Berbee Derby

On Thanksgiving Day morning, I will be running the 5K portion of the Berbee Derby.  The proceeds go toward technology in education.  This isn't a cause I feel passionately about, but it is worthwhile.  You can learn more about the Berbee Derby at the website.  If you are in the Madison area for Thanksgiving, please come by and cheer me (and everybody else who is participating) on.

Good-bye, Barney!

Since July, Einar has been driving a 1994 Ford Escort wagon, lovingly named Barney.  Barney is a purplish-pink monstrosity that needs a new muffler and new tires.  Happily, Barney has been replaced by a 2007 Nissan Sentra that we bought from Ingrid and Mike.  Oh, happy day!  It needs a name, but I can't express how nice it is to know that my husband is no longer driving something that seems like it might fall apart at any minute.

Dad's Birthday

Today is my dad's birthday!  Einar and I will be celebrating with him and my mom with a home-cooked meal at their house.  Lucky us!!

Happy birthday, Dad!

Grammy's birthday

On Tuesday, November 11, 2008, my mom's mom (my Grammy) celebrated her 95th birthday!  I wish I had been able to be with her that day and that I would be able to go to her birthday party next week.  However, I have gotten to spend some time with her within the past year.

The above pictures were taken in May 2008, when Einar and I were on our way back to Madison from the Twin Cities.  We stopped to visit Grammy, and we even joined her for dinner at her nursing home!  It was a great visit.  (Sometime I will have to write about our dinner.)  She is my sole living grandparent, so I really wanted her to come to our wedding.  And she did come, thanks to the efforts of my parents.

New Roads, Part 2

Since the end of June, Sherman Ave has been under construction.  I use this road to get to my job at Tweedee AND to get to my job at Mariner's Inn.  I also use it to go downtown, to go to church, and to go to Mount Horeb to visit family.  It has been a minor inconvenience all summer.  But, it is finally done!  And, boy, is it nice!  Come to my house sometime and chances are you'll get to experience it yourself.

Justice

Yesterday afternoon I got home from a super-fun shopping excursion with Ingrid (thanks, Ingrid!) and checked the mail before heading to work.  There was a letter from Dean Health Plan.  I assumed it was regarding my grievance and called Einar.  I wanted to read what they had decided with him, and I didn't want to wait until after work, so the phone was the best solution.  My eyes scanned down the letter and spotted "I am pleased to inform you due to the circumstances surrounding your case, the Grievance and Appeal Committee has approved coverage for the colonoscopy on September 4, 2008.  DHP will reprocess the claims according to the provisions of your policy."  I was thrilled.  Overwhelmed.  Our efforts were worthwhile!  Maybe health insurance companies aren't all bad. . .

December 7

A day that will live in infamy.  The day, in 1941, that Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese.

This year, December 7 will find Einar and me in Decorah, Iowa, for the annual Luther College Christmas concert.  I haven't been to the Christmas celebration since I was a student at Luther, 13 years ago.  His brother Obed and sister-in-law Megan will be joining us for the concert.  Obed was a member of Nordic choir, and he also has not been back to Luther for the Christmas concert since he graduated.  It should be a wonderful day!

December 7, 2008, will also be remembered because that will be Einar's last day as a paid employee of Ward-Brodt.  His last day working there will actually be November 18 (coincidentally my dad's birthday, also 1941), but he will receive regular paychecks through the pay period ending on December 7.  Please pray for us as Einar looks for another job.  And please, if you know of any job openings, let us know.  You can leave a comment to get in touch with me or email me.

Obama wins!

I am overjoyed with the election of Barack Obama.  Truly overjoyed.

Grievance Committee

This afternoon at 2, Einar and I met with the Grievance Committee of Dean Health Plan.  I reiterated what I'd written in my grievance letter, and Einar elaborated on his exchange with the HR person at his work.  They listened, asked a few questions, and told us that they'd mail a letter with their determination (either uphold or reverse denial of coverage) on or before November 13.  A week from tomorrow.  So the wait begins. . .

Regardless of what they decide, I feel that the grievance committee members were sympathetic to my situation.  I believe I did a good job explaining the situation, and I hope that they decide to reverse the initial denial.  This will especially be good news in light of the impending loss of Einar's job.