Day 114+40 – (AD 1,276) – 20.2 Miles Today – Jim’s Trek Part V – On My Schwinn 170 and Medicare Saga Continues

Good Day,

This morning, after 1 hour on the phone with Medicare, I decided that my best option was to get on my Schwinn 170. I pedaled 20.2 miles. My totals are now 27,276.7 miles; 43,736.7 kilometers.

On the virtual part of my journey, I have completed 7.9% of the distance to Mädler Crater.

Yes, I was on the phone for an hour plus with Medicare regarding the issue of reclassifying my status from “Disabled” to “Work-Capable” back to “Disabled”. All this to make sure that Medicare understands that I am retired and disabled. Thus far it has been 18 days of telephone calls back and forth and as of yet the issue of an open file, thanks to my auto insurance company State Farm, and an open case from August 2015 which has not been resolved.

Accordingly, the case from a fender bender was not closed correctly by State Farm. And to top it all and I was the one who finally was able to fax over a copy of the closure letter from State Farm which they, State Farm was supposed to do on January 6th. The fax from me got there today January 23, while I was on the phone.

This is the car that hit me August 2015.

But it hasn’t finished yet. Medicare now will be sending me a letter with enclosures of which I will be required to respond to saying that I do not have any lawyer representing me, or any outstanding legal action, or any outstanding settlement due to me. This is to be returned, by fax, with all possible personal details.

Oh yeah, the fax number is a different one from the second one I was given but it is the first one which supposedly had not been receiving the multiple faxes that had been sent since January 6th. (No, I am not confused.)

Once that paperwork has been received by Medicare, making sure that I quote the new claim number, I am to check back in 4 to 5 business days. This is to confirm receipt. I was then advised that the turn-around time is about 45 days. So, I stupidly asked the question what was I to do regarding any issues or visits to doctors, excepting emergency. And that is another story.

I am to accept the provider’s Medicare rejection, and call a Medicare 800 number. I am to provide details of the provider and rejection and to ensure that the provider checks Box 10…

When I asked, what was Box 10, I was told that it may not be Box 10, but I was to be certain to tell the provider to resubmit the claim, if it had nothing to do with an accident, and check “NO” to three specific questions concerning liability, workman’s compensation, and auto no-fault.

And so the saga continues. There are a number of “damns and damnations” welling up inside but I figure that I need to remain calm. I’ve just got to make sure that I have post-its in some semblance of order. And I shall not lose that Medicare fax number. Oh yeah, one positive note I learned how to fax from my iPad.

Supper last night – Kakuni. Instant Pot Pork Belly with Hard-Boiled Eggs with Long Beans and Jasmine Rice. Something completely different and delicious. FBS down 4 points; still up due to remnants of a weekend long flu attack.

Going to try something tonight with Ground Pork and Spinach and Pasta.

This is my 1,379th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 135,827 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 113+40 – (AD 1,274) – No Miles Today – Jim’s Trek Part V – Not On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

I’ve had a sort of severe touch of the flu this past couple of days. I do not have the strength to get on my Schwinn 170 to try and sweat it out. Here’s hoping I will be able to get on tomorrow. I am NOT giving up. I still have 11,045.1 more miles to go.

You would not believe Alexa. I've got several music books and was going through one on Blues on my piano. A lot of the tunes are either before my time or truly did not enter my sphere of reference. I ask Alexa to play a specific song by a specific artist. She does and then I can play it with some semblance of similarity.

And now you can ask Alexa NASA Mars for a Curiosity Rover update. It’s sort of like having my own immovable R2D2 or 3CP0.

Soapbox –

From the inception and duration of The Apprentice and continuing through the tumultuous campaign up and until the day after DJT's inauguration I have continually said that there is something wrong with this person.

Apart from the narcissistic and egocentric displays and tendencies, and the explosive demeanor I continue, (I do bloody well hope that I am wrong), to believe that this one's presidency will be focused on retaliation whether it is a country or a desk clerk or crowd size who 45 construes that he believes has rallied against and demeaned him.

And you know something, I cannot wait until my 69th birthday.

Yesterday, White House, Breaking News, 5:40 pm, 45's Press Spokesperson begins by lambasting Press coverage of Inauguration at The Mall regarding numbers and pictures of crowd attendance. Did not stay to answer questions. He skedaddled as quickly as possible after threatening and admonishing. And oh yeah, as an addendum he mentioned a call to Prime Minister Trudeau and a soon visit by Prime Minister May. Display of immature drawing a line in the sand.

