Waaaaaaaaaay Behind!

I am not in the mood and haven't been thinking about it, therefore, I am waaay behind in my outdoor Christmas decorating.  I just realized that Thanksgiving is less than a week away.  I always have my outside lights up, even though I don't turn them until December 1st.  Of course, this last week's weather was not conducive for being outside trying to hook up lights.

I have downsized a lot in the last couple of years, so my entire outside light show consists of two large multi-color light balls, a lighted garland around the porch railing and a wreath on the front of the porch.  That's it!  Takes me about half an hour to get it up and another 15 minutes to get the extension cord from the porch, along the side of the house, along the back of the house and along the other side to reach the plug in.  Then I have to wrap all the connections against rain and snow.

When I lived in my farmhouse--I had over a hundred strings of lights, plus spot lights, plus a large garage sized door cover of the nativity that I had on two sheets of plywood with a blue spot light on it.  Yeah--back in the day when I could climb on top of the roof and ladders and haul heavy stuff around.  I even made the local newspaper once with photos of the house.  It was gorgeous.

The inside was all shiny and gleaming with clear lights on a mirror and twined around my crystal glassware.  Chandeliers swagged in greenery and lights, a reach the ceiling real tree, candles and lights and on and on.

Back in the day, when the salary was high and the cost of decorations was low.  It was fun.  

One main reason I can't get into the spirit for decorating--it seems like it isn't that time of  year.  Yes--we have snow and cold, but...I still feel like I am waiting for summer, which never quite arrived in it's usually hot and humid way.

Perhaps Jimmy Carter had it all right and we ARE headed toward an ice age.  
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I had a productive morning, working on my How To manual/book.  It is easy for me to write the words, construct the sentences, do the manuscript and edit it.  What I am having a difficult time with is getting in the correct format required on the "build a book" site I am using.  For some unknown reason, the type font keeps wanting to change on each page!  What's up with that?  So I copy and paste from Word to the formatted page and then I have to check and make sure the font size is correct.  Then to add photos--I have to draw in a photo box and hope my photo will fit inside it AND that it has good resolution to print.  

It shouldn't be this hard and it probably isn't this hard--it's just that I am not very familiar with doing it.  It would be easier for me to use html code, like I did on my website when I put in my stories.  Oh well--I will figure it out!!
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I did something today that is making me nervous and shaky.  I hope I have done the right thing for me and...unfortunately, I won't know until I get into the new year.

I called my dental office this morning to move my cleaning appointment from December up into January.  I usually get my teeth cleaned every four months, but knew I couldn't afford it next month.  I asked the office girl if they worked with MediCAID because my welfare case worker told me if they did, Medicaid would pay $300.00 toward the crown I so badly need.  She said they didn't.  Then she said, "Have you checked a Medicare Advantage Plan?  A lot of them have dental insurance and vision insurance.  Everybody seems to be jumping on them now."

I said, "Medicare doesn't cover dental or vision."

She said, "Medicare Advantage Plans are like insurance and they pay for part of those services."

Hm-mm.

I took out a Medicap Health Insurance policy 10 years ago.  It was cheap ($40.42) a month and covered all I needed, until I had hip surgery, then I had to pay $1,200.  I have never thought of changing that insurance.  Never looked into anything different, but...after what she said.  Perhaps it wouldn't hurt for me to call Blue Cross and see what they had.

I spent 90 minutes on the phone with a lovely young man who went over three different plans.  They include health insurance, hospital, dental and vision, some even help with hearing aids.

I said, "John, if I was your Mother or your Grandmother, what plan would you recommend?"

He knew my medical history by then and seeings as how I don't make many doctor's visits and am quite healthy, he suggested a plan.  

I enrolled. 

I will have to pay $25.00 for each doctor's office call.  $60.00 to a specialist.  My maximum out of pocket is higher, but, I get dental cleaning, examination, x-ray for 0.  They pay 50% of any procedure like extractions, fillings, crowns, bridges.  I get $200.00 toward a pair of glasses, once a year, and I pay $20.00 for my ophthalmologist visit.  I would have to pay $70.00 for an ambulance.  

My premium is $19.90 a month.  

It just seems to me that there has to be a gimmick somewhere in that.  John assured me there isn't.  I can see that if I suddenly need a lot of medical treatment, or hospital stay, I am going to run into trouble, but then, I can always work with the hospital on their plan, where they pay part of the cost because of my low income level.

