Fanfic Writers' Virtual Water Cooler

[Sparky She-Demon]

hello...

Long time no see!

[L4 of the WEST]

hey all yeah been really busy

[Whytewytch]

Wagon Wheels are getting smaller...!

Won't that make it harder to cross the prairie?

[Sparky She-Demon]

How's it going, WW?

[Whytewytch]

So guys...SUPER GOOD NEWS!!!!! For those who know me on FB, I'm waiting to share it there until he gets a chance to call his grandparents and his tia.

Spoiler:

BB JOINED THE NAVY TODAY!!!!!!! He'll be going to basic on 9/2 and after basic, he'll be training as an airplane mechanic. I'm excited and scared and hopeful and worried and proud and anxious and...

AND he has found a place to stay for the summer, someplace he can still have some freedom from Mom & Dad, and a place he can leave his truck with no worries while he's in basic. No job yet, but one thing at a time.

[Sparky She-Demon]

Good! That's great!

[Amara D'Angeli]

So guys...SUPER GOOD NEWS!!!!! For those who know me on FB, I'm waiting to share it there until he gets a chance to call his grandparents and his tia.

Spoiler:

BB JOINED THE NAVY TODAY!!!!!!! He'll be going to basic on 9/2 and after basic, he'll be training as an airplane mechanic. I'm excited and scared and hopeful and worried and proud and anxious and...

AND he has found a place to stay for the summer, someplace he can still have some freedom from Mom & Dad, and a place he can leave his truck with no worries while he's in basic. No job yet, but one thing at a time.

That's fantastic! (And the same route my brother went.) Congratulations, proud momma!

[Whytewytch]

Good! That's great!

That's fantastic! (And the same route my brother went.) Congratulations, proud momma!

Thank you! Who knows, maybe, just maybe... *knocks wood* I might get a chance to write again soon...

[Falcon Horus]

Congrats and good luck to BB!

And good luck to you WW!

[Whytewytch]

Congrats and good luck to BB!

And good luck to you WW!

Thanks, FH!

[Starfist]

Congrats WW. And all my best to BB.
A service career is a good move.

[Amara D'Angeli]

I sense wine in my future...

I have spent the better part of this week (at least 25 of the 30 "working" hours so far) dealing with getting our employees set up on the new health care stuff. Our company has opted to drop our major medical coverage in lieu of allowing the employees to purchase on the marketplace. (We're doing this for several reasons not the least of which is to allow space for individuals to take advantage of the government subsidies if they qualify.)

I'm pleased to report that actually shopping for and selecting a new plan at www.healthcare.gov was easy.

Getting marketplace plans set up for company contributions is turning out to be a royal pita. I've spoken to seven customer services reps between our payroll service, healthcare.gov, and BCBS today. No one, not the first person, has been able to answer any question in any way that doesn't refer me to someone else. I've spoken with them all on an infinite loop.

[Whytewytch]

Congrats WW. And all my best to BB.
A service career is a good move.

Thanks! It is a good move--especially for him. It'll help him mature, I'm sure.

I sense wine in my future...

I have spent the better part of this week (at least 25 of the 30 "working" hours so far) dealing with getting our employees set up on the new health care stuff. Our company has opted to drop our major medical coverage in lieu of allowing the employees to purchase on the marketplace. (We're doing this for several reasons not the least of which is to allow space for individuals to take advantage of the government subsidies if they qualify.)

I'm pleased to report that actually shopping for and selecting a new plan at www.healthcare.gov was easy.

Getting marketplace plans set up for company contributions is turning out to be a royal pita. I've spoken to seven customer services reps between our payroll service, healthcare.gov, and BCBS today. No one, not the first person, has been able to answer any question in any way that doesn't refer me to someone else. I've spoken with them all on an infinite loop.

Sounds...unsurprising. Good luck! I don't know anything about the site or if we're going to need to sign up or what.

[Amara D'Angeli]

I finally got an answer and it was "it can't be done". Employers cannot contribute to health insurance polices bought directly through healthcare.gov. They CAN, however, reimburse employees (or give an allowance) to help defray premium costs. Either way, employees will pay the entire cost of their policy (less the subsidy amount, if available) out of pocket and insurance does, of course, bill in advance monthly.

[Whytewytch]

Happy Imbolc, everyone! I got up this morning, made some coffee, and wrote 533 words--the only ones I've written in months. Propitious start, I think on the holiday that marks beginnings.

I've done a lot of cleaning today, too, and am about to head back to research and some more writing.