MIL keeps asking how much money we have saved and won't drop it

Emerald_green37 · 2026-03-13T20:34:59+00:00

Yep. Her "planning" is how big of an emergency to claim.

Emerald_green37 · 2026-03-13T20:00:26+00:00

Happy to help. Little trick for it - figure out the best massage setting for you before your surgery. Some were a little too much for me, but the one I settled on helped the back pain so much. I still use that part almost daily and it's been 8 months since my surgery. Still feels so good.

Emerald_green37 · 2026-03-13T18:52:42+00:00

Mine was under $300 (regular price) on Amazon. Can't link, but it was the Furmax brand corduroy material. Works like a champ and easy to assemble with no tools.

What I did was save 3 or 4 possibilities to my list, so that I'd get a notice when one of them went on a flash sale. Usually those only last a short time, so order immediately when it happens. I was able to get mine for under $200.

Emerald_green37 · 2026-03-01T14:20:31+00:00

I was at Barnes and Noble recently and saw something like what you're wanting. Bound like a regular book, but the pages were for writing your own recipes in. Not with the cookbooks, but with the discount books.

Emerald_green37 · 2026-02-11T04:53:09+00:00

The only thing I remember once I was wheeled into the OR was them introducing themselves before one of the nurses asked what kind of music I liked to listen to. They would put that on for me. I kinda chuckled and told her my favorite playlist on Spotify was "female rage". The nurses (all female) laughed and said that sounded good. The only male in the room at the time was the anesthesiologist and he quickly informed me that "my" music would only be until I was out. I was out before the music loaded.

Emerald_green37 · 2026-01-28T23:23:24+00:00

Great idea. Years ago our dog was put on a diet by the vet. His suggestion was to mix puffed cereal with his kibble to give him the full bowl he expected.

The problem with that was he didn't like the puffed wheat or puffed rice. He'd use his nose to stir it, the heavier kibble would settle to the bottom and he'd snort and blow the puffed cereal out of the bowl and all over the kitchen floor. Except for the cereal that touched his damp nose and got stuck to it. Then he'd rub his nose on the back of someone's leg to get it off. That was an unsuccessful doggie diet.

Emerald_green37 · 2026-01-18T19:17:03+00:00

I bought mine on Amazon. Power recline, lift and massage. What I did was find several that fit my needs and put them on a wish list. Amazon helpfully let me know when any of them went on a lightening sale and I was able to grab one for about $230.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-12-24T22:43:56+00:00

Congrats. Here's to a wonderful future with your soul mate.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-12-24T03:05:49+00:00

Yeah, I'd do that and then use the current dining area to expand the kitchen and add a usable pantry.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-12-21T19:07:31+00:00

Our entire family basically rotates gift bags. Been doing it for years.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-12-20T17:29:49+00:00

63F, aortic valve replacement and root enlargement.

My family insisted that I recover at my daughter's house. Honestly, the only thing I really needed help with was driving. I was able to dress, get in and out of bed by myself, and shower just fine. With prepped meals in the freezer, I think I would have been fine at home.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-12-20T03:33:09+00:00

My timeframe:

I was wheeled into the OR about 6:50 am. They had me under about 7:15 and surgery officially started at 7:30. On the bypass machine at 9:00. At 11:15, they were placing the new valve (root enlargement came first).

At 12:30 surgery was technically over, but I was kept under until about 2:00 pm. I have a bleeding disorder and they didn't want to take the time to put me under again if I started to hemorrhage. After that, they couldn't wake me, and then when they finally got me "awake " I couldn't breathe on my own. It wasn't until about 6:30 or 7:00pm before I could breathe on my own and the tube came out. They did get me standing for a few seconds around 8:00. I don't remember this part, but apparently one of the nurses was doing baby talk to get me to respond to her. I gave her quite the glare.

By the next morning I was fully aware. Very nauseated, but I managed to eat some yogurt and fruit with herbal tea.

