Oh, lovely lovely rain. And dreary overcast skies and cool temperatures. I love the Northwest! Last week was just too hot for so early in the season - I get angry enough at the end of July and through August. I had all the windows open when I fell asleep last night, and I actually got cold during the night. Yippee! (And yes, I know that I am a freak.)
A sign that you spend a bit too much time online: When you constantly refresh, wondering why you aren't getting more of a response to something that you posted. Then you realize that it's because your friends actually have lives. No, no. that is not the sign of too much online time; the sign is when you feel faintly smug at that realization.
Chatted with mom via aim, and luckily she verified that I am supposed to actually take four pills at once from one of the medications I got yesterday. It's got weird directions: take four pills once a day for four days, then take three pills once a day for four days, then take two...it goes on.
A sign that you spend a bit too much time online: When you constantly refresh, wondering why you aren't getting more of a response to something that you posted. Then you realize that it's because your friends actually have lives. No, no. that is not the sign of too much online time; the sign is when you feel faintly smug at that realization.
Chatted with mom via aim, and luckily she verified that I am supposed to actually take four pills at once from one of the medications I got yesterday. It's got weird directions: take four pills once a day for four days, then take three pills once a day for four days, then take two...it goes on.
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I think that most people who know me know how I feel about the abuse of assistance programs. Too many people see them as a lifelong program, instead of one that allows you get your feet underneath you and improve your situation. California paid for my mother to go to nursing school, and ensured that she and I had a roof, food and medical care for the duration. We were on that program for almost two years, until her graduation and getting her first job as a nurse. After those two years, she never used the programs again but they were there when she needed them and allowed her to fulfill a lifelong dream while still being able to take care of me. For that, they will always have my graditute.
With that being said - I love WIC. I have never used it (duh - no kidlets!), but have many friends that were helped greatly by the program. One of the reasons that I like the system so much is that I think that it would be difficult to abuse. Oh, I'm sure that some people manage it - but I doubt that it is easy or overly lucrative.
As I understand the program, the family receives vouchers for specific food items each month. Basics such as milk, cheese, grains, etc. There are no WIC voucers for Twinkies, or lobster. This program exists to help pregnant women and small children be able to afford the basic nutritional needs that are vital during the developmental stages. Poor nutrition during this time period can cause repercussions that last a lifetime. I may not have kids, or even like the majority of strangers' kids that I see running around; but, I cannot imagine how heartbreaking it must be for a parent to work hard at a job, care for their children and still worry about their family getting enough calcium or such. I don't think that WIC magically takes away all worries for their children's nutritional needs - after all, it only provides for specific food items and it would probably be impossible to actually feed a kid solely from WIC. But, considering the cost difference between wholesome and healthy food staples and cheap junk food, it has to make a huge difference in dietary options.
Then there are food stamps. You can pretty much get anything at a grocery store with food stamps. I can't tell you how many times I have seen a person with an entire cart full of junk (chips, soda, candy) pay for it with their food stamp card. And then there are the people that buy lobster and filet mignon. Gah. Seriously - put it back and buy something a little less outrageous with that money that was given to you. But, I also don't think that anyone using food stamps should be humiliated or forced to purchase strictly staples for preparing every meal from scratch. Nor should they never be allowed to get anything for treats for the kids or themselves. Candy, cookies, pasteries, etc. should be catagorized differently and each account should have a discrectionary amount for that catagory. Someone that gets $250 of food stamps, for example, might have $30 that can be spent as they choose on "fun food".
But I don't see any real way for the program to allow oversight without a huge increase in administrative costs and overly arbitrary guidelines. Which means that those that use this program for the intended purpose and with common sense are going to continue to bear the stigma from those that abuse it.
Wow, this really got rambly and kinda ranty. I blame medication.
With that being said - I love WIC. I have never used it (duh - no kidlets!), but have many friends that were helped greatly by the program. One of the reasons that I like the system so much is that I think that it would be difficult to abuse. Oh, I'm sure that some people manage it - but I doubt that it is easy or overly lucrative.
