True!!

 

Swatted

 Swatting.

If you don't know what that is, it is when a scumbag (keeping this blog with a G rating) calls 911 and makes a false report on an innocent person.  The caller says there is a hostage situation or a murder or whatever to get the local police to dispatch a SWAT team.  And SWAT teams are understandably hyper. 

The victim is usually disoriented and 'upset' because they have no idea what is going on; most thinking they are being attacked by an intruder.  They respond aggressively.  Or a victim can be literally scared to death.

The combination can be - and has been - deadly. 

The world is getting mean. 

Late this winter – Valentine's Day to be exact – I had a visit from 2 deputies.  Two very tense deputies.  Long story made short, there had been made a 911 call stating I was being held hostage. 

Excuse me?? 

Yep, supposedly Himself was not letting me leave the house.  Because of privacy issues (!!!) they couldn't say who called.  BUT they told me 911 logs are public record and I REALLY needed to listen to the call. 

It took a bit (weeks) to actually get the recording copy (like finally contacting the head of the 911 department asking if I needed to go to the newspaper and my lawyer about being denied my rights). 

When I heard what was said by my COUSIN - A cousin I haven't really seen in 40 years - it sickened me.  

We were SWATTED. 

Said POS cousin said:

*I was being held hostage (yeah right)

*That Himself owes a LOT of guns (he does not)

*That Himself had threaten to basically kill the entire planet (he who will not kill a stink bug in our house!)

*That Himself was retired military (only true thing said)

*That Himself had "gone goofy" (????)

*That he (cousin) was getting this "3rd" hand (which would be 59 year old cousin's 'mommy' and a direct family member of mine). 

And the POS used his knowledge as a former cop both to say things in a way that would make it difficult to prove he is evil AND to try to get the old "cop brotherhood - I'm one of you" feelings going so he would be believed. 

Freaking EVIL. 

However, he sounded like such a complete moron on the call that dispatch sent two deputies instead.  Two intelligent, professional, and experienced deputies.  Thank you Jesus. 

I tried to press charges (it is a felony in many states) but there wasn't enough.  However my very PO-ed Sheriff has flagged us.  So that if I get anymore *garbage* from ANYONE of my "DNA" or their family/friends, I will be able to press Criminal Harassment" charges.

 And I will... 

It is hard enough to know your "family" doesn't care about you anymore. But it is a whole different level when you realize they initiated an action that could lead to your death.

I am a very different person than I was on 13 February...

 

Review: Ozeri frying pan

 The time finally came to get a new frying pan.  But I found out the finding of a nice pan was going to be a difficult task.  Home Goods had signs up apologizing for their poor selection.  Walmart had a poor selection with no apologies.  Other places had nice skillets that required taking out a mortgage.

So I went to Amazon.  

There I found a 12" pan with great ratings (5 out of 5 stars) for $29.00.  I took the leap.

That was 4 months ago.  We have used it nearly every day since then and it still pleases us.

Check it out by searching this description (sorry, the link attaches to my order instead of the product)...

12" Stone Earth Frying Pan by Ozeri, with 100% APEO & PFOA-Free Stone-Derived Non-Stick Coating from Germany

(I would have used my own photo, but it is in the sink to be washed after Thanksgiving dinner!)

The Nightmare Before Sixty-Five (Medicare)

 Back in September I said I was going to write a big post about enrolling in Medicare (which is handled by the social security administration).

 I am not.

 

Please go out an buy “Medicare for Dummies” shortly after you turn SIXTY-FOUR and start reading.  Prepare to become angry.

 The Medicare system is FUBAR.  And they add new FUBAR yearly. 

 Let me roll over a few points you need to know…

 ~ First, if you are late enrolling you WILL be penalized when you do enroll.  And every month for the rest of you life.  I am not kidding.

 ~ Next, you need to be enrolled BEFORE your birth  month for smooth-ish transfer from private health care insurance to supplemental.  A lot of healthcare insurance will suspend your coverage on the first day of your birth month if you don’t have you Medicare card info.  Once you get the card the supplemental will kick back in.

 ~ Regarding Medicare you have 3 choices:  Part A only (“hospital” insurance – covers hospital and nursing NOT doctors)  OR you can do part A & Part B (covers docs, tests, medical & surgical services, and more)  OR  Part C (aka Medicare Advantage which is private coverage)

 Be aware that private insurance is year to year and they can leave the program anytime- leaving you scrambling to find new coverage.

Also be aware that you might lose your entire health care team.  If your current doesn't except Medicare, you'll have to find someone new.  And that sucks.

