I have my garage heater going and my faucets set to a slow drip. Good day to stay home. It's crazy it'll be 40's and 50's in a few days

Oh god, I hope the weather doesn’t get too crazy over there.

Merry Christmas, I love you all!

Merry Christmas.

Only an ungodly wokester says "Happy Holidays"

Happy Hannukah to you too, Concept :D

Seasons Greetings

Happy Season of Pan-Faith And Secular Goodwill to woke and unwoke alike;
I hope everyone stays warm and has a good time.

Happy holidays to concept-V's mom in particular

I confess that this has been a difficult Christmas. I went the whole Christmas Day without hearing the voice of another human. I'm snowed in here in Buffalo under 6-foot snowdrifts and hoping that I don't hurt myself digging my way out.

I'm out of cellular data, unemployed, and have been waiting four weeks for my first unemployment check with no response. I was terminated after six years just before Christmas without any severance or Christmas bonus and just hope they don't deny me unemployment benefits. And I learned that none of my doctors accept any of the unemployment medical insurance plans I was offered by the state so I'm paying for all my mental health expenses and the prescriptions I need to survive completely out of pocket with no income.

I'll try to keep my chin up. I'm putting in eight hours a day into unemployment research, career counseling, medical coverage queries, and job searching while trying not to lose my house. But things have to get better at some point.

Merry Christmas.

That really sucks but at least the Bills are looking good this year?

Thanks. Never seen a game of sportsball, (or much television after about 1995) as I've never owned a TV set. But I'm glad to hear that they're doing well.

https://media.tenor.com/_koFE8miH4IA...ard-ayoade.gif

My parents got me tequila and a CPAP machine. They know me so well!

They've been looking good for a few years now. But I expect their kryptonite, the Kansas City Chiefs, will once again ruin their Super Bowl hopes and dreams in the playoffs. This moment from last year was legendary.

13 SECONDS BABY! When the going gets grim, be the Grim Reaper...



Nice! I got bourbon and some new socks.

Innerspscecowboy, that fucking sucks.

How is your financial security? Do you have money saved up and a family that can help you out?

Thanks, Guybrush. I have a small savings but no family to help. I've very few contacts in this city so for the most part I'm navigating this alone.

I'll do my best.

I really hope some of your efforts bear fruit, innerspace. Unfortunately, things move slower than usual across the Christmas/New Year period.
When the weather clears, I hope you will at least feel less oppressed, but yeah, you are in a difficult situation, I'm afraid. I hope you get some better news soon.

Innerspace, I assume you applied for Medicaid. Does New York have its own health exchange? I was able to get my insurance through the Maryland Health Exchange (it's all Obamacare basically) and it has turned out to be a life saver, or at least a life extender, for me. Yes, you do have to see their own slate of doctors (I'm fortunate enough to be in a plan with a good hospital network), but it has to beat paying out money that you don't have. Anyway, good luck with whatever happens.

Thank you, RS. You are correct - I applied and was approved for Medicaid with $0 monthly income. I had 15 days to opt in to one of six health care plans in NYS operating under Medicaid, none of which are accepted by any of my doctors or pharmacies for my scripts.

I'll keep pressing on.

I've an uplifting personal holiday tale if you'll indulge me?

As I mentioned I was snowed in from the Buffalo blizzard, the worst winter storm in more than 50 years closing a year which marked Buffalo's record for the highest annual snowfall since 1939 with 179.4" of the vile white demon. 27 of the nation's 50 deaths from the storm were in my city alone.

I have a career counseling appointment on Wednesday that I don't want to miss, having been let go from my job just before Christmas with no severance or Christmas bonus, but the city plows had blockaded me into my driveway with a 6' wall of compacted ice from the street.

I called and texted ten plow companies. Every one had either a recording stating that their mailbox was full or didn't respond at all.

In desperation, I texted a neighbor. Evidently he ran outside and flagged down a passing plow and directed them to my home. The driver explained that he normally only services the south towns but would do what he could to help.

He demolished the wall of ice like a pro leaving my car unscathed and piling the snow in a mound nearly as tall as my house.

Then he told me to save the money I was going to pay him and to instead do a good deed for someone.

An amazing bit of good fortune just when I needed it the most.

Merry Christmas! :)