Like I said, I am stuck in this for a year and only time will tell.  I'm just geeked to get half my crown of $1,140 paid.  I can take the $30.00 I send to them now, put the extra I save from the premium cost and send them the $50.00 each month for 10 months.  My dentist will let me do that because I am so good about paying ahead so I have a credit with them.  Plus I need new glasses this year and didn't know how I was going to do that.

I hope I've done the right thing.  

I might be able to drain and flush my water heater, but when it comes to stuff like this--I'm kind of lost and of course, no Freddie to discuss with an think it through.
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Dar was over this afternoon.  Four doctor's and the ER doc have told her she has a hernia.  The surgeon that she went to said it's not.  She isn't going to get another opinion from a different surgeon.  She wants to go back to work because she can't stand being in her house.  We have had blizzard-like conditions off and on for the last 4 days and she has gone out in her car everyday.

I parked my car Monday, after I went to the food pantry and I haven't moved it since!  Today and yesterday, I didn't even unlock my front door!  I sure do enjoy my "hermit" personality. :-)

Tonight, at 6:30, in the pitch dark, I walked up to Merle and Pearl's.  

Their house is so dry, I kept getting shocks.  

Pearl said, "I've been getting shocks all week.  How do we stop that, Merle?"

I said, "Use a humidifier."

Pearl:  We have one...back in the bedroom."

Judy:  "Yeah--it's small and your bedroom is four hundred and fifty-two thousand feet away from your living room."

Merle: "I think we need to get another small one for up here in front."

Judy:  "Great idea, Merle.  Get right on that.  Okay?"

and we all had a good laugh.

Plus, they have the gas log insert Pearl insisted they have to save money on their heat bill and keep their living room toasty.  It has cost them about $80.00 more a month, it dries out that end of the trailer just awful, it gets way too hot, she turns it off and 15 minutes later, they are freezing.  

I suggested they use the ceiling fan to push the hot air down from the ceiling.  At 5'7" and 5'2", neither one had a chance of ever reaching the chain without a ladder.   After I got the blades rotating the correct way for winter and pulled the chain for low---it seemed to be working well.  We could already feel the warmer air.
=================

I have made myself a promise--the weather is suppose to warm up this weekend--I am going outside, get my snow shovel out of the shed and up on the porch, put the leaf rake in the shed and...put up my meager outside Christmas lights.

I'll let you know Monday if all goes according to MY plan.

I'm Good.

I'm fine--really.  Just so much typing during the day on my genealogy and How To book that I don't feel much like typing at night.  Done with the genealogy--all done.  Boy, what a lot I found out--so much fun.  No thieves in my family--all the obits I read speak of what upright, honest people they were.  I think my favorite was a G G Grandfather, who got up out of his (almost) death bed, and hired a coach to take him to the polls so he could vote.  A staunch Republican, I might add.  All of them church goers--although different churches.  Not a Catholic nor Democrat in the bunch---until you get to my kids, Apparently, I gave my children the freedom of Independence and, also apparently, I did too good a job! LOL

Darlene had her procedure and lived through it, LOL.  They drained the liquid filled sac and she DOES have a hernia--which one doctor and I have been telling her for the last two months.  An operation will follow--someday.

Talked to Pammie this morning.  She said that Jen and family ARE intending to move to New Jersey next summer.  I don't know if Jennifer is going to be happy--ever.  She will be going from a high powered career, traveling, speaking to huge groups of people to...staying home?  The last time she tried that, she just about went crazy.   I just happened to run across the picture of her on Linkedin.  More beautiful than she's ever been.

The photo is so tiny, I tried to make it larger and now, it's kind of distorted.

So--snowing tonight--supposed to get 3 inches.  Doesn't bother me, I've been so busy inside.  Two pots of spaghetti sauce done and two to go.

I've been feeling so content and peaceful and...happy lately, until I talked with Pam this morning. Funny how one little comment, about Jen moving, just took the bottom out of my good mood.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Too Early For This

It might be difficult to see, but this is what's going on outside at this very moment.

Looking out my living room window, past my porch toward the street light.

Expected 3-4 inches tonight.  Where is it coming from?  The  West side of the State--lake effect snow off Lake Michigan and yet, we are miles and miles and miles away from there--185 miles away and it's effecting us.  The winds are carrying it to us--25-30 mile an hour winds.

