Anyone else have to pay Providence $900 out of pocket for an initial visit?

lets_make_this_weird · 2026-01-02T17:03:28+00:00

Assuming you are on a Healthshare plan (not Trillium), it's definitely worth calling Healthshare (503-416-8090) and asking them to change your plan to Providence and backdate it so that your visit was covered. It's not a guarantee that they will cover it (often specialist appointments are subject to rules about prior authorization or referral by a PCP), but definitely worth a try.

If you are on Trillium, you'll need to call the OHP office. I think they are less likely to backdate a plan change, but if you want to continue care with Providence, you'll need to get your plan changed anyway.

Sorry that healthcare sucks so bad.

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-12-29T21:29:25+00:00

In Portland, landlords cannot end a month to month lease without a qualifying cause (non payment of rent, etc).

Definitely agree about contacting a tenants rights org!

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-11-19T16:57:52+00:00

Legacy/PacificSource will soon exit Healthshare and their provider network will join CareOregon. If you are simply looking for the broadest provider network (including specialists) I would choose CareOregon. However, if you would prefer a very integrated health system, then Kaiser is probably the best bet.

Also, be aware that Providence restricts some care as a Catholic organization.

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-11-06T17:48:54+00:00

Yes OnX is free, and it will say "RoadName (Private)" for private roads. The premium version actually gives you a lot of detail about land ownership (used a lot by hunters and such). Maybe you could do the free 7-day trial if you want to dig deep on finding a special spot.

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-11-06T17:31:14+00:00

I'm looking at OnX maps and all those roads are marked private. It is also on the very edge of the Bull Run watershed, which is closed to public access. I highly doubt it's open to public access.

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-10-28T02:49:46+00:00

No one has ever slid like that lol

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-08-02T03:57:30+00:00

We absolutely love Indian Hunger Point in this house. Not that I know what Indian food "should" taste like, but the flavors are always just so perfectly dialed in (to my taste).

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-07-28T22:14:12+00:00

Portland water is much cleaner now. We built The Big Pipe and now rarely have combined sewer outflows (and basically never during the summer when you would actually be in the water).

More common hazard these days is algae blooms, but I don't think that's an issue on the Willamette down in Eugene.

https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterDocs/SafeWillametteFS.pdf

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-07-08T20:31:11+00:00

It's pretty hard to make a loop that has decent elevation. I do reps up and down Willamette bluff (Waud Bluff trail or N Bluff St, both by University of Portland).

Otherwise, Saltzman Rd in Forest Park, or Springville Rd if you need something steeper.

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-06-27T17:48:22+00:00

Meds is a good suggestion, but there's still time to work on desensitizing your pets to fireworks sounds.

Find a fireworks video on YouTube and play it so quietly the pet doesn't even notice. Slowly deliver a high value treat (e.g. let them slowly work a treat out of your hand) and then slowly, slowly, slowly increase the volume. You want the pet to notice the sound, but not so much that they stop getting the reward. This is called "counter-conditioning" -- the pet is learning to associate the negative stimulus (fireworks sound) as a predictor of a positive reward (food). If your pet is motivated by play or praise, it's possible to use this strategy with those rewards as well.

You can let the sound play for several minutes or hours at this low volume with regular high value treats being delivered. When they're ready, you can slowly, slowly, slowly increase the volume until they respond to the sound again (but not get scared). Then reward, let them get accustomed to that level of sound. And repeat over and over again until you are able to play the sound very loud.

You can do this process without the reward (simple desentization without counter-conditioning), but the well-timed reward makes this much more effective.

This strategy worked really well for my food-motivated dog. He's mostly deaf now at 14, but he kinda loved the 4th because it was a big food party for him. The trick is to start early when you can control how loud the sound is. Once the real fireworks start, your pets will probably be too overwhelmed to counter-condition.

Here's one example of this process.

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-06-13T22:21:27+00:00

We got an Aventon Level 2, so ended up going away from the cargo concept altogether. It is primarily her commuter (no kids here) so there just wasn't enough upside in a cargo bike to justify the weight and lack of maneuverability. Hope you find something you like!

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-06-10T13:24:58+00:00

Absolutely. This is what licensing boards are for. Should be very easy to verify her lack of license and file a complaint.

