March 31, 2010
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News and Notes for March 2010
HEALTH: I went in for an "A-scan" yesterday, the first of three pre-operation appointments for my cataract surgery, which is scheduled for sometime on the 19th of April. After the surgery, I have two post op appointments and a month afterwards, will be able to get my new prescription glasses from my optometrist. I should be seeing clearly again in two months. So far, there have been no other health problems this year. (crosses fingers, knocks on wood, prays, etc.)
WEALTH: I got my "windfall" over the past two months. Over $4000.00 on my federal tax refund (mostly due to the first time home buyer's credit) and $1,400.00 refund on my security deposit to the mobile home park. I immediately wrote checks totalling $3600.00 to three different credit card banks, and I'm well on the way to obliterating the non consolidation loan debt. I would have paid more, but I'm still looking at $3,000.00 for my hip operation, which will not be billed to me until my insurance pays their portion. (I've paid about $600.00 so far) I should have enough in the bank that I can pay the $1,000.00 or so for my cataract operation. (plus $200.00 or $300.00 for spectacles) My deductable is a grand, so I'll end up paying for the operation either way. The reason why I have to pay more for the operation last year is because it was a referral to a specialist, and was performed at the specialist's hospital, and not the hospital usually used by the HMO.
TRANSPORTATION: My car is literally falling apart after 10 years on the road. It's a 1999 Mistubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible. The top is in deplorable condition, and needs to be replaced, but thankfully in California that doesn't need to be a major concern. The rains just ENDED for the year. (hopefully, it's supposed to rain Thursday!) Latest problem was spotted by the mechanic who gives my my oil change. He told me the motor mounts are broken in some way. I need a second opinion on this. How can motor mounts break? I haven't done anything to them, that's for sure. I don't even drive on the freeway most of the time. He said they "wear out" after a while. Good news is that he told me it would only cost $70.00 to $100.00. I also need new tires and haven't had the brakes checked in over two years. I use another mechanic for both tires and brakes and haven't seen him in a while. I had my belts and water pump replaced a little over a year ago, and all this winter my belts have been squeaking. This might be because of the broken motor mounts. I think I'll go into a Mitsubishi dealer and ask if they have free consultation, then perhaps they can tell me if and what the real problems are. Hope I'm not looking at another $1000.00 for car repairs!
XANGA: I've almost completed answering all the comments from the first two posts I created after my hiatus. One neat thing about my hiatus. I didn't really "leave" Xanga. As I've mentioned in the past, I usually am so tired of using a computer by the time I get home that I don't do any Xangaing until the next morning, when I get to work, before anyone starts coming in. I've been busy for the past two months, (even though the company hasn't had too many orders, I estimate and quote, which never seems to go away, thank God, but it keeps me busy where others might not be. Although not a record, I quoted 58 individual jobs in March, at an "average" price of $2500.00 a job. Panel prices varied from $300.00 to over $15,000.00 this month.) so I haven't had too much time for socializing on Xanga in the mornings. That hasn't stopped me from making visits and reading posts, however. I found that if I don't comment, I get a lot more reading done. Xanga is not as active as it was back in 2004 when I joined, and a lot of the entries on the front pages are worthless. I don't even like reading any of the "ish" sites as they're called. They seem to borrow a lot of entries from around the web, like Digg or Yahoo News, so I don't feel as if I'm reading Xangans half the time on those sites. A lot of the same folks I've always read are still posting, but like me, they seem to have scaled back some.
I do really like the "search your site" function that Xanga introduced recently. Now I wish they'd create a "comment search". I'd love to type in a Xangan's name and find a clickable list of all the comments they've left me or I've left them! (I've been "proposing" this on Ideas, on the Xanga Team site and on my blog for a long time.)
YARD PROJECTS: I've finally started to finish what I began when I moved into my little house last year, before I had my operation. The first project was to create a rock bed in front of my garden shed, which I did, raking up rocks, washing them to get the dirt off, killing all the weeds, laying down plastic, and then putting down the rocks, plus stepping stones. Then I went in for my operation, and winter happened, sort of stifling any other plans until now.
I've found out that none of the rock beds around my house have plastic. After the heavy rains over the past couple of months, weeds popped up everywhere. Even in places where I already weeded. At first I thought I could just pull them, or spray them, but they kept coming back. So I've decided to remove rocks, and lay plastic all around the house. This consists of one 3 foot by 20 foot bed on one side of the house, a 3 foot by 10 foot area at the back, and a 3 foot by lot length area on the other side of my driveway. I started there, and got about a third done over the weekend. I'm not washing the rocks this time. I spent too much for the water bill last year. I'm just shaking off the dirt, and then I'll "water" the beds after I finish, which should get rid of the dust. In fact, if it rains this Thursday, I'll see if that does any good. I was going to just use new rocks, but found I'd need over 30 bags at $4.50 a bag to accomplish the task. I can't afford that. I figured I'd need a wheelbarrow too, but they cost at least $35.00, so I'm just going section by section using the shovel and rake. I got about 45 square feet done this past weekend. I have to take lots of breaks, like last year. Just not as young as I once was!
