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A little known coupon trick…

Published by Jessica on July 23, 2008 in General. 1 Comment

So, if you don’t know–I am a bit of a coupon maven…and I wanted to share something with you all that you may not know about Target.  Target has some interesting sales sometimes…and a little known extra added bonus for those of you who pay attention.

Take Lysol Cleaning wipes, for example,  they come in many different sizes and generally speaking the unit price is consistent across sizes or decreases, but sometimes you will find a special bonus package that includes two of the same product bundled together.  Last night, a friend and I were in the store and she wanted to buy these cleaning wipes.  She had a coupon 1.00 of of the purchase of two canisters.  Obviously, with the coupon, it is best to purchase the larger size…but I examined the prices and found that the special bonus package was a dollar and about .40 less than purchasing the two separately…AND what most people don’t know…is that that coupon the 1.00 off of the purchase of two…applies to the special bonus package meaning that in the end she SAVED 2.40 off the price of two canisters.  This works for everything from deodorant to toothpaste…and, if you find a “buy one get one free coupon” believe it or not…it will also work. You can buy one bonus package of deodorant, for example, and get another one for free! So, you purchase two at a reduced price, and receive two for free!

Just thought I would share :-)

A bit stinky, but it does the trick…

Published by Jessica on July 23, 2008 in General. 1 Comment

Ok, so I have been struggling with soap scum that hasn’t relented–not one bit. I have purchased every cleaning product you can imagine–from scrubbing bubbles to CLR and nothing has helped.  I think in part this has to do with the cheap product that my tub is made out of (hey, it’s apartment quality–what do you want?)  Anyways…I had all but given up.  I generally take a washcloth in the shower with me and scrub it to keep it at bay…but it never completely gets rid of it.

So, I was recently looking over the internet for some interesting cooking and cleaning tips….and I read that baking soda and vinegar (white vinegar) works wonders.  Well, I had heard this before but I thought “How could that possibly be the case?”  I mean you buy these expensive products that are supposed to cut through soap scum and you are trying to tell me that I can clean with cooking products?? CHEAP cooking products at that…but I tried it–I wet the tub, sprinkled some baking soda, placed paper towels over the baking soda and then poured vinegar on top.  What happened was a minor miracle. The acid from the vinegar reacted with the baking soda to create an intense bubbling reaction. 

Yes, it smelled like vinegar, a little stinky…but I left it there, and hoped it would do the trick.  I did some other things like wiping down the counters, mirrors, and mopping the floor.  When I returned, and moved the paper towel I was shocked to see that the soap-scum wiped RIGHT OFF! I mean like I didn’t even have to scrub or PRESS hard…it just wiped away.  Now, my tub is sparkling clean!

My husby to the rescue…

Published by Jessica on July 19, 2008 in General. 2 Comments

So, the other night we went go-kart racing with a group of people from husby’s work…there isn’t much to tell about the whole experience…other than there are these teeny tiny karts that go really really fast around an indoor track….and by really fast I mean about 45 MPH.

I was pretty nervous to try it out since I am “Miss Safety” 25 years running…but after the first round I started to figure out that the cars were pretty safe, I wasn’t going to crash and die or anything…and I decided to get a little gutsy with the second round…I had seen some people crash and they just went right on with no problem and so I thought….ok, I can put the pedal to the metal and try to finish in a place other than dead last.

So, I started out the second round and I was doing super well. I was passing people, I got hit once, I hit someone…I spun out…I was taking curves and learning how to pick up speed….on one of the final rounds, I figured out how to really reach the max speeds around corners…and then it happened…

I was rounding one of the corners, the big corner that I had learned how to pick up speed on…I had the pedal to the floor and I was going about as fast as the little cart could take me….and then out of nowhere–WHAM! I slammed into someone who had spun out on the track…I just came around a little bend and there he or she was…stopped, sideways…

My head snapped forward and to the side and then snapped back before my body had a chance to recover position. I heard/felt a little *pop* and an excruciatingly sharp pain shot through my neck and up my head to my eye, wrapped around my ear and headed down my arm….The world closed in on me, everything went black and I saw stars and although I didn’t lose consciousness–I could still hear things despite a very loud buzzing in my ears–but it took me a while to regain a sense of where I was and what had happened. I recall very little of what occurred next. I was still reeling from the impact when I felt someone trying to pull my helmet off my head. I could hear myself yelling in agony as they pulled my helmet upwards…I heard Issa saying “It’s ok, she’s my wife…” and then they pulled the little sock thing off my head and I felt myself protesting against the jostling of my vertebrate…every movement brought back the blinding pain and darkness that had closed off my periphery and all I could do was place my uninjured hand over my wounded head-propper-upper (aka, neck).

