On inadequate sleep I made the unwise decision to try to take care of some dental coverage business online and by phone.  I need the dental part of my plan to reflect my current plan, not just the old expired one, so a dentist (if they accept my dental plan) can see I’m covered.

Hours later, I’m so frustrated and exhausted trying to get a sentient being to understand I just need them to update my plan to the correct one in MO, not OH.  The website doesn’t even function half the time, and when it does, there’s no way to edit my info or get them to do it accurately.  I did all the things the tech support (?) told me, at least the actions that were actually available on the site, but it’s just a vicious loop to nowhere.  I think I was as straightforward and rational as I could be, but in the end, I just gave up.

So it’s back to going down my list of supposedly covered dentists to find one that actually is–there seems to be some confusion at front desks, or the covered dentists moved on elsewhere, or only one of the dentists in the group takes my coverage, but not the one qualified to do my advanced procedures, and so on and so forth.  I’m too tired after dealing with lower life forms to deal with it.  Maybe tomorrow, after less sleep deprivation?

Also, I forgot to eat while waiting all day on holds or trying to explain a simple concept and getting non-applicable responses.  So maybe eating would be a workable plan (unlike some)!

On that lightheaded note, I’m done with business for the day.  If you even made it this far, thanks for listening.  I’ve found most dilemmas eventually sort themselves out if you walk away for a bit.  Sleep on it, if I can!  I leave you with this pertinent illustration.

Continuing the insomnia theme, I’ve been awake much of the night and morning, so here I am again.  Not a lot has happened overnight, other than tossing, reading, doing online business, taking my meds–exciting stuff!  Normally I’d have spent the night at Avdi’s with K.  It’s like another mini-quarantine over here.  Surreal, but needed.

But I’m relieved I went to the clinic–even if they charged me $30.00(!) for the prescription that would have been only a few dollars if submitted to my insurance, which they don’t do.  The visit itself was charged as a specialist, so $25.00 instead of $0.00.  Still, not bad for the convenience and expediting, but not something I could afford on a regular basis.  It’s already eaten into my small food/saving/etc. budget for the month.  And that’s just for a minor exam/treatment.  I can’t make a habit of contracting mysterious plagues!

Here’s a selfie!  The real selfie would be too hideous to publish.

I was so out of it today, with this mystery plague, that I didn’t write, but I did get to an urgent care clinic, thanks to my son.  They shot me up with steroids (guess where?) and gave me antibiotics to take, but no one really knows for sure what it is!  The good news is, it may not be the hideous chronic disease it appeared to be at first glance.  And that’s all I want to say about that.

I also got myself a Primary Care Physician, finally, though the first opening they had is the end of May!  Maybe I’ll live long enough to get to a doctor!  I think I exaggerate.  Next up, finding a dentist, which appointment may take until the end of the year, from what I’ve seen of dentists lately.  But at least I’ll have that to live for!?

I haven’t exercised for days, because I’ve mostly been in bed.  Maybe that’s why I suddenly can’t sleep and decided to catch up on my writing.  What with the time change, night is day and day is night, all topsy-turvy.  It feels surreal.  And on that note, here’s your post and a charming photo illustration!  And…now it’s tomorrow.

Still not right in the head–literally, something weird is affecting the right side of my head, internally and externally, causing discomfort and swelling, almost like an allergic reaction or infection.  I’ve tried to sleep it off for days, but it seems to be getting worse.  It occurred to me to take an allergy pill and apply some cortisone, so I’ll see if that helps ease the symptoms.

Sorry about the old person whining, which I try to avoid at all costs, but this one’s unusual and unfamiliar, thus a bit distressing.  Aging is a scary experience, not for the fainthearted.  I need to find a good doctor in my area, and get myself there, which is intimidating.

So this has put me off my usual game, so not much to report.  Running low on “spoons”!  Life goes on with or without me.  Seeds go on germinating.  Here are some…

My posts seem to be fewer and farther between lately, as I have more stuff going on and less opportunity to write.  I can’t even remember all the things.

Thursday Avdi and I did grocery shopping, and I brought him the latest flat of salad seedlings for his lab.  I also set up an additional flat, this time of cucumbers, watermelons, and asparagus.  The tomato seedlings look like actual tomatoes!  It’s looking very lab-like down there under the stairs.  Meanwhile, lots of veg seedlings and spring flowers are coming up outdoors, after all the rain.

I spent the night, then worked on Shabbat dinner and Challah.  The chicken (as per A’s suggestion) was buffalo/BBQ this time, accompanied by salad and roasted potatoes.  The Challah was fluffier than ever.  K. seems to like my cooking, which is a compliment.

I haven’t been feeling at my best, so I went home and slept like 12 hours!  I got to see Avdi and Jess at CRC live-streaming.  In the short couple of days I was away, my latest flat of salad greens and herbs had already sprouted!  It’s obviously feeling better than I do!  I must be doing something right!

RRR (RiseRoarRevolt) just gets better each time, but especially on the big movie screen with all the powerful sound effects.  I haven’t been to a movie theater in decades, so that was fun.  Avdi, Jess and I almost had the room to ourselves on a weekday night; also, the seats were adjustable and comfy, which definitely helps for a 3+ hour saga (they skipped the interval).

This epic Telugu superhero fantasy is set in 1920s India under evil British rule, but that only begins to describe this gorgeous, fun spectacle.  The incredible choreography and fantastical special effects alone are worth seeing.  Some scenes could be straight out of a comic book ‘gita.  Director Rajamouli and the two lead actors are brilliant.  And, they assure us, no computer-generated animals, of which there were many, were harmed!

I’ll spare you from another selfie (since I didn’t take one) and keep the focus on the subject.  Sorry for the poor quality.

