Wow, these Fridays just keep getting closer and closer together. Didn't I just write a Friday Five last week??
So here's my life in a nutshell this week.
1) Monday started with a special "just because/Pay It Forward" treat from a friend: my favorite cupcake AND a book! She wanted to make sure my week started off on a good note. YEAH! Just what I needed (and don't tell anyone, but I ate that cupcake for breakfast...because, why not?!). And I was so excited for the book she picked. Not because I hadn't read it (I actually had...it's one of my favorites that I'm ALWAYS book talking to students), but because I LOVE the book so much and it made my heart happy to see someone else recommending it. It's a quiet little gem of a book that I really think everyone should read. And I was given permission to pass it along, so I promise you will see it out in the world soon. Just deciding who gets it first. (FYI, if you'd like in on the Pay it Forward challenge, there's still time! Comment here, email me, message me on Facebook. I'm taking any and all who want to pay kindness forward...doesn't matter where you live. And it's not about wanting a small something from me. It's about wanting to pay the kindness forward to others and keep the magic going!)
2) Was so grateful for a 3-day work week this week. This working thing is kicking my ass. Four hour naps every other day just are not a functional way to live. Then you tack on the fact that the insomnia keeps me up until 3am every night (I'm sure the four hour naps contribute to that as well), and I am just ALWAYS TIRED. ALWAYS! Spent Thursday and Friday SITTING ON MY ASS. Watching Olympics, reading books, and playing a crazy game that the daughter got me addicted to. Need all these mindless activities to distract me from what I should really be doing (cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning).
3) I hate PTSD. And menopause. And the fact that I have both. I will spare you the gory details for now, but when I actually kill people or run over small children or start beating the dog, I don't want anyone to be surprised. Cancer...the gift that just keeps giving...
4) Celebrated a friend's 50th birthday this week. A casual event, but so fun. And reminds me that birthdays (and anniversaries, and major life events) are meant to be celebrated! And enjoyed! And spent with those you love! Don't forget this people! EVER! I was actually thinking what an awesome birthday party I was going to throw for myself this year...and then I realized that I was going to be in Vegas for my birthday (because of a library conference). So, I'll definitely be celebrating. But might have to do something before the actual date with all of you...hmmm...
5) I was asked about how my world view has changed since cancer/treatments this week, and I've been trying to construct a coherent answer ever since. It is really something to think about because there are SO MANY THINGS that I just don't give a crap about anymore because these things are not really important. And it's very hard to explain to anyone that has not gone through this type of experience. And I read several books this week (unintentionally) where the main character has cancer and it brought all these emotions back to the forefront (well, that's a lie...those emotions are always there). So, I'm not really answering the question here, but I think that I will do a separate post on the topic soon. I'm still pondering how best to phrase it...
Showing posts with label pay it forward. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pay it forward. Show all posts
Friday, February 14, 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014
Friday Five
It has been a crazy week here in Seattle with almost everything being Super Bowl-related. It's quite awesome for this sorta Seattle native (I've lived here since I was 10, so that has to count, right?) and self-confessed sports junkie. Very exciting! Go Hawks!
Here's the 5 this week:
1. MONDAY SUCKED! TREMENDOUSLY! WORST EXPERIENCE EVER AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE! And I thought I had been screwed over all the ways possible by the medical profession. I was wrong. Because I posted a cryptic message on Facebook right after it happened which led everyone to thinking that I had received bad news, I will attempt to briefly make a long story short, here goes:
I have, all along, been going to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance facility at Evergreen Hospital. I LOVE everyone there. However, being in desperate need of psychiatric help for my PTSD, I had to schedule an appointment at the SCCA facility on Lake Union as they do not offer those services at Evergreen Hospital. It was my first (and last) time in this office. So many things about the whole experience made me twitch. But the reason I got so irate is really long and convoluted.
Had appointment with a doctor there at 1pm.
Checked in at 1pm. They page the doctor.
Sat down in ENORMOUS waiting room, surrounded by signs that say, "If you haven't been called in 15 minutes after checking in, please check in again."
1:15pm goes by, but I don't want to be that person.
