Finally, He Changed His Mind

 "That is the way the law was written." That is what Tommy told me Medicare told him. I say, "Laws can be changed." He finally changed all his prescriptions from Walmart to Walgreen's. So, he has paid $105. extra for his meds at Walmart.  Yesterday, he transferred all his prescriptions (4) to Walgreen's. Including the insulin, he has 5. He says there is nothing he can do. Yes, laws can be changed. 

He did not get his Wags points, or whatever they are called with his transaction today. She was asked to do so, and she said she did. So, another call to CS in the morning. 

I suppose I will have to run down my own meds as pharmacy does not have Victoza for third day in a row. Tomorrow is the last of the prescription. Why can they not get a med with a three-day notice?

We did our grocery ad run and a little shopping.  At Giant Foods potatoes were 5 lbs for $3.99. He got a senior discount of $.20, so yay. We stopped at the Farmer's Market-- $5 box squash, and a strawberry lemonade. At Publix, he bought a half-gallon of a2 milk, 2 Life Cereal bogo, Carrots-- 2 1-lb. bags @ $0.99 each, 3 bananas. 

White grapes, mushrooms, and LED bulbs were on the list, all on sale. 

We did not buy cooking bags which we both knew we needed. That is what we get for leaving the list home. I can cook the pork loin naked in the pan, but he said that I said I was going to cook spaghetti. So, I am working on that. 

The people next door still allow several dogs to bark continuously. These women are so annoying. One woman berates one of the little boys all the time! She is so loud and mean. 

This next does not annoy me, but somehow the yard was mowed except for half the front yard. This was three days ago. Then, someone came on a riding lawnmower and mowed the whole yard, including all that had been mowed. The whole yard was then brown because the grass was skinned off to dirt and root. It all looked parched. I felt sorry for the grass. Of course, with our copious rainfall, it finally greened up today. People tell me the grass does not have to be cut so soon if it is cut to the ground. I had my St. Augustine grass mowed 4" high. 

It was nice out today, and Tommy went out to water the flowers. As soon as he came in, it rained, a hard, long rain. The heat and humidity are back, suffocating to me. 

More decluttering occurred, not much. One item gone is considered decluttering. I just hope to see the end of clutter eventually! 

Was there anything good in your Wednesday ads? At what height do you mow or have your yard mowed? 

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Farmer's Market and Grocery Shopping

citrus juicer/reamer

We went to the Wednesday one-day Farmer's Market today. Tommy thought it was from 3-6 pm and I thought it was from 4-7 pm. Well, we were both wrong. It is from 9-6 pm. I have been waiting for it to start, and he thought I was letting it pass today or something like that. However, we left about 3:30 to shop.

There were only six booths today by the time we got there about 4 pm. Three were not produce, just canned food. One guy had lots of wooden lawn furniture. I bought a box of blueberries for $4 and a little box of squash for $4. The squash were just like I prefer yellow squash. They were all about five inches long. The blueberries were really fresh. I had some out of the bag on the way home. 

We also went to our three stores to get the ads. Tommy went to the first store and refused to get a pork butt for $1.78/lb. He did not want to shop and said they would be there another day. Pooh! I went into The Pig and Publix. 

Publix had Spice Island Spices bogo. I needed dill and parsley for a mix. Bananas and Chips Ahoy bogo. Libby's Pumpkin was still fifty cents, so I bought two more. 

I finally found a juicer/reamer. It has a glass container with plastic juicer screwed onto the top. I did not want plastic, but that is all there was. I had about a half-dozen of the antique glass juicers that I prefer, but I don't know if any are still in my possession or in the landfill. I also found a single brownie mix bag for half price. 

I was in no mood to cook when we came home. The hen is not thawed. There was no more leftover protein in the refrigerator. So, I told Tommy to see what was in the big freezer. He came back with a package of sixteen meatballs, and another package with a generous meatloaf. He wanted the meatballs, so that is what we had. He ate meatballs, pasta, and leftover spaghetti sauce, and a huge salad. I might have the same. 

