I'm infuriated right now. I'm mad at myself because I fell victim to the normal. I let my guard down and trusted my teen with the internet and a smartphone.
Let your mind think the obvious. Your going to be thinking about teen drama. Yep we had it. We had a talk, yelling, fighting, being sent to a room. At one point this very teen ran out of the house and left, only to cause a scene putting the kid back in my car.
What happened already!
"Mom I want snap chat". I said "no".
That's what happened. Yep I said no.
" but mom all my friends only talk this way"
"Still no."
"I'm a good person. I deserve to be trusted. I know there are risks but ...."
"Yes. Sort of. Yep. Still no."
For all the other parents letting your darling kids who are better than average and would never oh if they do then...
Hey I'M WIDE AWAKE NOW. People can't pay their bills, working extra time , comes with time lost for raising the very kids you love. What are we doing? Why are we letting 24/7 Internet access to our kids on a smartphone? Let me tel you why...gps. oh they are safer and you have to pay for data usage equals smartphone! Yea....anytime something named "smart" that's gonna cost you. How did we get to a point where computers took jobs, took our kids, and we work our buts off to pay huge fees out of the money that's meant for the church.
What wait what? I'm preaching to you about God's church saying that the Internet and screen time is robbery? Yea I am. It is .
I read in Isaiah several warnings about our internet, apps, and how the devil making us fat, broke, and thirsty so we can't fight back.
Guess what? Parents who think your kids are doing right....well that day will come. I hope it's just a teen acting lIke a baby over being told no. I sure hope no one is watching YouTube crap videos, giving people putting them up "views". Cause guess what..your supporting that. Your kids are looking for entertainment....and away from respect of the parents, the elders,
They don't want to read some old hard to understand Bible. How boring? I'm not a fan...until last week I got a bible journaling going. I love it. It's easier for me to find a reference. Now people drawing sunshine and flowers and I'm drawing real life. My kids are like why did you draw that...what? Oh cause these words say something but they are applicable to mean IN TODAY'S WORLD.
Please I'm letting you know...rip the bandaides off and do what is right. Get rid of the 300 phone bill and spend it on your kids. I don't like entertainment of every second with a person who is driving me crazy over entitled issues. But I did that. To myself. So I wanted to know more about the Bible and so hey I am drawing in the Bible Journal and my kids are just eating it up.
Don't waste anymore time on evil TV shows and questionable movies. Don't think your kids are entertained with "toys". Too much stimulus from a screen. AND to make it worse it costs us our jobs our families and our money and our real lives. Yep the one God has for us.
No teen or kid should be killing themselves over reading the hate that people aren't even saying outloud. All that online but can't say it to someone. I guess out of the abundance of the heart has moved to haters on the screens. Because we go there for everything we do. We don't go to God. We go to Google.
Come on and leave your thoughts comments here. I just hope I don't end up with "I told you so".
Hugs to all my five fans!
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
tailgaiting the police
I had the oddest thing happen a week ago. I was driving to get kids from school and this police officer had a blue car infront of him and there was a car behind him and then my car. Well, we are all driving along then the officer slams on his brakes and puts his flashers on and throws his hands around in the car. I thought maybe he got a call and needed to turn the car around quickly. Nope he just quit and then drove on.
I'm thinking weird. Well, we got about 1/2 mile more down the road and he did it again! Slams on brakes lights on throws his hands around. This time the car in front of me turned and the car infront of him got into the right lane. I stayed in the left lane (I would be turning soon). Right after doing his little dance in the car, the officer turned off the lights and began to drive again. We went another mile and then he did it again. Slammed on his brakes, turned on his lights and was pointing at me in the rearview mirror. So, I am going to admit it now. It wasn't nice of me and I wasn't thinking properly, because I do respect our officers. However, I just pointed at this guy and took my finger and did the "Koo koo" sign with my finger by my ear! This made this officer so mad. As we approached the stoplight the officer veered quickly into the left turn lane and slammed his brakes on. I came slowly up behind and he motioned for me to roll down my window. I did and said "do you need some help?" So, this officer starts yelling out "it is illegal to tailgate". I said "have you lost your mind?" Of course that is a common statement I make to my kids, with no thought into it. He yells at me "do you want a ticket?" So, I yell back "for what?" The officer kept yelling at me but I just waved my hands at him because your not supposed to enterain a fool. So, I then pull up my car to get away from this very concerned officer.
The officer ended up speeding off angry turning left at that light. I had a bunch of people staring at me. I have no idea why but I got really mad so I called 911 to report the officer. They had me hold for a while. Then 911 wanted to know if I wanted fire, ambulance, or police. I told them the police. I was transferred and I waited a while longer. A woman came on and wanted to know what my emergency was. I told her "I just got griped out by a police officer for driving behind him and I think he has lost his mind and I think that he is so angry he is gonna cause a problem for someone or himself". The operator told me to hold she was going to get a supervisor. I did. For a while. She came back on and read me the right act about using 911 properly. I told her that I was because their officer was having mental issues and I felt that he was a threat to people and that is a valid emergency. I had to leave my information then I got a call back from a supervisor. I told him my story, described the car and what happend. The supervisor said that was not protcol to be stopping people from behind and so he was going to look into it. He called me back again and told me the car number I gave him was not valid because that officer wasn't on duty that day and the car shouldn't be out of the lot. They were concerned it wasn't a real officer and they were concerned they couldn't find their car that was supposed to be there.
I never found out what happend. I felt like a bad drive for several days after, asking everyone I took with me if I drive too close to people. I decided I do not drive too close. I also have been eating more tailgate food lately LOL. Oh and I had plenty of room between us because I never had to slam my brakes on. I sure do hope the PD finds their car and when they do they check the brakes!
