I could rant...

 I could rant about health insurance not recognizing my primary care doctor, and listing someone that I've never seen nor heard of. I could rant about insurance telling me to contact the doctor's office to tell them to get the Dr. to send in certification to the insurance company.

I could rant but I won't. 

Well maybe a little rant. I am really tired of this situation. I have an appointment for a yearly exam which was made 6 months ago when I first saw this new primary care doctor. Today the parent company through another department called to say she wasn't listed as my PCP (primary care provider.) So I called both insurance and various people at the PCP office.

I thought, as I was on hold at one or another call, that I could just die of a heart attack and none of these clowns would know or care!

I still am waiting for the credentials to be sent to the insurance, and then the doctor's office will call ME to call the insurance again to make sure they recognize her as my PCP so I can see her.

I can't stress enough to the people (clowns?) at Advent Health, that these are their job tasks, not mine.

What happened to customer's being right? Why are so many of these folks in the midst of "that's not my department?"

It reminds me of checking out at the laundry re-filling-station...where you can buy non-scented washing sheets. I put the box of sheets in front of me on a tiny little counter, and the woman standing there continued talking with another young woman who works there (also behind the counter to define her roll.) Second woman left and the first asked for me to pay $38. I asked her why it was so much, and she explained the total was for an item sitting on the counter plus my box of sheets...and I said, I didn't want the first thing, it had been sitting there before I arrived. I didn't say when she ignored me and continued talking with the other employee. As a customer, I was not only ignored, then someone else's purchase was being added to mine. She finally took off the extra item and I paid my $24 plus tax.

It seems to be a day when I have invisibility. 

I'm even wearing red.

I'm waiting for important calls to set up more lung tests, and then probably more antibiotics. I may or may not decide to have that treatment. After looking it up on line, yes, the Mayo Clinic and other medical sites, I don't see that all the bother will actually be worth it. But I'll perhaps need to address this fungus. We shall see.

What do you think those squares in the foreground are?

I was looking out a second story window, and they are roofing tiles. Kind of neat optical illusion, eh?

Please forgive my rant. 

Nobody has called back that said they would today. Maybe tomorrow. 

I'm glad that I went to the post office, got my detergent, and had coffee with a friend at the second place we tried because suddenly the first one closes on Tuesdays. Well, suddenly to us, anyway.

May all who are over 60 stand up and wave that we're not invisible! We demand to be noticed! And don't close when we want to enjoy chatting over a cuppa! And please please please, get those other people to call back when they say they will.

OK, some of these things we have no control over. 

Old winter, changes and breathing technique

 2012

Hoarfrost visit

The strange low shroud of clouds on Dec 27, 2012, left a gorgeous picture (see below)

Rare hoarfrost has descended on the topmost trees around Asheville, NC.

Last year's skimpy snow.

--------------

Silence fell

like a hammer
made of feathers.
It left holes in the shape
of the sound of the sea.
Terry Pratchett

----------------- 

Gratefulness is there from the very beginning, because it is always a loving listening to whatever comes your way, and if you lovingly listen to it, you are grateful for it.

Br. David Steindl-Rast ------------------  This Word for the Day really made me pause, as I'm bemoaning all the changes that I don't expect that I have to deal with. OK, lovingly listen to them...what a concept! (And so far I'm angry at a customer service reps that won't answer my question in order for me to make an expensive and irreversible decision as to how much my insurance (yes it's mine!) will pay, either in a ballpark or percentage. I gave the CSR a "0" on the survey, and she said she was sending me an email, but so far (45 minutes of setting up a new "secure" mailbox system) it hasn't worked. I think she did that because of the "0" but I told her I was going to do that. ---------------- So how about an old medical guru's method of breath control for anxiety, or falling asleep? Asleep in 60 seconds, Dr. Andrew Weil. Yes - Thankful thursday!!

The Weekly Journal project

Fellow blogger Kate Morales, suggested blogging about the whole week. I like journaling. And I'm at a starting point (they come occasionally when I go away and return home, or have been sick and get well again, etc.)

Monday August 15, 2022

Returned from cabin, which meant lots of packing up and dismantling bed linens, following the B&B protocols. Took son T. and wife K. to the airport on way to Colorado. They stopped first with me at my apartment in Black Mountain NC to unload all the stuff from my car. I had been really handicapped at climbing stairs or carrying much over the weekend gathering. By Mon. night my back was screaming. (Note to self, don't complain about all your physical woes in this journal!) We had to get up really early to clean up cabin and get to various places of travel, so after I got home from the airport, checked the laptop, I took a nice hour's nap. Missed being around people SOOO much.

Finally texted a couple of friends to let them know I was home. And then called another friend, Cathy, and asked her to have dinner with me at Ole's (favorite of mine). She finally said yes, and it was so great to be able to talk with her...I've decided conversations are the glue which keeps me sane. 

Tuesday August 16, 2022

Today is R, (my second son's) birthday...mid-50s. Blogged about how wonderful he is as a son, as a man, husband and father...as well as very accomplished in his work. I need to remember to call him later (and have a conversation!)

Walked up the hill driveway, then back down the stairs...to get used to those muscles which complained all weekend. Also met 2 neighbors and had short chats. (does that count as conversations? I don't think so.) I used my walking stick, but didn't lean on it like I had over the weekend. Perhaps that difficulty was from having to move all the food stuffs into the car on Friday before we left? Muscles all over my body don't feel half as bound up as I was over the weekend. (Oops, forget physical gripes!)

Washed half the windows...the storm doors and living room ones. The nebulizer I use with saline solution had fogged them all up on the inside. I could wash most of the outside of the storm windows, but not the part behind the screen. Anyway, next to do is bedroom and bathroom windows. Don't hold your breath.