 ~ Part D which is optional, covers prescription drugs.  I cannot believe this is legal.  Here is how it works.  You have to pick a private insurance out of multiple “plans” that each pay differently.  The plan goes yearly so the below stuff happens EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.  Coverage is in “phases” over a year time.

 Phase 1:  You pay 100% of drug cost UNTIL you reach deductible limit (in 2020 that was $435).

Phase 2:  You have a co-pay set by the insurance company.  This happens until you hit your ‘limit’ of $4020 (in 2020).

Phase 3:  So cutely known as “the donut hole”.  The company doesn’t have to pay SQUAT!!!  But you still have to pay them.  You have to beg for discounts and government aid.  You don’t get out of this blackhole until you have spent (in 2020) $6350!!!!!!!!!!  This is where you hear of elders and the sick having to chose between their drugs (often rationing them) and their utility bills and/or food and/or gas for their car.

Phase 4:  (If you make it this far).  You pay 5% to a limit of $9038.

Wrap your head around that.

That is just a few bits of BS (and among the worst) you will encounter in you 64^th year of life.

 

Do not make the mistake of following the advice of family & friends.  Tho well meaning, every person’s situation is different.  Read “Medicare for dummies” for knowledge and deal with the Social Security office ONLY for what is really going to happen.  BTW, a phone call to the SS office is a LONG time on hold.  A speaker phone is a blessing.  My last hold time was 43 minutes.

 Good luck.

 

Brand New Bug

 In working on our goal of Zero Waste (we are soooo far from it) we do our own form of composting... we feed plant based "leftovers" to the wildlife.  Stuff like stems, peels, gone bad bits and so on.  

Himself puts it out in the evening and by morning it has disappeared.  We are used to seeing deer, racoon, possum, ground hog and other 'guests' strolling over to see what is at the buffet.

 Recently Himself came upon a new guest~

 

 He took our bug jar out to bring one back for me to ID. 

 

 I had never seen it before either. 

 

 A Google search revealed it was an American carrion beetle.   It lays its eggs in raw meat and fungi (maybe we had tossed out some mushroom bits).  So do flies.  As the fly eggs hatch into larvae, the beetles eat them.  So do the beetle larvae. 

 Pretty interesting!

Review: Hearing Protection by Decibel Defense

 With all the sawing and hammering we have been doing I realized we needed 2 things to protect our hearing.  First was to get a second set of safety ear muffs.  Second was to replace the ancient pair we did have.

 I ended up going with safety ear muff designed for shooting ranges.  Not that we need them for that but they offer the best protection.  I found just what I was looking for on Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BEENYCQ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

 They have NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) of 37 dB (decibels).  There are all sorts of charts explain what a NRR 37 dB means.  Whatever!  It boils down to excellent protevtion.  That's good enough right there.

 Bonus points for comfort and a choice of colors.  (Since we have different colors I can tell when Himself madeoff with mine instead of finding his muffs!  Plus the bright colors make them easier to find.)  I recommend highly.

Arting Again

 I've had requests to share my creative projects again.  Thanks!  I've been so busy with "life" lately that I haven't been doing all that much.  But here is one from last month that I am pleased with.

As you look at it, don't think that it is a political statement for/against any particular party.  

It is not.

"In Distress"

Next month I'll have more to show.  I've taken a few classes that have opened up my creativity in a way I'm really enjoying.

Walmart's Latest Rip-off Tactic

 

I'm starting to really LOATHE Walmart online shopping.

Their latest BS is you make an order... marked for store pick-up.  You say 'no substitutions.

You go for pick-up and a couple $14.88 items are not in there.

You get home and there is an email saying those 2 items (with no subbing marked) 'were not available and will be shipped to you home' FOR THE JACKED UP PRICE OF $37.50 EACH.

Ft Campbell commissary~ you're looking better every minute!!!

Taking a blog break

 

It is crazy around here.  The crazy is called Medicare enrollment.  The governmental BS is mind blistering, especially since I got behind the 8 ball with the issues of dealing with Himself's illness and repercussions thereof. 

The will be a huge blog post in the next couple of months.  But until then, if you ARE 64 years old and not working on your Medicare you need to get into FULL PANIC MODE.  I kid you not.  The book Medicare for Dummies is an excellent resource

So that being said... I'll be back 1 November.

Review: Goggles from Zenni

 I've already told you how much I love the VERY inexpensive glasses at Zenni.com.

Well, with all the sawing, sanding, sweeping, and spraying we've been doing it rapidly became apparent that we both needed a pair of good safety goggles... ones that would fit over our glasses so we could see what we were doing.

