Mid-Week/Mid-Month

 

Piñata Rose

Earlier this year, we dug up this rose plant that was not doing too well in the front garden, potted it up, and moved it to the back garden.  It's still in the pot, but, it seems to be doing better and has bloomed.  

Well, here we are, mid-week and mid-month, too!  Tax day, here in the US.  

This week has been a bit challenging for me and we are only on the third day!

Monday, April 13, was the Sri Lankan cultural New Year.  I had planned to make milkrice for brunch, but, that didn't happen.  My daughter woke up with a migraine headache and leg cramps; she took the day off from work and lay in a darkened room until late in the evening when she felt better.

Shortly after I woke up, there was a knock at the front door - the phone company technicians needed access to the utility pole at the back of my garden.  I hurried to unlock the gate for them and they did what they had to do and left.

Then, I received a phone call from my primary care doctor's office saying there was an issue with my insurance and could I call Medicare to update their records, etc.  Oh, dear!  That got me all stressed!  Seems to me that every time the doctor's office gets a new front office person, they don't know how to process my billing, since it has to go through a medical IPA group for processin

I had an afternoon appointment with the dermatologist and while I was getting dressed, we had an unexpected thunder storm!  It was pouring with rain while I drove to the appointment and most of the intersections were already flooded and several traffic lights were out of service.  I had left the house at 2:00 p.m. for a 2:40 p.m. appointment, which should have been plenty of time to get there, but, traffic was a nightmare and with a road closure just near the clinic, I missed my turn into the clinic.  By which time, I was already about 5 minutes late.  I pulled into a mini-mall parking lot and called the clinic to let them know I was running late.  I was told I had a 15 minute grace period.  But, by the time I drove around and found parking and got to the clinic, it was 3:00 p.m. and I was 20 minutes late; my grace period had ended!  But, they were kind enought to get me another slot that same afternoon, if I could wait half an hour and I was happy to do that, because there's a charge for missed appointments and cancellations without 48-hour prior notice.  Besides, I was already there and I'm used to long waits at doctors' offices.  I had my library book with me and I read while I waited.  It was a longer wait, however, as I was not seen until 4:00 p.m., but, I was thankful that I was seen.  The rain had stopped by then and the drive home was not too bad with just the regular evening commute traffic.  I got home at 5:00 p.m. and had my first meal of the day, which was leftovers and not milkrice!

I took the trash cans out to the curb for pick up on Tuesday morning and spent as relaxed an evening as possible as I felt a bit stressed about things.  The day had not gone quite as I had expected it to.  

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- Rain for the garden
- A safe drive to the clinic and back
- The dermatologist fitted me in, even if I was late and had to wait until there was an opening available
- Daughter felt better in the evening
- Leftovers!

My joyful activity on Monday was reading while I waited at the clinic.

The First Blueberries are Ripening

On Tuesday, I emailed my doctor about the insurance issues.  Then, I made roast beef sandwiches and packed a lunch for my daughter and drove her to the airport as she had to leave for a work-related conference.  After I came back from the airport, I received a return email response from my doctor, telling me speak with her front office person, so I called her and left a voicemail.  She called me back and I think we confused each other even more!  I was half tempted to tell her to just go ahead and bill me and I'll pay the bill, myself, out of pocket, but, I didn't.  There's a reason why we pay for insurance, after all.  Anyway, I promised to call her back with more information.  In the past, I've had 3-way conversations with the medical provider's office, my HMO/IPA billing office, and my insurance.  I don't know why it has to be so complicated, but, apparently, it is.

Pineberry
(a type of white/light pink strawberry with red seeds)

I've picked a few pineberries from my plant, earlier, but, had forgotten to take a picture.  This time, I remembered!

