What To Do...

Sort of at a loss and spinning (not yarn) around directionless lately. But maybe that's not such a good description of it.

I have been getting 'lots' done. That's what I do when things are amiss. I keep busy. And this business at work has given me reason to keep busy. Working so I don't think. In other circles, it may be called denial.

I am practiced and very good at it.

Twirly Skirt #2 is done (shhh....don't tell Grandbebe Girl Two). Hiking Socks #2 are done. Test articles booties are done. Handspun Jacob and alpaca are dyed. Sweet Peasy has been 1/3 knit, frogged and re-knit (much more to my liking).

The weekend was spent with Lovely Step-Daughter, shopping for her new digs. Which was much fun. Retail therapy is very comforting. And also was very exhausting. I am feeling more rested once again.

Which is good, because this coming up Saturday, my knitter peeps and me are driving to the SoWY yarn shops in Cheyenne and Laramie for the Hot August Nights NoCO/SoWY yarn shop crawl. DSis says traveling to WY for yarn is over the top. I told her it's closer than Denver! And whatever. More retail therapy.

I need it.

Things will aright soon enough, and I will get over it, and move along. I always do.

Fall Is Coming

School buses are on the road. Kids are on the bike path early with bikes, skateboards, and backpacks. The sun’s angle is just a bit different, and it is rising later each day. And setting earlier, too.

And I just harvested my first two tomatoes last week. This picture is whackadoo!

Also not really so comfortable for me.

I know. I know. There are plenty of warm days to come. This past weekend was in the 90's and H.O.T! I am planning to clear my bike-riding miles goal with no problem. However. Today and tomorrow? Ju-u-ust a bit…not…warm, with a hint of the change of the season.

And I am not ready.

I am really really glad I am not suffering with a month of 100 degree (and humid) temps typical of the midwest (where I lived for many years of my life). And yet, it does not seem like my summer lasts quite long enough where I am living now.

Maybe it wouldn’t seem so bad if school held off until Labor Day, and the school supplies in stores were banned until after the first of August.

But. Since that isn’t going to happen, I better just buck up, and get ready. Aspens will be turning in a month.

Lovely Step-Daughter Has Returned

Armed with her degree, Lovely Step-Daughter Daughter left for Crazy Desert Town to find her fame and fortune. Or at least a job in her field.

And that she did, and she stuck it out, making the grade for lo, these long (and distant) years.

Even if eventually Dearest Sister came to rest (so to speak) in the same locale. And even if we received killer deals on lodging most places we stayed, Lovely Step Daughter was far from home, and though Wonderful Guy understands the need for independence and acquiring decision making skills and standing on ones own two feet? Well, we are glad an opportunity has come up that allows her to return closer to the home front. Three of the five will be within hollerin’ distant.

Sort of.

Dearest Sister and her kitties are saddened. Lovely Step Daughter was the primary kitty-sitter. And DSis thinks The Guy isn’t as likely to tote me the desert now that his little girl doesn’t live there anymore.

Well, Sister? We will have to meet elsewhere then, won’t we? Maybe without the fellas.

Fractal Friday

The insurance people, the provider, and I are working towards an end with additional documentation being faxed for review. Hopefully we will only be out the originally planned amount. Which is enough, trust me! Time will tell. Thanks for the tea, sympathy, and advice.

I found out today my employer is offering the other temp a full time position, and while the position is below both mine in level and pay, still! It’s a burn. I like my job. I like my co-workers. I don’t dread getting up in the mornings and going to work, which is much much more than lots have. I probably wouldn’t mind staying on as things are now. But this chaps me. It leaves me out there. I had someone that understood, and now, I am the only temp again, working so they all meet the progress points for their bonuses.

Whatever.

The twist is set in the 6 skeins of Jacob I ended with. I think some of it might be a bit overly twisty, but in retrospect I am pleased with the learning process. That’s what spinning still is for me, learning. I was able to put into practice a lot of what I learned at the wool market workshop with this fleece, and this is the first sheep’s fleece I scoured. Stats: Before scouring - 2lbs, after - 17 3/8oz, resulting in 6 skeins of 2-ply, 16 1/2oz, approx 1260 yds. (Which I am planning to dye. Then knit into maybe a sweater. For me. Or someone else. But not the insurance person or anyone at work….)

A dental check-up this week had good results. I am grateful for that, as dental visits are anathema for me. Seriously. It goes way back to childhood trauma of which we will not speak.

