Busy Week

This has been Fall Break. Fall Break is a week off in the middle of our first trimester. It seems like a ridiculous time to have a break. Nonetheless (love that word) I've enjoyed the time off.

I've done all kinds of chores including having my baby tooth extracted. A creepy bit of work, but now it's done and I can get on with my life.

I had a few realizations about money this week. First, if you don't have medical insurance, you're screwed. I know this isn't news. It was just made very clear to me. We have a new insurance company as of October first. When Gary picked up his two prescriptions they tried to charge him almost $400 because the old insurance denied it and they didn't know about the new insurance. With the insurance information the charge dropped down to about $25. WOW! My mom was in the emergency room a while back. Before insurance the doctor's bill would have been around $800. With Medicare and her private insurance the charge dropped to $17. The second realization came at the car dealership. I had some work done and I realized they just make up how many hours of labor to charge. How can it take 3 1/2 hours to program new keys?! I know it doesn't take 2 1/2 hours to replace an antenna mast.

During the break I also finished some work in the closet. I put up new shelves and discovered I have an embarrassing amount of shoes. I replaced our old smoke detector when I realized the old one wasn't working. I have this fear of dying in an embarrassing way like a fire when the alarm is broken. This paragraph let's you know I have a fear of being embarrassed. It's why I haven't learned a new language.

My Baby Tooth

I have a baby tooth. Not in a jar on the shelf, in my mouth. When I was a teenager it seemed like a quirky cool thing that made me different. I also never had wisdom teeth, another cool thing.

Now it's not so cool and I'm over the quirky thing. It hurts. At least two years ago I decided it was time to have it replaced. Then I found out what that would mean. After another year of pain/discomfort I decided I had to do it. After talking to Dr. Poitras about the process again I decided to wait some more.

"Whimp!" you may say. Especially you who have had wisdom teeth removed, but "Nay!" say I.

First they remove the offending infant and let it heal for two months. TWO MONTHS I'll have a gap. Then they put in the implant post. Not the pretty final tooth - just the post. After another few months they top it with the pretty tooth.

Oh, and by the way, my insurance won't pay for it. They would pay for a bridge, but that damages the neighbor teeth.

So, finally I've put the money aside in a tax free medical account. It's use it or lose it, so I guess I'm committed this time.

I don't wanna!!!!!!!!

quiet

Yesterday morning was quite frenetic.

Showers start at 5:00 even on a regular day. Mine's at 5, Caitlin 5:30, sometime between 6 and 6:30 I help mom. Caitlin is out the door at 6:30.

Yesterday mom had an appointment at 8:00 in the valley. She was stressed because she couldn't keep straight that she would leave at 7:00 not she had to be there at 7:00. It was a long appointment with the drug study group. She's participating in a study of an alzheimers drug. I think she's getting the placebo, because she is steadily declining.

I packed a bag for mom and helped Gary get her in the car.

Alex got up before 7:00 for his shower and was out the door by 7:15.

QUIET
QUIET

How long has it been since I've been home alone. It was heaven. No one needed anything. Total relaxation...ok, that was it. Maybe 10 minutes and then I had to go to work.

That few moments though...wow

Siegfried and Roy

Last night I was viewing a total eclipse of the sun from many places around the globe. This statement alone should let you know I was asleep the whole time.

The final way I intended to see the eclipse was skydiving in Africa, or was it the Nevada desert. My diving partners were Siegfried and Roy. After jumping out of the plane, something I would never do if I was awake, I couldn't find the ripcord. I kept looking and looking, not really panicked. After a while it wasn't me who couldn't find the cord, it was Siegfried, or was it Roy? Anyway my chute worked fine and his finally opened. And that was it.

hermit

I have this fantasy. Now before I go any farther I want to make it clear, I love you and you shouldn't take this personally.

Usually this fantasy hits me in the kitchen.

My fantasy includes one plate, one cup, one knife, one spoon, one fork. Food in my fantasy is single serving, narrow in scope. Cereal, yogurt, bread. Nothing using the stove, pots, or pans. Nothing that splatters.

What is it like to clean the kitchen and come back later to a clean kitchen?

How about the bathroom. One product for all washing. One towel. ONE TOOTHBRUSH.

My fantasy does not include shoes anywhere other than on feet or in closets.

Dog hair does not exist. Neither do used tissues, half empty water bottles, unfolded laundry.

How do other people do it? I can't possibly keep up with the housework and I don't even do the cooking. If I did, we would eat the same thing everyday - and it would be plain.

writing

Hmm, that writing plan of mine hasn't been happening. I notice that a lot of what I want to write I worry will be read. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I don't want to expose anyone's confidentialities. (Is that even a word?) I know what I mean - you, that reader I worry about, know what I mean.

busy busy

Every day is full of planned and unplanned events. Some good, some bad, some mundane. I crave time to do whatever I want including nothing. Even fun things seem like a chore to fit in.

I hate feeling guilty that I'm not working in my classroom. After all, I'm not paid/contracted to be there until the 12th. There is no way I could do what is needed in that short period of time. I'll have to get in there soon.