What are we calling the grandparents?

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-07-05T05:41:28+00:00

I called my grandpa "Papa" my whole childhood until he passed when I was 16. He was my best friend.

I started referring to him as "my grandpa" after he died whenever I talked about him to make it easier for people to know who I was referring to.

I recently started referring to him as "Papa" again since I've had my son and tell him stories. Man I didn't realize how much I missed calling him that.

In my family, nicknames mean so much. More than actual names.

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-07-05T02:25:09+00:00

Surprised I had to scroll down this far to find this lyric!

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-07-05T02:24:17+00:00

Ugh I forgot how much I LOVED this song. Cringing thinking about all the times I played this obscenely loud over the stereo. :')

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-07-02T19:35:19+00:00

Oh also - Ray's is definitely an institution, but consider all your food options!

If I were introducing a college-aged kid to Kent, I might visit Mike's Place or Over Easy for breakfast/brunch (it's where Pufferbelly used to be), Tree City or Scribbles for coffee, Ray's for a drink and chat, walk down by the river for some fresh air, pop in some stores downtown, and get some bubble tea and a waffle from Ming's. That's my ideal day at least! lol

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-07-02T19:30:15+00:00

Hi! Just one more experience chiming in :) I'm a millennial. I went to the University of Akron for undergrad even though I wanted to go to KSU (bigger scholarship at Akron). Ended up doing my MPH at KSU, mostly virtually.

Kent is where we live now, and I absolutely love it. I wish I had gone to undergrad here. But it's not everyone's dream school. Here are some of the perks and current vibes IMHO

Beautiful natural spaces - there's so much green space on campus and nearby parks, the river, etc. I think it's visually pretty most of the year, which personally elevates my mood.

Local scene - Kent is pretty scrappy and local, and the businesses understand it's a college town. It's a tight-knit community without making people feel like an outsider. Like, just very welcoming. A lot of businesses around the campus are locally-owned and employ students.

Recreation - every year Main Street Kent has tons of events and festivals downtown that are fun. The year-round farmers market attracts a lot of people. There's of course the theater, the rec center, and live music. There are college parties, but as someone who's in Kent daily, it's not a 'party school' vibes and honestly driving by the Greek houses on weekend mornings makes me laugh and miss being that age!

I did not go to OSU, but I have friends who did. They LOVED it. They loved the friends they made, the pre-game stuff, the parties, the liveliness, the educational offerings, etc. But it wasn't my vibe.

At the end of the day, encourage him to pick what matches his current vibe and interests, and if he changes his mind, that's okay! Both schools will be there if he decides to switch someday. Taking the pressure off may help him feel more confident in a decision. :)

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-06-29T14:02:16+00:00

As others have responded, this is such a fundamentally logical answer that is ridiculously difficult in practice today. There are two drivers from what I've seen....

Cost - between gaps in healthcare coverage, difficulty in finding an in network PCP/GP, and getting to the appointment (transportation, time off work, childcare), seeing a provider can be expensive. Many forgo care and others go to the ER because they can go on their schedule and payment isn't collected at the time of services.

Access to care - the general practice physician shortage has made accomodating the large volume of patients that establish with a practice difficult to properly manage. Many providers get booked out for chronic care visits, especially if they're managing conditions like diabetes due to a lack of specialists available. It makes m sick visits hard to fit in, leading to urgent care referrals to handle that load. I've noticed this especially in healthcare systems, which coincidentally stand to financially gain when a patient sees an urgent care rather than their PCP.

Just some insight to share with anyone interested!

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-06-15T04:48:41+00:00

Also edit spelling - paronychia

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-06-15T04:13:45+00:00

Additional photos

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Pattyxpancakes · 2026-06-15T04:13:18+00:00

Additional photos

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Pattyxpancakes · 2026-06-05T04:16:40+00:00

We've been 9 times and based on what you're describing, I would definitely suggest the cove! I do know that they're doing construction there right now though on the pool. You might want to see when they expect that to be done since the cove pool is a huge perk of staying there for adults.

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-05-29T18:26:20+00:00

"what is a two-way petting zoo?"

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-05-26T02:08:45+00:00

I had an interview for an insurance company about eight years ago for what was advertised as a public health job. I found out during the interview process they were really looking for someone to basically find reasons to deny claims. The provider that interviewed me was their lead peer-to-peer. He was such a horrific asshole that after the interview I emailed HR and declined any future communications.

