It's lovely today...about 85 degrees. We mowed and trimmed this morning after we got home from garage saling. We stopped in South Coffeyville, Oklahoma and bought gas for $1.99.9 a gallon. That's less then it's been in years.
The yard looks nice. We bought one paper backed book for Bob at a garage sale and that was all. I saw some Fostoria I would like to have bought but have no place to put it.
I am presently reading "Peter, Paul and Mary Magdalene" by Bart Ehrman. It is very interesting.
This evening Bob and I are going to eat dinner at Sirloin Stockade. There he can have a salad bar. We may watch the rest of our Bill Moyers DVD afterward this evening. It is "The Power of Myth" with Joseph Campbell. It's an old DVD but still very interesting. When there is nothing of worth on TV (and there seldom is) we watch an episode.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Health Care Options
I watched the Bill Moyers show last week and was appalled by the information that was shared with him by Wendell Potter, a former health insurance executive who left the industry to become an advocate for health care reform. Potter discussed the industry’s history of denying care to members and its extensive efforts to prevent the federal government from creating a “public option” for health insurance to compete with private plans. Potter said:
"The industry has always tried to make Americans think that government run systems are the worst thing that could happen to them, that if you even consider that you're heading down the slippery slope towards socialism... I think that people who are strong advocates of our health care system remaining as it is, very much a free market health care system, fail to realize that we're really talking about human beings here, and it doesn't work as well as they would like it to... They are trying to make you worry and fear a government bureaucrat being between you and your doctor. What you have now is a corporate bureaucrat between you and your doctor... The public plan would do a lot to keep health insurance companies honest, because it would have to offer a standard benefit plan. It would have to operate more efficiently, as does the Medicare program. It would be structured, I’m certain, on a level playing field so that it wouldn’t have an unfair advantage over the private insurance companies. Because it could be administered more efficiently, the private insurers would have to operate more efficiently.”
What congress doesn't want to think about is that Medicare is already a public option system. Yes, premiums go up from time to time but nothing like the premiums of my supplemental insurance. When I turned 65, the premium was $87. Each year that premium increases even though I seldom use the insurance. Now that I am 73, it is $161.99. An 87 year old friend of mine who is living on her social security has a premium of $199.00. That's what private insurers do. They raise rates to drive people who use the insurance out of the system. They are more concerned about the bottom line then about their insured. They have to answer to Wall Street and from time to time they delay treatment so long that the insured dies waiting for permission for the treatment. That is not unusual at all.
We need a public option to keep the insurance industry honest. Between the medical profession, big Pharma and and the insurance companies, health care costs have risen out of control.
"The industry has always tried to make Americans think that government run systems are the worst thing that could happen to them, that if you even consider that you're heading down the slippery slope towards socialism... I think that people who are strong advocates of our health care system remaining as it is, very much a free market health care system, fail to realize that we're really talking about human beings here, and it doesn't work as well as they would like it to... They are trying to make you worry and fear a government bureaucrat being between you and your doctor. What you have now is a corporate bureaucrat between you and your doctor... The public plan would do a lot to keep health insurance companies honest, because it would have to offer a standard benefit plan. It would have to operate more efficiently, as does the Medicare program. It would be structured, I’m certain, on a level playing field so that it wouldn’t have an unfair advantage over the private insurance companies. Because it could be administered more efficiently, the private insurers would have to operate more efficiently.”
What congress doesn't want to think about is that Medicare is already a public option system. Yes, premiums go up from time to time but nothing like the premiums of my supplemental insurance. When I turned 65, the premium was $87. Each year that premium increases even though I seldom use the insurance. Now that I am 73, it is $161.99. An 87 year old friend of mine who is living on her social security has a premium of $199.00. That's what private insurers do. They raise rates to drive people who use the insurance out of the system. They are more concerned about the bottom line then about their insured. They have to answer to Wall Street and from time to time they delay treatment so long that the insured dies waiting for permission for the treatment. That is not unusual at all.
We need a public option to keep the insurance industry honest. Between the medical profession, big Pharma and and the insurance companies, health care costs have risen out of control.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Busy Thursday
I worked on laundry again this morning and read blogs in between. We went to Independence this noon and took our son-in-law and daughter to lunch at Big Cheese. They have a terrific salad bar. they are both looking for different jobs. John retired from teaching last may and Leslie had a good job so that was going to work out fine. Then she lost her job and that put them in a pickle. The new job pays just half as much as the one she did have. Now he is applying for an eighth grade science teacher position that is open in Independence. She is applying for a new job too. They both hope they get the new jobs.
We got home in time for Bob's nap and then he started working on the house trim on the patio. It seems the patio has settled a little and there was a gap where he didn't want a gap. It was only 86 today so he tried to get everything done this afternoon.
I fixed a new dish from his diabetic cookbook. It was pork sirloin, tomoates and lima beans. It was pretty good but I wouldn't want a steady diet of it.
Slinky stayed in the kitchen this afternoon without his barrier up. I don't know how long that would have lasted if he had been left completely alone in there.
Missy has disappeared into our bedroom and I haven't seen her all afternoon. She loves to cuddle up under our spread. Yep! There a large lump on the bed. She's been there all afternoon
We got a lovely e-mail from Scott this morning. He couldn't sleep and was thinking about all that his dad and I have done over the years to help him and wanted to express his thankfulness. That was sweet. He and Taresa are doing well. They are going to Branson this weekend. She got a job right away. She's a travel nurse.
We are planning to go to Chanute tomorrow for lunch with Gay and Tony. They have their little grandson so it may be an interesting experience.
We got home in time for Bob's nap and then he started working on the house trim on the patio. It seems the patio has settled a little and there was a gap where he didn't want a gap. It was only 86 today so he tried to get everything done this afternoon.
