dwiemer Jack, I don't want to be overly critical of the insurance companies...plenty of blame to go around. Absolutely true, but criticism is warranted. I worked on the carrier side of this business and saw countless opportunities for claims processing "process" improvements, inside my building and inside the providers' shops. Rather than throw armies of people at fixing issues after the fact on all four sides (patient, provider, employer, and carrier), where the end result is that the valid claim is paid anyway, as it was initially intended, why not fix the freakin' process? I call that throughput, ideally defined here as: the approved procedure is performed, the claim is submitted/billed correctly, and the claim is paid correctly........ with minimal or no human intervention. Everyone goes home happy while administrative costs are reduced across the board. Now you might observe I have just stated the obvious. The reality is that the reduction of administrative overhead (people.....for billing claims, processing claims, paying claims, and researching/fixing unpaid claims), while significantly reduced over the past two decades, is still one of the the low lying fruits toward controlling health care costs. Another way of putting it: why should 9% of our health care costs be tied up in administrative overhead? Why can't process improvement knock that administrative expense number down to, say, 7%, with the savings going toward the actual delivery of health care while helping keep premiums in check? What's a 2% improvement/reduction in administrative overhead? Multiply .02 times the total claim dollars paid out by an insurance carrier in a typical year........the potential savings for everyone are HUGE. Even with the for profit companies, the major insurance industry works on about a 2% profit margin...not a lot. For many if not most of the non-profit medical insurance carriers, breaking even on the bottom line for a fiscal year can be a victory. However, I have seen where claims were denied because someone didn't understand part of a procedure. Eventually, after things are properly explained, it gets worked out, but some folks don't know to call and ask questions. That goes both ways. By all means, call the Dr.'s office, hospital, etc to ask for a itemized explanation. Also, ask the Insurance company why something was denied. In most cases, it gets worked out. In some cases, some measure of influence helps. As an aside, the proper term for the artery that runs down the anterior chest wall is the "Internal Thoracic Artery". They (you have one on each side), are well documented as providing a higher level of patency in revascularization. Insurance and Medicare will give a slightly higher reimbursement rate for folks using this method for the Left Anterior Descending artery bypass, as opposed to a saphenous vein graft (vein from the leg) that is used for the other bypasses. However, the STS database, which is now being used to document the cases and as a avenue for reimbursement, calls the the Internal Thoracic Artery the "Internal Mammary Artery". If a surgeon documents in the medical record using the proper name for the procedure, it isn't recorded, and the reimbursement is less, as well as the "Health Score" for the facility is lessened. Why is this kabooki dance necessary in the first place? For the most part, it isn't. In your example there is a fixable process glitch and an education gap in the process. The Medicare claims processing carrier hasn't addressed either adequately. I'd have your Billing Director call the Medical Director and Medicare Claims Processing Director (at the carrier processing the Medicare claims) and have her/him ask: "Why is your/our process still broken? Do we really need to chat and to go through all of this effort in your building and in mine every time we do a Left Anterior Descending artery bypass? Me, you, the medical staff, everyone else performing the procedure and whose claims are processed in your building? And what about the patient whom we serve?" Someone" at the contracted Medicare carrier/processing center typed in the word "Mammary" into the procedure description field next to the procedure code in their (Medicare) claims processing system. This contracted provider, for example, might be BCBS. Was the incorrect terminology "Medicare-mandated," or was it not? If it was, does Medicare truly care that the terminology be altered/corrected in the Medicare claims processing system? Are all of the possible additional sub-procedures ("part of the procedure") all CPT coded in as well, sub procedures Medicare already finds acceptable and reimburseable? Bet no one at the Medicare claims processing entity ever even tried to correct the terminology, acquire and load the sub-procedures codes, or to call a decision-maker at Medicare to get authorization to change the terminology to the correct medical term "Thoracic." Conseqeuntly, reimbursement is delayed, too many folks get involved