Those of you who are Crossword Puzzle People recognize Olio immediately as a word that means a hodgepodge of things; a collection of miscellany; a mixture. It's often an answer in crossword puzzles, right up there with Etui (a needle case).
It's an O word that is saving me for this post because I'm sort of Overwhelmed and Out Of Ideas at present. It has been a vicious couple of weeks, and I'm Over It.
Obviously, the Overarching Situation in the world is worrisome. I've gone from being a News Junkie to a cartoonish News Ostrich, almost burying my head in the Sands of Oblivion. I'm Outraged at the republican taliban's takeover of women's bodies in Texas; I'm on constant simmer waiting for justice for January 6; I'm sick of the bashing about of President Biden, who ended an unwinnable war, airlifted more than 100,000 people out, and took full responsibility. Where were these Erstwhile Patriots when 45* made his deal with taliban leaders and agreed to release 5000 prisoners, one of whom is now the Supreme Leader of the new Afghanistan?
Never mind. I can't anymore.
Two weeks ago, I got a horrific phone call from Rick at about 7:20 AM telling me, in between gasps and moans of pain, that he had just been hit in a head-on collision on his way to work. His airbag had deployed. Talk about feeling scared and helpless! He was still in the car, unable and afraid to move. I asked if he could move his legs and arms; he could. All I could think of--and I know it was the same for him--was his two spinal fusion surgeries and the rods and pins in his back. Once the police arrived, I told him I would wait for a call to meet him at the hospital.
Fast forward to the Good Stuff--he's Okay! The ER doctor made sure to take scans that allowed him to check for fracturing of the spine and the proper placement of his hardware. Miraculously, no fractures and no displacement. He has a nasty bruise still healing from the shoulder seatbelt and is still very, very sore.
And very, very frustrated. The driver who hit him--and was cited--totalled our car and did not report the accident to her insurance. Rick did, however, and they tried several times to contact her. They also told us that "until she accepted liability" they couldn't do anything, even with a police report. Then they tried to tell us they were having trouble getting the police report--until we emailed them one. (We could have sent them any number of copies: lawyers from all over northeast Ohio were sending them to us, offering to consult with us and possibly take our case. You may have had a similar experience.)
Finally, ten days after the accident, the cited driver accepted liability, and her insurance company asked if we needed a rental car.
Duh.
Obtuse much? That would have been a useful suggestion a week ago. We already went and bought a replacement vehicle. Both of us need a vehicle. Even though I'm retired, I don't want to be without a car when I have a 91-year old mother who may need assistance. (And buying a vehicle now is No Fun. Thanks, pandemic.)
So this is Where We Are. Waiting. Trying to decide if we need one of those lawyers or not.
And Oops--last month, the Dept. of Nance turned Sixteen. Good Heavens. I was in my forties when I started this blog. My sons were sliding out of their teens. I still had two cats, but they were TravisCat and EmilyCat. The Office made its television debut. We lost the giant of American playwrights Arthur Miller and two history-making Black women, Shirley Chisholm and Rosa Parks. We watched in horror as GW Bush ineptly responded to Hurricane Katrina. And, thank goodness for all of us who love to watch funny stuff, DIY stuff, or entertain our cats or dogs when we're away, YouTube went online the same year, too.
I'm Overjoyed that so many of you read me and care what I have to say. Thank you for these past Sixteen Years. I'm up for at least a few more.
Get me through it in Comments.
I've been missing you on M&MW lately. So sorry to hear you've been going through this but very happy Rick's recovering and it wasn't worse. Also glad you keep up your blog. All the best to you & family.
ReplyDeleteYahoonski--So great to see you here! How have you been? I know I've been AWOL over there, but I've honestly kind of lost my interest in MW, even for the Snark Factor.
DeleteThank you for kind concern; it's much appreciated. We both feel very fortunate that he escaped almost unscathed from such a bad accident. As you said, it could have been so much worse.
Take good care, and I hope to see you here again.
"O" is for OMG!!! Thank goodness Rick was Okay and didn't have more serious consequences! I totally get the awful soreness. Years ago, Luis and I got broadsided by a woman who ran a red light. She hit the passenger side of the car where I was. If she had hit us a few inches closer to the middle of my door, I would not be telling you this story. My ribs hurt for weeks afterward. I had to sleep sitting up for nearly 2 months. You couldn't convince anyone by looking at my ribcage that I was in such pain because there were no bruises. The doctors called it 'soft tissue injury.' But I definitely hurt a lot and learned about every single movement you can make that affects your diaphragm, such as just breathing deeply. I did about 6 weeks of therapy.
