Generally, I stay immune from worries over political games because I understand how they're played. They threaten, call each other out, refuse to budge and, in the end, compromise or cave. But this one is hitting too close to home and it's gone on too long.
Do I believe they'll raise the debt ceiling before the deadline? Yes. But I'm concerned that they'll do it so late that there will still be repercussions. The markets are getting antsy. The foreign media are reporting that our Federal Reserve is concerned and working on contingency plans. This isn't funny or quirky or "politics as usual" anymore.
And so I need to work on my own "contingency plans." I'm heading to my local cable company office to return the box and remote control and to stop service. I just have the basic plan -- no extra channels or fancy equipment -- but if my disability is going to be delayed or cut then it's $35 I don't need to spend. I have Netflix and I can get the local stations if I fiddle enough with my antenna. That will have to do.
I'm also experimenting with cutting my blood pressure pills in half. I don't take them because I have high blood pressure. I have a weird heart rhythm caused by my autoimmune stuff that responds to BP meds for some reason -- my blood pressure has always been fine. I know I can't go without the pills completely because when I've run out or forgotten to take it on occasion, the weird rhythm and palpitations let me know. But if I can get by on half a pill then I can make them last longer. My cardiologist has said in the past that it's OK to reduce to half if my BP is falling too low so I think it's OK to try this.
Thank goodness I just refilled my Lupus meds. Those are pills I absolutely cannot skimp on. My current dosage is just holding things together, away from constant crisis. Even so, I'm doing a prednisone burst because the pain a few weeks ago was troublesome. It was painful to even walk around the house and the fatigue was super-bad.
I have my thermostat set on 85. With the never-ending heat, I've given up on trying to keep the house cool and have to accept barely tolerable. I really don't want to see my electric bill, especially if the disability checks are delayed. The bill is due the first week of the month, sigh. So is my prepaid cellphone payment but that's only $20. I ditched my landline years ago. But the electric bill is a worry.
I will also have to cancel my medical appointments if this isn't resolved soon because I won't be able to afford the copays. I scheduled them a month ago and got the first available appointments so that means I'll have to wait months longer if I have to reschedule. This is problematic, especially since I'm having to self-medicate to control new symptoms that really need doctors' attention.
I'm blessed, though, to have affordable housing and lots of food (I stock up when I find exceptionally good sale prices). I won't starve or be homeless. Still, is it acceptable for someone who studied and worked hard but unfortunately was stricken with serious, incurable diseases to have to worry about keeping the air conditioning and fans on during the hottest summer on record because the politicians are grand-standing?
Perhaps I should invite our president and some Congressional leaders to my little home so they can have their discussions here and consider how their games are affecting the "little people." I'll make plenty of iced tea but the AC will have to stay on 85.
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