Peacefull Passing

And I hope everyone else involved find peace as well. I would also like to say Thank You to Terri, for waking us all up, so we all go out and get Living Wills so that our families never split apart this way.
~~~~~~~

It's been a rough week at my little office, my co-worker lost a brother on Friday, so she was out until yesterday, which left me to try to do what two of us normally do, and which if I had been here at least another week befor it happened I would have had a better grasp of the things needing to be done - but I did it, all of it, including the luncheon which unbeknost to me - is mine and Beths job to do. It didn't use to be that way, but it slowly got pushed off onto the 4 shoulders of the data entry personell because they just didn't have enough to do... *cough*. But I did it, by grabbing some of these guys who planned to eat without contributing and putting them to work. LOL They were surprised, but they helped and they thanked me afterwards.

Next Wednesday we're invited to attend a huge spring kick-off bar-b-q down at the waterfront at 4, so we get paid to attened a dinner - cool. I like it.

Tonight the family is going out to dinner in celebration of my mom's 65th birthday - she is now officially a senior citizen - she needs one of those t-shirts that says "Wheres my damn discount?!"

Tata

It's not just a gay thing & other things

Sorry Sam, but I am still unable to post to your site so I'll say it here... I went on my own shopping spree last week and it sure as hell made me feel great too! I needed the clothes anyway though. Sorry you had a crappy day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Why is the Michael Jackson trial front page news? There is so much more important shit going on every day and yet he's still at the top of most of the news feeds. It's old, I'm tired of hearing about another accusation year after year. I think he's a bit of a freak, but at the same time, I don't think he's molested any of them, I think the parents wanted money.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm a sucker for music of the 60's, especially Viet Nam war & protest tunes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We're having a birthday luncheon tomorrow, they do it once a month to celebrate everyone's birthday from that month. I like the job, but one thing I've noticed is that most of the sales agents don't do squat except show the clients the property. Thier assistants do all the prelim work, calls, getting folks interested in comming out to view the place. Us in data entry do all the writing, etc... and the agents make all the money. Go figure.

The Legacy of Terri Schiavo

MSNBC - The Legacy of Terri Schiavo: "Doctors blame her eating disorder for the tragedy that befell her in the early hours of Feb. 25, 1990. Awakened by a thud, Michael found Terri, then 26, lying in the hallway, making a gurgling sound. She had suffered cardiac arrest, probably provoked by bulimic purging that generated a severe potassium deficiency."

Well, there's the story - first time I've heard/read the whole thing.

Lillie Hitchcock Coit (1842-1929)

The lady who loved firemen and had a tower built that resembles the nozzle of a firehose (though some of us from the area think it also REPRESENTS the true part of a fireman she loved...): "'So much dedication has gone into the building of SF itself in a little more than a century of time that the city's tolerance of the 'oddball' is to be taken straightforwardly as a matter of course. It is 'bad form' in SF to hold a person's opinion, and usually even his behaviour against him.' "

I think that sums up how most Californians feel - at least Northern ones. I never realized how much that kind of an upbringing by people around me, molded the way I am today. I enjoy people who are slightly quirky or different, because I feel so normal. They make me feel like I'm not so invisible when they're around. And they show me sides of a view I hadn't thought to look at before. OR... hmm... here's a thought - maybe I'm one of the slightly quirky and different.

hrmm

cherry blossom

cherry blossom
Originally uploaded by Danny..

This is what it's looking like around here these days. Isn't it beautiful?

Random Thoughts

It's a rainy Easter day, and lucky for me, I thought ahead and rented 5 movies for the weekend. Ladder 49 is currently playing for the 2nd time because my mom wants to see it and missed it the first time around. If there is a movie out about firefighting, you can bet we watch it because of the pyro we have living here :D All firemen have to be a bit of a pyro, to appreciate the nature of the enemy they fight. I'm the oposite, the only things that goes through my head when I see flames are: Ooo painful, or Hmmm bar-b-q tonight? I may have a recesive male gene or something that causes me to react the way cave men probably did "I made fire - Cook my food!" *grunt*

~~~~~~~

Easter and retale or is it retail?

Something I have always found a bit weird in the 15 years I've lived in the south is the way they go hog wild for easter... and not in the christian way. They act like it's Christmas. They buy toys for each child, and I mean BIG toys like swing sets or swimming pools, or trampolines, or bikes. Then they get baskets for each child and fill them full of all the junk they can find (Ok I always did the basket thing too - but not the big huge gifts) and they buy all new spring wardrobes and generally act as though this was a major holiday for gift giving rather than what it really is. I just don't get it.

~~~~~~~

All the sunflowers I planted last weekend are breaking through the ground today through the rain. Yesterday, I planted some other plants and J and I went to the Southport Arts and Crafts festival and I bought some herbs and a cute pink flamingo made of metal and clay for my mom (her b-day is tomorrow) and I love artistic yard sculptures, I'll take a picture of it so ya'all can see it. Everyone needs at least one pink flamingo for their yard if ya live down south. *eg*

~~~~~~~

I have a weeks worth of laundry to do and most of it is linen so that means allot of ironing, although I am thinking of changing the style and making wrinkled linen popular. whatchya think?

CDT POLICY POST Volume 11, Number 7, March 22, 2005 (OK So I'm late!)

A BRIEFING ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING CIVIL LIBERTIES ONLINE from THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY

(1) Utah Enacts Internet Blocking Law Similar to Pennsylvania Law Overturned in 2004
(2) Vast Numbers of Innocent Sites Likely to Be Censored
(3) Court Challenge to Utah Law Likely

On Monday, March 21, 2005, the Governor of Utah signed into law House Bill 260, passed by the Utah legislature early in March in the face of strong criticism of the bill as unconstitutional. The Center for Democracy & Technology had written to legislative leaders and Governor Jon Huntsman warning that the legislation was unconstitutional and unwise because it would likely reduce the Internet access choices available to Utah citizens. CDT predicted that the law was likely to be overturned in a court challenge.

For more info go to the above link.

Celtic Pantheonic Pagan

Since I am sick and tired of reading & hearing about Terry S, (Scuse me but I just think this should have been kept between the family members and I think it's really not our business - BUT the good thing is it is making MANY others do a living will) I skipped all of that on other sites and found this little quiz somewhere down the track at Autumnalfire's blog site and had to take it, then decided I'd share it too since I'm too tired to actually do a thought provoking blog at this time - and then I woke up. ;D I doubt I ever make anyone besides myself sit down and think something over.

Take the quiz yourself. The damn things can be addictive.

You scored as Celtic Pantheonic Pagan. Your answers leaned very close to that of the Celtic Pantheon. Very popular now among pagans, the Celtic Gods seem to draw those who are sensitive and insightful, but also very passionate about their beliefs. Many Pagan Holidays are named for this pantheon and here is where you'll find many stories on Horned God, Green Man, and Druids. You likely either have been or want to visit Stonehenge one day. Many Arthurian legnds include references to the Celtic faith, as well. Celtic Pantheonic Pagan 80% Shamanic Pagan 75% Zoroastrian Pagan 60% Roman Pantheonic Pagan 50% Ecclectic Pagan 50% Sumerian, Babylonian, and Mesopotamian Pagans 40% Eastern Pagan 35% Kabbalistic Pagan 35% Egyptian Pantheonic Pagan 35% Norse Pantheonic Pagan (Asatru) 35% Greek Pantheonic Pagan 25% Catholic (Pagan?) 20% What kind of Pagan are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Working Girl

If I thought I was going to loose weight working here due to the fact my office is on the 2nd floor and I have to run copies and other work to other people up and down the stairs not to mention stepping out to have a smoke cannot be done from the balcony of my office but must be done from downstairs and outside... well I thought wrong.

