Wednesday, January 25, 2006
3 days to vacation!
and thank the lord! I'm ready to have a break from the man! While work is better this week, it's still a moral and ethical (and I fear legal) quagmire. March 17 will come soon enough. Until then, it's almost a challenge to stick it to the man! When I come back, I will work with the recruiter on finding a new assignment. After last week, I have decided I will not extend this contract under any circumstance. We'll see where it goes next. I'd like to stay in CO, Denver or west. If nothing is available, I'll head to Oregon. Oh my crazy, crazy life!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
comfort food
My supervisor is fantastic. I told her the bad stuff that happened at work yesterday and she's totally backing me. The administrative/corporate world has not stolen her soul yet! Hooray!
And now for the comfort foods that make it all seem better...
Yankee cornbread
salmon
fume blanc
I am happy again!
And now for the comfort foods that make it all seem better...
Yankee cornbread
salmon
fume blanc
I am happy again!
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Medicare sucks, and so does management
First, the daily rant...
Medicare catagorizes people according to the amount of therapy they need. This is time based. And the gaps are BIG. The "high" level of therapy is 325 minutes a week, and "very high" is 500. That's a lot of gap. And, that makes PT managers want you to do the minimum number of minutes to achieve the appropriate level, so you don't "waste time" on minutes treating a patient that you won't get paid for. So, if you need 400 minutes of therapy, I'm going to get paid for 325 since that's the lower level (they pay the lesser, not over). So, my manager wants me to only see the patient for 325 minutes instead of the 400 they need. They all say "it's whatever the patients need" but they don't mean it. For those of you who know me, you'll know how bad this chaps my ass, and that I won't limit the treatment a patient needs based on their reimbursement. I'm glad I won't work for this group permanently, as I will eventually wind up in the principal's office over the principle of the matter. This is why I NEVER want to be management. Somebody else will always have to deal with the likes of therapists like me!
And now, here are some funny (though late) pictures...
The first is me, Pooh King, and Oz on New Year's Day. Pooh King is laughing because Oz got a bath at his request.
The next is Amanda being excited about her birthday. Sorry, had to delete it due to sensitive info. Better luck next time.
Medicare catagorizes people according to the amount of therapy they need. This is time based. And the gaps are BIG. The "high" level of therapy is 325 minutes a week, and "very high" is 500. That's a lot of gap. And, that makes PT managers want you to do the minimum number of minutes to achieve the appropriate level, so you don't "waste time" on minutes treating a patient that you won't get paid for. So, if you need 400 minutes of therapy, I'm going to get paid for 325 since that's the lower level (they pay the lesser, not over). So, my manager wants me to only see the patient for 325 minutes instead of the 400 they need. They all say "it's whatever the patients need" but they don't mean it. For those of you who know me, you'll know how bad this chaps my ass, and that I won't limit the treatment a patient needs based on their reimbursement. I'm glad I won't work for this group permanently, as I will eventually wind up in the principal's office over the principle of the matter. This is why I NEVER want to be management. Somebody else will always have to deal with the likes of therapists like me!
And now, here are some funny (though late) pictures...
The first is me, Pooh King, and Oz on New Year's Day. Pooh King is laughing because Oz got a bath at his request.
The next is Amanda being excited about her birthday. Sorry, had to delete it due to sensitive info. Better luck next time.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Hadley is a genius
Okay, so this weekend I had the very good fortune of spending some time on the phone with my pal Jeff Hadley. (This would be Jeff, half of the "boys across the hall" duo of Hadley and B. Dent, of Fayetteville fame.) We had a great talk, and he added a great quote to my collection. In reference to my terrible "I'm alone, I'm fat, and nobody wants me" week (which, by the way, I am totally over) I have decided that, like the great Eleanor Roosevelt, who said "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission," I am fine. Jeff had this to add...