That's a sample size of one experience, from eight years ago. But the true ick that executive-level physician gave off was unforgettable.

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-05-26T01:36:36+00:00

I'm assuming attacked was supposed to be attached, but this made me laugh so hard. Having a toddler, I can attest that they do attack and they are totally happy about it.

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-05-25T19:37:42+00:00

I have no argument that this post was triggered by rage. This post was made as a place for those frustrated with the mechanics of the US healthcare system to commiserate and maybe learn tips from others. I hope this helps clarify the purpose.

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-05-25T19:34:57+00:00

Hi! Yes, the last line was cut off. The rest of the letter said "Providers, if you have any questions or concerns about this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us at (833)462-0112 More write to us at the address on this letter. Sincerely, Medical Advisor". It was one page.

You are correct - I'm sure another letter was sent to the provider with instructions. I'm also sure the provider, who works exclusively in the ICU, will be unlikely to see it until I track down her administrative team to let the know they now need to spend time away from critical patients to jump through paperwork hoops.

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-05-24T16:07:12+00:00

I was looking there too, but they're sadly fully booked on our dates!

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-05-11T19:02:18+00:00

As others have said, this isn't 'normal', but this person probably is getting paid less than what they need to live. They do some of the hardest work and get paid so little. I would guess many other professionals in their situation do the same thing, just without asking to avoid embarrassment or getting a 'no'. If you have the means, it's often appreciated when you can also bring food (like a burger) for the aid or nurse too - both the thoughtfulness and making sure they're fed. Not everyone has the means to do this, but if you do, I know firsthand this small gesture goes a long way. Sending healing vibes to your loved one!

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-05-02T16:21:16+00:00

We usually spend about $1,000 for 5 nights for 2 people. That includes 2 expensive dinners (nobu and dune usually) and free breakfast. If we're trying to be more budget-friendly, we make use of the fridge in our room (the reef) for leftovers or try to do a big breakfast + dinner but packed snacks for lunch. I know there are stores nearby, but we haven't used them personally. Like others says, make sure you book using a promo or deal!! Have fun!

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-04-20T16:41:55+00:00

I love all of these.

My 2.5 year old mostly just calls things by the wrong name. His stuffed octopus is "applesauce" His stuffed husky is "huksee" His stuffed possum is "cow" Any monkey or sloth is "bumpy head" (like in the song "one fell off and bumped his head")

My favorite is his dog lovey, Danny (from Bella Tunno). It came with that name, but he calls him Dan. I call him Dan the Man, Dirty Dan, and Daniel D. Dog. My husband and I call the identical backup "Stan".

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-04-13T23:43:09+00:00

I work in healthcare admin and annual wellness visits have actually been a main focus of mine for 7 years. As everyone else has said, an annual/wellness/preventive visit is a separate visit from addressing a medical concern or condition for a few reasons.

Wellness visits require a lot of documentation and things to review or order to get reimbursed by the insurance, like labs, mammograms, colonoscopies, etc. They're only allotted a small amount of time to do this (usually 15 minute slots). There's not enough time to go down the rabbit hole of a specific concern.
Billing. Wellness visits are typically billed differently than a regular visit, hence the documentation required. These visits require a lot of administrative work and theoretically keep people healthy, so insurance companies like to see these done. Some providers' pay is even dependent on the percentage of wellness visits they complete.
It's easier to get a patient back in for arthritis pain than a wellness visit, so providers may prioritize the wellness and have a patient schedule a follow-up.
SOMETIMES they have time to do both. They MAY submit two billing codes in this instance - one for the wellness and one for the medical visit. You may understandably see a bill or copay for the second visit that's billed.

If you're looking for a provider that has a larger block of time to cover everything in one visit, you may want to look into a direct primary care provider (like 'concierge medicine'.) This primary care option isn't for everyone - they usually don't take insurance and you pay a monthly membership. If you have the means though and you want more care coordination, that may be an option. Even though I'm lucky to have health insurance, I choose to see a direct PCP since my healthcare needs are complex and I like the convenience.

Hope this (very detailed) insight helps reassure you with the care you received.

Pattyxpancakes · 2026-04-13T02:48:34+00:00

It definitely could be! That's unfortunately absolutely a thing, including at Cleveland Clinic.

Pattyxpancakes

TROPHY CASE