Still sick: Unfortunately yes
Energy level: Somewhere between “mildly functional” and “where are the tissues?”
This blasted cold just won’t go away. It’s slowly grinding me down into a sniffling, slightly foggy version of myself.
I’ve had to reschedule several meetings because of it. My physio clinic, Avenue Physio, has been fantastic about it. I actually rescheduled once on Thursday before I got the fateful call, and then again today.
They’ve been helping me deal with the damage I did to my back last summer while building my sandcastles. That project ended with a fully extruded disc, which sounds exactly as uncomfortable as it was.
Fortunately they’ve helped a ton, and I’ll get back there once I stop sounding like someone narrating a documentary about seasonal allergies.
Yesterday
Most of yesterday afternoon was spent doing homework from my career coach.
They have a professional resume writer supporting me, which meant answering a long list of questions about my work history, major projects, accomplishments, and the type of job I might want to apply for.
Of course, that question may be slightly ahead of where I am in the process, since I haven’t fully decided what type of job I actually want next, even though a couple applications are already somewhere in the pipeline.
Fortunately I’ve been keeping my resume fairly up to date, particularly on my website, so remembering projects and impacts wasn’t difficult.
Just time consuming.
Condensing years of work into a few neat bullet points turns out to be a bit like packing for a long trip with only a carry-on bag.
The Two Big Puzzles
The two issues currently occupying most of my attention are medical and legal.
First, the medical one.
No secrets here. My Crohn’s disease is an expensive beast.
I made some calls and will likely move forward with Non-Group coverage through Alberta Blue Cross, which helps cover most high-cost medications.
However, my particular drug of choice, Humira, is not covered under that plan.
Humira has kept me stable for almost 15 years, which is remarkable. It is also not cheap.
A single month’s supply runs close to $4000.
And while I like to think I’m doing reasonably well financially, that’s the kind of expense that gets your attention very quickly.
There are a couple possible paths forward.
One option is to see if AbbVie will grant access through their compassionate support program.
The other is switching to a biosimilar medication, which would be covered.
The hesitation there is simple: Humira works. Switching medications always carries the risk that it might not work as well, which could mean backsliding.
Not an experiment anyone is eager to run.
The second puzzle is legal.
I’ve never been laid off before, and I’ve never had to evaluate a severance offer before.
The number on the offer is certainly pleasingly large, but I have no real sense of whether it reflects my rights or whether it should be different.
So this afternoon I’m speaking with an employment lawyer to learn more.
The One Trip Outside
The only reason I left the house in the past 24 hours was to take my daughter to her dance class.
Technically I also stepped outside to cook dinner on the BBQ. Pork tenderloin, which turned out excellent.
After dinner I fed the kids, read them some stories, and then retreated downstairs for my scheduled game night with friends.
That routine has been one of the most reliable ways to maintain sanity over the past several years.
There is something deeply therapeutic about solving problems that involve fantasy heroes instead of insurance policies.
Today’s Plan
I was supposed to meet with a former boss this morning, but because I’m still sick we’ve pushed that back a week.
I also had plans to go downtown, pick up my bike lock from the office, and retrieve my bike.
That entire plan has also been scratched for today.
Instead, I’m going to take things a little easier.
After lunch I’m planning to settle in and work on my novel for a while. It feels like a good moment to spend some time doing something creative instead of administrative.
My goal is to push through a chapter or two.
And of course, talk to the lawyer.
So perhaps not entirely relaxing.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow’s plan is fairly simple.
I need to sort out the bike situation, continue working through the resume exercises, and head to a dental check-up.
All things considered, it should be a relatively calm day.
At least compared to one filled with paperwork, insurance calls, and a stubborn cold that refuses to take the hint and move along.
Brett Wiens 