Monday, February 2, 2015

socked with snow and other BS

 The snow hit us yesterday. Fast and hard. And with the high winds, they called it a blizzard.
This was the front of my house yesterday morning.


 You can see by this photo that it was white-out conditions. Mr. Squirrel was brave.


 Despite shoveling twice yesterday, this is what I woke up to today. Where's my porch?
We got 16-1/2" of this annoying white stuff.


Before I started in on the shoveling again (and I sure am thankful for the young
man that lives a few doors down that shoveled our driveway yesterday and today
while Brian was at work), I walked around and took some photos. I love how the snow
is hanging precociously over the edge of the roof. 


 My butterfly garden's under there somewhere, too. Don't let the pretty sunshine
fool you. When the sun is shining in the winter and the sky is bright blue, that only
means it's extremely cold. We're now experiencing the below-zero wind chill temps
that usually happen after a snowstorm.


 The back yard...
 

 My neighbor's cat, Gilbert was watching and meowing at me out the window.


I hope no one's offended by my blog post title today (the "BS"). I am just so fed up
and stressed out today. The well problems continue. The new pressure tank they put
in continually cycled on and off, even when we weren't using any water. And the pressure
was continually high. Also, the house filter we have was getting so filled with sediment
that Brian was changing the filter every few days. The well guys were just back out at
the house. They fiddled with stuff and said they think it was just the check valve, but then 
they started talking about a possible leak in the well and if they have to bring their trucks 
out here and dig down into our well, it's going to be huge bucks. What?! These problems
weren't happening until they installed this new pressure tank. As far as we're concerned,
they're responsible for these problems. Brian has a call in to the owner of the company.


 We do not have big bucks. Heck, we don't even have little bucks. We are a one-income
family supporting a college student and living as frugally as we can. And we're supposed
to get a new furnace and AC this spring because both of those are past their prime?!
(Original units of the house - 26 years old.)


And this may seem piddly, but for me it's big. And it just adds to all the stress of the above.
I have a dentist appointment tomorrow morning for a crown. The thing is, I have terrible
 dental phobia. So bad, that I dread my appointments for at least a week in advance. I
 consider cancelling (and I have - or procrastinated at making the appointment at all) but I 
know that it's best to just get it over with. So, I am feeling both on the verge of tears or 
vomiting right now. It's just all a lot to take in at one time. Thanks for listening. I so 
appreciate my blogging friends.


42 comments:

  1. Mel - so sorry about all of the well problems. That's awful - you've gone thru so much with it.

    I know what you mean about the dentist. It literally makes me sick to have a dentist appointment.

    Wishes for a better day and warm weather.

    Judy

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    1. Thanks, Judy. I think the dental fear is a common problem.

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  2. Oh Melanie. You sound so stressed. I am sorry you are having such a bad time at the moment. Sending you lots of hugs. We had our first snow today but it has not settled.
    Rosezeeta.

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  3. Oh, Melanie, I am sorry you are in the doldrums today.

    I am thinking of you and sending good thoughts and vibes your way!

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    1. Thank you, Carol...I am "catching" those good thoughts and vibes!

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  4. Oh, Melanie. I'm so sorry for all of this stress and worry. I know how awful it is when home repairs are hanging over your head. Did I ever tell you about the time I was seven months pregnant, on bedrest, and the entire back wall of my house crumbled to the ground due to water damage and rot? It's a very sorry tale. I hope everything is worked out with your well soon. I know what you mean about the dental phobia. I have medical anxiety through the roof. Gosh, it's so hard. People who don't have it can't understand how hard it can be. I went to the dentist last week, just for cleaning and x-rays, and it went okay. But next week I have to go to my, um...lady-parts exam and I'm terrified. Like, shaking and wanting to cry already and it's still ten days off. I hate everything about medical care. I've had some terrible experiences during childhood and later during my pregnancies and births and it hasn't gone away. I just can't wait until it's over. I missed having an exam last year for various reasons and I hope they don't yell at me. Ugh, I don't wanna. I'm sorry you have this problem too. If you ever want to talk about it, email me. Maybe we can help each other. Hang in there.

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    1. No, I never did hear that story - oh, my gosh! I can't even imagine. I totally agree with you that those who don't have medical phobia have any idea how scary it is for those of us who do. I can see why you'd be so scared to go to the dr if you were traumatized as a child and then during your pregnancies and births. If I lived close to you, I would go with you to the dr and hold your hand!

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  5. Dear Sweet Melanie, I feel so bad for you. Sometimes when it rains it pours and seems like everything hits you at the same time. You are in my prayers.
    Connie xo

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    1. Thank you, Connie. I so appreciate the prayers.

