Monday, March 01, 2010

Wouldn't It Be Good to be On Your Side. The Grass is Always Greener Over There

Here is my new hot water heater. She isn't really all that pretty, but she has a great personality.

Today was a series of hits and misses. The theme today was gaining and losing and minor annoyances, I suppose.

As you can see, I did get my new hot water heater installed, but it doesn't look like I'll get that extra $100 rebate from the state. I sure wish they had a better system for people to get their rebates, or would somehow figure out that everyone and their second cousin twice removed was going to want a piece of it, because it was so frustrating trying to access the website or the phone number. They were totally overloaded. I tried on and off all day, just to get to a place on the website where I could reserve my rebate. Fat chance. At one point in the afternoon, I got as far as the part on the site where I could enter my information and the minute I hit submit, it kicked me out of the system. Bastards. I don't know who actually was able to access the website in order to overload it, but I'm assuming they were people who didn't have to work during the day and could try every 2 seconds. Again - bastards. By 1:30 when I was finally able to access the site enough to get to the registration and before it kicked me out, I saw that they had already given out all the money and were only putting us on a waiting list. I'm not quite sure what we'll be waiting for. To see if some people have invalid claims? To see if there is more money allotted or maybe they just want to appease us so we don't revolt.

Since it doesn't look like I'll get my rebate, I figured I might try to give plasma to recoup my losses. It would take two weeks of donating to get that money. But, alas. It wasn't meant to be either. After I drove all the way out there and went through the whole rigamarole of questions and tests, it turned out that my crit (iron level) count was one point less than it needed to be. So, I was shut down there and had to drive home with no cash. Wah.

Once I got home, though, things looked up a little. I'm the opposite of those helicopter parents who hover over their kids and do everything for them, because they're sure they won't do it..Or at least won't do it right. So, I've been trying to get Coadster to fill out her financial aid application for a month now. She was good about filling out scholarships and auditioning for money from the school of music, but she really wanted me to do her FAFSA for her. I refused. Believe me, it would have been a lot easier to do it for her, but I'm supposed to be raising her to be independent and self-sufficient, and part of that is being here to help her with any questions she might have, but not do her shit for her. Anyway, of course she waited until the last minute to fill out her paperwork, (this weekend) but she did finally get it done and right now it looks like she'll get a grant to cover much of her tuition. Now, we'll just have to see if she gets any scholarships, before we make the decision to take out loans.

10 comments:

SkylersDad said...

I like your hot water heater, She seems nice. Too bad about the refund though, but keep trying.

jeci said...

Hmmm....I expect you'll probably end up saving a fair bit of money over the long run with a more efficient heater, but here's hoping you get your rebate too!

rel said...

Churlita,
I think your new heater is quite becoming; sleek as silk and hot too.
rel

Mrs. Hairy Woman said...

Your Hot water heater certainly has some personality.. Too bad you can't say the same the "Rebate " folks.. That is one area they are lacking in..lol.. Hope you end up with a few extra bucks..

Tara said...

I bought two new tires for my car this weekend. They're not much to look at either, but to me they are perfect. :)

When I first tried to donate blood, I was turned down because of my low iron count. I felt dejected. But I was able to give soon after.

Pamela said...

I had the same thing happen to me with my furnace. All money gone for 2009. And then they have more money come June but it won't be retroactive. And that was $1500!!!! dammit.

laura b. said...

People do like a waiting list for some reason, even if it is never used. Maybe they'll still come through for you.

Glad to hear that Coadster was able to get her financial paperwork done. That sort of thing is never fun, but she is going to appreciate what comes to her that much more.

booda baby said...

I love you so much for your parenting and doing it the hard way. Thank you THANK you.

And I'm sorry the state sort of burned you on the rebate (you DID have to get one anyway, didn't you?) Does it help to remember that Iowa legalized gay marriage and managed to not let the Mormon pulpit push it around? I could forgive my state a lot of shit after that.

Johnny Yen said...

You should do well on the grants and scholarships. A teacher friend of mine put three kids through college as a single parent-- all of them at private schools-- and spent a ridiculously low amount of money. I will be calling her for advice as my son gets closer to college age.

Congrats on the new heater! My guess is that they'll pony up the money somehow. Even if they don't you should recoup your losses quickly in energy savings.

Churlita said...

Skyler's, They won't even let me on a waiting list now. Luckily, it was only $100 and I wasn't expecting a ton of money.

Jeci, Yeah. I'm just going to have to be happy with the energy efficiency savings.

Rel, She is pretty hot, isn't she?

Mrs., Eh, there isn't much I can do about it, so I just have to let it go now.

Tara, I went back and was able to donate plasma tonight, Who knows what was different in 24 hours?

Pamela, That really sucks - you're talking about a chunk of cash there.

Booda Baby, I'm not sure if my daughters would agree with you right now, but hopefully they'll see the light when they get older.

Johnny Yen, We're still waiting to see what all she gets offered. I'm hoping she doesn't have to get too far in debt and graduate with a liberal arts degree like I did.