almost a full checkbook in my purse, so I went to my bank and let them know. They started a new checking account and closed the old one, but instead of reporting that the old one had been a stolen checkbook, when a check was written in it, they reported it to the credit agencies as non-sufficient funds!!!!!!!!!!! The thiefs managed to get a driver's license with my name on it, but a different photo, so I was now listed as all kinds of nasty things--bad check passer, thief, etc. This was before we used credit cards a lot, so I only had one, but every time I tried to write a check or charge something, the person taking it would have to call the credit agency, and I would have to give a password. In the meantime, people were lined up behind me in places like the grocery store wondering why it was taking me so long to pay for stuff. This happened for over a year as the thiefs kept passing my checks.

I was furious and went to another bank and opened a new account and got a new checking account, but i learned never to carry an entire checkbook with me. I put one check in my purse in case someone will not take a credit card--rare, but it happens.

When I travel, even in my motorhome, I take one credit card with me and my debit card, and put my extra credit card or cards in a hidden place that no one would ever find. If I am abroad, I have been known to hide one in the lining of a carry-on suitcase or something else I carry on that is not put in the cargo hold of the plane. (Could be anything, like a book or package or something not obvious, like a takeout bag.) For walking around cities, I also like jackets or clothing with hidden pockets. Now I will also have an extra ATM card, just in case!!! I won't keep a lot of money in it, just enough for emergencies. And frankly, I never have a ton of money in my regular checking account anyway.