Good morning from a warmer ten degrees Interior. Farrah is super happy since I brought her home a small can of tuna yesterday which should last her through Monday. Now to make sure she eats her wet food as well.

I encountered some irritated folks yesterday as they have been coming here recently for the twice-monthly food box pickup. They are picking up the boxes and taking them to their friends and relatives who are either bedridden or otherwise housebound. Since I am only picking up boxes for the three who contacted me beforehand, they are upset with me and others doing the same.

The Salvation Army is only allowed to bring the boxes inside. There were volunteers who took the boxes up for those who were housebound. Or just couldn't manage the boxes themselves. Then, a new ruling came down that they needed signed forms permitting a named volunteer to pick up and deliver their box.

A month before the following food box delivery, notices went up on all bulletin boards, letters delivered to each apartment to the affixed clip on the door, and all personal care attendants received a copy when they signed in. Personal care attendants are not allowed to pick up the boxes themselves through their own rules.

Naturally, when the next food boxes arrived, there were some that swore up and down that they never received any notice of this happening and said their PCAs agreed. Of course, they didn't get the boxes they were expecting. The following two weeks they had others, usually family; thus the family upset, picking up the boxes.

Many of us volunteers, tired of jumping thru hoops for these folks just didn't sign up for more than those who contacted us and asked us to do so and mailed in their notices naming the volunteers they wanted to pick up their boxes. We have to provide IDs and sign for each box we pick up for others.

Larry, as I mentioned earlier, one of my effects from high fevers as an infant was that the eye muscles behind the pupils didn't remain in place without sagging. So one eye has a vision focusing point higher than the other.

After nine eye operations, it kept reoccurring so anything medical now when muscles sag anyway is not expected. The point of this is that any laptop I use must be on a table and I need to sit in a chair with a good line of sight. Trying to use one on my lap would shortly give me a headache.

Since I live in the Arctic or just inside of that imaginary line on a map, we get a more extended and earlier winter season. However, since the humidity is mostly absent even from what we had in summer, (Or what is available in Anchorage as that is in a rainforest climate); our lower temperatures are from a dry cold. Our forty below is very similar to the South's forty above with a drenching rain. This weather is sweater or hoodie wear time. It's the snow and resultant ice so far that is a pain and often dangerous.

Farrah just tore through here with a growl and jumped from the table by the windows to the computer table and back again to the bedroom so those mini invisible demons must have returned!    

Patricia, I just noticed your temperatures are close together - 11F, 13C.  It is 73 when I turn on my computer but my indoor/outdoor thermometer in my bedroom on the north side of the building says 75 degrees.

Dot and I did our usual Sunday morning thing.  We were able to get another piece of the pumpkin cream pie and it was good.  Dot had her olive burger and I had my hamburger.  We split the pie but we both also cut our burgers in half - the easier to eat them.  Dot usually places the order and I get water and eating utensils.  There were no knives available.  Dot asked one of the bus boys about that so he went in back and returned with only one knife; I am sure others needed knives too.  We shared the one she got!

It looks like rain is headed this way - and soon.  We had such a nice bright morning but the sky is overcast now.

When I came home from church, Kendrick scooted out the door.  I feel I am trust him, at least right now, so I came in and deposited my purse and let him stay out a few minutes.  Then I went to the door and said "OK now' and he came right in.  He's learning the routine!

I have a Champions Golf tour on the TV but I'm not seriously watching it.  I don't know if the one in Malasia will be on tonight or not - it will be Monday there.

Mary Ann

I wish we were still having those plus seventy-five temperatures. But winter is here and the skies are a dirty white. It's snowing again over the ice. If I could have your temperatures and weather patterns from the lower forty-eight without all the natural disasters? I would be all over that!

I rarely get out to eat which is my own fault. I did get to the four-year-old's birthday party, a full English Tea and a small cocktail hour and my introvert soul is already feeling crowded.  My younger sister used to complain that at her parties, I tended to stay in the kitchen instead of mingling and guests tended to congregate in there. They got into long conversations instead of party behavior!

I envy the way Larry, you and my younger sister can be out and about so much and enjoy it!

Hi Everyone.  It looks like we are finely going to get some rain today, at least the forecast says it is a 100% chance this afternoon and 90% chance for several other hours.  It will only get to around 75 this afternoon.  My calendar is clear today so will just take it easy and work on a project I want to start here in my office.

