This past week as been one of the most difficult weeks of my life. There haven't been in huge tragedies (other than the passing of IU Football coach, Terry Hoeppner), but everything I've touched has turned into a major project that needs to be revisted at least 5 times before it's done.
It all started with my computer crashing about 2 weeks ago. It is really unbelievable how dependent we are on our computers. Anyway, I had two people look at it, and none of the data from my harddrive was retrievable. My husband told me to buy a new computer, so I am now the proud owner of a MacBook. It's fabulous, easy to learn, etc. But, I'm still trying to get my Quicken files transferred to a Mac format, so until that happens, I still don't feel like I know what's going on with our finances! BUT, Thank God that I do have this new computer.
I met with two Elder Law Attorneys this week to discuss my sister-in-law's (Debby) situation. She is currently in an acute-care facility and will need to be moved to a nursing home. Our goal is to legally move her money so that she can qualify for Medicaid. This is a brand new experience for me, so my brain was completely fried after those two meetings.
THEN, we found out that Debby's medicare DIDN'T go into effect in April like we were originally told. Her Medicare benefits will go into effect in October, so that kink has made it necessary for me to revise the Medicaid plan. I really don't have any mental energy left for that, so I'm hoping to start that process tomorrow.
On top of all of this, I feel like I have been completely alienated by all of my friends. I don't believe it's intentional--more like a comedy of errors. Some are out of town, while others are overwhelmed with their own situations. Put it all together, and I don't have my friends around to encourage or advise me during one of the most difficult weeks of my life. And, let me add, I have been making phone calls to my friends--they are just too busy or unable to call me back.
The end result is that I'm in one of the biggest spiritual funks of my life. I'm grumpy and despondent--as is evidenced by my rant against WalMart in my previous blog.
So, I've been crying out to God. Problem is, my mind is so fried, I don't even know what to pray for. A good friend of mine just reminded me today that the Holy Spirit "groans" on our behalf and Christ intercedes for us. God answered their prayers, because the clouds in my mind and soul have started to clear just enough for me to be able to process things a bit better. While I feel abandoned by my friends, I know that they haven't really abandoned me. I also know that God is ALWAYS there. HE WILL NEVER abandon me. In this crazy world, friends do get busy and unable to help, but God doesn't. That fact is extremely comforting. And, even though things are spinning out of control, God is stil in control, and all of this is somehow part of His perfect plan.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Walmart
About 18 months ago, I was shopping at Walmart, and picked up a can of Folger's Vanilla Cappuccino mix. I noticed immediately that the can was WAY too light. I removed the lid, and noticed that the protective seal was gone, as was 3/4 of the product. I did nothing except put the can back on the shelf--an action (or rather, inaction), which I regretted just hours later (that nagging guilty conscience I have). Today's events have cause me to revisit my regret.
Today, while shopping at Walmart, I was looking for some lotion. There were two female employees who were stocking shelves in the makeup aisles, which are right next to the lotion. To my horror, one of the employees walked over to the lotion, and pumped out some lotion from one of the bottles to use on her hands and arms. She did not hesitate to do this in front of me and another customer. She also did not need to twist the pump first in order to open the bottle. Therefore, the bottle had been used before.
The fact that the employee did not hesitate to get lotion from the bottle combined with my previous experience with the cappuccino makes me wonder just how often this type of pilfering goes on at Walmart--and by their employees no less!!
So, today, I decided that I would act. I got home and immediately got on Walmart's website to send the store manager an email. I utitilized their feedback system, and typed in a brief explanation of what I had witnessed (along with my declaration that I would no longer shop there). When I hit submit, the feedback did not go through. It told me that there was an error--supposedly a field was left blank--but all fields were filled in. So, their website is just as useless as their employees.
A few months ago, Walmart was fighting like mad to get zoning approved to build a store in Zionsville. The residents of Zionsville fought it with every fiber of their being because they thought that the unique stores in downtown Zionsville would not be able to compete with Walmart. I never bought that argument because those stores don't sell anywhere close to the same merchandise as Walmart. We're not talking about a mom and pop tv store that would lose to the retail giant--we're talking antique stores, specialty gift shops, and high-end clothiers. I actually wanted Walmart to win the battle because I hate shopping at the 86th street location. But, now that I know what kind of people they employ, I'm glad Zionsville won!!
I don't usually like to rant about things like this (at least on my blog), but this has been an extremely long week, and I feel like I'm hitting brick walls at every turn. I would probably be more justified in ranting about Medicare/SSA (LONG story), but for some reason, it is so much more enjoyable to rant about the things that don't really matter.
