Alis Volat Propriis

State of the Corvid

corbaewench — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 18:01:35 GMT

Hi there! I just had a moment of "this is why my brain is not allowed out alone" and I need to get it out so I can stop being horrified by it.

I know that being and staying positive is a real issue for many people. It's annoying, it's privleged, it's ignoring whole sections of the world. It's how I'm wired. I can be as mopey and depressed as the next person, but I''ve never been able to dwell on "life sucks" for a long period of time. Hell, I even try and justify actions from people who have no remorse in treating me like shit. Cross over that line to DarlingMan and Wenchlette and I'll never forgive, but me? I want to believe that people hurt each other unintentionally.

I know some folks that we met in Iowa. I thought they were good people, if misunderstood by someone I was particularly close to. Due to her words, and concerns, I never allowed the aquaintanceship to go further than "Hey, how are you?" but I was happy to have another female friend who was making it.

Over the course of 6 weeks, this person, who I'll call Cathy, changed her life plan and asked for DarlingMan and I to be professional references for the flood of applications needed to radically change her life, 3 times. After time #2, DarlingMan and I said "Um, maybe you should really look into this..." and she lost her damned mind. E-mails with accusations of us thinking her as "less than us" and statements of "I'm not trash, you can't treat me as such" flew. I discovered in her e-mails that I had agreed to some kind of relationship with other friends, and she was bent that she wasn't going to get that same level of care and attention. DarlingMan and I were no longer going to be performing her wedding ceremony, she wasn't going to get married in Vegas, and she wasn't moving to Vegas to be closer to us. (O_o)

The e-mails ended with her informing us that she was going to live a great life, with or without us, and she just hoped we did as well as we could. Nutz, but really I was left feeling like I had just watched DeGrassi.... It didn't really matter to me. Best wishes.

I should have hidden her on FB then, but I didn't. SHe didn't post often and her partner was a good guy who deserves support.

Then the "We are getting married on Saturday, here's the webfeed..." Again, whatever, Gods Speed.

Then the daily "We are having a geek honeymoon, we are crownd sourcing it. Give us money so we can do it." started. I didn't hide her then, mostly I think because I don't have much outside drahma anymore and sometimes a place to direct my outrage at stupidint feels so damn good. And I wrote letter after unsent letter. Telling them both how classless they were. How if you can't afford a fancy honeymoon, you suck it up and don't have one, or postpone it. You decide that the life you are striving towards is worth it, and you deal.

I was notified that the "plans" of moving for the two of them have been moved up, and so I notified my connections in the town they are headed to, that they are headed up that direction and watch out for the cray cray. Since Cathy and her husband, Allan (Not his real name) are interested in LARP, I thought the people I know who LARP should be aware that Cathy is demanding, and is liable to be overly drahmatic, bordering on hysteria when she is rejected or rebuffed. More of a "Hey, just be aware" and less of a mean girls "don't include her".

During the sending of the e-mails, DarlingMan chimed in and informed me that much like what happened with "She who shall not be named" (or as I like to call her Nagani) once I left Iowa, Cathy decided to step in and become me. Hair color, clothing choices, even announcing that she was "taking Justine's place in all things" in public.

Again, whatever. Imitation, flattery blah blah blah.

It was the second part of the e-mail that made me want to force DarlingMan to vet everyone I meet from now on.

Evidently, Cathy contacted some dear friends of mine and informed them that the polyamorous relationship we had been having (Us and the Other Couple....O_o) was being altered so Cathy and Allan were to be the second couple. That DarlingMan and I had effectively "willed" our relationship to Cathy and Allan.

I.

Wha?

I am so embarrased. For my dear friends, who DarlingMan and I were close to, but not /that/ close. (Did I mention the original warnings came from 1/2 of the Other Couple?) For Cathy's husban Allan, who isn't polyamourous. And for myself, because I thought I was dealing with someone who was modeling herself on the good parts of me, not using them as checkmarks on some weird list.

And who DOES that? Who wills a polyrelationship? Who would not inform their partners, but wait for the new guys to make contact?

Clearly I am way to "rose colored glasses" for these people. And it's not the first time I've been surprised. I keep being started by how inappropriate and small other people can be.

