 |
| Waiting for my podiatrist to take care of my feet yesterday. I like that painting on the wall! |
This morning I was out front of my house cutting back my crepe myrtle trees. A white van parks out front and a good-looking man gets out and shouts "Good morning young man!" I look at him and fail to recognize him. Not an unusual occurrence for yours truly, at my age I often forget to recognize people who know me. With a feeling of comfortable curiosity I say to him in a friendly manner "I don't recognize you" (thinking to myself "How could I not remember this hottie?")
Well, the mystery was soon solved because he was someone who I never met before, he was one of those random "I'll pave your driveway because I'm in the neighborhood doing some of your neighbor's driveways."
Ah ha!
Not the first time I've had one of those guys in my driveway telling me they'll give me a bargain because "they're in the neighborhood doing my neighbor's driveways and will have asphalt left over and will give me a deal."
He offers to measure my driveway and give me a quote. Okay, I'm in a mellow mood this morning so I say "go ahead" while I return to cutting back the dead branches on my crepe myrtle trees.
He goes back to his van, takes out a giant tape measure, go those the motions of measuring my driveway. In about ten minutes he returns to where I am trimming my crepe myrtle branches and looking to his left and right and in a comedically conspiratorial whisper says to me "I can do your driveway for (wait for it) only $4,500."
Okay folks now here is the very first thing that is wrong. Driveways are repaved in the early springs and preferable in the heat of summer. Not the beginning of winter. The driveway needs to set from the tar.
Secondly, $4,500 is WAY TOO MUCH! Are you kidding me?
A few years ago a neighbor of mine did have his driveway done, and a very nice job at that and it cost him $3,300, which I thought was a lot but it was a good job. I couldn't afford to get my driveway done then at $3,300 then and I certainly can not afford to get my driveway done now at $4,500 now that my household income is cut in half. I can hardly afford to continue to have my lawn treated and cut.
Mr. Hot Guy then sees my hesitation and immediately "offers me a special deal" at $4,000. I tell him I can't afford that price. By the way, I have no intention of getting my driveway done by this guy under any circumstances. I'll give you a little background with those Driveway Guys.
Several years ago I contacted one of these driveway guys who really was doing three of my neighbor's driveway and got a coating price. I saw what a good job they did with doing three neighbor's driveways at the same time. This driveway guy, when he finally did get back to me (it was weeks) came by, checked out my driveway and my two neighbors and gave us separate quotes (I couldn't see the quotes for my neighbor's driveways). I went to all the trouble to contact both of my neighbors, who aren't retired and who work full-time and have families to raise. After all that coordination I could never get those driveway guys to come out. I called several times and when I could get through I was told they were "busy" which they probably were. I was promised they would do my driveway "first thing" THE FOLLOWING YEAR! Come "the first thing" (spring) the following year and still no driveway guys. Of course I didn't pay up front (I never do with these guys) and he still didn't come. Finally in July two of the guys came by and finally coated my driveway. It was an all right job but certainly not worth all the aggravation and coordination I had to do.
So here we go with Mr. Hottie. After I tell him again I can't afford his price he says "What's a good price for you? I need this work." Oops! He just let it slip, HE NEEDS THE WORK. I'm sure he does. Probably wants at least half the money up front too.
I'm still in a mellow mood. I put my hand on his should and I slowly tell him "I'm not trying to bargain with you, I really can't afford to get my driveway paved." Now the friendly, "I'm your buddy tone and facial demeanor changed and I see what's below the "Good morning young man!" facade, and he mumbles something under his breath I couldn't quite make out and he retreats from my driveway with the brisk morning sun on his back, and climbs back into his van to seek out his next prospect.
While all this was going on, my neighbors across the street, who rents his house, works full-time to support his family of six, sees all this mishigas going down with me and Mr. Hottie.
I return to my crepe myrtle trimming as Mr. Hottie climbs into his van and drives off down towards the cul de sac. A few minutes later he's engaging my neighbor across the street from my house.
