A Quick Picture Post!

The view from our friends' back deck in Placerville, CA. I don't think you can see the mountains over Lake Tahoe in this one, but they are there!

        Us in front of the American River, not far from where gold was found. 

 Apple pie wine? BRING IT ON! Can you tell that this is not our first stop of the day? 

  He looks natural there, doesn't he? This was at the Train Museum in Sacramento. I am the only one who wanted to go, but we ALL had a blast! 

How do I look at a school marm? 

Obligatory self-portrait in front of the Golden Gate! I LOVED San Francisco and would go back for the entire summer, every summer, if I could! 

But He Will Get Their Vote!

Of course, by now, we've all heard or read the words spoken in May by Mitt(ens) at a fund raiser in Boca Raton, FL. He obviously has no understanding of what I would term "real" life or "real" people and he certainly has no respect for those of us who were not born with a silver spoon in our mouths. That's who he is and it certainly has not come as a shock to me... did I really think he liked or respected ME? (Yes, female - so no, he doesn't). The part that I find shocking is that MANY of the same people he denigrated will still vote for him.

I, of course, am the protagonist, the Super Hero, the Cool Kid in my own story of my own life. That story that we all have churning around in our heads just waiting for a moment to share our adventures with new friends (or old ones who may be kind enough to listen again). I am certain that there have been bits and pieces of my personal history that I have accidentally re-written - I think many of us do. But, for the most part, I think that my version is closer to true than most of the people I know, personally. I've made mistakes. I've been mean or petty. I am human and I am OK with new friends (or old ones) knowing that. But maybe I have just convinced myself that the story in my head is true through a wonderfully convincing way with words? And pictures?

Maybe.

However, I know, right this minute, where I am in life. I can look back and be appreciative of the times when I needed a helping hand and received one. I can be thankful that I do not need a helping hand right this minute, but appreciate the fact that it should be available if I DO need it in the future.

I can appreciate the fact that I am covered by health insurance that is paid for by the tax dollars of others and wish that it was better and wish that everyone had this option!

I can say that if Social Security is not available when I turn 65 (or is 67? I am so confused), I will probably be working until it is available, even if it's only part time, because I started my retirement plan very late.

I can say that I have made mistakes, but that I am OK with them.  Some of them were pretty stupid and some of them were very stupid, but they have all combined to bring me to this exact time and place and it's a pretty great place!

What I do not understand, however, is how it is possible to have NEVER worked - not a single day - and complain about government handouts. What I do not understand is a disabled person who has not worked in YEARS, drawing social security disability, and still complaining about those nasty people who 'suck off the government.' What I do not understand is a person who lives off those so-called "entitlements" who thinks it is wrong for others to live off those so-called "entitlements."

The hypocrisy of the American people is astounding.

I had someone on Facebook tell me recently that yes, she is on Medicaid, but that is better than Obamacare! What?!?!!?

I have a cousin who has a degenerative eye disease who has not worked in YEARS complaining about the "those lazies who suck off the government teat."

What the F*CK?!?!

Work and life and life and work have taken it's toll on me this week, even to the point of  putting me behind in my schoolwork. So I shall do school work this weekend and will hopefully have another 'blog post up soon!

Will It Ever Stop? ***EDITED***

Let me answer my own question - NO!

Yesterday a group of anti-American terrorists breached the walls of the American consulate in Benghazi in Libya. The American ambassador and three others were killed.

There was also violence in Egypt at the U.S. Embassy where the U.S. flag was removed and the flag of Islam was put in its place, although I cannot find any mention of murder being committed there.

Why? Why now? Didn't we just help the Libyans to freedom? Didn't we stand beside them (or, fly our planes over their heads) so that they may be free? Why the sudden onslaught of violence?

"The mobs were set off by Egyptian media reports about a 14-minute trailer for the video, called “Innocence of Muslims,” that was released on the Web. The trailer opens with scenes of Egyptian security forces standing idle as Muslims pillage and burn the homes of Egyptian Christians. Then it cuts to cartoonish scenes depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a child of uncertain parentage, a buffoon, a womanizer, a homosexual, a child molester and a greedy, bloodthirsty thug.

The trailer was uploaded to YouTube by Sam Bacile, whom The Wall Street Journal Web site identified as a 52-year old Israeli-American real estate developer in California. He told the Web site he had raised $5 million from 100 Jewish donors to make the film. “Islam is a cancer,” Mr. Bacile was quoted as saying."

The Wall Street Journal identified this man as an Israeli-American, but according to NPR, Bacile identifies himself as "an Israeli Jew." And he is in hiding in case someone wants to come after him!! The worst kind of coward who can hide behind a camera and his alleged God and get people killed. Now he runs away with his tail between his legs.

I am sick over this. Wanton death and destruction. And of course there are those who blame the President.

Before the violence (according to MSNBC, although I cannot find corroboration) the U.S. State Department issued a press release stating:

"The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others."

So now the President is on another "apology tour" (Romney's words, not mine)

Let me tell you what I think of all of this.
#1. If Bacile (no, Mr. sorry that is a term of respect) wants to identify himself as an Israeli Jew, then he needs to move to Israel. Do not live in my country, cause the death of others using the Bill of Rights that many have died for and not identify yourself as an American.

#2. I cannot find proof that Terrie Jones (alleged preacher) of Gainesville, FL had a hand in promoting this film, but if he did, he needs to be jailed. His complete disregard for the lives of others (and this goes for Bacile also) should not be covered by the First Amendment's Freedom of Speech. That was never the point.

#3. I believe in our Constitution and I appreciate the Bill of Rights that allows me to have this 'blog and to make my thoughts and feelings known to the few of you who actually read it. It also allows me to look back over the last 6 years of my life, kind of like a journal, but I do not believe in absolute free speech.

In Schenck v United States, the Supreme Court held that:
"Words which, ordinarily and in many places, would be within the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment may become subject to prohibition when of such a nature and used in such circumstances a to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils which Congress has a right to prevent. The character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is done."

Which means you can't yell "Fire" in a crowded theater and you cannot (without penalty) create movies depicting the Prophet Muhammed as a whore.

This country loses its mind when Americans desecrete our own flag (if you remind me, I will try to share what I learned earlier this year in my art class re: the US flag). Who remembers the outrage over "The Last Temptation of Christ"? And the comdemnation over "The DaVinci Code"? Because both portrayed Jesus as non-celibate. How many people would lose their minds if Jesus were portrayed a whoring drunk of uncertain parentage?

