for fun: Do/Would you still put on all your makeup and decent clothes if you are quarantined

[awhfy]

Kat, oh my that buckwheat crepe…I could almost taste it!  Love the smart dog cooking off in the fountain. Your stained glass pictures are wonderful. I’m really enjoying your trip!!  Melody

[Lois R]

8 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Thank you!

 

I did note that you said earlier the hotel wasn't for you. I didn't want to bother you right now but when you're back I'd love to hear more about your thoughts, since I was going to book there when I get my plans up and running for my 2023 Bordeaux river cruise + Paris trip.

Good morning, curious about your river cruise/Paris trip......what cruise line are you going on and when are you going?

[cruisemom42]

5 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Good morning, curious about your river cruise/Paris trip......what cruise line are you going on and when are you going?

 

I had booked a Bordeaux to Bordeaux trip with Viking last year that didn't end up going due to COVID. They had a special "no solo supplement" sale. 

 

I haven't yet rebooked it, but I have to use the credit by the end of 2023. Right now I am thinking of fall -- maybe mid- to late September. But there is another cruise I've already booked for April (Japan cherry-blossom circumnavigation) that I have my doubts will run. Japan is still not allowing visitors except by visa and no independent touring. Many cruise lines have already canceled their spring cruises that visit Japan -- still waiting to see what HAL will do.

 

If HAL cancels, I may look at making it a spring trip instead of a fall one....

[slidergirl]

18 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Thank you!

 

I did note that you said earlier the hotel wasn't for you. I didn't want to bother you right now but when you're back I'd love to hear more about your thoughts, since I was going to book there when I get my plans up and running for my 2023 Bordeaux river cruise + Paris trip.

Hmmm.  Maybe I am still too picky.  Definitely what I’d call “Old French”.  Lots of florals, some flowered carpet that matches floors in the walls in hallway.  Bedroom walls covered in fabric and needed repair on one vertical seam that bugged me.  Antique furniture but modern bathrooms.  I’d say a step up from “basic but clean” but I’m not used to 3 star accommodations yet.    A true single room with a twin bed and desk.  TV on top of 5’ tall wardrobe at foot of bed.  Enough room to not feel crowded.  

[Lois R]

Hi girls, question for those of you who are on Medicare........I turn 65 in March and from what I have read you can actually sign up for it 3 months early.  Can any of you recommend the company you are using for it? I am on regular Blue Cross now and I know they offer Medicare benefits too.........I have heard about United Health Care and I know Humana offers Medicare as well. Any particular company you are happy with? I will definitely need a supplemental policy too.........I have some meds that are VERY $$$$ and I am on a co pay plan with the drug company now but once I go on Medicare the drug

company won't accept the co-pay. So I need to find a good supp plan..........any suggestions?

 

 

 

 

[slidergirl]

I forgot to mention that the hotel is in a good spot.  Even at midnight I felt comfortable walking around.  Le Comptoir is an easy 7 minute walk away,

[57redbird]

57 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Hi girls, question for those of you who are on Medicare........I turn 65 in March and from what I have read you can actually sign up for it 3 months early.  Can any of you recommend the company you are using for it? I am on regular Blue Cross now and I know they offer Medicare benefits too.........I have heard about United Health Care and I know Humana offers Medicare as well. Any particular company you are happy with? I will definitely need a supplemental policy too.........I have some meds that are VERY $$$$ and I am on a co pay plan with the drug company now but once I go on Medicare the drug

company won't accept the co-pay. So I need to find a good supp plan..........any suggestions?

 

 

 

 

We have Kaiser & are happy with them.  You might see how much your pricy drugs cost with GoodRx......one of hubby's meds is $1500 without GoodRx ---$17.50 with it.

[Lois R]

36 minutes ago, 57redbird said:

We have Kaiser & are happy with them.  You might see how much your pricy drugs cost with GoodRx......one of hubby's meds is $1500 without GoodRx ---$17.50 with it.

