My condition was spectacularly bad, to the
degree that other passengers were helping me
out without my asking. The airlines didn't,
though - not just United, but also the supposedly
service-oriented Asian airlines.

Were they afraid that if they helped you, they'd be held responsible
should you worsen...? (backwards thinking to my mind, but in this CYA

I don't think it was the litigious society thing,
because the service deficits were in Asia. It might
have been that I was in coach class on those
unupgradeable legs or just embarrassment on their
part at not being able to cope with the disabled
oldster. The younger flight attendants there as
here really don't do much in coach.

society, one never knows...) You'd think you could at least get the wheelchair service...

If I'd requested, I perhaps could have; on the
other hand, I'm reasonably proud and accepted such
only when proactively offered - which has happened
twice to my recollection, by the Heathrow staff in
2006 and by American Airlines during my first post-op
adventure in February.

There was a point where Doctor #1 was actively
pushing for hospice (didn't want the chance of
my dragging down his statistics, probably), and
I might have been so inclined, but Lilli was
there to browbeat me into going for the
aggressive treatment.

After all, you'd been pulling her through her aggressive treatments...

But she wanted the treatments; I wasn't so sure,
because I have lived all the life I need and
certainly am operating under diminishing returns,
plus I was not certain that aggressive intervention
was going to increase my useful lifespan.

A complimentary upgrade... that's very nice... I have to pay for
mine.... :)

Not sure what made her qualify for that.

Maybe it's a California senior perk...?

Who knows. I suspect that she's been a member for
enough decades to qualify for some perks, not
unlike my qualifying for life membership in the
musicians' union (which used to mean dues free but
now offers merely a $30 or 50 discount on them).

The insurance companies, like the drug companies,
make their own opportunities; they're probably
in cahoots, too.

I'd like to believe it not so... but it doesn't seem so far fetched
any more.... ;)

Hardly unlikely, and it gives both the opportunity
to play "good cop" in their turn.

I suppose... For some (few) generics, the pharmacies only charge a set
small fee (sometimes even for free)... those aren't particularly
expensive to begin with, of course... and the pharmacy gains in good
will from the customer....

The pharmacy has to deal with us on a day-to-day
basis; the other parties can ignore us to their
pocketbooks' content.

I suppose ... this week for sure.

And did you....?

Stonewall so far, the next plan being to play
the one company against the other at least on
the Jardiance/Farxiga front. Entresto is a
different thing, because there's no alternative
to sacubitril. Ranexa I'll just drop quietly at
a savings of $400-500 a month.

The fancy new ones one doesn't have a lot of leverage with... Probably

Exactly. The three expensive ones are among those
for whom one sees massive advertising on TV, and
someone has to pay for the spots. No levering that.

most of my success was due to the fact that I was arguing to keep an
older drug, since the new fancy ones didn't work for me...

The docs here have pushed the therapies that both
increase (statistically) my chance for recovery
and decrease their chance of failure. Is it mere
coincidence that these products are the ones being
pushed by the attractive pharma reps? I'm not so
sure. When I eventually go back and have the eastern
people take over my case, I'll push for the older
drugs that are quite acceptable with a small
percentage of disadvantage (again, statistically)
but that I think will do just as well for a few
percent of the price. Not to mention the ease of
finding the fancy stuff (the big three of mine
ae special order items).

As I understand it, they've just swallowed up Rite-Aid... not sure how far-flung that one was, but it was one of the big players locally...

I thought Albertson's had swallowed up Rite-Aid.
No matter - somebody swallowed up somebody.

Not sure any more... I'm still seeing Rite-Aids around here, so at least
the signage hasn't changed even if someone else owns them now...

That happens (or rather fails to happen)
frequently. Giant Food and Stop & Shop didn't
suddenly take down their signs and put up
placards that said Royal Ahold n.v. on them.

has the drugs you need for the best copay... We both are using Silver Script which has worked well for Richard, and reasonably well for me...

I'll keep that name in mind - the only
acceptable plans to switch to until the
fall enrollment are the 5* ones, of which
Kaiser is the only in any of my areas.

I've heard of that one, but not looked into them... not sure what if any plans they have in our area...

It's the most prominent insurer in California
and is trying to make inroads in the east.

Indeed. As CT Ruth might say, one has to learn how to play the game to beat them at their own strategies....

As with the previous paragraph, it shouldn't have
to be that way, says the utopian in me.

Yup, the utopian in me feels the same way.... which only makes things
more frustrating at times... ;0

All the time.

Heartening that that's so in your area. Out
here and in Mxkey County both the libraries
are well appointed but with a disproportionate
number of homeless among the clientele, which
is okay but not great for business or for
future appropriation.

There may well be homeless among the other patrons of our libraries, especially in certain neighborhoods... but the well-heeled are also
among them... and various special series, of music, arts, book reviews
and more, are held at various library sites.... some at noon, others in
the evenings... :)

Not so much so out here, where the audience for
special series wants to see and be seen, and
public libraries presumably are not sufficiently
grand for that purpose.

Steak Strips with Avocado & Persimmon
categories: KfP, main, pretentious
servings: 4

2 lb minute steak
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
2 persimmons, sliced
2 avocados, sliced
1/2 c fresh mint, finely chopped
1/2 c fresh basil, finely chopped
1 cloves garlic, zested
1/2 jalapeno or serrano, finely chopped
- seeds removed for less heat (opt)
1/4 ts salt, pink Himalayan

In a small bowl or jar, add the basil, mint, garlic,
salt, and 3 Tb of olive oil. Mix well and set aside.
Rub the remaining olive oil onto the steak. Prepare
a grill pan on high heat. Spray with olive oil and
place steak on grill for 1 1/2 min per side. Remove
and after resting 1 min cut into strips.

Add the avocado and persimmon and drizzle with pesto
on top. Serve hot or warm.

By Zissie Spivak, chabad.org
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