It makes me want to change, because clearly who I am doesn't work in this world. ANd then I don't want to change, because it's not MY issue. I'm not wrong.

But I still want someone to determine who's worth it, because my heart is bruised.

The state of the Corvid

corbaewench — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:09:13 GMT

So..... its been a while, and life is the carnival it always is. Good news is the days of waking up and realizing that my makeup is less Eowyn and more Devine are pretty much finished. Bullets below:

1. I'm leaving the Mid-west, tying my DH and the wenchlette to a wagon and heading West. Hopefully there will be no dysentery.
2. I have a phenomenal job in Las Vegas. DH will start grad school in January.
3. This means that despite the great job, we are still living like grad students.
4. We'll hopefully have a place to live, but since I'm an "Independent Contractor" we can't purchase a home for the next 2 years. This stresses out the DH. And me.
5. Because I have to pay my own taxes and health insurance.
6. We don't know where we'll be living, since we can't buy a house and rentals are questionable. Since I can't guarantee I won't loose the contract.
7. I will be living in the same town as my family... for the first time in my married life.
8. DH and Family are like Crisco and Gasoline.
9. No DH did not get the job in VA..... he is mostly crushed.
10. He did get a job teaching CPR classes and doing TB screening for 35k a year in Kansas.
11. DH is going to be with me in LV, in spite of whatever his family says.
12. Jokes about him being a "houseboy", "house husband", " Trophy Husband" or "Kept Man" are NOT FUNNY. It's the first time /ever/ he hasn't had some kind of a job. He's struggling.
13. This means many travel plans are dead. This makes me sad.
14.I start new job on September 19. So I have 9 days to pack my house, sell my things and get to Vegas.
15. Wenchlette is /thrilled/. Weirdly Vegas hasn't started school. UNLV is moving in this week.
16. DH is in Vegas, where because of aforementioned move in, there is no one in the Graduate College to speak too.... nor can he buy us a house. This is frustrating to him.
17. I have packed exactly 1 box. I am at a point where I am ready to throw everything away and start over.
18. I don't have to shovel snow this winter!!!!!!
19. Thanksgiving and Yule with divorced parents, my own family.... see Crisco and Gasoline.
20. I am going home where I can teach the wenchlette about the desert. I'm very excited. I just have to get /done/ with everything else!

The definition of crazy......

corbaewench — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:33:52 GMT

So, part of my job is to "take care of" staff time sheets. It seems pretty straight forward, right? Time in, time out, make sure they have 40 hours a week (or more).

SLE = Sick Leave Emergency. To be used for caring for family members who are ill.

SLR = Sick Leave Regular. To be used for sick time for you.

You can't have overtime on the same day you are out sick, but you can have overtime in the same week if the time off been pre-approved by a minimum of 2 days.

But the staff has never been informed of the differences, there is no policy written down and hey if they take 8 hours sick and want to work over and clear it with their supervisor so they take less sick time, that should be okay.... right?

Wrong.

If you have been sick at all in a week and you take "SLE" then you loose any overtime that week. Even if you took 8 hours. If you take SLR? Then you can work over and get overtime that week, or use it to cover time off that week. (Please note time worked over 40 hours in a week is multiplied by 1.5 and can be banked for usage later or paid out.)

So, if we have a Dr. who consistently puts his nurse into an overage, and they finally drop? They don't get that overtime, even if they worked 11 hours over in 3 days. Unless you happen to be a favorite of someone, and then... well...... :shuffle shuffle:

I just got 2 timesheets to correct. This has been an ongoing battle as the "Admin Secretary" spent all of 5 minutes training me, 3 months picking it all apart (as in "I've rejected these time sheets; while alphabetized they are not separated by department. Please separate, re-alphabetize and have them to me by 5pm :at 4:45 on a Friday:. Next month? "Sheets have been separated by department, please commingle departments and re-alphabetize.") and 3 months completely silent.

All leading up to January when she elected to start CCing my supervisor on any corrections she has requested. She also began changing my staff's timesheets to match what she thought they should be, several days prior to the end of the month.

In January she did so, but I thought "Hey, she's trying to make sure I'm not overwhelmed when I get back from my 4 sick days in a row. Eh.... but okay."