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  6. My goodness you are getting hit from all sides! When it rains it pours. I feel the same way you do about dentists, but I've had 3 crowns, and for me all went without a hitch. It's just sounds weird when they use the saw tool inside your tooth, but NO pain. I hate shots, usually when I'm passed that I'm OK. Good luck!

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    1. I've had three previous crowns, too...this was my fourth. I ought to be a queen by now, right? I have no idea what this saw tool you speak of is...I've never had anything like that in my mouth when getting a crown! Just a drill. Lots and lots of drilling. (*shiver*)

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  7. I'm praying for you Melanie - things sometimes overwhelm us as if to test us.

    My hubby just had major oral surgery under anesthesia and everything went great. He's one week out now with no pain, and healing well. I have a feeling your dental work will go just fine. As for the well etc. I don't know much about them but hope it will be straightened out without too much expense. Like you, with live with the dreaded thought of needing to replace the HVAC soon, also the original system in our house and therefore over 26 years old also!!!!!

    I'm having a health issue which requires surgery however I'm seriously considering opting out for the time being. I just cannot imagine going through all that and then ending up with a possibly worse situation! As I said, we are often tested and all we can do is listen to that inner voice telling us how to forge ahead - and hope we made the right decision.

    Enjoy the snow - probably best to take a tip from Gilbert and stay on the inside of your windows! We've had no snow this Winter in this part of North Carolina. . . . . YET!

    Sending warming hugs - Mary

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    1. Thanks for the prayers, Mary. The dental work went "OK"...I was terrified, but got through it. At least my dentist is a very nice man and he knows I'm nervous when I go in. He gives me breaks where I can close my mouth (my jaw is still very sore today from keeping my mouth open for so long) and he told me to raise my hand if anything was bothering me so he would stop. I am sorry your husband had to have major oral surgery and that you are facing possible surgery yourself.

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  8. Don't worry. We're here to lean on. That's a lot of snow! I just don't get the well in the city. Is this common?
    Brenda

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    1. Thank you, Brenda. We don't live in the city. We live in a small (population 6000) town. Yes, it's very common in this area that I live in.

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  9. Stress and bills just seem to pile on when we think we can't endure any more. However, your home is beautiful in the snow . ( that's a positive, right ? )

    I hope your dentist appointment proves NOT to be anything you've stressed about and the well company fixes things at their expense. We have sediment problems and have considered this remedy too so I will be watching to see how things go with you. I have an endodontic appointment the end of this month that I am stressed about, the appointment AND the bill !

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    1. Thank you for saying my home is beautiful in the snow - you're right, that is a positive! The dentist appointment went "OK" (not pleasant, but not overly terrible) and the well company issues are still on hold. I had a root canal done last year by an endodontist and he was very nice and helped me to stay calm. I hope you have the same experience!

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  10. Sorry you are having a hard week, Melanie! I had a crown not too long ago and was really dreading it, but it really wasn't too bad, and I was really glad I got it over with. The well situation would stress me out, too...and stuff like that always seems to happen at a bad time. Hopefully all of your situations will resolve and pass QUICKLY! xoxo

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    1. I am glad I got it over with, too. Putting it off doesn't make it any better. Thanks for your sweet note!

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  11. It is such a hassle to be on well and septic. It's never an inexpensive thing. Yours sounds a little fishing. It's also so hard to fix these things in the winter. How will they ever drill into your well in frozen ground I hope that maybe the owner can come take a look and figure things out for you. .I am right there with you about the dentist. I am getting a crown this week as well. But the good news is that my appointment is for an hour and a half. They will do it all during that time. They make the crown with a 3D printer. We have been in some really hard times and it just seems that when we are at the bottom something happens. So saying a prayer for you.

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    1. We have a private well, but not septic. (We have community sewer.) I am so glad...I'd much rather pay a sewer bill than have septic! Just one more hassle and expense. They can drill into frozen ground - those drills on the back of the trucks are very powerful. I can't believe your dentist can make the crown with a 3D printer. I've never even heard of that! So cool. I have to go back in three weeks to get the permanent crown on. Thanks for the prayers.

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  12. I know just how you feel, Melanie. My husband is now retired, so any time something big goes wrong with our house I get all stressed about how much it will cost to repair. I hope your well problem is something minor and the call your hubby made works. I hate going to the dentist, too, and you've reminded me that I'm 2 months overdue for a cleaning. ugh

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    1. Home repair costs are so stressful, aren't they? So far, the well company guy has not returned Brian's phone calls! Great customer service. :-o

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  13. We got hit with that blizzard, too, Melanie and I am terrified of the dentist. I think I must've had a really bad experience as a child, but I dread it weeks in advance as well. I hope it goes well.

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    1. I didn't have a really bad experience as a child, but I was even fearful of the dentist back then. Maybe because I've always had problems with my teeth and have had shots and drilling since I was age 8? And then going through the years of braces.