Patricia, it sounds like rules are more important that the food needs of some of the residents.  I can't imagine having to have nine eye operations.  I certainly can understand why you need to use your laptop as you do.  Interesting comparison about the difference in the effects of the cold between Fairbanks and Anchorage.  Can't your skin still freeze at 40 below? I hope Farrah gets her invisible demons today. 

Mary Ann, your temperature is about the same as ours but perhaps just a few degrees lower. Nice the rain held off until after you got home from Church and going out to eat.

It is raining here, probably has for some time since last night and radar looks like we'll have more during the day.  We went so long with no rain that it is welcome.  I just don't want it to overstay its leave. 

My new mattress will come this afternoon.  Tom is gone for much of the day, but promised me he'd be back before the mattress came.  It shouldn't matter because there is nothing we must do except have the bed stripped which I am going to do shortly. 

Mary Ann

Not a very good morning for me.  I had problems all weekend, with my teeth - actually my gums - on upper back molars.  Started getting tingling sensations and spreading soreness along that gum area, especially behind the back molar.  Reached a major peak of pain in the night, so I got up and searched the internet for answers.  Could be oral shingles!   Also could be canker sores, but not too likely.  Also could be an abscessed (sp?) tooth? 

I had a hard time trying to see a dentist this morning, but finally got an appointment with one at 10:45.  If he says it's shingles, I'll have to try to see my GP, and get some meds.  I'm pretty miserable and lots of pain right now, but I shouldn't complain . . . for my age, I'm reasonably healthy.

Marilyn, I never heard of shingles of the gums, but who am I to say?  I'd go with the abscessed tooth which can be very painful.  While I do not have any wisdom (teeth) any more, I do have molars and I'm not sure but my molars may be crowns by now.  I have 12 crowns and one of them is a replacement.  Getting the crown is not painful but it is a two-week process.  At my age, I fight them, but you are young enough you might want to go that route.  Good luck in what you find.

I bought a new mouse from Amazon a few months ago and I am having trouble with it.  At least I think it is the mouse.  It doesn't always want to copy an entire paragraph and if I'm playing a game, one card doesn't always go where I want it to.  And if I drag the card over another card, it moves the second card.  Since computer mice are so inexpensive, I'm going to forget it and see if I can find the old one, which probably was not giving me much trouble, if any.

Our rain seems to have quit temporarily but it looks like more is on the way.  I think I'll see about running through the raindrops to get the mail.

Mary Ann

I've never heard of that either.  YIKES

Good morning from the Interior where the skies are a pale blue wash, and the snow is slippery, dry and melting, leaving ice behind. At 10:25 AM, it is plus three degrees. When you look over town, and beyond to the ridges and foothills you can use an old timer's way of predicting the weather. You can also see smoke from a house fire by Murphy's Dome.

In the winter, you don't want clear skies; you want cloudy days. Clouds hold in the heat, so it doesn't escape into the atmosphere. If it does happen to be clear, you watch the industrial or chimney smokes or mists. If the skies are colder than the ground waters, you get a sort of evaporation mist. And there is a lot of water in town. If it has gotten colder, you watch the smoke to see if it veered sideways or goes straight up. Straight up means you grab your woolies.

Marilyne, as with me, it could be your sinuses causing pain. I also hadn't heard that about shingles, and that does sound bad! Or as Joan said, yikes!  I hope whatever it is that it is quickly and painlessly fixable!

MaryAnn, a new mattress sounds terrific! I bought a new set, mattress and box spring in 2003 and it was expensive then! I was going to get firm for my back, but the salesman talked me into semi-firm. I don't like soft mattresses. They will make my back ache!

Larry, the rules were put in place because some of the tenants gave away some or all of the food to friends or family or those collecting the boxes for them. Or the volunteers left the boxes sitting out in the hallways for literally hours because no one answered the door. It gives the agencies more accountability.

It is similar to last spring's ruling that made the building and grounds smoke-free. Often when I would deliver a box, I would need to enter the apartment and place the box on a counter or table for the tenant's convenience.

The smell of cigarette smoke would almost knock you over inside some of these apartments. I debated about turning the tenants in but never did. I know with inspections or maintenance visits, the truth will out, unless the maninrence are heavy smokers, then they won't smell anything.

The Salvation Army volunteers to bring these boxes bimonthly from different federal and state agency sources. If rules fail, tenants options are only to go to the various sources and to pick up the boxes themselves to bring home. If you cannot, are housebound or bedridden, and CNAs are not allowed to do this for you per their agency rules, what are you going to do? This is where it has been heading.