ReplyDeleteI hope Rick recovers soon! Will the Other insurance company pay for the new car, or at least part of it? They definitely Owe you the whole price!!! Overall, insurance companies are Odiously stingy. You might want to try one of those ambulance-chaser lawyers, but definitely check out what percent of the compensation they will take. Also: My experience (we did get a law firm to defend us) was that it was months of hassle, and not much better off at the end. Also: once we put it in the hands of the law firm, our insurance company completely bowed out and refused to fight for us. Maybe better to keep nagging your own insurance company to put the pressure on the Other driver.
It's all such a mess, and I am so sorry you are going through this. Keep us posted on Rick's Recovery. You can save that for "R"... ;-)
XX*OO*
P.S. Happy Sweet 16th! We are all a lot Older, but definitely a lot wiser for having found your blOg.
Ortizzle--(There was an O word!) Rick's doctor told him, "You're not 30 anymore. This will take some time for recovery." I also keep telling him, but he worries about his back and something being missed. I get it. I'll tell him your story, too. What a terrible ordeal for you!
DeleteI have zero idea what the other insurance company will do as of now. They will, of course, have to pay for his medical bills and lost wages and something about the vehicle. I really feel they have to pay an amount for Pain And Suffering. Our insurance company is not involved at all since we were not at fault and did not ask them to pay for anything. They pretty much told us that if we asked them to start covering costs, it would take as long as two years for reimbursement from the other insurance company.
Thank you for your words of wisdom regarding the lawyer, etc. That's pretty much what I thought. I think we'll give it a bit more time and see how things go.
It really is a mess, as most car accidents go, whether there is personal injury or not. All insurance stuff is a hassle.
And thanks for the congrats for my 16th blog anniversary. I wonder if I've made anyone wiser, but I know I've enjoyed hearing from all of my Commenters and their wisdom so, so much. XXOO
YIkes. WHat kind of system is THAT? Perhaps you can ease my shock and pain by introducing the repIacement car to us.
ReplyDeleteI'm very gIad that hubby is not in need of more surgery. THose airbags have saved so many 1ives. FIreman worries that shrimpy me, sits too c1ose to the whee!.
Happy sweet 16. I find you funny and refreshing. !!!
kathy b--I feel the same way you do about this Insurance System. So bureaucratic and so much of it dumped on the clients. What the hell are we paying for? We should be able to call our agents, tell them what happened, and they should start the initial fact-finding and paperwork. I don't get it.
DeleteListen, there was more shock and a bit of checkbook pain when we shopped for Rick's replacement vehicle. Even getting a used Ford Ranger (small truck) was crazy expensive. And because of the pandemic, there are very few vehicles new or used out there. We considered ourselves fortunate to have found the one we did. Rick likes it very much.
We both feel grateful and so very fortunate that Rick was not seriously injured. Like you, I believe that the airbags are lifesavers. Also like you, I am small in stature and have to sit close to the wheel/dash. But I buckle up and am a really careful driver.
Thanks for the congrats on my blog anniversary. It's nice to have you here reading and commenting.
Congrats on 16 years of blogging! Looking forward to many more years of reading your posts! So glad that Rick is okay - so sorry he got hit and hope you guys get it all worked out with the new vehicle and insurance... Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteEllen--Thank you for all of your kind words. I plan to keep writing here for as long as I have something to say that is worth reading.
DeleteI think Patience is key in our situation with the aftermath of this accident, and that's not either of our strong suits at the moment. We make a good team, however, and we are good at helping each other through the toughest of times. We'll see the other side of this, for sure. Thanks for being there.
I can't believe it took the woman THAT long to admit guilt!!! Yes, get a lawyer and sue her socks off!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the blog anniversary & hope the healing process is quick...both physically and mentally.
Anni--She's only 17, so that might be part of it. She's also part of a very notorious family in the area. They're not known for being responsible or, shall we say, on the right side of things in general. We hope it won't come to needing a lawyer, but we'll do what we must.
DeleteThank you for the good wishes. We're doing our best to look at the positives.
Dee--Thank you. I'm sorry that Stephen had this experience as well. The car we lost--a 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid--was a fantastic car. We never had to do a thing to it but regular maintenance. It ran like a champ. The whole front was bashed in, and the passenger door could not even be opened. He replaced it with a Ford Ranger (a small truck), but wow! what a huge cost! That vehicle cost more than we paid for our home back in 1985, and it's not a luxury package, either.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoy reading me, and the feeling is mutual. Let's both keep on keepin' on.
