VSG Maintenance Group
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203.4 today.
A bit of a full day today. A grooming at 11, 5 pm training session, and then we have dinner plans with BFF and Aunty Kathryn. In between I want to go see my dad and get some trimming done on Buster and Grizz. I'll probably work on Buster today. Grizz can hold off until tomorrow.
Was nice to awaken at 7 am to daylight! Not that I got up until 8, but it was still nice to open my eyes to morning light instead of the dim pre sunrise light we had at 7 am last week.
Two more weeks until Disneyland! I know, 61 years old and still gets so excited to go to Disneyland! LOL!!! But I'm going during the school week and I get to go when it's not blazing hot in the summertime and best of all, Disneyland will be decorated for Christmas! Another bucket list item will be checked off! Disneyland during the Christmas season!
Puppy Grizz is draped across my left arm and fast asleep. He melts me. It's fun having a little lap dog, but one that still has the big dog mentality of a terrier. He is athletic and fearless in so many ways. He's a scrappy little thing!
That's it for me today!
on 11/3/25 10:00 am
I was looking at the article more for the fact that we're reaching a breaking point for insurance costs particularly for the self-employed and those who don't get insurance through their employer. I think if the subsidies renewal doesn't happen (which really just masks the dysfunction of the insurance marketplace and how unaffordable it is) you are going to have a massive wave of people/families having to drop their insurance this year. And that's such an awful gamble to have to make. His point that we over-treat particularly the elderly, would make a good topic for DD's controversy club!
It is very hard to deal with failing parents who have mild to moderate cognitive impairment. They get angry so easily. I wonder if dementia attacks the prefrontal cortex of the brain early on. It seems to me my dad's ability to make logical adult decisions was one of the first things to suffer along with his short term memory.
Your mom sounds very much like a child wanting to go home. Being in the hospital is unpleasant - even in the best of cir****tances. I see that indignant, stubborn childlike reaction in my dad quite often. I feel lucky that while he has some issues with his current living arrangement and sometimes feels imprisoned, he doesn't have much "fight" in him anymore and is pretty easily redirected when he starts to get upset about something.
Hope your mom stays in the hospital. If not, a call to social services might be in order. Your mom's case worker might be able to intervene on her behalf.
That health plan you picked is pricey as heck! But I can understand why you chose it. Hopefully, it will be on par with your former PPO. It sure has a cost like a PPO!
I read the article you linked in your post. Sobering yes, but also I believe the voice was biased. There was something in the tone of the writing that was off putting to me. I'm sure the retired cardiologist's perspective is based on his experience and observations, but it so differs from what I see with my own HMO which adopted a "Symptom Based Care" philosophy. In my opinion, my HMO UNDER treats.
That health plan you picked is pricey as heck! But I can understand why you chose it. Hopefully, it will be on par with your former PPO. It sure has a cost like a PPO!
I read the article you linked in your post. Sobering yes, but also I believe the voice was biased. There was something in the tone of the writing that was off putting to me. I'm sure the retired cardiologist's perspective is based on his experience and observations, but it so differs from what I see with my own HMO which adopted a "Symptom Based Care" philosophy. In my opinion, my HMO UNDER treats.
Beautiful sunny day, but more drama. My Mom's cardiologist wants her to stay in the hospital and drop 15 more pounds of water (10 gone so far). She thinks my Mom will feel a lot better and if she doesn't lose some more of the fluid, she will be back to the hospital pretty quickly. Mom is pitching a fit. DB is on his way to see if he can convince her. If she's still in the hospital, I will go tomorrow. DB tried to give me some perspective, and said think of them as making decisions like drunk people do as they are both suffering from cognitive impairments now.
Off to lunch with my former coworkers soon. I'm looking forward to seeing them, and also having my own attitude adjustment, when the conversations remind me how lucky I am to be retired!
on 11/3/25 8:03 am
I picked a plan. After much reading, I can see HMOs are not quite as bad as what I remember from the early days. Many don't require referrals anymore. There are 3 insurance companies with 22 HMOs to choose from: BCBS, Cigna, and something called Imperial. I immediately dismissed the last ones as they require a referral for everything. I ended up picking a BCBS one. Just over $1251 a month and a $10,150 deductible. Awful! Imagine what that will look like in 11 years when I'm still not eligible for Medicare! I still go to my Direct primary care doctor in Flagstaff who doesn't take insurance and I pay $75 a month for access to her. So the insurance is just for God forbid I get in an accident or get a bad disease.
On that note, I found out yesterday a very good family friend (a couple of years younger than me) has breast cancer. So you never know when bad things will strike and must be prepared.
This morning I read this article and it's sobering: https://open.substack.com/pub/alexberenson/p/a-retired-docto r-explains-the-us?r=q3ibm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&s howWelcomeOnShare=false
Today I have a hair appointment and that's all. I hope you all have a good day!
118.4 - the same as yesterday but not terrible. I had my current version of the hungry horrors last night and made a cottage cheese/spaghetti sauce concoction to curb it (it worked).
DH and I played golf yesterday morning. I started out terrible but then settled into doing okay. If I could just relax I would probably do better. After that we went to the Beach Club to watch the Patriots. Lots of New England people there watching so it was on 3 big screens. Very enjoyable company!
Interestingly there was a very large group of ladies I am friendly with having lunch and sitting at the beach afterwards. Nice camaraderie but I realized that they rarely do activities like that with their spouses. On the weekends their husbands golf and the ladies either golf separately or go to the beach as a group. Maybe it is those of us with more recently developed relationships who do a lot as a couple?
Today is the usual Justice walk, water aerobics, and a golf rules session at 3. So many rules that go with golf! I envision a bunch of old, retired guys with too much time on their hands coming up with them many years ago thinking it would enhance the game. They do well at these sessions showing practical examples of when they apply. But way too many of them to remember!
Have a mostly modern Monday!
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
DSD must be compensating for some loss in her life. Though it may be irritating that you likely need to put a shower head back in the bathroom (LOL that she took that too), at least you know that she values her relationship with you since she feels the need to retain whatever she can.
I am really happy to be in the warmth especially now that the rainy/muggies are mostly done for the year. Soon you will be too.
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