In February she sent an e-mail to my staff on February 23rd asking for them to send her any changes they might have. I informed her it wasn't necessary and that she should have e-mailed me, because the staff was now confused as to whom was responsible for changes.I also asked her to e-mail me if she had questions or concerns.

In March? She was changing my staff time /daily/, to reflect what she thought it should be. I snapped and e-mailed her telling her my issues and asking if she was so concerned regarding my performance, perhaps she would like the task returned to her. (It had been hers for the 3 previous years and she is responsible for all the other departments). No reply, no change.

Oh, and every time I've received a "notice of change" from her? She's immediately left the building, usually for the day sometimes as long as 3 days.

Today I get 2 timesheets, both noted for changes (BTW: I turned them in on Tuesday) the changes requested contradict each other.......

Yep, she's gone again. "Out sick for the rest of the day". Her supervisor is out, and when I saw her at lunch she never mentioned a thing... even that she was leaving because she was ill.

Super Boss has gotten more information than I, evidently with me moving jobs I am no longer Admin Sec's "equal" but instead am supposed to dual report to Super Boss and Admin Sec. Had I known this? I never would have taken the job. Super Boss says "No, she reports to me" but Admin Sec keeps calling it a "reporting relationship."

I'd call out tomorrow, if I didn't know that the 30 minutes I was early this AM wouldn't count towards my Chi-Kalb time off. ;headdesk, headdesk:

So, it's not as cool as SweetPea86.....

corbaewench — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:00:25 GMT

So, about lunch time I start hearing a lot of whispering and cooing coming from the East side nursing station. I hear things like "He's soooo cute" and "Lemme hold him!" so I'm thinking probably a new baby.

Boy, was I wrong.

It was a dog. A tiny purse sized dog.

So I call someone who has a higher paygrade than me. "Hey. are we allowed to have non-service animals in the clinical areas?" "Nope. Please tell the nurses to tell the patient to remove the dog." "I'd love to, but a Provider is carrying the dog and a nurse just said 'Don't take him out, it doesn't bother us a bit!' "

Yep, my staff started acting like they'd never seen a dog before, much less one who tried to wipe his filled anal glands all over the clinic floor ("Oh, Poochy. :squeal: Nooooooooooooooo :squeal:"). In.A.Medical.Clinic.While.The.State.Board.Of.Pharmacy.Was.Doing.An.Inspection......... (I did mention that the Pharmacy is on the East side of the building and shares a hallway with the Nursing Station, right?)

SO, a person higher on the food chain than I made the Provider give the dog back (The one he'd carried into several rooms) and made the patient reschedule her appointment since "it's to cold to leavey Poochy outsdieums."

I went and ate raw fish, in a non-dog restaurant. and came back to a Nurses Station that isn't speaking to me 'cause I'm "mean".

Oh, why are there stupid people in the world and why do I keep having to deal with them?

Ah, Have I mentioned how much I <3 my Co-workers?

corbaewench — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:54:59 GMT

I moved, like 6 months ago. Right into the place I should have been all along! (We are not giving energy to the Big-Scary_Lay-Off-Monster who could snatch me away.)

People who had treated me as pond scum soon realized I was cheerful, perky, and I knew what the hell I was doing. Other than a few personality conflicts resolved with a big cheezy grin, I have been treated with respect and down right joviality since I moved back in June.

Earlier this day, there was a conversation revolving around furniture:

Awesome Co-Worker H: "I like this kind of thing :shows catalogue picture: You know that homey country look."

Awesome Co-Worker J: "Oh, that's nice. I like thinks a bit simpler."

Me: "Yes, that's noce. I too like simpler things, Shaker or Mission style."

ACWJ: "Yeah, I love Mission"

Co-worker who just walked in: "What?" :Blush:

ACWJ: "I like Mission style furniture?"

CWWJWI: "That's not what I heard."

Me: "Oh, no.. there was no a-r-y on the end of that sentence."

And then we all had a giggle.

Yay!

