First of all, let me say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY (early) TO ithildyn! ^_^ Cabana boys all around!

Second of all, let me tell you that I still don't have reliable internet access. I go for days without it and then only have it for minutes or sometimes an hour at a time. The last tech said (again) it's all on the main lines and that maintenance is the one that has to repair it. When I called back days later and asked for a supervisor, the girl said that maintenance tickets are worked in the order they are received, there is no way to know when they will be done. I asked her if it was going to be another month before I had service again and she said she doubted it. She was so very unhelpful and wouldn't let me speak to a supervisor. If it's still not cleared up by Tuesday (which will be another week since the tech was out to my house), I'm not backing down from speaking to a supervisor. I really don't understand why they don't f&*(ing fix the line. I think the only reason it's working right now is because it's raining.

In other news, my 1995 Escort finally died on me the night before July 4th. She needed a new engine (dealership quoted $4400), and since I'd owned her since she was new and had spent thousands of dollars on her already and she had over 119,000 miles, I decided to get a new car. I now own a 2008 Ford Focus SES. I really wanted to try to get a Honda Civic Hybrid, but they cost too much for me right now. This Focus is loaded, though, and the payment is more than I expected, my whole paycheck, but Bana said he would help me, so I should be able to make it. It turns out my huge employer has a deal with Ford so I got a small (and I mean small) discount. I'm not sure if I got ripped off in my discount, or if the invoice versus MSRP really was that low, or what. Oh well, savings is savings.

So, as per last time, I'm still behind on lj. I'll try to catch up and make a comment or two as my connection (hahahahahahahahahahahahaha) permits.

And you didn't even notice I was gone!

I've been offline since June 10th, due to complications from the tornado. My cable internet has been out since then. My modem has mocked me, blinking forlornly on the second or third light...sometimes brightening all the way down to the amber light and pretending to be connected for a second or two, just to taunt me.

I've been on the phone with Bright House Networks so many times and had techs out that it's ridiculous. My cable tv is working, but the picture rolls on some channels or is fuzzy. It's all related to the storm and debris on the main line...which of course, they tell me after dispatching tech after tech and switching out the lines outside and so on. At least I'm getting a refund on part of my high-speed internet bill. TV is still not fixed.

Bright House is my cable company and Road Runner is my ISP. Road Runner conveniently shut down my secondary e-mail account after it must've reached the maximum amount of e-mail. When I could finally get back online yesterday, I tried to download e-mail, only to get weird error messages about my password in Eudora. (Shh, yes, I still use that program.) I had to go to RR's website and mess around until I discovered that my secondary e-mail was set to inactive. I'm on a few active yahoogroups, so I had to reset my subscriptions, where I discovered that yahoo set my mail to receive their "new and improved" craptacular individual mail, instead of the traditional version I had selected before. It's all a pain in the ass to fix, but I've done it.

So now I'm trying to play catch up on lj. I don't post much anyway, so I doubt any of you missed me, but just in case you were wondering where I was, now you know. ^_^

There was a tornado that hit the night after my birthday last week. My house was spared, but my neighborhood was not. An apartment complex and businesses nearby were demolished and many trees were uprooted and other things damaged. Our power was out for three days. banazir happened to be in town visiting me, so he and I kept going to the store to get ice for my coolers to keep my insulin cool. (I get three-month supplies from my insurance company.)

My cable and thus internet was out all week and just came back tonight, so I was unable to report. banazir went back to his summer teaching job during the week in Illinois and managed to set me no mail from my mailing lists, but I didn't have him post to lj for me.

I naturally haven't been able to keep up with anything, so I hope you're all well.

When I was getting my glasses prescription, the girl at the doctor's office said, "But you're too young to have cataracts!" Uh, yeah, but I had them, so let's move on, hmm? Diabetes can do that, I've been told, which I told her.

I got the exact same reaction from the optician at Lenscrafters. She looked skeptical, though, like I was trying to run a scam. Yeah, me and the fogeys at the retirement home are trying to pull one over your company and get a discount on bifocals. Woohoo! I also nicely had to explain to her about diabetes and cataracts, and I threw in my retina damage too. Then she became suddenly more sympathetic.

* * * *

I balanced my checkbook from April finally.

Each month, with the feds' continuing to cut the interest rate, my savings account interest dwindles and dwindles and dwindles...but this time was a worse joke than ever. I might as well pull my money out and keep it in a jar under the house. My interest rate at my credit union is now...*drumroll*...0.75%. Yes! Seventy-five hundredths of a percent! Pitiful.

* * * *

It's funny how my savings account interest is reduced to nothing, yet my credit card companies never reduce my interest rates.

I finally got my new glasses. All $440-something worth (after discount). I'm always in sticker-shock at the cost.

