a little rant

If anyone wonders why people like me want Health Care Reform.... in case I haven't already told you..haha here's one example..............
Last month I finally decided I needed to go find a regular doctor, before I really needed one. I checked our latest insurance booklet and found a Dr. I knew (Mom and Dad both went to him and several friends mentioned him) so I decided it was time to stop putting it off...make an appointment and go. So far...so good.
we went...John and I, because we called and they actually said they would take us...several others had turned us down in the past after we told them what insurance we had..Pause...and let me explain...I work part-time so the county does not give me any insurance benefits...you can't even pay into the group to get it. John is self-employed so he is on his own...so we have always had to get our own insurance...usually paying a lot for OK coverage.(high deductibles)
Okay...back to the present...We went to the Dr. He was great! His staff was friendly, helpful and it was a relief......until we started getting the bills.
So far...our well visit plus flu shot is costing us....$209.35 each. John had to go for a follow-up to get a few prescriptions...another $115.00. Now factor in what we had to pay for the prescriptions....$$$$$ Okay.... do the math at least $600.00 for preventative care...Lord only knows what we'll do if we actually get sick!...because it doesn't look to good if being well costs this much! Will I go back for another check-up in 6 months as suggested...doubt it...if I feel ok. Why do people save old medicine they (like us ) paid a chunk of change for...because why would I throw out something I spent $100.00s of dollars on??? I may need it later...or someone else may need it. I know prescription medicine abuse is on the rise...but if people didn't spend so much on the medicine...they might be more likely to dispose of it as recommended. I don't think the health care plan is perfect as is...I'm sure it needs plenty of tweaking...but I am one of those people that truly hopes they can do something...because the system as is...is not working. I could save a lot of money by just NOT having insurance...but I don't want to do that either.....I just hope...if I do get sick...I don't go broke in the process of trying to get well.

Sunset

Saturday afternoon I was talking my walk around the boat (on the Promenade Deck of course) and saw this sunset. The rays were so bright! I love when you see the sunlight like this...just like a child's drawing...with the round yellow ball and rays poking out all over. and I had to take at least one shot of Nassau...the buildings were colorful...right at the port at least...
Click on this for full effect

and now they're back

We left Friday afternoon from Port Canaveral on the Monarch of the Seas. You could see the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in the distance and if you looked hard...you could see the Shuttle out on the launch pad...but it was WAY too windy for any launch :( Oh well...it was nice...cool, partly cloudy..just really windy!)
There were a few people out waving as the ship left the port.


Last look at the beach as we headed out to sea...there was a 4-6ft swell...so it was rocking the boat a little...big ship...good stabilizers...but still moving around. John overheard one man say "I am going to have to get off this ship!" (little did he know what the trip back would be like!)
The usual send-off party on deck...it was fun...band was okay...sounded like they might have had a rough night the night before! hahaI spotted the "Parrot Head" in the crowd...over near the area where the band was.
deck....before the party
Checking out the day's schedule of events down in our tiny room. It was cold and dark down there...perfect for a good night's sleep!
We had to play BINGO of course....
new computerized board...tells you when you are one number away...plays a song when you win...I opted for the "old fashioned" cards...neither one of us won...two people right in front of us did!
One of the jazz artists Jockiem Joyner(-saxophone). He put on a fun show Saturday night...we all danced, he got just about everyone (167 on jazz cruise)out on the dance floor.
Cocktail party on Friday night...we met (or reconnected with) the band members, enjoyed free cocktails and then headed off to dinner.

after Jockiem got us warmed up...we went up to the midnight dance party by the pool. Had a blast dancing to music I don't usually listen to...but it was fun! I knew the first song...(one I actually have on my I-pod) by Pitbull....that got us going...we danced until 2:15am! Lots of crazy, fun people...some pretty drunk...others just enjoying a night out...all ages. A lot of the songs had lines telling you to "put your hands up!" and everybody did!
Our personal Jazz show-only 167 of us...acoustics were GREAT! Matt Marshak(guitar), Marc Antoine(guitar) and Jockiem Joyner(sax) together on stage with Carl on bass, Kenny on drums and Rodney on keyboard. Kenny, Carl and Rodney were a lot of fun...and Matt M. was just great at getting everyone relaxed and playing together on stage. (apparently Marc Antoine was a bit of a handful...a little demanding shall we say......but I do like his music...especially his Madrid cd
our room attendant made up a couple of these creepy...as far as I'm concerned...towel things....here's one. The last night he had one hanging...it looked sort of like a monkey...we had had a few drinks...and I don't think I have ever heard John laugh so hard as when he did when he spotted the thing....he couldn't stop laughing.He doesn't remember it...but it was funnier listening to him laugh then it was looking at the thing!...I hate those things...they're weird!
Ever notice that when you get home from a cruise you are exhausted????????The first day you are eating like royalty, partying with all the other crazy people and having fun and thinking...3 nights are not going to be enough...then when you disembark after 3 nights...you think...How do people go on 7-10 day cruises??????hahahaha We had a good time. The seas were about 8-10 feet coming back...and I felt it all night...up and down....we were in the very front of the ship...Deck 4...I could hear water hitting the front....it was a little unsettling...didn't exactly help me sleep!...but I didn't get sick!and we got home safely. Now........back to reality.