Oh well--it is expected to be 50 degrees by Sunday and warmer next week.

======================

I had my appointment at the Food Pantry this morning at 10:15 and I did better this time, but still...not what I am allowed.  I have 60# of food I can get.  Last time I got 25 and this time 42.  I have asked them to move me back down to 40#--I just don't need that much stuff.

I did score big on the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce so I can cook another 2 batches of spaghetti sauce for my guys for Christmas.  I had heard we were going to get a turkey, but I did not.  Maybe only families get turkeys.  They did throw in a pound of cheese--that awful slimy processed cheese that they give out for surplus needs.  I don't eat much cheese.  I tried to think how I could use if, but couldn't come up with a thing.  Pearl didn't want it, so......maybe Dar would like it?

Speaking of which--Dar had her procedure today.  They drained off a bunch of stuff from the "sac" and have come to the determination (like the ER doc), that she DOES have a hernia.  Which is also what I told her over a month ago.

She thought they could repair it with a laser, I told her I didn't think so and sure enough, they will do it out patient.  Put a screen in and fix it.  Takes about 4 hours and then they let you come home.  She had taken one of her tranquilizers and seemed in good spirits when she got home--she called, so I know.

========================

That's about all I have for today.  Tomorrow will be busy--making more spaghetti sauce, laundry, etc.  Glad I went out today so I can just stay home and watch it snow tomorrow.

  

My Dad's Side Of The Family

Confusing because:

Peter Waltz             1710-1790
Conradt Waltz        1739-1816
Peter D, Waltz        1760-1807
Conrad E. Walts     1788-1873  (Note the name change)
Peter Walts            1819-1899
Charles E.  Walts   1860-1943
Roy U.   Walts       1892-1942      
Charles J. Walts     1916-2008
Judith J. Walts       1939

They kept naming their kids after their father's or themselves.  Glad I wasn't a male or my name probably would have been Conrad Peter!

Lovely, in that I found out we came from Prussia, Germany on my Great Grandfather's side and from Hanover, Germany on my Great Grandmother's side.  And--for some reason, they all belonged to the German Reform Church in Jefferson County, New York.

=======================
I've been at this all day--and most of the past month and getting real close to the end.  I am entering all the "new" stuff on Family Tree Maker and when I am done, I will upload it to Ancestry.com--YAY.

Then I got the bright idea that I should put all this information and pictures I have found in a Shutterfly book for my kids.  I have given them all 3-ring binders with the info, but that was way back in 1999.  I have learned so much since then.

This project would give me something to do all winter--like I need that, as I am also working on my "How To" book.

At least--I am busy and that makes me very happy!!
================
So, I laid low all day and watched as Dar's car was gone most of the day, but...suddenly she appeared walking on the street, headed this way.  Right when I was in the middle of trying to figure out if Conradus Walts was related to me--he wasn't, thank goodness.

So, I had to stop.  She was all in a frustration mode because she couldn't figure out how to get her turkey at a reduced rate on the website where she was suppose to get a coupon stating that fact.  The website is for the store WHERE SHE WORKS!!!!!

After I tried for an hour and couldn't access the coupon, I said, "You ought to just go to the customer service desk and ask them."

"Great idea!"  she shouted.  "I'm going up there right now."

and off she went--thank you Lord.

So I went back to work until I got all of Conrad's kids worked out and their children's names.  My word--people had a lot of kids back in the old days.  I suppose because so many of the kids died young?  In his family, he had a son Nelson and a girl Lucinda and although 12 years apart, they died on the same day.  I wonder if it was from smallpox or the flu.  Sad.

Monday I have a 10:15 appointment at the food bank and this time--I have a list and I am ready.  Now that I know, I am not restricted on how many canned goods I can get--other than meat meals--I think I will do better to get closer to my goal--they always get so upset with me because I never get enough stuff.

I think I better set my alarm--I have been known to sleep in until after 9:00 ya know.  :-)

Harsh, But True.

Does Anyone Have Some Phenobarbital I Can Borrow?

Feeling so great last night and this morning.  Calm.  Happy.  Relaxed.  Content.

Dar flew in at 11:00.  She was very hyper.  One doctor thinks she has a hernia.  The other doctor thinks she has an abscess.  She can't get a straight answer.  I tell her, "that's why you're having an ultra sound on Monday,, so they can determine what is going on."