I'm so glad Rick's back wasn't injured, and that you have a new vehicle, and that the insurance company is taking steps in the right direction. But oh my goodness! You and Rick have Been Through It in the last few years! What the heck universe - isn't the general insanity of the rest of the world enough?
ReplyDeleteP.S. I thought that said O is for Ohio & I was ready for all the Ohio stuff. Ha!
Bug--LOL. I couldn't do anything but snark about Ohio, aka Texas-On-Erie.
DeleteI didn't even think about all the trials and tribulations that Rick and I have been through in the last few years, but that's true! The fact that I didn't is Real Progress for me. It means I'm not focusing on the Negative anymore, and I'm Living In The Now. Wow. I feel really, really good about that.
Thank you. This made my day.
And thanks for being a regular reader and commenter. It's so appreciated.
Oh geeze. sorry to read all about this and just glad that Rick is ok. Cars can be replaced (even though it's not fun or easy)...people not so much. Reminds me a bit of when Fletch was T-boned and one of our cars totaled. The guy who hit him had stolen the car, no insurance, doing drugs, no money, etc., etc. And don't get me started on Texas - Colin & Mailing are moving to Austen in January and I'm just about FRANTIC.
ReplyDeleteVera--Thank you, and you are so right: although replacing our car was a hassle, I am forever grateful that Rick's injuries were not serious or life-threatening. And while the whole Insurance Thing is a total mess, the cited driver at least has some. It sounds like Fletch's accident was a real disaster, and that he was lucky as well.
DeleteI'd be feeling some concern if I had family headed for TX or FL during this pandemic, too. I think that's natural. Colin and Mailing are so smart and levelheaded, though; I'm sure they'll take every precaution and be very Pennsylvania about everything.
Oh! Oh dear! Oh, my dear friend, what an awful dump of nasty events. If I can find it, I have a cartoon of an aggrieved cat holding on to the top of a door with extended claws. The caption is "Hang in there!" And I hope you can and have. I am trying to do the same as we have had devastating medical news about a close family member. And just when there was light at the end of the Covid tunnel.
ReplyDeleteI recall your posting self way back then, I think. Or close to then. And I recall having much admiration for both your style and your wonderfully wacky humour. So glad Rick was not bent. Up here we get hit by uninsured deer. And are enduring a world record silly election. Wine country should be available soon for you I think, though, regardless of who wins, because our vaccination coverage is good and getting better and the border is open your way.. Hope the replacement car has a big trunk.
Mary--We're definitely hanging in there down here in NEO. Please accept my deepest sympathies for your sad turn of events in your own family. I am so sorry to hear of this bad news, my friend.
DeleteAs I usually do on my blog anniversaries, I choose a year's posts by random and read through them. I was indeed a more humourous and stylistically conversational poster. (And posted far more often!) Ah, to be young(er) again. Goodness, I was working like a maniac, too. Where did I find the time?
I've been reading about your snap election and am getting a bit concerned for young (and handsome) Trudeau. It seems very complicated, and I wonder why. But I'm looking from a far different place, I know.
Our replacement car is a small truck. You tell me! LOL.
Also Mary--I am remiss if I do not thank you for your loyal participation here. You are always here and always a Kind Encourager of my work here. I am so very glad for your presence. XO
DeleteOh Nance - what a nightmare! I'm so glad Rick is okay. Insurance companies are the worst. Hopefully, they will get it sorted sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I knew the definition of olio and etui - because I am one *those* people. ;-)
Happy blog anniversary! I'm still kind of new around here and am glad you are still blogging.
Gigi--It really was a nightmare at first, but now it's sort of a back-burner kind of annoyance and frustration. It's kind of astonishing how fast one can adapt to crisis, do what needs to be done, and move on.
DeleteAnd yay! You're a crossword person. I love them. I don't care much for the ones that try to be clever, but I love how they make me think about words and how I learn really obscure words and geography.
I'm glad you found my blog and I, yours. The blog community is still a Thing, despite the ease and short attention spans of those on fbook and twitter. Thank goodness!
Oh dear! That's no fun. Glad your husband okay. I do hope you don't have to hire one of those lawyers. Seems no end in sight for some of the madness in our world any time soon, so buckle up. We must just keep whittling away at all these issues that keep cropping up. Meanwhile, we’re challenged to maintain our sanity. Find humor where you can.
ReplyDeleteJoared--Thank you, and I hope we won't have to involve an attorney, too.
DeleteI think what you said is important: we have to keep our sense of humour and stay in the now, facing one thing at a time. It's so easy to become overwhelmed about anything at present. We can only do what we can do, one thing at a time.
