The Birthday Girl

Our granddaughter, Bradynn, is celebrating her second birthday today. Because December 7 is also Pearl Harbor day, Henri and I thought it would be appropriate for her name to be Pearl in honor of the historical significance of this day. Her parents, apparently, thought otherwise.

Happy Birthday, Bradynn. We hope you have a special day and a wonderful year. Love from Grandpa Henri and Grandma Ginger.

Christmas Decor

Our street is one of the most highly decorated during the Christmas season. One neighbor, Bogey Bernie, does an especially outstanding display (see picture above of this year's effort) and usually wins one of the holiday contest prizes. Bernie is retired and enjoys outdoor activities. In warm weather, he avidly pursues his major interests: playing golf, washing vehicles, and mowing the lawn. He spends a lot of time golfing at COGC (see picture). He also likes clean vehicles and washes them on an almost daily basis. We have a friendly lawn mowing competition and take pride in our manicured landscapes. Because Bernie is from Kansas, he, his wife, and his sons are all Jayhawk (University of Kansas) fans. (I think a Jayhawk is a cross between a bluejay and a chicken hawk.) Bogey Bernie is a dedicated follower of my blog, and Henri and I both want to thank him and his family for their all year holiday spirit and making our street Candy Cane Lane.

Chili Tailgate

Cold weather and the Salukis playing in Carbondale in the second round of the football playoffs make today the perfect day to tailgate. Ginger gave Henri a day off from his culinary chores and prepared a BIG pot of chili for the party. After being outside for a while, we decided to take it (the chili, not the truck) back in the house and tailgate in the kitchen. It's another "double Dawg" day. The football Dawgs are playing William & Mary today, and the basketball Dawgs will play St. Louis University tonight. Henri and I have a $2.00 bet on each game. I'll post scores later after I win $4.00!

Update: Double Loss - Football Dawgs 3, William & Mary 24; Basketball Dawgs 61, SLU 71. Henri won my $4.00. It's only money.

Medical Bills - Ask Questions!

A bill in this morning's mail determined today's topic. My mother, "Little L," passed away on September 29, 2009 at the age of 101. Mother lived in her home until September 13 when she was taken to the hospital. Although she was in the same hospital room for 16 days, her status changed from inpatient to swing-bed patient and, finally, to hospice patient. The $6,246.75 bill I received this morning from the hospital was for hospice care from 9/26-9/29/09. The message indicated the hospital had not received payment from the insurance company. I knew that hospice only bills Medicare, never private insurance or the patient. When I called the hospital's billing department and questioned the bill, the answer I received was, "That's hospice. Disregard the bill." I had no intention of paying this bill, but I wonder how many people would pay and never question whether the money was owed. If the bill were paid, would the hospital recognize an erroneous payment and refund the money? How long would it be before the "check is in the mail"???

Make Money at Home

In June 2006, two weeks after I retired, I started working part-time in the office of a local lawn service. I work all day on Thursdays and a half day on Fridays. Today and tomorrow are exceptions. Because I have sick days, Tina, the office manager, encouraged me to stay home, get paid, and keep my germs out of the office. I must be feeling better. Today was a no nap day. Laundry and emptying the drawers of a dresser I'm donating to a local church occupied most of my time. This evening will include a ravioli dinner featuring oven-toasted garlic bread made by Henri (pictured above) followed by another viewing of Christmas Vacation. Some movies have timeless humor!

Drugs

With the help of drugs, I am slowly returning to the land of the living. The start of a sinus infection yesterday precipitated a call to Dr. K., and I started the antibiotic last night. I'm feeling better today, but I'm not sure if it is the medication or the psychological effect of knowing I am taking medication. Regardless the reason, I only needed one nap today. I also ventured out in our beautiful weather (cold and rainy) to two banks and Kroger. The first Wednesday each month is senior day at Kroger, and I accompanied my husband/chef, Henri, on the grocery shopping expedition. Those events plus doing one load of laundry and cleaning Rico's cage completed my day. The past three days have been a waste, today was better, and, hopefully, tomorrow will be more productive.

Stay of Execution

My courageous geraniums are living proof of "survival of the fittest." These 99 cent specials from Home Depot have flourished all summer and fall. They don't seem to care that winter is approaching. They survived the 30 degree temperature last night in excellent condition. I intended to uproot the plants and give them an appropriate burial, but they received a temporary stay of execution. If our President can pardon a turkey on Thanksgiving, I can pardon geraniums on Christmas. Maybe geraniums will replace poinsettias as the flowers of Christmas.

Boo, poinsettias! Yea, geraniums!