Saturday, February 26, 2011

photo hunt (Mostly Black)

I've miss the last few photo hunt that TN Chick host. This week theme is “mostly black” I went all out and did the entire thing in black.
I used to were this little black dress and over the years I gain some weight. I been working on getting into better health.
I develop high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Statement time...dealing with medicaid is stressful mostly if you work for them. Their completely clueless how the real world works.
I been trying to make more healthier life choices. Confession time...Yesterday I talk to my (straw boss) and she needs to talk to us about one of my progress sheets.
After my conversation with her and I felt all stressed out.
So I went on eating binge of mainly sugars. A least I recognize what I was doing but decided to stop when I ate dinner.
But so far today been a lot better.
I thought I had things under control. Murphy and I drove up to Katka Mountain to visit Quenella. She offered us some treats but reasonable amount.
On the way home the pick-up needed fuel so I pulled in at in at liberty  gas. It been $3.09 for quite a while and the attended said next time they purchase fuel it will probably go up in price.
I've been having to recently work a little harder on my attitude toward life when it comes to my job. Confession time...I really don't give rat ass about my self.
I have remind my self I do get paid a fair wage, and my clients are easy to take of and there nice people, I do have caring spirit, and I'm a hard worker.
It's not the client I don't have trouble with it how medicaid works. Confession time..I let medicaid bother me.
Now back to the little black dress. I would like to be down 2 dress size by next year. Not even sure I would even fit into then.
I bought that shortly right out of high school. There no tag on it to tell what size it may be.


Now for some news and goals. I have enough save up to purchase a Excalibur food dehydrator. I was in Wells Fargo bank putting money that I saved up for the dehydrator on the credit card and so pretty much I over paid my credit card and I'll be paying cash for the dehydrator.
We pretty much the majority time pay off the credit card. But the girls ask me if I had reward points and I haven't really thought much about them and haven't used them. I'm considering using the rewards points towards my food possessor.
Before July 2010 I was making $12.65 and hour on my job for both home and personal care on my job. So Medicaid thought it would be money save if they divided the pay between home and personal care.
So after July 2010 Personal care stayed at $12.65 and home care went to $10.72.
Opinion time...It sound like book keeper nightmare.
So welcome to 2011 and we took a hit in both personal and home care. Personal care went down to $12.27 and home care went down to $10.41
I been doing the tread mill 2 days on and 2 days off. Statement I would rather be out taking a walk but it been cold during last night it got down to -14.
I don't know if I every said or mention this in any of my blog post. But I want to visit 6 different places of worship and Quenella seems like she would be interested.
I would have 100 mile radius which is Spokane area or East over to Libby Montana
So if we each picked 2 churches and I'm trying for March 12 or 13th for our first visit. I never thought Murphy would be interested in going to anther church other the gardenia Sunday services. So I'm letting him pick the first one.
I would like to go to a Judaism service. Spokane has the closes synagogue but that will be later in year.

Friday, February 25, 2011

I just want to ask


Last two post been on political side but one thing I haven't post is on religion or spirituality of any sort.
I know this post might have a ting of religion to it.
I've always looked at religion factor is a cover up for one self to give them self permission to do nasty things to others.
It sounds like a done deal that they cut the funding for thecommunity action agency  I'm not sure what they all do but I know our local one has a food bank, energy help, and weatherization.
But other department is taking over the things that community action center did in past. For people who needs energy help will go though health and welfare.
Then our local food bank will be run be the minsters of our local community.
But back to community action center the lady who ran it and now getting laid off. Did play favors when every she could on those who she wasn't favor to.
But all said and done actual I feel sorry for her. She getting laid off and she married to a man who treats her like shit.
My husband in the past worked with her husband who made nasty and prejudice remarks about his own wife. Plus it been said that he beats on her.
I can see hand writing on the wall I bet he doesn't help when it comes to support. I know they get behind on there bills.
Is the minster going to give each one bible in there food box? How about Dr Phil life strategies?