Somehow, someone pushed my kart to the entry/exit and Issa helped me out to a chair…I was given some ice and as I tried to put together what had just happened…everyone was offering me water or a wet cloth or something (so sweet!)…but they all pretty much insisted that we go to the hospital…and I agreed…so…

Off to the ER to get my neck checked out just in case…and as we were sitting in the ER Issa was kind of telling me what happened…

Apparently, he heard the crash and looked over to find that to his dismay–it was me…he said he hopped the fence and ran to help…the staff was not happy with the fact that he had breached their perimeter, which is why he was saying that it was “ok” and that I was his wife…and he was the one pulling my helmet off (no props for that one)….but he told me that it freaked him out and he was really worried…and I could tell by how patient he was being at the hospital (4 hours on a work night, God love him)…

So, I just want to say that when I needed him most, Mr. Moe came to my rescue without a moments hesitation.  There are many reasons that I know he loves me, this just gives me one more.

I’ve got a crush…

Published by Jessica on July 18, 2008 in General. 1 Comment

Ok, I will admit it–I’m a little in love.

I really hope Issa doesn’t mind…

(He shouldn’t, since I let him have his Kylie Minogue and other leggy-blonde fantasies.)

I have a crush on one of this years top ten SYTYCD finalists.  I’ve fallen, and not softly either.

In truth, I have “loved” him since the minute I saw him.  He’s got the kind of suave, quirky….intense and deep type of connection with his own being that just sort of knocks you off balance and keeps you there.  He seems to know just who he is, and he is whoever he wants to be…oh, and he’s a virgo–so, we are naturally suited for each other.

So, Mr. Mark Kanemura…if you’re out there and you’re reading this…please know that sometime over the next week or so I may find myself scribbling our hyphenated names in the margin of my notebook….”Mrs. Jessica Moe-Kanemura”….

Wait, you didn’t expect me to dump my husband, did you? Oh, no sir, that would never happen. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, I know you don’t want to share but let’s keep in mind–this isn’t a serious relationship, its just a *little* crush.   Plus, I’m pretty sure you are gay?

The Cleaner…

Published by Jessica on July 15, 2008 in General. 1 Comment

So, there is this new show on A&E called “The Cleaner”, and frankly…it has nothing to do with this post, except for the fact that I heard this song during the last few minutes of the show and I felt it was extremely appropriate for what has been going on lately… So here it is…

Waiting For My Real Life To Begin — Colin Hay

Any minute now, my ship is coming in
I’ll keep checking the horizon
I’ll stand on the bow, feel the waves come crashing
Come crashing down down down, on me

And you say, be still my love
Open up your heart
Let the light shine in
But don’t you understand
I already have a plan
I’m waiting for my real life to begin

When I awoke today, suddenly nothing happened
But in my dreams, I slew the dragon
And down this beaten path, and up this cobbled lane
I’m walking in my old footsteps, once again
And you say, just be here now
Forget about the past, your mask is wearing thin
Let me throw one more dice
I know that I can win
I’m waiting for my real life to begin

Any minute now, my ship is coming in
I’ll keep checking the horizon
And I’ll check my machine, there’s sure to be that call
It’s gonna happen soon, soon, soon
It’s just that times are lean

And you say, be still my love
Open up your heart, let the light shine in
Don’t you understand
I already have a plan
I’m waiting for my real life to begin

I’m stalling…I don’t have anything to say.

Published by Jessica on July 10, 2008 in General. 2 Comments

So, I am sitting here stalling because I don’t want to take on the task of drying my hair.  Styling has become at least a 30 minute affair since my hair has grown below my shoulders, and once I start I can’t stop. Thirty straight minutes of standing with my arms above my head….On the other hand,  if I don’t dry it, it will take half the day to do it on its own….and it will look like a terrible mess. Now, chopping it off for a shorter look won’t elminiate the need for drying, it will just make the drying time shorter.  I don’t have a choice today, though.  I am going on an interview and I need to be polished.  If I get the job, though, I am going to need to give this whole hair thing another thought.  I wish I was one of those people who could wash and dry hair like twice a week, but the problem I run into is that my hair is so fine–thick, but fine….and when I sleep on it, it gets all crinkly and curly from my sleepy moistness, then when I go to straighten it out, it ends up looking stringy…so if I want to look clean, it’s all thermal spray and blow dryer.  <<sigh>> Well, had I just gone for drying I would have been done by now. I have wasted almost a half an hour writing this…and shoveling cookies in my mouth (don’t ask).  I’m exhausted and the day hasn’t even begun.

