Health Insurance & Easter Candy

"Malted Milk Easter Eggs" - enhanced digital photo

Now I suppose you're wondering what one has to do with the other. Well, they both make me very happy.

Seriously, I've been battling the system trying my hardest to obtain a health insurance policy which I can afford since the beginning of the year. I would think that I had the system beat only to have it turn around and beat me. Finally, yesterday, the struggle was over and I received confirmation of the coverage that I wanted and some proof of insurance with which to file a claim.

This morning, I made my twice monthly trip to Walgreens to get one of my prescriptions filled. I love Walgreens because they have been working with me every step of the way. While I didn't have any health insurance, they enrolled me in their prescription plan so that I was only paying about 60% of what my scrips cost.

Both the pharmacist and I held our breath while she entered the numbers from my plan into the system and voila! I had a successful claim! I saved enough on my prescription to purchase a half gallon of milk, my favorite Easter candy and a very reasonably priced big bottle of cabernet sauvignon and still have $25 left over out of my scrip budget. 

Woohoo! Life is good! At least, for today. :D

Just Me, By Myself

"Orange" - Enhanced Digital Photo
I guess you can see that I'm peeling myself open like an orange.

I've begun a new chapter in my life. It's thrilling. But not everyone in my life is thrilled for me. And not all of my blog followers will be thrilled, either. Although this blog has primarily been about my art, I call it "a crabulous life" because it was always my intention to write about other aspects of my life, as well.

Ending a marriage, especially a long one, is never easy. It's easy to point fingers and the desire to blame is great. But . . . everyone has their demons. Ours just did not play well together.

Life goes on and new chapters are always being written. Remember that old Carly Simon song, "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be"? There's a phrase from that song which has long haunted me. It goes, "I'll never learn to be just me first, by myself."

That line is significant. That is an important step in life for all people. It's nearly impossible to contribute to a relationship when you don't even know who you are independently of another human being. It's a step that I missed in my life and as I learned more and more about myself during my marriage, we pretty much discovered that I was not the woman my ex hoped I would be.

So now I'm on a quest to be "just me, by myself," and I feel a need to share it with the world. Don't worry. There will still be art. Art and creativity is all a very big part of me. But, there'll be other things as well.

~Kristeena

Morning Cup

"Morning Cup" - enhanced digital photo

I love ceramic coffee mugs. I bought this one at a consignment shop about a year ago and it's my favorite because of its shape, size and color. I also enjoy coffee this half and half and that explains the paleness of the contents. 

I have a feeling I just may be doing a series of morning coffee enhanced photos as I have quite the collection of photos of beautifully served lattes in my NYC album.

White Hydrangeas & Pink Roses

"White Hydrangeas & Pink Roses" - enhanced digital photo

Last weekend my niece, Olivia, got married and the wedding was all about white hydrangeas and pink rosebuds. They were everywhere, except for the bridal bouquet which was white hydrangeas and white rosebuds. (I absolutely adore white flowers!)

I was fortunate enough to be able to take home one of the table centerpieces which is the subject of this enhanced photo.

New Red Shoes

"Red Sandals" - enhanced digital photo

I'm not sure when my obsession began with red shoes. Like most of my obsessions (right, like I have so many) the idea crept upon me slowly and was just a suggestion in the back of my mind, incubating in my subconscious. And then, one day, it just sprung on me! Although I talk about red shoes a lot, this pair of sandals is only the third pair of crimson footwear to make it to my collection. But... you can be sure there will be others! ;-)

Full Moon Rising

Last week on the full moon, I caught it rising over the marshy lowlands of South Carolina. What a beautiful sight!

"Full Moon Over The Marsh" - enhanced digital photo

Garden Spot

I love unexpected and semi-secret gardens. St. Augustine seems to have as many of them as Savannah!

"Garden Spot" - enhanced digital photo