Off to see Another Wizard

I want to write about today’s adventure while it’s still fresh in my head, but I am also exhausted from the all the anxiety I caused myself today. As I mentioned yesterday, I had an appointment with a new neurologist today. Of the 10 neurologists that I have met in my life I have disliked 8 out of 10 of them. It’s taken me 3 months to get in to see this new one, and I had to drive an hour and a half to get there…. Recipe for anxiety. I will write about all that drama and why I need a new neurologist at another time. So about today…

I woke up like a big girl at 6 am and headed out to have a pot of coffee on the deck and watch the dogs play. I had set out all of my medical records, list of questions, etc last night. The rollator walker was in the car, as was my Stick, so I was prepared. I threw on yesterdays clothes, put my hair in a ponytail, brushed my teeth, and left the house by 7:30.

The traffic heading north into Wisconsin was NOTHING like going Southeast into Chicago to see the last neurologist. I was even able to make a quick detour from the highway to use the restroom and get back on the highway in under 10 minutes. (Unheard of when heading into Chicago) The Google maps app was pretty accurate and I was able to arrive 15 minutes early as I hoped I would.

Since I had no idea where I was going once I got there, I decided to use Valet parking to save time. Or so I thought.

I followed the signs for Valet, and was blocked by a bar with a machine next to it. (like for a parking garage) I’m familiar with the concept, but haven’t used one in a long time. There was sign on the machine that said push button for help. OK, I NEED HELP, but I don’t see a button. I waved my arms in front of it thinking maybe it was motion activated then pushed all over the machine until finally a ticket/card popped out and the gate lifted. BUT I thought the signs said Valet?!?!?!

I’ve only used Valet parking a handful of times in my life, but I recall pulling into a section marked valet, and someone with a yellow or orange vest coming up to me taking my keys and giving me a ticket to claim my vehicle. This was not at all like that. SMH As I pulled away from the gate, I continued to follow signs for valet.

Finally I found the guy with the yellow vest. I put my car into park, rolled down my window, and asked if he wanted me to turn the car off or leave it on. Should I just hand him the keys or leave them in the car? He responded, “I don’t need your keys, we don’t get in your car anymore.” HUH?

I repeated Huh?

He said, “Pull up behind this guy. When someone in a golf cart pulls up, follow him into the parking garage, and then he will give you a ride back up here.”

IF you say so……

A few minutes later, a man did pull up in a golf cart and instructed the three cars that were waiting in line to follow him. We did. We parked our own cars, and then loaded into a golf cart with my walker strapped to the back. He dropped us back off where we started at the front of the hospital. I guess that’s one way to do it, but new to me and not as quick as I hoped.

I told the driver that I had never been here before and asked if he knew how to find the MS Clinic. “Go through those doors, down a long hall and you will run into someone. Be sure to give him your ticket.” was his response. Okay then? lol smh I’m glad I arrived early.

Once inside the hospital, I peeked my head inside an office and asked again where I might find registration. “Keep going this direction, it’s not too much further.”

At the first desk I came to, I pulled the ticket out of my pocket saying, “I’m supposed to give this to you I think.” He quickly asked if this was my first time here. I’m sure it was very obvious that it was.

He handed my ticket back to me saying that it was all paid. ( I didn’t pay for it, but ok)

He also gave me this map telling me ” follow signs for H, then you will see a carpeted area, pass the psych department ( you don’t want that) and continue following signs to K, but first you have to go to registration behind you.

I worried that I missed half of what he said so I borrowed his pen and drew a line and wrote not psych.

At the registration hub there were several desks with people seated behind them. Each desk had a number over it with a lighted green or red circle around it indicating whether or not you could approach. There was a large sign indicating the same and for redundancy a person standing behind a podium telling you the same thing the sign said. SMH again.

I really shouldn’t be surprised, I think everything in the medical field is more complicated than it should be. The podium girl directed me to number 6, the one desk no one was seated at. After waiting for 5 minutes, I was able to make eye contact with podium girl and mouth, “There is no one here”. She apologized and told me to go to “3”. Did I mention I was really glad I WAS early? Maybe I would still be on time at least?

Number 3, had me sign the black box machine a couple of times assuring me that I wasn’t giving up my first born child, and sent me on to the area marked K. “Thank you, I have a map” As I was approaching H for neuropsychology, I wondered if I shouldn’t stop there also….. one stop shopping? No, no Grace keep going. BTW the map is incredibly deceptive. The halls are long as fuck and don’t mention that there are 20 offices between H and K.

