Winter 2014 February 27 Thursday

21 Degrees this morning!  Spring, where are you!

Currently in my "second place" (Starbucks).  Early this morning to get car serviced, which is always an expensive proposition!  At least the car dealership has a nice waiting area with free coffee and water and even snacks and a light meal.

In the throes of making a final decision about medicare advantage plan (or supplement).  Fortunately we can change in six months or so if I pick the wrong one.  

In a waiting stage right now, as I wait for responses etc.  I have been busy sending out resumes, looking at medicare plans and similar items.  Now I am starting on my the China plans.  I should have been a travel agent. I really enjoy planning trips, probably more than I enjoy taking them.  In the case of the China trip I probably will also use a travel agent.   I have enjoyed reading about China, how to travel there, various tours etc.  I have even started to re-listen to Henry Kissinger's "China" to remember some of the history and culture.  I don't think I could ever learn to use chopsticks, but I can try.  One problem is I hate to commit to a specific flight since it is so expensive to change the flight and my plans could change. 

My jaw is a little swollen from the surgery this morning, for some reason.  I always get a little worried about that.  It doesn't hurt tho, which is good.  This phase was a lot better than the first phase, even though it did include a small graft. I will be glad to get it completed.

in spite of the cold, the sun is out today, which is nice.  

I started reading a book by Anne Hillerman, Tony Hillerman's daughter.  He was one of my favorite writers and i actually met him and had him sign a book for me when he appeared at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.  So far she appears like she is maybe a little different writer than her father, but just as good in her own way.  I"ll read it and see.  I have been agonizing over medicare and the health plan so I haven't read a lot of it, but so far it has been an interesting read and I'm going to set aside several hours to enjoy it.

Winter 2014 February 26 Wednesday

30 degrees this morning.  I am tired of winter and ready for Spring!

Since I hadn't received the information I was supposed to receive from Medicare by today, I had to to the local Social Security Office and see the federal government in action.  I see the results of the political fat cats who brag about "cutting the budget" while they feather their own nest (My representative loves tax cuts, except for the crop support payments he gets of around 3/4 million dollars a year).  

i got their at 8:00 a.m. since they were only open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  There were already 10 people in line.  We stood in 27 degree weather for an hour as the line lengthened to about 50 people .  The building refused to let people in, even though it was 27 degrees and they had chairs inside.  By definition most of the people in line were either old or extremely young or disabled.  

I can't blame the people who work there, I blame the politicians who brag about "cutting costs" and not considering the effects on the people.  I don't see how they can sleep at night.

However this was one case where the representative I talked to was a "true federal bureaucrat".  She only wanted to get rid of me.  Most of the people I have dealt with at Medicare have been very helpful (once I get through to them frequently with a 2 or 3 hour wait).  She was truly uncaring and what I would consider a true uncaring bureaucrat who was there just for her paycheck.

Anyway, I got it done and got it sent in.  I can understand why people hate the federal government, but they are looking at the wrong place when they try to blame the people working there, they need to look at the politicians.  Of course, the original person I talked to with Medicare apparently never sent out what he was supposed to.

I talked with another person looking for a job the other day and we both agreed that the employers who require "on line applications" should try it themselves sometimes and they will see why they have a hard time getting good applications.  Most on-line applications are defective and almost impossible to fill out.  I was thinking it was just me, but apparently they are uniformly disliked.

On a good note, the dental surgery Tuesday morning apparently went well as my jaw feels good.  I am glad that part is over, I only have several crowns to put on the "posts" , which I believe I have done in about three months.

Now we need to decide on a "Medicare Supplement" policy.  After looking at everything we are going to the "Medigap" policy and not the Advantage Plan.  I am glad the process is over. (Almost, as soon as we get enrolled, which we only have two days to do.)

Today is the third Anniversary of the date I suddenly thought I had a lot of time to fill.  I have been busy the entire time, and still am woefully behind in my reading etc.  

Winter 2014 February 19 Wednesday

61 degrees this morning.

I will be glad to say "goodby" or at least "see you in six months" to my winter walking clothes.  It is strange, many of them I have had for years and literally never worn until this winter, when I have worn almost all of them at some time.  It will be so nice this Spring and Summer to simply put on a t shirt, shorts and my bandanna "hat" and go to a walk and bike ride!  

Went to the Doctor yesterday for normal appt.  I always feel a sense of relief when I leave without being advised I have some dread disease or major problem.  Actually, the nurse took my blood pressure (100/68) looked at my lab results (all within limits) and asked "what was I doing here!".  The Doctor (who is a great Doctor) went over everything and of course, suggested I watch out for low blood pressure.  He explained as I lost weight (which is very slow now, but at least decreasing), my blood pressure also went down.  If I started feeling dizzy when I got out of a chair etc., it could be low pressure. 

Applying for Medicare, a stage of passage, I guess.  It has been rather bewildering even for me, and I am used to regulations.  I made the mistake of filling out an on-line questionnaire for information and got 10 phone calls and 5 e-mails in 10 minutes.  The phone literally ran 30 seconds after I made the mistake of hitting send, putting my phone number on it.  In fairness, all the calls were polite and non-pushy.  Since I am enrolling under a special exception (I didn't apply at 65 since I had employer coverage), I had to call and couldn't enroll over the internet.  When I finally got through, the representative was courteous, knowledgable and courteous, but I still haven't gotten the information I need to fill out and send back by February 28. I at least understand my options, thanks to Consumer Reports and the information provided by Medicare.

Still thinking about starting a private business.  The more I think about it, the more I like it.  I have a lot of self-initiative and can work independently.  I am brainstorming now.  I get so angry when I hear about some of the people who are discriminated against because of their age that I feel I ought to try to do something in that area.  Oddly enough, I don't resent it as far as I personally am concerned, at least for City Manager positions.  I feel the elected officials should be able to hire whom they want, if my age is a problem so be it, that is their problem.  Some of the other stories I hear (being laid off right before retirement, led on and then laid off etc. just infuriate me.  While it isn't legal (age discrimination) it is very hard to prove and most people don't want to file complaints or lawsuits for that or even very overt hostile worksite situations.  

Watching Richard Engel (NBC Foreign Correspondent).  It is amazing where he turns up, I really wonder what kind of life he has.  I really admire him for the work he does.  I don't believe I would want to do it (maybe 40 years ago).  He turns up everyplace.  

Reading "The Circle" and trying to decide if I am going to continue.  So far it has kept my interest, but I hope it doesn't degenerate into complete fantasy.  I don't mind fantasy (I loved "Snowcrash") as long as they don't degenerate into one of those things that "I can't describe it,but I know it when I read it"!  One of my secret vices is "Jack Reacher" novels (Lee Child), I devour them as soon as they come out and frequently listen to the audiobook also.