MISSED OBAMACARE? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

1. YOU NOW OWE A FINE. If you missed the deadline for open enrollment you can no longer apply for discounted healthcare. Ergo, when you go to pay this years taxes you will be hit with a fine equaling a minimum of $95 or 1% of your income, whichever is greater.
2. YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN EXEMPTION FROM THIS FINE. Exemptions include financial hardships such as homelessness, disasters, having your utilities cut off, etc. OR if you were determined ineligible for healthcare assistance because your state did not expand medicaid coverage to include the Affordable Care Act. Half the states in America did not approve Medicaid expansion.
3. YOU MUST APPLY FOR AN EXEMPTION. There are currently no automatic exemptions from this fine. Contact the resources listed in this article asap as you may only have a limited time to apply.
4. THE UNEMPLOYED/HOMELESS NEED NOT APPLY. Unless you have conditions that already qualify you for your states medicaid program (such as disability, elderly, children) you are not eligible for government insurance coverage.
5. TAX REBATES SHOULD HELP PAY FOR YOUR INSURANCE. This seems to be a little known fact that has escaped the notice of even those who were paying attention.  Despite the fact that many states denied medicaid expansion, you are still eligible for “premium tax rebates” that can cover all or part of your healthcare costs.  If your income is up to 4X the poverty level ($10,150 for a single person, less per person for families) you are eligible for assistance.  These rebates can be applied directly to your monthly payments or you can pay the full cost and recoup your losses at the end of the year when you pay your taxes. If your income should increase during the year (and the government pays more in rebates than it should have) then you will likely owe the difference when you pay your taxes. If you do not make enough money to pay taxes, but you have some kind of income, no matter how small, you are still eligible for rebates.
6. PRICES VARY. The percentage you are expected to pay is dependent upon two things. One is your income and the other is based upon the lowest priced silver plan available in your area. Even so you may opt to choose a higher or lower priced plan, whereby you will pay more or less accordingly. Some plans may be available to you for free, but in some cases such plans may be less desirable catastrophic plans that only kick in only after you have paid significant medical bills. Still, such a plan could come in very handy in case of a true and costly  medical emergency.
7. YOU MAY NEED A HEALTHCARE NEGOTIATOR. The ACA is complex with many and varied rules. While one can apply online at Healthcare.org, you may be better served by a healthcare Negotiator . Look online for one near you.
8. YOU CAN APPLY AGAIN THIS FALL. Open Enrollment begins on November 15^th and runs through February 15^th 2015 for the general public. However, enrollment in medicaid for the elderly and disabled is available throughout the year along with the Children's Health Insurance Program (aka CHIP). Contact your State's Medicaid /DCF (department of children and families)/or  Access program.
9. NEXT YEAR FINES WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.  This fall, once open enrollment begins,you will definitely want to apply before the deadline  because next years fines will be a minimum of $695 per person.
10. FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ONLINE.  Simply go to Healthcare.org. or contact a healthcare Negotiator in your area.

Todays Lesson:  "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."  Thomas A. Edison

copyright Linda Matthews 5/26/2014

THE CELTIC CURSE

Finally feeling well enough to write a column, and just in time for St. Patricks Day I want to write about a long time acquaintance of mine, the most common genetic disorder in the world, known as Hemochromatosis, aka the "Celtic Curse".


One out of ten people carry a single gene for this disorder, but for people who are descended from Northern Europe and Ireland (where this disorder is believed to have originated) the incidence is even greater, hence the name The Celtic Curse.