So I turned to Zenni once again.  They did not disappoint!  For $13 a pair I got a brilliant set of goggles.  They protect from all the above mentioned hazards.

Check them out at:  https://www.zennioptical.com/fitover-protective-goggles  

Clutter Free Me

 We have finally done it.  

Our home is clutter free!!  Well… the attic and shed aren’t done because it is impossibly HOT.  But they are in really good shape.   They will have their FINAL go-over in October, if not earlier. 

My last major area was my creative studio.  It always got pushed back behind everything else I needed to do.  I’m so excited that now I’m able to create as I wish. 

I have gone over everything as to exactly what my creative project will be from now on, and then did a hard culling.  Those supplies were sorted, organized, and labeled.  In step with my wabi sabi lifestyle, organizers and labels are simple things that for the most part I already had.  I will confess to buying some Sterilite shoe & boot boxes.  We have a terrible time with stupid destructive mice and cardboard storage doesn’t work. 

My labels are simple white card stock that are hand written then hand dotted along the edge for a border.  Those Sharpie fumes pert’ near did me in! 

After I finished my studio, Himself & I went over the entire house one more time.  It only took a leisurely day to do so.  We’ll keep clutter out of our lives by doing a “tidy” once a week.  It should be no more than a quick walk through with a basket and a trash bag. 

The thing that has made it possible is we have two people who are top shelf networks for getting things to people who need them.

Occasionally I have something I’d like to get a little cash from.  I use Facebook Marketplace for that.  Larger things (things I can’t fit in our little car to take up to E) with a low value either go on the “No Buy C’ville” Facebook group OR go down on the end of the driveway with a FREE sign on it. 

Yeah, it’s been a long time coming.  It is so worth it.

(A section in my studio)

Review: VOCOO Digital Kitchen Timer

 I told you earlier this month about our new microwave and its wonderful silence feature. 

Well there’s a downside to quiet.  How will I ever know when my hot tea is done?  Or anything is done!?  By getting a timer, right?  Wow... timers have changed since I bought the last one, which was one of those twisty dial things. 

  

 

I have now joined the 21st century of gadgets.  Meet the VOCOO Digital Kitchen Timer. 

It has a big easy to read LED digital face.  There is a magnet on back so I can put out of the way on the fridge.  The beep is gentle and there 2 volume levels to choose from.   AND it doesn't tick! 

 We highly recommend it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08M95B91P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 

"You're So Strong…"

 This is so painful to write but if I can help one person, it is worth it. 

I have cried because I woke up in the morning. 

So much has happened in the last 4 years, a flood that never seemed to end.  Then Covid brought more seclusion for us than most people.  You see, Himself’s cancer treatments have left him with a compromised immune system.  Being ‘out and about’ is not an option. 

I was so lonesome.  All of my social activities stopped.  Facebook had become unbearable as I discovered the true nature of family and friends.  There were verbal attacks and snarks on my Facebook wall because of perceived political standing or the fact that I wore a face mask.  Mind you, I actually knew everyone that was a “Facebook friend”. 

By October, I’d had all I could stand.  I explained to my 50 ish “FB friends” I was having a very hard time and I needed encouragement.  That I was leaving Facebook so I needed real contact by either email or a phone call.  Please help. 

Oh I got tons of freaking stupid emojis… crying face, ‘caring hug’…  got a bunch of “I’ll email you” and “I’ll call you”.  Or the worst, "You're so strong!  You'll be fine." 

NOT A SINGLE PERSON CONTACTED ME.  In fact, I've never heard from any of them ever again. 

I’ve read that a percentage of those contemplating ending their lives will “bargain for hope”.  They tell themselves that if just one person speaks to them, they won’t do it.  Survivors have testified to what it meant to have someone say, “I’m here… I’m listening”.  And notes testify to what it meant when there was only silence. 

Thankfully, I never went far down that terrible road where I actually thought about taking my own life.  The next 14 months were so painful, so dark as I dragged myself thru.  I changed a lot because that is what it took to survive.

 

I tried to get “help” – a counselor or a shrink – but with insurance it was nearly impossible.  Too many ahead of me in line (waiting list), and without insurance it’s too bloody expensive. 

However, the insurance company gave these helpful (NOT!) suggestions: 

Talk to a friend 

Find a group counselling at a church or such 

Read a self-help book (Seriously) 

I’m getting to be OK now.   But my heart breaks for those going thru similar.  PEOPLE!  If someone says they need to talk… FREAKING. TALK. TO. THEM. 

You may be saving a life. 

You will definitely be saving a heart from breaking.

