Monday April 26, 2004
We had a wicked thunderstorm last night in Kingston. It shook windows. It was great. I haven't heard a good one for ages. It was too cold to keep the bedroom window open, so I heard a muffled version.
Earlier than I was ready to get up the cat woke me. It sounded like she was trying to dig straight to China through her litter box. Maniac. I got up and told her off because telling her off from the bed wasn't working. Several hours later, I was awakened by cutting and banging on pipe noises loud enough to make an impression through the earplugs I'd installed post dig. That got me out of bed. Well, the realization that the heat might be coming on and that I'd left my stash of propane cylinders on a rad, a cold rad being a close approximation of a shelf, you know.
By the time I'd made a coffee and given the cat her "hey, you're up!" treats the noise makers had gone elsewhere. Hmmm...
The project for the day is getting to medical appointments - one with the lab and one with the GP. I'm not feeling up to much else. Outside it is foggy. Inside it is still 62F/16C in this office.
In the back of my mind a thought is being examined, namely that I should see about getting an interview for the employment opportunity my head hunter called about and, if a job offer ensues AND I still cannot work, I should expect compensation for lost wages from the doctor who has NOT managed to "do no harm" and has created my disability.
I have very little confidence that I would be approved for benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Plan (ODSP). There is that little requirement that the disability be expected to continue for at least a year. Who's going to predict that, I wonder? My doctor? Their doctor? What if I manage to get better sooner?
Even if I got the benefit of $930 per month, it would come with a number of restrictions and frustrations: remaining within Ontario; filling out a report once a month; medical 'reviews' of my health; continuing dealings with government officialdom.
I suspect the facts of my brief employment in Ontario over the past couple of years preceded by my absence from Canada and the misleading manner of accounting used by the college that makes it appear as if I was only working 10 to 19 hours a week during that time may be reasons I will not qualify for Ontario Works (aka unemployment insurance aka welfare) support, either. And that's not even taking into consideration the fact that I did not immediately apply for OW benefits upon becoming unemployed last March.
Insurance supplied by government is still insurance and comes with the 'deny if at all possible' precept intact. I have given the bureaucrats far too many opportunities to fill their quota of denials, I fear. Silly me.
Late breaking news: the doctor has called in sick today and my appointment has been moved to midweek just now. So, maybe this will be lab and laundry day after all. Could be worse.
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