Having to find a new doctor

is such a real pain. I have had my "family doctor" for over 30 years - and he is planning to retire this year - or early next year. Then his son ticked me off so I refuse to go back to him even before he retires, so now am in the process of trying to find a new doctor. I've received several recommendations and have checked some of them out - but am really hoping to find one that takes my insurance - which is actually TWO insurances to get the maximum savings - as it says. Most only have one part of it so I have to pay about $160 per visit out of pocket. I have the high deductible insurance as I am healthy (thank you, God) and don't have much medical issues. Mainly getting my thyroid prescription refilled.

I did call one doctor near home that several people had recommended to me. Now mind you I don't need to go see them until around the first of April as I have enough pills to last until then. I also have my lab request so I can get it done before going for the visit so I will have current information for them - and all they have to do is see me, and write a new prescription. That doctor could not get a new patient in until August. Seriously. If he is that busy, he is too busy for me. He only took one of my insurances.

Doctor #2 was recommended by a dear doctor friend of mine that I have known for years. I checked his insurance just now and find that he takes both my insurances (out of the 3 names my doctor friend recommended, this one takes both) which is a good thing. I have called and left a voice mail so will see if I get a call back in the next day or so. He is internal medicine and nuclear cardiology. Hmmmm - hopefully will never need the cardiology, but that does run in our family - especially the male line.

If this doctor can't take me around the first of April, I will try another doctor - but again, he only takes one insurance which means I'd have to fork over $160 per visit - or thereabouts. I would like to avoid that.

I don't like having to find another doctor. Even though my current doctor hasn't taken my insurance in years, I have still gone to him because I didn't want to deal with the change. I only go for physicals and then to check in with lab work to get my prescription filled. I don't need anyone over the top.

So now I wait and see I get a phone call back. It's draining. I just want it over with. Since he takes both my insurance I would even go in now to fill out paperwork! But will have to wait and see. Definitely don't want to get my hopes up.

I need to come in to work really early tomorrow - lucky me - I get to pass out valentines and Hershey kisses to everyone - before they arrive of course. I get to put on their desks. The other two women that were to help - one doesn't work on Wednesdays in the office (works remote) and the other - well, she has a young child and can't take them to wherever any earlier than 7-8am.... so guess who that leaves. Oh well.

Except for days like to today when there were accidents everywhere (and bless Siri's heart, she directed me yet another way to get around the big accident on the 202.) I did get caught in the mess on the I-17 for about 40 minutes until I could break free. That was about 8 cars, I think. It took over an hour, but I did eventually get into the office. None the worse for wear.

And now it's time for me to go home - and I am so ready. It's been a day. Hope yours has gone well.

Blessings!

I want to do more...

Doing the same ole thing day after day.... going to work, coming home, going to sleep, going to work... except for weekends, of course.... I want to get involved. I want to do something. Yeah, starting to learn to knit is fun. In fact, it is addicting. I'm alternating between sewing on my quilts and knitting now. Yeah, still on the dishcloths - but I'm getting a little better. Don't understand all the terms - "cast on", "cast off", "pearl" (or is it purl?)... just show me what to do and how to do it! In fact, I was at the end of one last night and I needed to know how to "cast off" so I went to You-Tube - and found it! It isn't exactly the way I was shown on Saturday, but it worked! AND I learned how to start another one. I wanted to keep going on it, but I knew that I needed to quit and go to bed after about 3 rows. Hopefully at some point I will not only pick up speed, but knowledge as well. I still have a Santa Claus hanging I want to get finished before I start on some other things (sewing). Now I'm torn between knitting and sewing. I enjoy both.

