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Thursday, October 15, 2009

One of my issues in trying to become a legal responsible resident of Pennsylvania includes getting a proper drivers' license.  Granted my Florida one doesn't expire until 2010, however per Commonwealth rules, you must have a new license within 60 days of establishing residency.  Easy Peasy - right?  WRONG!  The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania doesn't make it so simple as turning in your new license and showing your lease/bill/etc. to show you live here - they also demand your Social Security Card be shown.  Ummmm... however, much like the title to my car, the SS Card is MISSING!  I'm sure I'll find it when I've gotten my replacement but I haven't seen it in years since I moved to Orlando. *sigh*

The only way to get the replacement card is to make a visit to my local SSA Office closest to my address.  The one that the SSA sent me to was in the heart of Germantown.  For those of you that aren't familiar with the Philly landscape, Germantown is not a favorable area - my gal Suz is a police officer in that district and the stories she tells me "Oh we had a stabbing/There was a shooting/Oh I have to testify at a murder trial" blah blah blah.  You get the picture.  Suz is in court almost every day and at night she's patrolling the streets of Germantown.  Needless to say, when I was looking for an apartment, Suz was the one to yay or nay a place.

So, my dad joked that I should go earlier in the morning because "the riff raff are still sleeping".  Sure - not a problem.  I figured it would be simple and that would be it.  4 hours later, my viewpoint on society has changed.  I'm now convinced that I need to channel my inner Suze Orman and save for my retirement because I am convinced there will be NOTHING for me when I retire.  The conversations I heard were such perfect blog fodder that I figured you might enjoy/shake your head or start praying for society as a whole...

I'm convinced that a day at the SSA is like a prison lunchroom with people trading tips on how to best the system.  Now, before we get "political", let me just say that I have friends who have been on the system and have used it to help when they were in a tough spot and now they are on their own.  That's not the point of this post.  I fully support the system for those that need it. 

However, I was privy to a conversation to two women who were quite loud and that I have never been so thankful to hear my number called so I could leave them without telling both of them to "grow the eff up".  One of the woman, a badly bottled blonde, couldn't have been more than 26.  She would only work 15 hours a week so she couldn't lose her SSA benefits.  According to her, she's bi-polar and couldn't work more than 15 hours because of that.  To make it even more "head shake worthy", she wouldn't accept responsibility for losing her prior job because she was caught SMOKING CRACK when she should have been teaching.  She was a headstart teacher in Northeast Philly.  Ummmmm..  The other woman is "diabetic" and she couldn't work because she had diabetes therefore she needed a SSA check while her boyfriend who wasn't her husband had a good paying job.  Are you effin' kiddin' me?  Seriously.  There was a woman to the right of me who decided she would just change her baby's diaper in full view of everyone where the baby let out a howl and a half because, well it was COLD.  There were people who go there daily and it was like a lunchroom catch up with everyone.  There were retired veterans who actually NEEDED benefits that people wouldn't move to let them sit.  The sense of entitlement that was around the room just pissed me the hell off.  And when my number was called out of order to get my replacement card, I heard people chattering behind me going "That ain't fair.  They should call my number."  I almost turned around to tell her "Bitch PLEASE - I'm here for a replacement card - NOT TO MILK THE SYSTEM like your funky azz".  And the people that work there - there was one woman who needed to be "retrained" as she copped major attitude with everyone, kept taking breaks and I'm convinced she was on the internet or something as she would wait before taking another person - no initiative.  There were 4 windows and only two open.  Boy was I thankful that after the 3.5 hour that they opened up a third window.

I do believe that there are people who are disabled and need SSA benefits.  However, I don't feel that bipolar, depression and diabetes counts as reasons to not work.  If you take your meds, there is hope, right?  I can say that never again will I ever go to the SSA Germantown office and, quite frankly, I'm now convinced that society has "issues."

Labels: Moving In Stilettos, Philly, Random Mess, Wha Da Hell

Posted by Lys :: 1:38 PM :: 1 comments

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Monday, October 05, 2009

GUILTY OF IDIOCY: Altamonte Animal Hospital...

One of the stories from the move was a sad one - and one that left me shocked and still, to this day, very annoyed.

My pug, Mr. Wiggles is a character - of that there is no doubt.  He does tend to be very hyper and "wiggly" when he sees people initially but that's just how he is. 

When I left for Philly, I asked for sedatives for both him and Shadow as it would be a long drive and I wanted them to be calm.  Shadow had been sedated for her flight to Florida so I didn't think much of it.

The day of the move, we waited until about half an hour before we left to give the pets their meds.  Shadow was prescribed a 1/4 of a 10 mg. tablet of Acepromazine.  Wiggy was prescribed a full 25 mg. tablet of Acepromazine.  Shadow took her tablet with little incident.  However, Wiggy spit his out twice.  Finally, with the bribe of cheese, he took it and my dad took him for his last walk.  I was told it would take 30 minutes for it to take effect.  Well, within minutes, Wiggy promptly convulsed, lost control of bodily function and basically collapsed and couldn't walk. 

