Welp! My Right Arm Fell Off Last Night...

Don't extend your sympathy! I will be okay. It's just an arm. My last remaining arm. On my favorite rolly chair that Farmer H gave me for Christmas about 20 years ago. It was the best gift EVER!. The left arm fell off a few years back. Now it was the left's time to go.

Not the whole arm. It's not like Genius's Goodwill rolly chair, the high-backed office style, mesh, with a single arm remaining. Mine only lost the plastic sleeve armrest. It had been weak for a while. Sometimes it would shoot forward, and I'd have to yank it back into place. Like sliding that part of a pump-action rifle to cock it. Not that I've ever shot a rifle. I HAVE watched a Western or two.

Anyhoo... this time when I slid my arm back, it twisted sideways. Like the skin of a human arm spinning around the bone. As I tried to straighten my arm, it came off in my hand.

Goodbye, old friend. You were a good source of support, while you lasted.

Storage Unit Store Battles

Farmer H has a mission to accomplish on Monday. He's expanding his Storage Unit Store. You know, because he has too much junk to cram into his current double locker. He has a prime location, about halfway down the first set of lockers, on the main aisle as you go through the gate. Almost all the lockers in that area are rented to people who sell their stuff at the flea market on Saturdays and Sundays.

There is one exception. Next door to Farmer H, on the gate side, is a locker rented by an old man and old woman. Farmer H has been there three years. He says in all that time, he's only seen the old man and old woman open up their locker for selling TWO TIMES. They have quite a bit of stuff stored in it, but are not regular sellers.

The guy who owns the storage units has been promising Farmer H since at least the beginning of the year, and maybe longer, that he is going to tell the old man and old woman they need to either sell stuff on flea market days, or move into a locker farther down. He says he talked to them a couple of times. More than that. But Farmer H tells his buddies that he doesn't think the owner is making it clear to them.

Anyhoo... both Farmer H and the oldsters pay their locker rent on time or in advance. So it's not a matter of replacing them with a paying customer. Farmer H said that the owner finally made it clear that the oldsters would have to relocate, or be evicted at the end of the month. Mrs. Oldie went ballistic, but Mr. Oldie didn't seem to care much.

"My buddy said she finally calmed down. She thought SHE was going to have to move all that stuff down to the other locker. But he pointed out that WE are doing the moving. She can just sit and watch."

Yes. Farmer H is part of the moving crew. He has to be up at the lockers at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. I hope he doesn't reveal that HE is the one taking over their storage locker. But I bet they figure it out. They might be old, but I don't think they're idiots.

"Yeah, Monday will be a busy day for me. I'm going to the auction that night, and I have to help them old people move to a different locker in the morning."

"You mean, 'I have to evict an old lady so I can use her space for my store.' There. I fixed it for you."

Making Use Of The $7.98 Lettuce

Remember when I got charged double for my package of shredded lettuce at Country Mart? I'm sure you do, hanging onto every precious word I type for you. Even if it was on my not-so-secret blog. Of course I couldn't let that shredded lettuce go to waste! I used it to make Farmer H pulled-pork nachos. He likes them so much at the casino. And the ones I made at home might cost just a tiny bit less. Even with $7.99 lettuce!

I didn't get a picture of Farmer H's meal, but I DID get a picture of mine, which I made a couple days later. We don't like our chips on the bottom of the nachos. Is that wrong? Nobody wants a soggy chip. So I make all the layers, but leave out the chips, which we have on the side, to dig into the topping.

 

It looks kind of festive on that left-over party plate, don't you think? It's a small plate. Smaller than a regular paper plate, but bigger than a dessert plate. It's a just-right plate. Goldilocks could be their spokeswoman. 

Anyhoo... there's a layer of shredded lettuce on the bottom, with a sprinkle of shredded cheese. I think I used the "Mexican Blend" instead of plain sharp cheddar. Not sure what's in it, but it has yellow cheddar and some lighter color cheese. Maybe colby. On top of that cheese is the pulled pork, heated, of course, to melt the cheese. On top of the pulled pork is another layer of shredded cheese. Then some sour cream, and those black olives that I paid 98 CENTS a can for. So disappointing! They were like black olive crumbs, not slices. Doesn't really matter in these nachos.