And they're off

The bags are packed...this is only one of them...I always bring way too much...but I'll be prepared! haha
the dog is acting a little depressed
and the nails are done (a little extra treat)
and we are off....with any luck the Shuttle launch that was originally set for Tuesday...but postponed several days for various reasons...is now scheduled to lift off tomorrow afternoon...and if it does...we will have a PERFECT view from the ship at Port Canaveral! WooHoo! Couldn't have planned it if we tried....and as for me...maybe this will help get me out of my little slump I've been in...that I can't seem to shake.It should be nice!

Weekend wrap up

Halloween weekend means some members of the Kaminski (and Burton) family were dressing up for parties. Martha and her staff at work were Cruella (Martha) and the 101 Dalmations (her staff)...cute.(I would post their picture...but I don't know all the pups...and they might not want to be on the blog.) Here's Brenna aka Snookie and Megan...with a black afro & go-go boots..70's girl. As usual... some people did not realize Brenna had a fake orange tan...they thought it was a bad spray tan...come on people...it was Halloween!
The Witches Ball...cute little story for Halloween Story time...along with other Pumpkin and Spider stories.
Then we made spider treats and spider hats
Little pumpkin (just a few weeks old)
Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella were in Indialantic!
Savannah the Banana!
Pumpkin Mama
The happy family...where's Dad's costume??????
I had a good weekend...even though by the end of the night on Halloween I had a terrible migraine....oh well......enjoyed all the kids trick or treating in their costumes and the extra treats for the candy passer outers...and of course the Gators finally managed to win a game!

Witch Way 5K

So after a crummy week the weekend turned out to be a lot of fun. We decided that the weather was nice and there was a full moon...so why not have a cookout and have some friends over for dinner. We did just that. Made up some Chicken Shish-ka-bobs along with the side dishes and had Mike, Denise and Chris over for a relaxing poolside dinner. (Heather wasn't feeling too great and her visiting friend Pam had already planned to stay home with the kids) so we had a small group but we enjoyed ourselves. and
Saturday evening my friend Diane talked me into walking in the 3RD Annual Witch Way 5K...we had seen her at the Longdoggers Walk/Run... she mentioned it and after thinking about it...I figured why not? John decided to join us. It started at 6pm which was great since it's still warmer than usual here..plus I have more energy at 6pm than 6 am
There were over 600 walkers and runners, a wheelchair or two, a few strollers...skateboards, skates...and a some costumes too. Cracked up when we passed one guy who was smoking a CIGAR! while he walked!
As usual we walked...but I walked faster than some runners...and we beat our last time by 30 seconds or so...only ran the last half block to beat 45 minute mark!
It was fun. We passed some friends who lived along the way...walked through some streets in Indialantic around Orlando Park...nice and green and quiet back there... I forgot how nice it was back that part of the neighborhood.
Afterwards there was a gathering at City Tropics...but we didn't stay there long...too crowded...free drink was hard to get and I didn't want it anyway...so we headed over to where else?????Longdoggers for a bite to eat and a cold drink. We watched football and enjoyed talking to some friends.
Sunday we met some friends at Bunky's to watch the show down between my team...The Steelers and everyone else's team...The Dolphins...as you probably know...the Steelers squeaked by with a win... which I admit was questionable...but I'm not complaining...it was fun! and I felt better!The final cap of my weekend was a much need trip to the Chiropractor and a massage (after work yesterday)...I could feel the stress getting pushed right out of me...it really made me feel better. I slept really well last night!

One of Those Weeks

Did you ever have one of thoses days..or in my case....weeks! when you just feel kind of BLAHHHHHHHHH but you don't know why. Nothing's really wrong...you just feel off.
I probably looked about like this..smiling..but sort of tired looking...haha
or like this...you can't really tell...but the smile is falling off and one eye is gone, drawn back on..so is the nose...but it's still presentable...
wanted to just scream or cry???maybe a few times
But the Friday rolled around and when I got off work I started feeling a little better....a little break (the weekend) and a cookout planned for the evening...smile was returning
didn't quite feel this content...but I felt a little better
I think maybe I need MORE of this!