New Doctors and New Jersey
30 May
We’ve seen two of our new doctors. I really liked my nurse practitioner and all of the staff in the office. David’s new doctor’s office smelled like cigarettes. Not a good sign.
Also, during his physical, he did not have to give a urine sample or blood or even so much as lift up his shirt. The nurse took his temperature, blood pressure and weight. The “doctor” looked in his ears and nose. She then had David fill out the form to get his records from his old doctor. Then she looked at David’s lengthy list of medications and offered to refill whatever he wanted.
Yeah, that’s really not a good sign. I guess that’s how people are able to abuse prescription drugs. We’ve just never seen a doctor so negligent. We will definitely keep looking for that one.
David is still loving his job, and I’m still hating New Jersey. I think I didn’t adequately prepare myself. Everyone was so positive about the move. Friends kept saying, “It’s going to be great,” and “You’re going to love it,” and “You’ll get to see so many interesting things.”
That’s not been the case for us so far. David’s arthritis is actually better than it was in Dallas. I’m not sure if it’s the decreased humidity and more stable weather or if the Humira is really kicking in, but he is better overall. Still, he’s working a lot, and evenings and weekends he has to rest and recuperate. Maybe with summer coming he’ll feel really good and we’ll get to go see all the sights, but I’m not counting on it. (I am counting down the days till my brothers visit. And our trip back to Dallas in August. And Christmas.)
I don’t like it here. The people are not nearly so friendly, even in churches. The standards of cleanliness and appearance also seem to be lower, and I’m not just talking about the doctor’s office smelling like cigarettes. I sent a letter to the corporate office of our apartment complex outlining the dirty carpets, dust-caked light fixtures and mud in the washing machine. They sent a response saying they were “sorry the apartment wasn’t up to your standards” and we would get $50 off this month’s rent.
Anyway, I just wasn’t prepared for it to be this bad. David is really happy, so I’m trying to be content and not complain. I mean, praise God, David has a job! We have health insurance and food to eat. I do count my blessings. I also have been singing that song, “When I die, I may not go to heaven. ‘Cause I don’t know if they let cowboys in. If they don’t just let me go to Texas. ‘Cause Texas is as close as I’ve been.” It’s probably blasphemy for a Christian to sing that, but Texas really is as close as I’ve been.
If you follow me on Twitter, you might have seen that I had to call the police on my neighbors. Domestic disturbances seem to follow me here. My neighbors have horrible, obscene, hours long screaming fights every so often during the day. Friday, I head a loud slam in the middle of one of these. I wasn’t sure if someone threw an object into the wall or the other person into the wall, but I called the police. I was fine with giving them my name and address. I was impressed with how quickly they arrived.
I was NOT impressed with them knocking on my door asking which neighbor it was when I’d already explained this to dispatch. I had to practically slam the door in the officer’s face when his partner started knocking on my neighbors’ door and they opened it. I don’t want my neighbors to know it was me who called the cops! Hello? Even the police aren’t as good up here.
Next time, Henry should be the one to answer the door bell!
) xoxox
: ( I’m so sorry. I’ve been to New Jersey a couple of times…I know what you mean. Once when I was there we went to a pizza place where you ordered slices at the counter. The guy behind the counter was so mean he scared me! I’m like, don’t you want to be NICE to your customers? The guy was visiting out there said that they dind’t care. Yikes. Hang in there, kiddo. Still praying you meet a wonderful, also displaced young couple!
Love you.
Gross on the doctor’s office! I am sorry and I hope New Jersey starts to seem better soon.
I’m so sorry – I’d feel the same way – I worked once with a physical therapist from New Jersey – he was great – maybe some of those folks will come along soon! Don’t give up hope!
August, August, August. I think I can make it. Ok, maybe not. August, August, August… Gross on the drs office. Umm, try again! Praying for you every day.
Praying for you! I wish I could come over and give you a hug and hang out…but I’m not even from Texas…so that might not help…I just wish you could find a few really AWESOME friends there to help Jersey not be so yuck. Praying. Praying. Praying!!!
I’m stopping by from SITS for your SITS day and reading your NJ-related posts makes me want to just pick you up and show you the New Jersey that I know! I can totally relate to your frustrations. When my family and I first moved here, I felt the same way. Once you get to really know the real NJ, you will fall in love with it. Promise. It might be a south Jersey thing because I hated it there too.
As a native Jersey girl I’m sorry to hear you’re not loving it here — your experiences are not true of the whole state – and, I’m sorry to say, you are living in one of the worst cities in the state (Camden and Newark are probably tied for that honor) — have you taken the opportunity to take a look around the rest of the state? NJ has gorgeous beaches, beautiful countryside roads, wonderfully retro diners, and charming small towns.
Stopping by from SITS. I am not from NJ nor I have ever been there or Texas for that matter. But what I have done is move, and we have done it a lot. I so feel your pain. I have moved so much I used to judge my immersion into the new place by how often my phone rang (with new people/friends).
I also feel so bad for your husband. The whole dr thing is so frustrating. You are your best health care provider, so don’t stop looking until you find the best care for your husband.
Hang in there, friends will come. You had just better warn you new friend that she will be blogged about, because we will all want to know.