, I have lost my voice.
A few weeks ago, I was in the throws of what had to be the lost case of laryngitis. Two weeks worth of it at that.
On top of losing my actual voice, I lost my computer voice. My boss got a bug up her butt and said "No extra internet for a month. Just to file claims." Since we are without internet at home, well, there went my voice. Yeah, I sneaked a little but not enough to keep up with everyone.
I am in the middle of catching up so I will start comments more in a few.
UPDATES!!!
Here is life right now.
DH: Still without a job
Me: On CD 116 and I finally O'd about 4-6 days ago. Wow... how quick.
Us: No health insurance until next week. We had to wait for Cobra to decide that we were qualified for the 35% rule. Yay us.
Now for the "Wanna be a mama" news!
We are 90% done with our home study and all we are waiting on are medical forms an a few misc. forms. The goal of the agency is to have us licensed in the next 10 days! Yep... you read that right... 10 DAYS! The house inspection went great and so did the fire inspection. I am just glad it is over.
Sooo... what does this mean? We are closer to becoming parents than we ever have been. I don't think it will be much longer before we are at least fostering. I am just too excited.
I will add more later, I just wanted to get an update out there.
BBS!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The early settlers had it right
Throw that tea overboard!!
Yep. Just did our taxes and let me say, I. Am. Not. Happy. Not happy in one way.
Tell me, how is it the government can decided last summer we all needed $1200 to “stimulate the economy” and then take it back when you file taxes in 2008? Did anyone else hear, “It is a tax advance for next year”? And what if we hadn’t had the where with all to file married at the single rate? Would we have owed that money back? Better yet, how on earth can they keep all but 500 of our “stimulus” in the first place but make us claim the entire $1200?
AND… We both had to pay an total of $1556 in local taxes for cities we do not live in! We live in a township that doesn’t have city tax. Do we get that $1556 back? NO!!! We have taxation without representation. I say if I have to pay their stupid tax, I should have a right to vote for their leaders. I pay their salary yet I have no “voice” in how it is spent.
Get me the “tea”!! I am throwing it in the Gre.at Mi.am.i. Better yet, how about we just fill the entire floor of the House of Representatives and the Senate with symbolic “tea” and tell them where to stick it. Maybe it will “stimulate” them to pull their heads out of their butts and listen to the “commoners”.
I hate tax season! I just reminds me that the government is using MY money INTEREST FREE!!!
Yep. Just did our taxes and let me say, I. Am. Not. Happy. Not happy in one way.
Tell me, how is it the government can decided last summer we all needed $1200 to “stimulate the economy” and then take it back when you file taxes in 2008? Did anyone else hear, “It is a tax advance for next year”? And what if we hadn’t had the where with all to file married at the single rate? Would we have owed that money back? Better yet, how on earth can they keep all but 500 of our “stimulus” in the first place but make us claim the entire $1200?
AND… We both had to pay an total of $1556 in local taxes for cities we do not live in! We live in a township that doesn’t have city tax. Do we get that $1556 back? NO!!! We have taxation without representation. I say if I have to pay their stupid tax, I should have a right to vote for their leaders. I pay their salary yet I have no “voice” in how it is spent.
Get me the “tea”!! I am throwing it in the Gre.at Mi.am.i. Better yet, how about we just fill the entire floor of the House of Representatives and the Senate with symbolic “tea” and tell them where to stick it. Maybe it will “stimulate” them to pull their heads out of their butts and listen to the “commoners”.
I hate tax season! I just reminds me that the government is using MY money INTEREST FREE!!!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thank you and What a Weekend!
First, I want to thank everyone for the support over DH losing his job. He is doing okay but he is still notably depressed about the whole thing.
Now… This past weekend was great. We chaperoned the annual trip to Gatlinburg for a group of teens at our church. Last year was a flop but this year was 100% better. The kids were great and I needed that weekend to refresh my mind.
There were a few memorable things said that really just stuck with me and I want to share with everyone the mood of the whole trip:
Now… This past weekend was great. We chaperoned the annual trip to Gatlinburg for a group of teens at our church. Last year was a flop but this year was 100% better. The kids were great and I needed that weekend to refresh my mind.
There were a few memorable things said that really just stuck with me and I want to share with everyone the mood of the whole trip:
“Pickles are cucumbers soaked in evil. I really like them.”
“You there, with the girlie parts… with the flower…”
“I am God. I was made in his image therefore, I am God.”
“My teacher made up a song about STDs.”
“Our team left with pride, yours left in humiliation.”
“If you are prejudice against someone else for being different [different religions], you can’t get mad when others are prejudice against you.”
“I was going to get [my sister’s] room but then someone popped out of her.”
“What happens in the church van stays in the church van.” (This was said in regards to asking questions and getting honest answers from the adults.)
