Blizzard of '78

I have been reading with interest the news stories about the big blizzard of Jan, 26, 1978. While I remember that winter was especially cod and snowy, I don't remember that we had a "blizzard". I remember no power outages, no property damage, no school closings. But then again, maybe I just don't remember it well!! Two days later, on Jan 28th, I was off to Australia for a year as an exchange student. It was quite an adventure, as I recall. First time on a jet, first time away from home on my own (there were no chaperones: I was alone until I got to a hotel in San Francisco and met up with the rest of the students). First time in California. As cold as it was in Ohio, it was 63 degrees in San Francisco. It was even warmer in Honalulu( but it was the middle of the night). When I finally got to my final destination, Perth, I think the temperature at 10:00 at night was about 90 degrees! No wonder I don't remember a blizzard.

Inflation!

People complain a lot about the high cost of health care, and in particular the high cost of drugs. I agree that both are expensive.
In order to deliver health care to you, I am obligated to get an annual license, which runs about $400 per year, and pay about $13,000 per year for malpractice coverage. It's so affordable because : 1) Idon't deliver babies and 2) I have never been sued.
But there is a third item needed: a DEA license. This is from the DEA, and allows me to write prescriptions for narcotics. I don't think there are many new narcotics on the market since I started practice in 1990, if any: just a few reformulations and strength changes.
So every 3 years you have to check off the reapplication questions. Were you convicted of a felony? Were you involved in ilegal drug activities? Has your license to practice been revoked or sanctioned? No, no and no. Same name, same address, same license #, same categories of drugs I have been prescribing since 1990. The ONLY thing that has changed is the cost of the 3 year license.
In 1990, I paid $60. Today, I filled out the form online and printed my own certificate (both should reduce the DEA costs, right). Cost to renew my DEA today: $551. Now THAT, my friends, is inflation! And to think that Medicare thought we deserved a 10% pay reduction for 2008. Hmmmmmmm.

New Years Ramblings

Greetings to all for the New Year. May it rule for you! I wish there were a bigger gap between Christmas and New Years. I mean we pretty much have obscured the celebration of Jesus with the commercialization of His birth, but then once the last present is opened it's "hey, what are we doing for New Years?". Someone check out the possibility of moving New Years back to February 1st and get back to me.

We had a fairly low-key holiday really, hanging with some neighbors. One neighbor, Chris, is a chef and he whipped up a dinner of filet (I had to pass on that) seafood ravioli and sauteed shrimp. Then he created 3 different sauces to go with the entrees; superb! As good as any restaurant I've been too.

In our old age, it seems that staying up for the stroke of midnight gets harder. In fact, ALL of our neighbors left the party early. We then felt obligated to stick around for the big acorn drop (that's right: forget a ball dropping. Here in the City of Oaks, we have a giant acorn!) But at 12:05 or so, home we headed. I had to rest up for the 15th annual Spin Cycle New Years Day ride at 10AM. The weather was sunny and cool and this brought out about 200 riders. We laid down almost 40 miles out around Jordan Lake at a "social ride"...."winter pace"of almost 18mph. I think the regulars enjoy showing the occasionals how fast they can go. Any way, it was a good way for me to start the new year off right.

2008 will be the year of healthy choices for me. Stay tuned....