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Club MED
November 2023
The Dog Who Tells Time A Day in the Life of Max at the Grimmond’s
I’m lying on the sofa watching television when, suddenly, a colossal muzzle and slobbering jowls are 2 inches from my face. Brown eyes look pleadingly at me at precisely 8:30 p.m. I don’t know what is sacred about 8:30 p.m., but every night, no matter where I am or what I’m doing, Max appears out of nowhere with the Max look: “It’s time for you to tuck me into bed.” I didn’t understand what was happening when Max came to live with us from the pound. I couldn’t figure out what he wanted, but he would find me and get me to follow him every night. He led me to his kennel in the basement. The kennel is a big wire cage with a blanket draped over it. Max would stand at the kennel door, so I thought I was done. I walked away. He came and got me again. So, I followed him to the kennel. I said, “Kennel.” He went in. Then he started to whine when I walked
away again. I came back and locked the door of the kennel. He stopped whining. I walked away. He started whining again. I couldn’t figure out what he wanted, so I gave him a treat. I walked away again. He started to whine. By this point, I was getting frustrated and wondering what the return policy was with the Nebraska Humane Society. I stood there looking at him, trying to read his mind. I thought, maybe I should pull the blanket down over the cage. It must have been a bulldog Jedi mind trick. I pulled the blanket over the whole kennel. He was silent. I didn’t hear a peep from him until I opened the kennel door at 4 a.m. the next morning. Now, every night at 8:30 p.m., not 8:29, not 8:31, but exactly at 8:30 p.m., Max shows up. I never heard him coming. For a 120-pound dog, he is very sneaky. Many a time, Max scared the bejeebers out of me when I wasn’t expecting him. Every
the Veteran’s Administration. She recently took a new position that allows her to work remotely. Bev’s area is Maryland and West Virginia. She Zooms with veterans over the internet about their pain and physical therapy needs, so she can work from home. Before Bev’s new work-at-home position, we let Max roam the house while we were gone — a lovely deterrent to unwelcome visitors. But Max has a new person now at his beck and call. I get up at 4 a.m., so I let Max out and feed him in the morning. Max’s early rising, however, is exhausting, I suppose. It demands a morning nap. Around 9 a.m., the whimpering and whining begins. It is an amazingly high- pitched chirp, like a bird, incredibly unusual for a big, brutish dog like Max.
time — even if I didn’t know what time it was — Max appeared out of nowhere at 8:30 p.m., and the ritual began. Max will not “tuck” himself in. I’ve told him to go to bed. I’ve walked him to his kennel. He follows me when I leave. I have to tuck him in every night. What is wrong with this dog?! What did his former master do to him? This is ridiculous.
My wife, Bev, is a physical therapist with
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Medicare Insurance Made Easy
402-614-3389 • 1
REVITALIZE YOUR
HEALTH CRUSH CHRONIC INFLAMMATION:
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or infection and is crucial in promoting healing and protecting us from sickness. However, chronic inflammation, triggered by various factors, including dietary choices, can lead to various health complications. Avoiding foods that cause inflammation is key to maintaining your overall health and well-being. WHAT ARE INFLAMMATORY FOODS? When consumed regularly, inflammatory foods lead to an imbalance in the body’s immune response and create inflammation. These foods often contain high levels of refined sugars, processed ingredients, and unhealthy fat and are linked to diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
diseases, affect your digestive health, deplete your energy levels, and wreak havoc on your skin.
HOW CAN YOU AVOID INFLAMMATORY FOODS? • Opt for whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, nuts, and seeds. • Reduce your consumption of sugary snacks, beverages, and desserts. • Avoid trans fats, commonly found in processed and fried foods. • Limit refined carbohydrates such as white rice, white bread, and sugary cereals. Opt for whole grains instead. • Prepare your meals at home to ensure you have control of the cooking method. • Include anti-inflammatory spices such as ginger, turmeric, and garlic in your cooking. • Stay hydrated to flush toxins out of your body. While inflammation may harm your overall wellness, the good news is you can fight it with proper knowledge and an anti- inflammatory diet. By making informed choices about the foods and beverages you consume, you can lower your risk of digestive complications and elevate your health! in for his morning nap, which means the door locked and the blanket pulled down completely so no light gets in. Within a few minutes, Max is snoring loudly. He needs a CPAP machine. Max is sprawled out on his bed next to Bev in the late morning and early afternoons while she conducts appointments and does paperwork. Occasionally, he goes to the door to go out to visit with the other neighbor dogs. There are 10 dogs in the five adjacent yards. They all like to get together at the fences to bark, sniff, and dog gossip about their masters.
Some common inflammatory foods include:
• Red meat • Processed meat • Sugary beverages • Packaged food
• Margarine • White flour • Fried food
WHY SHOULD YOU AVOID INFLAMMATORY FOODS? Inflammatory foods can not only lead to weight gain and difficulty losing weight, they can increase your risk of chronic
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If he is outside, he sees Bev through the window and barks at her. Bev is usually on a Zoom call with a patient, so she has to excuse herself because Max is so loud. The patients can hear Max in the background and are distracted. Bev lets Max in. He has a big fluffy bed upon which to lie next to Bev’s chair.
But that is not enough for Max. Max is unhappy just coming in, lying on his luxurious bed, or entering his kennel. He needs to be tucked
But at 2:30 p.m., Max needs his afternoon nap. And Bev needs to tuck him in again. It’s the same Max ritual.
