Sunday, February 04, 2007

Beavertail

Beavertail is the southern most point on Conanicut Island. Jamestown is the local town and most folks refer to the island as Jamestown. The Beavertail lighthouse is located on this point guiding mariners into Narragansett Bay.

Beavertail is where I go to think. When I was between jobs in the summer of 1981, I would ride my motorcycle out there and use my leather jacket as a pillow and doze on the rocks and listen to the waves breaking over the rocks. Beavertail is also where I go to ward off the bad karma. I don't get depressed, mostly I either get a little sad or pissed at an undefined something.

Last week there were a number of irritants that seemed to add up. Marie did not bounce back from her weekly cancer treatment. The body ache stayed with her and she spent the Thursday crying. I had almost talked her into a ride to anywhere when the phone rang and my presence was requested by mom who was once again putting her house on the market. The agent was late, entered the house with cell phone pressed to her ear. As soon as she sat down, she said she had a pressing call to make. I started to stand up, and told her that I sign the papers right then as my wife was sick. She put the phone down. Mom liked her because mom likes anyone who hugs her. My first impression of the agent was not good.

Later when I got home and saw that the stack of mail included a Blue cross and a Lifespan envelope, I said, "mail from Blue cross makes me nervous". Bluecross doctors (paid by Bluecross) do not agree that Herceptin is proper treatment for Marie's condition and disallowed over $16,000.00 for January alone. I called Bluecross and talked to a very nice customer service person. No one gets to talk to the nameless doctors that say no. I called Lifespan and left a message. I guess no one in the receivables department wants to talk. They promise a call back. Not yet.

Friday, I went to the local pharmacy and had them price out Marie's scripts. I need to find a medicare D provider by July 1st. As I expected, none of them will cover more than 70% of the two drugs Marie takes to control her MS. Together they add up to over $3000.00 a month.

So, yesterday Marie and I drove to Beavertail. She sat in the car with the window barely cracked. I went and stood on the rocks in front of the lighthouse. There was a storm off the coast and the waves were running 6 to 8 feet and the wind was about 20 knots or better. As the waves started to break the wind would whip the crest of the breaking wave and catapult the spray 10 to 15 feet ahead of the breaking wave. As the waves crashed into the rocks the spray would shoot up and the droplets would catch the sunlight. The air was so crisp and clean smelling, and my face was burning from the force of the cold wind. I stood there until all the stress and whatever drained from my body. As I got into the car, I told Marie that I felt relaxed and we could head home.

Beavertail.... My favorite place in Rhode Island.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

January Sucked

I am glad January has departed. Marie started chemo for the second time in three years on the second. Once again her body is slowly being assaulted. As the drug kills (hopefully) the cancer cells, her white blood cells are killed also, contributing to her fatigue and lowering her resistance to germs. Her spirit remains strong and she has completed each treatment as scheduled.

My mom is no longer able to live alone. Her heating system is an oil fired steam contraption that I do not understand. I have been taking turns checking on the house and baby sitting the furnace repair person. This system periodically quits. First too much water and we had to drain it. Then too little water. It was only a matter of time before it failed and a pipe burst. The damage has been repaired and the house is back on the market at a realistic price. The oil guy says it won't happen again. Maybe my mom will start sleeping now.

Marie ran the self cleaning oven and when it was done, one top burner would no longer light. I was using matches to light it. They are less expensive than a repair person. I was visiting my brother in law and mentioned this. Find out if she cleaned the top burner he said. She probably blocked the small hole where the ignigter is located. I asked Marie and sure enought she used an SOS pad there. I took the unit apart and blew out the burner unit. Aha! It now works.

Finally, this is my fault. I was bragging at the local gas station that my 2001 Bonneville was the most perfect car that I have ever owned. Well a couple of days later the "Service Security System Soon" light came on. The local Pontiac dealer tells me that if the security system fails the car will quit running. I have an appointment and the Bonnie is sitting until then. He gave a ball park of $350.00

Yep, I'm glad January is over. At least February is short.