Catching Up

[filkertom]

It occurs to me that a few things have happened about which I should tell you.

First and foremost, I might have Medicaid. Back in August, I learned that I did get Medicaid, back-dated to handle much if not all of the medical bills from The Recent Unpleasantness. However, it's surprisingly difficult to get ahold of some bill collectors. I'd have thought that they would answer their phones more. Shrug.

Right. Medicaid. I worried about losing it, however, especially as -- for reasons I cannot fathom but I can guess at -- they don't have my correct address.

I did not get Social Security income. They determined that I was still capable of performing my previous job -- you know, the one that no longer exists, either in reality or in concept. But! they say. I can learn to do Help Desk somewhere else!

Yeah.

I could supposedly appeal. But I haven't been able to get ahold of my SocSec advocate, Medicaid, or anybody. Messages weren't returned after multiple attempts; other numbers give me a "Mailbox Is Full" message and hang up. And it's just been too crazy for me to get over to the SocSec office.

At one point, it appeared that my Medicaid had indeed been canceled. But then, it seemed to be back up. And my ha ha income has a lot to do with it, although I don't know exactly how, to the point that it might actually be to my benefit to give my music away and just have the Virtual Open Guitar Case for donations, which do not count as earned money.

To top it all off, I seem to have Michigan Medicaid, which may be different from federal Medicaid.

I will soldier on. I will figure it out. I am good for November bills, and we'll see what WindyCon does for December and, FSM willing, a bit of January. I would really love to just hit the damn lotto so the point is moot.

Onward. Luke Ski and I represented The FuMP at OVFF, and, given how little rehearsal we had and how scared I was, I think we did pretty well. Got a good amount of laughs, and an invitation from Kathy Hamilton to come back next year. I haven't even discussed that with the other FuMPers yet, as it's been busy for all of us, so: Hey guys! We can do this again at OVFF next year! Put it on the calendar!

Saturday was Halloween, of course, and Leslie, Tom, Karen, and Miranda came out to help me pass out candy and escort Miranda around the neighborhood. I dressed up in the Professor Tom Smith stuff from the ELE Application video, and boy did I freak out a few kids and not just the little ones. The parents all seemed to enjoy it, with several getting looks on their faces like, "Man, why didn't I do something?" The kids in the right age zone, i.e., 8-14, had the most fun with it. At one point, a kid dressed as Captain America came up, and I bellowed, "CURSES! A HERO!"

Of course, there were two out there, later teens, who were the epitome of Bored Kids Who Think They're Running A Good Scam By Getting Candy On Halloween. No costume, no "Trick-or-Treat", and the one kid was using his backpack as his goodie bag, so he turned around while his buddy told me, "Put the candy in the pack." I told them both (in character, of course, to soften it) that they were the lamest Trick-or-Treaters in history.

After the candy, we watched Cars, which Miranda wanted to see and none of the Underwoods had ever seen. Fun fun fun. I really love that film, and don't much care that some people think its plot resembles that of Doc Hollywood.

I've mentioned that Anne and I have been watching some anime together (usually over the phone, watching simultaneously). Well, we just yesterday finished a non-anime, Avatar: The Last Airbender, which you can watch at several sites around the Intertubes. Frickin' fantastic. Funny and terrifying and dramatic and romantic and mythic and epic. The depth of plot and character development, the self-aware playing with convention of stories like this, the world design, the voice acting, the animation acting, the direction, the pacing, the music... top-notch, top to bottom. And now I'm really scared of what M. Night Sha-na-na is gonna do with it in the live-action version coming out next summer.

And, tomorrow at 1:00 p.m., my pre-loaded copy of Dragon Age: Origins activates. This looks like the baddest-ass RPG in a long time, combining the best aspects of Oblivion and Neverwinter Nights but even darker.

Next week is WindyCon. I sincerely hope that is as good a time as I think it might be. We'll talk more about that as it gets closer.

And, I still have not seen a single episode of Top Chef this season. I'm gonna try to do that over the next couple of days.

What's up with you?

Comments

[lizziecrowe.livejournal.com]

Getting the last of my costuming together for WindyCon. Steampunk, ahoy! There, I feel better. Anyway, it's been interesting. Complicated, convoluted, STRANGE, but interesting. and It'll be really great to see you again. Haven't seen you since Duck Con! *Hugs*

[shadowofsummer.livejournal.com]

'Michigan Medicaid' may well just refer to the fact that Medicaid is a federally funded program that is managed by each state individually. I routinely answer the phone 'New Jersey Medicaid', but my wages are sourced pretty much 50/50 between Uncle Sam and Uncle Sal.