to get the claims paid, the reimbursement is incorrectly underpaid, and your hospital's "Health Score" goes down. Broken from start to finish and everyone loses, including the patient who is getting her/his EOBs which show that the claims remain unpaid, starting a whole new round of phone calls and complaints. I'd call the Medical Director at BCBS (or the medical insurance carrier processing the Medicare claims for this procedure) and ask him/her to explain what the folks in his building are doing to rectify this and to simplify the process. Now you might observe your example is not a common medical procedure. But I will maintain that this same kabooki dance happens every time a Medicare patient somewhere in that Medical Director's assigned region, and everywhere else in the country, has the procedure. Why? No one took the time at the carrier(s) to fix the process. And I'll bet my Lionel Rock Island 2031 there are hundreds if not thousands of similar process snafus being unnecessarily repeated every minute of every day, across all medical specialties. My query to my own BCBS staff was this: "How can we improve our service to our provider partners and to our insured customers/patients AND simultaneously reduce administrative expenses to boot? By making it easier to do business with us. How is it we are so overworked? How is it we always seem to have the time to fix unnecessary mistakes on the back end of the process, but we seem to have absolutely no time fix the process up front, to do it right on the first pass, and to educate our partners and customers going forward?" Just an example and I have also probably put a number of you to sleep. God Bless,Dennis I'm still with you. :-) Jack
Jack, I don't want to be overly critical of the insurance companies...plenty of blame to go around.
Absolutely true, but criticism is warranted.
I worked on the carrier side of this business and saw countless opportunities for claims processing "process" improvements, inside my building and inside the providers' shops. Rather than throw armies of people at fixing issues after the fact on all four sides (patient, provider, employer, and carrier), where the end result is that the valid claim is paid anyway, as it was initially intended, why not fix the freakin' process? I call that throughput, ideally defined here as: the approved procedure is performed, the claim is submitted/billed correctly, and the claim is paid correctly........ with minimal or no human intervention. Everyone goes home happy while administrative costs are reduced across the board.
Now you might observe I have just stated the obvious. The reality is that the reduction of administrative overhead (people.....for billing claims, processing claims, paying claims, and researching/fixing unpaid claims), while significantly reduced over the past two decades, is still one of the the low lying fruits toward controlling health care costs.
Another way of putting it: why should 9% of our health care costs be tied up in administrative overhead? Why can't process improvement knock that administrative expense number down to, say, 7%, with the savings going toward the actual delivery of health care while helping keep premiums in check? What's a 2% improvement/reduction in administrative overhead? Multiply .02 times the total claim dollars paid out by an insurance carrier in a typical year........the potential savings for everyone are HUGE.
Even with the for profit companies, the major insurance industry works on about a 2% profit margin...not a lot.
For many if not most of the non-profit medical insurance carriers, breaking even on the bottom line for a fiscal year can be a victory.
However, I have seen where claims were denied because someone didn't understand part of a procedure. Eventually, after things are properly explained, it gets worked out, but some folks don't know to call and ask questions. That goes both ways. By all means, call the Dr.'s office, hospital, etc to ask for a itemized explanation. Also, ask the Insurance company why something was denied. In most cases, it gets worked out. In some cases, some measure of influence helps.
As an aside, the proper term for the artery that runs down the anterior chest wall is the "Internal Thoracic Artery". They (you have one on each side), are well documented as providing a higher level of patency in revascularization. Insurance and Medicare will give a slightly higher reimbursement rate for folks using this method for the Left Anterior Descending artery bypass, as opposed to a saphenous vein graft (vein from the leg) that is used for the other bypasses. However, the STS database, which is now being used to document the cases and as a avenue for reimbursement, calls the the Internal Thoracic Artery the "Internal Mammary Artery". If a surgeon documents in the medical record using the proper name for the procedure, it isn't recorded, and the reimbursement is less, as well as the "Health Score" for the facility is lessened.
