It's all about me!
I'm playing hooky from work today. Well, it's a pre-scheduled hooky. I had a doctor's appointment at 10:30, which usually lasts a couple of hours because it's a clinic and the doc always runs tests and wants blood, etc. Plus, there's the whole 'I missed my last 6 month checkup'...8 months ago. *grimace* I'm so crappy at calling to schedule things. Such a procrastinator. So, since the trip to the clinic would be about 20 minutes each way and figure in a couple of hours at the clinic, I just decided screw it, I'm taking the day.
I love my doctor. She takes notes on everything (both mental and physical) and enters them into the computer while she talks to you. Then she follows up on comments the next time she sees you. Last time I told her about the promotion at work and the extra stress. This time she mentioned it. She asked if I was still getting a little extra money for a lot more stress. That about sums it up.
To make sure I come back in 6 mo the doc only gave me a prescription for 6 mo of medication. *G* She doesn't trust me. At that time (in Nov) I also have an appointment with the podiatrist. Then there's an eye exam appointment in March. Plus they've set me up for a mammogram and a PAP smear. It's been too long since the last ones. It totally sucks not having insurance, but friggin' Walmart charges out the ass for it. You'd think with such a huge employee base they'd get a better deal, but it's my understanding that not only did the cost go up this last year, there are more limitations on it.
Anyway, before I left the clinic I called to see if I could get in to get my hair cut. Bingo! I was able to drive right over and I was home by 1 pm. *sigh* My clinic appointments have always been on Tues evening (that used to be the only time they were open), but I guess the load has pushed it to Wed during the day, too. I'd love to keep going during the day because there are about 90% fewer people, but I can't afford to take off every time. Plus, I get to see the podiatrist in the same visit next time.
This freaking heat and the drought are just disastrous. True, last year we had excessive rain, but the Missouri River at Napoleon (just east of here), is 27 feet lower than it was at this time last year. 27 feet! Grass, trees and shrubs that don't have deeper root systems are withering away. Hell, the grass is already mostly dead. There was a piece on the news about the fact that a lot of the people with small farms that supply the local farmer's market are having to pack it in this year. Their crops are all dying. This freaking drought is going to wind up jacking up the price of damn near everything.
The one bright note is that I was shockingly surprised (in a very good way) when I got my much dreaded electric bill for July. Because of the new a/c unit the bill was probably 40% lower than I anticipated. Just during a normal Midwest July and August, the electric bill for my little apartment with the old unit probably ran between $150-175 a month, sometimes a little higher. And while I keep it comfortable in here while I'm at home, I don't keep it cranked down. This month? $106! - I was gobsmacked to say the least. Because, besides the excessive heat during the day, it usually stays in the 80s at night, too.
I checked the hummingbird feeder earlier and found that all the water had evaporated and left crystallized sugar in the bottom of the bowl. And it was changed last weekend! I usually just make my own nectar (1/4 c sugar to 1 cup water) but I may get a bottle of concentrate at work tomorrow. Until last weekend I was using the bottle of concentrate that I bought 2 years ago and promptly buried in a box. It gets a little thick, but the liquid doesn't evaporate so easily.
Right now it's only 97 degrees, the same temperature as Abu Dhabi where
khaleesian lives. Of course it's 10 pm there. Hey! the a/c just kicked off. It actually does that now and again. *pets the lovely new a/c*
spasticat in Chicago is still cruising with the nice weather at 85. *yearns* I am definitely not a creature who loves to bask in the heat.
I've been watching the Olympics pretty steadily. I even watched all of the opening ceremonies, something I haven't done in a long time. I did have to switch over and watch Teen Wolf on Mon. I would have continued with the Olympics and caught TW another time, but I just couldn't watch the men's gymnastics competition anymore. The US performance was just depressing as hell. Every athlete and team just has bad luck sometimes, but they just seemed to give up from the get-go. I hope they've got their shit together for the all-around tonight. The ladies, OTOH, just shined last night! I felt so bad for Jordyn Wieber on Sunday night, just heart-broken at missing out on the all-arounds, but she pulled her shit together and led her team to a really impressive victory. I felt for the Russian team, though. They had one of those previously mention shitty days. And watching Michael Phelps get his record 19 Olympic medals and watching the US men's swim team win the 800 m relay and Missy Franklin and others just jazzed me up like nothing else.