[fair-witness.livejournal.com]

Tired. Wishing the raise that came with the new job had been high enough to help cover my husband's medical bills. Knitting away on the Christmas present list for friends and family.

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

Good to hear that you are getting medicaid, whatever flavor it may be. ALso nifty that ovff went well, and I hope you have a great time at windycon!

Not much going on here. Still paddling as hard as I can to keep my head above water. Every once in a while, there is even a little bit of fun :)

Also - M. Night Sha-na-na *giggle*

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

Better than my version, M. Night Unspellable.

Or the backup, M. Night Shlamedirector.

I seem to have Michigan Medicaid

[bigbumble.livejournal.com]

Yes you do. We learned, while dealing with my mother while she was in hospice, that Medicaid is Michigan (state) and Medicare is federal. At hospices have nice people to explain that. If you are not dying, you are on your own.

[jenrose]

I know! When my mother in law was dying, the hospice people were AMAZING, informed choice, lots of help, very informative, very compassionate, didn't pass the buck, made things happen. In my own care? I'm being shuffled from doctor to doctor and none of them are TALKING together.

[awfulhorrid.livejournal.com]

Sorry we're going to miss you at WindyCon this year. You and the Foglios were really big draws for us, but the finances just don't support going this year. Drat.

Hopefully things will be better by Capricon!

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

Poking the spreadsheet of DOOM!

Which has had a HUGE influx of new people to add...

And I should be packing for PhilCon...

And booking a flight to see my sister in December... (so I can finally meet this nephew of mine...)

And various chore-like things around here...

And...

Yeah, pretty much the same amount of crazy it always is with me. :-)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Have a safe trip to PhilCon, and say hi to hughcasey for me.

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

And now I'm really scared of what M. Night Sha-na-na is gonna do with it in the live-action version coming out next summer.

The casting alone has marked this movie down for Epic Fail territory.

More from me later. I'm doing fifteen things at once. As usual.

[pandoradeloeste.livejournal.com]

The casting alone has marked this movie down for Epic Fail territory.

OH HELLS YES. Not touching this with a 10-foot pole (except maybe to download illegally and watch as a drinking game - only mind-altering substances will make the pain go away).

[lukeski.livejournal.com]

FYI Tom, the OVFF 25 concert performance of "Redneck Ninjas" will be the bonus video content on the FuMP Volume 17 CD. :)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Excellent. I hope to see that whole concert at some point. Even though I blew a few things badly, we still had a lot of fun, and people seemed to like it. Outreach, baby, outreach.

[dornbeast.livejournal.com]

I can learn to do Help Desk somewhere else!

From the list of things that Should Not Be Said:

"Like where? If Help Desk work exists anywhere at this point, it's probably been outsourced to India."

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Precisely. More to the point, my company's very concept no longer exists. Mortgage documentation went super-discounted computer automation or in-house with the biggest lenders or both. My old employer, and all of its competitors I know of, went belly-up.

[atalantapendrag.livejournal.com]

I should have Medicare/Medicaid advice, but I don't :(

I can recommend an unnbelievably awesome anime series, though. It's 12 episodes broken into several story arcs, each of which is a gorgeous ghost story. It's called Mononoke. There are fansubs out there (and if you can't find any I can hook you up), but I doubt it'll ever be liscenced in the US :( Last I looked you could find it on VEOH.

[darthparadox.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, your icon. I watched that about a week ago (as part of a Special Halloween Edition of my friends' anime night). One of the most creepy and unique works of animation I've ever seen.

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

WLP's slowly building things up- I'd probably be eligible for Medicaid if I didn't live in "You can have it if we get everything including the underwear you're currently wearing" Texas, and if I wasn't self-employed. OTOH, just paid off the medical credit card I got to finance half my needed dentistry... now time to consider the other half of the mouth.

Spent Halloween at a Houston-area anime convention, trying out my "redneck mad scientist" outfit. Doesn't work yet. I need to see if there's still a welding mask in the garage.



And yes, that is a COG badge on the lab coat- the outfit was prompted by my fandom for doctorpinkerton and his colleagues.



Brings new terror to, "Hold my beer an' watch dis," doesn't it?

[chaosdancer.livejournal.com]

Oh wow...what a combination! That's actually quite sexy. :)

[cainle-bean.livejournal.com]

Dragon Age looks interesting. I just might have to pick that one up.

I worked for Halloween... well half a night. I am fighting my back acting up, so I was unable to work the whole night.

Other than that, we have been doing little to nothing useful.