No, we would not fire bomb someone's embassy.. well, most of us wouldn't. But a lot of that has to do with the fact that we are lazy. And D.C. is far away.

I do believe that those who created this nightmare should be charged with whatever we can throw at them. And Bacile does not want to endure an American prison, he can go to Israel and spend his old age there.

****EDITED*****

OK, I've calmed down and understand that we all have access to the First Amendment and this should probably be covered under it, even when it makes me mad. But I don't think that YouTube has to actually carry the movie and there is no reason for any company to distribute it!

Are You Going To Forget?

Today is Tuesday September 11, 2012.

Of course you know where you were the moment that you heard about a plane crashing into the World Trade Center eleven years ago today. I was carrying a computer down the hallway to return it to the office where it belonged after I had fixed it and someone told me. I called him a liar. I then walked into the office where the TV was on one of the morning programs to see the second airliner hit. Luckily I had already placed the computer on the desk or I probably would have dropped it.

There were not a lot of televisions around and the internet was flaky because everyone was trying to figure out what was wrong. We were all called together, told to go home, and call over the next few days to see when we could come back to work (I work on a military installation). As the systems administrator for the small network, I was almost the last to leave - there were things to do, to secure.

I wanted to take my son out of school and just hold him. I called my parents to tell them that I loved them (forgetting that my father had undergone surgery that morning, can you imagine waking up to that news?). I watched hours of TV that afternoon and long into the night.

It was a horrible, awful thing. The worst thing that has happened in my lifetime. Can anyone ever forget those horrors?  The rumors that were not true (I heard someone on the radio say that the FBI building in D.C. had been hit by a car bomb) and, worse, those that were?

This is a wound that probably will not heal for quite some time.

Yet, haven't we forgotten? Not the images of those who jumped, of the Towers falling, of those in NYC running away from that wave of dust, of the firemen raising the flag, of that giant, gaping wound in Manhattan. But everyday, we get up, go to work, move on, move forward, many of us lost no one, knew no one, sacrificed no one. And most of these United States has not sacrificed for what came afterwords.

The mourning gave way to war. The joy of coming together, of standing (metaphorically) shoulder to shoulder gave way to lies about Saddam Hussien. And instead of being asked to build a victory garden and given gas coupons we were told to go shopping and take vacations.

It was a horrifying day, but the months that came after were beautiful. Now that beauty (for me) has been tainted by the lies, the dead military members, the fact that this country could send men and women to war without any idea how to care for them if they returned home. And it has been further tainted this election year by the fact that no one seems to be able to admit wrong doing on the part of those who DID wrong.

So for the past two days I've seen that there are 9/11 retrospectives on TV and most of my friends have posted "I will never forget" pictures on Facebook - most of which are truly haunting and beautiful - and all I can this is, "What are you remembering?" Because I remember a country that stood, for just a brief, inspiring moment, together.

Bill Nailed It!

"In Tampa, the Republican argument against the President's re-election was pretty simple: we left him a total mess, he hasn't cleaned it up fast enough, so fire him and put us back in."

- Bill Clinton http://huff.to/RMIhV8

 

 

How many of us can agree that going BACK is not our idea of a good thing?

 

The Democrats took God out of their platform? OMG! Why was God IN their platform?

 

Tel Aviv is the capital of Israel, folks.

 

And, oh, didn't my First Lady look and sound like $1,000,000? Class comes from within and she has it by the bucketloads!

 

I hope that the President does a fine job tonight. I will be watching!

Halfway Through The First Class!

Happy Labor Day everyone! I am taking today completely off... I swear, I am NOT opening that text book... well, maybe for a minute!

Due to Hurricane Isaac (OK, due to the fact that stupid is everywhere!) we did not work last Tuesday. Keep in mind that seven years ago when Katrina was barreling through the Gulf it was business as usual because she wasn't heading HERE!! Neither was Isaac, but someone panicked! So I wasn't working, I had a mid-term to do, I figured I would knock it out and be able to enjoy my three day weekend.

I turned it in at 5:00 last night (Sunday). OMG! Fifteen questions. Essay questions. NOT short essays, mind you, FULL essays. Intro - 3 paragraphs - conclusion. That is a total of 75 paragraphs! And I was unable to work on it Thursday night because it was DSD's birthday. My brain still feels like mush!

But it is completed. And I am officially halfway through the first class of Grad school.

Obviously I was a little busy and did not watch the Republican Convention. Why bother? I can catch the important LIES the next day on the internet and "The Daily Show." I don't need to waste my time actually listening to the bozos speak. But I appreciate all of you who do so that I can read your commentary later.

Just over 60 days until the election. It's looking like a close one. I cannot imagine anyone except for rich white guys voting for R&R, but many will. Let's do all we can to ensure that Mitt fails at least as big as his father did!

Am I A Racist?

I don't think I am. I have never been accused of being one before. I feel that all are created as equal as can be and that race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation should not be a factor of how far a person can go. I also know that many do not believe that way.

On Friday, I posted the above picture on Facebook. It is appalling commentary. I'd never heard of this guy, but the fact that he was important enough for anyone to create a picture of him with his quote sickened me. That and the fact that he calls himself "Reverand" and I wonder how many women he is poisoning with this brand of hate.

After I posted I had to be away from the computer for about three hours. When I returned there were over 70 comments and many of them were hostile - seriously so. All of those commenting thought that this man's words were unacceptable (I would have immediately unfriended with any moron who dared to agree with him), but the ugliness came because the a commenter stated, "For a black man to say that is... well.. interesting."

Another friend declared that she was a racist to point out the color of the man's skin and that others in the GOP had said this and no one bothered to point out that their color. The commentary spiraled from there. Whitewoman tried to explain her comment. Blackman telling her exactly why she was wrong. Asianwoman jumping in with excellent information, but not understanding that Whitewoman and Blackman were conversing, thinking Blackman's comments were toward her. She kept trying to make herself heard and ended up sharing way to much, then she was embarrassed about her comments and left. Meanwhile I am receiving private messages from Blackman telling me that Whitewoman is a racist and why.

I do not understand how pointing out that women and African-Americans have something in common regarding voting rights is considered racist. Am I wrong? I was told that the fact that I do not understand why it is wrong makes me a racist.

In my mind those who have experienced discrimination should be more compassionate toward other groups that have experienced discrimination. So women, all races other than caucassion, religions other than mainstream, and those who are not heterosexual should work together to ensure equal rights for all of us. Had this man been homosexual (say - Neil Patrick Harris) I would have pointed out his homosexuality. I would have said, "I am appalled that a homosexual would say that about women's rights."

