E–SP

This story alternately amused and appalled. It seems Thomas Prusik-Parkin impersonated his dead mother for six years, collecting $52,000 in Social Security benefits and another $65,000 in rental assistance (can someone explain to me why a homeowner qualifies for this benefit?).

We're not talking just cashing the checks. We're talking full hair and makeup, a driver's license and a fake nephew. We are also talking, and for me this was the piece de resistance of this little charade, an oxygen tank.

Now that's dedication. Imagine lugging an oxygen tank around and breathing through a tube (according to the story). That just doesn't sound like fun. Maybe he should look for a bride to be that uses feeding tubes to lose weight.

It just goes to show, there are as many ways to defraud the government as there are government agencies to fall for it. However, I am impressed by how quickly an investigation into this was begun (Medicare, take note!).

No word on whether some poor HME provider has been billing Medicare for this oxygen equipment. Even if mom had capped out, she would have done so after her death. Maybe her son bought it off the Internet (for a low, low price, of course).

Wonder if mom is turning in her grave.

Theresa Flaherty

Dear Reader, we have sprouts. Right on schedule this weekend, my jalapenos and sweet peppers started poking through the dirt (as you can imagine, I appreciate the adherence to deadlines). To recap, I planted both generic and organic sweet peppers. The organics are seriously lagging, FYI.

The tray has been moved to full sun in a south facing window for the next several weeks, much to the cat's dismay. Then they get moved to a covered porch to toughen 'em up. Fingers crossed, we can transplant them Memorial Day weekend (is it this difficult to raise kids??) and put in radishes at the same time. With my roommate's help, we may add cucumbers and whatever else she'd like, including the previously disdained tomatoes.  Zucchini is still a no-go, though.

Why am I doing all of this? Because the more I eat fresh foods, the more I prefer them. I have spent many Sundays over the past two years making big pots of chili, jambalaya and black bean soups to get me through the lunch week. It wasn't all that long ago that I was satisfied with grabbing canned soup from the cupboard, but no more. This past Sunday, I made mulligatawny, an east Indian stew with chicken, apples, peppers, onions, carrots and curry, among other variations. Check out how it pretty it was before I started cooking:

Compare that to what some of my co-workers eat every day (I don't think any of them read my blog):

Which would you rather eat?

Back to the garden: It's a freakishly warm 74 degrees today, but will be back in the 40s this weekend, to give you an idea of the challenges of Maine gardening. Incidentally, I put the snow shovels away this week. Let's hope that was a wise choice.

While this is all very exciting, I can't help but think: Wouldn't it be great if I could just grow completely assembled salads?

Theresa Flaherty

Over the past couple of years, I have gotten more and more into eating whole, fresh foods. Sunday afternoon, I took it a step further.

I started a veggie garden. Which for a girl who hates the feeling of dirt under her well-manicured nails is pretty impressive, if I may say so myself.

Heavily bundled against the early spring chill, I sowed a seed flat with jalapenos and sweet peppers, then stuck it on top of the entertainment center in my living room where they will hopefully, in 10 to 14 days, do something called "germinate." The seed package talked about temps of 75 to 80 degrees...the seed company obviously never lived in a Maine house where seed planting takes place even as snow shovels and winter boots remain close at hand. So, we shall see how long it takes.

I also plan to plant three varieties of radishes, and possibly scallions and cucumbers, but those, apparently, can wait. Not on the list: tomatoes (which are easy enough, but I can do without them) and zucchini (which begins to spread like a green plague throughout our offices every July, so why add to the problem.)

And this brings me to an important point about healthy eating. Go for what you like. If you don't like something, no matter how nutritious it is, you'll never enjoy it, which makes you unlikely to eat it, which defeats the whole purpose.

There's plenty of other options.

Theresa Flaherty

I experienced a "well, duh" moment today. For those of you who haven't heard about these moments, they occur whenever I read a study that seems to prove the obvious (re: people who work Monday through Friday are happier on weekends; people with depression are unhappier than those without depression).

Today's headline: Doctor's weight affects obesity diagnosis

The headline is a little misleading because, when it comes to obesity, most doctors of any weight will discuss the problem with the patient. When it comes to the merely overweight, however, those numbers fall: 27% of normal weight physicians vs. 16% of overweight physicians will bring up this touchy topic.

First of all, if this is the health crisis that the headlines keep screaming it is, then I find it odd that only such a small percentage of physicians of any weight bring this up.

Further, it turns out, only 37% of overweight doctors believe they are even competent to give eating/exercise advice.

I guess I can see where they might feel that way. After all, who wants to receive COPD education from an RT who smokes?

But, if patients have a health problem, they deserve to know, right? Disagree? Substitute the phrase your "blood pressure is 170" for "your BMI is 37" and you'll see my point.

If the patient chooses not to believe the doc can give advice, that's their choice. But, at least give them the choice.

When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, the hospital dietician stopped into my room with the day's menu options. He must have weighed 350 pounds. But, though I noted the irony in this, it never occurred to me that his recommendations weren't correct, or worthy to follow. In fact, he was my favorite provider during that whole miserable stay.

My point is that the doctor should put the patient's health first, no matter how awkward. If the doctor doesn't feel competent to give eating/exercise advice, fine (although it's not rocket science). Make a recommend to someone who does.

Theresa Flaherty