Wednesday, February 12, 2014

THAT'S IT!!!

Can I just say that if you have a chronic health issue be prepared for dealing with a MAJOR load of crap if you are EVER required to change your health insurance.
All you folks who lost your insurance coverage and had to find a new one due to Obamacare are in for a real treat, yessirree!

I am sitting on hold on the phone for the FOURTH WEEK now, dealing with changing my health coverage to a new provider and trying to coordinate the changing of my durable medical goods(DME) coverage from my old healthcare provider's company to the new healthcare provider's company.

Words can not express to you what a colossal PITA of an ordeal this has been.
Between the layers of bureaucracy of the medical establishment I am dealing with and the layers of stupidity that make up the insurance company and it's all too numerous contracted-out "partners", all of whom know not what the other is doing, I am about ready to swallow my tongue in frustration!

I have spent upwards of 2 hours each day that I have to call on the phone, explaining and re-explaining this crap until I am blue in the face.  And then I am told to wait a few days to follow up.
And when I follow up, guess what?  NOTHING has changed and we are still at square one and we get to go through this crap again.
It's like "Waiting for Godot's Insurance".....

It's almost 6 weeks now and I have no coverage for my DMEs because these @#%%^#$!@ people can't get their collective shit together!
My current(soon to be EX) DME provider was told on January 15th the information for my new healthcare provider and to bill them.
But that hasn't stopped them from continuing to bill my old healthcare provider who of course, is paying NOTHING to them, as the numerous EOBs I have been receiving state.
OMG!  What a bunch of buffoons!

I foresee receiving bills and collection notices from that old DME in the future since they won't bill the new healthcare provider, as they should be, for payment.  They are lazy asses and will just not even try to collect from the company they SHOULD be collecting from and will end up coming after us.
And guess who is NOT paying for their stupidity?!
Me.

And I can't get rid of this old DME company until the new insurance company preauthorizes that I need this bunch of equipment and will cover it's cost.
So I am stuck unless I just send all the DMEs I currently have back and stop using them altogether, and possibly die in my sleep because I don't have them.
How nice.

That's one way to get rid of a healthcare consumer you don't want to shell out $$$ for who might cut into your corporate profits.....

All you young people out there, take my advise---

Stop smoking, drinking, eating, doing anything that can injure you(riding in vehicles, participating in organized sports, going out in public places, etc.)and never get any terminal or chronic diseases because you inherited bad genes.

Because if you have to deal with the bureaucratic bullshit that I've been dealing with(let alone having to take care of your health issues), you are better off just jumping off a bridge.

Going off now to relax before I stroke out.
Seriously.
I just want to scream at one of these customer service automatons.
And if I get caught in yet another voice mail phone tree hell I am going to take a sledgehammer to the phone.

Sluggy

Well That was a Big Waste of Time

A short film where I try to replicate that Facebook thing I posted about how to open a beer bottle with a magnet and a quarter.......




Yes folks, I truly need a life.

And no, Hubs wouldn't let me use one of his beers to try this again.


When this trick doesn't work for you, check out what WILL actually open your bottle.....



You'd better keep those rings you bought Sonya Ann. lol

Sluggy

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Travel Goals

While I still haven't come up with a List of Goals for 2014, I have been spending a good deal of time thinking about where I want to GO in 2014.
Yes, I love to travel!
But I don't fly.....



I have even started compiling a list of where, if I had my way and unlimited funds, I would like to go this year.......

March--to an informal blogger gathering in DELAWARE
April/May--to see my daughter in LOUISIANA, with stops along the way in TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY & an excursion into TEXAS.
June--to a 150th Anniversary commemoration of a WBTS's event in VIRGINIA
July or August--for a vacation in MAINE  Mmmm......lobsters
September--to the Family Reunion again in VIRGINIA
October--for our mini vacation in MARYLAND

Also, but not at any specific time in the year  in these places.............
To MASSACHUSETTS to see my Aunt and cousins
To ILLINOIS/WISCONSIN to see my 9th cousin  ;-)
To Pittsburgh again to visit with #1 Son
To CANADA as I haven't been there in YEARS

Of course, Hubs doesn't get NEARLY enough vacation days to do all this.....and I am a nervous nelly anymore about driving myself long distances alone.
Plus I'd probably have a coronary if we spent what all this would cost, even on the cheap!

So it won't all be happening this year.
Sigh.

I do know that the trip to see my daughter will be happening as Hubs got time off for it in April.....woohoo!

Spring break here I come. lolz


How about you?
Do you like to travel?
Where do you like to go on vacation?

