Millstones and Milestones

The reason I call this blog "There's a Fat Man in the Bath Tub with the Blues" is because it's the title of one of my favorite songs by Little Feat. I love the version you will find on the right side of the screen. I love the version on the live album (sorry, album, old school) "Waiting for Columbus" too. But let's face it, it's also sort of an anthem for fat guys everywhere.

Now here's some good news! I have lost 100 pounds. Yes, I'm still a Fat Man, but the blues are on the run--and it's a good feeling. Today for the first time in a couple of months I did my full mile-and-a-half circuit walk and did it at 3 mph! It's not like long ago when I walked the Bolder Boulder, but it's a part of a good start.

I joked that my weight loss regimen has been poverty, mental illness and exercise. Well, we're still broke and I'm still looking for work here in Marshall and around the country. I'm coping with my illness well right now and taking the steps to make sure that continues, and I am getting good exercise. It's getting better.

I still have a ways to go, but I know I am on the path. I have passed some milestones and dropped some millstones and it feels good. New Year's resolutions? Not for me. It's time to make real change take a hold. Thanks be to God!

On a side note, Pastor Paul recommends Sports Tracker for Android to track distance and pace. It allows you choose your workout--walk, run, cycling, hiking, mountain hiking, roller skating, downhill skiing, Nordic skiing, paddling, rowing, or golf. You can pick your own activity where in many applications you have to download one for walking and one for running and one for so on and so forth.

Faith and Mental Health

Earlier this week I met with my spiritual director. He said that he read my mental health blog. I asked him what he thought of it. He asked why there was not mention of God. I was struck dumb. It took a moment to come up with the answer "That blog was a clinical approach to my illness and hospitalization." It was quickly followed by, "Now I need to write the spiritual side."

Here's the single most important thing I went into the hospital knowing. I have hope in the Lord our God. Eight words, that's what I got. Let me elaborate.

I had been unemployed for over ten months, and stretched five months of severance over six and a half months. I didn't know how we were going to pay for our insurance, and money literally arrived on the porch. We got kicked out of where we were living, and another place opened up.

Was I thankful for God? Yes I was. Every day. At the same time I was so miserable I couldn't add one and one without consulting an accountant.

Marie was sick some days and on other days not quite so sick. In the meantime she did everything she could to keep me from falling apart and moving forward--pack boxes, prepare my Pastor Information Form, revise my resume, go to the store, yada, yada, yada.

Was I thankful for her. Yes I was. Every day. Did I show it? Certainly not well. I showed annoyance pretty well though. (Did I mention I was sick? Depression is insidious. I didn't know how big of a jerk being bipolar made me, only she does.)

If there's any good news; the self medication I gave up twenty-some years ago stayed in my bag of tricks not to come out.

My world crumbled around me and the only ideas I had were really, really bad ones. I was able by the grace of God to hold on until I got to my counselor's office. She got me into the hospital in Shreveport.

Now, if you have ever been in counseling for depression, you have probably heard this question: "Do you feel helpless and hopeless?" I've heard that question a million times, and I finally heard it properly and finally answered it aloud in the most accurate way for me.

I said, "I feel helpless. But I don't feel hopeless. In my faith I have hope. I have hope in the Lord my God."

How many times have I read David's Psalms of Lament? How many times have I read about the plight of Joseph? How many times have I read the Exodus story (and how many times has that story been adopted as a model for oppressed people all over the world)? How is there anything but hope in the cross and the resurrection?

Now, that my head is clear, I see that hope far more clearly too. I see now that hope is meant for me. I see that it is present in my life. I can even more clearly see those who are willing to help... those with whom God has blessed me in this life.

It's funny to say what I have now is a new life in Christ, but it truly is. Like everyone else I have had ups and downs, some of those downs pretty deep. Like anyone else who has depression my downs have real depth. In each of those times I have thanked God for saving me, for bringing me back. This time though it's different. I thought I had been broken before but I have never known brokenness like this. Oh, I thought I had, but it wasn't even even close.

