This is the end of the challenge
My friends
It began with a soaking
My friends, the challenge.
You can read all of the entries
My friends
In an archive
My friends, the challenge.
The 2nd entry
My friends
Was about bicycling
My friends, pedaling hither and yon.
The 3rd entry
My friends
Was about my computing life
My friends, 14 years online.
Continue reading "30 Days of Gratitude Writing Challenge #30: This is the End" »
| | | |
| | |
This evening "Elvira Mistress of Felinity" posted a new poem/song parody (See related link below!).
My Muses, Elvira, Nikita, and I, are all grateful to those who have written poems, songs, essays, articles, and stories, before us, for giving us creative inspiration to write works of our own. :-D
As far back as college and, more recently, 2002 and 2003, the first 2 years I was a blogger, I found inspiration in the works of others to write poems, song parodies, stories, essays, articles, humor, "Onion" like pieces and more.
Some pieces came to me quickly, others tood a few hours, or a couple of days to properly flesh out
The list is a long one, but sharing a few links will give you an idea.
African-American Report Outs Sneakeasy as a Brotha ( Just checked and someone must have finally got the memo! Hee, hee! I might try to write to thank them, and see if I get a reply. :-D )
Maceyugoserbulgarigreekadonians for Borat!
Rock and Roll Icon Digs Parody by Yours Truly!
It's a Long Way to the Prairie and the sequel 100 Word Musings 3: A Snail's Journey Ends...Six Years Later
Proof at Last! I am NOT Brainless!
One of my College Profs, back in the early 80's, gave us an assignment, with certain requirements in style we had to follow, and this was my effort:
Elay Ca. Police Interrogation, in 27 Year Old Murder Case, Uncovered
| | | |
| | |
This is gonna be a short one.
I'm tired after a long day :-D
I went to the nearest County Gold Card Eligibility Center, today, to turn in paperwork to apply for the card for the Harris County Healthcare District.
It usually takes 2 weeks for approval, but when I explained my situation to the lady who took my forms, I was entered into the system in an expedited processing track that will only take 7 business days.
For that I am grateful. (See below for Dec. 3rd & 4th Updates)
There are apparently 4 plans, and if I am approved for #1 or #2 then the County will help me get the treatment I need from MD Anderson.
If approved for Plan 3 or 4, then I will be able to apply for assistance from HEA Foundation mentioned the other day, who will refer me to MD Anderson for treatment.
Entered into the system, as I now am, my Dr. at HEA can refer me to a county Doc at any time, but since I won't know which plan I will be under until Monday morning at the earliest, which will affect what we do next, I still am going to my Monday Appointment for a follow-up, as planned.
The county system is similar to MSI in The OC, where they assign you a DR., and there are co-pays.
How a person with my situation fits in this I will have to await developements.
I'm grateful for a bed to fall in to sleep after a long day, and after all the long days to come.
Next up = 30 Days of Gratitude Writing Challenge #29: The Works of Others
****UPDATE - Dec. 3rd - 345pm****
I was approved for the County Gold Card Medical Program under Plan 2 (Co-pays for clinic, dental prescriptions, emerg. visits, inpatient stays & the like), so the HEA Foundation can't help me, it's up to the County.
I saw my HEA Doc, this morning, and she agrees with me that my left eye, which I'm taking drops for, is better than a week ago.
As for the Right Eye, they called to set me up with a Plan Doc, in another part of the city, not my zipcode, because that would have meant a wait until the end of January.
They made plain this was an expedited case, and got me an 820am appointment in the morning at MLK Clinic (I have to catch first bus at 430am to get there!)
HEA faxed my records to them, and gave me my own copy. They told me to be sure to tell MLK that my DR. says I need to go straight to Ben Taub Hospital Eye Clinic, & nowhere else in between.
She used to work at Ben Taub and knows how the system works.
The idea is to get me in to MD Anderson ASAP to see a particular Doctor whose name they gave me.
When I asked HEA what my bill for today was they shrugged it off and said not to worry about it. :-D
****END UPDATE****
****UPDATE - Dec. 4th - Noon & 2pm****
Referal request sent. Note was made that "Cannot wait for Optometry Process" & why.