Larry, I had my first eye operation at six, and my last one was at twenty-seven, so it was a constant in my life. The effects never lasted long, but it slowed the process. For me, I cannot imagine heart surgeries! That would terrify me!

Alaska is made up of four geographical and climatic zones. Southeast Alaska is part of the same rainforest zone as Oregon and Washington. In fact, Ketchikan, Alaska has the dubious honor of having the most recorded rainfall in North America. Anchorage is part of that zone with cooler summer temperatures, more moisture, and warmer winters. It also is on a below sea level, narrow strip land between the mountains and the gulf.

Fairbanks is in the Arctic.  The town is on the opposite side of a group of mountain ranges and four hundred miles further north of Anchorage.

It is tundra with arboreal old growth forests and bracketed by several rivers, lakes, and streams. There are several area hot springs in the area. The summers are warmer, winters are colder, and the air is twice as dry as Anchorage.

Yes, you can freeze in less than a minute at forty below, but the feel is the same as forty above with drenching rain in a more humid climate. The more humid environment isn't as healthy for you at those temperatures. The cold temperatures are healthier.

From Google;

"If the temperature is 0° F (-18° C ) and the wind is blowing at 15 mph (13 km / 24 km/h ), the wind chill temperature is -19°F (-28°C). At this level, exposed skin can freeze in just a few minutes."

Home from the dentist, and I don't know anything more than I did this morning. He took one of those full circular X-ray's, that does the entire mouth at once.  Definitely not an abscess.  Then he starts talking about how I need to make an appointment to have my teeth cleaned, etc. etc. Okay, fine, but what about the painful sores on my gums and palate??  He acknowledged that the area looked inflamed, but said it wasn't canker sores or herpes/shingles. What about the tingling feeling on one side of my gums, plus a toothache that kept me awake?  He didn't know!  Gave me a prescription for a mouthwash, and told me to return in a week. 

The thing that bothers me, is that after visiting all the Shingles message boards online last night, the common complaint is that neither doctors nor dentists seem able to diagnose shingles - unless it's located on the most common spots on the body, like waistline, chest, lower back.  Many people on the boards had facial or oral shingles, and didn't get accurately diagnosed until it was too late for the pill.  Go to Google and type in,  "shingles inside the mouth", and you will see lots of sites as well as pictures. One of the symptoms is tingly feeling and painful teeth.

Marilyne, this is why they call it a practice.

So, what will you do now, second opinion or?

I'm so sorry.

Good one, Patricia!  Ha!

Marilyn, shingles in the mouth is very rare which is why none of us has ever heard of it.  If you have not been in the practice of having your teeth cleaned professionally, I would suggest you start.  My dentist does it twice a year - every six months. I had periodontal work done 40 years ago so I have mine cleaned every four months - three times a year.  When I had that work done, I was not having any trouble, however, my long-time dentist retired and I went four years before I did anything because I did have an abscessed tooth.  That led to the periodontal work.  I'm glad I had it done because I still have the roots to all of my teeth, even with the crowns and at my age, that is unusual.  I know too many people who have dentures or partials.  Good luck with whatever needs to be done.

I still am waiting for my mattress.  The store owner called, wondering if I preferred another day because of the steady rain we are having.  If I hadn't already stripped my bed, I might not have cared, but I didn't want to make it again only to strip it again in a couple of days.  Making my bed is hard on my arthritic shoulder.  He said he'd get a driver and someone would be here in an hour.  We shall see!

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, I wish I could take credit but that is from my sister who retired a few years back from administering the local hospital's emergency care services. She came up through orthopedics and went from there to urgent care management for the rest of her nursing career. Many long-time nurses see doctors that way. However, it is rare for one to actually admit they don't know.

I absolutely loved Dean Martin's TV show! The one with Bob Newhart and the cheese dip is great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k44hOODsLs

I now have my new mattress and board (not a spring).  The store owner called to see if I wanted it delivered later this week because of our steady rain.  Since I had stripped my bed, I did not want to make it again then go over the same procedure.  He found one of his deliverymen who brought the pieces and put them on the bed frame.  Tom and I made the bed, so we will see how I sleep tonight.  I really have had no trouble sleeping - if the cat lets me.  I replaced the old set only because of the bugs, whatever they are.  We put on fresh bedding and Tom took the old down and has already washed them. 

We have had rain all day and it is still raining.  It looks like it is part of the system that is in the mid-Atlantic and Southeast.  At one time a storm came across Lake Michigan and about the time it got to the shore, it started to go north and we will not get a storm.  Our temp has been 52 degrees most of the day.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, sounds good!