I'm thinking weird. Well, we got about 1/2 mile more down the road and he did it again! Slams on brakes lights on throws his hands around. This time the car in front of me turned and the car infront of him got into the right lane. I stayed in the left lane (I would be turning soon). Right after doing his little dance in the car, the officer turned off the lights and began to drive again. We went another mile and then he did it again. Slammed on his brakes, turned on his lights and was pointing at me in the rearview mirror. So, I am going to admit it now. It wasn't nice of me and I wasn't thinking properly, because I do respect our officers. However, I just pointed at this guy and took my finger and did the "Koo koo" sign with my finger by my ear! This made this officer so mad. As we approached the stoplight the officer veered quickly into the left turn lane and slammed his brakes on. I came slowly up behind and he motioned for me to roll down my window. I did and said "do you need some help?" So, this officer starts yelling out "it is illegal to tailgate". I said "have you lost your mind?" Of course that is a common statement I make to my kids, with no thought into it. He yells at me "do you want a ticket?" So, I yell back "for what?" The officer kept yelling at me but I just waved my hands at him because your not supposed to enterain a fool. So, I then pull up my car to get away from this very concerned officer.
The officer ended up speeding off angry turning left at that light. I had a bunch of people staring at me. I have no idea why but I got really mad so I called 911 to report the officer. They had me hold for a while. Then 911 wanted to know if I wanted fire, ambulance, or police. I told them the police. I was transferred and I waited a while longer. A woman came on and wanted to know what my emergency was. I told her "I just got griped out by a police officer for driving behind him and I think he has lost his mind and I think that he is so angry he is gonna cause a problem for someone or himself". The operator told me to hold she was going to get a supervisor. I did. For a while. She came back on and read me the right act about using 911 properly. I told her that I was because their officer was having mental issues and I felt that he was a threat to people and that is a valid emergency. I had to leave my information then I got a call back from a supervisor. I told him my story, described the car and what happend. The supervisor said that was not protcol to be stopping people from behind and so he was going to look into it. He called me back again and told me the car number I gave him was not valid because that officer wasn't on duty that day and the car shouldn't be out of the lot. They were concerned it wasn't a real officer and they were concerned they couldn't find their car that was supposed to be there.
I never found out what happend. I felt like a bad drive for several days after, asking everyone I took with me if I drive too close to people. I decided I do not drive too close. I also have been eating more tailgate food lately LOL. Oh and I had plenty of room between us because I never had to slam my brakes on. I sure do hope the PD finds their car and when they do they check the brakes!
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Lines
I was going into the store the other day and I overheard this man loudly saying "if that was my kid I would beat their butt"! He was walking with his child out to their car hand in hand. I realized what he was talking about this child who was hanging onto a cart crying with all her might.
In a past life of mine, before children, I used to think exactly like that man coming out of the store. Well, maybe not exactly, but I had believed that I would have the perfect family. I would do the job WAY BETTER than my parents. I did marry the perfect man for me, but I can't say that anything else worked out in my dreams. All of my kids are special. In their own way. Some have learning issues, some have attitude issues and some have medical issues. Regardless, I have had many discussions (some out and out arguments publically) with people over their perseption of how I should be raising my kids!
I wish I could carry a sign that said "this kid has autism". Or another that said "this kid has head issues requiring surgical intervention and is in pain a lot". Or another that said "I have no clue what's wrong with my kid and beating them isn't going to change them and will just make them cry more, longer and louder"!
Here is an example I had with my youngest child about a year ago. I was in the grocery store and I did not want to carry her (at the time I didn't know she had the medical problems she has that were causing her severe pain). Well, I put her in the basket and she screamed and screamed about being in the cart. She did NOT want to be in the cart, even though it was the little sitting part that was right next to me pushing her. I admit, she was obnoxious and loud. I learned long ago, that it is almost impossible to reason with a 3 year old. So, I decided not to and just "pretend" that nothing was wrong. I was going to "train her" that she isn't going to get a reaction from me or anyone by screaming and fit throwing. I was going to BE AN EXAMPLE. Lead by design.
Didn't work out for me. Before you know it, some opinionated woman said to me "I wouldn't allow my child to act that way". I said "well it is not your child so no need to worry about it". She proceeded to belittle me as a parent and tell me what a horrible person I was because I had no control over a tantrum. My husband was with me (you will learn from my stories over time that he is not a confrontational person). He offered to take her out to the car. Normally, I would have caved in, but I nicely and loudly announced that "if someone had an issue then they could go to their own car"! So, isle by isle I met this nosey woman. She would shake her head and I would tell her to mind her own business. Then she would tempt me again by snotting off a comment and I would tell her to shut her mouth. Finally, we got to the frozen food section. It that grocery store, some of the freezers were the old fashioned ones that are open at the top and come up to your waist. YOu have to bend over and dig in the bottom of them to get things out. So, the only thing separating me and this woman are two freezers. I am yelling at her she is yelling at me and my 3yr old is now quiet watching me "lead by example". Finally, my husband put his foot down and forced us to leave. Looking back at the situation that was probably best, because the last thing I needed was a police record on assult by frozen vegtables!
Also, once I had an issue with my 13 yr old. She threw a fit in a restaurant and refused to leave. I drug her out by the arm, took her home and when I arrived back to finish my meal with my family, the police arrived to question me about child abuse. I think the report from a "concerned citizen" was that I was a drunk woman that was beating up her child. I advised the police there is nothing wrong with drinking Sprite (which I hadn't been able to drink because I wasn't THERE!) and that my little child was approaching 150lbs. Needless to say the police did not apologize but they did leave me alone. I left with my food not eaten and I had to pay for it! I did complain to the corporate headquarters about how if there was a problem the manager should have come to speak with us. So, they sent me certificates but I gave them away because I will NEVER eat at another one of those restaraunt chains again. Mostly, because I wanted a refund and they sent me certificates.
