I found this kind-of cool website, where you can put in your name and it tells you how many people in the U.S. have the same name as you. I tried my current name and my maiden name, and here are the results.
My current name:
My maiden name:
I'm the only one!!!
Try it, it's fun!
Cat
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
One eye down, one to go
I had the cataract surgery on my left eye this morning. I was so nervous, but they gave me some stuff to help me relax, and the surgery went really quick and easy. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Now I have a patch over my left eye, They told me I can take it off at 2:30. I'm typing using my other eye and a pair of drugstore reading glasses so that I can see the computer. They said when I take the patch off I'll be able to see, but it will be blurry, and then get clearer and clearer over the days.
I wonder if it will hurt when the anesthetic wears off the left eye? I forgot to ask them that. I have three different eye drops that I have to start using on varying schedules.
I go back for a checkup tomorrow. Still have to decide if I want to do the right eye to see distance vision like I did the left, or do it for near vision so that I can see both close and near at the same time. I have always worn my contacts "mono", one for near and one for far, but I am leaning towards just getting both eyes surgically corrected for distance and then wearing glasses for close-up (reading, computer, beadwork). It seems like that would give me the least problems going forward. I wouldn't have to explain to every eye doctor I see for the rest of my life about the mono-vision, whenever I need glasses. Also the beadwork is so detailed, I think I would rather have both eyes the same.
I'll let you know how it all continues to work out.
Cat
Now I have a patch over my left eye, They told me I can take it off at 2:30. I'm typing using my other eye and a pair of drugstore reading glasses so that I can see the computer. They said when I take the patch off I'll be able to see, but it will be blurry, and then get clearer and clearer over the days.
I wonder if it will hurt when the anesthetic wears off the left eye? I forgot to ask them that. I have three different eye drops that I have to start using on varying schedules.
I go back for a checkup tomorrow. Still have to decide if I want to do the right eye to see distance vision like I did the left, or do it for near vision so that I can see both close and near at the same time. I have always worn my contacts "mono", one for near and one for far, but I am leaning towards just getting both eyes surgically corrected for distance and then wearing glasses for close-up (reading, computer, beadwork). It seems like that would give me the least problems going forward. I wouldn't have to explain to every eye doctor I see for the rest of my life about the mono-vision, whenever I need glasses. Also the beadwork is so detailed, I think I would rather have both eyes the same.
I'll let you know how it all continues to work out.
Cat
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Old? B-b-but...
I found out I have cataracts. I thought only old people get cataracts. I can't have them! Boo-hoo-hoo!
I've been having decreasing vision and seeing glare around lights at night for a while, so I figured I may as well get my eyes checked out and get new prescription. I got kind of a surprise when the eye doctor(optometrist) sent me to another eye doctor(opthamologist) and he sent me to yet another eye doctor(surgeon).
So the verdict is I have cataracts and need to have my eye lenses replaced surgically with implants. They can only do one eye at a time (in case you go blind???), so I have two surgery dates scheduled, Nov. 3 and Nov. 17. And of course, two co-pays to go along with two surgeries. By the way, my co-pays and deductibles went way up this year, did yours?
For over 5 years I have been wearing "mono-vision contacts", which means one eye corrects for near-sightedness and the other eye corrects for far-sightedness, instead of wearing bi-focals. (yeah, I know, I should have realized I was old then.) Little did I anticipate, but cataract surgery also corrects all of your vision problems, no more contacts, YAY, so I am having the lens implants done the same way, as mono-vision. My other choice would be to correct both eyes for far-sightedness, and wear glasses for reading, computer work, seeing the dashboard when I drive, and other stuff like that. Or correct both eyes for far-sightedness, but then wear a contact in one eye to turn myself back into mono-vision. Or get bi-focal lens implants, but that costs $3000 more, so you see why I couldn't go that way.
I'm very nervous about going with the "mono". I really don't know why, I've been correcting my vision like this way for 5 years and it's worked fine, but now it just seems so permanent. I mean, once I do the surgery, there is no going back and changing it if I'm not happy. The surgeon said her mom did it as mono and is very glad. I guess that is meant to reassure me that I'm making the right decision.
