So I finally got the birthday dinner with the old man and he was either a. stoned on cough syrup or 2.worrying about losing his nouveau financial status and balancing his checkbook in his head. I guess the estrangement is still on, but the universe is making sure I don't care very much. Twice a year is more than adequate for that.

Seska -- I honestly don't know enough about your country's healthcare system (other than the fact that it's apparently good enough for your country but would, apparently, destroy America with its godless socialized ways), so forgive me for asking: can you just pay to get a flu vaccination? Or is it just set up so that no one who isn't in a pre-determined category can't get immunized no matter what?

Because it makes no sense that if someone wanted to do the sensible thing and engage in preventive care, they wouldn't be allowed to do so.

signed,
envies the Brits for their health care, except in this situation

Relatedly, I have a migraine that's making me crosseyed with pain. I'm doped on painkillers, which are doing nothing. Bah. Back to bed with me.

I'm too lazy to copy and paste on my phone but basically, amych, you get 100 points for 69 pushups and no more points after that. The test also includes sit ups and a two mile run so it is worth it to save your energy.

Also, my iPhone wants to change your name to "amuck".

ugh Seska that sucks.

I need something~ma. motivation~ma, maybe, but also as much standardized-test~fu as possible. I take the GREs in 2 days, and have reached my limit as far as studying goes. It doesn't help that I'm not as motivated about applying to the school (yes, I know, but there are good reasons) as I once was. I'd still like to kick ass on the test, just for the sake of kicking ass. Issue is, my sleep schedule is all over the place - finally went to sleep at midnight last night, woke up 3 times, then was up for good at 5. This weekend was a mess too. I took my last practice test this morning and my scores were ok, but not in kick-ass range, and (this is the part that bites) lower than the practice test I took last week. But ... ugh, just ugh.

Thanks, all. Have calmed down. It was the principle of the thing that got me - especially that my carer's health is apparently valued more highly than mine.

Teppy, wishing you much relief~ma for your migraine. Yes, I can pay for a flu shot. I'll probably have to see a private doctor to arrange it, so it could end up being quite expensive. But it will be worth it for my health. It's more the principle that's pissing me off. Our government is currently doing some quite nasty things to disabled people who find it difficult to work. It seems bonkers to me that they can't fund simple, fairly cheap things that will help *keep* some of us in work. Especially when they're handing out the shots to our carers (and to people with conditions that they deem important enough, like diabetes and asthma).

Hate when medical professionals act as if we don't know our own bodies and psyches worth a damn.

That's definitely a big part of the problem, yep.

I should be more grateful for my country's healthcare system, I know. It was entirely free for me to see my GP today, and my medication is subsidised. But it's run in such a stupid way sometimes that it does my head in. Millions of pounds spent on helping people quit smoking, but I can't get a scan for my kidneys or enough physiotherapy. And I couldn't get private insurance even if I could afford it because no insurance company will accept me. (Which I know affects Americans much, much more.) /rant /sorry

Got the offer. They went up $1K, but that's pretty much it, and they didn't answer all my questions. Can't believe I had to wait 5 days for that. Have fired off a response asking for a couple of clarifications and reiterating some things that were not answered.

::sigh:: C'mon, people, I really want to take this job! Don't make it so hard to say yes!

Ooh, that's a tricky one, smonster. I hope you can make a decision that works for you.

Yay, that's $1k more than you wouldve got without negotiating! Sorry they're being annoying about the questions and timeliness.

Yay, that's $1k more than you wouldve got without negotiating! Sorry they're being annoying about the questions and timeliness.

Yes, and there's a 90-day review that *could* result in a raise.

I am pretty good at push-ups now thanks to my stretch teacher. I usually do them in sets of ten. I am muy impressed with Stephanie and amyth for their push-up mojo.