Update (Gosh, I wish I could make that sound like Robert Stack on Unsolved Mysteries...)

corbaewench — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:47:32 GMT

So, IAII came in, just after my last posting. He was, of course, charming to the receptionist and then because I am nosy and couldn't /not/ get involved I wandered up front.

Me: "Hi, was I just speaking with you on the phone?"

IAII: "Maybe, I call a lot of people."

Me: "Were you asking about a heavy metal reaction to vaccine?"

IAII: "Maybe, like I said I call a lot of people."

Me: "O_o, okay... well I just thought I'd let you know that the measles vaccine can be ordered without Thimerosol so if you'd like to get a shot you can and I would recommend it since we've had measles in the area."

IAII: "Yeah, what's your website?"

Me: *writes it down along with fax number* "Here you go."

IAII: "I'd like to schedule an appointment for the shot too. I mean since I'm going to have no choice."

Me: "Actually, you have several choices. *explains them yet again* and you can decide if you want a shot or not, since you are eighteen."

IAII: "Oh, yeah, right. My Mom's afraid I'm going to get Autism if I get the shot, from the heavy metals."

Me: O_o

Receptionist O_o

Him: "Thanks! See you later!"

So I wander into the Pharmacy and ask about the Measles vaccine. We don't have any... but the MMR (MMRII for prurient interest) is preservative free........ that's right, no heavy metals of any kind. It does have Bovine fetal serum (less than 1 part per million)..... I'm afraid he's going to think he has Mad Cow, so I'll give him the prescribing info, but I'm not going to hi-light it.

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

corbaewench — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:37:38 GMT

Me: "University Health Center, this is Corbae, how may I help you?"

IAII (Ignorant Anti-Immunization Idjit): "Um.. I have a hold and I have 1 measles, but I have a opt out right in my home state so I want to do that here."

Me: "Okay, well Iowa doesn't have an 'opt out' and instead you must complete documentation for a medical or religious reason."

IAII: "Yeah, so I want to do that. I have a religious reason that is I can't have process heavy metals..."

Me: "Okay, you might want to stop and organize your thoughts, you are about to say several things that do not jive, and I don't want you to misspeak yourself."

IAII: "Okay" 35 seconds pass

IAII: "I can't get a second Measles shot."

Me: "Okay, you can get a measles titer, which is a blood test that looks for antibodies to the measles, or you can have your regular medical provider complete the State of Iowa Medical Exemption form, the link is on our website."

IAII: "Okay, but I can't metabolize heavy metals."

Me: "Right, so you will need to either receive a titer, and it come back positive, or you will need to go to our website, print the State of Iowa form and have your regular medical provider complete it and fax it to our office."

IAII: "If you would stop and listen to me...... I CAN NOT HAVE THE MEASLES SHOT..."

Me: "So, you would need to follow my...."

IAII: "If you would just stop being rude and listen to my issue.... I Can't get the measles shot. I have a very rare condition that can not metabolize heavy metals..."

Me: "Okay, so a titer or a medical exemption..."

IAII: "Why do you have to be rude? I'm telling you I CAN"T DO *insert hysterical whining*.."

Me: *click*

Nope, he didn't call back. I /love/ when they want to argue.... I mean this guy /really/ wanted an argument... so badly I didn't even have to take part in the argument. :)

And the "Win" for today...

corbaewench — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 22:56:24 GMT

Ring Ring

Me: 'Thank you for calling University Health Center, this is Corbae. How may I help you?"

PITA: "Yeah, I have a hold."

Me: "yes"

PITA: "Yeah, what is it about?"

Me: "Well, you'd need to start with who you are."

PITA: " Why do you gots to be so rude? I'm jus askin"

Me: "Sir, it's considered basic telephone etiquette. I have told you who I am, you in response tell me who you are."

PITA: "Lissen, I ain't telling you..."

Me: :click:

Ring Ring (same number... shock!)

Me: 'Thank you for calling University Health Center, this is Corbae. How may I help you?"

PITA: "Hello, this is Bob Smith. I have a hold. I'd like to know what to do to remove it."

Me: "Certianly, let me check your record...."

I count it a win!

There should be a cultural uprising!

corbaewench — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:28:41 GMT

I love my phone. Please, don’t get me wrong. My prrrrreeeeccciiioooousssssss that helps me find where I’m supposed to be going, helps me keep track of the $ I’m spending, and happens to allow me to communicate with people across the county (and Canada).

