Skip to main content

I’ve been economically stimulated!

Today I officially benefited from the economic stimulus package. My HR person at my old company told me that indeed I am eligible for help with my COBRA payments – the government will pay for 65% of my COBRA. The other good news is it turns out my COBRA was cheaper than we had thought, so I’d overpaid some.

This is a huge relief when it comes to May. It means I owe about $400 less than I thought I would that month.

Of course, I’m not exactly running out to do my bit for the economy yet. I’m still in survival mode – but this is a big help.

One day when at least some of my economic chaos is under control, I expect I’ll be contributing to the economy. I haven’t been paid a full salary since October and have had no income since January. Needless to say I have a lot of things I’ve put off buying, and some of those items you can only put off so long.

I need, for example, new pants. I haven’t had a new pair in a year. When you have a code brown, even if you get to it quickly and the stain is gone, there must be something about the stomach acid that remains behind. It seems I always get holes in my pants where the code browns happen. One’s side isn’t exactly like the knees on pants – it isn’t exactly an area where most people get holes in their clothes.

I need a new pair of sneakers. Mine have a hole in one shoe.

I need a computer bag for Baby. I was using an old one I’d scrounged from the office. It now has a hole in the side, and one day Baby is going to push on it just hard enough to go tumbling out.

I need a new larger suitcase. That one will have to happen pretty soon as I have some trips coming up. My roller bags are great for my NIH back and forth, but when I need a larger suitcase I don’t have one. I’m going to need one in May.

Lastly, as soon as I am able, I’m buying some office furniture! I still pretty much have the household furniture I had in college. I’d really rather buy a new couch or china cabinet. But, the fact is if I’m going to make a living from home, I need a good place to work. Right now on one desk I’ve got my laptop, the old computer, a CCTV and a printer. There’s no room to put anything down you’re trying to work on. I’m trying to work while balancing papers in my lap. No wonder I get cabin fever quickly and want to go to Homers. This office would drive anyone batty.

I want an L-shaped desk. I want to be able to put the laptop on the corner bit, and have the CCTV on the short part of the L so that I can easily use it while I’m working. I want the long part of the L to be a nice work spot to spread things out. I’ll keep the old desk and put the old computer on it. I don’t want to throw it out quite yet, partly because it’s nice to have a back up. Eventually, it will go though.

Ahhhh – day dreaming. It’s so nice to have something happen that’s a financial break instead of a financial crisis for a change.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Wow, light at the end of the tunnel. This is good news and something to look forward to. Keep on keepin on. -Julie

Popular posts from this blog

Ratner's Cheesecake

Here's another recipe from Toby! Thanks Toby......and I'll get the others posted soon! Ratner's Cheesecake and plain cookies Ratner's was a Jewish dairy restaurant in the lower East Side of Manhattan. This recipe, from my disintegrating, no longer in print Ratner's cookbook, is the closest I've ever gotten to reproducing the rich, heavy cheesecake my mother made when I was a kid. It's worth the time it takes to prepare and every last calorie. Dough Can be prepared in advance. Makes enough for two cakes. Can be frozen or used to make cookies – see recipe below. 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup shortening 1 teaspoon lemon extract 1 cup butter 2 eggs 3 cups sifted cake flour ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients with hands. Refrigerate 3 -4 hours, or preferably overnight. Filling (for

The next generation with Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome

I'm so behind on posting about the trip to Puerto Rico. Since the episode of Mystery Diagnosis on Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome ran right after we got home, it's been a little busy. These, however, are my favorite pictures from Puerto Rico. I know, not pretty senery etc - but these little guys and gals inspire me. They are the next generation of folks with HPS, and if we keep up the hard work, they will live better lives because of it. They motivate me.

Some good news about Pirfenidone

Below is a press release from Intermune, the company that makes Pirfenidone. They have essentially reviewed the various clinical trials going on, and decided that Pirfenidone is safe and well tolerated. That would pretty much go along with what we've observed in the HPS community as well. We have a few folks that have been on the drug since the late 90s and continue to do well. Of course, as a journalist, I do have to say consider the source - but at the same time, as someone in a Pirfenidone trial, it's good to know. Results of Comprehensive Safety Analysis of pirfenidone In IPF Patients Presented At European Respiratory Meeting - Analysis shows safety and tolerability of pirfenidone across four clinical trials - VIENNA, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITMN ) today announced that the results of a comprehensive review of safety data from four clinical studies were presented at the 2009 European Respiratory Society Annual Congress in Vienna, Austria