Rainy Thursday

It's raining today, which is actually a good thing. The Pacific Northwest would not long be the green oasis that it is without a lot of rain.

My garden needs rain, too, even though this means I won't be working outside for a day or two until it stops. But I have seeds to start inside, so I may do that instead.

My cold is finally gone, except for the tiniest lingering cough, and my energy seems to be bouncing back. So I feel like I'm back on track with my life. Today, I'm painting the wood that is going to become trim around all the doorways in my living and dining rooms.

Once I get the wood both primed and painted, my handy-guy will cut it and nail it up for me. I could handle the nailing part myself, but not the cutting--I never get closer than six feet to power saws. They scare me. Ditto chain saws. A power sander or power drill are about the limit of my playing with power tools.

I walked Connie in the rain this morning and we both got pretty soaked. So I'm eating oatmeal with brown sugar as I write this, to warm up my insides.

Then I'm going to paint a few more boards (I'm doing this in the kitchen, with a drop cloth), take a sauna and shower, and head out for a couple of appointments.

Things that are hanging over my head:

--Still waiting for a call from my mechanic to let me know how much it is going to cost to get the Corvair back on the road.

--I need to call the U.S. Government and find out why my Medicare paperwork (card and forms to sign up for Part B) have not yet arrived. I'm paying about $400 a month more for my present health insurance than I calculate I will on Medicare, even with paying for Part B, Part D (drug coverage), and a supplemental policy through WSHIP (my present insurance).

That phone call will be tomorrow morning's task. You have to be in the right mood to take on these issues.

@ Jeanne Sather 2008.

Comments

[Carver]

Good to hear that you are pretty much over your cold. I know exactly what you mean about having to be in the right mood to make the call about the medicare paperwork that you haven't received yet. For me, the part I hate is the layers of menus to get a real person and then being put on hold. It seems like anyone you call these days is like that.

[jeanne]

Yup, I agree. I actually got an envelope yesterday that looks like it's from Medicare, so now I have to OPEN IT.

On the phone thing, with many phone systems, if you just start punching zero, no matter what the menu says, and keep punching it, you will get to a real person faster. I do this all the time.

[CD LEE]

HI:

My favorite cousin has just been disagnosed with an agressive form of ovarian cancer. She will have to spend 1 week every 4 quaranteed in the hospital. She said they told her to bring stuff to do. I was wondering if a laptop computer with a wireless internet would work in the hospital and if this would be allowed? Also, I'm not rich so is there an organization that would help me pay for one or get one at a discount?
Thanks

[jeanne]

Hi CD--You should check directly with the hospital to see if they have wireless and will let your cousin have a laptop at the hospital. The hospital also might have computers for patients to use--some do.

Where do you live? I think it might be tough to find funds for the laptop, but in any case it would probably be a local organization that could help you, like Cancer Lifeline here in Seattle, or a social worker at your hospital.

Let me know how it goes.

Jeanne