Michelle - I have a caseworker assigned to me from the shelter. She doesn't do much though. Either lazy or overworked, I guess.

Of course, all I want is a handout. That's what all poor people want, isn't it? That's why I'm trying to arrange loans and have budgeted for minimum payments and am writing scholarship essays and preparing for a jobsearch for December when I'll be healthy enough, rather than begging for cash. *rollseyes* You're beginning to sound like a troll, lol.

(I won't deny that I do want attention though, hehehe. A little bit of a cheering section is really helpful when you're going through a difficult process.)

Look, Michelle, I do recognize that in a lot of cases you know what you're talking about. I would appreciate it if you made it more obvious that you recognize that I am doing the best I can with the resources I have available, rather than just criticizing. (If you actually think that, of course.)

mg - I will email and PM important details.

Everyone (and I do mean everyone) - thank you for your support and your suggestions of how to get cheap books and such. We now have a very temporary loan, which will cover first and last and get us set up with the cheapest possible books and equipment for school. That will have to be repaid as soon as OSAP arrives.

I will have to find a way to cover the shortfall in the worst case. Not going to give up (even though I felt like it after talking to the banks). This is the closest we've come to a workable solution, and it's worth going for.