Thanks....never heard of them before. What if I told you this is a cancer med and add another decimal point to it? 😲......literally, without the co pay plan I am on now? My regular insurance would not make a dent.............but I will look into GoodRx for sure! 

[awhfy]

Lois you’ll start receiving volumes of different plans from Medicare Supplement companies. Ask your doctors’ offices which plans they see that cover the most & same with your pharmacy. We’re very fortunate, Les is retired military so Tricare for Life is our supplement. Melody

[Lois R]

Hi Melody, thanks for the tip.  I have an appt with my Hematologist tomorrow and will speak with the finance/social service dept about it for sure.  It is a Cancer Facility and I need to definitely find one that they accept.  I had a feeling you were going to say you had a Military Policy. 

[purduemom1]

1 minute ago, Lois R said:

Hi Melody, thanks for the tip.  I have an appt with my Hematologist tomorrow and will speak with the finance/social service dept about it for sure.  It is a Cancer Facility and I need to definitely find one that they accept.  I had a feeling you were going to say you had a Military Policy. 

Hi Lois, if you choose traditional Medicare and a supplement you will find that most doctors, hospitals, labs etc accept that type of plan. Medicare Advantage plans are the ones that use networks. Those are also the plans that are frequently advertised on TV. 
 

Good idea to check with your medical providers to see what info they can provide. You will also need a Part D drug plan. Choosing one that will cover your meds will take some research and again checking with your hematologist’s social services/financial office should help you figure out how to cover your cancer meds.

 

I believe that Good RX is a drug discount card but you will still need a Part D plan.  Maybe your hematologist’s office can also give you info about Good RX. and how it might work along with a drug plan.

 

Medicare will send you the current version of Medicare and You. Lots of info there. You can research plans on the Medicare.gov site or you may be able to find an insurance agent in your area to help you out. 
Sharon

 

[purduemom1]

Kat, I guess I should study up on the features of my 13 Pro.  Your pictures are so well done. 
 

Cynthia, our visit to Japing during Cherry blossom season was amazing. I hope that HAL doesn’t cancel your cruise. 
 

 

[cruisemom42]

11 minutes ago, purduemom1 said:

Cynthia, our visit to Japing during Cherry blossom season was amazing. I hope that HAL doesn’t cancel your cruise.

 

Well, if they do it will be the third time. 😱  And yes, I'll still rebook it for another year -- I've looked at all of the available itineraries for this particular (and very seasonal) cruise and HAL has the best itinerary out there, as of now. 

[cruisemom42]

14 hours ago, slidergirl said:

Hmmm.  Maybe I am still too picky.  Definitely what I’d call “Old French”.  Lots of florals, some flowered carpet that matches floors in the walls in hallway.  Bedroom walls covered in fabric and needed repair on one vertical seam that bugged me.  Antique furniture but modern bathrooms.  I’d say a step up from “basic but clean” but I’m not used to 3 star accommodations yet.    A true single room with a twin bed and desk.  TV on top of 5’ tall wardrobe at foot of bed.  Enough room to not feel crowded.  

 

6 hours ago, slidergirl said:

I forgot to mention that the hotel is in a good spot.  Even at midnight I felt comfortable walking around.  Le Comptoir is an easy 7 minute walk away,

 

I'm okay with charming/quirky with a few imperfections. Especially if the location is good. If it's more than that let me know as I have another favorite on the other bank that I'd also be happy to book again....

 

[slidergirl]

2 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

 

I'm okay with charming/quirky with a few imperfections. Especially if the location is good. If it's more than that let me know as I have another favorite on the other bank that I'd also be happy to book again....

 

Nothing that I would disqualify it for.  I’m not meant for the Parisian style, I think.  That wall seam just bugged me.  I would put the room out of order for a day and run a line of matching ribbon down the seam.  Done and would look much better.  My eyes went to that seam all the time.  Remember that I did room inspections for luxury hotels…. I would stay there again just for the location.

