Girl in Gotham v2

I’m not entirely sure that it helps me at all.  However, you know how Congress is notorious for adding on a bunch of other stuff that’s not necessarily directly related when they are passing bills?  Well, the economic stabilization bill also included the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity Act of 2008.  And yes, I was up at 5:30am today reading online info about the inclusion of this provision in the passage of the bailout.  Not that I have any anxiety around my health coverage or anything…  As someone who has suffered from depression, has been in therapy,  and is currently struggling to manage an attention deficit issue, this has long been a concern and the passage of this law is really good news.

Although I am fortunate to have mental health coverage in my group insurance plan, I have always found it frustrating that there are arbitrary limits put on this coverage.  Why is it that 20 or 30 outpatient visits makes any sense at all?  If I were suffering from a physical condition that required ongoing care, it would be ludicrous if my doctor could no longer treat me after a certain number of visits, whether or not I was cured.  The net result of these limits has always put mental health firmly in the 2nd class category of care.  It’s reinforced the idea that maybe these ailments just don’t exist at all.

Though advances have been made over the years and the stigma attached to mental illness is no longer what it once was, there’s still a long way to go. When celebrities like Tom Cruise (who could use some serious therapy himself),  propose vitamins and exercise as a cure for postpartum depression, and Kirsty Alley testifies in front of a State legislature to keep children from being “smeared” with a mental illness diagnosis, they give credence to the notion that millions of people with issues ranging from schizophrenia to ADHD are just faking it.  While a “religious” belief against treatment is one thing, keeping others from being treated for serious, legitimate medical conditions is unconscionable.  For years, the stigma of mental illness and lobbying by groups like the Citizens Campaign for Human Rights (a Scientology-backed lobbying organization) have allowed for this inequity of care to continue.  Combined with the insurance industry’s behemoth lobbying machinery against anything that would require them to fork out more money, the battle to create equity in care has raged on for years.

Finally, finally, wiser heads have prevailed.  Even though it seems odd that this provision would be attached to the bailout bill, I, for one, am quite happy to know that something good may actually come from this economic crisis. Unfortunately, the law doesn’t go into effect until January 2010.  This means that until then, treatment limits are still in effect. Oh well, I know I’m very lucky to have a job that includes health coverage. period.  And until parity is in effect, I’ll just be thankful for the upcoming change.  I’ll also look closely to see what unrelated measures might be added to the impending auto industry bailout.  Marriage equality?  I know, wishful thinking, but you have to admit, it would make yet another corporate bailout easier to swallow…

Not even a week in, and I’ve missed a day already.  It was unintentional, really.  I ran around all day yesterday.  Got cookies, went to the Clay Festival and then to the Handmade Cavalcade for holiday shopping.  It was freezing outside and I walked a lot and caught up with a bunch of people.  Also met some really cool crafty types who I intend to connect with again.  It was a good day.  But, by the time I got home it was after 7pm.  I ate dinner, sat down on my bed to watch some TV and promptly fell asleep.  It was way earlier than I’d intended and it was way earlier than I should have fallen asleep.  But, I was apparently exhausted.  I woke up at about 1am.  I was half awake for a while longer and then fell back to sleep.  And then I actually slept in this morning until 9:30.  So, clearly, I was tired.  But, I realized that I not only slept through the creative energy that I generated while out and about yesterday, but also my Holidailies posting.  So, oops.

And not really much to post about today.  I was waffling about going to the LeSportsac sample sale and feel a tiny little triumph that I resisted the temptation to go, because the last thing I really need is another LeSportsac (much as I love them.)  However, truth be told, it wasn’t completely a triumph of will that kept me away.  It had more to do with the fact that it was ridiculously cold outside (it was even cold in my apartment) and I was more  than happy to be a couch potato.

I did start working on some jewelry, but didn’t get anywhere near as much as I wanted to get done. Especially not in comparison to the mess I created, pulling out every last bead, wire, and supply that I could find.  So, now here it is, close to 11pm.  I haven’t much to show for the day, but a lot of lounging, DVR watching, and hey, I did finish another entry.

And back to work tomorrow.  Isn’t my life thrilling?

Confronted with the fear of a blank page (or screen, as the case may be), I turned to the Holidailies Writing Prompts to start this month-long exercise in trying to get back into a regular habit.  The prompt for the first entry is “Introduce Yourself.” Does that instruction lead me to write an abbreviated biography like a normal person?  No.  Instead it triggers within me a sometimes maddening, sometimes entertaining trail of words and music.

I’m so easily suggestible that even the slightest of connections can force a phrase or even a whole song from the recesses of my mental filing cabinet (you might call it my brain).  For whatever reason, I have a savant-like knack for song lyrics.  This includes pop, rock, jazz standards, folk, some country and anything by Rick Astley that my roommates chose to play incessantly my sophomore year of college. However, most often, the presence of the Showtune Gene in my DNA* leads the way and my “gift” manifests through songs from the musical theater canon.

Which takes me back to the writing prompt for this entry…”Introduce Yourself.” Which led me to ask, “Who am I?” which then led me to sing “Who am I….who am I….I’m Jean Valjean…”  from Les Miserables.  The logic might seem lacking to the casual observer, but I feel certain that my fellow theater geeks, can see the the connection, however flimsy.

As if that weren’t enough, I also suffer from a constant, nagging earworm affliction.  Which means, not only do I find myself at the obscure Les Miz reference, but, until some other tune replaces it, Jean Valjean is the only song in town. So, I guess, in a way, the Holidailies prompt worked.  I’ve now introduced myself as a musical theater geek who can’t stop quoting showtunes and has them on a loop inside her head.  Welcome to my brain.  Aren’t you glad you don’t live here?

Happy Holidailies, Day 1!

*presence of said gene also proving that I am indeed a gay man, trapped in a straight woman’s body.

So, I’ve been lazier than I could possibly imagine about writing here.  Life always seems to get in the way, whether things have been going well (and they have been) or not.  A couple weeks ago, my friend Josh was talking about his web site and that he hadn’t updated in a long time, and that we’d been having cool conversations about stuff.  He suggested that we both start updating regularly.  This led me to thinking about actually doing Holidailies, especially since December was fast approaching (It’s here!  I can’t believe it).  So, I sucked it up and signed up for it and so did Josh.  I’m trying to get Gen to do it too, but so far, no such luck.

Holidailies is running a little late this year, so the commitment is to update daily from December 5 through January 6.  Despite that, I’m beginning today.  I’m gonna try my hardest to keep up with it.  Not sure I’ll have much of interest to say, so, we’ll see how it goes.

Meanwhile, I’ve also made the commitment to myself to start updating my other site, Girl in Gotham Designs.  I created the site on Labor Day weekend and also created an Etsy store.  However, I’ve not put anything in the store, or added anything to the site.  I need to take some photos and put some stuff up for sale.  It’s December!  Now is the time people are buying gifts and it would make sense that I had some things available for sale…at least a few pins and stuff that I’ve already made and are just waiting to be purchased, if only people knew they existed!

I’m doing this all to give myself the kick in the ass I need to start being more creative and productive and doing the things I’ve set out for myself.  But, still, right now it’s all a big…we’ll see. Meanwhile, you can keep track of me here, or on the Holidailies web portal.