“We have two rules (in the cabin): Be respectful of everyone trying to sleep and all doors remain open in mixed company.” Response, “Okay, keeps orgies quiet. Got it.”
“Be back at the van at 5 and behave and be respectful.” Response, “Get drunk, smoke and get crazy. Okay.”
“If Green Lantern’s weakness is the yellow, if he flew into the sign that said, ‘Yellow’ in black letters, would he die?”
“I want to be a graphic comic designer or a sex therapist. Sex therapist is my back up plan.”
“What would Jesus do? Tip me 10%!”
Over all, we were able to relax with the kids and not treat them like we were just waiting for the to step out of line. It was one of my favorite trips down there. I was great to see such a diverse group of kids get along and bond.
Friday, February 13, 2009
"I got laid off."
Not the words you want to hear from the main bread winner in the house.
But I did. Wednesday. Those words stabbed into my heart.
DH is now unemployed, again, for the second time in almost 6 years.
Can I just stop the world and let things just be? Oh, and as of March 1, no more health insurance. Yippee.
I would sob but that take emotion and num is about all I feel.
Damn.
But I did. Wednesday. Those words stabbed into my heart.
DH is now unemployed, again, for the second time in almost 6 years.
Can I just stop the world and let things just be? Oh, and as of March 1, no more health insurance. Yippee.
I would sob but that take emotion and num is about all I feel.
Damn.
Friday, February 6, 2009
"You need to fix it. If you don't, I will find someone who will."
This was the highlight of a really crappy week. (note the sarcasm)
I work for a small D.M.E in O.hi.o. My job is billing for all the insurance, like An.th.em, Me.dic.are, Me.dic.aid, etc. My biggest problems are MCR and MCD. They are the thorn in our fiscal side. They have made my work life stressful and very unfulfilled.
For the last year, we have had about a third of all our MCD claims come back as denied due to the NF resident having MCR B. (MDC doesn't not and will not pay for NF residents on ox.y.gen). Now, you would think that the gov.ern.me.nts would speak to each other and have some understanding of their own guidelines. After all, the are C. M. S., aren't they? Well, they don't.
MCD has a computer glitch. Yes, for over a year this is what I have heard. "It is a glitch and we are working on it." (Hey, I have a thought, give some of the porkulous package to O.hi.o MCD to hire a real IT department.) I digress. So we are now about $45K in the hole trying to get them to actually pay these legitimate claims. Now, they have jerry-rigged it a few time in the last year but they have not fixed it in any way.
Our owner, who knows nothing about the business, doesn't understand this. He thinks I am just giving him a line of BS. Hence the title to the blog. Needless to say, all my personal effects went home Tuesday because, well, how on God's green earth can I fix something the gov.ern.ment can't fix with their own IT people. I figured I am on borrowed time.
It rattle a few people the next morning. I showed up though and they were able to breathe again. At 9 am on Wednesday, a pointed and frustrated VM was left for the assistant director of claims BS at MCD. By 3:30, no call back. At 3:40 pm, the same day, I leave a heated and quite angry VM on for the Director of claims BS asking if I need to hire my own IT person to come up there and show them how to do their jobs. In fact, what could I do to ensure that they give us the money that they are holding hostage, stopping short of asking who I had to "service" to get my #$%*@& money.
At 9 am on Wednesday, Asst. to claims BS calls me and we find out she has no brain and was not freezing my claims correctly to manually push through. We talk (with our owner in the room) and get a plan of action in place. (if it works, I will bring my stuff back in the building)
Now, 4:00 pm rolls around and I get another call and I answer in this manner, "Hi, R. This Tammy. I heard from D. this morning and we have a possible fix in place but I am still frustrated as all get out." R then says, "I, um , gathered that by your voice mail yesterday." (one point, Tammy).
After 20 minutes, I am not happy with MCD but I am not as livid since they explained the problem beyond "it's a glitch" and my owner heard the whole thing. As of yesterday, my job is safe-er. Phew. BUT... I have very serious doubts about any promised that the gov.ern.ment can effectively run a national health care system. They can't even run MCR (this is a whole other issue that pisses me off. MCR sucks monkey butt).
So, needless to say, internet use has not been allowed until I got answers and I did; now I can Internet. Yay.
On the fos/ter to ad.opt front, we are just plugging along and hoping things work out in our favor. I am on CD 50 to 60 something and really don't care. I just really am tired of TTC and feeling like a dumpster for se.me.n.
I will try to keep everyone updated as much as possible. And Erin, thank you. I really needed your comment. How did I end up with such a wonderfully goofy baby sister? Love you, hun.
I work for a small D.M.E in O.hi.o. My job is billing for all the insurance, like An.th.em, Me.dic.are, Me.dic.aid, etc. My biggest problems are MCR and MCD. They are the thorn in our fiscal side. They have made my work life stressful and very unfulfilled.