Who, me? MVP? Nawh….

Published by Jessica on July 8, 2008 in General. 2 Comments

So, I got this e-mail from Issa today.

From: Husby

CC: Everyone

Subj: Tonight’s softball game

(Maybe I can convince my wife to play!) Come play we need you!

Re: Tonight’s softball game

omg, seriously? eek. that’s not a very good job of convincing me. Are you trying the peer pressure method?

Re: Re: Tonight’s softball game

Yes, and we’ll get you a glove, although I think you should go buy a $15 mitt for future use.

Re: Re: Re: Tonight’s softball game

:-o Here’s my hesitation–you’ve seen me. I lack coordination. I have never played softball in my LIFE….and you know, you get so worked up when you guys lose or whatever…..lots o’ pressure. And what do you mean “future use”?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Tonight’s softball game

Zero pressure. We are just playing for fun! So, not to worry. What do you mean you haven’t played softball before? I thought you played back in the day.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Tonight’s softball game

 

Uhm, no. Me no playey neva. Volleyball? Yes. Tennis? Yes. Softball? No. I guess I could try if your back was against the wall…but I’m scared I wouldn’t know how to hold a bat!

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Tonight’s softball game

 

Great, you’re in. Love you. See you tonight!

 

So, that was it. My fate was sealed. In the course of 20 minutes…I was in a softball game, and I have never EVER played before. I was nervous but I dutifully tied on my running shoes and showed up at the appointed time for the game. I was assigned right field, where the ball never goes…and successfully avoided any actual “playing” time–for a couple of innings. I knew it couldn’t last forever, though…my “Please don’t hit to me–Dear GOD! Please don’t let them hit to me!” prayer was only going to work for so long.

 

Then it happened.

Somewhere around the third or fourth inning, this guy walked up to bat…and lined himself up with yours truly. I don’t know how I knew, but I just knew that he was gunning for me–he knew I was the weakest link and he wanted to run those bases and I was just praying that it wasn’t going to be as bad as I had pictured it in my head. I stared down the line of mowed grass that led straight to the base….and I positioned myself right smack in the center of that line, which happened to be the center of right field and then, just like I thought–*smack*…that ball came FLYING towards me, eclipsing the sun…it was slow, and quite…I heard Issa in my head “Watch the ball go into your glove, don’t watch your glove!” and so I stuck my hand up…watched the ball and wondered, as it came closer, if I was in the right spot…how stupid I would look with my glove in the air if I wasn’t in the right spot and it fell behind me…knowing full well that I was experiencing a bit of sun blindness and risked not being able to see the ball if it hit the ground “CRAP, CRAP, CRAP!”–SLAP!

The - ball - fell - into - my - glove!

Like something from a movie! There was a LOT laughter and even the other team cheered and clapped for me. My team gave me tons of praise and Issa was BEAMING from across the field…it was truly a proud moment.

There were high fives all around when we got back to the “dugout” and while that was the last of my exciting plays, I did have two other successful “stops” (granted, I threw one ball way left when it should have gone right…but how much can you ask from a girl who has never played before?).

All in all I had a good time, and they were incredibly gracious in asking me to come back again. And I think I might.

Now, if I could just learn to hit the ball.

A Day of Recreation w/ Mr. Grumpy Pants….

Published by Jessica on July 7, 2008 in General. 2 Comments

Well, Sunday was the last day of our long weekend and since we weren’t really able to do anything knock-your socks off fun this weekend (like mountain climbing or dirt bike riding) because Issa was feeling super poopie (the head cold thingie took over on Saturday and he spent most of the day on the sofa with his boo-boo face on, with the exception of going out to dinner with some friends from Issa’s work)….I decided that I was going to make the man get a little fresh air and sun since he is confined to his office all week and since it would undoubtedly make him feel better.

So, Saturday night we planned that on Sunday we would go to breakfast and wing it for the most part….we woke up early, and Issa decided that he wanted to get a run in first, since he was feeling better.  I agreed to accompany him to the gym, and while we were in there he got roped into watching Wimbledon.  I took my time getting ready as the game went on and on…it was actually quite exciting…but before I knew it we had spent most of the day indoors and then we went to brunch and that, too, was indoors…

Next on the agenda we were going to see the Hulk, but since the sun was still out, I decided that I would rather check out Irvine Park in the city of Orange. I had heard about it being pretty fun, but I didn’t know anything about it really and then as I was flipping through our Entertainment book, I found some coupons for paddle boats and bicycle rentals…and I delicately approached Issa with the notion. 