You'd think since my vision is better now that I've had my cataracts removed (lenses are thinner now), that my glasses might be cheaper, but they're not. Since I have to get bifocals now, they are still expensive. The girl at the doctor's office recommended progressive bifocals since I work at a computer all day, so I got those, which are more expensive than regular bifocals, but they have no line showing where the bifocal is versus the distance part of the lens.

It turns out my bullshit little discount from the insurance doesn't work at the doctor's office (my insurance doesn't cover frames or lenses at all, just gives us a small discount), so I had to go to Lenscrafters to get my glasses made. I also have AAA for my car, and they have a 30% discount at Lenscrafters, which probably would've saved me more, but I forgot to ask to compare. Oh well.

I have Burberry frames, which came with a nifty Burberry plaid hard case. I was despairing of finding any frames I liked in the store, but luckily I did. I didn't know what I was going to do if I couldn't find a frame, because I don't think they order anything for you at Lenscrafters. There are some other national chains that take the Aetna discount that I could've tried, but none of them are "made in one hour" places and I was hoping to have my glasses quickly. It's been a bit annoying, having to switch between my old, now one-lensed pair of glasses (which I took out the right lens of, since the prescription of it was worthless for my newly interoccular-lensed eye) and my reading glasses.

Now I just have to get used to reading basically from the bottom of these pair of glasses instead of through the whole lenses, and to wearing glasses all day and night again. Since I started having problems with my eyes from the retinopathy and other things in 2003, I pretty much gave up wearing glasses while at home because they were useless to read or watch tv with. Now I need them again! LOL. ^_^

(I have no problem with glasses. I've been wearing them since I was around five or six years old in Kindergarten or first grade.)

First off, I looked at my insurance statements online. My out-of-pocket costs for my cataract surgery look to be a little over $1000, to three different places. Not as bad as it could be. I'll probably start getting those bills later this month.

Secondly, after five years of getting routine lab tests (like blood and urine) for free under various Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, under my new insurance (Aetna), I've discovered that I have to pay part of the costs for labs. I'm not too happy about this, but I guess it's just the differences in insurance companies and/or coverages.

Thirdly, following my primary care doctor's advice, I've finally started exercsing again, slowly, walking a few minutes every day. I'm up to 15 minutes, 7 days a week this week. This combined with the blood pressure med she has me on (also to help protect my kidneys) had my bp reading at 98/64 today. She was very happy with me.

Fourth, my happy bread icon is for my A1c results. I've been on Topamax for the last couple of months, which is a migraine drug which I am taking solely for its side effect of appetite suppression and to help me lose weight. I'm slowly losing weight...too slowly to even really mention, but I'm also able to watch my diet a lot better, which is leading to my having much better blood sugars. My A1c (a test that averages your blood sugars for the past couple of months) came out quite well.

As a little background, endocrinologists want diabetics to keep their A1c results at 6.5% or lower to help reduce their risk of complications. I already have a lot of complications, but I don't want more. My A1c over the past few years has hovered at 6.5. My readings on my home meter have been pretty good lately, so I was hoping my A1c would be down a point or two. I was very surprised when my endo told me 5.9! At my lab the range for "normal" is 4.8 to 6.0, so I'm doing pretty well and no longer in the "high" range for a change.

Lastly, my cataract surgery itself went well. I haven't posted much about the aftermath, but I felt disappointed when I took off the bandage. Because of my retinopathy, the blood damage to my retina and vitreous being so cloudy, I still can't see that well out of my right eye. It's cleared up more now that it's been over a week, though, which I'm grateful for. The first morning, everything looked yellowy-orange and still almost as cloudy as before the surgery and I couldn't believe I had wasted my time. I have to wait three more weeks before I can be tested for a new prescription and bifocals, so I get around to drive with the left eye from my old glasses (I wear the glasses but took out the right lens) and a pair of cheap reading glasses to read with.

All right, that's it. I don't think I've said this much in a long time. ^_^

At least at Huntington Banks' ATMs, if you wait too long to take your money out of the machine, it takes it back and tells you to speak to someone at the bank later.

I was dumbfounded.

Then I was angry.

Then I felt stupid for taking too long.

I was arguing with my mother about something unrelated and petty, which is why I didn't grab the money in time. It's her account, and we were at the drive-up (she can't drive), and the branch was already closed. She'll have to go there Monday and talk to them about getting her money back. Luckily she had more money in her account, so we were able to withdrawal more and actually get some this time.

I still feel like an idiot. At least now I know to grab the money out of the machine quickly. :P

I have, so far, survived my right-eye cataract surgery. I had to be at the surgery center at 6:30 AM and was home by 8:30. The surgery itself took about 10 minutes; the recovery about 5. I've napped most of the day. My eye is still covered by a bandage, but I get to take it off in the morning, and start my round of three different drops, and go to work. Follow up appointment is in the afternoon.

