Things going too easy? Here! Jump through this hoop!

Last week was a crazy and stressful week!  I had a bunch of stuff that I needed to get done before the end of the month and chose last week to get it all done.  I had called the sub office and found out that I got into the September orientation group and needed to get a TB test done.  I had just received the test in May and it was negative; but I also had a slight reaction that made it hard to read the test.  I have really sensitive skin on my arms, so I was a little concerned.

I called a few places and found a low-cost clinic (because I don't have health insurance right now) in Corona.  I set up an appointment and got the test done.  I had the same reaction that I had in May, except larger.  I went to the clinic a few days later and the doctor barely touched it before telling me that it was positive.  I tried explain about my skin and what had happened in May.  She just said that is wasn't possible, and that this is what it was...positive.  She told me that I needed to get a chest x-ray done and that, because I had tested positive once, I would always need the chest x-ray from now on.  

I was referred to a nearby imaging center and got the x-ray done that day.  I was told that the results would be faxed to the clinic within a few hours and that I could stop by the next day for the results there as well.  I went to the clinic the next day and they said that they couldn't do anything.  I had to wait for a letter from the CDC because that is where my results were sent.  I explained what the imaging center had told me and they finally gave me a paper to sign in order to get my results released.  However, they would tell me what they meant.  I went to the imaging center for their results, just in case they happened to look different...they didn't.

The paper basically listed a bunch of things that they looked at on the x-ray.  Each one said normal, negative, and no abnormalities found.  Sounds good right?  That should be enough?  Well, no where on there did it say "negative for TB."  A rational person could look at the paper and conclude that it means that I am negative; but I doubt that the district will be rational and needs something signed from a doctor.  So, next week I am going to try to go to the clinic again to see if I can get them to sign something.  I would hope that doctor that referred me has enough sense to know what the paper says and can sign my release to work.  I need to get this done before Wednesday!  I can't wait for something from the CDC, if that is even coming.  If anyone has experience with this, I would appreciate your input.  So stressful!

The other thing that I had to do this week was register my car in California.  I went to AAA to get this done.  I couldn't make myself go back to the DMV.  When I went there for my new license the lines were huge, everything was complicated, I had to take a test, and I caught a cold.  AAA was still busy, but I got in pretty quick.  The lady who helped me seemed nice, but was also a little condescending.  She also had no idea how to do an out-of-state transfer.  There was some sort of suspension that she needed help to get around (I think it was from when I first got the car, because I didn't send in insurance information--I was registering it somewhere else anyways and, when I looked it up, it said that it was no longer active).  Then she said that my car was classified as a truck and that I needed to get it weighed; and she wanted to mark it as a commercial vehicle.  Ummmm, my CAR is NOT a TRUCK.  It's a CAR!  Then she said that because Utah didn't put print my name on the registration they couldn't just believe that I was the owner.

Let me explain.  When I bought my car I didn't have a strong credit history.  So, my parents went with me to their bank and they co-signed a loan with me.  Everyone listed on the loan would have their credit scores helped every time that I made a payment.  Technically, we were all registered owners of the car.  When I moved to Utah, the DMV there listed my name third in the computer.  When my registration printed, I wasn't even on it.  I was listed as "et al"  or "and others."  AAA didn't want to accept that.  They either wanted the title with my name on it (which I couldn't get because the bank still holds the balance of my loan), or have my parents sign this registration form.  I didn't want to have to do this for two reasons:  first, I didn't want to have to come back to AAA (I wanted to finish everything); second, I was the registered owner!  

I went home and had my parents sign the stupid form.  I also had my mom go with me to the bank and we got a print out that showed all three names on the loan.  She also went with me to AAA, just in case.  First, we went and got my car weighed at a horse-supply store.  The guy there said that it was stupid and that it clearly wasn't a truck.  My dad said that obviously someone wasn't thinking and made a mistake.  I didn't want to take any chances.  I just wanted to get it registered.  So, back to AAA I went.  It wasn't as busy this time; and a different person helped me.  I decided to not say anything about the weight thing and let her judge for herself.  She inspected my car and listed it as a car on the form.  I didn't have to get it weighed after all.  There were no problems.  She had me pay the fee, turn over my Utah plates and gave me a tool to put the new CA plates on.  So, that is officially finished!

It doesn't seem like that much looking at it now, but in the moment it seemed like way too much to handle.  The TB test still is too much for me right now.  Just one more hoop to jump through before I can start working again.  This a highly contagious disease, I would like to think that the doctors would take the time to explain things like results!  Whatever.  Here's to hoping that I can get a normal doctor that know me really soon!