Serious Stuff here.

I'm going to try not to go into politics here, but this weekend I realized what it feels like to have to weigh financial worries against your personal health.

My last day at Family Dollar was supposed to be last Friday, the 6th. It got pushed back until this Wednesday, the 11th. Friday afternoon I started to feel a little sick. By the time I got home, I was a full-blown not happy camper. Coughing, congestion, fever as high as 102.4. I was terrified, especially since I very rarely have any sort of fever - having consistent fever over 100 was scary for someone whose temperature hardly ever gets over 98 degrees (my current temperature as I am typing this is 97.3 if that tells you anything).

Why didn't I go to a doctor?

Because - what if someone in HR didn't get the memo that my last day had changed? What if my insurance had already been cut off? What if we got stuck paying the entire medical bill on our own? What if the insurance balked because they would get the bill after my coverage had been terminated?

So we didn't go to a doctor. We managed it the best we could - Nyquil for the coughing and to make sure I got sleep; Motrin for the fever and cold cloths for the heat radiating from my head.

Call me a drama queen, but I was scared. We didn't know what was wrong - just that my chest was not feeling right and I had a fever like I had never had before. It didn't help my mental state that Brad's uncle had died of a rare form of pneumonia a few years ago that started out with "cold-like" symptoms.

I'm not saying that I think every Jack and Jill who are too sorry to work should be given great government insurance on a silver platter - but for the first time in my life, I was in their shoes. The helpless feeling...the knowing that you need medical care but too scared about the cost to go...it's basically putting a price on your health. How much am I willing to pay to be healthy again? Can we afford to get me healthy?

I went to work this morning, confirmed that I was still covered under insurance and jetted to Urgent Care with a sense of relief that I had never had before. At that point, I didn't care if it was pneumonia and I wound up in the hospital - at least I would know and I would have the medical care I needed.

It was the flu - I don't think anyone takes the flu too lightly these days. On the way home I was almost giddy because at least I knew.

I can honestly say that I am so thankful that I have medical insurance - and how my heart hurts for the people who legitimately can't afford health insurance. I know the fear they must have on a daily basis and I agree, that's not a feeling anyone should have to endure. Unfortunately, it's the people who want to take advantage of the system that will ultimately deprive them of that relief.

Minor suckage today.

Went to the social security office today to try and get my social security card changed. Actually I went last week and attempted this but apparently the marriage license they send you in the mail is completely worthless. I was so excited, too – there were maybe 2 people in line and I stood there for probably 5 minutes, max. Unfortunately because the marriage license I had wasn’t *certified*, they shot me down and told me I’d have to come back later.


Today I went, same time, different day and it was about 25 people deep. No big deal, I’m a patient person, I can wait. A lady in front of me in line makes a comment about how she brought absolutely everything with her so she would have anything they possibly asked for. What is she there for, you ask? Oh, she threw away her social security card (this is important). I made a comment about how, yeah, I was here last week but brought the wrong marriage license. She gives me this dirty look and goes, “Well, how many marriage licenses do you have???” and turns around. I realized she thought I had more than one license to more than one guy, possibly at different times. No, I just didn’t have the *certified* one last week.

So anyways, about 25 minutes later, her two buddies she had befriended had gone through the line and left so I assume she decided I was an acceptable chit-chat partner because she started making small talk. I quietly made a comment about how I thought it was interesting they only had 3 windows (only 2 were open) considering how busy they always are. She goes into this lecture of how she’s an economics and civics teacher and how she understands all sides of it and that if they opened more windows they’d have to hire more people and raise taxes and it just wouldn’t help a thing. I just kind of smile and nod, not knowing how to respond to that. Eventually I say how nice it would be if we could just do some of the more simple tasks online or through the mail (I know my mom had her name changed through the mail). She goes into this tirade about how she just would absolutely NOT send ANY of her information through the mail, ABSOLUTELY not. I wanted to ask her if she realized that her new social security card would be coming *gasp* through the mail.


Her number is called, she goes to a window. The next number is almost immediately called and it’s three Asian people who had been behind me in line, filling out 3 different applications. I assumed that they would take awhile, as it appeared they were filing for social security cards for citizenship – especially since teacher lady was there simply to get a new social security card since she so smartly threw away.


