there used to be a few, but they've either lost funding or are no longer taking new people. There are low cost clinics, but in order to get low cost you have to have proof of income, which I don't have.

I've looked into a lot of things here, but those are the 3 issues I'm faced with every time I inquire. I'm always hearing about programs, but none of these programs seem to exist anymore or are so flawed they aren't much use to anyone. Half the time they don't answer the phone or the number is no longer in service. It's pretty messed up. Those who are on medicaid seem to do fine, but it's next to impossible to get on it here. The income limit is $700, when that's the usual rent for a room in an apartment or boarding house in NYC! Most people who are on it here got on it years ago or admitted themselves to the psych ward to get it. I've been tempted a lot to do the same, but I've been there and I didn't like it much and my luck is that tactic doesn't even work anymore.

I'm going to try to at least get on the HMO and just be as hard assed as I can about getting adequate care and stop letting them put me off. It'll take a few months, though. I realized I should apply for food stamps, that would help my finances a lot and I do know I'm qualified for that. I just need to renew my ID to get things started.

Business ideas... well, the one I want to do on my own is a boutique site for gals who like classy and pin-up styles, but have a tight budget (like most of my female friends). There really isn't anything like that around yet. I could manage it fairly cheap too because I can do my own photography, I can get my friends to model, I can build the site myself... the hardest part is coming up with the cash for the products to sell and to trademark the name.

I also have a lot of ideas of things I'd like to make to sell on etsy and at local events: like burlesque gear, journals and things with my photos and prints on them. I also really want to put together a book and have it published (not really for money, I just want to... there are indie publishing sites to do it cheap).