1:30pm: I check in again. And point out that I have to leave at 2:00 in order to pick up my kids from school. They page the doctor again.
1:45pm goes by...now I'm mad.
2:00pm: I go check in again (for the 3rd time). This time however, all I want is a manager to talk to and to make sure that I NEVER get charged for this visit. And to point out that I just took 3 hours off without pay and have nothing to show for it. They go find a manager and page the doctor again.
2:02pm: a very young, and clearly not well-versed in how to deal with patients, gal comes flitting to the desk and says, with a slight giggle, "Oh, Dr. Chen? He's not here today."
And then I go crazy!
So, the doctor was not even at work today? And people knew this? And no one called me? Canceled my appointment? Told me one of the 3 times I checked in? How long would I have sat there? Does the guy have a 2:00 appointment waiting in the waiting room also?
So, the gal they finally send out to talk to me is GREAT. And bursts out into tears with how sad she is for what has happened. And is a cancer survivor herself. Which is a good thing she was the one sent to deal with us because she actually understood my frustration.
By the time I get home, I have 3 messages from different people apologizing for the day. One offers to send me a form so I can apply for reimbursement of my time and expenses (never seen that before). We'll see.
Long story, sorry. Cupcakes made everything better. Keith smartly drove directly from this fiasco to the cupcake store. I had 2 for dinner and took a 4 hour nap and the world was bearable again.
Seriously folks, probably not best to make the already unstable patient that much more crazy. Just sayin'...
2. I was watching the Grammy's and realized that Cyndi Lauper and I now have the same hair color (or at least VERY close). Wow! Growing up in the Cyndi Lauper era, I have to admit that's a sentence I never thought I'd write.
3. The hospital that was suing us for our minimal outstanding bill ($800...which in the grand scheme of things is minuscule compared to all the $$ that we owe), which they stopped billing us for so how were we supposed to know we hadn't paid it off (but that's a whole other discussion), just garnished my paycheck for $1,300. Awesome. Don't even get me started. Makes me want to become a patient advocate so that others will not get screwed the way we have.
4. It's been a long, hard year for everyone here in the Yusko clan. I try really hard not to diminish all that the rest of the family went through even though my year has been pretty "me" focused. Teenage boy did not have the best year by any stretch of the imagination, and there have been many days that I considered selling him to the highest bidder. But then I realize that he is so much like me...and I appreciate the fact that he can ALWAYS make me laugh. Whatever the situation. I am so glad that no one has lost their sense of humor in this family, especially him. So many times this week I have laughed because of him. Thank you.
5. I could never begin to repay the kindnesses shown to me and my family this past year and a half. NEVER. Can't even imagine trying. So, when a friend posted this "Pay it Forward" Challenge on her Facebook page last week, I jumped at the chance to participate. So, instead of paying it back, I'm going to pay it forward this year! (And since the concept comes, I think, from one of my favorite books, I really love this movement).
Pay-it-Forward initiative: The first five (I'm actually going to do 10) people who comment on this post/Facebook post/email me with "I'm in", will receive a surprise from me at some point in this calendar year - anything from a book, a ticket, a visit, something homegrown or made, a postcard, absolutely any surprise! There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy. These five (10) people must make the same offer in their Facebook status and distribute their own joy. Simply copy this text onto your profile (and again, you only have to do five, but I wanted to do 10).
I'm really looking forward to doing this! Cannot wait to see who's in it with me.
And a bonus:
6. I hit the "Register Now" button for the Iron Girl Triathlon in August. Yikes! Who's with me??? Who's going to teach me how to swim? Yeah, that's kind of going to be a problem, but one I'm willing to overcome. So real now...no turning back!
Here's a video to get me inspired:
Here's the 5 this week:
1. MONDAY SUCKED! TREMENDOUSLY! WORST EXPERIENCE EVER AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE! And I thought I had been screwed over all the ways possible by the medical profession. I was wrong. Because I posted a cryptic message on Facebook right after it happened which led everyone to thinking that I had received bad news, I will attempt to briefly make a long story short, here goes:
I have, all along, been going to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance facility at Evergreen Hospital. I LOVE everyone there. However, being in desperate need of psychiatric help for my PTSD, I had to schedule an appointment at the SCCA facility on Lake Union as they do not offer those services at Evergreen Hospital. It was my first (and last) time in this office. So many things about the whole experience made me twitch. But the reason I got so irate is really long and convoluted.