Am I appalled when a straight white guy makes those comments? Of course. Do I advertise that fact? Of course. And maybe my friend is correct that white men (who have really not experienced discrimination in any way to what other groups have - although some have been discriminated against) are held to a lower standard of understanding. I don't expect them to feel for those who have faced discrimination because they have no idea what it's like.

Does the fact that I probably would have made the same comment about being appalled that the quote was from a black man make me a racist? Does the fact that I am still fairly certain that my friend is being sensitive make me a racist?

I am heartsick over this. He and I have become very close and I feel like that closeness has disappeared. But I also feel that I have to be honest with him that I think he is over-reacting. Not everyone is a racist.

But maybe I am.

Number 500!!!!

After over 6 years, 2 degrees, and many unexplained absences, this is 'blog post #500. Wow.

I have a lot to say about the state of this country, but I am just so sad at this momeny. People are so incredibly dumb. Women who vote against the rights of their sisters. Men who are nasty about a President because he is in a different political party as they are... or has a different skin color.

According to sources Romney's last three commercials are total lies, but only Ms. Maddow's blog has the ability to point that out?  Several friends of mine got into a long discussion (yes, I mean fight) over this "news" on Facebook last night that the Obama campaign took in less than it spent in June. That is technically correct, but it made it sound like the campaign is in debt which is nowhere even close to the truth. And only read the comments if you have a strong stomach.

Akin (Missouri - legitimate rape)... I am not going there. I truly hope he stays in the race and gets clobbered.

There is no reason in this country at the moment. There is no intellectual curiousity. There is only hate and vitriol. Has it always been this way and I was so naive I missed it?

Is there any possibility that we can move toward the middle and become one country again? Do we want that? Can we forgive and move on? Should we even try to forget?

I feel that the future is bleak. Less so if President Obama is re-elected, but eventually another Republican will move into the White House and then what? A depression? An uprising? (That of course is IF there is not an attempt by the Virginia Republicans to start an armed rebellion if the President IS re-elected.)

Race. Equality. Rights. Has it all be for nothing? Are we doomed? Is this country doomed? It isn't 1776 anymore. If we go down, will anyone survive? Or am I being overdramatic? 

So I am sad. And a little scared.

But I truly hope that I am around for another 500 posts... at least.

More Rampant Racism

It is amazing to me that it always seems to be white men who swear that racism does not exist. Uneducated white men who cannot seem to find a decent job and swear that they are being discriminated against. Or (my favorite) the one who wanted to turn to the 'system' at some point in their life and could not - for whatever reason.

I cannot write on this subject with the eloquence though that Sheria does over on The Swash Zone. She is fighting it in every way she knows. I think a lot of the people (the one or two) who visit this site already read the stuff over there, but if you don't. PLEASE DO SO NOW.

I sent an email to the webhost that has the site that Sheria is talking about. If you can help, PLEASE.

We are all people. Human beings. Loved by someone. Created by the circle of life or God or the Olympians. The hate is never going away, but we can do everything in our power to combat it.

Hey Mitt(ens)! Did Anyone Try to Kill Your Daddy?

In January of 2003 (roughly) I arrived at work, checked my email, and then opened my internet browser. This was some time before my Facebook obsession and before I had ever heard of a 'blog, so my home page was CNN. CNN opened and the headline read, "He Tried to Kill My Daddy." I scanned the story and went to work and when I opened the browser again sometime later, the headline had changed.

I spoke to a friend on the west coast and told her about it. She swore I was nuts. I did a search (was I googling yet? Or still playing with Yahoo?) and I found... nothing. I searched CNN. Nothing.* And not long after the U.S. made a preemptive strike on Iraq where eventually Saddam Hussein was found and hung.

President George Herbert Walker Bush (aka Daddy Bush) was President at the time of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and after a 100 hour ground war, he came out of Desert Storm looking pretty good. High approval ratings. Lots of "Star Spangled Banner" singing. "HOO YAH AMERICA" ok, ok, and Russia, and Germany, and Great Britain... :-)

But much of America was not pleased by the fact that Daddy Bush didn't tell the coalition to go "Fox" itself (thanks to Jon Stewart that is my new swear word!) and just go right in and do a little Dirty Harry on Hussein. I mean, why not let Stormin' Norman just STORM on in there, right?

Why not indeed!

It was, of course, a UN mission, a UN coalition, and there were strict rules about the joint effort that included ONLY getting Iraq out of Kuwait, not Hussein out of Iraq. It was over! We won! Parades! Anthems! Let's not ever speak of Vietnam again....

But 12 years later, W is at the helm. And what does he have? He is a bit of an idiot. He's not as loved as his Daddy. He's not a war hero. He's not very bright, comparatively! So he goes on TV and announces that Saddam Hussein tried to kill his dad. And he works out a way to snow the American public into believing that Hussein is waiting around every corner wanting to blow up the town where YOU live! (You know, like he did the Twin Towers!)

Some fell for it. I can get sworn testimony from my husband that I DID NOT!! We invaded a sovereign nation on little or no intel, killed and wounded who knows how many, shoved the debt into the stratosphere and for what?

So W could prove that his pee-pee was bigger than his father's!

Mr. Charleston asked in the comments for the last post why Mitt Romney would want a job that is actual WORK, that only paid $400,000 a year and a lightbulb went off over my head.

Because his father was never elected President.

So maybe just being elected would get the monkey off of his back and he could go on to NOT attempt to kill off a generation of our young men? Or maybe we could all face nuclear annihilation if Daddy Romney was ever insulted by someone of Asian descent?

Either way. I don't need another crazy ass, something to prove cowboy in the White House! Let's stick with the team we've got!!

*I googled 'he tried to kill my daddy' and there are YouTube videos of W babbling BS. I am not linking to them though. Just the thought makes me feel slimy!

Week 2 - Day 2

I have officially been a grad school student for 1 week and 2 days and I am feeling an overwhelming sense of panic! I loved undergrad and I learned a lot, but I did kind of just skate through. I can write and most of what I was learning was just common sense. But grad school is NOT going to be like that.

Class #1 - Research Methods. Purpose: Write a research proposal.

I will be honest, I was a little smug before class started. I work with scientists who perform research. I am the Institutional Review Board Administrator, so I am required to take training on ethics in research and I probably know a lot of the definitions in the Code of Federal Regulations better than the professor who is teaching the class.

And you know what? That is not helping me formulate a hypothesis or figure out where to get the information from or HOW to get the information. And I do not actually have to perform research, just PROPOSE how I would go about it.

