The Creepy Eyeball Doctor & Artwork Strikes Again!

I returned to the eye doctor last Friday for my laser zapping on the secondary cataract in my left eye.

After some eye drops(ack!  hate those), signing a release form(listing various "oops!" that can happen, including retina detachment and blindness-Yikes!)then a red sticker dot was placed on my forehead above my left eye before herding me into the "Dilation Room".  I guess this sticker makes sure the doctor zaps the correct eyeball, like when I had my TKR, the surgeon and I both signed my knee so they didn't have an "oopsie" and saw through the wrong knee.  Someone in the Dilation Room had their sticker fall off and we all cautioned them to make sure they put it back over the proper eye. lolz

All of us "laser zapping folks" waiting exchanged some pleasantries and after about 15 minutes I got called in for my zapping.  I sat in the chair and an assistant put even more drops in my eye(have I mentioned how much I dislike having drops put in my eyes yet?).  Then I put my chin in the chin holder and my forehead against the forehead holder(lol)of the machine and was instructed to stare at the eye doctor's left earlobe.  I "saw" red exes and heard the laser go off in bursts and what appeared to be clouds of white smoke?

After 10 seconds it was all over and the eye doctor asked me if I wanted to get glasses(the upsell-at least he didn't try to sell me on Botox injections or other cosmetic shit at his MediSpa next door), then handed me an appointment card to return in 4 months.  I went to get up and leave and the eye doctor stopped me as I rose and removed the red sticker on my forehead.  I told him, "Gee, I thought I'd get to keep that as a souvenir." 8-)  He smiled and I went to the waiting room to find Hubs.

After 2 days and the drops wearing off I can discern crisper vision in the eye that got zapped.  Perhaps I'll get the other one done as well if I can stand to run the creepy eyeball artwork gauntlet again. ;-)

But as promised I did snap photos of the eyeball artwork I came upon on this visit.......

It started at the reception desk....there were 3 eyeballs on canvas artworks(only got 2 in this photo)and a snow globe of sorts with an eye ball in it.  Now that eye in glass was the creepiest thing......

I sort of liked this one in the waiting area........it was tile of either ceramic or porcelain in nature.  You figure out what this means. 8-))

And this ginormous fake chocolate rabbit complete with blue hued bow, grass and little Easter eggs was displayed prominently in front of another eyeball artwork in the waiting area.

I didn't go as many places in the building as on my first visit so I missed some eyeball artwork.  And I did notice a couple of non-eyeball themed pieces in the waiting room this time.  I wonder if in time, those two pieces will be replaced with eyeball themed artwork?

Here is a mural at the end of the long hallway and also running with ads in a loop on the tv monitor in the "Dilation Room".

This painting was next to a water fountain/hydration station down another corridor.  Notice the little figure in a space suit sitting in that eyeball. lol

Here's the painting in the room where the tech gave me the first set of eye drops.  That eyeball sort of looks like mine on terms of color but mine is lighter green with less brown around the edges. ;-)

And here I am with the Easter themed artwork they had someone paint on the building by the entrance.  Giant bunny-esque figures wearing sunglasses.  yeah.

And the Pièce de Resistance was this one.....

The giant eyeball statue is now sporting bunny ears.

Oh, I can't wait until I come back in July to see what they do to this thing for July 4th.*eye roll*

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table......March 11th Edition

The "Something I'll Miss Around Here" Edition.......

Hubs wanted to go over to Texas to our favorite BBQ Brisket place......

This place never disappoints.  I got my old reliable Brisket with Slaw and Sweet Potato Fries and a can of Diet DP.  Hubs got a 2 meat plate, Slaw, Fried Okra and a fountain soda.  

I will have to purchase one of their t-shirts before we leave here.

It a small family owned since 1927 place in a tiny town.  Not one of those big franchised chain places which seem to be everywhere.

This is day 274 of the new "way of eating".  Down 59 lbs. since the cruise(not counting the 8 I gained on the cruise and then lost again, which would make it 67 lbs.).  

Not actively trying to lose right now, just maintaining.  I plan on kicking the weight loss up again this week. ;-)

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned for last week...........

1. Sunday--Caesar Salad, Veal Parm

2. Monday--Kielbasi, Onions, Beans

3. Tuesday--Chicken Strips, Stir-Fry Veggies

4  Wednesday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, leftover Beans

5. Thursday--Grilled Trout, Roasted Potatoes, Spinach Soufflè

6.  Friday--Get Take-Out(laser zapping day)

7. Saturday--TV Dinners

And here's what actually happened......

