Lessons Learned

Now that I'm pregnant, I get mail from my insurance company at least three times a week. The top of these correspondences always read THIS IS NOT A BILL in big capital letters--probably to prevent heart failure upon finding out a routine blood test is $150 and an ultrasound is $500-700. I even get letters telling me something to the effect that "we are currently processing your recent claim"--that is all. Um, great. Isn't that what you are supposed to be doing? Then two weeks later, "we are processing your recent claim but it is taking longer than we expected"--okay. Am I supposed to do anything? Because if not, quit sending me these idiotic updates. The insurance company could probably insure an entire family for a year just by NOT sending me all this unnecessary (costly) mail. Just send me a bill when and if I owe you anything. I may start sending them back thank you notes. "Thank you for keeping me SO informed. It really brightens my day to know you are so concerned about me and my health insurance needs." Pfoof! Right.

Now to get even more Andy Rooney on everyone, why when I buy 3 things at Home Depot do I get a receipt that is 14-1/2 inches long. WTF? I've also learned never to bother asking anyone working at Home Depot or Lowe's who is under the age of 30 anything. They always look at me like I'm crazy when I ask what I consider to be normal hardware questions.

At Lowe's I asked, "Where is the flashing, that metal stuff used on roofs? I need some for a craft project." I was sent to the very last aisle of the store where roof shingles are. Um, no luck there. It was at least 5 aisles away, which is no easy trek in my condition. Going to buy wooden fence panel was equally taxing. The fence posts are on one side of the store, the panels are on the complete opposite. They couldn't have been farther apart. They make you pay for them separately. Then three clueless workers ranging from college age to my dad's age stood yapping about some chick the college dude banged the night before, while my dad, husband, and brother loaded the truck--and I (6 months pregnant) loaded a bag of potting soil and plants. That is SOME customer service.

However, 90 minutes later when we needed more Quickcrete, I was sent to Hanneke Hardware on the Hill. I parked right in front, went straight to the register, asked for the three bags, paid promptly and just drove to the back where Mr. Friendly loaded them straight to my car. I was probably only gone 15 minutes. It was delightful.

LESSONS LEARNED. Avoid big boxes at all costs. They are dark places.

Good things this weekend:

• We finally have privacy fence up. I no longer have to look at the dumpster out my back windows.
• We camped on Saturday night with a bunch of my family on some lake property my cousin and her husband own. Just our family, around a campfire, telling stories, making s'mores. I don't think I've ever seen so many stars. It was the clearest night--just beautiful.
• Got office and bathroom painted. Both turned out delightful.
• I made greens for the first time and they were dang good. Lindsey grew up on them in North Carolina and my grandma has talked about them plenty. But I've never made them. Some gal in the grocery store was picking some out, so I just asked her how she made them. She was most kind and helpful with her tips. It took longer than I thought and I have some perfecting to do (less water next time) but they were tasty to all who tried them. I sent some with my parents who were visiting my grandma. She said she was going to make cornbread to go with them and was excited to have them.

Life is quite good right now.