Dirty Deeds

Sheep Dipping

The car biz refers to “sheep dipping” as getting the “brand” removed from a salvage title. While not common, doing it requires a certain amount of finesse. One Utah dealer has stepped on his pee pee.

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Back in the 1990s, dealers used Idaho to “sheep dip” Washington titles. I wasn’t personally involved except selling the ‘clean title’ vehicles. In this era, how you can bypass CARFAX  or J.D. Powers must be difficult. Two dealers I know use a service and every vehicle they take in trade or buy from a wholesaler is checked.

How Colorado Stays Blue

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Surprise! The Democrat primary candidates are savaging each other while the GOP candidates are staying civil. Can't get their hands dirty, don't you know.

CPAP

I’ve been sleeping with a CPAP since 1996. This YouTube clip reminded me of why.

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My boss, Ed Jones, told me to get tested or get fired! He reminded me we were covered by Group Health; no excuses. I arrived at Group Health and they wanted me to spend a night in the “sleep labs”. Not happening, single custodial Dad with two young teenage boys. Instead, they painted spots on my chest were electrodes were to be placed and sent me off with the equipment. I returned the equipment the next morning and went to work. Pro tip; If you ever do this, shave your chest hairs first.

That afternoon I got a call from the head of the department insisting I come in RIGHT NOW! Grumbling, I complied. The conversation went like this.

 “Mr. White, not only do you have sleep apnia, you have the worst case I’ve ever seen. See the lines on this screen? When this line is that low, you are clinically dead!”

Realizing he was dealing with a stubborn blockhead, he continued.

“Based on my experience, I believe you will soon have a ‘significant medical episode’. It may happen tomorrow, next week, but will happen within the next six months. If you are lucky, it will kill you. If not, it will severely impair you. You do have someone who can provide you with 24/7 nursing care for many years to come, don’t you?” What a salesman he would have been!

I said, “And my options are?”

I went home with a CPAP and have used one to this very day.

 Car Story

Hope this isn’t a repeat.

There a few occupations that often have shit credit. Two come to mind, preachers and cops.

One of my coworkers at Southgate Ford/Isuzu in Burien, WA was a black man named Paul. He was a great salesman and all around good person.

One Saturday he was trying to get his minister financed in a car. It was taking time and the minister was wandering around upstairs where we worked deals.

Monday Paul came up to me and said, “Hey Tank! Our minister had a great sermon yesterday. He spoke about race relations and how progress is being made. You were mentioned”.

Oh shit!!!!

“Yeah, he overheard you working a deal. Loser xxxx was sucking up to you”.

Loser xxxx said, “Tank, you do really well with black people. What is your secret?”

My minister said you were visible irritated by the interruption and snarled at him, “Simple, treat them like white people”.

Paul then gave me an evil grin and asked, “Tank, are you sweating?”. Bastard!

As always, YMMV

 

 

 

Help, I've Fallen

Those forty or so folks who wander by and read my scribbles will most likely find this post even more boring. The intent, by sharing my story, is to encourage others to take steps to improve their health.

 First, I’ve taken seventy seven trips around the sun thanks to modern medicine. Circa 1995, after tests, a physician told me I had the worst case of obstructive sleep apnea he had ever seen. Recognizing he was dealing with a stubborn patient, he said something along these lines,

 “I can guarantee, within the next six months, you will have a major medical episode. It may be tomorrow, or next week, or next month but with six months it will happen. If you are lucky it will kill you. If not, you will be severely disabled. You do have someone that can give you 24/7/365 personal care, don’t you?”

 Immediately, I became interested in my options. Since then, I’ve been sleeping with a CPAP.

 In 2014 I face planted, twice, and ended up in the Emergency Room. Soon, I had a pacemaker. My condition causes my heart beat too slowly  to supply enough blood to  my brain. Per the memory function of the pacemaker I rarely have an episode, and the period is brief, but they happen.

COVID destroyed most routine medical procedures. Last month I was able to have a mundane prostrate procedure (NO CANCER, thankfully) and soon after a visit with my primary care physician. I mentioned my concern that I’m no longer able to get to my feet without using my arms to pull me up.