Why is this kabooki dance necessary in the first place? For the most part, it isn't. In your example there is a fixable process glitch and an education gap in the process. The Medicare claims processing carrier hasn't addressed either adequately. I'd have your Billing Director call the Medical Director and Medicare Claims Processing Director (at the carrier processing the Medicare claims) and have her/him ask: "Why is your/our process still broken? Do we really need to chat and to go through all of this effort in your building and in mine every time we do a Left Anterior Descending artery bypass? Me, you, the medical staff, everyone else performing the procedure and whose claims are processed in your building? And what about the patient whom we serve?"
Someone" at the contracted Medicare carrier/processing center typed in the word "Mammary" into the procedure description field next to the procedure code in their (Medicare) claims processing system. This contracted provider, for example, might be BCBS. Was the incorrect terminology "Medicare-mandated," or was it not? If it was, does Medicare truly care that the terminology be altered/corrected in the Medicare claims processing system? Are all of the possible additional sub-procedures ("part of the procedure") all CPT coded in as well, sub procedures Medicare already finds acceptable and reimburseable?
Bet no one at the Medicare claims processing entity ever even tried to correct the terminology, acquire and load the sub-procedures codes, or to call a decision-maker at Medicare to get authorization to change the terminology to the correct medical term "Thoracic." Conseqeuntly, reimbursement is delayed, too many folks get involved to get the claims paid, the reimbursement is incorrectly underpaid, and your hospital's "Health Score" goes down. Broken from start to finish and everyone loses, including the patient who is getting her/his EOBs which show that the claims remain unpaid, starting a whole new round of phone calls and complaints.
I'd call the Medical Director at BCBS (or the medical insurance carrier processing the Medicare claims for this procedure) and ask him/her to explain what the folks in his building are doing to rectify this and to simplify the process. Now you might observe your example is not a common medical procedure. But I will maintain that this same kabooki dance happens every time a Medicare patient somewhere in that Medical Director's assigned region, and everywhere else in the country, has the procedure. Why? No one took the time at the carrier(s) to fix the process.
And I'll bet my Lionel Rock Island 2031 there are hundreds if not thousands of similar process snafus being unnecessarily repeated every minute of every day, across all medical specialties.
My query to my own BCBS staff was this: "How can we improve our service to our provider partners and to our insured customers/patients AND simultaneously reduce administrative expenses to boot? By making it easier to do business with us. How is it we are so overworked? How is it we always seem to have the time to fix unnecessary mistakes on the back end of the process, but we seem to have absolutely no time fix the process up front, to do it right on the first pass, and to educate our partners and customers going forward?"
Just an example and I have also probably put a number of you to sleep.
God Bless,Dennis
I'm still with you. :-)
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Good morning all,
Pretty pleasant morning today due to the early morning shower. I'm sure the humidity will go way up as the day progresses. Hopefully it will be cool enough for my 7y/o son to get some batting practice in tonight. He is moving up to the pitching machine division and has no experience with it. He is excited and has been taught solid batting fundamentals so I'm confident he will do well.
At work now and have to drive to OK City for some work this afternoon. I may squeeze in a hobby shop run while I'm there if time permits.
Joe
RockIsland52 I'm still with you. :-) Jack
hey jack do you know i was looking for a doctor for the wife in the rockford, illinois area, see she is not old enough to get social security so we only have tricare, which was an earned benefit of making a career out of the service and there is only one doctor in thje rockford area who accepts tricare. i feel like telling the nazi office girls that they are disobeying federal law by not accepting this insurance. it sounds like you are really up on this. do you think i have got a leg to stand on?(so to speak) as i cant walk. thanks navyjack
Not much better news on the re-finance today, NACA told me let them know what is happening with the new mortgage company turn-over. Seems like mortgage companies can get out of a contract by turning you over to another lender. Maybe it's attorney time? Have tax bill due in september.
The rats that get major jail time down here hold political office, a.k.a. county commissioners.
Haven't done much with my trains lately as I don't know wether to leave them up or take them down in case of moving. Train show coming up on Aug. 21 in Lake Worth FL @ the Polish American club on Lake Worth Road & Military Trail.
Lee F.
88,
I won't comment on programmers after what I went through earning my degree. I hate C with a passion... Good luck with the adoption.
