Calling for Actual Reform

I have not had the time, the energy, or the inclination to read every single draft of the health care bill that has come out of both houses. Who has that much time? I have been lucky to read 1/4 of the news articles on the subject. But, even with the little bit I have read and understood, I am pretty sure this is not what I signed on for.

I wanted health care to be reformed. I wanted every single person living in the United States to have access to health care, from birth to death, and I didn't want them to have to give up their retirement for it... or sell their souls.

As I said, I have not had a lot of time, so if I am wrong, please let me know, but my understanding is that the reform that is coming through Washington is going to allow the insurance companies to get richer and will not change how the poor accesses care.

If this is true, this is not Change I can believe in.

Happy Holidays

From our House to Yours! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Hanukkah! Or just Please Enjoy Your Time Off!

The News Is Overwhelming

It makes me sad that I have spent the last 4 months with my head stuck in books attempting to get a degree in Political Science and I have had almost 0 opportunity to figure out what is going on in this country politically.

One of the classes I took Term 2 (Oct - Dec) was State and Local Politics. It was a tough class, but I really enjoyed the way the instructor taught it. It has to be difficult to try to actually teach an online class, I think. So, we had weekly quizzes which guaranteed that we read the chapters. I learned quite a bit about the actual processes used in different states, about different state constitutions and that I need to start paying closer attention to what is happening locally, because there is probably more I can do there. One of the requirements of the class was to attend, and write a report on, a local meeting. I chose the Bay County Commission Meeting of 3 Nov. It was interesting. It was also held in the brand new Bay County Government Center, with almost no one there. Where did this money come from, I wonder? This room would have held several hundred people and it was NICE. Maybe I should run for county commissioner if I ever graduate? It is a part time job and pays more than I am making now.

The brand new library was right next door. I knew this was being built, because the old one had leaking walls and the books were being ruined. I didn't know it was going to as big as it is or as nice. It is a library. Why does it need huge glass windows? In hurricane country? I looked for a picture or link online, but couldn't find one. Shouldn't they be proud of this monstrosity?

My tax dollars are wasted every single place they are touched, not just on a federal level. Isn't that just great?

Free At Last!

Well for a few weeks anyway. I have been so busy and so stressed out and so tired, is anyone actually still out there? I haven't posted anything in almost 2 months! I have apparently started many posts since August, but have never had time to finish them, CRAZY!!

I turned in my final last Thursday night. Grades were due in yesterday, so they should be posted on the Troy website. I do not even have the guts to look. I did have A's in both of my classes, but I am not sure that I did very well on either final exam, so I am scared to look. Maybe after Christmas.

DSD is still out of work. He is looking, but no one is hiring. He has an interview this afternoon. Another one. Apparently he is #1 on everyone's list, but no one has any money.

His daughter did bring a little happiness to our lives by making us grandparents at the end of September. Grandparents! Crazy. I have pictures, but they are at home and I am at work. She has brought us an entire new family, because her... well, we'll call him husband, is a widower with 2 daughters ages 10 & 13. The baby is precious (we saw them in Nashville in November) but he is, you know, kind of a blob. The girls have well-developed personalities! They know how to behave in social situations! They can speak (and write) English! Correctly! Spelling words! Correctly!

I know it is crazy to be so excited about the fact that my 13 year old grand daughter can spell but my 15 year old step son can not. And many, many, many of the people I am taking classes with are having a little difficulty. I don't many accidently putting in "to" for "too" I mean putting in "pitchers" for "pictures" and writing the way they would speak, instead of correctly. It makes me insane! Hmmm, so maybe I will still get A's because I can write using correct grammar?

How is everyone in BlogLand (I did see squeeze in time to take BabyBoy to see "ZombieLand" Incredibly stupid! I loved it)? I hope your lives are not as crazy and stressed out as mine is. So much happened since the start of Term 1 that I couldn't possibly get it all into one post. So I wanted to say Hi and I'm back temporarily and then maybe throw in some more posts between now and the time school starts back in January.

