ANTHROPOLOGY

Some say curiosity killed the cat.  But I seem to get curiouser and curiouser as I grow up, despite the caveat.  Mostly about how my contemporaries really live.  Just the day to day stuff, nothing philosophical or spiritual (yet).

ANTHROPOLOGY is the study of humankind, past and present, that draws and builds upon knowledge from social and biological sciences, as well as the humanities and natural sciences.

See?  I'm not just being nosy, I'm an anthropologist!  Oh, don't worry ... I'm not publishing results of my findings.  I'm simply eager to learn how other ordinary people live as compared to me.  My questions are mainly for females ...

How much sleep do you get each day and what is your sleep schedule?

Do you sleep with the TV on?  Music?  White noise?

How often do you shave your legs?

Do you brush your teeth and floss every day?  Once? Twice? More?

Showers?  Every day? Every other day?  Less?  More?

Housekeeping.  Do you do your own or do you have help?

How often do you wash your car?

Do you balance your checking account every month?

Have you tried "alternative" medicine?  Accupuncture, naturopathic, meditation, hypnosis, etc?

Do you park close to your destination or at the far end of the parking lot so you get in some walking?

Sleep nude or in some kind of clothing?

Have you used microwave meals rather than cooking?  How often?

Do you do your own taxes or get help?

If you have pets, do you talk to them?  Let them sit on your lap?  Sleep with them?  Teach them tricks?

How often do you exercise enough to make you sweat?

Do you include a fruit or vegetable with every meal and snack?

Do you light candles for no reason, just your own enjoyment?

When you have a meal, do you watch TV while you eat or sit at a proper table?

Do you wear make up every day or just for special?

Vitamins and supplements?  Yes or no?  Daily?

I'm sure I could come up with 100 questions I'd love to compare answers with.  Anthropologist or nosy old lady?

You decide.

BROTHER HUSBANDS

Curiosity led me to watch Sister Wives, a TV series about a family who chooses to have one husband and four wives.  And a mass of children!  Now I'm thinking of starting a religion where one wife can have four (or more) husbands.

Think of it!  One husband could be the handyman.  Need a shelf put up?  Done!  How about when the sprinkler system needs a fix?  Bingo.  Hmmm ... maybe remodel the kitchen?  Oh the possibilities.

Well, my Number Two choice would be a chef.   Healthy, flavorful mostly vegetarian.  Fresh ingredients from all over the world.  Hopefully a garden for seasonal items and home grown herbs.   I could throw a dinner party or appetizers for my bridge club (soon! I am learning).  Anything dipped in single source dark chocolate.  I'm liking this idea ...

Wouldn't it be fun to have a driver?  No more stressing out trying to find parking at that new little chi chi shop on the north side.  Someone to keep the car clean and mechanically up to date.  The doors opened each and every time (like Mr. Ralph did.)  A responsible designated driver?  So now I can have that second glass of wine at dinner!

Last and most important ... a personal trainer.  I admit it, I definitely need help in this department.  Someone who pushes me (just a little), encourages me (with the proper training and knowledge ... maybe a physical therapist as well) and inspires me with fun and interesting ways to raise my heart rate and build some muscles.  Who is also a yoga leader!

Of course they would also be my sex slaves.

ALONE

I'm still kinda new at this widow thing.  Every day I miss him and all those little things that I took for granted.  And of course, all the big things as well.  I still don't like taking myself out for dinner!!

But I don't feel lonely.  Alone, but not lonely.  I enjoy my alone time.  Really! I don't feel compelled to have ten things scheduled every day.  Sometimes I choose alone rather than a social invitation.  It takes the right frame of mind to be an "only" in a party full of couples.  Once in a while I prefer not to attend a gathering with a group of ladies.  Usually it's when I feel like being around groups of people drains me, rather than recharges me.  Old age or introvert?

It's not like I get a lot done in my alone time!  I don't have the inclination to be very productive and with three weeks left in Paradise, the motivation is even less.  For this first year of widowhood, I am happy to be social on Facebook, play online games with siblings and friends, phone friends for one on one conversations, read and walk in the sunshine... then back on the laptop again.  I'm busy enough finding health insurance, sweating medical test results, having friends be house guests, just living life.