Not much else to report…I planted some more lettuce, greens, and herbs in flats.  The previous round is doing nicely and will go to Avdi’s underground lab tomorrow.  I forgot to mention the radishes, peas, and spinach have started to come up in the veg garden.  A systematic garden bed cleanup, in preparation for planting more stuff outside, will be next on the agenda.  Today I’m just at home on a “day off”.

Maxi Glamour reading the Purim Megillah to our synagogue, our Rabbis all in drag, people in costumes drinking (I had absinthe), dancing to David Bowie –what can I say, it was fabulous and hilarious, especially Maxi’s version of the Megillah story, and Rabbi Daniel totally in drag, waving his booze bottle around!  I personally got to meet Maxi, a very talented artist, musician, activist, etc., and do a little photo shoot with them and Avdi!  Their costume was gorgeous, all handmade.  (They told me their pronouns.)

I feel so fortunate to be able to go to a synagogue that is so progressive and inclusive, also with a sense of humor!  And have it be the scene of my first experience (yes, somehow I was a drag virgin).  I’m thankful that Avdi, though not feeling his best, wanted to go and take me, and even helped with my outfit.  I’m lucky and proud.

Wow.  Anything else I write will sound so mundane!  I planted the rest of the root crops–beets, turnips, parsnips, and rutabagas, also leeks.  The bulb flowers are really gearing up.  I did some prep work for planting more indoor flats.  Avdi and K. really enjoyed the hamantaschen I baked.  I spent the night, then came home and did some more prep for the next wave of germination.  Tonight Avdi, Jess, K., and I are going to get to see RRR in its return to theaters!  I can’t wait.  Also another excuse to dress accordingly.  It seems to be my latest phase.

Happy erev Purim, the Mardi Gras of Jewish holidays (even if the history is mostly apocryphal), and my first one in STL.  This year it will be spent in true Purim style and spirit(s), at CRC’s costume drag spiel with Maxi Glamour.  I’m really looking forward to my first drag Megillah, especially in a synagogue!  It doesn’t get much better than that.  Avdi and I are going to switch up our usual attire to be more appropriate to the occasion.  Should be fun.  If you tune in tomorrow, there may be photos…

Meanwhile, I’m getting ready to spend the night at Avdi’s.  If I can, I’ll plant more root veggies in the garden.  I’m sure I’ll get my exercise one way or another, and all the other stuff.

You know, it crossed my mind to t-rav these, but I’ll refrain!  Still, an interesting concept.

Anyway, these are my first attempt in STL to make Hamantaschen.  I even made homemade lekvar (prune filling)!  I used strawberry and apricot preserves for the other two fillings.  Rest assured, no provel was involved!  We’ll see if these pass the all-important family taste-test tomorrow (if they make it that far).

As for last night’s aftereffects, they’re finally behind me.  Almost in time for cheers!  As far as exercise and all the rest, I’m resting from yesterday’s partying.  And I got enough of my social quota to last a while!

Where to begin!  It’s been days since my last post, as I was actually too busy doing actual things to report.  Let’s see…

Thursday evening I went to Avdi’s to spend the night.  The green babies in the basement nursery had a close shave with death, but I managed to save their lives!  Now they’re back on track.

The next day, I got busy in the kitchen with Shabbat dinner, which was Peruvian-style chicken in the slow-cooker, a  green sauce to accompany it, Mexican-style rice, and some fresh greens.  And of course my now-famous Challah.  Avdi and Jess worked in the office.

Meanwhile, inches of rain were pouring into the yard, which turned into a lake.  It wasn’t quite as bad as the last time that happened, when the drainage culvert overflowed its banks and almost flooded the house.  Fortunately this time the veg garden was raised enough to be spared.  Still, it’s weird to see much of the yard become a water feature.  I was waiting for waterfowl to discover it.  I almost needed a boat to cross the yard to look at all the flowers coming up.

Avdi had another bad day with work, but eventually he tore himself away from the latest crisis, and Jess joined us for Shabbat dinner.  Later, I returned home.

Saturday I watched CRC’s streaming Shabbat service, while preparing to join Avdi and Jess for Eric’s birthday events.  There ended up being a herd of 13 of us!  We all met up at the Botanical Gardens and spent a couple of hours wandering around enjoying the Climatron rainforest, the Japanese gardens, the Linnean conservatory/orangery, and all the early spring plants coming up.  I knew many of their friends and family, and met some new ones.  I’m not used to that much concentrated socialization at one time, but it was fun.  I even got to talk “hort shop” with Eric’s brother’s wife, which was nice.

Then we all reassembled at a famous Italian restaurant, Mama’s on the Hill, in St. Louis’s old Italian neighborhood, where we had reservations.  It almost felt like back home in the Bronx.  We were seated at a very long table in a packed party room downstairs with low lights and appropriate “crooner” music.  The drinks, food, and conversation were excellent.  I had my first experience of that St. Louis tradition, toasted ravioli, or “T-rav”.  Not as bad as it sounds!  And of course lots of provel cheese on everything!  We even had some tiramisu and cannoli for dessert.  It was a fine birthday celebration.  Here’s what you might call before and after shots!

Later, Avdi dropped me at home, and we talked about my outfit for CRC’s drag Purim event on Monday evening, and related topics.  I was way too tired from all the festivities to write this all down, so now I’m doing it at 3AM Sunday morning for some reason.  Before I forget it all!  Now I’m going back to bed–to be continued…

Much later Sunday… that “after” shot is kind of the way I feel after having imbibed too much (for me) alcohol last night!  As soon as I feel better I’m going to attempt to make Hamantaschen for Purim.  One final unrelated note–just since the last time I posted, this is what happened–all the new salad seedlings came up!  You turn your back for a second…