Why pay for using fancy exercise equipment when you can get in shape at home? My washing machine broke and I don’t have money to replace it so I now wash clothes in the basement sink. I soak them for a day and do the whole splish-splash thing in the deep tub. Wash in the detergent, drain out the dirty water, rinse and slush, rinse and slosh, add some fabric softener when the water looks clear, stir, and drain. I squeeze out as much water as possible and hang up the drenched clothes to drip into the tub for a few hours. Sometimes I leave them overnight to dry a bit before depositing them into the clothes dryer.
Public laundromats really freak me out. I’ve found some really disgusting things in the washing machines and dryers. Another reason why I didn’t enjoy renting an apartment. Bed bugs are often found in laundromats and I don’t need that extra pain in the bum. Though it is a hassle, I’d rather wash my clothes at home rather then schlep them to the shared facilities. It is quite a workout. My arms, back and abdomen feel the repetitive movement for a couple days.
A friend took pity upon my situation and offered her washing machine for my sheets and towels. I was profoundly grateful and was thrilled to get my linens washed properly. I remember Grandma Daisy saying that the washing machine, refrigerator, and the dishwasher were the best inventions because they freed up so much time. I completely understand and agree.
No more stink.
Copyright © 2013 by Ima B. Musing; All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label no health insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label no health insurance. Show all posts
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
DUEL VISION
Eagle eyes used to me my nickname. As a kid could clearly see and identify objects a lot further than my friends. I still have very extensive peripheral vision. I remember the classroom driver’s education teacher, who was the football coach, being surprised that I could see so far back. He asked why I wasn’t in sports; I had to admit to lack of interest in front of the whole class. Embarrassing.
All was well until I went to college. I began to get headaches while reading. I went to the doctor who said that I should get my eyes examined. As a result, I procured some mild reading spectacles with a correction for astigmatism. I used them all during college and only needed a stronger prescription once. Around the age of thirty I began to notice that distances were starting to get blurry. I procured glasses for driving and long distance viewings, like attending movies.
Around the age of forty it was necessary to obtain reading glasses again. I was able to acquire a pair of standard glasses from the pharmacy. Unfortunately, my need for stronger distance and reading glass prescription occurred after my health insurance ended. I checked around but there are very few options for no or low cost vision assistance for adults in the Twin Cities area. Dial 211 to obtain a referral via United Way’s First Call for Help. www.211unitedway.org or call 651-291-0211 for assistance.
I was accepted by Salvation Army’s Vision Program. They paid for an exam and I had to pay $25 for a pair of glasses. The frame selection was extremely limited but I found a pair that was acceptable. The doctor convinced me that I should wear bi-focals. It took a couple weeks for the glasses to be delivered and the reading portion was too high on the glasses. I had to get them sent back. When they were returned I said that I’d try them out. www.salvationarmynorth.org
I do not like my bifocals. The line of the bifocal is still rather high and I don’t feel safe driving with them. I tried wearing them at work but they were useless because I don’t need the distance correction for the computer screen. They have only proven useful for reading books and watching television. I doubt if the vision program will let me get them adjusted again. I’ll just have to wait to get a full-time better paying job and buy nice glasses.
What a pain in the optical nerve.
Copyright © 2013 by Ima B. Musing; All rights reserved.
All was well until I went to college. I began to get headaches while reading. I went to the doctor who said that I should get my eyes examined. As a result, I procured some mild reading spectacles with a correction for astigmatism. I used them all during college and only needed a stronger prescription once. Around the age of thirty I began to notice that distances were starting to get blurry. I procured glasses for driving and long distance viewings, like attending movies.
Around the age of forty it was necessary to obtain reading glasses again. I was able to acquire a pair of standard glasses from the pharmacy. Unfortunately, my need for stronger distance and reading glass prescription occurred after my health insurance ended. I checked around but there are very few options for no or low cost vision assistance for adults in the Twin Cities area. Dial 211 to obtain a referral via United Way’s First Call for Help. www.211unitedway.org or call 651-291-0211 for assistance.