Hemochromatosis is a disorder of iron metabolism where the liver fails to produce an enzyme that would normally inhibit the amount of iron absorbed by the individual. Persons with a double hemochromatosis gene run an especially high risk for multiple organ injury, cancer and death, but even carriers of a single gene need treatment to avoid or forestall diseases that we usually associate with aging, like diabetes, heart disease, unusually high family histories of cancer and arthritis (especially in the small joints of the hand). As it is the bodys job to store iron to make red blood cells, the body will seek to store it anywhere it can.  Therefore any vital organ of the body is at risk for damage, organ failure and cancer. Because the liver is the main storage vehicle for iron, cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer are especially increased risks. For many people abnormal liver function may be the first symptom to show up often leaving doctors confused as to the cause. Such individuals should request that an iron panel be done. However at this point damage has likely already occurred. Also it is important to know that a normal iron panel does not rule out whether or not you have the hemochromatosis gene as iron levels may originally be normal and then accumulate over a lifetime. Abnormal iron panels may also be present from inflammation and excess consumption of alcohol.   Since ferritin levels are sometimes used to detect alcholism, some teetotalers have been mistakenly identified as excessive drinkers. Only genetic testing can totally rule out this disorder. Such tests are now readily available with or without a doctors consent. Still this is a familial disease, so a big tip that it may run in your family is when you have a family history of such diseases, especially in the men in your family. The reason for this is that the body has no way of removing excess iron. But in women, monthly cycles and child birth result in lower iron stores. Even so, anemia may be present and is not uncommon in even severe cases of this disorder. As the iron slowly builds up cases are usually diagnosed as people age. But it can still be diagnosed at any age. Babies can be born with it when the mother has an abnormally high level of iron in her system resulting in abnormal liver function at birth.  There have been cases where individuals suffered through repeated organ transplants without diagnosis and death in young adults. It may also be implicated in rare cancers such as pancreatic and liver cancers. Very late stage disease causes such a large increase in iron stores that the skin darkens over the entire body.  Other symptoms include endocrine disorders, kidney disorders, gall bladder issues, impotence and more.

Hopefully someone reading this will get tested and diagnosed. Please forward this information to anyone you know with long standing suffering and an undiagnosable condition. Be well, be smart, get tested if in any way you suspect this may be in your family. Thanks for reading!




Todays Lesson: Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity. Hippocrates


copyright Linda Matthews 3/13/2014

THE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF CRISIS

Not that I would want difficult circumstances imposed upon anyone, but the many extreme and "rare" events that now make up our new "norm"  possess the ability to mold man into a more compassionate and caring race of beings and better prepare him to meet the challenges of tomorrow.....if he cares to ponder such things.

As I sat watching the people of Atlanta and the problems that occurred with their recent snow fall, I couldn't help but compare their situation to that of the homeless.  Suddenly many motorists found themselves stranded in their cars for the night, without food, water and amenities. No doubt many lacked seriously needed medications.  This was a frightening turn of events, but even so groups and individuals came forth delivering whatever help they could.  Those affected were not alone.  They were not shunned.  Most appeared to have some kind of shelter.  Unbidden, strangers emerged on their own and their actions spoke loud and clear, "Don't worry we'll help you!"   "We don't know you but we care."  "No one should have to endure this and we are going to do what we can to help." No one was judged for ending up in this situation.  No one looked away, avoiding their eyes.  Individuals and government agents went out of their way to help them, look for them, and to anticipate problems they might have ahead of time and to correct problems that had already occurred.  As annoyed, hungry, thirsty, cold, afraid and everything else that these people were, for the greater part their misery was fairly short lived and life soon returned to normal.

So why is it that when there isn't a "sudden" crisis and people are found stranded in their cars, hungry and cold, that we look away?  Why are we compelled to judge and condemn them for the complex circumstances of their lives, of which we know nothing?  What makes you think that if what happened in Atlanta suddenly became your way of life   that you would do any better?  How would your behavior deteriorate?  How annoyed would you be with your government and the apathy of others?   How irritable/depressed/broken would you be....because when you are homeless there pretty much isn't anybody comin', there's little if any relief and for all your sufferin' you are made to feel ashamed of circumstances beyond your control.

Even in the difficulty of Atlanta, those who suffered (and I do not wish to belittle what they experienced) went through so much less than the homeless do.  Many homeless have little or no shelter.  If someone comes across them as they sleep they are likely to be beaten or robbed.  Government agents may be of little or no help or may compound the problem by telling them to leave or having them arrested.  These people ran out of their meds a long time ago along with the doctors that prescribed them.  For the general public in Atlanta there was hope.  Not so for the homeless.  Most of them gave up on that idea long ago.

