Re: fr Normi to MM/ to Normi

[Guest guest]

Normi,

You yard sounds like paradise! I love to garden too. Don't you just love how the dill attracts butterflies! I did not care if the butterfly larva ate my dill because I grew enough to share with them. The most amazing thing I have notice while living in CA is roses grow like weeds here!

I have never seen so many beautiful healthy rose bushes in my entire life! I used to be a rose nut. I had over 80 rose bushes in NC and they were so much work. The humidity there caused so many diseases.

I love cooking with fresh herbs. It is the only kind to use. I love nature too. We have lots of bird feeders especially hummingbird, in our yard along wit 3 bird baths.

My goodness having a yard that big in the bay area....wow! You must be rich! lol. The housing in Elk Grove is about 2 times what the housing in Austin TX is and I have read in the paper many many times about how expensive the bay area is. The bay area is so beautiful I can understand why it is so expensive.

diana

n 09/15/02 2:06 PM, Normi Balderrama at normipoohbear061@... wrote:

Hi mm, Maybe I should start KNEADING bread then! I have lots of frustrations..LOL...

I love to have my own garden and grow herbs. I love fresh dill especially.

When we still lived in the bay area, we grew corn, green beans, strawberries, different varieties of tomato, squash, cilantro, dill, variety of chilis, chives, etc..

We had a HUGE backyard, and there was this neat area for it. made rows, installed a drip system, and it looked like a mini field.

The rest of the yard was just full of various flowers, shrubs, birdhouses, etc.....

I really miss it.

Love, normi

Re: fr Normi

>Hey, Brats, you got that right. I am considered something of a local chef.

>I like to

>grow my own herbs, use fresh farm market ingredients, and make bread the old

>fashioned way. I don't own a bread machine and don't want one. Kneading

>bread is

>one way I can take out my frustrations and anger and be productive at the

>same time.

> You be good girls, now and get some rest. Love, MM

>

>

[Guest guest]

, You are right about it being expensive in the Bay Area. I live in

Sonoma County

which is currently THE most expensive place in the United States for housing.

I grew

up here, moved here from Washington when still little, but the population is

now ten

times was it was then, and the cost of housing is fifty times higher.

Somehow, with

wages only keeping pace with the population growth, it doesn't seem right

that the

cost of living is five times that, does it? If my landladies weren't also

adoptive

moms with a soft spot for special needs kids, my rent would be double what it

is

and we would be living on the streets. This is no joke. Normi left

California just in

time a year ago when she moved to Colorado.

I have been seriously looking to relocate for the last two years, and with

our HMO

going bankrupt, it may be even more urgent that I find insurance coverage and

move

to cheaper area. What are rents like in your area? LOL

Take care, Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Hi MM!

I agree with you on needing to relocate. I don't know how people can keep up with the cost of living being so high and the wages for the average worker so low. I looked in the classified ads when we moved here just to see what the average starting salary for an administrative asst. or office manager is. I was shocked that the wages were so low and the cost of living is so high. I thank God every night for my husbands job and to please let him keep it. If he lost his job we would be up the creek with out the paddle. He could most likely not find a job starting at what he makes now and with all the perks too. I can't worry about things that have not happened or I would all be in a hospital heavily sedated! lol

Rents are high here in Elk Grove too. I looked in the paper and you can rent a 3 bedroom house with a double garage and fenced yard for 1600.00. I don't know about the location of the neighborhood.

I love it here and will be here as long as hubby has a job. You go where the money is. lol. I hope you can get your insurance straightened out. That is must for us lupies.

Hope you have a good day and I highly recommend living in Elk Grove. So if you decide to move here just let me know and Brad and I will be glad to pitch in and help you.

love,

di

on 09/16/02 9:01 AM, minniemyno@... at minniemyno@... wrote:

, You are right about it being expensive in the Bay Area. I live in

Sonoma County

which is currently THE most expensive place in the United States for housing.