As I understand the program, the family receives vouchers for specific food items each month. Basics such as milk, cheese, grains, etc. There are no WIC voucers for Twinkies, or lobster. This program exists to help pregnant women and small children be able to afford the basic nutritional needs that are vital during the developmental stages. Poor nutrition during this time period can cause repercussions that last a lifetime. I may not have kids, or even like the majority of strangers' kids that I see running around; but, I cannot imagine how heartbreaking it must be for a parent to work hard at a job, care for their children and still worry about their family getting enough calcium or such. I don't think that WIC magically takes away all worries for their children's nutritional needs - after all, it only provides for specific food items and it would probably be impossible to actually feed a kid solely from WIC. But, considering the cost difference between wholesome and healthy food staples and cheap junk food, it has to make a huge difference in dietary options.
Then there are food stamps. You can pretty much get anything at a grocery store with food stamps. I can't tell you how many times I have seen a person with an entire cart full of junk (chips, soda, candy) pay for it with their food stamp card. And then there are the people that buy lobster and filet mignon. Gah. Seriously - put it back and buy something a little less outrageous with that money that was given to you. But, I also don't think that anyone using food stamps should be humiliated or forced to purchase strictly staples for preparing every meal from scratch. Nor should they never be allowed to get anything for treats for the kids or themselves. Candy, cookies, pasteries, etc. should be catagorized differently and each account should have a discrectionary amount for that catagory. Someone that gets $250 of food stamps, for example, might have $30 that can be spent as they choose on "fun food".
But I don't see any real way for the program to allow oversight without a huge increase in administrative costs and overly arbitrary guidelines. Which means that those that use this program for the intended purpose and with common sense are going to continue to bear the stigma from those that abuse it.
Wow, this really got rambly and kinda ranty. I blame medication.
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Dear VA Pharamcy people,
You have just handed me a paper bag full of drugs. And not a lunch bag sized one - no, a full sized bag. Of the six drugs that I am supposed to take daily, every single one of them states that it may cause drowsiness or dizziness. At this point, I think that you can leave off the warning to not operate a motor vehicle while taking these. I'm going to be lucky to be able to find my damned motor vehicle in about an hour.
/>Love,
The drugged up chick
The lesson here kids? Do not wait a month to see a doctor when you are having an allergic reaction. Especially if the medication that you are taking to try to take care of the pain and itching is the same damned medication that the doctor thinks that you have developed an allergy to. Not only do you end up with pills out the wazoo, the doctor gives you a rather stern look.
On a different note, I stopped at Uwajimaya on the way home from the hospital. Got some edamame, pork dumplings and ginger tea (vicadin tends to make me a bit queasy). I know that some of the little old ladies in there at 9 in the morning were laughing at the silly redhead trying to figure out what things were. I know that I missed out on some delicious things simply because I had no freaking clue as to what they were. If only I knew someone that could go with me and tell me what the different items were. Perhaps someone that was familiar with Japanese foods. Hmmm......(and yes, that was a hint, Mari)
Crap - my feet just went numb.
You have just handed me a paper bag full of drugs. And not a lunch bag sized one - no, a full sized bag. Of the six drugs that I am supposed to take daily, every single one of them states that it may cause drowsiness or dizziness. At this point, I think that you can leave off the warning to not operate a motor vehicle while taking these. I'm going to be lucky to be able to find my damned motor vehicle in about an hour.
/>Love,
The drugged up chick
The lesson here kids? Do not wait a month to see a doctor when you are having an allergic reaction. Especially if the medication that you are taking to try to take care of the pain and itching is the same damned medication that the doctor thinks that you have developed an allergy to. Not only do you end up with pills out the wazoo, the doctor gives you a rather stern look.
On a different note, I stopped at Uwajimaya on the way home from the hospital. Got some edamame, pork dumplings and ginger tea (vicadin tends to make me a bit queasy). I know that some of the little old ladies in there at 9 in the morning were laughing at the silly redhead trying to figure out what things were. I know that I missed out on some delicious things simply because I had no freaking clue as to what they were. If only I knew someone that could go with me and tell me what the different items were. Perhaps someone that was familiar with Japanese foods. Hmmm......(and yes, that was a hint, Mari)
Crap - my feet just went numb.
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One of the cats just barked.
I'll wait so that you can grasp the full wrongness of that statement.
Meow is to cat as bark is to dog.
Sheesh.
If you'll excuse me, I have to go explain some things to my furry friends. Honestly, screw this gender confusion thing - my pets wind up with species confusion.
I'll wait so that you can grasp the full wrongness of that statement.
Meow is to cat as bark is to dog.
Sheesh.
If you'll excuse me, I have to go explain some things to my furry friends. Honestly, screw this gender confusion thing - my pets wind up with species confusion.
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