Pilot's Log

The catalog from AutomationDirect.com is The Letter Bomb. The actual paper portion is bigger than a phone directory for Manhattan, and it also comes with a digital duplicate on DVD.

So why did I request one? They carry electronics components. A lot of which would go into the F.L.I.G.H.T.S.I.M. build if I could swing it.

You may want to skip this entry if you have an aversion to TMI.

When my Mom had to choose a Medicare health plan, she picked Cariten because she didn't want to belong to Humana as she saw Humana being nothing but trouble. Soon after, Humana took over Cariten's business in Tennessee and it has proved to be just as troublesome as she imagined.

When she went through her terminal health emergency she was at a specialty clinic (covered by Humana) that had been prescribed by her surgeon (covered by Humana) who in turn had been referred by her Humana primary care doctor. The doctor in charge of the clinic determined that Mum's condition was so critical that either he or his staff arranged an ambulance to take her to the nearest hospital (also covered by Humana). Neither Dad, nor I, had anything to do with this choice.

Now Humana wants us to pay up for her ambulance ride, with their excuses being 1) the company operating the ambulance was "out of their network" (?!) and 2) her primary care doctor (who wasn't available!) had to approve or endorse the decision to transport her by ambulance.

No matter that Medicare should be covering this transportation, because the circumstances fit the Medicare rules and requirements on the matter.

We're looking at a bill in excess of $500, and paying it would hurt us. Dad's trying to challenge the charge, but the Humana lawyers are giving him the runaround.

Meanwhile, Humana's marketing division is still sending Mum junk mail asking her to expand her coverage to include dental care and other specialty services. What stupidity!

[Previously posted on my Facebook webpresense:]

It's Publisher Clearinghouse Sweepstakes time. I get a mailing teasing me about a $3 Million Dream Home--but somehow I think I'd be happier with a dozen $250K homes, scattered about the nation/world. What would $250,000 US get a fella where you are?

This week: All the 1/200 HBM WW2 airplane miniatures that I could either find on my list, or failing that, proxy.

I don't know if HBM is even still in business; their website hasn't been updated since 2007 and the e-mail I sent the webmaster bounced. I sent him a snail mail postcard on Monday, so I suppose either I'll hear from him or I won't.

Meanwhile, one of the main stores that sells Wings of War around here, HobbyTown USA, is clearing out their Nexus-boxed stuff for 50% off or better. And here I am with no cash to spend. Granted their selection was down to Vals and Dewoitines (which I have no prejudice against as such, but...).

Q: Did your Mom have a nice birthday?

A: She had a very nice birthday. And you know a holiday that involves gift-giving isn't over until all the gifts have been opened and enjoyed...so it's still ongoing for her. Today my sister and brother-in-law visited and treated her to a lunch of exotic foods guaranteed to help her through her health issues. Sis also gave Mum three new shirts.

A family/church friend gave Mum a Key Lime Pie for her dessert tonight, which excused me to finish off Mum's birthday cake. Oh, the duties I have in this family.

*) On the Super Bowl--for the first time ever I saw Peyton Manning's dark side. At a few times when he was on the sidelines watching his team try to hold the Saints, the looks on his face reminded me of Tony Perkins in Psycho and Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange. For all his "nice guy" image it wouldn't surprise me if somebody cast him as a villain in a horror movie after his football career is over.

Meanwhile, nobody can say the Saints didn't earn their victory. Yes, they DID have "something to prove"...and now we'll have to get used to them being called "defending NFL champions".

I didn't watch the Who's halftime show or more than a few commercials. I get my sister's point about the Denny's commercial with the screaming chickens. I can't remember the last time I ate at a Denny's anyway.

*) I'm starting a Google account. I used to have one, but then I shuffled it to Mum for reasons that aren't worth explaining.

*) The weather is typical February lousy. Tonight is cold...not enough to freeze the water pipes, but enough to make us miserable. I've been hitting the coffee and cocoa very hard but wish I didn't have to.

*) I'm waiting for three things in the coming mail: a package of scale model parts to review; a check from the State of Tennessee to pay me for three days of jury duty; a response from the IRS to my return. Which one would you think I'd get first?

The United States, arranged by Zip Code.

Region 0 -- Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey.
Region 1 -- New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware.
Region 2 -- District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina.
Region 3 -- Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi.
Region 4 -- Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan.
Region 5 -- Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana.
Region 6 -- Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska.
Region 7 -- Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas.
Region 8 -- Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada.
Region 9 -- California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Alaska.

My very crude, five-minute rendering of the solution I've seen done by other model builders as to the problem of packing a (mostly) finished model for shipping.

The Apache shown was taken from the instruction sheet for the Monogram Snap-Tite kit. Now, the idea is that rather than having it sit in the box on its landing gear, it is instead held above the floor of the box by cardboard U-shaped supports, and padding of styrofoam or foam rubber is set between the supports and the model itself. Further foam padding is set in places where damage is possible, such as the underwing missiles, the nose gun and sensors, the rotor heads and so on. Another support could be put around the rudder to keep the model from shifting on its side in the box. Ribbon is used to hold the model down on the supports.

I didn't remove the tail rotor assembly from the picture; if it were my job to pack I'd set the assembly in a little envelope and tape the envelope to the floor of the box. The main rotors and their hub could be likewise segregated and the subpack taped to a wall or the roof of the box.

Hope this helps!

( ...Deserves Another. )

Sent off my application and resumé to my brother this afternoon.

Today was dreary. It's still foggy now as well. Granted, this is what I should expect from the February/March cusp.

FP