This dish will be served again. Only The Pony is not a fan.

City Sidewalks, Killer Sidewalks, Give A CCA Fear... But In The Air There's A Feeling Of CASTmas

Thursday morning dawned early, at 9:25 for Mrs. HM. The Pony needed assistance to wash his thick curly Samson hair in the kitchen sink, where he propelled himself on his rolly chair. He and Farmer H left at 10:20 for the appointment with the orthopedic surgeon. The Pony had filled out the new patient forms that Farmer H brought home, and had two separate forms for his worker's comp claim that needed completion by the doctor. He also had his disk with the ankle x-ray.

The appointment was at 11:00. The Pony had said he would give me an update as soon as they were out. Noon rolled around, and still no news. I grew apprehensive. What if something was wrong with that ankle? Besides just being broken. What if there was an issue with the paperwork, which still listed the RIGHT ankle, instead of the broken LEFT ankle?

At 12:11, I got a text:

"In a walking boot. 6 to 8 weeks of it, and 10-12 total weeks before I can work."

"Good for the boot! Why so long?"

"That's normal, from what they said. It's because the broken part is where ligaments all connect. They don't want me twisting or bending the foot in a way that could pull them around."

"So the delay didn't hurt it?"

"Not according to them, no. But they did put in their report that treatment was delayed."

"Not even light duty?"

"Nope. They didn't put it on the form. They just checked the NO box on return to work."

"Okay. I'm relieved, but sorry it will take so long. Did you take form to the PO?"

 

"Yes. Copies saved on my phone. And the doctor's office said they were sending it, too."

The Pony DOES miss going to work. He said he told the union rep he finally had seen the specialist, and she asked, "Can you send me the form? LOL." So he did. There should be no shortage of that form making its way to someone who will know what to do with it.

Here's a view of The Pony's ankle, after taking off the splint that had been on it for two weeks:

 

The doctor said that the bruising often shows up on the leg, because of having the ankle elevated. The Pony said most breaks like this are like a vertical crack at the end of the fibula, but that his is more of a horizontal crack. He can have the walking boot, because the fibula is not weight-bearing.

 

Here's the walking boot. Picture taken while cranked back in the recliner, sticking the leg up in the air. That gray bubble is for pumping up the boot, for compression to make the ankle feel better and not swell. There's a valve below it to press for releasing the air. It has to be deflated before taking it off. The Pony can take it off to shower, or while he's sitting around with his ankle propped up. Right now he is still using his crutches, not putting full weight on it, because it hurts. He has another appointment in three weeks.

Farmer H and The Pony celebrated by feasting at Steak N Shake. And then going to Culver's for a chocolate malt and an ice cream cone. The Pony brought home about 1/3 of his malt, and put it in the freezer, later bequeathing it to me. Mmm.

This is the best day I've had in the past two weeks. The Pony, too!

It's Like CASTmas Eve!

Sweet Gummi Mary! I can hardly sleep! It's the night before CASTmas! The Pony is HOPEFULLY going to get a cast on his two-weeks-broken ankle on Thursday! That's what we hope, anyway! I feel like setting out a plate of cookies and milk for his orthopedic specialist! The crutches are leaned by the recliner with care, in hopes that a hard cast soon will be there... to swing along without fear of bumping that ankle.

Oh, you know it wasn't easy. And it's still not a sure thing. I KNEW there was going to be a problem again, even after Farmer H got that fax number for The Lady Named for a Part of the Female Anatomy to send The Pony's permission-to-treat form to the new doctor.

WEDNESDAY

1) Farmer H went by the new doctor's office around 10:00. They had NOT received anything for Pony.

2) The Pony called The Lady Named for a Part of the Female Anatomy at 11:00 to ask if she'd faxed the form. "No. I have it right here. I'll do that now." CLICK.

3) Farmer H told The Pony to call back at 2:30 to see if she had faxed it yet. He did. Got the machine.

4) Farmer H called the new doctor at 3:30. They said a form had been faxed, but only with permission to treat, and not a declaration that the USPS would be responsible for the bills. However... they were willing to treat The Pony, and use his health insurance as a secondary payment option.