"I can't stand it!  I'm going  crazy, Judy.  I tell you I am going crazy!  I knew I had to come over or I might just go mental."
<ah--you already are>

I noticed she had her phone and a notebook with her.

"Are you waiting for a phone call?"

"Yes.  The doctor is suppose to call me and tell me what they are going to do on Monday.  I have to know!  I can't go in for a procedure and not know what it's for!"

"You are going in to find out, what it is and how they are going to treat it.  That's why you have to have an ultra sound on Monday."

"Yes, but what it I get in there and they decide to do surgery?"

"Well...wouldn't that be a good thing.  You'd get it all done at one time and not have to worry about going back in."

"I am losing it!"

"Dar...you lost it a week ago."

"I did?"

"Yes, you were over here going through much the same emotional stress you are going through right now."

The conversation went on for about an hour--she justifying why she worries like she does, why she reacts like she does.

"What would you do...if this was happening to you?"

"I would go off my head, that's for sure.  You can't control a bit of it.  Give it to)--and I pointed skyward).  Let Him handle it."

"I have all my faith in God.  It is His will and in His plan."

"Then....why are you so stressed and worried?"

Just then her phone rang.  It was one of the doctor's.
====================

The most frightening thing happened.  I have never witnessed such a thing in my entire life!

I went into the bathroom, because I had to pee, but I wanted to give her some privacy.

All of a sudden, I hear Dar yelling, screaming, crying.  

I ran out and she was pacing and yelling and then she fell down on the floor on her knees..."YOU'VE GOT TO PUT ME OUT FOR THIS.   NO...I KNOW IT'S A LOCAL, BUT I NEED TO BE PUT OUT.  I'M CAN'T HANDLE ANY OF THIS!"

She's swaying back and forth on her knees--she's crying and then bends over and moans and then yells into the phone.

I don't know if you remember when I told you about the time I took her into emergency to get her little toe x-rayed?  How she got hysterical and started yelling and crying because she just knew they were going to admit her?  The nurse took me aside and asked me if Dar was on drugs?  Remember that?

That was nothing compared to this.  I thought she was going to have a stroke or a heart attack.

I went back into the bathroom until I heard her hang up.

"Okay--what was that about...and get off the floor and back in the chair, please."

'OH MY GOD!  OH MY GOD!  PLEASE LORD, HELP ME!"

"Who was that?"

"My doctor."

"And..what did she say?"

"She said.....OH MY GOD...she said they don't know if it is a hernia or an abscess!"

"You already knew that.  Why are you hysterical?"

'I NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO MONDAY."

"The reason you are going in Monday is so THEY CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO!  GEEZ...WOMAN!"

"Oh, I'm so glad I was over here when that call came in."

"Really?  Do you even realize how you over react to things like this?  You are irrational!  You get hysterical.  You put yourself through so much stress...you act like you're crazy!"

"Oh.  I'm so embarrassed...for you to see that."

Well--I seriously thought of calling 911.  I thought you might need a straight jacket and a shot of Phenobarbital!"

"I'm allergic to it."
<of course you are>

"Okay.  You are going in Monday.  You are going to have an ultra sound.  They will probably probe the area, maybe even take a bit of liquid for testing and then they will know what is wrong and...they WILL fix it and this all will be behind you."

"Oh...I just can't breathe!"

"I want you to go home and take a Tranxene, eat something and sit in your chair and rest."

"I only take Tranxene at night."

"Go home!  Take a Tranxene."

"But..it might make me sleepy."

"Take.  A.  Tranxene!"

Got her out the door!  Went into the bathroom and got me an Ativan because I was so shaky!

------------------------------------------------------
On a different and much better note:  My mother got interested in genealogy in the mid-60's.  She was intent on finding out where my father's paternal side of the family came from.  She finally got the name of his 2nd great grandfather, (Conrad) and his birth and death date, but she never could find out where he was buried--we thought Watertown, NY.

After Mother died in 1970, I took over the search and found out a lot more about my family--both sides of my family.

Then in 1999, I found out Conrad's father's name.  It was Peter.  To make matters even more interesting, I found out that Peter's father's name was Conradt. Plus, (my) Conrad's son's name was Peter.

So--I had a Conradt, a Peter, a Conrad and a Peter--the last one was the one that bought the farm and built the house Sister Susan now lives in.

Susan and Chuck still lived in New York, so they would take weekend jaunts to the cemeteries around Watertown and Jefferson county--looking for Conrad--never found him.

