Friday, September 12, 2025
Another Senseless Murder
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Health Insurance Is A Joke If You're Part-Time
2019: I didn't know I qualified for part-time health insurance until nearly the last minute, so signed up.
2020: Pandemic was in full swing, and only used my insurance when I had my right leg examined, resulting in a compression wrap.
2021: I not only broke my left arm but had to have emergency gall bladder surgery. IU Arnett wrote it off; GSH sent me a bill for $51K. They also informed me that had I NOT had health insurance, the billing office could get me a larger discount. Since I'd already signed up for 2022, that was that.
2022: Applied for assistance, and was afforded a whopping 25% discount, which dropped my gall bladder surgery down to $49K. I still can't afford that. It's more than we paid for our truck!
2023: I had dropped the insurance, and the following month, fell down while at the Indy Christmas Show.
2024: Knee was still swollen, so went to the ortho doc. Since I was now self-pay, I had x-rays and an MRI, which resulted in I just needed more time to heal. Fortunately, I was able to make payments AND move some of it over to my zero-interest medical financing. I also discovered that since I'd dropped my health insurance, I could no longer get the VISUAL testing I needed, since they run it through MEDICAL, something I'd investigated before dropping it, only to be told the wrong info. In October, I signed up again.
2025: All was fine until August (last month!) when another wound opened on the back of my right leg, as a result of my scratching an itch. I went back on the compression. Three weeks later (Aug 22nd), I noticed mild pain in that foot, and attributed it to maybe my new shoes were the issue, and switched back to the old ones. More comfy, though I did notice a rash developing where the pain was. Three days later, that rash became a wound, so I made an appointment with the podiatrist. Over the next week, the pain would get worse, and on Aug 29th, was mock-begging my boss to cut my foot off. Had the next day off, then Sunday the 31st, asked if I could work while wearing one of my house slippers, and Keri told me to wear both of them, which I did, only due to no arch support, my LEFT calf was in agony. Decided to wear one shoe, and one slipper, only I wore my newer shoe, NOT the old one. BUT, I was in so much pain, I was nearly in tears at the end of a 6 hour shift. Sept 2nd, I called in, due to the pain (I had begun taking Tylenol Arthritis 660 mgs every 6 hours, which was hardly touching the pain). After some research, I discovered Aleve or Advil was more advisable for Achilles Tendon pain, so took 4 Aleve at 2pm on Wed Sept 3rd, and by the time I had choir practice, I could walk normally again.
Had my appt on the 4th, and cultures of the wounds were taken, plus tests set up. I managed to make it through my 5 hour shift on Sunday Sept 7th, then was very gratefull to have the 8th off. I also got a phone call from the Wound Care center, saying my precertification for that appt was denied. I could only get PREVENTATIVE appointment, not something possible coded for surgery, of which I had zero knowledge. I was also informed that if I have the tests done on Friday (blood flow assessment and vein echo), I would be responsible for the entire bills; insurance would pay zilch.
SO WHY THE HELL DO I HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, FOR OTHER THAN MY EYES????
Makes NO sense! United Health Care for PART TIMERS SUCKS!
And no, I don't qualify for Medicare for 5 more years, and we make too much $$ for me to go on HIP. So my choices are to keep working part time; give up my other job to go full-time (which at the moment won't work due to my foot); quit and piss off the spouse by having to pay my $1000 every month expenses (bill pay $610, credit card $200; credit card $100; streaming services $17; cover art $200/50 until paid; Patreon $5); keep my job and divorce my spouse (at least on paper!) and qualify for HIP, and continue paying my own expenses.
Or win the damn lottery......
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Totally Disgusting Behavoir
Two weeks ago, our Prez decided to go radio quiet for 2 days.
Dems began speculating he'd passed on.....then VICTORY CRIED over it.
WTH????
You realize if he does unexpectedly pass on, JD VANCE takes over??
Idiots....
*****
In unrelated news, another disgusting development has occurred.
A Ukranian teen was brutally murdered in NC on a subway, train, or bus by a guy who's been caught/released 14 times.
Some IDIOT Dems have created a GoFundMe page for....wait for it....
NOT the family of the murdered teen...
THE DAMN FELON WHO KILLED him/her!
WTH?