Now, about two months later, the healing has begun. To date I feel great, literally never better. I have never been more clear. For that I thank God. In my fresh clarity I thank God for Marie, I thank God for all of the clinical help I have received. I truly thank God for all of our friends. We have gotten help, in financial, housing, other tangible, and especially prayer support from our friends from coast to coast. It's not that there are too many to list, but many have given anonymously and I honor that. Just know I will not forget.

Yes, some days will be better than others. Yes, I will have to be aware about how my meds are working because they may not always. I don't want to be unrealistic. At the same time I don't want to look under every rock for a rattlesnake just because I saw it happen once. I just have to pay attention to the sound of the rattle as I walk the path of life.

That is why I have hope in the Lord our God. Saved by the life and work, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, indwelled by the Holy Spirit. By the grace of God I say Amen

Mental Health

A funny thing happened last month. Actually, it wasn't so funny. It was pretty scary. Life caught up with me. Life caught up with me and I didn't know what to do next. Actually that wasn't quite true... I had a "good idea" of what to do next, but having taken a class in crisis counseling I knew what I was thinking wasn't a "good idea."

I guess there had been signs of depression going on for a long time. I had found several different ways to deal with it over the years. I could go on for several paragraphs and describe the dozens of ways I have practiced self-therapy and self-medicating over the years. I even met with reasonable success. Reasonable being the key word. But last month the whole thing came tumbling down.

In November I became totally and wholly nonfunctional. I told my counselor what was happening and she told me it was time for me to go to the hospital. I was in no position to disagree. I guessed the depression had finally gotten such a hold on me that I had to do something right before I did something wrong.

Saying yes to help wasn't easy, I probably should have said something months earlier but didn't. But when I finally did say yes, it was the best thing I ever did.

To make a long story short, my diagnosis changed. My diagnosis is no longer simple depression. I am now diagnosed as Bipolar II. In short, that means that I have depression, sometimes serious bouts of depression (this helps explain some of my blog posts, especially the "Lies My Father/Mother Told Me" series) with hypomania. Hypomania is a version of mania which is not euphoric mania but a version that shows up as strangely energetic, talkative, assertive, creative, and productive behavior. Sometimes hypomania can also lead to questionable behavior... like some of my more dubious jokes.

I share this for a several reasons. The first is this, I am healing. That's the most wonderful thing I can say. I am on the way to feeling the best I have felt in my life. Therapy and medication are doing wonders. The second is that this is a process. Like everyone else on earth I will have good days and bad days. And now I have better tools to deal with them than I had even three months ago. This will also make me a better Pastor one day too. I have seen what the bottom looks like.

I also want to say thanks to my family and friends who took care of Marie and me while I was in the hospital and while I have been unemployed. You have been a joy to us.

Finally, I want to share because I want you to be aware. You know someone who is Bipolar. Fear Not! Or at least don't fear me. I'm not going to snap and bite your head off. I'm not going to go postal. I may not be just like everybody else, but there is one thing I know, I'm still me. I'm Paul. I'm the fat man in the bathtub. And I'm glad you came to my blog.

Enjoy.

The Presbyterian Food Stamp Challenge

The Presbyterian Church (USA) recently did a food stamp challenge (view Outlook link here) to show how difficult it is to feed a family using the SNAP program's dietary guidelines. I commend everyone of the 300 Presbyterians who signed up to see how the other half lives. Unfortunately, they really didn't get a full view of how the other half lives, not from someone on this side of the poverty line.

You see, as you know, I am an ordained minister (Teaching Elder, whatever) in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The congregation I served chose to quit meeting together at the end of January this year. While I received a generous severance package, all things come to an end. To an end they came at the end of June. I was able to stretch the cash part of the severance out for a while longer, but the insurance ended promptly on June 30, 2013. That $711.25 has been coming out of my pocket ever since.

