know you told me about this on the phone once, but what happened? Is it a change in state or federal regulations, or a matter of time allotted for your particular disability, or what? I don't understand how eligibility runs out, if you're still living with your disability.

It's that the long-term insurance company only pays out for psychiatric disabilities for 27 months. So, come July 19th, my time is up. Social Security will continue.

This is so hard, but if anyone can do it, you can.

Thank you. 10 years ago I wouldn't have been able to. I used to be so terrible with money. I think it's why I'm so careful now. I don't ever want to get in that position again.

I did just sit down and figure out my current budget vs. my budget to come. Amazingly, my social security check is going to cover all of my absolute necessities (rent, bills, groceries, car insurance). I've been avoiding working those numbers because I was terrified it wasn't going to work out. And then I didn't know *what* I was going to do. But today I decided sometimes it's better to just know. I'll only have about $100 in disposable income, but hey, that's A LOT better than it could be. I'm so thankful. I was really afraid I was going to have to move back in with my parents or something. And not that I don't love my parents, but I love where I live and being on my own. It really helps me to be able to be and feel independent.

One thing I would like us to do is pay me. But we have to stabilize everything, first. I would like us to pay me something like $50.00/week. I figure if we can auto transfer it to a separate account--one we can't access via the ATM (so like a passbook savings account, or something that requires thought and work before the money is in our hot little hands), it'll be a nice way to sock away some money. I'm sure it'll get tapped into, but not without thought. And if/when Scott gets a raise, or his holiday bonus, I'm going suggest we put a percentage of it in that account.

That's a great idea.

Until I lose my supplement, I'm going to put my "car payment" money into my savings account. Some of that will go to buy my iPod at the end of the semester. But, hopefully there will be a little left over so I can have a little cushion when I lose the supplement.

I just got a pretty firm date on when I'll be moving! Grandma E plans to move the last weekend in April (April 30 & May 1st) so I'll be movng right after that. Probably moving small stuff in through the week and then do the big stuff that next weekend.

Yay! That is very exciting.

Poor Lilty!

That's a dirty trick you've played on yourself, Lilty.

Crap. I don't remember some of my medidation dosages. I know there's a book that has pictures of pills and what they are and what dosage - is there anything like that online?

Try the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR).

I suppose I could call my pharmacy.

Your pharmacy really ought to be able to print you out a list of everything they've ever filled for you. Is it a chain, like CVS or Walgreen's? Because I'm sure the chains can.

Jen has a new tag.

Oh, poor Lilty, I hate having to clean in order to the do the thing I was going to do, rather than clean.

askye, your new place sounds great. I'm so happy for you.

I did just sit down and figure out my current budget vs. my budget to come. Amazingly, my social security check is going to cover all of my absolute necessities (rent, bills, groceries, car insurance).

This is a dirty, dirty trick, universe. You win this round.

I've checked the usual possible places, and it's none of them, which means it's somewhere ridiculous where it isn't supposed to be, so real cleaning will be involved. Then the dirty clothes I find will likely be so abundant that I will have to wash some of them to condense the pile and make my room clean.

I cleaned yesterday so I could pull out the beads today.

I need to sit down with our money logs so I can see where the cash goes. and what gets put on the credit cards ( that shouldn't- mostly do to me doing things llike putting the atm card in the wrong place) I would be really happy if I could find 50 dollars to save. Starz - we watch sometime. I decided to keep it - because eventually it gets all the movies - sort the second run theater.

I have some package of premium channels that includes HBO and Starz. Starz does have a good selection of movies - thing I wouldn't rent but am willing to watch if it's just a matter of changing the channel. i gotta have my HBO, beause someday The Sopranos will be on again, and I love Deadwood, and I might have to start watching The Wire.

Yay, Deena, on the good PT and a reasonable Client, and possible more billing hours.

The only computer game I play is Spider Solitaire, which gives you a big ol' clue to *my* nature.

The only way I manage to stay within my budget is to use cash in hand. The ATM ate my card years ago, and I never got it replaced. So every time I need cash I have to find a place to park, walk in, and write my tiny little check--this branch of the CU doesn't have a drive-through. If I can't pay for it with what I have in my hand, I don't get to have it.

I do online bill-paying though, and am thrilled with it. And yes, my standard of living has... I prefer the word "simplified" to "lowered," thanks.

In that vein, we've taken another step back technology-wise, too. We were using pump antibacterial hand soap in the kitchen and bath, and liquid body wash in the shower. In the last few months we'd changed to a non-antibacterial hand soap, and I'd found the body wash stripped my skin. I experimented till I found olive oil and goats milk soaps that don't do that, so I've been using bar soap in the bath, and my skin is happy.

Except for my hands, which were feeling stripped after every time I washed my hands. Applying lotion only to wash my hands again every 20 minutes or so was getting old. And expensive. So we've ditched the liquid hand soap in favor of the olive oil bar soap on the sinks, too. My hands are now as happy as the rest of me.

Now all I have to do is find a good bar soap rack that will drain the bar, and will fit on the edges of the kitchen and bathroom sinks.

While I was looking for soap racks at Whole Foods, I found some skin balms and salves that *don't* contain lanolin or petrolatum, for lips, hands, and body. Two from the Common Sense line, Lemon Cypress and Jojoba Rose, plus Whole Foods' lavender and lemon verbena, and Badger Tangerine Breeze. I smell like heaven, right now.

I've got, you know, Wire links up the ying, if you want them, to know what's the what on it. Because I'm now a "Save My Show" geek. Although this may be the first "Save My Show, Bitch!" campaign ever. Netflix has the first two seasons. (/show pimping because I want my show back, damn it!)