And while last week’s strip referenced Law and Order, it is in reality this week’s strip that is “ripped from the headlines”.

Of my own life.

Yeah, my health insurance (via COBRA) got canceled. Apparently, my old company changed COBRA administrators, meaning that the automatic debit I had set up with the old administrator didn’t carry over. The new folks claim that they mailed me a packet of information about the change.

I never received said packet.

The new folks said I should have noticed that I wasn’t being charged by checking my bank statement. Have you ever tried to look for something that isn’t there? The whole reason we did automatic debit was so that I wouldn’t have to monitor this bill like a hawk.

The only notification I got was a notice stating that my account is two months past due, meaning that not only has my coverage been canceled (retroactively to two months ago), but since I’m outside the 30-day grace period window, there’s no chance of me getting it back.

Hasn’t been the greatest of weeks.

To be fair, at least the Republicans have a duck. The Democrats have…the guys from Doonesbury? Wait, I know! A penguin: Opus from Bloom County! …Wait, that strip ended a while back didn’t it? And then it ended again. And still again just a year or two back, now.

Oh, wait. There’s Tom Tomorrow. That strip’s got…a Geordi LaForge visor-wearing…penguin. Why penguins? Is there some sort of genetic connection between penguins and donkeys?

…I really hope not. (shudder)

New guy was intended to be just a one-shot dude for last week, but his effect on Jane seems to have captured a bit of my imagination. Except for the part where he gets a name; haven’t figured that much out yet. We’ll see how much longer he sticks around…

Guaranteed mad cow disease-free by the Eponymous Neaner!