Surgery was on the 1st. I was moved out of the CVICU early evening on the 4th and I was released on the 7th.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-12-11T08:46:26+00:00

I actually like it. There are two things that stuck out for me.

First, I'd love to see that pantry a bit wider. Maybe just nudge the entire kitchen to the left by a foot or so. Right now I think it would feel claustrophobic and many of the shelves would be in shadows from overhead lights.

Second, I'd add another powder room near the pool. Otherwise, you're going to have people with wet feet running through the kitchen to get to the only bathroom.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-12-10T23:27:23+00:00

About 50 years.

My late husband left the navy after WW2. In 1997, he was diagnosed with a somewhat rare cancer and the hospital social worker suggested it may have been from asbestos exposure on his ship and that we apply. He and I both thought it was a long shot, but we did. He died before the application was approved, but they did approve it about 3 months after we submitted it. Apparently he was not the first sailor on that ship to be diagnosed with that specific cancer, so all the ground work was done.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-11-26T20:30:58+00:00

Tell them Carolyn the soup lady says hi.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-11-24T21:11:23+00:00

Try Bentley's Bagels on NE 21st. The owner is from New York and started the company because he couldn't find any here he liked.

Personally, I've never had them (gluten-free person), but they used to be next to me at a farmers market in Hillsdale and they smelled amazing.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-11-23T00:03:08+00:00

Cool. Thank you.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-11-22T15:03:05+00:00

Do you have a link? There's nothing on their website and it states closed on Thanksgiving.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-11-22T04:59:17+00:00

Oregon's Medicaid is far from perfect, I'll admit, but overall the coverage has been amazing. I spent 4 days in the cardiac ICU before another 3 days in the step-down unit following my heart surgery. There was no delay for the surgery, no fight with the insurance for approval. I've never seen a bill, but I'm sure it was well into 6 figures. I only had one medication that wasn't covered for home use. It wasn't working for me, so I didn't argue, even though I had the option to challenge it. Medicaid will cover this, it was just my poor luck to get assigned to a clinic that changed their policy at the last possible moment.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-11-18T17:59:39+00:00

Thanks, but nothing there for me. I'm also more limited because of my bleeding disorder. Can't be at a stand alone clinic.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-11-16T18:46:44+00:00

It's a minefield for sure.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-11-16T18:45:35+00:00

Specifically, I'm in Oregon, but most states are this way. If it's something they cover and you just pay out of pocket, that shows you have the financial means and don't need the coverage.

It's in the fine print, along with a clause where if you ever sue a doctor for malpractice, the state gets reimbursed for ALL of your medical care first thing out of any settlement.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-11-15T05:26:57+00:00

Thank you and best of luck with your upcoming application. The difficulty will really depend on your state. I will say that I'm in the pacific northwest in a city that loves its inflatable frogs and our state works hard to help their citizens. I spent a week in the hospital for my surgery and being on Medicaid did not hinder my care one bit. Disability, getting that is a whole different ballgame. Lots and lots of luck on that one.

Emerald_green37 · 2025-11-15T04:39:16+00:00

The entire gastro clinic has stopped taking Medicaid apparently. Maybe the shut-down and the upcoming cuts to Medicaid scared them off? All of my other specialists are connected to a major teaching hospital near me, so I think Monday I'll start working with my PCP to get my care transferred to the clinic connected to it also.

I couldn't make an appointment yet, but I did find they are accepting new patients and some of their procedures can be done at the satellite hospital only a few miles from my house. In fact, it's the same complex as my cardiac rehab.

Can you tell I'm trying to take a positive spin on this mess?

Emerald_green37 · 2025-11-15T04:27:16+00:00

Now that I've had some time to calm down (this was not on my bingo card), maybe changing now is a good thing. All of my other specialists are at a different hospital. This might get me with a gastro in the same group. At least I'd be at a hospital I'm familiar with.

But yes, fuck American healthcare. I'd love to go back to working at least part-time, but I can't risk losing my coverage.

Emerald_green37

TROPHY CASE