Jen is Free at Last and Twenty-Eight to Boot

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted, and by now most people who care know that I am (blessedly) out of the hospital.  I survived!  It was really touch-and-go there for a little while… except that it wasn’t at all.  

I was released from my own personal hell on April 15, the day millions of accountants look forward to each year and also known as My Birthday Eve.  Upside, I got out just in time for the weekend so I could indulge in some brain-invigorating human interaction; downside, total bill was 1.1M Korean won.  That sounds way worse than it really was, which was around $1,000, but still.  Ouch.  However (as the one sort of tactless doctor who happened to be the only one who spoke English well was quick to tell me numerous times), it was still much cheaper than it would have been in the US.  Which is undeniable.  Even with my old BCBS insurance through McAfee, my deductible alone was a grand, and after that it was an 80-20 thing.  So in some backwards kind of way, this was perfect timing.  If you can call anything about this situation ‘perfect’.

I am planning on doing a mini case study comparing the cost/treatment of having this procedure here in Korea vs. back home in the States, but that will be somewhat of an undertaking, so nobody hold their breath.  Just stay tuned.

I got out of the hospital around noon (with the shut-down catheter still protruding from my back and an appointment with a urologist for a week later) and headed home to embrace freedom for the afternoon.  Then Jess, Brittany, and Sarah came over for a Homecoming/Birthday Girls’ Celebration.  It was JUST what I needed.  Sarah brought me a chocolate cake and Brittany a plum tart/pie type of thing and we grubbed down while Brittany also read our Tarot cards one-by-one.  Spoiler alert: my life is going to be awesome.  Really, that’s what the cards said - basically I can’t go wrong and everything is going to be killer.  As if there were any other alternative.  But it’s still nice to have it confirmed by the omniscience of the Tarot, right?

Sarah and a surprise cake.

Too delicious to stop.  Or get a picture of either in one piece.

Nom, nom, nom, nom.

Lady Brittany knows all.

The cards don't lie.

On Friday, my actual birthday, I slept late and prepared for a low-key night out, far more excited about the re-entering society part of the evening than the birthday part. About 8 of us went to Rock ‘n’ Roll (one of my favorite home-like bars with great American food) for dinner, then we headed over to Metal City to see Poko Lambro play.  PL is a couple from Texas who have a fantastic sound, and I had been planning on making that my birthday scene for a month or more. I even wore my gator-skin boots for the occasion. Not for the first time, I marveled that I would come all the way across the Pacific only to love the things best that remind me most of home.  Absence really has made my heart grow fonder of Texas.

The night did not disappoint.  I made a rule not to talk about the hospital stay on my birthday.  Jess gave me a birthday hat that ruled the evening, and at the behest of Marcus, Jenny made me a gigantic “Happy Birthday Jen” banner.  

THE hat.  "Kiss me, it's my birthday!"

Jess, the hat idea was genius.  Everything is better when there are props involved.

My super mega awesome banner at Metal City.

Banner designed and painted by the lovely and amazing Jenny P.

The beautiful Violet Lea of Poko Lambro fame.

Marcus, who made things happen.  Because he's the best.

Love these girls.

Leah's just doing what the hat says.

The hat. Was. A. Hit.

Turns out those Tarot cards were right on the money.  Best first birthday on foreign soil yet.