I enjoy all sorts of spiritual part a view. Opinion time I think it more important to be more spiritual then have religion
There haven't been to many to many preachers on television I really could say I found interesting. Most of them I turn the channel.
I just want to mention this one briefly in passing Andrew Womack Every Sunday I set the alarm a little earlier and get up watch american religious town hall meeting 
There asking for us to send in our question. I have a few I want to send them. But this is the first one I'll be sending them.
It seems like one religion has the ownership on heaven.
Christians teaches that there the true teaching and other religion beliefs won't be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.
I know the Muslims also believes their the true belief.
So will they be a wide variety of religions in heaven? Such as Buddhist, Humanism, New Age, Earth base Teaching, (Druids, pagans), Judaism and etc.
All religions teaches the golden rule but may have some varies in afterlife.
Let just say there will be many religions in heaven (for the sake of arguing)
There been wars, fights, battles, strife, and etc though religion though out time.
So what does heaven offer that all world religion can get along but they can't get along on earth?

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Pulling the Rug Out From Medicaid Doesn't Fix It



Yesterday I went to rally for medicaid matters  in Bonners Ferry at the visitor center in the city parking lot. Like all state there is terrible shortfall of revenue to aid our state mostly for those who are at disadvantage.
I heard stories form people who has children with some type of mental disability or intelligent disability.
The bottom line I have two clients I get paid though Idaho medicaid which is part of health and welfare.
I have 22 and ½ hours. One client gets 15 and the other gets 7 and ½ hours.
I'm happy with my hours and I can't complain much about my wages for the area I live in. My average wage is $11 an hour. Actual I'm paid $12.65 or $10.72 depending on which task I'm doing.
But the company I work for actual twice a year gives us profit shares
But actual the average wage for the home care worker in Idaho is $9.08 and hour. The lower end of this average is $7.83 and the upper end of this average is $9.22.
I don't have the correct figures but I have heard that medicaid pays these homecare agency from $13.00 to $16.00 an hour. Will come back in put in correct amount when I find out. But one time I did have the info what medicaid paid these agencies
A lot of home care agency are actual a corporation. The agency I work for has right around 300 employees.
Simple math if an agency has let say has a 100 employees and they get $13.00 an hour and medicaid bills them for and hour of work they would receive $1300 and hour. Out of this money the only thing legal for them to do is pay federal minimum wage which is $7.25 an hour.
Opinion time...I felt if they took out the homecare agency that it would be fairer or cheaper for medicaid to pay us directly at $10.50 to $13.00 an hour. Depending on job performance and seniority
Take out the middle man.
Like I said I get profit sharing instead of that give us performance bonus.
If we work over our hours we don't get paid. This mostly happen if we have to take our client out of the area for some type of appointment.
Monday the 28th I have to take a client to Courd Alene for a doctor appointment.
But before this she has a counseling appointment at 9 in morning. So I'll have to be there a little before 8 in the morning to help her get moving. Statement time...these people with disability moves slower.
She out of counseling by ten hopeful there no trouble leaving town. So there an hour and half to two hour drive to Courd'Alene.
Her doctor appointment is at one in the afternoon. Statement time..It's anyone guess how long the doctor appointment will be.
Since she has no real money to buy her own lunch she lives on less then $700 a month I'll end up buying lunch. I won't get reimbursement back for this cost.
Medicaid only allows 100 miles a month for clients transportation either medical or non medical. I'm guess the round trip will be about 150 miles. So 50 miles I won't get paid.
Confession time...my accounting advise me to take mileage off my taxes so I don't claim for medicaid.
Plus I don't mine buying lunch for her.
So my time for her will be used up and the odds I will be over my 7 and half hours.
Opinion time My one client who gets 7 and1/2 hours actual needs more time then what she assigned.
I wouldn't mind a half hour more to round up my hours. I personally don't want any more hours.

Anyone who has home health aid in the home has a written care plan if it isn't part of the plan. We're not aloud to step outside of the care plan. If a client let say doesn't have personal care marked as part of there plan and there glasses need to be washed we're are not alloud to wash them.
The one client is only alound 26 minutes of shopping. but if they think I did more then the 26 minutes of shopping in week. They get upset and usual send back the paper work.

