Not yet. I'm still trying to get transportation issues resolved. There is an organization called CVIM, community volunteers in medicine. I'm to be treated by them as an outpatient. Neither the doctor I'm to see for the biopsy results nor CVIM are within walking distance so transport becomes an issue. No one I know has a car so I'm limited to public transport. Thing is they accept medicare but you have to be a 'senior citizen', 65 or older, I'm 63. 64 next month on Christmas Eve and still a year short. I submitted an application to an agency called Rover and have yet to hear back from them. I plan on calling today to see what's up. Once I get all this squared away I can get back to doing stuff. I miss playing in PS. LOL

Yeah, everyone is screwing the poor and disabled now, absolutely everyone. Private agencies, state and federal government agencies, you name it. They screw you royally!   

FWIW......the bill for my ambulance ride came today (they must pay their medics some big bucks) $1,250.00. Not that I'm bitching......hell...yes I am.   

Not really. This is just an average for this area. (PA. NJ. Del) per year.

EMS $32,000

EMT $37,000

Paramedic $42,000

So some may need longer attention time, drugs, and other things. Some may only need transportation. So I guess when you average out time, insurance, gas, general maintenance, salaries, drugs, etc. it does come up to a decent amount per call. NOW: Here is the kicker. They are just like doctors, hospitals, and other places. I'm not sticking up for any of them. But most if not all will accept what the insurance pays. At least for the most part. Insurance never pays full price but a percentage. Bet if insurance paid it all the prices could actually come down. However nothing will ever change.

I'm so glad I don't live in the US.  $1250.00 for an ambulance???  That's fechen ridiculous.  Like did they transport you 1200 miles across state lines or something?  Shoot, I could fly from Australia to England for that... and still have some change in my pocket.

Yeah, we've had some cuts to health services here in Australia, but pensioners and low income earners are usually pretty well looked after under the national health care scheme.  It's not perfect, but far better than profit mongering insurance companies running the show and making health care unaffordable to the less fortunate.

It is what it is Mark. Fortunately my insurance should cover it......hopefully. Also hoping to have an update soon. Not knowing is a bit annoying.

Off topic: Laptop charger died. May be awhile before I can update. Need to replace it. One thing or another.

Yeah, damned insurance companies.... as bad as fechen bankers,  I can't recall just how many people who have said to me that their insurance company refused to pay up, citing some obscure clause or other.  An aunt and uncle of mine had private health insurance, but the company refused to pay up when she became ill, claiming that it was pre-existing and a work related illness that was up to workers comp to pay. 

Thing was, she'd been retired for over 20 years and the policy was 40 years older than the illness, but still they weaseled out of it, costing my aunt and uncle thousands because they didn't qualify for Medicare at the time.

Yup, insurance companies... money grubbing bastards.

I have no complaints about my insurance coverage. Medicaide is covering me 100% All meds and Hospice, Damn good thing to as I don't think they planned on me being around for so long after my diagnosis. The hospice nurses seem suprized that I"m still breathing every time they come for my check-ups. ( My COPD is harder on me than the cancer) I was told by my cancer doctor after he read the biopsy to just go and enjoy the rest of my life as best I can, so as much as I miss my dear sweet wife. I aim to hang around as long as I can.  I can deal with the pain better than most people can deal  with me so as long as I can still eat, breath and s**t I'm in no hurry to clock out. It helps to have all my friends here, especially Jim, to keep from going bonkers (a side effect of living with my mother.)lol.

Thanks again for all the prayers and good thoughts. I love you all.

Randy

Jim has been close too you for a long time. Doesn't mean there aren't many others that do care. I have asked her before and now asked my wife again to help you best she can. I have been asking her for help more in the last few years then I did for the 44 years we were married. She can handle it.

You know, Wiz, I may not see you around as much these days, but I often wonder how you are and how you're coping.  I'm so glad that you have the fighting spirit to keep going, because that makes so much difference as to how you face each day.  I have my own health issues, and sometimes they seem overwhelming, but I'm a stubborn ol' bastard who won't give in, and you come across the same.  Same with Ross, he's far too ornery to give in as well.

It comes with age I suppose.  We mightn't be as spritely or nimble any more, but our tolerance patience and wisdom has grown over the years, making us stronger than even we ourselves might imagine at times.  So keep fighting, Wiz, and start that thread, I'd love to see it and more of you here in the forums.

Oh, and Ross.... banned for getting shit you didn't sign up for.... ditch it real soon, okay.  

Hey Whiz...you can hijack it all you want, no worries. All are welcome.   

Cap'n says it all Whiz. Ours is a particular boat and we're the only ones who know how to rig her.

same here...  

not here much myself 'cept for a pop in occasionally to see how everyone's going...

your sharp wit and great sense of humour have made the forums so much fun over these many years....and I think that gift is standing you in good stead now.... a good laugh is the best medicine....and I know Starkers will provide you with plenty of medicine...lol..

Well I'll give a darned good try.... just gotta give me funny bone a knock and see what I can come up with.

Shoot.... Nothing!  Gave my elbow a good whack.... and nothing.  Not a bloody thing!

Maybe later this afternoon after a couple of beers with my son, who's staying for a few days to help out with things.  We're still unpacking and organising stuff after the big move.  I didn't realise just how much stuff we'd collected over the years.  We bought 60 good sized packing boxes to go with the 30 something I had already collected for the move .... and we filled them all.  Talk about hoarders, lol.

                                         ..................................................................................................................

Speaking of moving, it reminds me of when I was a kid.  Mum would often give me money to go to the shop to buy sweets, ice cream, etc.  Dad never did.  He always called me a useless ornament and often gave be a good walloping for the mischief I frequently got up to.  So on the one and only time he gave me money to go down the shop, I was completely ecstatic and took off with the shilling he gave me as fast as my little legs would carry me.

It took a while to decide what I wanted because a shilling [approx 10c] was a lot of money in them days, and it bought quite a few sweets  Anyway, I got what I wanted and was excited to get home to show the family what I had..... but when I got there they'd moved.

That's the best medicine I can come up with for now, but I'll see what's what after I've been to the pharmacy of good jokes.

would have been cheaper to just change the locks......  

Nah, I'd learnt to pick locks at a very early age.  By the time I was five, the local Barclays bank barred me from going in there., lol.  The manager didn't trust me near the safe.

I saw an ad for burial plots, and thought to myself this is the last thing I need.

According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy. 

And one the Cap'n will enjoy.

A man died and was taken to his place of eternal torment by the devil.

As he passed sulphurous pits and shrieking sinners, he saw a man he recognized as a lawyer snuggling up to a beautiful woman.

"That's unfair!" he cried. "I have to roast for all eternity, and that lawyer gets to spend it with a beautiful woman."

"Shut up", barked the devil, jabbing the man with his pitchfork.

"Who are you to question that woman's punishment?"