Two Year Anniversary

Today is my two year anniversary of being back in the US after living in the UK for two years. It has been a fast and slow two years. Every day has been a learning experience and I have to say that I'm quite happy and comfortable with my life. More than comfort, I'm inspired, motivated and moving towards my goals.

Just now I realized that I was supposed to be in the UK today, completing a week-long trip, which was canceled due to the "volcanic cloud". How interesting that I would have been returning to the US, yet again, on the 1st of May. Cycles? Repeat? I interrupted that dance, or at least nature intervened to change the steps.

Thriving Health Insurance

Since returning to the US in May I have become more fully aware of the search for health insurance - affordable or otherwise. For the past 15 years I've always been covered by an employer or spouse's coverage. This is the first time since I first moved to California in 1992 that I've had to pursue coverage on my own.

Yes, in the UK there was socialized medicine, which thankfully I never needed to use. But it was there if I did need it. For the past nine months I've purchased short term plans and was on an employer policy for a whole month (sarcastic, wow). Now, I am afraid to admit, I've been without insurance since January 1, 2009. However, this is not by choice. I'm just waiting, waiting, waiting, for the California COBRA (coverage when you loose it from your employer) quote from Kaiser Parmanente. Their big ad campaign is called Thrive! Yeah, I'd like some of that. As I wait I am actually thankful for every day that passes that I do not get sick or injured.

It is a dance I'm playing as I wait for this quote that is now three weeks late. Do I wait to see what outrageous sum they are going to charge me for the equivalent of the coverage I had with my former employer or do I apply for a new policy? I took the leap and applied and today was the deadline. Getting through to Kaiser caused me a total meltdown. This afternoon I went to the local Kaiser office, just a few blocks from my house and across the street from my favorite Alameda Yoga Station. I was told by my friendly Kaiser sales representative that I could use their fax machine to send in my application. If only the man behind the front desk had been willing to make it happen. He wasn't. He barked at me. He barked at everyone so it wasn't personal. But it felt personal. I immediately called the Kaiser help line and started crying. Build up of frustration exploding. The nice woman on the other end helped me figure out a solution for getting my application in on time. I imagine that in the past three weeks I've talked to nearly all of their thousands of employees and the majority are very nice. However, a few are super not-cool. But they do have a fantastic complaint filing system that I've used.

As for processing my application it will take five to six weeks and during that period I still have no coverage. I think I may purchase another short term plan since I do ride my bike for my main form of transportation. Plus, every ache and pain has me worried about it being something bigger than just a cramp. This will give me the peace of mind I need for now.

I know that I'm not alone in this pursuit of coverage. The five to six week wait is because Kaiser is inundated with applications. At least I am one of the lucky folks who can afford health insurance. The policy I have applied for is the bare minimum but I am healthy so it should do the trick. If I wanted anything close to excellent insurance it would cost me nearly the same as my monthly rent. Thrive for a price.

Forms Forms Forms

Moving back to the States requires filling out so many forms. Forms for the shipping company, for US customs, for my UK pension, for leaving the UK, for UK taxes....

My poor little UK pension can't be moved back to the States. I'll have enough money when I retire to treat myself to a chai latte once a week. Of course it will have to be sent to me via post which means I'll probably only be able to afford one every other week.

Meeting Henry VIII in the Hamptons

When you say, "meet me in the Hamptons" in the US you mean the posh area of eastern Long Island, NY. If you say let's visit Hampton in the UK you mean Hampton Court the palace of Henry VIII. So today I spent the day in Henry's Hamptons and let me tell you that the Long Island Hamptons can not compare with the splendor, opulence and drama of the Henry's court.

With only two more weekends until I return to the States I have been exploring bits of London and its surrounding areas. My inspiration for visiting Hampton Court came from a series of trashy love novels I'm reading by Philipa Gregory that chronicle the lives of Henry and his six wives. There is some historical truth to the works but they are, frankly, trashy novels and I love them.

I didn't even know if Hampton Court still existed but thanks to the internet I was able to find it and plan a visit. Only 35 minutes out of London an on the River Thames this palace took my breath away. No wonder it was Henry's favorite home. Actually it was more like a city. In Gregory's books the characters are always getting lost in the palace and I appropriately did as well, several times.

It was extraordinary to walk through the same halls as Henry, his Queens and his court. But what really brought it to life was the graffiti that people had scratched into the fireplaces and windowsills back when they were in use in the 1500s.

Fireplaces were the center of activity as they provided warmth and a place to gather, gossip, conduct business, and wait for the king. The graffiti became a link between past and present for me as I toured the rooms. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take photos. The most memorable graffiti was outside Henry's great hall where the soldiers and common folk would gather. On a windowsill there was the outline of a hand. I put mine on top of it and it fit perfectly. Who carved this hand and how many people before me tried it on for size?

Here are images of the gardens which filled the air with the fragrance of spring flowers. Absolutely beautiful.

Appreciating What You Eat

As Britain's cattle suffer from foot-and-mouth disease I am reminded of how important it is to appreciate what you eat. Creatures that have given their life to feed you should not be wasted. It's not that I'm saying we shouldn't eat meat, fish and poultry but that we should only take as much as we are going to eat.

I've always been turned off by people who preach about what foods others should consume. It is very personal. But I am really beginning to appreciate that meals do not just show up on your plate from some mystery source.

Visiting the markets in the UK nothing is hidden from you as it is in the packaged products in the US. When you make a purchase it is often coming straight from the farmer. The energy, passion and resources that were invested are evident in the quality of the foods. The loss of these cattle are impacting real people and their livelihoods as opposed to giant corporations running factory farms.

Okay, back to your regularly scheduled news.