After about fifteen minutes he drives away from my neighbor's driveway. I know my neighbor can't afford to get his driveway done, he rents his house and wants to buy it but can't afford the price. He has an irrigation system that doesn't work and can't afford to get it fixed. He certainly isn't going to pay $4,500 to get his driveway repaved.
My neighbor walks across the road towards me and we have a chat. Yep, Mr. Hottie offered him the same deal. My neighbor had to decline. All was not lost though, this Friday morning drama gave me an excuse to catch up with my neighbor who I haven't talked to in several years. It interesting isn't it? You can live near someone but not talk to them for years. Not that we're enemies but we all just have our own lives. Especially my neighbor, who is a nice guy. I live in a fabulous neighborhood, all good neighbors which is unusual for me because they're all straight. I don't live in a gay neighborhood. I never would. While there are a some of nice gay guys, and I've met some since I moved to Delaware twenty years ago, I just never clicked with those guys down here. They're too cliquish for me. I don't fit in. Just as well, I don't miss that cattiness and bitchiness and game playing that I encountered down here with Rehoboth Beach's large gay population. If I moved to Palm Springs California, while I have a very good gay friend who lives there (Glenn M), I would probably encounter the same exclusivity attitudes. That's why I would never permanently moved to Palm Springs. Visit yes, but move? Never.
So what's with the picture of my feet at the beginning of the post? That, my friends is good news!
I took that picture during my visit to my podiatrist yesterday. If you'll remember last month I had an ingrown toenail that was taken care of my a podiatrist. That was the first time in my life I ever visited a podiatrist. Which was very lucky for me because the VA wouldn't (couldn't) take care of my ingrown toenail which was causing me a great deal of pain. As I left my VA Outpatient facility I just happened to see across the way a new podiatrist office. My VA Outpatient facility is in a new medical park in Georgetown. I walked into this podiatry office and asked if they could see me. They could and took care of my ingrown toenail. That was last June. They asked for me to come back for a followup. I didn't think it was necessary but I came back anyway. Oh am I glad I ever did because I asked if they could trim my toenails. Of course they could! The doctor (who was very nice by the way), not only trimmed my toenails but buffed them with what looked like a dental tool but shaved back some calluses on the bottom of my feet. Then as I left they made my next appointment for nine weeks hence. What for? To trim my toenails again. Foot maintenance! And here's the wonderful part, my feet feel great! I didn't realize how uncomfortable I was with my feet and toenails. MY FEET FEEL GREAT!
In the past several years I've been having trouble trimming my toenails because of my arthritis (having trouble bending) and I couldn't see my toenails and to top everything else off I would get leg cramps. What a wonderful thing to discover that I can get my feet taken care of and Medicare covers the full cost.
Now I wish I had known this while Bill was alive because his toenails were in terrible shape. He hadn't cut them in years. I tried to get them done at the VA but again, they wouldn't. I tried to cut them the best I could but it was difficult because his toenails were so thick and curled. I managed the best I could and did make some progress. But it would have been nice to have a professional do his toenails though. Bill would have been so much more comfortable walking around. Yes, right up to three days before he died, Bill was able to walk. Bless his heart. He tried so hard not to be a burden to me.
So there you go folks. My post for today. I was able to do this post uninterrupted because Pat is visiting his friends Paul and Deb. Usually Pat calls me on FaceTime two or three times a day. I prefer to write by blog uninterrupted, stream of consciousness. Can't do that when I'm interrupted by calls from Pat. Even writing this blog I received a phone call from an old classmate. I didn't answer it. While I've known her over sixty years and worked closely with her on our class reunions, she's a Trumper and I'm not in the mood for her gloating over Trump's win.