These folks feed us if it rains, if its a great spring day, because its Easter on Sunday, or because they just felt like it.

Today it was raining pretty hard - seen an accident actually and had to call 911, car pulled out in front of an oncoming doing 55 or better. Idiot, but anyway, so it's raining pretty bad and one of management called up and said "don't bother going out for lunch, we're ordering pizza due to the weather." 6 pizzas arrive along with 4 dozen mini cupcakes.

So much for weight loss!

River Brathay above Skelwith Force waterfall

Lakes2004_3148L
Originally uploaded by Ennor.

Don't you wish they'd say what country some of the photos are taken in? I mean goodness I've never heard of River Brathay or Skelwith Force waterfall though I admit it sounds either english or scottish.

Good Morning

battle! #2/3
Originally uploaded by ishiguro.

Good morning Good morning it's a lovely morning, Good morning Good morning to you!

Lunchtime @ Work

Woohoo I hit the bigtime! A job that actually allows me to blog, e-mail and surf from work! I always wanted to be able to do that! All through college I envied my fellow students who were able too, and I never got too and I was the eldest of the group - you'da thought I'd be able to get away with far more, but not until now!

And I got nuthin to say. LOL
I'm gonna go read my book till it's time to get back to work.

Drop Bush Not Bombs

03190511
Originally uploaded by shytown.

I like his bumper sticker - but mine Are better...

"Religious Groups Should Stay Out Of Politics Or Be Taxed!"

And

"I want to be just like Barbie - That bitch has everything!"

Congress reaches deal in Schiavo legal battle

But should congress?

Up until the Schiavo case, congress and the rest of the world stayed out of these issues allowing families to do their battles locally in the courts and as privately as possible. But, because the parents aren't getting their way they took it to the media and of course the husband looks like the bad guy. I've read all the stuff everyone on the parents side has asked us to read, and I don't think I'm hard hearted, I just think we give a better ending to our pets than we do to a human who is no longer like themselves.

I don't like the idea of starving her to death and maybe that's where everyone gets upset. So why aren't we doing something about that instead of fighting the husband on the right to allow Terri to die? One thing I realized when reading all the stuff about Terri, her parents are great at propaganda. If they can't win one way, they'll win another way, but they won't give up. Her mother even refers to Terri as her little girl, when in fact the woman is 41. But technically... she's about as intelligent as a newborn baby. I'm sure we all want to live our lives out like that don't we?

I guess my over all gripe is that the courts have no business being involved in this. IF they want to change the rules all of a sudden, then by god do it without it being directly involved to a case being fought with the media on one side. I'm really tired of this Government dictating to us how to live. And have you noticed we're always shown a photo of Terri smiling, it's the same photo over and over again from 2001.

It would be easy to pass her care onto her parents, since we think her husband doesn't want it and how easy it would be for him to do so. He has to hear how he only wants the death insurance. How can anyone even believe there is anything left after 13 years? IF there is a life insurance, it most likely would not even begin to cover the amount of money it has taken to keep here alive - lying there, girgling like an idiot. Surely it's not so much money that any of us would risk being thought of as uncaring, evil and a number of other bad personality quirks by the entire world.

But all of that aside, if we passed Terri to her parents who are we really thinking of? Not Terri. Congress isn't thinking of Terri, they're thinking of what their constituents want. The parents aren't thinking of Terri, their thinking of their own loss if she dies. I'm not even sure Terri's husband is thinking completely of Terri, I think maybe it's now about winning rather than what's best for Terri. If anyone really gave a damn about Terri, they would put her to sleep as peacefully as we put our pets to sleep.

How it went

Well, I arrived and was shown around and seena bunch of cubicles which made me think of that funny commercial where that guy sees prairie dogs popping their heads up and down - yeah anyway, so I figured that's where I'd be sitting. Then my new boss came out and was telling me how she was glad I was there etc and as she walked and talked tshe steared me onto a desk beside her office inside another office I share with 2 other women so no cubicle for me.

Anyway all I did all day was enter data. ALL DAY. But I was assured it would differ from day to day. Ahuh. Ok, so on the positives - I will learn to run an outer office - phone, fax, print, file, date, and chain of comands. THEN... I can be more sure of myself when applying for better paying positions.

Yeah

I'm on my way

Today is it. 1st day on the job and I'm VERY nervous. I'm glad to only work one day this week, gives me a chance to see how everything is done, meet folks, kind of settle in and then I have the weekend to get used to it all before I REALLY dig in.

Wish me luck and I'll fill in what happens later this evening.
Ta ta!

Girl Fight - The marginalized debate over female opinion writers. By Dahlia Lithwick

Really, what's all the fuss?

I find it funny that for one thing, these highly intelligent women need approval from men in the same line of work. We're 2 different species and it doesn't take a genius to figure that out. Most women do not like confrontations just as one of them mentioned. Some do - let them be in the line of fire then, what's the big deal? Seriously, what is it that I'm missing? They don't really think we're like men do they? Of course the men aren't addressing this, they'd be afraid they'd loose their heads if they did. Do you blame them? It's like the subject of equal rights. There is no such thing. You can be black in this country and start an all black magazine and call it Ebony and it's ok. But don't start an all white one and call it Ivory, you'll be accused of racism. You can have an all black college here, but you may not have an all white one. What about the Hispanics? When do they get their college?

*Sigh* So much inequality - of course the men aren't addressing the issue ladies.

"And so a clutch of women are left on the pink margins of the page, to wring our hands and, well, discuss among ourselves. The subtext will thus remain that anyone choosing to speak out on this is somehow hysterical or overemotional; that this is not a "serious" problem since serious people (i.e., men) aren't addressing it. All of which practically guarantees that nothing will be done about defining, measuring, or redressing the issue in the long term. Claims that no man wants to step on the landmine of political correctness, gender stereotyping, and identity politics should not justify bowing out of the conversation. Maureen Dowd, Deborah Tannen, and Anne Applebaum are smart, serious people. They have taken the time to initiate a conversation. They deserve serious responses from men and women alike."

Oh - and no hate mail folks. I'm not a racist, I'm a realist!

ThinkGeek :: The Cubes� - Cubicle Playsets

These are great! I seen them and thought of you Ethne - might save you from more quizes! LOL

Boredom is Evil!

Thanks Ethne! I was bored & boredom is the enemy!

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

That's kinda cool - I'm part of the mob, don't fuck with me!

BUT THIS?!

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I'm floored! Now I have to live up to this!

Two Smart Women Jokes

A Bottle of Wine

Sally was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road.

As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride. With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car. Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman. The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail, until she noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Sally. "What's in the bag?" asked the old woman.

Sally looked down at the brown bag and said, "It's a bottle of wine. I got it for my husband."

The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two. Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, she said, "Good trade."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Afghanistan

Barbara Walters of 20/20 (USA-ABC Television) did a story on gender roles in Kabul, Afghanistan, several years before the Afghan conflict. She noted that women customarily walked 5 paces behind their husbands.