I had a dear friend go furniture shopping one time and she had a child who had recently had surgery and this child was just having a lot of emotional sensory issues that caused her to cry and scream everywhere they went about everything. My friend had some woman at the furniture store treat her terrible because her child was going through this time. Well, as my friend cried over the phone to me about her experience I comforted her as best I could. I told her all the things she should have said back to that woman! I have a more confrontational personality (when provoked). My friend is so sweet and she just isn't that way.
My kids are terrible at some point whereever we go. Sometimes it is their crying and fits and other times it is just that they are free spirits and unaware of the world's perception around them. No you can't crawl across the table to get to mom, and you should talk inside with a soft voice and wearing a swimsuit with boots doesn't mean you are prepared to go out in the cold rainy weather! Yes, lines on a paper. I have a child who is the creator of lines, a child who argues about having to use the lines, a child who only operates with lines and a child who belives lines are merely a suggestion.
As a parent, it is a tough job. I believe most parents do the best they can. A few are bad parents. They just are. However, next time you see a parent struggling with a crying, fit throwing, terrible acting child, remember something. There is a problem there. It is either that the child is hurting or has special needs that are not so obvious, or that the parent is tired and hurting and just trying to move on with life one step at a time. If you are bothered by a loud situation, no one is holding you down, just leave. There is no need to embarrass the parent more than has already happend. If you want to help, don't do it with judgmental words. No. Rather, offer to help. Ask the parent if there is anything they need or you can do to help. Do not attempt to patronize the parent by talking nicely to their child who will not cooperate for them! Do NOT offer the angry child "candy" or ask "what's wrong honey". If you are a "helpful patron" and you feel that it is your duty to offer up some help, have some business cards printed with your name and number on them for the parent to call you to see if there is anything you can do for them at a later time.
I need to lead by example on my advice because I usually just ignore the family and say a silent prayer for them. Perhaps I should tell the parent that I simpathize with them and regardless of every other person who wants them to "beat their child's butt" and the other helpful people who will "call the cops" when they do, I just want them to know that I have been there many times and that fortunately in a hour things will improve. I think I'm going to look up some good things to do for a hurting mom or dad. There is a preacher who once was talking about how you should carry small "gift cards" like to coffee places or the stores you shop in, to give to the parent to just offer a gesture of how God hears every agonizing moment of their hearts. I definatley need to do this because I have found I am never prepared.
I have decided that God has given to me "all" special kids and that somehow I was his Chosen Parent to endure the souls that he has entrusted to me! I may even have cards printed up for the people that I hear that are saying "I would beat that kid's butt" to explain to them that they are so narrow minded they are unable to see the big picture. Oh and to have a great day as well! :)
I don't know what do you guys think? What should we say on our cards to random strangers to nicely point out a perception they did not think of. Or should we just say a prayer for the small-minds of others? I think this is another example of why the world doesn't work!
Sugar to all my five fans! :)
In a past life of mine, before children, I used to think exactly like that man coming out of the store. Well, maybe not exactly, but I had believed that I would have the perfect family. I would do the job WAY BETTER than my parents. I did marry the perfect man for me, but I can't say that anything else worked out in my dreams. All of my kids are special. In their own way. Some have learning issues, some have attitude issues and some have medical issues. Regardless, I have had many discussions (some out and out arguments publically) with people over their perseption of how I should be raising my kids!
I wish I could carry a sign that said "this kid has autism". Or another that said "this kid has head issues requiring surgical intervention and is in pain a lot". Or another that said "I have no clue what's wrong with my kid and beating them isn't going to change them and will just make them cry more, longer and louder"!
Here is an example I had with my youngest child about a year ago. I was in the grocery store and I did not want to carry her (at the time I didn't know she had the medical problems she has that were causing her severe pain). Well, I put her in the basket and she screamed and screamed about being in the cart. She did NOT want to be in the cart, even though it was the little sitting part that was right next to me pushing her. I admit, she was obnoxious and loud. I learned long ago, that it is almost impossible to reason with a 3 year old. So, I decided not to and just "pretend" that nothing was wrong. I was going to "train her" that she isn't going to get a reaction from me or anyone by screaming and fit throwing. I was going to BE AN EXAMPLE. Lead by design.
Didn't work out for me. Before you know it, some opinionated woman said to me "I wouldn't allow my child to act that way". I said "well it is not your child so no need to worry about it". She proceeded to belittle me as a parent and tell me what a horrible person I was because I had no control over a tantrum. My husband was with me (you will learn from my stories over time that he is not a confrontational person). He offered to take her out to the car. Normally, I would have caved in, but I nicely and loudly announced that "if someone had an issue then they could go to their own car"! So, isle by isle I met this nosey woman. She would shake her head and I would tell her to mind her own business. Then she would tempt me again by snotting off a comment and I would tell her to shut her mouth. Finally, we got to the frozen food section. It that grocery store, some of the freezers were the old fashioned ones that are open at the top and come up to your waist. YOu have to bend over and dig in the bottom of them to get things out. So, the only thing separating me and this woman are two freezers. I am yelling at her she is yelling at me and my 3yr old is now quiet watching me "lead by example". Finally, my husband put his foot down and forced us to leave. Looking back at the situation that was probably best, because the last thing I needed was a police record on assult by frozen vegtables!