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  14. I'm sorry about all your troubles, but your title actually cracked me up. It's hard to offend me ;)

    I HATE the dentist too. I hope it goes well.

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    1. It's hard to offend me, too - but I never know with other people. At least I didn't spell out the word. ;-) Dental phobia seems to be pretty common. In fact, when talking to the dentist yesterday, he said I had "normal fear". He said people that have really bad dental phobia will put off going to the dentist for like 30 years. I go because I know things will get even worse if you don't take care of them. I don't want to lose my teeth!

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  15. Oh Melanie, so sorry to hear that you are having these difficulties still with the water and that there is the dentist on top of that. I hope that everything is sorted out very quickly and doesn't go on much longer. I hope too that if there is a problem with the well that it is the companys fault and they fix and pay for it, but I hope it is something that can be repaired or sorted easily whatever it is. Hugs to you. xx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind support, Amy. We're still waiting on a callback.

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  16. It never rains, it pours, doesn't it? I totally understand that on those days we can't even see the silver lining to the clouds. But I hope tomorrow will be better, because "after all tomorrow is an other day".

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  17. Oh Melanie; You've had enough going on in your life for 5 people!! Just take 1 day at a time hun, and if Brian is able to fix it he will. He seems very handy around the house. At the dentists office, try to focus on what you will re-arrange or decorate next, plan it out in your mind. Or plan on buying yourself a small treat, nothing big or expensive but something cheap and cute!!Love and Prayers, Nana

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    1. Oh, this well problem is nothing Brian can fix! This requires well professionals. I like what you said about trying to focus on what you will decorate next...plan it in your mind: this is what I do during a MRI! I remodel my entire house, lol. And I did indeed indulge in a little treat afterwards: a chocolate shake from Culvers! It's the only time I ever get one, is after dental work. My reward for getting through it and perfect when you can eat anything afterwards. ;-)

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  18. It's all a season Melanie. I pray it is a short one. We had some upsetting news this week about our financial state but it's nothing we can fix. So we'll just keep doing the best we can...

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    1. Thanks for your prayers, Terri. I'm sorry to hear you had upsetting news, too.

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  19. Melanie...I truly feel bad for you. We had the well at the lake up until a few years ago and it was one problem after another. I really hope Brian gets through to the owners. Al knows a lot about wells but I always let him deal with it, it seemed a little complicated. I laughed at "little bucks"...so true. I remember pinching pennies when we had all four in school at one time with tuition payments. And the huge grocery bills. And buying clothes, uniforms. Al was trying to get his on law firm off the ground. We get through it somehow. I'll say a few prayers for you guys.

    By now you've had the dental appointment. I know crowns take a long time. Several visits, right? I hope you did okay.

    Thank you so much for the birthday card...that was so thoughtful. I had a nice birthday even though I made cupcakes and dinner for Emily, Mike, Abby and Al. Hey, at least it got us together.

    Well, I'm off to buy groceries...fun. It's 13 degrees.

    Jane x

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    1. Yes, the well stuff is pretty complicated and definitely not fun to deal with. We've always had to pinch pennies...this is nothing new. It will always be "something"! Two visits on the crown. You're welcome for the card...sorry I couldn't send you any real estate. ;-)

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  20. I wish I'd read this earlier but I'd been to the dentist this week and with a bunch of other things going on am catching up on blog reading. I AM JUST LIKE YOU ABOUT THE DENTIST. Here's what I am doing now. He prescribes 5 VALIUM. I take one before bed, I take one about 1/2 hour before the appt. when my son picks me up. ( This works with an early a.m appt / no coffee, empty stomach...etc. ) I take another one right before they are ready to work on me and if the procedure is very long and I am starting to get antsy they usually feed me another half.

    I have had three root canals, three dental trips for temp crown work etc / no dental insurance and running up my VISA like crazy but without the Valium solution I feel as if I am going to have a heart attack even thinking about the dentist.

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    1. Ah, another person with dental phobia! I can't take any anti-anxiety drugs beforehand because there's no one to drive me to the dentist and then back home. Husband is always at work and son is away at school. I've had four crowns, one root canal, and many fillings. We do have dental insurance, but it's pretty crappy. We always have to pay a hefty amount out-of-pocket.

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  21. Aww. We all have times like this, when we are so overwhelmed with everything . I just try to turn off the voice in my head that is all doom and gloom and remind myself that it will all work out in the end. It always does. The dentist thing? Well. I used to be the same, but I have finally found an office that I like, everyone is so great. And eventually my fears have diminished to the point I actually look forward to it. Venting helps and we are all here to collectively help each other out. 😃 cheers Frances

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Thank you for taking the time to leave a kind comment - I read and appreciate each one!