1. Sunday--Caesar Salad, Veal Parm

2. Monday--Kielbasi, Onions, Beans

3. Tuesday--Chicken Strips, Stir-Fry Veggies

4  Wednesday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, leftover Beans

5. Thursday--Roasted Carrots/Broccoli/Cauliflower

6.  Friday--Chinese food Linner(laser zapping day)

7. Saturday--Broccoli Cheddar Soup

I had milk that needed using up, fresh broccoli and a big block of cheddar in the fridge so Broccoli Cheddar Soup it became on Saturday.  

What got taken out of the freezer last week...

*  Veal Parmesan

*  1 rope Kielbasi

*  Chicken Strips(finished a bag)

*  Stir-Fry Veggies

*  2 Pork Tenderloin slices

What got put into the freezer last week....

*  2 packages of Perdue Chicken Chunks

*  1 lb. Sea Scallops

*  4 Sirloin Steaks

Last week we spent $154.41 on grocery shopping for March.  yikes!

Total shopping comes to $345.76 for March.   

There are 20 shopping days left in March but I am staying out of the store this week(promises, promises...lol).

Rebate monies earned this month so far.....

I've earned $103.00 on Ibotta in March.

I've earned $8.00 on Shopmium in March.

I've earned $0.00 on Alexa app in March.

I've earned $15.00 on Kroger Cash Back in March.

I've earned $10.22 on TaDa in March.

I've earned $0.00 on Checkout51 in March.

I've earned $0.00 on Aisle.

I've earned 11,225 points on Fetch from food shopping in March.

I've earned 771 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in March.

I've earned 0 SB from food shopping on Swag Bucks in March.

That is $121.22 in rebates(not counting the Kroger Cash Back/Shop Kick/Fetch/Alexa)on $345.76 of grocery spending so in reality it's $224.54 in food spending after the 4 rebate apps I count(the ones that give me cash back, not the ones that I turn the points into gift cards, or Alexa that gives me Amazon credit, and I count when those points are cashed in).

My savings percentage for the last week was 39.23% and the monthly savings total for March comes in at 37.37% spent so far. 

Leftovers going into this week....I helping of each of Asparagus, Baked Beans, a big container of Broccoli/Cheddar Soup and lots of Roasted Veggies from Thursday night. 

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Mushroom/Asparagus Risotto

2. Monday--TV Dinners

3. Tuesday--Grilled Trout, Roasted Potatoes, leftover Roasted Veggies

4  Wednesday--Teriyaki Pork Loin, Green Beans

5. Thursday--Leftovers FFY

6.  Friday--Leftover Pork and Green Beans

7. Saturday--Liver, Onions, Taters, Beets

Trout goes back onto the meal plan.  I also have some clearance baby bella mushrooms I need to use up asap.

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any deals on food at your stores this week?  

Sluggy    

New Baby!

 We had a new baby arrive the end of February in my extended family.

My brother's wife's grandson and his partner had a baby.
Technically my brother is the father's "step" grandfather as the grandson is the result of my sister in-laws first marriage, so the grandson's mother is mot my brother's child.  But he has been more involved in the baby's father's life than the "real" grandparents.

I guess this makes me a Great Grand Aunt?  Gosh, now I really feel old!! lolz

Sluggy

It Has Begun!

 

If you know, you know.......

Sluggy

Frugal Friday....the March 8th Edition

There are very few Frugal wins(more like a week of medical frustrations)this past week but here goes....

*  I tried to use the Dental Discount Plan that came with my United Healthcare Supplement this week to schedule a dental checkup and cleaning.  After an inordinate number of phone calls over the coarse of this week and texts to United Healthcare and various Dentists here who "supposedly" accept this discount , I gave up.  They basically lied, there is no Discount Plan in this area because there are no Dentists who accept it.  So frustrated!  Why offer this "perk" if you buy this Supplement but you can't use it United Healthcare???  United Healthcare will be hearing from me and possibly won't get my money next calendar year for a Medicare Supplement.

Anybody out there know of a good dental insurance plan for us old foggies 65 or more?  Please send me a message.  Thanks!

*  I had a follow up with Pain Management.  One week out and the Ablation is not helping much yet. The PA there had written me an Rx in January for a muscle relaxer while I waited on having the Ablation done.  I got a Denial letter from my Part D saying I get one "courtesy" fill but they will not cover this medicine going forward as it's not in my formulary.(I double checked before signing up for a Part D plan that ALL my normal meds are in the formulary but how are we to know what random Rx some doctor will prescribe and whether it's on your formulary?  You can't unless you bring a computer to your appointment and look that drug up before he/she sends that script and you can advise said doc on this and they can try another drug.) So frustrating!