Also, once I had an issue with my 13 yr old. She threw a fit in a restaurant and refused to leave. I drug her out by the arm, took her home and when I arrived back to finish my meal with my family, the police arrived to question me about child abuse. I think the report from a "concerned citizen" was that I was a drunk woman that was beating up her child. I advised the police there is nothing wrong with drinking Sprite (which I hadn't been able to drink because I wasn't THERE!) and that my little child was approaching 150lbs. Needless to say the police did not apologize but they did leave me alone. I left with my food not eaten and I had to pay for it! I did complain to the corporate headquarters about how if there was a problem the manager should have come to speak with us. So, they sent me certificates but I gave them away because I will NEVER eat at another one of those restaraunt chains again. Mostly, because I wanted a refund and they sent me certificates.
I had a dear friend go furniture shopping one time and she had a child who had recently had surgery and this child was just having a lot of emotional sensory issues that caused her to cry and scream everywhere they went about everything. My friend had some woman at the furniture store treat her terrible because her child was going through this time. Well, as my friend cried over the phone to me about her experience I comforted her as best I could. I told her all the things she should have said back to that woman! I have a more confrontational personality (when provoked). My friend is so sweet and she just isn't that way.
My kids are terrible at some point whereever we go. Sometimes it is their crying and fits and other times it is just that they are free spirits and unaware of the world's perception around them. No you can't crawl across the table to get to mom, and you should talk inside with a soft voice and wearing a swimsuit with boots doesn't mean you are prepared to go out in the cold rainy weather! Yes, lines on a paper. I have a child who is the creator of lines, a child who argues about having to use the lines, a child who only operates with lines and a child who belives lines are merely a suggestion.
As a parent, it is a tough job. I believe most parents do the best they can. A few are bad parents. They just are. However, next time you see a parent struggling with a crying, fit throwing, terrible acting child, remember something. There is a problem there. It is either that the child is hurting or has special needs that are not so obvious, or that the parent is tired and hurting and just trying to move on with life one step at a time. If you are bothered by a loud situation, no one is holding you down, just leave. There is no need to embarrass the parent more than has already happend. If you want to help, don't do it with judgmental words. No. Rather, offer to help. Ask the parent if there is anything they need or you can do to help. Do not attempt to patronize the parent by talking nicely to their child who will not cooperate for them! Do NOT offer the angry child "candy" or ask "what's wrong honey". If you are a "helpful patron" and you feel that it is your duty to offer up some help, have some business cards printed with your name and number on them for the parent to call you to see if there is anything you can do for them at a later time.
I need to lead by example on my advice because I usually just ignore the family and say a silent prayer for them. Perhaps I should tell the parent that I simpathize with them and regardless of every other person who wants them to "beat their child's butt" and the other helpful people who will "call the cops" when they do, I just want them to know that I have been there many times and that fortunately in a hour things will improve. I think I'm going to look up some good things to do for a hurting mom or dad. There is a preacher who once was talking about how you should carry small "gift cards" like to coffee places or the stores you shop in, to give to the parent to just offer a gesture of how God hears every agonizing moment of their hearts. I definatley need to do this because I have found I am never prepared.
I have decided that God has given to me "all" special kids and that somehow I was his Chosen Parent to endure the souls that he has entrusted to me! I may even have cards printed up for the people that I hear that are saying "I would beat that kid's butt" to explain to them that they are so narrow minded they are unable to see the big picture. Oh and to have a great day as well! :)
I don't know what do you guys think? What should we say on our cards to random strangers to nicely point out a perception they did not think of. Or should we just say a prayer for the small-minds of others? I think this is another example of why the world doesn't work!
Sugar to all my five fans! :)
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Why the world doesn't work - Health Insurance Blue Cross and Blue Sheild Platinum Plan - Please Hold
Picture this. For a Mom and 4 kids, I am paying $800 plus a month for the Platinum Plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield so that after you pay an additional One-Thousand Two-hundred and Fifty dollars per person (or child) then this BCBS plan will pay 100% of everything covered under the plan. Simple right? NOPE.
Today I again found myself on the phone with BCBS Plantinum plan customer service discussing why my children's eyecare wasn't covered. The explanation of benefits (that paper you get in the mail that you dread opening because even though it isn't a bill it proves your gonna one on the way) said it wasn't a covered service on the member's plan. So, I'm on the phone with the representative and she explains that isn't why BCBS did not pay for the doctor visit. She states it was because of the coding. So, together we went over the coding. Then she put me on hold long enough to fix my 4yr old food (thank for speaker phone) and answer another call to tell them I was holding for BCBS I'll call them back and a nap. Just kidding on the nap. So, the official word from the Plantinum Plan BCBS Customer Service Supervisor is that BCBS computer system is messed up. Even though they thought it was fixed, and cannot understand why it continues to process claims wrong, it was my lucky day because they decided that they would process my children's doctor visit claim as my plan does cover the eyecare. I told them they could call the President to verify the Obamacare coverage requirements (which BCBS helped write) if they needed to. However, again it was all a misunderstanding (according to BCBS). I don't feel that I misunderstood anything. I got a bill I shouldn't have to pay and called the insurance company and waited on hold all day and talked to one representative who had to verify with another BCBS representative with a title of "supervisor".
The good news is, that when I was done with this phone call I got to call BCBS Platinum Plan Pharmacy Department (AKA Prime Theraputics) to discuss why I was charged $1.88 for my child's prescription which should be covered at 100% on the Platinum plan. Well, apparently I was just overcharged a little over $72.00 after talking with them for a while. I never had to be put on hold. That representative understood how to use a calculator to come up with the fact BCBS Platinum Plan wasn't doing the job right. She didn't bother to blame it on the computer either!
So, for anyone out there with a Blue Cross and Blue Shield Platinum Plan, check all your claims. Apparently, down to getting your blood drawn! If you go to the doctor and they take your blood you better make sure the lab they send it to is in network or your going to get an EOB saying your going to be billed for One Thousand Five Hundred dollars like I did! Also, you are going to want to ensure that when you get a denial you call them right away to explain their own plan to them so that they can explain it to their computer. Also, you will want to ensure that you either have all day to handle a question for this plan, or be a good multi-tasker.
