I killed what I guess was a Mexican spider in my garage tonight because when I looked down at it after I stepped on it there were at least a hundred babies scurrying everywhere. Yes, they, too, are dead now. Go ahead. Call PETA! I don't care! Here's another big surprise. I don't like spiders either.
Dad and I went to the oncologist today to get the results of the CT scan he had last week. Doc said the CT was good news.....no new growth. All the other places were stable. He gave Dad the option of getting two more chemo rounds since they seem to be helping and are not causing any real side effects. So, next week we get another round. On Wednesday my brother is taking him back to the urologist to get some microwave procedure to try to get some relief from his prostate troubles. The procedure he did a couple of weeks ago didn't help. Dad says he isn't getting any sleep at night because of having to get up so many times. I hope this will get him some relief.
In a newsletter from the Texas Teacher Retirement System, I was notified that our insurance would start paying for the shingles vaccine beginning September 1....when our new year and new deductible starts! Yes, I got mine last week. Of course, I called but to no avail. I would have had to pay for it anyway because my deductible started over, but at least it would have gone toward my deductible!
Fall is in the air! Perfect day....70's all day so I got out and worked in the yard and mowed the grass which would have been easier with a bush hog. Unfortunately, after a couple of strips by the driveway, a snake came out of the grass on the driveway. Of course, I freaked out as I always do when I see a snake. I won't even go see them in the zoo, but I killed it with my hoe. I don't know what kind it is, but it doesn't appear to be a ground rattler like my previous two snakes that I killed in the garage. I thought I was going to make it through this season without seeing one! It's hard to tell from this picture, but it is brown with a stripe down the back and it's only about a foot long. I looked up a copperhead, but it doesn't appear to be a copperhead. I hate snakes. End of story!
Lots of people, who would have otherwise been stuck in New Orleans, were brought by bus to our local area. All they have done is whine! They think they should be put up in the Hilton. They came here without necessities and expected them to be given to them....such as diapers, clean clothes, soap, baby formula...you know....the essentials. TV people were on TV telling us they needed new underwear! WTF! What a bunch of morons! That's the whole problem... entitlements have created a bunch of losers! I say that next time we leave their sorry asses there in New Orleans! Dumbasses!
The day is dark and dreary with intermittent rain, but I was up early to meet my brother and Dad at the hospital where Dad was getting yet another CT scan. Brother dropped him off and I stayed with him for the CT. It only took a few minutes, then I took him for some breakfast and on back home. Being the lazy daughter that I am, I put my garage door back down and went back to sleep until 12. This day is not conducive to anything productive!
Edited to add: My brother and sister-in-law came to Minden to the Dairy Queen and brought Mom and Dad with them. Afterwards, they came here to catch up on the news. Bro got a call while he was here that power was back on. Yay!
I offered again to go get my mom and dad and bring them here because it's now 24 hours with no power. They have a generator for the freezers and the fridge, but it's hot inside now. Mom has been sitting out in the carport. I guess stubbornness runs in the family! Who knew!
and it amounted to NOT MUCH...thank goodness. We have had several inches of rain and some wind. It's still raining, but it is much needed rain and we are grateful. My brother has lost power at both his houses and my parents are without power. I offered to go get them and bring them here with me, but Dad didn't want to leave his couch. It's OK! I'm just going to be lazy since I have a good excuse today...plus the fact that my arm still hurts a lot.
he huge OPEN door. This has happened several times before, so I have a fish net that I use to catch them and get them out so they don't die. I did that today and instead of catching him, he fell to the floor dead!!! I could not revive him. I love my hummers even though they are dumbasses.
I busted my ass big time! Yes, literally! I was putting a new shower head in my guest bathroom that becomes a hand held shower if needed. I got all finished and stepped off the side of the tub where I had been perched on to a little chair I had there to make an extra step. I missed the damn chair and went sailing across the HARD tile floor. I don't think I have any broken bones, but I am banged up pretty badly. Both elbows are swollen and one is bleeding, but the pain doesn't feel like a broken bone.....although, how would I know? I never had a broken bone! 
Some days I am very clutzy!
To avoid being a lazy bum all day today, I finally went to see the movie, The Longshots, which was filmed right here in Minden. It's a nice family movie and there are lots of places that I recognized. Many days last year our Main Street would be blocked off while they were shooting scenes. I didn't see any people in the movie that I know. The movies that film here in the area pay $100 a day just for extras. Maybe someday I'll be an extra so I can buy a gallon of gas!
Speaking of gas, the dealers around here have already started gouging the prices because they think they have an excuse to raise prices since all the Gulf oil rigs are shut down. It went up 10 cents while we were gone to dinner last night and had already gone up 10 cents earlier in the day. It is against the law to do that and the Attorney General has already been on TV warning about it, but it hasn't made one bit of difference.
At least 4 months ago I got a prescription for the shingles vaccine. Finally, today it came in and because it had to stay frozen until mixed with something else, I had to go to the doc's office and let someone there inject it. Damn thing cost me $216 for one teeny, little shot that I didn't even feel. Damn thing better work! 
My money is leaving me at a rapid rate. The hospital called and said my entire bill had to be paid by Oct. 27th (90 days from billing) or it would go to collections! WTF! I know that not everyone can just fork over $1,000 upon receiving the bill. I was going to pay it off a few hundred at the time, but I guess not. Out with the MasterCard! Damn I hated to do that since I had zero balance on my card! 
I still owed them that much after already paying $700 and having 2....count them....2 insurance coverages. Aetna and Medicare, Part B!
I'm glad I don't live in Southeast Texas anymore. I would be leaving for higher ground right now. Any of my friends down there in Orange,TX who need higher ground, I have an extra bedroom and a backyard for your pets.
I wasn't living in Louisiana when Katrina happened, but there is a new governor and he is on the ball. He has already activated the National Guard, has contracted 600 buses to evacuate those who cannot evacuate themselves, set up hotlines for people to call who want to be evacuated and maybe even cancelled his speech at the GOP convention next week. I do know that the former governor failed miserably with Katrina and the ever whining Senator Mary Landrieu still blames Bush and still begs for money. The incompetent New Orleans Mayor was re-elected by the obviously moronic New Orleans residents. All hotels here in my area of North Louisiana are booked and shelters are already opening. Major differences this time around. Maybe the powers that be learned from the fine people of Southwest Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast that the first thing to do is take take care of your own damn self!