But I still want to do more. My son has been talking about going back to school.... which made me think about it. But what would I take? I do want to learn sign language - just because. Well, my granddaughter and I have talked a lot about it because her mother is nearly deaf. At some point she is going to have to learn (if she doesn't invest in some good hearing aids). We've talked that if we learn now and start using it some, then when/if she does go deaf, we can still communicate. I think she said it was $1700 at Costco for hearing aids that would work for her. Wish I had it to give her. It's hard not being able to hear and then people make jokes about it. Now hubby - who he says the doctors say his hearing is fine - is turning the TV up louder and louder. I can't hardly stand it.... but if I say anything I get ...well... moving on.. Is now the time to take an ASL class. I really need something online since it becomes a battle when I am gone more than one night.

Right now Tuesday nights I meet up with one of my granddaughters - and sometimes her mother - and we meet somewhere for dinner. I need to tell them to bring their knitting tonight and we'll meet at Panera for soup and sit and knit for a little while. It's nice that we can do that there. Of course the only reason I'm allowed Tuesday nights is because hubby has a men's group at our house. It's either I sit in the back room for two hours or meet them for dinner. If I take another night it gets a bit more challenging ....

My two bosses are in Tucson yesterday and today. It's been pretty quiet - except the executive assistant in Tucson is trying to tell me what to do. I'm ignoring her. She needs to mind her stuff there and let me take care of things here. She knows I'm not responding to her for a reason. She sent an email stating she was going to send an email to everyone here and tell them to see me and another admin if they have problems with the audio/visual.... I told her no, she didn't need to send an email - they know they can come to us. She's just trying to make herself look good and in control. To me she doesn't have enough work to do that she has to control mine. I responded to her NOT to include our names if she was sending an email. Then she comes back (after a few more emails) that WE need to send the email from here. Not going to happen. I'm just ignoring her.

With that - I need to get busy - I DO have work to do!

Until another day...

Blessings!

and it's Groundhog day!

Time if flying by already this year. We are past one month and into month two. And yet, at the time, it didn't seem like it was passing by so fast.

Work has started picking up and I am more busy than I have been for awhile. That's a good thing, though. I much prefer to be busy than I do just sitting here trying to figure out what to do. Yes, I have things I need to do right now, but it is Friday afternoon, after 3PM, and I'm just not wanting to get started on anything. Besides, one of my bosses just left about 1/2 hour ago... and I COULD leave.... but my other boss is still here so guess I want. Nothing to leave early for.

Unless it was to take a granddaughter to the doctor! She actually YELLED at me (in capital letters) because she has been sick for a couple days, and said that when she woke up today she ached all over and was nauseous. So I told her to go to the doctor and get a flu test. With everyone dropping like flies with the flu - and I found out she did NOT get a flu shot because she didn't want to as it makes it sick when she gets one.... I was really pushing to get her to go. Even contacted her mother to go take her or I was going to! Then I get informed that her boyfriend (who recently passed his RN test) is watching over her and he will take her to the ER if she gets worse - and she was going on to her nanny job. I quit texting her because I am quite perturbed. And she just now texted that the employer was coming home and she was going home to rest. Enough said.

Current plan for the weekend is to go to a knitting group tomorrow morning. I'm still learning how to knit dish cloths - but that's ok. Once I get that down, I can "graduate" to something bigger. It's fun to do. I do enjoy my sewing quilts as well and have some ideas for Christmas this year. Won't be able to accomplish everything, but I have thoughts. Need to get started so that I can get some done.

I think I'm getting a headache. Stress. irritation. frustration. I wrote my current (and soon former) doctor this morning - they are billing me $160 from my well check-up - which is 100% covered by my insurance. I asked them why - and was told that I asked too many questions and it took a lot of time. I was furious when I read that. My well check-ups - which is the only reason I see the doctor - take only 20-30 minutes. The remaining 30 minutes is the doctor telling me his opinions on Obamacare, AHCCCS, Insurance Companies, Social Security, articles he has read, his opinion on medications from other countries, etc. etc. It's been a week or so since I got that letter in response to my request they resubmit with the correct billing codes to the insurance company. I have calmed down. So I wrote the letter. And put it in the office mail. A hour later I decided that maybe I should just pay it and move on - afterall, I am NOT going to go back to him but find a new doctor. I went to get my letter. The mail people came early today and the mail was gone. There is no way I can figure out where that letter is - there are 9 floors in this building, and I have no idea where the mail people are. So - maybe that was my sign to let it go. I told him thank you for making it easy for me NOT to see them again - and I appealed his charge of $160 based on it wasn't me using up the hour, it was him. Oh well. It's a done deal now!