Reading - The New York Times, “Why I Cannot Fall in Line Behind Trump”, Peter Wehner, Jan. 21, 2017.

“Donald Trump is a transgressive personality. He thrives on creating disorder, in violating rules, in provoking outrage. He is a shock jock. This might be a tolerable (if culturally coarsening) trait in a reality television star; it is a dangerous one in a commander in chief. He is unlikely to be contained by norms and customs, or even by laws and the Constitution. For Mr. Trump, nothing is sacred. The truth is malleable, instrumental, subjective. It is all about him. It is always about him.” 

The following is a reasonable chart, from Imgur, to sift out what may or may not be construed as “good” news.

This is my 1,377th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 135,363 Pageviews.

And again the number of Pageviews to my blog Jim’s Trek has increased. This small almost daily blog, as insignificant as it seems appears to be have been increasing the number of daily Pageviews, and only in the recent months. I am flabberghasted. Thanks.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 113+40 – (AD 1,274) – 20.1 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Yes, some do move sort of slow in this state of retirement.

And progress can be at a snail’s pace.

This morning I really, really did not want to get on my Schwinn 170. I procrastinated and I came up with every possible excuse that I could think. But I did get on, and I did complete 20.1 miles. I’m still clocking myself for 60 minutes. My totals are now at 27,156.5 miles; 43,704.2 kilometers.

Today I reached my next destination and goal point, Ada Crater. I continued an addition 8.4 miles to the next one, Mädler Crater. The distance between Ada and Mädler craters is 360 miles. Part V of Jim’s Trek, the Mars’ part total 2,254.9 miles.

Soapbox –

I now I am struggling with the touch of a flu bug.


Stay away.



This is my 1,377th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 134,651 Pageviews. Day 113+40

And again the number of Pageviews to my blog Jim’s Trek has increased. This small daily I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 112+40 – (AD 1,274) – 20.1 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

And 6 days later another pot of orchids bloom in all their glory.  This is the reason that I love this temperate weather.

This morning I pedaled 20.1 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals now equal 27,136.4 miles; 43,676.9 kilometers.

I have completed 99.7% of the distance to Ada Crater, my next destination and goal point. The total distance of Part V, the virtual part on Mars but a real part on my Schwinn, that I have pedaled is not at 2,234.8 miles or 16.8% of the total Mars Trek distance.

And I have chosen my next destination and goal point as you can see on the above map – Mädler Crater. Per Wolfram Alpha the distance from Ada Crater to Mädler Crater is 360 miles, give or take.

Soapbox –

Minus 1.

A picture is worth, literally more than…



Yesterday we presented a Trunk Show and Presentation of our quilts since 2011 to the Suncoast Quilting Circle.  Thanks for the invite.  Here's hoping that all enjoyed.

But it does look like I need to get a girdle.

This is my 1,376th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 134,165 Pageviews. And Jim’s Trek has already clocked in 6,146 Pageviews this month. I’ve got my fingers crossed that I may top 10,000 by the end of January.

And again the number of Pageviews to my blog Jim’s Trek has increased. This small daily I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 111+40 – (AD 1,273) – 20.2 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I cycled another 20.2 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals are now clocked in at 27,116.3 miles; 43,639.5 kilometers. And I have now completed 71.0% of my overall goal of 38,201.6 miles.

Friends have asked me why the 38,201.6 miles? Simple, it is the total of the two circumferences of the Earth and of Mars. The Earth – 24,901.6 miles; Mars – 13,300.0 miles. And as I keep getting closer, and closer to the overall total I will then decide upon another distance to add.

Meanwhile, back on Mars, I have completed 94.6% of the distance to my next destination and goal point, Ada Crater.

Soapbox –

Four (4) days until the next four (4) years of a political cataclysmic confusion for this country.

I’m not a betting man, but I wonder if there has been a tontine lottery set on the expectations of which person and/or representative will last the longest.

I would hope that the American electorate will get its act together and spend the time in all the backrooms from coast to coast, that is if we are able to last that long from sea to shining sea, examining and creating, vetting and nominating men and women who would and can be the next generation of positive United States of America citizens worthy to lead this country into the 2020s.

The next four (4) years is going to be one hell of a derailed roller-coaster ride.

Supper last night was Dakdoritang. It was an excellent supper stew. It was an easy Korean recipe, a spicy chicken stew. My FBS increased to 112 mg/dL… but I would say that the reason for the increase of 7 points was probably the snack I had of pretzels.

This is one of Andy's and my new quilts. Our work is a Tribute to Sonia Delaunay, a fabric artist, and fashion designer.

