Nothing horrible to report today....!
T seems to be finally recovering from his Bronchitis, Cammy is over his flu, the puppy hasn't piddled on the floor in days, and for all these things (and more) I am thankful.
My financial advisor has been working hard as an advocate for my family since the terrible insurability thing. In fact, she has them convinced his motorcycle racing hobby doesn't even count (HOORAY!!) which makes us affordable to insure once again.
Huge sigh of relief.
Sure his bloodwork came out wonky, but that turned out not to be the expensive part, it was the motorcycles that had them betting against his life.
I sent video clips to my advisor and she passed them on, now they know what a hare scramble race is, and they have agreed it doesn't look life-threatening after all. Here is the link.... "July 2nd / 07 Trail Ride Clips" is quite representative of what the racing is like. ("This is not a street bike" is NOT what T does)
To put our mind at ease, and find out what the heck is up with the bloodwork, T is going in for a full physical next month, and they are doing a fresh battery of lab tests before that. Hopefully we will get to the bottom of this shortly andthen fix the problem if at all possible.
Life feels more in balance again (thank heavens for that).
I even got lots of work done today!
2.20.2008
2.14.2008
Health and Gambling
I am a firm believer in planning for the worst and expecting the best.... I never thought about it that way untill very recently, but it really is the only way to define my core beliefs in the future.
As a result, I tend to insure. I really feel I NEED to insure actually.
That is to say, I tend to plan for "just in case" scenarios. I have an emergency kit in my car, firstaid kits all over the house, I pack spare jackets and sensible shoes in case my car breaks down, jumper cables, never less than an eighth of a tank of fuel, I insist on good tires and best of all -- I married a strong mechanic, a sensible plan for the future for sure! Wink Wink!
For shopping insurance, I carry 2 different bank cards in case one doesn't work, I got a credit card at 18 years old for emergencies, I have a bank overdraught that I don't use (but thankfully had when I needed it when the maternity-leave checks ran out!).
And for ultimate peace of mind - I have had life insurance since I was 22, I have a current will, and RRSPs though small, at least they are there.
I have ALWAYS had contents insurance as a renter, and house insurance now that I am a property owner. Auto insurance is mandatory here, but I am sure I would have it even if it wasn't.
As a result of all this preparing, I feel fairly confident to go on my daily life feeling "safe" that my bases are covered and my children won't be destitute if something happens to me. This really is necessary for me to be at ease. No matter how out of control my minute-to-minute life is, no matter how chaotic and addle-brained I can be, at least the big stuff is okay!
On one level, it feels kind of stupid to pay for all these things.... you know I am a tightwad about a whole lot of things...
Number 1 example: I HATE paying interest on anything if I can help it. I don't CARE how much the monthly payments are, all I want to know is how much INTEREST I will be paying by the time it's paid for. Usually that stops me from buying stuff right there.... and explains the old cars in the driveway (LOL). The exception being my home. We need a roof over our heads, and I'd rather have the money paing the interest on my own property than it going to rent on someone elses. And the rate is lower than other consumer debt interest rates.
Number 2 example: I shop for things at thrift stores.... its the environmentally responsible way to shop! (my newest excuse).
Number 3 example: I buy the discounted meats and stuff at the grocery store. At around 9:30 in the morning the butcher comes out to slap the discount stickers on the "almost" expired meats... I pick them up the better price, and throw them in the freezer until ready to use. (Just yesterday I saved $3 on my hamburger and 50% on the Pork Tenderloin. mmmm..... tenderloin). T has gotten over it -- in the 13+ years I have cooked for him, I haven't poisoned him yet!
The money put out on all this securing against disasters does hurt. I wince every month as it comes out of my account.... sigh.... but it is a small price to pay against the pit of my stomach panic I would have every minute of every day otherwise.
It's a big gamble really. Especially life insurance. THEY are betting we will live the full term of the policy, and we are PAYING them to take the bet..... HOPING of course that they are right, and that we are just throwing money at them every month for 10 years and not getting anything in return.
So why am I mentioning all this now?
Recently we looked at getting a new policy for the family. (T and I have a policy that is for both of us and just pays out to the survivor.... or the kids). It is coming to the end of its term next year, so I thought I would start shopping early. I got a nice quote from one reputable company that would be significantly less than renewing our existing one at the end of the term.... so we filled out a questionaire.... then an agent called and did a one hour telephone interview with terribly intimate and sometimes disturbing questions.... then a lab tech nurse came (a complete stranger) and took BLOOD and URINE from us in our very own home (really a very strange and violating experience).... then we waiting to see how close to the original quote we would qualify for based on our lifestyle and test results.
The good news is I am "standard".
