Well, I got a ticket for speeding 76mph coming over the Bay Bridge at 11pm. I had worked a training shift from 3pm-11pm and was tired. Everyone was driving really slow. I was getting pissed at all those slow-ass drivers.
Prior to that, I was looking at the cars on the road with this sense of acceptance and peace, and I realized that the 'flow' of all those cards will be a symbolic thing to appreciate for this years 1950-2025, because we are quick approaching the end of the oil era and it's very likely that some aspect of the Freeway Society will end. Frankly, while I like being able to get to point B really fast, I think the Earth would be better off if we went back to sustainable animal-power. Plus it's just so much healthier for humans AND animals, generally.
Anyway, then I got my ticket, and I had to work all night the next few nights (incl right now). I posted a rant on Facebook about my ticket, and started a minor flame-battle with a friend who said, "Well, you did it so accept the consequences" and so I launched out some anger at him. Called him condescending & so on -- not that I've never been condescending, right?
And then I had a visit at Kaiser... Ah, Kaiser. Where to start? My name was spelled rigth on the card but not in their system. No one could change that! Then I had a physical there, my first visit, where the doctor just asked me questions & didn't actually check my body for anything at all, despite my being 40 and not having had a physical for ~ 3-4 years b/c I didn't have medical insurance. He did take notes from asking me questions, and they did charge me $50 for an office visit. $50? Ouch! And I did get referred to an opthamologist for glaucoma, so it was a success -- sorta.
So I saw the opthamologist yesterday, and he was shocked at my condition. He referred me to their main consultant (in 2 weeks) b/c my glaucoma is rare & only in one eye. And then we discussed (~ 5 yrs ago) when I lost vision for a day, and he said I might've had a stroke. So that's another trippy thing to digest.
Last Kaiser issue -- I bougth the glaucoma drops and they charged me $290. I said, "Whoa, that's a lot." Not sure what my insurance is getting me here!! Then I went to member services to change my name in their system, and asked 'in passing' why that was so much $? The rep said it was a mistake & they should've charged me $35. Wow! So we went back together (she accompanied me), and the pharmacy said they couldn't charge me $35 and gave me a bill for $290 and said it would get worked out in billing. Oh boy... So I took the meds & left.
New eye drops have a side effect in 15% of the patients -- change eye color to red, discolor the surrounding skin, lengthen the eyelash. Not really a big deal if I was having it in both eyes, but ... Anyway, it's interesting. The docs think this is almost a negligible side-effect. He said, "you'll have to take this for life... Or you could go blind." What a lame way to get someone to get someone to take a drug!
Meanwhile, there are no 'new age' or holistic suggestions for dealing with glaucoma. I looked online & found some stuff, but they offer nothing. Actualy, they completely are lacking in knowledge on holistic treatments. Is this really 2011?!?!?
Do only non-medical people realize that the 'pharmaceutical solution" actually sucks? The solution is eye-drops for life?!?? That sucks!
(And I've been watching Sicko again, where Michael Moore completely nails the issue, which is that medical care should be part of being a citizen and not based on privatized medical insurance companies giving you services with strict limitations to protect their profit margins.)
So maybe that's why anger keeps popping up for me lately?
All this stuff, and that I'm not taking the risks I need to take to do my filmmaking stuff... Gotta step it up!
Then again, bad stuff does help me come up with creative stuff! That dang ticket inspired "freedomfromstupidlaws.com" idea. HA
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