I don’t think any groundhogs around here will even stick their head out of the snow much less worry about seeing their shadows. I suppose we should celebrate the day anyway. I’m hoping for the early Spring, but then who isn’t?
I have to say that snow blower is one of the best toys tools I have bought in a long time. I was actually surprised at how easily it cleared our driveway yesterday. I had to run it at the lowest speed forward or it would ride up on the snow — but it chugged right along in low. Officially we were supposed to have had just a little less than 6 inches of snow but our drive was closer to 10. I think that was because it runs east-west and drifted a bit.
I picked Tracey up from work a little after 4 p.m. and we went to Bob Evans for an early dinner. I even took Jake along with me. He’s getting so old and stove up he can hardly jump into the Blazer anymore and sometimes I have to give his butt a shove to get him in. This is all very embarrassing for the old dog but he still wants to go traveling so I take him.
Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang (L) and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates in a composite image. Microsoft on Friday said it had offered to acquire Yahoo in a proposed cash and stock deal valued at $44.6 billion.
Two doctors, a psychiatrist and a proctologist, opened an office in a small town and put up a sign reading: “Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones: Hysterias and Posteriors”.
The town council was not happy with the sign, so the doctors changed it to read: “Schizoids and Hemorrhoids.”
This was not acceptable to the council either, so in an effort to satisfy the council, they changed the sign to: “Catatonics and High Colonics”.
No go.
Next, they tried: “Manic Depressives and Anal Retentives”.
Thumbs down again.
Then came: “Minds and Behinds”.
Still no good.
Another attempt resulted in: “Lost Souls and Butt Holes”.
Unacceptable to the city council .. again!
So they tried: “Analysis and Anal Cysts”.
Not a chance. Too graphic, said the council.
“Nuts and Butts?” Definitely not.
“Freaks and Cheeks”?
Shot down again.
“Loons and Moons”?
Forget it.
Almost at their wit’s end, the doctors finally came up with: “Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones: Odds and Ends”.
New gripe....medical insurance!! We were made to switch in October again. This time it’s Blue Cross Blue Shield of MICHIGAN! (It’s Michigan because Morton Welding was bought out a few years ago & this is the headquarter’s location) I thought -- great, BCBS was wonderful insurance back in the late 80’s or so when Dave began Morton Welding. Well, first of all, it’s Michigan and not IL so there are price differences and they don’t know IL prices. I was trying to find out the cost of those tests Dave is having done in a couple of weeks. I really don’t like those surprise bills! I had a couple of questions about the way they paid some bills in Dec. 2007 for Dave and Andy. I solved Dave’s mystery--his deductible (which was met in early 2007) didn’t get carried over for some reason. Andy’s problem was that it was coded wrong -- hopefully. Of course, it got too late and the billing dept. at the drs. office had either left for the day or never made it to work in the a.m. yesterday! They coded Andy’s hemoglobin A1c (you know that one Michael) test as something done at home. That mystery will have to be solved next week. However, while discussing this with Carl of BCBS, he points out that coding is very important. If it’s coded with a “preventative” code, BCBS typically pays more. If it’s coded with a “medical” code, they pay less. Of course, us patients don’t know what is what and which is which so who knows if we’re paying more for our services or not! I guess I will have to put a sticky note on our medical files.....PLEASE CODE THINGS PREVENTATIVE!! Better hush now...Andy and I have to be at the high school by 7 a.m. today. We are going to Princeville for a record book judging. His book made it thru the 1st preliminary so he has to do an interview. Of course, my services are needed somehow -- I was told to bring a pencil and calculator. Should be an interesting morning! Have a warm one!
Tammy 02 Feb 2008, 06:14 a.m.
I sure know the medical insurance two-step and phone tag. I’ve been there a time or two ... just recently over the removal of Noah’s wisdom teeth and then Aaron’s. I think those outfits are smart enough to play stupid.
That’s one of the things I have noticed with the Presidential debates ... they all talk a good story but are completely clueless about how these sharks eat us alive financially when it comes to medicine and insurance. I think we ought to completely remove the insurance industry with a new plan. We just don’t need all these middle-men cutting into something so expensive already. Then start cutting on all the medical bureaucracy and nonsense until most of them are gone too! I have no problem with paying the people who actually provide care ... but hundreds of dollars to stay in a hospital room that is dirtier than the local fleabag motel is ridiculous!
MjL 02 Feb 2008, 08:08 a.m.
I meant to congratulate Andy on his record book judging and got carried away with the medical rant. (You do know how to push my buttons Tammy!)
CONGRATULATIONS ANDY !!
I’m moving kind of slow this day. I got up at 4:30 but I had a bone in my neck again so I didn’t do much before going back to bed. I woke up again around 8:00 and still have a bone in my neck. I fed and watered Jake already, then started cleaning my Spam filters. That just sounds nasty doesn’t it? Cleaning filters sounds like something slimy on a dirty swimming pool or something. I hate doing it but every once in a while a real email gets stuck in there and I don’t want to lose any of those so I go looking through the filters to make sure. Lately mine have been more like a cesspool or septic tank. Somehow or another my email address ended up in the Viagra and Penis-Pill section and they are eagerly awaiting my email. How disgusting is that!? I also get a couple ads for “Colon Wash” every day too. Yech!
MjL 02 Feb 2008, 08:26 a.m.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois has been great for our family(so far). Previously, Scott’s diabetic supplies were costing almost $800 a month (after Insurance). Now with BCBS we pay less than $100. That’s some serious savings. So far from eye exams and medical teratments, BCBS has been great compared to our previous HCH which was through Methodist Hospital. Now doesn’t that make sense?!? Pay more when your insured throught a hospital!
K. Monroe 02 Feb 2008, 08:29 a.m.
MjL 02 Feb 2008, 08:36 a.m.
Hi Kyle! I don’t think any of the insurance industry makes sense unless you can be as greedy as they are. They can somehow justify those outrageous prices as ransom for peoples’ lives. Since I also deal with Diabetes (type II for me) I know how important those meds and supplies are ... but the insurance people act as if they were talking about car repairs or something. It’s no big deal to them!
MjL 02 Feb 2008, 08:40 a.m.
We’re back, but Andy is going on!! He placed 1st with his record book in vegetable production. He goes to District now with it on March 5th I believe. It really was interesting being a judge/interviewer. I didn’t have anything to do with Andy though. I interviewed a popcorn grower, herb grower, maple syrup tapper, sweet corn grower/Tanners employee, and 2 recyclers. 1 is helping to start recycling in Farmington H.S. and the other is cleaning up farms. So it was kind of cool talking with them. Heaven knows, I don’t have any trouble talking!! I love pushing buttons too ;) BEWARE.....Dave and Ashley have the van out! Just kidding--they are in a church parking lot for now. Or at least I hope so!!!
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Border Disorder
