Harper's birthday - part 4

His 10 pills cost us $107.00 ohg - why?

Wow - that's a lot. The good thing is that it will make him feel much better pretty quickly.

His insurance from his new job hasn't kicked in yet and he told us to drop him when DH could no longer work. I dropped myself too to save money as we were on one income instead of two. Justin is the only one with a plan at the moment....lets hope I don't get sick too!

I really have to say it was the oil price the last few years that caused me to drop the plans. Can't go with out oil and I very seldom got sick so it was an easy choice for me. So far my oil bill is averaging 500-660 a month for this winter.

That's a lot. How big is your house?

OUCH - having to choose between health care and heating your home . . . .

Thanks for all the get well wishes from everyone! I did go to the Dr. yesterday and she gave me some heavy duty anitbiotics and an inhaler for bronchitis. I've taken 2 with one to go, and so far, hmmmmmmmmm, how can I say this cheerfully?......yuk!! I'm hoping to turn the corner tomorrow. At least no fever today. My sister's in town with her new husband, and I want to get better so I can see them before they leave. We've penciled them in for tomorrow night.....please keep your fingers crossed for me to shake this thing soon! I'm missing out on good stuff! But on a good note.......my caladiums from the co-op came today, along with my super duper Elephant Ears. I can't wait to get out there and get them planted!!! DH is prohibiting it for now..... :( Stay well everyone!! Victor - glad you are keeping "IT" at bay!

Glad you're feeling better, Louise. I'm still feeling well.

Victor, I have a 9 room house but because I have Justin I keep it at 70 degree's, except at night I turn it down.

What about a stove - wood or pellet? No need to heat the entire place (or heating zone) all the time. I love my pellet stove.

I have a fireplace but do need a pellet/wood stove. The new house will have one now I tell ya!

How much is heating oil going for in NY? It's 3.20 a gallon the last time I filled up.

Not sure. My regular heat is gas and it's expensive.

Just filled up yesterday. $3.30/gal. Ouch!

When we moved here I insisted - no more than 10 minutes to work via car and no more than 2 blocks to public transportation. Even in 2002, it was pretty evident that gasoline prices were only heading in one direction.

That price was for the oil for my heat. Gas prices are higher here lately! Closer to $3.50!!!! Cough, gag...

OMG - we're climbing closer to that $4 a gallon mark - still much cheaper than Europe, though (not much consolation there)

Michaela, if you're within a 10 minute drive, why not bike in the nice weather??

Regarding the bike (1) must own a bike first, (2) must be in good shape to bike up the hill, (3) must figure out how to transport laptop, briefcase, and 4 folders (complete with textbooks).. . . maybe there is a little trailer I could pull :-)

But the bike suggestion is a good one. And the distance is 10 minutes at 30 miles per hour. Time on the local bus is one hour, 10 minutes.

The busses make all those stops. They're good if you want a nap.

Yeah, they're also good at jolting you awake at each stop!

Michaela,

At $4 a gallon, you might consider investing in a laptop backpack (this is a whole new genre) and a bicycle - the in-shape part is a by-product of walking up the hill a few times and biking the rest of the way, and would be good for your BP, too! Cheaper than a personal trainer and healthier than anything and better for the earth and listen to me. my car (when I have one) is the biggest gas-guzzler around.

Fondly, Carrie

A laptop backback - cool!

And you can charge the battery while you pedal...

Eric got his laptop backpack at Target about a year ago...

How's his back now, does it convert into a briefcase, and does it look like what a FrauDoktorProfessorin should be carrying? xx, Carrie

Ouch! His back definitely does not convert into a briefcase.

He takes his backpack to school, and also on the road, and on airplanes a lot. It is a plain black backpack that has a padded section for a laptop built in. It holds quite a bit of paperwork too. It cost around $30 ithink, there are certainly nicer looking ones available. He is a professor of technical theatre, so fancy isn't really a consideration.

You tease me, I tease you right back!

An ithink, what will apple come out with next? And only $30, that's gotta be a first for them!

x, Carrie

Harper, Pirl just sent me over to tell you Happy Birthday. Since it has been a while since October, does that mean I have to back track so that I don't miss any chances to say Happy Birthday, or can this count for all the past 4 months that I missed?
Happy Birthday, Harper.

iThink
therefore
iAm.

Happy First-Day-of-March,-20-Days-'Til-Spring Birthday, Harper!

Ha ha! Thanks Sharran (and Arlene). This counts for all four months. Wheeeeee!!

Thanks Sue! Same to you!! I'm so glad it's March, I could scream!

Harper - I feel the same way. Somehow we made it through that long winter.

Let's have a party!

Great. Let's do it!

Okay! I'm awful at planning parties. Shall we have it in cyberspace or in real life?

Cyberspace. No dressing up or wasted gasoline that way.

Good idea! Well in that case, I'm already wearing my party hat.

o - but they aren't nearly as much fun as the real-life kind!

Maybe it's the best we can do until the weather improves enough that we can all be outside. I'll settle for it today.