A Conversation with Elizabeth
1998
Re: work

From:          LMixson
To:            Elizabeth
Sent:          Friday, April 10, 1998 2:07 PM
Subject:       RE: work
 
I can't believe you don't get holidays until after six months.  No vacation is not uncommon but not getting holidays is ridiculous!
 
Having to share a computer is a real pain.  You never know what the other persons may do to it.  I also customize the fonts, screen, colors, etc and would not like other persons messing with it.  Monitoring what is sent and received is not easy.  It usually involves special network monitoring hardware and software.  In addition, the network breaks everything up into small packets to send and it is not real easy to monitor the network to pick out all the packets of someone's online activities and reassemble them into the right order.  On the other hand it is not uncommon for a business to have software that tracks what internet (i.e. web) address are visited and even what web pages are viewed.  Email address are not the same thing as internet address.  For example, they might track that you visited the hotmail internet site but could not tell who you sent/received email to/from.  
 
Your situation with the person at work seems like a real pain.  It sounds like she may be trying to build her own empire and is only interested in what she can get from you to help her.   From my many job I found that there are always institutional and office politics.  As one gets high up in the hierarchy it gets worse.  I have learned to live with it and even "play" to some degree but I try to avoid it as much as possible.  I also have found that there always seems to be a "problem" person.  That person that for some reason or another I don't seem to get along with, and I tend to get along with just about everyone.  It seems the only way to totally avoid it is to be self-employed at some independent business.  Sounds you will be there one day when you become a lawyer. 
 
As I was typing this I got your latest message.
 
The cough test is when the doctor puts his/her finger under the scrotum and says cough.  Bad enough with a male doctor but embarrassing with a female doctor.  About the as bad as the rubber gloved finger test.
 
Insurance, should be a three letter word.  I could tell you all sorts of insurance stories.  I know about the cost of COBRA.  When I got laid off I had to learn all about it but fortunately I found a job before I had to use it.  I have heard about the laws changing but also don't know the details.  I understand it is supposed to help with the pre-existing condition situation and also makes it that the insurance companies can not deny you insurance if you switch jobs.  I had NYLCARE at my last two jobs which was great, it was a HMO program.  I now have Alliance HMO which I had never heard of before.  The coverage seems to be pretty good, $10 doctor visits, $8 prescriptions.  Julie was in school for three years and now only works 1/2 time.  She does qualify for insurance benefits but my company pays more and seemed better coverage.  My last job did cover therapy sessions, or about 75% anyway.  I have not check out the new insurance.   Julie, being in the business of mental therapy, is always complain about the insurance companies and what they do not pay.  One of the main reasons she is working where she is, is to get licensed because the insurance companies will only pay to licensed therapists. We also have what is called a "Flex Spending" account which you can put pre tax dollars into.  This can then be used to pay any medical expenses not covered by your regular insurance.  This includes the deductible, eye exams & glasses, dentist work, etc.  We have always put $1000 to $1500 into it and always use it all.
 
Well have a good Easter.
 
Larry

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