Today I went to the doctor. I think I may have mentioned on here a few times how I have not felt completely recovered since the bout of bronchitis I had back in March. So anyway, my next appt was supposed to be at the end of August, but my level of fatigue/insominia/bouts of light-headedness/brain fuzziness/nausea, etc., etc., etc., was just getting too much so I decided to see her again sooner than later. I'd told her the same symptoms back in June, and she told me to try taking the new dose of syntrhoid for a few months and see if that improved anything. Obviously, it didn't.
So I saw her today, and she suggested that maybe it is either related to mono or chronic fatigue syndrome. I looked up the symptoms for both, and can relate to LOTS of the symptoms ... I had my blood tested for Epstein Bar virus and my thyroid rechecked. My blood pressure was high again too .. so of course I get the little paper telling me to not add salt to my food (never do!); eat more fruit (more than my normal 5+ servings?); and fill half my plate with veggies (ok, could do better on this one.)
So anyway, with the copay and the balance from my June visit (my share of the bloodwork after insurance paid) - I paid $49.xx
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After the doctor I headed over to the auto shop and got my oil changed. (it needed it badly - it was almost time before I headed to NE, but adding another 2500 miles definitely put it in the MUST DO category.) That was $38.xx
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I got pulled back into a farm game app on my phone that I had deleted because it was becoming a time s*ck. And ... I spent $12 within it to buy "diamonds" to make things a little easier. Gah, can't believe I did that. I really need to delete that app again.
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I still have the Android phone I bought for my Ting experiment. (I had no problem with Ting, I just couldn't stand the phone for real phone use.) So Swagbucks has an app that only works for Android right now. I finally found the charging cord for my phone, and installed the app. Of course when I tried to open it, it says "can't find SD card." Ugh. So I found a 8gb SD card for my phone --- $7.32 prime. I would've gone for a 2 gb card instead, but once you added shipping (no prime for it) it cost more than the 8gb card. It will take a lot of days using this app to equal out the cost of the card. But there is some kind of adapter thing that it comes with, so I'm guessing maybe I can use the card for other things too if I want - so it might be useful for more than one purpose (I hope.)
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My mom is coming on Thursday and my house is a mess. I've managed to pick up some, do laundry and dishes, do several trash runs, etc., but there's still so much more to do. But I also have tons I need to do at school. Guess how much I've gotten done there? Yeah. not much. So we'll have to see how much my mom will really be able to tolerate ... hopefully I can get the gumption to do a bit more cleaning before she gets here - at the very least make sure the sheets are fresh on the bed. (I'll sleep on the couch so she can have my bed - or maybe see if my air mattress still works.)
If it wouldn't be so embarrassing (and make me worry that others would think I make too much money or something) I would dearly love to hire some local person to clean my place every couple months or so ... I did that my last few years of teaching .. hired someone about once a month (generally right before I had planned on guests ...) that made life so much easier. (and only cost around $40!)
My former walking partner told me that her teacher assistant had "gossiped" to her about all the bits of paper I had around my computer in the library and how she wondered how I found anything. My former walking partner has been in my house ... so I asked her - what do you think I work harder at keeping organized and neat - my house or the media center? She said the media center! 
(very true) So pity the teacher assistant if she ever saw my house!
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Oh! I received my check from Pinecone today for $3. That was fast!
I also inexplicably received a refund from my health insurance company for premiums. I've heard about that (something about 80/20 or such thing) but what made it weird is that ... I don't pay for the premiums! I figured that if there was a refund due, it would go to my employer who pays it. It is only $9.xx but I guess I can ask my principal tomorrow what she thinks.
Doctor visit and other spending
August 6th, 2013 at 12:42 am
August 6th, 2013 at 01:37 am 1375753029
It sounds onerous when I use words but each activity takes less than a minute. These are merely easy actions with 21 days of conscious repetition to make them habits. Around 9 PM we set a timer like the one on the stove and play 'beat the clock.' For 15 minutes we do an ETE, eliminating the evidence of daily living, putting away stuff, fluffing pillows, throwing newspapers in recycle, taking tote to the door for the next work day, setting out clothes for the AM, tidying bathroom etc. When the bell rings - done! Don't get bogged down in details, just done.
Try it and tell us what you think...
August 6th, 2013 at 01:50 am 1375753834
I like your idea of the beat the clock ETE. My biggest problem right now I think is how big the mess is that I get overwhelmed. Even after having done a trash run, got the dishes all done, got the laundry mostly caught up, etc., there still is so much more to be done. I really need to sweep and probably mop (haven't mopped since I moved in here ...) But then there is a ton of clutter stuff that needs to be picked up/thrown away/figured out and that's where I get overwhelmed and decide to just sit at the computer instead ...
August 6th, 2013 at 01:59 am 1375754346
My advice on the clutter is to pick one drawer, one file, one pile or even one piece of paper and make a decision. If you can only do one paper then fine you are done. Or set the timer for 10 minutes and see what you can do with the clutter in that time. A little bit EVERYDAY makes a big difference.
August 6th, 2013 at 04:37 am 1375763879
I also use the techniques flylady talks about. I can clean (a rough clean but one I wouldn't care if visitors came) in about 75 minutes once a week. She has 7 chores that can be done in 10 minutes or less (a weekly blessing of the house she calls it). I try and do one each night after work, but some weeks I come home, eat dinner and go to bed if I am off really late.
Her 7 things are: empty all trach cans, change sheets, purge magazins/catalogs, polish mirrors and glass doors, quick sweep and mop, dust, vacuum.
I also use the 15 minutes timer thing (another fly lady technique) once a day before bed to put away as much as I can.
When I was on vacation I worked for 45 minutes then took a 15 minute break. Basically enough time to clean and scrub the fridge, setting the drawers and shelves to dry on the patio, then took a break. They were dry after the break and I popped them in and went onto the counters, 45 minutes of work then a 15 or 20 minute break. It really kept me motivated that a break was coming less than an hour later.
I still need to schedule the cleaning of my carpets, and finish my dining room table/chairs/stuff on the table (which is where I placed the items I don't have homes for) and of course vacuum everything again. But it feels good!
I hope you have a nice visit with your mom!
August 6th, 2013 at 05:42 am 1375767746
Thanks Kiki. I used to get flylady's emails (until they became overwhelming.) I've tried that method where I tell myself I'm going to work for so long, and then take a break for so long. More often than not though I get into whatever I'm doing during my "break" and the break doesn't end ... I'm fairly good at keeping the main things done, it's more that the times I've let some things go for awhile that getting back on top of those things seems almost insurmountable to even know where to start.
I do have a date now for when NE is likely coming ... so I have even extra motivation to get the place in shape. I just need to start small - maybe pick one task to accomplish (like sweeping) then worry later about the next one.
August 6th, 2013 at 12:25 pm 1375791919