December 8, 2009
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News and Notes for December 2009
Last month I promised to post a "New and Notes" column at the top of every month, and here it is the 8th already, and December is almost a quarter over. This shouldn't take long. Not a lot has happened since the first week of November.
HEALTH: About a week ago I went in for my six month checkup with my orthopaedist. Even though the appointment, scheduled for 11:00am, didn't occur till almost 12 noon, which is usual for this particular doctor, once the doc had my x-ray in hand, the actual check up only took about 10 minutes. Doc saw me walk to the check up room and when he appeared he told me he saw no limp at all. He put me on the table and checked my "rotation", including of course some movements I couldn't perform before the operation. I saw both the post op and the current x-ray, and the doc pointed out where bone is growing in over the top of my prosthesis on the hip already. All told, a wonderful check-up, and I won't have to check in again till next June, a year after the operation.
I'm awaiting a referral for a "gum specialist" for my mouth. My dentist performed a "deep cleaning" last month, which took two appointments, and he ordered a checkup with a gum specialist, to see why my teeth seem to be so loose. As soon as the insurance company approves a referral, I'll be seeing the specialist.
I will probably wait until 2010 to go see the opthamologist. I'm pretty sure my right eye cataract is growing. My eyesight is clouded and blurry in that eye, but it isn't any worse now than it was last month. I might see my optometrist, but will probably wait till after a visit with the opthamologist. I wouldn't want to have a new prescription for glasses prepared, and then go through surgery and have to have another prescription so soon. (like last time.)
I'll also probably wait till early next year for my regular checkup with my general practitioner. I've modified my medication. I'm not taking the cholesterol medicine every night, cause I'm exercising now, and my diet is completely regulated since I'm not eating in restaurants. I also stopped taking the medicine for my enlarged prostate. I was getting up to go to the bathroom every hour for a while there, and after I stopped taking the pills, it's a longer wait between bathroom trips. This doesn't make sense, of course, since the medicine is supposed to stop me from going to the bathroom repeatedly. Well, anyway, the bottom line is that I will at least save money by not buying the pills so regularly, and I'll consult with my doctor in January or February.
WEALTH: Still drawing from the overdraft account sporadically, but I'm as frugal as I can be these days! One thing our controller advised, and which I did last week, was to up my dependents on the W-4, from one to three, so that I get more take home money each week. She suggested this a while back, when I bought the mobile home and made the decision to itemize deductions for 2009. But I forgot. It's netting me almost $40.00 a week more, which is like getting a raise. I still have to go over to the irs.gov website and see what forms I need for itemization, and get some tips for filling out my 2009 taxes. Our accountant at work has "volunteered" to help me with my taxes for only $20.00. I'm sure that's cheaper than H & R Block, and I might take her up on it. It's interesting to note, that since I've been single all my life, and have always lived in rented homes, I've always used the 1040EZ form when filing my federal taxes! That will change this year. So I expect my refund check will be a lot larger than $600.00 this year. Also in February, one year from the date when I moved into the mobile home park, I will get my "security deposit" back, which is $1400.00. That money will go right into the overdraft account, and reduce that debt by about a little more than a third.
WINTER: The second rain, (and the first big one) hit yesterday in the Southland. It rained pretty heavily in Long Beach, where I work. Since my convertible top leaks, I pulled the car into the dockwell, so it could stay dry, but I opted to go "rescue" the car during a downpour, and my slip on shoes filled up with water from just the walk/run to the car. I had to dry them out using the space heater in my office! They left the heat on overnight, so it's quite toasty in here this morning. At home, I turned the central heat on yesterday. I've got the thermostat set at 68 degrees, and when it gets up there, I turned off the gas. I don't want to have the heating bill I had last year, but I don't want to freeze either. Temps are getting below 50 in the evenings now. There was quite a windstorm last night, after the rain, which blew the clouds away. This morning there wasn't even any wetness on the streets, so the sky is bound to be clear and crisp this afternoon. I brought the camera to work with me and might take a jaunt to Signal Hill after work to see if I can get some shots of Long Beach Harbor and perhaps a nice "zoom" shot to downtown L.A. with my 2000X zoom on the new videocamera. (Of course in some parts of the U.S. it's "really" cold, and snow is falling, so it must seem like I'm being somewhat weird complaining about the winter when I'm posting photos I took at the beach!)