Since when do we set up bail $$ for people CAUGHT ON CAMERA committing a crime???
Some people have their priorities upside down.
Is that collider to blame? Are we all living in an alternate universe now, where the bad guys are the protected species? (Yes, I watched an episode of Bones where people were worried about the collider destroying the world. Given the fact people are doing everything to undermine the other half of voting people, alternate universe (see above).
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Here We Go Again.....
Yesterday, the US helped Israel bomb the sh*t out of Iran's uranium mines/resourses/whatever-the-hell-was-going-on.
Dems: You did it w/o Congressional approval! You can't declare war by yourself!
Everyone else with brains in their heads: Iran basically thumbed their noses/flipped the bird at the US, so it was time to show them how we deal with entitled terrorists.
While the victory lap is playing out in the media, I'm just over here wondering what happens if and when they retaliate?
Are we about to embark on WW3?
Does the US in fact have sleeper cells that will wake up in retaliation?
Will gas prices skyrocket again?
Will I ever get my cover art?
What does the future have in store for the rest of this year or even my kids and grandkids?
Breathe....God's got this.
Saturday, June 14, 2025
They Don't Get It.....
July 14, 2025 has been 'declared' by Dems "No More Kings" Day.
All protests, supposedly peaceful, are to support the following:
Saturday, May 31, 2025
I Get It....But It's Frustrating....
Finally heard back from my cover artist this morning, asking if I picture 'Uncle Charles' in a steampunk hat.
My first, knee-jerk reaction (I'd only been awake maybe 10 mins and hadn't had any coffee yet!) was 'No, no no....what part of TOP HAT don't you understand?"
Then I calmed down and took a 2nd look, and told her the 1st one would work.
Then she asked if I only wanted a top hat....so I replied yes, BUT the 1st one would work if she'd already bought it; it was whimsical enough.
But I really only picture him in a top hat. He's an old-fashioned gentleman.
Then the next text was, she's back from vacation on Wed and will finish up.
*needle scratch*
She went on vacation w/o fulfilling a JOB? One that she's been working on since APRIL? And I've been waiting for this for 3 MONTHS now?
I get it; she's only 23. At that age, I would have taken a vacay also.
But it's so frustrating, since I loved everything about the 1st cover EXCEPT THE MODEL!
Wouldn't it have been a simple photoshop remove/replace? Or am I being too simplistic in my approach to cover art?
She wowed me with the Defending Destiny cover, and when I asked her if she'd do the Playing With Time one, I indicated I wanted to release it in March or April.....and now it will be June tomorrow. I already cancelled one major trip, due to my hours being cut and either doing the show with no inventory or cancelling and buying inventory. I opted for inventory.
I guess I'll be showing it off at either Pride or Imaginarium.....
At least Heart Song already HAS a cover....I may go back to Dawne for the Aiden Kross cover and RiKar's story.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Another Eye Roll Moment
I have a friend who is married to a LEGAL hardworking man from the Carribean (I don't remember his heritage...he's a sweet guy and VERY supportive of his wife!).
Today she posted they had decided to cancel a VERY IMPORTANT and long-dreamed for cruise, because now they were worried about border crossing.
A) HE"S LEGAL!
B) If you give into fear, then you're letting FEAR dictate your actions, not FAITH. (oh wait....I don't think they're believers??? Silly me....)
C) From what I understand when my son had booked a cruise, passports were not required, since they were on a registered cruise line, not a yacht.
D) See B.
She also is a major complainer about the price of food; granted, she's battling pre-diabetes and has changed her diet drastically to organic (which costs 3xs as much!) and specialty foods from his native lands that he likes.
She is also a major complainer about her income, and recently was in a panic over having to pay THOUSANDS in taxes....my question was who the hell does her taxes? Granted, I probably pay out less for promo, but if you add in my trips, they probably come fairly close to hers, unless I'm waaaaay off. The only reason we had to pay the past 2 years was a) we lost the child income credit (last baby turned 18); b) we lost $12K in income, due to him falling off SSI; and c) we paid off several thousands in credit card debt with a consolidation loan, not knowing it would count as 'income'. WTF???
