Courtney & Pumpkin Boy at the Senior Center on Wednesday
This past Wednesday, the senior center had a Pancake Breakfast fundraiser and I was determined to go. Since my outing to Cracker Barrel on Sept 24, my long covid has been flaring up daily, making it difficult to go out much. But something in me said to not miss this.
I was happily surprised when I walked in and saw Courtney, who once managed the center until moving on to run a senior living facility around 18 months ago. The first time I visited the center in 2023 and met Courtney at their Open House, I thought "Why is someone so young working here?" Five minutes later, she felt like my best friend.
She's as dear as they come and I just learned Courtney and her husband are expecting their second child. 😊💖
This wasn't the only happy surprise--Evvie was there too, I haven't seen her since December. She's had a rough year with health issues, different operations on her eyes for cataracts and glaucoma, and problems with walking because of her sciatica. I really wanted to get a picture of us together, but the last thing she needed was me hounding her. I can't believe how long it's been since I've seen her.
There were others there I haven't seen and missed very much too--Candy Kim, Cussin' Connie, Little Margie, my gal-pal Mary. I was only able to stay an hour or so because of my LC, had to come home and spend the afternoon with a couple ice packs on the right side of my head and face, but I hope to see some of them again in mid-October.
Darn it, I just realized--I was so busy catching up with those ladies, I didn't get any foodie pics of the breakfast! The sausage patties were good but the pancakes were a bit on the wussie side for me. I think I'll do a flapjack blog soon, I call mine "mancakes" for a reason. 😋
On Thursday, it became official--I'm now on Medicare. I got 2 letters in the mail the same day, both from UPMC. The first said "Your UPMC Health Plan Insurance termed September 30--We hope to see you again!" The second letter said "Welcome to UPMC for Life, your Medicare Advantage Plan starts today!"
The second letter included a Mastercard flex card, good for $350 towards dental, hearing or vision services every year. Well, my hearing is pretty good but my eyeglasses are several years old...
Finally, I thought I'd share this--look what just came in the mail.
Yep, my mail-in ballot for the mid-terms. I'm going to fill this out right now and get it in the mail tonight. Being a Dumocrat (Trump's word, not mine) I'm sure you can guess who I'm voting for.
I am not expecting the "blue tsunami" these so-called experts are crowing about, we've seen too many good candidates wipeout in the end. But a fairer balance of power would soothe a lot of nerves, mine included. I'll stay hopeful till the end. 🙏
Dug, that's a really cute pic of you and Courtney. So glad you got to go to the SC Pancake Breakfast. But now I'm looking forward to see your "flapjack" blog! I make what they call British Flapjacks every week or so... but they are not pancakes, they are more like oatmeal granola bars - with chocolate chips and whatever else I want to put in them. Miss your 'foodie' pic, and Welcome to Medicare! And... it's still raining and cool here (hurray!).
ReplyDeleteThank you Rian, I love your feedback! I hope the next time you make those British flapjacks we can see, they sound delicious. And I'm glad you're still enjoying your cooler temps and rain... 😊
DeleteThat's a great photo of you, Doug and Courtney looks like a high school student. Wow! That's a fancy Medicare card; I have two and neither one of them is very nice. Sorry about the LC flaring up but I'm delighted that you're getting out and seeing friends. That's so important!
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret, much appreciated my friend! Courtney knows she looks young, but she's in her 30s--I think. 😉 I do want to get out more, I'm trying...
DeleteSo happy to see that you were able to go out for some food and friendship! I received my ballot today too, and I’m not hoping for a blue tsunami…I want a blue flood, Noah’s Ark style! It’s time for the chaos and madness to be over! Oversight must be exercised and the rubber stamping to please the orange ghoul must stop. Hope your birthday month brings some healing and maybe another adventure or two! I’ve got to get to work filling out my ballot and sending it off! 🌊🇺🇸🗳️
ReplyDeleteJase--thank you my friend, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed and appreciated this.. you are awesome! 😊🤝
DeleteLooking good, Pumpkin Man, even if you had to ice your face afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI would probably be called Melbourne Man, or as my old friend Ronni would have said, New York Man (ie dressed entirely in black).