I never found any record of his burial.  

For some unknown reason, I was just checking out his name this afternoon, on Ancestry.com--just to see if I had all the historical stuff on him and happened onto a page and...there was the name of the cemetery where he is buried!!!

Now, when Susan and Chuck go back to visit his family, they can go to this cemetery and see if they can find his grave and take a photo of his headstone!!

44 years, we've been hunting for him.  I was so stunned, I just sat here in my chair and kept looking at the name and the birth and dead date to make sure, he was the right one.  

I'm still stunned!!!!

So at least my day ended on a high note!

Gosh--I hope Dar doesn't come back until after the procedure on Monday afternoon!!!

Neighbor's and Such

Bella Rum--if you go into your e-mail address book--click on the tab to add a new contact.
Then, when the tab comes up to enter their name, and their address, type in:
000000000000     0000000         0000000000000000
That will now be the first contact in your e-mail address book and...IF anyone hacks your e-mail, they will not be able to send "fake" e-mails to the rest of the people on your list.  All those zeroes stop them.
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We got snow squalls today.  At times, hard snow, but big fluffy flakes.  At other times, had, grainy little pieces of snow.  None of it lasted very long and it did not build up, although, because of the cold, some snow on the roof of the house.

I was just minding my own business today, playing around in Ancestry.com and working on my "How To" book.  At 1:00, I sat down to watch my Soap and at 1:14, Dar came busting in.  She was in a panic!

"I just got home.  I came right over.  I feel like I can't breathe.  Oh...you're watching your show.  Can you turn it off, I really need your help."

So I did.  "Come on in here. Sit down and take a deep breath--blow it out--another deep breath--blow it out.  Now...tell me what's going on."
<she can't breathe, so she lit up a cigarette--because we all know, that helps so much>

"I haven't heard back from the doctor...on what they are going to do about this thing....and it's getting bigger and today, it stings and hurts!"

"Did you hear back on what the CAT scan showed?"

"Yes.  The doctor called this morning, but...she hasn't figured out how to take care of it!"

"Maybe she will call you back.  She probably has to consult with other docs to see what is the best procedure."

"She wants me to see an orthopedic surgeon!"

"Whatever for?"

"She thinks it is an infection pocket coming from the pin I had put in my hip eleven years ago!"

"Hm-mm.  Possible."

"What!!?"

"You just had a bunch of dental work done.  Did you take your antibiotic beforehand?"

"Why would I do that?"

"They haven't told you, because of your hip surgery, you're suppose to take an antibiotic before any dental work because germs can get in your blood stream and go to the surgical site and cause an infection?"

"No."

"Okay.  I don't know...I think it's just an abscess of some kind and you need it to be drained."

"Well...I want something done now!  I can't stand all this worry!  What if it breaks and I get that infection all through my blood.  What if I go into Septic shock and have to be in hospital?"

"Oh Dar, you know you can't do a thing about it.  Worrying and going nutsy cuckoo isn't going to help.  You know that right?"

"That's why I'm over here.  For you to calm me down."
<groan>

"Okay...this is what you do.  Wait until around three this afternoon.  If you haven't heard anything back from the doctor, call the office and tell them you have to get this taken care of because you are in pain, it has swelled more and you are scared.  I'm sure they will be able to tell by the sound of your voice that you are in a panic."

So we talked of this and that and an hour later she stated, "Now I can breathe!  I knew you'd help me."

So we talked of this and that some more..of her kids and her job and her family and an hour later, her phone rang...and it was St. Joesph hospital calling.

She goes in Monday.  No CAT Scan.  So no contrast dye.  They will give her a mild sedative, they will use an ultra-sound to pinpoint the sac and they will give her a local anesthetic and they will aspirate it.  She has to be there at 1:30 and it should only take an hour.  YAY.
===============
About a half hour after she left, a knock and my door opened again and there was Merle--tool box in hand.  He had come down to insulate my back door for me--like he did last year.  

He wasn't too frisky, except for one time, I was standing behind him to hold the top of the insulation, while he stapled it in place, he did mention that it "felt good", but other than that.  Merle is about 5'6" and me standing behind him, leaning over his shoulders and head to hold the insulation, probably put my boobs into his back, but...hey, not my fault. I said, "Keep your mind on your work, Buddy!"

So I am now snug and warm and ready for the low temps that are coming in the rest of this week and next.

Life is just plain GREAT!!