home

Some weeks I ought to stay in bed...

Two weeks of fun and excitement. Or maybe not. Two weeks of fighting the system, and, while not having success, at least not completely failing. At least Auburn University's 2-0...so maybe there is karmic justice somewhere. More on the flop.

I'm tired. Tired of feeling tired...I feel like a Mel Brooks movie song.

Finally, after 30 calls (I've been keeping a record) with my former insurance providers, they found where they sent my COBRA information.

Back in April. To an address I never had.

But it took until Sept. 15 for them to find it. Amazingly efficient, no?

I've been out of my prescriptions for two weeks...tried to load up before the insurance ran out, but the e-filing by the family doctor didn't work. So I went to the office to check, on the last day of my insurance, since calls didn't engender an adequate reply.

Suffice it to say, no scrips, no efiles, and I have no meds, except the few that I had stockpiled.

COBRA will cost me 50 percent of my unemployment. That's all. Amazing how costly it is.

And that's with the healthcare reform in place on COBRA, I think.

I may have to put off my surgery if we can't get this together.

On the job front, I did get turned down for two positions I am overly qualified for, and for which I have 10 plus years of experience. I guess I don't look young and cute enough.

Like I said, at least Auburn's 2-0... but now we travel to Clemson this weekend.

Given how well things are going, tonight is comfort food night. I'm boiling a corned beef brisket, and later I'll add carrots, onions, potatoes, and last, cabbage.

And then I'll eat like a starving man.

At least the doggies are well. they must know when I'm upset, because they spend a lot of time trying to give me kisses. I guess they get the frustration of being ignored.

The US health care system, if my experiences are any indication, isn't doing so well. I don't mean that doctors are incompetent, in general. They aren't. They actually are quite good, and when talking to them, the actual doctors, they are willing to work with me, give me free samples, and do other helpful acts.

But the system itself has to be collapsing in on itself. Phone calls don't get returned, scrips don't get filed, and  patients without insurance get placed on the far back burner. Even patients with serious conditions.

So... what's up with you? I want a beer or six, and to listen to some old Johnny Cash or Bob Marley.

Have I mentioned lately that the healthcare system takes pretty much 40 hours a week to negotiate? Time to hope for the Gray Aliens to teleport me. I think they give you a checkup and a clean bill of health before providing implants or doing any probing.

I am sooo looking forward to finding a new country in which to live. Let's go schools in Colombia! Hire me! I'm easy, but I'm cheap, too!

Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.

And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.

Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.

< Getting bad news... | Strikes in Chile for Social Justice. In the US? >

Poll

Which country sounds better?
Colombia 15%
Spain 53%
Romania 0%
Uruguay 0%
Pago Pago 15%
Mars 15%

Votes: 13
Results | Other Polls
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Jeff, I can't believe which country (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by observed on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 04:16:52 PM EST
    you left out of your list!!!
    Hope things look up for you soon.


    Okay, Kazakhstan! (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 04:18:46 PM EST
    Maybe i ought to include Afghanistan... I have friends there, too!

    Parent
    But do they listen to Johnny Cash? (none / 0) (#3)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 04:20:01 PM EST
    Especially his Sun Record days?

    Parent
    Well, I have a guess which (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by observed on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 04:22:39 PM EST
    Sasha Baron Cohen film they do NOT like.

    Parent
    Heh! Add me to (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 04:23:52 PM EST
    the list of agreement with them, then!

    Parent
    Is there an SBC film you like?! (none / 0) (#10)
    by observed on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 06:02:53 PM EST
    uhhhh, (none / 0) (#11)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 06:08:21 PM EST
    no. I think he's a pretentious git.

    Parent
    Its a full-time job, dealing with (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by caseyOR on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 04:31:54 PM EST
    the health insurance/care industry. And when you are ill who can manage a full-time job?

    Is the COBRA stuff all in order now? Do you have insurance that will cover your surgery/treatments? Or are you still doing battle with the bureaucracy?

    As to the countries-- if it was me, I'd go with Spain. I am quite drawn to both the Basque and the Catalan regions. Part of my summer reading has been about the anarcho-syndicalists and their role in the Spanish Civil War. Fascinating. The pirate crew as a commune, eh?

    For you, though, Colombia seems the first choice, if only because the wee lad lives there. Move to Colombia, teach at Harry's school, and during school vacations bring him along on pirate crew voyages. If nothing else, he'll learn about geography, a knowledge of which seems to be lacking in many these days. And as we will be at sea, he'll also learn astronomy and how to navigate by the stars. That reminds me, I need to find a sextant.

    Seriously, whatever you need, whatever I and/or the pirate crew can do to help, just say the word.

    Give me patience and strength. (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 04:45:52 PM EST
    If I wind up needing more, I'll let you know, Cap'n.

    I may move to Zorba's retreat and grow cabbages for them in exchange for rent, lol!

    You've hit one of the reasons I love Spain so much. I just found out yesterday one of my relatives died while serving with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Not a close one, but a great-uncle.

    Parent

    You should talk to gyrfalcon (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by caseyOR on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 04:56:12 PM EST
    about ALB. Her uncle served in the ALB, and was treated quite shabbily by our government when he returned to the U.S.