 I’m now doing physical therapy weekly and a few simple exercises daily. Slowly I am getting closer to standing without pulling up with my arms. Surprising me, my chronic knee pain is diminishing and my walking improved.

 My medical chart now reads obese, rather than morbidly obese, and I’m down to two prescription drugs from seven. The dosages are very small compared to when I started many years ago.

 As stated in the first paragraph, I encourage you to look after your health. My “reward” is not living out my years confined to a care facility. As always, YMMV.

Confession of a Latter Day Luddite

As someone who resists new technologies and grudging learns the minimum skills necessary, my aversion doesn’t prevent me from staying alive.

CPAP

Been using one since 1995. My sister and other relatives believe untreated sleep apnea complications killed my father at age 64.

For several reasons I took the test at home. Ghastly, no one told me about shaving the areas the electrodes were glued to. The next afternoon the physician who ran the sleep clinic called and insisted I immediately come to his office. I demurred, and he became so insistent he threatened to send an ambulance and police officers. OK, I went in.

The meeting proceeded along these lines.

“You have sleep apnea. In fact, you have the worst case I’ve ever seen. I’m amazed you are still functioning.”

He followed up with a screen showing my test results. Sensing he wasn’t getting through to me, he elaborated.

“Fool, I predict you will, within the next six months, have a major medical episode. It may be today, it may be next month, but it will happen within six months. If you are lucky, it will kill you. More likely you will be left severely disabled. You do have someone who can give you skilled nursing care 24 hours a day, don’t you?”

Damn, wished I could hire him as a salesman for our car lot!

“No”, was my reply. “And my options would be?”

I slept with a CPAP that night, and have ever since.

As an aside, CPAPs are a pain in the ass. You just do it.

Three years ago I developed brandycardia, a condition where your heartbeat is so slow insufficient blood flows to the brain and you faint. Ended up with a pacemaker. The second item in the picture is a pacemaker monitor. Using a tablet and WiFi, my pacemaker can be monitored from home.

 Once a year, the cardiologists wants to see me in her office. Otherwise, every three months the check can be done from home with the device.

This contraption required I purchase a tablet, and a Red Bull double latte with ++++ as a bribe to my sister’s adopted daughter who is my techie. She got the app downloaded and installed on the tablet. After only three or four tries, I’m able to use the devices and complete the test.

I don’t use the tablet for any other purposes. My sister says it is a mini computer. Surely she is correct, and surely I don’t give a rat’s ass.

It is probable I still have PTSD from using MS-DOS in the 70’s.

The smart phone needed for my employment has bazillion apps. I use four or five, grudgingly.

Still haven’t programmed the remote for the flat screen TV recently purchased and seldom watched.

In summary, I learn just enough to get by and stay alive. Probably speaks to lack of character and perseverance. Like I give a shit.

Nanny State, Medical Division

Another bitch this old grouch has is the way our nanny state funnels business to medical practitioners. "Do you have a current prescription," is the lead up to, "We can't........ without a current prescription," usually with a barely disguised smirk.

I need to replace the lenses in my glasses. The frames are fine, but the lenses are scratched. My prescription hasn't changed in thirty years. For many years I used a wholesale lab, man and wife operation, that furnished glasses to the opticians. As long as my money was good, they didn't care. I don't know if they were libertarian minded, or just Jewish, it worked for me! They retired, and closed down their business. Drat!

I had a physical a year ago. The people were insistent I have a $2800 sleep study. "But your insurance will pay for most of it," is the first thing out of their mouths. Yeah, like that is "free" money. Copay and deductibles? Deer in the headlights look.

Diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in 1993, I've slept with a CPAP every since. If I want to upgrade my CPAP, or buy a new one, I hear the "prescription" song again. I've even heard it while trying to buy a new mask or supply tube.

So, the grey market. Hello Craigslist. 

Why, when we see medical people, are we suddenly subject to myriad rules and regulations? It has taken over a year for the Physicians Assistant I see to understand I will not do anything, or take anything, without a clear understanding of the reasons thereof.

But WSF, You don't understand. We.............. Your are right, I don't understand, don't care, and will not participate.

Just because I'm one tiny one out of a population of 310,000,000 or so doesnt't mean I can't be an Army of one.