spinning (again)

there is no peace now
one person has damaged us
our higher ups f a i l e d
a meeting brought out our beasts
an unsolved problem lingers


On Thursday, March 27, 2025, we received an email from HR about their “investigation”, and I’ll simply say it was a waste of my time. So, I spoke with the center manager of the site where I am placed, and she’ll be working on creating a job for me so I can stay at the facility.

But she’s already said if I’m not doing the genetic testing for cancer screening, she doesn’t want the testing and company connected to it there anymore.

These people have forgotten that I was an employee at the site where they placed me for over 2 years. Upper Management loves me. The staff love me. I interact well with the patients. I am a valuable asset and they know this.

So, prayerfully, I’ll be putting my notice in with my current company in the next month, maybe two, at the latest. And it may not even be that long. The beauty of it all is that I get to stay at a facility where I feel at home because of my history there.

The center manager is going to start getting things going early next week. She was off yesterday and will be off again on Monday. I am prayerful she will be able to iron out all kinks with those in positions above her to keep me there. After she explains what has taken place, I am sure their organization will want to detach themselves from my current company.

My co-worker will be working with her center as well. Her center manager is doing the same thing for her. Our other co-worker has a great rapport with her previous job. She simply wanted to try something new. So she can return there.

And it’s best for us because yesterday, Friday, March 28, 2025, we had another meeting with our supervisor and a rep from HR was on the call – they wanted to monitor us. And the supervisor has no wherewithal of what she’s done wrong, just ignorant, and must’ve thought we were going to just sit there and take her power point explanation and the act of trying to gaslight us.

NOPE! She got her hind-end handed to her professionally by all three of us. We came correct in our interaction with her and called out her lies while holding in our anger and forcing ourselves to be polite under the active re-triggering we had all been subjected to.

She said something offensive that truly struck a chord in me and before I knew it, I was breaking her down like IKEA furniture, and my younger co-worker (she’s in her early 20s) said to me, “As soon as you started talking and using all them big words, I know you lost them cuz it went over their heads, but I was listening, and I was like, “YES, TRE!” Needless to say, she was proud of me.

I am proud of both of them because we have endured an event in the workplace we never wanted to and now the damage is done. Our image of Human Resources is sullied and is forever etched in our minds as a department WE (women of color; Black women) cannot trust.


spinning (the beginning)

Please Scrutinize Your Healthcare Bills, People.

I say this as a person who has been in the medical field for 23 years, and who was a medical biller for 10 of them.

AI Generated Image: A Black woman is sitting and reviewing a medical bill. She has a frustrated look as her long curly hair layers lovingly around her face. She is wearing a soft version of a purple top and the background is blurred out.

Earlier today, I had to place a call to my insurance carrier and have them call the billing department for my provider’s office because I have been billed twice for services rendered on the same date.

Disclaimer: I had one appointment on the date mentioned below, and it was for my annual exam only, which is a service covered at 100% by my insurance plan.

I went for my annual exam on 02/18/25 and my provider’s office coded the actual annual exam, it was processed and covered at 100% and paid accordingly, but they also billed me for a 99214 code which is the second to last CPT code for an established patient office visit. One of the highest billed charges for an established patient for in-office services.

Now, I know these people didn’t think they’d get someone who did medical billing for 10 years calling them today with a representative from their insurance carrier, but they got the WRONG one and the RIGHT one today.

My insurance representative informed the billing representative who took the call that they will need to send a corrected claim to reflect the annual exam only (which means, they’re going to end up having to refund the payment for that OV (office visit) code they billed incorrectly, too) and the bill I received from them for $30.00 is currently being held or contested until after the coding review.

I don’t play when it comes to my bills and you DARN sure ain’t gon’ get me because I scrutinize every EOB that is emailed to me. And I do so happily because I have seen way too many people pay bills without actually reviewing them and matching them up with their insurance policy’s coverage and benefits.

People, please review your healthcare bills with a fine-toothed comb. Ensure what you receive is correct and on par with what YOU KNOW is in line with the services rendered.

I was informed I should receive an updated bill and resolution in 7 to 10 business days.

My inner Ghetto Queen is saying, “BAYBAY, I will R O L L up to their corporate office at the hospital and ACT A WHOLE FOOL over $30.00. You not gon’ get me for preventative services that’s covered at 100% with my plan. Nah, nah. You remove that OV code, send a corrected claim, and give my insurance carrier back their refund when it’s all said and done. And don’t do it, and watch me email the CEO of that hospital organization.”

Be on the lookout, beautiful people. Take care of yourself and make sure no one is taking advantage of you and your medical benefits. It’s only going to get worse as time moves forward under this current administration. Mark my words. Stay vigilant, loves.