Now to find a new doctor that takes my insurance!

Have a great weekend!

Blessings!

Feeling Good....

That's what happens when one puts on a dress they haven't been able to wear for two years - and although still a little snug, can wear it. I am excited. It was on a yearning to wear it that I even attempted to put it on this morning - and was pleased it fit over my hips AND I was able to zip it up. So, yeah, that feels good.

I do need to get back on track with my weight loss, though. The month of January has been unique in that we fasted the first two weeks and ate only fruits and vegetables. For me, that created a weight loss immediately of about 7 pounds. Now that our fasting is over and I'm incorporating meat and bread back into the diet, I've gained one pound. According to my scale. I need to get back on track and watch my portions again.

Of course the leftover garbage that I ate today probably would not be a help. It's full of pasta, hamburger, two cheeses, mushroom soup.... and veggies, of course. Ok, green peppers and onions. Sooo good when brought all together. But it was the last of it from Sunday so I brought it to work. Now it's gone. I am feeling full, and blah. I'm not used to eating greasy foods. Hope that feeling wears off soon.

My brother has challenged me in an exercise routine again. I always accept the challenge, but it doesn't take long for me to fall off the wagon. I work, and I have a life, and it usually doesn't involve exercising. But I do need to. I was able to get out twice yesterday and walked a mile each time. I am hoping I can do that again today. Two miles a day doesn't seem like much, but every little bit helps. It is exercise.

With our work schedule being so slow, I have the time to hit the stairs and go out the back door to walk. Yesterday morning I met a young woman struggling UP the stairs. She told me that she goes up and down the stairs (9 floors)twice a day - has done it for a month and has gone from 163 down to 132. That is really good! I don't relish the thought of going up and down the stairs - that makes me huff and puff too much - but I do enjoy going for a walk outside. Of course if it's raining or really cold, I COULD do the stairs.... just saying.

I am enjoying my coffee each morning. My son and family bought me a Keurig for Christmas. I thought it might be too big for the office, but it isn't. I've got it on my desk, and because I only use it once or twice a day, no one has said anything. Yeah, we were told no coffee pots. Of course my boss has one on her desk too, so nothing can be said there! I did buy some green tea and use it in the afternoons - it works great. (Thank you, son!) We do have Peets coffee in the coffee shop downstairs, Gevalia coffee in the café, and Farmers coffee in our breakrooms on each floor. But I like my coffee fixed just the way I like it. I don't get so much into brands, but I do like a good dark roast.

Guess I need to get back to work. Been really slack lately. Perfect time to take off work, but I don't want to waste my time off by sitting at home. I told my boss this morning that tomorrow was going to be really busy for both of us. I have a dentist appointment in the morning, lunch (with my boss) with two former coworkers, and I have nothing else the rest of the day. She has a 1 hr meeting in the afternoon. Yeah... really NOT busy lately. Gotta get a meeting set up!

Blessings!

Gremlins in the workplace?

We have had several strange things that happen around our office on a near daily schedule. Things like being alone in your area and the keyboard is being tapped in the cubicle next to you. You get up to see if someone is there - and there isn't. You go back to your desk and the tapping of the keyboard starts again.

Or if you are in the restroom, in a stall, and no one is moving about - and the paper towel roll will buzz and scroll down. One guy even reported "someone" kept opening the door to his stall.... he would shut it, and he would see the knob moving and the door would open - and no one would be there.