That said, I am mourning the days when parents taught children how to answer the phone, and how to leave a message. The lack of education and care is being blamed on cell phones.

Evidently, messages and cell phones are so ubiquitous (and smart) that identifying yourself is no longer necessary. It’s at least 3x a day I get the following message”Hi, I have a hold. Call me back so I can talk about it.” Or the equivalent “my name’s Todd. Call me back.”

Despite the fact that I have the longest message in Christendom. Really. It’s been clocked at 3.5 minutes (which in today’s world is “like hours”.) I give my name, where I work, apologize for not being able to take the call, and then I get into all kinds of info, like the fax number where documents can be faxed to my attention, the e-mail address, the fact that it can take up to 24 hours when we are open for business to have a hold lifted, request the caller’s name, student ID and phone number. And I still get “Paul. Call me.”

We have 28,673 students for Fall 2010 (last set of info I could get records for). Do you know how many Todd’s or Paul’s there are? Do you know how many students have a phone number listed that is either their parents, or a phone that was never connected in their dorm?

And the reason? “My child has a cell phone. They don’t know these things. You know, they just list people’s names and you never have to know the number or anything.” Um…….. /bullshit/.

It’s bad parenting. It does not prepare the person for leaving professional messages once they are out of college, nor does it help them get answers.

And if I get one more facebook or linked in request to the TSHCMMR account, I swear I am going to send a worm to disable the computer at the keys, because the problem is clearly PEBCAK.

I sound like Mama Morton and Velma, but I swear “Whatever happened to nice manners, and ‘please may I’ and ‘yes, thank you’?”

Thoughts regarding today (10-20-10)

corbaewench — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:22:57 GMT

It was "Boys will be boys" when women (and a few brave men) stepped forward to stop rape.

It was "Straights don't understand" when gays stepped forward to stop discrimination based on sexual orientation.

It was "Whites and Blacks don't mix" when people of color (and a few brave whites) stepped forward to stop discrimination based on the color of a person's skin.

Using the words "Kids will be kids" negates all of those who have called "Bullshit" on the status quo and stepped forward to make a change.

Use your voice, make a choice, intervene even if they aren't your own kids.

Bystander intervention works.

FB and LJ changes

corbaewench — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:29:53 GMT

DON'T.

No really, it's not cute.

Oh look, the cool kids are doing it again....

corbaewench — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:16:02 GMT

visited 33 states (66%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

Can you say random much?

I would like to note...

corbaewench — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:22:35 GMT

that this: http://www.crainium.net/jdjArchives/MoreAnimals_29.jpg made me squee out loud.

I want one.... and I want to name him Hoagie.

That is all.

I am an emotional creature

corbaewench — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:07:30 GMT

all Credit to Eve Ensler.

I AM AN EMOTIONAL CREATURE

I love being a girl.
I can feel what you're feeling
as you're feeling it inside
the feeling
before.
I am an emotional creature.
Things do not come to me
as intellectual theories or hard-shaped ideas.
They pulse through my organs and legs
and burn up my ears.
I know when your girlfriend's really pissed off
even though she appears to give you what
you want.
I know when a storm is coming.
I can feel the invisible stirrings in the air.
I can tell you he won't call back.
It's a vibe I share.

I am an emotional creature.
I love that I do not take things lightly.
Everything is intense to me.
The way I walk in the street.
The way my mother wakes me up.
The way I hear bad news.
The way it's unbearable when I lose.

I am an emotional creature.
I am connected to everything and everyone.
I was born like that.
Don't you dare say all negative that it's a
teenage thing
or it's only only because I'm a girl.
These feelings make me better.
They make me ready.
They make me present.
They make me strong.

I am an emotional creature.
There is a particular way of knowing.
It's like the older women somehow forgot.
I rejoice that it's still in my body.

I know when the coconut's about to fall.
I know that we've pushed the earth too far.
I know my father isn't coming back.
That no one's prepared for the fire.
I know that lipstick means
more than show.
I know that boys feel super-insecure
and so-called terrorists are made, not born.
I know that one kiss can take
away all my decision-making ability
and sometimes, you know, it should.

