Insurance Lesson 101: Get Involved

One month ago, I went to the doctor about my back pain and it was determined that I would have a steroid injection. (That's right, a long needle poked into a joint in my back) It was scheduled for the 11th of April. Because of the great relaxing drugs I would receive and recovery time needed, both Steven (my handsome chiefer) and I took the day off of work.
At 4:00 pm on the 10th of April, I received a call from the doctor's office. They informed me that the pre-authorization for the procedure takes 7-10 days. Because the office did not call the insurance company until the DAY BEFORE, I would have to reschedule. I was furious to say the least.
So I called the insurance company myself. I explained to them that this had been scheduled for over two weeks, that Steven and I have both taken time off work, and above all I was in a lot of pain and did not want to reschedule. They told me there was nothing that could be done, but I insisted that there was. I did not take no for an answer.
The next morning at 7:00am, I received a call from the insurance company that the pre-authorization had been pushed through and everything would proceed as scheduled.

LESSON 101: As the patient, get involved with the insurance company yourself when things are not happening in a manner that pleases you. I work with insurance companies every day for my job and have always known that the patient's involvement is important. I did not fully realize just how much of a difference it can make until I was the involved, persistent, and perhaps even pushy patient.

Yellow and Green

After conference on Sunday, Steven and I headed up north to do some target practice with our gun. When I hit the water bottle dead on, Steven tried to tell me it was beginners luck. However, I then proceeded to hit a can, another bottle, and an old florescent light bulb all in a row...he stopped teasing me about my beginners luck.
After our bullets ran out, we drove up towards Payson. It was 6:30 as the sun was setting over the mountains and we approached this gorgeous valley full of thousands of bright green saguaro cacti. The desert was in full bloom and the California poppies were fiery yellow. It looked as if all the green cacti and shrubs were growing up out of a yellow carpet. The diffused light from the setting sun magnified every color. It was one of the most beautiful scenes I have seen in a while.
At the time, I regretted not having my camera, but now I can envision it in my memory, which always turns out better that pictures anyway.

What I came home to...

Like most couples, Steven and I have certain chores that have defaulted to being "assigned" to both of us. One of my chores is the dishes. It is my most loathed chore. The irony in this, is that I am the one who told Steven I would take on this chore.
For a week now I have been slacking, and in the mean time the dishes kept piling and piling up out of the sink, onto the counter, and even onto the other counter. I said to Steven every night, "I will do them tomorrow, I swear," fully knowing it was my own fault for letting them pile up into an aweful mess. Well, what I came home to today after work was a spotless kitchen. What a nice surprise.
It is little acts of kindness like this that make me feel so great and inspire me to go beyond what is expected of me...and to do someone else's chores sometimes.