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Had a picnic circle lunch with 3 other friends up at the campgrounds in Montreat NC. Sitting by the creek, I've become so accustomed to it that I didn't even try to take any photos today. Shared a bit about all the people and the weekend, my shock at being alone again, and my determination to have connections/conversations with other people going forward. I'm also treating my household chores as a bear just sauntering through the woods...whenever I see something I like and want to work on, I do it...then move on.

I was confronted with another neighbor also wanting to have a conversation. She parked her elec. wheelchair on the front porch by the driveway. I was getting something out of my car. I asked what she was waiting for. She said somebody. I said who? She said any body, just somebody to talk with. So when my friend came to pick up her forgotten items from my car, I asked if she would like to talk with my neighbor, which we then did for about 20 minutes. Sort of spreading the joy!

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Did laundry at laundromat...uneventful. Brought laundry into house, cleaned out cooler I'd borrowed for the weekend, loaded it with a dozen left-over eggs, and prepared to take it and the Monopoly Game back to my friend, T's house when she got off work. She texted she was home, I started driving toward her.

Had an accident. Wasn't hurt, nor the other woman in her car which I hit. I had been turning left into a 4 lane highway, and a big black SUV had been  slowly coming toward me, turning right into my road. So I didn't see the car behind the SUV, and then bang, I hit the back door of her car...knocking her car into the oncoming traffic lane. I had just been starting out, and hadn't gotten out of 1st gear.

That's how my right arm has all the bruises that I suffered, from holding the gear knob as I suddenly stopped. I was able to drive my car over to the center turning lane behind her car, then got out and called 911. There was an off-duty policeman from Black Mountain who stopped first, then a fire truck with EMT's and I and the other woman refused to go to the hospital. She was talking on her ear bud phone constantly in Spanish. . I had asked the EMT to take my blood pressure since I've got high blood pressure, but it was kind of normal, considering. Definitely not the level to go to the hospital.

I then texted T, and she came over and parked in a nearby parking lot...which we all ended up driving to for the police to do their report. My friend took her cooler, and the eggs, which didn't look broken even! She gave me a ride to my apt, about 3 blocks away.  My car was towed because the front bumper was against the wheel. See photo.

I also emailed my three sons and wives with photos. No answers. I called my two other best friends, as well as the one I had planned to meet Thurs. night for a story telling performance. She offered to help also. Everyone is great at offering rides etc.

Didn't sleep very well...kept having the crash and afterwards go through my brain, going to sleep, in the middle of the night, then at 5 am. I took Tylenol for the pain in my arm...looks just bruised, everything works ok

Friday, August 19, 2022

Wanting to know what the next right thing to do is...

Called Tim, friend who knows about cars. He had no experience with body work or accidents. Called around to 1) my mechanic who sent me to 2) a body shop which has no appointments till Dec. and 3) the place where the car is, an impound lot. They won't release the car to anyone until insurance sees it.

I had called my insurance agency last night when I thought my insurance should be notified. The tow truck had not been sent by them, but by the police (my guess). 

And the accident report also was written in error with my old insurance co. on it.

That was because the registration card has the old co. because I didn't change insurance till after I'd registered the car. I gave the police officer the card for the new insurance, but he must not have noticed it wasn't the same. That may be a problem as far as notifying my insurance...but my broker who sold me that policy took the accident number and was going to notify them, and then said an insurance adjuster would look at the car within 3 days. I don't expect that over the weekend.

Then my old insurance co. called (last night) because the other car's insurance had filed a claim against the policy that I'd terminated. I explained to them that I was insured by another co. and the old one said they couldn't tell those details to the other insurance, but they could give them my phone number.

Saturday August 20, 2022

A friend picked me up to go have lunch with the people who sell pottery at the Tailgate Market on Saturday mornings...and a relative of one of them. That made 5 of us for lunch. It was outside in a lovely setting, and I brought home half of my meal for later. My friend had purchased some figs for me, but they were over ripe, so some turned to juice before I got them home.

Dealing with stress...or just wanting to relax in a different way, my friend and I went to the ABC store and each of us bought some liquor. Then she brought me home and I took a nap.

Later I made a delicious dinner of Ciabatta rolls (warmed) with cream cheese, Tzikie Spinach Yogurt, and the smashed figs. Wow...everything from crisp bites of garlic to sweet figs! I was about halfway through eating them and my son T. called to see how I was doing after the accident. I told him fine, some bruised arm places, and waiting for insurance to tell me the bad news. I'm kind of resigning myself to it being "totaled." That means finding another car without having one to drive around in! Geese! And these days used cars are really dear...and priced accordingly!

Sunday, August 21, 2022

This has definitely been a week to keep a journal. Many of my weeks will not have this much happening! Today nobody offered to take me to church, so I will gladly watch the YouTube video which was created. Love YouTube! A friend did offer me a ride while she went to Ingles grocery to pick up cardboard milk cartons, which she uses to carry pet food to the local animal shelter, from where it's offered free. Anyway, I went in and bought a sweet potato. I've got fruit aplenty now. Need to cook the left over mushrooms from forgetting to take them to the weekend gathering.

We went to sit by a lake she likes, and found the clouds had made most benches shady, and many ducks and even an egret were visitors. Now I'm home and preparing mushroom stuff. 

Tomorrow I may hear from the insurance guy as to what my car's future will be. Fingers crossed they will let me fix it...it's been such a reliable little car! But it's a 2004.

I'm sharing this through a link over in https://abbieandeveline.com/ post tomorrow. Hope some others will join us, even if they don't have quite as much excitement as I have this week. I hope I don't either!