u/alk426

I feel so defeated. I’ve been waiting months to meet with an interventional neuroradiologist only to learn the imaging center they use is out of network. So my out of pocket cost would be ~$33k before I even get a diagnosis or treatment. They require a whole gambit of tests to diagnose and treat, and I was declined when I asked if we could go one by one and rule things out as we go to try to keep costs low.

I really don’t know where to go from here. I don’t want to keep spending time and money on doctors who can’t help me (an ENT and neurologist so far) and who won’t order more imaging or tests despite having an MRI that suspected IIH. My vision is OK (fortunately) so nobody knew what to do with me. I’m fairly certain it’s vascular (stops with compression) so feel I need an INR, I just can’t find one who would be covered by insurance!

At this point, I’m ready to throw the towel in and just hope it’s nothing serious. Trying to get help is more stressful than my actual PT. I wouldn’t even want to get a stent unless someone told me it’s life or death. I can live with this, it’s fortunately quiet and not 24/7 - I just don’t want an underlying cause to kill me one day.

I know many of you are managing the same battles, and I hope everyone gets help with as little stress and financial burden as possible. Please take care!

For anyone who’s received care at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago with BCBS PPO - have you had issues with the hospital being considered in or out of network depending on the specific address of your service?

In my case, the primary Huron address is what appears to be in network, but I’m getting imaging done across the street at a different address, and that address isn’t listed as in network. Seems so stupid that the entire system of Northwestern wouldn’t be in or out, but hey, that’s insurance for ya. Trying not to get slapped with a giant bill :) TIA!

As we painstakingly wait for season two, I’ve been thinking about specific moments I’d love to see from these characters. Thought I’d share and hear what you all would add to the list :)

First, a montage of them being annoyingly cute in front of Logan or unknowingly smutty where he can see/hear them (and I think some version of this could realistically play out given Logan’s storyline)

Garrett meeting Hannah’s parents and when she steps away for a second, they make a point to tell him he’s family now, and they’ll love and support him as much as they do their daughter. It could also be cute to see Garrett and her dad bonding over hockey in a completely different way than the Phil dynamic.

The guys volunteering for the kids group Logan helps with, and Hannah catching Garrett being sweet and silly with them

An actual date!!! lol

And some callbacks to S1 could be fun:

Hannah visiting him in the shower locker room and this time her staring leads to something. Similarly, her wearing his jersey and it leading to something.

Hannah coming home and finding Garrett hanging out in her room like when she was practicing her song at his place

Hearing Garrett actually ask, “What do you want, Wellsy”

Hannah kissing Garrett’s bruises

A meetup in the announcer box - maybe something happens to Garrett, and she’s busy at work so he goes in there to calm down and feel close to her, and she ends up finding him in there

I think we all know this show has an awesome soundtrack, but I wanted to share some love for the instrumental music of Keegan DeWitt. My god, the “Garrett and Hannah Theme” is so freaking good.

You’ll recognize it from their most pivotal moments - when Garrett wakes up with Hannah in his arms, when they start kissing after dancing, when they say “I love you” for the first time, and when they kiss near the skating rink before the fight.

For me, it perfectly encapsulates that feeling of new, young love. The low drum beat as the pulse of a nervous, racing heart. The slow, sweet melody of being with someone you feel at home with. And the higher-pitched, flickering melody as the hope and excitement of what might be.

I have a very strong, emotional response to music, so it’s huge part of my viewing experiences, and this music has really pulled me into these characters and their relationship. It’s become a huge part of their collective identity for me, and I hope it’s a consistent metaphor for them in future seasons.

“The Deal” is also amazing. It plays during Garrett’s speech after the showcase, and it’s both so sad and hopeful at the same time. Also, for most of it there are almost two different melodies out of sync and playing off of each other, both very light, and then at the very, very end they come together and the melody holds out for longer. So smart - a perfect reflection of Garrett and Hannah being apart and then back together.

The whole instrumental soundtrack is on YouTube if you’re interested. I love it so much!

Well geez, I did not expect to get this engrossed with a story I knew nothing about as of two days ago lol I finished it immediately, then ran to Reddit and realized it's based off a book series, and I got through most of the book today.

I'm sure none of my commentary is new, and I know opinions are divided, but I gotta say, I absolutely adore how these characters came to life on screen.

I think Ella being on the younger side was a really smart choice. There’s an innocence, shyness, and nervousness to Hannah that was stronger in the show. It's not about crushing on a guy who doesn't notice her yet (Justin) or wanting to avoid falling for a pretentious jock (Garrett). She's genuinely out of her depth with guys, and you don't really know why until she reveals her past. And until that reveal, Ella does a fantastic job portraying that without words.
I also love that this is the version of Hannah we see Show Garrett fall for. Immediately, you see a deeper appreciation for the more vulnerable sides of Hannah, like who she is when she's dancing alone or playing her music, not just the fact that she's the kind of girl who can keep up with him.

Which brings me to Garrett. I love that he's a bit more serious than the book's portrayal. After growing up in an abusive home, it's easy to mask that toll by being a noncommittal, cocky, career-obsessed athlete. But it also makes sense that any woman he lets himself get close to he's going to act serious with and treat with the utmost respect. We see his shell fade pretty instantly with Hannah because he lets himself get invested in her pretty instantly, so you see a more tender Garrett and less of the "I use sarcasm as a defense mechanism" Garrett even before they reveal their heavy pasts to each other. Even with Belmont's expressions, you don't think he's thinking the naughty, sarcastic thoughts Book Garrett keeps to himself. You're just thinking this guy's falling hard and having a hard time hiding it.

One of my favorite scenes is at the party when they're alone in the bedroom. There's so much vulnerability in that room in that entire scene. Them starting to open up about their lives is certainly poignant, but it's the subtlety in Ella's and Belmont's performances that really get me. When Garrett says he has to tell Hannah something (in regards to watching her song), Ella makes this absolutely perfect grimace like she's bracing for impact and hoping it doesn't hit too hard. And when they're on the bed and Garrett learns about the showcase, Belmont shows this quiet internal moment of contemplation about suggesting Justin help her. He even gently bites his nail as physical evidence of Garett's internal debate like, "Should I really suggest this?" because he already likes her, and he decides to because that’s what would make HER happy. Or after her karaoke song - Show Garrett quietly compliments her and smiles nervously versus his usual sarcasm.

These are the chef's kiss moments for me, because as much as I love the playful banter and smut, I love watching emotionally vulnerable characters falling for each other even more. I much prefer the show’s haters to friends to couple progression versus haters to friends with benefits to couple, most beautifully handled when trust was the focus of the orgasm plot line. For me, the quiet tenderness and adoration that comes first is what makes the buildup and payoff so sweet.

And with that, I'm going to go watch it again...