Medical System Rant - Administurbia

Periodically I hate HMOs. Why do I have to go see 2 doctors every time I need to get something done? 18 months ago, I dutifully called my primary care coz I had an eye infection.

Just go see you normal eye doctor, you don't need to come see me.

I did. The claim got paid.

12 months later, I assume wrongly that I can just go see my eye doctor. Did last time, why not this time? Follow up exam 4 months later. NOW Harvard Pilgrim Health Care wants me to get referrals for those past visits. You all know how easy it is to get a PCP to call you back, "wink wink nudge nudge, know what I mean?".

Next fall we will be transferring out of our current HMO to a health plan where I can go see whoever I damn well please without asking anyone if it is OK.

This system is so broken. Please somebody fix it, or come to think of it, join me in trying to fix it. I would love to re-engineer our health care system. Barack, are you listening?

Malls - the Antithesis of Christmas and Holidays

OMG, unfortunately due to a series of decisions, I spent 3 hours in traffic yesterday. I had a work lunch at the Burlington Mall, and tried to run an errand 1.5 miles away from the mall before the lunch. I was 35 minutes late for the lunch. FIRST HOUR IN TRAFFIC. I thought I would be very clever and run one errand at the mall, my Christmas PJs, and then got in my car to leave. The police man would not let me leave to the left, so I literally circled the mall and left at the other end. Traffic was so bad that it even was backed up in Lexington, 3 miles from the Mall. I was on work phone calls for part of the 3 hours, which was a good use of the time.

OK, so I am going to stay in the Christmas spirit this year. When I got home Bee was making dinner. I love her. She always knows when to pitch in. That freed me up to make Lemon Poppy seed bread, which is my traditional gift to people at work and at home. I also was able to paint the star decorations and start a bracelet which has a due date of Christmas Eve. So the last 3 hours of the day were the best part of the day.

I don't go to the Mall outside of the holidays and I darn well try to stay away during the holidays. Who thought it was a good idea to have a work lunch at the mall on the 22nd of December? Never again.

Ho, Ho, Ho . . .