XANGA: I've been using the "Universal Inbox" for about a month or so now, and I don't really like it. I carom back and forth from it to the "old private page" which looks like the blogpage itself. I never did switch to "themes", and I would probably use the "unibox" as I've heard it called, if it were more "customizable." At the top of the unibox page are tabs for "all items", "feedback", "subs", "friends", and "recs". I wish there was a "default" "custom" tab on which I could "pick" which friends/subs I would like to see featured there. I'd mix this with the "feedback", which shows messages, comments, etc. Although my blog isn't "popular" and I get about 15-20 comments on each entry (which stays at the top of my page for 2-3 days) it seems I'm always seeing the updates and recommends of dozens of Xangans I really don't know! They have "befriended" me, you see, but they aren't "subscribers" to my blog, and either rarely or never visit my blog. Yet I see them show up again and again. For a while, I would make an attempt to visit these kinds of bloggers, and leave comments. If I would leave three comments and not get any reciprocation, I'd "delete" their friendship. I don't like doing that, so it would be far nicer to be able to modify a "custom" tab on my "Universal Inbox" to feature just those bloggers I choose to appear. I'd also like to be able to turn off the recs of those bloggers who seem to recommend every post they read. I don't mind this among those whom I consider real "friends" who visit and leave comments on my blog regularly, but since Xanga is probably not going to initiate any customizable inboxes any time soon, I might just keep using the "old private page". You might see that I will subscribe to more of my "favorite bloggers" so they show up on the subs module on the "old" page.
Speaking of "recommends", I went to read a blog entry which was "recommended" to me yesterday. The blogger was one of those who seems to forever bemoan the "death of Xanga". They noticed that they were only getting 100 or so page views on their entries, and only 4000 views when they were on the Top Blogs page. I had to chuckle. Most of us are lucky to get 15 comments and 50 page views. I guess I just don't notice the "death of Xanga" because I always have a core group of readers who keep returning, and I always seem to pick up new subs to replace the ones who go away. As it is, I find it incredibly difficult to "keep up" with returning comments to the people who regularly drop by my blog and comment all the time. I'm in the middle of returning comments for the Nov. 27th post right now!
One last thing. I recently particpated in a Xangamercial Contest (I posted my "commercial" on Nov. 29th). There is an entry where Xangans can "vote" for the commercials. I recommended the entry yesterday. It's on Nick's (npr32486) blog. He's hosting the competition. There are some really great "commercials', er, I mean, "Xangamercials" featured. Check it out.
Ciao.
Comments (47)
okay, too much info for my small brain...
"I guess I just don't notice the "death of Xanga" because I always have a core group of readers who keep returning, and I always seem to pick up new subs to replace the ones who go away."
good for you =)
AHH yes, health issues. Getting old is not the way to go
Regarding cataracts - I had mine YAG zapped in june/08 - that procedure removes the lens and replaces it with a new one. If the back of the lens clouds up later - you have it lazer zapped. The procedures are remarkable - no pain, quick in and out - immediate improvement - but you can't drive yourself home!
Have you had this type of surgery?
Xanga: I still use the old original and don't worry about how many hits either of my sites gets. I have a couple of mirror sites at other blogsites (wordpress, blogspot, and livejournal) but don't get many readers at these right now.
It's good to hear your health has improved. Though the gum news isn't all that good, now is it?
Money is always good. The gods know I need some pocket change!
stay warm! it's been down in the 30s and 20s up north :[
"~so it must seem like I'm being somewhat weird complaining about the winter when I'm posting photos I took at the beach!" YES. lol
Your friend,
who is shivering,
while freezing rain is falling from her Oklahoma sky.
Tamy
Great news about your hip checkup. I have been wondering how you have been faring.
Oh, joy - a gum specialist. The thought of that really makes me cringe. Well, I hope that appointment goes well and your insurance comes through for you.
I would give my left arm to live in a warm climate. I hate winter with a passion. I could stand some rain, some winds and even the occasional earthquake.
I always like reading about what is going on in your world.
A basically good-news post, Mike -- glad to see that! I hope that long-lens shot of downtown also captured the snowy mountains today -- they were really pretty all the way across, but my camera doesn't capture them because of the distance
.