Remember, you can get all this and more for the bargain price of around $800 ish a month. Gee, I wonder what the Gold and Silver Plan customers go through? I bet they need to plan for several days vs. hours on the phone and a computer that is harder to program so it will take more than just a supervisor's approval. I'm not too sure, but at least they will fix it. Eventually. At some point. Soon I hope. Well, maybe I should call them and ask them how long it will take? I mean this is almost 6 months into the year here, so maybe this will get handled by Christmas? Wonder if that is what happend to Santa....I can hear it now. "You see kids, well, it is just that poor Santa Clause was on the Gold plan and the reason he didn't come this year is because the computer is still being built to process his healthcare claims."
I signed up for the Dental plan with them as well, which I'm getting ready to use. I'll let you know how that goes and if the Tooth Fairy will be missing for a while. :)
To Be Continued. Please Hold.
Big Sugar to All my Five fans!
Today I again found myself on the phone with BCBS Plantinum plan customer service discussing why my children's eyecare wasn't covered. The explanation of benefits (that paper you get in the mail that you dread opening because even though it isn't a bill it proves your gonna one on the way) said it wasn't a covered service on the member's plan. So, I'm on the phone with the representative and she explains that isn't why BCBS did not pay for the doctor visit. She states it was because of the coding. So, together we went over the coding. Then she put me on hold long enough to fix my 4yr old food (thank for speaker phone) and answer another call to tell them I was holding for BCBS I'll call them back and a nap. Just kidding on the nap. So, the official word from the Plantinum Plan BCBS Customer Service Supervisor is that BCBS computer system is messed up. Even though they thought it was fixed, and cannot understand why it continues to process claims wrong, it was my lucky day because they decided that they would process my children's doctor visit claim as my plan does cover the eyecare. I told them they could call the President to verify the Obamacare coverage requirements (which BCBS helped write) if they needed to. However, again it was all a misunderstanding (according to BCBS). I don't feel that I misunderstood anything. I got a bill I shouldn't have to pay and called the insurance company and waited on hold all day and talked to one representative who had to verify with another BCBS representative with a title of "supervisor".
The good news is, that when I was done with this phone call I got to call BCBS Platinum Plan Pharmacy Department (AKA Prime Theraputics) to discuss why I was charged $1.88 for my child's prescription which should be covered at 100% on the Platinum plan. Well, apparently I was just overcharged a little over $72.00 after talking with them for a while. I never had to be put on hold. That representative understood how to use a calculator to come up with the fact BCBS Platinum Plan wasn't doing the job right. She didn't bother to blame it on the computer either!
So, for anyone out there with a Blue Cross and Blue Shield Platinum Plan, check all your claims. Apparently, down to getting your blood drawn! If you go to the doctor and they take your blood you better make sure the lab they send it to is in network or your going to get an EOB saying your going to be billed for One Thousand Five Hundred dollars like I did! Also, you are going to want to ensure that when you get a denial you call them right away to explain their own plan to them so that they can explain it to their computer. Also, you will want to ensure that you either have all day to handle a question for this plan, or be a good multi-tasker.
Remember, you can get all this and more for the bargain price of around $800 ish a month. Gee, I wonder what the Gold and Silver Plan customers go through? I bet they need to plan for several days vs. hours on the phone and a computer that is harder to program so it will take more than just a supervisor's approval. I'm not too sure, but at least they will fix it. Eventually. At some point. Soon I hope. Well, maybe I should call them and ask them how long it will take? I mean this is almost 6 months into the year here, so maybe this will get handled by Christmas? Wonder if that is what happend to Santa....I can hear it now. "You see kids, well, it is just that poor Santa Clause was on the Gold plan and the reason he didn't come this year is because the computer is still being built to process his healthcare claims."
I signed up for the Dental plan with them as well, which I'm getting ready to use. I'll let you know how that goes and if the Tooth Fairy will be missing for a while. :)
To Be Continued. Please Hold.
Big Sugar to All my Five fans!
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Why the World Doesn't Work - Checking out at the store
So, I was all excited last weekend (Easter Weekend) about how I found some awesome coupon deals for some toilet paper and groceries. I ended up racking up a total bill of $700 and I saved about $375! I personally never buy any items I do not need or would not normally buy. I was able to stack coupons and earn some gift cards that I immediately turned around and spent on groceries.
Well, in order to do this type of shopping it takes about 3 dedicated hours a week and it also takes serious concentration at the checkout. I am not an extreme coupon person, I feel, because I do not over-buy things. I did at one point in time, but toothpaste that you get for free is NOT a good deal when it expires and has oil oozing out of it....ewww. Who knew right?
So, I am in the checkout line and this checker sees us and calls us to come over to a different line. He did not turn on his "light" to signal that he was not open. I assumed he understood by the cart of over-flowing toilet paper ( I had to buy a lot in order to score the gift cards and stack with the coupons and with a big household a lot of toilet paper doesn't last long.) and the other two carts full of groceries that we were going to take a bit of time.
The checker was very pleasant. He explained he just comes up to help the cashiers every now and then. I was very careful to separate my transactions with the little bars you set down on the conveyor belt. I carefully inspected every item being scanned ensuring that I got every reward coming to me. I made sure all my coupons scanned correctly. First transaction was a total success. Then the next transaction I had a couple of issues. One was that I had to purchase $50 worth of food in order to receive the automatic $10 off coupon. Well, my total was $49.87 so I added some gum but that did not count. So, I ended up adding an item out of my other cart behind me for the correct amount to receive the bonus coupon.
