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[John G.]

Last summer I received an email from Cedars-Sinai asking if I want to do an at-home FIT test. Yes. I'm a fan of at-home tests and the FIT test can catch colon cancer in its early stages. I requested a test kit, but never received it. I emailed to submit a second request, but received no reply and no test kit. This is so typical of Cedars (and others). Last week I received an email from United Healthcare, telling me to be sure to send in the FIT test. This FIT test would have come directly from them, but I've received nothing from them, nor did I know they were sending them out. I called to request one. Usually the UHC people are very competent and helpful, but this person was difficult to understand and hadn't a clue what a FIT test was. I had been told to stay on the line to take a survey, but no survey came on, so I couldn't even complain about her.

The moral of this story (take your pick):
It's very difficult to obtain health care during Covid.
The gods are angry.
Most large medical groups are incompetent when it comes to admin.
Some things are not meant to be.   

Being FIT is overrated.

[John G.]

Three!

[John G.]

I suspect something is amiss in the heavens today.

I would second that. A friend asked I were still in pain. I said I was too stressed to be in pain.

You can't be both?

I’m sure you can. But I was too stressed to notice.

[Jeanne]

I grew up eating a lot of Mexican food and still enjoy it. My mother was not a particularly good cook, but she learned how to make tacos and they were a favorite. In those days supermarkets didn't sell tortillas. We would drive to a little place on Sawtelle, just south of Santa Monica Blvd, where they made fresh corn tortillas. I was always fascinated as the tortillas made their way on the big tortilla machine. Thinking back on it now I don't see why they needed a big machine, but that's how they did things. The tortillas were still warm and quite delicious.

[Ginny]

Monday evening greetings!

I am back and can now tell you what Richard and I did over the weekend.  On Friday we drove to my niece Laura’s home in Normal, Illinois, to avoid having to stay in a hotel for the “main event” taking place Sunday in Wheaton, Illinois - Charlotte Berenice’s baptism.

[Jeanne]

Stress begone vibes to John G and the rest of us!

[Jeanne]

I tried making tortillas at home many years ago, but there is indeed an art to it. I didn't stick with it long enough to learn it.

[Jeanne]

I used to make Mexican food at home. I'd put a frozen Amy's enchilada dinner into the oven.

[Ginny]

We couldn’t stay at Rob and Mary Linda’s because they were at capacity with the other grandparents, an aunt, and a great grandmother.  Another set of great grandparents stayed with friends nearby.  Even though it was a 2-hour drive each way, staying with my niece worked well for us.

[Jeanne]

I LOVE cheese enchiladas with green sauce. I had to stop eating it, though, because cheese aggravates my allergies. So these days I stick to veggie tacos without the cheese.

[Ginny]

The baptism service, which followed strict health protocols, was at 4pm, preceded by brunch at Rob and Mary Linda’s, which also followed somewhat strict health protocols.  We drove up yesterday morning and left as soon as the service concluded.  We spent last night at Laura’s and had a smooth trip home today.

It was a giant leap for us, appreciated by Charlotte’s parents, but we’re glad to be back in our quarantine bubble and looking forward to visiting next month when it’s just us.

[Jeanne]

I agree with John G about not having to buy all the ingredients and doing all the cooking. I like to go out for Mexican food, even if it's just take-out. I also like to support the little mom-and-pop Mexican restaurant that I go to. (The owners are Armenian, BTW.) I went there today, in fact.

[singdaw]

So glad you had a good trip, DR Ginny, and were able to participate in this milestone family event.

[singdaw]

I'm on tenterhooks about this damn election.


I don't know what tenterhooks are, exactly, but I'm on 'em.

[singdaw]

~~~CONTINUING MEDICAL VIBES~~~ for DR John G. and for DR Jeanne.

[Jeanne]

DR Ginny, it's nice that you were able to attend.

[Jeanne]

~~~CONTINUING MEDICAL VIBES~~~ for DR John G. and for DR Jeanne.

Thanks, Sing. My frustration with the system is nothing compared to what you've just been through.

Vibes for your continued improvement.

[Jeanne]

I will be VERY glad when the election is over, the votes counted, and a winner declared. I hope to God things stay relatively calm.

