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July 2007

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

The key to travel this summer is stretching. These past few days it seems like everyone and their cousin has been on the road going somewhere…a BBQ, to a friend’s house, to their nephew – and I feel like they’re either in front of me or behind me sitting in traffic.

It has taken an unusually long time to get from A to B, and granted the NYC-area isn’t famous for its car travel efficiency, but the summer is definitely here.

So after a 45-minute trip upstate (which turned into 90 minutes almost by magic), the best thing in the world is a nice long stretch. I like to call it a talk back stretch. You know, the kind that lets out noises and creaks all the way up to the sky – from your ankles to your wrists – after you get out of the car. And it feels oh so good.

Which brings me to my Holiday Travel advice: get out and stretch. And use the bathroom if you need to. But bill it as a stretch stop – you’ll thank yourself afterwards.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Here we are in the “dog days of summer”, technically. I’m in a real workout slump – haven’t been for weeks – on account of the humidity. Boy I’ll find any excuse not to exercise. Humidity! With that I’d never leave the house if I lived in Florida (which is why I don’t live there, for the record), but it’s still a C+ reason, at best.

One thing that is good about summer are the movies; sometimes they’re good, sometimes they’re bad. If you’re like my dad you see that animated movie that I can neither pronounce nor spell. If you’re me, you see SiCKO. Now we’re talking!

Everyone has their own opinion about Michael Moore, the filmmaker behind SiCKO. And believe me, I have mine. But what’s important here is that the movie needs to be appreciated at face value: why don’t we talk about the problems with the healthcare system? It’s one part shameful, one part embarrassing, one part criminal.

We’re the ones taking 12 pills a day and spending 12 hours a month arguing with insurance companies. We’re the ones pigeon holed into a certain doctor or clinic thanks largely to an MBA making decisions instead of an MD. We’re the ones with a chronic disease who are literally rated second- or third-class as a result.

It’s our responsibility to do more than cool off for 2 hours and see SiCKO. It’s our job to tell the world about it and contribute to the solution. Or at least facilitate one.

What do you think? Let 'em hear it!

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

My health insurance company (rhymes with Snotsford) sent me a letter today. They suggested that I consider, among other things, alternative medications for the various brand name prescription drugs I currently take.

What little pukes! One of the drugs – my favorite on the list because I know so much about it – was Celebrex. I shouldn’t dare take Celebrex and cost them all that money (even though that co-pay is 5 times the other co-pays). Instead of this brand new drug that has worked really well, they recommended I speak to my doctor about naprosyn. A drug that is as old as I am (which I liken to the prescription cousin of an over the counter pain medicine). That’s like saying “instead of ordering the prime rib, consider the Hamburger Helper”.

They don’t know from stubborn. Next time I see my doctor I’m going to ask for the gold shots.