My Naughty Neurons

These two medications are necessary for my body to function reasonably well on a daily basis. One of them keeps me from suffering the pain of GERD. The other one keeps my brain neurons firing in the proper order without the ill effects of bone loss, memory loss and liver or kidney failure. The two tablets are taken religiously morning and night. I know all too well the consequences of forgetting them or simply deciding that I don't need them any longer.

Omeprazole is the generic name for Prilosec. For many years Zeus and I have crossed the border of AZ into Mexico as often as possible to buy this medication because the cost is about one-fourth of what would be paid in the USA. Same ingredients, same medicinal benefits, different country and label. No expensive doctor visit/copayment required to get a prescription. (Yes, I know it is OTC now but when I started it wasn't.)

The other medication, the one that I must take if I want to maintain a driver's license or remember the vacation to San Diego is mailed to my home every three months. In Canada you can buy the same pills for $115 per 50 tablets. At Costco in the USA it is listed at $210 per 50.

I'm lucky. Each month Zeus lovingly writes out a check to pay for my Cobra health insurance plan. The cost is outrageous and is probably enough to make a new car payment. We are both grateful that I am covered and that those nasty-tasting pills prevent my unpredictable neurons from staging an entertaining fireworks display.

At the other end of the spectrum is a close friend of ours who needs a similar medication as mine. He has no insurance. The OTC cost prohibits him from getting the help that he desperately needs to live a full life.

I'm very frustrated today. Once again I am disappointed in the failure of many to see the larger picture. Why shouldn't every person have access to health care? Why is the United States so damn far behind other countries in this regard? Why are people so eager to feed off the system whenever it is to their own benefit but refuse to help those less fortunate?

In 2020 I hope that the miracle drugs that I take will allow me to remember that FINALLY, something was done that should have been done many years ago.

For all of you who don't approve of this post, read THIS.

$2.17

PS. Jim Mattheson, I have no words for you today. At least that I can write here.

The Oath

Being an American citizen is something that I've always taken for granted. I've been fortunate to enjoy the comforts afforded to me simply because of the circumstances of my birth. Travel into rural Mexico and ten eye-opening days in the Philippines gave me a glimpse of true poverty, the likes of which most Americans will not experience and therefore cannot comprehend.


A few days ago we had a chance to witness the Naturalization of Luis, one of our dear friends. The ceremony was held in a small theater in SLC and included 100 new citizens who came from countries as close as Canada and Mexico to as distant as Rwanda. The ages spanned from 18 through 75. The actual ceremony was brief and consisted of the group taking a surprisingly long oath of allegiance. After that the new Americans were given a chance to tell a little about why they were here and what it means to them. I would dare say there wasn't a dry eye in the auditorium after the gentleman from Rwanda spoke about his harrowing experiences and his gratitude for the new opportunities that both he and his family now were being given. A standing ovation followed.


I live in one of the reddest states in the nation but am blue to the core. Frustration and disbelief at the one-sided and short-sighted politics that governs our state makes me shake my head til it hurts. Still, being a part of this inspiring ceremony made me take a step back and realize just how lucky that we all are to be here. I can vote. Granted, that vote doesn't usually mean much here but at least I have that privilege.

Congratulations Luis!

$2.49

A Tributary ta ma Girls

Warning: This post could possibly contain some slight inferences that might somehow get under the thin skins of a few otherwise lovely and special people. You have been warned.

Are you sure you want to continue reading? Here goes.

Yesterday Athena lodged a complaint about my blog. Well maybe not a complaint, but certainly an observation. She told me that I had been posting too many photos of pretty flowers and that I needed to butch it up a little. (Still there?) Yeah, she's right. So I started thinking about all of the sporting events that have been consuming my life for the last couple of months (years?) and that I could put up a few photos of the cute high school lacrosse players and track and field runners. Or I could brag about the soccer players who are having such a good season. All sorts of ideas were floating around in my head as I gathered the necessities to watch the last lacrosse game of the season.

Well, Eris and the Duchess had the audasticles ta be a coupla minutes late ta pick me up (frude!) so I was already ticked because it was an hour drive over ta the field and we was fer sure gonna miss the a) tip off, b) kick off or c) I dunno whatcha call it in lacrossed. When they come inta the door they got all bossified and told me ta change out of my jeans and put on sum Sundie clothes. Like a blue denim jumper. What the.... Okay. Did that. First we went out ta dinner where Zeus and Athena joined us. Again, what.... I just kissed him goodbye at home. (confused.) After dinner I kissed him, again, and said "Ta Ta" ta Athena and headed ta the south fer somethin, dint know what.