Thank you for those who wished me well. ^_^

So far, I'm not in any pain and my eye doesn't feel itchy, although they said it might. Tylenol is all I'm allowed to take.

I got into the "Director's Club" at work again for March. This is the highest level group, too, based on scorecards -- not only are you in the so-called "Employee of the Month" group (aka "Soaring Eagles") [who comes up with these names???], but you get a $50 Visa gift card too.

Like I said before, I don't like mentioning these things, because I'm scared of jinxing them, but I guess I should brag on myself a little, sometimes. ^_~

As far as the eyeball update, on Monday the 28th, I'm finally having my right eye cataract removed. Yay! Three years after I was scheduled for the surgery before, I finally get to have it. My retina doctor said my retinas are stable enough right now, so here we go.

It's funny, but the regular ophthalmologist's assistant asked why I had cataracts when I was so young. I told her that her boss or my retina doc had told me it was because of the diabetes. I couldn't remember which of those two eye docs it had been. After five years of seeing both of them, no wonder I can't remember. All I know is I had one cataract removed in 2004 and I want the other out now so my vision isn't so damned cloudy. The retinopathy blood in the right eye will still be there, but at least the cataract cloud will be gone. Insurance will only pay for distance lens implants, so I'll need bifocals, but that's okay. At least I'm still not blind yet!

ETA: I forgot to post about the earthquake. I guess it's because I didn't even feel it. LOL. It's all the news talked about this morning and the radio on the drive in to work. They were saying it was 5.4 but now the AP says 5.2. Whatever it was, I didn't even feel it, although I think it might've woken me up. No one here was hurt, but I guess the epicenter in southern Illinois got some damage. We're not used to getting these things here in the Midwest.

Friday I had my laser surgery with the retina doctor. Normally it hurts like a bitch, but this time he said, "With all you've been through, this will be a breeze." I thought he was bullshitting, but he told the truth. Didn't hurt at all. The injection in my right eye from six weeks ago worked too, now I can finally get this damn cataract removed. I need to call up the eye doctor and see if I can just make an appointment again, after three years, or if he'll need to see me again first. (The retina doc made me cancel the surgery three years ago because of retinal bleeding and swelling.)

I don't like to talk about it much for fear of jinxing it, but work seems to be going well. My boss got promoted so now the training lady is my team's manager. She's more of a stickler for following procedure, naturally, which kinda sucks, but oh well.

I put together a media shelf for some of my dvds today. It came with glue and I couldn't figure out why, but then as I was putting box sets on the shelves, the shelves collapsed, so I figured I was supposed to glue the shelves in place -- even though they are supposed to be adjustable. The directions didn't say, or rather show, since there were no words at all.

This computer is over five years old. At the time I bought it, I remember thinking I'd never fill up an 80 GB hard drive. (I was upgrading from a computer with a 6 GB drive, after all.)

Well, this morning, after my last few years of mp3 and anime downloading, I've managed to completely fill up the disk. So I'm deleting programs I never use and planning to move some of the media files over to DVD. banazir installed a DVD burner for me last summer when he was here so I'll be able to use that, at least.

Amazing how you manage to collect stuff in real life and virtual that just fills up your space. I have too many books, CDs and DVDs, and now too many media files. *wah* LOL ^_^

Seen on figgylicious.

Which sci-fi crew would you best fit in with? (pics) created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Serenity (Firefly) You like to live your own way and don't enjoy when anyone but a friend tries to tell you should do different. Now if only the Reavers would quit trying to skin you. Serenity (Firefly) 75% Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix) 69% Deep Space Nine (Star Trek) 69% Moya (Farscape) 69% Babylon 5 (Babylon 5) 69% Millennium Falcon (Star Wars) 63% Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica) 56% FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files) 50% SG-1 (Stargate) 50% Bebop (Cowboy Bebop) 50% Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda) 50% Heart of Gold (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) 44% Enterprise D (Star Trek) 44%

Visited my retina doctor today. Vision is holding stable, as usual, which is good. I don't think there are any new bleeders, or at least he didn't mention that, but there is fluid build-up again in my left eye, which he wants to laser, and I had a shot on my right to ease swelling.

I would've had the laser done today, too, but couldn't because I drove myself. My dad's cousin's wife, who's been taking me lately, didn't show up, so I had to drive myself and ended up late. Mom said she showed up about 5-10 minutes after I left the house. Her excuse was it takes 10 minutes to get to the doc's office from my house. It takes at least 20-25, if the traffic is good. It took me about 30. She's an older woman and a bit ditzy at times. I'm pissed. Not to say I'm not grateful for her driving me all these times, but damn....

Driving home with dilated pupils and an extra-blurry right eye (which is my worst eye anyway), let me tell you how fun that was. Luckily for me, I know the route very well, so don't really need to see the road signs to know where I'm going. At least I made it home in one piece.