Posted: March 30, 2010 6:59 AM
Comments (23)
I too feel like I've been on hiatis from xanga. Good luck with the catarac surgery. I've had many friends at work get that and they love the results afterwards. I'm sure you will too.
Sounds like you're taking care of things at a steady, productive pace. I like that you include the yardwork, a meditative task that has been near and dear to my heart of late.
It's a lovely season for cataloging, reviewing, renewing.
Motor mounts can wear out from vibration and other problems Mike. I've only had one car need them replacing but it was over 20 years old and the old beater had seen many bad winters. Anti freeze, oil, the cold, salt, - all kinds of stuff can get spilled and rot the rubber bushings on mounts. Once they begin moving, it's not long before an engine is doing the "two step" under your hood.
Sounds like a full life. None of us are getting any younger as the years roll by.
@dikdoktor - Steve, thanks for the advice. (Personally, I think cars these days are "engineered" to fall apart after the lease amount is paid. LOL) The engine does move, esp. when going into gear or changing gears, and the main mount problem seems to be in front, although I was told the bushings are bad on the side mounts as well. Heck, Xanga is better than Yahoo Answers! I think I'm just going to get this done for $100.00! MFN/ppf
Sounds like things have been pretty balanced. I'm glad to see the upswing in work for you; sounds like job security to me. Best wishes with the surgery. Plastic works wonders if laid right in the rock beds. I remember as a child helping to redo our landscape with rocks. I had to help lay this mesh netting stuff. It was supposed to keep the weeds out but didn't work. The next year we redid it with plastic. I admire your commitment to redoing those by hand- laying rock was tiring and I even got to use bagged ones and a wheelbarrow
Thanks for the thoughts on dreams the other day. I usually don't have such clear dreams but for some reason that one just stuck- such are the unusual workings of the mind.
@baldmike2004 -
I'm glad I could help a little. I've worked on cars and motorcycles since I was a kid, I know a little about them. When you said "engineered" -to fall apart, I know what you mean. Some cars are put together in a certain way so that the "home mechanic" like myself can't even do any minor stuff on them anymore. For example, I had a 1989 Grand Am and the water pump went. To get at it, you had to take the right fender off or nearly yank the engine out. At the factory they put the pump on before the front bumper and fender is on so it's impossible for a person to get it out. I changed out a pump on my old Cutlass without pulling my rad, - was back on the road in about 45 minutes. Shit, I've seen some Ford vans that you have to lift the motor just so you can get the last spark plug in when doing a tune up. I really dislike new cars, you get charged an arm and a leg for any minor stuff done on them these days.
Hope your surgery goes well. My uncle had it done awhile ago and he couldn't be happier. This reminds me, I need new glasses. I haven't worn any since I came out of the coma, for some crazy reason I haven't really needed them but I'm supposed to wear them if driving. I might be back on the road next week. Yippee!
Sounds like you're really doing pretty well -- good luck with the eye surgery!
the nicest thing was the windfall
well, at least you have a car that runs now and a house that -the yard isn't perfect but hey, you've only been there a year.
my dr. said I have a freckle in my one eye-he said that's a start to a catarac.
Here's to paying off debts. It sounds like your car's in need of some big repairs
It's good to hear you'll be able to see properly again. Losing one's eyesight sucks.
Since I almost never (until recently) pay attention to my footprints, I never really knew who was reading my site, if at all. I typically base how much I want to keep writing on how many comments I receive per entry. I envy your "15 comment man" status.
Yeah, Xanga's pretty much gone to a worse place in terms of userbase, and site aesthetics and feeding. I don't foresee Xanga living in the next 5 or so years, to be quite honest.
Hi Mike,
Sounds like your economic situation has improved, except for the car problem. Oh, for the days of the VW bug - when there was literally nothing that you couldn't do to the engine - body -the whole car under a shade tree in your backyard.
I don't know what kind of cataract surgery you are having, but in my case, my vision cleared up within hours and I had the full lens replacement. they did my eyes about two weeks apart. no pain or problem (though the back of the lens pocket did re-cloud up and I had to get them laser zapped - I could not drive home from the surgery, but did from the zapping. I gather re-clouding is pretty common - it happens after a few months. While I still need reading glasses, the implanted lenses do very well with all other looking -Weirdly, my left eye used to be the stronger - now the right eye is.