I may have already shared how at the first of the year I came in to find tables pushed apart in the breakroom and a puzzle that was nearly 1/3 of the way done had been completely torn apart and spread all over the table. A salt shaker was spilled out on the floor.

I've seen pennies laying on a counter in the breakroom for months. Also a few pennies on a file cabinet in the hallway. They puzzled me.

But I have found out that we have gremlins here. Or rather, a little girl - and maybe two little girls. One has supposedly been seen, the other has not. However, the story goes that the pennies are for the little girl(s) to play with. People have said they have seen them moved around on the counter.

As for the puzzle, the explanation I received was the little girl got tired of seeing it and messed it up by pushing the table and pushing all the pieces apart. That was when I first heard of the little girl(s).

The story I have gotten is that in this hospital it was also an active morgue. Meaning, they kept dead people here. Not sure what floor that was on, but would assume the basement. We are on the 8th floor. I have found out that this floor was used as a skilled nursing facility back in its time. That's when hospitals had the skilled nursing facilities in-house. As for the little girl(s), no one knows if they were on the pediatrics floor and died here or what that story is. Supposedly the tapping of the keyboard is the little girl(s) playing.

And the story just continues. Yesterday I was looking out the window at an area across the street and some men were there digging. I have wondered for some time what that area was. It has a huge mound of dirt and a path around it. There is a fence around the blocked area. There is a parking area as one would have for a park. It's been confusing as to what it is.

A co-worker told me yesterday that it is an Indian burial ground and is protected. People will come periodically and do a little digging, but they have to have specific permits in order to dig so that the artifacts do not get destroyed, should they find any. I assume it belongs to the city. AND I found out that this hospital is also built on the Indian burial grounds. Guess that could also explain a little girl walking around?

All these stories do make this an interesting place to work, for sure. I've heard the keyboard tapping and no one there. I've heard rustling of papers and no one moving them when I go check. Very interesting for sure.

Blessings!

Finally Friday

It's been a long week. Well, not really, but it seems to be since both my bosses here in town are both out of town. And it is soooo quiet. Which is why I have had time to get a lot of things done. Not that I have had a lot to do. I enjoy the quiet, and appreciate being able to focus and complete tasks, but I miss the interaction. One will be gone for another two - three weeks for business in another city. One will be back on Tuesday.

I heard something on the news the other day that when you wash your hair, you should put the conditioner on it first - rinse, THEN put the shampoo and wash your hair. Interesting. Well, you know that I had to just check that out. I've done it a couple times now - and I can't believe how soft my hair is. Haven't figured out yet how that works. I also heard a few weeks back - again on the radio (and you know if you hear it there it is truth!) that you should only wash your hair every 5-7 days. Me, who washed my hair nearly every day, it was a welcome sound. My hair has gotten much longer than I used to wear it and it is very time-consuming trying to dry it every morning. So, I have gotten to where I only wash it about every 5 days. And you know what - it works out fine - and it works out great for me and saves me time in the morning getting ready for work!

Our 14 day fast is nearly to an end. We usually do a 21 day fast the first of the year, but our new church is only doing a 14 day fast, and then committing to fasting on Wednesdays for the next 3 months. We've done "ok" on the 14 days - we stuck to fruits and vegetables - but it has been difficult. Yesterday for lunch I had a baked potato with broccoli, onions, and jalapenos to give it flavor. I wanted sour cream and butter!! But I resisted. We are at least eating something - in spite of a lot of complaining by some other. Ever had meatless taco soup? Meatless chili? It really isn't bad. I'm not big on meat, but don't believe I could become a vegan! I like my chicken and fish! I'm not too big on beef or pork, but can - and do - eat them.

