Sunday, April 26, 2009

FUDGE

Woke up this morning to a really interesting email.

'Hi Brooke,

You could still apply and start in the fall – possibly even take a course this summer if you move quickly.

(non important testing info)

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Best wishes,

Dr. X'

Well... here we go.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Disasters in Cooking

Just attempted to make mac and cheese (from scratch) on my own without my Mom's recipe. Disaster. It's just no good.

The cookies I made by the seat of my pants are probably going to be amazing. Mint chocolate chip and mint Oreo sugar... not exactly healthy but I don't care, they're not for me anyway.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Sometimes FEMA helps... ?

Disaster Unemployment Assistance Is Available Now

BISMARCK, N.D. — People whose employment was affected by the severe storms and flooding beginning March 13 and continuing may apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds the program, which is administered by Job Service North Dakota. Residents in the 26 counties designated for Individual Assistance may qualify, as well as persons residing outside a designated county whose employment was affected in a designated county. The claims period began March 13; deadline to apply is May 13.

"It is a priority for us to work with FEMA to administer Disaster Unemployment Assistance and help address disaster victims' needs for financial assistance during this difficult time," Maren Daley, executive director of Job Service North Dakota, said. "We encourage North Dakotans who have lost employment or wages due to severe storms or flooding to apply for benefits through this program."

DUA differs from traditional unemployment insurance in that it is available to workers who are self-employed, including farmers and ranchers. People who were scheduled to begin work but were not able to due to the disaster are also eligible.

DUA is available to individuals who:



* Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster;
* Establish that work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income;
* Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits from any state;
* Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster;
* Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household, or
* Cannot reach their place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.



Counties declared for Individual Assistance are Adams, Barnes, Billings, Burleigh, Cass, Dickey, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Mercer, Morton, Nelson, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill and Williams.



The initial application for DUA can be filed by completing the form(s) that can be found under the Disaster Unemployment link on www.jobsnd.com and returning the form(s) to Job Service by mail or fax. Mail to Job Service North Dakota, Benefits Unit, P.O. Box 5507, Bismarck, ND 58506-5507 or fax to 701-328-2728.

Claims may also be filed by calling Job Service North Dakota at 701-328-1630, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For local reemployment services, job seekers and employers should contact their local Job Service North Dakota office, listed at www.jobsnd.com.

The first possible week of compensation for DUA purposes is the week ending Saturday, March 21, continuing until Saturday, September 26, 2009, as long as the unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster. Benefits are based on past income earned during calendar year 2008 and range from $141 to $406 per week.

To file a claim, individuals will need items such as their Social Security numbers, a copy of their 2008 federal income tax forms, business financial statements, pay stubs/vouchers, trip tickets, crop elevator receipts/credits, bank receipts; and a statement from their last employer affirming they were working at the time of the disaster or a copy of a letter of hire.

Self-employed individuals should include a copy of Schedule C, F, SE or K with Form 1040. To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the claim was filed. Claims filed after May 13 will be denied unless the claimant can provide a valid reason for the delay.

For more information on North Dakota disaster recovery operations, visit http://www.fema.gov/midwestfloods.



Tuesday, April 21, 2009

This just in...

Be nice to people who staff hospitals. The phelebotomists, the billing people, receptionists, security staff, everyone.

I had a 7:30am appointment to get an ultrasound (not pregnant, don't worry) at HUP. This meant being up, dressed, out the door by 6:50, to get to the hospital. Arrival was early (woo!), signed in, sat down, read a bit, picked my nose, blah blah blah. There are signs all over the waiting room saying, "If you are waiting more than 15 minutes, please alert the reception staff." Well, 7:45 rolls around and no roll call. At this point, I'm crabby. 7:50, an intake person calls my name. "Do you have a referral?" I almost threw up on her shoes. "I wasn't told I needed one." "Oh. Well, it's my job to make sure you don't get a big bill. Let's make sure this doesn't happen."

Lady Wonderful Nurse not only re-scheduled me, wrote down everything I need for an over the phone referral, AND called the Dr who asked me to get an ultrasound to let them know it would be a week later than expected.

:)

Monday, April 20, 2009

Academic minutae

Transcript of the three way conversation (not as exciting as it sounds) between my best friend (Doctoral Candidate at Mizzou), boyfriend (Doctoral candidate at UDel) and myself (Doctoral Candidate at Clown U).

Bffe- Make these edits... here, this will help
Me- Ok, rad
Boyfriend- INCLUDE YOUR CV!
Bffe- Yes! Absolutely!
Me- My what?
Boyfriend- Your vitae. You know, all of your published work, it's like four pages long...
Me- My what?!
Bffe- (links to an example)
Me- *gets overwhelmed* I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT EVA PERON! WHAT IS THIS EVITAE NONSENSE?!
Boyfriend- Seriously, be as professional as you can be or else people aren't going to take you seriously.
Bffe- (is furiously editing)
Me-I'm never getting into grad school...
Bffe- This isn't your application?
Me- No
Bffe and Boyfriend- NEVERMIND!
Bffe- It's vitae, technically...

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Quitting/changes

Ok, internet... How are you? I'm exhausted, stressed, anxious, etc.

In the next half hour I need to fold laundry, head out the door, help a friend unpack her new apartment, come home, get a shower, go to sleep and pretend that I'm Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Long story short, I got my Mom's election website up and running. Her promotional materials are done and most of them are out. Flyer-ing needs to be done. Mock ballots need to be distributed. Phone calls need to be made. I need to find sensible shoes to go with my dress, to wear to the polls.

Also, this Thursday I have my introduction training to be a firs responder for the Salvation Army. I've also talked to people at GreaterPhillyCares, since the SalVal incidents might conflict with my 9-5 office drone schedule.

Oh yeah, studying is... going. Whoever lied to me and told that I should take time off between undergrad and grad school is a butthead. Yes I have "real life experience" and I'll appreciate my education (IF I EVEN GET IN OHMYGOD) but seriously...

Remind to self, get Mom's gmail info so I can check on her Google analytic s. Not sure if I copied and pasted the code correctly.

Blah blah blah blah blah, oh, Bell's Brewery has revitalized my love for beer. Nothing out of their summer line is anything less than delicious. A+, will drink again.