The Jury is out

I touched on this a couple of weeks ago, but I just found it again in a pile of papers, so you are getting another dose.

Maggie received a jury summons a couple of weeks ago. She is supposed to report on Monday November 24 unless she has a legitimate reason to be excused. She does. One of the few legitimate excuses is if the prospective juror is deceased. One simply checks a box and one is excused.

Now I know my reaction may be extreme because of my situation, but I find this appalling. Obviously the City and County of San Francisco summons the deceased for jury duty often enough that has modified its summons form to make that an acceptable excuse. That is bizarre. Maybe it's time to rethink this.

Wouldn't it be more efficient to cross check a list of prospective jurors against a list of death certificates issued in the City?  Once it was set up, it would take no time at all, it would be an automatic check. Of course they wouldn't get everyone, but you would get a lot of people. The City and County could save the paper, the postage and a lot of heartache/angst for the family members of the deceased; it could do right by its citizens.

Part of me just wanted to toss the summons in the garbage.  I mean what are they going to do?  I wasn't summoned, I have no reason to do the City's job for them.  But then I realized if I didn't send it back in, the notices will keep coming every year or so forever, which is likely what happens to many, including those without a family living at the same address. That means I would get annoyed/hurt/angry every time I received one.  It's worth the trouble and the stamp to stop that.

 But it really better stop.

Maggie was summoned two years ago, and I found it rather charming. (Maggie World: Juror #5, what say you). The court had no reason to know Maggie could not serve as a juror. So I told them. I submitted medical information that she was severely and permanently disabled and had actually been conserved by the San Francisco Superior Court, the very same department that issues the summons, One would think her name would have been taken off the rolls at that time. Hence, I have my doubts that sending this back with notification that she is deceased will do any good at all

Could it possibly be that no one in City Hall actually reads anything?

Check a box  ___ Yes   ___No

It is what it is, but it's stupid.

The system is cold and unfeeling. I suppose that's no surprise. It's not human; it's incapable of feeling. How is it then that this inhumanity can cause exasperation, frustration and even sadness in a real human?

Today when I arrived home I came in through the garage so I could get the mail. The mail slot is in the garage door and it goes into an old beer box that Steve taped to the inside of the door. Generally it works perfectly, but when there is a ton of mail (as there was today) it tends to hit the top of the box instead of dropping in and as soon as the door goes up, the mail goes everywhere. Because there is an election next week everyone is inundated with campaign crap which caused everything to go flying. I had my purse and a bag of groceries in my hand so I left the junk on the floor of the garage and picked up only what mattered, like the electric bill and what I thought was a check I've been waiting for. When I put everything down upstairs and looked closer I realized it wasn't a check at all. It was a Jury Summons for Maggie.

Ouch ...On so many levels.

Amazingly, though, as I looked at the form I noted a box that excuses a prospective juror if they are deceased.

So we've got that going for us.

There are many other things like this that happen all the time. The worst one was shortly after Maggie passed away. I told someone this story the other day and realized I never shared it.

Before Maggie passed away I initiated the process for IHSS (In Home Support Services). It's a California program that is designed to help disabled people stay in their homes.  The IHSS worker would not do nursing care, but could do thing like shop, laundry, cleaning, etc. There was really no question that Maggie would be qualified for it, but I never went through the application process which is mandatory. I filled out the application and arranged for the required home visit. The home visit was scheduled for February 18 (I remember because it's my dad's birthday) That was Tuesday after Presidents Day. Maggie died on Saturday night February 15.

As I wandered around the house in the middle of the night on Sunday or Monday unable to sleep. I suddenly remembered that woman was coming over. It was 2AM, but I figured I would leave a voice mail on her office phone hopefully heading her off before she came over on Tuesday. It worked. She called me Tuesday morning and thanked me for calling her and expressed her condolences. She was very nice and said all the right things. I was happy it was taken care of without having to deal with anyone in person. Efficient and relatively painless.

Of course that wasn't the end of it.  There is a process and the government needs to have the right paper in the right file within the required amount of time. Even though the human was kind and caring, she had to complete the dehumanizing process.

A week or so later I received an official State of California/County of San Francisco letter advising that the application for IHSS was officially DENIED because the determination was that Mary Margaret did not need the services.  

While I couldn't really argue with the conclusion,  I certainly could have done without the letter.