Dinner for tomorrow night will be meatloaf and leftover potatoes. Maybe we will have corn on the cob or squash. Dinner ready to eat for tomorrow makes me happy. 

There is no zester in sight. The grater has just a smaller grater, so maybe no help. Plus, I only found one citrus juicer in the one store that had juicer label on the shelf. Is everyone zesting and juicing citrus, or is this a supply-chain issue? My big box grater had one whole side that was a zester. Do you have a box grater with a zester? There is one store in Cullman that will have what I need. 

Now, I should wash the juicer, wash the lemons, zest the lemons, juice the lemons. Ugh! I am tired. 

The Purple D' Oro bloomed today and three more blossoms, at least, will bloom soon. I really want to hit up Lowe's every day and see what flower is on sale. But, I won't. 

Tommy discovered some herb butter in the refrigerator, and he loves it. So, I will try to mix some he will love. He will love it on squash I will cook on the stovetop. Do you add herbs to butter? 

My a2 milk is on sale for $3.60/half gallon at The Pig, as opposed to $4.99 at Publix. If I use the digital coupon, I can get it for $2.85. However, the digital coupon can only be used 2 X. I will take advantage of the price and the coupon. 

Today has been a good day. Warm is always good, and sun is better! I did not wash my hair like I wanted to do. It is late, so not dealing with lemons even though the juicer is clean. 

What did you accomplish today? Cooking, gardening, washing? Have you ever had an antique glass juicers/reamer? Maybe you still use one?

I Think I Hate Walgreen's

 I feel so much better since I quit that medicine! If I did not, I would have cried when I went to Walgreens. I always had nothing bad to say about Walgreen's, but familiarity does breed contempt. 

In the past Walgreen's has: given the prescription for someone else, handed me paperwork for another customer, given me the wrong dosage by two and insisted all I had to do was cut it in half and could not understand that half of 50mg does not equal half of 15mg. The list goes on but those are the most egregious. 

About ten days ago, I tried to get my Flonase refilled. I was told they had just given me three bottles. Well, I was so sick I just believed them. One night, I searched my room to no avail. Today, I was at a big box and saw it was otc. It seemed expensive, so I left it and decided to try to get it at Walgreens. 

All went well as I talked to the tech who assured me they had the identical thing otc. Flonase. So, I ran down especially to get it. There were other people waiting, so I paid and we drove off. I screamed, Noooo! We had to go around and sit in line once again. She said it was Flonase. I said no, it says Walgreen Nasal Spray. The amount was returned to my card. 

It is not like I just believed everything she said. I repeatedly said the word "Flonase." I do take things that are not the brand I have used. I take generic Mucinex which is guaifenesin. I understand. 

Tommy offered to let me use his Flonase. It sounds icky to me, but I did it. I am sort of desperate for this medication. It helps keep my ears and sinuses from getting infections. 

Today, I talked to someone at Walgreen's pharmacy and told the person that I cannot locate the three bottle of Flonase that I was told I was given. I was told that was 1-26 of 2022! So, now it is Saturday and I have to wait until Monday to get a refill. 

I will be reporting this to someone higher up than techs, weekend pharmacist, and weekend manager. It is so frustrating that people I should be able to trust cannot get their heads sorted. I cannot imagine how older people or less cognizant people ever get help from Walgreens. If I had not called and questioned about not getting three bottles of Flonase, I would still be without any at all. And, I would not realize I actually needed a new prescription. 

I know you are wondering how I only used three bottle since January 26, 2022 if I need it so much. Well, a friend gave me four new bottles since he had too much. 

The one good bogo at Publix this week was for McCormick gourmet spices. I wanted garlic powder and onion powder, but there was no onion powder. I did get a rain check. They reinstated that program lately. Tommy got Kelloggs Raisin Bran bogo, too. 

We have another ham for Tommy to cut up for the freezer. The ham will not fit...lol. What food deals or any deals have you found. 

