Friday, May 20, 2016

Friday Favorites 5.20.16

When I relaunched this blog two years ago, I decided it was going to be a balance of all aspects of my life.   Well, I don’t know about you, but that last entry made my head hurt, so I think it’s time for something a little more fun.  How about some Friday Favorites?

Ok.  I thought so.  Here’s a list of random things I’m loving recently!

1.     This box of K-cups.

Seriously though.  I bought this random box of Kcups because I like getting to pick a new flavor every day instead of being limited to 24 of the same flavor I may or may not be in the mood for, and since my favorite local small business coffee dealer Big Cats Coffee (out of New England) is no longer able to customize boxes, I went to Amazon.   This box has so many brands and flavors I had never even heard of, including Friendly’s ice cream flavors like Vienna Mocha Chunk! It's just like going out with my family after a dance recital!  Every morning is a treat, and I actually have found myself spending less at Starbucks, because I can have an even better cup of coffee in the office!  Bam!





There is actually a funny story here, because I didn’t buy them.  I have not bought shoes in quite some time, and have recently found myself regretting some of the intense purging I did before the move.  Ugh.  I was at work the other day, and a colleague of mine stopped me in the hall and said, “Mallory, can I ask you a weird question?  What size do you wear… like where do you shop?”  Trust me, on the scale of weird questions I have received, that’s like a .5.   She went on to explain she had a daughter who had outgrown some of her shoes and clothes and they were really nice and she was wondering if I would like to try them on and see what I wanted before she tried to sell or get rid of the rest.  WELL YES, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.  She brought a bag of shoes a couple days later and I sat awkwardly in my cube with no shame, trying on various pink winter boots, flip flops and these babies.  The thing I love about them is they are so comfortable, AND they both zip up all the way.  I have a few other pairs of black zippy boots and while my Fryes are also super comfortable, I swear I have one calf that’s bigger than the other, and one won’t zip all the way.  So thanks Kenneth Cole, and my dear friend Gina for these beauties!  My awkward calves are so grateful!



I am so sorry if you are a person who used to have respect for me, but this show has been my existence for like the last month and I am totally in a show hole.  I even began dreaming about these people like they were my friends and that Lisa Vanderpump was my boss. Let me be honest with you.  This is pure trash with people that I have zero respect for.  Except, I basically want their lives.  Nobody in the world could ever drink that much or speak to their boss the way they do and still have a job, let alone get to take a week off here and there to go to Vegas or Hawaii EVERY time a staff member has a birthday.  But they do.  And they’re models and have gorgeous apartments and it’s L/A and just… I CANNOT STOP WATCHING.  Lucky for me, there is talk of Season 5, and I have been filling the void with the podcast of our favorite beauty/villain, Straight up with Stassi.  So there’s that.  Also, my NY housewives are back, so it’s not a total show hole.  Sigh.




5.   My license picture



Let’s talk about this for a second.  Are you serious?  I got complimented on my old license and ID picture. Gone are those days! Nobody told me that when we moved here that Colorado was a “no smiling state.”  Bummer dude.  I especially love my new lazy eye that appears when I try to take a selfie, and my perma-cow lick that I cannot get rid of no matter what I do.  So, I guess it is just all things me.  There are plenty of other smiling pictures, and, if I ever do commit a crime (not in the cards….)  I can save them a step.





Happy Friday Y’all.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Life is a Highway Part II

Here is the full saga of my adventure trying to transfer my out of state license after the big move. I will warn you, it's a SAGA. My hope is that maybe it can save other people some of the nonsense I went through. Feel free to read on if you have time. Prepare to get frustrated...


Five years ago, I got my driver’s license.  As some of you may know, it took me about ten years.  


What I didn’t think about was that after that, I might be moving to another state (two different states actually) and what that would mean for said driver’s license.


LUCKY FOR YOU.  Once again, I am here, to provide transition “lessons learned” so that if any of you driven, ambitious young people want to get the hell out of your home state you will know the steps to go through to eventually transfer your out of state license, be a real citizen of that state, and MAYBE have to make less ridiculous trips to the DMV than I did.


Let me back up a little bit.  


We moved to Colorado in August of 2015.  My license expires May 28, 2016.  I got my Colorado license today… with 12 days to spare, before my Maine license would expire


I made my first trip to the DMV in October of 2015.  There were a couple of reasons I waited to start the process a little late in the game.  The first one, is similar to why I waited to  transfer my healthcare when I was living Boston.  Because I just wasn’t sure.  As I have mentioned before, I am most definitely my own worst enemy when it comes to believing in myself, and my life choices.  WHAT IF I FAIL!?!?!?  What if I lose all my money and my job, and everyone hates me and we lose our apartment, and I have to move back to Maine!?!?!!? I might as well keep my Maine license, juuuust in case.