She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands. From her vantage point, despite the overthrow of the oppressive Taliban regime, the women now seem to walk even further back behind their husbands and are happy to maintain the old custom.

Ms. Walters approached one of the Afghani women and asked, "Why do you now seem happy with the old custom that you once tried so desperately to change?"

The woman looked Ms. Walters straight in the eyes, and without hesitation, said, "Land mines."

MORAL OF THE STORY: BEHIND EVERY MAN IS A SMART WOMAN


And happy St. Paddy's Day ya'all!

Tiny Toad

Tiny Toad
Originally uploaded by Rachel Pennington.

Is this not the coolest thing?! Damn but he's actually cute! I'm not exactly a frog lover, but my eldest daughter loves frogs so I occasionally search out good photos to send her and I found this guy and a few others. All adorable =)

Too cute

IMG_2905
Originally uploaded by katia2702.

I had to share this... found it as I traversed other peoples pictures and thought it was great.

Orientation

All done with orientation. Sat through 3 videos. *yawn* Got all my paperwork filled out, decided I'd claim 0 so I'd just end up with more money back from the IRS at the end of the year.

It is not a 401k plan, it is a personal IRA, and we cannot get into it until January. So... I shall just make a point of paying myself and not touching it and see how that works out, then once I have a large sum, I can always invest that or go to my own bank and start an IRA through them.

Health and Dental doesnt go into effect for 90 days. That's 3 months. Doesn't seem like much but since I've not had medical insurance in 3 years, I'm looking forward to seeing a Doctor again. (I have a really messed up stomach and I've passed 40 and still haven't done the dreaded tit-squeeze machine) Oh well it's only 3 months. Also, until my 3 months are up I don't get paid holidays off. I just get them off. I can golf for free though (insert sarcastic yeehaw there) I get 30% off on food and products bought inside the gated community. I plan to bring my own lunch however thus saving myself 100%.

I'm just hoping for a good experience. My only run in with a resident of that place was when I worked at Wal-Mart "Ma'am, could you please help me try these shoes on" I'm up a ladder stacking merchandise and politly say "Oh I'm sorry ma'am, we don't actually fit the shoes on your feet, but we do have benches at the end of the isle here for you to sit at and try them on" Lady frowns "Do you KNOW WHERE I LIVE?!" "No Ma'am, do you happen to know where I live?" "Don't get pert with me young woman, I live in _________, and if it werent for our community this place would be just a hole in the ground!" "I'm sure your right ma'am, however I might suggest that, maybe you should drive to Wilmington, they have a Bloomingdales there, you're presently in Wal-Mart, but you have a great day whatever you decide" And I walked off. So I have a bit if a biased feeling towards the people who live in that gated community.

Wish me luck.

I'm up and I'm not late!

Ok, woke up at 6:30 and am not falling back to sleep - miracle!

So, I'm dressed and even have my make-up and hair done. But I don't have to be there until 9:00 so as you can see I have time to kill. I've been bugging the bf, since it's raining I thought he might like to go with me, drop me off (because it's suppose to take 2 hours) and while I'm doing that he can go do the running around for errands he wanted me to do. He doesn't work when it rains - must be nice, but then, the paycheck will suck. Of course on the other hand when they get involved in some project they don't exactly quit on time eaither. Like last night he worked until 8 PM, they had to use their truck lights to finish the job they were doing. *rolls her eyes*

Explain something to me - he doesn't think my job is real work because I sit at a desk. Jobs like mine can pay pretty high, higher than he'd make, yet he doesn't think my kind of work is real work.

Yeah ok. But if he thinks he gets out of making dinner half the time because I don't do "real" work, he's got another think coming!

Oh well, rain or not, we'll have a pleasant day.

MSNBC - Girl, 14, says she helped father commit suicide

If it turns out the guy was really abusing his children I hope he suffered bad. And I hope they don't prosecute her as an adult. I think she should be given back as much as her childhood as is possible all things considered.

God why are there so many twisted people on this earth?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well I dont ever wanna feeeel like I did that day
take me to the place I lovvvvvvvvvve
take me all the wayyyyyyy

Well I dont ever wanna feeeel like I did that day
take me to the place I lovvvvvvvvvve
take me all the wayyyyyyy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WTF is with shokme.com. Everytime I go to any blog site, up pops that web page, first it opens up acrobat reader and then the page opens to a bunch of XXX crap.

Those who know me, know I have nothing against adult sites *eg* but I prefere to go them on my own thank you! !@&*$# Arg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not only are we going to have to deal with higher gas prices now - the price of coffee is going up as well!!!

BAH!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Job Update

I have orientation tomorrow, but instead of starting on Thursday, I've been asked to start on Friday due to people being out of the office and unable to show me around and what to do etc.

It's ok with me, I'm a nervouse wreck cause that how I am when I start a new job, but the clothing I've ordered hasn't all come in yet so this works out.

Umm... anyone know what dressing casual actually is since I was told jeans are not casual. :| Jeans have always been casual to me. And I swear - my neck is not red. ;>

Last Day of Freedom =)

I'm going to bask in the quietness of my home, read, play on the computer, clean my room (ugg) and enjoy this day, because it's the last of it's kind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why are blonde jokes always about females? There are male blondes too ya'know.

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end you first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right?" Well, it isn't all right so why don't we say, "That hurt, you stupid idiot?"

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

If at first you don't succeed, shouldn't you try doing it like your wife told you to do it?

And obviously if at first you don't succeed, then don't take up sky diving!

And my FAVORITE......

The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends, if they're okay, then it's you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More later I'm sure =)

Pop-Ups

I am so !&%*#@ Sick of pop-ups I could just spit!

Sure I have all the doodads to stop them, but when they are in use, I also cannot use some websites that open a new window, so if I turn it all of you would THINK I could use all websites but NOOooooooooo! Either nothing happens OR my browser freezes. So it's no longer just 2 blog sites I cannot comment at, its just about all of them depending on the time of day and the sun spots over the atlantic ocean.

But the one thing that pisses me off the MOST. The fucking XXX sites that pop open out of NOWHERE. Even when I'm not at any adult kind of page. Shouldn't that shit be against the law? I mean hell I gotta freakin deal with 200 peices of spam a day now I can't even access a site for a car dealership without seeing some whore suckin some guy off? I beleive in free enterprise but not at the expense of ALL the people who access the internet.

I just don't think we should have to download programs to stop this, I think it shouldn't be allowed at all. Not porn and not anything else unless your at a store website. I even get these damn things when I go from blog to blog. ARG!

The Divorce Chronicles: reminders

Message for Kayten... Blow the commentor off. Your blog is yours, and the title says it all. It does NOT say "Sex chronicles", or "Politicle chrinicles" it says "The Divorce Chronicles" which at least to me means it's a journey your taking through seperation and divorce and your blogging it. Which in it's self is more interesting than the sex (which can be awesome after being with the same person for X number of years and discovering new teritory is always fun but it is really besides the point) because almost everyone has sex. Almost everyone... maybe your reader isn't getting any.

The whole point of having a blog is for your own venting, and shouldn't be about the number of readers you have anyway. It helps to have readers if you need the feedback, but that's all it is. If you or I or anyone else wants hits to a website, then we should build real websites for that purpose don't you think?