Oh goodness, that blows! Poor Rick! And your poor 2007 hybrid! I dread buying a new car so very much, and as you said, with the shortages and the pandemic, now is NOT the best time to be forced into it. We’re hoping to keep our 2005 and 2008 cars going for awhile longer. Hey, my 2005 car is the same age as our blogs! It blows blue smoke when you first start it…I feel like that describes my blog sometimes, too. We were told there is a very slow leak in the engine, but it would be incredibly expensive to tear it apart to find it, and it is leaking so little, it just causes the smoke. Embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been terrifying for both of you to have this happen. I hope the new moon brings better times ahead.
J--Thank you for your sympathies, for all of us. From what I've been reading, car buying will not be getting any better for the next several years at least. Because cars are carrying so much technology now, everything relies on chip manufacturing, and that is the big holdup. As a matter of fact, thousands of new vehicles are sitting in place, already built, merely waiting on their chips. We have flung ourselves so far into the future that we are hamstrung by it.
DeleteWe, too, had hoped to keep our 2007 going for awhile longer. It was such a reliable car. Rick had flirted with the idea of getting a small truck off and on, but having another car payment did not appeal to us. Then, of course, the decision was taken out of our hands.
Both of us have Vintage Blogs now, I'd say. Like your cars, our posts might leak a little at the edges and take a bit to get started, but they are still chugging along!
Thanks for being here. And over at your place, too, where I always enjoy your perspective.
Allow me to clarify that my car only blows smoke when first started the first time every day. It has to sit overnight to accumulate enough leaked oil to make it blow any at all. Still, embarrassing, especially as we would like to get an electric car next. But as you say, with the shortages right now, I suspect it will be awhile, unless we are forced into it as you were. And the car payment is certainly a deterrent. Ted sometimes discusses leasing, but I hate the idea of never getting rid of the payment.
DeleteJ--You were perfectly clear. It was my attempt at humour that fell by the wayside. I was implying that when I first start a post, I am perhaps a bit vague or wandering about before I hit my stride and focus on my subject or point, i.e. "smoky."
DeleteI feel the same way about leasing. We did that briefly when Rick had his own business and it was advantageous to us for tax purposes somehow. I hated it, and we ended up buying the vehicle (and paying too much for it, I think). I guess I don't understand leasing, which to me is a perpetual car payment. Ugh.
Nance, I actually DID get your humor, just worried that others amongst your commenters might think I was driving a car that blew blue smoke all of the time and was contributing in a major way to the climate crisis…and yeah, my blog feels that way sometimes too.
DeleteThe only smart lease example I know of is a family member who needed a car for a year…getting ready to retire, but not there yet, so they kept one car, got rid of the one that was dying, and leased one while they needed it. Now they are down to one car. I feel the same way you do, perpetual car payment.
O---OMG! My heart dropped when I read about Rick's accident. I'm SO very thankful that he is mostly ok; that is the scariest thing to happen to someone we love. Wishing him continued healing. What a bummer that it took so long for someone to take responsibility for this; I mean, it was obvious. I wonder if she was seeking council, you know, just in case?
ReplyDeleteI also couldn't imagine not having a vehicle at my disposal on a daily basis.
Congratulations on sixteen years! That is quite a feat considering some people can't keep it up for a year or two.
I just had my 13th anniversary and I forgot to acknowledge it; does that mean I need to break up with myself?
Suz--Congrats on 13! I think you should cut yourself a little bit of slack, considering you've had a lot going on over there lately. Better late than never. Give yourself another chance; don't throw 13 years away over one faux pas.
DeleteAnd thank you for your concern. It is much appreciated. We were both scared, and he had the added stress of it all happening TO HIM. He's feeling less sore these past few days and sleeping better, and we all know that getting good sleep helps just about everything.
It's entirely possible that she was trying to figure several things out. The car she was driving was not registered in her name; we do know that. And she is only 17 years old. I'm sure there are all kinds of things going on with her.
Thanks for being here and adding to the discussion. That's the best part of Dept. of Nance, at least for me.
I'm so relieved that Rick is going to be okay, Nance. There's nothing like the stress of getting that call (or in my case when Smokey had his accident, a knock on the front door from one of the local deputies) or making that call, in Rick's case. Neither of you will ever quite forget those first few moments and the awful gripping fear. That you're able to write about it now and share shows that you've made it to one of the next levels in recovery mode, a much better level. The recovery comes with its own challenges of course, as you've shared. Like the insurance mess, the driver who hit Rick, having to get a new vehicle and lose a beloved vehicle (yes, we grow attached to them), etc. It really makes you think of how others who are less fortunate can have their whole lives devastated in an instant by such accidents. So, so glad everything is going to be okay!
