Arrested!

 Well, we have a chilly start to Monday.  When I got up, our temp was 58 (F).  The forecast is for things to warm up to around 68 (F) this afternoon, with rain.  Yepper, we're are still in that rain cycle.  More is expected tomorrow.  I work this afternoon so I don't care.  Tomorrow I don't work.  That'll be a bummer.

I do have to get some blood drawn tomorrow morning.  This is for an AC1 blood test which will check my sugar for the past several weeks.  My blood sugar has always been borderline, like my cholesterol and blood pressure, so I have been through this before.  After tomorrow's test, I will most likely be scheduled to have another blood test in about 6 weeks.  That gives me some time to lose weight.  In the past, that has always made things closer to borderline.

Since my plans for yesterday afternoon were canceled, I got in a really good workout.  I'm adding new exercises.  I had a total of 40 sets.  I'm planning on getting in a row before I got to work this afternoon.

On occasion, I do try and take selfies with Howie.  Yesterday's attempt got me a side eye.

As Rex in DC said, Orangie is vindictive as Hell.  Now, I don't know if it's because everyone in the world laughed at his stupid parade, but at some point yesterday he decided that ICE was going to focus on cities run by Democrats.  Though I think most will agree with me that this is mostly Stevie Miller's doing than Orangie's.  After his short speech at the end of his birthday parade yesterday Orangie just stood on stage and had to be told it was time to leave.  I found it amusing that Melanoma gives him a quick Howie side eye.  

And, of course, that Christian Nationalist assassin has been captured.  This is good.  Even better, he's being charged by the state rather than the Federal Government.  This means that if he is proven guilty the Orange Anus cannot pardon him.  Honestly, that was the first thing that went through my head when I heard that the police had made an arrest.  Also, honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the DOJ attempts to take this case over for that very purpose.  Orangie needs to keep his wack job Christian base happy.

Senior Moment? Or Not?

The outside temps are a nice 60 (F); those adverse to heat need to prep themselves because if the forecast holds we're going to top off around 90 (F).  I find this amusing since my neighbors have been running their window A/C units none stop for the past month, even on those days when the temps dropped down into the 40s (F) over night.  They are going to melt if we get an extended stretch with our temps in the upper 90s (F).  We have another 2 weeks until we legitimately hit summer.

For a Tuesday, I think much was accomplished including 2 loads of laundry which were dried outside.  

I did have my bloodwork yesterday morning, they took 5 vials, rather than the normal 4, as well as a urine sample.  Amusingly enough, I had a senior moment, or maybe I didn't.  My blood gets drawn at the Rossmoyne Clinic.  I used that clinic regularly for years.  Then, 6 years ago my PCP retired and he was replaced by an Asian woman who was a Physician's Assistant.  A few months into Covid, I did something to my shoulder and couldn't move it without having severe pain.  So, I called to make an appointment and... she refused to see me.  She wanted me to leave a voicemail detailing pain, inability to move my shoulder and arm in order for her to decide if I should have x-rays taken.  When I reminded her assistant that I worked for the Great Orange Retailer and was considered an essential employee and was dealing with hundreds of people daily, her assistant told me, "it doesn't make a difference, she's not going to see you."  In my opinion this physician's assistant failed totally; it's why I go to the Lebanon Clinic.  So yesterday, after filling my pee cup, I stepped out of the restroom and saw her assistant sitting next to where I'd sat to have my blood draw, scrolling away on her phone, and that memory flashed through my head and... I walked by the tray where I was supposed to put my specimen.  Was it a senior moment?  Possibly... and possibly not.

Howie's 10 months old today.  He told me he's ready for his closeup.

Orangie's steel tariffs take effect today.  Can a steel TACO be far away?

Because his superior army was only in his head, estimates are that after 3 years of war Orangie's blow bro Vlad has sent one million young Russians to an early grave; if you need to see an actual number, this is it:  1,000,000.  I do think that in his addled brain Orangie was going to be the Ace in the Hole for him to play.  Vlad's problem is that Orangie has done so much damage to America's rep the world is going around us.  