Gas went down to $2.99 this last week, a big drop that happened slowly this year. 

I have recently read that there have been many problems with the Walgreen's pharmacy. Do you or anyone you know have problems with Walgreen's?

A Day to Do Nothing

                                                                Would you recognize him? 

                                                                       Milburne Stone

After a hard day of watching someone cleaning, it is difficult for me the next day. I was on my feet more, sitting on my walker seat more, and stressed more on Sunday. After she left, we got the dishes in the dishwasher, so a bit more effort during the day. I did take a nap, but naps are no longer refreshing. I wake less exhausted, that's all. 

It seems today I mostly sat. We did go looking for a pink bag of ads and coupons. There were none, so that means I have to make a list from ads on the internet. 

I have, however, done a tiny bit of decluttering.  tiny  But, any decluttering is better than nothing. The table to my left seems to gather things. I have no idea how...lol. 

My car is finally back in the carport. It has been out since Tommy got hit. Then, when I put it back the other day, it was in wrong, so it needed to be changed. I have to put the car near the brick wall on the right so I can get out without feeling I might fall two feet to ground.  Plus, it must be parked where I don't hit the carport support and ruin the door finish. And, he needs to be able to push his walker beside it to washer in utility room to the front of the car. He said he can get by on the brick side. Well, that involves scraping my car! So, NO. 

In my optimistic head, I planned to call UHC today, but did not. I also needed to get new cell service. Did not. I should have put paper in the newly cleaned out drawers and I should have looked for my pink blanket. There is always tomorrow. I really was truly tired today since I need recovery days. 

Wow, it will be 70F here Tuesday and 72F on Wednesday. Tonight or tomorrow, I need to find my pink fuzzy blanket and Tommy needs to sort the items she took from his dresser drawers. 

In Tommy's sorting of his books, he is getting rid of five huge books, tomes (large and oversized), all about the Civil War. I absolutely did not encourage getting rid of these scholarly books. I will keep one as I need to know more about the subject. 

Dinner: baked chicken breasts and thighs, potatoes, and carrots. I will have an apple later. Dinner was delicious. Tommy added a chunk of bread to his plate. The chicken was very tough, but it was 195F inside, so I suppose it was safe to eat. Now is the time I wish for a pressure cooker. I will put the chicken back in the oven sans cooking bag and cook it more. I had four chicken breasts that weighed over five pounds for the pack. 

One chicken breast must have been nearly two pounds. Of course, I mean one side or half of the breast. I wonder how miserable that hen was before it was slaughtered. 

Okay, now I must put all the food away in freezer or refrigerator.

Is your energy at a level that causes you to need to rest after any exertion?  Does a portion of a day out of the house and in the car or at a doctor's office make you need two or three days to recover? 

Accounting and Cutting Back

 One of my Christmas cards arrived ripped and in a plastic bag from the PO. It was a beautiful card, covered in gold glitter. One corner of envelope and card was missing. Jan, it is a beautiful card. This is only the second piece of mail I have ever received packaged after it was mangled. Thanks, Jan and PO. Have you gotten mangled mail saved by PO and in a package with an apology? 

When Tommy opened one of his cc bills, he told me how much we put on the card the month before, November. He was not complaining, but his tone was one of surprise, complaint and consternation. 

I suggested he write down the categories and amounts to see what was driving the increase this last month so we could see what was happening, and where we need to cut back. He said that was too much trouble, so I said to give it to me and I would do it for him. The first thing I know he is writing like mad. He said he was writing it all down in categories--Amazon, gas, eating out, Publix, other grocery stores in one category, etc. He pointed out the excesses in eating out--1xWhataburger, 2x Chicken Salad Chick, and 1vSlim Chicken. He went over the other categories, too. I never want to give up CSC! I forgot the other categories he called out to me. He uses this card for points and convenience and pays it off each month with no penalties. 

Next step: I will get one of those books with green pages to record it all instead of his writing on every envelope and searching for the last month record. I have no idea how these books work, but maybe I can find someone to show me.