Catching up with old friends is always good. I’ll be catching up with several on Friday. Well, for two of them “catching up” is probably a misnomer as I had lunch with them a week ago.
I see you’re now officially an old fart, just like me.
Don’t forget to vote early and vote often – old Oz election joke.
Thanks Peter, much appreciated and you're certainly showing your clever side tonight. Thanks again my friend. 😊
DeleteOrange you glad you went to the seniors center, Doug? Reacquainting with your friends there made up for the pain you were going through. Congrats on receiving your Medicare card, old man. Hope your mid term elections go well. Cheerio!
ReplyDeleteSteve from Toronto
Thank you Steve, and aren't you clever as well... yes I was very glad to see my old friends. I really need this LC to go away for good. Thank you for the good wishes regarding our mid-terms, we need it! 🙄
DeleteThat is just about where I am at, Doug. The midterms are not going to fix everything, but if we can get some spines in Congress, it is a good start. I am so, so hopeful. At the same time, I am afraid to hope.
ReplyDelete😱
Thanks for sharing Debby, well said. 👍
DeleteI'm glad to see you out at the senior center! I remember Courtney; I swear she looks younger and younger. Congrats to her and her husband and how great she came to visit you all! Happy to hear Evvie was there too! Hopefully she continues healing from all her troubles and can attend more often.
ReplyDeleteI'm always happy when someone besides me cooks breakfast. Sometimes my expectations are not met, lol.
Congratulations on Medicare. We saved about half of what we paid between 60-65 when we aged in. That flex spending card is nice. Actually any extra is nice in this economy.
I sat through two hours and forty-five minutes of mandatory poll worker training. It is a little ridiculous. I have worked at the machines for so long now that when we reach that part of the training, the trainers turn to me after each step and say "Is that right?". We all get paid to attend. Maybe they are trying to build up our endurance for our 14 hour shift on election day. Early voting in person starts Monday in my state. We have medical appointments on Monday and Tuesday, but as soon as we get the grandkids on the bus on Wednesday we are heading to the Board of Elections. I don't know how many will turn colors, but my thought is a lot of red will just stay home. My ruby red town barely has a yard sign for that party. Previous years the grass was covered.
Good morning Miss Merry and thank you for this wonderful response. You are so right about Courtney! I know she's in her early thirties but could pass for 10 years younger. And what an awesome read this was about you poll work. I really did want to vote in person this year, but I literally have zero clues how each day is going to be because of the LC. But I admire you so much, what you're doing. And you bring up an interesting question, I'll have to ask my sister. But my hometown in the corner of our state has been pro-trump since 2016 and both that year and 2020 they were Maga signs galore everywhere you looked. I would love to know what it looks like down there now. Thanks again Miss M 🙂💙💙👍
DeleteGlad to hear you were able to get to the centre for the breakfast to catch up with your friends. Courtney does look young...though these days, to me, almost everyone does.
ReplyDelete$350 won't go far for vision care - at least it doesn't here. My progressive lens prescription is nearly $900 Cdn and if I buy frames it is even more. Instead I have a couple of old frames and I switch them out...at will do so until one of them is broken beyond repair.
We, here in Canada, are hoping for a blue wave, or at least a more courageous Congress that will stand up to the current administration. This ridiculous trade-war and the insults from the president, ambassador, and others in the executive are creating more friction. We may be polite but we sure aren't push-overs. Good luck!
