u/chronically_classy

Hi! I am 40f and single. All of my friends have families and are doing fireworks with their kids tonight. I dont really care about seeing the fireworks, but thought maybe I would just go have dinner by myself and sit at the bar somewhere. I dont really drink much but I would have a cocktail if I am taking up space at a bar. Anyway, what are some nicer restaurants in North County that I could have dinner at that might be open tonight with good food and vibes. Bonus if there’s some type of view but if not that’s fine too. Wouldn’t be disappointed if there might be single men there either 😅 Just not looking for places full of holiday debauchery and guys in their 20s. Appreciate any recs!

My dog needs an ultrasound of his abdomen - its not an emergency. My vet charges $650. willing to pay it, but thought I would see if anyone has any insight on if this is a competitive price or not, and/or any recommendations. thanks in advance.

At what point and how do you inform your employer of your Celiac?

I have only had one job since I got diagnosed, and I told them early on because my first week was in-person meetings. I never told HR directly.

I am working remotely but think it could be important for two reasons (1) if I am ever required to travel for work meetings, I want to be able to work with them on the best accomodations - this could mean arriving a day earlier than others to go get groceries, or work with event staff to discuss options, etc. (2) i am starting june 1 and already need time off for an endoscopy in late june. they have ”unlimited pto” so its not an issue but my gut tells me its better to inform them?

I woke up around 2am and was trying to fall back asleep and heard clearly a noise downstairs. It wasnt a noise my dog makes - he is 9 and the only noise I ever hear from him in middle of night is barking, drinking, or nails on hard floor if he is coming upstairs.

I freaked out grabbed my personal safety alarm and packing knife that I keep next to my bed lol 

Turn lights on, go downstairs. 

A pill bottle that was on the kitchen counter (with ten pills in it) somehow had fallen on the ground in the kitchen all by itself. this did match the sound I heard. it was on the counter but tucked behind a full towel and there is NO way it could have rolled off. it was standing on its bottom, not on its side.

Earlier in the night I had gone to dinner, was gone for four hours, came home and there was a huge puddle of water, my dog had peed inside which he has never done in his life since the first week I owned him. We were out at the beach for several hours right before that, and he peed plenty of times there.

But now im wondering if there is suddenly a ghost 😭 and freaking out. What do you think?

Complicated story but I'll try to make it simple. I appreciate any advice.

I've had COBRA since mid-2025. Late December, was notified on my COBRA administrator platform that my rate was increasing (very small increase, like $10 a month). The plan listed was NOT changed whatsoever. The full name of the plan was the same. Moving into this year, on my insurer's site, my plan name changed completely - the Copay changed (lower), but coinsurance increased for various procedures; deductible remained the same.

I had a very expensive procedure scheduled for December 31, of which the office had informed me I would owe only $60 or something like that. I ended up moving it to the first week of Jan. I've been billed over $2,000 for it now. I've also had higher copays for imaging than I had to pay last year.

I have spent many many many hours on the phone with the COBRA administrator and the insurer both. I eventually got them on the phone with each other even. COBRA says that my employer informed them (after my questioning) that my plan itself has not changed, and their site is correct. The insurer says they would never have changed it without the employer telling them to. When I got them on the phone with each other, the COBRA administrator told the insurer what they told me - the plan should not have changed.

But.... I have not heard back again from the insurer... and the COBRA admin site remains the same. I'm effectively paying for a plan and receiving a totally different plan, and neither of them seem to want to come to a resolution with me. I've spent probably 30 hours on the phone with both of them talking in circles.

What can I do to get the plan changed back to the original plan, and get the claims re-run so Idont have to pay the 2k bill now?

EDIT: I have a $0 deductible (both years) and the procedure was in network, so the change in cost was not simply due to changing the appt to a new calendar year. the cost difference is because of the coinsurance difference from the old plan (the one I am still paying for) to the new plan (the one im not paying for but that is in effect).