It will get better. I hope it gets easier. But I have a feeling I am not going to be spending as much time on Facebook as I have.

And I may disappear (again) around here. But hopefully (with the election heating up) I won't be gone as long or as often!

The Greatest?

I am not bad about sharing videos. I usually do not have time to watch them myself, and I always feel bad when anyone else posts videos and I just move on.

But watch this, please. If this is the ONLY video you watch this week, watch this one. It is about 3 1/2 minutes from the series of the new HBO show called "Newsroom." It's written or produced or something by the same man who did "The West Wing." Jed Bartlett never threw any punches and there are none thrown here.

And then let me ask you a question - why is the US the greatest country on earth?

Can My Son Catch a Break?

BabyBoy's current position was terminated this morning. He is heartbroken, because he was trying so damned hard. But he is a bit of a smartass and I guess his humor was unappreciated. Plus he pissed off someone from corporate headquarters several weeks ago by not being at the Front Desk (he was a desk clerk at a flea bag motel) when this person wanted into the office.

Except Gary (the brand new manager) had given BabyBoy permission to lock the office and make a couple of walks around the property each shift. It allowed BabyBoy to have an idea what was going on (flea bag motel = hookers and drugs) plus it gave him a little exercise. Of course Gary will not defend the kid, so he is now jobless.

His work history is not the most stellar. His last job sounded great on paper, but he ended up working almost no hours and receiving very little money - just enough to pay gas to get him back and forth to work. So he was unable to save any money or move forward. He's done summer work. He's lost more than just this current job. (Although he was not fired - technically, so he will be eligible for unemployment benefits).

It just doesn't make any sense. He had been part time (32 hours a week) for several months, but the last few weeks he has been working 40 (or more) while training his own replacement.

He spoke with a Navy recruiter last summer and then with an AF one in the spring. He was all set to join the USAF until allergies in April/May sent him to the doctor who dianosed allergy induced asthma. He had asthma as a child, but has not had any problems in YEARS. It is possible that he could make it through basic training with no problem, but if he had one.....

I am telling myself that this will just bring him something better, but it sounds hollow even to me.

God's Blessings? Or His Anger?

If you are on Facebook, you know about the "Notes" section where we each have something akin to our own personal 'blog. With something that Ahab posted about the right wing swearing that the shootings in Colorado being a sign of God's wrath, I was reminded of a note I wrote almost a year ago and thought it was pertinent to what is happening now.

Several months ago, I turned on the news briefly before going to bed and saw that Osama bin Laden had been found and killed. I felt no joy; I felt no sadness; I just felt that it was one more step in bringing home our men and women overseas. I told my son and went to sleep (on the couch because DSD was going through a horrible snoring phase). I was awakened sometime later (maybe 2 hours, but I don’t think so) by BabyBoy leaving the house and returning and he obviously was not happy so I got up to talk to him. We ended up having a very long conversation about the celebrations that were taking place across the United States but specifically in New York City and Washington, D.C. since the death of bin Laden. I do love it that my son is such a thoughtful, caring person and I am very proud of a lot of the things he said that night and how much I learned from him. I am not going into any details, but he made me think. A lot.

            Less than a week later I was talking to my cousin in Texas about this issue and she recommended that I read a book, “Unconditional: The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness” that she had just finished. She said it made her see the current events in a different light. Lucky for me, I tend to download any and all free books for my Kindle and I already had that one on there. I had to wait until after finals but I did start the book. It was very interesting, very informative and a lot more than I wanted to shove into my brain in the very short week I had between terms, so I only read about half of it. I will finish it though, because the little I read made me realize some of the things that I was doing wrong with my life. That while I have tried for years to live my life in a manner that Jesus would approve, I realized that I had some seriously deep-seated anger, and even hatred festering in my heart. It wasn't healthy. And some of it is still there, but I work hard to forgive those who have wronged me, because that is what I am called to do.

             The next break I had from school, I was looking through my Kindle for something to read and found, “The Divided States of America: What Liberals and Conservatives Get Wrong about Faith and Politics in America.” I thought it may help me understand the points of view of others and maybe to see what I was misunderstanding about the current culture clashes. I started it. I wasn’t terribly impressed to be honest, and I wanted to read something that didn’t cause me to use my brain quite so much. I think I read about 25% of it, but the message I received from the author was that Conservatives shouldn’t be quite so strident and unforgiving and Liberals are anti-God, anti-religion, anti-love, fairly stupid and driving God out of America because we support marriage equality and a woman’s right to choose. The main theme though, was that God has blessed America because America has always followed God’s teachings and that if America continued to disrespect God by allowing abortions and marriage equality, God will probably remove His Blessings.

            About a week ago a friend posted this as her status on Facebook:

             “Ok, been reading in the OT book of Ezekiel which talks about the destruction of nations

that do not fear God. One of the notes said this: “There is no permanence apart from God, even for a great society with magnificent culture and military power". Does that not sound like the United States?”

             I asked, “Are you saying that the United States is apart from God and that this will cause our destruction?” She said yes and there was more discussion and the combination of all four of these incidences has been weighing on my mind. I cannot speak for my friend, but I truly believe that if I asked her she would name abortion and marriage equality as two of the things that are keeping us apart from God.

             So this is the message that I have received. #1. Retribution is acceptable and it is even acceptable to celebrate loud and long after killing someone who has caused harm. #2. Liberals hate God and God hates Liberals. #3. If we allow marriage equality and defend a woman’s right to make her own personal medical decisions, even if that means she may have an abortion, the U.S. is headed down the path to Sodom and Gomorrah.  (And in

case anyone cares, I spelled that correctly on the first try!) So with these thoughts in mind, let’s take a look over the past almost 520 years since dear ol’ Chris arrived on the hallowed shores of this great continent and see what

was done to receive God’s blessings, shall we?

             First we have almost the complete and total annihilation of all of those living in what is today Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, and Puerto Rico. No, it wasn’t all on purpose, some were killed by airborne pathogens that they had no immunities to, but it may have been the lack of food, clean clothes, and overwork on top of the chicken pox, measles, mumps and whatever else was unknowingly carried on the Nina, the Pinto and the Santa Maria. Then there is the move into what is today the United States of America and Canada. The French actually weren't horrible to the Native Americans in Canada, much, because they needed them and it was damned cold up there. But in the Carolinas? Georgia? Florida? Anyone remember that really great trip the Cherokee were taken on? The Trail of Tears!