I am going to start some of Sarrtje’s Booties (rav link) for Grandbebe Fourth. Out of some Brown Sheep Wildfoote I have on hand….which is PINK! I am ex-CIIIIIIIIT-ed!!!! The boys in the family keep saying things like ‘hey, the numbers are getting a little lopsided here…’, and the in-laws say ‘where are the boys?’. I reply with ‘trust me! The boys will follow the girls home soon enough and the numbers will get balanced!’

My new bike, Trekkie v.2, is proving to be more than I dreamed. I commuted 5 days last week, plus a trip to the farmer’s market on Saturday. This week allowed 4 days of commuting (because of the dental appt.). Headway is being gained on my mileage goal.

I am looking forward to a weekend.

Actual phone conversation with health insurance person (regarding a denied claim)...


Me:  The provider called [the company] for a pre-authorization for this procedure. The message received stated that ‘no pre-authorization was required for out-patient surgery, MRI, or CT unless living in [some other county, some other state]'. Which I do not.

Insurance company person:  Yes, but that’s the just recorded message. Then they have to call to find out what the benefit requires for the MRI.

Me:  But…the message just told them…that no pre-authorization…for an MRI…is needed? And they need to know…that another follow-up call is required??

ICP:  Mmm-Hmmm. (very matter of factly) (like she did not hear the crazy of her words).

Me:  That makes no sense!

ICP:  We need to have…(and she just goes on….never pausing…)


My point is (and I have a few), is that I cannot be the first in my provider’s office with this insurance needing this procedure. It is a capable office staff that has met every need before, and surely would know that an additional, follow-up call was required.

What the ICP said was almost exactly what I wrote above. Maybe not exactly word for word, but almost. There is a recorded message that says no pre-authorization is required. Except that really? One is needed, and a second phone would have told us that. Except that the first phone call? No clue that a second is required.

And when I repeated that? No acknowledgement that the practice is crazy making.


>The procedure was performed in April.

>The insurance company first held off on paying, asking for more information.

>The claim was then denied, because of no pre-authorization.

> Receiving the letter on Thursday, and not being able to talk to the provider on Friday, I spent a weekend wondering, ‘WTH? Was I going to be paying a $4000 bill?’

> I have had to call the insurance company twice and the provider three times…at work…which means finding a place not in cube land where I can repeat and re-repeat the whole story.

> I will probably be receiving bills from those who provided the actual services, and will have to call them and tell them the services have been resubmitted to said insurance balkers, and please don’t turn me into the collections service.

>The insurance company has had my premiums in the mean time. And the providers have not been paid for 4 months, and probably won’t be paid for at least another, maybe two. Nice scam if they can hold onto a few other’s money in a likewise fashion.

What makes me almost want to throw in the towel is how the hard the answers are to come by. How do I know what is covered, what is required, what is needed to make sure all my ducks are in a row?

The benefit book has some pretty good bullet points, but is not totally comprehensive. The website says to call customer service to make sure. Depending on who I talk to, different people hear what I need differently, and answers vary based on their knowledge.

And I have…a few decades…or more….of life experience to base my questions on. Somebody help me if I was 28 and trying to navigate this system.

On The Needles

There lots of road time during the recent vaycay to and from the National Parks, and therefore, it follows, some knitting was done.

Started on the way to Yellowstone and finished as of today...

Twirly Skirt, by Barefoot Knits  from Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic and Cotton Classic II (lower tier).

Modified to knit in the round, so miles and miles of knitting, and totally appropriate for certain times and mind-killing at others. Also enclosed the elastic casing as I went, and used three rows of garter stitch instead of turning up a hem. I used a stretchy 'knit two stitches, then knit those tog, knit another st, knit those two together, etc."cast off. I don't know what the technical term is for that one. Maybe someone can help me out. Anyway.  Made for a flippy hem.  I hope to give to Grandbebe Girl tomorrow and get a photo of her wearing it.  It is turned out very, very cute. I have two more planned for the other grandbebe girls.

Current projects being concentrated on…

Green Socks, using the Elongated Cord Rib, from Sensational Knitted Socks (rav link) by Charlene Schurch (I love this book!) from Lonesome Stone Mountain Feat. Making these shortie socks because of the amount of yarn I have available, and because…I mostly just like shortie socks.  One is done, one is past the gusset. And like every sock I have made using this book, and the suggestions set out by this book, the socks fit like a dream.

Hiking Socks 2, by KyleAnn Williams (Walking in the Maize Socks), from Fortissima Socka (no photo yet). One is past the gusset.

Also on the spinning front…the Jacob (from the Estes Park Wool Market 2 years ago) is almost completely plied. I carded it by shade, and spun it into singles mostly white here and grey there. I am plying it together, grey and white to make sort of a tweedy look. I may dye it. I may not. Then again, I might…I love having a good plan to stick to.

