Good News!
Feb. 20th, 2002 11:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_rckI meant to post this Monday and then meant to do it Tuesday, but here it is at last. I've got to stop ignoring my online communities for so many days at a time...
It's been about a week since I last stopped in here and longer since I last wrote. It's been one of those periods when lots of stuff happens, good and bad without leaving many events that stand out in my mind. I've spent a lot of time feeling busy without seeming to get much done. A lot of little things made me think that I'd mention them in an entry. The way the crocuses by the YMCA looked when I walked past, the yellow reminding me of Brach's butterscotch candies but richer in the way that only flower petals can be. The whooshing sound of the wind in the trees just before I felt it push against me. My stepfather's comments on his first experience of Mardi Gras.
My cough has eased a bit. I haven't been able to get to the doctor yet. The resurgence seems very definitely to be linked to the cold air I got when I helped Scott shovel snow. I still have trouble when I do a lot of talking (running game sessions is less fun under the circumstances). As long as I stay warm and well hydrated, I don't have much trouble. I just have to remember to take my scarf with me every time I go out, even when I think it's warm enough that I won't need it. Our weather's been varying quite a bit in terms of temperature, so it's impossible to guess what things will be like even a few hours in the future.
The big news came last Friday about 3:30 or 4:00 (just before Scott got home from work). I got a call from Bonnie Martilla from the Long Term Disability Office at the U. She told me that they'd reviewed my claim again and decided that I am, after all, disabled. She didn't have any numbers for me then, and I haven't heard from her today, but-- The important thing is that I'll be getting benefits. I was so happy I started shaking; I could barely even talk to her.
As soon as I got off the phone with Bonnie Martilla, I called my mother. She was home, studying for the bar exam (which she should be taking right now). She was very pleased by the news. She and I agreed that probably Uncle Frank had filed the papers to sue; the timing was about right. Back in January, he drafted a letter saying he'd file in 30 days, and the timing's about right. I tried to call him but only got his voice mail. I left a message thanking him; I'll have to try calling him again later.
While I was talking to my mother, I heard the garage door lift. I said a hasty goodby and went to greet Scott. I went out on the back porch in my stocking feet. Naturally, he sat in the car for a few minutes gathering his stuff and so on. That made me a little grumpy since I wanted to tell him as soon as possible. I didn't want to scream the news for the whole neighborhood to hear, and yelling was the only way he'd have heard me from inside the garage.
After that, we called Scott's parents to let them know, and I sent out an e-mail to let most of our local friends know (a lot of them are on a single mailing list). I also sent an e-mail to my father's current girlfriend (How strange it seems to use any word containing "girl" in reference to a woman who has a five year old grandson!). She and Papa are about to move, and I knew the e-mail wouldn't change even though the phone number was likely to.
It's been about a week since I last stopped in here and longer since I last wrote. It's been one of those periods when lots of stuff happens, good and bad without leaving many events that stand out in my mind. I've spent a lot of time feeling busy without seeming to get much done. A lot of little things made me think that I'd mention them in an entry. The way the crocuses by the YMCA looked when I walked past, the yellow reminding me of Brach's butterscotch candies but richer in the way that only flower petals can be. The whooshing sound of the wind in the trees just before I felt it push against me. My stepfather's comments on his first experience of Mardi Gras.
My cough has eased a bit. I haven't been able to get to the doctor yet. The resurgence seems very definitely to be linked to the cold air I got when I helped Scott shovel snow. I still have trouble when I do a lot of talking (running game sessions is less fun under the circumstances). As long as I stay warm and well hydrated, I don't have much trouble. I just have to remember to take my scarf with me every time I go out, even when I think it's warm enough that I won't need it. Our weather's been varying quite a bit in terms of temperature, so it's impossible to guess what things will be like even a few hours in the future.
The big news came last Friday about 3:30 or 4:00 (just before Scott got home from work). I got a call from Bonnie Martilla from the Long Term Disability Office at the U. She told me that they'd reviewed my claim again and decided that I am, after all, disabled. She didn't have any numbers for me then, and I haven't heard from her today, but-- The important thing is that I'll be getting benefits. I was so happy I started shaking; I could barely even talk to her.
As soon as I got off the phone with Bonnie Martilla, I called my mother. She was home, studying for the bar exam (which she should be taking right now). She was very pleased by the news. She and I agreed that probably Uncle Frank had filed the papers to sue; the timing was about right. Back in January, he drafted a letter saying he'd file in 30 days, and the timing's about right. I tried to call him but only got his voice mail. I left a message thanking him; I'll have to try calling him again later.
While I was talking to my mother, I heard the garage door lift. I said a hasty goodby and went to greet Scott. I went out on the back porch in my stocking feet. Naturally, he sat in the car for a few minutes gathering his stuff and so on. That made me a little grumpy since I wanted to tell him as soon as possible. I didn't want to scream the news for the whole neighborhood to hear, and yelling was the only way he'd have heard me from inside the garage.
After that, we called Scott's parents to let them know, and I sent out an e-mail to let most of our local friends know (a lot of them are on a single mailing list). I also sent an e-mail to my father's current girlfriend (How strange it seems to use any word containing "girl" in reference to a woman who has a five year old grandson!). She and Papa are about to move, and I knew the e-mail wouldn't change even though the phone number was likely to.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2002-02-20 10:42 am (UTC)Oh, I am SO happy for you!!!!!
Hopefully, they'll be coughing out the proper amount of retroactive benefits. One thing I want to mention (My dad got burned BAD)...they tend to 'forget' to take taxes out of lump sum payouts. >.
no subject
Date: 2002-02-20 12:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2002-02-20 12:32 pm (UTC)