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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