I've been gobbling Teen Wolf fic the last few days. There's some excellent stuff out there. If I'm still feeling chatting when I get done making the lemon meringue pie for my friend at work, I'll try and make a fannish post. Something I haven't done in awhile.
I love my doctor. She takes notes on everything (both mental and physical) and enters them into the computer while she talks to you. Then she follows up on comments the next time she sees you. Last time I told her about the promotion at work and the extra stress. This time she mentioned it. She asked if I was still getting a little extra money for a lot more stress. That about sums it up.
To make sure I come back in 6 mo the doc only gave me a prescription for 6 mo of medication. *G* She doesn't trust me. At that time (in Nov) I also have an appointment with the podiatrist. Then there's an eye exam appointment in March. Plus they've set me up for a mammogram and a PAP smear. It's been too long since the last ones. It totally sucks not having insurance, but friggin' Walmart charges out the ass for it. You'd think with such a huge employee base they'd get a better deal, but it's my understanding that not only did the cost go up this last year, there are more limitations on it.
Anyway, before I left the clinic I called to see if I could get in to get my hair cut. Bingo! I was able to drive right over and I was home by 1 pm. *sigh* My clinic appointments have always been on Tues evening (that used to be the only time they were open), but I guess the load has pushed it to Wed during the day, too. I'd love to keep going during the day because there are about 90% fewer people, but I can't afford to take off every time. Plus, I get to see the podiatrist in the same visit next time.
This freaking heat and the drought are just disastrous. True, last year we had excessive rain, but the Missouri River at Napoleon (just east of here), is 27 feet lower than it was at this time last year. 27 feet! Grass, trees and shrubs that don't have deeper root systems are withering away. Hell, the grass is already mostly dead. There was a piece on the news about the fact that a lot of the people with small farms that supply the local farmer's market are having to pack it in this year. Their crops are all dying. This freaking drought is going to wind up jacking up the price of damn near everything.
The one bright note is that I was shockingly surprised (in a very good way) when I got my much dreaded electric bill for July. Because of the new a/c unit the bill was probably 40% lower than I anticipated. Just during a normal Midwest July and August, the electric bill for my little apartment with the old unit probably ran between $150-175 a month, sometimes a little higher. And while I keep it comfortable in here while I'm at home, I don't keep it cranked down. This month? $106! - I was gobsmacked to say the least. Because, besides the excessive heat during the day, it usually stays in the 80s at night, too.
I checked the hummingbird feeder earlier and found that all the water had evaporated and left crystallized sugar in the bottom of the bowl. And it was changed last weekend! I usually just make my own nectar (1/4 c sugar to 1 cup water) but I may get a bottle of concentrate at work tomorrow. Until last weekend I was using the bottle of concentrate that I bought 2 years ago and promptly buried in a box. It gets a little thick, but the liquid doesn't evaporate so easily.
Right now it's only 97 degrees, the same temperature as Abu Dhabi where
khaleesian lives. Of course it's 10 pm there. Hey! the a/c just kicked off. It actually does that now and again. *pets the lovely new a/c*
spasticat in Chicago is still cruising with the nice weather at 85. *yearns* I am definitely not a creature who loves to bask in the heat.
I've been watching the Olympics pretty steadily. I even watched all of the opening ceremonies, something I haven't done in a long time. I did have to switch over and watch Teen Wolf on Mon. I would have continued with the Olympics and caught TW another time, but I just couldn't watch the men's gymnastics competition anymore. The US performance was just depressing as hell. Every athlete and team just has bad luck sometimes, but they just seemed to give up from the get-go. I hope they've got their shit together for the all-around tonight. The ladies, OTOH, just shined last night! I felt so bad for Jordyn Wieber on Sunday night, just heart-broken at missing out on the all-arounds, but she pulled her shit together and led her team to a really impressive victory. I felt for the Russian team, though. They had one of those previously mention shitty days. And watching Michael Phelps get his record 19 Olympic medals and watching the US men's swim team win the 800 m relay and Missy Franklin and others just jazzed me up like nothing else.
I've been gobbling Teen Wolf fic the last few days. There's some excellent stuff out there. If I'm still feeling chatting when I get done making the lemon meringue pie for my friend at work, I'll try and make a fannish post. Something I haven't done in awhile.