Running Bear's May 2022 Coffee Shop
- Thread starter bnsf971
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Also, I really like the expose' on the steam engine.
Historically, blood was drawn at the doctor's office, or Hospital Outpatient Lab. When Managed care came about, the insurers chose to use outfits auch as Quest and LabCorp to contain costs...then they started squeezing labs to cut costs.
Speaking of Insurance, The saga about my wife's prescription coverage continues. She went to the doctor today. She voiced her opinion about not getting a response. While there was a lapse in communications between my wife and her doctor, the doctor received first notice of denial on the same day the wife did...first knowledge, contrary to the BS the insurance CS rep gave her. The Doctor transmitted the documentation to the insurance carrier on 4/29. MedImpact acknowledged receipt on 5/2/22 and said it would take 14 days for them to evaluate the submission. Doctor also gave the wife 28 days worth of Rinvoq Samples to hold her until MedImpact makes their decision. They just don't want to pay the cost of the medication...
Concerning your wife's comments about Medical Coding, if physicians can't figure it our, no outsider can. There are also problems with the software programs some practices use. Believe it or not, our Medicare Account kicks out because it is not administered by Social Security. (It is Administered by the Railroad Retirement Board, through a contractor in South Carolina, that also handles SS Medicare for the Southeastern US. My long time Primary recently affiliated his practice with a larger group primarily from Northern NJ. Since they have taken over...my January 20th bill has not yet been submitted to Medicare.
I have used LabCorp here twice with no issues recently. Last Friday I walked in and there were seven folks in front of me in the waiting room, but I was out in just under 20 minutes. Very efficient operation at this location.
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TLOC
Well-Known Member
IronBeltKen
Lazy Daydreamer
Good evening Shop Dwellers!
Many thanks to all of you, who either commented or clicked the button on my post with the photo of the Trailer Jet!
TomO -
for a successful surgery tomorrow.
I just need to put away some more of the specially-staged trains that are left over from the open house before I do any more photos. I only did this one because it was a rare chance to photograph a train that otherwise never runs on my pike.
Various forum posts here and elsewhere have led me to believe that setting up a fully automated, functional signaling system is a massive undertaking that requires spending large amounts of time under the layout, and I'm not sure I have the stamina for a project of that scope. I've heard of LogicRail but never looked closely at their products; if they, or some other manufacturer, have something that is straightforward to hook up to my existing wiring [without soldering because of my tremors] - I might think about it. Failing that, there's no way I'm gonna try to build my own control circuitry like some magazine articles have described...
Good Night - and have a Pleasant Tomorrow!
Many thanks to all of you, who either commented or clicked the button on my post with the photo of the Trailer Jet!
TomO -
for a successful surgery tomorrow.[LOL] All in good time, Sherrell - all in good time!
I just need to put away some more of the specially-staged trains that are left over from the open house before I do any more photos. I only did this one because it was a rare chance to photograph a train that otherwise never runs on my pike.Curt - Thanks for the kind words! I'm embarrassed to admit that my signals only "look pretty" - the wiring and switchwork are very crude. I can manually make them display "stop", "approach", "proceed", or dark - plus set the marker lights to indicate a train has to go onto another track if necessary. No sophisticated logic boards or sensors to change them back to the "stop" aspect when the approaching train passes the signal.
Various forum posts here and elsewhere have led me to believe that setting up a fully automated, functional signaling system is a massive undertaking that requires spending large amounts of time under the layout, and I'm not sure I have the stamina for a project of that scope. I've heard of LogicRail but never looked closely at their products; if they, or some other manufacturer, have something that is straightforward to hook up to my existing wiring [without soldering because of my tremors] - I might think about it. Failing that, there's no way I'm gonna try to build my own control circuitry like some magazine articles have described...
Good Night - and have a Pleasant Tomorrow!
PNKFLOYD
Mikey
Willie- I think the Chinese figure makers have a special deal with the pink and purple paint manufacturer in China!
Also, I really like the expose' on the steam engine.
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Boris
Beach Bum
Quest does it everywhere. Labcorp is actually worse. They want a credit card - up front - supposedly in case your "insurance doesn't cover everything". Then they fail to bill the insurance carrier, and charge your cc. They are preferred by many major insurance carriers...wonder why?
Historically, blood was drawn at the doctor's office, or Hospital Outpatient Lab. When Managed care came about, the insurers chose to use outfits auch as Quest and LabCorp to contain costs...then they started squeezing labs to cut costs.
Speaking of Insurance, The saga about my wife's prescription coverage continues. She went to the doctor today. She voiced her opinion about not getting a response. While there was a lapse in communications between my wife and her doctor, the doctor received first notice of denial on the same day the wife did...first knowledge, contrary to the BS the insurance CS rep gave her. The Doctor transmitted the documentation to the insurance carrier on 4/29. MedImpact acknowledged receipt on 5/2/22 and said it would take 14 days for them to evaluate the submission. Doctor also gave the wife 28 days worth of Rinvoq Samples to hold her until MedImpact makes their decision. They just don't want to pay the cost of the medication...
