These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

A Trying Tuesday

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OK, I am a pretty intelligent person. I always place well above average on IQ tests. My reading comprehension is very good. I normally can hold my own in a friendly debate as I have a good grasp of the language, a broad vocabulary, and I do a good job of staying current with world events and technology. But, to paraphrase Pogo, I have met the enemy and the enemy is US.

OK, it's not really the enemy, but it feels like it at the moment. And the US is U.S., as in United States .... well, OK, not the whole US, but the Medicare branch of it.

GAH!!!!

As you know, a while back I got my packet to give me information to make decisions about what parts of the program I want to enroll in. There was a problem in that I noticed that I had not successfully changed my name, but that was quickly fixed, and I got a whole new package with corrected documents and forms.

A few days ago I began to read the material. There isn't a ton of it, but there is a myriad of details. I read a while, and I noticed I was reading without absorbing anything. In other words, my brain had shut down and was not processing anything. I decided to try it on a different day when my brain was less distracted. I've tried it two other times, and always with the same result. I just wasn't getting the context of the information, and I desperately needed to do so in order to make my decisions.

So last night I decided that I would plow through it today, regardless of anything. I vowed to put that task ahead of everything, even .... gasp! .... blogging! It has been a tough day. I've worked/read for a while, and when I finally grasped a point or a concept, I sighed with relief and gave myself a little break to do something else for a few minutes. Through the day I read, then put in a load of clothes, read, unloaded the dishwasher, read, blogged for a while, read, ate lunch, read, made a couple phone calls, read .... well you get it. Finally, about 3:00 light bulbs lit up over my head, brightly, and blinking in grand triumph! At that moment, all the points of the day fell into place like a row of dominoes as each one connects with the one next to it .... click, click, click!! Angels sang! Car horns tooted! And either God clapped his hands in joyous relief or there was a sonic boom. OK, I'm pretty sure it was a sonic boom, but the timing was coincidentally superb!

Now it doesn't seem so difficult, but good grief, it took a hundred Clydesdales pulling together to get me through it (and no, that does not mean I was drinking Bud!). I know it isn't just me, because I've heard many other grouse about it. However, when I am feeling inept, it doesn't matter how much company I have in my misery! I'm very glad it is over, and I am filling out paperwork for the parts that require it. Come April 1, I will be fully covered. Whew!!

Problem: At 2:15 I realized that I had an appointment for a haircut at 2:00. Thank goodness, she is a great gal, and she simply rescheduled me for tomorrow.

Once I was on level ground with the Medicare stuff, I decided that the dogs really needed to be trimmed a bit. The weather was pleasant, around 50-52°, so I went to the deck with them, and each baby got a tummy shave (so they don't tangle when they lay down), a paw trim, and got a touch up on their faces (trim between the eyes, shortened the beards). They look much better.

I forgot to close the dog door, so they tracked in a bunch of hair what I was trimming, but I wasn't worried. I got the vacuum out and began to clean it up. Oops! Something was wrong. It wasn't picking up, and it smelled like burning rubber. I turned it over, and the belt had slipped off track and was burning up. It was too messed up to put back on. Sigh. It was too late to go buy a new one (I'd been meaning to do that for several weeks.), so I'll do that in the morning. In the mean time, I have dog hair all over the living room! I could go drag out the shop vac, but it is harder than hell to actually vacuum a carpet with that. This late in the day, I'm just gonna be a lazy housekeeper and take care of things tomorrow.

I noticed while the vacuum was upside down, how dirty it was inside. Well, duh! Think of what goes through there! Anyway, I cleaned it up while I had the chance. Nasty job. shudder. I'll be glad to get it back together again tomorrow and be back to normal. Normal? My house? OK, just think in relative terms. That kind of normal.

It's been a day full of success and frustration. I guess I should be happy that it wasn't all frustration, right? Hmmm. OK, I'm happy!

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12 comments:

  1. I think the gov. writes things in way that make you confused and frustrated. Yeah for you for making it through the mumbo-jumbo.

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  2. I'm not sure, MJ. It really isn't poorly written. In fact, I couldn't improve on it, it's just hard to explain in words, I think. It is an unfamiliar concept and intimidating because of that. I used to understand Medicare when I helped my MIL and a couple older relatives with it, but it has become more complicated as we've received the alternatives and options we requested. You have to read every choice to understand how to compare it with the others. Anyway, yes, YEAH, it is done!

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  3. I hate reading government papers. Glad you were able to make it through all the papers.

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  4. "Official language" is usually tough to get through. I'm glad I'm done, too, Caroline. gah.

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  5. "Come April 1, I will be fully covered."

    Careful. My wife works in customer service for the doctors of the local health system and has yet to find someone that is FULLY COVERED got everything. She spends most of her time on the phone explaining why this or that charge wasn't covered. And often, it is Medicare patients calling.

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  6. oops make that "fully covered for everything."

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  7. Oh boy...sorry you had such a stressful day!

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  8. Dave, I do know that, but I'll be closer than what I have now ..... $00. I can at least break a leg or something. Did I really just say that???

    Cheryl, ehhhh. In the scheme of life, it's a small thing. Thanks, anyway. :)

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  9. I deal with medicare all day long. If there is a way, have a decent supplemental insurance...and if you're on good terms with your doctor's office, they'll help you with a way around things, coding them so they'll likely be covered. Takes a village...

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  10. Kathi, I will have a supplemental policy, and it is one that is well rated. I know it still doesn't cover everything, but close enough can afford care. That's an improvement!

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  11. i am trying to muddle my way through SSI stuff for my kids and i think they purposely make it difficult so folks won't figure it out and use it . . .

    glad you made it through the day--even if it was a trying one. keep the old lady on her toes, er , i mean . . .

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  12. Beans, I've never had to do
    SSI paperwork, but I understand it is a booger. I guess Medicare is designed for keeping old women on their toes! LOL!

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!