Party of One

Last night I went to dinner at Jake's Wayback. I have gone there a few times because I use a restaurant.com coupon. My sister ordered her food first at the counter and sat down to wait for it. She paid the coupon price. I then ordered my food and gave in the coupon, but the little counter girl said I could not use it. I asked why and she said only one person per "party" could use it. I said I am an independent diner who is paying for myself, so I am considered a party of one. She said that when people sit together they are a party of two. I said this is a fast food place so I will sit one table away and then I am a party of one. She began to read my the restaurant.com rules and I told her that I walked in alone, paid separately and would sit alone at a table. I can use the coupon. The manager finally walked over and silently put in the coupon, as the girl was still reviewing the rules and regulations. The burger gave me a stomachache, so I will not be going back there again anyway.

Farewell

Over the weekend, one of our doctors gave notice that she was leaving. While everyone was surprised, I was not. She was very unhappy with her career choice and cried to me every few weeks. She is a free spirit and found it stressful to listen to people's problems every day. Three weeks ago, I sat down with her and asked her what her plan was. She had none. I asked her what her boyfriend thought and she said he was just as unhappy with his career choice as she was with hers. He is a lawyer. I told her that at 34 years old, she was young enough to just chalk this up to experience and go do what will make her happy. She said she would think about it. She must have, because she sold her condo and quit her job. So did her boyfriend. They are heading down south to her family to create a new life where they will finally be happy.

New Week

Yesterday was a wonderful day. My grandson's party was fantastic. The food was delicious and everyone had fun. He had no idea it was a party for him, but he laughed and smiled anyway. It was a busy weekend and now it is back to work. I will now count the weeks until my husband is back on his own two feet. We are into week one so far.

Party Day

Today is my grandson's first birthday party. His parents have decided to have it in a local restaurant. They have put a lot of thought into this party and we are all looking forward to it. The year has flown by. I have watched my grandson reach many milestones. He has gone from a 3lb preemie to an 18 pound child. He is crawling and almost sitting up. He is smart and has a wonderfully cheery temperament. He is developmentally considered a 10 month old, as he was born 9 weeks early, so he is right on target for his adjusted age. By two years old he will be right where he needs to be. He will reach his goals at his own speed, on his own time. There is no right or wrong when it comes to a child. They are all individuals that have been created to be different from each other. That's they way G-d intended it.

Two

This afternoon is my great niece's birthday party. She is 2 years old. It seems like yesterday that I was at her mother's two year birthday party. There will be a bunch of tiny people at the gym, running, jumping and laughing. The parents will have lunch also. Even though it is a children's party, I will be going because my grandson is invited. He is my admission ticket. He now crawls, so he will be able to partake in some of the activities. If I squint my eyes, my little niece looks just like her mother. I can pretend I am back in 1983.

Forms

I now live in the world of forms. Forms for pre authorization. Forms for disability. Forms for Family Leave Act. Forms for prescriptions. Forms, forms, forms. First I have to fill them out. Then I have to send them in. Next I have to verify that they were received. After, that I have to make sure they are handled in the proper way. I am used to doing this as an office manager, but I am not a big fan of doing it for myself. I actually had to code my own pre authorization yesterday, when the insurance company was not sure what code to use. Who does that? Me, I guess. I taught an insurance company employee how to code a claim. Does life get stranger?

Different View

The good news is that my husband will not have surgery. The bad news is that I am now seeing life through the eyes of the handicapped. Things that used to be simple, no longer are. I understand the "regular" world not being as handicapped accessible as it needs to be, but I do not understand the "handicapped" world being equally unaccessible. The orthopedist's office has a very heavy door that is impossible to open if you are on crutches or in a wheelchair. My office building has a button to press that will automatically open the doors for handicapped patients. How could an orthopedist, who has built a million dollar office, not have included that in his plans? I found the same problem with the medical equipment store. Again, a heavy door on a poor incline. What were they thinking?