             During all of this, of course, there was the slave trade. Yes, I know that many who were brought to the States were already slaves of other tribes in Africa. Did that make those who were brought here feel better? Did that make it right? Murder, rape, beatings, and selling family members away from each other were a Godly thing to do?      What about the complete and total subjugation of women? “Well now we have a complete and total breakdown of the American family where there are no fathers and women choose to have babies on their own and some of the time HOMOSEXUALS adopt/have children.” Well THEN women were brood mares with no freedoms, no choices, no options who could be forced to marry by her parents. Children were not taught to think for themselves (I know some still aren’t) and beatings were fairly regular, for both of them. And would you rather have a lovely same sex couple

raise your child or have them grow up in an orphanage as was the norm for a very long time? Because a loving family is all a child in the system will ask for and I am ok if that family is comprised of two moms or two dads.

              And even after slavery was finally stopped, the Native Americans were pushed and shoved off lands they had been given by the U.S. government, because gold, or oil, or something was found on it. Black people were still treated as second class citizens and paid less for doing the same job as the white man (if the black man could find work) and women were still chattel.

             Since the end of the Revolutionary War the cry to “go West, young man” was loud and

proud and YEA! MANIFEST DESTINY. It is God’s will.

             And there were more Indians murdered for their lands and then the Spanish in Texas and California and Cuba. As we “helped” those “savages” who had no idea how to live, how to govern, how to rule, how to sow and reap the “correct” way. Not to mention that many of the Spanish were “PAPISTS” and they didn’t worship God and Jesus in the correct way. As American boys murdered 250,000 Filipino men, women, and children in our bid to “help” those Islands because they were not bright enough to help themselves. (Those were the lucky ones, by the way, the dead. The non-dead women? Let’s not talk about them.) 

Some of the atrocities committed throughout the last 5 centuries make Abu Ghraib look like a family vacation.

             So for the last five centuries America has been close to God, blessed by Him, and NOW we are apart? Now abortion, and marriage equality, and women having brains and lives, and the removal of state sanctioned prayer from the schools and football games are going to cause our destruction?

Then so be it.

A Most Depressing Friday

BabyBoy was, of course, at the midnight premiere last night of "The Dark Knight Rises." He is a huge Batman/Dark Knight/Nightwing fan. Probably my fault for allowing his obsession to grow at age 4 and ensuring he had all of the latest toys. And the sheets, comforter, and curtains. He is now 23 and has different ones, but still sleeps on Batman sheets and has a Batman blanky. And my heart hurts for those others, half a continent away, who were probably just like him - counting down the days until the release of this movie, dressed up in costume to attend, talking about it for the last 6 month - who are now gone. Whose obsession has been cut down just like their lives.

What the fuck?

Is there anything to be said that has not? Anything that was not said after the rash of school shootings in the 90s? Anything that was not said after Ms. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head and others surrounding her killed?

How does some kid in his early 20s have possession of an AK47?

AN AK47!

I am certain that representatives of the NRA are Aurora bound already. I am certain that someone will speak eloquently about the 2nd Amendment and the nation's right to bear arms. When does someone speak eloquently of the nation's right to attend a freaking movie in the middle of the night and come home safe? When does someone speak about a parent's right to take or allow their child to attend a movie and know that the child will leave the theater alive?

I fear drunk drives, or BabyBoy falling asleep at the wheel at 3 am (he was less than 5 miles from the house), or, CHRIST, an earthquake - really. Who imagines your child, spouse, sibling, parent being shot while watching a movie?

A friend from my hometown lives in Aurora, CO. Her 17 year old daughter did not attend last night's premiere, although I am not certain why not, because she had tickets.

Her friends attended though. And all survived. So far.

Must we fight gunfire with gunfire? Are we destined to return to the violent time when everyone was armed? Because I am considering buying a nice little pink handled gun and applying for a concealed weapons permit. ME! And I am anti-gun! I am PRO GUN CONTROL.

But I am also sick of the senseless violence.

And The Bullshit Kept Rolling!

That stupid sheriff in Arizona held a press conference yesterday and it is available to watch on the web. Someone linked to it on Facebook. I did not watch it and I am not going to link to it here. Sorry folks, the guy is crazy and the publicity is not helping and do not tell me that he is doing all of this investigating on his own damned time. Tax dollars are being wasted, but that is different, of course, and more important than spending them on health or education, just as it has always been more important to fund wars and not humanitarian aid.

I am so sick of it already and the closer we get to November the uglier it is going to get.

#The Birther Movement is a live and well, although the courts are battling against it from what I have seen.

#Allen West (yay! Florida) is allowed to stand up in public and claim that over 80 House Democrats are COMMUNISTS and his fund raising efforts are through the roof!

#Rush Limbaugh is allowed to make fun at the President's Ivy League (read - progressive) education and  no one dares correct him and remind him that all of the Bush boys and Mitt Romney were educated by Ivy League colleges.

#Facts are debated as 'theory' and trying to discuss anything that is based in fact receives as much commentary as the proverbial cricket.

I am reading "The Crucial Decade - American 1945 - 1955" at the moment. A friend recommended it many months ago and I have not taken the time to read it before now. It is very interesting and it is allowing me to brush back up on some of my history classes, but what I am getting out of it is that the right has won. We have returned to the lovely hallowed ground of the early '50s - before African-Americans and women had rights - before Vietnam - before the horrors of the growing debt crisis - because on almost every single page I can hear Rush, Allen West, John Boehner (why may actually be Robert Taft reincarnated). But most Americans (and certainly none on the right) are going to read this book. Most Americans are going to watch Fox News, listen to Rush, and google Sheriff Dipshit of Arizona for their entertainment.

I tried to figure out how to move to Australia, but they have no interest in my degree in American Politics.

I wonder if Canada would take me?

Econ 101

I took macro and micro economics in the summer of 2008, back when I thought I was going to be an accountant when I grew up. After those classes and Accounting 101, I decided that my future was going to take a different path.* But I took those classes and I received A's in them. But they did not actually stick too closely (I purged them as soon as the classes were completed and grades were in!). So I have a couple of questions from those who may know/remember/understand these things better than I.

If I am a small business owner, is it not true that I will be paying taxes on my 'net' income and not my 'gross' income? (Provided of course that I do not ship any of my income to Switzerland or the Cayman Islands and pay taxes on everything that I should).  So if I get a nice little government aided start up loan and rent a building for a boutique, buy inventory, pay the bills, etc all with that start up loan (making the loan payments, of course) and at the end of the first year, after all bills are paid, I have a profit of $75,000 then that is all I have to pay taxes on, right? Am I correct so far?