I was told I should hear back about an appointment to Ben Taub in 7-10 days if not sooner, and was given the Referal Center Number to call on Friday if I have not heard anything.
If I am declined for some stupid reason then they will send that to me by mail.
2pm - Boy that was quick! Got a call from Ben Taub.... With the Holidays coming up, and earlier appointments apparently booked, they looked at my medical records and set me up with the earliest opening they have --- JAN. 16 @ 1pm
If I had an emergency between now and then that could change.
Only other way is if my HEA Doc has another way to get me in earlier, if she feels my condition can't wait.
****END UPDATE****
****UPDATE - Dec. 5th****
I talked with My HEA Doc's Secretary, today, and she talked with the Doc, telling her what happened up to this point, and my own question about the wait until Jan. if this is so serious.
The upshot is that they asked for my Gold Card Number and are going to see what they can do to get me seen sooner, and will call me back with what happens.
This Doc KNOWS her stuff in her specialty.
****END UPDATE****
****MAJOR UPDATE - Dec. 13th****
What I Know So Far and What Next.
****END UPDATE****
| | | |
| | |
I have long had a peculiar sense of humor.
I think it first reared its head in Middle School, and most definityly in High School.
Before that the only things I remeber doing, in elementary school, that were funny, were funny not to me, but to others, because they were actions not set in motion by any sense of humor on my part.
Among other things I once caught a football, ran head first into the goal posts, and didn't stop running until I reached the nurses office in tears, and with an emerging black eye. :-D
In 8th, 9th, or 10th grade I discovered the Dr. Demento Radio Show, as did several friends, and fellow High school orchestra members, and my sense of humor was influenced by listening to him, and watching the Three Stooges, Groucho Marx, Abbott & Costello, and Laurel & Hardy, on TV.
One incident I remember, from my teen years, occurred when I was 16, and I don't think my sisters have ever fully forgiven me for it. :-D
Continue reading "30 Days of Gratitude Writing Challenge #27: A Peculiar Sense of Humor" »
| | | |
| | |
The story of my Medical Crisis began on Friday, and today I went to Houston Eye Associates for my 2nd visit, and hopefully some answers.
Considering the answers I found I am amazed that I took it all so well, and calmly.
It all began with my finding out that the Docs I am seeing are not among those at HEA who accept my Care Credit Card. This means that not only will I probably have to pay the $247 from Saturday, but I had to pay up $273 up front today. Turns out that Care Credit's website doesn't make any qualifications in their listings of facilities in their network.
That's $520 I can ill afford to spend right now, but it was necessary.
I spent 5 hours alternately sitting and waiting, and then taking various tests, including an Ultrasound, and chatting with the Doctor, and someone in the Billing Dept. advising me on the steps I need to take going forward for them to give me the medical help I will need.
As for what I learned....it's troubling:
Continue reading "30 Days of Gratitude Writing Challenge #26: Eye Specialists " »
| | | |
| | |
Today was an entertaining service at Lakewood Church.
In the aftermath of Thanksgiving it was a morning not just of songs of faith, but a few patriotic songs, and a "Parade of Nations" presentation where children of the congregation, dressed in international costumes, performed on stage, and dozens of adult members of the congregation, paraded up to the microphone to say simple words of praise, dressed in native costumes, and carrying flags of countries around the world.
The guest speaker was Richard Stearns the head of World Vision International Relief Organization.
Stearns was there to promote his book, The Hole in the Gospel, and to talk
about the mission of World Vision, but his message went beyond just that, and
one of the things he talked about was each of us being “A Pencil in God’s Hand”.
As a writer/blogger that line struck a chord with me, and I’m grateful to have been there to hear those words.
A simple Google will turn up that those words were first used by Mother Theresa to describe her, but others, including writers, and bloggers, have explored their meaning in their own way.
