1. “Anchor of My Soul” — Josh Garrels | Mmm, good.
2. “Pretend You’re Alive” — Lovedrug | I’m a sucker for a strong melody.
3. “Silas the Magic Car” — Mew | Totally weird. Totally awesome. And sad. I like sad songs.
4. “Use Me Up” — Hanson | I’ve been listening to the acoustic version, but this one’s good too.
5. “Transatlanticism” — Death Cab for Cutie | Another sad song FTW.
There’s this trend with teenagers right now that I don’t like. They can’t answer questions without their parents’ help. Now, I’m not talking, How do you plan to pay for college? or What special accommodations might you need?
I’m talking, What do you like to do for fun?
Come on, guys. You can answer that question on your own. It’s the easiest one in the book– and there’s not even a wrong answer! The only wrong answer is you not having enough boldness and social grace to speak up and share your opinion!
I think that all teenagers should go to college visits prepared with the following:
* Three (or more!) specific questions they have about the school
* A list of other schools they are interested in
* A short list of what they are looking for in a college (big/small, public/private, certain majors, urban/suburban, etc.)
* What they are involved with (at school, home, church, community)
* What things they enjoy (sports, movies, reading, writing, shopping, art)
Interestingly, most of these questions should be easy to answer and shouldn’t require forethought or planning.
You want your college recruiter on your side– especially when it comes to admittance and scholarships! Put your best foot forward and be ready to answer the most basic of questions. Remember: you’re not just checking out my school. I am also evaluating your fit with our community!
Prospective students and parents, take note!
Okay, so this is not quite how I pictured Sean of The Scorpio Races,
but the intense stare in this pic works for me! *swoon*
Can you tell how much I loved this book?
Go read The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater!
My review is here.
10. City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare | Wound up tight for the final book in this series!
9. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi | Oh Perry.
8. The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness | Reviewed this series here!
7. Anne of the Island by Lucy Montgomery | Oh Gilbert.
6. Fire by Kristin Cashore | Oh Brigan.
5. Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli | Such a difficult book for which to create a satisfying conclusions– but Spinelli pulls it off!
4. Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta | After reading Finnikin of the Rock, you just can’t possibly imagine that you could grow to love Froi. And then you read this book.
3. Prisoner of Azkaban by Jo Rowling | I love books like puzzles! This is where the Potter books really started getting great.
2. The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta | It is just unbelievably satisfying to see how the Saving Francesca gang has grown and changed!
1. The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis | The best of the best!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme over at The Broke and the Bookish.
Molly Clarke is a writer for the Social Security Disability Help blog, and she approached me about writing an article for my readers who are suffering from severe anxiety disorders that prevent them from working. Knowing how difficult the application process can be, Molly offered her expertise, which you can read below.
Thanks, Molly!
JLS
Anxiety Disorders and Social Security Disability Benefits
Although people tend to think of the term “disability” as a physical impairment, mental and emotional disorders can be just as debilitating. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in four Americans suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder.
Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent of these mental health conditions and can affect a person in a variety of ways. While some individuals with anxiety disorders can live and function normally, others are severely limited by their condition.
If you have an anxiety disorder that prevents you from working and earning a living, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Disability benefits can be used to offset lost income, day-to-day expenses, and even medical costs. The following article will provide you with a general understanding of Social Security Disability and will prepare you to begin the disability benefit application process.
SSDI and SSI Technical Eligibility Requirements
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers two separate types of disability benefits—Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Each program offers benefits to different groups of people and each has different technical eligibility requirements.
SSDI benefits are intended to assist disabled workers and their families. Because SSDI is funded by Social Security Disability taxes, eligibility for this program is dependent on applicants’ employment history and previous tax contributions. In many circumstances, applicants are required to have worked and paid taxes for five of the past ten years. However, this changes depending on a person’s age at the time they become disabled. For more information regarding SSDI technical eligibility, click here: http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/ssdi/qualify-for-ssdi.
SSI, on the other hand, is offered to disabled individuals of all ages who earn very little income. Eligibility for SSI is based solely on strict financial limitations put in place by the SSA. SSI benefits are typically the best option for young adults as there are no work history requirements for this program. For more information regarding SSI technical eligibility, visit the following page: http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/ssi/qualify-for-ssi.
Medical Eligibility Requirements
In addition to meeting the Social Security Disability technical requirements, applicants must also meet specific medical requirements. These requirements are published in the SSA’s official manual of disabling conditions—commonly referred to as the blue book. The blue book contains information and medical criteria for many potentially disabling conditions.
Anxiety disorders are covered under section 12.06 of the SSA’s blue book. To qualify under this listing, applicants must provide medical proof that they experience the following symptoms:
It is important to note that experiencing the previously mentioned symptoms will not be enough to qualify a person for disability benefits. To qualify for disability benefits, an applicant must experience these symptoms to such an extent that they render the person unable to function in a work setting.
To view this complete blue book listing, visit the following page: http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/12.00-MentalDisorders-Adult.htm#12_06
Social Security Disability Application Process
If you meet the technical and medical requirements for Social Security Disability benefits, you can begin the application process online or in person at your local Social Security office. Before doing so, it is in your best interest to collect all required medical and non-medical documents. You can access a list of all required documents on the SSA’s Adult Disability Checklist. (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/Documents/Checklist%20-%20Adult.pdf)
As previously mentioned, once you are ready to apply for benefits, you can completely the application on the SSA’s website or schedule an appointment to complete the application in person at your local Social Security office.
The actual application for benefits consists of several different forms. It is important that you take your time completing these. Provide as much detail as possible when answering questions or submitting information. Doing so will give the SSA insight into how your condition affects your daily life and will prevent delays in the processing of your claim.