Do any of you wear mono contact lenses? What would you do for the surgery? I'm sooo confused, I keep changing my mind. As if I weren't already nervous enough about the prospect of somebody operating on my eye, while I'm awake! They said they'll give me something to relax, but that never really works that well on me. And of course I get local anesthesia on my eye.
At least the first eye is the one being corrected for the far-sightedness, so I'll still have time to change my mind about the second eye before Nov. 17, depending on the results. What to do, what to do????
I've been having decreasing vision and seeing glare around lights at night for a while, so I figured I may as well get my eyes checked out and get new prescription. I got kind of a surprise when the eye doctor(optometrist) sent me to another eye doctor(opthamologist) and he sent me to yet another eye doctor(surgeon).
So the verdict is I have cataracts and need to have my eye lenses replaced surgically with implants. They can only do one eye at a time (in case you go blind???), so I have two surgery dates scheduled, Nov. 3 and Nov. 17. And of course, two co-pays to go along with two surgeries. By the way, my co-pays and deductibles went way up this year, did yours?
For over 5 years I have been wearing "mono-vision contacts", which means one eye corrects for near-sightedness and the other eye corrects for far-sightedness, instead of wearing bi-focals. (yeah, I know, I should have realized I was old then.) Little did I anticipate, but cataract surgery also corrects all of your vision problems, no more contacts, YAY, so I am having the lens implants done the same way, as mono-vision. My other choice would be to correct both eyes for far-sightedness, and wear glasses for reading, computer work, seeing the dashboard when I drive, and other stuff like that. Or correct both eyes for far-sightedness, but then wear a contact in one eye to turn myself back into mono-vision. Or get bi-focal lens implants, but that costs $3000 more, so you see why I couldn't go that way.
I'm very nervous about going with the "mono". I really don't know why, I've been correcting my vision like this way for 5 years and it's worked fine, but now it just seems so permanent. I mean, once I do the surgery, there is no going back and changing it if I'm not happy. The surgeon said her mom did it as mono and is very glad. I guess that is meant to reassure me that I'm making the right decision.
Do any of you wear mono contact lenses? What would you do for the surgery? I'm sooo confused, I keep changing my mind. As if I weren't already nervous enough about the prospect of somebody operating on my eye, while I'm awake! They said they'll give me something to relax, but that never really works that well on me. And of course I get local anesthesia on my eye.
At least the first eye is the one being corrected for the far-sightedness, so I'll still have time to change my mind about the second eye before Nov. 17, depending on the results. What to do, what to do????
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Want to be my penpal?
All I ever get in the mail is bills, bills, and more bills. Also lots of junk mail.
I had a penpal when I was a kid, and I was always so excited to go to the mailbox and find a letter from my penpal. I'd like to be able to have a reason to look forward to checking the mail, instead of dreading it every day.
So, if anyone would like to exchange real letters with me, not e-mails, real handwritten letters mailed through the post office, please either leave a comment or email me at catnpr (@) aol.com. (leave out the parentheses, of course. I just put them in there so that I won't get lots of spam.)
I hope I hear from someone!
Cat
I had a penpal when I was a kid, and I was always so excited to go to the mailbox and find a letter from my penpal. I'd like to be able to have a reason to look forward to checking the mail, instead of dreading it every day.
So, if anyone would like to exchange real letters with me, not e-mails, real handwritten letters mailed through the post office, please either leave a comment or email me at catnpr (@) aol.com. (leave out the parentheses, of course. I just put them in there so that I won't get lots of spam.)
I hope I hear from someone!
Cat
Sunday, October 03, 2010
I don't intend to turn this into a political blog, honestly. But I just have to make some comments on the Health Care Reform Law. It needs some serious amendments.
At first I was happy we were finally getting any kind of HCR law, but the more I read about it, the less it seems like it will actually do anything to help me. Except for the pre-existing condition clause (which doesn't go into effect until 2014). But even with that, there are no price controls, so it appears to me that I will be paying out the butt to any insurance company willing to write a plan that covers all my conditions. Speaking of the butt, it also appears that I will be able to get a free colonoscopy now. Yay.
We should have had a Public Option, at least it would have helped keep insurance costs competitive. Even better, we should have gone with Single Payer, like most other developed countries. Yeah, I know, that makes me some kind of left-wing socialist. But at least I would be a left-wing socialist with free health care.
