Not to mention that sometimes people have money/a job, and can afford an iPhone. And then lose that job/money, and no longer have, say, health insurance or enough cash for a doctor, etc.

Yup. Again, choir. I don't understand how people think that if you're poor/unemployed/underemployed/uninsured, then you MUST be a street urchin or else FUCK YOU.

Oh, god, the "I don't deserve to take up space" feeling. It's taken decades to finally give a name to the thing that made me hesitate to do things for myself until I do stupid things because I feel angry and deprived. Now I just need to find the way to undo that feeling.

Is taking Valium with coffee counterproductive? Because the idea was to calm down without falling asleep.

Today I told my boss that I'm a delicate flower and I can't handle all this stress. She laughed. I don't know if she understands me real well, or not at all.

And I should either be at a doctor's appointment or sitting around going "Nope. Not walking today, either." But still manage to have the kind of attitude that lights up a room, like crips on TV have.

Erika, you slay me.

I feel like last year, I was the perfect example of the iPhone/no health insurance thing. I had a house, a nice phone, a business, and no insurance and no income. Shocking!

And try getting a job without a cellphone or nice clothing to wear for an interview.

Has anyone heard from Maria since yesterday? As of 23 hours ago she was still feeling awful running almost a 102 degree fever, and I don't know if she has anyone to bring her soup and meds and take her to urgent care or her doctor if she needs it.

I haven't seen her post on FB but she might be sleeping.

Plus, an iPhone service plan costs way less than health insurance, and people need a goddamn phone.

Plus, you are generally locked into a contract for the cell phone. So, if you get downsized, and are out of work, you could be out of insurance, but still forced to pay for that cell phone you got during better days. And, often times, the cell phone plans aren't that much more than a land line. Plus, free long distance!

The problem isn't choosing between iPhone and health insurance. The problem is the health industry is structured in a way that is not all that great. But the politicians want to focus on cutting benefits to curtail the outrageous costs of health care, rather than fixing how the system works to curtail the rising costs of health care.

(says the guy STILL battling with insurance and debt collector for an incident that happened while on "great" health insurance, but out of state, a year and a half ago!!)

t /soapbox

Dog update: a friend of a friend is trying to rehome her Shih Tsu and Yorkie. And also, the person from the shelter just emailed me saying that they've got a dog that might be right for me. So, need to figure out what's going on with both of those, and decide what do to.