Sluggy

Monday, February 10, 2014

This Week on the Dining Table



It's the "Can We Please Not Get Anymore Snow for Awhile?!" Edition


 
Here is what was planned last week---
 
Sunday--Leftovers or FFY(I was the only one home)
Monday--Tuna Noodle Casserole, Grilled Asparagus
Tuesday--Kielbasa and Onions on Rolls, Brussell Sprouts
Wednesday--Roast Chicken, Collards, Smashed Rutabaga
Thursday--Eating Out, #2 Son at District Band Comp.
Friday--Chicken Fajitas(using leftover chicken from Wed.)
Saturday--Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Leftovers of FFY(Fend For Yourself)
 
And here is what actually happened---
 
Sunday--Leftovers or FFY(I was the only one home)
Monday--Tuna Noodle Casserole, Grilled Asparagus
Tuesday--Kielbasa and Onions on Rolls, Brussell Sprouts
Wednesday--Roast Chicken, Collards, Smashed Rutabaga
Thursday--Eating Out at Bob Evans using gift card
Friday--Fend for Yourself(I was home alone)
Saturday--Chicken Fajitas(using leftover chicken from Wed.)

Everything served as planned except I forgot I was going to be home along for dinner on Friday so Friday's dinner was prepared Saturday.
Not a big deal.
Eating out used a previously purchases gift card combined with a BOGO Entree free Coupon.
 
I spent a total of.....*sit down for this one!*....$184.53 on groceries last week.
I had spent $51 or so early on in the week, but then Hubs took me to R-A, The local market and Weis PMITA Markets on Saturday and I spent $133+ I wasn't expecting to.  I found some good deals(b/s chicken breast for $1.88 lb. cantaloupes for $1.47, blocks of cheese on special)so I spent.  We also needed dog food last week and that is something we don't buy often but when we do we stock up. 
Even if I spent loads more than usual in 1 week, my savings rate was still 50%, and my savings rate for February so far is 59.15%.
Pretty darn good. 8-))

I don't expect to buy much this coming week since I've planned a menu around what is here for the most part, except for some fresh produce.

If I am trying to do a $300 food budget month, I have already spent $288.40 in February and it's only the 10th!
Holey Moley.

That means I have 14 more days after this coming Saturday to feed us until the month is over and $11.60 left in my food kitty to accomplish this.
Hmmmmm.......
Don't know how I am going to pull THAT off but I'll give it a shot.  ;-)
 
Going into the new week here are the leftovers we have.....
Collards, Chicken Fajita fixings.
 
Here is this week's meal plan----

Sunday--Broiled Cod, Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Onions, Coleslaw
Monday--Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Sugar Snap Peas w/Red Peppers
Tuesday--Chicken in Wine Sauce, Noodles, Broccoli
Wednesday--Hot Dogs w/Coleslaw, Red Potato Salad, Beans(for Hubs/#2 Son)
Thursday--Quiche(freezer), TBD Veggies
Friday--Mushroom Parmesan, Salad
Saturday--Breakfast for Dinner or Leftovers

That makes 6 new meals and 1 leftover or planned over meal.
As I only have enough turkey lunchmeat for 2 lunches so I'll be eating on leftovers for lunches this week after that is gone.

What I need to purchase for this menu?.......maybe some fresh produce or I'll just dig some veggies out of the freezer instead.
 

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?
 

Sluggy

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Saturday at Rite-Aid

Going into last week I had $12 in +Up Rewards expiring on 2/15.
Here is what I got on Saturday 2/8.....


1 x case of Nestle water RAINCHECK price=$2.99 *not pictured*
2 x Cheerios cereal on sale=$5.00
2 x GE light bulb 2-packs on sale $3.99=$7.98
Subtotal.....$15.97

Coupons Used
1 x Nestle water VV Q=.50¢
1 x BOGO Cheerios IPQ=$2.50
2 x $1/1 GE light bulbs ManQ=$2.00
2 x $1/1 GE light bulbs VV Q=$2.00
Coupon total....$7.00

$15.97-$7.00=$8.97
I used $7 in +Up Rewards to pay(1x $5, 1x $2).....$8.97-$7=$1.97 + .08¢=$2.05 OOP

And I received $6 in +Ups back(2 x $3 GE), giving me $11 in +Ups now.

About that Cheerios Coupon, if you haven't gone HERE already, do so soon to access this coupon.  It expires Feb. 15th, so be sure and find a deal on Cheeeios soon and use it!  It's good on most any variety of Cheerios but you can only print it once.

Going into this week at Rite-Aid I have $5 in +Ups that has to be used this week, and $6 in +Ups that I have 2 weeks to use.
I haven't even looked at this week's sales ad so tell me what is worth buying this week at Rite-Aid?

Sluggy