Not much going on right now. I drove the PGT to work yesterday and the day before without incident. The only exciting thing that happened was that the alternator began to act up, but at least I got there and back. I'll have to change it again (so much fun considering where Mazda put it), and I only put 2000 miles on this one. The original was good until 187K. Another reason not to buy from Advance.
Jack, I hear you on all counts. This issue has actually been fought for over 12 years that I know of. I am sure you are aware of the issues if a claim is kicked back from Medicare and for any reason, it is the fault of the provider, it is denied, or highly reduced. And of course, it is tough to get and keep good coding agents without paying them high enough to keep them without breaking the bank. A really good code person could make out well doing contract billing/claims.
Brent, hope things go through with little issues. One problem a lot of folks in waiting for China have is that the finger prints expire! Go figure....didn't know that could happen. Have a great one.
Chief, you are retired, not the dog....besides, he's too young for that. With regard to the Air Conditioner...ours finally got fixed. Amana made a new lot number of coils that were tested twice before shipping. Our HVAC folks jumped right on it and had things going by the time we got home tonight.
Tonight, we have to take the kids to school for orientation with the teachers. Tomorrow is the first day of school. We have to bring a bunch of supplies as well.
Check in later. God Bless,Dennis
TCA#09-63805
Sun and 85
I decided to cut grass tomorrow its suppose to stay in the 70s. We are running out of summer real fast and i'm not happybut the clock doesn't stop does it. Banilla is ready and the beacon is humming so Brutus come on by with the thingy....S.J.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
The Treaty of Trent! I'm sorry...what page are we on
A command decision has been made on the Mid-Atalntic Coffee Pot symposium: Saturday August 21 @ 3:00 PM. (As in PM me if you are interested )
Evening all
Crazy busy but blessed all the same. Got another circus billboard whistle and got it working. Just a good cleaning and oiling. Gotta love Gilbert American Flyer
Got a dumpster delivered to the house to load up the roof and framing from the garage tear off. I stopped by on the way home and loaded for about an hour then home to make supper for my bride, she working in the ER tonight. The kids went to the other grandparents for he evening and I expect them any time now. It is quiet so I should be working on this weekend's homily! Rough draft done.
Jim - I missed the 650's you showed me but they are re-listed so maybe this time?
NavyJack - Try the website cheaper than dirt for the ammo. Really low prices especially in bulk.
Every one be careful in the heat. May God bless
Jim
Dennis,We are well aware that the fingerprints, and law enforcement certifications, have a 1 year effectiveness. That means we WILL have to get ALL of our certifications and fingerprints redone, possibly twice. That means another $500 - $1000. In the grand scheme of things, that is nothing when you compare that to the overall cost.
green97probe The original was good until 187K. Another reason not to buy from Advance.
Thats my experince with Advance also, you buy a part, dont last you got to change it out. Sure its still under warrenty sometimes but its the idea of doing it again. They keep u coming back that way.
On to the trains, not much as far as running them goes but trying to FIX what seems to be impossible. Replace the mother board the Remote Control Board and the board that runs the dc motor.put it on tracks...lights work and thats it. but u run dc power straight to the motor bypassing all the electronics stuff it runs like a top....i dunno...seems to me there is a loose connection in there..somewhere...finding it is the problem
--Black Diamond-- One thing about a train, it doesnt matter where it's going, You just have to decide to get on... Woo Wooo.....
Good afternoon all, this has been an expensive day so far. Went in for just an oil change this morning and by the time the dealer got through with me I needed $1800 worth of repairs on my 96 Honda Accord. I guess that's not too bad when you consider I haven't had a car payment in 10 years. I keep em until they drop, then I resurect them and run them into the ground. My Buick Century is still going and it is 23 yrs old now.
I talked to the local hobby shop this afternoon about my MTH Proto 1 problem. They said it sounded like a top board gone bad which controls the sound amoung other things. Cost about $100 for a new one. I think I would be happier if they could just gut the thing and make it conventional. I don't need that sound system anyway on an F3.
