IceSheet of Ember

[ismo]

A successful day--up to a point. It snowed more during the night. We got up and shoveled ourselves out. The Sparrowhawk cleared off the car, and I shoveled the rest of the driveway. Our kind neighbor had done the front walk with his snowblower. We were determined to return to the bookstore and do a little more Christmas shopping, plus getting a new notebook for me. We had coffee and split a cinnamon twist, and then got my book, a couple of other books and gifts for people who need them, and various fun tchotchkes for stockings, as one does. I got home in time to set up for a virtual appointment with an NP to check on my health. I set this up mainly because they plagued me with endless phone calls, and when I totally refused to have them visit me at home (because I had already done that once, and it was a waste of my time), they implored me to have a virtual meeting. It will only take half an hour! they said. It will be helpful to you! they said. Well, the NP was very nice, and he actually did explain who the heck these people are. They are contracted by my health insurance company to check on whether my doctor is doing various things, for HEDIS purposes. Now, that I understand, because the Sparrowhawk used to work for NCQA. (I leave it to the reader to look up these acronyms if desired.) So the whole thing is NOT directly for my benefit. It's something the insurance company does for its own benefit, from which I might possibly gain something, if I were a completely different person who wasn't already well connected with managing my own health care. Anyway . . . it did only take half an hour, as promised, but the whole process sucked up more of my attention than that.

I profited from my new notebook by writing up a bunch of stuff. But I hadn't been able to go shopping, because the Sparrowhawk was out at a meeting where he was using his expertise to inform people. When he got home, it was snowing again, and neither of us wanted to go out again. So we ate the last frozen pizza for dinner, with a salad I made. And then both of us became unbearably sleepy, and took a nap instead of doing anything further to prepare for the oncoming holiday. Woe! Time's a wasting. We got up in time for the Sparrowhawk to make another round of experimental eggnog. I had tummy pain, and didn't do much except write to the Philosopher, who communicated recently that he and his little family are all sick with a horrible cold, and this is why he hasn't said anything about Christmas. I have a sad feeling that they won't be able to come this year, but one should never give up hope. The most important thing is for them to take good care of themselves and not stress about anything!

I also received a text from that member of our group who had been exposed to covid via her daughter. Lo and behold, she had a sore throat today, and before going to visit her parents, tested herself. Yep, she has covid now. I'm so glad we opted out of that gathering . . . .

Comments

[oracne]

It seems like a very good time to hibernate inside out of the snow!