Another Announcement….One to Give the Readers Displeasure

As a direct result of the failure of Harold Camping’s predictions of the end of the world to come true, another event has now occurred. This one will be distasteful to many….including myself.

First of all, allow me to offer my very sincere thanks to my readers, followers, and those just working and have no idea of who the heck I am. It is so nice to know that so many of you are now contributing in a way you didn’t consider. Especially since many don’t even know me.

Because the world didn’t end, I turned 65 today and thus am now eligible for Medicare. So, now all of you can feel good that your “present” to me on my birthday is actually delivered by the government.

But, wait…..

……I’m still working too. So, I guess I’m giving myself a present?

The sad part about Medicare is that I don’t really need it, but the government insists. In fact, I have to go to my employers (or their insurance company) and get a form filled out to specify that the employer’s insurance will not consider Medicare Part B as the primary medical coverage and make themselves be a secondary.

Plus, if I fail to do that, Medicare will penalize me by a certain percentage for every year that I fail to sign up for Medicare Part B. And, since I began taking Social Security at 63, I will be required to pay a certain amount from Social Security for Medicare Part B. But, since I am still working and make enough money, I don’t get a full year’s worth of Social Security payments.

But even more frustrating, I would still have to pay for the Medicare Part B (which I really don’t want anyway) for every month even though I’m not getting a Social Security benefit payment for each month.

Isn’t it GREAT the way government and its bureaucracies work??? Don’t you wish we had more of this CRUD??? If you do, book passage now for a cruise on that “slow boat to China.” Hopefully, that will be the ONLY way you can receive it after 2012.

Oh, and what do you want to bet that the Mayan calendar “end of the world” scenario won’t play out either? I mean, really……

…….has anyone seen any authentic Mayans lately to verify their calendar calculations? And, since they aren’t around, how smart does one think that an extinct civilization can be if they can’t even stick around for the end? Of their own calendar???

As for me, I’ve even given up trying to read tea leaves for my predictions. I’ve officially switched to M&M candies. At least the lettering on M&M’a is a whole lot easier to read than tea leaf patterns.

Now, to get serious for just a little bit. I had a good birthday with being with family. My sister and her husband just got back from a cruise to Britain (or somewhere over there) and flew into Oklahoma City to retrieve their vehicle. While here, they took Jo and I and our youngest son, Eric out to supper. Sis was getting tired of fish after their cruise and wanted Mexican food. So, we went to “On the Border” and pigged out.

Thanks, Sis. Even better than the supper was getting to see you again.

So, for today, May 23, 2011, I wish myself a Happy Birthday. My gift has really been my family (the blood family), my RV family (made up of participants of three different forums), and my continued good health. May it be that all can be as blessed as I am.

May God continue to shower us with joy and love and blessings too numerous to count.

Official title for this photo is, “He leadeth me beside still waters.”