I was accepted by Salvation Army’s Vision Program. They paid for an exam and I had to pay $25 for a pair of glasses. The frame selection was extremely limited but I found a pair that was acceptable. The doctor convinced me that I should wear bi-focals. It took a couple weeks for the glasses to be delivered and the reading portion was too high on the glasses. I had to get them sent back. When they were returned I said that I’d try them out. www.salvationarmynorth.org
I do not like my bifocals. The line of the bifocal is still rather high and I don’t feel safe driving with them. I tried wearing them at work but they were useless because I don’t need the distance correction for the computer screen. They have only proven useful for reading books and watching television. I doubt if the vision program will let me get them adjusted again. I’ll just have to wait to get a full-time better paying job and buy nice glasses.
What a pain in the optical nerve.
Copyright © 2013 by Ima B. Musing; All rights reserved.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
IRKED OF ILL
Last fall I suffered from a persistent cough. It took about a month for the nastiness to finally depart. No health insurance but I managed to acquire a flu shot and didn’t experience influenza. During March my co-worker was ill and came to work anyway. I am very vigilant about washing my hands but I procured the illness nonetheless. Perhaps I breathed in her infected cough particulates that lingered in the air.
Sneezing graduated to intermittent coughing and progressed to a slight fever and sinus congestion within a few days. My coughs were mostly phlegm related, which is gross. I annihilated a couple nose tissue boxes. The poor cats were initially afraid to be near me in case I exploded. I walked around with a cup or glass to catch the milky phlegm because I never knew when I would start hacking. Yuck! What a disgusting experience. At least the phlegm and nasal discharge weren’t yellow or green, which would indicate an infection. I can’t afford to pay for medication.
No sick leave so I worked a half-day after the symptoms began in earnest. I called Lily, my chiropractor, to cancel my appointment because I didn’t want to infect others. She told me to come into her office anyway. She stuck in some extra acupuncture needles to help boost my immune system. It was extremely uncomfortable to lie on my stomach. I had a couple coughing spells and drooled all over the paper towels that I placed in the bottom of the headpiece. She disinfected the room but I still fear that I may have spread the germs to her other patients.
Lily has been formally trained in Chinese Herbology. She took pity upon my plight and gave me some Gan Mao Ling pills. The small tablets contain six herbs and I am not familiar with any of them. However, modern “western” medicine is largely based in the reproduction of natural substances so it can’t hurt to consume the real herb. They smell and taste horrible but I was willing to try. I know a Native American Shaman and he combines herbology with spiritual healing. He refers to my front yard, filled with native perennials, as my pharmacy. I don’t know the proper application of the plants. I do not attempt to administer them beyond smelling their fragrance. They are still frozen in the tundra right now.
Sadly, I have probably dispersed the germs to victimize others. I had to go to work the next day and suffer through a full shift. I took over-the-counter meds to survive but the non-drowsy version still made me a bit loopy. I didn’t want to take another dose because I was concerned that it would interfere with my drive home. The afternoon was horrible as a result. I managed to make it to my domicile safely. I avoided my regular faith-related gathering because I didn’t want to contaminate my fellow parishioners.
The first week was horrible. My stomach hurt from so much coughing. The skin around my nostrils was rubbed raw from the application of nose tissue. My body ached and I was exhausted from lack of sleep. I had to use my nighttime cold-relief over-the-counter pills that were long expired. Methamphetamine is an evil drug but its cold-fighting ingredient is better than what they use today. I piled up the pillows so that I could rest at an angle. It works better for nasal drainage but I only managed to sleep for a couple hours each night. An intolerable situation.