 

Spam Musubi

 One of my “Covid hobbies” has been learning to cook Japanese cuisine.  It’s been kind of amusing as I like the looks of Japanese food but I’ve never really had it (outside of sushi!). 

In my search for recipes that have ingredients I can source locally, I discovered the Hawai’i-meets-Japan snack Spam musubi.  Some call it “Spam sushi” because of the way it looks… like a sushi roll. 

It is fast, easy to make, and tasty.  It is like making a sandwich except instead of bread you use rice.  Between the 2 layers of rice there is a slice of Spam (I used Teriyaki flavored) and what ever else you’d like.  My choice was egg and avocado.  Then the musubi is wrapped in a band of nori.  There are at least a hundred recipes for making musubi.  Seriously.  The only way you can go wrong is if you rice layer falls apart. 

Here is how I did it – 

I made my sushi (short grain) rice according to package instructions.  Once it was cooked and at room temperature, you press your rice ‘patty’.  

 

Here is an inexpensive mold you can buy for less than $10 from Amazon or an Asian store.  

 

OR if you’re not sure if you’ll ever make it again, put it on a piece of plastic wrap as I did here and shape it into a Spam slice shape (cut long ways). 

Then either way you squash the bejeebers out of it.  If you have the mold, add the filling and the top layer of rice.  Give it another squashing.  If you’re going the plastic wrap method, make 2 separate rice patties.  Then assemble your ‘sandwich’. 

Add your nori band (or not, I don’t like nori very much). 

 

Ta-da!  It is munching time!

Online Classes and Wildflower Ikebana

 During the early part of Covid a lot of creative type schools and organizations were offering free Zoom classes on all sorts of subjects for free or really reduced prices..  Not so much now but they can still be found.  

Recently took one on making gnocchi from a woman in France.  Yummy! 

My favorite class was an Ikebana flower arranging class through a Japanese society in Chicago.  The teacher was visiting from Tokyo.  She is an instructor at the famous ikebana school Sogetsu.  Wow!  What an opportunity.  It was an excellent class. 

We were given a list of flowers to purchase.  I went a different route.  Florist flowers are just way too expensive and now aren’t all that great quality.

 

 

On our country road there is a plethora of wild flowers to choose from.  Free too!

 

 

Did you know that thistles had so many different appearances?

 

 

Or sizes?

 

 

There were daisies and more too.

 

 

Himself volunteered to go down into the ditches to cut whatever I wanted. 

 

 

There was a great variey to choose from!  

 

 

Soon I had my finished arrangement and learned to do more.

Review: Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven

 Last February our microwave started sounding really weird.  Like bad weird.  It wasn’t surprising since we’d had it since 2003.  Yes, NINETEEN years. 

Time to get a new one.  After some research I ordered one from Best Buy since I could get free 3 day delivery from the store here in town.  Or not...  It hung there with "shipment delayed".  After a lot of BS from both FedEx and Best Buy that went on for 16 days.  When it finally came in, it was awful.  That baby was returned…

  

I did more research and decided on a Toshiba EM131A5C-BS through Amazon.  Ordered it and it was here the NEXT day. 

We have now been using it for a bit over 4 months.  We love it!

 

 

The control panel is so easy to use.

  

The BEST thing is you can turn off the annoying beeps!  Both the pushing buttons beeps and the finished cooking beeps.  Beautiful silence.  Even the cat is happy! 

We all recommend it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071WCB1T6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

My Wabi Sabi Life

The last 3 years … no, the last 5 years… have been really hard.  To regain my balance in the world as it now is, I’ve had to make a major shift in my philosophy of how  I need to look at life.  After several years of study, I am now embracing the philosophy of “Wabi Sabi”. 

First off, do not make the typical mistake of confusing religion (a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices) and a philosophy (an activity people undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationships to the world and to each other). 

Back to "Wabi Sabi".  It is NOT the watered down definition given by Western 'trend followers' looking for a thing to make them seem ever so amazing.  The 'trendies' say it is seeing "beauty in imperfection" and stop there.  No.  No...  That is like saying compassion means 'being nice'. 

America teaches that only the 'very best perfect' is worth having.   Unfortunately those setting the definition of "perfect" are usually narcissistic idiots.  To see this takes only a glance at the so-called 'influencers'.  Sad. 

Wabi Sabi quashes the whole ideal of "perfection" outside of God.  It tells you that nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.  And because of this, being content where you are with all that you already have, is to be happy.  Simply do your best to be the best that you can be. 