Weather is still too hot here to get much train time in the garage except early morning. Did get my Z4000 transformer back from MTH and it is working again.
Oldest son and his family are vacationing at Lake Tahoe. They were suppose to go rafting yesterday on the Truckee River but son said he felt sick and spent the whole day in bed at motel while his wife and son did the raft trip without him. He is better today though and says they will stop off at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento on the way home. We are baby sittting their pet cockateel while they are gone. He has been out of the cage most of the day today and is happy.
Banks, congratulations on that big crop of oats.
NavyJack, are you mobile enough to do varmit shooting? Just wondered after reading your post about the 30-30 rifle. Is that the famous lever action rifle you see in all the Western movies?
Next door neighbor has been cleaning out leftovers from house up for sale and I have been dumpster diving for things they put on the street for free. So far got some post hole diggers, a shovel, a ladder and a step stool. All in good condition but today they put out a nice rocking chair. Only problem was the seat was spit in two right down the middle and the arms had some issues too. Took a pass on that one. Don't know what I will do with the post hole diggers but If I ever want to dig myself a hole, I've got something to do it with now. Might build a new fence sooner or later. Could use it for that.
Car dealer gave me a rental to use today while mine is in the shop. It is a new Nissan and is a nice little car. It is quick like a rabbit. You have to be careful on the brake and accelerator. They both have quick responses. I'm used to really tromping on my old car.
later,
Ray
SPMan
Good evening all,
I had a nice trip to OK City today, mostly because I was able to stop by a hobby shop I had not been to before. I'm not sure if anyone here has heard of it. It is named Whistle Stop Train and I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of O gauge/scale items they carry. The employees were very knowledgeable and friendly. They knew I wasn't buying anything today, but still took the time to show me around the store and even the repair area they have. Their prices are not the cheapest, but they are fair and considering I will not have to pay shipping, they are in my favor. I am looking forward to going back and supporting them with my business.
SP Man/Ray - The technician at the hobby shop I visited today told me MTH products can be very difficult to repair locally, and usually have to be sent to MTH to be fixed. I have no MTH products so I cannot add anything to that, or say if his comment is accurate. However, he carries MTH products and was not trying to sell me another product; the reason he told me this was because he knows I am in the Air Force and move frequently. He advised me it may cost me a decent amount in shipping to have the items serviced by MTH if I should buy any in the future and they need repair. He also showed me the inside of an MTH loco versus a Lionel loco, and from my simple perspective, the MTH loco appeared much more complicated. I appreciated him taking the time to show me that. I hope your problems is resolved soon.
Lionroar88 - My hats off to you on the adoption process. I have friends who have recently adopted and I know it can be quite the process, not to mention expensive. I don't know all the circumstances behind your adoption, but I believe you are doing an awesome thing and I wish you the best with it.
I hope everyone else is doing well.
Good night,
lionroar88 Dennis,We are well aware that the fingerprints, and law enforcement certifications, have a 1 year effectiveness. That means we WILL have to get ALL of our certifications and fingerprints redone, possibly twice. That means another $500 - $1000. In the grand scheme of things, that is nothing when you compare that to the overall cost.
SPMAN "If its free its for me" words to live by.
Jim,
They were relisted.
Fife,
Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it.
Black Diamond,
I've given up on Advance. I got real tired of buying sensors that died shortly after installing them, and this alternator was the end for me. I've got to move the a/c compressor out of the way just to get to it.
I spent tonight playing with the AF 766 Guilford Station. Since I got it in November, I thought that the rotary switch on the controller was broken. Little did I know that you are supposed to turn the knob clockwise instead of counterclockwise.
Sad day locally as a big pileup with two school buses resulted in two deaths and lots of injuries. Really tired today - storms early this AM woke me up and then when I did get up with the alarm it was as dark as night. Chewy was not happy at all! Luckily, we have the kids cleaning up after her now, so I didn't have to do it. Gotta switch laundry and hit the hay early tonight, but didn't want to forget to post tonight and say hi to everyone. Good news on Granny, SJ! Wish I could make it, Fife! Good luck 88! Good thoughts and prayers for all. Tardis is ready.
