| (no subject) |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|03:40 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  worried | ] |
WHERE IS MY BOYFRIEND?
:( |
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| bag lady |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|02:55 pm] |
Just added some new bags to the site!
   
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| Bob Esponja |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|02:36 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | 97232 | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  bitchy | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | The Presets, "Girl and the Sea" | ] |
Peter and I went to see a dentist this week. It went pretty well. I was nervous because we loved our St. Louis dentist a LOT so nobody will ever match him. But this place was a frigging spa. Like I was offered a paraffin wax hand treatment and aromatherapy temple massage along and followup warm towel with my teeth cleaning. And the dentist did the whole appointment, not a hygienist. That was interesting and nice.
But this story isn't about the dentist. This is about healthcare. Peter and I have private healthcare that we fund ourselves, as we are self-employed. In case you did not know, you pay a premium for substandard healthcare if you don't have a cushy group benefit plan with a "real employer". MATH TIME!
Our bill (as an insured patient): $544
What insurance paid: $194
Out-of-pocket costs: $350
$350 for just a check-up and cleaning (for both of us)? After insurance? Hella steep dudes.
I paid this bill while Peter was still getting his cleaning done. As I sat waiting for him, thumbing through my policy to book to make sure that figure was right (it was), I heard the receptionist answer a call. The caller (god bless them) was inquiring about the cost of a cleaning without insurance. I heard her say $63.
After she got off the phone, I walked to the desk, apologized for eavesdropping, and asked her if I heard right. She confirmed. "So it would be cheaper for us to pay as an uninsured?" "Yes." I asked her if we could please pay as uninsured (get a refund for our overpayment) and after checking with the dentist who said it was coo, she did.
Our bill (as an UNinsured patient): $164
and thus, out-of-pocket costs: $164
translation: we saved $186 (jodamil what's the percent we saved?) by not using insurance.
This is just fucked in so many ways. I don't blame the dentist office as this is simply how the entire healthcare industry in America works. FUCKED.
How does a medical provider get off charging MORE for the exact same service just because they know you have insurance? How is that legal? It's like going to the grocery store and saying this box of Cheez-its is $2, but if you have a 50-cent coupon, it is $4.
I am considering canceling the dental part of our healthcare plan. But the downside is that we had to be enrolled (read: paying) in our insurance for 18-months to even be eligible for coverage on high-level procedures like root canals or implants of which Peter needs both. So I have to figure out whether its worth it to stay on.
It's fucked that from now on I feel like I will have to ask for a price with insurance vs without, to figure out if I even want to use this insurance we are paying over FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR for.
Obama can you fix this? |
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| Hey shortie! M'shortie! |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|02:34 pm] |
This photo was taken back in June or July, and I'm wearing 3 inch heels. I don't notice how tall Lindsey is when I'm working with her. Wow she's an amazon princess!!
(ugh my hair's so yellow, they were still perfecting the right formula to whiten it. It's white now phew!)
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| Holiday for Her: Books |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|08:58 pm] |
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http://dooce.com/2009/12/04/holiday-her-books Wow. Ok. I might have jumped in a bit over my head with the gift guide thing because I have done nothing else for the past week but look at amazing things online (well, in addition to all the other stuff I normally do, the usual professional blogging stuff, you know, WHINING). And I realized that the gift guide suggestions for someone who is buying stuff for someone like me was like my hair during my book reading in Portland back in March: OUT OF CONTROL. I got going with the curling iron, and next thing you know I couldn't stop, and there I am in front of a large group of people reading passages from my book looking like Medusa had climbed on top of my head and taken a yawping crap.
So I'm breaking up the gift guide into several parts. The first one: books. All of these are ones I have read or plan to read in the next several months. I don't think you could go wrong with a single one. And yes, most of these are female authors, that wasn't intended, it's just how it happened, although I can see some dude looking at this list and going, wow, what a bunch of vagina.
1. Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures Amanda Blake Soule $14.93
2. Kirtsy Takes a Bow: A Celebration of Women's Online Favorites Laura Mayes $16.47
3. The English American: A Novel Alison Larkin $10.20
4. The Alternative Hero Tim Thornton $18.21
1. Rockabye: From Wild to Child Rebecca Woolf $10.85
2. Rage Against the Meshugenah: Why it Takes Balls to Go Nuts Danny Evans $10.20
3. Hungry Monkey: A Food-Loving Father's Quest to Raise an Adventurous Eater Matthew Amster-Burton $15.64
1. Wife in the North Judith O'Reilly $11.66
2. i am neurotic: (and so are you) Lianna Kong $9.35
3. Who by Fire: A Novel (P.S.) Diana Spechler $12.71
1. Road Map to Holland: How I Found My Way Through My Son's First Two Years With Down Syndrome Jennifer Graf Groneberg $5.60
2. Believe Me: A Novel Nina Killham $11.70
3. The Handmaid and the Carpenter: A Novel Elizabeth Berg $8.00
4. Hell Is Other Parents: And Other Tales of Maternal Combustion Deborah Copaken Kogan $10.49
5. Notes from the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life Quinn Cummings $11.99
1. Hillbilly Gothic: A Memoir of Madness and Motherhood Adrienne Martini $14.49
2. The Gastronomy of Marriage: A Memoir of Food and Love Michelle Maisto $10.20
3. Just Like Family: Inside the Lives of Nannies, the Parents They Work for, and the Children They Love Tasha Blaine $16.50
4. Songs Without Words (Vintage Contemporaries) Ann Packer $10.17
5. The Middle Place Kelly Corrigan $4.65
by dooce in Daily © Armstrong Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Originally
published by Heather B. Armstrong for dooce.com as Holiday for Her: Books. This post
cannot be republished without express written permission. |
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| Sprinkling powdered sugar on a cake |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|04:13 pm] |
I had this idea to ice a cake in blue, then decorate it with a white snowman. I thought it might be a cool effect to cut some circles out of paper and use them as stencils for the snowman's body, and shake confectioner's sugar into the circles to make the snowman. Would the sugar stick well enough to show up? Would it just sink into the buttercream and disappear? Am I better off just piping the snowman?
Your thoughts and advice are appreciated! |
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| Paper Anniversary |
[Dec. 5th, 2009|06:37 am] |
Hello
A little while back Paul and I had our first Wedding Anniversary. We have two of them, the “when we met” one, which is eighteen years now and the Wedding, which was our first, traditionally the gifts should be of paper.
I knew exactly what I wanted to give Paul and I was so very, very lucky as to be able to get it. I asked Amy Earles “Wool and Water” if she would consider doing paper dolls of Paul and me in our wedding outfits and she agreed! I knew it would be beautiful, but it was so much more beautiful than I expected.
The detail is amazing and the cute little personal additions like Paul’s spotty socks and my doll carrying a little “Christina the Bride” Blythe doll were lovely. I was blown away by them, wanting to touch but afraid to in case I damaged their miniature perfection. I can’t say thank you enough Amy, they are so very special to both of us.
I have been keeping this vintage black wooden frame with carved hearts for probably a good ten years now, waiting for something just right for it and now it has its perfect match. ( Read more... ) |
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| red |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|12:41 pm] |
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| CRAFT FAIR SEASON!!! |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|03:22 pm] |
It is certainly craft fair season, and while I would LOVE to post about every fair that is happening this weekend, it would be impossible!
I'd suggest checking out Hello Craft's fair roundup, which features shows all over the country. You'll find Sampler contributors at just about every one!
Personally, I'll be at the Boston Bazaar Bizarre this weekend, and cannot wait to do some shopping!
If you can make it too, you'll see the following Sampler contributors:
atomsatwork accessories
Button Collective
the Crafty Scientist
Egg-A-Go-Go
ex libris anonymous
girls can tell
Happy Owl Glassworks
Jaime Zollars
Karalee Designs
Monkey Chow
My Paper Crane
My Sunset Road
Repeat Press
Saint 9
sew mary ann
The Small Object
thimblewinder
thirteenthstory
traveling rhinos
and zeal: handmade home
now, that's an amazing group of crafters... |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|01:30 pm] |
and now, the words to:
********The Time
Chili Sauce********
______________________________
.... (Ah, good evening Mr. Day. Two for dinner?)
Yes, give us one of those little sexy tables in the back.
.... (Oh, I'm sorry Sir, those are all taken.)
Jerome ...
.... (Urgh! I think maybe we can arrange it, Mr. Day.)
Thank you so much.
.... Oh Morris, was that necessary?
Jerome...
.... OK, OK, I'm sorry.
.... (Right this way, Sir.)
You know, this is an exciting establishment you have here.
.... (What I wouldn't give for a broken bottle.)
I can't hear you, what'd you say?
.... (I said ... I said, Yes, we're remodeling
Mm, hmm.
.... (Cocktails before dinner?)
Yes, two Pina Coladas.
.... Make mine a virgin.
.... (OK, will you be having a virgin as well?)
Yes! For dessert! Ha ha ha ha ha!
.... (Sir, I'm afraid I don't get it.)
Say, do you know how to do the walk?
.... Why? Certainly everyone can do the walk.
Well honey, why don't you just walk your ass to the other side of the room?
