Our Government At Work

What a busy day I've had today. Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh!

Let me talk you through my day and how much it takes to clean up after these fr*... no can't say that word... ummm.... fantabulous kids.

I come home every day at lunch. First thing I do is walk to the kitchen and clean up. Cereal bowls are in the sink (dishwasher is literally inches away), grab the cups that are all around the house and put them in the dishwasher as well as any plates I find in the sink. I clean the sugar that always mysteriously ends up on the counter and the floors after breakfast. Even if nobody has sugar, it's there. Damn that Nobody. I go to the kitchen table where there is always dried milk droplets on the table. Jonathan eats there every morning and I've actually seen him drop it, but regardless, he always insists it wasn't him. Rrrright. Then I make myself lunch and sit down to enjoy a little Dr. Phil recorded the day before (fast forward of course to allow for only 40 min I have left).

After work I come home and do pretty much the same thing, although there is usually more of a mess. There is usually a shirt out by the basketball hoop. Nobody left it there. (You know you want to say it with me, "damn that nobody!") Often times there is a dry cereal path leading from the kitchen down the hall, out the front door and into the driveway. That's usually Justin. Cups are out everywhere - floor, outside, table - everywhere. There's usually popcorn dropped somewhere, either in Kayla's room, on the floor in the kitchen or in the living room. But it's always somewhere. Then the wrapper the popcorn came out of is usually out on the counter. Oh, I forgot to mention the baseball gloves and/or basketball that is usually left out in the grass out front. There are more bowls in the sink - usually from more cereal or ice cream for an after school snack. When they do their chores, you can tell who did it last by where the broom is. If it's in the middle of the living room floor, Justin was last. Hallway and Kayla was last. But it's usually left out somewhere. There is rarely homework on the dining room table for us to check (supposed to be a requirement) - but there are always book bags thrown on the floor of the dining room - if they make it that far. Sometimes they are still by the front door/stairs when you first walk in the house. Shoes are usually wherever they took them off... out front sometimes, by the stairs other times, in the game room, or in the living room. After I get onto the kids about all of this... THEN I can start making dinner.

Makes for a fun night.... huh? Yeah......

I took Justin for his hair cut tonight. I really had to -- it was looking HORRIBLE. But it caused me to miss choir rehearsal - always a bummer. Chris said to me "you already know the song, why do you care about going?" I replied... "Cuz singing makes me happy". True true.

Speaking of talking - I finally got through to the Social Security office today. I've been leaving messages with workers there for 2 weeks - DAILY messages for 2 weeks. Finally today I asked for a supervisor.

Here's the thing: The kids get SS money because their dad died. In January of 07 they realized they'd made a 'mistake' and increased it a little each kid. The 'mistake' was that they were no longer paying Julie so it should go to the kids. But they didn't pay the kids any of that money in 2006. Here was my conversation with the guy:

Tina: You guys owe these kids their money for all of 2006. I understand you paid Julie in error from January to April, but regardless of that, the kids didn't see any increase until January of 2007.

SS: Doesn't matter, the kids check would not increase even if we didn't pay the mom.

Tina: Yes it would. The money would be split three ways instead of four.

SS: No, that's not correct.

Tina: Yes it is.... I'm positive it is.

SS: No, I'm sure it's not. The kids money would stay the same.

Tina: Sir, I am 100% sure you are wrong. Isn't there someone else you can ask?

SS: **puts me on hold to check with what I assume was a supervisor's supervisor, then comes back on the line** Yes ma'am, you are correct. The kids checks would have increased. And I see here that SS did increase their checks.

Tina: Yes, they did, but not until January 2007. What about all of 2006?

SS: Well, we can't pay them any money until their mom puts the money back. It's the governmental policy. At $50 a month it is going to take her nearly 4 years to put it all back.

Tina: Well, personally, I think that policy sucks. I mean... the money was supposed to go to KIDS and just because their mom took it doesn't mean the kids didn't need it. They weren't living with her, they didn't see a dime of that money. You guys still owe it to them. (Mental note here that the kids will be grown an in college before they will see any of that $2,000)

SS: Yes ma'am, I understand your position, but policy is policy. But thank you for calling.

Tina: Uh, no...... what about the money you didn't pay them from May till December 2006?

SS: What?

Tina: If you stopped paying their mom in April, and the kids checks didn't go up until January 2007 - what happened to the rest of the money.

SS: There is no more money due to you. Just the money the mom needs to pay back. And when she repays all of it, the kids can then get that money.

Tina: Forget the money from January 2006 to April 2006 - stay with me here and focus on May to December of 2006. What happened to that money. If they were not giving it to Julie - and they didn't give it to the kids - who has the money???

SS: You mean to tell me they didn't increase their checks in May of 2006?

Tina: No they did not, it's that what I've said for the past 5 minutes? Social Security is holding on to money that the government owes these kids for 2006.

SS: Oooooooooohhhhhhh... I see what you mean. Yes, the kids should have gotten that money.

Tina: When can they expect to receive it?

SS: Well, I can fill out the paperwork, but since it's not an emergency it'll take at least 30 days for the paperwork to process and then you should hear something. I'll start that paperwork now.

Tina: Yeah, okay. I'll follow up with you in a couple of days.

Now.............. I'm no government expert.... but WHY did it take this guy and all of the SS office this long to 'get it'. I should insist upon interest at this point, don't ya think? Thank goodness I have half a brain and I stood my ground to fight with this guy. Ah... our government at work!

I don't know what just made me think of this. "Everything is not always as it seems". The other night when I went 'out with the girls' I was on my way to meet them down in Channelside. I'm jamming to the music man... just singing my heart out... jamming in my seat.... dancing.... just having tons of fun. This guy pulls up next to me (I'm in my little red convertible.) Here I am oblivious - singing, dancing, having fun. I look over and he gives me 'the eye'. You know the one.... the one that says "we can take that party to my place if you'll follow me". And I just had to laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh. I'm jamming to my choir CD "I remember when my burdens rolled away. Remember when His spirit came to stay. Oh what a happy day I was sanctified and saved." And I remember just laughing to myself thinking... "yeah bud... I'll pray for ya, okay?" Too funny.

More funny stuff.... I went through some notes we have saved here from when Chris and I were in High School together. Some of them were downright funny. (One talked about growing out my nails so I could scratch him and 'make him my love slave'. HA ha ha ha. Some of them were sad. (Lonely and afraid being so young and pregnant.) But I also found a poem I wrote and I'd like to share with you, if you'd be so kind as to bear with me to listen (or read rather) a poem from an in-love and pregnant 17 year old kid. Here goes:

In my dream,
I am walking down a path.
I feel you there,
beside me
Walking hand in hand
Laughing
Loving

I look at you
But there is no one there
Still...............
I can feel you

We keep walking
I look again
But again,
No one.

We stop by a lake
To watch the ducks
We look at our reflections
In the water.

Still,
I can not see you
Who are you?

I look at my reflection
I see no one
Who am I?

We sit by the lake
And we talk.

I begin to see your reflection
Slowly
Not clearly

But I know you are there

I look again
I begin to see myself
Slowly
Focusing

I found you,
And at the same time,
Found me.