Here is a chart that shows which provisions go into into effect each year. I don't really see anything that great. I don't know what this bill looked like before, but what we ended up with after trying to compromise with the Republicans just doesn't seem to have enough of anything in it for the average American.
And those are my thoughts for the day.
Cat
At first I was happy we were finally getting any kind of HCR law, but the more I read about it, the less it seems like it will actually do anything to help me. Except for the pre-existing condition clause (which doesn't go into effect until 2014). But even with that, there are no price controls, so it appears to me that I will be paying out the butt to any insurance company willing to write a plan that covers all my conditions. Speaking of the butt, it also appears that I will be able to get a free colonoscopy now. Yay.
We should have had a Public Option, at least it would have helped keep insurance costs competitive. Even better, we should have gone with Single Payer, like most other developed countries. Yeah, I know, that makes me some kind of left-wing socialist. But at least I would be a left-wing socialist with free health care.
Here is a chart that shows which provisions go into into effect each year. I don't really see anything that great. I don't know what this bill looked like before, but what we ended up with after trying to compromise with the Republicans just doesn't seem to have enough of anything in it for the average American.
And those are my thoughts for the day.
Cat
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
UGH. Returned to the back surgeon today, two months after my surgery (to fuse my facet bones together at L4-5 and L5/S1). It wasn't good news. Since I'm still in considerable pain, he took more x-rays.
Then he said that my L5/S1 vertabrae are "collapsed". He says I could have a complete fusion, with hardware and also some cutting away of the bone to make some space between the vertabrae. However, he also said there is no guarantee that this would stop my back pain, and there is a possibility that it could make it worse. Not good news.
He recommended that I just stay on medication management unless (until?) it gets so bad that it pinches a nerve and I start having pain in my legs. This is really a pain (no pun intended). It makes it very hard to look for a job when you have to take pain medication every day. I asked the doctor if he could reduce my medications. He had me on a fentanyl patch, which you wear all the time and change every three days, meaning you are medicated 24 hours a day. Now he reduced it to pain pills, so at least I can take them only when I am actually in more pain than I can handle. Though it sucks not having the patches, which helped a lot, I feel more in control of my medication, and if need be (like an upcoming drug test), I can choose not to take them and just be in agony for a week. I think. I've tried it before, and it's not easy being in agonizing pain when you know there's an easy solution right in your medicine cabinet. And then I didn't get the job anyway, after all that suffering. Bummer.
Oh, well. It is what it is, and I'll just have to learn to live with it for now. I'm still considering trying out the surgery, but he didn't sound very optimistic about it working, so I'm not considering it that hard, but still thinking about it.
Then he said that my L5/S1 vertabrae are "collapsed". He says I could have a complete fusion, with hardware and also some cutting away of the bone to make some space between the vertabrae. However, he also said there is no guarantee that this would stop my back pain, and there is a possibility that it could make it worse. Not good news.
He recommended that I just stay on medication management unless (until?) it gets so bad that it pinches a nerve and I start having pain in my legs. This is really a pain (no pun intended). It makes it very hard to look for a job when you have to take pain medication every day. I asked the doctor if he could reduce my medications. He had me on a fentanyl patch, which you wear all the time and change every three days, meaning you are medicated 24 hours a day. Now he reduced it to pain pills, so at least I can take them only when I am actually in more pain than I can handle. Though it sucks not having the patches, which helped a lot, I feel more in control of my medication, and if need be (like an upcoming drug test), I can choose not to take them and just be in agony for a week. I think. I've tried it before, and it's not easy being in agonizing pain when you know there's an easy solution right in your medicine cabinet. And then I didn't get the job anyway, after all that suffering. Bummer.
Oh, well. It is what it is, and I'll just have to learn to live with it for now. I'm still considering trying out the surgery, but he didn't sound very optimistic about it working, so I'm not considering it that hard, but still thinking about it.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
License renewal time
I had to renew my driver's license yesterday. UGH! Besides the 5 hour wait in the office (I'm not kidding), there is now a whole new set of rules about what documents you need to bring with you. Thanks to Homeland Security. And all the prices doubled on the first of September.
They probably could have put more people behind the empty windows to speed things up, but that would have taken a job away from the guy whose whole purpose was to walk around with a stamp in his hand, or the lady whose job it was to check the fax machine every ten minutes. I really want a job there. I even tried to find one online today, but it seems there is no place to find a list of jobs at the DMV. I guess they don't need any more people walking around holding stamps.