As to why I am writing my comment here to you is because for whatever reason, I cannot ever use your comments page except to read them, when I click on "make a comment" my browser freezes indefinitly, and for some weird reason it's normally just yours & my friend Sam this happens to. MAYBE I'm suppose to not comment to you - no clue. But *sigh* I'm a very opinionated person so not being able to say anything DRIVES ME CRAZY!!! *grin*

Blow the reader off chickie and write whatever the hell ya wanna!

And Sam... Your going to be fine, your smart and you have a drive to suceed. I have always thought you would, and I still do.

Microsoft High

Microsoft: Most unique education structure

I think I would have loved to attend this high school and that got me wondering who are the lucky ones. A previous article which led me to this one had stated that the school was being developed in the poorer section of Philidelphia.

WHY?

Why is it always the poor or very wealthy that get get get? What about the middle class that work hard but seem to get NOWHERE? Parents make too much money so kids can't get Pell grants for college, but they don't make enough money to be able to afford college for their kids, make too much money for WIC and other subsidies, yet strugle to put food on the table. BAH this wasn't going to be a social comentary, I just wanted to talk about the cool idea of this school. But there ya have it - it will come down to the class of the class wont it?

So here we have privatization of a public school, which I have nothing against, but my question still remains, who will get to attend these private/public schools in reality? Wealthy can pay their share, poor will get to go for free and what about the ones stuck in the middle, both parents working, but after paying for all they have to, have no extra money to pay for their kids to attend these kinds of schools? I know my true democratic colors are showing, but someone has to watch out for the TRUE poor right? I don't like sharing my money any more than the rest of the world but it just seems to me that you either have to be very wealthy or very poor to get anywhere in this world.

Hats off to MS and Philly for this cool idea.

My Future

I've been thinking allot about my future. All this talk about Social Security has been making me think beyond tomorrow and next week, which is actually something I haven't done since my divorce. I had to keep a focus on the here and now so that I wouldn't give up on my self. I place no blame on anyone, not even myself. Sometimes you just have to do what ever it takes to get through stressful periods in your life.

Anyway, so now I have my first "Adult" job. You know the kind - it has benefits, sick days, paid holidays, and a 401 k plan. Of course the down side to this particular job is that it only pays 8.25 an hour. Times that by 80 hours and it's only 660.00 every two weeks... I have to laugh though because that's a HUGE amount of money to me right now. BUT, with this job comes the responsibilities that I've not had to face yet, like trying to pay half the monthly mortgage on the house my mom and I bought together, as well as part of the bills. And I don't mind paying them, I actually want to very much. There is strength in paying your own way. AND the fact that I can tell my mom to take a hike when she thinks I should do this or that because if I pay MY share then I don't HAVE to listen right? Besides, I'd really like for her to eventually be able to retire and go on neat vacations with a friend or out to California and Washington to visit my brothers.

I also don't want to count on my bf - which he will remain my bf because i don't want to get married again - no matter how often he asks. But I don't want to count on him for a couple of reasons. 1. I want to be my own boss. 2. I am 15 years older and he may someday get tired of that. He hates when I talk like that so I rarely do, but that's still a fact that I wont forget, because it's reality. If he's still with me when I die, then I will die knowing that he stuck it out and I'll have been a happy woman.

But what about my future. I'm 42, so I'm looking at 23 years before I'm 65, 25 years before I'm eligible for SS if I still get that. And of course I can get my ex's because we were married X amount of years and spouses and ex spouses get that choice. So I will probably go with his because he'll have had more years to put into it than I did since I stayed home raising the kids and moving with him from state to state thanks to the USCG.

I'm thinking what I really need is to get a job with the Government because they have a security I'm most comfortable with. We have a military depot right here, so that would be very convenient. Besides, they don't pay too bad either considering the pay that's available in the civilian sector of this county.

My ex-co worker Lou likes to invest money, he's always giving me good advice and said the first thing I should do with each paycheck is to pay myself a percentage. The way he figured it out it came to 21.00 a payday which didn't seem like much but he said it wasn't to go to dinner on, it was to either invest or save. And he feels I should put as much as I can into the 401k since the company will match it at the end of my 1 yr anniversary with the company. I just don't understand a 401k... if I quit for a better job do I still get to keep my money? Does it stay in a 401? What if I quit after 1 year, do I still get the money they matched?

I wish I had friends in the right places that could help me make these decisions. I don't want to have to pay some stranger to tell me how to handle my money. But I need to know so I have some when I'm old and have emphazima! I wont be able to mooch off my kids, well maybe Ashley, she's always got it, but she works very hard for it so I just couldn't. Besides, I want to feel I can do this on my own. I got married too young, I should have had some time to become an adult on my own before I made such a leap. I have encouraged both my daughters to do just that, so that when they do get married, they can make just as good as decisions as their spouses and will be more on equal footing than their mom was.

So much to think about...

Anyone have any ideas?

BEAUTIFUL DAY!

It's almost 70 degrees already and only 10:30 in the morning! I think I'm going to get out there and work in my herb garden. I need to dig up all my plants and add more manure and soil to bring the level up even with the stone. I've been looking forward to the warmer weather, but at the same time dreading it because I've put on too much weight this winter and do not like what I'm seeing and of course I'm too bloody lazy to do anything about it!

I tried "curves" but even getting motivated to drive to the place was more motivation than I had it seems. I do like walking though so I think I'll just grab my camera every day and go somewhere on my feet. Provided my lungs cooperate! Damn I hate getting old, because my mind still thinks I'm 19, but my body doth protest. *giggle*.

Oh well... in the meantime my herbs are calling and I have a couple free days until the new job starts so I might as well do the garden and start in on the new walk way we've planned.

The Last Day

Wow, this is it. No more sales. No more dealing with rude shop owners I have to give tax exempts to. No more sweet old ladies and horny old men who like to flirt. No more co-workers I'm totally compatible with. I'll miss those two. I'll miss the sweet old ladies and horny old men and cute young ones too.

I didn't think I'd miss it, but as I locked up for the last time tonight, I realized I'd been there for 3 years and it got me through college. I'll miss my co-workers the most though. I've had allot of jobs and this was the first one that I ever got along so well with the people who worked there. I had to put up with a weird ass manager the first year and half and a VERY bossy co-worker befor the 2 of them moved on and these 2 came along. The 3 of us got along great. Everything that went wrong during the week was blamed on me, everything that went wrong on the weekends was the managers fault. We had a great system. =)

They'll miss me too.

2-Year-Old Run Over by Father's S.U.V. Is Back From the Brink of Death

I can't imagine being the parent that ran over my own child accidentally. The guilt and anguish would eat me alive. So out of curiosity I had to read this article. Now I find I'm curios as to the true relationship of this family. The reporters felt it necessary to tell us the father had been under a court order to stay away from the family, yet he didn't, they also mention his age as 30. 30 is a fine age for a man with a 2 year old, but... there are 5 kids. Ages 14 years down to 1 yr. They don't say he's the step father. Now I really find this interesting because in most news articles they say step father or they might say she is the mother of 5 children, 1 or 2 from a previous marriage. You rarely hear of a man being the father of a child he had when he was 15 years old. BUT you KNOW it happens, it's just never out there like that the way it is with women. We're painted to be young mothers, but rarely do we see the male half of the equation in the picture.

So, if he is the father of all 5 children then I have to agree with the mother - if they can get through THIS ordeal - they can get through anything, because they've been doing it for 15 years.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Below is an e-mail joke from a republican friend who loves to terrorize me

The two most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer. These were the foundation of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups: Liberals and Conservatives.

