Everyday Goddess

Well, it's a good thing there's another weekend between my move and Thanksgiving.

I got a lot of unpacking done this weekend, but took two big breaks. On Saturday I went shopping & ran errands, and on Sunday I met with my writers/creative group. The new apartment is slightly smaller than the old one, so most of the fit-stuff-in puzzles are slightly different. The closets are the same, but under the sinks is just slightly smaller. I still have some major projects left to do.

Still, I'm pretty pleased at what I did get done. In particular, the bathroom, kitchen, and armoire are going to make this week much more livable than last. Much thanks to my ex for helping with the fridge door and the shower caddy.

Now if only I'd done laundry...

And let's not even talk about my inbox since the DSL came through. Oy vey.

The Move

The move upstairs and across the hall kicked my ass. It's been over six years since I moved last, and I remember being a powerhouse. Making it happen.

Well, I made it happen - with seriously awesome couldn't-have-done-it-without-them help from some friends on the Saturday and the Sunday - but it felt harder. Granted, I only took 3 hours off from work for the entire move, and life is a mess right now, but still, it felt harder. It took all day both days of the weekend.

But, it's done. The moving anyway. The unpacking kicks into high gear this weekend, and here's hoping that I'm just as much of a powerhouse, even if it hurts. I'm over the moon about hosting Thanksgiving at my place again this year, so I'm using that as inspiration to get my place in immediate order.

I, in my brilliance, having never moved DSL, didn't call until the Friday... And it is taking Earthlink TWELVE DAYS to move my service upstairs and across the hall, so I probably won't post again until next week.

Who needs boxes when you've got seven years of free bags?

I slipped financially towards the end of my unemployment. Add Cobra health insurance and a pending security deposit, and you've got mega financial suck. When my roommate told me she was moving, I felt like I just couldn't do the roommate thing again. Plus, the economy's killing me, but it's also bringing rent prices down in L.A. I felt like now was the time to push and get my own place. Extra hundreds per month be damned.

But, I also couldn't imagine doing a full move to a new apartment. With the new job and the giant commute, finding a new place seemed impossible, and then renting a truck, loading a truck, unloading a truck. Driving back and forth. It's a lot, and it's not free.

I needed my move to cost basically nothing, and I needed it to be something I could handle right now with everything that's going on in my life. And I like where I live, except for one thing - facing the freeway.

So I'm moving to a 1-bedroom in my complex. That doesn't face the freeway. And even though I wish I could, the only boxes I've bought is one pack of ten cheapy file boxes from Staples that I always get to move my files and keep them in order. They are great, and I wanted to get another pack... But seriously, I need this move to cost basically nothing. Thankfully, I got donations of boxes from a variety of friends, including a healthy stash from my roommate who moved earlier in the month. Still, I needed more. More!

And I didn't want to buy them.

Solution to the last of my books? Bags. Oh yeah, you know I've got a stash of shopping bags.

And I had some paper grocery bags around, too. I give you, my bathroom:

I've gotten a ton done, but I am stressed about getting everything upstairs and getting the old apartment clean. Normally, I'd take a full day off from work, but as a temp, no work = no pay, so I'm only taking a 1/2 day to get a giant cashier's check on my last payday of the month and sign the lease and stuff. I've got a friend coming on Saturday to help me move loose stuff, like what's in the closets, and then on Sunday - THANK GOODNESS - I have friends coming to help with the furniture and boxes (and book bags). THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

I've been cleaning and packing like a mad woman, so I'm getting through it. The patio (freeway dust is disgusting) and the oven (so are burnt almonds) were two big projects that are done, so that's good. The carpet, my bathroom, and spackling the walls remain.

I'm getting there.

And I can't believe I'm going to be in my own place. I'm going to have to make some difficult financial choices, and I need to jump right on finding a more financially viable health insurance option, but wow, my own place.

My own place my own place my own place.

Wow.

Finally making it out to a new opening at Wax Poetic - The Art of Dave DeVries

I've missed at least one opening at Wax Poetic, maybe two. But thankfully I'm able to make the one tonight, because the Halloween show always rocks. Tonight it's this guy who takes children's monster drawings and turns them into real art:

The dorky thing I always do is that I have an appointment today, so then I end up going into Wax Poetic and being like, I'm not looking! I'm not looking! lol It always feels like cheating to see the art early.

Here's some official 411:

WAX POETIC GALLERY PRESENTS THE ART OF DAVE DEVRIES: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, 2009

Wax Poetic Gallery is proud to present the electrifying, colorful, and transformative pieces from the artist Dave Devries. Opening reception will be held Saturday, October 24th, 2009 from 8-11 p.m.; records will be spinning and refreshments will be served. This show is suitable for all ages and will be on display through the end of December.

Based out of New Jersey, Devries’ artwork is centered around a comic book inspired form of illustration, taking characters from the pulp fiction classics and creating a dramatic sense of movement and atmosphere that is both playful, detailed and exaggerated. He’s done a few covers for Marvel and DC comics, but is mostly known for his trading card illustrations. There isn’t a more complete way to pay homage to such an iconic genre.

Devries also utilizes his talent in illustration in a startlingly unique way, with something known as the Monster Engine. Dave created an outlet for children’s artwork, taking the lopsided sketches and the painfully creative doodles that are typical of that age group and then elaborating on them with the professional skill he has. “Something really amazing happens when words collide with images”, says Devries. We agree. The finished product is an updated, detail oriented version of the original, staying true to the child’s vision while being realized as a true piece of art. He came up with this idea through his niece Jessica’s doodles and the curiosity to embellish upon them on a whim.