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Good Evening All !
So far I don't know if this Retirement Stuff, is all that great. Almost the first "work week" in, and these is what I've noticed so far.....
- The "consulting aspect" stinks! Seems like the same work, only for little or NO pay. (Wife is now the BOSS).
- The "Honey Do List" is now a BOOK ! (Given all the "FREE Time" I have.) Most recent addition to HDBk is repainting the TIKI in the backyard as soon as I finish the garage door opener repair, lawn chair refinishing, closet redo, designing and building shed in backyard. Front yard work, painting wrought iron work, etc., etc..
I MUST be doing something wrong!!!
Ray, I may have a fellow interested in attending the Train meets in Arcadia and Pasadena. He is one of my customers and lives in Chino Hills, (Paul), just getting back into O Scale, and seems to really like DCS. He has already picked up a TIU, AIU, transformer, and beginner sets. MTH sets. (I really didn't coax him that much either.) Anyway I did help him out at the last train show that was at Pomona a couple of months ago. And told him about the forums, maybe he's lurking about. Hopefully he will join in, we need another West Coaster. I will need to sendhim the meet dates, times, and addresses.
Been wanting to do a major maintenance on all the old conventional engines I have sitting in boxes, and making sure they all will still work well. Some of them I'm sure have not been run in over 30 years. So it will take some effort I'm sure. Then see about selling them. BTW got the Legacy version 1.3 installed and running, seems pretty good. Only complaint that I have is the Legacy system still turns on the clock radio in the train room. It turns on the alarm timer, so if I run Legacy the night before I usually wake up to voices in the morning when I come downstairs. (Doesn't happen with DCS, just Legacy.)
Went to the Orange County Fair tonight, pretty much the same as last year. Expensive, Expensive, Expensive. BTW were you guys aware that food vendors at fair grounds typically have to pay a commission the fair for the food they sell? In addition to the booth costs they pay, and the local license requirements. One other thing that is worth mentioning, they are having Championship Surfing contest here this weekend, not so great conditions however. Beaches are expected to have drizzle in the morning until well into the afternoon, and the waves are expected to reach between 1 and 3 feet. Last year they were too big, this year too small. And the prize money is up to $350k.
Take care all !
Navyjack, being from Rockford, if your search area was extended to Beloit, or even Madison would you have better luck?
Don
Sunny and in the 80's here today.
Shuffled more furniture around today to get my wife more comfortable. Think we are getting the place tuned in for her recovery - backs take a long time to heal.
No train time. Hope to get to the LHS tomorrow, as I have not been there for some time.
Interesting program at the Historic Half Mile tomorrow night. It is the battle of the badges. 26 dirt track prepared police cars driven by officers of the area police departments. Ought to be a pretty good show.
All for now.
Was going to post last night but got too tired w/ the medications I'm on and had to crash.
Doing OK. Every day gets a bit better. Took two hours today to get to a one hour meeting though. The one week I need the buses they go on strike. And I had to walk a mile and a half even taking the bus.
May start driving tomorrow. The ibuprofen seems to be taking care of the pain today fairly well.
Been reading the insurance discussions w/ interest. I've been screwed over twice by medical insurance companies. I've always had insurance, once even dual coverage. One company made it so I can never get my own policy, i.e. I could never work for myself and get coverage. The other denied coverage for a major surgery (my elbow was completely fractured) simply because of a loophole. The business I was covered under had closed two weeks before. My mother forked out $5K to put me back together. And all this happened when I was less than 35 and still a *** healthy guy. When people say there's no problem w/ the health industry I can give 'em an earful. Enough said.
Dennis - got a card in the mail from a mutual friend. Thank you.
Time to find a pillow.
Bob
Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)
Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
Morning all
Waiting for my bride to get home with the sitter so I can go to work. She got held over. Read an interesting book yesterday with an insite I'd like to share.
When our faith is being tested, it is not so that God will know the condition of our faith, He already knows. When our faith is being tested it is so that we will become aware of our faith and just how dependent we are on God.