On a side note, the reason we kept this insurance is that we did not want to start our deductibles and copays over again. That would not have been cost effective.

As I was unable to secure any employment in my small East Texas town so I relied on God's generous blessings. Through friends, churches, and the SNAP program my wife and I were able to keep our heads above water. We are housed. Our car was paid off one month after I lost my job and some rather pricey repairs were covered--as was car insurance. Monthly expenses like gas and phone, because you gotta have a phone if you're looking for work, were covered for a while by several churches where I preached as pulpit supply, a real blessing.

Then it happened, our SNAP benefits were around $340 per month for two adults, one with special dietary needs. When it came time to reapply our benefits were cut, they were cut to $15 per month. Not by $15 per month but to $15 per month. This wasn't because of any political posturing as both my Republican and Democratic friends were so quick to point out.

The reason our benefits were cut were because I reported we got help and I reported I spent it on health insurance. You see, the State of Texas, the state of my residence, believes I should be spending my money on food and not on health.

So I have looked for jobs in the church, sending Pastor Information Forms to over 160 congregations where God has not called me. I have sent applications to banks, colleges, restaurants, tutoring services, pawn shops, and more places than I can remember. I finally have an interview and God willing will have incoming income soon.

You have been patient with me but now I imagine you would like me to come to the point. Years ago I worked in a Student Support Services TRIO program serving low income students. I thought this gave me a better idea of what it was like to be poor in America and I wasn't really wrong. Then I became a seminary student and a pastor in two different very small rural churches. While the blessings are wonderful they aren't monetary, I got a better idea of what living in poverty looked like. My wife's health began to deteriorate and she has been unable to work for five years--between loss of income and increase of medical expenses we are getting a real first hand view of poverty.

The point of my story is that nobody who took The Presbyterian Food Stamp Challenge unknowingly choose between health insurance and food stamps. Who would ever make that choice knowingly. Who would have ever thought that would be a forced choice.

In the end we're not that far from sleeping in the car. Only the Grace of God and the help of good friends has kept us out of it so far. So thanks to anyone who has spared us a room. Thanks to everyone who has sent us a check--and some of you have been quite generous. Blessings to all who have prayed for us because we have had some very rough patches too. And thanks to the 300 of you who tried to see how the other half lived. God bless us all.

A Retirement Party

Dear friends, allow me to introduce you to my New Balance 295's. I got them in Austin while in Seminary. I wore them while walking a two plus mile path for about two years while there. I have worn them while walking the track in Berryville, Arkansas. I wore them walking in Marshall, Texas. They've been around.

I even wore them while walking in Mexico. Mexico, Missouri that is--65265. It's the home of the Mexico Military Academy and the Miss Missouri Pageant. It's also where I was born and where my parents died.

So to say the least, these shoes have been around the block. They've gone through several insole replacements. They have carried me far and well. But today is their day.

The soles, while still having some tread, have failed internally. The roll bars now roll in ways they should not. They have been replaced by a new Nike. It's a good shoe, but I just don't see them lasting eleven years like these NB's.

Thanks for the support.

The Sublime Art of Being Offensive

Recently I was told that a post I put on Facebook was offensive. Let's be honest, it was adolescent. I was asked by someone I respect to delete it so I did. No problem, no offense taken at the suggestion. I won't even post it here to show just how offensive it was. Don't bother trying to judge for yourself, just know it was in poor taste. I admit it, I have bad taste sometimes, especially when others make it possible for me to exercise my bad taste.

Of course, that's why my Facebook privacy settings are "friends only." For what that's worth in the land of internet privacy, but that's for another day. There was nothing sublime about how offensive my comment was. But I do like to look for the sublime of what's offensive.

By the way, what my post was a comment on the poor quality of mass advertising of church/worship in America. The picture associated with my caption was a part of a vast marketing (church marketing ~~SHUDDER~~) campaign and it was ripe for lampooning.