Can't wait to see what's next.

Information age - or lack thereof

One of the more annoying aspects of my life sans Maggie is the lag in getting the information throughout the system Maggie was part of for so many years. At least a couple of times a week since she died, I get some call or reminder about something  from her wide world  that requires me to call and explain that she has passed away. I really don’t think that should be my job.

Initially, of course I had to and that was bad enough. In fact Maggie was supposed to be seem by a social worked on the Tuesday after she passed away as we were applying for In Home Support Services, something I had finally gotten around to starting. That Monday was a holiday, so I had to make sure the lady knew and didn’t show up at our house. I left a voice mail over the weekend and she called me early Tuesday expressing her sympathy and thanking me for taking the time to call. That was fine, in fact it was very nice. However, a few weeks later I received an official notification denying the request for services and it left me cold.

This morning I had to deal with the hospital from the last couple of days of her life. We never even received any bills in the past because in addition to our private insurance, Maggie has medi-cal which meant we didn’t have to pay co-pays etc.  Of course this time it didn’t work. It was jarring to see the bill outlining the services they provided in the ICU. But in addition to the services, It showed we owed a few thousand dollars as a co pay. Of course that is not correct. I called and explained that Mary Margaret had passed away during this stay and that this co-pay should be submitted to medi-cal. The woman told me medi-cal turned it down because they could not identify the beneficiary (Maggie).  I said well, that’s on you. You have all the information and it will have to be resubmitted.”  There was an impatient clucking from her side and she said, “Well Mary… “ I stopped her right there.  “I am not Mary. I told you Mary is deceased.”  At that point she offered to “call them for us” to see what the problem was.  I said simply “Thank you ma’am.”  I did not say, “That is your job. Don’t make it sound like a favor to me.”  I think that was implied.

 For the past several weeks it has been the Home medical company. They were great throughout her life. It was one of the few parts of the machine that actually worked like clockwork. Someone just needs to turn off the clock now. First it’s the billing that keeps coming and I am repeatedly told to disregard it. (Same reason as above) When they start threatening collection, I stop disregarding. I believe I actually spoke to the right person this morning.  We shall see.

Worse than the billing, though, is the continuation of the automated calls checking to see if the “oxygen user” is using the equipment at the same rate.  We received these calls throughout her time using the oxygen, but it’s really time they stopped now. Considering this same company came and picked up all the oxygen equipment three days after Maggie passed away, you would think they would know that things have changed; but somehow this part of the system was never notified.

 I have clicked off on them five or six times, but last night I decided maybe it’s time to deal with it. Of course it’s an automated call so you have to go through all the steps. They “verify” that this is the O2 user on the phone – and yet it wasn’t – and once the machine is satisfied with that, the voice gets friendlier –as if to say “ok patient, you and I are close friends. Here come the questions”

 First question, “are you still using the oxygen equipment prescribed by your doctor?”

 I respond NO. 

It was as though I shocked the automated voice. The friendliness in the voice disappeared and it was as though I was being chastised by this machine. The voice told me sternly that a representative would be calling in the next two to three business days. 

 Oh God. Please don’t.

The Notebook

I love The Notebook.  No, not the movie. It's an actual notebook. I think I bought it at Christmastime when I was shopping for others. That's the only time I really "shop" and find all sorts of little trinkets to buy for myself. It was pale blue and pretty and on sale and that's pretty much all I needed to know.

I started using it immediately and amazingly, I have continued lo these 4 months. Whenever I talk to someone on the phone I write down the date and any other pertinent information in this notebook.

This is a huge improvement over my former "system" which involved the backs of used envelopes or other scraps of paper near whatever phone I was using. Inevitably they would be discarded as trash when in fact they had the key to cutting through hours of bureaucracy.  No one throws away The Notebook. I have names and dates and flight numbers and all sorts of things in The Notebook.  I can easily go back and find that confirmation number, or phone number or extension or whatever I need.  It's all in one place.

Yesterday I was trying to do 50 things at once and continued an important phone call as I drove to the bank (and YES I was hands free, thank you for asking.) I brought The Notebook with me so as not to miss jotting down that number or whatever crucial information I might need. I was very pleased with myself.

Sadly, when I returned home I accidentally left The Notebook in the car. Sadder still, I did not realize this until I was on hold with the Social Security Office this morning. The Notebook is especially helpful for things like conversations with Social Security. In fact that may be its greatest strength.

