This, That and The Other Thing

 Weekdays are busy and sometimes stressful, weekends are a time to relax. Saturday October 12th we decided to drive to Baraboo, because Baraboo is so close to the other places we visit, and we have been to the zoo, but we just never actually went to Baraboo.

A Renaissance Faire was just ending and people in costume were walking everywhere. Fun!

Downtown has a square with shops all around

It is so charming!! We didn't want to leave. I only took a few pictures, but we drove around and walked around quite a bit, talked to some people, and stopped in for coffee.

Hubby: "Would you move here if I could get a job?" 

Me: "I'll pack tomorrow!" (tears)

Let me backtrack a minute. We actually went to Devil's Lake State Park first. The Driftless Area of Wisconsin is a place of wonder and beauty, and this state park is admired by many, judging by the number of filled parking lots. We found parking the second time we drove around the lake. We saw visitors from other states and from around the world. 

You Are Here map

Walking along the North Beach path leading to a trail

Tumbled Rock Trail follows the western shoreline

The path is cement and asphalt, which winds among giant boulders

Remember the big purplish rock from the Dells post? We found the Motherload!!!!

Not sure how well they show up in my pictures, but the majority of these boulders have a purple tint

One of the giant boulders. Maybe you can tell that it is slightly purple/pink. This is Baraboo Quartzite!

A very enjoyable path

Here you can see the color of the Quartzite in contrast to the grey-green lichens

We entered a forested area. Here I was wishing I had brought my walking stick as the path was quite variable and challenging

We walked over a mile and then turned back. It was difficult to get pictures as the path was narrow and I was stepping aside to let others pass and not wanting to misstep into a cavass among the boulders 

We returned to the truck and drove to the South Beach as a thunderstorm rolled in. I took this picture of a beautiful tree in the parking lot before we left.

The first thing hubby said when we got home was, "There are no rocks here." We both feel magnetically drawn to the Driftless Area.

Before I sign off...an update on my son-in-law. He is doing well, but found out that he is type 2 diabetic. His A1C of 17 is quite high. His doctor put him on a ketogenic diet. He can eat all the meat and cheese he wants. This way of eating to reverse illness is becoming mainstream!

The Dells - October 6

 I'm a little late posting, but we had a blast down by the river at the Dells. We kept seeing purple-pink rocks on the path down and this time hubby picked one up. We discovered it is Baraboo Quartzite! This rock is 1.6 billion years old! We picked up some other rocks as well. Here are some pictures:

We park at the river access for canoes

The long, steep, rocky, precarious path down. Look at the purple rocks! Hubby brought one home

The beach

Famous Dells cliffs

Interesting rocks

Me next to a boulder

A Dells boat adventure

Lots of shrooms

The rocks we gathered. The big one on the left is one of the pink/purple ones from the path. We learned it's called Baraboo Quartzite and they use it along the roadsides and in the pavement around the Dells, thus the pinkish roads!

Some of the small rocks I picked up.

We had a lot of fun!

Response from My Insurance

 "Thank you for reaching out. We certainly understand your concerns and frustrations. There was a redesign done of the pharmacy side of things made by Medicare that we had to accommodate for. I’m sorry you are dissatisfied with our plan offerings in 2025. I will document your dissatisfaction with our 2025 benefit offerings. Our product manager does review feedback/complaints to take into

consideration when reviewing benefits for upcoming years. These are our Medicare approved benefits for 2025, we encourage you to compare plans and choose a plan that best fits your needs. This is your time to look at other plan options available, consider premiums, copays, network and make a choice that best fits your needs for the upcoming year."

So, I will repeat, the Inflation Reduction Act has broken Medicare. This so-called redesign that Medicare stuck us with will make my medication MORE EXPENSIVE. 

 

I'm Trying

 It's not usual for me to post twice in a day. I'm trying to stay positive. At least we took a nice walk on Sunday. We went to Lapham Peak State Park. It was sunny, a little warm but not humid, the breeze was lovely and the pines and wild flowers smelled heavenly. We just stood there and took deep breaths. Here are some pictures, starting with the patio.

Sheltered from the wind. I think they will be ok for awhile. I will bring in the oxalis, or part of it, and the geranium, which was my daughter's.

I really like the small-leaved creeping coleus. I might try a cutting.

I think this looks like a painting. The woods at Lapham Peak

This and the two below are the pines at Lapham Peak.

Again My Question is, What The H*ll Did They Do to Medicare?

 I downloaded my drug summary from Walmart. I added the costs for Oct. Nov. and Dec. 2024. Total $1212.33. That's my total out of pocket for 2024.

Now, for 2025 I will have a $325 upfront drug co-pay and medication will cost more so my total cost for the year will be $1706.48, that's almost $500 MORE. What the hay is going on? All this talk of no more donut hole and drug cost being capped at $2000 per year and oh woopie insulin is only $35 a month. Well, fine. But I have never had insulin or drug costs more than $2000 per year. Why do I have to pay $500 MORE? I looked at "Extra Help". Income limit for a family of 2 is $30,660. That in itself is a joke. I would already need to be on Section 8 and Medicaid for us to have an income that low. The best I can do is use their new plan that doesn't save you a feakin dime but lets you spread their outrageous costs throughout the year. Lower drug costs my ass.

I am so sick and tired of being kicked down and down and down by this economy. 

WHAT????????

 What in the freakin hell have they done with Medicare? My medications have doubled in price. No more $47 per month till the donut hole. Now just outlandishly high prices and only 3 plans to choose from. I'm just freaked out right now. More research going on.....will report back later but right now this sucks.

Tomorrow

 Tomorrow the long-awaited Medicare plans for 2025 come out. I will be reviewing closely. Unless I am missing something, it looks like my medication is going to cost more, at least through Quartz. I sincerely hope I can stay with Quartz because any doctors I need to see and all the Aurora clinics and hospitals are on the plan, and coverage extends through several counties.