Remember when Orangie told Zelensky he didn't have any cards?  The Guardian is reporting that in fact he's is holding several more cards and is just waiting to play them.  

And, finally, is Orangie's Big Beautiful Tax grab failing?  The truth is that there is so much bad shit in that way too salty piece of legislation that more than a few Republicans are sounding the alarm.  One of the many problems with this hit bit of party authoritarianism is the fact that so many Republican ilk simply rubber stamped it instead of taking the time to read over 1200 pages of horseshit.   Even that horse's ass Scott Perry is complaining, though in his case I think he's more worried about getting re-elected than that fact that this is a piece of donkey trip legislation.

Mow this

 Well, it's one of those early mornings for me.  Awake around 0415.  Crap.  I'll probably take a quick nap before leaving for work.  Thursdays, you know?  Permanently on my work schedule until I decide otherwise.  

Biggie went to the Vet yesterday for his blood work.  $165.  This is, supposedly, to ensure his doggy nsaid is not doing any harm to his liver.  One thing that his changing is how much gabapentin he's getting.  You see, his prescription ran out and they refused to give him a refill until after this bloodwork.  To my surprise, there was no significant change in what I interpret to be his level of pain.  None at all.  So I'm wondering if my concern for him fogged up my perception to the point where I was seeing serious suffering where there wasn't any.  I did get it refilled, but now that he's weened off, I'm going to take a wait and see attitude.

The cuckoo clock is on the wall.  It's loud, but not in a bad way.  

People ask me what I did when I got out of the Navy.  Well, I went to college, grew my hair long, and one summer I got a job at a summer camp where I got to drive around on a large riding lawn mower.  It was over this summer that I made my stage debut in a community theater production of How To Succeed in Business.

And what about Herschel and his 2nd abortion?  Can anyone tell me why this is not surprising?  I'm suspecting there are more, not that his rattled brain remembers them.  

One funny thing I saw on Twitter yesterday was Ronna McDaniel complaining that there were over one million ballots mailed in prior to Fetterman's debate.  She was rather livid, and all I could do was laugh.  Does anyone really believe that those voting for Fetterman are suddenly going to switch over to Oz?  Honestly, the number of complaints about Oz and his statement about women checking with their local politicians prior to getting an abortion far outweighed those against Fetterman and his stroke.

There was also a lot of commentary about Alito's whine that the leak was responsible for members of the Supreme Court getting death threats.  This man is really stupid if he believes it was the leak.  What kind of reaction did he think they were going to get?  Oh, wait, that's right, he's a conservative and we all know that they rarely think.

His Little Wanker

 This is my Thursday with a stutter.  In your normal 5 day work week to day would be my Friday, but I'm repeating my Thursday... or maybe I've got that wrong and I'm going to repeat my Friday.  That makes sense, too.

One thing is true, we are approaching the end of September and fall is not really in the air.  I needed to run the ceiling fans last evening.  We've had some crisp mornings, but so far nothing frosty.  I don't mind the frost, the way it paints lightening jagged patterns on the windshield of my car and a crispy little rinse of frozen white upon my lawn.  Rain is coming later today, and tonight, and tomorrow, so the temps are going to drop.  Sometime soon, we will be getting the inevitable Frost on the Pumpkin.

And, in case anyone is wondering, that is not my yard and that is not my pumpkin.

I see where the Idiot Jerk in the White House is now suggesting Biden should undergo a blood test to prove he isn't using any mind enhancing drugs.  You know what I think they should do?  Both men should sit down at the very beginning of the debate and let America watch each of them have blood drawn.  That's right, a sample from each.  It doesn't take long to test for mind enhancing drugs.  By the end of the debate the world should know if either of them has been popping pills.  Of course, they'd also be able to tell what type of meds each of them has been taking.  I think that's important.  And, while their at it, why not do a pee test?  Though I can't think of one person who might really be interested in watching either of them pee in a little plastic cup.  Though, I'm certain in the Idiot Jerk's mind there's millions of Cracker Jack Crazies out there who desperately dream of seeing his little wanker.

