A visit to the doctor (a short post)

 

 

"Doctor" Johnny Fever (From: "WKRP in Cincinatti")

Two weeks ago, my doctor put me on a new medication, and wanted me to come back today to see if it worked. So far, so good.  But now, he drew some more blood for a test to see if other blood levels had changed from my cessation of alcohol consumption.  (We'll find this out over the next couple of days.)  Given how little alcohol I usually drink when on land, I've found my doctor's instructions easy to follow. 

My doctor has been concerned about my weight for years.  And now he's concerned about my liver.  A few years ago, he wanted me to get a liver scan.  I finally scheduled it, and the ultrasound technician didn't understand what my doctor was asking for.  So the scan was never done.  Today, the doctor wanted me to go on a GLP-1 drug to lose weight, and I told him I'd try it if insurance covered it.  He also wanted me to get the liver scan, and I reminded him of my past experience with this.  So I got a new script for this, and told him that I'd want to do the scan when he is in the office, so that if I have this issue again, they can call him for guidance.

Getting old is a bitch, but it's better than the alternative for now....

UPS Doesn't Deliver!

 

Above is the tracking history of a package having been shipped by UPS.  The package has been held up in Philadelphia for a while, and no reason is being given by UPS for the hold up. Dollars to donuts that this package is being held up for two reasons:

1. Lack of US Customs personnel in Philadelphia due to Government Shutdown.
2. Trump's Tariffs causing confusion at import points

This is the second time I've had problems with deliveries not being delivered, and held up in mid stream. (The first was with Amazon, and mentioned here in a prior post.)  I expect things will start getting much worse as the Holiday season approaches.

So what's going on here? 

We've seen reports of foreign mail services refusing to ship small parcels to the United States.  In the past, an items valued $800 (or less) could be mailed to the US without having to pay duties.  Now that the "De Minimis" floor of $800 has been removed, all parcels are subject to US tariffs, and are subject to duty collection.  But who pays?  Where is this money collected?  How much should be paid? Sadly, because of this confusion, foreign postal agencies are simply saying NO to shipping packages to the US.  And I can't blame them one bit.

Even though my package is being delivered by UPS, is my package one of those affected?

I'll be contacting UPS to find out more about what's going on.  If I have to pay a reasonable duty right now, I'll consider it.  If not, I'll write off this purchase for now.  But if I have to write off this package, I'll avoid doing business with Ulla Popken (a great German retailer) until things clear up. 

- - - - - -

PS1: Before I had the chance to call UPS, I saw an update - they expect to deliver the package tomorrow (as I write this, Wednesday).  I'll make an update to this post if delivery occurs as now expected.

PS2: UPS changed the delivery date again.  Contacted UPS to find out why package is delayed.  Will update this post as new information is received.  Hopefully, I will finally receive the package as now scheduled.

PS3: UPS Keeps pushing back the delivery date.  It's now scheduled for Friday.  Will need to call their phone number for international deliveries to see what's up. 

PS4: Late last night, UPS reported the package was in "Clearance Scan" state (I couldn't capture this on time).  This morning, it is "On The Way".  I wonder whether I will receive the package on Friday as now scheduled.

PS5: The package is finally on its way.  It's hard to believe that it took 2 weeks to clear importation procedures in Philadelphia.  Hopefully, there will be no more delays, and the package will be at my door as now scheduled. 

PS6: Things have now gotten ridiculous!  The package was delivered on Monday as was now scheduled, but to the wrong address! (My doorway looks nothing like the doorway above.)  Around 7:30, I filed a report of package mis-delivery, and by 7:50, I received a call back.  UPS had delivered the item to the wrong address - about 1/4 mile away from my apartment.  Although the person at the other end of the line explained how this could happen (several properties on my hill have similar addresses), UPS should train its delivery workers better to deliver goods in areas like mine.

 

PS7: On Tuesday, I contacted UPS again around 9:45 am, and they mentioned that the issue has been reported to the local delivery center.  Hopefully, I will hear back from them by the afternoon.  Then I contacted Ulla Popken, where my request for a new shipment or refund was passed to the shipping department for processing.

 

PS8: Around 7:30 pm on Tuesday, I got another call from UPS asking me about the mis-delivered package.  She confirmed where the package was delivered, and I mentioned again that that is not my address.  It's hard to believe how screwed up UPS can be when they deliver a package to the wrong address.