I really do have pictures: Lola, grandchildren, Nashville, Opryland, Florida Gators, Me, new & improved with short hair.

Soon, I promise!

Really Quick

Hello!! I hope everyone is well. I am well. Just insanely busy. Still.

Term 1 is completed. I managed 2 A's and 1 B. That World Politics class was TOUGH. I am really lucky I got a B, I think.

Into the 2nd week of Term 2. Working my butt off. I keep thinking I am going to have a stroke or something, but I keep getting up and going to work and going home, cooking dinner, studying and sleeping. Wow.

This weekend, I have 3 papers due on Sunday for ONE class (assignments in the other class are completed and turned in) and DSD and I are leaving in the morning for Starkville, MS to watch UF play @ Mississippi St. I figure I can write the papers (2 are started) on the way and type them on his laptop on the way home. I hope.

Keeping a close eye on the President. I want the rest of the TARP money to go toward healthcare. I don't think bailing out anyone else is a good idea, but I do like the idea of capping salaries for those businesses who have not paid the taxpayers back. Is that legal?

Why is Glenn Beck still allowed on the air? I have emailed and called sponsors. I have complained. How does anyone with a brain believe the lies on put out by the hate mongers? Sad state our country is in.

Trying to eat healthier, less processed food. It is more work to PLAN the meals, but not really to cook them. I spend a lot of time on FoodNetwork.com.

That isn't all, that isn't even CLOSE, but I have to shut down the computer and get out of here for a doctor's appointment. Maybe I will have a minute before the end of the month?

I Asked you NOT to say anything

I need some advice from anyone stopping by here.

In this morning's stupid, "let's all get along" meeting the boss (who was on speaker phone) began to give her opinion on the current President and his administration. I (loudly) asked her NOT to give her opinion, explained that I leaned left and that I had voted for this President. She then went on to say she didn't like this administration, she felt it was not doing a good job and she didn't like democrats. She got off the phone shortly after that and I left the meeting.

WTF?

I have just gone several rounds with an employee who steals time and who does not do her job and lost. I do not know that I have the energy to go several more and I will probably lose again.

But her comments were completely inappropriate and unprofessional for the setting. Obviously she is entitled to her opinion, but it was not the time or place to express them.

Any ideas on what I should do from here?

I Should Be Working on My Final Exam

I have completed 2. I got an A in the 1 credit Orientation class and an A in Western Civ II. I had an A after the mid-term in World Politics, but I am not holding my breath on that one. This is a very difficult class. The Final exam is a scenario that must be answered by a no more than 5 page paper. I think I have a page. Maybe. But my brain hurts.

DSD is out of town, playing golf. I know, I know, he is unemployed, but this has been paid for quite some time and he does go most years. I am actually enjoying the peace and quiet and the remote. I am experimenting with new foods and foods that DSD does not enjoy or (most likely) will not try. Saturday I made an avocado dip. Not bad. Sunday was broiled burgers smothered in Emeril's Creole Seasoning. Monday was homemade pizza. The sauce is the homemade part, I can't imagine ever making my own pizza dough. Today there is a pot roast in the slow cooker. My husband, bless him, does not like pot roast. Ok, he always loves it when I cook it, but he doesn't like the IDEA of it. Ever.

BabyBoy and I are going to see "Zombieland" tonight. Over the weekend I am going to take him to see "Capitalism - A Love Story."

Soon, I am going to HAVE to finish that paper. But not today.

'Pain fades. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever.'

I do not know why that quote has been stuck in my mind for weeks, but I figured if I shared it with you (anyone who still actually stops by here) it would go away.

The quote is by Keanu Reeves playing scab quarterback Shane Falco (not to be confused by real life quarterback Flacco) in "The Replacements." I love that movie.

