Note to Self, vol. XXXI

Just because a medical bill says they have billed your insurance doesn't mean they have. If there are no adjustments to the price they charge, that is a huge RED FLAG. Do not let the "Due on receipt" propel you into paying it until you've checked it out.

I made that mistake in June and have been trying to get it sorted for months. Guess what? It's much harder to get your money back after you've paid it.

I emailed my insurance in August because I still didn't see the claim listed on my account. Heard back that no, they didn't have it, but the customer service rep kindly called the billing company and spoke with someone who said they'd submit it right away.

In September, still no sign of the claim. I email the billing company directly with login info included on the bill to see what's going on. I get an auto-reply which shows they have my correct email and says they will forward it to the billing department.

No reply.

In October, I email them again including everything so far from my end. Nothing but the auto-response.

In November, I check my insurance again, no claim, and log in to the billing site which looks like they have finally submitted it a few days before.

I call the billing site's damn number. First time it doesn't even work. Next time the auto system hangs up on me. Third time I get through and a woman with a thick accent waits for me to take a breath (she's lucky I was done) to say, "Sorry to interrupt. It's a known issue." She doesn't elaborate on what it was. She says, "It's not a workman's comp claim." I think to myself, "No shit," but maybe that was part of the "known issue"?

Anyway, all I'm able to discern is that there's nothing left for me to do but wait. 30-45 days for my insurance to consider the claim. Then 6-8 weeks to get a refund, if one is due.

Current status: my insurance denied the claim because the billing company waited too long but says that's on billing company unless they can prove otherwise, so I don't currently owe anything.

Which is nice except I paid the bill months ago.

Next up: fighting with the billing company's phone system again. I'd email since that's what I prefer and I like having written responses, but they've never answered any of mine. Hopefully I will get someone more helpful this time. Or psych myself up to ask for a supervisor and demand a refund. ARGH!

 

10 years ago on TTaT: 60. Color Index

Your Vote Matters

If your vote didn't matter, Republicans wouldn't spend so much time suppressing voter access and rigging the system in their favor.

Fight Back.

Vote for Democrats all the way down your ballot Tuesday Nov. 8 or Vote Early!

https://iwillvote.com/

 

Some things at stake in this midterm election:

Voting rights.  

Do you want free and fair elections? Vote for Democrats.

There are election-denying Republicans running for Secretary of State in several states in which that office controls how elections are run. (Clearly they believe in elections enough to want to run for office so they can control election outcomes.) 

Do you want free and fair elections? Vote for Democrats.

Social Security. 

Do you want to get the money *you* paid into Social Security back when you're older? Vote for Democrats.

Abortion access.

Do you believe women have the right the make decisions regarding their own bodies without interference from government? Do you believe rape victims and women with life threatening pregnancies deserve access to abortion health care? Vote for Democrats.

Birth control access.

If you don't approve of abortion, making birth control widely accessible should be a no-brainer. Also birth control is used to treat a variety of ailments for women and girls. If you believe birth control should be accessible without government or employer oversight, Vote for Democrats.

Marriage rights.

If you don't want to go back to banned interracial marriages and banned gay marriages, Vote for Democrats.

Privacy rights.

Republicans don't believe the right to privacy is included in The Constitution. That's how they overturned Roe v. Wade and have their sites set on birth control and marriage rights next. They will keep eroding our rights. To protect your right to privacy, Vote for Democrats.

 

Your Vote Matters and How You Vote Matters. This midterm election will greatly impact whether we have free and fair elections in 2024 and going forward.

Democracy is not bully people into changing results when you lose. Democracy is not throw out the votes of people who vote against you or disenfranchise them before they can even cast their ballots.

Democrats are pro-democracy. Republicans are pro-authoritarianism and pro-fascism.

Choose wisely: Vote for Democats.

https://iwillvote.com/ 

#VoteBlue #VoteBlueToProtectYourRights

Get Ready to Vote Blue

Make sure you:

1. Register to vote/check your registration.
2. Plan to vote by mail, vote early, or vote in person November 8.
3. Vote for Democrats all the way down your ballot.