I believe the most sublime of offenses is found in our health care system. Recently, someone from the Board of Pensions, the PC(USA) insurance and pension group, came to Grace Presbytery to get the grassroots response from plan participants about their multiple plans to make Presbyterian insurance more financially solvent.

Before I had my say, I told the representative that I respect what he was doing trying to fix our little corner of a system that's broken. I dare say that the PC(USA) part of the system is less broken than our society as a whole, but there are some big problems.

The one he spoke about was financing. He noted that with increased expenses there a bulge in the pipeline and when it comes to a weak spot there would be trouble. He noted that two things needed to happen. There would have to be more revenue and less expenses.

He said that not everybody can have the "new" drug that was advertised on the television when the old drugs would work. He said that not everybody needed the state of the art orthopedic device when others would work. That's fine with me, but for one major problem.

The Board currently employs two different management companies to operate the plan. They employ one to handle medicines and another to handle doctors and hospitals. This is actually a problem for the consumer. Each company has incentives to reduce what they pay out. This is the best possible system to care for the bottom line of these company and the Board working to pay no claims at all.

In my family, my wife is on an expensive medicine for migraines which the medicine component of our insurance will not pick up unless she uses others first. Problem one: She has used those other medicines, but they were provided by doctor samples so the insurance company does not have a record. No prescription  no copay, it doesn't really exist so they don't want to help with the one that does work. Problem two: If she doesn't take it she ends up in the Emergency Room with a headache that registers 10 on a scale of 10. They take care of her, but at a cost.

Do you see the issue? The medicine company doesn't care if she uses the ER because it's not on their bottom line. When she uses the med, the medical service folks are glad they aren't paying for ER treatment  Our system has effectively pitted one component of itself against the other. Our insurance is literally at war with itself to get the other guy to pay.

So how do we save money, by refusing any and all claims. We save money by increasing pain because we can't get meds that do work. Tests that can find damage can be deferred because others weren't taken first, who cares if that deferred test can save a life. Oh, and yes, this happened to us to when my wife's surgeon actually watched her bowel perforate during a test.

Good times.

So if this is how they reduce expenses, how do they plan to increase income? I'm glad you asked.

One way, probably the most painful and equitable is to raise everyone's relative expense from 21% to 23%. Not cheap is it.

Another way is just to cover the pastor and nobody else in the family. They have two different options under this provision, but they have the similarity that the Pastor getting coverage alone is where they start. Don't get me wrong, I love Jesus, but I suspect Jesus wants me to take care of my family. So if we went this way, the extra would come out of the pastor's, our of my pocket directly.

This is where the board has lost track of something fundamental. The source of my salary and the source of the money to pay the Board comes out of the same pockets, or more accurately, the same plate. It is the congregation that sends money to the Board and pays my salary. It's all one source!

Hooray to the families where there is more than one breadwinner. They can afford it, or they can finagle another way of getting health insurance between the two employers. That isn't so in my family. Disease has made it impossible for my wife to work. So the Board has given me two choices, find a better paying call or get another job.

Leave the small church that can't really afford all the bells and whistles of the plan on its own or find a job in that same small town... probably a town that is still recovering from the Great Recession and isn't firmly on its feet yet. If these are our choices then that is the church of the future. Singles who can be covered alone, the independently wealthy, dual career folks who can both find work, and tent-makers.

I'll say it again, it's the whole American health care system that's broken. The Board's plan has its merits and I thank God everyday I have insurance, and since I'm at the pharmacy almost everyday I'm not exaggerating. Complaining that the Board isn't doing enough is like saying the little Dutch boy isn't doing enough during a tsunami. But that's the problem-Our health care system isn't facing a bulge in the pipeline, it's a tsunami and all we have are Dutch boys. That's offensive.

My picture and caption, sure it was offensive. The kind of offensive that gets deleted. Life and death, sickness and health, what we're doing with that is a whole new kind of offensive. Deleting life is offensive too.