Finally I got to the area marked K……. and ANOTHER check in Desk. literally LOL and SMH

I think I have reached my limit of writing for the day. I did meet the new neurologist. So far, I like her a lot. I have a lot of information and a new diagnosis to process though. It has been a LONG DAY.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Thank you for reading and commenting. I really do look forward to the interaction.

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APAD DAY 37 ATM Asshole

Is there such a thing as Atm etiquette?

Let me be more specific. Is there etiquette to be used when using a drive up atm? (I’m willing to bet your mind immediately flashed to the jackass that spends 20 minutes at the atm while you are trying to make your 5 second transaction on your lunch break or while racing to another appointment.) If it didn’t, you are among the lucky ones.

Today I was accidentally that asshole.

As I went to enter the line for the ATM, I realized that 1. I forgot to sign a check I was depositing and 2. it was made out to my maiden name and would require 2 signatures (maiden and married) and 3. Where the fuck is the pen?!?! Shit! I tried to move my car to the right of the actual line so that I wasn’t “actually in line”, but there was no where to go. I said “SORRY”, to no one in particular and continued to look for a pen. I put my hazards on hoping anyone that wanted to get in line behind me would feel free to go around. Ok I found the pen, signed the check and proceeded to actually get in line. I HOPED the fact that I did this in front of the two cars that were ‘kind of’ behind me didn’t make me still the asshole. But there really was no hope.

The atm machine may be the slowest machine I have ever used. (I pushed the button and it took 30 seconds or more to respond) Now there definitely was a line. Next were the new rules on the atm that said I could only deposit 30 items at one time (I had 32) so that would make me start the whole deposit process over again….smh Did that mean I should be courteous and leave the line to go to the rear since I was taking so long? I don’t know, what are the Rules?

My rant is just that, a rant. NO I don’t think there should be MORE RULES or laws, but there should be ‘etiquette’ and people should take a minute to think about how their behavior could be affecting others. It just might make the world a better place.

So I’m back to the question is there etiquette for using a drive up ATM? For me personally, I that any signing etc should be completed before you even THINK about getting in line. I also feel that if you know you have several transactions, try to break them up into smaller ones or use the ATM at a not peak time. Again that’s just me.

In your opinion what is the proper procedure?

I did end up pulling away to complete the other transaction on another day. I took the featured picture today while no one was around to illustrate where I was actually parked yesterday.

A Post a Day APAD Day 8- thrown under the bus

Thrown Under the Bus

Before you try to throw me under the bus, make sure you know who’s driving it. I have been thrown under the bus so many times, I have permanent tire tracks on my head, I’m sure of it.

Last year was a pretty rough year for me in many ways. At one point when I needed help I reached out to someone I normally would not have. I HATE asking for help, absolutely hate it. But there it is I did. As a result, when the person that helped me reached out to me asking for help, I felt obligated to help when normally I would not have gotten involved.

I got involved.

So I got involved. I took care of shit that H, should have handled on her own. A couple weeks later I get a call from T, her boyfriend, asking why I got involved. I responded, because “H asked me to”. She did?!?!? YES. I’m not surprised that H didn’t tell T. I am surprised and a little hurt that she tried to pin it all on me though. I guess oh well, my “debt” is paid. I didn’t do anything wrong, illegal, or unethical, I just got involved in something I normally wouldn’t and while I “fixed” the problem, trying to throw me under the bus created 100 new problems for them.

I know this post may seem a little cheesy, but I wanted to ” get it out of my head”, but I don’t need to throw someone under the bus to do it. I don’t need to air someone else dirty laundry, but I do need a reminder to continue to mind my own business. This is that reminder.

A Post a Day… APAD….Day Five …Just the facts

I woke up still tired this morning. (Even though I had gotten 8 hours of sleep the night before.) While I didn’t have a bad day today, I knew it was going to be long and it was. So all I have left to give tonight is just the facts.

I went to PT for an hour this morning. Afterwards, I immediately drove to pick up my parents in almost white out conditions. I had to take my Dad, which means both my parents, 2 hours into the city for an eye specialist appointment. Fortunately once we left the country visibility was much better in the city, but it was still cold AF. I hate winter….smh

We were going to be early so we stopped at Burger King to grab something quick. It was disgusting. I do like Burger King usually, though I don’t eat there much, but today…ugh. Different restaurant or the fact that I haven’t smoked for 4 days I’m not sure but again UGH.