So in Year 2, business picks up and I need to hire a cashier for the afternoons. $10/hour - 20 hours/week for some future fashionista after school. And my profit is $100K for that year, am I now allowed to take that almost $11K off the top of my profit? Instead of paying taxes on the $100K that I made (after paying rent, untilities, loan payment, merchandisers), is it not correct that I would pay taxes on just over $89K? BECAUSE AN EMPLOYEE IS A TAXABLE DEDUCTION?

Looking at it even closer, that employee is going to cost me more than the $11K in salary, are they not? Medicare and social security matching? Unemployment insurance and Workers Compensation? So wouldn't it be closer to the truth to say that I would be able to deduct maybe $15K for that ONE employee?

So whether my tax rate is 20%, 50%, or 90% I am not paying taxes on the salaries and benefits that my employees are receiving?

I know that this is simplistic and I know that there are other factors and facts involved, but I am trying to ensure that I have an actual grasp on this subject before I make an ass of myself!

And if you stop by and do not leave a comment explaining why I am wrong, my reputation as an ass will be your fault!

*I have great respect for accountants, because they got through all of those boring classes. Of course they would probably shudder at my adoration of classes like "Beauracy - The 4th Branch" also. It takes all kinds.

Not My Imagination

My last two posts were about what I perceive as the rampant racism that has reared its ugly head in this country since Barack Obama was elected President. I am thankful that, while raised in the deep, dark south, I was not raised to be a racist and any attempts to change my beliefs have failed. (My ex was not a racist when we married and he was active duty - or he hid it well - but after spending a few weeks in our hometown he returned with an 'us vs. them' mentality.)

I am told (quite often) that I 'throw the race card' with no thought. That bringing up race is my first, instead of my last, idea to counter an argument. So while I found this article over at Fallenmonk disheartening and disturbing, it was a huge relief to realize that it's NOT just me. Others see what I see. Others understand that the recent assaults on women, on the poor and middle class, on the sick and homeless are bad, but our descent into the Southern Plantation mindset is truly happening and things are going to get worse instead of better.

I considered (and am still considering) posting the link to my Facebook page. I am not expecting anyone to actually read it or comment on it. I can get almost 200 comments on my status update of "W00T! It's Constitutional!" But I have seen almost nothing on my posts about the TB breakout here in Florida, or about Gov Nikki Hailey's comments about the sympathy that South Carolina has for rape victims, but there just isn't any money  to help those same victims (both links are above).

I am sad about what is happening in this country. I am appalled that the Republican party spent two years trying to pick anyone but Romney but now they have jumped onto his bandwagon in a manner that tells me they have NO IDEA what or who they are supporting - what or who they will be voting to implement. As someone who was not necessarily a John Kerry fan, I can understand voting against someone, but I could tell you why I was voting against W. Do people know why they are voting against Obama? Do they not see the what has happened in the history of this country?

"For most of our history, American economics, culture and politics have been dominated by a New England-based Yankee aristocracy that was rooted in Puritan communitarian values, educated at the Ivies and marinated in an ethic of noblesse oblige (the conviction that those who possess wealth and power are morally bound to use it for the betterment of society). While they've done their share of damage to the notion of democracy in the name of profit (as all financial elites inevitably do), this group has, for the most part, tempered its predatory instincts with a code that valued mass education and human rights; held up public service as both a duty and an honor; and imbued them with the belief that once you made your nut, you had a moral duty to do something positive with it for the betterment of mankind. Your own legacy depended on this."

This does not sound like Mitt - raised rich, bullied in school, no respect for the family dog, the workers who depended on him, or his own beliefs. Mitt is all about Mitt. When did that happen in this country? Can it be stopped?

Let's Pretty Things Up, Shall We?

I am from the south. Even though I was born and raised in NW Florida, my little hometown is so close to the Florida/Alabama border that there is almost no difference in the two. Sure Florida's peninsula is a little more enlightened than the area I still live in, but, not much! (Marco Rubio - 'nuff said) But somewhere along the lines, I developed a soul, a conscience, I don't know what so that I understand that judging others on the basis of their appearance, their beliefs, their lifestyle is not acceptable. (I am not trying to say I learned this on my own, my parents did raise me to believe that all people are equal) Many who still live in that little hometown are still horrible racists although they hide it behind the birther issue (dead giveaway in my eyes), or their belief in a 'free' America.

But to come across two separate articles on the same blasted day about the rampant racism of the south makes me wonder if we have not started some space/time reversal process. I just posted about the 'church' service that was restricted to white 'christians' only and now:  “an awful lot of made-up criticism about, for instance, the founders intruding on the Indians or having slaves or being hypocrites in one way or another," Tennessee has decided to 'help' history by, well, changing it. Or at least whitewashing (pun not intended but it works).

Early in 2011 the TEA BAGGERS in Tennessee made some  suggestions  demands of the newly elected Legislators - to "fix" history so that the founders didn't appear so mean.  This occurred in other states (Texas) as well, but it did not go very far in Tennessee, but HEY! They're back.

OK, to be truthful even the 2nd link is six months old, but I missed it then.

Either way, attempts are being made across this nation to stop teaching the truth of history, at least as far as we know it. In Texas. In Tennessee. Probably in Georgia and Alabama and Florida.

It is disturbing on more levels than I can even comprehend.

Just For the White Folk

Two days ago we celebrated the 236th birthday of America. Of that fateful day when colonists became rebels and staged a full blown war for freedom. Yes, freedom of white men ONLY, but somewhere in my mind things were getting better. Slavery has been abolished for years. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. There is a man in the White House who is not white. Shouldn't we be further along than THIS?

In Guin, AL a church put out flyers inviting all "White" Christians to the celebration of our nation's birth. KKK membership NOT required (although it's OK if you have one). And when things are all said and done?  "Sacred Christian Cross Lighting Ceremony"

But they aren't burning a cross, you understand, they are just.... well... BURNING A FRIGGING CROSS.

Many of the residents of Guin (according to the story) are appalled and many of the commenters are also, yet I bet sometime tonight (celebration started Wednesday and concludes today with that, yes, cross burning) many will gather in the name of the Great White Hope or some such nonsense.

I am seriously sickened by this nonsense.

A New Work Computer!

I have always done most of my postings from work. I think about them off and on for the morning and write them up at lunch... or before if it is really important. I get my work done, so it has never been an issue.

