Please call me Lady: I love cocker spaniels

I get my hair cut and colored once a month after Chuck's Social Security check arrives.  For 3 or 4 months, my hair artist, Laura Jenkins Wallis, has commented that skin looks so much better.  (I have mild psoriasis).  I thought it was because of my new Origins skin cream.

This month I told her my last haircut had been wonderful and easy to work with; she returned that my hair texture has changed from very coarse to soft making it easier to style.  We were trying to figure out a reason for changes.

Later in the day I realized for the last 3 to 4 months I have been taking excellent fish oil pills from the veterinarian that are made for dogs.  I take 3 day as prescribed for a 100 lb dog.  So.. . now I have great skin and shiny coat.  If I start barking, please call someone for help.

It's been a while because. . . .

Thank you, Jesus, that January is over.

Chuck switched to an HMO Medicare plan because it had no premiums.  It started January 1, 2012.  He started rationing some of his medications in December in anticipation of a lower cost January 1.  He couldn't get any information on what his copay would be for his RX.  Sunday, January 1, we were in Target and spoke to our favorite pharmacist, Chris.  He ran Chuck's card, and it showed we would owe 20% on everything, including is $1500.00 medication.  Chuck said no way, so we spent Sunday and Monday on the phone with everyone we could contact, and discovered that the HMO is the same as Medicare, and what he had before was a Medicare supplement which paid his copays.

This month has been spent canceling the HMO so that it ended yesterday.  Today, supposedly, the supplement will kick in and he can get his meds.  He has been severely rationing his Medicare, and surprisingly told me he feels like he's suffocating (surprising because he doesn't usually tell me these things). 

I've also had a stressful month at work.  All this has combined to diminish my serotonin levels, and I'm starting to have panic attacks again.  It's no ones fault:   at work and while carpooling, my boss has coughed continually since New Years.  (The interior of my car smells like cough drops).  I get home, and Chuck is a mess.

These last few days have been tough because I could see today coming, but I didn't think it could get here soon enough.  I had a panic attack Monday and have been able to eat very little food this week.

Friends on Facebook prayed for me last night, and this morning I had a chat with one of my cousins which helped me.  Talking to her I actually felt hunger pains.

Thank you, everyone for your prayers.  This is truly "One step at a time".