Wednesday, January 23, 2008

The doctor is in...between 4 and 7

OK so I decided that I needed to set up a primary care physician, I mean I figure that's how healthcare works these days - you go see your PCP, and he either treats you or directs you to a specialist as needed. I hadn't been to a doc since moving here and I'm due to get a general physical exam anyway, so step one is finding a doc.

I log onto the website of my health plan, and did a search for a doc 'in network' (plan pays 90% vs much less for 'out of network'). Result is ONE doctor, in Key West. I call to set up an appt, and get voicemail. Left message. No return call for 2 days so I call again, leave vm again. This is a doctor's office?

Three days after the original call, I get a call from the secretary asking the nature of my call. I explain (PCP, physical, etc), and she says that the doc is in KW on Tues and Thurs between 4 and 7, would I like to come in? Yes of course, so she says come this Tues after 4 and bring a book since there are no set appt times. Huh?? OK, whatever, I guess this is KW and we're not supposed to be in a hurry. So I go on the next Tuesday, book in hand.

3:45, I walk into an empty office. Around the corner I find a 'secretary' reading IN TOUCH magazine (something about Britney no doubt) and ask if I'm in the right place. Yes she says, um sign in here (she turns over a photocopied something-or-other to the blank side and I simply write my name) and then she hands me a 'form' to fill out. We've all been to doctor's offices, and especially on a first visit can expect lots of paperwork to fill out (that's why I came early). But this is a VERY blurry/cropped photocopy of some standard form and I finished in like 2 minutes. Name, address, birthday, insurance info. I expected a lot more questions (family history, previous illness, operations, etc) but whatever...

4:00, the parade begins. Who even knew that these people all existed down here? By 4:30, the waiting room is full of every walk of life - male female all races wheelchairs mentally challenged on crutches several languages bleeding homeless talking loudly on cellphones etc etc ETC. Thank goodness I got there early and was at the top of the 'list'!

5:15, the doctor calls me in. Takes my blood pressure, asks why I'm here (PCP, physical, etc) and starts writing down some notes. After a few simple questions (any allergies, how much do I exercise, my job, why I moved to KW) he tells me to take this form and remember not to eat after 9 PM the night before - he tears off a page from his little memo pad and hands it to me. 5 minutes and I'm done, I've got a 4x6 inch note to prove it.

I hand the note to the secretary, who asks when I'm supposed to be coming back. I have no idea, I just know I'm not supposed to eat the night before. So she makes an appt for me, and tells me to take that 4x6 note with me when I go to get the bloodwork done - no mention of where, or when. So I ask. The hospital, whenever you want to. She says there's no appointment, I guess you just go between their regular hours of 8-5. OK I say, so I just walk in the door of the hospital at 9 AM and now where do I go? She says someone there will probably be able to tell me. Oh good.

She gives me a business card with my follow-up appt written on it (date only of course, no time), and asks for my $20 copay fee. I pay in cash, and when I ask for a receipt she takes the business card back and writes '$20 pd' on it and initials it. Mmm, modern.

So I have a follow up appt (bring a book) in 2 weeks, sometime between now and then I guess I'm supposed to go to the hospital with my little note and start asking people where I should go. Ah, life in Key West.

Glad I'm healthy - at least I think I am, I guess I'll find out. Maybe...

Saturday, January 19, 2008

That's why they play the games

Today in the Dean Dome, undefeated and #1 ranked North Carolina lost to the Maryland Terrapins. The Terps are notorious giant killers, in fact this is the 7th time that the team coached by Gary Williams has beaten the #1 ranked team in the country. For this game the Terps were a 20+ point underdog. No matter. Everyone needs a nemesis:

Love the Terps.
Hate the Tarheels. And Duke.

Love the Red Sox.
Hate the Yankees. And Mets.

Love the Redskins.
Hate the Cowboys. And Eagles. And Giants.

Yes, UNC will probably be playing in the Final Four long after the Terps are eliminated from the NIT. As well they should be. But today, Maryland did to UNC what the Ravens failed to do to the Patriots a few weeks ago: beat a superior team that will eventually win it all.