R A N T  O V E R!

Leaving a Gaslighter Where They Should Be . . . Alone.

A Book Review

Pieces of Me by Maggie Watson. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I started reading this book directly after The Keeper of the Key by Nicole Willson, and I read about fifteen pages then. I wanted to start fresh the next day without remnants of gothic horror on my brain, and this is what I did. I like to give the books I read my full attention. This occurrence was no different.

I will never understand the mind of an abuser. I will never know how someone can knowingly attempt to damage another. Maggie shares a bit of her experience through poetry in Pieces of Me, and reading through some of the poems . . . I know it took courage to do so.

Here is the review I shared on Amazon and Goodreads for it:

“It Takes Courage To Free One’s Pain

And then share it with the world. That is exactly what Maggie Watson has done with her collection of poetry, Pieces of Me.

There are many poems within this collection I could highlight, and since I am old-school, I literally highlighted phrases and made comments/notes in the margins.

Reading one’s triumph over their abuser in the form of poetry is a testimonial experience. I felt as though I was watching the writer release her pain with every poem shared.

Starting off slow, a few of the poems in the first section didn’t hit me nearly as hard as the poems in the second and last section. But I most definitely felt something–it stirred up emotions within me I thought had been buried.

I commend the writer for being vulnerable enough to share with the world a traumatic life-event that didn’t ruin her outlook on how she lives, but instead gave her the strength to fully live.”

If it were up to me, the world would be rid of abusers in every form. A book of poems such as Pieces of Me should not have to be written. Still, I am glad the writer/author shared her experience as a form of testimony and also included other instances not directly linked to her that so many people have experienced.

The world in which we live is a horrible place under the surface. But there is always a spark, a glimmer, a modicum of love and care waiting to spring forth. I believe Maggie wants that for everyone–love springing forth. And I also believe her writing will help facilitate that.

Home To Nowhere: Part II

Microfiction: Kelsey’s Brother Tyson

AI Generated Image of a Black little boy with green eyes, wearing a light gray shirt, with curly, cropped black hair. Created with Canva.

Tyson is a firecracker with hair that sings and eyes that lure the most anxious passerby. He is a tag-along brother. He follows Kelsey everywhere she goes. At eight years old, you’d think the kid had his own friends with which to play, but he dotes on his big sister fiercely.

The day Kelsey went digging for her origin, he told her what he heard his parents discussing.

“Mommy said to Daddy, ‘If she ever finds out from anyone else, we’ll have Hell on our hands.’ Oops! Sorry, Kels. I cussed.”

“You did, little buddy. And that’s all right. So, they said I’m adopted, huh? That’s what you heard?”

“It’s what I heard.”

Taking in this newfound knowledge, Kelsey wraps it up in her mind and saves it for the day of confrontation. Someone is going to tell her the truth.


Part I

Saturday Six Word Story Prompt: Believe

Prompt for Week #111 (Nov 9, 2024 – Nov 15, 2024): BELIEVE

Title: Not By the Hands of Man

Six Words: A H I G H E R Power will save US.


I have missed actively participating in the Six Word Story Prompt (hosted by another blogger/Writer who no longer blogs). Years ago, it’s how I met so many other bloggers/writers/creatives, and I still love a good six-word story, so it is only right that I participate in Shweta Suresh’s Saturday Six Word Story Prompt! This week’s theme is “Believe” and here are the prompt details:

Welcome to Week #111 of the Saturday Six Word Story Prompt. Click here to read the guidelines for the Saturday Six Word Story Prompt series. (Psst! I have changed the guidelines recently.)

Prompt for Week #111 (Nov 9, 2024 – Nov 15, 2024)

Believe

Click here for the 6WSP image.

I will do a roundup post each Saturday (or Sunday if I run out of time!). So please be sure to participate before time runs out! I can’t wait to read your stories. 😀 I hope that you’ll be back for next week’s Six Word Story Prompt. Have fun! Thank you for participating. Until next week, folks!

P.S: If you have any doubts/suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. The comments section is all yours!

P.P.S: Use the tag 6WSP and don’t forget to pingback to this post!

My six-word contribution is above. I fully believe the worst is ahead, yet the best is to come. We cannot depend on man. Man will never save us. If our faith, trust, and commitment are to/for man, we are doomed. I hope you will participate in the prompt and lend your very own six-word story to the theme, Believe.

Peace and blessings, beautiful people.

The Story Is Gold

It’s America
Baked in lies
This story is gold

Pawns in a new game
Of trick chess
The polls will drown us

But we’ll place ballots
For old sins
That never finds sleep

A new tale to tell
Unhinged truth
Glorified beauty


Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?