Pastor Paul's January 2012 Newsletter Article

Dear Friends in Christ,

Hymn #296 in the brown hymnal is “Count Your Blessings.” It’s not a bad idea to count your blessings early and often, and the end of the year is a great time to reflect on what kind of year it has been.

It’s been pretty hectic at our house. Marie was admitted to the hospital a couple of times because her ailments fired up. Then there was our car wreck, that was a joy, but when these things came together, something else happened.

When Marie saw the doctor the doctor noted something kind of funny when looking at the back of her eye. From there the doctor ordered more tests. These tests showed something that looked puzzling, so she (she is our doctor) sent Marie to a neurologist for more tests.

Well, getting the tests done was a comedy of errors. Between the doctors and the insurance setting up her appointments looked like three clowns juggling flaming Indian clubs in the circus. What a mess! Well the appointments were had and the diagnosis was confirmed, Marie has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. But here’s what’s special…

The last tests, the ones that took so long to get arranged, showed that her spine was not involved with the disease. Right now, it’s limited to her brain. Sure, we would have loved to hear the words “miraculous cure,” but that was not to be. So if that’s not available we’ll take “contained” every day of the week.

Here’s the big kicker, we may not have done these tests, and we would not have done these tests this fall, if it were not for a car wreck. I’m not going to say that the Holy Spirit arranged for me to crack up the car so Marie could get diagnosed (others may, I wouldn’t), but I must say that this diagnosis and early treatment are blessings that flowed from a car wreck.

Simeon’s blessing from Luke 2 includes the words that as Jesus is salvation—not just for Israel but also for the Gentiles—he is also destined to cause “falling and rising” in Israel. In the midst of Simeon’s blessing, Mary also hears that “her soul will be pierced by a sword.” What a lousy way to end a blessing. “He is God’s own salvation for the world and there will also be pain, grief and sorrow.” That is where I think about Hymn #296, “Count Your Blessings”:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

I wouldn’t say “C’mon, buck up! Look on the bright side!” to someone in the midst of a crisis, that’s lousy pastoral care, but let me say this, in the heart of the greatest blessings, life is not going to be just peaches and cream. In the blessings of our lives there will be pain and there will be disappointment. Our choice is how we deal with them.

Friends, choose the life of the blessings of Christ. Picking to dwell on the disappointments will only make us more in tune with them. Given a choice, dwelling on the blessings is far better than dwelling on the disappointments; and the choice is ours.

God Bless!
Have a Blessed and Happy New Year!

See you in church!
Pastor Paul

Superstition

"When you believe in things you don't understand and you suffer, then you suffer; Superstition ain't the way." --Stevie Wonder

I hate behaving in superstitious ways. It doesn't prevent me from acting in superstitious ways, but I still hate it.

About ten years ago, after we moved to Austin, Marie wasn't feeling well. This was nothing new for either of us, she hadn't been well since we moved to Austin. The Dean of Students at the seminary asked how we were doing and how specifically Marie was feeling. Now, I knew she wasn't faking it, but I wondered out loud if "she could find a job and hit a tempo and find a rhythm that she might not feel better." Just thinking out loud. I knew she wasn't faking, but I just hoped if she found something to keep her busy she might feel better.

This is where the organ player starts playing in a minor key.

Well, I said something stupid and she got really sick. In a couple of weeks she had a bowel resection. I was hoping "she would find a rhythm" and she was fighting off a ton of infection and whatever else was causing her abdominal problems. (They still aren't really sure either.)

So Marie hasn't been feeling well lately. I know about the Crohn's disease and the host of other issues she has. I also know better than to say something stupid like I did ten years ago again. But I told this story to my secretary yesterday and... you guessed it--Shingles! Marie has Shingles.

