The Pinback Files

[Da King]

Next stop: MRI at 8:30 PM on Friday night for a clearer, more detailed view. I did not know they did MRIs at 8:30 on Friday nights. See, we're learning new things already!

Did you ask the doctor if he'd rather just meet you for happy hour? I mean 830 on a Friday? Cmon.

[AArdvark]

The machines that sit idle just because it's not business hours are machines that don't make money for the Health Centers. Tje hardest part is getting techs that are willing to work instead of going to happy hour

[pinback]

Great questions!

What are the reactions of your loved ones?

There are only two loved ones I see on a daily basis. One of them, we haven't told, and she would not understand it anyway, and even if I dropped dead today at 2:30, she would say "awww, rainbow!" (we say all our dead pets turned into rainbows) and then start asking about dinner.

Kathy is sad and fearful -- understandably, because if I'm out of the picture, she's in a tough way both financially and trying to take care of a special needs kid by herself -- but she also has a strong, pragmatic side that knows it can deal with anything. It does not appear to weigh her down for the most part. Moments of sadness, crying, perhaps screaming into a pillow, but from my perspective she is not overwhelmed by it.

I'll tell my mom in person next month when we visit. I imagine she will be shocked and devastated, and then immediately forget what we were talking about (she is not all there anymore). We might just decide not to even bother. I've left that up to her husband.

Also, will there be some collection point for all the random digital footprints you'll be leaving?

I have no such plans.

Will there be any posthumous shenanigans at Casa de Pinback?

I have no such plans.

Did you ask the doctor if he'd rather just meet you for happy hour?

I know, right? Apparently that machine is in high demand, though, so you gotta grab your spot when you can get it.

[Flack]

When I needed an MRI I had to schedule it myself for some reason because that's what I pay insurance for I guess. I went online and looked for MRIs within 20 miles (which hits all the major hospitals) and the wait list was like five weeks out. We ended up extending the search to the whole state and found one that was the same week but 100 miles away. The fun part was, it was in a town we love visiting on our way to Texas so we just made a day trip out of it and everyone had a great time until I tried to kick that lady in the head.

I guess you can't get approval for an open MRI until you freak out in a closed one, which I did. The open one was 10 minutes from my house and my appointment was at 6:00 AM which, like you, I jumped at.

[Flack]

But okay, you bring up a good point. My bucket list is whatever anyone else wants me to do. Just click and drag me around like a peep in Rollercoaster Tycoon, and then when you've had enough, just pick me up one more time, drag me over, let go and drown me in the lake.

Great. I am clicking you and dropping you onto a Cincinnati chili place of your choosing. I would like a picture of you and whoever you go with eating Cincinnati chili. Then send me the bill and your PayPal address.

[pinback]

I'll start a list of these!

[pinback]

Unless this counts, in which case, you owe me $80:

[AArdvark]

Q: what is your health/life insurance situation? If they find out you won't be paying the premiums after, say, 36 months, will they drop you like flaming dog shit? Will you have to go all Luigi?

[pinback]

We have no present complaints, insurance-wise.

[Flack]

How did the MRI go? How was the experience? Any results yet?

[pinback]

Great questions!

How did it go: Great!

How was the experience: Great! If you have a background in meditation, lying still in a tube for 45 minutes is as enjoyable as a summer breeze.
"C'mon, ten more minutes!" I said, after the nurse pulled me outta the tube. (She, ahh... laughed politely and then explained how to exit to the lobby.)

Any results? Yes! However, only the results that the doctor could truly understand. She has not contacted me about it yet to explain it in human words, so either it doesn't change anything or she just forgot about me. I will follow up tomorrow to ask if I can get an interpretation, BUT from our lay-people's perspective, it appeared to just confirm whatever the CT showed, without finding anything "worse".

Though, hard to get much worse than "Sorry, you're gonna die."

[ChainGangGuy]

Given everything that's going on, is Clash Day still a go this year?

[AArdvark]

What say you about the possibility the medical people will use you as a cash cow to get the most out of your health insurance company?