Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Merger Pains

A story of change....

As of February 1, a hospital system (lets call it Hospital System B) took over one of the two hospital systems (lets call it Hospital System A) in this area.

Hospital system A first opened in 1925.  It was a Catholic health care ministry. There were crucifixes in the hospital rooms.  There was be a daily prayer announcement around 7am each morning.

In 1999 they joined another system, and in 2017 took on their name.  Many people in our area, me included, felt the care deteriorated after 2017.  Their billing system certainly deteriorated, which is a story for another day.   (This is not a put down of the doctors and employees.  I believe the problems originated at a higher level.)

The parent of System A was a big outfit, operating in some 22 states as of 2017.  I believe System A was their only hospital in New York State. I had a lot of experience with doctors in System A. Sadly, a number of them retired during or after COVID, something that is happening nationwide.

Last year, when it was announced that System A would be acquired by System B, many local people rejoiced.  System B has a good reputation.  Of course, there would be growing pains.  And layoffs.

Fast forward to early March, when I received a letter reminding me I needed to make an appointment for my annual mammogram.

I always scheduled it online so I tried to do it.  But appointment systems were changing over to System B's, and it was hard to find the link.  I finally did find it, and made the appointment.

Last week, I got a call asking me to preregister.  This wasn't a surprise; System A preferred that you preregister so your appointment was verified and they had your current information. Apparently, System B was going to do the same thing.  Fine.  But imagine my surprise when the preregistration rep mentioned where my appointment was.  It wasn't for where I had scheduled.  I checked the verification I received from them.  I had registered for the location I wanted.

But no one told the computer.

If the rep hadn't mentioned the location, I would have gone to the wrong office, several miles away, and would have had to remake the appointment.  I had never run into this with System A. (The rep immediately offered, incidentally, to see if they could get me in at the location I wanted).

At the test, I was pleasantly surprised when the nurse asked me some questions about family history. She explained it was to ascertain my risk, and if I was considered high risk, they would contact me to discuss and present options for further testing.  They also asked if I had undergone certain genetic testing.  Hmmm.

I happen to have ancestry that puts me at a higher than normal risk of certain genetic mutations.  No one has ever offered that testing.  I found out that Medicare only has limited coverage for such testing.

That questionnaire was a pleasant surprise, though.

Interestingly, the day after the procedure, I received an email questionnaire from System B, something System A had never done, and I decided I would mention this issue.  There was a box to check if I wanted this information shared with staff.  I did.

Now I'll be curious to see if there are further growing pains, as the two systems mesh into one.  And, of course, I wonder if anything will come from my complaint.  I hope I was the only person this happened to.

Monday, March 18, 2024

Not All By Himself #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday, and it's time for music.

Let's introduce the Music Moves me bloggers:  We blog about music each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post may be removed, or may  be labeled "No Music".  Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.

Every other week, we have a theme.  On alternate weeks, like this week, we can blog on any music theme we want.

Today, it's time once again to recognize and pay tribute to a music artist who has entered Rock and Roll Heaven.  Today's inductee is Eric Carmen, the former lead vocalist and guitarist of the Raspberries, who was also successful as a song writer and solo artist. 

Carmen's death was announced March11.  He died at the age of 74. No cause of death was released.

Carmen showed musical talent by the age of two.  At age six, he took violin lessons from an aunt who played violin for the Cleveland [Ohio] Orchestra.  By 11, he was playing piano.  Although his musical training was classical, he fell in love with rock music and started self-teaching himself guitar at age 15.  He was playing in bands as a sophomore in high school.

My favorite Raspberries song - from 1972, Go All The Way.  For a change of pace, it's the woman in the relationship who is asking, not the man.

From a 2007 reunion tour, Ecstasy.  The drumming on this song reminds me so much of Keith Moon of The Who.

Now the songs get softer. Eric the solo artist - from 1976, All by Myself.

 

Eric writing for others: 1984's Almost Paradise, from the movie Footloose, co written by Carmen, sung by Ann Wilson of Heart and Mike Reno of Loverboy.

Another movie hit - 1987's Hungry Eyes, from Dirty Dancing. 

Eric Carmen also wrote several songs recorded by country singer Louise Mandrell.  Here Eric sings a duet with Mandrell of As Long as We've Got Each Other.

I will end with the last Raspberries song that charted, a song ironically entitled Overnight Sensation, from 1974.

And that is a sad wrap, as we continue to lose some of our older rock and roll greats with each passing month.

Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.

Oh, one more thing....

Before I go, a note:  I am participating in the month long April Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  Some of my April posts may be going live on Sundays.  So, if you don't see me on Monday, look for me the day before.  Thank you for your continued readership.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Church Shadow and St Patrick Fountain #ShadowshotSunday

Happy St. Patrick's Day to my readers!

I was in the car with my spouse the other day in Johnson City, New York, stopped at a light.  We were stopped at a light and I saw these shadows on the side of a church.  Bush shadows, a shadow of a streetlight on the ground, and even reflections of clouds on the windows. I took this picture as the light was changing.

(taken March 12, 2013)

In March of 2013, we visited Savannah, Georgia.  Another Johnson - here, the fountain in Johnson Square, with the water colored green.

