I didn’t think I’d be really posting this, but I am flying to Seattle today to “cat sit” for a week. More than a week, until next Sunday. Keith and Catherine Walberg are taking a vacation and needed a cat sitter, so of course, I was thought of. I was a little hesitant about doing it, but figured I could multitask when I’m there, so I decided, “Why not?”
I was torn whether to bring my MTB bike or road bike, but decided on road. My MTB needs some TLC and I can’t really see riding it exclusively for the next 10 days. The weather in Seattle doesn’t look too great. Like rain everyday. But what I learned is that there is nearly always a window, if you have all day, that it clears and you can stay relatively dry if you just wait it out.
Trudi is flying from Minneapolis and hanging until Thursday. She is leaving Bromont with Dennis. It’s his favorite place on the planet, so he’ll be good.
I brought a full extra bag for medical bills. I’m going to finally sort through them all and try to actually figure out what I’m paying for what. It is so weird getting 5 or more pieces of mail for each and every charge. And what they deny and approve is beyond my understanding. I’m sure I’ll understand more in the next few days and will post my observations/ most likely frustrations, here.
The weather in Kansas took a turn. It was in the upper 70’s a couple days ago and then it was in the upper 30’s yesterday for the ride. We did a mid afternoon ride yesterday and 7 showed, which was great for a school day. We rode nearly 50 miles at a 20 mph average. It seemed so much harder with the cold. I pulled the whole way. I’ve had the opportunity to get in way more miles than the guys I ride with at home, so everyone else is in January form. I was a little blown when we finished.
I got a ride with Catherine to the airport. It’s nice that I don’t have to leave a car in long term parking, even though it is cheap compared to the rest of the country. I think it is $7 a day now. It used to be $3, then $5, now $7. Midwest prices. Trudi is going to pick me up on her way back from Wisconsin.
I was a little worried about hauling all my stuff onto the train to get to downtown, but Keith is leaving their car at the airport in Seattle, so it will be super easy. It would have been a good test for my hip. I need to start trying to walk carrying some weight.
Okay, guess women’s cross Worlds was good today. Won’t be a spoiler here if you didn’t get a chance to check out the race. It’s a close finish. American junior phenom, Gage Hecht, finished just 3 seconds off the podium in 4th. Pretty great year he’s had this season.
Alright, it is raining right now as I sit at the airport, turning to snow soon. I guess I’m getting a little preview what “my weather” is going to be the next 9 days. I guess should get some practice cornering in the wet. I wonder if the Rocket Ride is going on. I have a week to train.
My suitcase full of medical bills.
Catherine got random searched at TSA. She seems pretty okay with it.
Raining pretty consistent.
How about this forecast? At least I’m not on the East coast. Just heard Boston is supposed to get another foot of snow soon.
A couple of my cats, the black one, protecting their turf yesterday, from the yellow cat below. They usually get along pretty good, but yesterday, something must have been going on.
Cat sitting? Seriously?? Why don’t they just fill the litter box and leave a big bowl of food for it? Not like the cat is going to care if anyone is around…
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/01/05/375024427/americas-bitter-pill-makes-case-for-why-health-care-law-wont-work
the weather in seattle looks like a typical week where the hardest cyclists come from. belgium. rains there a ton, and that small country produces the toughet cyclists.. you were there.. you know..oil up the legs, put the rain cape on and go ride for hours…
Be careful, pet sitting can be stressful.
You should be crusading for Single Payer, Steve: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2015/january/375-billion-wasted-on-billing-and-health-insurance-related-paperwork-annually-stud
nothing has been done to curb the marketplace of exorbitant bills and exorbitant profiteering on the part of hospitals, medical device makers and obviously the drug companies.
Price discovery. I can get an estimate for working on my car, but not in health care.
Nobody knows what anything costs and many vested parties don’t want you to know because their profit is hiding in there.
What the ACA did was at least attempt to change the status quo. I’m still not clear how much it has changed things, but at least the insured pools are growing.
I imagine this is a comment from somebody that does not have a pet cat? How would you like to use a toilet that nobody has flushed for over a week? Sure, you can leave tons of food out, and plenty of water, but litter boxes need cleaned, MORE than once a week. Otherwise you will be coming home to a floor with cat poo and maybe cat urine on it
Many cats are also very sociable and get very lonely. I leave for work in the early morning and when I get home in the evening I have both of my cats all over for me for a bit. So yes, they do care if we, their humans, are around.
Not exactly sure how the ACA is making health care more affordable. My experience has been my premiums and out of pocket expenses have gone up, which I would expect because my insurer has to “provide” additional coverage that was not part of my plan originally. The money has to come from somewhere. What you don’t see directly are the subsidized costs that we all pay for ultimately.
“exorbitant bills and exorbitant profiteering on the part of hospitals ”
I had outpatient surgery last year. My insurer would not allow me to have the procedure done outside of a hospital (arthroscopic shoulder surgery). The end result was an additional $46,361 for the 6 hours I was at the hospital. That requirement DOUBLED the original cost estimate of the surgery.
Bryan-of course I don’t have a pet cat. We have several dogs. To me cats are down there with squirrels and rats-disposable.
Love this blog. Gage Hecht’s ride was so impressive, a real testament to the US emergence as a cross contender. I want another report of a brutal “rocket” ride!!!