What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. At the Movies. Well, we got there at about 10:00 AM and didn't get home till midnight so I guess it was more than an afternoon.
AMC Theaters were offering for $30.00 a whole day of movies as they ran all of the pictures that had been nominated as "best picture". This included all the popcorn and soda you could handle.
So, I am fresh from seeing all the nominated movies and by far the only one deserving of the title is Babel.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Saturday, February 17, 2007
SDRAWKCAB
In my young single days there were among my circle of friends a group who spoke sdrawkcab. It seemed cute at the time and for a little while I tried to keep up, but it was just too much trouble.
And now the world is moving in that direction. Evidence??
For most of my life I have endured severe leg and foot cramps. In my sdrawkcab days I thought it was due to wearing high heels all day, every day. But somewhere in my late 30s high heels disappeared and cramps continued. The remedies were as many and varried as those for hiccups. They included, putting weight on it, walking around, jumping up and down, rolling like a log...All while trying to relax the offending muscle.
It wasn't until Papa died and we were going through his house and I came across some pills called Legatrin and I took them home and tried them. And, oh my God, they worked like a charm. The active ingredient was Quinine. Within a few months the product "Legatrin" became "New and Improved". Its new active ingredients were Acetaminophen and Diphenhydramine (Tylenol and Sleeping Pills). And no, it did not work.
I asked the pharmacist and he told me that Quinine had become a controlled substance and could only be obtained by prescription. No problem. My doctor wrote me a prescription and I was back in cramp free land. Somewhere in the middle 90s the FDA took it off the market completely (for my protection) and I was back to walking the streets at night. (My house was too small to walk very far very effectively) In 1997 the FDA had backed down and quinine was available again and I don't go anywhere without it.
Since my prescription is for enough pills for me to take one every night and I only take them when I actually get a cramp or feel one coming on, I have a backlog. I have recommended it to all my friends and have even given some away.
Now, comes a letter from my new prescription provider saying that the FDA has taken Quinine Sulfate off the market again and they will soon discontinue distribution of same. I didn't know how soon "soon" was so I quickly tried to refill my prescription. But, alas, too late. "Soon" had come. I called a couple of pharmacies and they are all out also. Believe me, I am hoarding my backlog.
Yesterday I got a letter from my old prescription provider with a little more information. It seems the FDA has recently approved a new manufacturer for quinine sulfate. They are the only approved manufacturer and have given it the brand name Qualaquin. There is no longer any generic quinine sulfate available on the market. A Brand name co-payment may be charged for all Qualaquin prescriptions. Qualaquin may, or may not be a covered drug on my pharmacy benefit plan.
Isn't that a little backwards?
And now the world is moving in that direction. Evidence??
For most of my life I have endured severe leg and foot cramps. In my sdrawkcab days I thought it was due to wearing high heels all day, every day. But somewhere in my late 30s high heels disappeared and cramps continued. The remedies were as many and varried as those for hiccups. They included, putting weight on it, walking around, jumping up and down, rolling like a log...All while trying to relax the offending muscle.
It wasn't until Papa died and we were going through his house and I came across some pills called Legatrin and I took them home and tried them. And, oh my God, they worked like a charm. The active ingredient was Quinine. Within a few months the product "Legatrin" became "New and Improved". Its new active ingredients were Acetaminophen and Diphenhydramine (Tylenol and Sleeping Pills). And no, it did not work.
I asked the pharmacist and he told me that Quinine had become a controlled substance and could only be obtained by prescription. No problem. My doctor wrote me a prescription and I was back in cramp free land. Somewhere in the middle 90s the FDA took it off the market completely (for my protection) and I was back to walking the streets at night. (My house was too small to walk very far very effectively) In 1997 the FDA had backed down and quinine was available again and I don't go anywhere without it.
Since my prescription is for enough pills for me to take one every night and I only take them when I actually get a cramp or feel one coming on, I have a backlog. I have recommended it to all my friends and have even given some away.
Now, comes a letter from my new prescription provider saying that the FDA has taken Quinine Sulfate off the market again and they will soon discontinue distribution of same. I didn't know how soon "soon" was so I quickly tried to refill my prescription. But, alas, too late. "Soon" had come. I called a couple of pharmacies and they are all out also. Believe me, I am hoarding my backlog.
Yesterday I got a letter from my old prescription provider with a little more information. It seems the FDA has recently approved a new manufacturer for quinine sulfate. They are the only approved manufacturer and have given it the brand name Qualaquin. There is no longer any generic quinine sulfate available on the market. A Brand name co-payment may be charged for all Qualaquin prescriptions. Qualaquin may, or may not be a covered drug on my pharmacy benefit plan.
