What's in a sandwich?

So since we moved we now live about 5 minutes from campus which is awesome. And what's even more awesome is that this summer I've been working on campus so I spend like 20 minutes max in the car each day (yeah that's right big city folks, there is ONE advantage to living in Lubbock). But because of this close location I have been able to go home each day at lunch. Well last week Taryn was gone and so I had to go home and let Tess out and while I was there I made myself a sandwich. You know the typical turkey and cheese with mustard on wheat bread nothing out of the ordinary. However, as with most foods 4 straight days of the same sandwich with the same cracked pepper potato chips, baby carrot sticks and cherries you get a little sick and so you mix it up with a PB&J.

Well this week I haven't been feeling either of these two staple sandwiches and wanted to try something different. So since Taryn and I have just a stock-pile of flour tortillas we have been creating our own version of wrap sandwiches. And let me tell you when you throw them in a microwave and heat them up they are DELICIOUS. So since Monday we have had wrap sandwich made different ways. First day was basic turkey and cheese, the next we added lettuce (little did I know the lettuce was a month old and needless to say had a odd taste to it), and then today replaced the lettuce with some pepperoni. Each of these sandwiches was delicious in their own way, even the one with the nasty lettuce and I'm really excited to try some different salad dressings, different veggies, and different types of meat. But what is most surprising is that I just now realized how good a sandwich in a flour tortilla is. So for all you readers who have way too many extra tortillas and lunch meat make yourself a wrap and throw whatever you want into it.

Until next time

I Don't Mind Waiting on a Woman, but 2.5 months is enough

So this is the first blog I have written since early May and the reason is simple Taryn wanted to blog about the house, the summer and our new puppy Tess. Well she hasn't because she's busy with the house, the summer travels and our new puppy Tess. So instead of stealing her thunder I would just like to take this time writing about something very near and dear to me. Relative Value Units or (RVUs)

Now for those of you who don't know what RVUs are let me explain. They are these ridiculously complicated value that dozens of Harvard minds have come up with that basically decide how much Physicians should be paid for each procedure or practice that they preform. For instance a 30 minute first patient visit has an RVU of 2.2 and a lumbar injection has one of 8.5. Interesting enough these values get multiplied by what is called a Conversion Factor that establishes how much each RVU pays. For instance this year the conversion factor is 36.06 so your patient visit you get reimbursed just around $80. While your lumbar injection gets paid about $300 or so. Now I need to add this is what the government pays you not a private insurance agent. That's too complicated and has nothing to do with my point so I will stop. Funny how you don't learn anything about these things until your LAST YEAR OF RESIDENCY, even though they are the most important factor in figuring out how much you get paid. Anyway I write my post to say this. We all hear that Medicare/Medicaid spending is out of control and is costing tax payers millions of dollars so it needs to be fixed.

A little known secret is that congress doesn't control these reimbursement rates they just pass legislation to create standards and decide what kind of people are eligible. But anyway our beautiful government in the form of the CMS or Center for Medicare Services has decided the best way to reduce our Medicare services is to decrease reimbursement rates by reducing the conversion factor 21%. That's right 21% and that's doesn't just effect physician's it effects nurses, the staff and even patients. For instance that lumbar puncture instead of receiving $300 they will receive $just under $250. Well new flash that procedure cost $250 so do you think physicians will be providing that procedure to those that can just pay the minimum rate? I think if they want their office manager to fire them they will. So what does this mean to people who the government is trying to help get care? In essence they are going to be denied care b/c a practice or hospital cannot afford to perform the procedure.

It's not just about physician's salaries decreasing or hospital guruys making 600 grand instead of a million, it's about people's healthcare treatment getting worse. Now I'm against Obama's plan of hiking up taxes to help pay for the spending as much as the next conservative, but people that plan does not have a direct effect of cutting the reimbursement rates.

I leave you with this illustration. This summer I'm working at a Pain Center (where people go to get treated for chronic pain, neat stuff Drs. make anywhere from $300 grand to $800 grand). They are the only pain center within a 300 mile radius that accepts Medicare patients and so they have a lot of low reimbursement rates and because of this they are not doing so well. With the continual cuts in reimbursement they are looking at a loss that triples their current one in 3 years. AKA they will go out of business and therefore patients that need chronic pain treatment won't be seen. So in effect these cuts that the government is making to help its citizens are actually going to be denying them treatment.

Sounds like were headed in the right direction.

Until next time

House Remodel Lessons Learned

So we had our first weekend of redoing the house and all is going well. That is to say Taryn is so obsessed that she probably won't be blogging for another couple weeks because all she wants to do is paint and make the house look good (OK BY ME). Anyway a few lessons learned for those of you who are planning on buying an older house and wanting to do a little remodel:

1) Make sure the bathroom has outlets. Our's has one and it is at the light at the top of the mirror, thank goodness my brother does electrical work).
2) Make sure you have a power drill. I have already unscrewed at least 500 screws on the wall or anywhere else.
3) Make sure you have good jams. The only thing I like about painting is being with Taryn and listening to music.
4) Be prepared for your arms and fingers to be stuck in certain positions.
5) Make sure your budget has a spot that says crap expenses and make sure it is half of your total budget. You think I'm kidding.
6) Be prepared to get in arguments about missing painting spots or breaking something of little concern and then laughing two minutes later b/c you stepped in paint in your good shoes.
7) Move close to a Rosas
8) Have fun because it will be worth it.

Overall Taryn and I have already had so much fun seeing the little transformation in our new home and whenever she writes about it hopefully it will be much better than mine.

Until next time

The Reverge of the Nacho Burger and we bought a house

So yesterday we signed our life away and bought a house. More to come on that whenever Taryn gets around to blogging, (I don't want to steal her thunder). On a just important note I have rediscovered the Nacho Burger.

