Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance card.

**Catching up on 3/3/13**

Here’s the card that no longer works for helping to care for my health.  Most of the people I spoke with at Empire were nice folks, but not nice enough to keep me paying almost a grand a month.

Emergency room bracelet.

**Catching up on 3/3/13**

PART 1:

One good aspect of writing this blog a month later is having some perspective and the ability to reflect on the past.  One bad thing is I have a lot of catching up to do and I feel like a bit of a slacker.  Granted, my arm was in a sling for most of February, but still….

Deana and I cancelled our Empire health insurance for January because our MVP coverage started today (02/01/13).  It was a bit of a risky move, especially with children, but they are covered under other plans so we thought hey, let’s save the $816 and hope for the best.  So it goes like this….

On Friday, February 1st, I attended the Randolph School ski trip to Catamount in MA.  I’m getting back on a snowboard after about 15 years and couldn’t be more excited.  The day is a bit chilly, and as northeast snow goes, it’s a typical day on the mountain>> mostly man-made and a bit icy, but manageable.  I take a bunny hill run with Anabelle and then she’s ushered off for her lesson so I’ve got about an hour before breaking for lunch and helping out the kids.  I ride the lift with a few friends and begin to descend, following behind the skiers so I can shake off the rust and not feel rushed.  After a few minor spills turning towards my heel side (which doesn’t feel like it’s holding so well, but I can compensate), I have a beautiful run.  I’m in the trees and on the mountain and I feel like a high school kid again.

About 3/4 of the way down the hill, I turn and catch an edge.  I launch headfirst towards the snow and land directly on my right shoulder, hearing a crackle and feeling incredible pain.  But I’ve done this before (without the crackle) so I start to evaluate.  When I move my right arm, there are parts moving and popping under the skin.  My shoulder burns and my head hurts.  I need to get to the bottom of the hill quickly.  I carefully get up and finish the run as the pain grows in intensity and I begin seeing stars.  The moment I arrive at the lodge, I wave over my friend Dylan and drop to my knees, about to either faint or vomit or both.  Neither happened, but I took off my helmet and was assisted to the ski patrol/ first aid where I was evaluated and given a makeshift sling to stabilize my arm.  I needed to get to the ER.

After a quick and composed goodbye to Anabelle and the Randolph School folks in my path I took a ride with Jeff to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Poughkeepsie.  I was seen incredibly quickly and after a painful X-ray and evaluation, I was diagnosed with a clavicle fracture, recovery time 4-6 weeks but professional opinion necessary to confirm.  Two percocet later and a car ride back to Beacon I was on the couch and starting a painful and exhausting and beautiful journey to healing.

This was the bracelet I was given in the ER.  I’ll always have the memories of what happened, so I’m not keeping the bracelet.

PART 2:

Today the countdown begins- 100 Things to go.  Almost a year has passed and I’ve had an incredible time with this project.  How interesting that the countdown begins with a challenge…broken bones…

Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Member Benefits guide.

**Catching up on 3/3/13**

Yesterday I called Empire to cancel the health insurance plan that covers me and Deana.  It’s a retroactive cancelation, so our coverage will terminate 01/01/13.

This means that if we had (or have) any medical needs in January, we won’t be covered.  So far we’ve had a insurance-free January.  Plus, the amount of money we were paying for the two of us to be insured is way too much for us right now, and we were just approved for a government plan with MVP starting 02/01/13.

So we took our chances and canceled the policy for January.

I guess this is where that lucky rabbit’s foot might come in.  See tomorrow’s post…

Pewter castle with crystals.

**Catching up on 3/3/13**

Another gem from the findings at my parent’s house.

In high school I got really intrigued with castles and Medieval things.. kings, dragons, secret rooms and passageways.  My parents got me a few pewter pieces and this was one of my favorites.  I would imagine all the mysteries in the little caves and hidden rooms.  I love the skulls that line the top of the towers.  I wished for secret rooms and trapdoors inside of this castle..

It’s hard to let this one go.  But it’s just going to sit in a box for another 20 years and so I’d rather it find a home to someone who would enjoy it.

“Lucky” rabbit’s foot.

**Catching up on 3/3/13**

This is another item found in the basement of my folks house.  I can remember having this in high school and really liking it.  I have no clue why a rabbit’s foot is supposed to be lucky, and I’m not interested in investigating it now, so I’ll toss superstition aside and get rid of this.

I’m pretty fortunate with or without the rabbit’s foot.