So part of the reason that my blogging has slacked off over the last couple of years is that as technology advanced my computer system at work did not. Yes, I am still on Internet Explorer 7.0. Is that crazy or what? At home I use Google Chrome, but before I switched to that I was on IE 9.

So I have a lot of difficulty making comments on the posts of others even when I do visit them. I can't even see the entire posting menu (yesterday's linkage was a lot of guesswork) and I wouldn't mind a "New Blogger Look" but there is no way to figure out how to do that.

But tonight, while I sleep and dream this piece o' crap (it's not really, but it seems like it) will disappear and on Thursday when I return to work a brand new machine will be in place!

Hopefully it allows me to 'blog more, comment more, and, you know, work more efficiently!

A Facebook Discussion - Retold

Early yesterday (Sunday 1 July 2012) morning the lovely Lola had to GO! We normally get up anywhere from 5:30 - 6:30 am during the week, but she is good about letting me sleep later on the weekends. DSD worked late on Saturday night, so I waited up for him and was late getting to bed and I was not ready to be awake at 8. But I had no choice. I took her out, got her breakfast, and settled in to see what exciting stuff had happened during the night with all 347 of my 'friends.' (I have no idea how I ended up with that many friends - it makes me nuts!)

Immediately I was informed that the USDA was promoting 'Food Stamp Parties' to get the entire United States of America into the Food Stamp program to ensure our continued dive into that horror known as socialism. With no preceding comment, my friend Gigi, posted this link. It's another 'blog. Someone's opinion about how we are all going to die. I Googled "food stamp party" and found links only to other 'blogs and, that lovely bastion of bullshit, Fox.

I asked how and why this lovely 'blog was shared with no corresponding links to the allegedly pamphlet about these parties and I was informed that THIS WAS ON THE NEWS. Want to guess which channel? Because none of the mainstream media was carrying it. I could not even find it on Heritage, as much as I hate even looking there.

I did go to the USDA site and discovered that there is a program in place to encourage the elderly to see if they qualify for food stamps. Florida's pilot program? Began in 2002. Of course while W was in office and during the time he was telling us to shop and don't worry about all those children he was planning to murder in that little place in the Middle East called Iraq. And his little brother was governor of my beloved state. Damn radicals! I provided the link for her, but she suddenly became busy with the new grandbaby. But first she provided me with a link to Fox (I have it if you want to see it) about a new radio commercial ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO FOODSTAMPS.

I could not find any other links to this so I did watch the YouTube Fox provided. Of course YouTube is visual, so Fox so kindly added some visual to the nice lady talking about how she was feeling so much better now that she was eating nutritionally sound meals - and I cannot make myself watch it again to tell you about the visuals, but I think they were perfectly healthy Americans taking advantage of the system. You know, instead of people like my aunt who worked hard her entire life, raising 4 children on her own for years (she left the bastard who fathered said children after discovering he was a child molester!), who was struck with a debilitating eye disease in her mid-30s and has been on social security disability for almost 30 years. She is not on food stamps. She has her pride, you know! (She also has my parents who take her half of everything they grow in their garden).

My aunt would be better off if she was receiving food stamps. (I am not begrudging her anything my parents do for her, she is a wonderful lady, but I am concerned about the stress of it killing my mother!) 

Many elderly and disabled people would be better off receiving the tiny bit for food provided by the state.

But this, my friends, is something that must be avoided at all costs! Stop letting the government interfere in our lives! LET'S TAKE A STAND AND KICK OBAMA OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

The uninsurable with insurance. The elderly and disabled with food. Women being allowed to make their own medical decisions and receive equal pay for equal work. When will it end?

When they put a Republican back in the White House.

I'm sad about the stupidity that is rampant. I'm sad about the hate that is everywhere.

It's Constitutional!

What a relief! 5 - 4 the Supreme Court of the United States has upheld the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) to be Constitutional. My Facebook is exploding with anti-Obama comments, some pulling out the so-called 'death panels' and other crap that was proven to be false before the law ever passed. I am starting to rethink some of these people on my friends list.

The individual mandate, which was the crux of the constitutionality question, was declared legal but NOT using the Commerce clause. According to Justice Kennedy (paraphrasing here) Congress has the right to levy taxes and it is under that right that the mandate can be upheld. If a person chooses to purchase health insurance they are given a tax break, but a person choosing to not purchase health insurance will be taxed to pay for their care.

I have been a nervous wreck about this one, especially after the Citizen's United ruling was upheld earlier this week. I am thrilled and overwhelmed that the Supreme Court has upheld this law. It does not affect me personally at this time, thanks to DSD's Navy retirement we are covered under Tricare, but I have been that person. I have had to decide between decent food and prescriptions for my child because we could not afford healthcare with a 3 year old with asthma - IF we could have found someone to cover us.

Today is a wonderful day for our country and for so many people who are able to find coverage with a pre-existing condition or to cover a child with a pre-existing condition.

Tonight I shall raise a glass to those 5 who were smart enough to know that this is the best thing for our country and the people in it.

Juneteenth....

"Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth,and is recognized as a state holiday or state holiday observance in 41 states of the United States," according to my friend, Tracy. Just another example of an important piece of our nation's history that is not really taught in our schools. "It marks the day in 1865 when slaves in south Texas first heard news about the Emancipation Proclamation, more than two years after their freedom had been proclaimed." Of course in Florida's schools if it isn't tested on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) it really isn't important - and there is no history or government questions on the test. Yes, our graduates could be stars on Jay Leno's Man on the Street interviews... showing everything they do not know!

I've missed so much and I have many opinions about all of it, of course. Apparently Florida has done something correctly by the court's declaring that George Zimmerman (and his wife!) are liars and throwing him back in jail. If you perjure yourself once, does that make it impossible for you to even testify in court in the future? I mean, if I am willing to lie about money, won't I obviously lie about the killing of another human being?

Poor Wisconsin - I was on vacation (more about that later) so missed all of the news leading up to and after the election, but WHAT HAPPENED? I read somewhere that the people voted him back in because their only other choice was almost as bad - was that the issue? Someone (besides Florida's Tricky Rick) is worse than Scott Walker?

Arizona didn't fall for the TEA Bagger's BS though, so that is nice. It would be such a slap in the face of Ms. Giffords if her pain and suffering was further exacerbated by electing someone who stood for everything she opposes!

