You've GOT to be KIDDING me!

UPDATE: I reapplied for assistance last week. I included the increase in rates, my child support (lack of) payment history, etc. I also wrote a letter and told her that I was very frustrated by her decision. I explained my situation and the affect that HER decision has on my life. I mailed it Thursday and heard back from the lady on Friday afternoon. She said that I was approved for assistance. She said she could only get me $20 a month. (That still gets me out of the contract, so that's great for me!)

So I finally heard back from the Department of Social Services today. I was DENIED daycare assistance. Apparently my co-pay amount is greater ($118) than the amount of daycare needed ($117). I should re-file, because the daycare cost is going up by 25 cents an hour, and I'm pretty sure she used the OLD amount. It's not that I get any actual money from the state, but it gets me out of the daycare's contract. That ends up saving me a wad of money over the year.

What a wicked system. I had issues with my boss over the weekend, because he shorted me on hours for July. He fixed it now, but I had to get REALLY mad at him first. You don't even know how tempting it is to quit my jobs, stay home, and live off of the government. If I could do that and feel good about myself, I would. In December, Onna will age out of WIC, so the only "assistance" she will be on is Medicaid. I feel like I'm doing very well for my limited income.

Message from Onna: jkcvj/ak;k;fsdlkfkkkkkppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppphfil;dlkgpjuogpouop dv]o[6ONNAonna

On top of everything else, there were two "crazy ladies" that came into the golf course last night. I knew that John mowed for one of them. At first they acted liked they didn't even know me. Then all of a sudden they, knew where I lived, who my parents were, and that I dated John. They knew A LOT about John, and started asking me a lot of questions about him and us. It was weird. They were getting kind of mad because I wasn't giving them straight up answers (answering questions with questions). It really wasn't any of their business, right? So after work, I stopped over and talked to John about it. Apparently he DATED one of the ladies, 3 or 4 years ago for a couple months. Seriously the ladies are crazy! He hadn't told me about it, because 1) he didn't date her very long 2) he never slept with her 3) we don't see her very often 4) it's not a big deal to me to know EVERY girl he ever dated. (He doesn't know every guy I ever dated either.)

So, it was very nice talking to him. He'd been gone this weekend. It was reassuring to know that he really does care about me, and that our relationship is a "real" relationship. It's not the type that both of us had before, the weekend relationships, or the at the bar type relationships. This is a day in, day out relationship. He's really is one of my best friends, and I REALLY missed him while he was gone!

We're going to OMAHA this weekend to the ZOO! I can't wait. Until then, it's work, work, and maybe some time at the pool. We'll see.

Oh yeah, Onna and I had dentist appointments today. She had NO CAVITIES. I had one that's been there for 3 years, with no change, so they aren't going to do anything with it. GOOD report for both of us.

Daycare Assistance

I'm so frustrated with my daycare assistance situation. I've had assistance for Onna's daycare since the time that I got divorced. I've been frustrated with it before because, I usually ended up getting assistance cut every time I get a raise. Usually my cut in assistance equals more than my raise. Now I've gotten to the point that I make enough that I don't actually get money from the state (or very little). The benefit that I get is that by being on assistance, I get the advantage of not being bound to a contract. That's huge for me because then I pay for the actual hours that Onna is in daycare, not a set dollar amount each week. If she's sick, or we don't have school, I don't have to pay.

The really big frustration is my case manager through the state. She is annoying! I realize that there are certain things that they have to follow. I also realize that there are certain people that take advantage of the system. You would think by now, after four years, she would have figured out that I am not one of these people.

Here are some examples of why I want to pull my hair out.
I work at two jobs, apparently that's unusual and she finds it very confusing that one person can do that.

She always needs to know EXACTLY what my start and end dates are at the golf course. Well, one year, most of the course was under water, and it was continuing to rain. We weren't doing as much food as we are now. So I had NO idea when we were opening. Finally I just gave her a date. (I can't control the weather!)

She also needs to know my EXACT hours. I never know that. If I'm scheduled to be off at 3:00, but we have a tournament going and there is a large group of people that comes in to eat, then I stay. If I'm scheduled till 10 and we have a bar full of people till 11:30 or midnight, I stay. I have to send two weeks worth of pay stubs. You would think that she would be able to figure out an average or something, but that doesn't work.

This time she wanted my "work schedule". I sent her a photocopy of our schedule right off the wall at work. Dave hand writes our names in, and he also wrote on the top "day 8-3" and night 3-close". She called me today, and said that I have to have Dave type up my work schedule with my HOURS on it. Just having my name written on a calendar "isn't good enough". GRRRR

She said that she can't go by my pay stubs because I only worked 70 hours on my last pay stub, which isn't 40 hours a week (I was still working at the school then). Since that isn't a full-time job, I won't qualify for assistance!

I get so stinking mad that here I am working my butt off, NOT taking advantage of a bunch of programs (Onna is on Medicaid, WIC and daycare assistance). If I QUIT my jobs and stayed home with her, I could qualify for all kinds of programs and be with her all the time. I'm TRYING to do the right thing and support us myself, and it feels like I get cut down for it over and over again.

So I guess, I'll try to get something typed up for Dave to sign... and jump through some more hoops... two more years of daycare and then kindergarten. Not that I want to wish those years away any faster!