Isn't that a little backwards?
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Family visit
Mary's memorial provided us an opportunity for another family visit. As we gathered at her house we treated the occasion almost as though she were still there, commenting on the parts she would have liked and approved of, and the parts she would have disliked or been angry about. Including we, the family, there were upwards of 75 people that came to remember her, show each other their pictures and look at hers; or in some cases just to look around her house to which they had never previously been invited.
Then we had the side trip to Las Vegas. We excel at gambling side trips. I'm so glad we had Stephanie with us so that she could experience just how wacky her aunts and grandmother really are. I didn't want that part to come as a shock to her when she is caring for all of us in a nursing home. Yes, I said all of us. I have decided to wait until my daughters are old enough to enter a nursing home with me before I do it. I don't want to do that by myself. What fun would that be?
Then we had the side trip to Las Vegas. We excel at gambling side trips. I'm so glad we had Stephanie with us so that she could experience just how wacky her aunts and grandmother really are. I didn't want that part to come as a shock to her when she is caring for all of us in a nursing home. Yes, I said all of us. I have decided to wait until my daughters are old enough to enter a nursing home with me before I do it. I don't want to do that by myself. What fun would that be?
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Adrienne
Happy Birthday to Karen
I won't tell how old Karen is but she was 14 years old when Adrienne was born.
Adrienne is a grandmother.
Its not that i believe that Sean is a slouch, but I'm just saying.
Happy Birthday to Karen
I won't tell how old Karen is but she was 14 years old when Adrienne was born.
Adrienne is a grandmother.
Its not that i believe that Sean is a slouch, but I'm just saying.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
have wheels, will travel
I was ready for some wheels. The debate started about wheelchair vs scooter. There were a lot of negatives in a scooter, especially in Michigan weather. So I opted for a manual wheelchair.It was much easier than I expected. I got a prescription for a manual wheelchair from my doctor. Then I did a little shopping on-line. Then I called Sears and got some information from them. They made it sound very difficult.
So I took my prescription where my doctor had said to take it. To the Durable Medical Equipment department of Garden City Hospital. Erika and Jackson were with me. The girl took my prescription, started a file on me, made copies of my insurance cards, filled out some paperwork, went into the back and brought out a wheelchair, said "sign here", and I was done.
She pointed out that it was a top-of-the-line wheelchair. Lightweight, nylon seat and back etc. It was the last wheelchair she had in stock. Medicare doesn't usually pay for one that good, but since it was her last one, they would have to.
The drill is that it is like a rent-to-own. Medicare will pay a rental for 10 months, and then if I still need it they pay it off. If I ever damage or lose it they will not buy another.
I asked her how much this chair would go for on the open marken and she said "an easy $2,000.00. In my on line shopping I saw scooters cheaper than that.
Monday, January 22, 2007
On the Road Again
In just a little while I will be on the road again.
After a flurry of cross comunication our travel plans seem to be set. We are travelling at different times and days but we will all be in California on the 4th for Mary's memorial service. Rita has been recuited for multiple airport runs. Have I mentioned how much we love her. I have Stephanie travelling with me on the 2nd so she will be there for any baggage handling and shoe removal problems.
Memorial service may be a misnomer for what's going on at Mary's house on Sunday February 4th since I don't expect there will be any kind of formal memorial readings or anything. It will be more of a gathering of friends and family to come together in one place to say goodbye.
Easy for us here in the East to just fly out there but those in California are faced with the task of dismanteling and settling her estate. Kathy is her executer but the legal part is just the beginning. The sheer volume of stuff boggles my mind.
After a flurry of cross comunication our travel plans seem to be set. We are travelling at different times and days but we will all be in California on the 4th for Mary's memorial service. Rita has been recuited for multiple airport runs. Have I mentioned how much we love her. I have Stephanie travelling with me on the 2nd so she will be there for any baggage handling and shoe removal problems.
Memorial service may be a misnomer for what's going on at Mary's house on Sunday February 4th since I don't expect there will be any kind of formal memorial readings or anything. It will be more of a gathering of friends and family to come together in one place to say goodbye.
Easy for us here in the East to just fly out there but those in California are faced with the task of dismanteling and settling her estate. Kathy is her executer but the legal part is just the beginning. The sheer volume of stuff boggles my mind.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Got Gas?
It will be one week ago tomorrow that Gretchen was all excited that she filled up her tank at $1.99.
Today I filled up at $1.84 and then later saw $1.81.
