Ah, the joy of dealing with insurance

I just got back from the doctor's office - I like scheduling my annual exam around my birthday so I won't forget it. This time, however, I had forgotten how obnoxious some people at medical offices can be. When I called to make my appointment, they mentioned some forms I needed to fill and said that I could do it online or just come in before my appointment and fill them up at the office. Sure, I am a new patient and they need my history, but let's face it people, it's only 4 sheets of paper that I can easily fill in 3 minutes. At the time I made the appointment we didn't have a printer at home and after we got one well... I just forgot about the damn papers.

So I get to the office earlier today and the receptionist starts giving me attitude because "you didn't fill your papers online"? WTF. What if I didn't have internet access? Dear Shiva. Then she rolls her eyes because it is so freaking hard to ask me a couple of questions. Then another receptionist comes in and asks, in a surprised-about-the-bad-news tone "oh no, she didn't fill it online?". Seriously.

The nurse who did my exam was actually very nice, spent some time with me (as a new patient), filled some of the info (from the forms that I was still working on as they took my blood pressure and weight before I was even done) and entered it into their system, and I was very happy with her. I told her I wanted my cholesterol levels checked (last time I did that was back in 2006), and so she gave me a lab form and told me to, as I checked out, ask them about getting my breast medical records from my previous doctor. Last time I had issues, my provider was the Vanderbilt Breast Center. So I filled the form and didn't have the address (just the name of the center and the city). Vishnu forbid yet another useless receptionist gets online to get them for me (I told her I could find them very quickly... it took me 10 seconds as soon as I got home). Then I asked her about the lab tests and even though the lab was right there and they get these tests ordered all the time, she told me that she didn't know how much the tests were but my insurance would be billed. Knowing that the prices are pretty much fake when they bill insurances, and that we have a high deductible insurance who surely wouldn't pay for them, I told her I would be paying for them and needed to know the price. She continued to give me the same annoyed "I don't know, we're separate systems" answer and pointed me at the lab... one door down the hallway.

The lab lady was actually very nice and told me it was $93 for the cholesterol only (I so miss Mexico!), but she also gave me the tip about going to the hospital system in town and for $10 I can get a screening with other things too. Now I just wonder, were the other people just having a bad day? I cannot imagine how hard it must be for people with less money and no insurance dealing with these so-called care-providers... heck, not even the providers, but the facilitators to the providers! And I have to add that I just called my insurance provider and the very nice lady told me they cover all preventive things... now I just have to ask myself: do I really want to see the annoying receptionist over at the clinic again so soon?

Argh. On the bright side, the nurse who gave me my exam was very interested in hearing about our own experiences with the German health care system. Sure, they give you no gowns when you go... but you also don't pay ridiculous amounts of money for a blood test!

Back later with more ramblings... I realized this morning that this will be my 10th birthday away from Mexico... Next year will mark the anniversary of 1/3 of life lived in this country. I am not quite sure how I feel about that...

Haile wins again and the painting saga continues...

I'm mentally fried, so I'll do bullets... I know, I know, you like my superb writing, but I don't want to spoil you...

1. Haile Gebrselassie won the Berlin marathon again yesterday. No new record, but still pretty awesome. I vividly remember seeing him a few hundred yards before the finish line last year, when he did break his own record. He is awesome.

2. My running uncle ran his yearly off-road birthday celebratory marathon yesterday in Montemorelos. He just turned 75. He too is awesome.

3. We went to the Old Town Lansing Bluesfest on Friday. It was fun but we didn't stay long because we went to have dinner with a coworker of my Man's and his wife. He is 1 year younger than my brother. We're old... but it was fun!

People at Bluesfest in Old Town Lansing

4. This weekend we were devoted to the house pretty much. We painted the living room, my Man installed a more energy-efficient thermostat, and he attempted (and that was all, unfortunately) to install my pot rack. Our stud finder was having trouble finding studs and I may end up calling a handyman. Wha. But the living room is looking good and it should be completed tomorrow.

5. Blinds are coming on Thursday. No more feeling on display, yay!

Painting is fun!

6. I completed my Literacy Tutor training last week and have one last session to be trained as a tutor for ESL. Then I'll have to wait for CALC to match me with a student. I told them I would be up to tutor pretty much anything (reading, math, English), so we'll see what happens.

7. No salmon on the Brenke ladder yet.

8. My 33 birthday is coming up people. I expect many congratulatory messages. I will spend that day by the phone (and with my laptop) waiting for the many calls and emails. After all, in Dr. Cox's words, "don't you know I dole out compliments at most once a year and like a squirrel you must gather up these acorns of kind words to sustain you for the upcoming cold sarcastic months". That last phrase may be a very literal under-statement here in Michigan.

You can see pictures of the house improvements here, pictures of our latest Lansing adventures here, and a video of us at the Bluesfest here. Enjoy!

Our first visitors!

Last week while talking to my Man's parents on the phone and thinking of a good time to visit, we started looking at flights online and came across some super cheap flights for them to come visit... immediately! I'm so glad they jumped at the opportunity! I had already planned (much to my chagrin) to start painting the living room (I had started scraping and sanding already), but their visit was a nice way to get some extra time before the tedious work.