For some strange reason we differentiate between the helplessness connected with sudden events and the helplessness of accumulated events.  This differentiation comes from assumption and judgement, yet no one  applies the same criteria to those who got stuck in Atlanta.  Before anything happened I heard that this might be the worst storm yet.  We all  know that the new norm is to expect the unexpected.  Did people stay home?  Take special precautions?  Take their meds with them?  Take extra food?  Tire chains?  Salt?  Blankets?  Actually it seems as if they behaved just like ordinary people going along with their ordinary lives not expecting anything to change.  And it is the same way with the homeless.  For some it came about slowly, for some more quickly.  I've heard many say, "I never expected that I'd become homeless."  I mean, really, who prepares for that?  For some you are looking at people who never really started out with an equal opportunity, for others, just sheer circumstances overwhelmed them.  In this regard they are exactly like the majority of Americans:  Either they fail to fully recognize the implications of what is happening to them or it is beyond their control or comprehension as to  how to deal with what is occurring.   Mostly people don't want to know and deal with problems.  I find that it is very hard to find people who want to briefly discuss and address anything that is not working.  We are so programmed into "shut up, smile and everything is fine" mode that it's no wonder that we are self destructing and taking the planet with us.  When we fail to take responsibility for our own issues we become particularly annoyed by anyone who would remind us that there's a problem.  Enter the homeless and unemployed and we are just another problem that people would rather forget.  It's much easier to make assumptions/judgements and seek scapegoats.  This is America and I do believe that we have the power and ability to change anything.....if we really want to.  Yes there are problems, but if we have opted out and given away our power and have not properly taken it back then we are the ones to blame.  Being outraged and pointing fingers is just more of the same.  On the day that we recognize that we, each and everyone of us, is responsible and ready to make the sacrifices necessary to fix this mess, then it will be fixed.  Until then, like those others who continue to perpetuate the pointed finger of anger, divisiveness will rule and we shall go nowhere.

Why in a county that has so much should anyone ever have to be stranded?  If it's not acceptable for some, then it is not acceptable for anybody.   It really is that simple.

Today's Lesson:  "Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things easy for everybody? Well then, you ain't through learning - because that ain't the time at all. It's when he's at his lowest and can't believe in hisself 'cause the world done whipped him so! when you starts measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right. Make sure you done taken into account what hills and valleys he come through before he got to wherever he is.”
Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun

copyright Linda Matthews 1/30/2014

A BLUE CHRISTMAS ?

It's Christmas Eve and I am having a fine time. I'm doing housework and eating vanilla ice cream with molasses and ginger and a gourmet lemon shortbread cookie. Tomorrow I'll eat peanuts and apples and celery and turkey with yams and likely end up laying about and watching holiday movies all day long. I will spend the day simply, alone, happy, content and at peace.


So it is with the need for both individuals---and the public in general---to judge yet all I choose to do. Most peoples first thought will be: That's awful! How can I be happy spending a holiday in such a way? Aren't I lonely? What kind of a holiday meal is that anyway...how can I have a holiday without stuffing and cranberries and cakes and pies and buttered rolls and company and so on? And who do I think I am, to be spending food stamps on things like ice cream and expensive gourmet cookies?


Surely I must be crazy.....(that's a distinct possibility...but I digress).


Due to my years of isolation from my many illnesses, I found myself alone at a holiday some time ago. At first it seemed a little bit lonely and unfortunate...but I quickly began to realize that the time honored traditions of “HOLIDAY” impressed upon the brains of the American public had nothing at all to do with happiness. Over time, being free to do whatever I liked, I began to disengage from the idea of societal programming and began instead to appreciate the simplicity and peace of it all. No manic cleaning, no guests, no dealing with the odd insufferable relative, no drive to shop, cook, put up decorations, wrap presents, entertain and wash all those remaining pots and pans. No exhaustion. Truly no negativity. Over the years I have tried a couple of times (against my better judgment) to please others by having company (what a lot of thankless work that was!) and to accompany a friend to a family holiday meal where I was left to amuse myself with relatives who were not keen on my presence and presented with a meal, most of which was highly desirable yet not on my seriously exclusive diet....(what a miserable/boring day that was!) And today, after months of being away from this column, seriously ill and pretty much unable to do most of what needed attending to, I find myself in just the last two days, finally able to function! (Just go two months without doing any house work and you will find great joy in cleaning a toilet and other assorted annoying tasks.)