I grew

up here, moved here from Washington when still little, but the population is

now ten

times was it was then, and the cost of housing is fifty times higher.

Somehow, with

wages only keeping pace with the population growth, it doesn't seem right

that the

cost of living is five times that, does it? If my landladies weren't also

adoptive

moms with a soft spot for special needs kids, my rent would be double what it

is

and we would be living on the streets. This is no joke. Normi left

California just in

time a year ago when she moved to Colorado.

I have been seriously looking to relocate for the last two years, and with

our HMO

going bankrupt, it may be even more urgent that I find insurance coverage and

move

to cheaper area. What are rents like in your area? LOL

Take care, Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Di, Thanks honey. I don't know, yet, what we'll do. Our landladies so far

are great,

but I don't know how long they will hang on to this place before they decide

to sell.

That's the trouble with renting, you have no security that way. But, on a

fixed income

we'd have to move to a very depressed area to be able to buy. Lupus is

depressing

enough. LOL Hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

. NO, not rich! LOL.... the bay area many years ago was not expensive like what you see now. It kind of happened in one big boom, and just kept on exploding from there.

My family owned houses there, but for instance. When my parents bought their house in Fremont in about 1976 brand new, it was only like 60 some odd thousand. Now, they sold that same house in 1999 for 468,000 .

The reason I lived in the house with the big yard and all was my grandfather's house. He was ill for years, and the point came when he needed to be placed in a skilled nursing facility.

Rather than leave it sit empty or rent it out to be torn up, and I moved in for some years and also got it ready to sell.

We then moved to Stockton from there, then to here.

When we first moved to stockton, the rents were half of what the bay area was charging, if not less.

As the housing market kept booming, it spread out to the central valley areas.

The rents in stockton jumped up rapidly, and a condo we lived in shot up almost 400.00 month to keep market rate.

We lived off hammer lane in the landing on the lake , only as we knew the man who owned the house really well.

He is like a monopoly board. He owns a lot of property, and this was his primary and personal residence.

For tax reasons, he had to move into his other house in livermore for 2 years. He wanted to rent the house to us. He knew we could not afford the type of rent the house commanded, and he lowered the rent 500.00 a month for us. I am sure he probably got a write off somehow. But he knew we would not only take great care of it, but also we really did a lot of landscaping as well, and he was pleased.

There is really rich soil in many parts of CA, and modesto has great soil.

You are right, there are a lot of rose bushes, lush landscape, and hoards of mature and beautiful trees. You should take a trip to the penninsula to redwood city area to see the trees.

I love butterflies so much, I could care less if they ate everything in sight, just so I could watch them all. I had a side of the house where I planted this mix called"buttefly/hummingbird mix".

It is kind of hard to find, but you may find it at home depot, orchard supply or even I have looked and found it at kmart and walmart.

It comes in a bag, just like potting soil does. Some brands sell it in a container.

It looks a lot like the lint and stuff you get our of your dryer screen. Inside this stuff is a vast array of seeds in it.

You put out in the soil and spread it around, and it will look might strange for a bit, but you wanter it well daily. Before you know it, there will be such a thick and dense amount of flowers of every kind, you will be truly amazed.

You will have hummingbirds, butterflys and a lot of my fav - dragon flies as well.

Oh, before I forget, you should also see six flaggs marine world and amusement park in Vallejo. I love the animals and sea life there.

Anyhow, I basically got booted out of the bay area when the economy and silicon valley and dot. com people took over.

Well, enjoy where you are. You have much to see and do.

Love, Normi

Re: fr Normi>Hey, Brats, you got that right. I am considered something of a local chef. >I like to>grow my own herbs, use fresh farm market ingredients, and make bread the old>fashioned way. I don't own a bread machine and don't want one. Kneading >bread is>one way I can take out my frustrations and anger and be productive at the >same time.> You be good girls, now and get some rest. Love, MM>>

[Guest guest]

Di, check out the rents in the bay area now... lol.....

