Not Going Outside.....Today.

The sun us out, the sky is blue, it's 29 outside and my lips are too.

There's something very wrong about scraping ice off car windows every morning for a week.

I'm going to start with an I'M PISSED OFF.

One week ago today I had my monthly go to the doctors appointment. On the way home I stopped at Safeway. I always give the pharmacy my new prescriptions closer to the "out date" which is tomorrow. Unless I have a special circumstance the insurance company will not approve it more than three days in advance. Since I was there I asked the pharmacist if I could leave the Rx with him. 

"Sure Mr. Shulak, we'll put it in the system and take care of it for you." Last Monday I called the pharmacy to check on the prescription. I asked them to put it in for approval.

My insurance carrier uses a managed heath care company for their medication controls. Oak Care is open for calls 24/7, I called at 8 a.m. After navigating the menu and listing to muzak at ear bleed levels a person finally answered. "No sir, we haven't been contacted since December 17. You should call your pharmacy."

At 9:10 a.m. I called the pharmacy. "Mr. Shulak, somethings not right here. Your prescription is getting kicked back for prior authorization again. I'll call Oak and find out what's holding it up." A minute later she called me back to let me know "Oak's computers are down I'll call back in an hour." 

I think I know what the problems are. 

A pharmacy staff that's overworked, computers that are not capable of critical thinking (which is probably a good thing), and a health care company that is more concerned about money than people. 

And while I'm on the subject of health care. I'm trying to find out if I have coverage for the Shingles Vaccine. Medicare on-line informed me Part A hospitalization does not cover the shot. Part B does not cover the shot. Part D may cover the shot, but I need to check with Humana. 

The Humana web site must be designed to confuse and bewilder a user to the point of surrender. After finding all the information I didn't want or need, I called. I did the menu thing and was told I had the wrong department. "You want customer service, here is that number, I think."

"Thank you for calling Humana. Your call is very important to us. Please listen to the entire menu as our options have changed. If you are a doctor or nurse press one. If you are a pharmacy or case manager press two. If you are a patient press three." I was torn between one and three but settled on three.

"Thank you for calling Humana. Your call is very important to us. Due to high call volume your wait time will be longer than expected. (for me that would be about 45 seconds) You may want to call back later in the week (it's Thursday, how much later can it get) or check our web site at www etc. 

After 30-40 minutes I was back on the web site I couldn't decipher the first time. So, I sent Humana an e-mail that asked, Am I covered for a Shingles Vaccination? What will I get first, an answer to my question, or Shingles?

A coincidence, maybe? Part of the blog entry yesterday was devoted to money and extravagance. "When You Can (And Can't) Buy Happiness" is an article on my home page this morning. Here's a portion of what it has to say.

1. Expensive cars: Not Happy. A noted psychologist says humans simply get used to new possessions over time diminishing the happiness they bring us. People think a new BMW would great and at first it is. Once we get used to it and we don't notice it so much, the happiness is gone. By the time the fourth or fifth payment comes due we question why we bought the damn thing. 

2. Travel and leisure: Happy. Life experiences are social in nature. Events or vacations are usually shared with others. They become a much greater part of who we are than material possessions. We are the sum total of our experiences.

3. Gadgets: Sometimes Happy. It all depends on how you use the new tablet, or phone, or game console. If it's used to interact socially you can experience much joy and happiness. If you play games alone, on your couch, in your pj's, while drinking beer and eating potato chips. If you haven't taken a shower in a week because your avatar is in the ninth level of "Baulders Gate" and you just need to find the Gold Scrod. If you are living in your parents basement. You may not be so happy.

4. Small material household appliances: Not Happy. The author uses a fondue set as an example. He writes, I purchased it with the idea of having weekly fondue events with my friends. That would have been a social setting and that brings happiness. However, I never took it out of the box, so it collects dust, it was expensive and that purchase makes me unhappy.

The man should be happy he didn't have a party. Food and wine is expensive. He would have used it once and then it would collect dust. Fondue, Is it making a return?

5. Gifts for others: Happy. If you buy a product for someone else as a gift, that gift-giving experience will usually bring you happiness. The old saying, it's better to give than to receive holds true. So, the next time someone asks what you want for a birthday, don't wave them off. Let them buy you a thoughtful gift, it'll make them happy.

I wish I'd known this last month. Now I'm going to have to wait until next December to make my family and friends happy. I want a new BMW by the way.

So it seems, once again, someone is saying the key to happiness is sharing, and caring, and living with others. 

Once in a while I re post an item sent to me. I currently have one in the file from Avie. I was thinking of using it today, but, I just received photocopies of newspaper headlines from Wanda. I can't think of a better way to close out the week. You'll need to use a little imagination.

From an e-mail titled: Why You Should Still Buy The Newspaper. Where have all the proofreaders gone?

Diana Was Still Alive Hours Before She Died
Missippi's literacy program shows improvement
Bugs flying around with wings are flying bugs
Republicans turned off by size of Obama's package
Girls' schools still offering something special' -head (the head of the school is quoted)
Illiteracy an obstable, study finds
Tiger Woods plays with own balls, Nike says
Statistics show that teen pregnancy drops off significantly after age 25
Federal Agents Raid Gun Shop, Find Weapons
Marijuana issue sent to a joint committee
Homeless survive winter: Now what?
Homicide victims rarely talk to police
Worker suffers leg pain after crane drops 800 pound ball on his head
Bridges help people cross river
City unsure why sewer smells
Study Shows Frequent Sex Enhances Pregnancy Chances
Meeting on open meetings closed
Man Accused of Killing Lawyer Receives a New Attorney
Caskets found as workers demolish mausoleum
Man with 8 DUI's blames drinking problem
New sick policy requires 2-day notice
Nudists fight erection towers near Wreck Beach
Parents keep kids home to protest school closure
Rally against apathy draws small crowd
Starvation can lead to health hazards
Total lunar eclipse will be broadcast live on Northwoods Public Radio
and last but not least:
Miracle Cure kills Fifth Patient

Talk to you all next Monday.