A friend of mine was worried about me so she called on a regular basis. However, it was usually while I was sleeping. She was kind enough to drop off some goodies since I wasn’t feeling well on my birthday. I usually don’t mind living alone but when I am ill it would be nice to have someone pamper me. I’d love to have another person take care of all the household chores and spoil me. I would do the same for them. Alas, the cats won’t even make me soup.
I had a quiet weekend to focus on recuperation. I kept physical exertion to a minimum and tried to sleep. Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. The symptoms gradually reduced after the second week, despite dealing with recovering from whiplash and having to shovel. After ailing for nearly four weeks, I finally feel better. Not 100% but is easier to function without freaking people out by fiercely coughing and discharging the contents of my sinuses.
Wish me a full-time job with insurance.
© Copyright 2013 Ima B. Musing: all rights reserved.
Sneezing graduated to intermittent coughing and progressed to a slight fever and sinus congestion within a few days. My coughs were mostly phlegm related, which is gross. I annihilated a couple nose tissue boxes. The poor cats were initially afraid to be near me in case I exploded. I walked around with a cup or glass to catch the milky phlegm because I never knew when I would start hacking. Yuck! What a disgusting experience. At least the phlegm and nasal discharge weren’t yellow or green, which would indicate an infection. I can’t afford to pay for medication.
No sick leave so I worked a half-day after the symptoms began in earnest. I called Lily, my chiropractor, to cancel my appointment because I didn’t want to infect others. She told me to come into her office anyway. She stuck in some extra acupuncture needles to help boost my immune system. It was extremely uncomfortable to lie on my stomach. I had a couple coughing spells and drooled all over the paper towels that I placed in the bottom of the headpiece. She disinfected the room but I still fear that I may have spread the germs to her other patients.
Lily has been formally trained in Chinese Herbology. She took pity upon my plight and gave me some Gan Mao Ling pills. The small tablets contain six herbs and I am not familiar with any of them. However, modern “western” medicine is largely based in the reproduction of natural substances so it can’t hurt to consume the real herb. They smell and taste horrible but I was willing to try. I know a Native American Shaman and he combines herbology with spiritual healing. He refers to my front yard, filled with native perennials, as my pharmacy. I don’t know the proper application of the plants. I do not attempt to administer them beyond smelling their fragrance. They are still frozen in the tundra right now.
Sadly, I have probably dispersed the germs to victimize others. I had to go to work the next day and suffer through a full shift. I took over-the-counter meds to survive but the non-drowsy version still made me a bit loopy. I didn’t want to take another dose because I was concerned that it would interfere with my drive home. The afternoon was horrible as a result. I managed to make it to my domicile safely. I avoided my regular faith-related gathering because I didn’t want to contaminate my fellow parishioners.
The first week was horrible. My stomach hurt from so much coughing. The skin around my nostrils was rubbed raw from the application of nose tissue. My body ached and I was exhausted from lack of sleep. I had to use my nighttime cold-relief over-the-counter pills that were long expired. Methamphetamine is an evil drug but its cold-fighting ingredient is better than what they use today. I piled up the pillows so that I could rest at an angle. It works better for nasal drainage but I only managed to sleep for a couple hours each night. An intolerable situation.
A friend of mine was worried about me so she called on a regular basis. However, it was usually while I was sleeping. She was kind enough to drop off some goodies since I wasn’t feeling well on my birthday. I usually don’t mind living alone but when I am ill it would be nice to have someone pamper me. I’d love to have another person take care of all the household chores and spoil me. I would do the same for them. Alas, the cats won’t even make me soup.
I had a quiet weekend to focus on recuperation. I kept physical exertion to a minimum and tried to sleep. Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. The symptoms gradually reduced after the second week, despite dealing with recovering from whiplash and having to shovel. After ailing for nearly four weeks, I finally feel better. Not 100% but is easier to function without freaking people out by fiercely coughing and discharging the contents of my sinuses.
Wish me a full-time job with insurance.
© Copyright 2013 Ima B. Musing: all rights reserved.
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