Copayments

I can't stand copayments! Mike and my insurance costs have been outrageous lately. I have had to look through a maze of options for us. One thing I don't see is the need for all these various copayments! Isn't the fortune we pay per month enough to cover expenses? I understand having a deductible which would lower costs for us and the insurance companies, but if I am paying an arm and a leg each month, why do I always have to pay a copayment? It seems no matter how much you pay, you always get them. Now that I have diabetes, the more frequent office visits I must attend and the copays on the drug prescriptions are really going to add up. According to Wikipedia, "A copayment, or copay, is a flat dollar amount paid for a medical service by an insured person. Insurance companies use copayments to share health care costs to prevent moral hazard. Though the copay is often only a small portion of the actual cost of the medical service, it is thought to prevent people from seeking medical care that may not be necessary (eg: an infection by the common cold), which can result in substantial savings for insurance companies. The underlying philosophy is that with no copay, the perception is that medical care is "free" and then is used more often." Free? The insurance is definitely not free! I need an incentive not to go to go to the doctor more often? Is this totally crazy or what? Yes, there are hypochondriacs out there, but most of us are not. I just love writing a check each month to someone that believes I am a "moral hazard"! How nice of them to still take my money. While I am on the subject, so many of the plans require me to ask my doctor if I want to see another doctor. Again, I am not to be trusted because I might actually seek out care I don't need.  I really think for the amount of money involved, I should be treated with a little more respect. Insurance is looking like a scam more and more to me each day. Perhaps they should do away with it all together and just make the health care more affordable. The money that we send to these crooks each month would probably fair much better in a health savings account.

Not Much To Say

I haven't anything exciting to write lately. We made if through Thanksgiving without a scratch. I cooked most of the food, including the turkey the night before. It was a cinch to reheat.  I always had trouble getting everything done at the same time, but reheating seems to make the task easier. Mom is hanging in there and seems to be over her terrible cold. I am eating too much again, and got to lose this weight as my sugar levels have been good lately. My Hardy Boy Collection has grown leaps and bounds. I am having fun rereading all the stories. I really have nothing witty to say, nor do I have some pressing need to write about some injustice. I am sure something will come my way soon!

Happy Birthday Mikey!

Today my life-partner of 12 years is 42! He is just as cute as the day I met him. If you see this man wish him...

Happy Birthday!

The Hardy Boys - My latest fad!

When I was a young teenager I began reading my older brother's Hardy Boys books. They had quite a few and I added the ones that they were missing. I was very proud of my 58 book collection, but as I became an adult it seemed silly to hang onto them. I gave them to my nephew. I really wish that I had hung onto them because I have this great desire to reread them. And so begins my quest! In the late 50's and throughout the 60's the company that owned the rights to the series systematically began rewriting all the stories! Some were modernized, while others became a completely different story! It is the original editions that I am after and through the wonders of eBay I am becoming quite successful... and substantially poorer. With the cost of shipping it seems to work out that I buy them in lots, take the ones I need, and sell back the rest. I am going to have some nice sets up on auction soon. Most of the editions I had as a kid had blue pictorial covers. While I am interested in recreating that collection, I am also interested in collecting the really cool, dust-jacketed editions from the 40's and 50's. They have a yellow spine and wonderful graphics depicting the boys in one of their capers. If you know of any good used bookstores for me to check or happen to be at a yard sale please keep your eye out for them! Below are a couple of pics from the dust jacketed versions.

A walk in Brookline

A walk in Brookline


Originally uploaded by Scott Fisher.

Sent from my iPhone



I got to my doctors appointment early ( I had the wrong time). I am on

a walk for a bit and this is what I found!

Fred Phelps .. The Music Video

I almost forget this wonderful gem from Fred Phelps, The Westboro Church.






I truly hope they get sued from Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie for this blatant rip-off of their song, We Are The World.

"Reverend" Fred Phelps Finally Gets Some Discomfort!

