G is for Gross

The bathroom was INSIDE the restaurant. It’s not like I was in some seedy neighborhood where derelicts would stroll in daily to shoot-up or shower in the sink…come on. This key was by far the grossest I have ever HAD to use.

I was at Maggie Moo’s in Mission Valley with a bunch of the guys and I had ‘to go’. Closest bathroom was next door at the Panda Express. As ‘one’ normally would…I headed directly for the bathroom. Sign said “Please Ask Manager for the Key”. I make my way to the register and the cashier hands me this stick that resembles the handle of a plunger with a key dangling from it. It practically slipped from hand when she handed it to me after she served the customer in front of me. It was so greasy-GROSS that I almost decided to ‘hold it’ until I got home. But now, I’ve touched all of its sliminess and just wanted to SCRUB THE FUCK out of my hands.

I did my bizness, washed my hands and used two extra paper towels. One to open the door with (if the key stick was so slimy, can you imagine the door knob?!?) and a second to hold the plunger-handle-key-security-device.

My favorite part…the look on the cashiers face as I gave her back the key, for safe keeping…paper towel and all – she gawked at me as if I was a freak, the derelict.

A really disturbing thought (and this is completely unnecessary to put in your mind, but I’m going to do it anyway) – is that the employees, the cooks, use that key to access the same restroom themselves. Sure, they ALL wash their hands after going to the bathroom, right?…then they grab that dirty-ass greasy key, drop it off with the key police at the register and head back to the kitchen to cook you some delicious, authentic, Chinese food.  Mmmmm, mmmmmm…scrumptious!

MD Frenzy: Disorder Caused by Employer Changing One’s Insurance

Most that know me from a decade or two ago will tell you that I am somewhat of a hypochondriac.  I admit it…I was, to a degree – I don’t think I am anymore. Life changes, I matured…and now, going to the doctor is more of an annoyance – an interference of time, waiting rooms, and copays.  But I am one that says, ‘hey, I’m going to have this checked out…just in case’.  And in most cases I am in tune and it ends up being good thing that I went for a visit to my primary…who referred me to a specialist…who sent me to the lab to extract blood from my body…and took a quick x-ray just because to make sure.  Quicker recovery, less loss of productivity at the office, right?!?  Perhaps I should look this up, but a hypochondriac by my definition is one who searches for ailment, is convinced that every headache is a brain tumor and is the one responsible for my long wait in that waiting room.  Haven’t you heard of WebMD, people?

That all changed this past Monday when my employer hosted the annual Benefits Open Enrollment Meeting.  Only this year, it was scheduled for two hours…and oh, there was a raffle and free Band-Aid dispensers.

I remember the PPO days…when it was affordable.  Easy and inexpensive to visit any doctor you wanted and at any time – what’s a referral?  Then to cut costs – the HMO.  A little bit more red-tape, however essentially a set-up similar to the PPO (come on doc, why can’t I just get a referral over the phone?).  Now, today – the HRA…Health Reimbursement Account, “A Consumer Driven Health Plan, for you.”  Another cost cutting savings move for the company, but this one already stings and the plan year hasn’t even started.

Basically, my employer gives me $750/year to spend as I choose on my healthcare. However I am responsible for the first $2500 in out-of-pocket expenses, my deductible. This is in addition to my $1100 portion of the total annual premium.  Once that is met, there is an 80/20 co-insurance and then once maxed at some ungodly amount…the insurer covers the rest.

Trust me, I understand my employers expense – I see it on paper.  They do pay a significant amount of my total premium and the truth of the matter is that times are in fact tough.  Sure we’ve got answer to Wall Street and meet Shareholder expectations…but the frustrating part for me is that by being privy to a lot of projects and expenses (and some salaries), cutting into healthcare benefits – at this time – knowing what other dollars are being spent on – is certain to affect morale AND definitely employee pocketbooks.  I just hope that they keep their ‘campaign promise’ rationale of “…so we can pay bonuses, give raises and deliver to our shareholders”.  Oh yes, my favorite analogy was likening this type of plan to auto insurance; and, the selling points of being more aware of your healthcare and being able to choose, for yourself, what services you need and how much you pay for them.  Ummmm, did I go to medical school?

