winning.

First things first: How Much Did My Scar Cost?  I was severely disappointed in the lack of submissions - maybe now that I made it out of surgery alive no one is reading this thing anymore.  That's ok.  Anyway, in true Price Is Right last guess style (you've either got to go high or low) and with the help of Emily's hint (thanks a lot, Em), Courtney is the winner with her guess of $102,847.  While close, Court was still way off.  Courtney and cousin Jenny (don't worry Jen I will not send you any saltines) were the closest with their 6 figure guesses.  The actual total of all claims submitted to Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield?  $130,032.75.  That's the most money I've ever spent in 4 days.  That's the cost of a small house - or one of those fancy Porsches I got to drive last fall - or a trip around the world - OR one of those diamond-crusted Miracle Bras that Victoria's Secret tries to sell every year at Christmas. 

But before you all start sending me your pennies, there is a happy ending - I am thankful, thankful, THANKFUL for good health insurance!  Somehow back in March of 2010 when I started my job I chose a health insurance plan that was the right one!  My cost for the lovely scar on my neck?  $267.63

I went back to work yesterday.  I worked until 1 pm, came home and took a nap, and then went to the gym.  I am trying to force myself (gently) into my usual routine, so I am trying to do some light workouts this week to get used to that whole exercise thing again.  Work is... work.  It is basically the same as it was three weeks ago. I didn't miss anything exciting and fortunately my accounts are not very busy right now so it's a good time to ease back into it all.  Next week I'll be back full time, but it is a 4-day week so that's even better!

I hung out with Jack and Jude on Friday and while I was there I told Jack that I had a really fun game to play with him and it involved eating crackers.  He was intrigued.  We hadn't had a chance to play before Michael got home, so Michael got to join in on the fun too.  I brought a sleeve of Saltines and we all attempted to eat 10 saltines in 60 seconds.  No liquids allowed!  Michael did the best of all but none of us came close.  Jack loved the game and even did a great job of cleaning up his crumbs (he swept them right off the table onto the floor).  

This was supposed to be a video but our camera woman (Emily) didn't change the setting to video.  Oh, well... I started laughing at the beginning and them choked on the crumbs so it wouldn't have been a very good video anyway.  We got a photo at the start and at the end:

GO!

STOP!  See my pile?  Not even close.  Michael had 2 crackers left, plus what was in his mouth.  Jack had a very admirable performance (even though he took a bite before we told him to start).

That's all I've got for today.  Thanks for reading, whoever is still out there.

xoxo

-g