I am so glad that this moron and his church are finally getting hit back for a change. They are despicable human beings and have caused so much pain and suffering to people around the globe with their message of hate. I truly hope that they lose any appeals that they may pursue.

Bionic Woman Again

Tonight I watched another episode of NBC's Bionic Woman and a few things are still really bothering me about this show. Firstly, I am really sick of the camera work, especially during the fight scenes. It is so jerky and nauseating! Must they make me sick every time Jaime gets in a fight? This brings me to the second thing that bothers me. Why do we have to have all these extended martial arts fight scenes? Producers! She is bionic. She can take out an enemy with one hand! Enough with all the kicking and punching! Each fight scene is presented as if she is going to be overpowered or something. It is ridiculous that we have to have these extended fight scenes. And finally, let Isaiah Washington's contract go. At this point, it is not even for the reason that he is a lying, homophobe. He is an awful actor that brings nothing to the show. He mumbles most of his lines, and has created a character that is not needed and is very unappealing. In tonights episode we added a love interest for Jaime, the CIA agent. Not only is he pleasant to look at, but they have a nice chemistry together. Have him join up with our gal and get rid of our boy Isaiah. You just might have the makings of a show.

Michelle Ryan as The Bionic Woman

The White House Edits Out Science...Again.

The current administration just does not want to face the facts about global warming. All they seem concerned about is staying in a war with people who never attacked us. From faith based initiatives to this current censorship, our government wants to create its own reality. We really need to get these fanatics out of power!


Kudos: Yahoo! News

Bye Bye Summer

Leaves have begun to fall all over my yard. Oh, how I hate that! I am really happy just two months of the year... July and August. That gives me 10 months of weather that I don't like. My roots are here, but my weather happiness lies in another climate. When I lived in California I loved the weather there, but I didn't like the traffic or the cost of living. I enjoy Florida, but the humidity is a killer and Florida is not as gay friendly as Massachusetts. Still, I would rather be hot than cold. For now, I am here taking care of my Mom... which is fine. I wonder if we will ever move in the future. It  would be hard to be away from our friends and family. As we get older it seems we get attached to what we know. The thought of changing doctors, dentists, and health insurance does not sound fun and will probably get more unappealing as we grow deeper into our middle ages. I think however that sunshime will be a big motivator for me in the future. Time will tell.

So Dumbledore is Gay

Wow! One of the most beloved children's books has a lead gay character! He not only is gay, but he is not a villain for once. This gives the religious right even more reason to hate the Harry Potter Series!

Judy Francesconi New Lesbian Calendar Out!

My dear friend Judy Francesconi has just published her 2008 Lesbian Calendar. I thought I would give her a plug since I just finished her website, and all the links will help her out too. I also designed the cover of this year's calendar so it is about me too!

Busy Busy

I haven't written in the longest time because my mother has been under the weather. She had a cold about 3 weeks ago that began after a fall, and she has still not recovered. Tomorrow the physical therapist comes, and we will decide if we really need to go to a doctor. She does seem to be getting better, but it is very slow. I have also been working on a new website for my friend, Judy Francesconi. She is a professional photographer with a specialty in lesbian fine art photography.  You can check out her site that I made, but be forewarned,  her site contains nudity. As soon as things settle down here a bit, I hope to write more interesting entries for you all to read!

Another Birthday

Today I am 44. Did I just really write that? Last year I kept telling everyone I was 42...I really forgot how old I was. I don't think that will happen this year. I feel my age lately. My back hurts, my right heel is sore, I have diabetes, my hairline is receding, I have sleep apnea, I have gray hair in my beard, I have high cholesterol, and I can't seem to lose this middle age spread. If age is a progressive disease, I think I will be a mess by 50! I truly hope there are peaks and valleys to this roller coaster. 