So I let the PA know I have to refill this Rx totally OOP next time and she says the office can contact my supplement provider and ask for an exemption.  Fine.  So I go to Walmart to pick up the Steroid pack the Ortho put me on and the pharmacy tech hands me TWO prescriptions and there is no charge.  ???  I see one is the Pain Management Rx(insurance said they wouldn't fill again), but filled in tablet form(not the capsules the PA wrote for this drug last time).  I am reading the paperwork you get with your drugs and it says, "Do not change from the capsule form to the tablet form and vice versa. ???  So I call the Pain Management office to advise them of all this.  A nurse calls back and tells me don't worry about switching from capsules to tablets and that Medicare supplement insurance plans never cover the capsule form but they do cover the tablet form of this drug.  Sooooooo, WHY on earth did the PA write the script for capsules in the first place?  They KNOW how old I am and I'm on Medicare! Just another cluster you-know-what.  I've got to laugh because crying does no good.....

*  I also saw the Orthopedist about my shoulders again.  He wants to see MRIs of my shoulders before he injects anything else into me because x-rays don't show you the whole story internally.  I might be more a candidate for PT(or if it's really bad, a candidate for surgery bleh)but he can't know until he looks at MRIs.....and he believes there is more going on in there besides Bursitis.  So we are waiting on approval from Medicare for MRIs while I spend this week on Steroids(which aren't helping my shoulders so far but I'll continue the med and hope for the best).

*  I also had a week of trying to get 2 regular prescriptions filled that I am on.  Our HSA debit card wouldn't go through for my ultra-expensive specialty drug.  At first we thought it was because we got new debit cards and they changed the security code on them unbeknownst to us. So I had to delete the old card on my rx plan account and then add the new debit card with the correct security code.  But the payment still wouldn't go through so we had to go back to the bank that handles the HSA account and it turns out there is a $2,500.00 limit on any one drug charge.  So we had to go back to the bank and have our limit raised so I could fill this $2,612.08 prescription.

Then I couldn't get another less expensive non-specialty drug filled at Walmart.  I texted on March 3rd to refill.  Walmart replied it's out of stock and will be 1-2 days to get it back in stock and they will contact me.  Walmart never texted me back so I had to go in person to the pharmacy counter and ask again at the end of the week.  and Walmart pharmacy I use tells me it's back ordered and no Walmart or Sam's Club pharmacy(which are in my Part D network)can get it in my area. Fan-so-tastic!

I ended up having to go to my approved mail order pharmacy to finally get this drug.....after contacting the PCP AGAIN(had to contact him before about a pre-authorization)that he had to write a new prescription so mail order could fill it.  Hopefully it arrives before I run out.  I really don't like to cut it this close.  

*  I've already blogged about what groceries/toiletries I picked up last weekend.  I did get picked for a Dove campaign and picked up these new products on Wednesday........

It's through a company called "The Insiders" I joined(don't need a code to sign up).  I do have to review the items, etc. but I will received $34.00 in a rebate for purchasing these.  The items cost me $19.94 OOP making it a $14 moneymaker.

*  We picked up some produce(and a couple of steaks for $3.47 lb,)at a grocery store while over in Texas after having BBQ there for lunch,  All fresh produce, best prices and it actually looked good too-broccoli, green beans, yellow squash, sweet potatoes and a cuke.  We also bought Hubs a pack of English Muffins they had reduced to .47¢, and the bill totaled $14.00.

AND to top it all off there was NO sales tax on food in Texas and since it was Thursday I got a 5% Senior discount at this grocery store.  That seems to about the only perk of being old lately. lolz

*  I found money!

At Walmart last Friday there was .17¢ in the coin return of the checkout machine I was using.  Then I found another penny on the floor nearby.

Last Weekend I was going through stacks of old papers and found this Birthday card my youngest made for me years ago.  It was written in cursive so he was about in 5th or 6th grade(not that they even teach cursive writing in schools nowadays but they did back in the early 2000's).  

Inside the card, on the page opposite where he wrote a message, was a dime taped to the card.  I am counting this as "found money". ;-)

Another 2 pennies found as I strolled out of Walmart on Tuesday evening after picking up an Rx.

I ran into the crappy Kroger on Tuesday while we were out seeing the Painful doctor and found another 2 pennies in there by a register.

Stopped for gas at the Walmart on the way home and found a penny by the pump.

That grocery store we stopped at in Texas?  I found this penny in the foyer while leaving the store.

Total Found in last Week.... .34¢

Grand Total Found this Year.......$1.89

That's all I got.  

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Sluggy