***Side Note: This is why I'm trying to keep my CC paid down. They raised me to $800 last year, and I stupidly used it at the Christmas Show, instead of paying down my medical, like I'd planned to do when it was only $500. Trying desperately NOT to use it this summer, to get it back down. I planned to use it in Branson, but canceled my trip to Superman to avoid using it for the hotel and travel expense. There's an Italian resteraunt in that town that I love, but it will have to wait until next year! Same with Imaginarium; I'm looking to share with Sandy again, so I only have to pay her $120 for two nights in the room. Or $180, if I can swing staying until Monday....***
Anyway.....D keeps telling me to unfriend her if she drives me crazy. I enjoy her books; we have fun when we're together. And she DID end the rant with the fact that last night was the first time she'd slept through the night w/o a sleep aid. So instead of bypassing her post, I comm Anxiented to 'always trust your gut'.
Anxiety over a decision or event is NEVER a good sign. While I never lost any sleep over the 'to-go-or-cancel', I was immediately at peace once I sent the email. It will be there next year, and now I've used the funds to restock my display.
Now if my cover artist would just get with the program and send me a cover I love.....
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Interesting Timing???
Three things came out this past weekend:
1) Book claiming Fmr Pres JB's mental capacities were 'limited', due to dementia (hey, we already knew that!)
2) Previous interview (unfiltered, not the one 'doctored') which showed his obvious confusion
3) Fmr Pres JB has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer.
First and foremost, as I've watched beloved family and friends battle various forms of cancer, I'm deeply sorry.
But you have to admit, the timing of this is fishy.
1) Yes, it is embarrassing for the Fmr 1st family to see truths they've tried so hard to keep hidden come to light, not only in book form, but a whole media tour and the tapes aired across all platforms for everyone to hear.
2) The cancer diagnosis lends an air of 'yes, this happened, but now he's got a potentially terminal illness, so can't you just let it go and give the family some peace in his final months?'
So what is it; has he had the diagnosis for a while, or did the genuinely just now get the news?
Thursday, May 1, 2025
100 Day Recap
Friends have been b**ching about everything the President has done: Overturning EVERYTHING the previous administration put in place, and now the Dems are trying to Impeach him. FOR WHAT???
-Deporting criminals and illegal aliens
-Closing the border
-New trade deals
-Treaty with Ukrain over Rare Earth Minerals
-Finding Gov't waste and putting an end to it.
But they're still b**ching about the price of eggs, the tarrifs causing things to be more costly or even disappearing from shelves.....here's my response:
"I have lived through Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. In my lifetime have I never seen or heard of a President being scrutinized over every word he speaks, humiliated by the public to the point of wanting to hurt someone, slandered, ridiculed, insulted, and lied to. I have never heard their wives or children threatened, insulted, and humiliated. I am truly ashamed of the behavior of people in this country. I am ashamed of the ruthless, hating, cruel Trump haters who have no morals, and news reporters who feel they have the right to purposely lie and chastise the president. Every past President was left to run the country after they were elected and had taken the oath of office. They weren’t on the news 24/7 being drawn and quartered, every word and sentence dissected, constantly pressured to do this or that without an ounce of moral support.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Holy Hannah....Is This REAL?
Is Panic Mode Engaged?
Just found this on a friend's page:
Are You SERIOUS?????
Was just tagged in a post: "Please vote for my daughter; she's in a close race to win."
The 'race'? Is (name withheld) A Super Mom?
*spews coffee over keyboard*
Pardon me while I pick myself up from the floor, both from shock and laughter.
A little history:
"Pam" became pregnant at 16, and to my knowledge, received VERY LITTLE prenatal care.
This child has a history of histrionics about ANYTHING pain-related, and could barely even TELL ME when she needed feminine hygiene products. So I seriously doubt she was fully prepared for labor pains, much less giving birth to another human being!
Fast-forward to when the baby was born: There were medical issues with the infant; he'd had a stroke at birth, and was severely developmentally delayed.
My own daughter lived with them for a week, while she was seeking employment near them, and told me the following:
-"Pam" had moved the baby out of her bedroom into the living room "so she could have her own space and privacy."
-*needle scratch* WTH? You're a MOM, and until you live on your own, and the child is off to school, your 'me time' is reserved for NAP TIME! Or the occasional babysitter.
-"Pam" revealed she really didn't know who the father of the baby is.
