The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[NotWise]

Medicare part B can cover "medical" vision procedures like AloneTooLong's macular degeneration or MrPixel's diabetes-related checkups. It also covers cataract surgery and the first pair of glasses after the surgery. It covers glaucoma exams, but not regular refraction testing or eyeglasses. For those cases you don't need a part D provider.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

It was a beautiful day yesterday and the line at the Fish Fry was the longest I ever saw. Even at 7:30PM, when it was supposed to end at 8:00PM the line was long for ordering. Today is starting out sunny but it's supposed to rain tonight.

There's fresh coffee brewing and the teapot is hot. There are snacks on the counter and carrots for the plot bunnies. Just don't overfeed them or water them after midnight ...

I'll be over in the corner pondering world events instead of working on my story. I was reminiscing about my days at UNM and how we would chant "T J" over and over at the basketball games until coach Colson would put him in the game and we'd all cheer. T. J. Drake was the 6' 9" center and averaged 2.0 ppg. He obviously wasn't an offensive guy and I only remember him making one free throw (which got him a standing ovation from the crowd) in the many attempts he had. This was in the early to middle '80s and we frequently saw Al Lewis (he played Grandpa in the TV series "The Munsters") attending the games.

 

[Duleigh]

Good morning.

As usual the girls were up before me and had the coffee on. I've got some writing to do today so if someone has any questions for me, just write them on the back of a $20 bill and slip it under my door.

View attachment 2599274

 

[MrPixel]

"T J" over and over at the basketball games until coach Colson would put him in the game and we'd all cheer. T. J. Drake was the 6' 9" center and averaged 2.0 ppg.

We had a similar situation at my high school, a kid who was an honest 7'2". Of course they all called him "Stretch"; I didn't, I respected that he didn't care for it. He was on the BB team but was never fielded save for the last seconds of the last game of his senior year, he had neither the skills nor much ability to simply run up and down the court. He was just too tall.

 

[Duleigh]

he had neither the skills nor much ability to simply run up and down the court. He was just too tall

I kinda feel sorry for him. He spent the season keeping the other teams guessing and the center of the bench warm. Yet for two minutes of play he got a letter so I don't feel too bad.

Guys who have the desire and skill to play are routinely rejected because they are too short. It take a rare coach to let an Ernie De Gregorio on the court to play.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Not fond of doctors PERIOD!

I know the feeling - I went to the VA for my bi-annual blood pressure boost by trying to get a working pair of glasses. They sent me to a civilian doctor because *reasons* This trip was 30 miles one way to the doctor and 35 miles one way to the VA office where I'd get my glasses fitted. The first pair of glasses came back HORRIBLY wrong. Everything was warped and out of focus and it made me nausea. I complained and they looked at my glasses and said the company who made the glasses got something wrong. No problem. The second pair came back worse. They blamed that on the civilian doctor. The third pair came back with the left eye perfect, the right eye as bad as the first time, so they sent me to another doctor, the fourth pair came back as bad as the first pair, so a technician examined my eyes and the fifth pair came back and worked perfectly... but they weren't bifocals. I couldn't see to read. So I went to a civilian doctor in a nearby town and bought a proper eye exam and a pair of glasses. With the price of gas and glasses I figure it cost about a thousand bucks.

Post Script: I tired to claim milage with the VA but they refused to pay for my milage because I saw VA Contractors, not VA employees.

Come the veterans revolution, the first against the wall........

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

They say I'm borderline too and maybe have some other issues.

I haven't noticed any side effects of either, or the HBP.

My bones and muscles and joints hurt, but that's just aging. I'm not aware of any significant, debilitating effect. I can see fine, a bit fuzzy up close, but readers help that. My eye exams cost me nothing. I've gotten three sets of glasses over 5 years for no cost. Eye Doc says no issues, and vision hasn't hardly changed over that time.

I'm tired all the time and I have no energy most days, but I can get to doing things when need be.

My big issue is that I've just flat given up on most everything. I've outlived all 'family indicators' by 10 years or more, so I'm well beyond being on borrowed time.

I take one pill (that doesn't cost me anything) a day beside an allergy pill and a vitamin. I'm not anxious to have them tell me I need another one, or more. I try to stay away from doctors so I don't run up bills, even through I don't pay them. So far, my plan has covered everything.

Going tomorrow would be fine, though no one would know for days, maybe weeks. Mail not being taken in would be the first clue to anyone.