So here I am doing exactly what I want and have wanted to be able to do for quite some time. The only thing lacking being a very few goodies. Having recently gone onto an even more restrictive diet I was at odds for finding much of anything sweet that I could eat. Carrying a list of the "newly banned", it was determined that I could eat one brand of vanilla ice cream with few problems, along with the find of a single suitable package of gluten free cookies and a small box of candied ginger I have concocted a delightful sweet that won't put in me into anaphylactic shock. So go ahead and judge my injudicious purchase of what “should be” banned sweets by someone who uses food stamps. For some, my poverty is no excuse for even a cookie and some ice cream as I am simply a drain on the economy and they would happily point out that I really deserve even less.


Bah, Humbug ye Scrooges...for ye are proof that money does not bring thee happiness, but rather unhappiness and a need for thy scapegoats. But for today, as my Christmas Gift to the masses, I will happily play that role for you.  Go ahead! Enjoy!  Indulge yourself in a bit of self righteous condemnation...I won't tell and nobody's to be the wiser...


(Limited time offer/one day only. No rain checks. Offer expires Dec. 26, 2013)


My wish for all who read this: May the peace of the season find permanent residence within you, rather than it's somewhat limited yearly visitation. 
                  Peace on Earth, good will to all, man and beast, big and small.


Todays Lesson: “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” Wayne Dyer

copyright Linda Matthews 12/27/2013

FALLING OBESITY: AN EVIL OMEN?

Last month, the CDC released a new study showing that, from 2008 to 2011, rates of obesity among low-income children, ages 2-4 in WIC monitored programs, fell approximately 1% in 19 of the 43 states. People hail attempts at dietary improvements for this decrease in obesity rates. However, it is not clear exactly why this is happening, since studies show that even when given the exact same diet as their richer counterparts, that the poor will still gain much more weight. This difference is generally attributed to higher cortisol production associated with the stress of poverty. In a 2012 study it was determined that approximately 50 million people are currently food insecure in the U.S., and that number rises to 1 in 4 for children.

A few years ago I moved near a soup kitchen in Florida, a hard hit state which has more than it's share of poor and homeless winter arrivals. After the stock market collapsed, I noticed the arrival of increasing numbers of people to the kitchen, and I was surprised at the obesity of some of them. But not now. Now the obese have slimmed down significantly and considering the high fat and carbohydrate content of the food that most soup kitchens serve (and I applaud them for doing the best that they can!), I find this new finding somewhat frightening. I myself have observed stick thin individuals, some of whom looked to be on the verge of starvation. Once as I was out walking in the late afternoon, I came across two teenagers behind a bush, sitting on a hidden ledge, having a “snack”, which was actually their dinner.

“Oh, I see you've found yourself a nice little hidey hole!” I said with a smile. Then I commented on the treat the young man was eating: a large packaged honey bun. “Oh...that's not so good for you.” It seemed a poor choice for a meal.

“Yes I know,” he said. “And I'm diabetic. But this is what they gave me to eat for later and it's all I've got.” Neither of them was overweight....even though this was typical of the type of food that they ate.

I was totally appalled. “Oh that's awful! I am so sorry! ” I said, with great shame at my judgement. “I wish I could help you, but I'm on food stamps myself.” I wished them luck, then I moved on.

Over a year ago, when I still had a car and was out running errands, I saw a sign at a church announcing “free food today”. I was struggling to keep above water financially, so I thought, Yes, I should take advantage of this opportunity, and went over to apply. As I waited for the doors to open, more people arrived. They were among the poorest people that I have ever seen. The condition of their clothing and obvious lack was so apparent that I began to feel quite out of place. I began to feel somewhat torn about my presence there, but I kept my place in line. When my number was called and I entered into the privacy of the one room panty, they took one look at my license and announced that, “We only serve people who live right here in this community and you live too far away to be in our area, but since you are here and we want to give you something. However, we can only do this once. We won't be able to help you again as we are a small church with limitations. The people we serve are very poor.”

“I AM very poor,” I protested. How could $715 a month not be very poor? It's thousands a year below poverty level.  But then I noted, “However, I am not homeless.” It was obvious to everyone, including myself, that even though my income was well below the poverty line, that my situation was nowhere near the level of desperation of those standing outside.