We will not be cutting back on gas, but we can rein in food shopping just a bit. However, buying fresh fruit and vegetables, a2milk, and loss leaders probably will never be cut down. If he could eat a sandwich from home when out, we could cut out more eating out.  Actually, we have not been inside a restaurant since early 2019! 

This is the first time he has ever told me what he has spent on his cc. I never ask. It is his bill, but we both share what we have spent and really have no secrets about anything financial. 

All the gifts are wrapped, not that there were many. The sausage balls will be made today. Decluttering continues. Dishwasher needs to be loaded. Acessories need to be hand-washed. Decluttering continues. Life goes on. We listen to Christmas music. Tree needs to be fluffed and decorated. I have not had breakfast and it is noon. Decluttering continues. Ham needs to be sliced and portions frozen. Bathroom rugs--wash. Then, kitchen linens--wash. 

Tommy is amazing! Since the cleaner came and we are having company, he is going about and doing things he declared for three years did not need to be done. Once, I remarked I would scrub out the Harvest Gold wastepaper basket in the bathroom. 

He blew up and said it did not need to be cleaned, that he had never washed out a wastepaper basket, ever! And, he said I was not allowed to clean it either. So, he had had that plastic, ugly, broken container since before he moved her in 1980 and has never washed it. ewww! I bought a new, white one last month, and he scrubbed it before we are having company! And, he put a plastic bag in it. I am still trying to recover from this development. There are other equally startling things happening with him...lol. It's a Christmas Miracle!

So, we are plugging along with decluttering.

Almost 7 pm now, and I just put the two turkey breasts in the oven. That is not dinner, but it's meat for the freezer, plus some for eating now. He is washing the sink after turkey breast and juices in the sink. 

He fluffed the tree while I took a nap today. But, the two tiny bins with the ornaments are nowhere to be seen. Maybe we will only have lights this year. 

I called our one and only guest just now. It's on! Tomorrow night, she will be here with bells on. 

If I seem to disappear, my computer has been making a horrible noise, like a death rattle.

Have you ever gotten a letter or package from the PO that is mangled, partially missing and repackaged with an apology from the PO?

Aloha Kona Pineapple and Grocery Deals

 

I believe I have Calibrachoa Aloha Kona Pineapple. I could be wrong.  Susie and Sue identified it last post as a Calibrachoa  without seeing it, just from my description. I looked it up and found this picture above. I like them. So pretty and bright. 

Wednesday, I went shopping but was still exhausted from the "event" so just shopped at Publix. Thursday, I went to Piggly Wiggly and needed a stop at Publix. 

The Pig:

Pepsi --Tommy b2g2, bought 4

zucchini--forgot what I paid but not on sale

Graham Crackers--Nabisco Originals, one box

Breyer's Chocolate--one-half gallon or what passes for a former half-gallon

Stuffed Marshmallow--Had to try them. Never again.

Piggly Wiggly:

Daisy Sour Cream

2 lbs carrots--$1.78

Celery--$1.78

Kraft Medium Cheese--$3.53, big mistake

2 bags Kraft Cole Slaw--$1.12 each

The pork butt roast had more fat than I had ever seen on a piece of meat, so I left them at The Pig. On the way home, we stopped at Publix and I got two pork roasts there, much less fatty. Kraft cheese was bogo there, so two for $4.49, making each $2.25. 

When we got home, I put one pork roast in the crock pot and it will probably stay there until Friday morning, maybe not. The other is in the refrigerator until I can slice it in half and freeze. Or, maybe I will cook it and freeze. I have not decided. I bought 5 beautiful ears of corn 5/$2. I have called this Peaches and Cream, so I don't know if their name of bi-color is the same corn. Do you know?

I have been dizzy since about 3 pm. I think I forgot to take shot for diabetes. I was dizzy in the kitchen, lurched about and my left knee moved wrong, gave out and hurt. So, Tommy got to put the roast in the crockpot and bring me a glass of milk. Well, it was in the pot but I had him cut off the huge layer from the bottom. Do you cut that off? At The Pig there was two inches on each roast. The marbling was horrendous. 