 

PS9: This afternoon, I found a package near my mailbox.  The shipment from Ulla Popken had finally arrived.  So, I sent an email to Ulla's customer service, saying that UPS finally delivered the package, and that finally, all was right with the world.  19 days from date of order to delivery - AARGH!  At least, I now have the package.

 

 

Now that I'm home, I'm catching up on things

 

It took me roughly 2 hours to get home today, and I'm starting to take care of things needed to get me through the week. 

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Returning home after a weekend with RQS can be a pain, as I know of all the tasks to take care of when I get home.  For example, unlike my brother, I prefer NOT to use my bank's phone app to take care of bill payments and other things.  My financials are way too important to me to trust to a device that can get easily stolen (as happened with my wallet in Chicago a couple of years ago).  So, moving money from my personal account to the account dedicated to the family homestead had to be done from home.  But there were other tasks to take care of, such as 2 loads of laundry.  That got done this evening.  And I was expecting a delivery from Ulla Popken which UPS reports is stuck in Philadelphia.  (Dollars to donuts, the shipment is being delayed because US Customs isn't clearing the shipment due to the government shutdown.)

Normally, I'd have taken the time to switch into Marian mode and relax.  However, I have to present as Mario in the morning when I visit my doctor, as well as meeting the management company's site representative for a run through of the vacant apartment we are auctioning off next week.  Only after this is taken care of will I be able to switch into Marian mode and get my nails done (if I have the time) before going to a meetup in Valhalla.

I still have a big mess to straighten up over here, as well as laundry to fold and put away.  Those tasks can wait.  I'm tired and want to rest for a while.  

Another weekend in Queens

 

Although the above picture was taken in Chinatown, RQS and I spent most of the weekend at her house.  Sadly, this was a weekend spent as Mario, as my brother was coming over to eat with us this past Sunday. 

But first....

The weekend started off with a drive to Queens.  There was a little more traffic than I expected, but in the places that are normally backed up, traffic was moving.  So, I made it to RQS's place a little faster than usual, getting to her place before the sun went down.

Saturday came, and we had originally planned to go to Midtown Manhattan to visit one of the venues opening their doors for Open House New York (OHNY) weekend.  However, this conflicted with "No Kings" protest weekend, and RQS didn't want to be anywhere near any of the protests.  So we decided to take the subway to Chinatown and have a bite to eat.

We got off the subway at the Chambers Street station (one of the ugliest and poorest maintained stations in the system) and walked upstairs and saw these policemen in a relaxed mood.  It seems like the "No Kings" demonstrations went off without any problems, as every policemen we encountered seemed to be enjoying themselves in the beautiful weather we had this Saturday.  On our walk to Chinatown, RQS and I spotted 20 policemen on bicycles casually riding back to Police Headquarters, looking like they had an easy day on duty. (Later, we found that there were no incidents related to the protests.  This was good, as I seriously considered that the Orange Snowflake might create some "False Flag" trouble.  If the protesters were Anti-American, as the corrupt administration in DC claims, then count me in as one.  But I digress.)

Eventually, we made it over to Mott Street and made it to one of the better "Noodle Joints" in town - Wo Hop.   It's not one of the restaurants I'd usually eat at, as I prefer Szechwan cuisine over Cantonese.  But both RQS and I wanted a change of pace on this visit.  That left us with a big question:  Do we go to the original Wo Hop, located in the basement, their upstairs dining room, or Wo Hop Next Door?  Well, we chose the upstairs dining room, as there were no lines.  (Later, we found out that both upstairs and downstairs dining rooms share the same kitchen.  So, while we had no wait to get a table, people had to wait to eat downstairs.)  Both RQS and I enjoyed the food.  Yet, I think that next time we are in town, we may try another noodle joint.

After our meal, we explored Chinatown a little, and took the subway back home for the night.  We got in our share of walking for the day, and we had another day of good food ahead of us on Sunday.

