Happy Valentines Day!

My Valentines gift to myself? Going to the Health Department and picking up my STI results. Totally clean, baby! I also got a few dozen condoms. Hey, they're Lifestyles and don't expire until 2015 so I asked for more. Never hurts to be prepared.

Oh my god, tell me my friend didn't give me the cutest Valentines card ever!





Eeeeee! She also got me a super deluxe king sized heating pad. Knots, prepare to be melted away!

A few days ago, she and I were discussing vegetables and cooking which led to an Impromptu Roasting Party! The menu consisted of: potatoes, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, edamame, chickpeas three ways, green beans, and asparagus wrapped in prosciutto. It was an orgiastic feast of vegetable delight! And lots of leftovers! So much yum.

My food stamps qualification interview was quick and painless. I find out at the end of the month if I qualify. My caseworker says I probably won't but, sometimes, they'll give you $15 a month even if you don't. Everything helps. Hell, that's 45 Cup o' Noodles!

I also had an appointment at the mental health department. Ever since I moved here, every medical professional I've spoken to has said that Alabama is bereft of psychiatrists. Especially psychiatrists who are willing to see people diagnosed as bipolar. I'm on the waiting list and won't see a doctor for months. I can't go that long without my medication so I did the only thing I could do – I called my former psychiatrist and begged. And that entire office is full of amazing people so I have refills for a couple of months. I can't afford to get them until the beginning of March so I'll have to stretch what I have until then. The lack of Ambien sucks the most. Insomnia, I shake my fist at you! But I know, from experience, that I can portion the rest of it out for that long without spiraling.

My new therapist seems really cool; I start seeing her at the beginning of March. Medicare covers my psychiatric visits fully (which rules) but not the therapy. My part of that is $15 but she told me that if I don't have the money to pay the portion not covered by Medicare, they'll see me anyway. They'll never deny anyone help. Then she whispered, “I get paid either way!” Ha, love her already. So wheels are in motion and I'll be back in therapy again soon. Since I can pay whatever I can afford, I'm going to be seeing her weekly for awhile. I'm really looking forward to having someone to work with again.

The Countdown to Stanhope has only a few more days left in it! I'm so excited. But also terrified because I'm going alone and I have trouble going to places I've never been before. In preparation, though, I saved up some anti-anxiety pills because I'm not going to let my crazy screw me over.