Had appointment with a doctor there at 1pm.
Checked in at 1pm. They page the doctor.
Sat down in ENORMOUS waiting room, surrounded by signs that say, "If you haven't been called in 15 minutes after checking in, please check in again."
1:15pm goes by, but I don't want to be that person.
1:30pm: I check in again. And point out that I have to leave at 2:00 in order to pick up my kids from school. They page the doctor again.
1:45pm goes by...now I'm mad.
2:00pm: I go check in again (for the 3rd time). This time however, all I want is a manager to talk to and to make sure that I NEVER get charged for this visit. And to point out that I just took 3 hours off without pay and have nothing to show for it. They go find a manager and page the doctor again.
2:02pm: a very young, and clearly not well-versed in how to deal with patients, gal comes flitting to the desk and says, with a slight giggle, "Oh, Dr. Chen? He's not here today."
And then I go crazy!
So, the doctor was not even at work today? And people knew this? And no one called me? Canceled my appointment? Told me one of the 3 times I checked in? How long would I have sat there? Does the guy have a 2:00 appointment waiting in the waiting room also?
So, the gal they finally send out to talk to me is GREAT. And bursts out into tears with how sad she is for what has happened. And is a cancer survivor herself. Which is a good thing she was the one sent to deal with us because she actually understood my frustration.
By the time I get home, I have 3 messages from different people apologizing for the day. One offers to send me a form so I can apply for reimbursement of my time and expenses (never seen that before). We'll see.
Long story, sorry. Cupcakes made everything better. Keith smartly drove directly from this fiasco to the cupcake store. I had 2 for dinner and took a 4 hour nap and the world was bearable again.
Seriously folks, probably not best to make the already unstable patient that much more crazy. Just sayin'...
2. I was watching the Grammy's and realized that Cyndi Lauper and I now have the same hair color (or at least VERY close). Wow! Growing up in the Cyndi Lauper era, I have to admit that's a sentence I never thought I'd write.
3. The hospital that was suing us for our minimal outstanding bill ($800...which in the grand scheme of things is minuscule compared to all the $$ that we owe), which they stopped billing us for so how were we supposed to know we hadn't paid it off (but that's a whole other discussion), just garnished my paycheck for $1,300. Awesome. Don't even get me started. Makes me want to become a patient advocate so that others will not get screwed the way we have.
4. It's been a long, hard year for everyone here in the Yusko clan. I try really hard not to diminish all that the rest of the family went through even though my year has been pretty "me" focused. Teenage boy did not have the best year by any stretch of the imagination, and there have been many days that I considered selling him to the highest bidder. But then I realize that he is so much like me...and I appreciate the fact that he can ALWAYS make me laugh. Whatever the situation. I am so glad that no one has lost their sense of humor in this family, especially him. So many times this week I have laughed because of him. Thank you.
5. I could never begin to repay the kindnesses shown to me and my family this past year and a half. NEVER. Can't even imagine trying. So, when a friend posted this "Pay it Forward" Challenge on her Facebook page last week, I jumped at the chance to participate. So, instead of paying it back, I'm going to pay it forward this year! (And since the concept comes, I think, from one of my favorite books, I really love this movement).
Pay-it-Forward initiative: The first five (I'm actually going to do 10) people who comment on this post/Facebook post/email me with "I'm in", will receive a surprise from me at some point in this calendar year - anything from a book, a ticket, a visit, something homegrown or made, a postcard, absolutely any surprise! There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy. These five (10) people must make the same offer in their Facebook status and distribute their own joy. Simply copy this text onto your profile (and again, you only have to do five, but I wanted to do 10).
I'm really looking forward to doing this! Cannot wait to see who's in it with me.
And a bonus:
6. I hit the "Register Now" button for the Iron Girl Triathlon in August. Yikes! Who's with me??? Who's going to teach me how to swim? Yeah, that's kind of going to be a problem, but one I'm willing to overcome. So real now...no turning back!
Here's a video to get me inspired:
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