 All our rights depend on it: voting, reproductive, marriage, social security, privacy…

 

 #VoteBlue!

https://iwillvote.com/

Handwritten Wordle Notes From Games Past

My parents and I compare notes on our Wordle play. When I've taken more guesses than I can easily remember or I'm distracted, I write down the words I used. Yesterday I filled in the last of the roughly 2" by 2.5" piece of paper I'd been using.

Vertical running words and other sections which do not fit Wordle parameters are stray solutions to Letter Boxed.

It's messy because I just wrote it for myself and because the scan pulled through words from the flip side.

All the games can be found at The New York Times Games Page and played for free. Enjoy!

 

17 years ago on TTaT: tip of the week

Recharge and Fight Back

Tonight's dance break: "Daft Punk" by Pentatonix.

Even though things are dire, when the GOP is outlawing our rights, find ways to recharge so you can fight back.

Because we must.

 

Register and vote for pro-choice Democrats who will end the filibuster.

 

Contact your senators, representative, and local officials and tell them you are pissed about the Supreme Court overruling Roe v. Wade, undermining gun control, and advancing an extremist right-wing agenda. Tell them to take action to protect your rights.

#VoteBlue #AbortionIsHealthcare

Captain America

Today's sighting: Captain America. He was working for a subcontractor of the cable company and installing a new cable line for the new utility poles.

He was wearing the classic Captain America t-shirt with the shield on the front, a matte black hard hat that gave WW2 vibes, and skinny jeans.

I saw him pulling a line from the spool on the back of the truck past the driveway into the yard and then down the creek bank. From there he hurled it across to the other side. Then he walked downstream on the bank a bit and quickly hopped across the big junky rocks the construction crew left jutting out of the creek to the other side.

He was so agile. I'm only sorry I wasn't shooting video because I had no idea that was coming. Later it occurred to me that I couldn't think of a reason he couldn't have just walked across the bridge with the line, but, you know, Captain America.

A while later he was up in the bucket arm of the truck working on the line at the new pole in my yard. This time I was shooting photographs and video. I had the top half of the window down with my camera resting on it. He was maybe 50 feet away but he was clearly aware of me since we were about at eye level and he kept glancing over in my direction. I think I was making him nervous.

If I were an extrovert or maybe if I hadn't felt like I'd lose my voice, I would've yelled, "Hey, Captain America! Thank you!" I suppose I could've waved, but ultimately I didn't want to interrupt his work.

I was just waiting for this cool machine they attach to the line to spin down to the next pole. I think it wraps the cable line around the metal wire line he'd already installed. Once I had that shot, I closed the window and went back to my workout.

He and his partner, Bucky?, who mainly did work on the ground and drove the truck left around lunchtime.

I thought they'd come back after to finish switching over to the new line and removing the temp line but they didn't return. My guess is the actual cable company will come back for that part of the job. We'll see.

In any case, Thank you for your work, Captain America!

10 years ago on TTaT: Temporal Transportation

Remember in November and Take Action Now

When the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting happened nearly 10 years ago, I thought it would be the catalyst for gun reform. I was wrong. With hundreds of mass shootings in the US since including one at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas this week, it's clear there will be no change until politicians in the pockets of gun lobbyists are voted out of office. 

Remember in November and for every local election or primary before then and vote accordingly.

Make sure you are registered to vote now. Call and/or email your senators and representative and tell them you want sensible gun control laws. 

Learn more: 16 Facts About Gun Violence And School Shootings 

Take action: Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund works to pass legislation that advances school safety and mental health and prevents gun violence.

 

17 years ago on TTaT: Geek? Well, maybe according to some...

Note to Self, vol. XXX

If you are going to help Dad move something heavy again:

a) Do it by yourself if you can, or

b) If you can't, go over where and how the item will be moved very clearly and very specifically before you lift anything.