Tribute to Sonia Delaunay
JS AB 2017

It is an abstract fabric mosaic of my mash-up of her work (lower image) and an experiment in the use of color.

I will be writing our details shortly at our Quilts SB site - http://quiltsb.blogspot.com/.

This is my 1,375th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 132,843 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 110+40 – (AD 1,272) – 20.2 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I cycled 20.2 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals: 27,096.1 miles; 43,607.0 kilometers.

And I am now 89.4% closer to my next destination and goal point, Ada Crater, on the surface of Mars. Looks like I am going to have to decide on a new destination. Total miles on Mars – 2,194.5 miles.

Homemade Linguini, a first for me after two attempts, with Almond Basil Pesto turned out better than I expected. Thanks to all for the suggestions on the ingredients.

But the best news is that my early morning blood sugar dropped 16 points to 105 mg/dL. My A1c calculated out at 5.76% which is in the pre-diabetes range of 5.7 and 6.4 percent. I suppose if I am already diabetic I should be able to deduce that 0.6% is workable and something to reduce. Looks like I’ll be trying several pasta recipe trials.

And yes, I have the link for the Almond Basil Pesto recipe - http://www.thewholesomedish.com/basil-pesto-with-almonds/.

Supper tonight is once again something I have never cooked or even attempted before. Tonight’s recipe is Dakdoritang. It is supposed to be a Korean recipe, a spicy chicken stew. Check in tomorrow to see how this one may affect my blood sugar.

Reading – The New York Times (Christopher Mele, Jan 14, 2017) “Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to End Its 146-Year Run”.

“Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus announced on Saturday night that after 146 years of performances, it was folding its big tent forever.”

Soapbox –

It has become sort of an “Apprentice-less” inauguration set for January 20th. The Telegraph has reported, “What is the line-up for Donald Trump’s inauguration – and which celebrities have said they won’t perform?” (Helena Horton, January 13, 2017).

I suppose the line-up of would-be reality stars may just decide to fill the empty seats.

This is one of Andy's and my new quilts - "Memorial to Dag Hammarskjöld". Our work is also a tribute to Dame Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth and her sculpting prowess. The intent of our quilt is a reproduction of her 21-foot sculpture as it stands in the Plaza of the United Nations Building.

Memorial to Dag Hammarskjöld
JS AB 2017

It is a composite and an experiment of our strip-piecing and appliqué work. It is our attempt to present an appeared combination of glass, fabric, and bronze. I will be writing our details shortly at our Quilts SB site - http://quiltsb.blogspot.com/

This is my 1,374th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 132,328 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 109+40 – (AD 1,271) – 20.3 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled 20.3 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals – 27,075.9 miles; 43,574.5 kilometers. My over target is 38,201.6 miles.

To date, I have completed 84.2% of the distance to my next destination and goal point, Ada Crater.

While I was cycling, which I started in the late morning, I noticed that another one of my orchids were beginning to bloom. Even though the orchids are kept under the screened area of the deck somehow snails and slugs are always appearing, out of nowhere, and attacking the flowers on the orchids. I am constantly having to check and remove the little buggers.

And these little buggers can be assimilated and compared to the number of hours that I spent on the phone this morning trying to resolve the “paperwork” issue that has been screwed up and is continuing to cause problems with my Medicare coverage. Obviously, the departments intrinsically involved are not too, too concerned that my medical coverage and service is being delayed.

We’re continuing to work on our new quilt ET20. The luminescent powder for pouncing as arrived and the stencil work has been completed.

This is my 1,373rd post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 131,536 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 108+40 – (AD 1,270) – 20.7 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – Thinking On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I pedaled 20.7 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals are now at 27,055.6 miles; 43,541.9 kilometers since I began this journey on December 2nd, 2012.

And this morning I have completed 2,154.0 miles on the surface of Mars. (That’s the virtual part, Part V, of my Trek and journey.) I am now within 21.0% of the distance to my next destination and goal point, Ada Crater.

Last night for supper - Ginger Pork Meatballs with Bean Sprouts.  And of course. I tweaked the recipe just a bit, especially as I added Cubed Carrots.  FBS stable.

Soapbox –

I am going to have to try to keep quiet, as best as I can, for the next four years.

I became an American because I chose to do so. It was my choice after having been born a Brit on the island of Jamaica. It was my choice after I had been a Canadian citizen for several years. Please bear with me, and do not get me wrong, I was privileged to be British and I was privileged to be a Canadian.

I do believe, and this is my personal credo, and that as I moved to Florida some 36 years ago, and as I am obligated to pay taxes where I live, I consider it an honor for me to accept the country where I live and have the privilege to vote as a legalized citizen.