Shows what I know. The group of three people got finished, my number was called and I was done in about 2 minutes – and teacher lady was still at the window, even with all her perfectly organized information in a second grader’s folder.

Some people.

Honeymoon Recap!

Warning, this is an incredibly long update. Seriously, I go through day-by-day. It's more of a record for me, but you're more than welcome to read about it all. Don't worry I don't go into *too* much detail ;-) but it is pretty lengthy.

Now that you have been sufficiently warned...

I love my husband.

I had my first nightmare as a married woman last night. I woke up half crying because I dreamed that Brad had gone out of town and some guy was trying to kill me - my friend Amanda was with me and the killer found me at home. He was waiting for me, hiding under the blankets in my room. It was vivid - I mean, I was looking down the barrell of that gun and I remember being on the laptop when the guy wasn't looking and seeing that he had transferred $1246.00 from my account to his (really? You're going to kill me for that?). I woke up right before he shot me and I guess I was mumbling in my sleep because Brad was awake when I woke up - I told him I had a nightmare. He reached over and grabbed my hand, *I THOUGHT he was going to curl up with me* - and he brings it over to the other side of him and goes, "feel this? This is called NOT HAVING ANY COVERS BECAUSE YOU STOLE THEM ALL!"

*sighs*

My hero.

In case you're wondering, I threw the rest of the comforter at him. I was sweating from the nightmare anyway.

The Wedding, Part 2

Part 2 – October 10, 2009!

The Wedding, Part 1

**Warning**
Super in-detail post…I just don’t want to forget the details years from now :)
Part 1

Nervous Wreck

One week from today, I'm going to be getting ready for my Bridesmaid's Luncheon. One week from tomorrow I'm getting married. My stomach has been doing roller coasters and cartwheels for a week now.

Yesterday I took advantage of my wonderful mother's thoughtfulness. In the midst of all my showers, my future in-law family threw me a "personal" shower. My mom decided I was probably going to get all the underwear I would ever need (true!) so she got me a gift card to have a massage. Can I please tell you now that Urbana Cityspa and Tea Bar has changed my life?

Seriously. I've done the Massage Envy stuff and it was fine, but this was a whole new experience for me. This is a serious massage place. I chose the 60 Minute Sampler which consisted of the following:

Hawaiian Hot Stones

Our river rocks have been blessed in Hawaiian tradition, and we believe they hold special healing energy. Small warm stones are placed strategically on your body and larger oiled stones glide over you to massage away every care. A blissful experience.

Note from me: A blissful experience doesn't even begin to describe this one.

Asian Elixir (I actually had to swap it out for Aromatherapy which was fabulous but this one sounded pretty awesome too so I wanted to put it out there)

Ashiatsu barefoot therapy is delightfully different. The therapist holds on to ceiling bars while applying his or her weight to acupressure points. Designed to improve circulation and relieve tension and described by some as the ultimate massage.

The Olympian

A remedy for aching, overworked muscles, our sports massage integrates Swedish, deep tissue and neuromuscular therapy. Slow strokes and deep compression combine to release chronic patterns of tension, ease pain, enhance performance and increase endurance.

Swedish Blend

Enjoy soothing strokes that melt away tired muscles. Reduce stress, improve circulation and tone muscle. This is our signature massage.

Basically, I'm hooked. I walked in (I went to the location on the corner of Carmel & 51 but my mom got the gift card at Birkdale) and this is what welcomes me:

I checked in and the girl offered me a complimentary cup of tea or water. I chose a white tea from a few tea choices and it was delicious. I hung out in the waiting room for awhile and then she came to get me. The room was almost completely dark and was just an amazing experience. I highly, HIGHLY recommend them for all your stress-less needs. I've decided that whenever I make my way to Charlotte from now on, I WILL be booking a massage there. Maryland had better have good massage places. And good sushi places. Those have become two things I am not willing to skimp on.

Speaking of sushi, Trader Joe's, you disappoint me. How can you let Harris Teeter have better sushi than you? Not that Harris Teeter's sushi is award-winning by any stretch, but at least it's edible. I have officially met a sushi that I did not like.