I fixed a new dish from his diabetic cookbook. It was pork sirloin, tomoates and lima beans. It was pretty good but I wouldn't want a steady diet of it.
Slinky stayed in the kitchen this afternoon without his barrier up. I don't know how long that would have lasted if he had been left completely alone in there.
Missy has disappeared into our bedroom and I haven't seen her all afternoon. She loves to cuddle up under our spread. Yep! There a large lump on the bed. She's been there all afternoon
We got a lovely e-mail from Scott this morning. He couldn't sleep and was thinking about all that his dad and I have done over the years to help him and wanted to express his thankfulness. That was sweet. He and Taresa are doing well. They are going to Branson this weekend. She got a job right away. She's a travel nurse.
We are planning to go to Chanute tomorrow for lunch with Gay and Tony. They have their little grandson so it may be an interesting experience.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Hot, Hot Day
This was a scorcher. It was 102 today. I had Slinky in nearly all day. Even Missy stayed in the house. I read a lot and did some steaming of some clothing. I used the computer and posted here and there but didn't do a lot outside. It was a scorcher all right.
It finally cooled down a bit by 8:00 and Slinky went outside to lay on his chaise lounge. Missy is lying on the footrest of my recliner right now.
Bob went to bed about 9:00.
Tomorrow I will go to Independence and have my hair done and meet Juanita for breakfast. It's been a month since we've met for breakfast.
I hope it rains tomorrow night to cool it down.
It finally cooled down a bit by 8:00 and Slinky went outside to lay on his chaise lounge. Missy is lying on the footrest of my recliner right now.
Bob went to bed about 9:00.
Tomorrow I will go to Independence and have my hair done and meet Juanita for breakfast. It's been a month since we've met for breakfast.
I hope it rains tomorrow night to cool it down.
Monday, July 13, 2009
House Cleaning Monday
This was one of my usual Mondays. It rained a little about 5:00. Early on, about 7:00 before it got hot, I cleaned out my lily/iris bed and then I cleaned house. I also did two loads of laundry and changed my bed.
It got very hot toward noon and I had to let Slinky in the house. He was very hot. Slinky is being a very finicky eater right now. He hadn't eaten much for three days until this morning when he ate a little of his dog food...very little.
By this evening he hadn't eaten much of anything. I fixed a strip of bacon and poured the grease over his dog food and he finally are every last bit, including the strip of bacon.
I read a bit this afternoon and then fixed some Parmesan Chicken, baked potato and coleslaw for dinner. Then we ate the last of the cherry pie cake for dessert.
This evening we will watch Antiques Roadshow. Tomorrow I will dust. I cleaned everything else.
It got very hot toward noon and I had to let Slinky in the house. He was very hot. Slinky is being a very finicky eater right now. He hadn't eaten much for three days until this morning when he ate a little of his dog food...very little.
By this evening he hadn't eaten much of anything. I fixed a strip of bacon and poured the grease over his dog food and he finally are every last bit, including the strip of bacon.
I read a bit this afternoon and then fixed some Parmesan Chicken, baked potato and coleslaw for dinner. Then we ate the last of the cherry pie cake for dessert.
This evening we will watch Antiques Roadshow. Tomorrow I will dust. I cleaned everything else.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Wonderful Cherry Pie Cake
Here's what you will need.
I large can of crushed pineapple
I can of cherry pie filling
I yellow cake mix
1/2 cup of pecans or walnuts
I stick of oleo
Grease or spray the bottom of a 91/2 X 13 cake dish.
Dump in the can of crushed pineapple juice and all...spread around evenly.
Dump in the can of cherry pie filling..spread around evenly
Dump in the dry yellow cake mix..spread around evenly
Spread the crushed pecans or walnuts on top
Cut stick of oleo into slices and lay on top of the dish
Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.
Serve hot or cold or with vanilla ice cream.
I large can of crushed pineapple
I can of cherry pie filling
I yellow cake mix
1/2 cup of pecans or walnuts
I stick of oleo
Grease or spray the bottom of a 91/2 X 13 cake dish.
Dump in the can of crushed pineapple juice and all...spread around evenly.
Dump in the can of cherry pie filling..spread around evenly
Dump in the dry yellow cake mix..spread around evenly
Spread the crushed pecans or walnuts on top
Cut stick of oleo into slices and lay on top of the dish
Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.
Serve hot or cold or with vanilla ice cream.
Usual Busy Sunday
I got up early this morning which is my usual way. We left for church at 9:00. I had the bulletins to run. After Sunday School and church we came home to eat because the weather was so hot the dog could not be out any longer. We just had salad because we had had biscuits and gravy at church and were not hungry.
Slinky came right in. He has been in all afternoon and has not eaten all day. I would imagine he's too uncomfortable but he's in air conditioning now so I don't know what his problem is. I left his food out in here in the kitchen. If he gets hungry, he may eat.
I made my cherry pie cake for tonight's dessert. We have "Living the Questions" here at 7:00. I got some Breyer's low carb vanilla ice cream to put on it. That and mixed nuts and iced tea should do. I don't know how many of our 12 members will attend. It's a good group. Three Community of Christ, two Presbyterians, two Southern Baptists and four Methodists (and an agnostic).
Slinky came right in. He has been in all afternoon and has not eaten all day. I would imagine he's too uncomfortable but he's in air conditioning now so I don't know what his problem is. I left his food out in here in the kitchen. If he gets hungry, he may eat.
I made my cherry pie cake for tonight's dessert. We have "Living the Questions" here at 7:00. I got some Breyer's low carb vanilla ice cream to put on it. That and mixed nuts and iced tea should do. I don't know how many of our 12 members will attend. It's a good group. Three Community of Christ, two Presbyterians, two Southern Baptists and four Methodists (and an agnostic).
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