[sjb317]

On 7/15/2022 at 5:00 PM, purduemom1 said:

Sherri, our river cruise ended in Budapest. We did the included tour the day we arrived and after dark the captain  did an illuminations cruise up and back on the Danube past all the beautiful buildings that were lit up. We disembarked the next morning. Since we only had that one day we arranged for a private guide for a half day tour using a car, driver and the guide. If you would like the name of the guide let me know. In our correspondence she told me that she and her guides know the sites that the river cruises include and her tours would not repeat those sites unless asked to. Our guide met us on the ship and gave us an overview  of our tour. We left this up to her so we could see as much as possible during our time with her. She was very knowledgeable and informative. We toured sites on both the Buda and Pest sides. The driver would drop the 3 of us off at each site and our guide knew where to meet up with him. It made the most of our time. We were dropped at our hotel at the end of our tour and she came in with us to make sure our check in went smoothly and that the front desk understood that we needed a taxi very early the next morning. After checking in we walked to the Great Market Hall to shop (Paprika) and eat.

 

Unfortunately we did not have time to tour all the sites. We did not tour Parliament because of our limited time in the city. If you are planning to do this, look into their reservation information. It is a very popular site, we did enjoy the exterior, which is beautifully lit up, during the Illuminations Cruise. The most memorable site for us was the Shoes On The Danube,. That brought tears to my eyes. Our guide blended history into the information about the various sites and included personal experiences of her family during Communist rule.

 

One tip, if you are planning to buy Paprika or anything else for that matter, you may see displays during the ship’s included tour and it may even be priced in US dollars. Hold off on purchasing from these sellers. The prices were ridiculous compared to those at the Great Market Hall. 
 

As tor river cruising, we liked the more intimate experience and the ease of meeting and getting to know fellow cruisers. In fact, there is a poster on this thread, Alidor, who we met on that cruise. We also liked that there was usually something interesting to see as you cruised.  One thing to keep in mind is that the ships are at the mercy of the river level. Too high and ships can’t fit under the bridges and too low, there just isn’t enough water for the ship to proceed. The various cruise lines may handle these two situations in different ways.  If you haven’t already, check out the River Cruise board. Lots of info there. I used it extensively when we were planning. I read reviews that were posted, I asked lots of questions and everyone was very helpful.

 

We loved this cruise and hope that we can one day take another one.

Sharon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharon, thanks for the info, I would like the name of the tour guide if possible.  Sorry I did not get back to you sooner but it has been a crazy few weeks.  The kitchen is not going well, very slow and we discovered a few issues during demolition that meant a change in design so working on that.  We are living surrounded by boxes of cabinets!  
 

Kat, beautiful pictures!  I am really enjoying your postings, especially the food pics!  Looks like you are having an amazing journey. 
 

The Wildman is coming tomorrow with his dad for a week but It should be easier this time as both Dad and Grandpa can entertain him.  Should be fun if the construction guys decide to show up.😂

Sherri🙂

 

[awhfy]

Sherri, I’m so sorry your renovation is not going as scheduled.
 

Our SIL just started a new landscape design/install business & he’s been doing lots of bids. Every single person he’s gone out to was surprised that he was actually there & wanted them involved in the design. He has enough business already to take him into November (& just started mid June). All his clients have given him horror stories & are stunned when he says I’ll need a 50% deposit the day I show up with equipment & full payment the day I finish. They’re shocked he doesn’t want a 50% deposit at time of booking. Melody

[awhfy]

17 hours ago, Lois R said:

Hi girls, question for those of you who are on Medicare........I turn 65 in March and from what I have read you can actually sign up for it 3 months early.  Can any of you recommend the company you are using for it? I am on regular Blue Cross now and I know they offer Medicare benefits too.........I have heard about United Health Care and I know Humana offers Medicare as well. Any particular company you are happy with? I will definitely need a supplemental policy too.........I have some meds that are VERY $$$$ and I am on a co pay plan with the drug company now but once I go on Medicare the drug

company won't accept the co-pay. So I need to find a good supp plan..........any suggestions?