[Jeanne]

Vibes for CALM and coping to all.

[Laura]

And the ads stop, and the ugly signs come down ...

[Ginny]

Thank you, DRs Singdaw and Jeanne!

[Jeanne]

I'm up, I'm up - seven-and-a-half hours of sleep - up at eleven and right to the bank, who, much to my chagrin JUST changed its policy about the way I cash personal checks and deposit into the business account.  Now, there's a day wait, which I'm not having.  I was on the verge of getting belligerent but it wasn't the teller's fault and she felt bad about it and said it's affecting everyone, including employees.  So, I drove to the bank on which the check was drawn in Studio City to find "branch closed" - I know they reopened three months ago, so I then had to drive back to Sherman Oaks and go to THAT branch, cash the check (no one in line, thankfully), go back to my bank and deposit.  They told me Studio City closed for some repairs to their lighting system.  So, what should have taken ten minutes took an hour and fifteen minutes.

There have been quite a lot of branch closings--BofA, Wells Fargo, US Bank. Usually no notice given, nor explanation, nor date of reopening. It's very inconvenient. I wonder if the branch managers were having a meltdown and just decided to not open that day.

[Laura]

I'm glad you got to go, Ginny. If you are like me, you'll be nervous for the next 14 days.

[Jeanne]

Couldn't bear the thought of making food here again, so tried a new place next to the mail place.  It's only been there for about six years and I've never gone in because I hate when any pizza place is called "wood fire".  But it got good notices on Yelp so...  Had one slice of pepperoni pizza and a sub of ham, salami, pepperoni, tomato, lettuce, and Eyetalian dressing.  The slice was very good and the sandwich, which was the size of a "regular" Subway, was great. 

It's fun to find new places you like to eat. Glad you gave it a try and liked it.

[Jeanne]

TTFN.

[bk]

Spent most of the day getting everything ready for the new release announcement at midnight tomorrow night.  I'm hoping if people are happy, they'll purchase, and if people are angry, they'll purchase just as a way to relieve the angry

[Ginny]

I'm glad you got to go, Ginny. If you are like me, you'll be nervous for the next 14 days.

Yes, for all of us...

[Jane]

I suspect something is amiss in the heavens today.

I would second that. A friend asked I were still in pain. I said I was too stressed to be in pain.

I just took a deep breath.

[Jane]

Last summer I received an email from Cedars-Sinai asking if I want to do an at-home FIT test. Yes. I'm a fan of at-home tests and the FIT test can catch colon cancer in its early stages. I requested a test kit, but never received it. I emailed to submit a second request, but received no reply and no test kit. This is so typical of Cedars (and others). Last week I received an email from United Healthcare, telling me to be sure to send in the FIT test. This FIT test would have come directly from them, but I've received nothing from them, nor did I know they were sending them out. I called to request one. Usually the UHC people are very competent and helpful, but this person was difficult to understand and hadn't a clue what a FIT test was. I had been told to stay on the line to take a survey, but no survey came on, so I couldn't even complain about her.

The moral of this story (take your pick):
It's very difficult to obtain health care during Covid.
The gods are angry.
Most large medical groups are incompetent when it comes to admin.
Some things are not meant to be.   

  This is ridiculous 

[Jane]

Last summer I received an email from Cedars-Sinai asking if I want to do an at-home FIT test. Yes. I'm a fan of at-home tests and the FIT test can catch colon cancer in its early stages. I requested a test kit, but never received it. I emailed to submit a second request, but received no reply and no test kit. This is so typical of Cedars (and others). Last week I received an email from United Healthcare, telling me to be sure to send in the FIT test. This FIT test would have come directly from them, but I've received nothing from them, nor did I know they were sending them out. I called to request one. Usually the UHC people are very competent and helpful, but this person was difficult to understand and hadn't a clue what a FIT test was. I had been told to stay on the line to take a survey, but no survey came on, so I couldn't even complain about her.

The moral of this story (take your pick):
It's very difficult to obtain health care during Covid.
The gods are angry.
Most large medical groups are incompetent when it comes to admin.
Some things are not meant to be.   

Being FIT is overrated.