Today I filled up at $1.84 and then later saw $1.81.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Good Job
Our ice-storm warning has been cancelled. Our little salt mobile just came through the parking lot and I am looking at tiny little icicles dripping from the bottom of my car. The trees are adorned with a layer of ice that looks beautiful. So then I started to look for icicles at the roof line of the houses. I used to get huge icicles hanging right above my porch that would drip down while the sun shined and then freeze on my porch where it was shady.
Not a single icicle do I see on any of the houses in my sight line. The new siding came with new gutters and boy are they working good.
Not a single icicle do I see on any of the houses in my sight line. The new siding came with new gutters and boy are they working good.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Looking up
Near the end of my Florida visit in 2005 I had an episode of this same "back spasm". One of the remedies then was physical therapy which worked very well for me. On the first day of my last week of scheduled therapy the facility had changed hands and employees and the upshot was I didn't like any of them and never returned.
I went for my first appointment of this round of therapy and found that the therapist is the same guy I had liked at the other place. I am pleased as punch. He remembered me only vaguely but that was ok. I am scheduled for three times a week for four weeks.
Then, this afternoon I went for a cortizone injection. I was given a choice of locations, Nine Mile and Greenfield or Twelve Mile and Haggarty. I chose the Greenfield location since they could get me in almost two weeks earlier than the other one.
There was a little mapped diagram of the location that made it look like I could go right up Greenfield and turn left into the little black dot that was the Providence Pavilion Medical Facility.
Any of you old time Detroiters remember what is at Nine Mile and Greenfield. That's where Northland is. There are streets and drives and parking structures that don't appear anywhere on the little diagram. To say nothing of the strip malls and traffic. And to say nothing of the big black fence that encloses the Providence Pavilion. Once I found my way into the fenced area I find that there are about 20 parking places with additional parking indicated by an arrow that lead god-knows-where.
Rita and I were talking, when this was first scheduled, about days of yore when cortizone injections were administered in the doctor's office. I had gotten at least one in my back way back when Adrienne was a teenager and Rita had gotten at least one in her knee before her first replacement. Why, we wondered, did it now have to be done at a special facility.
I was lucky enough to get one of those 20 spaces and made my way to the proper office. Once in the inner-sanctum, the doctor indicated on my paperwork introduced himself to me and then to two other doctors. There was another woman there but she must have been a lowly technitian and wasn't introduced. They were all wearing those leaded x-ray aprons. It turns out this injection must be given while viewing the area through an x-ray machine. Who knew?
The main doctor, the only male in the room, was across the way in conversation while one of the females administered to me, explaining each step; this is going to feel cold; you're going to feel a pinch; there will be pressure. I had the feeling that this was a learning experience for the female crew.
Anyway, they did a bang-up job. Oh, yeah, everything still hurts but I have high hopes for the passage of time.
I went for my first appointment of this round of therapy and found that the therapist is the same guy I had liked at the other place. I am pleased as punch. He remembered me only vaguely but that was ok. I am scheduled for three times a week for four weeks.
Then, this afternoon I went for a cortizone injection. I was given a choice of locations, Nine Mile and Greenfield or Twelve Mile and Haggarty. I chose the Greenfield location since they could get me in almost two weeks earlier than the other one.
There was a little mapped diagram of the location that made it look like I could go right up Greenfield and turn left into the little black dot that was the Providence Pavilion Medical Facility.
Any of you old time Detroiters remember what is at Nine Mile and Greenfield. That's where Northland is. There are streets and drives and parking structures that don't appear anywhere on the little diagram. To say nothing of the strip malls and traffic. And to say nothing of the big black fence that encloses the Providence Pavilion. Once I found my way into the fenced area I find that there are about 20 parking places with additional parking indicated by an arrow that lead god-knows-where.
Rita and I were talking, when this was first scheduled, about days of yore when cortizone injections were administered in the doctor's office. I had gotten at least one in my back way back when Adrienne was a teenager and Rita had gotten at least one in her knee before her first replacement. Why, we wondered, did it now have to be done at a special facility.
I was lucky enough to get one of those 20 spaces and made my way to the proper office. Once in the inner-sanctum, the doctor indicated on my paperwork introduced himself to me and then to two other doctors. There was another woman there but she must have been a lowly technitian and wasn't introduced. They were all wearing those leaded x-ray aprons. It turns out this injection must be given while viewing the area through an x-ray machine. Who knew?
The main doctor, the only male in the room, was across the way in conversation while one of the females administered to me, explaining each step; this is going to feel cold; you're going to feel a pinch; there will be pressure. I had the feeling that this was a learning experience for the female crew.
Anyway, they did a bang-up job. Oh, yeah, everything still hurts but I have high hopes for the passage of time.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
I am so easily amused
This is so funny. But you've got to be here to appreciate it. I am watching a workman out in front of my house. He is putting one sweatshirt over another and is obviously using my front window as a mirror. I know he would not be preening like that if he knew someone was watching.