Next to spin, I think the rose-grey alpaca….or the CVM/Corriedale….or maybe something already prepared. Now wouldn’t that be unusual?!

Backyard Buddies, Part Second

Speaking of the hummers, we have one (or three) hanging around this year. And mostly, he (or she) has been pointedly ignoring (again) the designated feeder.

I say one (or three) because occasionally ours regularly takes time from his (or her) posing to chase off (or court) another.

Back to my efforts to capture the antics of Mr. (or Ms.) Speedy Bird. After noticing the hummingbirds, I put the telephoto on the camera.

And got the photos of the finches.

The hummer pretty much left the scene that evening. I sat and sat and sat, until I feared I might contract West Nile from the mosquitoes I was attracting. A few evenings later, there was a reappearance while I was out photographing…oh I don’t know, probably flowers in my yard? I popped off a few shots that weren’t great, but the best I could do with the light and the lens.

He likes Monarda.

Perhaps Mr. Speedy Bird thought to hide from the paparazzi in the lilac bush…

After vacation, my yard needed attending. What nine days without that routine walking around and checking and tending to will leave in its stead! Plants done blooming, new ones coming on, and weeds fully a foot tall where none had been before. I was glad to see this blooming, which I cannot for the life of me remember what it’s called. Maybe a penstemon? But I have it in 3 places in my yard, because 1) it’s orange, 2) it blooms in August, and 3) hummers like it.

Again, sometimes I just get lucky!

(notice those tee tiny feet...)

Mr. Speedy Bird is sometimes Mr. Hanging Out At The Tomato Cages Bird.

He also like the delphinium which, interestingly, has a white bloom. I was under the apparently incorrectly impression that they were only attracted to shades of red.

And sweet peas are favorite, too.

(As always, if one wants, clicky for biggy)

Backyard Buddies, First Part

The Cat Who Is Queen is rather senior, and no longer brings us 'gifts'.  Therefore we are free to feed the birds without the trepidation of luring our feathered friends to sure and certain death.

And feed the birds we do.  And the squirrels sometimes, but Best Dog Ever does her best to guard the yard from the chattery tail-flippers. It's her mission.  From Dog.

We have had had a couple hummingbird feeders in the past.  Last year the squirrel got to those.  We found the little flower spigots on the ground and the feeders drained.  Then we found all the other feeders knocked about and empty, and several on the ground.

The squirrels got hopped up on hummer juice and went bonkers, I imagined.  I also imagined after stuffing themselves, hitting a carb wall and crashing...on their backs...with round and bloated tummies, sprawled on some spruce limb, cutting zzzz's.

Anyway, Wonderful Guy was peeved.  Said 'That does it!'  Brought all the feeders in.  He. Had. Had. IT!

And that's the way it stayed.  Until that evening at dinner, when, sitting at the kitchen table, we looked out to the back fence, and saw we were being watched.

By doves, pigeons, wrens, and finches.  Just sitting there.  Watching.  Waiting.  Wondering where their supper was.

Wonderful Guy couldn't take it.  The feeders were filled back up, and brought back out.  But nailed to the fence, tied down to their hangers, and otherwise firmly affixed to thwart those furry, pesky, but sort of cute, thieving, rascally squirrels.

His madness has worked pretty well.  No more feeders on the ground, at least, and the one hummer feeder we keep now hangs on the pergola, out of bounds for the squirrellish.  However, the hummers?  They don't relish the feeder as much as my flowers, which sort of chaps the Guy.

Hee hee hee.

Also...Happiest birthdays ever, to Grandbebe Two (yesterday) and Eldest Daughter (today)!  Love you both lots and lots!

Parting Shots

My last slide show of Yellowstone, which would be the flowers.

The fields were just full.  Plum full.  Fuller than full.

Geraniums were wild!

Lupines in a field of 'standing dead' trees from a past wildfire.

Scarlet Gilia, which is really really scarlet.

Their columbine are different from ours.  But that's okay.  There's room for all.

Bog orchid, which I have not seen, or at least identified before.  So this was cool.

Pretty paintbrush, pretty coral paintbrush...

Purple gentian, the park flower of Yellowstone.

Penstemon, hanging over a bank over the Lake.

So there they are.  Just a small fragment of the total, and thanks for letting me share.  I get to relive the experience all over again.

Show and Tell

A pre-vacation FO.  Delivered to the intendee (Eldest Daughter) in person in Yellowstone.

