Eyeglasses from Costco

 This morning we went to Fort Wayne to pick up my new eyeglasses I bought at Costco.

Using my Medicare Advantage plan, I paid $40. Even without the insurance, the cost was $198. For no-line progressive bifocals. Hundreds of dollars less than what I paid 4 1/2 years ago at the eyeglass shop associated with the doctor that did the exam and wrote the prescription. The frames were less expensive, but I think the main savings were that Costco does anti-glare coating and scratch-resistant coating at no extra charge. For my last pair I think I paid about $100 each for those coatings and the insurance may have partially covered the scratch-resistant coating.

You do have to take in a written/printed prescription (nothing on your phone). You can get the exam at Costco; the optometrists are considered independent contractors. I had my exam from a local doctor. 

From date of order to finished eyeglasses was 10 days. Since we have Costco membership for my husband's hearing aids, getting eyeglasses there was a no-brainer. The optician who helped me select from my 3 possible frames and then did the measurements, told me that if I was unsatisfied with the prescription, I could go back to my optometrist and have him tweak the prescription. Costco would redo my lenses within 90 days with the new prescription at no added charge. 

I am still adjusting to the glasses, but I don't think I will need any changes.

Yesterday as I entered Martin's and headed to the produce section, I had to pass the floral department. Next to the aisle was a bouquet of 12 roses for $8.99. I couldn't resist. They called it a rainbow bouquet. They smell so nice.

My week is off to a good start. Hope yours is too.

Violas

 

I bought this pot of violas Tuesday at Costco. Violas like pansies are considered cool-weather tolerant, but I put the pot in the garage yesterday evening. Not because of the temperatures that would be dropping with the approaching cold front, but because of the gusty wind. I will put it on the porch tomorrow, but I see I may have to return it to the garage a few times in the next 10 days because of below-30 night temperatures. Still, I wanted a touch of spring color. It is worth the bother.

I experienced a change of policy at Costco. Before, I could go down the customer service/food court side to use the restroom. This time the man at the door that checks the receipts asked me if I was going to customer service. When I explained my destination, he said I was supposed to scan my membership card on the merchandise side of the store and approach the restroom through that side. I know what they are trying to do; they want only members to use the food court. He graciously allowed me to enter his side of the store this time. Since after using the restroom I would want a cart to go through the store, it would mean exiting the customer service side after using the facilities, getting a cart, then scanning my card a second time. Or getting a cart before going to the restroom and parking it in an aisle hoping nobody takes it. Not very efficient.  You would think they could require scanning the card when placing a food order instead. 

I have a big decision to make re my Linx device. It has migrated below where it was implanted and now sits in the stomach instead of slightly above it. Part of the stomach has gone through the device and above the diaphragm meaning it is a hiatal hernia. The surgeon said I had 3 options: decide to live with it and the increased regurgitation by modifying even more how and what I eat; have the device removed and the hernia repaired surgically; remove the device, repair the hernia, then do fundoplication where part of the stomach is wrapped around the bottom of the esophagus. I see a gastroenterologist May 13th and will discuss those options with him before deciding.

 According to the internet, only about 4-5% of patients have migration of the device and a recurring hernia. There are other reasons for explantation though. If I understood my doctor correctly, he has never removed a Linx device. It is supposedly not difficult but time-consuming because the tissue around each bead has to be addressed. There are not many doctors in our part of Indiana who have experience with the Linx so I don't think I would be able to find somebody who has removed one. The gastroenterologist I am to see has never implanted the device, but he knows how it works. 

We had light snow this morning, the first day of spring. I see daffodil shoots, buds on the maple tree, teeny-tiny green leaves on the quince bush. Mother Nature is waking up. 

 

 

Costco Blues

 After my morning appointment in Fort Wayne with the hiatal hernia surgeon, I browsed a bit in Macy's and Penney's. I have to stop and sit fairly often or the pain in my butt and legs gets very bad from the neurogenic claudication. I bought a pair of navy slacks at Macy's. Then after lunch at Panera, I shopped in the Hallmark store near the  big mall.

My final stop was Costco. I picked up some Flonase Sensimist. I put a rotisserie chicken in my cart and a large package of mini naan (which are almost always out of stock in my grocery store online order). 

As I rolled my cart to check-out I saw some blue kitchen towels on sale. 8 towels for $13.99. I have been wanting to replace many old faded towels. Blue being my favorite color, I knew I would be pleased to own these. They are in several shades of blue, and a few are not terry but woven material. I hung two in the kitchen yesterday and so far have liked the quality of them. A fortuitous find. 

The blue and white towel I already owned. I roll my towels rather than stacking them, a Marie Kondo influence holdover. 

Yesterday I received the authorization letter from my insurance company for my June 7th laminectomy. The surgeon's scheduler called me to go over some health and medication history. The laminectomy will take place at 3:30 p.m. I didn't ask the expected length, but on the internet it says such surgery done at several levels takes 2 hours or more. I see on Fort Wayne Orthopedics portal that a second surgeon is listed. The scheduler said that since it will be late afternoon, I most likely will spend the night in the hospital. Actually, I am glad to do that as I should get some instruction and help on how to get in and out of bed. Things are lining up. 

