On Bicycles, Keys, and Not-so-random Other Stuff

well, the start of the month was excellent!  with a ride through farm country, “hill killer kathleen” opened june with a bang.  i appreciated that.  then, the vietnam vets on thursday, and trip to the bike shop for a yet-jumpy front derailleur on friday.  the first three days went so well.  saturday, rain.  sunday, more rain.  today…

i meant to make a group ride in the new county, except…

there’s the part where i have just one set of car keys, and they’re in supportive spouse’s vehicle… 53-miles from the house, on a work lot, this morning.  because my bike “sleeps” on the car on nights when i plan to ride (to make leaving easier and quicker), i can’t even get her out to ride nearby.  talk about “fails.”  *Le Sigh*

on a positive note, this morning i received word from tom kellogg… my spectrum ti frame is “home” from merlin and seven, made and welded, ready for parts.  so, there’s that.  perhaps it’ll be ready in time for vermont, and perhaps i’ll even get her out on the road a few times beforehand.

on medical things, i went for a second opinion… and am RELIEVED.  verdict… three things… perfect “storm.”  first?  the lump is/was an infection, which effected the lymph nodes.  this was compounded by the part where i’m missing nodes from a prior removal, making the “drains” less effective in that region.  GAH!  second??  **CARPAL TUNNEL** that runs through my wrists, up my forearm and bicep, and into my **neck!!!**  i had no idea my ignoring skills were so sharp.  allegedly, i’ve managed to tune out numbness long enough that it’s effected nerves in my skull!  talk about CRAZY!  third???  anemia.  **anemia!**  while this is concerning coupled with swollen lymph nodes (because it can signal non-hodgkins lymphoma), some iron might change the game and prove to be the solution.  i’ll return in a month for another blood test, and we’ll go from there.  talk about “whew” and “phew.”  for now, i’ll take it.  it’ll be nice to get on a bike and not feel like death warmed over once iron levels are normal.

as for the first doctor… we learned… she NEVER put in for the MRI that she claimed insurance refused.  she double charged insurance, while also charging me.  so, she triple dipped.  AND, she charged for tests that were **NEVER** run.  i’d love to be a fly on the wall in that office this week, as blue cross has opened an investigation with a potential complaint against the doctor.  jacka$$.  when a person’s sick… the last thing the person needs is an incompetent medical “professional” at the wheel, let alone a shyster who triple dips and lies.

walk on…  walk on…  walk on…

my new bike is on the horizon and i should have the energy to ride her when she’s finished.  better?  this ordeal “helped” me lose 10-lbs (another concerning symptom) in short time, so i’m a tad faster despite being tired.  🙂  lemons… lemonade.

RELIEF!!!

Hill Killer Kathleen and Blue Cross

first, good things.  🙂  last night “hill killer” sent a message asking about a ride for today.  of course, the answer was “yes.”  (there might have been some exclamation points in the original response.)  half the miles of last march?  half the miles of last april?  half the miles of last may?  i’m not letting june get away from me.  at least, i wanted it to start “right.”

“hill killer” agreed to do a playful jaunt with me, instead of a monster climber.  we met in lancaster county, home of the amish and land of smelly farms.  we did about 45-miles, and we mashed them.  at least, i mashed most of the miles.  i figured, if we weren’t climbing, my “wonder twins” (gluteal maximus) should get some serious work.  also, quads.  i’ll feel that for a few days.

about 7.5-mi into the ride there’s a camel farm.  yup.  camel.

camel farm in lancaster, pa

i’d like to say we blew past it, full gas, but i’d be lying.  “hill killer” got a few pictures, and so did i.  sometimes the camels jog to the fence and investigate or “pose” for a cameras.  no such luck today.  i’ve heard some claims the camels spit on picture takers.  frankly, i’d pay to see that.  heh

about 10-mi in, there’s bird-in-hand bake shop.  we stopped to use the rest room, visit the goats, gawk at some specialty birds, and drool over the home-made pretzels the little amish kids sold on the parking lot.

better yet, at the 20-mi mark is a farm with KITTENS!!!

lapp farm, lancaster pa

i’m tellin’ ya.  if my jersey pockets allowed, one of those farm kittens would be mine!  mwahahaha!  last year… at this stop, a kitten crawled into my lap and poked it’s head in a bag of potato chips.  he… or she… helped me devour all of them.  then, the kitten promptly meandered to the veal pens and snuggled up next to a baby cow… for a full, salty belly nap.  the bulldogs on the porch are ridiculous, between their snoring and farting.  but, since the place is run by black bumper mennonites… there’s a dress code.  they’ll serve a woman in a cycling kit, but they have signs around the property that indicate they’d prefer you do your business quickly and get moving.  anything less than full, ground sweeping dresses, aprons, long sleeves, and bonnets… even in the height of summer heat… is immodest and not taken lightly.  they’re really frownie.  i don’t get how such frownie people can make such great ice cream.  it seems like their dour demeanor should stain their churns and make everything taste stern and serious.

at mile 35 is another dairy.  it’s dubiously situated in a tourist tunnel, right off the main highway.  run by people who wear regular clothes.  it’s a great water stop.  also, i like looking at the albino deer.

oregon dairy… the “other” farm, lancaster pa

all told, there’s 3 ice cream stops, 6 covered bridges, 1 camel farm, 2 mennonite bicycle shops, and 5 roadside stands with homemade calorie bombs.  this… was a great “easy” day on the bike.  also, “hill killer” was good company.  two more highlights?  a mennonite woman stopped us.  she was lost.  said she was new in the area and only had her home address on her.  so, we GPSed her route and sent her on her way.  she was just 1-mi from the destination.  from the looks of her, she was a nervous to-be arranged-marriage.  i’m guessing, from what she shared, she’s here to work with the families, get to know the community, and then she’ll be part of the autumn wedding parties if things work out with any of the guys in her age-group.  second?  “hill killer” and i saw two young amish girls in a pony cart.  they might have been 7 and 9?  in little pink and purple dresses… tapping their miniature pony to run faster.  we raced one another to catch the cart, and then we raced to the stop sign after the cart.  “hill killer” beat me.  it was alright.  🙂

doctor’s offices suck.  i’m not sure why the offices assumed our insurance plan was small or not “good.”  supportive spouse elected for the plan that covers C-level people and the board.  we’ve never had need for it until now.  well, the doctor’s office made me pay out-of-pocket for tests, never bothering to check and learn that 100% of our doctor’s fees are covered.  we have no co-pay.  we have no in-network requirements.  we aren’t obligated to a primary care physician.  and, we’re not even required to get pre-approval for medical care.  yet… they pulled $669 from me “up front” at the imaging center.  i was confused but mentally clouded, so i paid.  and, then… i was told that i had to agree to pay out-of-pocket up front for the MRI the doctor requested.  i was told… the cost would be approximately $20,000 for the MRI and doctor readings, as well as consult.  i was like… “okay?”  turns out… supportive spouse got angry… contacted an HR rep and was told NOT to pay “another penny” to anyone.  that all of our money should be immediately refunded.  that no more of my care should be questioned.  that we’re to give doctor’s names, doctor’s office insurance contact names, and the receipts for all the care i’ve pre-paid thus far.  there’s to be some aggressive backlash by week’s end.  i’d like to be a fly on the wall.  meanwhile… 3-weeks i wait… for an MRI that should have already been done and read.  i can’t imagine what it might be like not to have health care, or to have to fight for yourself.

tomorrow i’m riding with the vietnam vets.  🙂