ReplyDeleteEvery time you celebrate a blogiversary, I am in awe! Almost 13 years in, even that doesn't seem real. The years pass so quickly. Sometimes I read old posts and I can't even believe I've written them, mostly because I've forgotten about them and sometimes because I am shocked and pleased by how much I put into a post. It seems like posts like that are in my past though. LOL You should be so very proud of all you've accomplished during these 18 years, Nance. It's tremendous and your blog is truly a gift to us all!
Incidentally, I just saw the news on the hidden paintings being revealed in Vermeer's Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window and immediately thought of you. Fascinating. It makes one think how many more secrets are left to be revealed when it comes to the unparalleled artists of history.
Shirley--So true about the various forms of recovery from crises. When I'm in the thick of it, I become extremely calm and my Mom/Mrs. D Teacher Mode kicks in. I can maintain that for as long as needed. After everyone and everything is taken care of, then I usually get a migraine and body aches from holding it all together. Then I get into a very practical mode, which is where I am now. It's a case of No Way Am I Letting This Disrupt My Life Anymore.
DeleteAnd your point is well taken: we are extremely fortunate in that we could go ahead and get a replacement vehicle and bear the initial cost of a downpayment. And that Rick's employers are so understanding and told him to take whatever time he needs to recover and take care of things. I know it's far different for so many people and that this is the kind of random incident that could have a terrible domino effect in their lives and the lives of their families.
Thank you for the mention of the Vermeer restoration! Even though I am a NYT subscriber, I somehow missed their story about it, and I read it with great interest and fascination. Vermeer was such an allegorical painter (as were the Dutch of that particular school of painters of the time), and he also loved providing rich settings for his central figures. And that particular Cupid painting has been in a few other of his pieces. It's very exciting. Thank you for thinking of me, too!
Your blog has been around almost as long as mine, and it provides such a valuable service. I can't even count how many times I've recommended it and given out the address to people I've met who have celiac or are newly gluten-restricted. It's such a terrific resource. (I wish I could say that about mine, but I'm satisfied with being a Cultural Commentator. Sigh. LOL)
Thanks so much for reading me and for being my real-life friend, too. Our blogs brought us together, and that's the best thing, ever. XXOO
I love that you're at the No Way Am I Letting This Disrupt My Life Anymore stage now, Nance! It's so important to advance to that stage and take control back.
DeleteNow I'm really glad that I mentioned the Vermeer info to you. I had no idea that the Cupid painting had been in other works of his. That's even more intriguing to me. The whole painting restoration world has always intrigued me. Bo and Justine have a friend who does this type of work for a living. I can't imagine both the weight of that responsibility and the possibilities, although I suppose that most of the time, the work is not that exciting. However, perhaps for someone who loves such work, it always has an element of excitement.
You're so kind to say that about gfe, Nance, and I appreciate the referrals so much! Please do not diminish your blog, dear. It's kept all of us sane for many years and often makes me consider things I would not consider on my own.
And you're so right! Our blogs bringing us together is the best thing ever! Lots of love,
Shirley
What a terrible accident for Rick, but happily he was not badly hurt. Still, finding other vehicles right now is quite a task. You have been blogging a long time, congratulation. I also congratulate you on your Crossword Puzzle vocabulary because as English is not my native language it is too Onerous for me to find words easily.
ReplyDeleteVagabonde--Thank you for your kindness. Unfortunately, we are finding out that he was, indeed, more injured than we first thought. He has since had more tests, and they have revealed several compression fractures, a broken sternum, a stress fracture to his foot, and a small skull fracture as well. He also has a mild collapse of the lower lobe of his lung. How they missed all of this in the ER, especially after taking a chest film (fractured sternum), I don't know.
DeleteWe're still grateful that he is up walking around and basically doing okay. This is such an ordeal.
Thank you for acknowledging my blogging longevity! It surprises me very, very often. I think writing here is a good exercise for me. And your English is excellent, much better than many native speakers/writers, to be sure.
Oh, wow! How could they miss all that in the ER, Nance? Incredible! Do hope he is continuing to heal and nothing more shows up.
DeleteJoared--I think they were focusing their concern on the hardware in his back, and that detracted from really looking for any other injuries at the time. Additionally, he had a full body bone scan, ordered by his regular physician, and that sensitive test brought many of these to light. We've since retained an attorney since we have no idea how these injuries may impact him in the immediate and long-term future.
Delete