Jim - I may go for the 650's this time. Ment to last time but forgot. The 766 switch is the same as the 771 stockyard switch and the stockyard switch is a lot easier to find if you ever need to replace the gilford switch guts.
Don - Since you are retired try to explain that X number of years of projects do not have to be completed in one year.
Rich - Glad hings are working out.
Bob - Glad you are feeling better too
8ntruck - Been there, about 7 years ago my bride had the back surgury too. It will take time and patience on both partys. Once when I was sweeping the floor I was told I was not doing it right. I asked if it was getting done, I just do it differentand different is not necessarly wrong.
May God bless
Good Morning from the Jersey Shore, 78 going to 90, a Beautiful Day.
In a little while we are going to pick up my son from the NJSP Youth Program, Boot Camp. It was quiet without him.
Brent, Good luck with the adoption. We started the process and then my wife became pregnent with our son. That is another story.
Navy Jack, Good luck with your battle with the Health Insurance. The people that we dal with now are in Lincolnshire, Nebraska and Newark, NJ. A lot nicer than the previous people. I borrowed the line "Illinois Nazi's" from the movie, "Blues Brothers".
Joe, I wish your son luck with his batting.
Fife, August 21 is marked on the calander. I will speak with the group that I go to the Thresher Reunion with.
Sturgeon-Phish, Jim, Pace yourself loading the dumpster with this heat.
Brutus, My thoughts and prayers go out to the accident victims. As I see it, None of those driver's were paying attention to the road conditions.
Don, The solution to the "work issue", is to get all of the retirees to unionize. I think that a 2 hour work day is in order.
Bob, I am glad that you are coming along.
Rich, Congrats on your first alarm. 20 years is a long time. I let the younger guys do all of it now. After 35 years, it is their turn.
Thoughts and Prayers to all in need.
John
Good Morning from Blueberryhill....
It is a sunny 72 degrees. Going up to 88 today with sunshine.
The big storm on Wednesday afternoon knocked out the power for 24 hours. We had no damage here but a lot of trees and power lines were down in the area. It was nasty.
Today is an easy day. I have some chores to do and then, I will go to workout at the FC. It is nice to have lights again.
Dining car is here and it's a Cheerios breakfast.
Buckeye..... TGIF
Y'all have a great Friday.
Chuck
Aloha all. Nice day here. Big music festival begins a few blocks away: 95K expected. Ah, Brent, the I600A brings back memories. Jim, that's a nice insight/reminder. Sure looks like Don is "enjoying" retirement. May try to talk the bride into going to the McHenry County Fair tonight - I'll miss the goats/swine judging but there's a demolition derby tonight
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Good Morning
sun and 80 today.
Don B has quickly learn that retirement does not mean no work. Thats why some of us have a nap, have to rest between jobs. I had BLTs for breakfast, even used a sharp knife without causing bodily harm. Grass is next....S.J.
Mornin' Fellas.Don, see Ray, he seems to be coming into 'free' tools. Maybe he can help you with that list! ;)Ray - If you have to really stomp on the brake pedal your master cylinder could be dying. May want to have that checked, or the calipers.Harold - I wouldn't have a problem with it, except we have to be finger printed by a third party that charges $125 per person, plus $65 processing for MD State Police, FBI, DHS, and DOS background checks. I understand that they want to make sure you haven't committed any crimes involving children, but seriously, my finger prints haven't changed since I was born, so why can't we go and pay a nominal fee to have the background checks rerun? IMHO it is just another money maker for the state.
IIABSDISEI with temps in the 70s. Nice. On our way to Mid-Ohio. Go AJ (Vitor Meira)! Go SFR! Go Swiss Miss! I had bran muffins on the dining car. TBIL in Ohio tonight. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
MIke C. from Indiana
NavyJack......check your PMs in about an hour. I've got some ideas. I think the guys on the POT are about to revoke Dennis' and my posting privileges and card carrying membership for boring them to death on the medical insurance stuff.
Jack.
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