I have been watching these aluminum siding guys work for a couple of months now. They are working on units a lot farther away from my house now. I can no longer even hear the hammering. However some of our parking lots have fewer empty spaces than this one and in front of my house seems to be a good spot for them.
There is one guy that works pretty steadily inside the truck bending pieces of aluminum. It is very interesting to watch. If he ever has to take a day off, I think I could fill in for him. Except I don't know how heavy those pieces are or how hard he has to press on that bendy thing.
I have been watching these aluminum siding guys work for a couple of months now. They are working on units a lot farther away from my house now. I can no longer even hear the hammering. However some of our parking lots have fewer empty spaces than this one and in front of my house seems to be a good spot for them.
There is one guy that works pretty steadily inside the truck bending pieces of aluminum. It is very interesting to watch. If he ever has to take a day off, I think I could fill in for him. Except I don't know how heavy those pieces are or how hard he has to press on that bendy thing.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Poked and prodded
I saw a Doctor today. My back which has been a pain for more than 30 years, has been what I describe to myself as "in spasm" since the middle of December. I called for an appointment with a Rehabilition Physician before Christmas and today was my lucky day. I had to settle for a Doctor I had never seen before because my favorite one didn't have an opening until near the end of January.
This guy was young with no discernable accent and I liked him very much. He set me up for a cortizone injection in my sacro-illiac this Thursday afternoon at Providence Hospital and several weeks of physical therapy which will start on Thursday morning at Progressive Rehab Network on Ford Road near Middlebelt.
I seem to be in good hands.
This guy was young with no discernable accent and I liked him very much. He set me up for a cortizone injection in my sacro-illiac this Thursday afternoon at Providence Hospital and several weeks of physical therapy which will start on Thursday morning at Progressive Rehab Network on Ford Road near Middlebelt.
I seem to be in good hands.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
A Happy Camper
I have been messing around with home pages, bookmarks, tabs, contact lists --- its a big pain. Then I called AOL to cancel my dial-up service. I learned that I can still access my old aol page by just connecting to it only the dial-up is missing. I can keep my whold set up, tool bars, address books, email, everything. I love those people.
See how fast I am?
I am all loaded and up and running with ATT Yahoo DSL. It is a pain in the neck because I have to get used to new formats and new ways of doing things. But I am a smart resiliant old lady and I can get behind anything.
If each of you will send me an email, just changing the aol.com part to sbcglobal.net I will be able to get you into my new address book. Only we no longer call it an address book, now I have a contact list.
If each of you will send me an email, just changing the aol.com part to sbcglobal.net I will be able to get you into my new address book. Only we no longer call it an address book, now I have a contact list.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Ringing out the old
Let me be the last to say that I hope 2006 was a very good year for all of you and the first to say that I hope 2007 will be even better.
I am leaving this year as a slow dial-up user and will shortly usher in the new year as an always-connected user. Erika and Gretchen went through the order process for me when they were here and ordered ATT Yahoo DSL. The box of stuff necessary to implement the turnover arrived and is sitting by my front door. Whoever loves me the most or gets here first will hook it up.
Adrienne thought I should be brave and open the box, but I am pretty sure that the installation will involve pulling out the CPU to connect something at the back and that is beyond my ability.
I am seeing in the new year by watching a marathon of the 2006 main event of the world series of poker.
I am leaving this year as a slow dial-up user and will shortly usher in the new year as an always-connected user. Erika and Gretchen went through the order process for me when they were here and ordered ATT Yahoo DSL. The box of stuff necessary to implement the turnover arrived and is sitting by my front door. Whoever loves me the most or gets here first will hook it up.
Adrienne thought I should be brave and open the box, but I am pretty sure that the installation will involve pulling out the CPU to connect something at the back and that is beyond my ability.
I am seeing in the new year by watching a marathon of the 2006 main event of the world series of poker.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Wasn't that a party
Wow, what a gathering. We had 17 for actual dinner (not counting the birthday boy) and then 8 more came over later. I hope Erika will be posting a picture of the snowman cake that Gretchen made. Jackson was very excited. We lit the candles and started to sing. So of course it was time for him to hide behind his mother's knees. He came back out in time to blow out the candles and stayed out long enough to say "Let's do that again." So we did.
Pots and pans were cleaned last night. Dishwasher was run today. Rita just picked up her dishes and silverware that we borrowed and Gretchen's family just picked up all the extra cake, cookies and pop and they are heading back to West Branch. Erika should be on the plane right now and winging her way to California. The house seems very empty.
