March 7, 2021

Need advice, input, listening ear from my DU family

as I've mentioned here in the past, I'm looking to go out on SSDI due to bipolar and other serious issues. After working since 1987, I just cannot handle working anymore. I'm hoping to apply this coming June. The plan is my doctor taking me out of work, I apply for the short term disability insurance I pay for. They will turn me down, as they did my last fmla work absence. I'll probably need a lawyer again to get my money. I will be applying for ssdi asap. It can take years to get.

After 12 weeks, I can try to get employer paid long term disability insurance for 2 years so I have income while fighting to get my ssdi. I'm sure I'll be turned down.

Here is my issue. I'm the adult child of alcoholics. I take on a lot of responsibility to not let people down, to keep the peace, etc. So, I feel guilty going out of work on disability. We're not well staffed at adequate levels. I go back and forth like, my health or "loyalty" to not inconvenience or stress my coworkers. This job makes my illness worse. In fact, it's part of the reason I've gotten so bad. My doctor, psych, says my health is most important, and my partner says worry about myself. It's just so stressful. My income will drop 50%

Tl;dr my guilty self needs to be on disability and I don't want coworkers mad at me, even though I know I need to take care of me.

March 5, 2021

Do you like living in WV?

hello! My SO and I are looking for nice places to live with a low cost of living. I am looking for residents' opinions, insights, warnings, anything. I know it's a red state, but lovely liberals live there, too! Is the winter bad? WV looks like a naturally beautiful state, too. We're thinking Morgantown.

February 28, 2021

How is everyone doing today?

hope everyone is doing well. I'm depressed, but trying to lift myself out of it.

February 27, 2021

1977 The Late Show

I love Art Carney and Lily Tomlin. This is an Altman-produced neo-noir by Robert Benton. It's. My favorite movie! I'm watching it for the 2nd time today. Anyone else familiar with this movie? It's on Prime, but I had to buy it. I recommend it highly. It's a comedy, mystery, and there's even a cat!

February 21, 2021

His Lights Stayed on During Texas' Storm. Now He Owes $16,752.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/us/texas-storm-electric-bills.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage


"My savings is gone,” said Scott Willoughby, a 63-year-old Army veteran who lives on Social Security payments in a Dallas suburb. He said he had nearly emptied his savings account so that he would be able to pay the $16,752 electric bill charged to his credit card — 70 times what he usually pays for all of his utilities combined. “There’s nothing I can do about it, but it’s broken me.”

Mr. Willoughby is among scores of Texans who have reported skyrocketing electric bills as the price of keeping lights on and refrigerators humming shot upward. For customers whose electricity prices are not fixed and are instead tied to the fluctuating wholesale price, the spikes have been astronomical.

February 20, 2021

Notes on a Scandal

Dench is magnificent. Anyone else enjoy this movie?

February 19, 2021

lives well lived is my favorite part of Nicolle's show

she does such a great job

February 18, 2021

Portland Police guard dumpsters of discarded food

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/02/portland-police-guard-dumpster-face-off-with-residents-trying-to-get-discarded-food-from-fred-meyer.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=oregonian_sf&utm_medium=social

Workers at the Hollywood West Fred Meyer threw away thousands of perishable items because the store, like many others, had lost power in an outage brought on by the region’s winter storm.

More at link

February 14, 2021

Did everyone at the Capitol shelter within it?

if anyone knows. What I'm wondering is, if they evacuated the building, would they have met with the domestic terrorists outside? Sorry if it's a weird question, but I'm curious

February 14, 2021

2 more hearts thanks! Nt