Moving Right Along...

October 28, 2008

This Saturday I got the fillings I needed on my right side.
It turns out my insurance covered a small fraction of what I paid the first time, so my bill is still pretty high. I think with my insurance my wisdom tooth extraction is going to be virtually free... Finally something free from the dentist.

The surgeon comes in only every third Thursday of the month, or something like that. So my next appointment is November 13th. Then I should be good to go.

That day I will get my tooth pulled and more x-rays (crap is that gonna cost me?) with my updated dental work, and I will be that much closer to turning in my medical packet.

Once I get my life more settled I will start harassing my OB.. I really should do that sooner that later...

A-O.K. and OMS

October 16, 2008

My doctor visit was a breeze!
He said everything was 100% A.O.K.
I am so relieved!

Maybe my medical packet will be completed before '09
I guess I could bite the bullet and get my wisdom tooth pulled soon after my fillings next Saturday...like days after since as it looks now, my weekday are going to be open.

I will also need a day or two to straight up surprise attack my OB and get her to sign off on my "normal" status. I will also need copies of that lab work...I hope she has all that stuff!

I also plan on calling my OMS sometime just to make sure everything is filled and complete before sending it off and just waiting.

We shall see...probably won't have an update until after my dentist appointment(s)

Obsessive and Uncertain...

October 15, 2008
I'm clearly obsessing over this Peace Corp thing, I mean I started a blog site just to help a friend out..now I'm bloggin almost everyday over this! Which I guess is okay, but I need to calm down. I feel super anxious and the soonest I would leave is August 2009.. Chill.Out.

My recruiter emailed me back, she really enjoyed my update. She basically said all things are out of her hands though. My file is in D.C. so after I complete and turn in my medical stuff, I should update them on things that have happened since I applied (i.e. Spanish lessons taken, any more certifications I have received...) so I look forward to doing that.

I think I get the process more now also, your recruiter nominates you for a certain area and maybe even country (like Belize in my case) but D.C. knows who accepts or who denies their invitation, if the country could asks for more volunteers etc...and THAT is when your assignment could change.

So that buys me time to get some more Spanish lessons since I won't have my medical packet completed before December probably.

I'm kind of nervous about going to the doctor tomorrow. I can't tell you the last time I had blood work...I think I was seriously 6 years old. They can find out all kinds of things with your blood work... so if I let my mind wonder....yeaahhh let me stop. I was a Psych major and when I took Abnormal Psych..every condition in that book I thought I had. I'm one of those! Clearly the Dr. said I was in excellent health so I'm not worried.

I have two more days left on my job and I think that has me the most stressed out. I was on a team of temps basically and we have been on the same assignment for a year and a half. It originally was supposed to be for 6 months and clearly went on past that... so we thought that gig would never end. I know I loathe rolling up to my corporate office, to sit in my corporate CUBE (no human belongs in a cube I tell ya!) hearing corporate banter about year end deadlines and what not...most of all I feel what I'm doing isn't really benefiting anyone. It was fun and cool for awhile (and I love love the people I work with) but I have lost my spirit of hustle! I really am trying to get my non-profit off of the ground and get into life coaching... The possibility of going to the Peace Corp also makes me feel like there is no point in applying for a "real" job.

I kinda wanna be an aerobic instructor or waitress or something and work on my projects. Especially since I kind of have a year deadline...If I can get some clients to coach, pay off my debt, and get the non-profit running with a solid business plan... I would feel great about leaving and August would be the perfect time...

It's an unsure time for me right now. I could just be "safe" and get another corporate gig...but maybe I should hang loose while I can.

Oh and I found out one of my dearest friends just got engaged (Hoorraaayy) I would reaaaaallllly want to be there for that. I didn't want to overwhelm her, but I did put in a plug that I maaaay be leaving Aug '09, soooo plan accordingly :)

So much uncertainty!

That's why I need to be able to sleep in...do yoga in the mornings... and get centered again (the cube is no place to get centered..)...

Hmmmm so much to think about...

Well I will obsessively post tomorrow about my Dr. visit....

Many Blogs, TMI and POAL

October 14, 2008

Have I mentioned I'm a Peace Corp volunteer blog stalker?

Surely I have, that is why I have started one...to serve back into the Universe information that I am currently feeding off of...

Anyway, today during my daily feed of a new person's blog (from 2006 mind you...) He keeps mentioning how he had his MMR shot, but the PC Med office wants verification. First of all it took him 3 months to get this information and now he has to find the paperwork. My paperwork is going to be in St. Louis with my Pediatrician. I wonder how hard that is going to be to find. I thought I was in the clear since my Doc was so cool and took my word for it...but oh the thorough ladies and gents of the PC want cold hard proof. I just want to turn in a complete packet so there doesn't have to be a lot of back and forth...waiting months and months only to hear you need to turn on something else is going to stress me out, I already know.

One of the Returned Volunteers from the dinner on Sunday said it took her 2 years to go through the medical clearance cause she kept sending her stuff incomplete and one thing at a time instead of sending it all together and completed. So I def do not have two years to be going through this!