Well, he wasn’t happy and he right away began to complain. He was upset that I had thrown a wrench in his idea of how the day would go and he protested up a storm, but being the excellent and supportive husband that he is, he stifled his irritation and begrudgingly navigated the car in the direction of the park. Mind you, he didn’t speak the entire time….and trust me, when he saw that he had to pay 5.00 to enter the park he nearly lost it.  Once we were in the park, though, we had to work together and find a parking space because it was CR-OW-DED. That got him talking….

Then, I decided that to loosen him up, I would buy us two tickets on the old fashioned train that takes you around the whole park…he rolled his eyes and I was a little nervous that it wasn’t going to go well. “What if this is a bust?,” I thought to myself….but I slapped on my excited face and as soon as the miniature choo-choo rolled in and we boarded…he was like a different person.  The soothing ride, the breeze, the conductors jokes…he instantly softened and I was soo happy. 

With a cooperative hubby, I decided to ramp up the fun and rent a bike…a bike built for two…side-by-side….ohhh yeaaah.  Like a sport, Mr. Man hopped on and away we went, for an hour…up hill and down hills…seemed like more ups than downs, and we had a blast.

I can’t tell you how awesome it was to see him happy. It was such a nice departure from our usual local activities….and more than that, it felt so good to work together…to use all of our strength together and pedal ourselves up the hills….to know that when the hills got too steep, he would jump off and push while I would steer and pedal….and to know that there is no way I would take that steep hill soo fast with no brakes unless he was there, and I could be confident that in addition to making me brave, he would also keep me safe. 

By the end of the hour, even though it was late afternoon, we were both sweaty, hot, and sore and exhausted…and ready to cool off.   You will recall that Issa had been initially upset that we weren’t going to go and see The Hulk, we decided that there wasn’t any reason that we couldn’t.  Plus, I had promised him a frozen coke if he would just be a good boy–hee hee…..so we rushed to the mall, and caught an earlyish showing…The movie was so-so…but the company was FANTASTIC.

All in all it was a very good day, and I consider myself fortunate to have been able to spend time with Mr. Grumpy Pants. MWAH!

Fourth of July Fantabulessness

Published by Jessica on July 7, 2008 in General. 0 Comments

I hope you all had a lovely 4th! 

Well, as you may know….a 4th of July tradition in our home–when we are in CA–is the Del Mar Fair. (Now, the San Diego county fair)….  Despite being kind of on the fence about attending this year, because of the price of gas and all, we decided we couldn’t miss it….so on Friday morning, we kind of took it easy…we slept in, grabbed some lunch…ran a few errands, which included stopping at the pharmacy for medicine for Issa cause he was feeling kind of icky….and while he slept, I drove down to Del Mar.

You know, of late we have either gotten smarter or more tired…but we tend to go to theme parks and things of the like in the afternoon and spend 4-6 hours as opposed to going first thing in the morning and spending all day….  

I like to say that it is because my dear sweet husband is the best park mapper outter ever…He always has a plan as to how best organize our time there, and he does such a great job of getting us everywhere we need to go, he seems to designate just the right amount of time to everything that we have to do,we eat at the right time and we wait in the shortest lines, and by the end of a couple of hours we have done everything we came to do!

Issa, on the other hand says “I just don’t have it like I ‘usta!” (As I said, I tend to think it is the former).

Anyways, we got there, we went straight for the expos…although, we did stop for Issa’s chili dog.  And then grabbed some jerkey and dippin’ dots and cruised around the various booths getting our rings polished and hands lotioned and watching all of the cooking demonstrations….and after about an hour or so of getting pitched to, we decided to hit the rides….

Ok, now I am not a big fan of carnival rides. I think they are terribly dangerous, so we tend to go to the same rides every year–kind of a “never died on this ride before” type of thing…and they are the SAME exact rides every year as in the exact same machines we have been riding on for ten years or so….and some of them have seen better days….after one of those swirly whirly rides, where I am smooshed up against Issa, trying not to crack one of his ribs, and after a roller coaster that kind of deviated from the typical rides (Issa’s choice–I nearly cried while I was calculating the chances of surviving from the highest point of the coast if it were to collapse or eject me)….I was ready to slow things down a bit…

We took a moment away from the rides, Issa decided that he was going to win me something before we left…and so we wandered around until I found a prize I wanted….and we both paid three dollars to shoot the target with a water hose and be the first to get our horse to the top.  GUESS WHAT! That’s all it took! Issa won on the FIRST try. I was sooo excited, and he was soo proud. 