 

 

 

 

Lois you can also have more than 1 supplemental plan. The Advantage plans are pretty restrictive (their doctors, their pharmacies). They make them sound fantastic. Kaiser is big out here as is Humana  

[sjb317]

2 hours ago, awhfy said:

Sherri, I’m so sorry your renovation is not going as scheduled.
 

Our SIL just started a new landscape design/install business & he’s been doing lots of bids. Every single person he’s gone out to was surprised that he was actually there & wanted them involved in the design. He has enough business already to take him into November (& just started mid June). All his clients have given him horror stories & are stunned when he says I’ll need a 50% deposit the day I show up with equipment & full payment the day I finish. They’re shocked he doesn’t want a 50% deposit at time of booking. Melody

Thanks, Melody!  The framers showed up today and are finished.  Electrician is next but he “probably “ won’t be here until Thursday, maybe Friday.  Then it has to be inspected by the city, their inspector will “probably” be here on Monday, assuming electrician has his part done.  Then drywall, then cabinets can be hung. We had to pay for the cabinets and materials back in February, then 50% of the labor when materials were delivered. We found when we redid the kitchen in our previous home people would not show up for appointments or to work which is why I wanted to use professionals this time.  Not sure it is working any faster!😂

 

Sherri🙂

[slidergirl]

On 8/1/2022 at 2:58 PM, awhfy said:

Kat, oh my that buckwheat crepe…I could almost taste it!  Love the smart dog cooking off in the fountain. Your stained glass pictures are wonderful. I’m really enjoying your trip!!  Melody

That crepe was da bomb.  Buckwheat is way better than the white one.  Better depth of flavor.  The crunchy edges- I could eat that all day.

That dog was pretty cute.  It would take 2 tries to jump high enough to get in!

my photos are strictly “point, shoot and pray”.  They are still better than what my old SE did.

Quick porn.  Joint down the street had modules frites as the special.  Decided to eat there rather than wander more.  Yummy choice. With a spritz.  

[Lois R]

Well, I found out a couple of things this morning.......it is Medicare that won't allow a person to use a co-pay card once you go on it.......(it is not the drug company's decision). And the Cancer Facility can't give recommendations for insurance carriers (it would be sort of like a conflict of interest).  And so, I will have to do the research to find what plan works best and to make sure my meds are covered.

And finally, my iron count is low and I will need 2 iron infusions...........first one is this Friday. 

 

[57redbird]

2 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Well, I found out a couple of things this morning.......it is Medicare that won't allow a person to use a co-pay card once you go on it.......(it is not the drug company's decision). And the Cancer Facility can't give recommendations for insurance carriers (it would be sort of like a conflict of interest).  And so, I will have to do the research to find what plan works best and to make sure my meds are covered.

And finally, my iron count is low and I will need 2 iron infusions...........first one is this Friday. 

 

2 minutes ago, Lois R said:

 

We don't have Medication coverage with Medicare Parts A & B --- it's covered by our Kaiser plan.  Also check & see if your cancer med manufacturer has a coupon or whatever for your med -  I'm on Spiriva & have a $0 copay with a manufacturer's coupon & has no expiration date.

 

[jhsocal]

Lois, cannot help you with the drug decision, believe Kaiser is limited to their facilities except in an emergency.Good advice making sure your medical services accept the insurance you select.

[57redbird]

10 minutes ago, jhsocal said:

Lois, cannot help you with the drug decision, believe Kaiser is limited to their facilities except in an emergency.Good advice making sure your medical services accept the insurance you select.

No, they aren't....we still see the same non-Kaiser MDs that we had BUT for some services a referral is needed to that particular practice  (e.g.  I needed a steroid injection in my shoulder but my PCP had to send an order to Kaiser for approval).

[Lois R]

49 minutes ago, 57redbird said:

 

We don't have Medication coverage with Medicare Parts A & B --- it's covered by our Kaiser plan.  Also check & see if your cancer med manufacturer has a coupon or whatever for your med -  I'm on Spiriva & have a $0 copay with a manufacturer's coupon & has no expiration date.

 

My cancer medication is a Novartis product. I have a 0 co pay right now but once I go on Medicare that will no longer be accepted.