Total screw up by Allsup November 4, 2014

Do I think Allsup did a good job handling my case?

A lot has happened this past week. I was able to reach my congress person about a month ago to see if they could help with my social security claim. Well, they did! They were fantastic! The most help anyone has offered me since this whole process began.

They were able to get my case approved for critical processing.

However, I just had to decide to move because I don’t have any money and I can’t afford to live in San Mateo anymore. I had considered going month to month here, however, the price for month to month was 3k. Can you believe it! With zero income how was I supposed to afford that?

So I move November 29th and the hearing was scheduled for San Francisco for Dec 8th.

No biggie.

SF decides that they are going to setup a video conference with San Diego (SD) so that I can keep my hearing date. Nice, right?

Here is where the magic happens.

Allsup (random company that MetLife strongly suggested, by that I mean badger, I use to represent me with social security) totally screws up and tells them that I waive my right to video conference, that I only want it in person. What! That never happened.

Apparently, some clerk sent out a mass letter to everyone they were representing, regardless of what was discussed between the client and their specific representative, that they did not want video conferencing. Allsup assured me this would not happen, that everyone was on the same page. Clearly, my suspicions of ineptitude were spot on.

Therefore, SF social security gets mad, sends me a letter, and states that they are revoking my critical case status! Not only do I lose my December 8th hearing, but now I lose my critical case status.

Allsup are absolute idiots.

Also, now I look like a diva to the court system.

Perfect. Thanks Allsup. Thanks a lot.

To say thank you to you all, here is a 4inkjets coupon and a Moosejaw coupon. Get yourself something nice from Moosejaw or save on some inkjets today.

**Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Francisco. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third book ANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com

Something fun for a change – Oscar Wilde October 20, 2014

This past week, on October 16th, marked the 160th anniversary of Oscar Wilde’s birthday.

He is by far my favorite poet.

I had just moved from Detroit (15 miles west of Detroit actually, as not many people are truly from Detroit), Michigan to San Francisco, California. I was working at Stanford and my commute was an hour long, two hours round trip.

At first, I had been talking to people over the phone on my commute. Yet, that quickly blew-up my phone bill. Then I started listening to Howard Stern, but, I must say, he gets very old, very fast. I’m not a feminist per se, but I do not wish to listen to a man that demeans women every chance he gets.

I had to find something new to do on my commute.

I decided on audiotapes. Yes, back then, it was an audiotape. That is not a misprint.

My first one was The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. This book was first published in July 1890. Yet, it still seems as relevant today. In fact, it is. I read it and it did not feel dated at all.

In fact, it was eye-opening to me.

I was unfamiliar with his wit, his use of language, nor his ideas. After this book, I fell in love with him. I have read all of his works. It’s not just that his books or plays have good storylines. It’s his use of the written word to convey ideas. It’s how he observes his world, and how he speaks of it.

Here are some of his quotes. I pulled them from MentalFloss, one of my favorite websites.

• I think that God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability.
• The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself.
• Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.
• Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.

These are taken from Goodreads:

• “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
  ― Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere’s Fan
• “I don’t want to go to heaven. None of my friends are there.”
  ― Oscar Wilde
• “You don’t love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear.”
  ― Oscar Wilde
• “Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about.”
  ― Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere’s Fan
• “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
  ― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

If you have never read his work, please, pick up a copy.

Try out Audible. I bet they will have some of his work.

This blog was made possible thanks to a 4inkjets coupon and a Moosejaw coupon. Save 10% with our coupon at 4inkjets and as for Moosejaw, get yourself a nice new jacket for the fast approaching winter season.

**Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Francisco. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third bookANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com