Sunday Stealing-Animals

Questions provided by Bev at Sunday Stealing. 

 1.   What is your favorite animal and why?

I would have to say MY cats, Maddux and Irish. Maddux loved to cuddle. Irish is more aloof, but she loves to be petted and scratched. My wife’s cat is Bubba and she is always picking fights with my cats. If one of them is 5 feet away and looks in her direction she hisses at them. She won’t let the other cats on the recliner sofa...at all. Not even if they are on the opposite end of the sofa. She claimed it as hers when we got it and that queen will not abdicate her “throne”!

Maddux

Irish

Bubba

2.   Are people animals? What separates humans from animals?

Some certainly behave more like animals than others. I guess I’d say yes. I was going to say opposable thumbs separate humans from animals, but opossums, pandas, and frogs have them, but humans can extend their thumbs further across their palms than those animals. Science lesson over. Obviously speech, the ability to think and learn on a higher level than animals. You don’t see squirrels attending college. 🥁 

3.   Which animal is the most dangerous?

Lions and tigers, and bears, oh my! (Wizard of Oz.)

4.   What should you do if a bear approaches you?

Avoid eye contact, and back away slowly. 

5.   Do you like dogs? Why do people call the dog, man’s best friend?

I love dogs. My first pet was a dog when I moved into my 2nd apartment. I would love to have another dog, but not with 3 cats. They are man’s best friend because...they just are! 

6.   Do you enjoy going to the zoo? Some people consider zoos to be cruel environments for animals. What do you think?

The zoo is ok. I’ve been many times. The last time was about 12 years ago for Zoo Lights during winter. Froze my butt off. It still was more enjoyable than going in the heat of summer. It was dark, the Christmas lights, and a lot less il behaved kids running around, crying and screaming. That really was the best part...very few kids. I have nothing against children, I have 2 of my own, but other peoples kids behave badly in public places and their parents do nothing about it. I never allowed my kids to behave like that. I think some zoo environments can be more cruel than others.

7.   Where is the best place to see animals in your country? In the world?

I don’t know. I’ve been to Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee, WI; Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL; and Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL. Never been outside of the United States. 

8.   Are you a vegetarian? What makes some people give up eating meat?

I’m not currently a vegetarian, but I was for about 2 years during my divorce. I was on a health kick. I went vegetarian, and went to the health club 6 or 7 days a week. I think the health club helped me keep my sanity. They had babysitting, so I got a break from my kids and they got to socialize with other kids. And I got away from my phone and my soon to be ex’s constant harassing calls. I always turned it off after I parked. I’m thinking about going vegetarian again. If I do, I will NOT be eating any of those plant burgers. Nope. To me they look unappetizing. I would stick with tofu, Boca Burgers, looks like chicken patties, looks like riblets (surprisingly tasty back in the day), and veggies and fruits in their recognizable form, not made to imitate meat. I bought several packages of Lemon Curry Tofu earlier this month and they were delicious. 

9.   Which animal is most helpful to humans?

Probably dogs.

10.  If you could be any animal (besides human), which animal would you like to be?

Wasn’t this one of Barbara Walters favorite questions to ask celebrities on her evening interview shows? Probably a cat. 

11.  Who would win in a fight between a tiger and a lion?

Help! Get that visual out of my head! Obviously the stronger, larger, more cunning animal.

12.  What do you think about hunting animals? Would you like to try it?

I think hunting to reduce overpopulation is ok, because the alternative, starving to death is more cruel. I don’t think I’d personally ever do it. I think hunting wild animals for sport is unconscionable. It makes me sick hearing about rich men hunting elephants and other animals in the wild. I do not support their businesses.

13.   Books like “Watership Down” and “Animal Farm” give animals human characteristics like human thoughts or language. Is this how you think animals really are? Or are those really just stories about people?

I never read either book, so I don’t know how to answer. 

14.  Some animals are endangered due to illegal poaching. How do you feel about this issue?

See #12. 

15.  If we can bring an extinct animal from the past back with genetic engineering, should we do it? Which animals should we bring back?

I don’t think so. Jurassic Park...hellooo!

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021 

Day 313-315 of Sheltering In

Thursday, Friday, Saturday. I think it was Thursday that my leg pain was so bad that I did nothing but elevate and ice. 

Friday I went grocery shopping with my son in anticipation of the blizzard we were supposed to get Saturday. 

When the blizzard didn’t come my son and I went to drop off the items my daughter had me get for her. Along with food, she asked for oil pastels and a sketch pad. It will be interesting to see what she does with those. Of course it started snowing pretty heavily when we got 15 minutes from my house. 