Doctor: “You need an MRI, you may be bleeding internally.”

Me: “How much is it?”

Doctor: “$1999.99″

Me: “Well…ummmm…hmmm…I need to check my bank account.”

Doctor: “You don’t have time.”  shouting outside the exam room, “Nurse!  Bring me the Pennysaver, stat!  Give Mr. Murillo the 10% off coupon from my ad!”

Me: “No thanks, Doc. Look here…I found a 20% promo code at couponcabin.com.  I’ll pay online, with my credit card.”

Yes, a bit extreme…I’m not going to take those kind of risks – I speaking to the principle of the whole thing.  I recognize that this is not a new type of coverage (apparently a majority of Americans are insured with this type of plan) and that I am being resistant to change, but this is going to be a deep dive into my pocketbook in 2010.  I asked my doctor for a price list – he laughed.  And I’m price shopping my prescriptions already.  Canada seems cheap. Also, did you know that you can compare average healthcare costs by city within the county?  Escondido is the least expensive I’ve found so far.  Now I need spreadsheet to analyze the savings vs the cost of fuel to get there.  So much to do.

This all leads me to my MD Frenzy.  I, Mr. Health Care Consumer Driver…am taking a peek at my health and am preparing now.  I am in FULL HYPOCHONDRIAC ARREST.  Somebody get a crash cart.  Here’s what’s going on since the news broke Monday afternoon…I’ve got some things to take care of before this policy ends on 12/31.

• 12/2 – Visit to PCP:  Full labs, and not just blood if you know what I mean.  Free samples of allergy meds – and a good discussion in general about my good health and future care under the new plan.
• 12/4 – Psychiatrist:  Immediate goal – Both prescriptions with three refills to do mail order pharmacy before year end.  Three months supply for only TWO COPAYS – win!  Long-term goal – Quit care.  This is the one where I will blow my ‘employer allowance’ before the end of Q2.  Drugs alone are $175-$200/month and who knows how much a 15 min visit with him is.
• 12/18 – Vein Clinic:  Have my varicose veins checked out, hopefully removed via injection
• 12/22 – Surgeon:  Dr. Takada for a Lap Band fill and band check-up in general

PCP also mentioned making appointment with allergist – but I’m fine this week and will consider in the Fall of 2010, and pay.  This is enough.

I DO consider myself extremely lucky.  I have a great job and I have healthcare.  Really, that’s the bottom line.  I am hypersensitive to the situation and somewhat rebellious to this paradigm shift – that’s all, I will get over it.  I think a majority of the frustration was the way my employer approached it and, ultimately me knowing several of the 2010 budgeted initiatives that took priority over the people.  Some of those projects, in my opinion, could have waited.  It’s the Team Members in the field that will be hit the hardest with this change.  They are the ones ringing the registers everyday that keep us employed and these added expenses are going to be tough to swallow especially where coverage supports a family – and premiums are even more exorbitant and annual medical expenses are higher in general.

So here’s to good health in 2010!  I guess the hypochondriac in me lives on because if I break my toe a fourth time, I will still go to the MD for an x-ray.  Just in case.  You know, I don’t want it to improperly heal.  Besides, on the way home I get to pick up a box of popsicles – I’ll need the sticks.

Oh, I almost forgot…the raffle – I didn’t win.

Turkey Sandwich for Breakfast? But of course…

Having nibbled, hourly, prior to our Thanksgiving feast…there was plenty of leftovers to cure hunger.  The seven hour build up that we deemed “courses” in hour number two, went a little something like this:

• 10:00 am – Coffee cake…and oh yes, mimosas made with Wilson Creek Almond Champagne and OJ freshly squeezed from oranges from the neighbor’s yard
• 11:00 – Deviled eggs, followed by handfuls of pistachios and pomegranate (I know, odd mix)
• 12:00 pm – Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms that were broiled to perfection – by far my favorite of the entire day…switch to Vodka + tonic + splash of cran
• move to the family room for TV…Fame, RuPaul’s Drag Race and whatever else we channeled surfed…
• 1:00 – Delectable spread of Jay’s Bruschetta topped with a tomato-basil-garlic-onion+lime mix; with a fat chunk of fresh imported Greek Feta Cheese .  On the side:  bowl marinated green olives ($8 gourmet – all from North Park Produce)
• 2:00 – Baked brie with pomegranate/cranberry sauce on topped of slices of toasted french baguette and homemade bread
• 3:00 – Shrimp cocktail – Shrimp marinated in old bay seasoning on a bed of crisp diced cucumber, orange bell pepper and onion with a dollop of cocktail sauce
• 4:00 – FEEDING TIME…but wait!  I’m more stuffed than the turkey!  Not to worry…I managed to fit a little bit of everything on my plate…Turkey, roasted chestnut sausage dressing, roasted brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes with gravy and homemade pomegranate-cranberry sauce

Squeeze in a lemon bar here, a peanut butter-butterscotch krispy treat there, and oh yes, a slice of homemade gingerbread + plenty of cocktails – and that’s all she wrote!  Slap it on gurl!  Time for a nap…

Speaking of naps…did we really eat THAT much tryptophan to make us want to nap after a big Thanksgiving Day turkey dinner?  No…I didn’t think so.  Thank you snopes.com for clarifying that age old turkey myth.

Thank you Marty and Kenny for hosting…I had an incredible Thanksgiving.  Guilt aside from not being with my sister and nephews this year, everything was perfect.  The two of you are very special to me…

Having spent some time reflecting this holiday, I have so much to be thankful for.  The last year has brought a lot of changes in my life…and while challenging at times, at the end of the day all are good.  Transitions can be difficult at times, but this last year was one of self-discovery.  I learned to live on my own, make decisions for myself, built (tons of) self-confidence, released anxiety and inner-tension – became social again.  And through it all I met a lot of incredible people.

The most signifying change for me are the new friendships.  Friendships that are in addition to my supportive longtime ‘sisters’ who have remained close and continue to be supportive of me ‘through it all’.  While new friendships continue to build and grow, I feel like I’ve found my place…surrounded by welcoming people that I now call friends.  Some look at this as place I’ve ‘settled’ in to – it is quite the contrary.  It’s been a launchpad to everything that is the real Jay, the new friendships were the rocket boosters to my ah-ha moment.  Look at it this way…remember that liberating moment when you acknowledged your sexuality?  That release of pressure in your mind that kept you from being…from living the real you, from growing and moving forward…and once you did it, that sense of self discovery catapulted you to your next level of identity – LIVING, living ‘the you’ that you truly are.  And to each of you who are so warm, inviting and accepting – I THANK YOU!  You have made a significant difference in my life and I feel as if I’m home again.

For this…for you, I am thankful.

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms (credit to Barefoot Contessa)

Of everything I ate on Thanksgiving 2009, this was by far the most incredible dish served as an appetizer.  These are AMAZING! A MUST HAVE!  Try it!

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

• 16 Extra large mushrooms
• 5T Olive oil
• 2+1/2 T Marsalsa wine
• 3/4lb Sweet Italian Sausage (out of casing)
• 6 Scallions – minced
• 2 Cloves garlic – minced
• 2/3C Panko
• 5oz Marscapone cheese
• 1/2C Parmesan cheese (fresh)
• 2+1/2T Parsley – minced
• salt + pepper

Preheat oven to 325F

1. Remove stems of mushrooms and chop fine – set aside
2. Place mushroom caps in bowl and toss with 3T olive oil and marsala wine – set aside
3. In a skillet, heat 2T olive oil; add sausage and cook 8-10 minutes until brown.  ADD chopped steams and cook 3 min.  ADD scallions, garlic and panko – mix well.  ADD Marscapone cheese and stir until creamy
4. Remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese, parsley and salt & pepper to taste.
5. Cool slightly then fill caps (heaping) and place in baking dish
6. BAKE for 50 minutes until brown and tops are crispy (for added/quicker crisp tops – place under broiler for 1-3 minutes)