- - - - - -

Sunday came, and we took our time getting out of bed.  My brother was coming over in mid-afternoon, and we would be proceeding to Rockaway Beach for dinner at a "Red Sauce" joint.  (Note: Red Sauce Joints are old style Italian Restaurants.)  He arrived about an hour late, and we made the 45 minute drive to the Rockaways. Rocco's of Rockaway Beach is a Red Sauce joint that was well worth the effort to get to by car.  Just around the corner from the end of the subway line, it could have been a regular place for us to go - if we didn't have to make 2-3 subway transfers to get there.  But it was the perfect place to go with my brother to celebrate his birthday, as it gave him a chance to talk about his problems if he felt the need to do so.

We sat down to eat, and had a leisurely dinner.  About 2 hours later, we were finishing off our meals, and I was tasked with the drive back to RQS's place.  My brother's legs were hurting him, and he needed a break before driving back to his house.  So, I took the "long" way home, and we bid our farewells for the evening.  I feel sad for him, as he's in the early states of separating from his wife, and he doesn't know the half of what he's in for over the next few months.

- - - - - -

On Monday, I had a hard time in getting moving.  I had to go home and take care of editing the co-op's newsletter, as well as catch up on things at my place.  Although RQS will be up here this coming weekend, I will still miss having her next to me for the next few days.
 
 

"Not Ready for Prime Time" is ready for prime time

 

Tonight, I went to a limited engagement show called "Not Ready for Prime Time".  This play was much better than I expected, and well worth watching if you're in NYC for its limited run.  

But first....

This would be my last chance to go out as Marian until next Tuesday night.  So, I decided to wear a sweatshirt dress over leggings and an old faux leather jacket to keep me warm, and trek into NYC to see this off-Broadway play. The cheap seats usually cost $38.  But on day of performance, "Rush" seats are available for $18.  At this price, it was worth taking a last minute gamble on seeing the play.  So, off to the city I went, and I arrived at Grand Central Terminal (GCT) at 6:45 pm.

I didn't have much time to waste, as GCT is at 42nd street and 4th (Park) Avenue, while the theater is located on 52nd street between 10th and 11th avenues.  For those not familiar with New York City,  the tone has to travel 1/2 mile North and 3/4 mile west from Grand Central to the theater.  This wouldn't be so bad, save that the closest subway station to the theater is 1/2 mile away.  One way or another, I'd be doing a lot of walking to make it to the theater on time to see the play. Having arrived 10 minutes early, I was seated in the front row, almost at dead center.  This gave me a perfect view, with one exception - part of the stage extended 3 rows into the seating area.  When performers entered this area, I couldn't turn enough to see them speak.  But this was a minor flaw for these seats. 

When I sat down before the play started, the band was playing instrumental songs from the mid-1970's.  It was nice to hear Billy Preston's "Nothing from Nothing" performed before show started, as it was a fitting intro to the story of the  Not Ready for Prime Time Players.  (Preston was a musical guest on Saturday Night Live's (SNL) first show.) And then the show began....

"Not Ready for Prime Time" focuses on the history of the show from the hiring of the original cast to the mass departure of this cast after the show's 5th season.  It documents the rise of Chevy Chase as the star of the show, his departure, the career growth of the remaining crew after Chase's departure, along with the tensions between the Not Ready for Prime Time players during their 5 years on the show.  What was a nice touch was that the show touched on the death of John Belushi, followed by the death of Gilda Radner. And this paragraph can not do this show justice.  But is does show how the first 5 chaotic years of SNL set the stage for the next 45+ years that the show would be on the air.

A little over 2 hours after I arrived, the show ended with the entire cast dancing to "Ackroyd" and "Belushi" reenacting the "Blues Brothers" routine and their performance of "Soul Man".  It was a fitting way to end the show - with some joyous music, and the memories of how great things were (at times) during the formative years of Saturday Night Live.  

But now I had a problem - I had to make it back to Grand Central, as well as finding a rest room to relieve myself.  I couldn't find the 50th street subway station I used on the way to the theater.  (Not all NYC subway station entrances are easy to find.)  So, I had to walk the 1/2 mile to the Times Square subway station to get to Grand Central.  And thankfully, I made it to Grand Central in time to prevent an unfortunate accident. (If I was in male mode, I'd never have made it to that rest room on time.)  Yet, I had another issue - I had only 5 minutes to make my train.  Missing it would cost me over an hour in my return home.  Luckily, once you make it to the platform, they always give people a fair chance to get onto the train before the doors close, and the train leaves the station.