In one of my first blogs I talked about how much I love Chili's (scroll down to the post titled Chili's http://cawyer.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-08-17T14:30:00-07:00&max-results=7 and my experience with their Menu. The link is only provided for you who really care to reread post that I wrote almost a year ago. Well anyway Taryn and I went there to eat dinner and I was just craving the Nacho Burger so I asked our waiter, who both Taryn and I think is an old DT, if she could see if they still make it. She came back and said yeah its on the old menu and its only $7.59. $7.59???? There is only one other burger cheaper than that and thats the Oldtimer, which is basically a burger you can make out on the grill for 1/8th the cost and just as delicious of a taste. Well of course I said sign me up and so I got it, I ate it and it was delicious so everyone be jealous. Ummm well I'm in class right now learning about Pseudomonas (you know things that cause pneumonia) and so I should probably play attention. I just wanted to share the excitement that is the Nacho Burger. Look forward to Taryn's post on the new house.

Until next time

Who would have thought???

Who would have thought it was this hard to pick out paint?

Here's my new dilemma. Its not really a "dilemma," but to a type A person like myself, it is.

I just don't know what to paint the trim on our new house!

I know this sounds like a stupid thing to fret about, but it really is a taxing decision.

Currently, the house has cornflower blue trim. That's right blue- YUCK!! It will be one of the first things removed when we move in (two weeks by the way!!) I really can't stand the current curb-appeal... well, I wouldn't say it really even has curb appeal right now. Oh but it will in due time!!!!

So, I've been getting paint sample after paint sample and holding them up to every part of the house trying to narrow it down to something... but I just can't decide. You are probably thinking "its just paint, its not that big of decision." Wrong. Its so important for two reasons:

1. We are new to the neighborhood and I don't want people to look at our newly painted house and think "who are these new people that moved in and made our street look ridiculous?" I know it won't look as bad as the current cornflower blue, but still... I'm a people pleaser:)

2. We are sort of "flipping" this house to sell in a few years and I don't want someone not to buy it based on the trim color- that would be terrible. I've watched enough HGTV to know that people have a hard time looking past the current color of a house so I don't want someone to not give our house the credit it deserves based on the trim.

Side note: as I'm sitting here writing this, I'm thinking "just pick a color and go with it Taryn!" Geez.

Ok, this post was more therapeutic for me, than entertaining for you. Sorry.
I believe I'm going to go with a grayish/brown color.

Stayed tuned to see if I actually pick that color.

Until next time,
Live. Love. Pray. Give Thanks.
T

My First Easter as THE CHEF!

Happy Easter!!!

So far it has been a wonderful day!
Chase and I woke up early and went to the early 8:30 service. Our church just started this early, early service today, so we though we'd try it out.

We love our church. Today, I was especially moved by the sermon. Our preacher started a new series called, "Confessions of a Preacher." Its about how even preachers struggle with sin and NOBODY is perfect. At the end of the sermon the preacher wrote on an index card what sins he struggles with and has decided to surrender them to God. He then nailed the index card to a wooden cross on the stage to say "I surrender." He then invited us all to do the same. There were wooden crosses all around the room and Chase and I wrote what sins we struggle with and nailed it to the cross. I loved this. Not only did it actually make me think about what I struggle with, but that I have the freedom to surrender it to Christ and let him help me overcome these sins. What a great service!!!

After church, Chase and I came home and I made my first Easter meal. Since we had such a short break for Easter and we live so far from home, we didn't go home this weekend to be with family- its been a little sad this weekend, but Chase and I have enjoyed our little holiday to ourselves.

Anyway, back to the cooking. I mean I cook and all, but not really from scratch very often. Earlier in the week I asked Chase what he wanted for Easter lunch, and you can only imagine what he said. "Umm... have to have a ham and at least four sides and rolls."
My response... "Chase, its just the two of us." But, I agreed because lets face it, the guy loves leftovers and from my point of view, I sure don't mind cooking one HUGE meal on Sunday for him to feast on the rest of the week.

So, no more cooking for Taryn the rest of the week!!!!!

I would like to announce that my first Easter feast was a complete success!!! We dined on baked ham, broccoli rice casserole, HOMEMADE mashed potatoes, corn, rolls and my favorite green bean casserole!!! Delish!

Oh and of course cake for desert. I've attached a few pictures for those family members who may need actual evidence to prove my stellar cooking abilities.

And to round out the afternoon, Chase and I are watching some fantastic Master's action. Go Tiger!!!

Live. Love. Pray. Give Thanks.
T

Fireproof.

We finally did it and broke down to watch Fireproof. I've wanted to see it because I love those types of movies but Chase was a little less enthused. He definitely wasn't about to pay $9 at the theater, but due to the wonder that is the "Red Box," he was more willing.

So Friday night, I was feeling pretty nauseous (no I'm not pregnant... I don't think) and just wanted to stay home and veg. So, with a little convincing and begging Chase said we could watch it.

We made a little pallet on the floor and started the experience of "Fireproof."
I don't know if you know the premise, but its about a husband and wife of 7 years that is on the brink of divorce and neither of them have Christ in their lives.

Now, let me clear one thing up, the acting leaves much to be desired, but the story is great!

Halfway through the movie, Chase said, "I'm glad you made me watch this."
Aaaahhh, the joy of being right:)

If you get a chance to see the movie, you should. It is such a good reminder why God puts up with our antics everyday and why marriage is so sacred. It reminds people not to take the other for granted and to treat them with REAL LOVE daily. Such a great movie.

After it was over and I had cried for a while, we talked about how happy we were married and how thankful we were for each other.

PSA for the day: Go see the movie.


Live. Love. Pray. Give Thanks