That same house you just described would be well over 2,000 a month. You would get an apartment for 1600.00 though..... Normi

Re: fr Normi to MM/ to NormiHi MM!I agree with you on needing to relocate. I don't know how people can keep up with the cost of living being so high and the wages for the average worker so low. I looked in the classified ads when we moved here just to see what the average starting salary for an administrative asst. or office manager is. I was shocked that the wages were so low and the cost of living is so high. I thank God every night for my husbands job and to please let him keep it. If he lost his job we would be up the creek with out the paddle. He could most likely not find a job starting at what he makes now and with all the perks too. I can't worry about things that have not happened or I would all be in a hospital heavily sedated! lolRents are high here in Elk Grove too. I looked in the paper and you can rent a 3 bedroom house with a double garage and fenced yard for 1600.00. I don't know about the location of the neighborhood. I love it here and will be here as long as hubby has a job. You go where the money is. lol. I hope you can get your insurance straightened out. That is must for us lupies. Hope you have a good day and I highly recommend living in Elk Grove. So if you decide to move here just let me know and Brad and I will be glad to pitch in and help you.love,dion 09/16/02 9:01 AM, minniemyno@... at minniemyno@... wrote:

, You are right about it being expensive in the Bay Area. I live in Sonoma Countywhich is currently THE most expensive place in the United States for housing. I grewup here, moved here from Washington when still little, but the population is now tentimes was it was then, and the cost of housing is fifty times higher. Somehow, withwages only keeping pace with the population growth, it doesn't seem right that thecost of living is five times that, does it? If my landladies weren't also adoptivemoms with a soft spot for special needs kids, my rent would be double what it isand we would be living on the streets. This is no joke. Normi left California just intime a year ago when she moved to Colorado. I have been seriously looking to relocate for the last two years, and with our HMOgoing bankrupt, it may be even more urgent that I find insurance coverage and moveto cheaper area. What are rents like in your area? LOLTake care, Love, MM

[Guest guest]

MM, there are many prgrams here to buy a house. you could always come to CO! :-)

Have you thought about which areas you may be interested in, should your landladies ever make a decision to sell?

I just hope you do not have to confront this issue for a very long time.

Love, normi

Re: fr Normi to MM/ to Normi>Di, Thanks honey. I don't know, yet, what we'll do. Our landladies so far >are great,>but I don't know how long they will hang on to this place before they decide >to sell.>That's the trouble with renting, you have no security that way. But, on a >fixed income>we'd have to move to a very depressed area to be able to buy. Lupus is >depressing>enough. LOL Hugs, MM>>

[Guest guest]

Normi, You got the rents a little low didn't you? For instance, I live in a

three bed,

one bath small OLD house in need of a new roof, new plumbing, and new wiring,

and

I pay all the utilities, and if they were renting it to the general public

they could get

$2500/mo for it. I pay much less than that because the judges who own it

like me,

and to be truthful, probably don't want to worry about capitol gains tax if

they sold it.

Also, I don't call them with every little repair. I do the minor stuff

myself, and take

the cost of the item off the rent. When my hands will cooperate, I even do

the labor

myself and they save on that, too. I'm never late with rent, and very

responsible, so

they haven't lost several months' rent waiting to get a tenant in here, in

over seven

years. I'm a good girl, I am. LOL Gotta go. MM

[Guest guest]

Normi, What elevation are you at? See, I react very badly to high

elevations. I was

raised at sea level, and more than 500 ft. gives me heart palpitations.

Isn't that

the pits? Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Normi, I looked it up in the deed books at the county assessor's office, and

it was

purchased " as is " over twenty years ago, for less than $100,000. It now

appraises,

" as is " for just over $400,000. Ain't that the nertz? It's almost like

living back in

Gold Rush days when eggs were a dollar's worth of gold dust apiece. Sheesh!

MM

[Guest guest]

Normi, Too far from the ocean! MM

[Guest guest]

Normi, WHAT water? I know you have some small lakelets, but big water?