Ever heard of "third times the charm"? LET ME SET THE SCENE FOR YOU! Overflowing carts full of toilet paper and groceries. A husband busy on his cell phone. Four restless children. A woman (ME) with a cell phone getting it scanned for electronic coupons and a handful of coupons. All of this at a "closed" checkout. So, this middle-aged couple come up and gets behind us placing their items on the conveyor. The checker does not tell them he isn't really checking people out. I decided not to worry about it because "it is non of my business". So, I continue to monitor things when out of no where I have made an unfortunate mistake of picking up the wrong paper towel brand. To the average consumer, this is probably not a big deal. This however was a $20 off the bill mistake. So, I decided to have the cashier check the brand. He leaves to get a manager. The manager comes and explains that it is the right brand but wrong "type" of paper towels. So, he offers to run and get the correct ones. I decided to speed up my transaction to be nice to get it done so I can do my final transaction so this couple can checkout as well. At first I thought they just wanted to watch me coupon (some people actually come and ask me how I do it). Then I realized that the husband started getting annoyed. Well, we got to the last coupon and then they changed the paper towels and the whole register shut down! So, this guy looks at the checker and says "is this going to take a long time?" Then he proceeds to complain to his wife about it taking a long time and he starts throwing his stuff back into his cart! For some reason, it just went all over me. The nerve of this guy! So, the checker says nothing to him and so I just looked at him and said "well yeah it is going to take a long time. Not sure what specialness you missed here." Suddenly, my hubby looks up from the phone and says "its ok Jess". I looked at him and said "oh no it is not ok" and he points at the Startbucks coffee and offers to go buy me a coffee to make me feel better because he does NOT want me to get into a confrontation with this man. So, I just looked at hubby and spouted off "well, I don't know what on earth would posess him to pick our line! I mean if it isn't obvious that we are super special here, then I don't think there is any hope for this man!" Of course you have to understand that I was tired and getting frustrated because I was being a good wife and mom and homemaker and getting the best buys available for our family. Along comes Mr. Grumpy in a hurry suddenly customer who needs VIP service and starts to make me feel like a terrible person! I had to live next door to a man who constantly made me feel like a bad person and I will NEVER be silent again allowing some old grump to ruin any part of my life thank you. I was standing up for my rights here! This guy and his wife come up to a CLOSED line and now they are IN A HURRY?
I would like to educate any old grumps needing VIP in a hurry service at a checkout in a store. DO NOT attempt to get this type of service behind a family with a bunch of kids and coupons and carts ok? Because it is GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME!
Now, we have the situation from a smiling chatty cashier to total silence at the front of the store minus the "discussion" that I was having with Mr. Hurry. Eventually, the cashier is speechless and so this became a battle of the very important "last word". I would not allow Mr. Grumpy to have the last word. NO! I will have the last word here. I am the good person. I am the one who is being attacked even though I am just buying some food and toilet paper for my family! So, he would grouch and I would chirp and the whole time people stared and my hubby tried to keep the peace.
This man finally says to me "that is ridiculous" and I said "well if you were going to save over half on your grocery bill you would make sure you buy the right toilet paper too!" He said something else and I chirped at him "keep it up and I'll show everyone in here how to look up coupons on their phones too"! So, then I looked around and realized several cell phones were out. Not sure if this means I'm going to be the crazy coupon lady on youtube yelling at customers or if they were searching for coupons. I definitely ruffled up my feathers, and felt like I needed to justify my shopping habits. However, looking at the situation now, I should have just showed him how to save on his food bill and told him "time is money". Bless their hearts.
Well, I learned lesson. I hope Mr. in a Hurry Grumpy learned his lesson too. To pay attention to the line he gets in or use the self-checkout lines!
Big Sugar to all my Five Fans!
Well, in order to do this type of shopping it takes about 3 dedicated hours a week and it also takes serious concentration at the checkout. I am not an extreme coupon person, I feel, because I do not over-buy things. I did at one point in time, but toothpaste that you get for free is NOT a good deal when it expires and has oil oozing out of it....ewww. Who knew right?
So, I am in the checkout line and this checker sees us and calls us to come over to a different line. He did not turn on his "light" to signal that he was not open. I assumed he understood by the cart of over-flowing toilet paper ( I had to buy a lot in order to score the gift cards and stack with the coupons and with a big household a lot of toilet paper doesn't last long.) and the other two carts full of groceries that we were going to take a bit of time.
The checker was very pleasant. He explained he just comes up to help the cashiers every now and then. I was very careful to separate my transactions with the little bars you set down on the conveyor belt. I carefully inspected every item being scanned ensuring that I got every reward coming to me. I made sure all my coupons scanned correctly. First transaction was a total success. Then the next transaction I had a couple of issues. One was that I had to purchase $50 worth of food in order to receive the automatic $10 off coupon. Well, my total was $49.87 so I added some gum but that did not count. So, I ended up adding an item out of my other cart behind me for the correct amount to receive the bonus coupon.
