I Want to be a SuperHero

Super Nanaw, that would be a fine calling, dontcha think? I'd want to be a superhero who saved the world from those who would ruin it with their lack of manners, their inability to tell the simple truth, and those who insist on letting their pants slide down to mid-butt cheek.I would proudly go about doing my superhero job of confiscating cell phones and fining people who insisted on texting, or talking during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or while in meetings, or in class rooms, or even, for crappy's sake, in the toilet. I'd find a corner for every child caught not replying to their elders with respect, and I'd insisit that everyone at the dinner table mind their manners.


I would find great joy in monitoring what came out of the mouths of our politicians, our newspapers, and news networks. There would be an automatic overnight in jail with BIG Bubba,,,or Bubbette, for those caught lying or misrepresenting the facts to the American public. Longer sentences would be handed out to those more deserving.

As for those butt-cheek bearers? I'd spend a portion of each day swooping down on the offenders to snatch those pants right on down to their ankles. Maybe if enough folks pointed and laughed at those bare assets, they'd buy britches that fit and wear their belts where they belonged!

Who started that trend anyway? Are they brain damaged?

I can't think of anymore wrongs to be righted today but I'm sure more will come to me soon. Y'all have a nice day now, ya hear?

Photo Challenge - Lighting

This was taken in June. A tractor was preparing this field for planting late soybeans in front of the house. The dust and the position of the sun made this hazy shot look spectacular.

An early morning shot of the morning glory on my deck. I love how the sunlight is just barely touching the blooms.

The glow of the setting sun behind this shot of my Maximillion Sunflowers in late October.

I love this picture of Beans that I took a couple of years ago. She was pretending to sleep in the shade.

I had to visit the past for photos for this Lighting Challenge. While I've taken a few photos over the past couple of weeks, I wasn't in shape enough to get any that I was satisfied with for the challenge.

I know there will be some amazing shots to be seen over at the Photo Challenge Blog so please go over and visit and click the links to see them.

Room 141

My first night room 141 at our local hospital was probably the least comfortable one of all. I still had that nasty organ that was causing me so much pain, so even with an occasional pain shot, I was only sleeping for an hour or two at a time. During one stretch of snoozing, the head of my bed, which was raised 6 inches or so, suddenly fell, slamming to a flat position, shaking my brain enough to give me a headache.

After such a rude awakening, I decided to sit up for a bit before trying for a little more sleep before the pain meds wore off. About 20 minutes later, I'm still sitting there, watching TV and minding my own business when the TV/Call button thingy suddenly went off the table and landed in the floor between the bed and the table it had been on.

I was wide awake at that point so when a nurse came in to take my vitals a little while later I asked her if the room was haunted and told her why.

She didn't hang around to chat. I don't know why.

If there was a ghost visitor that first night in room 141 he/she/it must have been satisfied with just letting me know they were there cause nothing else went on during the rest of my stay.

Moving Right Along

I ventured out alone today to do some needed shopping. Thank goodness for the bench located in the back SE corner of Wal Mart where I rested up half way through my shopping list. Thank goodness also that every "associate" I spoke with or had a question for (with one exception) was so polite and helpful today. This is not the norm for our area Wal Mart so it was such a pleasure. The feelings of good will lasted until I visited the Wal Mart pharmacy to purchase some sterile saline solution that I needed for my wimpy wound packing. After waiting for 15 minutes or so for someone to acknowledge my presence, a young whipper snapper pharmacy worker informed me that in order to purchase the sterile saline solution for wounds I'd have to have a prescription from my doctor.

Uh,,,What?????

I don't recall needing a prescription when I'd purchased it from our family pharmacy over in town when James smashed his toe into smitherens back a couple of years ago.

Just so happened, our family pharmacy manager had been behind me in line at said Wal Mart and she was still there when I was leaving the pharmacy area so I asked her if I needed a prescription to purchase the sterile solution. She told me that she'd never heard of such and called over to Helena, where they're located, to tell them to have some ready at the drive thru window for me.

So that dilema was solved and I didn't even let the fact that I had to drive 10 more miles to pick it up disturb my feelings of calm from having an almost normal, shopping trip.

I got the hospital and surgeon's bill for my gall bladder removal yesterday but I'm not ready to say the numbers out loud yet cause one of them is very, very, scary. I'll be negotiating with them on Tuesday when I plan to tell them that there isn't much left to sell except my birthday,,,,and maybe a kidney...do they know of any takers?

I'm Healing and getting Sicker by the Bill

I got sick. I couldn't avoid a trip to the hospital. I have no insurance. I do not have the funds nor the assets to pay for the huge hospital bill that I know is coming. I've decided to blog about what occurs when something like this happens to the lower middle class folks who work (or have worked far more than their fair share) for a living so they don't qualify for any sort of help. There are far, far, more of us than most of you want to believe there are.

The first two bills came in the mail today. One is from Florence, NC from Arkansas Pathology Associates for looking at a biopsy. I had to call them to find out what the bill was for because this was not included on the bill. I then asked them if they would reduce their fees if I was able to pay cash for the charge. The young lady replied, "No". So I then asked if the billed amount was what Medicaid, or Medicare, or what an insurance company would pay them and the young lady again replied, "No" because we would be paid at their discounted rate for the procedure.

So. Arkansas Pathology Associates may only receive 50 to 60% for this charge from a medicaid, medicare, or insurance provider, but someone like me who can't get insurance, can't afford insurance, and does not qualify for medicaid or medicare, has to pay the full amount charged.

Does anyone other than myself see how wrong this is?

The second bill came from the Anesthesiologists group and the amount was for $1105. I called them because anesthesiologists wasn't on the statement anywhere and again, I wanted to know what the charges were for. A young lady named Crysta was immediately helpful and provided me with the information I requested. When I told her I did not have insurance she immediately told me that she could discount the charged to less than half and if I could send her a check for $500, the account would be paid in full. Before agreeing to this, I asked her if I'd still get the discount if I couldn't pay the $500 in full but had to pay it over 3 or 4 months. She told me no. If payments were set up, the original charges would be due.

I can't see too much right about this either. If you don't have insurance your cost for medical is automatically 50 to 70% more. I'm very glad that I have $500 to send to them but I'm running out of money and the largest bills haven't even arrived yet.

I wonder if I have any body parts worth selling?

Still moving slow

I feel better and better every day that passes but sitting in this chair here in my office still has to be for short periods cause it's still a bit painful. It may take me a few days to get around to see all the Black and White photo challenge pictures but I'll get there. I can't wait to see them all!

Thank you so much for all your get well wishes!

Black and White, and blue all over

Practiced my black and white shooting skills before I got sick. I sure hope I can shoot some more later this week.

Needing Jeanette's staple remover.,,,,,or maybe a church key. :-)