Naw. MM

[Guest guest]

Normi, Thanks, me too. But, if not, then I will be seriously looking for

another place.

However, since I have very little savings left since becoming disabled, I

don't know

how we'll manage it. Got to get the savings built back up again. And, that

takes a lot

of effort. Oops, gotta go. One of the boys is having trouble getting to

sleep. Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Yeah MM, you are right. I look on occassion in the paper in Fremont area. A

house like Di is describing in Elk Grove would easily be in the mid 2,000 a

month range, if not way higher.

I looked at apartments I lived in when I was 19 years old in Fremont, cannot

touch a one bedroom , one bath for under around 1600.00 per month. Fremont

is only about 20 miles north of San and on all major highways as well.

SO, the prices tend to have really gone up there big time.

The Fremont area is much higher on rents then in the central valley area,

although they have gotten really high. If Di had been in Elk Grove in about

97 when we were looking at moving there, she would be totally shocked at the

differnece in rents, and all the growth as well.

I stand corrected.

I am so glad you have those landladies.

And you are probably right, they would have to pay cap gain taxes, unless

they reinvested the money within a certain time frame.

Wonder what the house you live in goes for on the market now?

Love, Normi

Re: fr Normi to MM/ to Normi

>Normi, You got the rents a little low didn't you? For instance, I live in

a

>three bed,

>one bath small OLD house in need of a new roof, new plumbing, and new

wiring,

>and

>I pay all the utilities, and if they were renting it to the general public

>they could get

>$2500/mo for it. I pay much less than that because the judges who own it

>like me,

>and to be truthful, probably don't want to worry about capitol gains tax if

>they sold it.

>Also, I don't call them with every little repair. I do the minor stuff

>myself, and take

>the cost of the item off the rent. When my hands will cooperate, I even do

>the labor

>myself and they save on that, too. I'm never late with rent, and very

>responsible, so

>they haven't lost several months' rent waiting to get a tenant in here, in

>over seven

>years. I'm a good girl, I am. LOL Gotta go. MM

>

>

> " The LUPIES Store " Come check out our store...

>http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies

>

> " The LUPIES Web Page "

>http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html

>

> " The LUPIES online photo albums! "

>Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...

>http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

>

>

[Guest guest]

MM, We are above 5,000 feet. I too was raised at sea level. They say, if you adjust to 500 feet per day, you adapt differently.

I had a bad time when we first came here with all that stuff too.

Now? cannot tell the difference.

So, back to my being selfish and you and I calmly discussing your moving to CO! ??? LOL.....

Love Ya, Normi the goat

Re: fr Normi to MM/ to Normi>Normi, What elevation are you at? See, I react very badly to high >elevations. I was>raised at sea level, and more than 500 ft. gives me heart palpitations. >Isn't that>the pits? Love, MM>>

[Guest guest]

MM, We have water! LOL...... boooo hoooooooo hoooooooo :-(

Love, Normi

Re: fr Normi to MM/ to Normi

>Normi, Too far from the ocean! MM

>

>

> " The LUPIES Store " Come check out our store...

>http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies

>

> " The LUPIES Web Page "

>http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html

>

> " The LUPIES online photo albums! "

>Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...

>http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

>

>

[Guest guest]

MM. Well that is a nice little piece of property and investment they have

there. Maybe they will just hang on to it then. Besides, they are getting

someone responsible to care for the house, they apparently like you, and

they are human enough to be sensitive to your situation and the fact that

you have your kids to care for. I applaud these ladies for being HUMAN.

They also have a regular income coming in as well.

So, I know how much you love where you are, I will just pray you can stay

there for a very long time.

Love ya, normi

Re: fr Normi to MM/ to Normi

>Normi, I looked it up in the deed books at the county assessor's office,

and

>it was

>purchased " as is " over twenty years ago, for less than $100,000. It now

>appraises,

> " as is " for just over $400,000. Ain't that the nertz? It's almost like

>living back in

>Gold Rush days when eggs were a dollar's worth of gold dust apiece.

