What A Weird Week...

This week started off simply with a peaceful day off of work for MLK day, which was fine. Then, I had to go to a specialist (doctor) on Tuesday, who told me that he thinks I had e.coli food poisoning last week when I was really sick...which sounds terrible but is actually better than what any of the alternative diagnoses were.

Then, I went to see the movie "27 Dresses" with B and her mom, which was actually pretty decent. Predictable, of course...but there were some scenes that were funnier than I expected. If you see the movie, B and I were both crying through laughter when Elton John's classic "Benny And The Jets" was karaoked at the bar!

I haven't seen N since Monday for lunch, which sucks! He came down with the most severe strain of the flu on Wednesday and actually ended up in the hospital today, which definitely worried me. I can't go see him or take care of him because of my mom being on chemo. I can't bring ANY of that sickness home with me. So, he's home by himself, and it sucks that I can't help and I don't know when he'll be better enough to not be contagious...I miss him.

A few things are also weird at work too...lots of random assignments, more people out with the flu, the bottom falling out of one of our events and too much work to do for the radiothon...not a great day.

Anyway, tomorrow is TGIF...even though I have to work this weekend to prep for the radiothon, I'll be happy to see an end to this week.

TTYL...

Stupid Health Insurance Companies

I walked into work this morning supremely frustrated. Last night, I went to the pharmacy to pick up a monthly prescription, and I suddenly found out that my copay on it as of January 1st has risen from $25 to $40. Since I had of course not heard about any changes to my prescription coverage, this additional charge obviously surprised me (and not in a good way!).

I called my insurance company this morning, and the "friendly" customer service representative told me that the copay went up because "tier three, non-preferred" prescriptions now have a $40 copay...to which I replied,"Um...I don't know what that means." She helpfully retorted,"Tier three prescriptions went up in price."

Really?...Thanks for the insight.

So now, not only am I paying double for my health insurance through work because I make $1 too much each year to still fall in the lower contribution ranking...now my damn prescriptions are going up. Why, you ask? Because tier three, non-preferred prescriptions are now $40.

Great, thanks for making me throw additional money out the window that I don't have!

Tomorrow Is D-Day!

Well, tomorrow's the big day...our weight loss competition commences. It's only three of us...me, T and D. Prizes include a $100 gift certificate to Somerset Collection (for leader halfway through) and a $200 gift certificate to Somerset Collection. The competition ends on Tigers Opening Day.

I fully expect to win this competition. I was already on the "getting healthy" bandwagon for almost a week before this competition was announced, and I've taken the last few days off so I don't lose any additional weight before the first weigh in...

I definitely believe after my weight loss success last year, and my ability to follow the same program again, I'll have no problem picking right up where I left off. To me, this isn't about losing a certain amount of weight before Opening Day, this is about maintaining and increasing the weight loss I started last year. I'm definitely a happier person when I'm healthy and fit. I can't wait to start the summer looking better than I ended it last year. :-)

Wish me luck!

Bowling = Yuck!

Most of you know that I despise bowling ( or more precisely - bowling alleys). A well-intentioned co-worker innocently asked me this morning if I wanted to join her and some friends in bowling on Saturday night. Instantly, I shuddered. The thought of bowling alleys makes me cringe. These are the top five reasons I hate bowling...

1. Bowling alleys smell like stale cigarettes, beer and air that hasn't been circulated out of the building since it opened in 1959, when bowling was acutally popular.
2. You have to wear other people's shoes...which the uninformed desk clerk seems to think can be cleaned by spritzing a dollop of disinfectant spray in them, like that is going to rid the shoes of the foot fungus of prior wearers.
3. The stupid oil used on the lanes to create "ball movement" gets all over your hands and clothing, making you feel greasy and unclean.
4. "House" bowling balls that you can use when you are not an avid bowler and own your own equipment are typically made for right handed people...I am left handed. So, the finger holes never match up, and as I tigthly grip the "too large" finger holes and try to launch the ball down the lane, I rip the delicate skin off my thumb.
5. Any food you get at a bowling alley is pretty much guaranteed to be deep fried in grease that hasn't been changed since the alley's inception...and the $2 pitcher of draft beer was probably poured through lines that are filled with bacteria and disease...

I know some people really won't agree with me...but how can you not when you really think about the reality of bowling alleys...