Thursday evening, my mentor in the gardening program called and apologized for not coming over to speak to me. I had been embarrassed I had not gone speak to her. I think we were hurrying off to get the goodies. She won a hanging flowerpot, too. And, she managed to snag other plants and bags of soil, amongst other items. 

Okay, I think Peaches and Cream Corn is a bi-color variety. 

After the "event," I found a 13 lb box of books from a friend. Tomorrow, I will tell you about that.

I asked Tommy if he wanted our Memorial Day meal then or just eat it until then. He said to wait. I mentioned the pork roast and bbq the meat, cole slaw, and corn on the cob. He was so happy and said that sounds like enough. It is settled. If I can find the can of pork and beans, I may surprise him with baked means. I make really good baked beans. I only keep one can of pork and beans on the shelf as it is not something I make for myself. 

A Chair Garden

 This video is from Robbie, the woman who has a thousand hummingbirds. She had a clever Chair Garden. and good advice.

We went to Cullman today. I received one piece of mail--amount I received in ss this past year. We dropped off soup-type cans and a bag of coke and pepsi cans for friend with $6000 job on the septic tank, went to my house, to Publix and to another store. I found store-brand butter for $1.50. I regret only purchasing one pound.

At Publix I bought two Hormel pork tenderloins that were bogo for $8.99--Apple Bourbon and Original. I was pretty sure this meat bogo was not in our Publix ad. It turns out I was correct. So, I am glad I bought it and wrapped it in three bags and brought it home in a soft side cooler. These look like crockpot candidates. 

We came straight home and arrived at 2:45. a record time for returning home from Cullman. Best of all, the sun was not on the horizon and blinding us! 

Since I had a uti at Christmas, I have not read anything in bed. I have not done my marching or any of the other exercises. Last night, I marched for the first time and five minutes was a piece of cake. Also, another plus for the lift chair is lack of pain when marching. Before, I sat on Tommy's walker. Last night, I sat in my lift chair and had no pain in my lower back when I marched. It will be much easier to do this exercise from now on and I will probably do more. 

The lift chair continues to chalk up pluses for my health and comfort. 

Okay, it is on to decluttering with my right hand hurting. For a few days, I am going to cut back on using it and see how that works. 

What have you done today? Any good meat deals?

Found Money and Giblet Gravy

 When we went to laundramat in Cullman on Tuesday, I found two dimes on top of the machine into which I was putting the blanket. Score 20 cents. I forgot to mention it. 

I had a coupon for $1 off  Kraft Mac n Cheese. At Publix it was bogo, save $1.64. I used the coupon on the first box + $.64 and got the second box free. That made it 32 cents per box. I refuse to buy Kraft Mac N cheese, but this was too good to pass up. No, it will not be served Thanksgiving. It is not a T-Day food to me. These are just to put on the shelf. It will be used for a meal that is minus carbs!

Saturday Thanksgiving preparations will be boiled eggs for giblet gravy. Yes, I love chopped eggs in giblet gravy. 

Friday dinner--At first, I could think of nothing that would not involve cooking. Then, we had slices of turkey, butter peas, and diced butternut squash. For a spur of the moment decision, I was shocked at how delicious and filling it was. 

Saturday,  I will make peanut butter cookies. Most will be part of our goodies for Thanksgiving. No, it is not a tradition. I have wanted pb cookies for two months. 

Saturday now. Eggs are boiled, cookies baked. But, I started eating the eggs. Well, eggs are good for me. And, I have plenty of eggs to boil. There have been years long ago I had to save four eggs for giblet gravy.

I loved boiled eggs in giblet gravy? I won't put giblets in, just bits of leg meat. 

 

BOGO and The Price of Celery

For a while Wednesday, I thought a nap was going to win. But, after going to pharmacy, the feeling passed. I still need to wash the dishes before they become unmanageable.