Ever wanted an outdoor deluxe catio or cat run?  This is amazing for three formerly housebound cats!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj6AL7zCm6I

Patricia, the Catio is very interesting.  Being in a condo, I could not construct anything to connect to a building but I wondered what I could put together outside.  The forthcoming winter doesn't make it possible because Kendrick doesn't like the wet weather, let alone the cold.  A great idea, nevertheless.

Mary Ann

Patricia - I love that word, "catio"! LOL . It does look safe and secure, and gives cats a little window to the world. 
I also liked the Dean Martin Show and it was my mom and dad's favorite.  The Bob Newhart show is now playing every night on one of our retro channels.  I haven't started watching it yet again, but when I do, I know I will become hooked all over again. I especially liked Suzanne Pleshette, the actress who played his wife.

Mary Ann - I hope you're having a good night's sleep on your new mattress?  Interesting that there is a board, and not a box, but I know there is no need for springs, with the new memory foam mattresses.  Everybody raves about them, so they must be comfortable, and easy to adapt to.

I'm feeling better tonight, than I did last night.  However, that upper back molar is still painful. It's only 8:00 here, but I'm thinking about going to bed soon, as I only had a few hours of  sleep, and hope to catch up.  I'll have to take a couple of Tylenol before I go to bed.  It's the only painkiller that I have around here, and has always been strong enough for me, until last night!  I was thinking of going to Walgreen's tomorrow, and trying some long acting Aleve.  The TV commercials are very convincing. Has anyone tried it?

I did have a good night's sleep, but I had been having no trouble before the new mattress.  Two things prevent me from sleeping good and one is the cat who comes in for about a half hour, leaves, then comes back in about 10 minutes.  I cannot shut my door because I have a box in front of it.  The other thing is when my brain doesn't shut down for the night.  It usually is midnight or one am before I go to sleep anyway. 

One reason there is a board under my mattress is my height.  I did not want a 16" mattress because I wouldn't be able to sit on the mattress and put on my shoes.  Sounds silly, I know, but that is where I put on my shoes and I have to lean over to tie them.  Afterward I thought of my bedding which is not new and the fitted sheets would not fit the thick mattress.  I don't have too much trouble folding those bottom fitted sheets because a cousin showed me how she did it and it works quite well.  Not like brand new, but I can get them to the same size as the top flat sheet when folded. 

It has rained all night and radar looks as if it will rain all day.  Our county is in a flood watch but we are not in that area.  Our pond has come up a lot; I haven't looked to see how much rain we've had.  In 1986 we had rain every day in September and the pond came up to within a foot of my patio.  It is nowhere near that now. and the rain should quit by tomorrow.

Today I am going to a retiree luncheon where we will find out about our medical insurance.  I pay nothing for my insurance and get my meds at reduced prices.  I did get a notice yesterday that my portion of the meds will go up, even so, they are nothing compared to what people without insurance pay.  I think my meds will increase by $10 each for a three-month supply and it is mailed to me.  I have only four prescriptions.  That's $40 four times a year - $160.  I'm taking a notepad with me in case I want to take notes.

We will be at the Golden Corral and they have a senior rate.  I am not sure what it is, but Tom was 60 in July and he may qualify. 

Mary Ann

Hi Everyone.  We finally had some rain yesterday afternoon although it didn't last too long.  Today is to be sunny all day and only get into the low 70's. 

Our big event today will be the arrival of Pat's sister to spend about 8 days with us.  It has been touch and go as to whether she would be able to make the trip as is still dealing with the impact of the car wreck she was in a couple of weeks ago.  However, she decided yesterday to make the trip and should be here a little after 5 pm.  She did come to visit  about this time of last year. Our granddaughter plans on coming out and going to the airport with me to pick her up and then we will go to dinner at Pizza Hut as this is their buffet night.

Mary Ann, I hope you got a good night's sleep on your new mattress.  Did the company take away the old mattress?  My son had been sleeping in his easy chair for several months before we got him a new mattress and it took him a number of days to adjust to his new bed. I have one of those Amazon mice that is also beginning to give me problems and may have to replace it. 

Marilyne, gum pain is terrible.  I sure hope it wasn't shingles and glad you were able to get in to see a dentist.  However, it sounds like that was a waste of your time and money.

Patricia, every time I read about how cold it is up your way I say to myself I am sure glad I am in South Carolina where it won't likely ever be that cold.  Thanks for the additional information on the box situation in your apartment building.  I hate the smell of smoke in homes and apartments.