On all the news outlet either liberal or conservative they been talk about the cost of medicaid for states. On PBS web site they had sites the cost of medicaid.Idaho Cost and one can find the cost of there State Medicaid 

The two clients I take care of has physical disability from birth, accident, injuries, and or illness. I believe both of my clients with some extra care. Not being so penny wise and pound foolish can be more independent if a little bit more was invested in them.
There are not what I call nursing home clients or even close.
Statement..I understand why there rules and bounds.
If proper treatment in a set time period. I believe my two clients would or could be less cost in the long run to medicaid system. Then what they are or will be costing the state-medicaid today.
Opinion time..I believe both of my clients with increase in set hours. I believe both of my clients would not need any more home care service or using less then 6 hours a week.
Actual this should happen long before and I believe the odds are in favor present day they would'nt cost medicaid as much in the long run. Before this budget cries.

I find it criminal what the drug company charges medicaid. I figure one of my clients medication cost the state right around $1000 a month.
I heard it been suggest these people buy for there own drugs.
Come on how can these people afford this.
Plus I think some alternative medical treatment should be consider other then standard American medical and drug company treatments.
Statement time..Once again I understand the need for bounds for alternative treatment just like the standard medical treatments.

I find it disturbing on how the budget is cut.
from those who are lease of them who can't afford or stand up for them self.
With out proper protection of lease of us someone will or could take advantage of them.


If anyone interested I found a blog called disability rights idaho
Editor Note...My clients are mentally sharp. I worry more about those who aren't and someone could take advantage of them.


Thursday, February 17, 2011

My Thoughts On Food Stamps

Some of you just might want to slap the crap out of me. I haven't put on my royal crown and gave my opinion how things such be run when it comes to EBT cards, food stamps and cash from the ebt cards.
First all the food stamps amount should be increased. Hold on! More to come. Increase the base by 20% and each additional person 10%.
No more chips, candy, soda pop, or any foods that is high in sugar, fats, or salts. These food can't be bought with your EBT food stamps card.
Don't get your fizzle up. I have no trouble with anyone having a treat. Also give them goodie ebt card and the card would start at flat $30 for the head of the household and $5 for each additional person. This would be a separate card from the ebt food. With the goodie card one could purchase soda pop, candy, chips, ice cream, beer. lottery tickets, play the slot machine and even cigarettes. But once this card runs out “no more” goodies but those who choose not use this card this way can use it to purchase healthy food.
I believe in state of Idaho those who gets cash benefits for there ebt cards has to be on some type of disability the working poor or college student can not get this benefit I think the cash benefit on the ebt card such be ghelpful to the working poor and not limited to the disable . I see nothing wrong of giving the household $50 and $10 per person So they can remain purchasing paper products, toothpaste, over the counter meds, shampoo and their soaps. No more purchasing junk food with your ebt regular food stamps or with your ebt cash benefits.

I believe people does better with a pet one that is neutered or spay. Even the poor deserve a non judgmental pet in there life.
I see nothing wrong with a family pet ebt card, $30 a month value.
There should be bound on the pet ebt not $30 pet ebt cards per pet. One pet for entire household.

Before you get ready to slap me. Here my story out why I think they ought to have goodie ebt cards.I'll give you a example. One of my old clients sister would get her ebt food stamps and her cash benefits. I've seen her in the store in her shopping card not just one of these items. I see bakery cakes a few pies out of the bakery, chips of different types, oreo cookies, ice cream, soda pops and sugary breakfast cereals. The cart is over half full of these types of foods.
If this person had a goodies ebt card there would be no way they could of bought all this crap off of regular ebt food stamps. I would guess these goodies would run better then $75 bucks but with her ebt goodie card and her family size at that time it would limited her unhealthy purchase to $40.00.
If I recall she smoked cigarettes. Not sure what carton cost then but I haven't heard of carton of cigarettes being under $45.

With foods that has more nutrition I know this would benefits ones health and well being. Cut down cost of medication. Some time I'll put back on my royal crown and give my thoughts on the drug companies.