The second reason- let’s just be clear about this.  I AM NOT ACTUALLY DRIVING IN COLORADO.  My car, Lily, is happily in Maine, hanging out with my sister, because logistics, and I take the bus, and it’s fine.  Otherwise, I would have had to renew my out of state license within 30 days of changing my residence to Colorado (this may vary per state, so be sure to check)


Anyway, so one day in October, I took the morning off from work, and took an Uber to the specific DMV that does driver’s license (cha ching- $20).  I had done my research on the website, and had my proof of residency, my passport, my current license, a blood sample, my first born, etc etc.  
It really didn’t take that long to get called and go through the process, so I figured I was good to go.  However, when they called me up to get my photo taken, they had me review my information to make sure it was correct.  And my apartment # was wrong.  UGH. So, I mentioned it (come to find out, I managed to grab the ONE piece of mail that actually had my address wrong…but somehow it got to me so go figure) When I mentioned it was incorrect, they had me sit back down.  So I did, and waited, and waited.  And I knew I was not leaving with a license.


Sure enough, they called me back up, and having looked at my file, explained to me that I needed to have a form filled out by my doctor, because it said on my license that I needed accommodations in my vehicle THAT IS NOT EVEN IN THE STATE OF COLORADO.  I will say the staff was super nice, and even checked with the manager if this was the case, but it was.  Then they sent me on my way, with the form.

It’s kind of funny because I try not to be a big nerd who is like “Everything has to do with health care,” but you guys, everything has to do with health care.   


At this time, I was also transitioning to my second PCP because my first one just did not have follow through that I needed (that’s another blog).  I ended up switching to an Internal Medicine group, that is a lot better, so when I got my first appointment, I brought in the form, to this poor doctor who has never even met me.  She was nice, and didn’t ask many questions, and filled out the form.  


Then the holidays, work, and life happened, and I didn’t have the opportunity to take ANOTHER morning off to go to the DMV and do this again.  But, since the clock was ticking, I found a day.  I made sure all my mail had the correct address, paper-clipped all my crap together, took another Uber (cha-ching) and went back to east middle of Nowhere to the Driver’s License office.


This guy was also super nice, but as he examined the form, he told me that it didn’t include the specific information it needed explaining my particular accommodations that I need IN MY VEHICLE THAT IS NOT IN COLORADO.


I asked him (still being my super nice, Advocate self)  “Ok, well does it say to include that information on the form?”


DMV Dude: “Well, no.  But the doctor is just supposed to know.”


Clearly, they teach mind reading in med school.  I wish they had taught that in Public Health school, then maybe I would have known what I needed before I went to the DMV twice


I know he was just trying to help, but clearly not understanding how healthcare works, this kind young man said “Well if you can go back today and have them fill it out, and come back, I can help you right away.”


My doctor’s office is a half an hour in the OPPOSITE direction from my house, so about an hour from the DMV, which is in the middle of nowhere in the other direction.  Also,  you don’t just stroll into Internal Medicine and say “Hey, I need someone who can just jot some words on this form.  AGAIN.”


This was also the day of the Super Bowl parade, so getting anywhere in the city would take twice as long.  I ALSO need to mention, that in my current job, I do not have paid time off.  Not only am I paying to Uber each time, but I’m missing valuable work time that I am not getting compensated for.  My choice, but still, another factor that makes each DMV trip even more painful.


After they sent me away the second time, I had a very long moral dilemma.  I had a form with my doctor’s signature, and we had discussed my accommodations and everything I needed, technically I could just write in the notes section, whatever they needed and save myself a trip BACK to my doctor’s office.  I also didn’t have health insurance during this time, so I was not about to be billed for a dr filling out a form they ALREADY FILLED OUT.


Finally, I decided I was just going to fill in the information, and make another trip to the DMV.  Well, apparently the universe didn’t think that was a good idea because the form was blank.  After my second trip, the guy at the DMV had TAKEN THE FORM THAT WAS SIGNED and given me a blank one, without even telling me.  I was literally back at square one.  Are you kidding me?


At this point, I had lost much of my motivation to even make this happen.  The other reason that I was in such a panic to get my CO license in the first place was because I was going to be applying for jobs with the state, and having a CO license is a requirement.  At this point though, I had gone through the process and checked with HR, and since I already worked at the state, and could prove residency, as long as I was working on it, they told me it wasn’t as urgent.  That helped me relax a little bit, but I still just wanted to get it done.  The clock was still ticking, and as I mentioned, after spending 10 years trying to get my license, I will be damned if I was going to sacrifice it because the system is completely inefficient.


