I've stopped picking on Michelle Singletary.

She does occasionally write a good column, even if her chats make me want to tear my hair out.

But that doesn't mean I won't hat-tip when someone else does it really well.

Well done, Stacy.

And the gyre just keeps widening.

Sallie Mae Forced Out CEO.

The continuing bad press regarding improper subsidies, anti-competitive preferred lender agreements, and everything else involved with the FFEL lenders presumably has Sallie Mae and others running scared.

When I get out of this crazy work cycle, I am going to try and do a timeline of the investigation since February.

And ye shall receive.

As I've mentioned a few times, I am fond of the local second-run movie theater (which also has bar and menu service).

Yesterday, I asked my friend L. if she'd be interested in catching Breach (which I found slow and deliberate, but very well done).

Since it was a Sunday afternoon, and therefore a "full price" day (which is still $4-$5 less than other theaters), the show was lightly attended. So we received fairly fast service from the staff, and they returned with our drinks a few minutes after the movie started.

This was enough for me to realize that the print was bad. Scratches down the left side of the screen made it look like every picture had been etched. So when our drinks arrived:

HC: Can you ask the projectionist about the print?
Server: It's just a bad print. We're asking for a replacement but we haven't gotten it yet.
HC: So there's nothing you can do about it?
Server: No.
HC: Well, is there anything you can do for us?
Server: I'll get the manager.
HC: That's all right. I'll just come by after the show.

I didn't expect to do anything more about it until then. However, the server shortly came back with our food. He dropped off two free passes that are good through December! I would have been satisfied if they'd just knocked a dollar off the ticket price, but I certainly wasn't going to object to a free pass.

It never hurts to ask.

Meds, Part II.

In February, I avoided paying for my recurring prescription due to an error in my favor.

This past week, I certainly made up for it.

I'd started feeling some ear pain the weekend before, and paid a visit to the (freely available) nurse-practicioner at work to have her check my ears. She recommended that I get an appointment, and my own physician's team confirmed the ear infection.

A $30 copay and nearly $70 in prescriptions later, I was on my way.

With just a few days to go on the antibiotics, I'm feeling better.

But THIS is why I have a flex spending account.

April/May Net Worth

Personal Items

Unchanged. As these are a steadily decreasing portion of my assets, I'm spending less and less time tinkering with them. When I get to a net worth of zero, I'll probably be more careful with their valuation.

Cash and Cash Equivalent

Pretty much all my checking is allocated already, but it's nice to have the funds in hand before being paid next week.

I swept some of my overdraft savings to my "true" emergency fund this week, since I'm over my $500 threshold. I really like the same-day credit at E*Trade.

Investments

Whoosh, DJIA. Whoosh, funds.

Loan Balances

As always, I keep making my scheduled payments on these loans. My PLUS-style loan will be paid off in a few months, which is very exciting.

Other Debt

I know that looks REALLY bad, but I have the funds in checking to pay my outstanding balances for the month, and am being reimbursed for a purchase I made on my dad's behalf. The "new balance" isn't out of line either. Still, I didn't really need that $40 dinner the other week. (But mmm, crab fritters and pomegranate martinis.)

The Month Ahead

I will be holing up for work projects, which means less time for fun and therefore less spending. I think. We shall see.

On a side note, I know this makes me terribly lazy, but Trader Joe's frozen jasmine rice makes me so much more likely to do rice dishes than the 40-minute version.