“Do you remember the things you were worrying about a year ago? Didn’t you waste a lot of fruitless energy on account of most of them? Didn’t most of them turn out all right after all?” -Dale Carnegie
I’m one of the millions of Americans without health insurance. No, this is not a commercial for an insurance product. This is my life. Sometimes I work a lot (more than normal) because I’m afraid I’m going to get sick. I don’t just work a lot, I also grind the worry wheel. Here’s roughly how this particular angsty-bit goes:
I don’t have health insurance, I better not get sick. I should exercise more. Fit people are healthy.
[I then run, and my hip starts to hurt anew.]
Hmm, I just finished paying off that chiropractor bill, and that was from a year ago when I actually had health insurance. I’d better not run. I should eat better. I need to eat more vegetables. Organic vegetables!
[I go to the grocery store and see the anti-bacterial wipes they have for the cart handles.]
People are insane. Anti-bacterial wipes in the grocery story?
[I pass them by.]
Wait a minute. What if someone sick was using this cart? I’d better be careful. I don’t want to get sick. If I get sick, man, is that bill going to be high. So high. I should be working. What am I doing here?
[I stalk the produce aisle, pushing the cart with my hand buried in my stretched out sweater sleeve so I don't have to touch the disease infested cart handle.]
What if the sick person who used my cart touched these cucumbers? Dang, they’re expensive. I can’t afford these vegetables.
[I head for the rice and beans.]
I can’t eat this crap, it’ll make me fat and I won’t want to exercise and I’ll get sick. Maybe I can get invited out for dinner. But, wait. I can’t do that. I have to work more because I don’t have health insurance. I must buckle down and work as much as possible, and work-out, and eat healthy. Or as healthy a food as I can find that’s cheap.
[I wander the store aimlessly rejecting all foods that are over a dollar.]
Soup. Generic vegetable soup. I’ll eat soup and exercise so I can stay healthy. And I’ll stop worrying about it, because stress leads to disease. So, I’d better relax. Relax, and work, and eat soup, and exercise indoors.
[I read the label on the soup.]
Sodium. That’s bad, right?
And this is the real tragedy of the millions of Americans without health insurance. We’re crazy, soup-eating shut-ins.
Gary said,
March 15, 2007 at 7:03 am
I had to pay $1700 because I was hyperventilating and I didn’t realize it (I thought I was having a heart attack – twice). America! Fuck yeah!
spanky said,
March 15, 2007 at 8:09 am
I do have insurance. I work for an insurance company. but i can barely afford it. which is sad because youd think they would give the employees the best plan, but no. so i try to avoid sickness too. if both of my kids have the nerve to get sick at the same time and need medication, im looking at about 200.00 of copays. and that is with generic medication. america is great. not.
KC said,
March 15, 2007 at 8:38 am
I love soup. I eat it for lunch almost everyday.
When I first started working out I got a little obessed with what i was eating. At one point, I was rejecting all food other that your standard garden salad after the concept of “everything turns to sugar” was introduced to me. (thanks mom)
Whew, I’m glad thats over. I’m not even sure how or when it happened, but I just stopped thinking about it that way and stopped caring so damn much.
Good blog Jules, I know exactly what you mean.
Jenn said,
March 15, 2007 at 9:34 am
It’s like Tom Petty says, “Most things I worry about never happen anyway.”
spanky said,
March 15, 2007 at 10:11 am
that is true. sometimes i like to worry as a precaution. like if i think about it, it will somehow protect me from it happening. all in my head i know, but it is true.
Jenn said,
March 15, 2007 at 10:17 am
Okay, now you have me a little worried about you, so I did a little research.
http://lifehacker.com/software/health/ask-the-readers-eating-healthy-on-a-small-budget-178421.php
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/01/healthy-food-on-an-unhealthy-budget/
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/eatingcheap (This one tells you how to make homemade tofu. Gross)
http://www.bloglander.com/cheapeats/ (I like this one because they have the same plates that I do)
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Beach20.html
Jenn said,
March 15, 2007 at 10:19 am
“sometimes i like to worry as a precaution. like if i think about it, it will somehow protect me from it happening”
It’s absolutely true. I think the reason the things never happen anyway is because Tom Petty has worried about them. If you don’t worry about them, they happen. At least that’s how it is in my little world.
spanky said,
March 15, 2007 at 10:33 am
see, i knew we were somehow connected in some kinda moronic supersticious thinking. we should write a book on and go on tour….