The church is ending the fast on Sunday morning after church with a potluck. Hubby and I were joking around about what I should bring - of the three people who signed up to bring something before I did, only put cupcakes or cookies! We finally decided that I will bring "garbage" - which is what I put on the list - and has people wondering what that is! Sooooo good! I'll cook it up Sunday morning before we head to church - it should keep warm. I commented I could also bring deviled eggs and two of the women looked at each other and said, well, so and so usually brings them. So, I responded with 'no problem, I won't bring them'. They immediately said, 'no, PLEASE bring them!'. LOL Made me wonder what these other deviled eggs taste like!

Want to start having people over for dinner on the weekends. I miss having my children and grandchildren around - for some it is months before I see them. Now that we left our other church, I won't see my daughter-in-law or those that attend with her on an occasional Sunday. If I don't put forth the effort to see them, it would be a long time in between. And that grieves my heart. I need to plan at least one family a weekend.... will have to work on that. My children and grandchildren keep me alive. As they age, they will understand that statement.

Reckon I need to get busy and get some things done. May your day always be a

Blessing!

First of Year doctor visits...

I intensely dislike going to the doctor. Not that there is anything wrong with me - my recent doctor visit and lab tests prove that. But it is my yearly check-up and I'm always glad to hear good results. He WAS quite pleased to see I have lost weight - 10 pounds! - since my last visit with him. Actually I have now lost 17 pounds, but he didn't know I had gone up so much. But, I'm working on it, tracking what I eat and trying to be "good".

Yes, my test results were excellent and I'm pleased with that. I just go in and tell him I'm healthy. We argue all the time about cholesterol - I refuse to take the statins. Well, I may take them a few weeks - then I quit. I have read too much about what they do to your body - and I don't want to - as I age - have to take pills to offset the side effects of what the statins have done. My total cholesterol this time was only 202 - which is "high" according to the limit - however, both my LDL and my HDL were in the right range. So now what does he want? He wants my bad cholesterol down about 20 notches. He says my cholesterol is 'heredity' - like, just because the majority of my family has it I do? Grumble.

My BP DID go down - he contributed it to the weight loss. Ok, I'll take it. It was 128/80 and now it's 118/70. Guess I will keep drinking my green tea and watch the food I eat. At least by keeping my weight and the other tests good I can avoid my confrontations with him. Which I understand he is only trying to keep me healthy - "preventive testing" he calls it. I take my thyroid pill because I have no control over that. I will fight on everything else.

Heaven help me if I should ever get really sick. Now I do take antibotics as needed so it isn't that. I just don't want the statins.

And now since I put him off the last two years and grumbled so much.... he is pushing me to go see the gastrointestinal doctor to get the colonoscopy done. I keep telling him I did it 7 years ago - so why do I have to go back!! I truly truly truly hate that test. Actually, it's the preparation. I dread it. But, like a good patient, I did make the appointment - and nearly have to start over with an office visit because it has been 7 years. I am expecting good results - again. I think that is the last test this year. Already got the mammogram. Dexa test (bone-scan) I talked him out of until next year. See, I'm really not a good patient. I just don't like all the personal invasion of my body.

Dentist visit is at the end of this month. That is another one I do not like. I stall on these appointments for as long as I can. AND I don't like it that my insurance doesn't pay for everything like they used to years ago. NOW my "new" insurance (which is actually much better than the previous insurance) - if I go to a contracted doctor, I have a smaller co-pay. Unfortunately, it is still $ out of the pocket. $160 to my family doctor for the physical that wasn't paid, $105 to my eye specialist because I had some vision issues in one eye (he wants me to get an U/S of my carotid but admits he has no clue what the vision problem was - so will check it out later) And that's just this month. Oh well - at least I know I only have to go a few times a year to the doctor - have to have that prescription rewritten periodically.

I keep wanting to start doing walks - but just haven't gotten into a regular routine yet. A friend here at work and I started walking a couple weeks ago - but she came down with the flu - so we have put it off until she is better. Of course I COULD get up and go by myself. I have done that before - but just haven't...

And now I'm rambling. Think I will go fix a cup of green tea and get back to work. Hope your day is a ....

Blessing!