There is a BUNCH of stuff in the house I'd rather people not find, so I need to start dumping stuff. But then, would I really care?

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I don't say much out of respect for the ones with critical issues and limited mobility.

My stuff is no where near that level and just seems like whining when I type it.

But day by day, minute by minute, I struggle to keep going since I simply have no reason to.

 

[Duleigh]

But day by day, minute by minute, I struggle to keep going since I simply have no reason to.

Sometimes I feel that way too. My story is over, my kids are all on their own, even my dog doesn't care. But I have all these stories in my head. I have to get them out and written down before the lights dim.

If I go first, please do me a favor. Erase my browser history.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

It's early and I was having trouble sleeping so I decided to come here and get the coffee going. It's raining now and we're expecting to be on the edge of the bad storm hitting tonight into the morning so we may get all rain to up to six inches of snow depending on the track of the storm. I occasionally sit and wonder why I bother doing this. I guess my world has gotten so small since retiring from the AF. I had a great second career but it wasn't the same. It's so hard to believe that I hung up the uniform 28 years ago because I loved it so much.

Enough of that ... the coffee is brewing and the teapot is hot. There are snacks on the counter and I'm going to make a cornbread today. Don't forget to keep the plot bunnies fed.

I'll be over in the corner working on my story, trying to keep my mind off the current events going on in the world. After being glued to the news all day yesterday, I'm listening to 80s on Eight on SiriusXM today, trying to decompress. I have to wonder why I keep doing this other than to be makework so I feel alive. Friday's stats were the worst ever with only 89 views of my entire catalog and several of my stories got no views at all. If no one's going to read them, then I'm worthless ...

 

[sirhugs]

It's early and I was having trouble sleeping so I decided to come here and get the coffee going. It's raining now and we're expecting to be on the edge of the bad storm hitting tonight into the morning so we may get all rain to up to six inches of snow depending on the track of the storm. I occasionally sit and wonder why I bother doing this. I guess my world has gotten so small since retiring from the AF. I had a great second career but it wasn't the same. It's so hard to believe that I hung up the uniform 28 years ago because I loved it so much.

Enough of that ... the coffee is brewing and the teapot is hot. There are snacks on the counter and I'm going to make a cornbread today. Don't forget to keep the plot bunnies fed.

I'll be over in the corner working on my story, trying to keep my mind off the current events going on in the world. After being glued to the news all day yesterday, I'm listening to 80s on Eight on SiriusXM today, trying to decompress. I have to wonder why I keep doing this other than to be makework so I feel alive. Friday's stats were the worst ever with only 89 views of my entire catalog and several of my stories got no views at all. If no one's going to read them, then I'm worthless ...

Far from useless. You are a wonderful hostess. Just ask the dragon.

 

[Duleigh]

Slumps across the coffeebar

Barista! Gimme an arabica, black, stirred not shaken. The barista sets a mug in front of me and I stare into the mysterious depths of the cup.

Once again she walked away, ignoring us as she disappears into the fog. Stories left scattered around, unpublished, ignored, leaving me to pick up the pieces... I tried to warn you Laszlo, she's no good, she'll take your story and break your heart... looks drunkenly at Sam over at the open lap top. "Write it Sam."

"Ah can't Mister Duleigh."

You wrote it for her now write it for me... if she can read it, I can... write it! Slam-chugs my cup of coffee and slides into a caffeinated stupor.

At the coffee bar the barista idly cleans a cup as he talks to a new patron It's the same thing every year, stories left off the 750 Word event list. He takes it pretty hard Captain Renault. Another?

 

[NotWise]

Guess what? I'm not depressed!

The temperature outside is nearing 80, and I just finished moving 1/3 of the soil out of one of the 8-foot beds and sifting it for bermuda grass and horse nettle roots. I'm hot and tired, and this cola ain't doin' it for me.

The soil is piled on a tarp and covered with a second tarp. I'll sift and move the soil that's left in the bed to the empty end, then return the soil from the tarps. I'll need to add another 3 inches of soil to refill the bed to capacity. Then it'll be ready to grow tomatoes.

But before that... It's an old bed and I'll spend some time tomorrow on repairs.

I'm finally into the last scene of my WIP, and on Lit page 5. The end is in sight.

Now I'm going to take a tylenol and rest before I clean the big aquarium.

 

[AloneTooLong]

Who do you have? I'm on Aetna. What's odd is I think they used to, because I recall the examinations I had a few years ago were only $20 for the refraction, but I still had to pay for frames and lenses. If exams were dropped from the policy, then I missed it, shame on me.