I had to bring my original birth certificate or passport, and my original social security card, and two pieces of mail addressed to me at my house. No post office box address allowed on your license. If my name had changed, I would need my original marriage/divorce decree/court order. Luckily I had everything, though it took me a long time to find my social security card. I mean, who uses that thing anymore?
Supposedly this paperwork requirement is supposed to keep illegal aliens from getting driver's licenses, so now I guess more of them will just drive around without licenses or insurance. So that solved that problem.
Oh, well, at least I got my license (yes, the picture is crappy) and I don't have to deal with it for another eight years.
Cat
They probably could have put more people behind the empty windows to speed things up, but that would have taken a job away from the guy whose whole purpose was to walk around with a stamp in his hand, or the lady whose job it was to check the fax machine every ten minutes. I really want a job there. I even tried to find one online today, but it seems there is no place to find a list of jobs at the DMV. I guess they don't need any more people walking around holding stamps.
I had to bring my original birth certificate or passport, and my original social security card, and two pieces of mail addressed to me at my house. No post office box address allowed on your license. If my name had changed, I would need my original marriage/divorce decree/court order. Luckily I had everything, though it took me a long time to find my social security card. I mean, who uses that thing anymore?
Supposedly this paperwork requirement is supposed to keep illegal aliens from getting driver's licenses, so now I guess more of them will just drive around without licenses or insurance. So that solved that problem.
Oh, well, at least I got my license (yes, the picture is crappy) and I don't have to deal with it for another eight years.
Cat
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Civil Rights
What is wrong with gay marriage? Why are so many people opposed to it?
The first question is easy to answer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. As a matter of fact, I feel that trying to oppose gay marriage is unconstitutional. According to the constitution, ALL persons are created equal and we all have the same rights. It seems inconceivable, especially to those members of society who are too young to remember now, that only 40 years ago an inter-racial couple was forbidden to marry by law. This was changed, and rightfully so, because it is a civil rights violation to treat people unequally. I believe that the laws against gay marriage should be struck down according to the same civil rights violation. And I don't want see any silly compromise, such as, "well, you can have a civil union, but you can't have the rights accorded to heterosexual couples" (i.e., spousal health insurance benefits, right to inheritance, ability to adopt children as a couple, right to file taxes together, social security benefits, right to make medical decisions for your spouse, etc.). I want to see married gay couples given all of the same civil rights as are given to any other married couple. It's just the right thing to do. It is time for our legislators to 'come out of the closet' (so to speak) and stand up for their constituents.
The second question is much more difficult to answer. I understand that some people may be opposed on religious grounds, but one group's religious beliefs do not make another group's civil rights just disappear into thin air. Even aside from religious beliefs, just how does a gay couple getting married hurt anyone else? I really can't figure out the answer to this question. I mean, I would think that even conservatives would value the commitment and stability of marriage, no matter if that marriage is heterosexual or homosexual.
I just look forward to the day when this country's citizens will look back and wonder how we could ever have denied civil rights to a group of us who are deemed equal to everyone else under the constitution. And to the day when it seems so unbelievable that my grandchildren will ask me if this was ever really true.
Cat
The first question is easy to answer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. As a matter of fact, I feel that trying to oppose gay marriage is unconstitutional. According to the constitution, ALL persons are created equal and we all have the same rights. It seems inconceivable, especially to those members of society who are too young to remember now, that only 40 years ago an inter-racial couple was forbidden to marry by law. This was changed, and rightfully so, because it is a civil rights violation to treat people unequally. I believe that the laws against gay marriage should be struck down according to the same civil rights violation. And I don't want see any silly compromise, such as, "well, you can have a civil union, but you can't have the rights accorded to heterosexual couples" (i.e., spousal health insurance benefits, right to inheritance, ability to adopt children as a couple, right to file taxes together, social security benefits, right to make medical decisions for your spouse, etc.). I want to see married gay couples given all of the same civil rights as are given to any other married couple. It's just the right thing to do. It is time for our legislators to 'come out of the closet' (so to speak) and stand up for their constituents.