I did anther version on my “s-r stock” smoothie I didn't use a banana instead I put in a ¼ of cup of parsley.
But still used ¼ cup of strawberries and ¼ cup of raspberries.
Last time I add 12 ounce but this time I only put in about 8 ounce lot better with less water.





Sunday, February 13, 2011

My Birthday Weekend

My Birthday weekend nothing big happen. I really didn't think much was going to happen at all. Murphy and I went to dump bins in Naples and I thought we where going to walk around his sister Susan place but heading of time I knew the possibility might not be. It sloppy and wet. Statement time...I been trying to increase my physical activity.
So Murphy and I walk up the small hill to Burlington Santa fe Railroad tracks and never knew there was a tunnel up there, built in 1912. “It looked dark and spooky down the tunnel”

Murphy made ham hock and bean soup. But we where invited to the Boundary County Democrat chili dinner and fund raiser.
Faith the lady I drive around paid for our way in.
We didn't stay for the auction usual those fund raising auction is to rich for my blood. Considering our take home pay is $750 a month.
But the lady who my hubby was talking to thought theJohn Birch where a bunch of nuts. His answer they had to much mercury fillings in there teeth and that what cause them to be nuts.
(Statement time..I think the tea party are the same thing as John Birches. read this 
Then we also talk a little politics that President Eisenhower would be running for president he would be considerate more of a liberal.
One of his direct relative spoke in favor of Obama during the democrat convention. At time of Eisenhower president term we had ahttp://politics.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977623449 90% tax rate for the top 10% wage earners
It was also brought up at our table that how many people who get quite a bit of help by government programs such as food stamps, w.i.c, subsiding housing, medicare, medicaid, s.s.d, s.s.i, energy assidents, unemployment insurance or many other government base programs.
Is so anti government and thinks lower taxes is going to help them and getting the government off there backs is going to help. Question time...where in the hell do you think your support comes from?
Statement time...I just shake my head at some of these programs that helps the poor.
Other president was talk about was Ronald Reagan how he start the fall of the middle class 
As it came to 6:30 and the live auction started and we snick out.

As we know there going to be cut in budget don't matter how one looks at it there going to be all sort of cuts in budget. Not knowing how things are going to take place. If dollar value stays the same and no major misshapen we could live 60 months with out any check but Murphy can draw his social security in two years if he had to.. which would lessen the 60 month factor.

That small bedroom that I want to make into a office/craft room is moving along. Yet I wish it would be at a different rate of speed.
Well Bart is giving us the twin bed he is using down in Courd'alene, he is to short for it. He is getting a queen size bed.
Both Murphy and I can't wait to get back in the garden but right now our garden looks like a mud pit. To quick looking around the flower bed below the large front window is all uncovered and there bulbs showing.
Close by is what I call my “royal sunshine flowerbed” still cover with wet snow. But a few of the rocks that boarders it is showing though.
Where I want to put in patriot flower bed it still very sloop and when walked upon one would hear a squish sounds.
Work actual talks up a lot of time and I figure this year what can be done is. The royal sunshine bed needs a major over haul which I'm not going to add anything new but once it done blooming. It will clean out and replanted.
Then the patriotic flower bed the only thing going to be done with that is put in a white lilac bush.
Took a quick glance over at the south side of the house where I would like to put a salad garden/herb garden I'm total clueless when I'll even get started on that.
Lesson time...Since I work out side of home even at a part time job I learn not to make any big projected plans or one will be disappointed.
I have a lot more project I would like to do but facts or facts and it won't be done.

Well I came up with a different smoothie and I named it after one of my dad booze he used to buy when he was on a budget kick. “S.R.S” (special reserve stock) but I'm calling mine “s-r stock” don't you think that would look great on ticker of the New York Stock exchange”
¼ cup of raspberries
¼ cup of strawberries about 6 handsome strawberries.
1 banana
12 ounce of water. I like my smoothies a little thicker. Next time making this one I would use less water
but my thoughts on the stock would be anything that is long such as celery, cucumber, or rhubarb. But this is to replace the banana