Sheesh!

>MM

>

>

> " The LUPIES Store " Come check out our store...

>http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies

>

> " The LUPIES Web Page "

>http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html

>

> " The LUPIES online photo albums! "

>Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...

>http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

>

>

[Guest guest]

MM. Don't you qualify for any type of reduced rental housing? I know CA can have long lists. I just was wondering if you qualify for some help here.

I doubt you would want to go this far, but places like Lower Lake and Clearlake may be affordable for you. Actually , they are not all that far from you.

I am trying to think of places that have not just gotten to far out there. I am thinking Redding, yuba City, clearlake areas, well, there are still many.

What areas are you interested in besides where you are now?

Love ya, normi

Re: fr Normi to MM/ to Normi>Normi, Thanks, me too. But, if not, then I will be seriously looking for >another place.>However, since I have very little savings left since becoming disabled, I >don't know>how we'll manage it. Got to get the savings built back up again. And, that >takes a lot>of effort. Oops, gotta go. One of the boys is having trouble getting to >sleep. Love, MM>>

[Guest guest]

MM, can't blame a girl for trying! :-) Love, normi

Re: fr Normi to MM/ to Normi

>Normi, WHAT water? I know you have some small lakelets, but big water?

>Naw. MM

>

>

> " The LUPIES Store " Come check out our store...

>http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies

>

> " The LUPIES Web Page "

>http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html

>

> " The LUPIES online photo albums! "

>Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...

>http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

>

>

[Guest guest]

Normi, Actually, the Clear Lake area would be ok, but the insurance doesn't

cover

that county. And, it's too sunny and hot for me. I like the coast, but the

insurance

doesn't cover any northern counties and that is where it is cheaper to live.

Isn't that

the pits, though?

On to happier things...I found the Amtrak book, but it is from 2000-2001, so

it is not

up to date. However, there is a train that stops near Denver and comes on to

ez

in California, called the California Zephyr. They have private compartments

that are

called Viewliner Deluxe bedrooms, with a large easy chair type seat, and a

couch type

seat that makes up into the lower berth at night. The upper berth is not too

far

off the floor, but does require a ladder. Don't know how you and the Brat

feel about

that. The fare includes all meals in the dining car, as well as sleeping

arrangements,

so it isn't really that expensive when you think about it. You can get

current fares by

calling the nearest Amtrak Station or going there and getting a current book.

More later, MM

[Guest guest]

MM... Berth, no berth... LOL... can have it, all I need is the bathroom.....lol...... :-D

, do you care?

Nah, we do not care. We will get there , that is all that matters.

Thanks for the info. I am going to see if they have a website as well. :-)

Yeah, I like clearlake. I know it can get hot there. Been about 6 yrs since I been there.

I am trying to think if there is anywhere on the coast , but probably not in CA, maybe oregon or WA.

Are you stuck cause the insurance?

Love ya, Normi

Re: fr Normi to MM/ to Normi>Normi, Actually, the Clear Lake area would be ok, but the insurance doesn't >cover>that county. And, it's too sunny and hot for me. I like the coast, but the >insurance>doesn't cover any northern counties and that is where it is cheaper to live. >Isn't that>the pits, though? >>On to happier things...I found the Amtrak book, but it is from 2000-2001, so >it is not>up to date. However, there is a train that stops near Denver and comes on to >ez>in California, called the California Zephyr. They have private compartments >that are>called Viewliner Deluxe bedrooms, with a large easy chair type seat, and a >couch type>seat that makes up into the lower berth at night. The upper berth is not too >far>off the floor, but does require a ladder. Don't know how you and the Brat >feel about>that. The fare includes all meals in the dining car, as well as sleeping >arrangements,>so it isn't really that expensive when you think about it. You can get >current fares by>calling the nearest Amtrak Station or going there and getting a current book.>>More later, MM>>