My eyeball hurts and there's a little red dot where the needle went in. I have to use antibiotic drops four times a day for four days to make sure I don't get an infection. I think I might go take a nap now.

I just finished my taxes. As usual, I'm getting a federal refund, but just like last year -- and for the same reason -- I owe the state of Indiana. Damn unemployment insurance. I had them take out federal taxes on it while I was getting it in late 2005 and early 2006 but they don't offer an option for state.

I owed the state over $800 for 2005 taxes but for 2006 I only have to pay them $36. Still, it's annoying. They pay such a small amount of money for unemployment to begin with, and then we still have to pay both the feds and the state taxes on it? You'd think it should be exempt somehow.

I went on a quest today. I was mainly shopping for a new wallet. I used to like the Princess Gardiner that JC Penney's carried, but they no longer sell that brand. I also checked out Macy's and $180 (on sale!) wallets at Von Maur. No luck.

Since I was in the Von Maur, where I never shop because I'm too intimidated by the aura of expense, I decided to check out the Women's Department, aka the Fat Ladies' Clothes. You'd think that there might be some nice-looking clothes for fat women at the higher price ranges. Think again. The designs look the same as what is at Sears, Penney's, Kohl's, and even Wal-Mart, only they cost way more. Butt-ugly stuff. Absolutely nothing I liked. It's sad.

Wow, I haven't posted since the end of November.

Toby, my bird, seems to be fine. His feathers are growing back. I try to avoid falling asleep on the couch as much, so as far as I know, the stupid cat hasn't been jumping on top of the cage.

Work is going fine. Some days are crazily busy, but most days are smooth, which I like. I finally got my insurance cards all straightened out and for the first time in over a year didn't have to write a credit-card check for $300+ dollars for COBRA coverage. Yay! The only thing that sucks is that our copays seem to have gone up from what we were advertised, but $20 or $40 per visit is better than $300+ per month plus $25 per visit.

For Christmas, my mother spent way more money than she should have (although she won't, of course, tell me how much) and bought me a huge Dooney and Bourke purse. It holds everything I need to carry, so I'm glad to have it, but I feel a little showy having an expensive purse in my basically blue-collar neighborhood. Oh well.

Two of my three sisters gave me money, and one gave me an anime DVD called Paprika, which I haven't watched yet. I have dozens and dozens of DVDs I've purchased but haven't watched yet. That's why I quit subscribing to Netflix, because I never had time to watch anything. I'm so tired when I come home that all I basically do is eat and sleep. Sometimes I take 30-60 minutes out to read e-mails and/or lj. I'm so exciting, I know. :P LOL

I used to be able to listen to CDs on a boombox at my last job, but not at this one. At this one you have to have ear phones, can only listen from one ear (the other is for the telephone), and have to have your own power source. The cheapie boombox I had didn't have a jack for earphones and ran on electricity, so also for Christmas my boyfriend got me an mp3 player with FM tuner. I finally took it to work yesterday. The ear buds sound good but hurt my ears. I think I'll have to get a smaller pair. I realized that I need to rip most of my CDs or at least favorite songs.

I got a small raise starting this year. I was surprised I got one, since I just started in September, but I did. It's...wait for it...$0.11. Yes, 11 cents. I'll try not to spend my 88 cents a day all in one place. At least this place's raise system is basically automated, unlike the last place I was at. Also, reviews seem to be more mandatory here, so you have a better idea of how you're doing.

That's it for my update. I hope everyone has a great 2008.

I think my bird might be dying.

The cat jumped on his cage about an hour ago, as he does sometimes for attention. The bird started flailing around, as he does when the stupid cat scares him. But this time went on longer than normal, and the bird was breathing really hard. I ended up getting him out of his cage, and he never normally lets me touch him. At first I thought he'd broken a claw, but they seem to be okay now. He's lost a lot of feathers, though, and his wings look funny. He finally calmed down and I put him back.

He's 14, which is getting old for a cockatiel. Some live to be 20, though. The damn cat is getting old too, at 13. You'd think, since he grew up with the bird always around, that the cat would leave him alone, but no.

I don't know what to do with the cat. He keeps shitting all over the house lately. His litter is clean, so it's not because it needs to be changed. I guess he's getting incontinent in his old age?

I don't want to lose either animal, and thinking of them dying then leads me to think of my mom. She's 78, as I've said before, and in decent health, but you never know what will happen....

Now I probably won't be able to fall back asleep. Lovely way to start a Thursday, all morbid and teary-eyed.

You never realize how much you enjoy having hot water until your water heater goes out.

The heater itself was still under warranty, so it got replaced for free, but the labor was $316. *thud*

Seen on otterevil:

Your Quirk Factor: 57%

You're a pretty quirky person, but you're just normal enough to hide it. Congratulations - you've fooled other people into thinking you're just like them!