Beachcombing

Two weeks ago, I took my wife to get a hearing test at Sonus Hearing Care Professionals in Seal Beach. She’s been having hearing problems over the past year and the testing was ordered by her ENT physician, who is part of the Optum Medical Group in Long Beach.

After the testing my wife and I were invited into the clinic manager’s office to see a graph of the results, which demonstrated her problem. We were not prepared for the sales pitch that followed, suggesting that my wife pay $3-8,000 for hearing aids. “Wait a second,” I thought to myself. “Shouldn’t the doctor be receiving these results and then recommend the purchase of hearing aids?”

Having had two hearing tests in as many years as ordered by the Veteran’s Administration, I question the use of the word “professionals” by Sonus. Perhaps Optum should find an independent audiology group to perform these tests that is not also in the business of selling its products. That’s the way the VA does it; that’s the way Optum should as well.

Astute Beachcomber readers of our page one banner will note that we recently increased the annual subscription price from $2 to $2.50. In recent years our postage costs have risen to $1.36, which is more than half of our total cost. The good news is that subscribers are guaranteed to receive a paper that is both flat and dry if ordered online at www.beachcomber.news.

The bad news is that our printer – Southern California Newspaper Group – is closing its doors. I am told that SCNG’s facility in Anaheim has a high real estate value and selling the facility pencils out better than being a printer, despite strong annual print sales.

So, we need to find a new printer in advance of the Dec. 31 issue being printed. Hopefully that change will not result in raising the subscription and advertising rates. Referrals are welcome.

Found on Facebook:

“I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. I don’t have to go to school or work. I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don’t have a curfew. I have a driver’s license and my own car.

The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant and I don’t have acne. Life is great. I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds. People get out of the way much faster now.

Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers.

I didn’t make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row. I decided to stop calling the bathroom “John” and renamed it the “Jim.” I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.

Old age is coming at a really bad time.

When I was a child I thought “nap time” was a punishment. Now it feels like a small vacation.

The biggest lie I tell myself is... “ I don’t have to write that down, I’ll remember it.”

I don’t have gray hair... I have “wisdom highlights.” I’m just very wise.

If God wanted me to touch my toes, He would’ve put them on my knees.

Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven’t met yet.

Why do I have to press one for English when you’re just going to transfer me to someone I can’t understand anyway?

Of course, I talk to myself. Sometimes I need expert advice.

At my age “getting lucky” means walking into a room and remembering what I came in there for.

I have more friends I should send this to, but right now I can’t remember their names.

Now, I’m wondering.... Did I send this to you or did you send it to me?”

publisher@beachomber.news