[lemmozine.livejournal.com]

Like, I work 8-5 helping folks in Colorado fill out Medicaid apps. You're very fortunate to be able to get Medicaid in your state. My state pretty much limits it to pregnancy, families with children & severely disabled individuals who receive SSI.

My only advice to you: TALK TO A REAL SMART ATTORNEY ABOUT FILING AN APPEAL ON THAT DISABILITY!!! Do it now. Almost everyone gives up on the first denial, and they deny almost everyone the first time. Those with adequate legal representation have a much better chance of getting benefits.

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice, which I am mooching off of even though you offered it to Tom, because I'll be applying for disability fairly soon myself. I'd heard it before, but it's good to have it confirmed. I'll expect a denial on the first round, and be prepared with a lawyer and the expectation of a several-round fight.

This sucks, but if I know what it is I can handle it better. Thank you.

[laurel-potter.livejournal.com]

I took three teenage girls to Youmacon in Dearborn. Not into Anime myself much, but I enjoyed the energy of a con, and being away from home. Diana Stein had an artists table, so I got to sit and talk to her. Saw a couple of other friends in the area.

[strredwolf.livejournal.com]

Is it too early to bug the professor on a seminar at Anthrocon? :)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I was very specifically looking at the dates for that yesterday. I really want to get back there in 2010, especially as I was actually registered for it last year before I realized it had moved to a date up against InConJunction.

[jss]

2 days into the 6 day-long second conference in two weeks. But ate dinner tonight at Charleston. Yum.

[bentleywg.livejournal.com]

I can't really help with specific knowledge but, as I understand it, it's standard procedure for Social Security Veteran's Administration, etc., etc., etc., to deny the first application. Don't give up.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Sorry I can't offer any useful advice, but thanks for the update!

[ladyallyn.livejournal.com]

Social Security denies something like 85% of applications first time through. (even on things like End-stage renal disease, which are congressionally mandated pass) Legal representation is limited by law on how much they can charge. Average time on appeal is currently 18-24 months. (they have to back pay to date of application of date of disability, though)

Sucks a lot. BTDT. Hubby's is still under appeal (even though he's also a 100% disabled veteran). Poke me if you want to talk. PM for my phone or ask sooj or K for it.

[darksunlight.livejournal.com]

Working on a list of people, authors, web personalities, and the like, who have made a difference to me, and writing them, if for no other reason then to let them know that they inspired me. "You're on there for 'Frog and his boy'


...you bastard.


((No actual menace or insult meant, but I'm sure you understand))

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

None taken. I seem to have a unique sub-"fandom" for that song, consisting of people who hear it and never wish to discuss it again.

[cathain.livejournal.com]

You cannot...repeat...CANNOT...get SSI now without hiring an attorney. Yes, I know you and 9/10 of the people who apply for SSI and NEED it can't afford an attorney. They don't care. What the attorneys do is go in, get the SSI determination (which can take up to over two years with all of the appeals and yada yada) then when you get the back payment they take a percentage of it for representing you. Is this like taking money from a cripple? Yes, because it IS taking money from a cripple.
Think I'm mistaken? Take a look at this: http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm
This is the SSI "blue book" for determining disability. This site is intended for only professionals to see. It reads like a fucking horror story.
This is an ADVERSARIAL process. People dieing from malignant cancer are TURNED DOWN. Indeed, I was actually told by an SSA worker that they HOPE you die in the application and appeals process because then all they have to pay out is the 250$ death benefit and nothing else.
Is this not the biggest crock of shit you ever heard of?

[saganth.livejournal.com]

Well I'm unemployed and don't have medicaid, tho I am applying soon... Today I have a job interview, my first since I moved to Buffalo less than 2 months ago, and I have another one lined up for later this week. Been trying to keep busy with games crafting projects and lots of reading and getting to know my new city, and trying not to think about how I may or may not be able to deal with the debt my ex has saddled me with... Basically taking one day at a time and slowly putting my life back together.

[bryanp.livejournal.com]

Just dealing with the daily stupidity.

And yes, Cars is basically the same plot as Doc Hollywood. I said that the first time I saw it, and don't care. I like both of those movies.

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

I'm still fighting to get SSI, though as I don't have an attorney it's not looking good, especially since I'm on my third or fourth appeal. *sigh*

Con wise I realized that Confusion is the same weekend that I'll be flying out to Rolla, MO to visit some friends I haven't seen in a while. So I'm putting MarCon on the list of the three Cons I want to attend this year. The other two being Weekend in Rokugan and GenCon.

And yes, Avatar: the Last Airbender is a remarkable series. I put it up there with Firefly and Babylon 5 in terms of how good it is, and I also have great reservations about M. Kinght's version (and he's an admitted fan of the show)