Ken: Nice Van train. Nothing wrong with the signals from my view, and I have seen many. I have already decided that I want nothing to do with setting up a working ABS system. I'm considering two possibilities, 1. Yard Rules - no signals at all except to protect the movable bridge. Those would be semaphores indicating proceed (Bridge closed) or Stop Signal, (Bridge open). Other alternative Manual Block Signal System, which could be done several ways, none of which require more than the flip of a toggle switch. Since you're farther along than I, and model main line. there might be a generic (Atlas system) available that makes it look right, while just going through the motions.
Concerning your wife's comments about Medical Coding, if physicians can't figure it our, no outsider can. There are also problems with the software programs some practices use. Believe it or not, our Medicare Account kicks out because it is not administered by Social Security. (It is Administered by the Railroad Retirement Board, through a contractor in South Carolina, that also handles SS Medicare for the Southeastern US. My long time Primary recently affiliated his practice with a larger group primarily from Northern NJ. Since they have taken over...my January 20th bill has not yet been submitted to Medicare.
Sirfoldalot
Days Gone Bye!
Good Morning America! Looks like another sleepless night for me?
Gonna be 87f today it is said under sunny cloudless skies.
I surely pray that something is straightened out with my body ... this is getting very old!
JAMES - Pretty sure that the photo of #489 was made over in CHAMA, N.M.
I casnnot recall if any of that class of power was left in Durango?
Yessir - that's our Government hard at work to screw up that Animas River the way they did. I have not heard if they have ever stopped the flow from that mine?
They should have never been "messing" with it to start - It was not a problem at the time until they made it one!
Gonna be 87f today it is said under sunny cloudless skies.
I surely pray that something is straightened out with my body ... this is getting very old!
JAMES - Pretty sure that the photo of #489 was made over in CHAMA, N.M.
I casnnot recall if any of that class of power was left in Durango?
Yessir - that's our Government hard at work to screw up that Animas River the way they did. I have not heard if they have ever stopped the flow from that mine?
They should have never been "messing" with it to start - It was not a problem at the time until they made it one!
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Jaz avalley
Station cat
Some Chinese figures look weird one specifically, so I took a knife to it, and added a scarf to hid the coat collar and buttons
the guy next to him has sunglasses although I a agree it looks like Robin (Batman +) s day job, lmao.
reverse Order
the guy next to him has sunglasses although I a agree it looks like Robin (Batman +) s day job, lmao.
reverse Order
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
My doctor dropped Quest because of all of the follow-ups that his office had to do. A Quest employee actually did the blood draws in his office. Over the years, I had several issues with them that always took a lot of time (mine and the docs office) to resolve. He now uses CPL (Clinical Pathology Labs), with one of their contract nurses at his office. He and his partner order a lot of tests.
I have used LabCorp here twice with no issues recently. Last Friday I walked in and there were seven folks in front of me in the waiting room, but I was out in just under 20 minutes. Very efficient operation at this location.
D&J RailRoad
Professor of HO
Gonna be a cool day but rain free here in Virginia.
Replaced my front brake pads on the Goldwing last evening. One side was down to the end of the wear grove but the left side still had more than half life left on em. I replaced em on both sides though. I guess I could post a dozen pictures or so of the process, but I won't. So far, nobody has asked for any of my other pictures on topics that I've posted here.
Gotta get the bike inspected today for the annual Virginia vehicle inspection. After that, ride on down to Richmond to visit a friend in the spinal injury ward. This afternoon, gotta cut the grass at the church cemetery. If I have any energy after that, I'll do some more work on setting up the op session for the 14th.
Replaced my front brake pads on the Goldwing last evening. One side was down to the end of the wear grove but the left side still had more than half life left on em. I replaced em on both sides though. I guess I could post a dozen pictures or so of the process, but I won't. So far, nobody has asked for any of my other pictures on topics that I've posted here.
Gotta get the bike inspected today for the annual Virginia vehicle inspection. After that, ride on down to Richmond to visit a friend in the spinal injury ward. This afternoon, gotta cut the grass at the church cemetery. If I have any energy after that, I'll do some more work on setting up the op session for the 14th.
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
Well, howdy there peeps
It's Troy again...
Mother news: still in the hospital. Docs and Nurses have realized she needs some short-term care beyond just relatives checking in on her. We're waiting to hear if she can get into a rehab unit at her Senior Community.
We also checked in with the community about getting the bath converted to a walk-in shower. They cut the old steel tubs down, weld or affix a new "curb" top to the walls. All for about $500. Wife and I will cover that.
