The Writer's Life 5/12 - Step One.

I qualified for Medicare on May 1st. Today I made my first trip to the doctor in two years. My bottom blood pressure number is elevated, 94. Just the other day I was thinking about taking grape seed tablets, which supposedly address it. I will look for them on my Thursday morning trip to Stop n Shop. I don't want to go the prescription drug route. There are the beginnings of cataracts in my left eye. It's too soon for laser surgery. The next step is the blood and urine work, which will be picked up by taxpayers. Last time it cost me at least $500.  I'm a week from my 65th birthday. This stuff is now a lot scarier than it used to be. I asked the doctor his opinion of Obamacare. He thinks it's terrible, just as do the myriad physicians of the lady I accompany on her visits. Before the law, 85% of Americans were happy with their health care. I wonder what the percentage is now. Today I paid about a little more than $121. I'll owe about another $25. It was a little more than that two years ago, when I paid out of pocket, so this is a good deal. And if I'm lucky enough to get to an age where the benefits exceed the value of what I paid in taxes, it will be a steal. At that point I think the government would be wise to means test me and others so that the program is on solid financial ground. The same should be done with Social Security. Of course, many vehemently oppose any changes. It will be interesting to see if a solution other than a massive tax increase will ever win a mandate. My guess is that it won't, that the tilt toward a European-style democracy now has too many converts to be reversed.


Since it was only nine-thirty when I got to my car, and since I was halfway there, I decided to take the floating book shop to Park Slope, hoping to land a parking spot as the alternate side regulation ended. Unfortunately, the time span on the specific blocks I target is from eleven to one-thirty, so it was off to option two: Bay Parkway. As I reached the exit on the Belt Parkway, it was close to lunch time. I pulled into Wendy's parking lot. I hadn't been there in years. A salad and a soda cost $9.34. I was shocked. It's about $7 at McDonalds. At least it was good. Fortified, I set up shop under the tree in front of Chase by 11:45. Fortunately, I was wearing a T-shirt and shorts. Even in the shade it was warm. And the change of venue paid off nicely, as a woman bought Killing for her husband Anthony, who grew up in Bensonhurst, where the novel takes place. I also had a nice thrill as a lovely Asian woman I hadn't seen in a few years happened by in her dental assistant attire. She was nine months pregnant the first time she bought books from me. Her son is now in the fifth grade. Two kids and she can still pass for 20. My thanks, ladies, and to the other kind folks who made purchases.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/