So, I'm going to have to do some digging on the Plan of Action List (POAL)
1)I need to find my long lost pediatricians office to see if they have records of my immunizations...if not worse case, just go back and get another shot, my doctor rocks and his shots don't hurt. See I sound like such a G, being all nonchalant about getting another (this would be my 5th) shot! This is definitely a first. Maybe I am hardcore enough for the Peace Corps

2)I did email my recruiter and immediately got an away message she was out thurs, friday and monday....so she definitely has more important things to do than to respond to my rather wordy email. Especially since I don't really ask for any type of response necessarily, only if she has suggestions or insights...so yeah...probably won't hear from her...but I'm hope I do...

3)I need to also find records of my past 3 PAPs to show they were normal... (is that TMI? Sorry, I'm just trying to give helpful info!) I also need to get my OB to sign off on my PAP for two months ago... She's really flaky and may not do it (like in the same fashion as her not returning my phone calls in the first place about this...) In fact that's going to be a real headache its going to be itemized as #4

I could do it today, but my phone is broken...I at least have my Dr. follow up appointment Thurs and Dentist on the 25th...

Keepin it movin...

Easy Breezy Dr. Visit

October 13, 2008

Alright, so today I had my most dreaded doctor's appointment. It just snuck up on me! When I had set my goal weeks previous, I was just settin appointments left and right...well golly gee whiz man, who knew the dentist was going to be so much drama and now this!

Well how wrong was I, praise God! This visit was pretty seamless! I couldn't believe it! I went to see my sister's doctor and he's AMAZING he is so funny and cute and focused, he was just the absolute best. I was aaallll jitters about getting all of those tests and blood drawn... he didn't hurt me a BIT! It was awesome, he drew my blood so fast, he was so patient going through all of my paper work with me, and he was so quick to sign off on all of it! lol I was so happy. He's my favorite...what am I going to get him for Christmas...hmmm...not sure..but something he's the best. So I got my TB shot, Polio shot, all the blood drawn for all the tests (at least I hope, I have heard horror stories), I have had my MMS test already so I'm good there..(again I hope), had my urinalysis and I think that's it. He said I'm in excellent physical condition (finally some good news!) and that I am to come back this Thursday to go over the results of my TB test and so we can send of the correct lab results (he took my sugar and cholesterol as well). The only thing about coming back is he's going out of town, so I had to make an appointment with his son, who seemed totally and completely unenthused about the whole thing. It's okay though.

I'm hopeful because, not only did it go smoothly, OH my insurance paid for everything, I didn't come off a DIME! (Imma need my dentist office to Get.it.to.geth.er!) Man, now I forgot what I was saying cause I'm trippin off how much moolah I spent at the dentist..oh oh being hopeful..right..happy thoughts.. I'm hopeful because I know that you have to bug your doctors a lot to sign something they missed, or D.C. may want more information or more tests, or what have you, my doctor is really patient and kind and gets it and knows I'm in good condition, so I can picture myself running to his office getting something signed and being able to send something out the same day. So I was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly that went. Maybe I will set the goal to get all my dental work completed by the end of this year so that I can send off my paper work by January.

Next steps...
I really should email my recruiter to keep her up to speed with my progress...aaannnddd maybe drop some hints about Spanish speaking... (if it's meant to be it'll be)

I have another Denstist appointment on the 25th (I'm looking at it as appointment 2 out of 3..so that's good)

Oh I still need to holler at my OB to fill out some paper work, I just had an exam at the beginning of the summer so I'm hoping she'll just fill out the paper work that everything came out normal.

In other life related news, my job that I have been temping for the past year and half is ending this friday...Holy Unpaid Medical Bills Batman!

Yeah, it'll work out, all at the right time (which is aaaannnyyy minute now, looking at naked wrist where watch should be...)

So, excited to see what's around this next corner....

RPCV Potluck Dinner

October 12 2008

Okay so this evening I went to the Returned Peace Corp Volunteer Event!

It was a potluck style dinner and it was pretty cool. At first I thought the whole thing was a bad omen... I was running late...then I left and forgot the cake I bought for the potluck...then it was so dark and I got sooooo lost...oh so lost... I felt like I was being pledged or something...like the returned volunteers were daring me to find the place, and then and only then could I be considered to walk amongst them. Well without that thought in mind I surely would have turned around and just gone home after an hour of searching (lets not forget about the gas crisis we are having right now).. but since I had my little made up story propelling me forward, I proved myself a modern day Magellan and found that sucker. Of course right in line with how the Universe works, I met some friends along the way who were also lost (I guess they recognized me as the girl zipping back and forth over the same 5 miles of land)... Three individuals in particular that live in Long Beach. Two served in Honduras and one served in Africa (I forgot where)... but we ended up sitting together eating together and they happily answered every question we newbie nominees had.