Just had the personal property auction for MIL... Wife bid on a few things that weren't moving. Silver-plated flatware, and the pots and pans set that came with all of the kitchen utensils. So... we have to go pick those up from the old homestead tomorrow.
We'll keep the good set of pots, and wife wants to keep some of the old gadgets (rotating potato slicer) that are either not made, or are cheap knock-offs in today's world. The rest we'll take down to our daughter who is still working on getting her full kitchen set up. (She's in her late 20s, with a live-in boyfriend). They'll probably get the good silver-plated flatware.
Later today, after a trip to Tar-ghé, I need to cut 6 inches off my 3D printer worktable legs. The new printer is taller than the old, and I keep hitting the shelf above, whenever I lift off the hood.
And I need to word some words then steak on the grill tonight
It's Troy again...
Mother news: still in the hospital. Docs and Nurses have realized she needs some short-term care beyond just relatives checking in on her. We're waiting to hear if she can get into a rehab unit at her Senior Community.
We also checked in with the community about getting the bath converted to a walk-in shower. They cut the old steel tubs down, weld or affix a new "curb" top to the walls. All for about $500. Wife and I will cover that.
Just had the personal property auction for MIL... Wife bid on a few things that weren't moving. Silver-plated flatware, and the pots and pans set that came with all of the kitchen utensils. So... we have to go pick those up from the old homestead tomorrow.
We'll keep the good set of pots, and wife wants to keep some of the old gadgets (rotating potato slicer) that are either not made, or are cheap knock-offs in today's world. The rest we'll take down to our daughter who is still working on getting her full kitchen set up. (She's in her late 20s, with a live-in boyfriend). They'll probably get the good silver-plated flatware.
Later today, after a trip to Tar-ghé, I need to cut 6 inches off my 3D printer worktable legs. The new printer is taller than the old, and I keep hitting the shelf above, whenever I lift off the hood.
And I need to word some words then steak on the grill tonight
D&J RailRoad
Professor of HO
Word some words?
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Morning All. Happy Cinco De Mayo. Cloudy here and 71°; it's not supposed to get much above 75° today, but I think it depends on the rain. The great thundershower event that was supposed to start around 3:00 pm yesterday and dump over 2" of rain on us, never happened! Now the weather geeks are just calling for scattered thundershowers with less than 0.05". I guess that Patrick lassoed them in up there in Doo-Dah land. If the NWS is to be believed, we're in for a string of unseasonably warm days coming up starting Saturday, with temperatures in the 90's for at least a week. That's not going to be good for some vegetables in the garden, spinach and lettuce really don't like the heat. They will take a day or two, but not a week.
The garden is otherwise looking good except the few areas that have been ravaged by whatever critter is rooting for earthworms and grubs.
Those lettuce plants look especially good. This is the first time that I have grown Romaine lettuce, both green and red. I have been picking off the outer leaves as needed for salads.
Looks like the first tomatoes have set on many plants.
Busy day in store today for us. Begins with the weekly grocery/beer trek, then to Home Depot to pick up my 3' rebar that I will use as fenceposts around the garden, then to the PCP for our twice delayed quarterly visit. Not sure why his office backed up our original Monday appointment to Tuesday, and then to Thursday? Gotta mail that newly discovered government bribe form while we're out.
Thanks to all who either commented on or liked the UP car pictures or the painted figures; Smudge, Karl, Sherrel, Guy, James, Chad, Troy, Patrick, Hughie, Jaz, Curt, IB Ken, Rick, Mikey, OB Ken, Tom, Louis.
Out in the train shed yesterday, I put up the figure painting stuff to move to other projects. Then I ran a couple of trains, and on the third manifest freight, everything just stopped. It was powered by a pair of LifeLike P2K SD45's and the lead engine was dead. I dutifully turned off all power and brought it over to the now cleared workbench. OK, there's ten screws in the chassis, which ones are holding the shell on, and which ones hold the weight to the chassis? I looked at my maintenance records for this 19 year old loco and there is nothing there (good), but one very inaccessible screw was missing so I must have had the shell off at one time. Two of the screws were for the couplers so that was obvious. They screwed into the chassis but held the shell on. I guessed at the third and I was right, the shell slipped off with some nudging. Couldn't see any loose or broken wires anywhere so I was guessing that I had shorted out the circuitry. It was then that I found the plug on top had become loose and just needed to be pressed down tightly. That's great! Back together again and I am happily running. That pair of locos is my favorite pair behind all of the recent ScaleTrains models. I took a picture but it was too blurred and I won't disassemble just for that.
Jaz - What are the actual growing dates for your area, last freeze etc? You look to be a bit further along than I expected. But Now I remember that you make more use of hothouses, cold frames and a conservatory. My last frost is generally 3-22, but I had a later one this year that did kill some tomatoes. It was a frost that occurred at 40°.