.... (Fuck you too.)
Ah my dear, it's rough at the top.
Jerome? Ehem, get your pad and pencil. I think it's gonna be kinda right.
If my judge of character's correct, it's gonna be by the letter tonight.
Now stop me when I get to 17.
Excuse me, baby.
I bet you didn't know I had a piece of this restaurant, did you?
But it looks like I'm gonna have to buy the whole thing and fire that man.
May I taste that?
Excuse me, that's kinda weak. Here, try mine. You know...
.... Good God!
They say that saliva is an aphrodisiac.
You look so lovely tonight.
.... Why? Thank you.
Probably even better under exotic red lights.
I wish you could see my home, it's... it's so exciting.
In my bedroom, I have a brass waterbed.
.... Really?
Mm hmm. It's just surrounded by plants and lights and shit.
And all kinds of little erotic artifacts. We could have breakfast in bed.
.... Oh!
I have an Italian cook. Jerome Sa ... Sa ... Sagagagracci or something like that.
It's funny, your eyes when you stare at me like that. It causes my ... my stomach to quiver.
Oh Lord!
Do you like diamonds?
.... Mm, hmm!
Yeah?
.... Yeah!
I know it's rather masculine, but try this one on.
.... Wow!
My God darling, it fits. You must have strong hands.
But they're so soft. Like the oils in my morning bath.
.... (Somebody help me)
Darling?
.... Yeah.
I'm not usually so forward, but ... would you like to make love to me?
.... Hmmm?
I ... I could make it so nice.
Do you know what is meant by the words, uhh...? I hate to use them.
They're ... they're so harsh, so american. You know what I mean?
And yet on the other hand, they're exciting words. The words, Chili sauce
Oh Lord!
You know, I haven't made love in so long.
But with you, I know it would be just like riding a bike.
I'd remember everything I've ever learned.
Baby, if the Kid can't make you come, nobody can.
.... ((Morris ...))
Yeah.
.... ((17.))
Oh, um ...
What's it gonna be, baby?
.... Chili sauce.
Oh Lord! |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|10:33 am] |
it's been busy,busy,busy,around here! i've gotten most of the christmas shopping done and other presents have been made. there's still alot to do and i really should try to get some of these things wrapped or i'll get confused and misplace them. *giggles*
things have been busy with the boy,he brought home an almost straight A report card,(one B),and his dad and i are very proud of the hard work he's been doing. he'll,(nick),will be starting a college class in february,he had wanted to take a couple of classes,but i thought one is plenty right now and i really don't want him to take on too much. it was funny when i went down to the college to pay the fee the girl asked for his date of birth,when i told her she asked me if i was sure about that! o_O um,yeah i was kinda there at the time! i told her he was only a junior in high school and had gotten the paperwork signed to take the class. she told me i must be very proud of him,....yes i am!
wednesday the hubby and i were on our way home and when i saw that the full moon was up i had him pull over so i could take a photo.
this one was from the street in front of our home. |
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| Winners! Winners! Winners! |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|05:28 pm] |
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http://dooce.com/2009/12/04/winners-winners-winners Time to announce the winners of the Xbox giveaway, and I have been told that I have to announce them as "Potential Winners" due to paperwork and whatnot. Without further ado, congratulations to:
Comment #1961, pwillow1
Comment #792, snaves
Comment #3956, joni l
Comment #241, blender
Comment #5755, Sugar Mama
May your holidays be filled with virtual car crashes and hours lost to unlocking new levels. Of what, I don't know, but IT WILL BE SO AWESOME.
Thanks to everyone who participated, and thank you Microsoft for sponsoring this! Now back to fart jokes.
by dooce in Daily © Armstrong Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Originally
published by Heather B. Armstrong for dooce.com as Winners! Winners! Winners!. This post
cannot be republished without express written permission. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|05:57 pm] |
From yesterday's list, the spot has gone. This leaves me hopefully for the remaining things.
I'm off to bake cakes at my friend Morag's house tonight. In exchange I get curry, it's all part of this event tomorrow where I am also going to be volunteering.
I keep looking at the log I sewed and the little tiny short branch it has looks slightly like the log has an errect penis. I keep making a bad joke "the log has wood". This joke is made worse by the fact that I am not actually saying it to anybody, just to myself.
I've finished watching TP online this afternoon. I think I must have fallen asleep for about 4 episodes the last time I watched Season Two. It's that or I'm just much more observant this time round. I think I was probably a little high when I last watched the whole thing, which was back in about 1998. I also forgot how funny the Andy/Lucy storyline is. And how lovely David Duchovny's legs look in stockings. |
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