There's Much I Don't Understand......

You never know who or what you'll see when shopping.

A Pittsburgh-area mall was evacuated after a bear was spotted entering the main doors about 9 p.m. Saturday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Wildlife conservation officers were able to lure the small female brown bear toward the entrance where she was trapped between the double doors and shot twice with a tranquilizer gun, officials said.

No one was hurt during the incident. "It was probably more frightened than anything," said a wildlife conservation officer. "For the most part that bear wanted to get away from everybody."..... Which is probably why the bear showed up just before closing time. 

Bears, as you may know, are notoriously bad shoppers, usually waiting until the last minute to pick up needed supplies. It was never clear what the female bear was looking for, however, she was in front of a lingerie store giving some the idea she was looking for a teddy.

I had my post colonoscopy follow up this morning. I am happy to report all is well. As my Grandma Sophie used to say, "We should all live and be well." I will have another procedure in five years. 

Wanda usually checks the mailbox when she gets home, yesterday I did. One envelope from Sutter Delta Medical Center. I really hate I'm programmed to think it must be a bill, it was a survey. A dozen questions pertaining to my morning in the Ambulatory Surgery Center. I'll fill it out today and give the very best response I can. I'm still looking for a bill so no sense getting anyone mad at me. 

I just thought "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.".....really? Who wants to catch flies?

Yesterday I heard the expression Bat shit crazy in the movie "Moneyball." It was the third or fourth time in the past week I've heard it. Is there a script writers words de jour list? I blogged about one word responses like seriously and really and I understand them. But, Bat shit crazy I don't.

Is Bat shit crazy any more crazy than just plain nuts? Bats happen to be very highly evolved creatures. They can navigate in pitch black using a built in sonar, nothing crazy about that. Also, I have heard that bat shit, or as it should be called, guano, is used to enrich soil. Again, nothing crazy about that. 

I just found the origin of Bat shit crazy is probably from batty or bats in the belfry. When is that last time you used or heard the word belfry? At this point I am no closer to discovering why this expression is used so often. Oh well, I'm not going to drive myself nuts over it. 

If you have been following the trials and tribulations of the expedition through my insurance quagmire, you'll love this.

To come up to speed: The first week of July I received two identical letters informing me I needed to change doctors. One of these letters should have gone to my current treating doctors office. I eventually discovered this error and hand delivered the letter. At this point I don't think the insurance company error is a problem. Yesterday I found a new doctor using the list provided by the insurance company. My first appointment is scheduled for the second week in August.

A footnote not in the foot. The doc I have been seeing is not on this insurance company list of approved physicians but six in his group are.

Home phone rings: When am I going to learn to stop answering the phone when the caller I.D. lists Private Caller? Must have something to do with my age? I remember before we had caller I.D. Hell, I remember when we had a party line. I digress.

The letter THEY sent (insurance company now referred to as THEY) had the following last paragraph: If you have any questions regarding the above information, please contact your claims adjuster who is your contact for MPM information. Sincerely, 

typed was the following:

Adjusters Name

Claims Examiner

Phone Number

E Mail address* (remember this)

MPM information is the list of approved docs. Since I was asked to inform them when I had a new physician and an appointment date, I did. Knowing how difficult it is to make phone contact and wanting something in writing I sent an e mail.

I will block out most of the private information but I think you'll get the point.

Here is the e mail exchange with the insurance adjuster.

To:

I have a scheduled appointment at 10:15AM on August 14, 2012 with 

Doctors Name  (page 3 of your provided list)

Address

Phone number

Please contact them to arrange necessary paperwork for transfer of care.

Thank you,

Charles Shulak

Claim Number Here

Phone Number

From:

out of the office on 07/20/12-7/23/12 and will be back on 07/24/12
please contact XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX.

Thank you

Then a minute later:

Who is this ?

WHO IS THIS? YOU SENT IT TO ME, and all the information I originally sent was included in the body of the e mail.

Then:

This is an unauthorized e-mail and will not be approved.

Please contact the intended party by phone XXX-XXXXXXX

Before I opened the e mail my phone rang. It was the adjuster who was very agitated. How dare I use the e-mail address? How did I get it as it was private? Then she told me she "could get in a lot of trouble." I was supposed to call her, NOT use e mail. And then, over the phone I gave her all the same information I sent in the e mail.

I have had four or five adjusters over the last few years and have used e mail with all of them. These people have a large case load are often away from their desks and are not great about returning phone calls. This is the 21st. century, everyone uses e mail. Everyone that is except this woman.

I also said her e mail address was included in the letter she sent me. She then said that was a mistake and she was, "going to find out who sent that letter, etc etc." 

Now I'm wondering is this normal? Is this the way to conduct business? Whatever it is, it's driving me Bat shit crazy.