Once beer was discovered it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture.

Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can was invented yet, so while our early human ancestors were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed.

Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to B-B-Q at night while they were drinking beer. This was the begin! ning of what is known as "the Conservative movement."

Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the conservatives by showing up for the nightly B-B-Q's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Liberal movement.

Some of these liberal men eventually evolved into women. The rest became known as 'girleymen.' Some noteworthy liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy and group hugs, and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that conservatives provided.

Over the years conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass.

Modern liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard liberal fare. Most social workers, personal injury attorneys, journalists, dreamers in Hollywood, and group therapists are liberals. Another interesting revolutionary side note: most of the women have higher testosterone levels than their men.

Conservatives drink domestic beer. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, medical doctors, police officers, corporate executives, soldiers, Naval aviators, athletes, and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other conservatives who want to work for a living.

Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to "govern" the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the liberals remained in Europe when conservatives were coming to America. They crept in after the Wild West was tame and created a business of trying to get MORE for nothing.

Here ends today's lesson in world history .

*BURP* Oh scuse me... I thought it was total BS too. LOL

Autumnal Fire: A Non Mother's take on Abortion

I think your friend said it wonderfully so I must salute you both right here! and I am a mother of 3. I believe that the choice should not be taken lightly but I firmly beleive there should always be choices, free will, and no one should stand in the way to get to the clinics.

~~~~~~~~~

In other news

I'm very very tired. We had to do inventory tonight since the new company is buying the store, changing the name and basically screwing everyone in the ass. I don't think my manager or Lou plan to stay, in fact I think they both may not show up on Monday morning. I actually hope they do this to them, because they are being rotten in the buy out. But I'm too tired to go into the full details of all I found out today.

Job Updates

I'm pretty sure I was being watched over this week for sure.

Yesterday I called my manager to let her know that this would be the last Fri - Sat combo I could work, but that until we found someone to replace me, I could work Sat - Sun so neither she or Lou would have to work without a day off. When I told her, she almost cried with happiness, seems the new company that bought us and 4 other stores through out NC wanted her to lay me off this week, they feel the store can run all 7 days with only 2 people... and Lou has to go from a full time employee to a part time, meaning no benefits for him and of course just half a paycheck. AND my manager who is salary has to go from a 40 hr work week to a 50 hour one, with no pay increase.

DAMN

So, today I'm going to get my urinalisis done and some paperwork done, and check on my van (It turns out my angel kept me alive on this one too) it was not my front end that needed alignment, but the tie rods were almost stripped and Kenny (my friend and mechanic) told me I was THIS close to being in alot of trouble if they'd gone while driving...

DAMN

So a BIG HUGE THANKYOU to my angel(s) that watch over me.

After the urinalisis and the check on my van I have to go into work early so my manager can have a few hours off... she wants some free time while she still can. Think about it, we are in by 9 through 7:30 6 days a week and 11:30 - 6:30 Sundays. With only 2 people working those hours and when the time changes we stay open 1 hour longer all 7 days... and Lou is only allowed 22 hours for the week. The place will be open 70.5 hours a week (7 days a week) and Fridays you need 2 people there from 4 though 6, sure 1 person can do it but its CRAZY as hell without help. But I would hate to be in Sheri's shoes because she has to put in more hours and get less pay. Sounds more like the new company is trying to push her and Lou both out so they can put in their own crew.

I wish there was someway we could fight them.

Wired News: Revised Spyware Bill Moves Ahead

This one sounds GREAT!

This bill sounds like it just may do the trick. I sure hope so. I've never had my identity stolen, but as an on-line shopper it is always in the front of my mind when I am shopping on line. And after all the personal info that was recently stolen from those companies (B of A is one of them) I think it's becoming more of an issue with most people. As I recently pointed out to a member of my family, "You don't have to shop on line to have your identity stolen, because everything about you as a consumer is in some database somewhere, even if YOU don't own a computer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news, I got up at 6 AM today so I could start getting use to it and it is now 7:30... it has taken me an hour and a half to actually think straight. UG! I'm actually contemplating going back to bed because *gasp* I am completly alone in the house! (Except for the 5 cats who are still sleeping!)

My van is still in the shop but supposedly will be ready by 4 today, so my question is this - will I be able to drive it on 6 hours of sleep by 4 in the afternoon? My eyes are drooping, my bed is calling, the coffee is good though!

TTYL

WORK

Hey I got a job. =)

The data entry one... that pays shit. BUT it goes on the ole' resume and after 90 days I get health and dental. 90 days.

My bf got a new job today too... it pays 1.00 more an hour and he gets health and dental after 30 days. I wanna work for HIS company!

But I'll make do with the one that's hired me while keeping my eye open for something better.

Yay me!

MSNBC - What Bush Got Right

"All politics is local."

This was an insightful article, and for once I actually agree that Bush got some things right... And I don't mind saying that. Of course, I just will never forgive him for getting us involved with Iraq the way he did it. IF he had just said from the beginning that we will be going into Iraq to kick their asses because they rape, plunder, pillage and mutilate women, children and innocent men, I probably would have been agreeing with the invasion. But since I was told it was because of 9/11 and until that moment I had naively thought Osama Bin Laden was the core problem of that event, I stood apposed to the Iraq invasion. And if you think about it, most liberals probably felt/feel the same way because at the root of all we find bad/evil, being repressed is high on our list.

Bush could have gotten the entire country behind him had he just told us it was for the people. But see, I will for ever believe its about oil now, because the "for the people" came AFTER it was decided there were no WPD's. But that aside - I am glad for the people that they have more freedom than they did. I hope that they realize they stand a chance to make a better world for themselves. I hope they start standing up to those that try to oppress them.

I just wish we hadn't had to loose so many allies in his war on terror. We were ONE world for a couple of weeks for the first time in my entire life. Not only were WE flying our flags high, but so were other nations. It saddened me to see them back away from us so quickly. It still saddens me. We could probably save face if we really did start jumping to the rescue of nations like the one below, with all the rapes and killings - it might show the world that it isn't what a country has to offer us, but what WE have to offer the country.

Yeah, "All politics is local." so I guess this is MY local politics.

Aid agencies' rape reports ''political,'' Sudan says

Ok America, as the world police - we have another kind of terrorism going here, maybe we should do something about this place?

Oh, they don't have anything we want? No oil, or minerals, or metals that are worth anything? So we have to continue to listen to news reports of the widespread rape and killing going on here for years before its stopped because there is no one left to kill? Ooops, wrong again, I'm sure some babies will be born from those rapes.

Lets stop picking and choosing, if we're going to invade one country for these reasons (after we know there arent any wmd's) then why don't we do it for all the nasty little countries of the earth? Lets just go in and remove all the women and children and leave the men behind to fight it all out. And lest anyone should say it's about religion - leave that part out. Encourage them to keep their religion, but by god show them the proof that no matter if they are Christian, Muslum or anything else, there was rape and killing going on and they should have to answer for that.