After dropping off that stuff I took my son to Disc Replay to buy some used games with his Christmas money. He talked Anastasia into buying him a PSP, so he had to get games for it. He had one (also bought by Anastasia) when they first came out but it broke. He’s much older now so I’m hoping he’s more careful with it.

After Disc Replay we were supposed to go to the bodega for fruit, veggies, and spices, but my wife failed to return my bank cards from her Friday night trip to Jewel. So we took the long way home, sang along with songs on the radio, and watched the snow fall. Traffic was very light.

Just got an update on the snow...we got 3-4 inches after we got home. I got a couple of those tiny bottles of oil when I grocery shopped so I could mix it with gas for the snowblower. (Two-stroke engine, so it must have oil mixed with the gas.) Did someone go get gas for the snowblower like I asked? Nope.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021

Day 312 of Sheltering In

Wednesday. Update on yesterday’s incident at the group home. Staff did NOTHING. Nutjob keeps saying she is going to report my daughter to the state because she’s not going to program and my daughter is freaking out. I told my daughter not to worry about it because we have doctor notes from before the lockdown ended to current from 2 doctors stating she cannot attend due to her asthma. I also found out from someone that works for them that the organization doesn’t allow staff to call the police because they don’t want the publicity and if my daughter were to call the police she would have to get an order of protection and they could not live in the same house any longer. Because Nutjob burned her bridges at all the other group home locations they would likely send my daughter home, and she would lose her apartment as punishment for calling the police. This is bs! My daughter is not the one who assaulted another resident. My daughter was assaulted. Need to pray they allow moving into the apartments ASAP.

In other bs news...still no callback from the orthopedic doctor. I called my insurance to see if they got the order for the custom leg brace. They did not. Just for snicks and grins I asked the insurance rep if the provider my doctor mentioned was “In Network”. They are NOT. So I asked for providers “In Network” and was given a list of medical supply places, most of which sell only catheters and those supplies. Wtfork? My case manager happened to call me and I told her all of this. She gave me an “In Network” provider with 2 locations, not exactly near me. At this point I don’t care where the place is, I will go anywhere. Even Chicago! You know I’ve had it with the bs if I’m willing to go to Chicago. So I call my orthopedic doctor and the receptionist kept interrupting me when I said I needed to actually talk to someone and then she sent me to voicemail. That is useless because they never check messages and return calls. I called my primary care doctor and got lucky because my doctor’s assistant was answering phones. She took down all the info and called the orthopedic doctor, actually spoke with someone in the correct department, gave them the info and they said they would give it to the proper person who sends the order and documentation to the insurance. I should not have had to go that far. When I first moved to the burbs I saw a different orthopedic doctor who ordered a different custom brace. I got a call from the provider the very next day, made an appointment for measurements, and had my brace made on site and had it the following week. It’s a process, I get it, but if the process is never started, nothing happens.

And let’s not forget...the insurance company can take up to 14 business days to approve or deny. I think my x-rays, MRI, and doctors notes should suffice for them to approve it once they actually get the order. If they deny, they run the risk of me tearing my knee up worse because they denied the custom brace that is meant to stabilize my knee to prevent further injury and allow the tear and sprain to heal, and then I’d be looking at surgery, which I don’t want. Surgery would cost over $25,000. A few hundred for a brace or $25,000 for surgery?

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021

Day 311 of Sheltering In

Tuesday. Tonight my daughter was open hand hit in the mouth by Nutjob. Then Nutjob started throwing things in the kitchen, hitting the other resident with an item. Then Nutjob came at my daughter again, swinging. My daughter ran into her bedroom and locked herself in. My daughter called house staff downstairs, but they said they were leaving and would return. She left and hasn’t been back yet. I reached an assistant director via text who only said they would speak with the house staff. The direct supervisor is off today, so my daughter got nowhere trying to reach that person. My daughter has a witness in the other resident. My daughter is still locked in her room and the other resident is in her room. The thing is this bully has threatened my daughter before and they do nothing. My daughter just signed a lease and will be moving out soon, but she has not been given a date. The apartments are owned by the same place as the group home. We don’t want to rock the boat and there have never been consequences for Nutjob in the past anyway, so what’s the point, hopefully my daughter will be moving soon and not have to deal with Nutjob. 

In other news...my leg brace is delayed. The insurance says they haven’t gotten the paperwork. The Prosthetic and Orthodic place has an answering service that I left a message with this morning, but haven’t heard back from them. I called the orthopedic doctor’s office and was sent to voicemail where I left a message. That means nothing because they have yet to return any of my wife’s calls in the past (same doctor that she had 2 TKR’s done by). Oh...bonus...the insurance can take as long as 14 business days to approve or deny. I canceled all PT appointments last week, but they are calling me to reschedule. I’m in a lot of pain and I’m afraid I am going to do more damage, so I don’t want to start again until I get the brace. 