In our past, we entertained large groups (sometimes up to 100!!!)(how did I do that?) and I loved it.  Hindsight?  I always had a "job" to do ... offering food or drinks, replenishing the appetizers, throwing away trash.  Now, when I attend a party ... my only job is to chat and have fun.  It is empowering for me to know I can say yes or no to an invitation.  I just have to pull out my widow card, and they (usually) back off.  Geez I wonder when that will wear off?

For now ... I'm alone, but not lonely.  And I seem to prefer small groups!!

AFFORDABLE (?) CARE ACT

Not!

I just learned that my Maui Kaiser health plan does NOT offer care in Oregon.  Just for 90 days.  Since I will be living in Oregon at least six months a year, I had to go shopping for a plan that is mostly Oregon (annual and preventative stuff) yet also covers sickness or emergencies in Maui.

It was a learning experience.  Every company offers at least THREE plans with at least three sub-plans under those.  

SILVER
     Silver Be Prepared.  
     Silver Be Fit.  
     Silver Be Smart.  
     Silver Be Aligned.  
     Silver Rose City.  
     Silver Standard.  

After spending hours online, and on the phone (really Kaiser?  I can't get this plan in Oregon?), I had to resort to an insurance broker. 

My monthly payment was high previously ($530) ... because I was on three medications and had been to counseling IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.  There were 20+ pages of questions to answer. Have I ever had cancer.  Have I ever had diabetes.  Have I ever had a hangnail.  I was rejected three times.  I finally had to get a letter from my Doctor AND the counselor explaining how normal and low maintenance I was.  

So I was really shocked, now that we have "affordable" health care, to discover a plan similar to my current plan would be $680+.  Imagine my surprise also that now EVERY plan has a deductible.  Good grief am I looking forward to turning 65 and getting on Medicare.

This really isn't affordable.  But at least the application was three pages max, mostly their words, and I only had to supply my name, address, Social Security Number and signature.  

P.S.  I signed up for a cheaper option, high deductible, with in network services in both locations.  $480.

GRIEVING IS HARD WORK

APP OF THE MONTH

Oh!  So many fun apps to choose from!  I'm going to choose one of the older ones I still use almost daily.

Grocery IQ.  It's still a FREE app also.  (Free is always a good price.)

It's a grocery list app.  Since I always have my phone near, it is super easy to add an item as I think of it.  The app keeps your list, then when you are shopping you just tic off an item.  You can keep lists by grocery store (like if you almost always buy toilet paper from Costco) and it will store your "favorite" items so you can simply look through things you buy frequently to help jog your memory.

Grocery IQ organizes your items as well ... produce, dairy, spices, etc.  If you choose an item that it has not categorized, you can choose which department YOUR store uses.  SOOO handy when I don't want to wander up and down every aisle.  In fact, I think you can even put aisle numbers, according to your store, by each item.

Another feature I used to use when Mr. Ralph was still working ... you can email your list to someone!  Honey will you stop by the store on your way home and get .....

Give it a try!  And tell me one of YOUR favorite apps!!

FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Wow!  This day is filled with amazing events.

First, it's my brother's birthday ... oh my, 58!  I'm sure he doesn't read this blog as he is holding some sort of grudge and is not speaking to me.  Going on five years now, I think. But Happy Birthday, Jim!   Thankfully, I have four other siblings who speak to me (on occasion.)  

Ground Hog Day.  And he saw his shadow, so six more weeks of winter.  This is not boding well with me as I'll be heading back to Portland where they are almost in drought mode.  I bet I bring the rain ....

Super Bowl Sunday!  I don't really watch (or care about) football but I do like the commercials.  Carrie and Jim invited me over to their luxurious back yard to watch with a crowd but we are getting rained upon today so I'm not sure about going.  The turkey meatballs are simmering in the crockpot though, just in case.

Nine months ago today, Mr. Ralph died in his sleep.  It seems like just last month yet on some days it seems like years ago.  We always hosted a Super Bowl party since it was so close to his birthday.  

This year we celebrate his birth and his death. And Jim's birthday.  And Ground Hog Day.  As well as Super Bowl.  

Go Seattle!