"Rape is a sensitive issue in predominantly Muslim Sudan" Excuse me but RAPE is a freakin sensitive issue with EVERYONE damnit, and especially us free thinking Americans and Europeans and I bloody don't care what freakin religion you are.

Jerusalem Prayer Team

Homosexuals to Desecrate Jerusalem!

This website truely makes my blood boil. I got to this website because a friend who's always trying to make me a 'better Christian' forwarded me an e-mail that read like this:

Dear ____________________ (I withheld the name to protect the friend)

I am outraged! Our Lord's last words to us commanded that we were to be witnesses unto Him, first in Jerusalem.

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders are organizing WorldPride 2005, an international parade in the city of Jerusalem. This is not heaven witnessing; it is hell. Please join me in supporting Jerusalem's Mayor Uri Lupolianski in stopping this desecration of G_d's Holy City. Use the link below and join our campaign to protect Jerusalem. This is a battle between darkness and light. Satan's last challenge to God Almighty was from the city of Jerusalem…then he would be like the Most High... that he would sit on the mount of the congregation on the sides of the north. There is no doubt in my mind that he is attempting to shake his fist in the face of God.

http://tool.donation-net.net/CTBF/stophomosexuals.cfm?dn=1032&refer=2028

Ok, the problem with trying to make ME a better Christian is this:

1) I don't beleive that homosexuals choose to be homosexuals, I beleive they are born feeling the way they do. I do not for one minute believe that ANYONE would CHOOSE to be ostrisized by friends, family and community for their lifetime. DO you honestly believe that?

2) To tell me that a group of people are going to be kept from heaven because of their birth is just absurd - especially if our GOD is a kind and loving GOD.

3) And who the hell do you or anyone think you are that YOU can decide that for them? Judge not others...or ye shall be judged, or something in that vent. I don't feel it is my place or YOURS to pass such judgements - that makes none of us good people.

4) I also don't beleive that anyone who leads as good and peacefull life to themselves and to others - no matter their sexual orientation or beleifs are going to be turned away from their pearly gates.

So if I have to beleive that homosexuals are bad then I will NEVER be a good Christian, nor do I WANT to be. If I have to beleive that if you do not beleive in the Christian God, and follow what Christians beleive then I guess I do not mind being considered unsaved. And you know what? I don't really give a fuck what Christians think about me - they wont be the ones deciding if I go to heaven or hell.

O'Harrow Book Maps Data Landscape

(Below is being freely shared from the above site, if it interests you, go there and read more)

In "No Place to Hide" (Free Press 2005), Washington Post reporter Robert O'Harrow, Jr., lays out in extensive detail the post-9/11 marriage of private data companies and government anti-terror initiatives. Drawing on years of investigation, O'Harrow shows how the government is using private databases to promote homeland security and fight the war on terror.

O'Harrow builds his book with stories of key players in this new world, from software inventors to counterintelligence officials. While O'Harrow offers few policy recommendations, his book is a indispensable introduction to the new world of high-tech data collection and analysis. "More than ever before," O'Harrow concludes, "the details of our lives are no longer our own. They belong to the companies that collect them, and the government agencies that buy or demand them in the name of keeping us safe." He quotes Viet Dinh, often credited as the author of the PATRIOT Act: "The leap in technology has not been met with a proportionate response in terms of how we think of this technology. We need to think more creatively.'"

Detailed information about online civil liberties issues may be found at http://www.cdt.org/

My own personal feelings about all the information being gathered about me is "WHY?" But I know why, they want to make sure I'm not a threat, and since they don't know me personally then I am a threat until they learn I'm a broke divorced mother of 3, who's only threat is to a local bank she may rob some day - MAYBE... *eg*

I like to keep them guessing

The End

And just like that, you could see the end in sight.

Where's the lightning?

Heard the thunder... but didn't see any lightning. Total bummer!

Yeah right!

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 1100 AM EST FOR HORRY.BRUNSWICK.NEW HANOVER.PENDER.COLUMBUS & BLADEN COUNTIES.

AT 1027 AM EST.NATL WEATHER SVC DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM INTERSECTION OF US421 & STATE HIGHWAY 11 TO STATE HIGHWAY 211 AT COLUMBUS/BRUNSWICK COUNTY BORDER TO ATLANTIC BEACH.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR.
SUPPLY BY 1040
CASTLE HAYNE BY 1045
ROCKY POINT BY 1050

THESE ARE DANGEROUS STORMS. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE &
SMALL HAIL HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE
SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER.PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT
AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

I Didn't see a single lightning strike! DAMNIT!

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM

Emergency E-Mail

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN WILMINGTON NC HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST & INCREASE TO 25 TO 35 MPH BY LATE TUES MORNING. WIND GUSTS NEAR 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. MAINLY DURING THE LATE MORNING & EARLY AFTERNOON HRS.

THE STRONG WINDS WILL DEVELOP IN RESPONSE TO A COLD FRONT WHICH WILL CROSS THE REGION TUES MORNING.& LOW PRESSURE THAT WILL INTENSIFY RAPIDLY OFF THE COAST OF NJ & DE. WINDS WILL SUBSIDE TUES NIGHT AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT RELAXES.

A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE 31 TO 39 MPH OR GUSTS WILL RANGE BETWEEN 46 & 57 MPH. WINDS OF THESE MAGNITUDES MAY CAUSE MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE WITHOUT EXTRA PRECAUTIONS. MOTORISTS IN HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES SHOULD USE CAUTION UNTIL THE WINDS SUBSIDE.

Gotta love those updates. =)

Job Hunting & other stuff

I had another interview today. This one for data entry. It pay's shit but it does have medical, dental and a 401k plan. The interview went well, and when the woman said she thought maybe I'd get bored with this job, I said "I'm only over educated, not over qualified - I sell cigaretts for aliving right now, there is no way this job could be more boring than that" She burst out laughing and said that was true. I hope she meant it. I know what she meant though, she was afraid I would look for something better, but no one can make a promise that they will stay somewhere, especially when only being offered 8.25 an hour! C'mon, everyone want to be able to not only pay bills, but afford nicer things in life! BUT... we have to start somewhere right?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Something Good To Read

If anyone is looking for a good read, I highly suggest "Pandemic" by Daniel Kalla
I'ts about the next possible killer flu which hasn't happened since the Spanish flu of 1918-19, which is a mirracle itself because the flu changes its dna slightly about every 40 years and causes an epidemic, so technically we're overdue by about 86 years. So anyway, you have a possible really bad flu out there and then mix in a few "I don't care if I die" terrorists and you've got a book that's kind of hard to put down. I know one thing - I started washing my hands quite a bit this week after reading it, makes you realize just how easy it is to catch crap from each other!

Busy Weekend

Well I had a fun out of the blue weekend. For a nice change of pace. As ya'all know (If you read my blog) I have money issues, so I don't get out much these days. But on Friday I got a call at work from my best friend I grew up with who is in the Navy and stationed at Camp Lejuen NC (Jacksonville) who was getting away for the weekend with a fellow female work associate and wanted me and my bf to meet up with them in Wilmington to go out partying. So after work, I rushed home and J and I threw clothes into an over night bag and went for it. (That's what CC's are for arent they? Emergencies? *Grin*)