The second question is much more difficult to answer. I understand that some people may be opposed on religious grounds, but one group's religious beliefs do not make another group's civil rights just disappear into thin air. Even aside from religious beliefs, just how does a gay couple getting married hurt anyone else? I really can't figure out the answer to this question. I mean, I would think that even conservatives would value the commitment and stability of marriage, no matter if that marriage is heterosexual or homosexual.
I just look forward to the day when this country's citizens will look back and wonder how we could ever have denied civil rights to a group of us who are deemed equal to everyone else under the constitution. And to the day when it seems so unbelievable that my grandchildren will ask me if this was ever really true.
Cat
Monday, September 06, 2010
School? At my age?
Thanks to giving almost 25 years of my life to a company where I thought I'd work until I retired, and then being laid off due to outsourcing to India, I have nothing but a high school education and lots of job experience that only means I'm either "over-qualified" or "under-qualified" for the few jobs that are even out there. So.......
I'm thinking about going back to school. Seriously. Even the most menial jobs out there now are requiring a college degree, apparently because there are so many applicants for every job that employers feel they can get whittle down the stack of resumes on their desk by requiring degrees. I've even seen ads for receptionist jobs asking for college degrees. What??!!??
I'm sure I could receive financial assistance, so I'm not too worried about cost. But I am worried if it would be worth the time, at my age.
I thought becoming a substitute teacher would be rewarding, but after checking I found that it requires a bachelors degree. Well, forget that. By the time I got out of school, I'd be 57 years old, and then who would hire me? Plus, I don't have 4 years to spare before I can begin earning an income.
Then I thought about technical schools. Being a pharmacy technician really interests me, and can be be completed in just one year. (It does involve LOTS of math, though.) Then I started looking at the job-search sites for pharmacy techs. Oops, not much demand for employees. I might just go to Borders and buy the textbook, start studying, and check to see if job opportunities open up a bit before plunking down money at a technical school.
Think, think, think, what kind of job would I enjoy doing that would only take one to two years of training? Looks like I need to do a lot of research and soul-searching.
Or am I just crazy?
Cat
I'm thinking about going back to school. Seriously. Even the most menial jobs out there now are requiring a college degree, apparently because there are so many applicants for every job that employers feel they can get whittle down the stack of resumes on their desk by requiring degrees. I've even seen ads for receptionist jobs asking for college degrees. What??!!??
I'm sure I could receive financial assistance, so I'm not too worried about cost. But I am worried if it would be worth the time, at my age.
I thought becoming a substitute teacher would be rewarding, but after checking I found that it requires a bachelors degree. Well, forget that. By the time I got out of school, I'd be 57 years old, and then who would hire me? Plus, I don't have 4 years to spare before I can begin earning an income.
Then I thought about technical schools. Being a pharmacy technician really interests me, and can be be completed in just one year. (It does involve LOTS of math, though.) Then I started looking at the job-search sites for pharmacy techs. Oops, not much demand for employees. I might just go to Borders and buy the textbook, start studying, and check to see if job opportunities open up a bit before plunking down money at a technical school.
Think, think, think, what kind of job would I enjoy doing that would only take one to two years of training? Looks like I need to do a lot of research and soul-searching.
Or am I just crazy?
Cat
Saturday, August 28, 2010
A controversial view?
I know that my view on the Park51 Mosque in NYC is very unpopular, but it shouldn't be. I believe in the Constitution, and I believe that "freedom of religion" means freedom of religion for ALL, not just those religions you approve of. We cannot accuse all Muslims of being members of Al-Queda (an evil and radical group), just as we cannot accuse all whites of being members of the KKK (an evil and radical group). Yet some of us persist in doing so. Why? In my view, that is painting Americans, in the rest of the world's eyes, as being intolerant. That is unacceptable. Our nation is built on diversity and tolerance, that is why it was written into the Constitution in the first place.
One of the most well thought-out opinions I have read yet on this topic was written by Mark Green at The Huffington Post, and you can read it here. He says it much better than I ever could.
Americans have worked too hard and too long to make this a country that believes in civil rights for everyone. Please, let's not take a step backwards.
Cat
One of the most well thought-out opinions I have read yet on this topic was written by Mark Green at The Huffington Post, and you can read it here. He says it much better than I ever could.
Americans have worked too hard and too long to make this a country that believes in civil rights for everyone. Please, let's not take a step backwards.
Cat
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