Speaking of which, I discontinued another friendship that I had with a former classmate. For the last four years we've been doing weekly Zoom calls on Sunday with Pat just talking about Old Man Stuff. But when I found out he voted for Trump over Kamala, I just don't want to continue that friendship anymore. I can't take his smug face. He was the one who said he couldn't vote for Kamala because "He didn't know enough about her." When I told him "You know about Trump though don't you?" That question was answered by the blank look on his face. Sorry folks, I just can't engage with people like that anymore. I still have Trumper friends who I will continue to be friends with, including my very good neighbor but for some reason I just cannot engage with this particular friend because I never even suspected he was so far in right field. Never in all the years I knew him. I just can't do it. I used to enjoy our Sunday Zoom calls. Knowing this about him, I don't see how I can enjoy our calls anymore knowing that his is blind to the danger that Trump poses for our country. And he's Jewish, he should know better. My right wing MAGA friends who I continue to be friends with, I understand (though don't agree with) where they're coming from but I don't understand him. Just going with my gut feeling here friends, I recoil from him now. And it is a shame.
Have a nice weekend everyone and watch out for those Driveway Guys offering you a deal.
4 comments:
Happy Saturday---Glad your feet are all taken care of----That doctor's office is a travesty to gay decorating---I don't see that color of the wood in nature--The gray trend is trying to make an exit---I always say if your FEET and STOMACH-bowels-are taken care of your golden---It just gives you a pep in your step----When I worked in a nursing home in my early 20s the facility contracted with a podiatrist who would regularly come to do patients feet---We would line them up and he would just take them one-by-one---This was especially good for the diabetics---
Tell me how the VA works for you when you only served in the military for three and half years---I know you have Medicare---Do you have an additional plan as well----I am lucky that I have no medical conditions per se and take no medications---The only time I went to a physician's office is when I went and saw a dermatologist for a growth on my back about a year ago----I couldn't see it fully and it was becoming larger---So I found a dermatologist and he frozen it off----Took two passes at it----And I found myself buck naked in a paper gown---He wanted to do a head to toe skin check since I was there---He was particularly interested in a raised area on my face---He was so funny about it----He stated "what about that" as he pointed to it---I said that has been there for years---He poked around and said ok and went about checking other skin areas---I did go to an internal medicine physician's office the last two years for my flue and COVID-19 shots---The health department did them prior while we were in the COVID-19 era---The last time I had a complete physical was about two years ago---No major findings----My cholesterol was slightly elevated-as been for ever---but no corrective action needed at this time----Hell, I watch what I eat and not really into the unhealthy stuff----
When I lived in Dallas the gay cliques were something else ---I always said the gay class system works like this----You have the A, B, and C gay groups----The Cs are trying to get into the B's or higher, the B's are trying to get into the A's, and the A's are trying to keep others out of their exclusive club---Yes, Palm Springs is this on steroids---I am sure Rehoboth could fall into that category since a lot of gays love the area----I lived in a gay neighborhood in Dallas---Cedar Springs----I was on the edge and close to the Blue Bloods---University Park----That is where the Bush's, Perot, Margaret Thatcher's son....lived----Further in the gay neighborhood there was a multi-story apartment building where on Fridays folks would leave their doors open and folks would go from floor to floor visiting and maybe hooking up----I could not, would not be a part of that if I lived there----I hate bitchy queens and pushy lesbians----I have no patients----
Have a great evening and rest of your weekend---Watch out for folks coming to your neighborhood selling Christmas stuff---
Vic,
"Bitchy queens and pushy lesbians", perfect said in just a few words. That's what I was trying to say in my posting about not fitting in down here in the Rehoboth Beach gay clique. There are also a strata level here too. At the top are the Washington DC gays who think their shit doesn't stink (it does). They're all consumed in fund raisers as excuses for getting together for their parties, art showings, fund raisers, and fund raisers. And did I mention fund raisers? Always raising funds down here for one "cause" after another. The one causes that always got me the the police sensitivity training sessions for the local police to "get to know" how to interact with gay people WTF? They didn't get that information at their police academy training? Or just common sense to treat ALL people with dignity and respect. What are the funds raised for? "Police awareness" and cleaning up druggies lots? Yes, that had that one too. Wanted "volunteers" to help "the community" to clean up their needle ridden front and back yards. And god forbid you should question such "causes." Of course they had the latest embezzlement case just settled because you know with all those "funds raised", some people are going to get tempted. "The Gays" are not the only ones guilty of this. The local American Legion which I belong to had their embezzlement scandal which was quickly dispatched without any jail time. Crooks every where, "the gays" don't have a cover on that human failure.