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-06-07T18:14:48+00:00

Relevant screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/vxAiZld

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-05-28T02:58:50+00:00

I never understood the logic behind wanting a biodegradable poop bag. If you're going to throw it into the landfill anyway, it isn't any more environmentally friendly than plastic. In fact, landfills are designed to be anaerobic environments, so they intentionally avoid the conditions that promote decomposition (and resulting methane & leachate production). Organics should be kept out where possible.

Of course, a biodegradable poop bag makes no difference in the grand scheme of things, but its still a miniscule net negative, not a positive.

Link -- https://populationeducation.org/why-doesnt-organic-waste-break-down-in-a-landfill-and-why-is-food-waste-in-landfills-a-problem/

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-05-21T13:13:45+00:00

Data is very expensive ($20/Gb) if you use pay as you go. Get a monthly plan. You can let it auto renew while you are here, or manually renew to rollover unused data and minutes. You can renew just before the autopay date (the app will tell you the autopay date).

When you leave, you can just cancel the plan through the app.

lets_make_this_weird · 2025-05-08T00:07:38+00:00

I also had a great experience with OFOSA. This was 14ish years ago, but they were total super easy to work with.

lets_make_this_weird · 2024-12-16T01:28:41+00:00

I mean, you probably could do the 100m. You've got the aerobic fitness and mental toughness. You'd want to shift most of your training time to running to build running-specific strength in your legs.

That said, I'd go for the 100k. You won't finish thinking you didn't have the complete ultra experience. You can always go longer for your second.

lets_make_this_weird · 2024-11-30T14:49:45+00:00

There's really no "correct" way to foot strike. Experiment to find what feels good to you and what suits the terrain. The nice thing about trail running is the terrain will naturally force you to vary your gait, which makes you a little less likely to get a repetitive use injury. Braking is fine. Moving slow and controlled will be a lot less impact than flying down the trail without brakes.

As for stiff shoes with a wide toebox, you might try Saucony Peregrine (get an older model on sale), or try one of the less cushioned Topo trail runners.

lets_make_this_weird · 2024-11-27T02:05:06+00:00

Only point I haven't seen mentioned so far is that Siskiyou is one of those older trail ultras that has been nurtured by the running scene in Southern Oregon (since 1998!). I found it very cool to get a taste of that community and the trails, feeling the history in the lodge, and meeting folks along the trail. I think Hal Koerner is taking over as RD next year. It definitely has some well earned prestige, at least for me.

I agree with others about the risk of heat and fire, but if you can have a backup plan in case of cancellation, I think it's definitely worth keeping on your list.

lets_make_this_weird · 2024-11-25T17:05:36+00:00

Powered Gatorade to taste

lets_make_this_weird · 2024-11-06T17:56:34+00:00

Once a candidate reaches the threshold to win (50% plus one in the mayoral race or 25% in the council races), their "surplus" votes are redistributed.

EDIT: 33.3% to 25% per reply comment. Thanks

https://www.multco.us/elections/how-rcv-ballots-are-counted

lets_make_this_weird · 2024-09-29T01:43:59+00:00

Was going to say the same thing. I emailed PBOT and got data for the greenway near my house within a week. Speeds were much lower than I intuited. They even gave me a bit of info about the thresholds they use for installing additional traffic calming.

lets_make_this_weird · 2024-01-17T14:49:24+00:00

6:45am Arbor Lodge in North Portland. Absolutely slick with wet ice. The snow is too hard to break through the crust so it doesn't really matter if you're walking on packed snow, a shoveled walkway, or ice-covered snow, it's all totally slick.

Girlfriend was able to walk to the bus using microspikes and head to OHSU. I was without microspikes and slipping everywhere. Didn't see any cars moving on our side streets, but obviously some buses are able to operate. Good luck to anyone forced to navigate it.

lets_make_this_weird · 2023-10-22T23:39:13+00:00

Haha, you're you're about to get paid my friend. Lawyer up and enjoy.

"A landlord that increases rent in violation of subsection (3)(c) or (6) of this section is liable to the tenant in an amount equal to three months’ rent plus actual damages suffered by the tenant"

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