Friday, February 11, 2011

Couldn't Be Anyone In Family


I haven't talk much about family trouble or secrets . Well no one won the lottery to best of my knowledge.
I might as well start with my oldest Sawyer. I don't know why he doesn't have any since when it comes to vehicle. He got 3 broken down rigs and last time I talk to him he wants to sell his ford F250 Diesel but first he need to replace the water pump. A diesel engine sells better then a gas engine.
Then he got a jeep and turn it in to a mud bogger rig so he only can drive it to the mud bogs and it not street legal but recently he had a common sense ideal. Put legal tires on the jeep and the F250 has the same size of tires.
Then he bought a Toyota land cruiser at a car auction and want to flip it “sell it” and make few extra bucks.
I hope he doesn't get stuck with it. Bart is doing the same things. The economy is ruff now.

Then let talk about those who had flings out side of marriages. Murphy Uncle Marvin had an affair when he was married to his wife and the lady who he had the fling with gave birthday to baby girl. I believe this happen in the 1950's or 1960's.
Then my cousin Rod was married and got job at some farm and was married to his first wife but began to mess around with the farmers daughter and the farmers daughter became pregnant.
Then I know my Uncle Lowell brother Harvey had a child from anther woman when he was married to someone else.
All of these people above are now dead.

Quincy also had interesting life when it came to relationship with other men. Her first son dad for some reason she left him. I know he was involved with some type of credit scam. Plus she married him in Idaho state prison. Plus I know he was involved in polygamy.
She moved up here and became pregnant from a married man. She get child support from the man who fathered this child.
Then her last three children the father of those children is a nut case. He thought he was spy for all types of things such as C.I.A
Even the state child protection agency came in an took the kids from her because he was a total nut case.
She wise up and got him out of her life and her kids are now living with her.
The nut case got remarried. His new wife told him that she had fantasy to have her old boy friend knock off. So he doesn't know or refuses to live in real world so he drove by a shot this guy in the face.
Last I know anything she was on her way to prison for arranging temped murder and I believe he hadn't had his day in court.

There be others that I'll bring out the skeletons in closet but that is it for now. But know one knows who when or where.
Now time for a new smoothie recipe called “Line em up smoothie”

1 banana
½ orange
4 to 6 strawberries
Small amount of parsley (less then ¼ cup)
1 cup of water.
1 teaspoon of spirulina.
One can adjust the water to make it thin or as thick as they like it.

Friday, February 04, 2011

Friends From All 50 States


I just love to learn and one way I learn is by other people. I decided to ask one female and one male to be my friend from each state in union.
There was two needs they had to meet be a resident of a state and have open wall.
I had a want but it wasn't a need. I kind of want to find blogger but it didn't look like any blogger popped up.
I was thinking to ask 5 males and 5 females from foreign countries that didn't boarder the United States such as Canada and Mexico but I never learn a foreign tongue. I know most foreigner speak English but I just don't feel like adding that task to my life at this time.
In a while I decided to take 25 people on my friend at random and send one of there friend an invite.
Send a separate invite to random 25 people and invite there spouse to be my facebook friend. So hopeful I will gather 50 new friends but in reality I know this won't happen.
I also would like to do a invite of friends from my facebook “likes” and “groups” but not sure exactly when, who and what.

In my days of early elementary grades. The teacher would march us down to the gymnasium and all of us would set quite and have presentation on safety. Like not playing with matches and getting into stranger cars.
Not sure who actual put this on.
But I know different local law enforcement agency and fire department came and talk to us about safety
I don't know if they still come to the elementary school and talk to the youngster about safety issues or not.
When I start elementary school in mid 60's there was no calculators or let lone computers.
I wonder now if still someone comes an talks to children about stranger danger and now part of talking to children about stranger danger though social net works.
If anyone wonder how I did inviting friends from each state in Union. At this point looks like I got 34 new friends.


Confession time...When is it the right time to consider the ones I do home care for to have attitude of friendship or client relationship.
They are days I where many hats on my job.
I know people heard me rant and rave about the medical system and medicaid so I'll give you guys a break.

Today Is Wednesday, March 27, 2024: This Is What Happened.

  We got the plugs fixed in the pick-up, which cost us $261.09. The last time we did a set of plugs, it was under $80.00. But I'm glad i...