We ended up over ta the Salt Lake City where Athena and Zeus was waiting fer us (it's a miracle!) down at the local play theater. My gals had boughten tickets fer the one man/woman show "The Passions of Sister Dottie S. Dixon". I been a devoted fan of Sister Dottie fer over a year and ta see her in personal was a celestial dream come true! Kinda like Eris touchin the fancy sequin hem of Neil's tight pants or Athena watchin that cute Jimmy drive round in left circles or the Duchess spittin tobacca in the bullpen with the Yankees. Ya gettin ma drift?

The theatrical was 95 minutes of riproaring laughter with sum heartwarmin moments thrown in for deep ponderin and cryin. Way better than the 8th Ward road show last year. Anybody who has lived in Utah would instantly recognize Sister Dottie and her unique ta's and fer's as well as the dones and beens. And her archnenemy Sister Barbara B. Boothe, well, we've all run inta the likes of her. Heck, there's one in every ward. And probly a couple in your ginealogy books. Criminently. I'm just sayin...... Oh, and that angelical Dartsey Foxmoreland, the show accompanister, why she had the whole place rockin with her vision of Popcorn Poppin on the Apercot Tree! As a former accompanister maself, I coulda kissed her, in a wholesome kinda way, of course. Lawsy!

If any of ya live around the SLC ya might want ta git over ta see this irrevelent show. Put a tuna/peanut butter casserole (don't forget the Cream a Mushroom soup with TWO bags of patata chips on top) in the oven fer yer hubby and grab yer VT companion. Leave all yer worries ta home while ya enjoy sum speshul guy/gal time.

And one more thing to ma girls: Love ya and 'preciate cha! And thanks agin!

$1.05 and a big blingy watch

P.S. The Duke tells me that his lacrosse team won the game 26-24 in six overtimes and was probably the most exciting lacrosse game ever played on any level. Damn, I missed it!

It's a good thing..

Warning: Political rant ahead. Proceed with caution.

It's a good thing that the people I love are here in Utah. Otherwise I would be spending time packing boxes and prepping my home for potential buyers. A warm climate sounds very attractive now. Maybe somewhere in the Caribbean? Molokai? Berkeley?

But today the bigger reason is this: I am continually appalled at the leadership in this state that keeps getting reelected again and again. The blather that continually spews from the mouths of these people makes my head spin. And it is the same ones over and over.

I listened to the complete 15 minute interview. Should have known better but it was kind of like watching a train wreck about to happen. In slow motion. Next time I will just jam dirty bamboo sticks under my toenails. It would probably be less painful. And I could take an antibiotic to get rid of the resulting infection.

I am a registered Republican. Oh, that is excruciating to admit, but it seems to be the only way that I can make my vote count. I finally realized that in this state, and particularly in my district, there is no way a Democrat will ever be elected. In order for my vote to count at all I must vote in the primary for the least offensive R candidate. It worked in November and the new guy is slightly better than the old one, although he still seems to have blinders on.

Sorry folks. It was either write this down or break a plate. And I'm running out of plates.

$2.67 (love the car washes after a good snowstorm)

P.S. I warned you..

The Dresses

Eris finally posted photos of the Little and Littlest Ms. in their Inauguration Dresses. Also, Jodi came to visit this afternoon and posted some cute photos of Little Man. Thanks to both of you!

$1.68

Forty-four.

Awesome. Not a dry eye in this house.

I went.

I went. Just one of the thousands. Still sad. Sad for everyone.

One word.

Yes!

Say it with me now:

nuclear \ nu-kle-er adj 1. of, relating to, or constituting a nucleus 2a. of or relating to the atomic nucleus 2b. used in or produced by a nuclear reaction (as fission) etc. etc.

Say it with me now: nu-kle-er, nu-kle-er, nu-kle-er, nu-kle-er, nu-kle-er, nu-kle-er

No, not nu-cu-lar.

nu-kle-er. nu-kle-er. nu-kle-er.

Repeat until you can say this word correctly, which in some cases may be NEVER!
(Can't someone help her?)

Sorry, Athena.

$.31 (blaming the economy)

Blue or Red?

For the last two weeks the air has been filled with politics. I've monitored all of the comings and goings of both parties. My favorite website (don't let the name fool you!) has been nearly consumed with Democrat vs. Republican opinions, all of them just as biased as my own. Most of the blogs that I regularly stalk have had some kind of post dealing with the recent developments in the coming election. Even Athena referred to the RNC in her latest post.

About six months ago I quit watching the national news broadcasts. I just couldn't take any more of the ridiculous blather that came on each night, opting instead to read various sources of blather via newpapers, newsmagazines and the internet. However, I broke down two weeks ago and watched addresses by the major candidates.

I will not blog about the election. If you know me personally you are already aware which way I lean (nearly tipping over leaning). For the rest of you who drop by, all I will say is that my favorite show on television is The Daily Show. I love Jon Stewart.

The adorable little guy on the tricycle is Bubba in 1996 riding in the Grouse Creek Parade.

$1.11