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| It's that time of year again. The holiday season rolls around again and the stress of having to deal with family comes with it. Tomorrow we head out to visit my in-laws. Of course, the weather is going to be wet and snowy for driving. There's going to be a house of cigarette smoke and very little conversation waiting for us. It's never fun to have to deal with Keith's parents who are divorced and really hate one another. Both of them bitch about the other one. I feel bad about going and tuning them out because that's what Keith does. He sits and reads something, anything, that's near him. He doesn't talk or makes the effort to engage in any conversation. I feel bad that we're visiting and not visiting. Not that his parents make any effort to talk either. His father is the same way with reading things or watching television. It makes everything stressful and uncomfortable.
We're going to stay home for Christmas, though. I'm happy about that. A real Christmas by ourselves in our new home. No traveling. No guests coming to stay at our house. We're going to make our own homemade meal. As long as Keith isn't stricken by the guilt laid on him by his family, it will work out wonderfully.
I hope everyone survives the stress of the holidays or, if you're very lucky not to have any, enjoys the season as you will.
Oh! I finally got my winner goodies from NaNoWriMo!
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| Every time I turn on the news, I see debates about health care reform. Most of the time, it's the conservatives freaking out about it, and so I try to avoid watching anything more about it. I can admit that I don't know all the details about it, and I guarantee you that the majority of Americans don't either.
Here's what I do know. The Affordable Health Care for America Act passed by the House on November 7th. It will slow the out-of-control growth of costs, introduce competition, and protect people's choices. For those people who aren't covered or don't like their insurance provider, they will be able to choose a new one through the Health Insurance Exchange (which they're calling "The Exchange.") The government will provide affordability costs to help middle to low class families pay the premiums. It does a bunch of other things, but I won't bore you by listing them all here. (Here's a government link to a longer version of my little summary here: Affordable Health Care for America Act.)
I know I usually don't talk about things like this. Yet yesterday my husband found out that his insurance provider is going to raise their rates in the new year. Not just raise them, but ram their big greedy fist up our a$$es as they do it. His work will not change providers, or claims they can't find another that offers fair rates. Right now, we pay a $1000 deductible and then about $400 a month for the two of us. That doesn't include dental. He gets a whole different plan for that. The company is raising the deductible to $2500 per person. So we'll have to pay $5000 out of pocket before they'll pay anything for either of us. They'll also be doubling the monthly payments. And if it so happens that our family grows, the rate will triple and we'll have to add another person to the deductible. So that's $7500 we'd have to pay out of pocket before they'd pay anything.
I know they raise their rates a little bit every year. This is NOT a little bit. We can't afford that. Not with a mortgage to pay. Not on one income.
It's not just that insurance company either. All the companies are doing it (at least in our area). My husband is going to have to dump his coverage with his work. He's been researching other companies. There's only a few that are cheaper. We very well might have to go without any health coverage at all.
Now imagine all those other people out there who are going to be slapped with these ridiculous increases in insurance rates. It's bad enough as it is right now. People are losing their homes, going bankrupt just trying to pay their medical bills. With the insurance companies doing this, 2010 will be the worst year yet.
Oh, it does say in the new bill that insurers must submit hard evidence to justify all premium increases starting in January. My faith in that bit is nil. I think they can talk around it and get away with it.
I don't understand why some Americans seem so afraid of government run health care. (Other than the people who are making money off of private health care or who can afford it without a problem.) It's already been proven that privately run health care is hurting the country. No, it's not going to be perfect. Nothing is ever perfect. But it will be better than what we have now. Some people think their choices will be taken from them. I have little to almost no choice in which doctors I'm allowed to see with a private plan. It can't get worse than that. Some people are afraid that they'll lose the quality of health care and try to use Canada as an example of that. Being a Canadian who has immigrated to the US, I can honestly say there is no difference whatsoever in the quality of health care in the US and in Canada. The stories about how horrible health care is in Canada are fictional. Some people are afraid of a little raise in taxes. Let me tell you, I would happily pay a few extra bucks a year not to have to be stressed over medical bills, not to worry if we might lose the house, or die because we can't afford to be treated. The price for relieving the stress alone is worth it.
I've spent too long rambling on as it is. I just had to get that off my chest.
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| I reached the 50000 word mark this afternoon! YAY!  It wasn't my fastest year, but I wasn't going for speed. Actually, I had planned on giving myself a full three weeks for it, but the story has been flowing so nicely. I'm happy with it. There's still at least 20000 more words to go yet. And that's a low estimate.
I really want cake now. For some reason, I dreamed of marble cake last night. I can't remember the last time I've had marble cake.
Oh! And here's my annual call for holiday cards. If you've moved this past year and I don't have your new address, or if you would like me to send you a card, please message me with your address.
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| Thanks for the suggestions for mom gifts, everyone. I finally bought something last night since I have to get it in the mail to her by this Saturday. I remembered a conversation from about six weeks ago that my mother's hairdresser told her she was drying out her hair using a flat iron that was too hot for it. My mom likes her flat iron because it's fast and has a big iron part. So I bought her a new flat iron that is still pretty big but it has several heat settings. It's purple. I hope she likes it.
I bought some spray-on anti-frizz oil/conditioner stuff to go with it. Man, those little bottles are expensive! The bottle was purple.
Then I got a few little things of shampoo, bath beads, and lotion. All purple.
I think my mother will be shocked I sent her a beauty related gift. It's definitely not something I've ever done before, but I was struggling for ideas.
She did collect Winnie the Pooh stuff, but I don't know if she does now. Since she moved in with her boyfriend this year, she had to get rid of a lot of stuff and store the rest. My Nana doesn't recall seeing any Winnie the Pooh collectibles around the house when she was there last Sunday for my brother's birthday dinner. Yet I think I might look for a Pooh Christmas collectible for her Christmas present.
I hit 40000 words with my NaNoWriMo novel yesterday!
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