Larry, yes, they took away my old mattress - for a price.  I also had to pay for delivery, so all in all, I paid just under $700 but that also included a new mattress pad.  I went to the place I did because that is where we bought Tom's adjustable bed.  Like your son, Tom had been sleeping in a recliner and he likes his adjustable bed.  My bed is not adjustable and I did not want one.  I trusted the man I bought from and I'm not always sure about some sales people.  I worked with sales people for 25  years and know how some of them operate.  Norm had the same trouble after having been a salesman for so many years.  Kind of like "it takes one to know one".  I have said that a sales person does not sell me an appliance but I buy it.  Even after all of these years, I know too much!

It's good Pat's sister decided to visit you.  It will change your routine for a few days and give all of you a change.

Mary Ann

Shan at six weeks old, taken this afternoon. He is a lot cuter in person.





This is my first attempt at posting photos.

I am not a cat person at all, but she is darling. 

Mary

MarsGal - Shan is adorable! Beautiful color, and nice and fluffy.  He hope he will soon will be joining your other two cats.  He's probably lonesome for feline companionship.

Mary Ann - Good that you're satisfied with your new mattress. I think I might like that new memory foam.  I have sharp hip bones, as well as rib cage, elbows, shoulders, et al.  I deliberately chose a soft mattress the last time, a Simmons Beautyrest.  Unfortunately it has broken down quickly, and feels like I'm sleeping in a hole.  I'll have to put up wth it for awhile, because it's not old enough that I can justify buying a new one.

Larry - I've never been able to figure out how people can sleep in a recliner or an easy chair?  I know that lots of our S&F members mention sleeping in their recliners.  I wonder if they stay in one position all night?  I'm a restless sleeper, and turn frequently from my left to right side. Can you turn from side to side and back on a chair?  What about blankets, sheets - especially in cold weather?

MarsGal, Shan is adorable.  He almost is a lighter version of Kendrick, however, Kendrick is not so fluffy.  I'm so glad you rescued him.

Marilyn, I liken sleeping in a recliner to when I was in the hospital.  I sleep on my left side but I do shift around occasionally.  When I was on the hospital bed, hooked up to a BP machine, oxygen and what else, I could not sleep on my side.  I managed.  It is like taking a nap in the recliner, in fact, the chair I am sitting in now is not a recliner, just an occasional chair with arms and I have taken many naps here. 

Our retiree luncheon was held today and because of some changes in our insurance, we had a good crowd, bigger than expected.  We ate in one area then moved to room for our meeting.  Tom ate there too, but not with my group.  The man from Jackson (home office) explained changes for the under-65 people, then the over-65 people, then told about changes for 2019.  Next year (2018), there will be no changes in our plan, however, our prescription drugs that are mailed will cost about $10 more per mailing, which is for a three-month supply.  I figured I would pay about $160 total more in 2018.  In 2019, it is an entirely new "ball game" because we will have individual accounts with the insurance companies and we can draw from them as we use them.  I know we will receive information on the new plan sometime during the year.  Tom needed to leave at 3 pm and there was much more of the meeting so I missed a lot, but it was for 2019 so I don't worry about that.  Both Tom and I qualified for the senior price of the meal.

Just before we left for the luncheon, a retiree called me just to chat and I found out she is paying for her insurance instead of going with the company insurance.  I don't know why and I didn't have time to talk so I'm going to call her to let her know what went on at the meeting today.  It just occurred to me that by leaving early I missed out on the door prizes, but they may not have had time to give them out because of the length of the meeting.

Our temperature is 47 degrees and we have had rain all day and it looks as if we'll have it well into the night.  It is a raw cold rain.  I don't mind rain, but I like to be comfortable.

If I think it is a raw day here, take a look at Grand Haven.  There are whitecaps on Lake Michigan as far as we can see and the wind is blowing at 12 mph.  It is not a pretty sight at all.

Mary Ann

Oh Mary Ann,  that sure isn't a pretty sight at all.  Just looks so much like a wintery day.  I didn't notice what the temperature of the water was, but it must be very cold. 