Mom was getting a new chair delivered, so I offered to help Dad move her old one out of the way after lunch. Though it's not really big, it's a recliner that both rocks and swivels. The thing is a heavy beast and really unwieldy to move.

Dad finished lunch before me and disappeared. I finished a few minutes later, waited a bit, and decided to see if I could forge ahead without him.

I can test out whether I can lift/move something without injuring myself, but Mom was worried and went looking for Dad.

While she was gone, I discovered I could stand behind the chair and tip it back so it was resting on its circular base. Then it rolled sideways a short distance. It felt like a brilliant discovery.

Mind you, it's probably not good for the chair, but I knew she didn't plan to keep it. I was also a little concerned about all the concentrated weight rolling across the rug, but it looked okay, so I kept going.

I moved it across the room, about ten feet, by myself until I was nearing the edge of the rug. My angle was getting off for final placement and I realized it would be in the way when her chair got delivered.

Had I had a few more minutes to myself, I would've realized I could swivel the chair when it was resting normally on the ground to change direction when it was tipped back. However, Mom arrived with Dad in tow berating him for not helping me.

He didn't take it well and blew it off talking about what he'd wanted to do outside but ultimately looked at me and said, "I forgot."

The chair still needed to be moved a couple feet off the rug onto the hardwood floor. I didn't think my rolling method would be good on that surface.

Dad was just standing motionless in the middle of the room so I said, "Are you going to help or what?"

He walked over and got on the right side of the chair across from me. The only useful place to grip it was quite low, just a few inches from the ground. When we were both set, we lifted.

I lifted a couple inches thinking we'd shift it back from there while he stood up as if we were going to walk several feet. So I had to stand up while not braced for it. We moved it like a foot and put it down.

The chair still needed to go further back. He wanted to put it all the way next to the wall and went into in charge mode and stood behind the chair.

"That's not going to work," I said.

"Why not?" he said.

"Because you're standing behind it," Mom interjected.

I'm sure he thought he could, as he calls it, "jackass it around." I'd already given that a tentative try and the nature of the heavy round base prevents it.

He came back to the side opposite me.

"I don't want to stand up with it. I just want to lift it a couple inches and move it back," I clarified while gesturing.

We moved it without incident this time.

For all their concern I would injure myself moving it by myself, it was that first uneven lift with him that gave me a mild strain to my lower back.

It's not thrown out, but I can feel it and any wrong move, imperfect form lift or reach could trigger it. I'm trying to take it easy today, but I needed to do laundry and scrub my tub. Not ideal. I could've put it off, but having to change my routine would've irked me. I am delaying other things I would've done today.

So anyway, note to self: maybe next time don't offer to help and if they ask, tell them to ask the strong delivery guys to do it. At least they got a nice tip!

17 years ago on TTaT: Chocolate Glazed Donut

Cell Time

Looks like I will finally have to get a new cell phone one of these days. The one my friend helped me pick out almost 20 years ago still works, just not with 5G. Though honestly, it seems like a scam because last time I tried it, it recognized the network, had 5 bars, and was able to relay a message saying it couldn't connect the call and I should contact the account holder (aka me) as if it's my fault (it's not!). 

Anyway, anyone know a good pay as you go phone that will work with 5G? 

 

10 years and 1 day ago on TTaT: Lucky 7

 Seeing that post made me realize I missed my blogiversary yesterday. Happy 17 to TTaT!

 Here are some highlights from last year: xvi, sedici, 16, seize, sweet sixteen!

Tarts

Regarding blueberries that were not very sweet, my Dad said, "They'd make a great pie."

"Or a tart," I suggested.

"What?"

"A tart," I repeated and then spelled out, "T-a-r-t."

I love that this exchange lead to me describing the Pitch Perfect 3 scene where Amy suggests they get "tarted up" and no one understands because of her accent and phrasing. Made him laugh.

