Getting Focused and Integrating

You might have noticed that I have not been posting to this blog very often over the past couple of years. Let's just say, I fully embraced 2015 Year of Creative Expression and my voice is all over the Internet. So, I'm thinking that 2016 will be the Year of Focus and Integration.

Mystery Box

The big move to the new apartment is next Tuesday. I have yet to start packing but really, how much do I have to pack in my current place? Most of the furniture belongs to my housemates and all of my furniture is being delivered by Door to Door on September 1st. I visited my stuff in storage this past weekend and immediately took four boxes of English Literature books to Good Will before I got re-attached to them. There appears to be about at least 50 more boxes in the storage container. What is all this stuff? Most of it is a surprise since Stephen sorted out all our belongings a few months ago in Houston. I'm actually looking forward to seeing what I have. Looks like he gave me his super cool stereo system. Major score.

Now to coordinate internet access. I would so very much like to be off the grid with that but it appears I need to install a DSL line.

We the Electorate, In Order to Form a More Perfect Union

The electorate spoke for change and by pulling together we are now moving in a new direction. It was a long road to electing Obama and the train that got us there was driven by volunteers and powered by the technology. Could we have been as successful without the internet?

We used our internet-based social networks to get out to the vote. We used our cell phones to call swing states. We drove our cars around the country to implement voter drives. We carried a message of hope, a message of change, an undying optimism that brought us together towards change as opposed to four more years of living in fear.

Watching the electoral votes stack up for both candidates I had my arms and legs wrapped like pretzels - my expression of concern. Even after McCain's concession speech I was not yet believing that our hopes would come true. Finally seeing Obama and his family standing on stage I felt somber hope for the future and hearing his victory speech I was proud of our country's leadership and the possibility of regaining respect and influence around the world.

Democracy, Liberty, Opportunity and Unyielding Hope!

The Dog Eat Dog World of Selling Health Insurance

Now that I'm back in the States I have to purchase health insurance. Although I didn't have to do this in the UK, I was actually walking a thin line there as the National Health Service is quite scary and many folks purchase their own plans. Luckily I never got sick! (Also never stepped in dog poop.)

I put very basic info into an online health insurance broker website and within 30 seconds I was answering phone calls and receiving emails. It was like being in a tank with Parana. I said to the first caller that I was still shopping around and he said, "Well then next time don't put your phone number on the Internet" and hung up. The next person went for the hard sell when I said I was still gathering info and possibly talking to someone locally he snickered and said, "Yeah, well, they will be locked into only one provider." Then he hung up.

The frustrating bit is that the website said NO SPAM and I didn't check the box for email offers. It must be a brutal world out there for health insurance sales people.

Another man just called me and said that he wouldn't send information because they are a non-profit and want to save money. I asked him to email information (free?) and he said that they only meet in person to make sure I don't weight 400 lbs and I am not in a wheelchair. Then he said that he's never heard of anyone who didn't want a visit. He finished his pitch by saying that they weren't going to hold a gun to my head or chain me to a chair and beat me.

This scared me. Am I having culture shock? I am freaked out by these totally aggressive sales pitches.