Sunday, August 24, 2008

Lazy day ...

  Actually, we did quite a bit of cleaning between our sessions of lounging on the couch.  It's rainy here.  No, seriously, it's rainy here in Seattle.  I know it's hard to believe.  I quite like the rain.  I, actually, love the rain.
  I've decided to add the whole "poll" option on this blog.  They might get a bit off the wall.  But, hell, that's why it is my blog and no one else's.  The current one is 3/4 my idea and 1/4 Kevin's.  He threw in the last option:  "being Kevin."  Funny stuffs.  I noticed that someone voted for him.  Debbi, you are such a good mom!
  T is having major hip surgery tomorrow.  Mama Anna is gonna be manning the helm for quite some time around the house.  Between the humans and the animals, it's gonna be quite the cluster-F(bomb).  I'm so glad to be here, in the house, to help her out.  She doesn't have close family up here.  But, her close pals are like her family.  So, they're all rallying.  I'll take her to the hospital tomorrow morning, head to work, get off work, and head back to the hospital.  Kevin and I will juggle the kid and animals.  Nothing new.
  Best of luck tomorrow T.  You're gonna do just fine.  And, I'm certain, that you'll not be in ANY pain.  So, you can give me the oxycodone for my hangnail.  It's horribly, horribly painful.
xoxo
Anna

Friday, August 22, 2008

www.danicamartinez.com

Please visit the above site.  It will give you more info in regards to a survivor girlfriend of mine.  She has leukemia due to the chemo she received to fight her breast cancer.   She desperately needs a bone marrow transplant.  The agency is willing to wave the testing fee if you say that you're getting tested "in honor of Danica Martinez."  No needles folks.  Just a swab to the inside of your cheek.  Please, please, please help us out.
Because we are cancer survivors, we are unable to donate.  

Thursday, August 21, 2008

My nose hurts...





























  Man, does anyone else have major allergies right now?  My nose is so sore I'm looking into getting a transplant.  
  Crusty nose aside, we've had a lovely week.  The pics show that.  Silas and Marco got to race on their bikes in the backyard on Tuesday.  Marco and his Mama just bought their very first home!!!!!!!!!!!  CONGRATULATIONS Heather and Marco.  I'm so proud of you.  We'll be moving in once you get settled.
  In just as exciting news:  MY OTIS IS HOME!  He is such a well-mannered gent now.  You can tell he's thrilled to be home.  Last night, as soon as he got in the front door, he ran through the kitchen and down the stairs to our door.  What can I say?  We're in love.  We're in love and coming out as a mixed-race, mixed-species couple.  Jerry Springer here we come.
  In the MOST exciting news:  Silas Levi Schumacher is potty trained.  He went all day, yesterday, at daycare wearing his big boy underwear.   He did such a great job.  We took him out to dinner for a treat.  Not even 2 and a half and he's being such a big boy.  I, now, wish I was still diapering him.   
xoxo
Anna

Monday, August 18, 2008

Happy Monday...

The rain is back.  It's lovely.  I adore rain.  So, I'm cool with the weather.  Had a long weekend settling into the new pad and getting all the last bits of our crap outta storage and over here.  Where I'm gonna put everything, I do not know.  But, it will work its way from room to room until it finds it's proverbial "just the right spot."
Had a great Saturday night.  Went to a party hosted by my dear Rick.  You know, one of my new loves from The Fourth of July.  I got to meet many of his pals.  They were great folks.  
Sunday, we had to say goodbye to our dear Kris ... you know, the guy from Norway that we called "Thor" that lives with Kevin's co-worker Jef.  We've, all three, become very close to him and it was much more sad than I anticipated.  He's one of the coolest folks I've met in my life.  So, he's on a plane right now heading to England for more school.   Great ! He forsakes us for those pasty people that see nothing but rain all year ... Wait, I'm in Seattle ...  We'll be able to see him again next summer.  Seems way too far away.
 Safe travels to you sweet friend.  
xoxo
Anna

Friday, August 15, 2008

Um .....

  Pissed and pensive tonight.  I've spent the better part of my day dealing with a billing company (from recon surgery) and my insurance company.
  I was assured, prior to surgery, that "everyone in that OR will be covered 'in network'."  
  Well, that doesn't seem to be the case, at this point.
  My plastic surgeon's head nurse was in on the surgery.  She did some "stitching up" in the end.  She was in the same OR that was supposed to have been covered by my insurance.  But, no.  It seems they are billing me for her being out of network.  Funny that.  She has done all of my fills since April and I've not been billed for those.   I don't feel like holding that over the insurance company's head, as I don't want them to rethink THAT billing.
  I've not cried in, nearly, a year about all of this shit.  I think I may have cried 2 or 3 times prior.   But, today, I'd had my fill.  I, for some reason, lost it on the phone with the billing lady.  She was telling me that I HAD to pay the bill.  I said, "you know what, I am having to pay a bill that I should not have to pay.  I made sure that all of this was covered and neither you or my insurance company are willing to budge.  I'm a young breast cancer survivor that has had to move (again) into a small one-bedroom apartment due to all of this crap.  And you're telling me that I need to pick up the pieces after someone else has broken the deal?!  This is on you.  It's not on me.  I covered my ass.  Did you?  No.  It's bullshit."
  Then, I spoke to the insurance company and said the same thing.  Basically, "shame on you for not standing up and sticking to your word."
  I have to appeal the whole deal now.  Great.  I spend my time writing letters and waiting for responses just so my credit doesn't get screwed.  I, apparently, have NOTHING else better to do with my time.  I've got great credit.  If these jackasses screw with my credit, they are gonna have their asses handed to them. I've been so subservient during this mess, in regards to bills and such.  But, someone gave their word.  She, by the way, doesn't even work there any longer.  LUCKY ME!!!!!!!!
  I'm ranting.  I'm just so pissed.  Kevin and I were just talking about how easy it would be if we divorced.  I would, then, be considered a single woman with a child and would have everything covered.  It would be covered if we broke our family apart.  How sick is that.  It's unbelievably sad.  We're the "greatest" country in the world and our people cannot get decent healthcare.  It's pathetic.
Night, night.  Think about your vote, people.  Please look at the healthcare issue when you vote.
xoxo
Anna

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

More Pics



Wow ... it's been a busy week.  So many pics.  So, my Cancer Club girlfriend Luchie moved back to California many months ago.  She did this whilst finishing treatment.  But, she came back up last week for a visit, as she still has family here.  We had a great girls' night at Smith, a great pub on Capitol Hill.  These are some pics from our wonderful visit with beautiful Luchie.  
She's another blessing that I "stumbled" across in my breast cancer journey.  We Northwest Young Survivors miss our Luchie.
xoxo
Anna

Lovely Picture...

This picture was taken at the Race for the Cure in June.  I was e-mailed by someone at Susan G. Komen about it.  Apparently, they want to use it for the cause.  Don't know where it will end up.  But, I know that they are gonna use it to publicize the organization.  Hopefully they focus on the young survivor and the children being affected.
I adore Silas' face in this picture.  Ain't he pretty?
Nighty, night my pretties.
xoxo
Anna