The truly TERRIFYING news is that T's bloodwork and past dirtbike competition participation made the cost of the policy TRIPLE from the original quote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In other words, they aren't willing to take the bet that T will survive another 10 years without taking a whole lot of money every month from us!
Will they tell us what was in his bloodwork? NO!!! -- They WILL release the test results to our doctor. WHAT?! They drop a bomb like that on us, and won't even tell us the particulars?!?!?! Well T is freaking out, and I am worried.
We can't afford to insure him? HOPEFULLY it is something we can manage, something we can FIX so he can be with us a long, long, long time.
Suddenly it is clear... Mortality is a mean thing to insure.
Now what though? We don't smoke, T doesn't drink, we eat on the healthier end of the spectrum, we aren't lazy asses.... what could be so wrong?
Oh ya. One more thing. T just had a birthday, and like last year he was sick for it. Bronchitis this time..... super. And now that he is getting over it (thanks to antibiotics) Cammy is on the couch today shivering, whimpering, and hanging onto a barf bowl.
Ugh.
As a result, I tend to insure. I really feel I NEED to insure actually.
That is to say, I tend to plan for "just in case" scenarios. I have an emergency kit in my car, firstaid kits all over the house, I pack spare jackets and sensible shoes in case my car breaks down, jumper cables, never less than an eighth of a tank of fuel, I insist on good tires and best of all -- I married a strong mechanic, a sensible plan for the future for sure! Wink Wink!
For shopping insurance, I carry 2 different bank cards in case one doesn't work, I got a credit card at 18 years old for emergencies, I have a bank overdraught that I don't use (but thankfully had when I needed it when the maternity-leave checks ran out!).
And for ultimate peace of mind - I have had life insurance since I was 22, I have a current will, and RRSPs though small, at least they are there.
I have ALWAYS had contents insurance as a renter, and house insurance now that I am a property owner. Auto insurance is mandatory here, but I am sure I would have it even if it wasn't.
As a result of all this preparing, I feel fairly confident to go on my daily life feeling "safe" that my bases are covered and my children won't be destitute if something happens to me. This really is necessary for me to be at ease. No matter how out of control my minute-to-minute life is, no matter how chaotic and addle-brained I can be, at least the big stuff is okay!
On one level, it feels kind of stupid to pay for all these things.... you know I am a tightwad about a whole lot of things...
Number 1 example: I HATE paying interest on anything if I can help it. I don't CARE how much the monthly payments are, all I want to know is how much INTEREST I will be paying by the time it's paid for. Usually that stops me from buying stuff right there.... and explains the old cars in the driveway (LOL). The exception being my home. We need a roof over our heads, and I'd rather have the money paing the interest on my own property than it going to rent on someone elses. And the rate is lower than other consumer debt interest rates.
Number 2 example: I shop for things at thrift stores.... its the environmentally responsible way to shop! (my newest excuse).
Number 3 example: I buy the discounted meats and stuff at the grocery store. At around 9:30 in the morning the butcher comes out to slap the discount stickers on the "almost" expired meats... I pick them up the better price, and throw them in the freezer until ready to use. (Just yesterday I saved $3 on my hamburger and 50% on the Pork Tenderloin. mmmm..... tenderloin). T has gotten over it -- in the 13+ years I have cooked for him, I haven't poisoned him yet!
The money put out on all this securing against disasters does hurt. I wince every month as it comes out of my account.... sigh.... but it is a small price to pay against the pit of my stomach panic I would have every minute of every day otherwise.
It's a big gamble really. Especially life insurance. THEY are betting we will live the full term of the policy, and we are PAYING them to take the bet..... HOPING of course that they are right, and that we are just throwing money at them every month for 10 years and not getting anything in return.
So why am I mentioning all this now?
Recently we looked at getting a new policy for the family. (T and I have a policy that is for both of us and just pays out to the survivor.... or the kids). It is coming to the end of its term next year, so I thought I would start shopping early. I got a nice quote from one reputable company that would be significantly less than renewing our existing one at the end of the term.... so we filled out a questionaire.... then an agent called and did a one hour telephone interview with terribly intimate and sometimes disturbing questions.... then a lab tech nurse came (a complete stranger) and took BLOOD and URINE from us in our very own home (really a very strange and violating experience).... then we waiting to see how close to the original quote we would qualify for based on our lifestyle and test results.
The good news is I am "standard".
The truly TERRIFYING news is that T's bloodwork and past dirtbike competition participation made the cost of the policy TRIPLE from the original quote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In other words, they aren't willing to take the bet that T will survive another 10 years without taking a whole lot of money every month from us!
Will they tell us what was in his bloodwork? NO!!! -- They WILL release the test results to our doctor. WHAT?! They drop a bomb like that on us, and won't even tell us the particulars?!?!?! Well T is freaking out, and I am worried.