"When we crash, it comes from a wrong reaction, not the turbulence. When the weather gets tough, what really matters is what happens in us, not to us." ~John Maxwell
He is a very wise young man, this Jeff Hadley. Very wise indeed. And one of the two reasons I would go back to Fayetteville, NC. The other reason being, of course, B. Dent.
"When we crash, it comes from a wrong reaction, not the turbulence. When the weather gets tough, what really matters is what happens in us, not to us." ~John Maxwell
He is a very wise young man, this Jeff Hadley. Very wise indeed. And one of the two reasons I would go back to Fayetteville, NC. The other reason being, of course, B. Dent.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Add the DMV to the list
So, today went something like this...
Good day at work. The first one that hasn't really had a bad few hours since I got here. My brain injury guy even woke up.
Take Tough Lucy Dodge to the body shop to have the estimate for the repair work done. (By the way, Tough Lucy was assaulted by an unknown person with a criminal nature in the mall parking lot on Amanda's birthday.) A dent I wouldn't have even noticed were it not for a bit of paint being removed, will cost almost $1500 to repair. Thank god for State Farm Auto Insurance. Really. My wonderful insurance company cut my $500 deductable to $250 because it was an unidentified person, and they cover the rest of the work. So, thanks to Hank's Auto Body, Tough Lucy is in for a little nip and tuck. Meanwhile, Enterprise has provided me with a 2006 Hyundai Sonata for the 7 days Tough Lucy will be in the shop. It's actually a very sporty little car and drives like a sports car compared to Tough Lucy. I'll really have to watch my speed!
While doing the rental car paperwork, I realized my license will expire on my birthday. A quick check to the Alaska DMV website only to find out that my license can only be renewed in person. They'll be happy to fax me a letter extending my license, but won't send me a new one. Shit. I could have had it renewed while I was in Fairbanks this summer, but just didn't think that far ahead. So, I think I'm going to have to switch to a CO license until I get back to AK in July. Not nearly as cool to flash a CO license!!!! Boooooooooooooo!!!!
Oz is going crazy flipping a fake mouse around. Pooh King is wishing I would come hold down the couch with him. I've been to the gym, and am ready to settle in for a night of Must See TV. Life is good, except for the DMV.
Good day at work. The first one that hasn't really had a bad few hours since I got here. My brain injury guy even woke up.
Take Tough Lucy Dodge to the body shop to have the estimate for the repair work done. (By the way, Tough Lucy was assaulted by an unknown person with a criminal nature in the mall parking lot on Amanda's birthday.) A dent I wouldn't have even noticed were it not for a bit of paint being removed, will cost almost $1500 to repair. Thank god for State Farm Auto Insurance. Really. My wonderful insurance company cut my $500 deductable to $250 because it was an unidentified person, and they cover the rest of the work. So, thanks to Hank's Auto Body, Tough Lucy is in for a little nip and tuck. Meanwhile, Enterprise has provided me with a 2006 Hyundai Sonata for the 7 days Tough Lucy will be in the shop. It's actually a very sporty little car and drives like a sports car compared to Tough Lucy. I'll really have to watch my speed!
While doing the rental car paperwork, I realized my license will expire on my birthday. A quick check to the Alaska DMV website only to find out that my license can only be renewed in person. They'll be happy to fax me a letter extending my license, but won't send me a new one. Shit. I could have had it renewed while I was in Fairbanks this summer, but just didn't think that far ahead. So, I think I'm going to have to switch to a CO license until I get back to AK in July. Not nearly as cool to flash a CO license!!!! Boooooooooooooo!!!!
Oz is going crazy flipping a fake mouse around. Pooh King is wishing I would come hold down the couch with him. I've been to the gym, and am ready to settle in for a night of Must See TV. Life is good, except for the DMV.
Sunday, January 8, 2006
National Western Stock Show
The Stock Show was great. The Mexican Rodeo, horses, chicks, and a piglet and calf show that love crosses all lines. What a blast.
The kind of week it's been...
This week I discovered a few things that will make you feel fat, old, and alone...
1) looking for ski pants that will not split if you happen to cartwheel down a hill.