So we got a room across the hall from them and then we called a taxi and it took us downtown where we proceeded to blend in with the college kids out on spring break. We started off at Gen. Longstreets where the drinks are reasonable, got our buzz going and moved onto Rum Runners where they had dueling pianists. That was fun, it was or is, an updated version of an old fashioned sing along, and the highlight for me was when they had a stand off over which song would be played when some northern students payed to have NEW YORK NEW YORK sung, but some southern students there for a birthday bash payed to have COTTON EYE JOE played... so everyone kept bringing up $1.00 bills until at last... The South WON! LOL Both songs are great but so different. The 4 of us laughed our asses off at all the fun going on around us and it is my friends first year here in the south, we grew up together in California, and she had a small stint in VA before going back west and then to Okinawa and Italy. She decided to move here to the South and have her mom join her and her son and she bought a house. I've been breaking her into southern traditions since her arrival a year ago.

I think she got hooked this weekend. There is just something about the music of "Cotton eye Joe" that warms you all over like a bowl of warm buttery & salted grits on a cold winters night. ;>

We plan to get together again soon to do a backwoods bar (not city) on a Friday night, and then head to Myrtle Beach for a Saturday night (That's only an hours drive from here). I really should take her to the Dixie Stampede while we're there.

=)

Anyway, we got back to the hotel late and J and I didn't get to sleep till after 3:30 am, and our wake up call was at 10, because I had to work on Saturday at 3 and he had to go see his neice for her b-day. So I was very tired at work, but it went by fast and smooth for the most part, another friend dropped by at work and told me about a drug bust she was involved in - damn - and you think you know people. The short of the story though is, one of the few places I used to enjoy going to to dance the weekend away was shut down due to the owner being busted for cocain.

At some point I just think people need to outgrow certain things. I understand in our youth doing or trying dumb shit but not when your older and supposedly wiser and own a business. Well... it isn't my life and I'm no judge, so it's not my place to do any judging. I only hope that the innocent involved remain innocent. (These were all parents and grandparents and I am refering to all the children, spouses and bf's/gf's who were not involved but who will be affected from these bad decisions).

SO I made it home in time to turn on 2 back to back great movies - Young Guns 1 & 2 and thats where I stayed the rest of last night... in bed in front of the TV and I actually got a great nights sleep. But when I get a good job I am making a promise to myself. Every Saturday night I PROMISE to take myself out dancing or whatever to break up a rather monotonouse lifestyle I've gotten into since becomeing a girlfriend! BLAH!

Village Gang-Rape Sentences Are Upset by Court in Pakistan

WTF? All I can say is godamnmotherfuckingignorantassholes of the world!!! Instead of sentencing them to death and then overturning it, they should just nueter the assholes!

The Hassle Factor - But I don't want to manage my own Social Security account! By Thomas�Geoghegan

This is exactly what I wanted to say, but didn't quite know how to say it!

Of the Bush plan to establish individual Social Security accounts, a lawyer friend of mine complains: It's one more damned thing I'd have to manage. I've got enough to handle already.

Isn't that the real issue? Let's forget the funding problem. Or even the risk of ending up with a lower benefit for retirement. Under the Bush plan, we'd be partly responsible. We'd have to hatch our own nest eggs. It's one more job the Republicans would give to us.

This is my gripe against the Bush plan: I've already got enough to do.

Millions of Americans, I'm convinced, are against it for only that reason. We don't want to have to think about Social Security. "But people worry about it now," you might say. Oh, sure, at these presidential drop-in discussions in Fargo, N.D., a cop or cook will say, "I worry Social Security won't be there for me." But come on, they don't really worry. If they did, they'd open a damned savings account.

In real life, we ignore our Social Security. That's the glory of it. We have the freedom not to think about it. With all the time I have not to think about my "private" account, I can turn on the Cubs game. Or open up Kafka.

I can even pray, if I want.

Privatization is one more damn thing to distract and upset me. I read a bit less (as Laura Bush reads more). I volunteer a bit less (as her husband lauds us for volunteering more). In one way or another, I spend less time being responsible for other people because I'm more responsible for me.

I don't like it.

I hate to personalize things, but since Mr. Bush's reform is his personal obsession, I think I will. It galls me that a president who has never had to dig is handing us a shovel. Look at all the freedom that George W. Bush had because Bill DeWitt Jr. and Mercer Reynolds handled all his investments. Early on, they told him, "You just worry about coming up with funny nicknames, and you will never have to worry about money." And he came into the White House with his brow unlined.

Social Security is our little taste of this freedom. The world adds and adds. Social Security subtracts. It simplifies life. Social Security is "Social" and "Secure" instead of "Individual" and "At Risk." That's what is so maddening to people on the right, the Ayn Randers, the libertarians.

They look down on the rest of us. They think of us as slugs. We aren't living authentically until we worry as much as they do.

It's not so bad when privatization flops in places like Chile or the United Kingdom. At least in those countries there is a strong social bond. In Chile, the government has stepped in to make sure people get a little. In the Bush era, we're too atomized to do anything like that. In the United Kingdom, people have more time and freedom, since they don't have to think about their health care. They have single payer. Everything is free. In the United States, even when it's free, we have paperwork. As another friend says, "It's a full-time job for a lot of people to manage their health bills." Now we have to manage our Social Security, too?

And these extra tasks are being heaped on us as we work longer and longer hours, with longer commutes. I'm exhausted. Please: no more privatization. Unless it's something I can take care of while I drive.

But what if the existing system is doomed? Of course, being a liberal, I don't believe it. Raise the amount of payroll tax that Bill DeWitt and Mercer Reynolds have to pay, and the crisis goes away. At any rate, at this point no one knows the extent to which we may or may not be in trouble in the future. That's also the glory of Social Security: not to know.

But if Bush has his way, you and I will know, early on, whether we are in trouble. Our accounts may tank. Indeed, the full-blown libertarian version of Bush's plan would create winners and losers. For some of us there will be a sickening feeling, at age 42 or 45 or 48, that we already have blown it. We picked the wrong stock. We didn't put enough in bonds. The worst part will be that we'll know.

This is the pleasure that the winners will take: to bring home to the losers what a bunch of bunglers we are. In a life in which you or I may have failed over and over, here's another way we get to learn that yes, we've failed again.

Does Marriage Breed Contempt?

Most people would never marry someone who calls them mean names, or hits them, or has public tantrums right? So why is it when you see couples together who've been married for a few years, a good portion (not all) of them treat each other like shit? Or just one of them is an ass to the other. Why not get a divorce if you think so little of the other person? But if you ask them, they'll tell you they love that person. That's love? The person you just called a dumb ass in front of the cashier at the cigarette shop who you do not know is someone you love? What's her enemies like?

Your spouse is suppose to be the one person on earth you should be able to count on to have your back when trouble arises... would you trust someone who calls you dumb ass, or asshole, in public in front of others? I wouldn't trust that person.

While working yesterday, a customer came running back in, breathless and full of fear in her face. She asks me if by any chance did she leave her purse in the store. I looked around with her, but we found nothing. So she called her husband to let him know it wasn't there, and as she was dialing, I was saying, just to calm down and re-think her places where she went. At that point her husband picks up and all she gets out of her mouth is "it's not here either" when she interrupts herself with "Yay thank you!" and then "yes I know, thank you thank you thank you thank you" and all the while he's telling her off (I can't hear what, but he's yelling it) and she just keeps saying thank you and finally hangs up. She tells me he called the grocery store where she was going next and they have it, and tells me her husbands right, she's a dumb ass for not using her brain. Ummm... don't we all have days where if our heads were not attached we'd forget them too? So he's so perfect he can call her a dumbass? And she buys it... she agrees!