One should not strive for perfection OR imperfection, but instead for excellence.  Most people just want to be a hot mess and act all spiritual about.  That is just laziness.   

 

  

OK, so how am I applying this to me? 

I am working on appreciating what I have and who I am.  That when something goes bad, I realize it is not just at me.  "Shtuff" happens and it doesn't mean I'm being picked on by God or persecuted by Satan.  Like John Denver sang, "Some days are diamonds, some days are stones." 

I have started a meditation using these two phrases/quotes:  "Life does not have to be perfect to be beautiful." and "You're having a bad day... not a bad life."  It helps.  I'm not there yet but I know someday I will be able to say: 

"I humbly accept with an open heart."

You're Kidding Me, Right?

 The “CUSStomer” service I’ve been encountering lately is starting to get scary.

 

We have been Dell customers for a long time; at least 20 years of multiple computers.  The latest new-purchase-not-acting-right is Himself’s mid-grade Dell Inspiron computer we got in early March.  First, I did NOT get the package I asked for.  That was slid by me with a long jargon filled ‘quote’ that Teri - who is without a computer science degree - did not catch.  Thanks jerks!

 But anyway, my call to CUSStomer service was regarding not being able to download a ‘critical’ update.  After several weeks of trying every which way the “online help” told me to work it, I called the 800#.  It took 20 minutes to have my call answered by – you guessed it – ROBO agent.  Oh joy…  Took another 5 minutes of yelling ‘AGENT’ before I got a human.

 … I think…

 Her solution to my in warranty problem was to “…unplug ALL the wires (cables) from the CPU AND the components, then shake them”.

 WHAT?!

 Her reply, “Oh yes!  You must disconnect the wires and shake them so the static will drain out.  Then you will be able to download the update.”

 

OK, takes a lot to make me speechless.  That did the trick.

 I hung up.  I was in no mood to be played that day. 

 This battle is for some other time. 

 I will never buy a Dell computer again.  Instead I will have a local company custom build something that THEY will carry the warranty on.

Art For Healing

 One thing a person can do when working on bringing change to their life is to make a “vision board”.  Simply put, it is a collage that you make using pictures and words to represent your goals of change. 

Having a real object to look at is incredibly helpful. 

I’d like to share mine with you.  The symbols on it relate ONLY to me, not what anyone else thinks about them.

 

  

The lotus is calm strength. .

The open lock represents opening myself to the future. 

‘Simple Abundance’ is just that… gratitude for simple important parts of life. 

‘Peace’ ~ that’s an easy one.  To have peace and to give peace.

The key reminds me to look for ways to succeed.

The photo of the beach tells me to keep looking for my happy places.

The 3 flowers are for a reminder to look for beauty.

The yellow is a 'work in process' to add to later.

And finally ‘grow’ ~ learn, explore, try.

I Made Cheap Balsamic Vinegar Better

I had a seriously bad case of sticker shock last week.  Went shopping at an olive oil and vinegar store in Nashville… walked in and walked out!  Pre Covid plague I could get a nice balsamic was $22 for 750 ml, now it is $48.  [500ml would cost $32] 

Ummmm… no.  So I have worked out an option.  Here’s how to dress up a cheap but good quality balsamic.  I’m speaking specifically about Trader Joe’s Balsamic Vinegar of Modena” in a 500 ml bottle that (to me) looks like a beer bottle. It costs $2.29 at the Trader Joe’s store.  Yes you read that right… TWO dollar and twenty nine cents. 

While it has not the flavor of a beautiful 18 year old Modena, it is actually not all that bad.  My issue is that it is really thin… like almost apple cider vinegar thin.  That’s OK for a basic salad dressing but unacceptable for a Caprese Salad.  It’s got to cling, right?

When I make a sauce that I want to have some ‘body’, I reduce it over a low heat.  Why not do the same to vinegar?

 

 I used a pan so there would be a larger heating/evaporating surface.  I poured the entire bottle into the pan and set the stove temperature very low.  It was just steaming (next time I’ll try it a bit higher).  

 

Every 5 to 10 minutes I gave it a stir.  This was a slow process.  After reducing by half I was satisfied with the results.   

A word from experience here… have your stove fan going during this process!  This is VINEGAR after all.  We both were having allergic sinus issues from some deep cleaning we are working on.  This opened them right up!  Persia Kitty headed to the other side of the house. 

Nope, it didn’t magically turn into a fantastic aged Modena.  But next trip to Trader Joe’s I’m going to buy two bottles and reduce by half.  That will give 500 ml for $4.60.  It is a nice thick inexpensive balsamic that works.  Which is fine for me at this point in my life.