Bionic Woman

My favorite show as a child was The Bionic Woman starring Lindsay Wagner. The new fall season brings us a new incarnation simply called, Bionic Woman. So far I would say it is not an instant hit. I like the new lead, Michelle Ryan enough, but the rest of the cast leaves me pretty cold. I can't believe that they added the lying homophobe, Isaiah Washington,as Antonio Pope to the cast. He gets a new series for being a jerk on another? There are far more actor's available and willing to work  than rewarding this moron. I would also like to to comment on Miguel Ferrer's one note performance. He plays Jaime's Sommer's boss, Jonas Bledsoe. His performance is emotionless and totally unlikeable so far. Why would anyone work for him. The characters Jae Kim and Ruth are also, in my opinion totally unappealing. Katee Sackhoff who plays the first bionic woman, Sarah Corvus, does add a nice spark to an otherwise dull cast. One of the nice touches of the original series was how compassionate the original Jaime Sommers was. You really cheered for her at her triumphs and felt sad for her when she sometimes just wanted to be a regular gal and not work for a super secret agency and have a normal life... with regular body limbs. I would also like to mention how sick I am of the camera work on this show, as well as many others these days. It is just downright shaky! I think I first noticed this on NYPD Blue and now everyone does it. It is not so special anymore and I never liked it to begin with. The great cinematographers of the past new how to shoot a scene with a locked down camera. No amount of shaking can fix a boring scene.  It doesn't add anything to the scene other than to make me nauseous!

I wish that the powers that be got together and released the original series on DVD. That would be something to really watch. My rating on the new Bionic Woman? C-

Signed up for the Nursing Program

Yesterday, I got to finally enroll in the Quincy College Nursing program. It is very strange how you actually get in. Basically you show up at 8 am with all your transcripts in hand and pay an application fee. There was a line at 8 AM and I was number 15. I will be accepted for the part-time class which begins in January 2009! It will take me 2 1/2 years from then. I wish that I could attend a bachelor's program instead of the associates, but there are no part-time programs in Massachusetts. After I have my R.N. there are online courses I can take for a B.S.N. Guess I will be in school forever! I am excited about what the future will bring. I think I will make a good nurse. It isn't my first choice of a career, but I really like to eat and make a regular salary. I don't think I want the fast pace of medical surgical or E.R, but working in a clinic of some kind sounds appealing. Time will tell.

Senator Tom Harkin is my Hero!

Bravo to Senator Tom Harkin for standing up and doing the right and just thing. His dressing down of General Peter Pace in regards to comments the general made back in the spring calling homosexuals "immoral" was a sight to behold.  It is not often we have the government called on the carpet for their stupid and insensitive remarks.

My New Bottom Teeth

I opened this in my mail this week and it gave me quite a shock! I look so tired and old! My bottom teeth are spectacular though! Thanks to Doctor Simi I have a lasting before and after picture.

Dickhead Donato Wins Big Brother

Well the a-hole that is Dick Donato won CBS's Big Brother this evening. What a waste of my whole summer it has been watching this show knowing this loser won. What is even more interesting to me is that for some weird reason, many people actually like him. The world is a sorry place when negative behavior gets rewarded. I am really looking forward to TV returning to more drama and comedy shows. Reality shows are now so boring.

Dick Donato is my Loser of the Week

Reality TV Stars

I am really tired of people I can't stand winning reality shows. I guess it goes all the way back to Richard Hatch on the first Survivor. What an obnoxious jerk. Thankfully he got his comeuppance when he decided he didn't need to pay his taxes like everyone else, and was sent to prison. And who can forget the obnoxious Rob and Amber from Survivor, and later The Amazing Race? 

I have been watching CBS's Big Brother since it started several years ago. They have had their share or winning losers. There was the lying, scheming Dr. Will, as well as year's disgusting, on camera masturbating, Mike "Boogie" Malin. There are two finalists in this year's season of Big Brother that are obnoxious and have a good shot at winning. The are a father/daughter team known as Dick and Danielle Donato. Danielle is a smug, prima donna and her father is a washed up, gross, arrogant, disgusting pig. If either of them win the game, I may seriously consider not tuning in next year. I am sick and tired of bad behavior being rewarded. Just once, I would like the nice guy to finish first