Whining on Wednesday

It was cold again here on Wednesday, although noticeably warmer than Tuesday. I went home at lunch and regrettably ate the last of the turkey leftovers. I paid the turkey tribute by making it into an open face sandwich with gravy on top, though.

In the afternoon a nurse from Blue Cross Blue Shield called me again to set up the first of two telephone conversation I have to have with her about my diabetes. It seems that they take a certain percentage of people in the company who have one of six chronic illnesses (in my case diabetes) and offer them “financial incentives” to have these phone consults.

Read that as blackmail. You either agree to have the conversations or they raise you deductible $500.00!

I told her I didn’t have the time nor the inclination to discuss my health in the office and would call her after work.

So, my plan to go home and clean the house (the Township Building Inspector is coming over sometime on Thursday to check out the water heater – more fun!) was put on hold while I called her after the news ended.

We talked for a very unpleasant hour. Conversation snippets:

“How often do you forget to take you pills?” “Um, never, I have a big pill box in my closet and take them morning and night.”

“Would you like me to send you some information on the drugs you are taking?” “Not really necessary, since CVS staples a two page sheet on the drugs to the prescription every time I get them!”

“What are your top five health goals?” “I guess I just have one: to stay healthy?” “No, no. You need some goals we can work on, like quitting smoking or jogging.” “Lady, I haven’t smoked in 40 years and, since you seem to have my medical file in your hands, you already know I have a knee replacement and just had a spinal fusion so, no, jogging isn’t one of my New Years resolutions!”

It was just very annoying. You could tell by her questions and comments that this is designed either for people who are in denial about an illness or inept at following instructions.

And, the best part is I get to do it all over again in two or three weeks!

We finally hung up and I warmed up some more spaghetti and meatballs and ate dinner.

Then, I spot-cleaned the house. I got done at 10:00 PM. I watched a taped DIY show in 20 minutes (by fast-forwarding through the commercials) and then went to bed.