Sunday, April 25, 2010

Semi-Sunday Salon

I'm still working my way through Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. I'm actually really enjoying it, although I can see why it was one of those prescribed books in high school English classes. And maybe history classes. It's kind of making me want to become a vegetarian. And it is SO DEPRESSING. But I can't stop reading, perhaps for the same reason people stop to look at car accidents...I want to see what awful fate will befall Jurgis and Ona next.

I got a new Bookmarks magazine a couple of days ago, so I'm looking forward to getting into that. And I got a little bit of birthday cash from my husband's aunt, uncle and cousins, that I will probably spend on a new book or two.

Ricky is still not doing as well as I would hope. Our lives have changed in so many previously unfathomable ways since January. We're still waiting for the doctor to start him on a preventive medication and, while we were waiting, he had another relapse. He seems to be coming out of that now, but he's not working or driving or even walking very well. And our insurance company, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, is trying to deny coverage of his hospital stay and subsequent bills, as a "pre-existing condition," since the ER doctor whom he saw for five minutes on the date he was admitted into the hospital coded his bill wrong. And they're denying coverage for the medication Ricky's doctor wants him on. And, yes, I named the insurance company, because if they want to play around with my husband's LIFE like that, I'm going to bitch about them by name on my blog. It's been a long three months. And, with the exception of the Read-a-Thon (well, kind of even then), reading is kind of taking a backseat to everything else. Well, everything else except cleaning, which I haven't done too much of lately, either. I'm starting to teach a class or two next month at the local college, too, so I imagine my reading time will be even MORE cut back. So. I'm trying to keep updating, but there's not that much reading-related to talk about.

On a happier note, I promised Ricky a trip to the bookstore soon, to spend some of our birthday money, so maybe I'll be updating about that next weekend.

3 comments:

Literary Feline said...

You're a brave woman, tackling The Jungle. I am glad to hear you are enjoying it. You wouldn't be alone if you did become a vegetarian after reading it. :-)

I am so sorry to hear Ricky isn't doing as well as you had hoped. Blue Cross/Blue Shield's been in the news recently for dropping people because of health issues. Fighting with those insurers is such a pain. They don't play fair at all. You're both in my prayers, Lexi.

I look forward to hearing how you spend that birthday money!

Lexi said...

I'm actually really liking The Jungle...a lot more than I expected to!

Ricky's actually been getting better in the last few days, so we remain hopeful that this is the turnaround that we've been waiting for. I thank you very much for your prayers. I hope, if enough people pray, we'll prevail.

Literary Feline said...

I am glad he is doing better, Lexi! That is great news.