Spring Me!

Dear Mother Nature,

Please release me from the confines of woolens and polar fleece. Eliminate my need to huddle under blankets pulled up to my chin. Redirect the cruel winds that blow from the north. Temper the cold that leaves the landscape covered with frost in the morning. Give my heating system a break.

I appreciate the beauty of Winter, and the comfort of a roaring fireplace. The mountains covered in snow are a sight to behold. The desert needed the moisture. I am grateful for the home that shelters us from the cold. But I am anxious to come out of hibernation.

I yearn to open the windows and enjoy the fresh air. Sundresses and sandals are the garb of my daydreams. Bedding must be changed from comforters to light cotton blankets. My skin needs a kiss of sun. It's time to prepare patios for friendly gatherings. Flowers want to bloom. Stop being so cruel.

Never mind the date on the calendar. Spring me!

Affordable Care Isn't

Wow. It turns out that I applied and was accepted for health care under the Pre-Existing Condition Condition Insurance Plan just in time. Yesterday I made some phone calls to track down the insurance card I have not yet received, and discovered this website announcement by the Plan:

"Beginning February 16, 2013, the federally-run Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) is suspending acceptance of new enrollment applications until further notice. State-based PCIPs may continue accepting enrollment applications through March 2, and will then suspend acceptance of new enrollment applications until further notice. PCIP will continue providing coverage to more than 100,000 people currently enrolled nationwide."

The explanation is that the Plan has a finite amount of funding from Congress, and they have to suspend enrollment to ensure that there is enough funding to support current enrollees (about 135,000 of us) through 2013, after which the Insurance Marketplace will be available as dictated by Obama's Affordable Care Act.

How did this happen? Well, according to the Plan:

"Based on program experience and trends since the start of the program, PCIP enrollees have serious and expensive illnesses with significant and immediate health care needs."

Even though the enrollment volume has been much lower than anticipated, the government underestimated the expense that would be realized by people having to actually use the Plan.

Remember, the Plan is not free to enrollees (although it it partially subsidized by the federal government). We have a monthly fee, which is higher than what many people pay for health insurance through their employer. There is also an annual deductable, which can vary by state (mine is $2000 in Arizona). Coverage does not include dental or vision, which we pay on our own. Enrollment has not been as high as expected, because some people still cannot afford this health care option.

My concern is this... The federal government has miscalculated demand, what the public can afford, and the expense of delivering subsidized coverage. What other unfortunate surprises await us when Obamacare is fully implemented in 2014-2015?

Be My Valentine

Today I fly back to Arizona and spend this Valentine's Day with my husband, after three weeks away. I'm happy, and today I hope you have some of what is in my heart...

JOY, FLOWERS, SWEETNESS, DANCE, SONG, POETRY, BLISS, COMFORT, EXCITEMENT, GRATITUDE, GRACE, & PEACE.

Happy Valentine's Day! I've got a plane to catch.

I'm Insured Again!

Back in June, I wrote about having to go without health insurance for 6 months in order to get insurance in Arizona. That was an unpleasant by-product of past health issues and the expiration of my COBRA 18 months after I retired from Hilton. If you missed that, here's the link.
http://runawayboomer.blogspot.com/2012/06/without-net.html

That was a scary 6 months, as you can imagine. Fortunately, I made it through without a health incident. I applied for high risk pool insurance in Arizona last month, and my application was approved. I had to provide documentation proving that I am a resident of Arizona, my previous insurance had been cancelled, and that I had been declined for individual insurance. Now, as of February 1, I am covered by a state program that exists as required by Obamacare. My cost is about $350 per month, and the coverage is fairly good. It's difficult to describe how relieved I am to eliminate this financial risk from our retired lives. Let's just say very. VERY, VERY.

There are a lot of things wrong with how medical coverage is handled in our country. I'm no expert, but I know that those of us who can pay are paying for those who can't pay. Insurance is so complicated that it costs doctor's practices a ton of money just to process claims and payments. But I do believe strongly that everyone who wants/needs coverage should be able to get it. I need it, and I can pay for it. If Obamacare (or something similar) hadn't passed, I would have been out of luck. Uninsurable. I am thankful for what is available to me now.

I heard something interesting on CNBC the other day about trends related to health care deductibles. Because costs are rising, many are opting for higher deductibles. That tends to make people more selective about how often they go to the doctor, and for what. At best, that cuts down on unnecessary visits and expenses. At worst, it could keep people from going to the doctor when they should. Only time will tell the long term effect.

The moral of the story is... Do what you can do to maintain your health. Eat right, keep moving, get plenty of sleep, and pay attention to what your body is telling you. If you have insurance, appreciate it!