You are most fortunate to not have to pay for your health insurance.  My husband worked for H. J. Heinz Co, and for the 30 years he worked there, and for the 10 years before he died,,, we didn't pay for any health insurance also.  But, then the Heinz Co. was sold and that all changed.  I had to get my own insurance at that time.   The first couple years they paid the retirees a certain yearly reimbursement amount that covered my premium.  But  last year, they dropped that amount by half.  And, of course, the premium went up.  I do pay a lot, but the company I am with does pay 100% what Medicare doesn't pay.  So, I guess that does help.  I never have to pay any deductions or out-of pocket amounts. I never pay any kind of a doctor bill.  I have had a lot of medical issues for a long time now, and I feel lucky  that  I don't have to pay anything.  My medicine I get through Humana, and they pay the whole amount for 2 of them, and then the other one is not that much for 3 months.  I do have to pay the premium for that.

Even tho, I feel grateful that I am in a position to be able to pay the premiums.  I am sure that it will go up for next year.  The amount that they offer for the reimbursement does pay for 1 quarter of the year.  I am sure when it is all added up, I am getting the better part of the deal.  I have to have several expensive scans over the year, and each one of those is over $3,000. And what Medicare doesn't cover , my insurance does.

It was fine when my husband worked and we didn't pay anything, that was a time when we could have afforded to pay the premiums.  Now, with being on a pension is when we could use that help. But, I am grateful that I can pay it.  I don't spend a lot of money on other things,. so I do manage ok.

Joy

Good afternoon from a cloudy, yet warmer Interior. At 2:19 PM, we received a weather warning of freezing rain for tonight and tomorrow for Fairbanks and mainly over the four surrounding highways. This means that traffic in or out will be especially hazardous because of previously melted snow that already left ice behind. If this keeps up, we will have another winter like 2014 and its black ice or 2016 with so little snow; you could use a teaspoon to shovel your driveway.

Shan is adorable, MarsGal, a real little floof! I'm sure you can barely wait two weeks until you can safely have him come indoors and meet the rest of the crew. He seems to be both intelligent and playful from what you have posted.

Lizzie of YouTube fame reached eight weeks old today and will now have that little snip scheduled for both her and mama Shelby. Adoption requests and approvals have already opened for both cats. I know the live cam viewers will be disappointed to see them leave and are doubly disappointed that they won't go together. However, the adoption agency says they aren't bonded. Shelby, guesstimated at two years old has shown signs according to their vets of having had at least four litters, so that is probably good for her.

MaryAnn, I'm glad the mattress has worked for you. Now perhaps you will sleep undisturbed from any tiny visitors. I have Medicare, Medicaid, Humana and Denali Care. I will pay very little if anything. I am still trying to schedule both a dentist, sinus visit and a complete physical. The issue is I am looking at all new doctors as well as the prejudice on Medicare which only pays 70% on the dollar.

Medical doctors here prefer the whole dollar, so I have been attempting this since August and failing miserably. Alaskan dentists are said to be the highest paid in the nation so you would think they could give a little! I need five crowns replaced or some other way to use implants. I am told one issue is I have a child's size mouth, and it is very high between the mouth floor and roof below the nose.

Joy, the site said that the water temperature was 61 degrees but yeas, with those icecaps and sleet, it did look cold.

Larry, yes, our temperatures would seem cold to someone from a humid or wet climate.

Joy, I see Patricia answered your question about Lake Michigan temperature.  About a month ago, the temp was 70 degrees and it has been working its way down ever since.  It takes a while to warm up in the Spring and in the Fall, it takes a while to get to freezing.  Our present temperature is 43 degrees and supposed to go to 41 degrees, but I bet we get into the high 30s tonight.

I forgot to mention with my health insurance that I also have dental coverage.  There are certain things of eye care that the main insurance covers, but not all, including glasses.  I also have no coverage for hearing aids.  I think they follow whatever Medicare does.

Joy, I think your health coverage is good, especially considering your insurance company pays 100% of the balance.  Ours pays 80% of what Medicare doesn't pay, so I pay the 20% balance.  I've received bills for $2.00 and I don't recall having to pay over $200.00 - and that would be unusual. 

I do think the insurance companies have different plans and I think the different states have their own rules too.  So sometimes it is like comparing apples and oranges.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, My plan also follows the same 80/20 rule as regards to Medicare. However, they only cover general dental, cleanings, and exams, Hearing aids are not covered and in vision, only the basics as well.

I have been working on this since August and am beginning to pass beyond frustration.

Good times here! Not! That freezing rain weather alert has been extended to Thursday morning and I can already hear multiple sirens....

Also, I was wrong earlier. Lizzie the kitten on Youtube is eight weeks old today but judging by her weight gain chart, it will be another nine or ten days before she hits two pounds and can be spayed, they've reported.