5) The Pony got a notice that his case had been reopened after administrative closure, because it had taken so long without a follow-up diagnosis by a real doctor, not a nurse practitioner. Three pages of instructions, and a form asking for details of his accident. He will need a statement from his doctor declaring whether his injury could have actually been caused by his details of the event.

6) Farmer H put a bug in The Pony's ear about how he should have been trying harder to get these people to complete his forms. So unfair. The Pony was on the phone with them 3-4 times per day, asking what he needed to be doing, and even hobbled back to Urgent Care with forms (they refused to fill out) on the day AFTER he broke his ankle.

7) Farmer H further stated, "I hope they didn't FIRE you for not coming to work!" Even though the day after the break, we took the form from Urgent Care stating "Only light duty work, no walking, until seen by a specialist." Something to that effect. I read it, can't remember exactly. The Pony has a scan of it on his phone. USPS has no light duty work. The other ankle-breaker had the same thing. They offered to case the mail for others' routes, but standing, reaching, and lifting is required.

Anyhoo... I don't know why Farmer H went from a blustering lion, ready to rip off heads, to a tail-tucked puppy, worrying about job security. As that four-page form The Pony got about his re-opened case said, his employer was not contesting the claim, but further information was needed. Which is probably also delaying his continuation of pay.

Oh, and Farmer H further revealed that his brother told him, "I've had four worker's comp cases, and three of them needed a lawyer. Do NOT pay for the doctor yourself." Of course, Farmer H's brother was not working for the federal government. Thus the lawyer, and not union arbitration (or whatever that word is I'm forgetting).

AND, Farmer H ran into his own personal nurse practitioner in the Devil's Playground, and she said that NOBODY wants to deal with the post office worker's comp claims, because they always mess things up. That her office has sometimes called them 6-7 times a day trying to get the information. She also said that The Pony's ankle should probably be okay, since it's been immobilized, and he's not walking on it, and for sure it's started to heal already.

You can bet that there will be a grand celebration here at the Mansion if The Pony comes home in a cast! Too bad the fireworks stands are closed now.

Boulevard Of Broken Ankles

He walks a lonely road

Only on one ankle he strode

Doesn't know where it goes

He sits at home and walks alone

 

[Boulevard of Broken Dreams]

 

No. That is NOT an uplifting song. No siree, Bob! But it's the tone of The Pony's current journey to obtain medical treatment for his broken ankle. Strap on a neck brace. You're going to get a spinny head.

 

I think The Pony might have developed Stockholm Syndrome. Sitting, sitting, earnestly waiting for a call, a text, an email scan... something that will propel him into an actual doctor's office for an exam and a cast. So trusting, our little Pony. "She said she would get back to me!"

 

No. She never does. I'm not implying that people are deliberately ignoring The Pony's pleas, or maliciously not responding. The office is down four carriers right now, after two broken ankles and two letting-goes. The acting supervisor and the union rep are still running mail routes, not just sitting around waiting for The Pony to contact them. It's more a matter of the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. ON AN OCTOPUS!

 

When we last convened, all The Pony needed was a form saying the new doctor had permission to treat him, and bill his employer. Simple. A single form. That advice came from the new doctor's office, as a condition of them giving him an appointment. He was awaiting a reply (and the form with the new doctor's name and address) from his acting supervisor.

 

MONDAY night

1) Nothing after my 6:00 update. Pony sent a text to his union rep.

 

2) Union rep said the ACTUAL supervisor was back! [The one who filled out the disappearing form]

 

3) Pony sent a text to actual super. Nothing.

 

TUESDAY: all The Pony needs is that letter/form giving permission to treat and bill. 

 

1) Text to acting supervisor following up on request for form. No reply.

 

2) Text to union rep. No reply.

 

3) Call FROM office of worker's comp, (not the KC office, but a nurse he'd never talked to before) asking his condition, and where he'd sought treatment.

 

4) Call FROM the Urgent Care (15 minutes later), asking what specialist he was seeing, since they needed to complete paperwork, and send his records to the new doctor. [My belief is that the worker's comp people were pretty inquisitive as to why no paperwork filled out by them, so Urgent Care jumped right on that CYA situation. The Pony thinks it's because they can't get paid without that form.]

 

5) Call to actual super. Who said acting supervisor was handling it. And sent copy of original form.