Continue reading "30 Days of Gratitude Writing Challenge #25: A Pencil In God's Hand" »
| | | |
| | |
Let me begin with a follow up to my health concern reported yesterday:
I went, this morning, to the main Houston location of Houston Eye Associates (HEA), the largest ophthalmology clinic in the nation.
They looked at both my eyes, and did some tests with machines.
I can't read squat on the charts, with that eye, or even tell how many fingers the guy held up close to my face, it's all such a blur.
There may be a bleeding blood vessel, a vitreous hemorrhage, one of the most common causes of acutely or subacutely decreased vision.
There is the potential for retinal detachment.
The Cornea is fine, the cataract lens looks fine.
A look at the right eye found a large lesion in the preipheral of the retina, but the cornea is also fine.
I have a Monday 1030am appointment to see a specialist for more testing of the left eye, including an ultrasound, in order to learn more, and decide if surgery may be required to fix things.
They will also look at the right eye some more.
I spent $3 for a pillow at Target becaused the doc suggested I sleep with my head elevated on 2 pillows for the next 2 nights, and maybe make the blood, or whatever, decrease on its own a bit.
That's where we stand for now.
This visit cost me $247 to be billed to my Care Credit Card.
Thank you everyone who have shared their concern, and expressed prayers, support, and encouragement as I deal with this.
I am extremely grateful.
The past 30 hours have not been easy to see my way through. A small matter of the "Vision Thing", with my left eye. This eye has been the main cause of my extreme nearsightedness since age 5, and cataract surgery in 2006, a story I once covered on my blog, as a way to edumicate anyone thinking of going thru the same procedure.
| | | |
| | |
Dear Lord I am grateful to you for the strength and courage to have done so many things to improve my life, both personally and creatively, these last 14 years.
I am grateful to you for preserving my eyesight thru cataract surgery, and for helping me survive my own carelessness by healing my broken ankle.
While I know I still need to build strength in that leg and ankle, I have faith that their healing will continue.
I am grateful to you for guiding my thoughts, and actions, these last 2 years toward not only learning new computer skills, but discovering writings, and new friends that have encouraged and inspired me to think about my future in new ways.
I am grateful to you for guiding my thoughts toward building a better future, and finding a new beginning, personally and creatively, and career-wise, in Houston, TX.
Continue reading "30 Days of Gratitude Writing Challenge #23: Dear Lord..." »
| | | |
| | |
I am grateful, this Thanksgiving, for the books of Inspiration that I have read over the past year and a half, and for the set of new ones I've begun reading since coming to Texas.
I have read books by Chris Gardner (and even seen his speak, at an AARP Convention), and Seth Godin (Linchpin, Poke the Box, and Tribes).
Gardner's presentation, a year ago, lead me to take plenty of notes.
Continue reading "30 Days of Gratitude Writing Challenge #22: Books of Inspiration" »
| | | |
| | |
I'm grateful to have survived this day with hair still on my head.
It's been one of those days to make you pull your hair.
I had some issues with my new laptop, on the 13th, and Toshiba Tech Support assured me everything was fixed.
I have not been able to download a program since, including my new Brother Printer, despite calling for tech support from them as well.
Today I told Toshiba that their previous efforts obviously screwed something up, and they needed to fix it.
I sat all afternoon while they tried all sorts of things to sort out the issues.
I had hoped to make one more market run to get a bottle of Veggie Oil for use in cooking tomorrow, and try to find info for making gravy for my mashed potatoes as well.
6 hours for Toshiba Tech Support to tell me there seems to be an issue with Windows on my computer, in the wake of their first effort at "Helping" me back on the 13th.
They say that we must do a full system resptore to "in box" status.
They wanted to call me back tomorrow to do it, but I said Friday because tomorrow is Thanksgiving.
My Carbonite will back up all my files, I believe, and Toshiba says they will talk me thru the reboot, and help me re-install my programs, and install the AMG & Printer as well....
I'm frustrated...Just more time wasted, keeping me from moving forward, with job searching, and writing/blogging. :-(
Just ate dinner, and gonna try to relax, and maybe do a blog post. I had some creative ideas, this morning, and want to see what I can do with them
| | | |
| | |