I narrowed the sleeves by knitting them with a size smaller needle.  The shetland is not as soft as I would have liked.

The color is great on her though.  And she says she likes it.  She even tried it on for a photo.

That's taken on the east coast...day light hours.  It had to be in the 90's.  With humidity.  And she put on a wool sweater because I said I needed a photo...

February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne  in #2 Shetland Wool (sport wgt) by Hanne Falkenberg.
Buttons from JoAnns.

Two sweaters for others, and they both fit. That's pretty darn sweet.

Edit:  Dearest Sister reminded me that I neglected to give her photo credit!

Today, A Break

Today, instead of the interminable vacation slideshow (trust me, you are being spared the brunt of the the 850+ photos taken!) I have a question to pose.

Does this bike make my butt look big?

Yes indeedy.  This one has a sweet new ride as of this past weekend. (I always ride with a helmet.  Always.  I just rode in a circle out of the drive and back for The Guy to shoot a couple of photos of me. But I am a helmet wearer, trust me.)

After hearing from a co-worker how 'she just coasted to work' after borrowing her boyfriend's road bike, I started thinking.  Could it be?  Could I be laboring on my commute more than necessary?  Are those passing me passing me for reasons other than the fact that I am old?  Am I slow for reasons other than being old?

Soooo in our runnings around, and getting re-grounded in general, this past weekend, we happened upon some bikes...that were on sale.  And well, one thing led to another, and before I knew it...I am a proud new mama of a speedy new Trek city-style bike (technical term).

Really.  Go to the Trek website.  There are about dozen different 'styles' of bikes.  Who knew.  And Trekkie v.2 is considered a 'city-style'. As opposed to Trekkie v.1, which is a hybrid, which I am keeping for now.  As opposed to the Hiawatha Jet that was my 8th birthday present (circa. 1963) that would be considered a 'cruiser', which I have kept for lo, these many years, so why stop now.

And you know really what else?  I ride like the wind now!  Where I use to go the slowest?  Now my slowest is almost faster than my fastest use to be!  That makes sense to me...you  may have to think about it.

It is taking getting used to, I will admit.  It is lighter, and I tend to overcompensate.  My turns are a bit wide. And when I reached for my water bottle, well....let's just say, there is more getting used to there as well.  I will make sure the path is free from oncoming traffic when I need a drink for a while.

Also. It rained on the way home today.  So that's out of the way.

I am convinced, however, that where I was limited to my commuting before to three times weekly because of sapped energy resources, I think I can probably ride all five days now, barring errands and other necessities requiring a car commute.

Now, maybe I will go find some sweet jumps.

And Now For...

...thermo-features!

Twilight on the Firehole...taken during our Yellow Bus Tour...

The Grand Prismatic...from up on a hillside above the usual viewing area.  We scrambled up a ways.  Manfriend took the cameras and went even a bit higher, as Eldest and I were a bit skittish of the slippy slope.  Not so much for the going up, but anticipating the coming back down...intactly.  Oh, but this view was worth it.

Mammoth Hot Springs area.  Ridges and acres and layers of travertine...and a dead tree.

West Thumb, looking out on Lake Yellowstone.  This might be my favorite place.  It's usually our first stop, and therefore signals to me that we have really arrived.

A shot of the mud pots, doing their thing.  It's mesmerizing...hynotizing...we could have watched all day! And maybe fallen in...you know...just for the spa treatment....

Wonderful guy thought this looked like icing.  Which is sort of does. (...but what I thought about was what my girls said about Grandma's Protein Powder.  They only got it when my mother came to visit, and she would sprinkle it on Shredded Wheat, and only the big biscuits.  None of those new fangled bite sized ones for her!  Anyway.  It was a special treat, and they always said...'it was like icing' on their breakfast!)

PS.  Photo credits for some of these again to Eldest.  Thanks for coming with us on vacation.  We had a great time with you guys.

There's More

Today I have spectacular vistas and pastoral scenery.

The Tetons, rising 12,000 feet (plus) straight up from the valley floor.

Smoke from the fire that was burning while we were there.  Not too far from where we were staying, actually, but all under control.  No worries here!

Clear Lake, the destination of one of our hikes.

The Upper Falls of the Yellowstone.  Pretty spectacular really.

Honest.  I didn't do anything to this photo but resize it. Colors are straight out of the camera.  This sight take my breath away every time I see it.  Almost completely unchanged since first sketched by Moran.

Tetons again.

Approaching Shoshone Lake, another of our hike destinations.

And lodgepole pines.

(I am sure Only Brother's droid is choking on these photo ladened posts. And I am not quite done yet...almost but not quite...)