This is not extreme.
It's a girl thing.
What we would all be
if the big door inside us flew open.
Don't tell me not to cry.
To calm it down
Not to be so extreme
To be reasonable.
I am an emotional creature.
It's how the earth got made.
How the wind continues to pollinate.
You don't tell the Atlantic ocean
to behave.

I am an emotional creature.
Why would you want to shut me down
or turn me off?
I am your remaining memory.
I am connecting you to your source.
Nothing's been diluted.
Nothing's leaked out.
I can take you back.

I love that I can feel the inside
of the feelings in you,
even if it stops my life
even if it hurts too much
or takes me off track
even if it breaks my heart.
It makes me responsible.
I am an emotional
I am an emotional, devotional,
incandotional, creature.
And I love, hear me,
love love love
being a girl.

Ponderings

corbaewench — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:52:26 GMT

"But there's a reason the cliché exists: A lot of the time we guys do need help in the "What the heck are you talking about?" department. The Everybody Loves Raymond way of explaining this phenomenon is that we men are too thick to read between the lines. And, okay, this is kind of true. Kristen will try to tell me in every possible way about presents she'd like me to get for her. She might say, "Hey, those earrings are nice!" And nine times out of 10, I do not copy. I might think, Wow, she really likes to talk about jewelry a lot or Wow, does she not realize that I'm not a woman and that I don't care about earrings? Maybe if I'm quiet for long enough she'll change the subject."

(Above found in an article on MSN.com about men and women communicating.)

So, what if you /don't/ want what you were pointing out? I like all kinds of jewelry on other people I would /never/ wear. I can say "wow, isn't that a nice skirt" without meaning "I want that." and isn't it more honest to say "I really want this" rather than try and get other people to buy me presents? I'd much rather purchase myself something that I want, than expect WM to figure out what it was that I liked about the earrings (for example) or figure out where the person wearing them got them.

Now, WM does a great job of buying me presents. He scored with /ever single gift/ this Yule. But he knows what I am likely to wear, and I gave him a list including color and size.... but even if he didn't I would still love it and wear it, becasue he was kind enough to give me a gift.

and isn't /that/ the point?

Is it bad...

corbaewench — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:14:42 GMT

That I want to buy this: http://www.gaelsong.com/product/146042/47 in the 90 inch length and /then/ figure out what I want to do with it?

Yes, I have resorted to shopping therapy to deal with T's passing...

I've heard it all, the people who say "Honor her, go adopt a shelter dog." Those that say "Honor her, don't get another dog." And those who want me to take what I would have spent on keeping her alive for 2-3 more weeks and donate it to a shelter or the ASPCA... and I'm kinda in a spot where I want to spend it on booze and good food and fabric.

It's not like it will bring her back. Really, it was time for her to go. The vet pushed the drugs and told WM it would be 3-5 minutes, and her heart stopped within 60 seconds. She was /done/ and I don't know how to get WM and the wenchlette to celebrate it. So, instead I'll take down the Solstice Shrub, vacumme the floor and try to keep the 2 of them from feeding off of each other in their grief.

And maybe I'll go fabric shopping in Chicago...

Stolen from HavocMangaWhip

corbaewench — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:22:06 GMT

and I didn't get her anything.... I really think this is Miss_Rose's but you do what you have to do....

p>Your result for The Japanese Demon Profile Test...</p>

Ryu

You scored 12 in Malice and 26 in Chaos!

Japanese dragons, or "Ryu," are very different from their Western counterparts; where the Western dragon is typically reptilian, with a heart as cold as its blood, the dragons of the Orient actually tend to err more on the side of beneficence. This should not, however, be construed as a license to treat them with disrespect; Oriental dragons are extremely powerful beings who do not tolerate impudence.

Ryu, like the dragons of the West, are known to have a fondness for shiny objects and treasure. Some Ryu are willing to part with their treasures if they deem a mortal worthy of inheriting it. Other dragons may also, like gods, grant wishes and supernatural powers to those who seek them.