Since the mission was accomplished, we returned to the rides with a few remaining tickets in our pockets….and since it was my choice, I decided that the Ferris Wheel looked newish and safe(r) than some of the other options….Issa protested quite a bit, but he went along with it and so we hopped in line.  While we were in line (it was kind of a long line) we took advantage of people watching since the fair seems to being out the strange in folks…and just as we were rounding the last leg of the line–it happened….

SPLOOSH!

Yes, someone SPIT from the tippy top of the wheel landing sqarely on my pointy finger and Issa’s shoe….I threw a fit, being a bit of a germ-a-phobe….and swore to rip the spitter off of whoever launched the wad but everyone that came off the ride as we were getting on seemed to be innocent enough so…despite the fact that I had a part of my mind on washing my finger as-soon-as-we-got-off….I was able to enjoy the view from the top which was BREATHTAKING.  The ocean to one side, the fair to the other….the lights and tents and people looked just like something out of a postcard.  I wish that I had a camera, but then again…cameras can’t always give you the perspective that you get in a moment like that…

The ride was over all too quickly…and I made a b line for the bathroom…

All washed up and sanitized, we grabbed some dinner (french bread pizza–TO DIE FOR)….and scurried off to the most beautiful fireworks display I have ever EVER seen.  Thanks to Issa who helped me succesfully navigate the crowds, we found prime parking for ourselves and I stood in awe of an amazing display.  We are talking about stuff I have never ever seen….and I even got a little misty even at the finale….it was overwhelming.  We were virtually speechless as we were leaving, but we found a way to communicate a mutual desire for a cinnamon roll…and after partaking in a fair finale of cinnaminny cream cheese frosting goodness, we headed for home–off to bed…the whole weekend ahead of us.

It was a GREAT day.  Thanks, Spin!

Blue Cross: Disorganization or Deception?

Published by Jessica on July 1, 2008 in General. 1 Comment

I am sitting down right now at the computer in the business center of my apartment building and praying. I am praying as I type this that I will have the clarity to explain to all of you and to the California Department of Managed Healthcare why Blue Cross of CA should be held accountable for their wreckless and dangerously disorganized practices at the very best…or at the very worst, their intentional deception and fraud perpetrated on consumers.

For those of you close to me, you know the battle I have waged over the last seven months with this company. It has been one thing after another. From not being able to verify coverage for me, to not being able to provide me with an in-network specialist…and now…

The short, non-detailed version of what I intend to convey to the CDMH is this: As a participant in in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) that Blue Cross provides to Issa’s employer, we have a choice (being in a PPO) to select either in-network or out-of-network providers. Our deductible is higher for out-of-network (OON) providers, as is our maximum–and none of the money spent on OON providers counts towards our in-network providers meaning that we have a toally separate deductible liability to see the regular doctor for a headcold or for an emergency room visit.

Because I needed to see a specialist, and Blue Cross was unable to refer me to an in-network provider for close to two months, we decided that I should see one that was out-of-network. As it turned out, I required some minor surgery, to be completed at another OON facility where my OON physician had privileges.

When the facility called to verify benefits, the insurance company confirmed that we were covered…that X amount of our deductible had been met, and that the amount we would be owning for the procedure was X amount of money. I, myself, called later when more of our deductible had been met to try to determine how much would be due on the day of the surgery so that I didn’t overpay significantly since we had a number of medical bills being processed from my OON physician…AND since the amount we were paying was substantial I didn’t want to pay more than we had to.

Never once was I told that the maximum that would be paid for an out of netwrok “Ambulatory Surgical Proceedure” was 350.00 dollars. Never once was I refered to that section of my policy, never once was I informed that the balance…over 2400.00 would be my responsibility, would not count towards my deductible or maximum….

We operated under the impression that the procedure fell under “All other specialty procedures” for which the limit was 25,000 per lifetime!

So, I hope that was clear because there has been so much smoke and mirror type stuff on behalf of Blue Cross that there are far more confusing details that I chose to leave out but they leave my mind cloudy and uncertain of which details are important and which ones aren’t. As it stands I have the equivalent of a full-time job just trying to get the services I contracted for. What they have done is a crime, in my books…and it should be a crime to the rest of society as well.

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