[Guest guest]

Yup, the insurance means I have to stay in this county. It's not that I

don't want to

stay...it's arguably the most beautiful area in the country, but it is also

the most

expensive in terms of rents and housing. What you could buy just five years

ago for

$150,000, is now at $400,000 and climbing. It's just too scary. However,

all the HMO's are county set ups, so that if you live outside the county, you

MUST live in a

county that has the same coverage, but with a different doctors group. It's

very

complicated. Our open enrollment period isn't until May, and then retirees

and

disabled persons like me may be out in the cold. Ain't that a lovely

thought? Would

be like handing me a death warrant since most of my meds are what keep me

going.

The weird thing is that last year around this time, I offered to take my kids

OFF my

policy, so the office could save about $300/month in premiums, and just have

ME on

it, if they would let me switch during open enrollment to a PPO with Blue

Cross. That

way I could relocate outside California, have MY medical needs met, and still

get

whatever state coverage is available for my kids in other places. AAP,

Adoption

Assistance Program, monies would pay for their coverage until they are 18.

However, the office had the gall to insult my intelligence, and patience, by

writing

to me allowing me 30 days in which to change insurance...BUT, ONLY if I would

relocate within that 30 days. Now, do YOU know anyone with a family who

could do

that? I don't. It would take 30 days of constant house hunting, just to

find a rental,

much less arrange to move, and all that. Especially, when the person is

disabled.

I was so angry. Now THAT was a moment when I could have gone postal.

So, I guess, in spite of the expense, living on the financial edge, and never

having much in the savings, we are stuck in Northern California. LOL Hugs,

MM

P.S. Does the Brat know you are coming to see me first? Hmmmm?

[Guest guest]

Hi MM. I know how that goes with staying in the county.

I know my parents are a bit stuck, at least for the moment.

Once they both have medicare, they may have more options. But the pension and benefits my dad gets from the union, kind of has them in the same boat you are rowing in . I think my daddio does have it now that I think about it, or is getting it next month.

I seen where this kind of threw a bit. I do not know if it just depends on where or what state you live in, the trade, the company or what.

Sounds like has some good insurance through the state though, and more freedom, which is fantastic.

So, in Sonoma county itself, what other cities would be any type of viable option for you to consider? I am not sure what all cities are in Sonoma county, as some I am thinking could be in Marin county, Lake county, Napa county, ,etc.....

Are places like Guernville in Sonoma county>? I mean I know the russian river floods, but out that way, is it cheaper?

I guess Sebestapool and out that way is just as high to live in too.

I am going to have to check out the CA map in that area.

I don;t suppose you could live outside the county and list a relatives addy as yours ? Of course you get caught doing that and you are up the flooding russian river.

Why are disabled people and retirees left out in the cold now?

Do you have medicare, or are you medicare eligible? If so, is that an option for you if this insurance falls through? And if you are medicare eligible, wouldn;t you maybe be CA medi cal as well?

Or you could turn your medicare over to another HMO maybe too.

This would give you insurance, rx coverage, and the ability to leave that county .

Just wondering.

As for the boys, I would think they would be eligble for a state program, medi cal, or like healthy families where the premiums are less than 25.00 month for both of them. And you can choose from Kaiser, blue cross, health net, etc....The copays and rx are really inexpensive as well. But , i think you mentioned another program they can get also.

Relocate within 30 days? I think not! Have they had a glimpse at the housing market and rents lately. I mean I know they do not care.ut even a well planned move takes more than that.

You know, I know you love it there where you are. And it is unfortunate when someone takes our choices and rights aways from us as well.

But are there other options somewhere here? I mean if it keeps getting to the economical status it is, might be worth just checking out some other options to quit having to live on the financial edge and see saw.

Hope you get some news soon on this insurance stuff though. This hanging in limbo , BITES.

I see that trouble is brewing with 's care .