The shoe's on the other foot as well... I have plenty of women who come in and talk about their husbands who don't work and the wives work two jobs, their buying their smokes and his and rushing home to fix "his lazy ass some dinner" scuse me, but if it pisses you off so much why don't you either throw his lazy ass out the door, or tell him when you get home from WORK there had better be dinner on the table waiting for YOU!

Anyone reading this who thinks "Damn, no wonder she isn't married anymore" all I can tell you is, see the above women? Is one of them you? I'm not married for other reasons actually, because I'll be damned if I become someone's slave willingly. Any men reading this and thinking "what's wrong with being waited on?" Go home to your mamas, you don't need a wife, you need a wet nurse.

Since I gave you all those bad scenarios, let me give you a couple of good ones. When I see these types of customers come in, they warm my tainted heart.

An elderly couple come in, and she snaps out the types of cigarettes she wants, and I diligently retrieve them, as she goes wandering off to see what else she may want. Her husband leans over and gives me a conspiratory wink and whispers "she's in a slight bad mood today sweety, it's not you" and she walks back up and snaps "that will be all - unless you want something" she says to her husband. He replies, "nope, I don't think so sweetheart" and pulls out his wallet and pays for her purchases. As I hand him the bag (because he's the one reaching for it) he grabs her hand with his free one and walks to the door, and still manages to open it for them both without letting go of her hand. I watch through the window as they walk hand in hand to their car and he opens the door for her.

A younger couple comes in, he's holding the hand of a three year old, she's got a baby in her arms. She tells me what brand and how much she wants as he goes to get his weekly chew. When he walks back up she asks him if he's sure he wants the large sleeve, or maybe he might want to get the next smaller one since he mentioned he was wanting to cut back. He says "Your right, if it's not there, I wont chew it" so he puts the large one back and grabs the smaller one. And she pulls out her wallet and pays. He grabs the bag, and his three year old's hand and they all walk to the door, and he leans over his wife's shoulder to push the door open for her.

There were no name calling, and both felt in charge, or at least equal to the other, and all 4 had manners and love for each other. I'm sure for the young couple there will be hard times a head, and for the older couple they had their share. But having kept love and respect for each other, and no name calling in public, ensured a strong and healthy relationship for a strong future. Those are the couples I envy, because you can't do it alone. Even if YOU don't call your spouse a name or belittle them in public, if they do, then they are undermining the relationship.

Busy Day

I've up loaded more photo's on my Flickr site. I did that early today and I guess that's a good thing because one of my co-workers got sick today so asked me to fill in for today and tomorrow and that means... 2 extra days on my paycheck! W00t I may even hit 130.00 this time! THEN while getting ready for work I got a call, I'm to be interviewed for a data entry position on Monday. It doesn't pay well, but it pays better than what I have AND is 40 hours a week and might be the one with benefits. And who knows... may get a raise too?

And a new episode of LOST has just started so I'll chat later!

Lighthousing.net

For my friend UK on the topic of a "No'thEaster"

Clarification = Below in italics is a post from someone (not me) on the topic of a nor'easter, who'm my friend UK says is correct in the pronunciation of the word. And since UK and I like a good fun arguement on any subject, I had to post my thoughts in amongst this as well.

There is no argument that the term Nor’easter is commonly used. That is precisely the problem, and unfortunately it is now pervasively used to identify a coastal storm with northeasterly storm force winds. Less then storm force and it would be a northeast gale but today’s weather people and others no longer consider this.

The word Nor’easter is slang.

Slang: vocabulary, idiom, etc., that is not appropriate to the standard form of a language or to formal contexts, may be restricted as to social status or distribution, and is characteristically more metaphorical and transitory than standard language.

Today’s “modern” dictionaries are loaded with slang. They are influenced by popular use, and with little commitment to preserve the language. The original meaning or hundreds of words has been altered thus making it difficult and often impossible to interpret old text and documents using the distorted word meanings. For someone doing research it is a pain in the neck!

The Google search results posted by Keeper are completely irrelevant because the search compared a slang word spelled correctly (nor’easter) to a spelled pronunciation (no’theaster) of the correct word (notheaster) from which this slang was derived.

I offer the following from my Google search:
Nor’easter -- 27,900, Northeaster --11,300,
Nor’east -- 6,600, Northeast --7,120,000

Summary:
Total Nor’s 34,500
Total North’s 7,131,300

The North’s have it over Nor’s by margin of 207 to 1.

I rest my case.

Concerning NOAA of course they use slang but not the guy on the local NOAA weather station. But he has been replaced by a computerized voice. As for the WC weather clowns dancing around on camera, I would not consider them to be the ultimate authority on the English language.

Ok UK, I get the point, but here's mine - if a No'thEaster starts down here in the south, then we're free to call it whatever we wanna! Say yours with a Main accent and you get it "No'thEaster" say it with a southern accent you get "NorEaster" and since the folks at the WC are in Atlanta, that makes 'em a part of the Southern climate!

And at the NOAA Q & A page on this topic we have:

Q: What is a Nor'easter or Northeast Winter Storm?

A: From the Mid-Atlantic Coast to New England, the classic storm is called a Nor'easter. A low pressure area off the Carolina coast strengthens and moves north. Wind-driven waves batter the coast from Virginia to Maine, causing flooding and severe beach erosion. The storm taps the Atlantic's moisture supply and dumps heavy snow over a densely populated region. The snow and wind may combine into blizzard conditions and form deep drifts paralyzing the region.

Now notice how it says it is off the CAROLINA coast? So I'm sorry if it sounds too much like Norwester in your accent, but in ours it doesnt come close to sounding that way!

Hugs to you UK ;> (I'm sure some of my other NORTHERN bloggers will side with you so no worries!)

Jobs Jobs Jobs

Went to ESC today to fill out paper work for 3 more jobs. What's killing me is the experience part... I've had lots of jobs, just none in the catagory I went to school for. How the hell does a person get experience if someone wont fucking HIRE THEM!!!!

*deep breath*

Ok, so I filled out the paper work and they faxed it all off for me...and these 3 jobs? Well none of them pay more than 9.00 an hour. How much ya'wanna bet I never hear from them? Somedays you just have to ask yourself "Why bother?"

The answer is "because if I don't then I for sure will never get there."

On another note - my brand new home, this one that's one year and 1½ months old? Has a HUGE crack on one wall, it happened this week and the builder says we've past the year waranty date so he wont do anything. Asshole.

W.Va. House dress code neglects pants

W.Va. House dress code neglects pants But at the same time we have another story S.C. House dress code neglects pants with the exact same story. As far as I know both states have towns called Charlston... so which one is right?

Either way, I really don't want to see a bunch of pot bellied men going to work in a shirt, tie and tidy whities. Of course, I don't really think we need to worry about it. I don't think these same said men want to be seen dressed that way either.

Judge reportedly finds husband & mother dead

Justice was once target of white supremacist's death plot.

This is horrible. And yet the first thing that came to my mind was, "Damn I hope she didn't kill them." Most to the murders of spouses over the past decade has been done by the other spouse, so it's sad but I admit I've become desynthasized by this type of crime. But she wouldn't have killed her mom too right? I'm sorry, but I'm more worried that this doesnt bother me like it should than I am about who did it.

I keep hoping they will find the Florida girl, but I'm actually waiting for them to tell me they've found her body. And I'm angry that we don't get angry at people who can harm children like that. Why aren't we stringing them up? Doese the rest of the population feel as desynthesized as I do?