2) Falling asleep on the couch at 10:30 on New Year's Eve... by yourself.
3) Finding out that your ex-boyfriend (who I still don't want) who swore he would never get over you and that you ruined his life, in fact, found someone else to marry a year after you broke up.
4) Having an old lady at the nursing home tell you you're much too pretty to be so fat, and that you've probably missed the marriage boat. (I almost told her she was going to die soon.)
I look at my life and love it. It is exactly as I have chosen it to be, and yet when stuff like the above happens, I think to myself "Self, what the hell are you doing?" If I knew where I wanted to settle down, this week I would be sorely tempted to go do it.
On the upswing, when I have weeks like this, the universe tends to send me a little something to let me know I'm okay. Like the new contract OT that's working at my facility, who is also single and traveling alone. She and I are going to the National Western Stock Show this afternoon to see if we can land some cowboys. Now, where did I put my red lipstick???
1) looking for ski pants that will not split if you happen to cartwheel down a hill.
2) Falling asleep on the couch at 10:30 on New Year's Eve... by yourself.
3) Finding out that your ex-boyfriend (who I still don't want) who swore he would never get over you and that you ruined his life, in fact, found someone else to marry a year after you broke up.
4) Having an old lady at the nursing home tell you you're much too pretty to be so fat, and that you've probably missed the marriage boat. (I almost told her she was going to die soon.)
I look at my life and love it. It is exactly as I have chosen it to be, and yet when stuff like the above happens, I think to myself "Self, what the hell are you doing?" If I knew where I wanted to settle down, this week I would be sorely tempted to go do it.
On the upswing, when I have weeks like this, the universe tends to send me a little something to let me know I'm okay. Like the new contract OT that's working at my facility, who is also single and traveling alone. She and I are going to the National Western Stock Show this afternoon to see if we can land some cowboys. Now, where did I put my red lipstick???
Thursday, January 5, 2006
DP stands for dog poop
The DP used to be a fun place to go. Pooh King and Teva would run and play and sniff and whiz. A good time was had by all. Now it is just a place for Pooh King to go in the evening, jog out to his favorite spot, drop a bomb, sniff a few spots, then come back and wait to get back on the leash. It's boring without Amanda and Teva here. Oz is still crazy.
Tuesday, January 3, 2006
Amanda's birthday
It's Amanda's birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hoooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!
The Italian Jedi won the vote, and we will be headed there after we pick up my friends Ben and Traci (and their beautiful baby Bethany) at the airport.
The Italian Jedi won the vote, and we will be headed there after we pick up my friends Ben and Traci (and their beautiful baby Bethany) at the airport.
Sunday, January 1, 2006
A New Year vote
Happy New Year!
Now, on to the vote.
Tuesday is Amanda's birthday. I will take her out to dinner, and the place is to be decided by the court of public opinion! That's right, you get to vote and the birthday girl will be taken to the winning restaurant.
Here are your choices...
Rodizzio's: A Brazilian grill where everything is served on a stick!
Viva Napoli: the Italian place the Italian Jedi owns (see Amanda's blog: www.livinginamandaland.com)
La Fonda's: A Mexican restaurant across the street from the ghetto nursing home I work at. Of note, I have never met a person of Mexican heritage named LaFonda.
Now, comment and vote! You have until 5pm on Tuesday!
Now, on to the vote.
Tuesday is Amanda's birthday. I will take her out to dinner, and the place is to be decided by the court of public opinion! That's right, you get to vote and the birthday girl will be taken to the winning restaurant.
Here are your choices...
Rodizzio's: A Brazilian grill where everything is served on a stick!
Viva Napoli: the Italian place the Italian Jedi owns (see Amanda's blog: www.livinginamandaland.com)
La Fonda's: A Mexican restaurant across the street from the ghetto nursing home I work at. Of note, I have never met a person of Mexican heritage named LaFonda.
Now, comment and vote! You have until 5pm on Tuesday!
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