I do not understand why social security will not at least get your papers in motion. I mean they let retired people do this around 4 months before the legal age eligible retirement age.

By the time you get those papers filled out, filed, they go through the crap and the motions, will be 18 yrs old.

Can't any of these agencies or the people who advised you to act on this help out any? I would think they shoulde know the ins and outs of this stuff in their sleep. Are you saying you have to wait until he is 18yr old, or X amount of days prior to the 18th b-day?

I can only begin to fathom the frustration and anger with the system you are going through.

I mean, you no sooner get things in a settled or semi settled state, then you get slammed with something new.

A person can only do so much when it comes to a point.

I know you keep and will keep on trying here though.

It is hard to put something to rest when it keeps blowing back up in your face though.

I hope someone will be able to give you the help you need to get this take care of. I know it is just draining you to no end.

Praying for you, Love ya, Normi ((((((( MM )))))))))))

Re: fr Normi to MM/ to Normi>Yup, the insurance means I have to stay in this county. It's not that I >don't want to>stay...it's arguably the most beautiful area in the country, but it is also >the most>expensive in terms of rents and housing. What you could buy just five years >ago for>$150,000, is now at $400,000 and climbing. It's just too scary. However, >all the HMO's are county set ups, so that if you live outside the county, you >MUST live in a>county that has the same coverage, but with a different doctors group. It's >very>complicated. Our open enrollment period isn't until May, and then retirees >and>disabled persons like me may be out in the cold. Ain't that a lovely >thought? Would>be like handing me a death warrant since most of my meds are what keep me >going.>>The weird thing is that last year around this time, I offered to take my kids >OFF my>policy, so the office could save about $300/month in premiums, and just have >ME on>it, if they would let me switch during open enrollment to a PPO with Blue >Cross. That>way I could relocate outside California, have MY medical needs met, and still >get>whatever state coverage is available for my kids in other places. AAP, >Adoption>Assistance Program, monies would pay for their coverage until they are 18.>However, the office had the gall to insult my intelligence, and patience, by >writing>to me allowing me 30 days in which to change insurance...BUT, ONLY if I would >relocate within that 30 days. Now, do YOU know anyone with a family who >could do>that? I don't. It would take 30 days of constant house hunting, just to >find a rental,>much less arrange to move, and all that. Especially, when the person is >disabled.>I was so angry. Now THAT was a moment when I could have gone postal.>>So, I guess, in spite of the expense, living on the financial edge, and never >having much in the savings, we are stuck in Northern California. LOL Hugs, >MM>P.S. Does the Brat know you are coming to see me first? Hmmmm?>>

[Guest guest]

Normi, Thanks, honey. Yeah, we have to wait until he's 18...damn their

eyes. He is

receiving adoption assistance monies which seem to be strictly federal, so he

is not

eligible to apply early for SSI. On top of that, no court in CA will commit

him to an

institution unless, and I quote, " He repeatedly cuts people up or something

like that. "

That is word for word what the head of Mental Health and the Juvenile Courts

Asst.

Public Defender had to tell me at that last hearing and on the phone when we

were

going through all that chaos trying to get him into Bridges. If I just gave

up, he'd be

here in my house right now, or on the streets, wreaking havoc, and I would be

held

responsible. Don't you love it? Once he's 18, my legal responsibility ends,

but not

my moral responsibility, nor my ties as his parent. Even if he didn't bond

with me,

is incapable of feeling love, or accepting it, he is still my son, and it is

my duty to

care for him. That's the bottom line. I could run away, but what good would

that do?

I'm a firm believer in divine justice, and frankly I don't want to have to

answer any

questions about my sense of responsibility when I get to the pearly gates.

LOL

No kidding, I just can't see abandoning him like everyone else. Of course,

that kind

of thinking is what landed me in this situation in the first place. Hmmmm...

So, you still haven't answered my question...how are YOU? Any better? Hope

so.

Want you fat and sassy when you come to see me. LOL Loving hugs, MM