Once back in my car, I drove home, and was entering my door at 11:45 pm.   It was a long day, but worth all of the headaches to enjoy the show.

A magnificent and glorious shutdown - may it last for a few more months.

 

As I write this, we are a little over two weeks into the federal government shutdown, and people are hurting. A food pantry has been set up just outside of West Point (the Army's service academy) to serve the needs of military families who are doing without pay.  Other "Essential Workers" such as Air Traffic Controllers are taking sick leave to work jobs in the "Gig Economy" to pay for necessities.  In short, the Democrats in the Senate are successfully using their only tool left in the political tool chest to protect Obamacare subsidies for the poor and middle class in America.

The GOP is wrongfully claiming that the Democrats are demanding healthcare (and other benefits) for people illegally in this country.  They are lying, as they do not want to anger the Orange Snowflake by making things right for the American public.  They only serve to benefit the "Billionaire Bandit class" (not to be confused with "Vanilla Billionaires") who see the average person as only a disposable tool to be used in increasing their wealth among their class.  The "Vanilla Billionaire" (and there are many of them) doesn't see the average person as a tool.  They see these people worthy of government services and want to make sure that these people have no reason to rebel against our capitalist system which allows the wealthy to enjoy their wealth. 

Are people hurting?  Yes!  Yet, many of us participated in the "No Kings" protests being held around the USA.  What is the GOP message about these protests?  It is that these protests are "Anti American."  Hmmm....  If we didn't protest against unjust laws 250 years ago, we'd still be flying the Union Jack over our land.  And the GOP is saying that all protest against their authoritarian ways is wrong.  As George Takei said about William Shatner in a celebrity roast (and as I'd say to the snowflake), "He can go F*** himself and the horse he came in on. (And in that roast, Shatner did ride in on a horse.)  Although I was unable to attend a "No Kings" march in October, I hope to do so the next time one is called.  Constant pressure from all sides is needed to make the GOP crack.

At this time, the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, is keeping the house out of session, so that he doesn't have to swear in a new Congresswoman from Arizona.  Why, you might ask?  Well, when she is officially in congress, she'll be the 218th vote to release the Epstein Files.  We know that the Snowflake's name is mentioned many times in those files, and we know that this is the one area that MAGA demands answers from the GOP - which are not being given.  Maybe the Democratic party should alter its message slightly and "officially" focus on the other names in these files, saying that they want to expose the names of the pedophiles in the "Donor Class".  Of course, the Snowflake would figure predominantly in what is revealed, but this would make it easier for GOP congressmen to abandon support for the snowflake.

Without the House being session, there is no hope for any compromise between Senate Democrats and the GOP.  So, I expect that this will be a very long (maybe record breaking) shutdown, as saying no to the GOP is the only leverage they have left, and would be foolish to give up before they had an iron clad commitment from the GOP that Democrats' needs will be met. And when the GOP cracks, watch the snowflake have a temper tantrum the likes you've never seen him have before.  I can't wait for this to happen!

It was nice to take out my leather jacket again.

 

I'll always wish I could look like the female version of my face in the picture above.  She looks happy and secure in herself.  No matter how much I try, I can never snap my fingers and be the cisgender female version of who I could have been if I were born with two X chromosomes. At least, if I can improve my health by losing some weight, I could get some facial feminization surgery and make my face look more like an older version of the woman above.

- - - - - -

Today, I did nothing for most of the day, even though I got dressed early in the afternoon.  I originally thought that I might go into NYC and see an Off-Broadway play.  But I didn't want to get moving early enough to do so.  Instead, I decided to leave the house around dinner time and looked in my closet for something warm to wear - and found a leather jacket I haven't worn in years.  So, I put it on and went out the door.

My first stop was at Mickey D's for a couple of burgers, and then to BJ's to walk around.  $42 later, I was loading my car and driving home.  On the way home, I returned the call from our co-op's president, and we discussed some things that needed to be done. And all too soon, I was home, stripping off my stockings, my dress, my bra, and everything that a woman would find uncomfortable after a day at work. (This, even though I haven't had a job in years.)

Once comfortable, I signed some papers for the co-op, then put some ribs in the slow cooker for tomorrow's dinner.  (I may bring some cooked ribs to RQS's place this weekend if I'm in the mood to do so.)  And finally, I was able to rest for the night.