 

6) Call back to actual super, saying that form was incorrect, needed new doctor on it.

 

7) Actual super advised Pony to call The Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy.

 

8) The Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy said they don't issue a second form like that, she'd fax the form to the new doctor for Thursday, but she didn't have their fax number. [I wonder if this is the form Urgent Care just completed, showing a referral to new doctor, or the old form.]

 

9) FARMER H called the new doctor, got the fact number, and called The Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy with it.

10) Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy said she would fax them the form Wednesday morning.

Of course I think The Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy will send the old form that is showing what Urgent Care did not fill out. Seriously. After all this, I don't think The Pony is one inch closer to having the right form to get treatment on Thursday.

Farmer H wanted ME to call the new doctor Wednesday morning, and ask if they had the form faxed to them. All his blustering while he was out west, and now he's still blustering, telling ME what to do. The Pony said it was Farmer H's idea, and he should deal with it. I asked why THE PONY didn't call them himself, and he said people don't understand him on the phone!

Anyhoo... Farmer H says he's dropping by that new doctor's office while he's over in Bill-Paying Town at Lowe's on Wednesday morning. To ask if they have the form, or WHAT EXACTLY THEY NEED to treat The Pony. If they don't have it, The Pony has to call back to The Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy and specify THE FORM NEEDED BY THE NEW DOCTOR. 

Farmer H canceled his own appointment on Thursday, because he wants to take The Pony to this appointment and make sure he gets a cast! He's also planning to go to the post office Wednesday if the new doctor doesn't have what's needed, and not leave until he gets that form for treatment. "I'll be polite. But I won't leave without a form."

 

I hate to be a pessimist, but I have a feeling The Pony will be paying out-of-pocket for treatment on Thursday. IF the new doctor will treat him. At least The Pony has a pocketful of money. He's getting continuation of pay during his time off, 35 hours per week. That's one thing that has been completed. Supposedly...

There Is No Joy In Ankleville... The Farmer Has Struck Out

For those of you logging in to see the cascading waterfall of heads that rolled when Farmer H rode in on his white horse to get The Pony an appointment for his BROKEN ANKLE... the head-rolling has been postponed.

Day 11 of The Broken Ankle! Still no appointment! The Pony waited faithfully for his call from Urgent Care, who said they were following up with The Lady Named for a Part of the Female Anatomy on Monday morning. The Pony called The Lady Named for a Part of the Female Anatomy himself. She was unavailable, but returned his call 30 minutes later. Saying that THE PONY himself should be making that appointment. All he needed was the case number. AND she gave him a phone number for the Dept of Labor, which handles claims such as his. 

The Pony relayed this info to Farmer H, who said HE would deal with it. Well. An hour and multiple phone calls later, the best Farmer H could do was a THURSDAY appointment over in Bill-Paying Town. ONE office said it would be three weeks before they could work in The Pony! A major hospital network said they would return Farmer H's call if they could squeeze The Pony in this afternoon. Oh, they returned the call four hours later. Saying they DID NOT HANDLE any patients with claims from concerning workplace injuries and the Dept of Labor. I'm pretty sure that's a lie. The only hospital we have in this area is affiliated with this major hospital network. So they're saying they deny treatment to injured workers???

ALSO, the appointment that Farmer H WAS able to capture is contingent on The Pony bringing A SPECIFIC FORM before he will be treated. Does this sound familiar?

 

Farmer H has his own appointment on Thursday, in the opposite direction, with the clinic that is holding him hostage for that $920 anesthesia bill. I will be driving The Pony, and hopefully Farmer H can meet The Pony in Bill-Paying Town after his own appointment. We have instructed The Pony: 

 

"DO NOT LEAVE THAT OFFICE WITHOUT TREATMENT! If they won't take the (hopefully procured by then) newest form, pay with your insurance. OR we will pay by check or credit card if necessary, and deal with reimbursement later." 

That will be two weeks to the day since The Pony broke his ankle. I don't think it's unreasonable to demand treatment.

Since 11:00 a.m., The Pony has been waiting on his acting supervisor to complete that form and email it to him. As I type this, it's 6:00 p.m.

We only have two more days to get that form in our hot sweaty hands... and 11 days has proved insufficient time to get it so far.