Yesterday, I left off one of my BOGOs.

Kellogg's Special K Red Berries were bogo. I got two.

Today, I washed  a dish and my hair. That took the wind out of my sails. I thought I had another uti and went to the doctor.

My A1C was 6.8. My blood sugar was 214, so I know why I felt so ill. My blood pressure was 170/73. I was annoyed because I had struggled to walk down a long hall, was weighed and immediately had the cuff put on while she swiped this thermometer thing over my forehead and hooked the oxygen thing on my finger. When my bp was so high, I told her I was supposed to sit for five minutes and not talk or have other things done to me while the cuff worked. She has a bp cuff that she tightens and it does its thing while she is annoying me with other stuff and questions me.

How does she annoy me? Taking the bp wrong!

I asked her to take it again in a few  minutes. She agreed. My bp was 120/63. Much better. Do you ever have bp taken amid a flurry of other activity and talking and questioning? Do they think we do not know how bp should be taken?

I went to Publix to get their ad and a Weekend paper.

Celery was $1.29 at Publix. Can you believe that? I will make tuna salad and potato salad and freeze the rest as it is gold right now.

I went to another store and got chicken and cheese. Neither were on sale or even a particularly good price.

What is the price of celery where you shop? It was $3.99 at some stores and $4.99 at others here.

Busy Day and BOGO Bargains

Tommy picked me up and we were off. I thought my new universal remote quit working or the new TV finally died. This is my third in a year.

This was the Tuesday free lunch that we pick up and take to the park and sit facing the lake to eat. Today, we had two hotdogs, really good slaw, baked beans and a bag of chips, and two cookies. I gave him my baked beans. We had water from home.

At the store where I had two rain checks, I found the Suddenly Salad stocked but so high that I had to get help to get five down for me. I showed a checker the other for Brussels Sprouts. She got five for me. Suddenly Salad was $2.29 marked down to $1. Sprouts were $2.09 marked down to $1.

When I was putting up the Brussels Sprouts when I got home, I discovered she gave me the baby Brussels Sprouts that are much more expensive and not on sale. I am not complaining.

Publix sales were going off, too, but I had nothing on sale that I needed. I did need bananas and got those. however, at any price I needed/wanted Miracle Whip. Lucky me, it was on sale bogo. So, for 5.99, I got two jars of MW. Then, I thought I would really stock up. I came home with four MW, plum tomatoes on sale, and strawberries on sale. I forgot the prices and I don't want to get up to find the receipt.

There was only one more little bit in the MW jar that would involve extensive scraping, but I forgot to put it back in the refrigerator. I was panicking about paying full price for MW.

Tommy left me at Office Max and went to WM and got a new universal remote. Since I had to wait my turn, he arrived at OM just after I finished my chores. We got home and I used a utility knife to slit the packaging, you know the kind only a gorilla could get into without a sharp tool. Well, Tommy was sitting there clicking the old remote that I thought was broken. I forgot that when the remote seems to quit to punch the button--TV. He did not forget+. I felt foolish. But, the new remote can be returned.

While in OM I had a photo that was in the paper in 1975 copied. It was a picture of my two older children and me with the baby inside me. So, all three are there. I was soooo skinny then even though I was pregnant, not showing. I lost the dongle to my wireless mouse, so I got another wireless mouse to keep my hand and arm from hurting. Plus, it is so difficult to copy and paste with the pad on the computer.

At Walgreen I had bought a face cream that I obviously am allergic to. I got that price back on a gift card.

We had fresh squash, Brussels Sprouts, and tomatoes for dinner. Tommy said it was really good. Then when he finished he said it would have been better with a protein. YEAH! Sorry, I did not get protein thawed. I suppose I could have opened a can of chicken, but I did not think.

Today, I got a perfect and extensive back rub, so life is good.  The harangue from my neighbor is still making very exhausted. Neighbor ripped the picture I had copied, and I still cannot find the text of the article with the picture.