Pineberry Close-Up

Then, I made myself a roast beef sandwich for my brunch, went out to the garden to pick myself a few berries to have with my sandwich:

Berries from the Garden

Since I was feeling a bit stressed from the phone call with the doctor's office, I decided to spend a little time in the garden and do some tidying up.  Some of the osteospermum plants in the front garden were spilling over onto the sidewalk and I didn't want them to obstruct the sidewalk.  They needed to be kept off the sidewalk and I decided that a small trellis would be ideal for that:

New Trellis

A few twigs and a broken metal rod and some scraps of fabric to tie things together and I have myself a trellis!

Here it is in place:

Trellis 

Later in the afternoon, the box containing the chicken coop parts (assembly required) was delivered.  It was not scheduled to be delivered until next week, when daughter would have been home to bring it in, but, I have a hand truck and I managed to wheel it on the hand truck to the garden (had to move the car out, first, to get it in, and then, moved the car back).  I also took out a stack of three plastic garden chairs to set out in the garden.

Daughter called after she arrived at her hotel and we chatted for a bit.  She had to attend a dinner for the conference attendees, but, since she wears a face mask when she is out at these events, she brought her dinner back to the hotel room to eat.  We Facetimed so I could see her hotel room.  LOL.

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- Daughter had a safe flight and ride from the airport to her hotel
- I had a safe drive to the airport and back
- Fresh berries from the garden
- Being able to put together a small trellis from bits and pieces I found in the garden and my scrap basket

- Being able to chat with my daughter when she's away

My joyful activities of the day included making the trellis.

On Wednesday, I called my medical insurance and spoke to an agent to find out what was going on.  He then transferred me to Medicare, but, apparently, to the wrong section as the person I spoke to said she couldn't access my information!  So, I called the number on the back of my Medicare card, which was, apparently, the right number to call and spoke with a very helpful person, who confirmed that they had all my information on their current records (doctor's office person had said that Medicare had said they didn't have all my information; maybe they, too, called the wrong Medicare number?) and that they had received the billing and processed it in just five days after my doctor's visit and there was only the matter of my deductible which my secondary insurance should process.  I asked her if she could send me a copy of the payment they made and she said she will do that and it should arrive in the mail within 15 days.

Then, I called my medical insurance people and spoke with another very helpful agent, who explained exactly what needs to happen - the doctor's office needs to bill the HMO/IPA directly for the amount that Medicare didn't cover and they will, in turn, process it, and notify the insurance company.  I thanked her and said I'll call the doctor's office to let them know and she offered to call them herself if I give her the number, which I did.  But, I also called and left a message for the doctor's office, just in case.  I hope that will take care of the matter, but, I might call them again tomorrow (or, they might call me).   But, I am glad I was able to get that matter attended to (hopefully, to the satisfaction of all involved).

The box containing the chicken run was delivered in the late afternoon, ahead of schedule, again!  This time, I managed to push it into the house, waiting for daughter to deal with it when she gets home (she'll be back home, tonight).  For now, it is on the living room floor.

M was here in the afternoon; he said he got delayed because a nearby intersection was closed due to police activity and he had to take a detour!  I had heard helicopters flying when I was out in the garden, earlier in the morning, but, this time there were no announcements to go indoors, so I just ignored them.  M brought me a pineapple plant he had removed from his pineapple plant and a variegated "Fortnight Lily" (Dietes iridioides), also known as African iris that he had rooted for me.  I will take pictures of them, later.  He also did some watering and pruning and I made sure to hand him his pruning saw!

I had some leftovers for brunch and I put a fresh pot of rice to cook for dinner.  I picked up daughter from the airport around 8:30 p.m. and came home.  We had rice with kale mallung and leftover beef curry, etc for dinner.  

On Wednesday, I am grateful for:

- Helpful insurance agents/assistants

- Getting some procedural answers, myself, which will help me in the future

- M's help with the garden

- M sharing more plants with me

- Daughter had a safe flight home

Today's joyful activities included spending more time in the garden and bringing daughter home from the airport.  She was gone for only one night, but, she said it felt good to be home, again!

Cabbage White Butterfly on the Lantana

How is your week coming along?