What is it with These People??????

I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.  

Jennifer Yane

More snow yesterday, and according to the forecast, at least two more storms expected in the next seven days.  Whew!!!! What a winter this has been. And, just when I was getting out and about.  Determined not to become a hermit, I decided to give it a shot yesterday and go to the Center.  Big mistake.  Not only was it slippery, cold and wet, but NO ONE was there.  I discovered that I am not the only oldster that chooses not to weather the storm.  It was actually quite boring, but lunch was fantastic...baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and broccoli, and because the place was fairly empty, the portions were huge.

So, when I got home from the Center, there was a letter waiting for me from the Union.  Oh, how my spirits rose!  'Finally,' I thought, 'this nightmare is over', but soon I discovered that I have entered a nightmare that never seems to end.  It seems now that 'we are working as hard as we can to expedite your pension, but we need another form....blah, blah, blah...'  This time it is something called a W4-P.  It is supposedly a tax form for pensions.  Well, why wasn't it included in the original application?  I didn't misplace it.  Now that hubby has his award letter from SSD, he can apply for an early pension.  They sent him no less than 9 applications.  Every day there is a new one in the mail.  I went through all of them, and none had a W4-P enclosed.  That's how they get you.  They don't enclose these forms, not even when they write to tell you they are missing. No, you have to call and THEN they send it...all time consuming.

For several months now I have been calling for follow-ups at least bi-weekly and since December, every Friday...and not one person mentioned it.  Why are they doing this to me?  It's not like it is a ton of money.  I am only entitled to $290 per month, but along with my social security, it is enough to live on.  Without it, I end up paying out more than I bring in. I've never needed to be wealthy.  All I want is a roof over my head and food on the table.  

I couldn't help myself. I called and went off on them...something I really didn't want to do.  Not because they didn't deserve it, but I am trying to keep my stress level down because I procrastinated about making my doctor's appointment too long.  Whatever made me do that, I don't know, but now, I only have four days of blood pressure medication and my appointment is not until February 11th. The receptionist was very nice.  She said if I had any problems to call, and she would squeeze me in.

Meanwhile, I've been using foods and supplements to keep my blood pressure in check. There was a time when I used alternative medicine and diet on a regular basis.  I remember one time, many years ago, I came down with a bladder infection. The doctor gave me a prescription for one pill.  ONE PILL.  It had to be strong to knock out an infection, so I refused to take it.  Instead, I drank cranberry juice and cleared it up.  Throughout the years all my healthy habits have given way to junk foods and, on occasion, medications.  Time to get back to natural ways. Some foods that I have been eating that help to lower blood pressure are:

Strawberries

 Broccoli 

 Avocado

 Yogurt

Spinach

Beets

Bananas

Green tea

Kiwi Fruit 

Walnuts

Supplements I take besides a good multi mineral include:

Cider Vinegar tablets

Calcium and Magnesium supplement
Kyolic Garlic

Krill Oil

The Krill Oil is actually expensive, but I don't like fish or seafood, and fish oil pills repeat on me.  Krill Oil is more potent and has no aftertaste.  Same goes for the Kyolic Garlic. But, if one cannot control stress, none of it is going to work. 

Every day we touch what is wrong, and, as a result, we are becoming less and less healthy. That is why we have to learn to practice touching what is not wrong—inside us and around us. When we get in touch with our eyes, our heart, our liver, our breathing, and our non-toothache and really enjoy them, we see that the conditions for peace and happiness are already present. 

Thich Nhat Hanh