Realizing one’s potential is probably the most important goal and landmark of growing up as a child, and it’s a rarity to find the platform by which to do that. Every once in a while a talented individual acts as a mentor to those who have the vision but perhaps not the resources.

Says Dave, “Kids are entertaining, but, to my knowledge, are rarely taken seriously. They're like the world's mascots--cherished yes, but trusted with important tasks, no. When they draw they are largely ignored because their art serves no practical purpose--- and frankly adults don't ask about the content with any real interest. Sure some adults care but as a whole most ignore kids' drawings. In contrast, after I complete a painting based upon a child's drawing, I conduct an interview. Since I sincerely value their art and keenly listen to their monster descriptions, children open up and share their energy. One boy started his interview sullen and withdrawn, clearly and sadly inhibited by his parent's dismissive pre-interview comments, but once he saw how much I cared about his ideas, he lit up despite his parent's presence. That said it all to me.” Such is the case with Dave Devries, an artist with a touching outlook and an engaging eye for the supernatural. We excitedly invite you to attend our Halloween show, so that you can first hand experience the enchantment and delight that we so happily look forward to.

If you would like to check out some of his work go to www.themonsterengine.com.

My Big Fat Health Insurance Situation

When I got laid off back in June, my first thoughts were not about health insurance. Quickly, though, my friend in HR (and I'm not being facetious, she's actually my friend) brought it to my attention, because she was eager to make sure I realized that there's currently a 65% Cobra subsidy available from the government.

When my paperwork came, it turned out that with the subsidy, my Cobra was $100/month. So for the first time ever, I went on Cobra while unemployed. In the past I'd either gone without health insurance or signed up for a plan that basically kicked in only if something went horribly wrong.

So, I had health insurance and unemployment insurance, and it was nice not to be totally screwed while unemployed. I began to look for a job - always a less-than-fun process. I absolutely hate not being gainfully employed. This time in particular I was torn between learning what not having a day job could really mean for my directing career, and going absolutely insane over living off of money I wasn't out earning.

Ultimately, I got a cool opportunity to take a 6-month gig at a studio, and I decided to take it. I've always wanted to work at a studio, and the position offered the opportunity to learn a lot of new things in a totally new environment. I love my new job, even if it ends in March and I'll be unemployed again.

But here's where my health insurance goes to hell in a handbasket.

To take the gig, I had to sign up with the temp agency the studio hires through. And the temp agency offers "limited-benefit health insurance." Which I didn't even know existed. Basically, if you get really sick, it just flat out runs out. And fast.

It's literally a better-than-nothing plan. And while I have risked having nothing, I was much younger at the time. At 38, I'm really not comfortable rolling those dice. (It's worth noting, too, that if I'm going to get a better-than-nothing plan, I want it the other way around. No immediately benefits like co-pays on doctor visits, but if you get cancer, it triggers and you get significant coverage.)

Worse, because of the temp agency offering me any form of health insurance, I stopped qualifying for the government Cobra subsidy. So now my Cobra is $260/month. My decision to stay on the Cobra officially makes my temp position WAY more about the experience than the paycheck, with more unemployment waiting on the back end. If I take another temp position after that, my finances will officially move back to mega suck.

I did look into individual plans. They cost less, but I didn't feel confident or comfortable about the companies after polling my friends. I wanted to research more, and I figured I can always make that jump. I had to decide about the whether to take the limited plan offered by the temp agency within 30 days.

I *would* like to find an individual plan, so after I complete my move at the end of the month I'm going to look into it again. I think I can find something cheaper than what I'm paying on Cobra, but I'm worried about the coverage. Still, if I end up temping again, I'm going to have to find something to switch to.

Three thoughts:

1. The fact that my former company was very cost conscious and trying to find the most afforded policy for them totally saved my butt when I got laid off. If my Cobra cost anymore, there's no way I could afford it. I mean, heck I can't really afford it now, but it was within the limits of possibility. If it had been over $300, for example, there would have been no way.

2. As I begin paying $260/month for my health insurance, I realize that what really annoys me about health insurance tied to your employer is that you build no relationship with any health company over the course of your life. When I call my car insurance, or my bank, or any number of other businesses in my life, they can immediately see that I've been a customer for years. Here I am paying $260/month to a health insurance company and costing them next to nothing, but by the time I *am* costing a health insurance company money because I'm old and sick, say, it won't be a company I've had a relationship with for twenty / thirty years. That blows.

3. My number one problem with health insurance being tied to employment is that it completely screws with the job market. I was raised to believe that there is a check and balance whereby if an employer treats their employees like crap, they will leave. Except if they have health issues, often they won't. They will sit in a job they hate because they need to stick with that health insurance. This isn't good for anyone, not even that company that's getting to abuse their workers, because unhappy workers are less productive and make mistakes. And if you don't think that unhappy workers sit tight due to health insurance concerns, I'm betting that you are 1. not sick and 2. not living pay check to pay check.

I've been laid off twice in seven years and now I'm a temp. I want to get real health insurance that's not tied to my employment. If you've got any recommendations for individual health care plans in SoCal, please leave me a note in the comments. Under $200 month would be best for me. Honestly, even that much makes me a little sick to my stomach, but "limited benefit health insurance" scares me more.