January

January has been a weird month for me so far. I cannot believe the month is almost over! I have been sick a lot this month. With silly little things like pharyngitis. A house supervisor commented that I've “caught everything floating by.” I don't normally get sick this often. I think exposure to germs on almost a daily basis boosts my immunity somehow. I don't know why this year is so different. My doctor (which I did have to change, by the way) asked me if I've been exposed to anyone who's been sick recently. I just smiled and told her at least 3 days a week. ;) She laughed and said “oh yeah.”

My car is finally fixed—new windshield and tire. I didn't like spending that much money, but it was necessary. I'm hoping to get four new tires when I get my tax refund. I also need a front-end alignment, so I think I want to get all the work done at the same time.

I'm hoping to go to this nursing seminar at the end of April. It is in Nashville. It will give you 20 CEUs. As nurses, we need 25 CEUs in two years to renew our license. That will basically knock out most of my need for education for the next two years. I could be more selective on the classes I take. Take classes I WANT to take rather than just take classes to fulfill the educational requirements.

I'm tired of the snow; I'm tired of cold; just sayin'…

Happy New Year

December was a busy, busy month for me. Not because of the Holidays either. First, it took me over three weeks to get my health insurance straightened out so I could register for benefits for 2011. I was getting nervous because our current insurance expired on December 31st. I finally got it straightened out though. That made me feel a little better.

The merger at my small hospital was completed on December 1st. (That is the reason for the insurance change). Not a whole lot of changes have happened so far. I guess that is good because it would be too shocking for people otherwise. I was already employed by the hospital taking over, so that eased some tensions for me.

My doctor confirmed that I have fibromyalgia at the beginning of December. I had to wait until January until our new insurance started before I could set up any treatment modalities. My doctor has recommended acupuncture, water therapy & medical massage. I know the latter is covered, but I have to check about the other two. My friend also said Behavioral Cognitive Therapy has really helped her, so I'm going to check into that also.

There is medication you can take, but I like to try other things before medication. That is why I like my doctor so much. I've been going to her for 10 years and she knows this about me. She knows a lot about alternative things to try also.

I hope I don't have to give her up with this new insurance. She is not a preferred provider and I know I would have to pay cash to see her. The only thing that would make me change doctors is I heard something about non-preferred doctors cannot write referrals.

This year hasn't been a good year for my car so far. I worked New Year's Eve and on the way to work, a rock hit my car. It happens. I didn't see any damage when I arrived at work that night. When I came out from work New Year's Day at around seven a.m., my windshield had a seven-inch crack on the driver's side. Since then, it has spread to about two feet. I have an appointment on Friday to get a new windshield. I just hope it doesn't snow too much before then. It's the accumulation, I'm worried about.

Today, I was on my way to church and my car just wasn't acting right. I looked at my tires after I parked and my tire was almost flat. I went to Wal*Mart to see if they could repair it until I can get a new tire. No such luck.

Now would be a good time to interject that I have been looking up quotes for winter tires for my car. Well, they don't make them because I have a “special” rim. They only make the cheap tire in my size…and nobody has them in stock. Now, when I say cheap, I mean cheaply made, not inexpensive as the tires cost around $250 a piece. So, now I'm stuck with a doughnut for who knows how long while someone orders a “cheap” tire for my car.

I am definitely liking my car very much now. It has been so difficult getting any parts for it. I had this problem trying to get rotors for my car. I am not a happy camper… :(