Tomorrow the Chargers get their chance...

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

The Birds



This flock of birds kept diving to the water and coming back up with a meal. Then they'd fly around a bit while they ate before pooing their meal onto my Jeep, conveniently (for them) parked next to their buffet/water. I finally got tired of chasing them away and took a few pics instead. Somehow that did the trick - they left. It was as though they didn't want to be photographed at the scene of the crime.


I need to wash my car.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Party with the pig

Every Friday afternoon at 3:00, a lucky employee of Boondocks Grille and Drafthouse dons the pink pig costume and walks proudly to the shoulder of US 1 to attract customers, especially tourists rushing through on their way to Key West. Thus begins the Party On The Patio, a weekly 3 hour celebration marking the end of another strenuous work week here in paradise.

For $10, you get a huge plate of fresh pulled pork (sometimes also pork tenderloin skewers and red snapper filets), baked beans, potato salad and cole slaw, and all the beer you can drink. Despite the all-you-can-drink label, it doesn't degenerate into a frat party, instead it's just a fun place to gather and start the weekend off right.






Great service, great food, and walking distance to my house.

I haven't missed one yet.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

New Year's Eve 2008

Just as with FantasyFest in October, there seems to be steps that locals go through regarding celebrating New Year's eve in Key West:

1: Your first year you go all out (and then suffer the consequences);

2: Your second year you've learned, and do it in moderation;

3: Your third year you leave it for the tourists and hardcore locals.

This was my first, so I knew it was probably gonna be a wild one. It was.



In Key West there are several different areas where people are celebrating. In the 'not that there's anything wrong with that' district there is a large red shoe that drops at midnite, carrying a transvestite. At the historic seaport area, there is a wench that drops down the mast of an old schooner. At Duval and Greene Streets there is a conch shell that drops onto the roof above Sloppy Joe's, along with thousands and thousands of revelers in the street. We chose Sloppy Joe's.






My friend Tony was in town visiting. We waited until about 10:30 before making our way to Duval Street - we knew it was going to be a long night, no need to start too early. Little did we know just how long the night would be.

Across Duval from Sloppy Joe's is Capt Tony's Saloon, which was easier to get in/out of than SJ's, so first we went there and got a couple of drinks. I was standing just outside the bathroom door taking a picture of the band when someone bolted out in a hurry, slamming the door into my head HARD. I shook it off as no big deal, but the next morning I had a souvenir bump to remind me of Capt Tony's. It took a few hours to remember where it came from, but really that was par for the Jan 1 course.



We celebrated in the streets with the mob until about 12:30 or 1, watching all the fireworks and bubbles and confetti, then went inside SJ's to join their party. We proceeded to close them down, finally leaving sometime after 4 AM. During those 3 hours I'm told a lot of stuff happened, some of which I remember and some of which I'll just have to assume is true. Keys Disease.








Walking back to where we were staying should have taken all of about 15 minutes (5 or 6 blocks). After about 45 minutes it became clear I wasn't the guide I thought I was. Tony finally got frustrated and struck out on his own, and despite being from out of town he found it before I did. 30 minutes later I (accidentally) found my way there. So, finally, at 5:30 we put the night to sleep just as the sun was starting to wake itself up.



I think next year I'll go right to step 3 and watch it on TV. Keys Disease indeed.

Happy New Year!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

OK so I understand that I live in the warmest place in the country right now, but that hasn't stopped the cold from reaching down here too. This morning it was 45 degrees, breaking the record for this day that had been set back in the 1890's, and coming within 4 degrees of the all-time low for Key West. Making matters worse, my house has no heat (why should it?) so it was 49 degrees INSIDE when I woke up this morning. BRRRRR!!!

For reference, the average monthly temps for Key West in January are 75/65, the coldest averages for any month. It was 85 three days ago.

Watching the weather last night, 50% of the US has snow on the ground right now so I guess I shouldn't complain. But I will shiver. These flip flops do nothing to keep my feet warm, so I guess it's partially my own fault. It'll be back near 80 by the weekend, which will probably feel like 120. Let's go fishing!