They arrived, thanks to my Man's mother negotiating abilities, a couple hours earlier than they were supposed to on Friday night and we went to have dinner at a restaurant nearby, and then we came back home and pretty much called it a day. Saturday morning we took it easy and then in the afternoon we went to check out an Apple Farm near here that my Man wanted to see. Mind you, we only ventured in the store and the restaurant, but that was enough to get the feel (I assure you)... plus the hot cider was delicious. That afternoon their team played, and blessed be the chickens, they took forever to lose. I continue to refuse to watch American football, so I played Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box on the NintendoDS and then went for a long walk around our neighborhood to keep myself entertained.

Ahh, the country life...

On Sunday we made our first day trip that didn't include visiting friends (Grand Rapids) or shopping for furniture (Detroit IKEA) since we have been here: we went to Grand Haven so that my Man's parents (and us) could see Lake Michigan from the Michigan shore. That was a lot of fun. I was really excited about the lighthouse, which apparently is really old... It was cool to walk by the lake beach, though I was surprised to see people in their bathing suits going for a swim in the water since, according to a lady we overheard telling her friends, "it was so cold I started hyperventilating". After a long walk by the inlet and the pier, we stopped to have a late lunch at some sea food place by the inlet, and then basically just strolled back to the car and drove back home... It was a fun day and I really can't wait to explore some more of Michigan!

Grand Haven Lighthouse and Lake Michigan...

My Man went back to work yesterday, so before meeting him for lunch, I took my Man's parents to tour the State Capitol (I love it!). We had lunch at Pablo's Panaderia, where I unfortunately learned that no events were planned to celebrate the Mexican Independence Day (which is celebrated at midnight tonight). If I had friends I would definitely have a party, but oh well... maybe next year. After lunch my Man went back to work and we walked to check out the Brenke Fish Ladder by the Grand River, hoping to see some jumping salmon since on Sunday some fishermen had told us they were fishing for salmon, but we didn't see any. I'll have to go back soon and see if I have better luck. In the afternoon we just chilled around the house, took a little walk around the neighborhood, and then it was time to go pick my Man up from work.

Searching for salmon at the Brenke Ladder...

Yesterday evening I attended my first workshop to be a tutor at the Capital Area Literacy Coalition. I decided that now that we are more settled, I really want to be a part of my community by doing volunteer work, so CALC really looks like a good option, especially since I could be an English as a Second Language (ESL) tutor for immigrants. I figured that may be something I can relate to, especially after having taken German lessons recently (and thus knowing how hard it can be to learn another language as an adult!). We shall see how this goes. So far I like the idea of committing 2 h/week for 6 months at the time, since I could definitely continue doing this after finding a job (hopefully soon).

This morning I dropped off my Man at work and then his parents at the airport and so now I'm back at home trying to get some stuff done. Shutterfly is having a sale on their photo albums, so now is my chance to get our Berlin photo album printed. Believe me, it has been fun going through thousands of pictures and selecting a couple for posterity!

You can see pictures of our latest Lansing adventures here, the Grand Haven day trip here, and a little video of the Grand Haven pier and lighthouse here. Enjoy!

Last days of summer...

Things are moving along here in Spartan Country (ahh...). This week we had our dining table and sideboard delivered, purchased some chairs at the World Market (I could get lost in that store, love it!), and had a guy come and order some blinds for our dining room, living room and bedroom. No more WASP-living with people seeing inside the house from the street! Maybe it's because I'm Mexican, but it just feels like my life is on display... I know most Americans don't worry about the privacy of their homes and people peeking into their homes, but it's just not for me...

The next project is to paint the living room (classic taupe seems to be choice), and I can't wait for it to be finished so I can finally unpack our books (let me tell you, reading is a very heavy hobby!!!) and our world treasures! After that I really hope the nesting slows down... especially for the sake of our wallet! With me being not-too-happily-unemployed these days, there's only so much money you can spend on house prettifying every month without fearing perhaps you've gone too far. I had been pretty busy playing house these last weeks (wait, can I still "play" house even if said house is mine already? Or, should I say, even if I am paying to own said house in full 30 years from now?), but yesterday and today I was able to catch a break and do a second round of job search and sending applications to many environmental consulting companies in the area. I'm still hoping I can get a job at the state level, so I'm keeping my eyes open for that. Keep your fingers crossed!

We have a table y'all!!!

Other than that... not much going on. Today I went for a 3 mi run for the first time in what feels forever. I'm still very so much out of shape, but I'm hoping I can get it back during the first weeks of the fall, when the weather will be nice and cool. I've already signed up for some classes at the Y, so that should keep me motivated. I'm still trying to find friends, but with no job (or dog or child) it is very hard to do so. I've gotten in touch with some environmental activist groups in the area, so I hope that once I start attending meetings, I'll meet some people. There's only so much gratification I can get from my friends on the internets before I start appearing like a stalker you know...

My Man is still very happy with his job and yesterday his heart started beating again after his chickens won the first game of the season. Ah... if only I could start caring about sports and be truly green, I'm sure I'd fit right in here!

You can see the latest pictures in our home adventures here and some pictures from our East Lansing life here. Enjoy!