*blinks* I'd asked her once how she went from 'I-don't-want-anyone-to-know-I'm-on-my-period' to doing things that cause that time of the month to go away....her answer was, 'I fell for a pretty face'. I call BULLSH*T on that; she was depressed because a beloved family had passed; her own abusive sperm doner had either passed or was on his own deathbed.....I say she was so despondent, she didn't even know what she was doing until too late, then hormones kicked in. We've all been there; some of us are more responsible than others, and paid attention in Health Class during that subject. But "Pam"? I gurantee wss too embarrased to even think about the consequences.
-Her mother was taking care of the baby....bottle feeding, playing, changing diapers, etc.
-My daughter's own observations: "She's a lazy mom. Baby cries, she either sticks a bottle in its mouth or turns on the TV after making sure the diaper's not the problem."
-"Pam"'s own mother was falsifying documents in order to qualify for assistance.
Based on this info, and the fact that the child has now reached Kindergarten/1st grade age, and is being 'home schooled' and they're 'looking into getting him the therapy he needs' (I've now heard this for 6 years)....1) Why isn't he IN OT/PT/Speech therapy? 2) Why did you wait so late to get him STARTED in a program?....sorry, went off on a tangent there.....THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL IS "PAM" A SUPER MOM!
I wouldn't even give that title to ME, and I was a Domestic Engineer/babysitter from 1993-1998, and again from 2000-2016!
I'd sooner say "Pam"'s mother qualified.....but even that's stretching it a bit, considering we had both her kids from 2002-2006, then every damn summer until 2016.
*deep breath*
Just went to the site; "Pam" cannot SPELL; she used 'sense' instead of 'since' at least 3 times; the prize is $20K that she would use "for health care, school supplys (supplies, Pam....), to launch her skin care business (I'm assuming it's to join her aunt's business???); and to pay her rent (again, I'm assuming this is so her mom's caught up?), and also to grow her vegetable garden.
*needle scratch* You live in an APARTMENT....how do you have a garden, unless it's at your GRANDMOTHER'S house?
Oh no....that $20K would be blown with the help of your mom and your bonus siblings.
*steps off podium*
Okay. Just had to get that off my chest.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Where's Your Faith?
A friend of mine is allowing herself to give into panic, and it's mildly driving me crazy, because this is the first thing I saw this morning.
" I don't feel as safe as I did even last year, not by a long shot. I wonder nearly every day what's going to happen to me; will I get taken away to a camp, like all those immigrants and protestors, given just a cup of water per day until I expire? Will I get deported to a labor camp in El Salvador? Or will I just watch as my rights continue to erode, and the public turns more and more against people like me? How long until it becomes a crime to be transgender? We're already not recognized at the federal level, and many states are pushing (and sometimes passing) laws against us being in public life. We're being erased from legal documents, websites, and policies across the board. "
I also see friends posting gleefully about the current filibuster, and friends who are jeering it. What will it accomplish? I really don't know. I'd rather watch escapism TV than immerse myself in that drama.
I have faith everything will even out. That's all I've done for the past 4 years; be CALM, watch the sh*tstorm, and pray. Do I have concerns about the way things are unfolding? Absolutely, but me giving into panic and seeking a corner with my thumb in my mouth with a blanket over my head accomplishes nothing. If I rant about it on a public forum, I get attacked, unfriended, and potentially harm long-term friendships. It's not worth it.
So I rant here, where I choose not to share this post, and if you find it and disagree, that's fine. You have every right to disagree with me. But know I will not engage in a battle of angry words. You have your right to your opinion, and I have mine.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
The Far Left Have Lost Their Collective Minds....
I wasn't able to watch the President's speech last night, due to being at work, so am watching clips this morning. Borrowing this from a friend who DID watch, and I'm in total agreement:
"Y’all knew I’d have a commentary tonight after Trump’s address…wasn’t that an amazing address by our 47th president?
Friday, February 28, 2025
So Sick Of This.....
******WARNING*******
Political Rant Ahead. Please be advised you might be offended by what I'm posting.
Today, Feb 28th, is supposed to be the 'Great American Shopping Boycott'.
Here's what a friend posted:
"Over the past couple days, I have concluded that people have lost their ever-loving minds. This is going to be a long one...