THAT'S NOT FUNNY GOD! Did I tempt fate telling that story again? Stevie has it right: "When you believe in things you don't understand and you suffer, then you suffer; Superstition ain't the way."

I love you Marie, and I pray you get better soon.

Cliff Lee to the Phillies

The Hero of the Texas Rangers, Cliff Lee, has signed to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies for the next five seasons, and one more if the optional year is exercised. The deal is substantial, over five years he will be paid $120 million.

As big as that number is, the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees both offered more money. So why did Lee pick the Phillies?

First, he played for them last year and liked playing there.

Second, he is now one of four top flight starting pitchers on the staff. Any team that has two top flight starters is tough, three is a machine. Four? Nobody has four. There haven't been so many good starters on a single team since the Atlanta Braves in the 80's and before that it was the Baltimore Orioles in the 70's. It's rarefied air.

Third, is it the money? Well, other teams wanted to pay him more, but seriously, how much money does one family need. If $120 million can't hold someone over, nothing can... but that leads to

Four, it's not so much money that the rest of the team will be crippled. By going to the Phillies and going for a "little less" money, the Phillies can still pay the rest of their rotation, along with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and others. Not only is he getting paid, but so is a real roster. In Texas, it probably would have been closer to "Cliff Lee and the League Minimums."

Five, Cliff Lee's son has leukemia which is currently in remission. One of the best children's hospitals in the hemisphere is in Philly, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). His son had been treated there and will continue to be treated there without commuting through a timezone to get to his appointment.

Finally, the Philly players have a commitment to youth, and particularly CHOP.

These videos are about a young man named Josiah Viera and his relationship with his favorite player, Ryan Howard. Sure, it's about ten minutes worth of video, but they are worth watching.

In addition, it was my honor to know an Aunt and Uncle of a young woman with a rare form of cancer who was being treated at CHOP. While at the hospital, in what can best be described as an adoption, Phillies relief pitcher Brad Lidge became very close to a young woman named Leah and her family. Brad Lidge was generous with his time and his love for this young woman and her family. I've been praying not only for her family, but for Brad Lidge ever since.

So there it is. There are a lot of teams that have lost out on a great pitcher, but this is one man who has gained much because his choice of who he went to work for was based on more than the money it put in his pocket.

To all of the other teams in the league, particularly the Rangers, I'm sorry, it wasn't fair, you couldn't offer everything that would sway Cliff Lee's decision.

As for the Yankees, I've hated you since the 70's when you beat the Royals for the pennant all those times. I'll never be sorry you didn't get a free agent! You can take your money and go home!

Now that'll work...

My wife was feeling a little irregular a while ago, so her mother sent this "recipe" to help take care of that:

Mix together:
1 Cup apple sauce
1 Cup coarse unprocessed bran
3/4 Cup prune juice

Mixture will be like a thick paste
Refrigerate in a covered container

Take in the evening for a morning BM
Increase bran mix by two table spoons each week until BM's are regular
Always take one glass of water with mixture

A diet high in fiber and drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water daily can also help with bowel management during the recovery period.

Let's just say that my name for this concoction sounds a lot like "Weapon of Mass Destruction." My wife also noted that the whole "increase bran mix by two table spoons each week" was highly unnecessary.

This is the sort of mix that takes Jamie Lee Curtis' yogurt and leaves it in the dust.

I am not a doctor nor do I play one on television. I received this information and share it in a humorous vein. As with all "medical" advice, please contact your doctor.

From Where the Grass Is Greener

The Today show just reported that many Republican and conservative Democratic members of Congress are skeptical about the President's health care reform package.

Gee, if I had their insurance I could afford to be skeptical too.

That's Odd

I was at my local Wal-Mart this evening. Yes, this is the second week in a row that I've been at Wally-World on a Saturday night, but that's not what's odd.

I did find it odd that the deodorant was in the "Oral Care" aisle though.

Yes, It's Broken

No, this isn't more about my car, this is the health care system.

