Did You Ride the Short Bus to Work Today?

Jason and I are grilling steaks and vegetables for dinner tonight. I needed to get a few things, namely vegetables, so I ran to the Crest in Edmond. (For anyone who might not know, Crest is a grocery store that usually rocks.) I witnessed an incredible display of intelligence. For the following story, keep in mind that I worked in a grocery store throughout high school, so I have certain expectations about common sense in clerking.

In the middle of scanning my order, the clerk called a manager over. They had a conversation which made me want to beat my head against my cart.

Clerk: "Is the name on the WIC thingie supposed to match their name?"

Manager: "Yes. WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children."

Clerk: "No, that's not what I mean. I mean, are they supposed to sign the right name?"

Manager: "Yes, they're supposed to sign their name."

Clerk: "No, I mean, does the name on the thingie have to match their name?"

Manager: "I don't understand what you mean."

Clerk: "Does the name they sign have to match the name on the thingie? The girl signed the name Hannah and the name on the thingie was Elizabeth."

Manager: "Oh. Sometimes people sign using their middle name or a different name."

Clerk: "But even the last name didn't match. Do you think I should have asked for ID to make sure it was the right person?"

Manager: "No. They check for fraud when it comes back to the WIC office. They look to see that the name signed matches the name on the thingie exactly."

Clerk: "Well, the names didn't match and the lady acted funny."

Manager: "It's probably okay, and if it's not, I guess the government will fix it."

Okay, seriously??!?! A million years ago when I clerked at good old Ray's IGA in Fredonia, if we didn't know the person, we were supposed to ask for identification when they used their WIC. If their ID didn't match one of the names listed on the certificate, we were not allowed to fill the WIC order and were supposed to notify the health department. Now, that's been a good 12 years ago, but I would assume the rules are still, at least, somewhat the same. Obviously, if you have a name/person/ID that doesn't match anything on the WIC voucher, then you have cause to be suspicious. I'm not saying that the woman buying the WIC was committing fraud, but there's always that possibility. I just would like to know that a little more care is taken with my tax money to ensure that it's not wasted on someone who doesn't need the assistance. Don't get me wrong - I think WIC is one of the better government programs. It's just apparent that these two idiots needed some better training.

Oh - and not only was the checker slow in thinking and scanning my order, but she also was wearing a button on her shirt that said "If you don't like my attitude, then quit talking to me." CLASSY.

A Matter of Perspective

For Christmas this year, I bought my mom some perfume that she'd been coveting for a while - DKNY's Be Delicious. I think it smells wonderful and she called this evening to let me know that she's been enjoying it and has been wearing it frequently. And from the sounds of it, my nephew really likes it, too!

Apparently Mom sprayed some on this evening as she was getting ready for work. Before she left, my nephew, Adrian, was still at her house. She went to hug him and tell him goodbye and he said, "Wow, Grams! Are you wearing the new perfume Aunt Meg gave you?" She told him it was and he responded by saying, "That smells really good! You know, like the soap in a restaurant bathroom!" I guess she had a hard time not laughing and he said, "Well, you know, a really expensive restaurant."

I personally think that the soap in most public bathrooms stinks, but I guess it's all a matter of perspective. If that's what he think smells the best, then rock on, little guy. Rock on.

What's Wrong with our Healthcare System

So I received a message from a really good friend of mine earlier this evening. Her mom is quite a bit older than my mom, is diabetic, and has some other chronic health problems. She's also one of the sweetest women I've ever met in my life and she'd give the shirt off her back to someone who needed it. My friend, her daughter, is much the same way.

The mom lives with her daughter and, as a result of her diabetes, has been battling major foot infections for the past year. She's had several toes amputated, but they finally think things are under control, as long as she has her bandages changed each day. Until today, they had been going to Community Care at the local hospital to have this done; today, the doctor gave them a prescription so that the daughter could do it at home. The thought was that it would be significantly faster (by nearly an hour and a half each day) and Medicare wouldn't be shelling out several hundred dollars a day to pay for a bandage change; they thought it was a good deal for everyone all of the way around. So, off they went to the pharmacy. Turns out that the medication is considered an over-the-counter medication (even though it has to be specially ordered and can only be ordered through a pharmacy) and costs a little more than $100 a tube. Medicare will not pay for a dime of the medication because it's considered OTC; they will, however, pay the entire charge for her to go to Community Care each day to have her dressing changed.

Can someone please explain to me the logic behind this reasoning? The government would rather make us, the taxpayers, shell out several thousand dollars over a month rather than pay for $100 tube of medication???!?!?! To me, something doesn't add up and I see NO logic here.

Now, I've seen some of the other reasons behind why healthcare costs so astronomically much (example: in the ER after a car wreck, I was charged $750 for ONE lortab; I filled a prescription for an entire bottle of them for less than $10), but this one just astounds me. I never thought I'd say this, but maybe Canada has the right idea with socialized health care.

