Inspiration Alley

If I order something from you

that doesn't mean I want to be on your mailing list.

I can't believe how much email junk I receive - much of it from ordering online - sometimes as gifts and now they think I use their product.  No lie, I just deleted over 5000 emails (almost a months worth) most saying Save - Free Shipping - Free Upgrade -- 30% off -- 3 days only - yada yada yada.

Toys R Us -- haven't ordered from them in year although with the new nephew in another year or two that will change. The Booster - this goes way back to my CM days, The Tyra Banks Show - really? Me? I think Not -- Sports Authority - nope, not me -- Runner's World magazine - Never!

I wonder just how long it takes to be dropped from a emailing list.

Project 365

I haven't been updating my pictures on Facebook or the 365 Blog (again with the time constraints).  But I have definately been keeping up with the pictures.  Some of the "different" things I've done have been

-- A week of what I normally watch on TV - just a picture of the TV with my favorite TV show playing.

-- I also went around to all of my schools - 3 elementary, 1 jr high, 1 sr high.

-- A week around my neighborhood - the street signs, the lake, the current construction, etc.

I am way behing on putting my album together and doing the journaling.  I'm going to try to get it uploaded to the 365 blog so at least I have my thoughts down.  I'm thinking I'll be able to work on it in ernest at the Fried Green Tomatoes Crop in Sebring - Sheesh ... that's a long time away -- maybe I'll have to make another crop first.

Another idea I had was to take pictures of sites around town.  You never know when something is going to be torn town, so I want to get pictures of places that hold meaning for me.

On An Olive Kick

I sometimes get into these weird eating kicks.

Lately it's been olives - green olives only.

I'll have them in salads or I'll make Tunafish and Olive or Liverwurst and Olive, or just cheese and olive sandwiches (or crackers).  I've been buying the Olive Tapenade spread at the grocery (which is quite expensive).  I'll even eat them right out of the jar (embarrassed to say sometimes for breakfast).  I even found some Chipotle stuffed green olives online (OK ... it hasn't progressed to me searching olives online, I was searching something else entirely and they showed up on the same page) which I almost bought.

I think it's weird to have cravings like this.  Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure it all started with the olives they had on the cruise ship.  It's been since I got back that I've been olive obsessed.  Must be something to that.  Hmmm.

What I found weird

when I was having my labs etc done was how "tight" the medical system is these days. 

In the old days, you showed your insurance card, the provider submitted to insurance, and then they sent you a bill for the difference.  Those days appear to be gone forever.  Everyone wants their money upfront.  The hospital (which shall remain nameless) actually called to tell me the exact amount I would have to pay after they accounted for the copay and the deductible, and my 10% etc.  Then they wanted to collect for an xray that I "may" have needed (I refused to pay until it was determined it was needed).  The girl kept telling me I'd have to come back to pay before they would do the test -- alright so ... my portion of the xray amounted to a whole $29.00.  (I could have paid but it just didn't make sense to me).  I wonder just how long I would have had to wait to be reimbursed when I didn't need the test.  In the end, I didn't need the extra xrays and I really felt like going back to the registation girl and saying Na Na Na NaNa.

I don't know ... I liked it better the old way.

I've been missed ...

or so I'm told.

Still alive and kicking down here in S. Florida.

But I have been extrememly busy.  When there is too much demand for my time something has to give and unfortunately the blog posts took the hit. 

What was added to my time has been some long overdue doctor appointments and testing.  Had 2 doctor appt, a mamogram and xrays done on Good Friday, a sleep study done Easter Saturday (if there is such a thing - but that's what I call it), and then the usual amount of work, commute and car shows.  For my 365 album I had the sleep study tech take a picture of me all wired up.

I still have the dreaded Colonoscopy (it really sucks getting old) and in my case (oh joy) I get to have an Endoscopy too.  Those will be May 4th.

I guess you can say that I've been living on the edge with poor eating habits, smoking, and less than adequate sleep and now it's time to pay the piper.  I need to lead a healthier lifestyle period - haven't quite come to terms with that fact yet, but I'm getting there.