I was on the house phone, not the cell, and The Notebook was in the car around the corner.  I had to make a choice. Hang up or improvise. I could not hang up, I had too much invested. It takes so long to get through the phone system there and I was getting close to a REAL PERSON!!  I had to improvise. I knew an old envelope was dangerous and I anticipated a very long call, so I needed something bigger. I spied this oversized piece of cardboard and figured it was perfect. I could transfer it to The Notebook when I was done.

I tried to position the cardboard on the overcrowded table (mail, folded laundry and all matter of other things placed there during our brief  foray out of town). It was hard to find enough room. I placed it over the top of the computer, (pictured) tried to push the computer out of the way and then closed the computer putting the precious cardboard on top so I could take notes. As I wrote the date and who I was calling at the top of the cardboard, it suddenly dawned on me ---

Rather than use the computer as a backing for my cardboard, perhaps I could just open the top and type the information right into the computer. What a concept!

I hate it when technology makes me look like a dinosaur. I dutifully took notes typing everything pertinent into my computer. It is neat and orderly and I understand I may even be able to save it in some sort of file. Wow!

Of course that won't be necessary, because as soon As I was done I ran down to the car and transcribed my notes directly into The Notebook. All is "write" with my world again.

 The pen is mightier than a lot of things.

Junk Mail

 There is such a hullabaloo over the proposed cessation of Saturday delivery by the Post office. I see problems for bills and checks as well as issues with timing for deadlines. Then there is the (very) occasional important or fun piece of mail that comes. Despite these concerns, though, I think we can survive without Saturday mail. Maybe the post office will save enough money that they can discourage some of the junk mail, whether it is delivered on Saturday or any other day.

 In this day of environmental awareness, can we all just agree that direct mail ads and junk needs to stop. It is incredibly wasteful and annoying.  When the mail arrives I take it and stand next to the recycle bin and toss in whatever I can. Generally that's about 80-90% of my daily mail. No, I will not send you money, no I am not interested in a cruise, or in selling my house, or in refinancing my house, or in repairing my house or in cleaning my house, or in seventeen new credit cards or anything else with which you are bombarding me.  There must be folks who respond because I cannot imaging these companies would practice this annoying and wasteful practice if it wasn't profitable.

Over the years I have seen more than my fair share of junk. This house I live in used to belong to my grandmother. She died at 97 years of age but I would continue to receive offers addressed to her for LIFE INSURANCE for several years after she died. (Yes I was tempted, but the threat of jail time stopped me.) We received a lot from the military when the boys were in high school though they seemed to have the boys ages reversed. The military really wanted Tim at about age 13 but ignored Eddie until he was older. *shrug*.   Maybe Tim is bionic or something. Who knows? More for the recycle bin.

 We receive mail addressed to Steve's dad, who has never lived here, for my deceased aunt, who never lived here, for the boys, who no longer live here, and for those of us who actually do reside here. Today I had some sort of newspaper flyer that I didn't even look at, two credit card offers for the boys, one for me, a travel offer for my aunt who died four years ago, another refi offer, and something for Maggie and..... Hmmm. I had to open Maggie's. I just had to -- because as stupid as direct mail is, it's even more stupid when you apply it to Maggie's life.

It was a credit card offer from First Financial, a special offer for kids "heading to college" so they can learn how to use a credit card. No interest for a year, and then the typical/usurious rate of 29.9%. (so all that free interest spending would pay off for First Financial eventually) I read everything carefully and there would be absolutely nothing to stop Maggie from filling out this card, sending it back and heading to the mall.

Oh, that is, nothing except her inability to hold or use a pen or to read the card.

 There was also a special message for us, her parents.

The good news is, though, apparently she's headed to college. I have to admit, I feel a little sorry for whoever draws her as a dorm roommate but I wonder what her major will be.

Juror #5, what say you

This is a warning to anyone who may be accused of a crime in San Francisco. If you are scheduled for trial during the week of October 15, 2012 you have an additional problem. Call your lawyer. See if you can get a continuance to any other week. Because Ms. Law and Order  is coming to the jury box.

Maggie has been summoned to jury duty for that week.

I'm almost tempted to send her. I wonder if there's a space for her nurse and electrical outlets for her suction machine.