Things I Love

fuzzy socks
watching my dog play, especially when she's playing with my Poppy
unconditional love
homemade fleece blankets
my Busy Bridge (one of my Poppy's favorite toys from when he was little; he gave it to me)
bottled water
twitter
foot rubs
roller-ball gel ink pens
PathWords on facebook
playing dominoes
Christmas cards
Archer Farms cranberry/almond/blueberry natural mix
full moons
purses
Wii with Jason
sunlight
laughing 'til you cry
towels that still smell like clean laundry
clean sheets and shaved legs
DVR
unexpected compliments
instant messaging
the fact that my pharmacist knows me by name and can tell when I don't feel well
old friends
new friends
a smile from a stranger
flowers
Murray's Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
cranberry bread
Christmas ornaments
flea markets
pedicures
phone calls from friends who somehow seem to know that you need to hear their voice
smoked cheddar cheese
photos of people I love
my mom's recliner (if I had a truck, I'd steal it!)
appletinis
sparkly things
the crunchy orange gum that Santa always puts in my stocking
good surprises
doing nice things for other people
my Lampe Berger
tomatoes fresh from the garden (so fresh they're still warm from the sunshine)
making jewelry
good books
original Blistex chapstick
hot tea
baking/cooking, especially for other people
V-8

List to be continued... Post a comment with the things that you love!

Reflections

It's a new year (yeah, I know that I'm about four days late, but bear with me here) and as I sit here, I'm reflecting upon the past year. For me, 2008 had some definite highs and definite lows, but the way that I see it, that's pretty much every year; what stands out the most to me, though, are the people I love the most and the good times we had together.

The good times: The entire week at the lake (and watching Matt get so distracted by women in bikinis that I think he forgot his own name). Driving around on a Sunday afternoon with Jason, with no particular destination in mind - actually, all of the amazing times we had last year. Having my nephew here for a week for Kids College. Going to Bartlesville for pedis with my mom. Playing CatchPhrase with a bunch of my colleagues from other Oklahoma colleges at OCPRA. Watching Tess chase her nemesis, the squirrel, through the backyard nearly every day. Seeing Lauren's face light up when I walked in the door and hearing her scream "AUNT MEG!" at the top of her little lungs. Sitting up half the night talking to Tree. Reading the e-mail notifying me that my office won two major regional awards. Receiving a "just because" card and a couple of phone calls from one of my old friends from pratt, Tim -- and then receiving the phone call from him to tell me that he and Carol finally were tying the knot. Singing wrong words to Christmas songs with Tamara while putting out Tour of Homes signs. Turning 30 and not feeling my age. Playing in the leaves with Tanner while trying to take photos of him for Jason's Christmas present. The Melting Pot and TSO with Matt. Reconnecting with some of my cousins, even though it was at my Grandpa's funeral. Spur-of-the-moment dinners with Steph and her girls. Watching my poppy and Tess play all afternoon on Christmas day. Wrapping a gift for Keri's baby shower, all the while having a major hunch that it would be postponed because she'd have Bridgette that day (and she did!).

The people -- I could start with a list, but chances are, I'd never end, or if I tried, I'd forget someone. There are so many people who made my life worth living last year. So many. My family. My friends. My family of friends.

So, looking back, I must admit that 2008 was a good year. I only hope that I can be as blessed during 2009!

It's Christmastime in the Small Town

I'm back in Kansas for my family's annual Christmas celebration. I've only been here for two days, but boy, what a two days has it been!

In the past two days, I've twice, with my nephew in tow, made the trek to the nearest Wal-Mart, which is 25 miles away. I have once become extremely frustrated that there's not a store open in town past 9 pm (apparently I've been gone too long and forgotten what it's like to live in such a small place). I've baked, I've cooked, I've wrapped presents, I've talked to my mom endlessly, I've beaded, I've had a major blowout with the world's biggest jerk, and I've tried to rest, but sleep has, for the most part, been quite elusive.

Tomorrow, however, is the truly magical day - Christmas. I love Christmas. I love the joy and happiness of the day. I love the sounds of ripping paper and the delight in my nephew's eyes as he opens his gifts. I love the time I spend with my family. I love the food - the special things that we, for some reason, make only once a year. I love everything about Christmas - even the craziness the precludes the holiday.

There are people I would love to be able to see tomorrow who, alas, won't be part of my day for a variety of reasons. I'll be thinking of them and hope that they know that they'll be here with me in my heart.

I've still got much to do yet this evening - a stocking to stuff, presents to wrap, gifts to arrange under the tree, and a cheesecake left to bake. Amid all of the hustle and bustle, though, I wanted to take the time to wish each and every one of you a safe, happy, wonderful, merry, joyous, and beautiful Christmas.

The Company You Can Trust? Not a Chance!

While playing on the Internet this afternoon, I came across a story that I thought had to be false -- a dog in New York had to have his tongue amputated because it was injured while he was playing with a toy. This toy, a Pimple Ball by Four Paws, had a defect that, in essence, led to this dog's loss of his tongue.

I did a little more investigation and found out, via Snopes, that this story is, indeed, true. You can follow Chai's story here: http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com/ I will warn you, however, that the videos will break your heart. I literally cried.

I'm a proud dog mom -- Tess means more to me than pretty much anything in this world. That's why I'm going through her toy box tonight to see if she has any of these toys. I know that she did in the past, but I'm not sure if she still has them; if she does, she doesn't play with them, but I'll be getting rid of them because Tanner plays with her toys when he comes to visit.

Four Paws, the manufacturer of this ball, bills itself as "The Company You Can Trust." Like hell! They just finally, after many months of fighting it, issued a recall of sorts for these toys. I'm with Chai's dad, though, in not believing it's a very stringent recall -- a quick google search led me to sites where I could purchase this ball. I'll be boycotting this company and encourage each and every one of you to do the same.

I can only imagine how I would feel if it was Tess (or Tanner, Cooper, Gwyneth, or any of the other dogs I love) who were in this situation. I'm sending healing thoughts Chai's way and will be writing to Four Paws. Let's make our purchasing power, or lack thereof, known to this company and hit them where it hurts the most -- the bottom line.