Health insurance: FAIL

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with cancer.  It was suggested she have surgery but before she went under the knife  she wanted to get a second opinion.  Understandable. 

Her health insurance didn't allow for this specialist so she opted to pay out of her own pocket.  Calling the docs to set an appointment for the second opinion, she was told they won't take her without insurance to which she replied "but I'm paying out of pocket".  Their reply; "that will be $50,000".


$50,000?!  WTF! Not to run test but to look at the test already done.  To read her file... $50,000.  That's more than her annual salary!

I am beginning to think that it isn't cancer that kills so many people but rather our insurance providers and medical institutions.

SU2HMO

Coming into the closet - Step Two from slob to styling

Last week we looked at finding out what colors looked good on us and incorporating those colors into our wardrobe.  By now we should have gone through our closets and become a radical clothes racist, kicking out all the colors that don’t belong. 

Now for Step Two – If it Doesn’t Fit You Must Omit

Take everything you have in your wardrobe that’s left after your colorectomy and try them on.  EVERYTHING.  If it’s in your closet try it on. If it doesn’t fit properly get rid of it.  I know what your thinking cuz I had the exact same thoughts; “but I’m gonna lose 10 pounds and I will be able to wear it again.”. Then I realized I have been saying that for YEARS.  So let it go.  It’s OK.  If we really do lose 10 pounds we should go out and celebrate by buying something new (as long as its in our color plan).  Let me share a secret.  We can still lose weight if that thing isn’t in the closet.  Trust me, it’s for the greater good.  Don't let this be you:

OK, We have thrown out the tight stuff (don’t make me come over there and do it for you!)  Now we need to become aware of our body type.

Banana Shapes:  The Bust and Hips are basically the same size with no noticeable waist

Apple Shapes:  The Bust is larger than the hips

Pear Shapes:  The hips are larger than the bust

Hourglass shapes:  The bust and hips are basically the same but the waist is more defined

Knowing this helps with the rest of our elimination process.

Keep only what looks good on your body shape. You will need to do research on dressing for your shape.  There is a lot of information out there to help you out.  Pick what is flattering.  If you aren’t sure ask.  Be sure to ask someone who is honest (and don’t get mad if they tell you your butt looks big).  If it looks bad, chunk it. Be done with the uglies!

Whew!  That’s a lot of work but just one last thing to do and we are ready for margaritas.  Take all the clothes you are keeping and put back in the closet.  But group  items together.  In other words, all jackets together, all shirts together , all pants together.  Once you have your clothes segregated by item, group by color.  Example:  All your jackets are in a section together with all the black jackets together, all the brown jackets together.  See?  All jackets together separated by color.  Easy.

If you have a suit (jacket and skirt) then you must separate them.  Put the jacket in its section and the skirt in its.  You will see next week when we continue with....

From slob to styling – Take a clothes capsule and look marvelous in the morning.

Disposable Pets

Since I have a lot of time on my hands being unemployed I spend most of my time with the local animal shelter usually cleaning cages in the Cattery.  I clean up cat poo and give them food and water and a little love squish if they will allow it.
 

When people find out I work there they get all sad.  They couldn’t do it; seeing all the stray animals that come in.  “It’s heartbreaking”, they say.  Not to me.  For the strays that come in I know they are receiving medical attention if needed.  They get a warm/cool place to stay and two square meals a day.  They even get to go to the spa for a mani and pedi plus a new do. This is the Ritz for them.

The ones that break my heart are the pets whose owners don’t want them anymore; pets that they have had for 7 or more years and suddenly they don’t want just cuz.  I’m not talking about the down-on-their luck owners.  I mean the owners who get tired of their pets and trade them in for a newer version or they are just bored with them. 

Today I saw two cats that were 8 years old and they were surrendered by their owners because they don’t have time for them. How much time do cats really need from you?  You give them water, throw out some kibbles and clean their litter box.  Done.  It seems our society has become so use to things being disposable that we have decided to treat living creatures (human and animal) the same.

Here’s a little something about me.  I love dogs, Labradors specifically.  They are a dog’s dog.  They are big, fun and lovable.  When my dog Barney died, that was it for me.  No more pets.  PERIOD. THE END.  Then fate stepped in and gave me two cats.

Baelor (street name: Booger Boy)
He is waiting for me to stop taking his pic so I can give him his sugar spanks.

 All I ever knew about cats was that they were vicious predators.  They would claw your eyes out and smother you in your sleep and if you died they would feed on your corpse.  I didn’t know nothing ‘bout no kitties!

But after struggling to overcome my fear and lack of knowledge of cats, and then learned to become an exceptional servant to them, I could never give them away because I grew tired of them.  Once I made the decision to allow them in my home I made a promise to care for them for all their lives and I will.  If I need to give them away, it’s because I am dying or about to become homeless. 

So don’t feel sorry for the strays in the shelters, feel sorrow for the pets that have been deemed disposable by their owners.  And if you feel the urge to get a pet, check out your local animal shelter, you just might find the perfect pet that someone threw away.