And what about his taxes?  Of course, he shouting Fake, Fake, Fake.  I know that many in his base are brain dead and will never remember, but the fact that his multiple bankruptcies have been used to avoid paying Federal Income Taxes is not new news.  That little clip is from a 2016 article in Forbes.  They estimate he avoided paying taxes for 2 decades.  Shit, when this man screws America, he screws America.

Not bad for an old fart

As with many companies, the mega home improvement retail chain I work for provides health coverage for their full time associates.  And, as lot of other companies do as well, they provide a way in which you can receive credits to reduce your monthly payments.  We need to do a Health Challenge, which is a three part program.  You need to complete a health assessment on the computer, participate in a health screening (where they draw blood), and work your way through a health challenge that isn't too challenging.  I do all three since it's a $600 yearly deduction.
Anyway, you need to 'fast' before the blood draw since they're checking your cholesterol.  Now, I like my coffee in the morning, and while I prefer it with milk, I can drink it black.  On the morning of the draw I had about 4 mugs of black coffee.  The little nurse who did the draw squawked when I told her.  "That's going to raise your blood pressure!"  Right.  My blood pressure was 112/78, which is not bad, and I am not on any meds.  Yesterday I received the results of my blood work in the mail in a snazzy guide.

My blood work came back fine - total cholesterol is 166 which, I suspect, would be lower if I weren't eating a gallon of whole milk ice cream every week.  The cholesterol / HDL ratio is 3.5 which, according to the guide is "highly desirable."  In fact everything was either good, better, or best. and it's all done with out any meds.  Of course I do tend to watch what I eat (except for the ice cream) and exercise on a regular basis.

Some of my numbers

As you might guess, one of my main goals is to live as long as possible without needing to rely on medications.  I hate pills.  And, in case anybody is wondering about my age, I'll be 63 this year.  Not bad for an old fart.

  

Aetna - sucks the money from your wallet

I was more then a little surprised yesterday to get a bill in the mail from Pinnacle Health for a partial payment on some blood work I'd had done this summer as part of my annual physical.  Why surprised?  Because I have Aetna Insurance through my employer and according to the plan I have they are supposed to cover physicals 100%.  So, of course, I called Aetna.  The representative I talked to asked if I had any pre-existing issues and I told her I did not.  Her response was that my health provider had billed the blood work as Lipidemia blood work, rather then routine blood work, the kind of work they always do to check cholesterol and glucose.  She asked if I had any pre-existing conditions and I said "nope, I'm very healthy."  At her suggestion, I called my health provider to get to the source of the problem.  I was not very happy with the information I received.  You see back in 2011, during a routine physical, my triglycerides were 2 points higher then what is considered normal.  My doctor felt that I should have the blood work run again in 6 months just to make sure everything was normal, which I did, and it was.  Except for that one blip my triglycerides have been fine ever since.  However, that one blip gave me pre-existing status, at least as far as Aetna was concerned.

When I asked my provider why the last blood work was billed to Aetna as a Lipidemia test I was informed that to do so would be considered fraud.  You have no idea how stunned I was to discover that a 2 point blip in my triglyceride lever in 2011 is going to stick with me for life.  From now on, no matter how good my blood work is, Aetna is going to say I have a pre-existing condition.  As a result, rather then pay 100% of the routine physical costs, Aetna is only going to pay a percentage.  Excuse me, Aetna, don't shit on people just to feed your bottom line!  What is really sad was my provider informed me that I was like a lot of other people.  One little blip and you have a pre-exiting condition.  It may never show up again, but Aetna doesn't care.  What they do care about is saving themselves $23 bucks on a blood test that is no different from the standard blood test given as part of a routine physical.  My provider told me Highmark Blue Cross does the same thing, shit on their customers (that's not exactly how she put it, but it's what she meant).  Their idea of fair coverage is to nitpick and nickel and dime you so there's as little expense to their bank account as possible.  They're in the business of making money, not defining fair.  Do they care what your out of pocket expense is?  Hell no.  They see you as either a good investment or a bad investment.  A good investment is an individual who pays more while they pay less.  A bad investment is one with no pre-existing conditions.  A good investment has regular payroll deductions with out any costs.  A bad investment gets sick.  Because of their inherent preference to greed rather then fair coverage, Aetna sucks.