Receiving a Decision
After you have submitted your application for disability benefits, it may take several months to receive a decision. While you wait, it is important that you continue with any prescribed medical treatments. You should also save any new or updated medical records that you receive during this time period. Doing so will help you during the appeals process in the event that your claim is denied.
If your application is in fact denied, you will have 60 days in which to appeal this decision. Initially, facing the appeal process may be overwhelming and confusing. However it is important to note that many more applicants are approved during the appeals processes than during the initial application. For this reason, it is important that you do not give up and remain persistent in your efforts.
For more information about Social Security Disability benefits and anxiety disorders, visit Social Security Disability Help (http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/disabling-conditions/anxiety-disorders-and-social-security-disability) or contact Molly Clarke at mac@ssd-help.org.
Kelley over at Another Novel Read recently posted this fun bookish survey, and I thought it was a lot of fun, so I’m doing it too!
GREED – What is your most expensive book? Your least expensive?
My most expensive book was probably This is Shyness by Leanne Hall. Story behind that: I was fascinated by the reviews (each one said something akin to “I … don’t know … what I just … read … but I think I liked it!”) and decided to buy it– but it wasn’t available anywhere in the US! Finally I found it through Fishpond (yay for free shipping), but I still paid more for it than I usually would. My reaction to This is Shyness? “I don’t know what I just read … but I liked it!”
I also bought Narnia on audio– twice. Not cheap.
Cheapest book? All the books I get free through my Barnes & Noble Mastercard rewards!
WRATH – Which author do you have a love-hate relationship with?
Interesting question. I don’t know that “love-hate” is the right way to describe it, but I am delighted to say that even though I didn’t love Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, I adored The Scorpio Races!
GLUTTONY – What book have you deliciously devoured over and over with no shame whatsoever?
The Chronicles of Narnia are my biggest intake, for sure! But also Jellicoe Road and Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta.
SLOTH – book have you neglected to read due to laziness?
Code Name Verity. I am not generally the biggest fan of historical fiction, so I keep pushing this one off to the side, in spite of one hundred billion rave reviews.
PRIDE – What book do you most talk about in order to sound like a very intellectual reader?
Probably East of Eden by John Steinbeck– but, truthfully, there is a lot of meat there to chew!
LUST – What attributes do you find most attractive in male or female characters?
Sense of humor (Augustus Waters), protectiveness (Jonah Griggs), intelligence (Will Trombal), passion (Joe Fontaine)
ENVY – What books would you most like to receive as a gift?
ALL THE BOOKS. 😉 It’s fun when I mention a book in passing to someone and they remember it and purchase it for me. Means a lot. The last person to do that was Des’s husband Matt. It was super special that he bought me a stack of books I had talked about in the office (we work together).
And no, for an obsessive-compulsive, it’s not pretty.
Related posts:
When Thinking Hurts
OCD Torture
A Metaphor for Obsessive-Compulsives
1. To honor God.
2. To respect myself as a writer.
3. To tell the story that I want to tell.
4. To write books of depth that make people think.
5. To be proud of what I write.
There’s so much more to be said about each of these, but for today, I just wanted to make this declaration.
Random 5 Friday is a weekly meme over at A Rural Journal.
My friend Anna over at Living the Story shared a painful experience in her OCD journey. She writes, “If you are a Christian and you have a mental illness, particularly OCD, your mental health and spirituality are probably all twisted up.” It’s SO true.
Look at that cover, would you? It has a horse on it. And the word Races. Those are two reasons why it’s taken me so freakin’ long to read The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.
My friends, I was wrong– so very wrong— to have waited.
The Scorpio Races was absolutely incredible.
Even now, as I write a little summary, it doesn’t sound like something I would enjoy: a boy/man named Sean (he seems so much older than 19!) and a girl named Puck plan to participate in the Scorpio Races, a brutal race each November in which people die because of the bloodthirsty capaill uisce (mythical water horses) that are involved.
Horses. Racing. Bloodthirsty mythical beasts.
And yet, this book was SEXY.
It reminded me all over again of why I had such a giant crush on Jim Craig from The Man from Snowy River. Competency is so hot.
I had thought, going into the book, that the Scorpio Races would be this prolonged adventure (like the Hunger Games, I guess [though I haven’t read those]), but the race only covers a small spread of chapters. So I think that made me feel like the beginning was slow. But once I realized that I’d misjudged the premise, I fell in love with this book.
The writing is INCREDIBLE, and there is this dark savagery to the story. The characters are layered and don’t fall into stereotypes. The scenes are beautiful and intense. The story is laced with religion and myths and lots and lots of blood. The story is, as I said, sexy but in a beautiful, sensual way (not in a dirty or erotic way). It’s hard to explain. You’ll understand when you read it.
Because you WILL read it. I require that you read it. 🙂
This book feels important to me and the next story I want to tell, just in the same way that The Fault in Our Stars was of critical import to Truest. I want to go back and re-read so much of this book, and I just finished it.
P.S. Sean Kendrick is totally my new literary boyfriend. He has one foot on the land and one in the sea.
“Sean reaches out between us and takes my wrist. He presses his thumb on my pulse. My heartbeat trips and surges against his skin. I’m pinned by his touch, a sort of fearful magic. We stand and stand, and I wait for my pulse against his finger to slow, but it doesn’t. Finally, he releases my wrist and says, ‘I’ll see you on the cliffs tomorrow.'”
“Sean, as always, gets by on one word while everyone else needs five or six.”
“Sean does that slow sweep of his eyes that he does, the one that goes from my head to my toes and back again and makes me feel that he’s scanning the depths of my soul and teasing out my motivations and sins. It’s worse than confession with Father Mooneyham.”
JACKIE LEA SOMMERS 