I heard on the news that on Saturday the Republican response to President Obama's radio address included some observations about the health care system, particularly the insurance system.

The man who gave the response invoked the words "Socialized Medicine" while talking about the plan. He also said that the Democratic Party way of doing business is to "find something that works and fix it."

With all due respect (By the way, have you ever noticed that when "all due respect" is offered it is followed by less respect than the object of the remark might think is due?) with all due respect to the Congressman who dropped that bomb--I invite you to trade insurance with me for a couple of months and see how it works for you.

I have a good health insurance plan. I really do. But I am broke because of the way hospitals and insurance companies deal with one another. My paperwork gets lost and misfiled and the wrong codes go one way and the other. My part-time job is to jump through the paperwork hoops to pay medical bills! I just bet his plan is a little better--and he's got a staff to take care of the BS that goes with the paper.

Let us trade places, I bet I'll like his plan better than he likes mine.

That goes 1,000 fold for folks who can't afford insurance. People without insurance rightfully wonder what I'm complaining about.

Welcome Back John Stewart!

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Ordinary Pupils

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

A hearty welcome back to John Stewart and The Daily Show as they return from their Holiday Break. I still find it refreshing that The Daily Show crew is willing to take on anyone with their tongue firmly in their cheek.

If you think they pick on just FoxNews, check out how they skewer MSNBC.

Mild Dyslexia

When I was in grade school, they told me that I had a mild form of dyslexia. Who knows? I guess it's true, but at the time they were diagnosing dyslexia the way they diagnose attention disorders today.

Anyway, it does pop up in the most unexpected ways. Our Sonic Drive In has on its sign this phrase:

SAUSAGE BISCUIT

DIPPERS

unfortunately, to me it looks like

SAUSAGE BISCUIT

DIAPERS

In my opinion, they have to change the font. It freaks me out everytime I drive past it.

This helps explain why I am such a lousy speller, but it can only take so much of the blame. On the whole, I am a bad speller and moderately attentive typist.

Happy 010th post!

Wait, check that, Happy 100th post!

Some Things Never Change

Reading The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, I ran across this gem from 1937 where Tolkien is trying to get paid for some color illustrations to the first American edition of The Hobbit. Quoting page 20, "At the moment, I am in such difficulties (largely owing to medical expenses) that even a very small fee would be a blessing."

Dang, some things never change.

When Accountants Practice Medicine

Today, Marie had an appointment at the Neurologist's in Fayetteville. She sees him for migraines. During the visit, we had to talk about getting a "letter of medical necessity" for one of her drugs so it would be covered by the insurance.

We spent more time talking about insurance than we did about Marie's medical condition. This wasn't because he neglected her, it was because the insurance took more time.

I know that these procedures were put in place because some doc's abused the system. But now the system abuses the doc's and the patients. If it were not profitable it would not be so. But where ever there are people there will be abuse, we call it sin (go ahead, google it, I'll wait).

Any posting where "business" and "health" are both appropriate tags is a pox on all of our houses.

Working Conditions in the NFL?

Kellen Winslow II plays tight end for the NFL's Cleveland Browns. I am not a big fan of Mr. Winslow. While in college he called playing football "war" as real soldiers were fighting and dying in Iraq. Then he almost killed himself in a motorcycle accident three years ago. I think he often writes checks with his mouth his talent can't cash.

Having said this, today, I agree with and stand behind Mr. Winslow. Really, no kidding.

Mr. Winslow has had two staph infections in last three years. There have been six instances of staph in the last three years at the Cleveland Browns training facility . (Click here to read a report from ESPN.com.) Because he complained about being sickened in a place where he was supposed to be healing, he has been suspended for the next Brown's game; being docked $235,294, one game's pay.

This is outrageous. Where personal health in the workplace is concerned, I say he should have every right to complain--and complain out loud.

Hey Cleveland Browns, Upton Sinclair called and he thinks conditions are deplorable.