For the last year, we have had about a third of all our MCD claims come back as denied due to the NF resident having MCR B. (MDC doesn't not and will not pay for NF residents on ox.y.gen). Now, you would think that the gov.ern.me.nts would speak to each other and have some understanding of their own guidelines. After all, the are C. M. S., aren't they? Well, they don't.
MCD has a computer glitch. Yes, for over a year this is what I have heard. "It is a glitch and we are working on it." (Hey, I have a thought, give some of the porkulous package to O.hi.o MCD to hire a real IT department.) I digress. So we are now about $45K in the hole trying to get them to actually pay these legitimate claims. Now, they have jerry-rigged it a few time in the last year but they have not fixed it in any way.
Our owner, who knows nothing about the business, doesn't understand this. He thinks I am just giving him a line of BS. Hence the title to the blog. Needless to say, all my personal effects went home Tuesday because, well, how on God's green earth can I fix something the gov.ern.ment can't fix with their own IT people. I figured I am on borrowed time.
It rattle a few people the next morning. I showed up though and they were able to breathe again. At 9 am on Wednesday, a pointed and frustrated VM was left for the assistant director of claims BS at MCD. By 3:30, no call back. At 3:40 pm, the same day, I leave a heated and quite angry VM on for the Director of claims BS asking if I need to hire my own IT person to come up there and show them how to do their jobs. In fact, what could I do to ensure that they give us the money that they are holding hostage, stopping short of asking who I had to "service" to get my #$%*@& money.
At 9 am on Wednesday, Asst. to claims BS calls me and we find out she has no brain and was not freezing my claims correctly to manually push through. We talk (with our owner in the room) and get a plan of action in place. (if it works, I will bring my stuff back in the building)
Now, 4:00 pm rolls around and I get another call and I answer in this manner, "Hi, R. This Tammy. I heard from D. this morning and we have a possible fix in place but I am still frustrated as all get out." R then says, "I, um , gathered that by your voice mail yesterday." (one point, Tammy).
After 20 minutes, I am not happy with MCD but I am not as livid since they explained the problem beyond "it's a glitch" and my owner heard the whole thing. As of yesterday, my job is safe-er. Phew. BUT... I have very serious doubts about any promised that the gov.ern.ment can effectively run a national health care system. They can't even run MCR (this is a whole other issue that pisses me off. MCR sucks monkey butt).
So, needless to say, internet use has not been allowed until I got answers and I did; now I can Internet. Yay.
On the fos/ter to ad.opt front, we are just plugging along and hoping things work out in our favor. I am on CD 50 to 60 something and really don't care. I just really am tired of TTC and feeling like a dumpster for se.me.n.
I will try to keep everyone updated as much as possible. And Erin, thank you. I really needed your comment. How did I end up with such a wonderfully goofy baby sister? Love you, hun.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Can We Pay You to Baby-sit Indefinitely?
Wow… and a swirling mind is what came out of last night’s mandatory fos.ter-to-ad.opt class.
In the lovely state of O.hi.o, the child welfare system seems to have an anal cavity fetish. Yes, they really need to climb all the way into your intestines to make sure that you know you are not the parent of the child and you basically have no rights. You, my friends, are a highly overpaid babysitter. If you don’t believe me, here is my proof.
Example 1:
Little Billy is 6 years old. He forgets to tell you on Friday that they have a field trip to the zoo the following Friday. He is 6; this is not a big surprise. On Wednesday, you find the permission slip in his pants pocket before laundry is placed in the washer. It is 8:30 pm, it has to be turned in by 9:00 am Thursday. Crap! Billy is not going to get to go on that field trip unless you can get a hold of the on call caseworker at your agency, who in turn must get in touch with the county caseworker to sign said permission slip.
Yes, you read that right, you may be the foster parent but you cannot give the child permission to go to the zoo. You don’t have the right to make that decision, only a county worker can. Sorry, Billy, everyone in the class gets to go but you. Too bad.
Example 2:
Mike is 15 years old. He decides he doesn’t like your church and he wants to go to a church that is clear across town. You cannot tell him, no, or force him to go to your church. You ARE allowed to let him catch the public transportation at the end of your street to get to that church with no permission, notification or okay by the county. Bye Mike, hope you don’t get mugged or beat when you are in the heart of the city. (We have a HUGE problem with fights and crime at the main hub in our town.)
Example 3:
You and your husband have gone out on a date (first one in months) and you are home really late. You have left Missy at your parents (they have passed the background check and can act as a babysitter). Instead of waking Missy at 12:30 in the morning, you want to leave her there.
Think again. Missy can only stay over night at an approved Respite foster family. Your parents aren’t. OH, and if she is old enough she can have a sleep over at a friend house but she still cannot sleep over at your parents house.
Fun times.