Fast forward to May, after four months of not having health insurance (another blog), and I make an appointment to see my new PCP, and figure i’ll have her fill out the form ONCE AGAIN.  Please note- this was AFTER I had been messaging with my team (who are all residents so I never see the same person twice) and they said I could mail the form, and they would fill it out and send it back.  Then they told me I needed to make an appointment EVEN THOUGH THEY ALREADY FILLED IT OUT ONCE.  But whatever, at this point I had other issues I wanted to discuss anyway so I actually just took a whole freaking day off in the name of wellness and took the bus to the doctor.  Because Eff Uber when the sun is out and I have nothing but time.  


I go to the doctor, and wait… wait… because healthcare is inefficient.  Then I get in with the doctor, and she says, “So you’re here for some paperwork?”  


“Yes, and you have the paperwork.  It was in an envelope with a note that included very specific instructions on what to write and it had a note that said, DO NOT LOSE THIS FORM.”


“I’ll be right back.”


I’m sure you know where this is going.  They couldn’t find the form.  I decided before I even went, I was not leaving without this form so I told them to find it.   They were super gracious, and they did find it.  Let me re-emphasize. I WROTE DOWN what I wanted them to write on the form.  This was another person who had never met me, so I basically did all the work and they got to bill my insurance.  CHA- CHING.  I left with the form.


Today, 2 weeks after that appointment, I decided to just take the plunge.  I gathered all my documentation UH-GAIN.  Left the house at 7 a.m. in the rain and Ubered to the DMV.  Luckily, I had the same girl I had the first time, who raised both eyebrows when I said “Maybe third time’s the charm?”


In less than 20 minutes, I was waiting to get my picture taken.  I was a little worried when she disappeared for a little too long, that there was some other reason I wouldn’t be leaving with a license, but I made a vow to myself I was not leaving until it was complete.  I was done playing games.  


So now 6 months later, I left with my Colorado license and and a goofy picture because apparently in Colorado you can’t show your teeth when you smile, BUT I DON’T CARE!!  Now that this is behind me, next time I can just renew this baby online!  The Maine chapter of my identity is officially off the books… there you have it!


Best of luck to all of you as you move into your new lives, and new identities.



For those of you who want the TL:DR version, here are my top five lessons learned from the Driver’s License Saga Part II:
  1. Don’t trust the internet.  If you have an adapted vehicle or any sort of your driving experience was a little different, call ahead of time to see if there is any additional documentation you need (I went back and looked, and that part of the website was down. Of course)
  2. Make copies of everything and stay organized!!!!! I wish I would’ve asked for a copy of the form before they took it away (But I thought I was getting the same one back) JUST SCAN OR MAKE COPIES.  After my first trip, I just kept the documents I knew had the correct information so if I did have time to go back, I could just grab my “DMV packet!”  It saved everyone time once  got there.
  3. Keep your cool.  Whether TSA or the DMV, if there are added steps for you, even if you are annoyed, take a deep breath and be clear on what you need to do.  It’s ok to mention there are gaps in the process or how it can be improved, but leave with a smile or at least a “Thank you.” and  you’re more likely to get what you need eventually.
  4. DIY. Always.  If  you want something done right the first (or second time) DO IT YOURSELF. Clearly my PCP who I was meeting for the first time is not going to know about my car in Maine.  Write the exact language you want them to put on the form, this goes for any sort of eligibility requests, or Medical Necessity as well.  Any guidance you can provide, saves them a lot of time and will get you your form back a lot quicker.  If you don’t know the language to use, find an advocate or someone who can help you make sure you’re “playing the game” correctly.  Hit me up, I minored in this!
  5. DON’T GIVE UP.  Seriously.  Cheesy as it sounds.  Figure out what you need, and the people who can help you get it, and keep at it.  The system is broken, but we can’t let it win.  I will definitely be writing a letter, since if that form had been on the website, it would have made my life a lot easier, but ultimately I got what I came here for, and I can now take a deep breath and enjoy my new Colorado life.  



All in a day’s work!  

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

National Walking Day

Sometimes change is small, but sometimes it’s easy.  