We can't afford to insure him? HOPEFULLY it is something we can manage, something we can FIX so he can be with us a long, long, long time.
Suddenly it is clear... Mortality is a mean thing to insure.
Now what though? We don't smoke, T doesn't drink, we eat on the healthier end of the spectrum, we aren't lazy asses.... what could be so wrong?
Oh ya. One more thing. T just had a birthday, and like last year he was sick for it. Bronchitis this time..... super. And now that he is getting over it (thanks to antibiotics) Cammy is on the couch today shivering, whimpering, and hanging onto a barf bowl.
Ugh.
2.08.2008
My Alter Ego TODAY
There are some things about this character that I really identify with today.....
1) I love how here hair is untamed.... I lost my brush this morning too!
2) I know why she is wearing a mask.... I too have bad chin acne today! (ah but the mask adds mystique!)
3) She looks so cool in the leggings/loincloth! I wish that kind of attire was acceptable in everyday life.
4) Armor for a top is a great idea! No groping kids, and gee my nipples are tender at this point.... too much information?
5) The bow and arrow look very handy, I'm not sure why.
6) That crazy ball of power in her hands! YES!!!!! It's very much like my temper, when I can keep it under my control then it's simply impressive, and when I throw a tantrum it's like Thor and the lightning bolts!!!!!
I recommend the HeroMachine to anyone wanting a mindlessly fun way to express your current state of mind. (Thanks Kimber for the idea!!!!)
1) I love how here hair is untamed.... I lost my brush this morning too!2) I know why she is wearing a mask.... I too have bad chin acne today! (ah but the mask adds mystique!)
3) She looks so cool in the leggings/loincloth! I wish that kind of attire was acceptable in everyday life.
4) Armor for a top is a great idea! No groping kids, and gee my nipples are tender at this point.... too much information?
5) The bow and arrow look very handy, I'm not sure why.
6) That crazy ball of power in her hands! YES!!!!! It's very much like my temper, when I can keep it under my control then it's simply impressive, and when I throw a tantrum it's like Thor and the lightning bolts!!!!!
I recommend the HeroMachine to anyone wanting a mindlessly fun way to express your current state of mind. (Thanks Kimber for the idea!!!!)
2.04.2008
Verrrrrrry Scary Stuff!
Okay, maybe to someone with some technical confidence, or even mechanical faith it may not be THAT scary...... but to ME, I was shaking in my boots!
I went to use my long-neglected Mac Powerbook and it was dead. Absolutely no sign of life whatsoever. Not a twinkle, not a beep. So I unplugged the battery, I pressed the secret emergency button on the back, and then I sighed heavily and went to my PC desktop to search the web for solutions.
It was almost instantanious finding a step-by step answer to my problem (Mac user forums are free and plentiful, bless them!)
For some reason sometimes stripping it down to it's very guts, and then reassembling it purposefully can make it all better!
GASP!
So surgery began....... shudder.......
Remove the Keyboard. And the heat shield, and the heat sink and the PRAM battery.....
and the HARD DRIVE (!) 
---------------- then after you have regained consciousness pull out the MOTHERBOARD -- and there was a note that you need to pull HARD on this....
"hard? Like how hard? Isn't this stuff fragile?!"
Well it was very hard apparently because I had to pull much harder than I was comfortable with, I had to brace the shell with my other hand and yank with all my might. I was sure the little tab would rip off and the sensitive equipment would break.
It all came apart as planned, and I needed my husband's strong fingers to press very hard to get the mother board's pins set firmly back in.... he kept repeating "are you SURE I should be pressing this hard?"
It did all fit back in, no spare parts at the end (LOL)
All I can say is THANK www.ifixit.com for the thorough photographic step by step instructions-- how the heck else would I know what a "heat sink" is ?
By some miracle, it turned ON after that!!!!!! I jumped up and down until my husband thought I had completely lost my mind! Of course the computer thought it was midnight, 1904..... but that was easily fixed.
Good old MAC. It may not be able to run OS/X but she's a tough old bird.
So why did I sweat so much for an outdated machine? Well I like watching movies on it...... that and it still runs old games just fine for the kids. And my "learn to speak Italian" CDRoms too!
Don't laugh, it still has value to me.
2.03.2008
I love my camera
..... in case you hadn't guessed. I am shutter-happy.
We went on a nice long walk today and ended up at Max's (our puppy's) mom & sister's place.
They had a GREAT time romping around! (The dogs that is)
It's like seeing double, he looks so much like this littermate.
(Ahem) in the above photo, I did not notice until I got home and was downloading it from the camera..... WHY is my son hanging from the fence? He is like that in several shots!
As you can see, we still have some snow, but not enough to ruin our walk.
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