"With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come."
- William Shakespeare
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunbathing
There he is, the Beeze - in all his spring-time glory.For those who are interested:
This is the deck off our family room to the back yard. You can barely see the crummy shed on the left, and if you look closely, one of the tiki torches we bought at Costco when we were in escrow 5 years ago. The banana plant came from a dear friend who has "walked through the fiery furnace" these past few years. The parlor chair is one of 4 that were a gift from the wife's boss-man. Oh, and the deck was built during the extreme home makeover by a friend who is now staying with us and regularly enjoying his own handiwork.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
COBRA
Leave it to the government to name one of it’s health care programs after a venomous snake. The actual name is: Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Not much better.
Anyway, as most of you know, when you switch jobs, you frequently have to go without health insurance for 3 months or so between the time your old job drops you and the new job picks you up. COBRA is the government’s answer to that gap. So long as you continue to pay the premium, you can continue on your last job’s health plan for up to 18 months or so. Here’s the catcher: for the wife, wee one and I, the monthly premium was over $1200.
Uh, no.
Here’s the other issue: So long as Annabelle goes on COBRA and has continuous coverage, the new Insurance Company cannot deny her based on a pre-existing condition. If Annie doesn’t go on COBRA and has a lapse in coverage, the new company does not have to cover her (none of this has anything to do with the new health-care reform that was passed this past week or so).
So the $1200 question is, “Can we insure just Annabelle through COBRA without coverage for the wife and I?” The HR folks said “Absolutely” – for a premium of about $419 a month.
So I filled out the paperwork and sent it in. In reply, I received a letter in the mail stating, amongst other things:
“ You are hereby notified that your participation and that of your eligible qualified dependants, if any, has terminated. Reason: Enrolled child only.”
So that was my weekend. Did I tell my wife?
Uh, no.
There had to be a mistake, some explanation – please tell me that all the current political hanky-panky in DC aside, that my daughter didn’t just become uninsurable because of a bureaucratic glitch!
I called today and they verified that my insurance had been cancelled. “What about my daughter’s?” I asked, trying not to scream . . .
“Well, she didn’t qualify for the reduced premium.”
“Uh . . . what? . . .”
“She didn’t qualify.”
“For the reduced premium?” (Starting to get light-headed)
“That’s right.”
“But if we pay the regular premium, she is covered, right?!” (beads of sweat)
“Oh, of course! Your daughter is covered. Completely. We just need your premium of $419.”
So our daughter is currently covered by a program called “COBRA”.
It’s a good thing because if she wasn’t, I would have had a heart attack – and I did not elect the poison snake coverage for myself . . . . .
So that was my weekend. Did I tell my wife?
Uh, no.
There had to be a mistake, some explanation – please tell me that all the current political hanky-panky in DC aside, that my daughter didn’t just become uninsurable because of a bureaucratic glitch!
I called today and they verified that my insurance had been cancelled. “What about my daughter’s?” I asked, trying not to scream . . .
“Well, she didn’t qualify for the reduced premium.”
“Uh . . . what? . . .”
“She didn’t qualify.”
“For the reduced premium?” (Starting to get light-headed)
“That’s right.”
“But if we pay the regular premium, she is covered, right?!” (beads of sweat)
“Oh, of course! Your daughter is covered. Completely. We just need your premium of $419.”
So our daughter is currently covered by a program called “COBRA”.
It’s a good thing because if she wasn’t, I would have had a heart attack – and I did not elect the poison snake coverage for myself . . . . .
Bacon-infused Bourbon Smoked Porter
Well a friend of mine found a guy on the internet takes things a step farther. He creates a bacon-infused bourbon smoked porter. Now that’s a mouthful (pun intended)!
RECIPE HERE
Machine Gun Bacon
I gave this about 250 rounds. but I think around 150 might actually be enough. But then again I don’t mind when bacon is crispy. Ahh the smell of sizzling bacon mixed with the smell of gunpowder and weapon oil.
RECIPE HERE
Out and About
Annie loves to be outside - especially if it is breezy. She just lights up and sticks her face into the wind and laughs and giggles. Since we have Zoo passes, I actually have taken her to the zoo just so we could ride the sky-tram to one end of the park and back. Total time at the park?: 15 minutes. Passes are great.
This is a photo of the wee-one in her stroller at Mission Beach - soaking it up.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Catalina Zip Line - It's Real
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/29/catalina-zipline-aims-to-pep-up-tourist-industry/
Friday, March 26, 2010
Sure, but can she walk and chew gum?
Yes, she is solving a rubik's cube while reciting Pi with stack of books on her head . . . .
Why I myself did something similar just last night . . . (so long as sitting on the couch in front of the tv with a glass of wine is considered "similar").
Hey! I said "similar" not "exact"!
Why I myself did something similar just last night . . . (so long as sitting on the couch in front of the tv with a glass of wine is considered "similar").
Hey! I said "similar" not "exact"!
Chicken Pasta II
“Chicken is cooked with bacon, tomatoes, and wine, then spooned over steaming radiatore pasta.”
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Heh . . .
=Video Removed=
Awwww Jeepers . . . . I just watched the WHOLE thing and the language just barely crosses that fine ethical line that we routinely blow through here at TDR.
Use the link if you wanna see it - pretty funny stuff though . . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi3erdgVVTw
Reminds me of another good one:
Awwww Jeepers . . . . I just watched the WHOLE thing and the language just barely crosses that fine ethical line that we routinely blow through here at TDR.
Use the link if you wanna see it - pretty funny stuff though . . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi3erdgVVTw
Reminds me of another good one:
On Death and Dying
I heard a fascinating (and helpful) podcast this morning from All In the Mind.
It included an interview from the 70's with Psychiatrist Dr Elisabeth Kubler-Ross who is probably most famous for putting forth the five stages of grief.
The whole interview was fascinating and I feel like I actually gained new insight into the subject of death - highly recommended - especially if you are in the medical profession.
It included an interview from the 70's with Psychiatrist Dr Elisabeth Kubler-Ross who is probably most famous for putting forth the five stages of grief.
The whole interview was fascinating and I feel like I actually gained new insight into the subject of death - highly recommended - especially if you are in the medical profession.
Kalua Pig in a Slow Cooker
"This is a simple way of making traditional Hawaiian kalua pig without having to dig a hole in your back yard."
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Quote of the Day
I've never been poor, only broke. Being poor is a frame of mind. Being broke is only a temporary situation.
~ Mike Todd
~ Mike Todd
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Why I Don't Play Facebook Games
I got this on my facebook today:
"The United Nations is giving you Free Goodwill Points that you can use to buy one EMP Bomb"
Have no idea what it means but I am pretty sure it's not right.
"The United Nations is giving you Free Goodwill Points that you can use to buy one EMP Bomb"
Have no idea what it means but I am pretty sure it's not right.
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