More Favorite Products

Some time ago (October 2009) I posted about some products I've discovered that have become my favorites:
http://runawayboomer.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-favorite-products.html. I am still always on the prowl for the best solutions for cleaning or organizing at home, and also for health and beauty. Here are some of my newer favorites:

SPICE ORGANIZER
https://verticalspice.com/home/
We love using many spices and spice blends in our cooking. Until recently, we hadn't found a good solution. Some spices are in a refrigerator door, and some are jumbled on a cabinet shelf. This product from Vertical Spice is perfect for us. They have several sizes and finishes available. The product screws to your cabinet shelf, and you pull the drawers out for easy access. Brilliant!

CORDLESS VACUUM FOR QUICK CLEAN-UPS
http://www.amazon.com/Electrolux-Ergorapido
This light weight, cordless, rechargeable vacuum is great for getting up crumbs from the kitchen floor, dust bunnies in the corners, and for grooming doormats. I'm much more inclined to do a quick cleanup when I don't have to get the big vacuum out, unwrap the power cord, and plug it in. There is an integrated hand vac that pops out for use on upholstery and hard to reach spots. It easily disassembles for cleaning.

AMAZON KINDLE PAPERWHITE
http://www.amazon.com/kindle/paperwhite
As far as I am concerned, Amazon's Kindle can't be beaten as a pure reading machine. The design and operation are downright elegant, and the battery life is impressive. This new Kindle has a softly backlit screen, which is great for reading in bed without disturbing your partner. The photo at left shows a Paperwhite in a custom cover with a magnetic clasp. Close the cover, and it turns the device off. Open it and the device comes to life. Small and slim, this can be tucked into a medium-sized purse or the side pocket of a briefcase. Sweet.

SOMA VANISHING EDGE PANTIES
http://www.soma.com/vanishingedge/panties

Sorry, guys, it's a girl thing. These panties from Soma have replaced almost all my old tatty ones, thanks to Soma's fairly frequent "Panty Raid" sales. Two things are special about these. First, the edge is designed to eliminate panty lines under clothes. Second, there are thin, soft strips of a rubberized material near the leg openings in the back that keep the panties from moving around. (Sounds uncomfortable, but it's not.) Put them on and position them on your "cheeks", and there is no creeping. I love these under clingy knits, and appreciate their performance when golfing. They are available in many styles and colors/prints.

SALONPAS PAIN RELIEF PATCHES
http://www.salonpas.us/

My sister recommended that I try these when I was suffering from knee joint pain last year after doing some work on our condo. I had been crawling around on the hardwood floors, and climbing up and down ladders for days. My knees were so painfully inflamed that I could hardly navigate stairs. The pain kept me awake at night. Salonpas patches provided immediate relief from the pain and, after a few days, eliminated the inflammation completely. These are now a staple in my medicine cabinet. Awesome product.

Let us know if YOU have favorite products worth sharing!

Unwelcome Here

If only

it could be

this easy

Protecting

our family

and friends

From heartache

and illness

and losses

All hurting 

that never

quite mends

Boldly it

offers a

warning

That trouble 

here will be

defied  

UNWELCOME

the mat says

quite clearly

Happiness

only

inside

Defying the Precipice

Life is a gift. It's often difficult and messy and challenging, and we have to work hard to enjoy the best of what it has to offer. In fact, sometimes we have to fight for it.

We live on the edge. There's a push and pull to our lives. All of us are potentially a breath away from a terrible accident, a debilitating illness, a horrifying loss. Oddly, we're mostly able to live our lives as if the precipice does not exist. When we see someone near us go over the edge, it's shocking. The sudden death of a contemporary rocks our foundation. The end of a marriage that seemed so solid to outsiders shakes us to the core. The mental breakdown of someone we love confounds us and breaks our hearts.

So we make permanent camp on dangerous ground. We sing, and dance, and love, and enjoy the view. We light campfires and contemplate the beauty. We sleep in peace. When one of us gets too close to danger, we try to calmly talk them back to safer ground. When another scrabbles for footing on the edge, we band together to provide steadying hands. Mostly, the village binds us together and provides security.

Every once in a while, a lost soul is drawn to the abyss against all reason, as if mesmerized by the vertigo it causes - as if something there calls to them. Inexplicably, but predictably, they eventually take a purposeful leap into the nothingness. We'll never understand why. There is nothing we can do to stop them. It's a horrible, horrible thing to witness.

I'm in the group who defies the precipice. I'll bravely party here where we live, but regularly sneak a peek over my shoulder to check my coordinates. I won't follow anyone who feels compelled to actually flirt with the abyss. I'll fight tooth and nail for the happy life I have and the well-being of the people I love. I want to stay around and thrill in the spectacular view. Take a look, but watch your footing. Be safe, and enjoy the gift of Life.