To answer your question about how I am eligible for VA benefits with only serving three and a half years? I actually only served three years (from January 1960 to January 1963). Even though I was only in the Army for three years I receive all the benefits of a four year enlistee just as a two year draftee also is entitled to all the VA benefits the same as a four year enlistee. My friend Bob McC. was drafted the same day I joined, January 27th, 1960. He was only scheduled to service two years but they extended his service a year (which they could have easily done with me too but they didn't). Thus he service three years just as I did and had full VA benefits. I do have Medicare and Medicare Supplemental. All told I now pay over $500 a month for my "free Medicare." I only use the VA for my annual checkups and prescription drugs. Yes, that's right, I don't have to have Part D in Medicare. Some of my friends, who sniffed their noses at going to the VA because they thought the vA was beneath them, changed their attitude when they found out they could take advantage of the VA prescription program. The VA can bargain with the drug companies unlike in the private sector. When my friends found out they could be Eliquis for $28 a three month supply, all of a sudden the VA was "good enough" for them. Some of my friends who avoided the service with college deferments and/or family obligations or just checked the "homosexual tendencies" box have to pay the inflated prices for popular medications or get their Eliquis from Canada. I also like the fact that I can go into the VA outpatient clinic and their are no kids and moms there. Just ancient old men like me. An occasional young guy shows up but mostly it's just us old farts. That's my milieu.
I've had those "head to toe" dermatologist checks. Fun that.
Have a great day!
Ron
Thanks for the information about the VA.
I was in the Air Force for 4 1/2 years. I was one month shy of the time in service requirement for my last assignment. I could extend in increments of 30 days, so I opted for 6 months.
I am 67 years of age and still want to work. I know that I can still contribute. It's hard landing a job. I really don't need to go back into management so I have branched out. I have had interviews here and there. I just applied for 4 positions this week. I started drawing social security within the last two months just to have money coming in. I really don't want to get one of those supplemental plans. As I have stated, I have no health issues to speak of. I take no medications. I hope to land a job soon. If push comes to shove I can go to the VA Medical Center 20 minutes from my house in Aurora. I'll just bring in my DD 214. The VA is on the same campus as Children's Hospital Colorado and UCHealth. Just think a few years ago there was nothing there except a shuttered Fitzsimmons Army Hospital.
I was thinking a while back since all these supplemental insurance plan commercials began in force. Why do SS folks need one of these plans? Why not take care of the old folks. I am not saying something fancy and gold platted just basic care. It's another way the insurance companies can make money. The American health system is broken. We spend a lot more per patient than other countries and our outcomes are lousy. Remember when SS was not taxed. Thank Ronnie for that.
Be well!!
Vic,
Agreed on all that you said. What get's me is there Republican lawmakers who continuously refer to the "entitlements" of FREE Medicare. Not so, I pay a LOT OF MONEY MONTHLY for "free" Medicare coverage. But having said that, I would probably be broke now if I didn't have the supplemental plan. I could drop it and go with the VA entirely but it is much more onerous. Every procedure has to be approved by the VA and they make the appointments. I'm spoiled now by having the freedom to make my medical appointments anywhere, anytime, and I don't have to go through the VA bureaucracy. However, navigating the VA and their response time has improved greatly over the years. Oh how I remember the nightmare scenarios when Bill and I first moved to Delaware twenty years ago. I say get whatever medical plan you can afford but be prepared to have medical issues hit you unexpectedly as you get older. I didn't have any health problems for over twenty-five years when I had fabulous medical insurance at the banks where I worked. However, once I lost that insurance that's when my medical issues (surgeries, emergencies, kidney stones, prostate cancer, skin cancer, torn leg muscle) started to crop up. Thank God I had insurance. I still have to pay for my dental insurance out of pocket. You're right Vic, the health care system in our country is not cheap. I've been lucky though. Pure luck. But our health care system should not just be based on chance.
Ron
Post a Comment