Not my real cat. This is a stand in for Baelee (AKA:Sister Girl, Miss Baby Girl). She does NOT pose for pics.

If you could meet a famous dead person who would it be?

I have heard that question a million times (maybe not that exact question, it was probably re-phrased to be a bit more PC so not to offend dead folks).  Every big interviewer usually asks that question.  The majority of people asked will say the same thing; Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, even Hitler.  Those are all interesting choices but they aren’t who I would select.

My choice would be George Washington…..Carver (HA! You thought I was going to say George Washington didn't you?!)

I first learned about George Washington Carver in the 5^th grade. 

“Do you know who invented peanut butter?” my teacher asked in class.

No one knew, but as 5^th graders who had peanut butter oozing from every pore, we were all sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to find out who this god-like person was.

“George Washington Carver” she said. 

 
Ever since that moment I was stuck on him like peanut butter on bread.

I eat peanut butter every day.  EVERYDAY.  I love it.  I do limit myself on how much but still...I will have it on my toast in the morning or perhaps it’s a PB&J sandwich for lunch or even some spread on crackers for a snack.  It’s a main stable in my diet and I am not ashamed to say it. When Hurricane Ike hit and I had to evacuate my home...I packed the peanut butter first.

I know George Washington Carver didn’t really invent peanut butter, I think the Aztecs have been  credited with that, but if it weren’t for Mr. Carver’s efforts I don’t think peanut butter would have made such a positive impact in America.  It was his efforts in the south that influenced farmers to rotate their crops from cotton to another source of income that not only fed the farmers themselves but America as well. 

Mr. Carver did invent uses for peanuts; like shaving cream and peanut oil.  He didn’t just create a food source but a way of life.  Have you ever fried your Thanksgiving turkey in peanut oil? Yum!  What about shaving your legs to feel as smooth as a baby’s bottom?

All this is because of him.

Mr. Carver was a scientist, agricultural chemist, an inventor and instructor.  He was more than just about peanut butter, he was an exceptionally gifted man. But to me, he helped to create the mass production of a food deemed to be for the gods and I would love to have dinner with him just so I could thank him.    

I would serve Peanut Butter and Banana spread on fresh sourdough bread with  a glass of ice cold milk. For dessert, freshly baked peanut butter cookies. Now that’s good eatin’.

Color me pretty. From slob to styling one step at a time

found on http://www.screamcute.com/color-splash-photography2.php

I think every Friday I will share what I have learned about how not to be a slob.  That way you have the weekend to do whatever it is that needs to be done, like throw out the ugly stuff and organize anything that may be left. 

I have been doing lots and lots of research.  There is a prolific amount of info for stylishly challenged folks like me.  That's good because I don’t want to end up on the pages of www.peopleofwalmart.com. 

I have tried to compile this info into some sort of logical order. At least I hope I did.  I was a project manager after all; I should be able to map this process out.  I also am trying to keep this style refurbishment economical as possible.  I am on a very limited budget so I am going to suggest alternatives to paying the big bucks to look pretty.

 All righty then, let’s get going….

 Step One:  Know what colors look good on you.

Color is the foundation of your wardrobe, even your make-up.  If the color looks good on you, you radiate a positive look to the world.  Literally.  Colors can brighten your skin; even highlight the color of your eyes.   Color is important. Wearing a crappy colored designer dress will only make you look crappy. 

 

I thought everyone knew instinctively what colors looked good on them and would pick those choices out automatically but apparently not.  It seems I have picked some real color stinkers just because it was “in style”.  So never ever go by what’s in style, but by the color.

 

If you don’t know what colors look good on you, there are quite a few free color analysis sites on the web you can try. Here’s a couple: 

http://www.colorenalysis.com/index.html. 

http://www.shopmyclosetboutique.com/color_guide.html  

There are also books on the subject.   Color Me Beautiful by Carole Jackson is an oldie but goodie. It goes into a lot more detail, not just about colors in your closet but what color make-up you should use.  You can check it out at the Library.  If you don’t know what or where the library is try a used book store or www.amazon.com.

I am what they call a warm autumn.  Basically, fall color hues look best on me because of my skin tone and hair and eye color. 

http://www.shopmyclosetboutique.com/color_guide.html

Now that I am armed with the correct color swatches I am going to weed out my clothes based on that.  In other words, I am going to become a clothes racist and kick out all the colors that don’t belong in my spectrum! Don’t send hate mail, it’s only clothes and they will be placed in a loving home via a charity store. Keep in mind, I don't have to throw out everything.  Maybe there is something I could dye to make it fit into the color spectrum.  Still, pull it out of the closet and pile it somewhere out of the way until then. 

While I am at it, I will also go through my make- up and throw out my lime green eye shadow.  I kid!  (as far as you know). 

If I need to replace any make-up I can get it cheaply at ….

Wal-Mart! But this time I will look soooo much better than the last time I walked through those doors.

Knowing what colors you should incorporate into your wardrobe and on your face is the foundation to a changing your style. 

 Well, that’s Step One.  Next week for Step Two we go into the closet!