At the same time, one must be wary when dealing with dragons; some may be extremely temperamental, and others even harbor a hatred for mankind and its desecration of the earth. Most dragons are by no means evil, but must still be treated with extreme caution.

Take The Japanese Demon Profile Test at OkCupid

Why does this remind me of _good_kitty????

corbaewench — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:30:31 GMT

" She was not what you would call refined, she was not what you would call unrefined... she was the sort of woman who kept a parrot." -- Mark Twain

Other than the idea that Mark Twain /wrote/ that quote just in the hope that someone /could/ fulfill it.... and as we all know... that would be her!

This just in...

corbaewench — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:59:19 GMT

I have decided those /freaking/ lip rings (aka "snakebite"'s) have to go. They make me want to rip them out.

As about every student I have seen has one, this does not bode well.

(So sayeth the girl with the pink sparklie in her nose...)

And you want to know why Medical Insurance needs reform????

corbaewench — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:13:17 GMT

So, as many of you know I am affectionately referred to as "Allergy Girl". As in *cough cough* *recoil in horror* "Do you have H1N1?" "Nope, I'm just Allergy Girl."

I think it's my super power and keep waiting for someone to send me my uniform and let me know what awesome Hero I'll be backing up. (With my luck it's Mucous Boy and I'll spend my awesome super powers wrangling a 2 year old.....)

BUT... and I do have a poit. This makes my insurance company (especially the pharmacudical wing) hate me lots. Since I have lots of Dr.'s visits... especially in the fall, and spring, and summer. My prescription cost works out to about $200.00 a month, after insurance.

Yeah, it hurts. Yeah, I don't qualify for those nifty patient assistance programs. (I do those /all/ day and Lilly is a douchebag to people who have insurance. I'm glad they are there for my patients who don't have insurance but I'd like some goodies too!) All my meds are from 1 manufacturer, saving the OTC one and I've been to my medical provider (who gives me 6 months worth of freebies!!! Yay! and coupons!)to try and reduce my medicine costs.

Unfortunately, Allergy Girl can not be confined by mere injections or OTC's (Over The Counter). No, Allergy Girl must have the newest and best and then pay for it. :(

So I get a pamphlet in the mail from my prescription insurance company. "Let us SAVE you MONEY" it says in big red letters on shiny paper. (Allergy Girl loves Shiny paper since glitter can cause an issue....) The information contained inside says "Call this number and we'll help you find low cost alternatives to your medications! We'll even send the request for prescriptions to your Dr. You don't even have to do ANYTHING!!!!" (Cue trumpets! We've hit all the triggers: Shiny paper, saving money, and I DON"T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING..... W00t!!!)

So I call the number (Allergy Girl was /rather/ insistant.) and talk to a lovely woman I'll call Jane. Jane was so nice and helpful and /not/ a Pharmacist or a nurse or a Pharm tech.

Jane (Bless her heart) is a phone monkey. Kinda like me. Jane took the names of my drugs and feed them into a computer. The computer did its job and shot back a list of names of other medications that "would work". SO I said "I'm on Symbicort." and the computer said "Albuterol inhaler!" and Jane (Bless her heart) said "Great news! We can save you over $50.00 per month! 3 months worth of Albuterol inhaler is only $9.00!!!!"

Poor Jane. Jane doesn't know that I /know/ what the difference is. Jane gets a bit less bright and cheery when I say "Okay, but I'm on Symbicort. Albuterol is used for rescue breathing. If I use Albuterol daily then it's a sign my meds aren't working." Lovely, lovely Jane feeds the name back in. Computer says "Albuterol". We decide to go to my next medication.

I say "Singular". Computer says "Zyrtec". I say "I'm already taking Zyrtec 2x a day" (Yes, I know that's not what the label says... that's what Dr. says. it's /fine/.)Jane says "Oh." We go back to the big computer who then spits out "Advair, inhaled." Allergy Girl, who has been rather frustrated by this, says "Wouldn't that make more sense for the Symbicort?" Dear Jane says "Ummmm... can you hold?"

I hold, Allergy Girl holds...... music is okay, but turned so low you can only hear the treble spikes. Allergy girl starts making up songs (She is actually evil in that red leotard...) and singing them into the phone hoping that she's on "mute" and not hold. 10 minutes later I am transfered from Lovely Jane to a SUPERVISOR.