Five is dinner time. If I’m late coming home, it’s not good. Max charges me at the door, then runs to the back door and his bowl. If I don’t move fast enough, he comes running back to encourage me. He tries to jump up and down when ravenous to demonstrate his excited impatience. Remember the old expression, “ White men can’t jump” ? That needs to be revised to “ American bulldogs can’t jump. ” Max only gets about an inch or two of air under his paws, but it is entertaining. Imagine an elephant desperately trying to lift off. Then, 8:30 p.m. arrives — the final tuck-in. The nightly tuck-in is a solemn and sacred time. For Max’s nightly ritual, everything stops in the Grimmond household because MAX IS THE DOG WHO TELLS TIME . –Christopher J. Grimmond
2 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
Testimonial “Medicare can be confusing, but Chris did a great job of explaining our options to us. He patiently answered all our questions and gave us knowledgeable
Medicare Annual Election Period is here: Oct. 15–Dec. 7. Your mailbox is filling up — both the old metal one and the inbox for your email. Medicare insurance companies and Medicare call centers from California to Pakistan will be pounding your phones into dial tone submission. Now is the time of the year when you can change your Medicare Advantage/Part C plan, so insurance agents from around the country and the globe are calling to switch you. They need to switch you from your current plan to one they offer so their company gets paid. The conversation will go something like this: “There are lots of Medicare plans out there. Which one do you have? Oh, that’s too bad. There are other plans that are much better. Let me tell you about them.” The conversation may sound as if the call comes from your current insurance company: “You have the HMO plan with us. Our PPO plan is much better.” Or “You have the PPO plan with us. This year, the HMO plan is way better. Let me switch you.” There are many tricks. That is how they switch you from me as your agent to an agency in Florida, California, or Calcutta. As a matter of fact, you will not have any agent. You will never talk again with the person who enrolled you in the new plan, even if they are still in the insurance business 12 months from now, which is not very likely. Another angle they use is: “Would you like $2,000 worth of dental coverage? Okay, sign here.” Then, the ex-client calls me to say they switched to a better Medicare plan with more dental. I remind them the old plan they switched from had $2,500 worth of dental. “It did?! Why didn’t you tell me,” they ask. I tell them I did — repeatedly — and all of the material from the insurance company says it, too. I don’t fault anyone for not remembering. I always ask my wife about the details of our health insurance through her employer. I only have so much brain space. I reserve it for other, more exciting things. My wife, Bev, is an excellent auxiliary brain. She remembers all of those details for me. MEDICARE MUSICAL CHAIRS
advice. We are so appreciative of Chris and Angie’s guidance, and we highly recommend them to anyone needing help with Medicare insurance.” –Paul & Terri P.
Butternut Squash Risotto
Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com
This comforting risotto recipe is perfect for a cold night.
Ingredients • 2 cups butternut squash, cubed • 4 tbsp olive oil, divided • 2 cups sliced leeks • 4 garlic cloves, chopped • 8 sage leaves • 1 cup Arborio rice • 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper • 1/2 tsp nutmeg • 5 cups veggie or chicken stock • 2 to 3 handfuls spinach • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
There are other tricks and ruses, but the goal is to switch you.
I don’t want to discourage you from responding to the insurance company with whom you have your Medicare plan. They call for many legitimate reasons to help you, but hang up and call us if you are suspicious. The most popular way to snatch up clients is through the dual Medicare plan advertisements on TV. During Annual Election, we get at least 10 calls a week about those commercials. Those on full Medicaid are eligible for the dual Medicare Advantage plans. With those plans, you get thousands of dollars toward over-the-counter (OTC) items, like the OTC you already get with your Advantage plan. Instead of $50 every quarter, the allowance might be $500 a month, which may also be used for things like healthy food, utilities, etc.
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. On a parchment-lined sheet pan, toss squash with 2 tbsp olive oil. Roast until tender (30 minutes) and set aside. 2. In a Dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat and add leeks. Sauté until tender, then add garlic and sage. Sauté for 2 more minutes. 3. Add rice and sauté for 1 minute, stirring. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add 1–2 cups of stock to cover the rice and bring to a simmer. Cook until the liquid is absorbed. Continue to add broth 1 cup at a time, stirring occasionally until rice is plump (20 minutes). Stir in spinach, roasted squash, and Parmesan cheese.
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402-614-3389 • 3
11414 W. Center Rd., Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68144 402-614-3389 OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Code 76768_100323_AY
INSIDE This Issue
1
The Dog Who Tells Time
2
Your Inflammation Survival Toolkit Revealed
3
Medicare Musical Chairs
3
Testimonial
3
Butternut Squash Risotto
You probably don’t qualify for those programs, but the advertisements are deceptive. They want you to think you’re missing out on a great deal. The point is to incite you to call 1-800-we-are-dishonest. Then, they perform the old switcheroo. ... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
“Mama, you do not qualify for that plan, but we have another plan you do qualify for that is awesome. Let me enroll you.”
The other problem is that you can sign an application very simply. I have heard from many clients over the years who swear, “I never signed anything.” But the reality is that they did. They signed an application for a new Medicare plan by typing their name, clicking a button, or speaking a voice signature — all of which are legitimate ways to purchase a plan.
they were no longer my clients. They were shocked. They didn’t know. Then, I would hear the story.
There are many other tricks agents will use to flip people on Medicare.
On Dec. 7, the Medicare music will stop. Hopefully, most of you will still be sitting in the right chair.
So, I spend the first few weeks of Annual Election getting ex- clients back to being clients. I used to not fight it because I assumed people were unhappy with me. That’s why they left. Then, I started getting phone calls from ex-clients asking for help with problems. I had to tell them I couldn’t help anymore because
Please remember, if you have questions or concerns about your Medicare, contact your own local licensed insurance agent professional at Omaha Insurance Solutions at 402-614-3389 .
4 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
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