I haven’t written for 12 days and a lot has happened since. Some good and some not so good. But that’s life, I guess. Isn’t it?

I got Andy’s 16-page letter and I wrote him a 24-page letter. I have lots of stuff to mail out but I must get lots of stamps first.

Let me get the depressing, scary and confusing stuff out of the way first. Massachusetts’s welfare and disability programs sure are very different from Connecticut’s. It is meant to be that way as they take every opportunity possible to hassle, inconvenience and screw you over. Especially whenever a person moves.

When I went to the asthma doctor they weren’t able to see me, but they were patient and understanding. They called around about billing as they’re not Mass Health providers. Medicare is national, but Medicaid is State. The doctor did see me and gave me an Alupent sample, a refill prescription for Alupent, Theodur and this new patch called Habitrol. At Genovese drugstore, there was no way I could afford the Habitrol which was over $100. The Alupent was also expensive so I got Theodur instead. Luckily the generic brand was only $12.59. I thought it’d be $50 or $60. Thank God that much was affordable. The city welfare said to call the state welfare. They’re sending me an application but it may take me 45 days to get my card. She did say if I needed emergency prescriptions she could write an affidavit of some sort for the pharmacist.

In MA everything is all combined, with the state distributing everything. In fact, my SSI and SS payments may go from $556.39 to $442. If so, there’s this cash award thing that takes over and supplements me and it can go up to $400. That’d be $842, plus food stamps.

Later I’ll write about what Tammy and I spoke to the woman there about at the welfare office. It’s confusing, though and Tammy says not to let them screw me over, rip me off, or mislead me. No shit! Also, I’ll write what that doctor said. Lastly, Ann Marie, who was here from late Monday till late Tuesday.