 

10 years ago on TTaT: Dance Dare: a brilliant idea in action

Fatigued

Fatigued. That's my word for 2022 so far. Not in the pick-a-guiding-principle-for-the-year sort of way, just descriptive.

I recognize it, this particular fatigue, depression gaining ground. I even know its many roots.

We're coming up on 2 years of a global pandemic. I know it's already over two, but in those early days and weeks and months when information was withheld, downplayed, and/or lied about, I wasn't yet truly feeling its impact.

I remember going to an art museum with my parents on March 2, sort of squeaking in before shutdowns which seemed likely started reaching my semi-rural area. That was 2020.

I miss going to museums. It's one of the things that recharges me. I went to one outdoor sculpture exhibit last year and that was it.

The pandemic wasn't even the biggest mental drain for me in 2021. It was almost 10 months of construction right outside starting at 7 am, many days earlier. I'm not a morning person and I'm sensitive to loud noise so it was crushing me. Definitely made it a struggle to concentrate while working from home.

They aren't even done yet. The reprieve is only due to winter. The new replacement bridge is done, the temp bridge removed, but the temporary road 1/2 of which cuts through my yard still needs to be removed. In theory the creek banks are supposed to be "restored," but that's a joke because they cut down 40 trees before they started this project.

Anyway, that will resume once it gets warmer and no doubt be dragged out as the rest of their work has been.

At the beginning of last August, I came down with shingles. I didn't recognize it for what it was missing that critical early treatment window. (Seriously, if you're 50+, get the Shingles vaccine! If younger, learn those symptoms and get treated fast.)

Based on my symptoms, my doctor thought it would last 4 months. It's been over 6 and the rash still hasn't totally healed yet. It is wearisome. Other than rest and clean living, there's not much for it.

In December, I had a dodgy mole in a sensitive spot removed. It needed doing and was fine (not cancerous) so that was a relief but the area is still bruised and uncomfortable.

Then there are the Republicans: their many attacks on voting rights and how elections are held, rigging the system every way they can while undermining their base's confidence in elections so that any time they lose they can yell foul play like kids in a school yard. They are the foulest of all. No true patriot of this country should want any eligible voter prevented from doing so.

Then there's the Republican attacks on women's right to choose (medical decisions are none of your business!), trans kids, LGBTQ rights...

Ggrarrgh!

So I feel like it makes complete sense that I'm feeling depressed all things considered. I'm not sure what to do about it. I'm just losing steam without my old sources of rejuvenation.

10 years ago on TTaT: My kind of dream

Georgia O'Keeffe, Photographer

1. Georgia O'Keeffe, Photographer by Lisa Volpe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed it. The book accompanies an exhibition of the same name that is currently traveling through the US in 2022 and into 2023. Check it out if you can.

10 years ago on TTaT: If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)

Happy Lunar New Year!

The year 2022 is slated to be the year of the water tiger. The water tiger comes up every 60 years. The water tiger is action-oriented and represents strength, bravery and clearing away evil. –https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/chinese-new-year

Action-oriented "strength, bravery and clearing away evil" sounds like excellent, timely inspiration and motivation for this year. I am here for it!

Double-check your voter registration, register to vote if you aren't registered, spread the word, vote for pro-choice/pro-democracy/pro-voting Democrats up and down your ballots this year!

Angry that Dems haven't done enough lately? Elect more progressive Democrats to give them a wider margin so they can't be held hostage by Republicans, Manchin, Sinema, and the effin' filibuster.

 

10 years ago on TTaT: Remarkable Places: Explore the beauty of nature's hidden places

Caller ID

Heard phone ring. Saw Dad leaning over the kitchen phone, reading the caller ID. 

"Anyone of note?" I asked. 

"Washington, D.C.," he replied. 

"Are they calling to personally apologize?" 

"No doubt," he said glibly. 

They didn't leave a message though.

 

10 years ago on TTaT: Best Business Practices for Photographers