Ever heard of "third times the charm"? LET ME SET THE SCENE FOR YOU! Overflowing carts full of toilet paper and groceries. A husband busy on his cell phone. Four restless children. A woman (ME) with a cell phone getting it scanned for electronic coupons and a handful of coupons. All of this at a "closed" checkout. So, this middle-aged couple come up and gets behind us placing their items on the conveyor. The checker does not tell them he isn't really checking people out. I decided not to worry about it because "it is non of my business". So, I continue to monitor things when out of no where I have made an unfortunate mistake of picking up the wrong paper towel brand. To the average consumer, this is probably not a big deal. This however was a $20 off the bill mistake. So, I decided to have the cashier check the brand. He leaves to get a manager. The manager comes and explains that it is the right brand but wrong "type" of paper towels. So, he offers to run and get the correct ones. I decided to speed up my transaction to be nice to get it done so I can do my final transaction so this couple can checkout as well. At first I thought they just wanted to watch me coupon (some people actually come and ask me how I do it). Then I realized that the husband started getting annoyed. Well, we got to the last coupon and then they changed the paper towels and the whole register shut down! So, this guy looks at the checker and says "is this going to take a long time?" Then he proceeds to complain to his wife about it taking a long time and he starts throwing his stuff back into his cart! For some reason, it just went all over me. The nerve of this guy! So, the checker says nothing to him and so I just looked at him and said "well yeah it is going to take a long time. Not sure what specialness you missed here." Suddenly, my hubby looks up from the phone and says "its ok Jess". I looked at him and said "oh no it is not ok" and he points at the Startbucks coffee and offers to go buy me a coffee to make me feel better because he does NOT want me to get into a confrontation with this man. So, I just looked at hubby and spouted off "well, I don't know what on earth would posess him to pick our line! I mean if it isn't obvious that we are super special here, then I don't think there is any hope for this man!" Of course you have to understand that I was tired and getting frustrated because I was being a good wife and mom and homemaker and getting the best buys available for our family. Along comes Mr. Grumpy in a hurry suddenly customer who needs VIP service and starts to make me feel like a terrible person! I had to live next door to a man who constantly made me feel like a bad person and I will NEVER be silent again allowing some old grump to ruin any part of my life thank you. I was standing up for my rights here! This guy and his wife come up to a CLOSED line and now they are IN A HURRY?
I would like to educate any old grumps needing VIP in a hurry service at a checkout in a store. DO NOT attempt to get this type of service behind a family with a bunch of kids and coupons and carts ok? Because it is GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME!
Now, we have the situation from a smiling chatty cashier to total silence at the front of the store minus the "discussion" that I was having with Mr. Hurry. Eventually, the cashier is speechless and so this became a battle of the very important "last word". I would not allow Mr. Grumpy to have the last word. NO! I will have the last word here. I am the good person. I am the one who is being attacked even though I am just buying some food and toilet paper for my family! So, he would grouch and I would chirp and the whole time people stared and my hubby tried to keep the peace.
This man finally says to me "that is ridiculous" and I said "well if you were going to save over half on your grocery bill you would make sure you buy the right toilet paper too!" He said something else and I chirped at him "keep it up and I'll show everyone in here how to look up coupons on their phones too"! So, then I looked around and realized several cell phones were out. Not sure if this means I'm going to be the crazy coupon lady on youtube yelling at customers or if they were searching for coupons. I definitely ruffled up my feathers, and felt like I needed to justify my shopping habits. However, looking at the situation now, I should have just showed him how to save on his food bill and told him "time is money". Bless their hearts.
Well, I learned lesson. I hope Mr. in a Hurry Grumpy learned his lesson too. To pay attention to the line he gets in or use the self-checkout lines!
Big Sugar to all my Five Fans!
Friday, April 4, 2014
Why the world doesn't work - drivers and red lights
In the last week I have been cut off by people behind me! Yes that is right! So, I was sitting at a red light in traffic so congested that no one could move. I was turning right. The light was red and the guy behind me was honking at me. Over and over and over and over. Honk. Honk. Hoonnnnkkkk!.
I throw my hands up in the air and ask him (as if he can hear me) what do you want me to do? Next thing I know he has pulled up beside me in his big black truck with handicap placquard, and is yelling at me and then cuts me off by turning right in front of me into oncoming traffic about causing a wreck for all of us! I start honking back and him and give it an extra long hooooonkkk! It didn't help. It did not make me feel better and the worst part is, I was the one now looking like the aggressor.
So, I move on. I text my husband that I need a conceal carry license. Then I text back that isn't a good idea after all. My husband, bless his heart, is confused by me but NEVER surprised.
So, today I'm driving. I am on my way to get my kids from school. Red light. Sitting in the right lane waiting for it to turn green to go straight. Before I know it a truck pulls along side me from behind me, mad at me that I'm in his way of turning right (there is no right hand turn lane). He cuts me off and turns right in front of me. Again! So, it brings back fond memories of days prior, and I give it a big honnnnnkkkkkk at him. Well, then the next car behind me does the EXACT same thing. Cuts me off turning right in front of me! So, then I honk honk honk honk honk honk honk hoooonnkkk honk honk! ARRGG. By this time, I realize the light must be broken and so I wait and I just have to go through the red light because I cannot go straight!
I am now questioning if I am a good driver at red lights when turning right or going straight! I am questioning my sanity wondering if I am missing a green light. I don't seem to be missing the jerks going around me. So, how can I be such a poor red light driver huh?
The best part was when I took out my frustration on the front desk at my daughter's school because she decided to go to an after school program I told her she wasn't allowed to go to.
Currently, I am not only a poor red light driver but now I look like a terrible mother with no patience at all. Even though, this after school activity has been a bone of contention for a week straight!
So, my food for thought for the day here is.......
HOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKKK!
BIG sugar to all my Five Fans :)
I throw my hands up in the air and ask him (as if he can hear me) what do you want me to do? Next thing I know he has pulled up beside me in his big black truck with handicap placquard, and is yelling at me and then cuts me off by turning right in front of me into oncoming traffic about causing a wreck for all of us! I start honking back and him and give it an extra long hooooonkkk! It didn't help. It did not make me feel better and the worst part is, I was the one now looking like the aggressor.
So, I move on. I text my husband that I need a conceal carry license. Then I text back that isn't a good idea after all. My husband, bless his heart, is confused by me but NEVER surprised.
