Tasha Tudor has died...

Possibly because our government caved in and said they would no longer stop the shipments to the U.S. When they said they were going to do that there was a tremendous public outcry, especially from areas with heavy populations of senior citizens like South Fl and Arizona.

Well Lucille, there is no doubt the system is broken. I know the movie "Sicko" was a characture of the problem and even I in my most liberal tongue will say it was over the top, but it is mostly true. It's a good film if you or anyone is interested in seeing how we are not benefitting from our way of doing things in the states. I believe we are the only civilized nation which doesn't have socialized medicine and afternoon siesta!

My heart goes out to all the people with those HMO's who just don't care. I am very grateful I never had trouble with medical insurance, but I'm not the norm. I know many people who fall through the cracks like the ones Karen mentioned. Major cities have emergency rooms being used for the flu, and a headache. Wasn't there recently a woman who literally died in the waiting room somewhere? I forgot the circumstances, but this does happen and it's not something we work so hard for in America. We make nothing here. We print money and kill cattle.

I'm very interested in this Canadian drug purchasing. How does one go about it? My mom takes medications not fully covered by her insurance. She's 74 and still works full time! She was asking me how it worked, but I couldn't begin to tell her. If you 'd rather do it via email, snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com

I'm not paranoid, everybody does hate me! :P

Is there some sort of malaise in America? I mean, how is this administration getting away with these lies? Sometimes I feel like this is the twilight zone. Now my husand got laid off from Dell. There once was a reason to buy a Dell. They had award winning support. Now they rank as one of the worst support systems. They pay Indian people 1200 dollars a year to do what my husband made 50,000 doing. But is it realy worth the loss of customers? People cannot understand the accent from India for two reasons; they are Indian speaking with a colonial British accent. A double donger to most Americans down the mid-section. So Dell is now concenrating their consumer side in China. All things come to an end. We have yet to see how bad this economy is. I am actually a bit afraid. Maybe I'm paranoid. Maybe not. I hope I'm wrong.

What I find depressing about SSD is the waiting period before you can get Medicare. My partner has stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She was approved for SSD in January. She can't get Medicare for 2 years. The only exceptions are I think patients with dialysis. Thank goodness I can carry her on my insurance plan but Medicare would be better for the hospitalization and nursing home part.

Alison let's not even talk about someone in the UNION - not a doctor - deciding if she could get certain pain medications.

No, I like you, but then, maybe birds of a feather flock together lol

Sorry to hear that and I hope things go well - not a time when one wants to face financial problems as well.

I'll email you later with the name of the company I use, which has been very easy to deal with and has given me no problems.

Another cost-cutting measure. They figure that many Disability applicants will pass away before they qualify for Medicare, thus saving the government a whole lot of money. Which they've somehow convinced themselves is a good thing.

Whatever happened to "compassionate conservative"?

Hooray - nice to see you back, Victoria. I only pop in from time to time myself - too busy, one way and another. Surely you want to move somewhere warmer, like Arizona?

I received a rattlesnake skin from there last year. I know I could make something with it, but I love it just as it is. One (rather neurotic) friend let out a piercing shriek when she looked round and saw it just above her head.

It does cause a few double-takes or shudders when people spot it draped over one of my framed embroideries, though! Still, my friends know I`m wierd and unlikely to change at my time of life. If you move, don`t you dare lose touch! So sorry to hear about Mark, though - has he got anything else in mind?

Pat

Sounds like the American Dream has turned into a nightmare lately - but it`s pretty much the same all over!

Pat

Warmer! Ha! It's been over 100 degrees F for a month. I dred moving at this point. Oh gosh, another garden to do...I don't think I can do it again.

They are quite beautiful animals.

Yeah, a few in the hopper. A very nice severance package will keep him fully paid for four months. He will get a free two month headhunter service when he's ready. For now, I'm going to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Pennsylvania July 9 to 16 and he is staying home with the Mikabird. Time away is always good for any healthy marriage, I think anyway.

Of course the minute I posted here again I started a mini uproar about health coverage in this nation. I hope I was polite to all. I won't ever lose touch with you my friend.

Well, at the very least it has turned into George W. Bush Dream.

I can't really complain, we have a decent life, but there are those who do not. Eventually I may not. Who knows, everything changes. Life is uncertain. Carpe Diem!

Gee - want to fly a bit further north and visit NH?

New Hampsha? I wish it wasn't so cold up that way or I'd live in NE anytime, any day. Truly beautiful up there. If I went there I'd have to land at La Guardia to visit my mom or she'd kill me!

I really want Montana, Utah or Wyoming, but alas, brrrrrrr.

It's warm enough now and you can fly right to Manchester and skip La Guardia.

Tell you what; next December you come down here and have a hot tub and a swim!

Victoria,

If you are seriously looking for land in a warm climate, there are still 10-20 acre lots available here in Southern California for under $100,000 - they are located in the area of Sage (between Temecula and Hemet). My fiance and I are looking there, since we know that we can build a log cabin modular of 3000 sq ft for about $75,000, so the whole package will be under $200,000 - a great deal for Southern California! You just have to be able to handle the heat and no real winter.

Just a suggestion!

Hugs, Dee