A Fortnight on Hold

Well, I called Progressive and the first guy I talked to made me feel instantly better. For one thing, his name was Alan (or Allen or Allan or whatever) so that struck me as a good sign. He was very helpful and set me up with an appointment at the Progressive Concierge Service Center. He also had a claims adjuster contact me (very promptly) who was also quite helpful. He walked me through it and answered all my questions about what happens between them and Geico and if I will ever get my deductible back. The short answer is that I should, but it could take a while. Then yesterday morning I dropped my car off with Progressive and the lady who helped me was named Zelinsky. I also consider this a good sign since it’s so close to my last name that it could have come from the same Russian original.  Anyway, she got me all set up with a rental. I had thought about refusing it, but being sans vehicle is not practical, and I’m nothing if not practical.  So I now have a Kia Rondo.  Ugh. It seems to be their goal to put one in a car similar to the one you normally drive, but I do not like it, even if it does satellite radio. I miss my little space pod. 🙁  At any rate, since I dropped it off so early they had an estimate by mid-afternoon. $2,750… for a space less than 2’x2′. but they have to replace the entire rear quarter panel, plus the light and the bumper cover… and let’s not forget paint.  And it’ll take at least two weeks.  Ugh.  Still, everyone’s been very nice, so I’m feeling good about the experience, in so far as that’s possible.

After I got done at Progressive (15 minutes!) I went over to the walk-in clinic. They swabbed me for strep, which made me gag, as usual. The quick test was negative, but the other culture is due back tomorrow. It is not an upper respiratory infection. I’m glad of that because I was beginning to suspect that they just say that when they can’t think of anything else. It is, in fact, bronchitis, which is the most useless diagnosis on the planet.  Bronchitis can be caused by either a virus or bacteria, though a virus is more usual, which means there’s nothing to do but wait it out.  He prescribed a Z-pak on the theory that it could be bacterial, told me to buy a humidifierand some Mucinex, and gave me another prescription for good ol’ Tussin… plus CODEINE. ^_^ Between that and the humidifier next to the bed, I slept pretty soundly. It still feels like I have feathers stuffed in my lungs and my head hurts a bit from the codeine, but at least I got a break from the endless hacking.

Alisa wants me to start as soon as I can, so she’s obviously fairly concerned that I’ve gotten sick.  On the other hand, I do have a miniscule check waiting for me from the Open House last Thursday, so that’ll help a bit.  It’ll buy me gas, at least.  And my parents are sending me a check to cover the deductible to be paid back when I get the money  from Geico, or in little bits, to be determined by the unfolding of events. Thank god for helpful parents.  I still have to get to the doctor for a physical, but since our insurance is the old fashioned kind, it means I don’t have to pay for it for awhile. So yay.

And maybe things will go insanely well at the body shop and my car will be ready sooner than anticipated. A girl can dream, anyway.

~Liz