So, today I'm driving. I am on my way to get my kids from school. Red light. Sitting in the right lane waiting for it to turn green to go straight. Before I know it a truck pulls along side me from behind me, mad at me that I'm in his way of turning right (there is no right hand turn lane). He cuts me off and turns right in front of me. Again! So, it brings back fond memories of days prior, and I give it a big honnnnnkkkkkk at him. Well, then the next car behind me does the EXACT same thing. Cuts me off turning right in front of me! So, then I honk honk honk honk honk honk honk hoooonnkkk honk honk! ARRGG. By this time, I realize the light must be broken and so I wait and I just have to go through the red light because I cannot go straight!
I am now questioning if I am a good driver at red lights when turning right or going straight! I am questioning my sanity wondering if I am missing a green light. I don't seem to be missing the jerks going around me. So, how can I be such a poor red light driver huh?
The best part was when I took out my frustration on the front desk at my daughter's school because she decided to go to an after school program I told her she wasn't allowed to go to.
Currently, I am not only a poor red light driver but now I look like a terrible mother with no patience at all. Even though, this after school activity has been a bone of contention for a week straight!
So, my food for thought for the day here is.......
John 7:24 ESV
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.HOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKKK!
BIG sugar to all my Five Fans :)
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Why the world doesn't work - water - you vs. the city
Today I looked down and realized I was two days late on my house payment. Yep it is due the 1st and today is the 3rd! So, I wrote out a check and ran through the front yard to mail it. Well, I get close to the mailbox and realize it is muddy so I decide to step on the water meter cover because it is solid only I fall right in! Water is coming out and it is obvious it is flooded.
I call the city and tell them I think there might be a leak. So, they send out their one man show to come and take a peek. So, this guy comes driving up to the water meter area in the city truck. Lights are flashing. I watch him for a few minutes and realize he's getting ready to leave! OH no you don't mister, not without talking to me first! Sheesh. So, I get my fuzzy slippers on and run out to catch him.
He looks super happy that I'm home and need to chat. :) So, I begin to discuss the situation, the water and how I fell in and how yard is sinking in and the main sewer line is coming through the yard etc. He listens and objects to everything. He has determined the water isn't leaking because there is no "bleach" or "chlorine" present in his handy dandy plastic test tube. He tells me the water is dirty and has been there a long time. Uhhhh....yes that is obvious that there is a water backup. However, he tells me it is just "that time of year". He wants to reassure me so he tells me he is going to pump out the water. I say great. So, I grab my 4yr old and we watch him. This water employee is now even more excited that he has an audience to critique his pumping water skills. Yes!
So, we watch him take out a home-made pump. He starts hand pumping out water and then we would watch it run down the street. He pumped more and same thing. And more. And more and more. Until he tells us that it isn't filling back up very fast so it can't be a leak. In fact, if it was a leak our grass would be bleached white (even though it is white from the winter still)! He even let us know that having water bubbling up from the ground there was perfectly fine. We should worry if it is clear and not dirty. OH and technically, we were on the other side of the street where the other water department is responsible. Not this department. We discussed the terrible construction of the subdivision and he then enlightened me that he lives 30 miles away out in the country on 360 acres. He knows this neighborhood very well because he did the meter readings for the prior three years. (This makes him a total expert on the construction of the homes in the neighborhood right?) I did not ask him what his new position with the water department was (since he doesn't read meters anymore).
Well, given this home is a rental and I have done all I can as a tenant, I decided to thank him for his expertise and move on. Literally. So, I'm now on the hunt for a real home that we can call our own. Somewhere where we don't have to live by HOA rules of where to park and how to mow your lawn. A place where my kids are safe and we can enjoy some peace. I don't think I'm ready to live on 360 acres 30 miles away, but it gets my mind to thinking.
I call the city and tell them I think there might be a leak. So, they send out their one man show to come and take a peek. So, this guy comes driving up to the water meter area in the city truck. Lights are flashing. I watch him for a few minutes and realize he's getting ready to leave! OH no you don't mister, not without talking to me first! Sheesh. So, I get my fuzzy slippers on and run out to catch him.
He looks super happy that I'm home and need to chat. :) So, I begin to discuss the situation, the water and how I fell in and how yard is sinking in and the main sewer line is coming through the yard etc. He listens and objects to everything. He has determined the water isn't leaking because there is no "bleach" or "chlorine" present in his handy dandy plastic test tube. He tells me the water is dirty and has been there a long time. Uhhhh....yes that is obvious that there is a water backup. However, he tells me it is just "that time of year". He wants to reassure me so he tells me he is going to pump out the water. I say great. So, I grab my 4yr old and we watch him. This water employee is now even more excited that he has an audience to critique his pumping water skills. Yes!
So, we watch him take out a home-made pump. He starts hand pumping out water and then we would watch it run down the street. He pumped more and same thing. And more. And more and more. Until he tells us that it isn't filling back up very fast so it can't be a leak. In fact, if it was a leak our grass would be bleached white (even though it is white from the winter still)! He even let us know that having water bubbling up from the ground there was perfectly fine. We should worry if it is clear and not dirty. OH and technically, we were on the other side of the street where the other water department is responsible. Not this department. We discussed the terrible construction of the subdivision and he then enlightened me that he lives 30 miles away out in the country on 360 acres. He knows this neighborhood very well because he did the meter readings for the prior three years. (This makes him a total expert on the construction of the homes in the neighborhood right?) I did not ask him what his new position with the water department was (since he doesn't read meters anymore).
Well, given this home is a rental and I have done all I can as a tenant, I decided to thank him for his expertise and move on. Literally. So, I'm now on the hunt for a real home that we can call our own. Somewhere where we don't have to live by HOA rules of where to park and how to mow your lawn. A place where my kids are safe and we can enjoy some peace. I don't think I'm ready to live on 360 acres 30 miles away, but it gets my mind to thinking.
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