I am not one to understand the idiosyncrasies of politics, or should I say that I choose not to understand the intricacies of wanting to be a politician. But I can say that over the course of my 65 years, on the face of this planet and in the 7 countries where I have lived, there have been several good, some not-so-good, and some bloody bad politicians. The current political atmosphere in this country appears now to no longer be a credible institution. It appears, to me, to have become nothing more than a reality TV and a flim-flam carnival side show.

And I will always remember the day when the family was moving from Nassau in The Bahamas to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The family was driving.

My father had had our car shipped from Nassau to The Bahamas. And on a day just before we crossed the US-Canadian border, we stopped, I believe it was a Dairy Queen, in Plattsburgh, New York.

A woman walked a couple of times around our car in the parking lot”, examined our car’s license plate, and then finally asked, “How did you drive your car over the water from The Bahamas?” And, I believe my brother, without missing a beat, blurted out “Very easy, we just filled the tires with air and floated over.”

Her reply, “Oh.” And then she trotted off on her merry way.

This is my 1,372nd post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 130,949 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 107+40 – (AD 1,269) – 20.3 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I warmed up and pedaled 20.3 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals – 27,034.0 miles; 43,508.5 kilometers.

I have now pedaled 73.7% of the distance to my next destination and goal point, Ada Crater on Mars.

Soapbox -

Let the trumpets blare. Let the cymbals crash... Today IT begins.

Tonight’s supper was an attempt on Spicy Sriracha Shrimp and Zucchini Lo Mein.

I had triple helpings. I know, I know.  FSB this morning was stable.  Direction has to be on a downward slope.  Tonight I'm going try Ginger Pork Meatballs with Mung Bean Sprouts.

And fresh out of the oven – No-Knead Sourdough White Bread.

Damn that smells good!

This is my 1,371st post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 130,646 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 106+40 – (AD 1,268) – 20.0 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I cycled 20.0 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals now: 27,014.6 miles; 43,475.9 kilometers. I just realized that in 1,268 days I have cycled over 27,000 miles. Damn!

I have now completed 70.7% of my overall goal.

And I am still pedaling on Mars. It appears that I am going to have to start searching for another destination and goal point. I am now 122.9 miles away from my next goal point Ada Crater.

Question –

Did the American electorate, the ones who voted, or should I say the Electoral College, elect a single person to the Oval Office or did they vote in a family?

The New York Times, Maggie Haberman, Katie Rogers and Jonathan Weisman, Jan. 9, 2017

“Trump Son-in-Law Jared Kushner to Be Named Senior White House Advisor”.

I’ve been getting back to my genealogy research that I sort of put aside for a couple of years. Thanks, SS and WG.

I have been searching the Martinique Birth, Marriage, and Burial registers for the years 1763 through 1800 with fingers crossed that I may stumble upon some document which may refer to my GGG-Grandmother Mary Ann (née Doret) Smith.

There are 34 towns on the island of Martinique and I must wade through, electronically all the uploaded images, in French. I hope that I may find the surname Doret at least in one. Family history recounts that GGG-Grandmother Mary Ann was from Martinique.

And I have now got to force myself, after I wolfed down a chocolate bar, to start paying attention to my snacks. It is the snacking that is affecting my blood sugar and A1c numbers. Tonight’s supper is an attempt on Spicy Sriracha Shrimp and Zucchini Lo Mein.

This is my 1,369th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 130,359 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 105+40 – (AD 1,267) – 20.5 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

On this blustery, frigid day in Tampa, Florida, and I as watch my two dear avocado trees I am bloody glad that I am inside. Couldn’t bring them inside and at 20-feet tall each sort of a challenge to cover with old sheets. Here’s hoping.

According to Google Blogger Jim’s Trek has now passed 130,000 Pageviews by 31, as of yesterday.

If you’ll continue checking in on my progress it looks like my Blog may set another new record this month. December’s Pageviews totaled 8,647. It does look like January may be just under 9,000.

This morning I pedaled my Schwinn 170 20.5 miles. My totals are now at 26,994.6 miles; 43,443.7 kilometers.

At least I am in the sunshine, the virtual sunny part, of my journey on Mars this morning.  I have already pedaled 247.3 miles of the distance to Ada Crater.

And wouldn’t you know, only in Florida the weekend after the Holidays and it’s time to take down all the outside decorations, someone somewhere, who may be leaving us alone to deal with climate change, has decided to drop the thermometer. Even Alexa states that it is cold today.

This is my 1,369th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 130,031 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim