* * * My Words, My World, My Way * * *

Please Write: ALewisPDX@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Hav'ta, Got'ta

I just hav'ta. I just got'ta. Post, that is. I've been contemplating, wondering, looking through some old ideas for posts. And nothing was coming to me. But I'm feeling pretty good this morning. It's a cold, clear morning. Mason and I woke up to an empty house -- Daddy, Papa, Lover Boy -- they had all left me. Alone. Without saying anything. I love to watch Mason as he skips (yes, he actually skips) down the sidewalk. Chasing leaves, commanding them to the ground, and sticking his little white fanny up in the air.

Today, our Human Resource/Benefits people from Corporate are in town for a Q&A on next year's giant medical insurance changes. We can stick with the traditional PPO that we have right now or migrate to a high-deductible Health Savings Account. All of the money you put into the HSA is yours. Forever. The point is that you can use the money in the account to pay for your insurance bills. But if you don't have any medical bills, you just keep the money building up in your account. It all sounds great except that the annual deductible on this plan is $1,200 and only $250 on the lower/regular PPO plan. Makes you think a few times before actually going to the doctor.

We've been sleeping like poo poo. Stress, I'm afraid. Nonetheless, things have evened out a bit. I'm afraid I'm at that point in my life wherein I need to practice what I preach. All of the powers of positive thinking that I've always claimed to have now need to be a part of my own life. I'm working on it. Albeit very slowly -- and many times not that you'd be able to tell unfortunately.

I'm loving the new MacBook Pro. But transferring my iTunes from my old PC to the new Mac is a real bitch. I followed very length, confusing instructions yesterday. And everything worked out just fine until I actually went to play the music. Nada. Nope. No how. The songs all show up in my iTunes. But they won't play because "the original file cannot be found." Now I'm more lost than ever.

What else can I tell you? I could go on and on about what we've been doing: We saw The Beggar's Opera and Company -- both of which were very very cool. We've been spending tons of time with our new BFF's Mark and Shawn. Our buddy D. is staying with us this coming weekend while he does monthly military guard duty. We're going to Alex and Paul's house for Thanksgiving with my MIL. Our December is starting to fill up with holiday plans -- and we've already decided that we are not going to get inundated with decorating and all of that -- it chills me to the bone to not be able to actually enjoy the holidays. My honey is contemplating a cruise next year with our good friend Alan. We're trying to decide if we will be participating in Provincetown Bear Week 2010 next summer or not. My hair is growing out a bit -- on its way to a whole new doo. I'm liking it most days.

Alright now, so I'm delving into the depths coming up with things to tell you. So, I'll close for now. Stay in touch. I need you!

14 comments:

Dave2 said...

Time for a trip to the "Apple Genius Bar"... or not. When it comes to iTunes, you have to understand that dragging your music into the program does NOT copy the actual files unless you tell it to... it just copies a shortcut TO the original files. So once your old computer is unplugged, the files don't exist anymore.

Best option is to delete all the "shortcut" music from your library... THEN go to the PREFERENCES panel in iTunes, click on the ADVANCED tab, then make sure "Keep iTunes Media folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" are CHECKED. Then drag them in again and this time they'll be copied. Hopefully. :-)

Good luck!

Anonymous said...

My company is doing the exact same thing with insurance. It's a really big decision. If you don't need the doc, the one choice is obvious. But what happens if you do need medical attention. It's a big out of pocket expense. I have to decide by Friday. I still don't know what I'm going to do.

anne marie in philly said...

I am digging the new longer hair on you...makes ya look younger and sexay!

{{{{{hugs}}}}}

Anonymous said...

I can totally tell by your new header pic. and Blair's newest post pic. that the two of you have been having fun with your new Macbooks! ;)

I am glad today was a brighter day overall. :)

HUGS!

RAD said...

The world is changing...Our plans are changing too t work.....Today was a big day as something about Bank Of America and FDIC...holy heck...

Lemuel said...

I started doing the math on the health insurance that we have via my wife's job. (We have that monstrous kind of deductible - only it is doubled - one for each of us.) I've noted what the insurance pays and does not pay. Essentially we are paying them to tell the doctor that he cannot charge us as much as he wants. Then we actually pay the remainder. The insurance company actually pays squat (nada) of the bill.

Birdie said...

I LOVE my MBPro! I will be installing Snow Leopard today; a friend and alphageek highly recommends it.

Love the kissy lips. Let's see your Blue Steel.

Steven said...

Just remember not to let December get too piled up with plans and obligations...it can get VERY stressful. Give yourself some time to re-energize by laying low and relaxing.

Mark in DE said...

I can sympathize with you, as often its not that we don't know what to do, we know but we don't want to do it. Self-discipline. Even the sound of that word makes me mad.

Geoff said...

The insurance thing is a headache isn't it? I hate dealing w/that stuff. Big hug your way Lewis. If anyone can handle stress, you can.

Wayne said...

Being self-employed, our deductable is now at $5000.00. Buying your own insurance is very expensive. Good luck on your choice.

tornwordo said...

Wow, you have to decide which way to gamble with your health. I don't miss that! Sure we have a 6% national sales tax, but that method seems so much less onerous. No deductibles or copays, ever.

Ur-spo said...

I have not been in blog land in a week. I was glad to read your updates.

Health care is a maze, I sense it wont ever be easy or simple. Too many people want/need it to be complicated, alas.

I am overall happy with my Mac (but it freezes from time to time!)

Blobby said...

Personally, I love the HDHP. All my deductibles are done for the year and I'm contemplating getting my septum fixed - and it will cost NOTHING.

HDHP is the wave of the future. Employers are going to be passing on some of these costs to the employees. Right or wrong - for some, it is the only way for a place to stay solvent - plus, it does attempt to breed preventative wellness.