The Burrow

Remember that Medicare Wellness Check ?  The one where the physician was not allowed to touch me?  The one where the required EKG showed an abnormality which sent me to a cardiologist for an evaluate and treat  appointment?  It seems that, upon reading the first post,  those closest to me (aka The Cuters) were quite concerned about the health of their maternal unit. "Don't do that to me again, woman!" was the Little's advice; the Big one was anxious for reassurance.  If any of you are also worried, let me reassure you - I am fine. I arrived early, because that's what I do.  The paperwork took a few minutes to complete and then I was ushered into a treatment room.  The technician, a 40-something fellow, 6'4" tall and sturdily built, helped me stow my possessions, gave me a gown (open in the front), and left with instructions to open the door when I was ready. He came right in, once I was (barely) covered by the short, pink, cloth demi-gown. ...

My Medicare card came in the mail today. It's red, white, and blue, identifies me as FEMALE, and has added a T to the end of my social security number.  Why a T?  I do not know.  Yet, there it is and there it will stay. No longer will i have to break out my BlueCrossBlueShieldofArizona identification card to remember my Plan ID Number.  I just have to remember to put a T at the end of the nine digits I've known since I was a little girl, getting my own savings account after registering for my own social security number. Then, I felt very adult.  Now, I feel old. I spent an hour or so with a lovely insurance lady who explained the varieties of Plans available.  I got lost, a bit, in the Deductibles and Monthly Payments and Total Cost Per Year calculations, but she sounded as if she knew what she was talking about.  Fast Eddie and JannyLou and TBG have all worked with her, being older (and wiser?) than I.  I have confidence in them, and so, ...

This could have been labeled Promises Unfulfilled.  The story is the same.  The aggravation quotient doesn't change.  We're still gritting our teeth and worrying. TBG became eligible for Medicare on January 2 this year.  He completed his piece of the application process in early December.  It was lengthy.  It was on-line.  My help was required.  I was glad to oblige.  We filled in little boxes, we typed in information, we agreed and concurred and allowed and informed and then we clicked Submit.   The pop-up box told us that we were done.  We should expect an answer within 3-5 days. It's been 3-5 weeks and we have heard nothing.  There have been no emails, even in the spam folder.  There have been no phone calls, even before our area became embroiled in a northwest side outage which will be repaired by 7pm this evening , according to the lovely young woman at Comcast. This means that my husband is uninsured.  T...

....came the Costco Magazine, featuring an illustrated article on myofascial release strategies, including the deep tissue work which has been so helpful in my recovery.  As we age we tend to dessicate, inside and out.  As our fascia dry out, they become adhesive, clinging to the tissues around them.  Separating them from others and themselves is something we should all be thinking about, because we are never too young to take prophylactic measures.  I took that information with me to meditation several weeks ago.  I sat on the floor, legs extended, arms by my ankles as I leaned up and over my fourth and third quadrants (lower abs to pelvic floor), sinking into the pose, just as Costco advised.  After 15 minutes of clearing my mind and not judging the thoughts which entered and left, my forehead was closer to my kneecaps than it ever had been before.  My fingers were well beyond my heels, and my spine had no knots or kinks.  It took me a while...

I went through my banker's box tonight. The recycling bin is brimming, the stack of bills was smaller than I'd imagined, and now I have several neat piles on my desk. The only casualty of my procrastination was Yo-Yo Ma's December 5th appearance here in Tucson. She who hesitates reads " Sold Out!" on the website. What self-respecting fan of West Wing could have missed this opportunity? Alas. Other than that, I am pretty pleased with tonight's efforts. G'ma's bills/alumni organizations communications/small but pretty calendars/incomprehensible medical statements, including one from a physician I've never heard of or met...... that's the one to tackle tomorrow morning. It's living on the extreme left corner of the desk; if I'm looking at the monitor I'm seeing the pile. Grrr...... who invented peripheral vision??? Yo-Yo Ma is staring at me (reproachfully, it seems to my disappointed eyes) from the far end of the middle series of piles...