I never used to be so aware of the micro inequities that exist in our society.  I knew that some people had it easier than others, but I just accepted the fact, maybe life isn’t fair.
Thanks to public health, now I’m aware of every inequity.  But I also can name it.  That’s why when something like National Walking Day came across my desk, I couldn’t help but think what a (ridiculous) archaic, ableist event to be a part of National Public Health Week.  Ok, I get that it has good intentions, and everyone needs to think about physical activity but what a way to blatantly exclude and diminish, those individuals who might get around in a way that is different than most people.
When I saw the announcement for the events around National Walking Day that our state health department was putting on, I became my angry advocate self.  I bitched about it on social media for a bit, and then, I switched into real advocate mode and I TOOK ACTION.  I went down the hall to the office of my dear friend who spent some time as the director of health equity, and I said, “Tell me.  Am I completely over-reacting, or can we do something about this?” 

She asked me what I thought we should do to make it more inclusive, or if I thought we should cancel it all together.  While in the grand scheme of things I think the day should be completely rebranded and I despise the platform sitting is the new smoking, I said, “I think even just adding a sentence welcoming all abilities would make a huge difference.”  She advised me to draft an amendment to the announcement and who I should send it to.  So I did. And then I procrastinated.  I started to talk myself out of it and feel ultimately defeated by the system because it was just one of those days. 

Then on National Walking Day Eve, I decided to put my big girl pants on (which happen to be pink Aeropostale sweatpants, in case anyone was wondering) and I sent an email, with my attached amendment.  I said that as the state health department we should always be viewing things through a health equity lens and think about making our wellness opportunities FEEL welcoming to all Coloradans.  Within the hour my thoughts were validated that I was 100% correct and they would include my language in the next day’s announcement.


This morning, after the announcement went out, the person who sends it, who also is the director of wellness and physical activity or something, wrote to me, and said “That is such great language, do you mind if we share it with our partners at the American Heart Association?”  Um.  K.
I know that I will not get credit for writing one sentence that will be used nationally, but it makes me happy to know that I have shifted some perspectives and maybe started a movement at least within our department, and hopefully people will see me as a “resource” and someone they can turn to to make sure all communications sound inclusive, and all of our people can be given opportunities to improve their health and wellness.
And there you have it.  I did a thing.


Happy National Walking Day all.  However you may choose to celebrate it.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Everything is Your Business

Good morning loves.

And Denver, happy snow day number 2.  I apologize that we brought the beautiful Boston weather with us, for this spring blizzard.  However, we also brought the Super Bowl win, so you have to take the bad with the good.


Also, it’s 13 inches, not 108, and you can see the sidewalks… so consider yourself lucky.





Happy 2016!  Again, time has flown, but I’ve been itching to write a blog!  Life is wonderful, and I know 2016 is going to be a year of growth, excitement and continuing to figure out this “adulting” thing, as we go.

A big part of that will be figuring out my work life!  As many of you know, I have done a lot of things over the years in terms of travel, speaking, and consulting around the topic of health care transition.  I always joke that my career has been built on what people wanted me to do, and would pay me to do (isn’t that what consulting is?)   Well, I finally made it official, and am now I certified LLC in the state of Colorado.

I’m a small business baby!

Since taking that plunge, I have been thinking a lot about what that means, and what I want it to mean.  MCH, and healthcare transition is a pretty unique niche, and often, one without a lot of funding.  I am really hoping to expand my brand, Curb Cuts and Cocktails and explore what it really can be!  I have been attending a lot of networking events and am super excited to be a part of the business community in my new city.  

I also recently completed an online bartending certificate, because it’s on my bucket list, and I kind of want to prove I have more skills than just public health!  It never hurts to have quite a few tools in your belt right?



A few years ago, I re-launched my blog as a place that I could connect with my friends and family across the country and be REAL! About health care, brunch, love, and all that comes with living a fabulous life with a few added challenges, and I want to take that to the next level.  I am beginning to finally think seriously about writing my book, and one thing that I’ve really been pondering, which would be a lot more realistic to implement as a short term “deliverable,” is a podcast!

I used to do Got Transition Radio, and although it wasn’t always the most exciting content, I miss it!   I miss having an audience, I miss having a platform to share my lessons learned, so that others might not have to go through the same adventures.

BUT! It’s time to take it to the next level, have it be my words, and there is SO much to talk about!  

One thing I really want advice on, is where is the story?  What do YOU want to hear about?  I mean, we can totally talk about healthcare, because, I can’t deny it, it’s a big part of my life, but it’s definitely not the most fun!  We can talk about beauty, brunch, love, snow, crazy things people say to me on the bus!  You name it! 

Let me know what you think.  Send me a message, a text, or fill out this poll.

 I’ll update soon with where things might be going. 

This is just the beginning. 



xoxo