By now I felt extremely uncomfortable. I suggested repeatedly that maybe I just shouldn't be taking anything. The extent of neglect of the American people and the extreme situation so many were in, dawned upon my consciousness like the great glare of a police light on someone who has committed a heinous crime....I felt great shame....and greed.

But they insisted that I take something, so I did. I eventually opened one can, but I was unable to eat the rest, so I donated what they had given me to a food drive. Since then I have not applied to take home free food anywhere because there isn't enough food to fill a far greater need than I have. Such is the sad, unnoticed, state of the American people.

That many of the American public assume the so called “greed” of the homeless and poor is a true testament of both their projected fear and ignorance. No one lives this way out of choice. No one.

Todays Lesson: “The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” Mother Teresa

copyright Linda Matthews 10/20/2013

Update:  Shortly after this was written  the State of Florida enacted back-to-back food stamp cuts and I had no choice but to start attending a local soup kitchen to save money.

THE MAN WHO COULD NOT SPEAK

The bus route ends near my home and in doing so, follows a lazy loop, both leaving and rejoining the same street west of the library. To escape the early autumn heat, most people catch the bus regardless of which way it is going. I wondered if it had passed already as I didn't wish to be caught off guard if it stopped on the other side, too far away to catch unawares.

A man stood waiting at the stop on the “going back out” side.

“Has the bus passed yet?” I asked.

He made some hand and arm movements that were hard to interpret.

“It's passed on the other side already?” I asked unsure.

This time his movements were more deliberate....it had not yet arrived. Was he looking at me as I spoke, I wondered?

“Are you deaf,” I queried.

He pointed at his throat.

“You're mute? You can't speak?”

Yes, that was it. Thus began a brief conversation, written upon small crumpled papers, magically produced in an eerie form of prestidigitation. An orange, blunt ended dollar store marker quickly wrote this mans' tale of a series of true life unfortunate events, his gestures punctuating his sentences.

With each question I asked came a sudden exasperated outburst noticeable only by a full body reaction, but totally without sound. We communicated in the only means available to him, each answer written in single, well practiced sentences. The bus passed on it's way out as I asked and he answered.

He did not know how long it had been since he had last worked. He had been a self taught tree surgeon. His voice had been lost while in police custody when someone had punched him in the throat. He had sued but lost. He could not get work now. He had tried to collect aluminum cans for money but this only resulted in his being beaten up and the cans stolen. Someone had tried to kill him recently by hitting him in the head with a bottle. He had no real friends, no one that he could actually trust. He had applied for medicare, but denied once, he did not try again. He had applied for medicaid but gave up after the third try.

I told him about my blog and how I was very determined to try and help people to understand the true story of the poor and homeless. I wished I had had more to offer him than sympathy and advocacy....in those moments my words seemed pitifully small, yet they were all I had to give. I told him I would like to write about his circumstances and was that okay? He said yes. His name was Robert.

The bus came and we got onto it. I saved a spot for him. As we bused the short leg to my stop I inquired, “Do you have family?” He did, but not here. “If they knew where you were, would they help you?” He looked taken aback at this question and paused as if it had never occurred to him. Yes, he seemed to think so. I encouraged him to approach the soup kitchen and see if they could contact someone for him. With that I got up to leave. I hoped he would try to contact his family.

It is impossible to know exactly what any one persons' full story is in the span of a bus ride, but it seemed excruciatingly obvious to me that this man had far exceeded his level of tolerance to his situation. It made me think of the overwhelming intensity of emotion so often associated with Aspergers' Syndrome (a type of high functioning autism). Whether he had such a syndrome or not was moot. He had far exceeded his capacity for what life had given him. Even a totally normal person, in such a position of victimization, trying and failing at every possible option, totally friendless and unable to even cry out when attacked ---let alone tell his story--- would most certainly be rendered broken, and likely permanently so. So reactive had he become, no doubt so fearful and overwhelmed....it seemed impossible to me that he would ever find a job again. Here was a man, who, if nothing else, had been totally disabled by his circumstances.

And all I could do was to write about it.

Todays Lesson: The true alchemists do not change lead into gold; they change the world into words.