Mikey - I don't think that the Chinese painters really know what colors most Americans wear. Many I repaint with blue jeans.
It seems like doctors appointments are taking up so much more of my life lately, mine and my wife's.
Joe - I do agree about Quest, see my earlier post today. I have yet to have any issues with LabCorp.
Everyone everywhere have a great day. Continue to stay safe.
The garden is otherwise looking good except the few areas that have been ravaged by whatever critter is rooting for earthworms and grubs.
Those lettuce plants look especially good. This is the first time that I have grown Romaine lettuce, both green and red. I have been picking off the outer leaves as needed for salads.
Looks like the first tomatoes have set on many plants.
Busy day in store today for us. Begins with the weekly grocery/beer trek, then to Home Depot to pick up my 3' rebar that I will use as fenceposts around the garden, then to the PCP for our twice delayed quarterly visit. Not sure why his office backed up our original Monday appointment to Tuesday, and then to Thursday? Gotta mail that newly discovered government bribe form while we're out.
Thanks to all who either commented on or liked the UP car pictures or the painted figures; Smudge, Karl, Sherrel, Guy, James, Chad, Troy, Patrick, Hughie, Jaz, Curt, IB Ken, Rick, Mikey, OB Ken, Tom, Louis.
Out in the train shed yesterday, I put up the figure painting stuff to move to other projects. Then I ran a couple of trains, and on the third manifest freight, everything just stopped. It was powered by a pair of LifeLike P2K SD45's and the lead engine was dead. I dutifully turned off all power and brought it over to the now cleared workbench. OK, there's ten screws in the chassis, which ones are holding the shell on, and which ones hold the weight to the chassis? I looked at my maintenance records for this 19 year old loco and there is nothing there (good), but one very inaccessible screw was missing so I must have had the shell off at one time. Two of the screws were for the couplers so that was obvious. They screwed into the chassis but held the shell on. I guessed at the third and I was right, the shell slipped off with some nudging. Couldn't see any loose or broken wires anywhere so I was guessing that I had shorted out the circuitry. It was then that I found the plug on top had become loose and just needed to be pressed down tightly. That's great! Back together again and I am happily running. That pair of locos is my favorite pair behind all of the recent ScaleTrains models. I took a picture but it was too blurred and I won't disassemble just for that.
Jaz - What are the actual growing dates for your area, last freeze etc? You look to be a bit further along than I expected. But Now I remember that you make more use of hothouses, cold frames and a conservatory. My last frost is generally 3-22, but I had a later one this year that did kill some tomatoes. It was a frost that occurred at 40°.
Mikey - I don't think that the Chinese painters really know what colors most Americans wear. Many I repaint with blue jeans.
It seems like doctors appointments are taking up so much more of my life lately, mine and my wife's.
Joe - I do agree about Quest, see my earlier post today. I have yet to have any issues with LabCorp.
Everyone everywhere have a great day. Continue to stay safe.
kbkchooch
Verified Human
Good morning gang!
Ordered another 6 pack of LED lights. Lowes and HD were both out of stock on the 5K lights, so I ordered more direct from Infibright, free shipping and less $$ than Amazon (by a few cents).
Shipping is by UPS and that's where the trouble begins. Were supposed to deliver yesterday, with signature required. I went online to sign for it electronically, they still didn't deliver. They emailed me to tell me that they forwarded it to the Advance Auto parts in Westminster for pick up. I called them, they don't have it, it might still be coming because the web site says the package is on a truck still. What a cluster!! Judging from his reaction, the guy at Advance must have seen this before. Luckily SWMBO works very close by , I'm 30 minutes away. Stay tuned!
BBL
Ordered another 6 pack of LED lights. Lowes and HD were both out of stock on the 5K lights, so I ordered more direct from Infibright, free shipping and less $$ than Amazon (by a few cents).
Shipping is by UPS and that's where the trouble begins. Were supposed to deliver yesterday, with signature required. I went online to sign for it electronically, they still didn't deliver. They emailed me to tell me that they forwarded it to the Advance Auto parts in Westminster for pick up. I called them, they don't have it, it might still be coming because the web site says the package is on a truck still. What a cluster!! Judging from his reaction, the guy at Advance must have seen this before. Luckily SWMBO works very close by , I'm 30 minutes away. Stay tuned!
BBL
ctclibby
Well-Known Member
Good Morning all!
46F and partly in Libby
Not much to report other than we are safe@home!
Now to get used to regular toilet paper, our own coffee and me as chef again. I suspect that some form of bar stool will come into play later today as we have not seen 'the guys' for over 6 weeks!
Later
46F and partly in Libby
Not much to report other than we are safe@home!
Now to get used to regular toilet paper, our own coffee and me as chef again. I suspect that some form of bar stool will come into play later today as we have not seen 'the guys' for over 6 weeks!
Later
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