Internet footprints are strange. The People's Republic of Korea seems to fascinated with my blog - they must not have much to do. I have pretty good firewalls which make a loud racket whenever I am pinged. I've debated "going silent" but that does cut off some contact I find interesting.
I'm hoping things are looking up for all of us. This has been the longest winter.
So glad to see you back. Mike, won't you be getting the Universal Health Care now that its passed? Then you don't have to pay for the surgery's won't you!
@Mal_P - Dear Angelina, I have healthcare insurance from my employer, so the new healthcare initiative doesn't relate to me. We have Blue Cross which is a part of Wellpoint. My copayments are $35.00 for a doctor visit (started out at $10.00 back in the 90s) and $50.00 for a referral. (like my opthamologist) I haven't seen my actual bill but my weeklong hospital stay last year for the hip revision operation costs something like $50,000.00 without healthcare. I only have to pay $3000.00. If it had not been a referral (only two surgeons in SoCal could perform the procedure and I picked the closest, at USC University) then I would have paid only $1000.00. If I have more than one major health issue in one year, then after the $1000.00 deductible, it's all cost free. I wouldn't be able to survive without health insurance, and even though my employer cut back on payroll (we have two additional unpaid days off a month now) they didn't cut back on healthcare, or make we employees pay any more out of pocket. Life is good, as far as that goes, for me, anyway! If I would have known I needed another cataract operation last year, I would have scheduled it right after the hip operation, and then I wouldn't have had to pay for it, since my deductible for 2009 was already covered by the hip operation!
@baldmike2004 - Oh I see... I am just curious how it works there in the US, as we Canadians (I am sure, you may have a idea about our health care) is different. My husband always worked for US companies, and still does, and he is given Health coverage, which has benefitted us a lot.
:wave: First, "good on you" for using your "windfall" to apply to your debt but also saving some for upcoming expense.
As you know, I've had cataract surgery and it was very easy. I've had two post-op appointments with regular eye doc. I have astigmatism, and cataract surgery itself does not correct that. Because I didn't choose any of the special lenses which are very expensive and which insurance does not cover, I still need glasses. Doc gave me a new Rx which adjusts for my current vision. I checked with Secure Horizons/Evercare to determine that insurance would cover new glasses after surgery. Normally, I'd have to wait until 2 years from my previous acquisition. Insurance does not cover features such as anti-glare, UV protective coating and "transitions", however. It is worth it to me to pay for those myself to get those I think are best for my eyes. I haven't had time to shop for new glasses yet as March has been a busy month, but I'll get on it after Easter.
Keep us updated on hip surgery.
~~Blessings, prayers 'n cheers
grats on the windfall. I got word that mine is coming back too. not quite sure when. soon! you seem awfully young for cataract surgery! my grandmother was in her 80's but she loved the outcome so she should have had it sooner I guess.
I adore both rock gardens and cactus gardens and I think it would be fun to have a fountain or water feature. maybe when I get to san diego. you'll have to post us some photos of before and after? just a thought.
have a great evening and happy April!
I like your idea of having a way to call up past comments!! I hope they hear you!!
RYC Thanks for the link, Mike!! I will always love Terry and will always remember his quirky smile when I had done something he called childlike!! In 2006 I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to England so the last weekend I checked into a youth hostel in Oxford. When I was with Terry, I was focused on him and helping him get into hospice so I didn't see much of Oxford. So this last time I walked everywhere and wanted to see Jesus College in particular for that is where Terry worked. I had tears in my eyes. They loved him there and in fact the head honcho came to visit him in the hospital and Terry was so pleased. Terry also gave me a poster that shows all of the college. He was wonderfully talented, Mike, and his passing is a loss to us all!!
I wish you good luck on your cataract surgery and congrats on your windfall.
Good to catch up with you, Mike. You've been dealing with lots of things on the home front, as have I of late! I'd love to see photos of your rock garden once completed. Have a lovely Easter!
@And_I_love - @Oz_girl - Dear And I Love and Marion, While I'd love to report that I'm creating rock gardens this isn't the case. I live in a mobile home and around the home the planting beds are covered with limestone rocks. I was going to plant perennials or shrubs at one time, but right now I just want to put plastic over the soil, and cover the plastic with rocks. HERE is a photopost from last April when I began the projects. I finished the stepping stone area. In the 8th photo, the area to the left of my car is where I'm removing rocks, laying down plastic and laying rocks in the bed again on top of the plastic. Eventually I might plant something, but not right now. My mother recreated our whole front yard as a "rock garden" or "cactus garden" when I was growing up. I'd love to do the same, but right now the idea is just to get rid of the weeds growing between the decorative white rock.
Here's to a speedy recovery! Health indeed is wealth, as the old adage goes.
"Vote for the Mormon, not the Muslim.