Maebeme, this was awesome--thank you! I can't believe how expensive glasses are up there, but they're no better here. Three months before I retired I went to the eye doctor and got a new pair because of my eye insurance. But even with the insurance, my own progressive lenses with frames were $700 out of pocket. And that was 7-8 years ago! Anyway, I'm very glad to know that Canada is hoping for a Blue Wave too. I am surprised and grateful that you guys haven't written us off just yet. But I wake up every morning in shock that such an ignorant wannabe tyrant is in our White House. Thanks again.🙂💙
DeleteHi Doug, how wonderful you were able to get out to the Senior Centre! Love the photo of you and Courtney. Sorry you were in such pain afterwards. And you saw Evvie! So sad she is having such difficulties with her health. Maebeme said very well what most Canadians think about your current administration . Glad to read you are voting right away. Take care Doug.❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you Robin, your thoughts are very much appreciated my dear friend. I was glad to see everyone, just wish I could've stayed longer. And yes my ballot is in the mail, they will alert me when they get it. Trump or not, you and I will remain allies always. 🙂 I hope and Chuck are good. 💜🤎
DeleteSo happy to hear you made to another senior center event but sorry you had to exit early! I hope you got on the Medicare rolls soon enough to get the $90 buy-your-vote payout. I'll be shocked if my Blue state even gets them, but if we do, I'll be donating mine to a worthy Deep Blue cause, because my vote is NOT for sale, at least not for a measly $90! 😂😂😂
ReplyDeleteBobi, I've been in a gloomy mood all day--until I read this, you made me laugh out loud! Big thanks my friend, just what the doctor ordered! 😂😂😂
DeleteI got my ballot and am mailing it in tomorrow. Nothing seems to change in FL, so we’ll see. I go to my center on T and Th and really miss my M-W-F gang. I secretly call Thursday “ nursing home” day, no offense to those in nursing homes. 😊.
ReplyDeleteJoyce
Joyce thanks for sharing and good for you and your ballot--I am feeling hopeful about Florida this year! 🙂👍👍
DeleteSo glad you made it to the center! Keep pushing through when you can.😰Courtney is an absolute sweetheart! Looks like you are all set with Medicare! I’ve started my research and have to admit that those Advantage plans are tempting but I’m still leaning toward a Supplement plan. Weighing the pros and cons of both. 🤔 Hope springs eternal? I think you may have borrowed my quote and I loved that you used it! Well actually not my quote but you know what I mean!😉 Kimba🌻
ReplyDeleteKimba, thank you my friend and I am so glad to hear from you. I think about you every day. 🙂 It was great to get out last week, and the week before that, just so tired of these setbacks. As for Medicare, I'll be very curious what you decide, those supplements are expensive! And I didn't know that was your quote, but I can certainly guess why. Hope we can talk soon. 🧡💛💚
DeleteI used that quote in my comment on your previous blog silly!
DeleteHaha you sure did Kimba! You must've planted that in my subconscious! 😄🧡👍
DeleteI must have! The quote is from poet Alexander Pope.☺️
DeleteHi! I followed you over from Miss Merry's blog as your comment today left me smiling. We all have interesting things that happen in our lives and I thought I'd drop by.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had some $$ for some glasses too. This year, I'll use my older and stronger frames for my new lenses.
Not a fan of Advantage plans...but that is only because they are hard to negotiate with when an Advantage Care program's patient is severely ill. Lots of loops and calls to make.
Hi Val, I thought I recognized your name. Thanks for coming over and your comments here and on my LC post. I do like that Miss Merry. 🙂 As for the Advantage plans, they do make me nervous but the one I'm signed up owns half the hospitals here in Pittsburgh, so I feel okay about my plan. I must admit though, I do miss my regular health insurance.
DeleteBut try NOT having one of those plans, and suddenly your husband has a stroke. Medicare pays 80% but 20% is an awful lot of money.
DeleteYou're right Debby, I'm just glad I'm fully covered .
DeleteTimely message, Doug. Last week, I received an email to verify my PayPal, requesting that click on a link and log in. I have never received anything like that before. Looking at the email, I realized that the address was a funky looking string of letters, not PayPal related. I did not click on a link. I did not provide them with my account log in info.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Debby, I see those PayPal ones in my junkbox a lot. I haven't used PayPal since 2005!
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