The economy is still pretty horrible. We are doing alright, but so many are not. The foreclosures are still growing, the unemployment is not shrinking, and many programs are going broke. Greece has been on the verge of defaulting. Great Britain's unemployment for those just graduating high school is (don't quote me) something like 30%. Are there any answers? Is the entire world crashing down upon our shoulders? I mean it has to be all the Liberal politics, right, because even the ultra-liberal Australia is.... well, they are doing GREAT!!! Hmmmm, what is the secret? The recession hit them just as it did the rest of the world, what has Australia done differently that their government may show an actual surplus next year (2013?). Did they take austerity even further than Greece has? HELL NO! They raised freaking taxes and SPENT money on government programs to put people back to work. Seems like there is a certain President who has been trying to do that for over 3 years.... yet his programs are failing? Horseshit!

On a more personal note, DSD and I spent an amazing  8 days (10 if you count travel) in Calfornia. El Dorado county, where the wine was good. Sacramento where we enjoyed the Train Museum and Old Sacramento and 2 1/2 days running around San Francisco trying to DO IT ALL. We failed at doing everything, but we had a great time! (Pictures... no, REALLY... will be forthcoming)

And yesterday the lovely FedEx man brought my diploma! It's REAL! I will try to get a picture of that up also.

I am trying to catch up with all of you, but it is slow going! I hope to be back in less than a month!

Happy Juneteenth!

My B.S. is COMPLETE!

It makes me laugh to call it my B.S. (Bachelor of Science) degree.

But this afternoon I turned in my LAST assignment for my undergrad degree in Political Science (with an American history minor) at Troy University.

I cannot even express my excitement about having the entire summer with NO homework! I will be starting my Masters in Poli Sci in the fall.

But, for now, I am going to bask in this lovely feeling of accomplishment.

I returned to school in the spring of 2003, so it has taken me a while (and three different majors) to find my niche. I think this is it!

Now what am I supposed to do?

Twelve Days (Or Less) To Go!

Just popping really quickly, instead of reading about St. Thomas Aquinas, because WOW! Boring!

I am taking "International Conflicts" and "Medieval Europe" this term. I am enjoying conflicts, although the textbook author is a bit, shall we say, Pompous? But the other students are great and we have had some very interesting discussions. I have ONE more discussion board post in that class and I am DONE!

"Medieval Europe"? NOT my favorite class ever. I just don't care. All sorts of Catholic... stuff. I mean really, it wasn't like the average joe had books written about him in the 3rd through 13th centuries, just the Kings and the Popes. I think it would be a decent class if I took it in a real classroom with real discussion with other students, but I am not. So... I am struggling! I have a paper due Sunday, 2 more discussion board posts AND the final.

I am so READY!

In other news, BabyBoy and I (with another friend) marched in Tallahassee on 28 April in the Unite Women March against the War on Women. There were some really great speakers there and BabyBoy came home with a better understanding of what we are facing. (Because he tunes me out when I try to talk to him. He knew there were issues but not how widespread they are!)

Two days before that I turned 45!

We had a lovely visit with DSD's daughter in mid-April and the precious grandson and I am hoping that they will be back in July.

And we have a 10 day vacation planned to California in June where we may or may not see the LittleMan graduate... another entire post!

But George Zimmerman was arrested (step 1) although I am not a lawyer (wish I played one on TV), I am not completely comfortable with the Murder 2 charge. I think manslaughter would almost guarantee a conviction. It will be quite a while, of course, before it comes to trial.

My garden is covered with weeds, but my parents' is producing and we are hoping to pickle some green beans over Memorial Day weekend (when I will be relaxing without worrrying about HOMEWORK!) and pick, shell, and freeze black-eyed peas!

I cannot comment on your lovely posts due to the fact that here at work I still have Internet Explorer 7. Sigh. But I will be around to see how everyone is!

The Death of a Child....

Is there anything more horrific than the thought of burying your child? I cannot even breathe at the thought as I sit here putting off icing the cupcakes I have lovingly prepared for BabyBoy's 23rd birthday tomorrow. (How did that happen so FAST?)

DSD and I went to visit his parents last weekend - about an hour from Sanford, FL. We arrived on Thursday afternoon and there was a large rally being held requesting justice for Trayvon Martin. Thousands were shown on the news. Thousands of mostly black people. (Y'all know I really wanted to be there, right?) I was dumbfounded by the comments of my completely non-racist in-laws. Things like "There's going to be trouble there." "That is so not a good idea." "They are just asking for trouble." WHAT?!?!? A child is dead. Justice should be sought!

Then there is the girl who I befriended when we were in class together about a year and a half ago, who seems to think it is her duty to remind us all that jumping to conclusions is not a good idea. She has gone from someone I thought was a card carrying Democrat to some crazy gun-toting, planning to vote for any Republican who runs because she hates Mexicans. (I have Republican friends, I just like to know what I am getting myself into.) The thing that makes me the MOST nuts (and she is a blog post all by herself) is that she keeps telling ME that she understands these things because she is majoring in Political Science. HELLOOOO! She is also more than a year away from graduation. I am (in case I forgot to mention it today) 6 weeks and 6 days away!

Trayvon Martin was a typical 17 year old - obsessed with girls and getting by. But also by the overwhelming thought of college, the future, and life. And all of that is now gone. Justice has NOT been done in this case. A child is dead and someone should be charged in that death. Preferably the man who followed him and then pulled the trigger.

I have more... but I have cupcakes to ice. I am very thankful that I can celebrate my child's birthday tomorrow. RIP Trayvon.

I Miss You All!!!

I know that I have been a mostly absent blogger for the last, OH! eight to ten months and I hate it. There are a couple of reasons for that. At work they only update our software once every two or three YEARS and we are still running Internet Explorer 7. So this means that I can read your blogs, but I cannot comment on them. I finally got so frustrated that I stopped reading!

But work keeps me busy - and they aren't paying me to blog there. And then there is school! Spring Break started today after I turned in my final paper. It was a fairly impressively written discussion on how the Tuskegee Syphilis Study plays into the federal regulations required today for those attempting to do research with humans involved. Exciting stuff! (It was pretty fun, really, but I am a dork!)

I have the next 9 days of allowing my brain to do nothing more strenuous than watch The Walking Dead (and do you all LOVE that show as I do?), read a couple of lame novels, and, well, work. It does pay the bills. After that I have NINE more weeks of school! NINE! And the lovely graduation! I do not mind telling you, I am so ready!

I am taking the entire summer off to let my brain decay before I start my Masters in the fall! I hope to catch up with all of you either over the next week or over the summer.

And, in case you care, I am paying close attention to the climate in this country and it is UGLY! Headed to Tallahassee on April 28th to march in protest against the Republican war on women. There is a march planned for your state capital also!!