Accidental Homesteader
…a funny thing happened on the way to the bar
The New Phone Book is Here!
The new phone book is here! The new phone book is here!
I find the phone book to be hilarious. It is a stalker’s dream.
Moar Books!
Since I can’t do housework, I’ve got more free time. Catching up on reading. Finished 35, 36, and 37.
Planning for the Spring Planting
We’ve had a garden pretty much every year, with varying levels of success. Last year was pretty grim, for a variety of reasons. So we’ve decided to cut back on the crops next year.
Next Year’s Chickens
So we had a bit of an Abokalypse a while back. The spring chickens are over in the (future) goat pen. The adults are by the garage, where we started our chicken coops. The teenagers (summer chicks) are also there.
…or were
Getting Back Into the Swing
Things are starting to get back to more normal. I’m working full time again, studying for the PMP exam, and planning for spring on the farm. I can walk in about ten days, and I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed.
31, 32, 33, 34
More reading. Part of the reason I went back to work was that I was starting to get bored. There is only so much social media that one can consume. But I’ve also been reading and studying for my project management professional exam.
Update
So four weeks ago I broke my leg and ankle (in two places)! This put a stop to everything for a bit.
I had surgery and am back home. I have a knee scooter thingy. It is a lot quieter than the walker.
On Wednesday I finally got my bed. I went back to work half-time for the last two weeks and will be full-time beginning Monday.
Next image is my surgery, don’t click unless you wanna see.
Books 27-30
Oddly enough, I’ve been reading crappy novels.
Health Care
Thinking about health care today. From my incessant whining, you all know that I have a broken ankle/leg. Fortunately, I have good insurance and great friends, family, and neighbors. And yet… this is still financially hard. We are exceptionally lucky.
Even with insurance, we’ve spent more money than many people have in ready savings. We’ve paid out of pocket for a walker, a wheelchair, a hotel for several days, and a ramp. We live in a house with steps to get in and out, and needed a wheelchair ramp to even get in the house. Until then, we holed up at a hotel. We got a hell of a deal on the ramp because we have fantastic neighbors. We got help from my family to assist with the hotel. Again… extremely lucky.
We will need a hospital bed (all bedrooms are on the second floor) and a means for getting around (knee scooter thingy). Without insurance, that’s another $1,000 at least. But, again, good insurance.
We haven’t even gotten to any of the medical costs. Ambulance, ER visit, surgery, cast, appointments. Covered by insurance.
A combination of vacation and short-term disability covers most of my income, but if I was hourly? Or in a job where I couldn’t go back to work so soon after the injury. Daryl is able to do all of the household stuff, but if he was working? How would that work?
All this to say: I am extremely lucky. But this is tough, even with all of the advantages. Without the advantages, it would be catastrophic. House-losing, bankruptcy-causing catastrophic. It shouldn’t be this way.
What we have now is a half-measure. Yes, government-supported insurance is a good first step and certainly better than nothing. But there is no good reason why we should be able to survive this financially, while someone else would not. We need universal health care. We need it as soon as possible. If (cross fingers) Biden and Harris win this, we cannot let up. Keep fighting for universal health care.
Hiatus
Guess who has two thumbs and three broken bones? This girl!
Broke my ankle twice and leg once in a fall, so I am off my feet for two months. Good times… good times.