Supervisor Bill tells Allergy Girl that he understands her confusion and that the computer is set to help us all . I interupt Allergy Girls impotent sputtering and explain that I asked about 4 medications. 1 is my BCP and I am NOT CHANGING!!!!!! (This costs insurance company 60.00 a month)Supervisor Bill says "But, X is better." I say "No." We agree to disagree.

I ask about the whole Advair thing. I get told "You don't /have/ to use the service. We are trying to /HELP YOU/!!!!" Allergy Girl gets out her shield because I am now /really/ irritated.

I then explain to Supervisor Bill that I /understand/ what his company is trying to do, and I appreciate the service. I tell him that I don't mean to be a pain and that I know I have odd meds. I expalin that I've tried to reduce my costs and I can't go any lower. ANd then I snap the trap shut...

"Supervisor Bill, are you a Pharmacist?"
"No"
"Do you have a medical degree? Are you a pharmacy technician? Do you have any education in pharmacudicals and the best way to utilize them?"
"No"
"So, what you are doing is getting information from people, submitting 'lower cost medicines' to their medical providers that might /not/ be what is best for the patient. You are cutting off any conversation between the medical provider and the patient and possibly costing another wing of your company /more/ money becasue you are prescribing medications without a license."
"Now, we aren't prescribing, we are suggesting..."
"Which you send to the medical provider and state 'Your patient has asked to be switched to X medication...' becasue it costs your wing of the insurance company less money. This keeps people from utilizing what might be best and instead subsitutes what's cheapest. Had I utilized any of the medications you 'suggested' I would have wound up back in my providers office and possibly the hospital. How does this help 'drive down costs'?"
"As I said, you don't /have/ to utilize the service."
"The only reason we even got here is becasue I /do/ know about my medications, what's best and I've /tried/ to lower my costs. 90% of your targeted population /don't/ know the difference. It sets up a adversarial relationship with the patients provider becasue the provider thinks the patient is requesting something your untrained technicians suggested. When it doesn't work, the patient thinks the Dr. is useless and we wind up with /more/ cost not less."
"I am disconnecting this call." *Click*

Allergy Girl stomps around for a while and then realizes that this is why insurance costs are so high. And why you can't get an appointment... 'casue people who don't know are suggesting things that don't work.

Allergy Girl is /not/ amused and is debating applying to the Evil League of Evil. And then is frightened by the posiblity of a Evil PPO plan.

Oh yeah, school started... right.

corbaewench — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:55:26 GMT

So my day has been:

1. Oez Noez! Sky is falling! Bad Piggie flu gonna kill us all. *gasp* but there /is/ a vaccine and we needz it now!!!!!!!!!!! Or we alls gonna DIE!!!

2. Do you cover X insurance? We bill to all insurances. But do you bill to X insurance If you have an insurance, we bill to it. But will they pay? What's your payor percentage? O_o

3. Did I mention we have measles 1.5 hours away?

4. And that I have a cold? I've been asked at least 400 times if I want a mask, if I have a fever, if I've taken anything.... I know the signs guys... I designed the posters you are using to evaluate if I have the Flu.... I /DON'T/!

God, I need Ny-Quil.

*PING beatrizwench

corbaewench — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:26:35 GMT

I know you've been working on your room, and I /had/ to share.... since it's listed as a headboard and all.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16685020

Srsly.

Havocmangawhip Made me do it

corbaewench — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:35:12 GMT

And I so didn't game this again.... when did these start actually making sense?

http://www.helloquizzy.com/results/the-social-persona-test-what-kind-of-manwoman-are-you/?fromCGI=1&var_Maleness=-1&var_Normality=-5&var_Tradition=0&var_Dominance=3

Quote for all time

corbaewench — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:04:34 GMT

" There are three things you can do with a woman:
Love her
Suffer for her
or
Turn her in to literature."

-- Lawrence Durrell, Expat British Novelist

And now you know why I think Iowa's cool

corbaewench — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:11:38 GMT

1. We give birth to Captain Kirk, Bitches!

2. http://www.kcci.com/news/19077125/detail.html

:)