We got to the Doctor’s office and I realized that I left my mask in MY car…. oppps. I tucked my face under my shirt and went in to ask if they had one. Debbie, the receptionist, ( yes we are on a first name basis now) handed me a mask while advising me that COVID guidelines had changed again….. Surprised? (I’m not, not even a little)…. Ok, What’s the deal today?” I asked. I was told that the waiting room was only open to patients. My dad could come in and sit, but my mother and I would have to wait in the hall or our car. Once they were done with all his testing though, they wanted me to come back in while he was speaking with the doctor…… I answered, “Okay, call me when you are ready and I will come back”. BUT I THOUGHT…… “seriously I should sit in the hallway where 1000 people are going to have to walk right by me instead of a waiting room?!?!?!?” and I can come in to go a much smaller room with more people when the doctor is ready?!?!? How do people come up with this shit? I went out and relayed the info to my parents and my dad went in himself.

While I waited in the car with my mom for over an hour, I worried that when my youngest, Thing Two, has surgery tomorrow they might not let me in with her. Oh Fuck, I promised I would not leave her alone. This is her first time having surgery, while I have had over 50 of them, and she is scared shitless. Yes I said over 50. I stopped counting then. I called the hospital that she is having surgery at and they assured me that I will be able to come in with her. Ok. YAY!

I am really really trying not to worry about tomorrow, but believe it or not I would rather be the one on the table than to have to worry that something went wrong while she is under. My dog was spayed last week and the 5 hours between the time I dropped her off and got the call that everything went ok were pure hell.

Debbie called and said they were ready for me to come in. I did. They weren’t. They had me sit in the waiting room (yes the one I couldn’t be in an hour ago) with my Dad for 30 minutes until the doctor was ready. SMH

We met with the doctor for 30 minutes, made appointments for more testing and then started to 2 hour drive home. By the time I got home, I was exhausted. I was met at the door by Einstein and both dogs. All of them started barking at me and demanding my attention. I have nothing left to give. I made a quick dinner, played with the dogs for 20 minutes, and tried to listen to Einstein tell me about his last day of work. I’m exhausted. I’m actually ready for bed, but won’t make it there for a few more hours I’m sure. and I’m also sure that I will wake up tired tomorrow and do it all again. Odds are 50/50 that covid guidelines will have changed again by the morning. It may be an adventure…who knows?

Isn’t it Ironic?….smh

Have you ever heard of the Link or EBT card or food stamps? Usually people receiving government benefits such as these have some kind of disadvantage that prevents them from earning enough money to live on. Examples might include a mental or physical disability. Lack of childcare etc. So why are the benefits so hard to use?

I’m not sure if I ever stated that I was on Social Security Disability before. (very limited income) This year with the increase in my medical expenses, I have qualified to not only receive financial assistance to help with those bills, but also have qualified for the link card.

Last weekend, I tried to complete an online order at Sam’s club as I have frequently done in the past. Pre-covid, the system was called Click and pull. The process was usually fairly easy and straightforward. You selected the items you wanted by placing them in your cart, and when finished you would select the date and time you would be picking up your items. When you arrived at the store, you would go to a special “click and pull” desk with your list, or confirmation code and your payment. Someone would then bring all of the items to the front of the store for you, and even help load your car. Win win right?

Why not THIS time?

I went online, selected my items and was directed to a new area called, “curbside pickup”. Okay. no biggie right? Well apparently it is a big deal. You must pay for your order before the club will pull it. OK, I get that, but WHY DON’T they take link online?!?!?!? If I need to use the link card I have to shop for myself, which kind of defeats the advantage of online shopping doesn’t it?

I even called the store to explain my problem and asked if I could pay for my groceries with my credit card, but switch the payment types at customer service when I picked up the food…… NOPE! As a side note, a good portion of the items I tried to purchase where eligible for FREE SHIPPING, but you also can not use the link card for shipped items?!?!?

Everywhere in the US is still encouraging social distancing. People that are immuno-compromised are supposed to avoid others even more. So WHY do I have to go in the store?

Am I the only one who sees the irony of this?

I feel like the system is designed “to keep a man down” more than to help them.