Today, while shopping at Walmart, I was looking for some lotion. There were two female employees who were stocking shelves in the makeup aisles, which are right next to the lotion. To my horror, one of the employees walked over to the lotion, and pumped out some lotion from one of the bottles to use on her hands and arms. She did not hesitate to do this in front of me and another customer. She also did not need to twist the pump first in order to open the bottle. Therefore, the bottle had been used before.
The fact that the employee did not hesitate to get lotion from the bottle combined with my previous experience with the cappuccino makes me wonder just how often this type of pilfering goes on at Walmart--and by their employees no less!!
So, today, I decided that I would act. I got home and immediately got on Walmart's website to send the store manager an email. I utitilized their feedback system, and typed in a brief explanation of what I had witnessed (along with my declaration that I would no longer shop there). When I hit submit, the feedback did not go through. It told me that there was an error--supposedly a field was left blank--but all fields were filled in. So, their website is just as useless as their employees.
A few months ago, Walmart was fighting like mad to get zoning approved to build a store in Zionsville. The residents of Zionsville fought it with every fiber of their being because they thought that the unique stores in downtown Zionsville would not be able to compete with Walmart. I never bought that argument because those stores don't sell anywhere close to the same merchandise as Walmart. We're not talking about a mom and pop tv store that would lose to the retail giant--we're talking antique stores, specialty gift shops, and high-end clothiers. I actually wanted Walmart to win the battle because I hate shopping at the 86th street location. But, now that I know what kind of people they employ, I'm glad Zionsville won!!
I don't usually like to rant about things like this (at least on my blog), but this has been an extremely long week, and I feel like I'm hitting brick walls at every turn. I would probably be more justified in ranting about Medicare/SSA (LONG story), but for some reason, it is so much more enjoyable to rant about the things that don't really matter.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Brick walls
Do you ever have one of those days in which everything you try to do, you run into a brick wall? How about a whole week like that? That's how this whole week has been for me.
It all started Sunday when my computer crashed. Completely dead. I will need to replace the hard drive, and no data could be saved from the old one. So, in a week in which I desperately need a computer, I not only don't have one, when I do get it back, I'll need to spend days getting everything back in order. (I'm using my husband's laptop to write this blog!)
It's amazing how much we depend on technology. 10 years ago, I didn't have a computer at home and I managed just fine. Now, I can't function without it. Even making a phone call messes me up because I usually just look the number up online or in my phone book on the computer. I actually had to use the yellow pages this week!
I've been trying to get Tim's meds refilled through the online pharmacy with our insurance company. That's a hard enough task to do when you HAVE a computer, and trying to do it without a computer has been a nightmare.
One would think that since my computer is dead, that I would actually have more time to spend cleaning the house, but no, I'm still working on getting the flowerbeds done. I think I'm finally done with the planting and mulching, so now I just need to water and weed (and water and weed and water and weed . . . ).
Tim and I once saw the Cirque Du Soliel show called La Nouba. There are three comic-relief characters in the show, and at one point they are being chased by someone or something. One of these guys ran straight into a brick wall while he was being chased. He got up, and ran right back into the wall. I laughed hysterically, and my husband was completely surprised to learn that I enjoy physical humor that much. However, when we're running into the proverbial brick walls in everyday life, it really isn't that funny.
It all started Sunday when my computer crashed. Completely dead. I will need to replace the hard drive, and no data could be saved from the old one. So, in a week in which I desperately need a computer, I not only don't have one, when I do get it back, I'll need to spend days getting everything back in order. (I'm using my husband's laptop to write this blog!)
It's amazing how much we depend on technology. 10 years ago, I didn't have a computer at home and I managed just fine. Now, I can't function without it. Even making a phone call messes me up because I usually just look the number up online or in my phone book on the computer. I actually had to use the yellow pages this week!
I've been trying to get Tim's meds refilled through the online pharmacy with our insurance company. That's a hard enough task to do when you HAVE a computer, and trying to do it without a computer has been a nightmare.
One would think that since my computer is dead, that I would actually have more time to spend cleaning the house, but no, I'm still working on getting the flowerbeds done. I think I'm finally done with the planting and mulching, so now I just need to water and weed (and water and weed and water and weed . . . ).
Tim and I once saw the Cirque Du Soliel show called La Nouba. There are three comic-relief characters in the show, and at one point they are being chased by someone or something. One of these guys ran straight into a brick wall while he was being chased. He got up, and ran right back into the wall. I laughed hysterically, and my husband was completely surprised to learn that I enjoy physical humor that much. However, when we're running into the proverbial brick walls in everyday life, it really isn't that funny.
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