Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - January 29, 2017

Good morning! Since it's Sunday morning, this is my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I took along the way. Right now I'm still in between seasons of the television shows I regularly cover. 

I really, really have little in the way of photos for you this week. I was home-bound for most of the week with a trip to the hospital emergency room one day. I brought my camera that day thinking I might shoot medical stuff in the exam room. But I ended up being on a gurney in the hallway most of the time. 

It seemed to me that drug seekers and drug addicts complaining about chest pains had to make up at least a third of the other patients. I've only been in ERs a handful of times in my life and not at all in a few decades. They sure have changed! Although, not necessarily the gurney in the hallway bit. I recall being left on a gurney in a hallway for over eight hours at Albany Medical Center and being forgotten back when I was 19 and had broken bones in my foot. 

Somerset (Robert Wood Johnson in Somerville), where I had my knee replacement surgeries, didn't forget me, though. I went to the ER mainly because I was worried I might have a blood clot in my leg and I knew they had the testing equipment to check it. The good news is that I don't have one. The bad news is that my varicose veins might need surgery for relief. They referred me to a vascular surgeon for a follow-up. I turned down pain meds as I don't like the feeling they give me and prefer to limit them to when absolutely needed. I return to work tomorrow after calling off this past week trying to get the swelling down on the leg. I've had a DVT before and don't want another one! At least they gave work restrictions as to how long I can be on my feet and such. The earliest appointment I could get with the vascular surgeon isn't for a few weeks.

The cost of this ER visit was as frightening as I thought it would be -- which is why I don't go to ERs and forget the thought of an ambulance unless I'm truly life or death! Even with my decent health insurance from my workplace, it's costing me about what I spent for my new refrigerator a few years ago! Gah. Part of it is that it's a new year and I have to meet my deductible and all, but ...! Who is paying for all the drug addicts, drug seekers and "frequent flyers"? Hmm. 

In television stuff:

• I saw that casting for BB19 will be starting soon.
• I've been watching murders on Discovery ID to avoid a lot of the politics and such on television. They're less scary.
• I'm awaiting the return of Survivor, Bates Motel and The Walking Dead.    
• I found out that The Amazing Race isn't slated to return until Friday, April 21st. Eep. That's a long time away and it's still scheduled on Friday nights.

Onto my photos (or lack thereof) this week --      
 

Squirrels love the lack of snow so far!

Although the children are probably upset that we've had no great snowstorms so far this winter, the squirrels seem thrilled with their foraging.

Free "art"

By the mailboxes in my apartment building, folks often leave stuff for the taking. This morning, I found this as I went to get my newspaper. A very odd art piece -- it was like a mini-angel standing next to still life. I was tempted to take it for the frame and matting, then put a blow-up of one of my photos in it. But, looking at the backing, it wouldn't be an easy task. So, it's still there if you want it!

Cats just want to play

Vincent decided that if he draped himself over my head and purred loudly this morning, I would get up and pay attention to him. It worked.