It appeared that I was the newest nominee. Most people were set to leave around March or before. I'm not set to leave until August '09. One of the biggest things that I got from the dinner was that basically unless something HUGE occurs, I'm going to the Peace Corp. Like, I was thinking, we'll see, I'll just go through the motions and when/if they still want me by next summer, then I'll start really getting psyched for it and telling people...uh-no... the application process, while grueling... is a solid one and if you make it though the process and do everything they ask, you're golden. I am claiming that I clearly am in great health and no foolishness will come up. Even if the Legal Dept comes back telling me my debts have to be paid off by a certain day to go...I'll just make it happen...this is the first time in my life in a LONG time I have had only one job..it might just be time to double up :)

All in all, I got a taste of the Peace Corp community and their great positive energy. I feel hooked, I feel like I belong, now just to make sure I have the chops to get through this process. Oh something else... Since I am nominated for Latin America clearly the advantage of going is learning a language right? Well my recruiter said since I have so little Spanish I would be good for Belize because they speak very little Spanish. My 3 informants from the dinner last night REALLY kept driving home the idea of asking my recruiter if I can go to a Spanish speaking country so that I can learn. People all night long were saying that they went to Spanish speaking areas and only had high school Spanish. I have to get up enough nerve to ask my recruiter. I think what it is, is that she is really good at what she does and I want youth development and there is an opening in Belize and to make everyone happy that's where she's putting me. We'll see though. I think I'm going to email her, and just include a little something about me furthering my Spanish with the interest of being considered for a Spanish speaking country if that were to come up as well... Who knows, if I can get all this medical stuff done and get some language going, I could be considered for another area and leave sooner! I am REALLY getting amped to go! At the end of the day, its all in God's hands and I want to manipulate the whole situation as little as possible so that I end up right where I belong.

So the event was great I ended up exchanging information with my new found friends so I think the event served its purpose and all the trials I went through were worth it and destined. We are all going to get together sometime soon and continue exchanging that good positive energy that was flowin all night long! :)

Appointment and Cavities and Costs! Oh MY!

October 11, 2008

Okay, so even thought I wasn't sure where the money was going to come from, I set my dentist and doctor appointment pretty much right after I got my packet. I gave myself the deadline of having that task done by the end of that week...

So my dentist appointment was today and I have my doctors appointment on Monday.

Well lets back up..

2 things...I hard that the medical clearance is expensive so I had to ask my dad if I could use my emergency card (the card we share that are strictly for emergencies only) for these medical expenses. He said okay, even though he is having a tough financial time right now. I was feeling bad about it, but really I shouldn't because I shouldn't be expecting him to pay a penny of it! Right? Right! Well, I just found out MY assignment at work could possibly be ending next week...hmmmm...so I have no clue where my money is gonna be comin from if that really happens....so that's just some background...

NOW, today, I go to the dentist knowing that I will probably need a tooth pulled eventually and that was going to be that on that....

Um how bout no...

Why did I have 9!!!!!!! 9!!!! NINE Cavities!!
What in the?

I mean I brush!!! twice a day!
I know weak teeth run in the fam a bit..and I know I have been killing the sugar this past year...seriously my job keeps the candy bars flowin and I always come back for more..

Granted my dentist said some of these "cavities" are not real cavities and are more or less surface grooves...but in the interest of joining the Peace Corp I should get them all filled so I'm set for the next two years...

Oh and he agrees my third impacted molar...while painless....should come out...

So I don't even want to talk about what my bill is going to be..

Insurance you ask? Yeah I believe I get a free cleaning and that's it...We'll see...
Because on top of everything, they couldn't pull up my insurance information so I had to come out of pocket today...and then on Monday they will have to file with my insurance and then refund me. The most I may get refunded is 70 bucks for the cleaning... a VERY small dent in the grand bill! I will most definitely be applying for the reimbursement that Peace Corp offers for this.

So today I ended up getting all the work done on my right side which was...what...five cavities or something ridiculous like that...a cleaning and headache!

Charged it to the game and now I gotta see how I'm gonna pay for it...It'll work out...

I have an appointment on the 25th to get the other cavities taken care of and then I don't know sometime after that I will get my wisdom tooth pulled..it may not even happen before December...but we shall see....

This really has me diving in deep ya know?
I was still considering myself a person still "deciding" on whether or not I'm going...
but man when you drop this kind of dough...you're going...

We'll see, I still have that legal hold...and I have not been given any further information on that.

Tomorrow is a Peace Corp Potluck dinner so I can't wait to pick the brains of all the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers! I hope everyone else has similar stories to mine!

Medical Packet! Yay!

October 1, 2008

Sweet, I got my Medical Packet in the mail last night.

Now I feel like things are really getting kicked off!

This packet has Everything, this is going to be quite an undertaking, both financially and physically. Ah well, the way I see it is, its probably beneficial to have a quarter life, totally body, once over anyway... just to make sure things are in tip top condition. As long as I can pay for it with ease... then I'm okay.

I guess the goal will be to set some appointments this week...

Here we go-oooo.....