girlofprey

So I called the Jobcentre yesterday. Again, it was one of those conversations where I didn't understand everything the guy was saying and I hoped he would explain it before the conversation was through, but he didn't. But he seemed genuinely perplexed by the idea that the Jobcentre would appeal the Tribunal's decision, because it doesn't happen very often - which I knew, but still. He kept saying he didn't know why "they'd done that", and I couldn't tell if he meant why the reasons for the Tribunal's decision were requested or why the court told me they'd been requested - it seemed like he meant the latter, but the letter was just a courtesy thing, as far as I could tell. I was mostly freaked out because the last time I won an appeal (so much experience now), I didn't get a letter saying anyone had requested the reasons for it, as I recall. So it seemed like a ~special case~. But it probably wasn't. In any case, the guy said there was no note on my records saying the Jobcentre was planning to appeal, he said they were working on paying me my arrears, and that my case wouldn't be treated any differently from anyone else's. Like I said, I still don't entirely trust the Jobcentre, but that's about as fair as anyone can say about it for now, so I'm happy with it.

I'm nearly done with Saints Row IV now. I've been super-enjoying it, but I also don't really see where the story can go from here, if it all plays out as I'm assuming it will. Maybe back into the past. Into fantasy world. They can fight Cthulhu. But then this game has been quite retrospective, which is sometimes a sign that a series is coming to a close. But I'm sure that'll depend on how much money they make from it. Anyway, I really like it, even if it's not really like Saints Row 2 anymore. And I'm sure my tendency to ship badass protagonists with their enemies will abate any day now. Although Dane Vogel is still her truest love obv.

I also found a Saints Row Kink Meme on Livejournal, which was great, except that it doesn't have a single entry on it. By which I mean, not even a post saying "Yo put your prompts here!". It's like the saddest thing I've ever seen. EXCEPT NO because I've been getting into Olan Rogers lately (dude from the video the other day) and today I caught up with some of his 'updates' from a couple of years ago, and - as I suspected and feared - it was about him moving away from his home state so he could have any kind of career in video work, and he was crying because he'd had to leave all his best friends behind. Including Reid. REID. The other dude from the video the other day. Oh Olan. Get rich and buy a big house so he can come live with you.

( Saints Row IV and 2 blather )

Also, today my YN officially started calling me something along the lines of "Rachael". It sounds more like "Wey-dul", and he only calls me it when shouting up the stairs for me. But it's better than "daddy", or nothing. Woo-hoo!

On a less pleasant note, I also got a letter today from the Tribunal service, saying that a request had been made to see the reasons my appeal was allowed, and they were enclosing a copy for me as well. Which sounds like the Jobcentre are "double-checking" whether I really do deserve the ESA I was awarded at my appeal. Apparently the Jobcentre can overturn or refuse a Tribunal's decision, or appeal against it or something, but I'm assuming they don't do that very often or else there wouldn't be much point having an appeals system. If they were just going to say "no" anyway. So it's probably fine. Still makes me nervous though. Wankers.

( Benefits and mental health stuff )

I've been feeling really wiped out and weird over the past few days, and I don't know if it's because of the stress over the appeal, being on my period, or what. I'm feeling in a sort of a fannish limbo as well, because all my shows - or my show, rather - has finished, and obviously Bioshock fandom ended up being a bit of a letdown, after putting off reading half of it for a bit. I'm still feeling weirdly dissatisfied with Bioshock, anyway, and Dishonored, and I can't tell if it's because I genuinely found their endings sort of empty, or because I want to play through again as a baddy to get the other endings, and feel like I'm really done with the canon. Hmm. I'm not playing either. I'm playing Portal 2. GLaDOS is mean.

What I really feel like doing is watching all of old Dallas. I'm not entirely convinced I would be able to do that, however, or to do it in a timely fashion.

Also, it's pre-Christmas, and my mum has started asking me what I want already. And I have genuinely no idea, nor is anything coming to me. Which is a little weird. Last year I just had 3 things I wanted, but I genuinely wanted them, you know? Although last year was pretty easy, because Skyrim was coming out. But this year, nothing really. I mean, there's things I want, but I don't know how mum or dad would react to me being all "Get me 2 cushions from Jon Burgerman". The only thing I can think of is an XBox, just because it's a big thing, but I only really want that so I can play a couple of XBox exclusive games, and possibly some other XBox exclusive games in the future, but I could get those for the PC most of the time. And we'd need to find somewhere to put it. I still haven't plugged in or tested out the Playstation 2 I bought a few months ago. Hmph. Well, I'm sure something will come to me.

I've got my first counselling appointment with my new counsellor tomorrow, which I'm hoping will do something for my mental state, and coping with the appeal and all. Or in the next few weeks, anyway, after we've settled in. I hope I get along with her, as well as I did with my old counsellor. Fingers crossed.