Jenn said,
March 15, 2007 at 10:46 am
Me and you, or me, you and Tom Petty? I think touring with Tom Petty would be fun.
spanky said,
March 15, 2007 at 10:49 am
I would pee my pants if i got to tour with Mr Petty. I do so enjoy his music. and the peeing would not lend itself to our very posh image with him. I will spend the rest of the day planning this. it will be great.
Jenn said,
March 15, 2007 at 11:04 am
Even Jakob Dylan, son of Bob, is wowed by Tom, as evidenced by this quote from the speech he gave when TP was inducted into the Hall of Fame:
“I remember sitting with Tom’s two daughters thinking, ‘Your dad is Tom Petty! That’s so cool! That must be so weird!’” — Jakob Dylan on Tom Petty, 2002
spanky said,
March 15, 2007 at 11:36 am
HOOOO boy that dylan boy is some kinda hooootie wow…i guess perception is everything… i wonder if my kids friends will be wowed by me someday like “dood is that crazy chick really yer mom? wherd she get that shopping cart and all those cats?” yeah i bet it will be just like that.
Gary said,
March 15, 2007 at 1:24 pm
You don’t have to live like a refujay.
Cordelia said,
March 15, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Word. No health insurance=saying “I can’t go skiing this year because I might fall down and break my ankle. I need to start using condoms and the pill because I might get pregant. I need to wear the same freaking shoes every single day because if I wear high heels I might fall down and break my ankle. I need to not share my water with the kids because I might catch something from them.”
spanky said,
March 15, 2007 at 1:45 pm
that is pretty much my life. and Jenn’s apparently too. except i cant actually afford birthcontrol so i just smear “today” sponges on my face.
KC said,
March 15, 2007 at 1:59 pm
oh my god.
spanky said,
March 15, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Aw comon KC you should try it…it is loads of fun!! kidding.
julieluongo said,
March 15, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Sneakers are the new stilettos.
This year I had my friend get extra antibiotics when she got sick.
I was in a perpetual state of fear after my sister’s apendix burst. The idea of emergency surgery made me woozie.
Jenn said,
March 15, 2007 at 2:42 pm
I got married for health insurance. You might think I am kidding, but I am not.
it’s worth considering….
Jenn said,
March 15, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Also, I recommend continuing to worry about it. If it works for Tom Petty, then it can work for you.
spanky said,
March 15, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I agree. I should marry for money, but i just cant bring myself to do it. not the money part, just the actual marrying part
Gary said,
March 15, 2007 at 3:46 pm
I got married for health insurance too!
KC said,
March 15, 2007 at 4:37 pm
I have health insurance and my company reconizes domestic partnerships. Jules, if it will help you sleep better at night you can go on my policy. Although, that might be a bit hard to explain to any boys you are dating.
“um, yeah, im kind of married, to a girl, but its only for health insurance”.
hahaha.
spanky said,
March 16, 2007 at 11:32 am
mine does too. yet if you have a opposite sex life partner you cant cover them. which is terdly if you ask me.
julieluongo said,
March 16, 2007 at 11:41 am
Well, I guess it’s a fair trade off in a global sense. One injustice balances out the other.
And KC, WOW, thanks. That’s the biggest “Support this Writer” offer yet. Jeez. I don’t know what to say, except, “I will.”
Do you think I should delete these entries so no one has a record of our insurance fraud?
spanky said,
March 16, 2007 at 12:40 pm
yes. right now. i think heather will tell.
KC said,
March 16, 2007 at 12:54 pm
“I will” hahahahahahaha. nice.
yeah, probably wouldnt be a good idea to leave a “paper” trail.
spanky said,
March 16, 2007 at 12:57 pm
good point KC.
Gary said,
March 16, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Heather deleted her entire blog because she married KC
Heather said,
March 16, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Hey. Leave me out of this thread. I’ve got health insurance. Ha, ha! Suckers!