Example 4:
You and your family go on 5 camping trips a summer with various groups or family. When Ann joins your family, she wants to be in Brownies with your biological daughter so she can go camping. You are the assistant so you think, sure, why not? Nope, think again. Ann can’t be in Brownies until the caseworker allows it. The “primary” mother may not want the child to go camping.
Sorry, Ann, you can’t be a Brownie and I have to find Respite care for you while the whole family goes on a trip. You are part of the family but only at home not on trips. (Let’s add that Ann has attachment and abandonment issues. Everyone she loves leaves her. “Well, kid, too bad. You aren’t coming with us because you aren’t good enough,” is what she gets out of that whole scenario. Once again, fun times.)
Now, our agency will do the best they can to help these situation resolve in a positive manner but ultimately, the caseworker has complete say so. If we get a caseworker with their head in their butt, well, that child is not going to have a chance to grow and flourish in our home.
So, our decision is final, only 3 and under and only if there is a 95% chance that the child will be in our permanent custody by the time they are in school. We do not want to be a highly paid babysitter to a school age child.
In the lovely state of O.hi.o, the child welfare system seems to have an anal cavity fetish. Yes, they really need to climb all the way into your intestines to make sure that you know you are not the parent of the child and you basically have no rights. You, my friends, are a highly overpaid babysitter. If you don’t believe me, here is my proof.
Example 1:
Little Billy is 6 years old. He forgets to tell you on Friday that they have a field trip to the zoo the following Friday. He is 6; this is not a big surprise. On Wednesday, you find the permission slip in his pants pocket before laundry is placed in the washer. It is 8:30 pm, it has to be turned in by 9:00 am Thursday. Crap! Billy is not going to get to go on that field trip unless you can get a hold of the on call caseworker at your agency, who in turn must get in touch with the county caseworker to sign said permission slip.
Yes, you read that right, you may be the foster parent but you cannot give the child permission to go to the zoo. You don’t have the right to make that decision, only a county worker can. Sorry, Billy, everyone in the class gets to go but you. Too bad.
Example 2:
Mike is 15 years old. He decides he doesn’t like your church and he wants to go to a church that is clear across town. You cannot tell him, no, or force him to go to your church. You ARE allowed to let him catch the public transportation at the end of your street to get to that church with no permission, notification or okay by the county. Bye Mike, hope you don’t get mugged or beat when you are in the heart of the city. (We have a HUGE problem with fights and crime at the main hub in our town.)
Example 3:
You and your husband have gone out on a date (first one in months) and you are home really late. You have left Missy at your parents (they have passed the background check and can act as a babysitter). Instead of waking Missy at 12:30 in the morning, you want to leave her there.
Think again. Missy can only stay over night at an approved Respite foster family. Your parents aren’t. OH, and if she is old enough she can have a sleep over at a friend house but she still cannot sleep over at your parents house.
Fun times.
Example 4:
You and your family go on 5 camping trips a summer with various groups or family. When Ann joins your family, she wants to be in Brownies with your biological daughter so she can go camping. You are the assistant so you think, sure, why not? Nope, think again. Ann can’t be in Brownies until the caseworker allows it. The “primary” mother may not want the child to go camping.
Sorry, Ann, you can’t be a Brownie and I have to find Respite care for you while the whole family goes on a trip. You are part of the family but only at home not on trips. (Let’s add that Ann has attachment and abandonment issues. Everyone she loves leaves her. “Well, kid, too bad. You aren’t coming with us because you aren’t good enough,” is what she gets out of that whole scenario. Once again, fun times.)
*****************************
Now, our agency will do the best they can to help these situation resolve in a positive manner but ultimately, the caseworker has complete say so. If we get a caseworker with their head in their butt, well, that child is not going to have a chance to grow and flourish in our home.
So, our decision is final, only 3 and under and only if there is a 95% chance that the child will be in our permanent custody by the time they are in school. We do not want to be a highly paid babysitter to a school age child.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
4 Down... A lot more to go... ::UPDATE::
- 1. Orientation - 2
- 2. Case Management and Teambuilding - 3
- 3. Child Abuse, Neglect and the Impact on Child Development - 3
- 4. Attachment, Separation, and Placement - 3
- 5. Discipline and Managing Behavior - 3
- 6. De-escalation and Policies and Procedures - 2
- 7. Cultural Issues in Placement - 3
- 8. Caring for a Child that has been Sexually Abused - 2.5
- 9. Effects of Caregiving on the Family and Primary Families - 3
- 10. Permanency Issues for Children and Families - 3
- 11. Educational Advocacy - 2
- 12. Infant, Child and Adult CPR and First Aid - 6.5 (next Saturday)
Will we really survive all this? And can someone tell me how on earth teen/single mothers/parents are allowed to NOT have to take these classes, too? If it were mandatory for state aid, would less kids be in foster care? Kinda makes me wonder.
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