ND, curse you! Now I am drooling over the Mercedes C230s on the CarMax site!

My plan is complete. There are a few sweet spots to look at if you are really considering. The 2005 is the last year they put the supercharged 4 cylinder in the C230 which means it gets pretty much the same power as the 2006 V6 only it can get 30+ MPG on the open highway. 2005 is also the year that they redesigned the interior and it was a big improvement.

I'm currently lusting after the new C300's and the E350's. I wish I could afford an E550 just because that much power is WAY too tempting. I'd never really considered a Mercedes until I looked at the used prices on them. A two or three year old MB is actually pretty affordable and they have some of the best safety equipment on the road. My car has more airbags and crash protection than I know what to do with and the traction control works like a charm.

Yeah our current medical situation is so awesome.

So awesome in fact my 34 year old cousin who had no health insurance died of a heart attack. He had no health insurance because he was self employed doing what he loved and couldn't afford it! He could have died with insurance, but if he HAD insurance he might have gone to the doctor on a regular basis and known about his cardiac problems.

It totally freaks me out that my brother and sister in law don't have health insurance either for the exact same reason -- self employed. And I worry about them.

And while my current job kicks ass and has good benefits, they only pay for the employee and not any family members.

I know one co worker who pays $900 a month to make sure her family is covered (3 daughters and her husband) because -- her husband is self employed.

Not to mention that the whole "doctor choice" thing isn't so much of a choice if the doctor you want doesn't take your HMO or insurance.

And what about the insurance companies who spend so much time and money denying care to people (and people dying because of that ).Or kicking them off their plans because they get sick and making up reasons.Or the whole pre existing condition clauses that so many run into.

And those wonderful experimental treatments -- don't expect those to be covered under an insurance plan. So many people go freaking bankrupt because of medical issues.

I'm going to go eat mexican and not be mad about VW's brother's mother in law (or whoever).

Cat Update -- last night they came out, Rose wanted to be petted, Sadie ran. Today Rose is behind the dryer again. I have no clue where Sadie is. Seriously no clue. I looked every where but nothing so I don't know.

If this keeps up I may not keep them.

askye, they'll settle, I swear. It takes some time, but they will figure it out and things will calm down.

Signed, Crazy Cat Lady What Has 3 Cats

Not to mention that the whole "doctor choice" thing isn't so much of a choice if the doctor you want doesn't take your HMO or insurance.

This. So much this. Those who oppose universal health care and use doctor choice as a reason have obviously never dealt with HMOs.

Askye, I hope that Rose and Sadie adjust!! I was pretty lucky in that Amarna stopped hiding after an hour or so, but I've heard some cat-owner stories about new cats who were ghost cats for a good month or so before they settled in.

How long have those two been with you?

{{WindSparrow}} Quick efficient doctor ~ma.

~ma all round. Too far behind in everything to catch up....

Kathy, It's been almost three weeks with Rose and she still hides all the time, the only time she comes out on her own is at night. Then she wants attention and walks over me.

Sadie, is terrified of me. Sunday she did almost lunge at me. I have barely been able to pet her and last night she kept me up meowing.

I know it's supposed to be an adjustment and I'm trying to just let the cats do their own thing but I don't want to commit to a cat who is going to hide all the time.

So I don't know.

two and a half hours till appointment with doctor. tha's good enough, right? I don't have to go to the emergency room?

It would probably take you that long to be seen at the emergency room. Let us know what the doctor says.

I found Sadie, she's behind the washer. As soon as she realized I'd seen her she hissed, growled, and lunged at me.

That's the second time she's done that. She's growled at me a few times and I'm just not comfortable with that. I swear yesterday when Sadie was walking around she was actually stalking me.

So the lady is going to come back and get Sadie and I'll keep Rose at least through next week.

Aimee that's unbelievable that the hospital let your mother go without food for so long. Some times it's like they don't think, even though they are doctors . Plus that long without food makes everyone cranky and can just add to stress of being in the hospital and facing the unknown.

Sorry things didn't work out with Sadie - it is the way sometimes.

WS, be good to yourself.

Please send the jobma~~~ to Matt . He'd really like to be working again.