WHAT THE @*#@*@*@?!?!  I called the Altamonte Animal Hospital only be told I could "drop him off".  Listen here dummy - I'm leaving to MOVE TO PHILADELPHIA TODAY and you want me to DROP HIM OFF?!?!?  ARE YOU NUCKIN' FUTZ?!?!?!  Not to mention, after this incident I didn't trust them with a pen, let alone my dog.  She told me that it was my option to leave with him sick but I really should just "drop him off."  I about lost my mind.

As I sat with Wiggy, I started googling results of Acepromazine with pugs.  He kept lookin' at me with the saddest eyes and would try to walk but couldn't move his back legs.  Thankfully, he threw up the pill and still would go in and out of sleep.

I texted Rifleman asking him for a vet suggestion in Philly.  If they told me to bring him back to the Altamonte vet, I would - but I was far from pleased.  He came back immediately with the spot he takes his dog to - Wissahickon Animal Hospital which is right near the new apartment. 

Thankfully, Jen from the Wissahickon Animal Hospital talked me off of a ledge, got me calm and told me that he should be fine, especially if he threw up the pill.  That was the first step.  Secondly, she said that apparently he had a reaction to it but interestingly enough, the vet prescribed him 25 mg. for a 20 lb. dog.  That was enough to sedate a 100 lb. dog.  Some vets prescribe 1 mg. per pound but considering that they did one quarter of a 10 mg. tablet for my 12 lb. cat, shouldn't they have done the same for my DOG?  Jen made an appointment for me to bring in Wiggy after the move and told me it was safe to leave in an hour or so just to keep an eye on him and call if there were any problems.  During my phone convo, Wiggy woke up and haltingly started walking over to my dad for comfort.  That was the best sign ever!

I tossed their pills in the bag, vowing to never use them again.  During the drive, Wiggy had a couple seizures but would quickly snap out of it.  Can I tell you the immense amount of guilt I had for even sedating the little guy in the first place???

While I was driving through Georgia, my cell phone rang and on the other line was the Altamonte Animal Clinic's office manager wanting to talk about the incident.  I didn't hold my tongue at all - they overdosed my DOG!  We went back and forth a bit but she told me that the Vet was at liberty to prescribe a 25 mg. dose for Wiggy since it was his prerogative and Wiggy was so hyper.  While I understand that, I felt I should have been consulted first as I would have to drive with him and he had never been sedated with that before.  As his parent/owner, in the end, I didn't see how they could prescribe only a quarter of a 10mg. tablet for my 12 lb. cat yet a FULL 25 mg. tablet for my 20 lb. pug.  Plus - while they only see the hyper "initial" side of him, they don't see the quasi-calm guy I live with when the excitement of seeing people is over.

It is what is is and thankfully Wiggy was okay during his checkup with Dr. Jacobs at the Wissahickon Animal Hospital and absolutely adores everyone there.  HOWEVER, after this drama with Altamonte Animal Clinic and Dr. Hart, I could never recommend Altamonte Animal Hospital again.  This one lapse of judgement on their part could have taken him away permanently.  And being told to "Drop him off" like he was a rejected piece of luggage, that was just poor taste on their part.

Labels: Guilty of Idiocy, Moving In Stilettos, Mr. Wiggles

Posted by Lys :: 1:15 PM :: 5 comments

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Sunday, October 04, 2009

The Move - In Pictures...

Found a few pics from the move that about summed up the chaos...

Shadow "guarding" her territory of boxes...

Momz - where's mah stuff?

The Overpacked Uhaul...

Wiggy and Shaddy "chill out" in the car for a second before we leave Savannah...

Momz - Movin' is Hard Work!

The big "Face Off" at the new apartment...

Inspectin' the truck's progress...

And, of course, he'll take a nap whenever he has the opportunity...

Shadow after a "dose" of catnip...

Our new home... Those stairs give a hell of a workout...

And this pic says it all   Just give him a beer and he'd be a happy pug...

Posted by Lys :: 11:54 PM :: 1 comments

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Saturday, October 03, 2009

The Moving Train Comes To An Abrupt Halt...

Seriously, outside of the chaos of boxes, I have so much to do and I'm at a standstill to do two important things until I unpack EVERYTHING just to find A) My Car Title and B) My Social Security Card.  See, I never keep my title in my car and I never keep my SS Card in my wallet - and now I'm regretting both [responsible] decisions.

I can't get my new plates or my license without either item.  So, back to unpacking I go.  Seriously - will it ever effin' end.  Let's hope it's where I think it is - in one of my many "Important papers" expandable files that I start each year and hang on to "just in case".  And, those files are in one of the many (remaining) boxes that are in my den just waiting for me to unpack.  If I can't find either, I'll be going insane getting duplicates of each.  Oy Vey - someone pass the Morgan.

*sigh*

Posted by Lys :: 11:21 PM :: 2 comments

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