Silly me woke my son up at 9am to shovel the driveway because I thought I’d be going to at the very least have measurements taken for the custom fit brace. Nope.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021

Day 309, 310 of Sheltering In

Sunday, Monday. Stayed home all day Sunday. 

Sunday my knee pain has been terrible and my ankle pain is worse since my short slide down the stairs yesterday. I saw the orthopedic doctor late Monday.

I have a Grade 1 strained LCL and a minor meniscus tear. Tuesday I will be waiting for the medical supply store to call after they get insurance approval for a custom leg brace. I have no idea how much of my leg the brace will cover, but judging from the pain from the LCL strain I’m thinking it’s going to cover a lot of are. I took a pass on a cortisone shot for my knee. Not a fan. I had shots in both shoulders and the pain was excruciating. The PA said to call if I change my mind. I’m hoping the medical supply store gets me in Tuesday and I don’t have to wait for them to make/modify a leg brace. Not sure how “custom”this is going to be.

I feel like someone’s got a voodoo doll and they are pulling my left leg too far out...constantly, and sometimes so much that I also have sciatica.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021

Sunday Stealing-Misc. Questions

24 January 2021

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. (Past hosts include: Our first - Judd Corizan, Mr. L, Kwizgiver and Bud) Cheers to all of us thieves!

 

Misc. Questions

 

 

 

 

1.Which is more romantic: an expensive, glittering bouquet OR flowers that were hand picked as they grew beside the parkway?
Flowers from the parkway. Not a fan of glittering bouquets.  

2.Do you know yourself well enough to understand why you feel the way you do?
Completely! Most of the time.

3.Which do you do more often: let movies, songs and books put your feelings into words for you or put your feelings into words by yourself?
I generally do it myself, but from time to time I will do something crafty that includes words/quotes from a song.

4.Do you believe celebrities when they are endorsing a product?
I am not interested if a celebrity endorses a product. In no way would that influence me to buy a product.

5.What kind of movies do you wish were made more often?
Movies with a plot that makes sense and are inclusive. Meaning, they portray all kinds of people...different races/ethnicities, sexual orientation, ages, sizes-skinny, average, fat, short tall, good looking, average looking, not either, rich, poor. Have the movie represent all those things that are a part of our real life. Movies that are not about comic book heroes, not about gorgeous rich people, not about fantastical, supernatural storylines, movies without gratuitous violence.

6.Does fashion matter to you?
Not at all. I couldn’t even tell you what is “in”. I stick to classics, and if I can catch designer duds on sale for the same or sometimes less than store brands or cheap brands, I will buy them.

7.Should politicians be held to the same legal standards as everyone else?
Absolutely. And how about the constitution/rules/laws apply to everyone? Why was nothing done with the emoluments clause of the constitution? The federal government got grifted out of how much money for housing the secret service at 🍊’s hotels? 

8. If you became president, whom would you invite to sing at your inauguration?
He’s no longer with us, but I’d pick Freddy Mercury. Wouldn’t it be awesome to hear him sing the National Anthem, God Bless America, or whatever other song is sung at inaugurations?

9. Do you try to write/say what you are feeling in a true and simple way?
Definitely.

10.What is your worst daily habit?
Interrupting someone else who is talking. It’s a hard one to break. I don’t think I always was like this. I think part of it is that I don’t have any friends, and I’m so excited to be having a conversation that I can’t wait to jump in. The other is that my memory isn’t that good anymore and I interrupt so I don’t forget what I was going to say about whatever was being talked about. No matter the reason, it’s incredibly rude and I’m making an effort to dial down the interruptions and hopefully get to the point that they are a rare occurrence.

11.If you had your choice which one TV show would you have canceled?
All reality shows. The few that I watched a bit of an episode were just terrible. I don’t like that on the dating type programs they show, or lead you to believe the contestants are being promiscuous, and with multiple contestants. Maybe I’m wrong about that part, I doubt it, because I’ve seen parts of episodes that were like that. It’s television. Not a movie on a streaming service. Call me a prude, but I don’t want to see it, nor do I want my special needs adult children to see it. If it’s on a streaming service that’s ok because there is other content that I can change to if my kids are watching.  

12.Do you like the taste of sweet or salt?
Both. It depends on what I’m craving.

13.Are you very precise about what words you use to describe your feelings and thoughts?
Yes. Sometimes I think I’m too precise, and too wordy.

14.What do you feel the most guilty about?
Pass. I’ve written about it in previous Sunday Stealing’s and on my blog. 

15.Do you meditate?
I don’t think I know how.

Lola’s Diner cc   2008-2021