Brought the Cushions Inside

Today is one that folks probably wish we were still on daylight savings. 73 degrees this afternoon, but after sitting on the porch an hour the sun was sinking lower. This morning I had my husband put my geraniums and the wax begonia next to the trash bag. This afternoon I brought in the porch rocker cushions.

 After I spot clean them (bug poop?), I will try to find room in my cedar chest for them so they are out of the way. Tomorrow will start out in the low 50's then fall all day. Saturday thru next Saturday, our projected highs are in the 30's. No more sitting on the porch. Even some rain and snow Saturday. 

I set out a puzzle from a garage sale in the den. Looks like tomorrow will be a cozy stay-inside day. I have two hot chocolate packets I picked up from the give-and-take table last spring, a brand unfamiliar to me. I have a streusel coffee cake mix which is sure to be baked up this weekend. 

The ornamental pear trees on my street still have leaves, though greatly thinned after the windy days last week. We drove to Fort Wayne this morning; the trees in sight were bare. 

We stopped at a Skechers Outlet store. My husband was looking for shoes. They had a "Black Friday" deal, buy 1 and get the 2nd pair half off. I tried on a pair of lined booties, but since my husband couldn't find a pair that fit him, I didn't buy the booties as the regular price was not what I would pay for them. I don't really need them. I was surprised to see slippers made by Skechers. 

My husband had some credit from a return at the Warsaw Kohl's. We stopped at Kohl's in Northcrest in Fort Wayne. I was going to apply the remaining amount to a brassiere. I felt totally disoriented in the store. They have made Sephora the centerpiece and moved everything else around. I couldn't even find the lingerie department. When I asked, I was told it was upstairs now. Much smaller than before and poorly stocked. I couldn't even find my size in the Bali bras I usually buy. I really liked the Chaps clothing line at Kohl's. It disappeared from Warsaw a few years ago, and now from Fort Wayne. The Chaps space is taken up with athleisure and sports items. If Kohl's wonders why they are doing poorly, I would be glad to give them an earful. 

We ate lunch at Casa Grill, one of our Fort Wayne favorites. At Costco we looked at TVs a bit. We are thinking maybe we should replace our 12-year-old TV for a smart TV. It would be our Christmas present to ourselves. Haven't done enough looking to make a decision, but we did decide we should *not* get an 85-inch one as it would be overwhelming in our small living room.

I bought a jar of the fancy mixed nuts to use on November 30th when I co-host literary club. We also bought a 2023 calendar. We already have dental appointments, etc. to mark down next year. As I look at the calendar, I realize people today use their cell phones as calendars. Oh, well, I like the old-fashioned wall calendar. Yes, there have been times at medical offices that I wish I had my calendar information before me, but I still don't even turn on my cell phone every day. 

On our way home, we stopped at the Kroger's in Columbia City. The Warsaw store has been out of Newman's Own Pineapple Salsa for weeks, and my husband ate up the last bit this morning. Hooray. He found and bought two jars. I am not a salsa fan, but I like this pineapple salsa on my microwaved breakfast burritos. 

Simple day, simple pleasures, simple life. Just the way I like it.

Costco Newbie

My husband and I went to Costco in Fort Wayne today. It is the closest store to us, about 45-50 minutes away. He was to have his hearing tested. His sister also went with us and had her hearing tested. We traveled in a lot of rain this morning, but it turned into a mist around 11 a.m., then stopped by noon. 

Though the test showed my husband's hearing has deteriorated some more, the audiologist was not pushy at all. He did recommend a different kind of plastic tip for hubby's current aids. We also bought a little drier/sanitizer box to keep the aids in good working order. For now, he will continue with the audiologist in Warsaw.

While they were engaged at the hearing center, I went to Kohl's. Then when I returned to Costco, I started shopping. I didn't take the insulated bag and blue ice packs with me this time as we would be eating lunch after the tests. I had been reading what products and buys were recommended for Costco members.

I bought a huge 170-oz. Downy container; my plan is to transfer from this big container to my current small container. That way I won't be trying to pour out of a heavy container most of the time.

I was pleased at the croissants in the bakery area. 12 croissants for less than a dollar more than what I had been paying for 4 at my local grocery store. I froze most of them; we will see how they hold up once frozen and thawed. They had the most enticing aroma when I took them from the plastic case.

 I am going to try Kirkland dishwasher pods. I bought ink for my Canon printer at a good price though it is packaged 2 black, 1 color cartridge. 152 gallon-sized Ziploc gallon freezer bags. Instant oatmeal. I ventured into a few unknowns: some Meyer lemon cookies; St. Elmo seasoning; some black leggings by Hue. 

I wanted to buy a big mum in a pot, but decided that with 3 of us in the car, there really wasn't enough room for it. I need to return to Fort Wayne around the middle of September. I will stop at Costco before heading home, stocking up on a few frozen products, and if they still have them, I will buy a mum. I spent plenty of money today, but I think I have "gained back" about half of my membership fee with the price savings. Too bad there isn't a closer store as I think we would use the gas station.

Everybody was helpful to this newbie with negotiating the checkout, etc. So far, a good experience.