Pots and pans were cleaned last night. Dishwasher was run today. Rita just picked up her dishes and silverware that we borrowed and Gretchen's family just picked up all the extra cake, cookies and pop and they are heading back to West Branch. Erika should be on the plane right now and winging her way to California. The house seems very empty.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Steak and Shake
Erika mentioned to me on the phone how nice the lights were at the Toledo Zoo. However to a three year old boy the word zoo does not mean lights it means animals. Luckily there were enough animals visable and available to make him happy.
Gretchen's family will be in town tonight when Erika and Jackson get here and we will all go out to dinner. Megan and Melody are really looking forward to going to Steak and Shake and it occurs to me that we had better call it something else in front of the three year old or else he will be expecting to have steak. Which, of course, they don't serve.
Gretchen's family will be in town tonight when Erika and Jackson get here and we will all go out to dinner. Megan and Melody are really looking forward to going to Steak and Shake and it occurs to me that we had better call it something else in front of the three year old or else he will be expecting to have steak. Which, of course, they don't serve.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Disregard previous post
Not the happy birthday part. I still want Marcel's birthday to be happy but I'm afraid I added a year to his age. He is bringing up the rear in the odd numbers department.
Even numbers
Happy birthday to Marcel. This year he drags us all back into the even number category. Yesterday we were all odd numbers starting with 67.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Two Down, One to Go
I have already seen two (count them, two) dentists this morning. The first one cleaned my teeth and it was just as horrid as I expected, but I am done with her for another three months. The second one was the guy at the other end of the building that will get the tooth I broke in California fixed. That was just as horrid as I expected. The good part is I just leave them my store-bought teeth and I don't have to sit in the chair while they fix it. The bad part is they needed to take impressions; top, bottom and bite.
Now this was the interesting part. I don't know if I have just never had a bite impression done before or if they changed the way they do it. The girl came at me with what looked like a caulking gun and squeezed some ooze on top of my bottom teeth and told me to bite down. We held that position for a couple of minutes and then she removed a cute little rubbery bite impression.
The tension of sitting in those dentist chairs for so long has my back hurting like I have walked a couple miles. Anyways, I have to go back at 4 pm to pick up my fixed teeth.
Now this was the interesting part. I don't know if I have just never had a bite impression done before or if they changed the way they do it. The girl came at me with what looked like a caulking gun and squeezed some ooze on top of my bottom teeth and told me to bite down. We held that position for a couple of minutes and then she removed a cute little rubbery bite impression.
The tension of sitting in those dentist chairs for so long has my back hurting like I have walked a couple miles. Anyways, I have to go back at 4 pm to pick up my fixed teeth.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Christmas in the air
I went to a marvelous Christmas Dinner Party last night. From the lucious ham, prepared in accordance with an Alton Brown (Food Network) receipe, to the magnificent christmas tree, Martha would have been proud. Stephi, take a bow.
Unfortunately, Jackson showed signs of a slight fever in the afternoon but took a good nap. He was in a funk at the party but Jeff still managed to get smiles and giggles out of him and helped coax him to drink a little juice and eat some yogourt.
When we got home, Erika tood him right to the rocking chair and managed to get his coat off but not hers. He was really hot. We force-fed him some childrens ibuprofin and that made him cry hard enough to throw up all over Erika's coat and clothes. Erika calmed him down and managed to get out of the yucky clothes and throw a load in the washer. About an hour later he was willing to take a bottle and watch a video and go lay down in the bedroom. About an hour after that he was back in the living room and ready to play.
About 11:30 PM Erika gave up on getting him to sleep and decided to head for home. I'm afraid they left in a little of a hurry and I saw a barrel of monkeys still on the floor in Gretchen's room this morning. I hope they are both feeling OK today.
Unfortunately, Jackson showed signs of a slight fever in the afternoon but took a good nap. He was in a funk at the party but Jeff still managed to get smiles and giggles out of him and helped coax him to drink a little juice and eat some yogourt.
When we got home, Erika tood him right to the rocking chair and managed to get his coat off but not hers. He was really hot. We force-fed him some childrens ibuprofin and that made him cry hard enough to throw up all over Erika's coat and clothes. Erika calmed him down and managed to get out of the yucky clothes and throw a load in the washer. About an hour later he was willing to take a bottle and watch a video and go lay down in the bedroom. About an hour after that he was back in the living room and ready to play.
About 11:30 PM Erika gave up on getting him to sleep and decided to head for home. I'm afraid they left in a little of a hurry and I saw a barrel of monkeys still on the floor in Gretchen's room this morning. I hope they are both feeling OK today.
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