Really?

So this has been the story of my life the past few weeks. And its about health care reform...in a roundabout way.

I can't afford grad school on my own, I doubt most people my age can, but fortunately I qualified for financial aid (a wonderful government program, with or without the red tape) to not only pay for school but to also give me a little money to live on until I can find a job.

So on the day that this money is supposed to go into my account (Sept. 14th) I'm sent a notice that there is a hold on my financial aid because according to the school's records.....I'm not currently a student.

Wait, what?

So I give my school's Financial Aid dept. a call.
<30>
Me: You can see in my records that I need to pay tuition correct?
FinAid: Yes sir.
Me: Would I be paying tuition if I weren't enrolled?
FinAid: Ohhhhh...well ya, I guess that doesn't make sense. But you'll need to call Graduate Admissions to confirm your enrollment.

So I call Graduate Admissions and they confirm my enrollment. (A process that took all of three seconds.)
After another 30 minute hold to talk to Financial Aid I discover that it will take 2-3 business days before my enrollment is confirmed in their system (which is entirely different than the Admissions office's system). Asking if there is a way to expedite this process I am told that the form they get from Graduate Admissions only comes every other day and that the ONE man who reads that report only reads it every other day...and the program he uses to read it is broken.
I ask if I can email this man a copy of my now updated student record and am told, "Sorry, it doesn't work that way." But I am assured that everything else is in order and my money will be disbursed to my account (however, dispersal only happens once a week. Monday.)

Four business days later (making this Monday the 21st, because California government offices are closed every other Friday due to budget cuts) my hold disappears, but a new hold on my MPN (Master Promissory Note) shows up that same day.
<30>
I am told I failed to submit my MPN or they just need me to send a new one. (They can't tell me which) I offer to bring in the hard copy of my MPN I printed when I filled it out two months ago but they inform me they wouldn't know what to do with it and ask me to go through the process again. Once they get my new MPN and some guy reads the report (the same guy as before?) it will be another 4 days before it is cleared in their system.

I'm a pretty calm and rational person, but at this point I ask to speak to a supervisor to get some answers. I'm told that due to understaffing the supervisors are unavailable because they are working elsewhere in the office. I tell them I'm fine with waiting, but I would like to speak with a supervisor.
<20>
The supervisor apologizes for the confusion, most everyone in her department is new (budget cuts made by the Cal State system insisted that all full-time benefit receiving positions that can be staffed by two part-time non-benefit receiving students be eliminated) but assures me everything will be taken care of and that I should get my money Sept. 28th, but if not call on the 29th and they'll make sure I get it by the Oct 5th. Seriously?

And the saddest part is I'm not the only one! My roommates are encountering the same and more problems. Compared to them, I'm getting off easy.
Now I can see why college kids are so darn rebellious and always chanting 'Down with the government' they probably all had problems with their financial aid.

And people want the government running our health care system? Really?
I've only entrusted them with the money I need to live at this point, should I expect anything different when my life and health are in their hands?

Deep end

My nieces claimed that last time I was there in Poway I failed to tell them I had a pool and that maybe now they'd actually like to come visit me. Maybe this will entice others (Ty? Matt? Josh?)

Well, here it is. A ten yard walk from my backdoor. Oh and there are geriatric water aerobics almost every morning around 8. Yikes.

2.8 miles from an In 'n Out

So this is my new home in Redlands. Its super close to everything. I've been able to walk pretty much everywhere with everything so close, Wal-Mart, Del Taco, and even a friendly nest of black widows has taken up shop on our patio. Talk about convenience.

I'm not a photographer. But before you criticize any of my shots, they all have their reasons.

For instance: We didn't have a fridge for the first week, so what you would see at any other angle is the styrofoam cooler containing soda. There was water if you count the melted ice we purchased everyday in the morning to insure cool soda. We were one porch swing and a half blind dog away from true redneck-ness at this point.

And my quality IKEA desk with pictures of loved ones.


I finally said enough is enough with twin-sized beds. I love it. (And if I have any visitors you get to just shack up right next to me.)

Again, my photography hides the massive pile of cardboard left over from my furniture. That's right, I own furniture.

And my living room...nothing to say about this...pretty self-explanatory really.