Just Three Things | #6

I'm certainly not the jet-setter I used to be. Last week, I went traveling for a couple or three days. Stayed in a hotel for a couple of nights. Trailed along behind the grandchildren a few days. This old gal had a hard time bouncing back! 

I napped a bit on Sunday. Then, Mike and I trekked to the local pharmacy for our annual flu vaccine appointment. The rest of the week has included catching up on laundry, catching up on housekeeping, and just trying to catch up. I'm not the spring chicken I once was and it shows!

What I'm Reading

A couple of years ago I bought a stack of cookbooks from a guy who sells stuff from storage unit sales, left-overs from estate sales, and such. There were a few Ina Garten cookbooks in the stack and I have really enjoyed reading them and trying a couple of her recipes. I have always enjoyed her cooking show and how she seems so laid back. Her cookbooks seem to have that same attitude - laid back, yet, delicious. This week I've been reading How Easy Is That? This cookbook is my favorite of hers that I have read thus far. The recipes are pretty basic and the finished product seems like something that could be included in a weekly rotation of meals.

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I might not have selected those particular titles if I was looking round in a book store, but getting several of them at a bargain second-hand was different. I've really enjoyed reading each one of them and have even given some of the recipes a try. I will probably be on the lookout for more of her titles - at a bargain.

What I'm Watching

Mike and I really enjoyed watching the Australian TV Series, McLeod's Daughters last winter. We streamed it via Amazon Prime. So, I decided that I would give another Aussie series a try - A Place to Call Home. Mike hasn't jumped into it like I have. He seems to enjoy things that run more like the old-time westerns and this is not that. However, I'm really enjoying all the crooks and dramas. There is just enough realism added to the family saga part that I can relate. I also like how they take what we might consider current issues and show how they are not something new. 

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I am in the midst of season three and enjoying every moment of the family drama but especially the beautiful scenery that is the backdrop of the stories. I also find myself pausing and asking if I am more like this character or that one.

What I'm Working On

I'll have to be honest, I haven't really been doing a lot of work this week. Mostly, I've played catch up with household chores. One that was far simpler this year than last is the selection of our Medicare plans for the upcoming year. Just like the television commercials state, it can be confusing and the plans change from year to year. I know that last year when I was trying to figure out what might be best for us, I felt like I was studying for another master's degree! I had pages of notes, a headache from reading all the different materials, a list of questions, and loads of research. This year, it was more of a refresh on the high points. Then, I just dug in and let my fingers do the calculating to see what would work best for us in my best idea. 

I get so frustrated that these insurance companies seem to try to make things more confusing than they have to be. They talk about a Plan C when there really is no such thing. All of our working lives we have paid into the system. So, why not take advantage of all of those years and dollars earned? Part A is what we've paid into all of those years. Part B is a standard insurance policy to help pay the bills. It comes at a relatively low rate, considering the other options, in my opinion. So, why not take advantage of that? Of course, check the options and if it is better for the pocketbook and still covers the necessities, go with a Medicare Advantage plan with one of these companies instead - just don't confuse that privatization of insurance with what the government provides by calling it Medicare Part C because it is not! 

I think these companies actually try to confuse folks and muddy the waters so that they can take advantage of folks. The options offered via Medicare are really no different, either. Neither of us like change. Yet, the insurance plans with Medicare change from year to year. It all depends on which company negotiated the better deal with the drug company that manufactures our meds. So, Mike and I only had a couple of heated conversations about it and I think we are all signed up and ready to roll into 2026!  I absolutely hate how these companies tend to make things even more confusing than they have to be. Mike gets frustrated and tends to take out his frustration on me as if I am the one who has made all the changes. Of course, I snap back at him as if he is the one who is the root of the evil. Then, cooler heads prevail and we calculate which option is going to give us the best coverage for the least amount of or money and call it a day. I often recall Daddy cursing and fussing about how the medical industry and insurance companies were the "downfall of America." Sadly, I think he may have been exactly right!

Well, I hope that if you are jet-setting round to places, you have the energy and tenacity to enjoy the experience and can come back home with a good frame of mind and a chance to rejuvenate. I am also looking forward to a good week ahead of cool fall weather and cozy times at home and wish that for you as well!