William H. Gass, A Temple of Texts

copyright Linda Matthews 10/7/2013

TRANSPORTATION DELAPIDATION

I recently said farewell to my dark green, '99 Ford Taurus, a nice comfortable car with chronic, terminal “health” conditions. It had been on life support for a while. A few months back I'd thought she was a goner, yet like Lazarus, I saw her rise from the dead, (the miracle mostly being that I was able to come up with the $417 repair cost!). Alas tho, her resurrection was short lived, and with a heavy heart I looked to receive the best possible payout for a “junked” vehicle. I thanked the old girl for sticking around as long as she did. “I know I got peeved at you,” I said as I sat in the front seat and baked in the hot Florida sun. I cleaned out my last meager belongings: my St. Christophers Medal, auto papers, maps and and other items. “It's not your fault that you were so poorly designed. You did the best you could,” then I closed the door for the last time. They came and dragged her away and I wondered if she'd be scrapped or fixed and I felt a great deal of empathy for the fate of the car whose faulty construct and tenacity to keep going were so similar to my own.

Afterwards I sat with the overwhelming realization that for the first time since I was 19 my personal transport was gone. Given my health and financial status I realized that I might never have another car again. Having had health problems my entire life, I never worried about getting “older”. I had long known what chronic illness and disability were like, but what appeared as the final loss of personal mobility was a heavy blow...especially at my age.

I'd already started riding the bus some time back (tho sometimes with great difficulty), with it's limited, long winded routes, and for the most part I could reach those destinations most necessary for survival. But what would I do if I had to evacuate, especially with two cats? How would I get to the one bank that didn't charge me a fee? How would I carry large heavy items? How would I get to my club store? Question after question came to mind and little worries began to swirl about inside my head, their black tendrils threatening to take root in my mind.... This isn't such a problem when you know a number of people, or an extended family lives nearby. But the occassional years of isolation from being totally incapacitated, gave me few to call upon and I suddenly was thrust into what must be a common denominator for those seniors who move to be near their kids but leave most everyone they know behind. When you have severe mobility issues or few to rely upon, your trips and visits often are relegated to necessities, and the days of fun and freedom wane like the golden strands on a graying blondes' head, fewer and fewer, their shiny glint ever duller in the sun.

Lost now was the ability to go to the beach and collect sea beans just before the hurricanes rolled in. Lost now were the days of running all my errands at once in a single time and gas saving day, sometimes stopping for a $1 taco or burger as a special treat....maybe even really splurging with a side of beans or fries for another buck or so. So much for going to Barnes and Nobel to check out the books and magazines and (if I'm lucky enough to have the funds) buy a rare gift card during the holidays. No more “days off” where on a rare occasion I'd take a day long vacay (the only vacay I ever get any more) and go from one thrift shop to the next, stopping for a taco and to visit some of the farther away libraries. Some times I'd spend little more than gas money and take my lunch and drink, but it was a rare self given gift to get away and enjoy myself for an entire day that offered the possibility of fun, even if all I had to spend were a few bucks. Then I felt an especially deep pang at the realization that no more would I be able to stop at Twisty Cone on my way home from my out of town doctor and purchase a sugar free ice cream....and it was sooooo gooooood! Tho the opportunity usually presented itself only a few times a years (if I had the money), sometimes I'd even get a small sundae (okay, yes, it wasn't totally sugar free as a sundae: my bad!). I sigh out loud just writing about it. My diet so restricted...but that was one thing I really loved that I could occasionally get away with. In that moment it seemed even farther, even more difficult to get to, I wondered if I'd ever go again.

I sigh again as I write this. The realization of the depth of my loss took it's toll for a little while. Then, like everything else in a “less than” life, I accepted it and moved on.

Todays Lesson: “Happiness can exist only in acceptance.” George Orwell

copyright Linda Matthews 9/22/2013

Update:  I was the lucky recipient of a "pay when I can" loan just before the government shutdown.  The timing was indeed fortuitous as I finally found just what I'd been looking for:  a 1993 Geo Metro with 109,000 miles (half from being towed behind a winnebago) for $2500.  I was the first caller right after posting, but for a much sought after vehicle that receives up to 47 mpg highway, it was quite strange that no one else inquired about it...that is until the government came back to life.  Bids came as high as $5000 but I'd been told that as first call I had dibs and am now a happy camper!