I'm mostly doing it now because my MD says I need to be checked for eye issues because I'm borderline diabetic. I've noticed changes in my right, just focus issues. Enough correction in my current driving glasses to compensate; but I know it could be better.

Humana--I have been with them about ten years now; luckily all my doctors do have contracts with Humana; but the small, local hospital around the corner, nope; if I ever (hopefully not any time soon) need to go to a hospital, it will (at the nearest) be 40 miles from me. #87 coming up in June; still not on any prescription drugs but I do take a shit load of supplements!! Like about 16 pills every day from a variety of 'items'!!

 

[Duleigh]

Who do you have? I'm on Aetna.

I think we have Aetna also. We got it for Mrs. D and she added me to the coverage. I'm done playing stupid f-----ing games with the VA. I have a home oxygen appointment with them next month...

 

[sirhugs]

just pleased to be covered by Ontario's universal single pay tax funded system, with extra benefits that I also don't pay out of pocket for through the work I am still insured theough even though I don't do much work, and additional government benefits. All of which are accepted everywhere.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Well, the frozen rain/sleet/snow had finally started so there is a slight glaze to everything at the moment. It will be in the forties later today with just rain so any ice will be short lived. My hot water heater gave out so now I'm waiting to hear that the plumber is coming to take a look at it and try to sell me more hot water heater than I need. When I called it in Saturday, I got an AI and I hope it understood what I wanted ...

I've got a fresh pot of coffee going and the teapot is hot. There are snacks on the counter and carrots for the plot bunnies.

I'll be over in the corner working on my story. I made some progress this morning and hope to get more done today. I'm bummed that bookwormmom, who had published some beautiful stories here before pulling her account several years ago has now pulled her Paetron account and is nowhere to be found. I had really enjoyed her stories and will miss them. It makes me wonder if anyone would miss my stories if I went away ...

 

[NotWise]

Someone voted on my much-ignored Escape from Cimarron. Also got a compliment on Deal is a Deal. I'll take it. I wrote that story to break a year-and-a-half publishing gap, so the feedback is especially meaningful.

Today should be another warm day, and the wind is staying mostly away from us. I have another hour or so to write, so I need to get back to it.

 

[MillieDynamite]

It's cold here today. The wind bit through my light coat when I walked out to the mailbox. Wasn't a very eventful trip; we had nothing, nada, zip. I have French Roast in the French Press, and a bottle of Jamsons ready to splash a little happiness for everyone. I have roughly thirty minutes before I have to return to writing.

 

[MrPixel]

Humana--I have been with them about ten years now; luckily all my doctors do have contracts with Humana; but the small, local hospital around the corner, nope;

Ah. Sounds like a PPO. Learned a long time ago about HMOs and PPOs. Can't afford to do that where we live. There is a corporate entity that owns 90+% of the healthcare system, and they don't do PPO, HMO, and Part C plans. It is what it is.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Doesn't sound legal to me. Sounds like we need to organize some Social Justice folks and sic them on that corporation.

Ah. Sounds like a PPO. Learned a long time ago about HMOs and PPOs. Can't afford to do that where we live. There is a corporate entity that owns 90+% of the healthcare system, and they don't do PPO, HMO, and Part C plans. It is what it is.

 

[MillieDynamite]

My contacts will be here by the end of the week. Now, I have to learn how to put them in and take them out; this isn't going to be fun or easy. I hate shit near my eyes. It took forever to get comfortable using eyeliner or putting on or removing fake eyelashes.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Good news1 The plumber called right at the start of the 10 hour window and was here shortly after that. I got the water heater replaced and it's making hot water right now. I can't believe how much the price increased since the last time I did it 16 years ago ...

 

[MillieDynamite]

Well, at least you didn't get to see the slow rise, one new water heater at a time, yearly.

Good news1 The plumber called right at the start of the 10 hour window and was here shortly after that. I got the water heater replaced and it's making hot water right now. I can't believe how much the price increased since the last time I did it 16 years ago ...

 

[Duleigh]

I got the water heater replaced and it's making hot water right now. I can't believe how much the price increased since the last time I did it 16 years ago ...

We have 3 water heaters in this house. One for the in-law suite, one for the back bathrooms, and one for the kitchen and washing machine. The kitchen heater went out 2 years ago, I'm hoping the other two outlive me.