    Sounds like a number of us may fin ourselves taking up residence in the Republic of Zorba. Maybe the pirate crew should start scouting for a place in Chesapeake Bay to dock the pirate ship. Easy access to both RoZ and the high seas.

    Parent

    I'll mention it to her next time (5.00 / 0) (#13)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 06:13:33 PM EST
    I see her. The ALB members were treated so shabbily. Even with 2+ years of combat experience, they were considered 'pinkos.' No commissions, no using their experience.

    Shameful. But the mercenary pilots from China got full recognition. Not to say the Flying Tigers were completely horrible, but when the Tigers went against the Zero in their P-40s, the tigers rule of engagement was to dive and fly away. One pass,  then get the heck out of Dodge. Plane couldn't handle the Zero except in a dive.

    Parent

    Gyrfalcon here, a little (5.00 / 3) (#21)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Sep 17, 2011 at 02:10:19 AM EST
    late to the conversation.

    Yeah, my uncle was in the brigade in the Spanish Civil war, and a labor organizer on the NYC waterfront for the CP in his day.

    When they came home, the guys who fought in the Spanish civil war were officially deemed -- wait for it -- "premature antifascists."  Makes ya proud, don't it?

    As such, they were (only temporarily, as it turned out) stripped of their right to vote and barred from the U.S. military, of all ridiculous things.  Most of them, including my uncle, then joined up with the Merchant Marine for WWII, horrible duty, if anything much more dangerous than military service.

    My uncle's ship was torpedoed in the South Pacific, and he and his crewmates endured one of those horrendous experiences of being picked off by sharks one by one as they huddled together in the water until the survivors were rescued a couple of days later.

    Those were some incredibly tough dudes.  Not many of them left anymore.  Last time I hung out for a while, they were still having terrific angry fights between the Trotskyites and the anarchists.  So goes the left always.

    Parent

    After re-reading this comment... (none / 0) (#16)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 08:18:23 PM EST
    I came to a conclusion. I know way too much military history. Oh, but I loved it when I was in. It felt so right. And I wasn't one of those career-minded a$$hats.

    I sincerely didn't expect to survive. That may have led to some of my OER's.  I'll never forget a grilling I got from some admin captain about the shine on my jump boots (He didn't have jump wings... a true REMF). I told him the two stars on my wings trumped his complaint about polish.

    Ahhhh... not giving a dang has it's advantages.

    Parent

    Bring seafood! (none / 0) (#15)
    by Zorba on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 07:08:38 PM EST
    I'll teach jeff how to make Greek stuffed cabbage, too.

    Parent
    I'll be careful with the grape leaves for eating (5.00 / 0) (#17)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 08:19:19 PM EST
    No bad chemicals, etc ;-)

    Parent
    Book recommendation. (5.00 / 3) (#14)
    by caseyOR on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 07:01:53 PM EST
    I don't know how much time you currently have to read, but when you do have the time for fiction, I have a book for you.

    That book is The Accordionist's Son by Bernard Atxago, a Basque writer who still lives in the Basque region and writes in the Basque language. This is obviously a translation.

    I read this novel last spring and then promptly sought out all the other Atxago books at my local library. This book tells the story of David, a boy growing to adulthood in the shadow of Franco's Spain. His life is haunted by the Spanish Civil War, Franco's reign, the Basque fight for independence and the legacy of his father.

    This is such a well-written (and translated) book. Read it.

    Parent

    If my library doesn't have it, (none / 0) (#18)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 08:19:56 PM EST
    they can find it...

    Parent
    Will the pirate ship have a library? (none / 0) (#20)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 16, 2011 at 07:44:06 PM EST
    Or make frequent port stops?  

    Parent
    agree with you on Spain (none / 0) (#25)
    by Amiss on Mon Oct 06, 2014 at 11:34:38 PM EST
    Enjoy that brisket (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Dadler on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 05:35:24 PM EST
    Simple pleasures are that much better when they come well marbled.  ;-)

    sigh, (none / 0) (#12)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 06:09:43 PM EST
    it's a bog Irish night tonight... lots o'taters, carrots, cabbage, but the meat's too lean.

    Somebody needs more practice in meat cutting, and it's not me.

    Parent

    Good to hear from ya Jeff... (5.00 / 4) (#19)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 16, 2011 at 11:26:26 AM EST
    though sorry to hear its a constant struggle.

    COBRA is a retarded program, when I worked in the HR dept. at a construction firm with high turnover I musta sent out hundreds of COBRA notices...I can't remember one person buying COBRA.  How could they at those rates?  

    Your former employee is subject to a hefty fine for not getting the notice to you...not that gets anybody anywhere in regards to actual health care, but if your feeling vindictive you could drop a dime on them. I would advise against, reason being why give Uncle Sam more money to torment us with.

    Only (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Sep 17, 2011 at 11:59:40 AM EST
    in America it seems to we get some sort of perverse pleasure from seeing sick people suffer even more. I don't know what's wrong with this a lot of people in this country other than pure green and selfishness. It's so sad.

    Agree with (none / 0) (#26)
    by Amiss on Mon Oct 06, 2014 at 11:35:33 PM EST
    Spain

    Julian Castro headed to New Hampshire (none / 0) (#28)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 06, 2018 at 02:00:20 PM EST
    To test a 2020 run!!!! YES!!!!