@slmret - Dear Janet, I brought the camera into work, but it was a busy busy day, and I ended up having to stay until about 4:30pm. The sun was pretty low in the sky, so I just went home. I really can't plan on much photography during the week.
Xanga is definitely not dead. I have never been here just for traffic or comments. I like the community. I have some strong bonds with a few fellow Xangans. That's been the best part about being here for me.
Now that is a good check up Michael. I am happy that the operation was so sucessful and you are able to move around so much easier now. I hope that your insurance approves your appt. to see the gum specialist soon. You are wise to wait til after you see the gum specialist first before you go and see about new glasses. TD had his teeth pulled and after he did his eyesight changed. I never thought that teeth affected eye sight. He had to go an dget new glasses with a bit stronger strength. I am currently using the new page and Xanga theames but find it more work and less friendly than the old private page so I am thinking, but not sure yet, of switching back. I like some of the theames and not having to look online for layouts. I also like havign my subs listed on the main page on the old private page as it is easier to comment them all every day.
Hope you are staying dry and warm Michael.
It's a race against time, isn't it... trying to keep up on the body maintenance. I would know because I'm several years ahead of you. Sure do like your Santa profile, Mike!
I had my hip replaced nearly a year ago, December 28th. The surgeon asked me if I would wait two days so his team could do it. I just now found the report. He says that since I am going to the Y for circuit training that he as put a larger and more viable ball in my hip socket and it would prevent the occurence of throwing my hip out of place later. When I returned six months later, the staff still remembered me. My operation was the result of a fall on December 26th. He was very pleased with my x-ray and called others in to see it. I am blessed, because my friend, Ginnie, threw her hip out of place after arriving home She said it was excruciating. So I am very fortunate I agreed to wait and the surgeon took such an interest in me. We are vastly removed from the days of individual care and knowing our doctors well. I can still remember a doctor making a house call for my daughter suffering from a very hight temp. Now, no matter how sick you are, you go to them. If you cannot, you pay $500 for an ambulance to take you to them.
Mike, I do not know how to tell who visits my site Could you fill me in?? I have a good reason to wonder.
Sounds like things are great with the hip op. You have to be pleased with that! I am happy for you; it would be awful to be so hard to get around, and scary, too.
Oh, I much prefer the "old page" on Xanga. I will switch back and forth sometimes, for a while, but I am just way more comfortable with the old page. The "new" page seems cold and clinical.
:wave: I know I've been a bit delinquent in checking on you. I've tried to explain a little about why I've been slow on checking on my subs via my posts, which are not frequent these days; but I try to post something maybe twice a week. I am glad this post is an overview of what's happening in your life, so I can kind of feel "caught up". It's good to learn that your orthopedic check up went well. As to teeth and gums, ah yes, I have some empathy. I wrote on my post about all the work the dentist wants to do on my mouth. Tomorrow, I get a complete cleaning for which I am long overdue, and two fillings need to be replaced. However, the dentist had proposed to do a lot more which would cost me over $4500 after insurance. I don't have the money. I've told his receptionist/insurance clerk, no can do.
I realize that readership and comments certainly have decreased a lot since I first came on in 2005, but I don't believe Xanga is "dead' although many have gone to Facebook for contacts. There still are those who prefer Xanga and are faithful. Even though few, it's worth it to "hang with them".
~~Blessings, prayers 'n cheers
Seems like all is well with you. Your hip seems to be better now and hopefully your insurance will cover the dental care. Do try to keep yourself dry and warm. Running about in the rain - shoes or no shoes - is asking for trouble, you know.
I have to admit, I feel a bit silly right now. I didn't even notice the tabs on the home page! Wow haha. You've shown me something new today! We recently got snow, and have turned our heat on for the first time. Ugh
I like to put it off as long as possible but there are six little people here who need to stay warm. I hope the rain stops for you soon! My eyes popped a bit at the "only getting 100 or so page views." If I get more than a handful I check my footprints to see who was on my blog (I've had a few people in the past who were visiting much, much too often so I blocked them). Creepies even on Xanga, it seems. Oh well!
Thank you for the update. Sounds like the hip is healing well. Good luck with the dental stuff. I need to go to the dentist, but I'm afraid. Haven't been in many years.
)
We are at 15 degrees tonite......and a light dusting of snow. I saw Southern CA was getting rain. I thought it never rained in Southern California? (Or I heard that in a song
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