December 5, 2013

need ideas for group gift of food treats

Mrs. Venation's dad has Alzheimer's and has been in an assisted living facility for a little over a year. The staff there takes very good care of him.

To say thank you, we want to send the staff a gift of treats. First stop: Harry & David. But I remembered that their baskets contain not much bigger than sample sizes of each treat. We want to send something better.

Edited to add that we'll be ordering off the interbuts, and shipping to Tennessee.

Ideas? Thanks!

PS !

November 17, 2013

George is gone. What's to become of Lennie?

George & Lennie were my sister's cats. George died today; they helped him to the rainbow bridge. He was twelve years old. Lennie is his littermate. When I heard, I cried first for my brother-in-law, then for my sister, then hardest, I sobbed without restraint, for Lennie.

My sister told me that last night, Lennie was acting strangely, sniffing around and hissing at George. Why do you think he did that? Today, he is hiding, and will not eat.

They were inseparable, George and Lennie.

What will become of Lennie?

November 6, 2013

QUICK! I need something HILARIOUS to blow off Mrs. V.'s socks! Whatcha got?

It has to be clean, not disgusting, and totally apolitical.

Thanks!!

GO!

October 27, 2013

I think Mrs. Venation bought me a Nolan Ryan autographed baseball . . . .

It's an extravagance, and I've been wanting one for about forty years. I don't think it cost as much as I thought it would, even with the MLB certificate. But I don't care about investment value. He is my # 1 all-time player. I have a baseball that he pitched at Anaheim Stadium in 1989 -- Chili Davis fouled it off and I got it! Always wished there was a way I could get Ryan to autograph it. But if she truly did buy this for me --

October 25, 2013

Movie Quotes

"I thought you said 'earn more sessions by sleeving.'"

October 19, 2013

Was the song "Turning Japanese" really about

masturbation and prison?

no sex, no drugs, no wine, no women
no fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it's dark
everyone around me is a total stranger
everyone avoids me like a cyclone ranger
everyone

October 15, 2013

From where did the word SPOOPY originate

and how did it become a thing?

October 11, 2013

Ideas for simple lunches at home for a furloughed fed

She is bored to death with all the usual stuff: sandwiches, soup, hot dogs, eggs, lean cuisines, chili . . .

Going grocery shopping tomorrow. Got any ideas for simple stuff that will help un-bore my very bored beloved?

Thanks!

October 11, 2013

Serious question about the right's charges of Obama treason

Where do they get the idea that he has committed treason? Is it just a bunch of conspiracy loons running away with themselves, or has the president taken actions that the right points to and says "treason!"

I don't get it.

October 10, 2013

Insurance Company: Mini-Rant

Suddenly my insurance company is refusing to pay for a drug that I have been taking and that has been doing a splendid job for four years. To refill it will cost $2,598.88, or $28.77 per pill.

I am relatively young (50) and I'm fortunate to have a secure, well-paying job with insurance. I can't pay $2,600 a month for a drug, but I am grateful nonetheless that I have insurance and good health care.

But I have never hated an entity as much as I loathe this insurance company right now.

My doctor was on the phone with them for 25 minutes, justifying my need for this drug. They said it would take five days to make a determination. I don't have five days' worth of the drug left.* And their decision could be "no." If it is, my doctor is going to have to transition me to a new medicine.

I cannot imagine the lives of the uninsured who need medicine. I am very grateful, and I also feel very guilty that I have insurance when so many don't. Can the ACA honestly do enough?

* I can't be without the drug, so I will have to find a way to buy 10 pills to get me through to the day they make their decision. I can't afford $287.70 right now. (My wife is a federal employee. . . . )