Joining up with Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventures for #ShadowshotSunday.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Chipmunk vs Feeder Round 1

Yesterday, I sat outside and read, but I was so distracted by an Eastern chipmunk's antics that I decided to take some pictures.  My spouse has been battling this chipmunk, which is determined to feast on the seeds we intend for our local birds.

The chipmunk makes his approach.

Our feeder has been protected by a store bought baffle but it didn't seem to be working so spouse tried to make his own.  

Let's see how that is going to work out.  The homemade baffle is that shinymetal thing on the pole.  The feeder is at the top right of the photo.

Mr. or Ms. chipmunk eats some seeds scattered by the birds.  I'll call him a male.

He thinks.  These creatures are smart and persistent.

What if I jump up and hit the baffle, Mr. Chipmunk wonders.  Some birds are such sloppy eaters that they shovel seeds onto the baffle.  Yes, his logic works.  A shower of seeds await him when he hits the underside of the battle.  But finally, he runs out of seed showers.

After several rounds of hit the baffle, he finally figures out how to get up to the feeder.

Chipmunk 1 spouse 0.

But no worries, sports fans.  The battle was rejoined today with a second baffle a foot or 18 inches above the first one.  It is far from elegant but so far it seems to be working.

But, as the newly awakened from winter slumber chipmunk knows, the season has just begun.

Let the chipmunk or squirrel vs. bird feeder battles begin.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Flowers and Skies #SkywatchFriday #GardenBloggersBloomDay

Today is Friday, March 15.  It is the Ides of March, and time for two memes:  the 15th of each month Garden Bloggers Bloom Day hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens, and the every Friday Skywatch Friday, hosted by Yogi.

Where do I begin?  How about with the sky, and then to the flowers?  Nothing to beware of, either way.

Like so many others in the United States, our winter has been mild, and we have things blooming that shouldn't be blooming.

Like this tree on a local walking trail.

We have skies that aren't the usual skies of mid-March.

For the flowers, the winter has been kind to my zone 6b (it is going to take a while for me to get used to this reclassification) garden.  For today here are my flowers, both inside and out.

Purple crocus.

White crocus.

Yellow crocus.

Perennial vinca.

A couple of tiny flowers.  First, a viola that survived the winter in a pot which was dug into by squirrels is putting forth one tiny flower.  It opened yesterday.

 

And a wildflower, speedwell.  Does that count?  I'm counting it.  It's in my flower garden.

Last but not least, the impatiens I rooted and kept alive indoors.

Bonus - my yew (I think) bushes are flowering.  From what I understand, this is a male flower.  Yews have male and female plants.

Sadly, winter will return early next week, but did I ever enjoy the sneak preview Nature gave us over the last couple or three days.

So that wraps up the Ides of March and Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, and Skywatch Friday.

I hope you enjoyed them.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Pi Day 2024

Today is Pi Day, 3.14 as we write the date in the United States.

Pi Day, March 14, is a day to celebrate mathematics. In the American method of day numbering, today is 3-14:  March 14.  Or, the first three digits of the mathematical value "Pi".  3.14. 

It also would have been Albert Einstein's birthday. (March 14, 1879).  145 years ago today.

Pi Day honors the number representing the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its radius.  Pi is an infinite number: it goes on indefinitely, but, not only that, it is a non repeating decimal.  And it is always a constant - each and every circle, no matter its size, has that same ratio.

That ratio had been calculated by ancient mathematicians with good accuracy.  With our supercomputers, we've computed Pi out to over 62.8 trillion digits (it may be more now).  Try memorizing that.  Some people have. I've read that the record for memorizing the value of Pi is around 70,000. digits. 

In the United States, Pi Day has become an unofficial celebration of all things circular, especially pies and pizzas.  Pizza parlors and bakeries run specials.

Today, we are not going to bake any pies, but I'm thinking of some pies of my spouse's youth.

My late mother in law used to make two types of pies for Easter - what she called a "grass" pie, and a "pizza rustica".  These are both savory pies. When she was younger, she hand made these.  In her older age she bought from bakeries where she used to live near New York City.  She traditionally served them for Easter.

The grass pie, may I reassure you, is not made from grass.  In Italy, it is known as  "torta pasqualina". The green is usually swiss chard.

 Easter is coming early this year and, as rarely happens, doesn't coincide with Passover, so I can actually eat these savory pies at the Easter table.  So I'm trying to talk my spouse into making at least one of these pies.  They are work intensive but I'm hoping he will do it. 

 Of course, he probably remembers the first time we (joint effort) tried to make a Pizza Rustica.

We'll see what happens.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Spring a Week Early #WordlessWednesday

 After a couple of days of winter weather, including a snow squall warning, spring returned to the Southern Tier of New York yesterday.

Yesterday, after work, I sat outside.  All the birds were out celebrating:  downy woodpeckers, mourning doves, white breasted nuthatches, American crows, tufted titmice, house finches and black-capped chickadees.  I heard a red bellied woodpecker.  A male Northern cardinal sat placidly on a fence next to a common grackle before the grackle took off.  The song of male red winged blackbirds filled the air. 

We have some crocuses blooming.  Here's two of them.

Not taken yesterday

My spouse also saw his first chipmunk of the year.

Could it be spring for real this time?  Well, no - it's back to winter next week.  But I'm enjoying this while I can.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.