Heather said,
March 16, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Besides, if I were to get married again, it’d have to be in a church. Fortunately for KC, my church marries lesbian and gay couples. So Julie & KC, let me know if you need a ceremony or if you’re just civil servicing it. “Servicing it.” Ha.
spanky said,
March 16, 2007 at 1:37 pm
married again..hahahahahah love it
KC said,
March 16, 2007 at 1:56 pm
ok ok ok, lets just take a deep breathe here! no one is getting married…
its a DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP, which equals not having to get married. sheesh.
and if Heather and I got married then I must have been HAMMERED because I dont even remember meeting her.
KC said,
March 16, 2007 at 2:12 pm
breathe = breath
Heather, since we’re married, you should know from the “get-go” that I am a horrible speller AND typist!
Heather said,
March 16, 2007 at 2:23 pm
We met at that Tom Petty concert. I can’t believe you don’t remember.
KC said,
March 16, 2007 at 2:40 pm
THAT WAS YOU????????!!!!?!?!?!?
omg.
Jim said,
March 16, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Tom Petty?!? Were the tickets, “Napping room only”?
Heather said,
March 16, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Spanky: I know. That’s why it’s probably not happening.
KC: That’s why they made spellcheck, but I believe the proposee here is Julie. J-U-L-I-E.
Jim: Please refer all Petty questions to Jenn. Petty questions. Ha. I’m cracking myself up today. Hoo hoo hoo.
Heather said,
March 16, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Spanky: Also, because, oh yeah… I did marriage and it sucked a big bunch of unrefined, whole wheat ASS. I always forget that part.
KC said,
March 16, 2007 at 4:54 pm
so wtf, Heather, are you trying to say you want to get an annulment or something?
JESUS WOMAN! YOU’RE SO HARD TO PLEASE!!!
Jim said,
March 16, 2007 at 9:43 pm
“Jesus Woman”
Classic Tom Petty… or something.
I won’t live(r) through tomorrow.
michael said,
March 16, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Get a bunch of women in a room together, straight, lesbian, or otherwise, and all they wanna talk about is marriage. Sheesh.
Heather said,
March 16, 2007 at 10:59 pm
After all I’ve done for you, KC, this is how you repay me? Fine! See if I care!
“Jesus Woman, you’re so hard to please/You shout so loud you bring me to my knees/Let’s get up on a roof somewhere/And go smoke some of my… weed.” T. Petty
kc said,
March 16, 2007 at 11:03 pm
“I got five on it.” – Luniz
Jenn said,
March 17, 2007 at 1:38 am
Did you know Tom Petty wrote Free Fallin as a joke to make Jeff Beck laugh? He wanted to use the words “Mullholland Drive” in a song but didn’t know where, and one day he was playing around on the guitar with Jeff Beck. He started making up this song as a joke and Jeff Beck said, “That’s good, man. That’s good.” and he finished the song.
Gary said,
March 17, 2007 at 9:37 am
That’s an odd combo. I think people are generally either Tom Petty people or Jeff Beck people. I’m a Jeff Beck person.
julieluongo said,
March 17, 2007 at 9:50 am
So is Tom Petty. However, Jeff Beck and Jakob Dylan are Tom Petty people.
Jenn said,
March 17, 2007 at 9:53 am
Oops. I meant Jeff Lynne. For some reason, I always think “Jeff Beck” but I mean Jeff Lynne. Sorry about that.
julieluongo said,
March 17, 2007 at 9:54 am
Bah, same difference.
kc said,
March 17, 2007 at 3:00 pm
well now that we have that all cleared up…
Gary said,
March 17, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Yeah I knew Jeff Beck and Tom Petty sounded odd…
Jenn said,
March 18, 2007 at 12:34 am
Tom Petty covered a Beck song, Asshole, for the movie “She’s the One”. Not Jeff Beck, mind you, Beck Hansen, aka Beck.
spanky said,
March 19, 2007 at 7:04 am
whoa. tom and too many jeffs yikes.
Jenn said,
March 19, 2007 at 8:37 am
I know. It’s easy to get confused.
Jenn said,
March 22, 2007 at 9:37 am
Between this post and the disappearing act, I feel that Julie may be trying to tell us something. Momma, are you ill?
spanky said,
March 22, 2007 at 10:14 am
hmmmmmmmmmmmmm