Boy, am I tired. Right this minute I should be actually working (oh, didn't we tell you we were going to need a letter on each of those projects? AND another 3 page form?) or finishing my paper on the industrial revolution that is due Sunday or reading the 17 page lecture on... something. But I figured 10 minutes to say Hi wasn't going to put me anymore behind than the fact that I am not going to do anything at all tonight.

I do have an A in each of my classes at this point. That could be a thing of the past after this weekend. I was doing wonderfully until I went to the Troy @ Florida game on 12 Sep. Then I started getting behind and I seem to be scrambling to catch up. Only a couple more weeks in this term... then it starts all over again. Did I mention I was tired?

On top of all of that, I am not doing really well physically, some aches and pains that are not normal for someone my age. So far they are only affecting me in minor ways (I am sleeping more, I have to wear shoes in the house) but none of it bodes really well for the future. I'm 42. I'm on Celebrex and it isn't working all that well. What next?

Then I talked to my mom last night & one of my aunts (my mom's sister) is going downhill very quickly. The sad thing is her will to live seems to be gone. Is there anyway to make someone want to live? Can we make her see a counselor? Can we make her divorce that bastard she is married to? I am afraid my mother is going to kill him if something happens to my aunt.

So I am making it. Barely. And things are not going to slow down for another 11 weeks.

I hope you are all doing wonderfully. I do have some pictures to post.. as soon as I get them off my camera.

Discrimination or Just Stupid?

Just stupid, I guess.

Once or twice I have alluded to the fact that one of the people I work with is not really great about doing her job. She likes to throw her weight around and tell the rest of us what to do and she likes to play the injured party and blame everyone else when things go wrong. My work life is complicated and I am not comfortable going into a lot of details here, but we work pretty autonomously with little to no supervision. She has come and gone as she pleases for more than a year, very seldom putting in 40 hours a week. She attempts to change policies and procedures which are in place for a reason (and she seems to be getting away with it, the world bows to her).

I am not one for a public fight. This blog is my attempt to fight the injustice of the world and I prefer to do it with the written word, instead of verbally, because I communicate better this way. So I tracked her. From the week after 4th of July 2008. I kept very detailed notes about her attitude (completely unprofessional) about the fact that NO ONE has that much leave time, about the fact that she is fairly stupid and has 0 communication or leadership skills.

One of the other ladies who works here received a promotion and a very large award at the end of last year, so the focus of the first person's rage (let's call her Bitch, so we are all on the same page) was redirected away from me. But life still wasn't great, walking on egg shells, never really sure what was going on or who was responsible for it.

Then Bitch was in a car accident and things went from bad to worse. She doesn't have health care (her choice, because we are offered really great stuff here for pretty cheap if you aren't covering anyone else!) and she apparently isn't getting any better. It has been over 7 months and she still can't turn her head and the stairs are painful and... and... and... whine, whine, whine.

Still I sat here, did my job, kept my head down and kept my notes. Day after day.

About 2 months ago I had to contact the higher ups for something (don't even remember) and was asked how things were here. I gave the standard, "busier than a 1 armed paper hanger speech" and was PUSHED for the truth. PUSHED. I realized that, eventually, something was going to have to be done and I told B2 (the higher up) that things weren't great. She came down, I (and the other girl who received a promotion) spilled our guts about how difficult bitch is to work with. We weren't the only ones. Others, who don't have anything to do with us, have said she is difficult, said it aloud.

And the other girl (understand not Bitch) was almost fired yesterday. Thisclose is what she was told.

There is more to this story, of course. But I can't give half the details and the other half are boring. The bottom line is that I (with help) attempted to make everyone's life better. I tried to save the company money. I tried to make the environment better and improve morale.

I thought that, just this once, life would be fair and the good guys would win.

Now I am polishing up my resume' and searching Craig's List. I am an excellant administrative assistant/office manager. I know the Office Suite and I can fix my own broken PC AND trouble shoot network and printer problems.

I love this job and the people in my building. But I am now on anti-anxiety medication; I can't sleep and my joints are achy & swollen, working with her is starting to affect my health.

Time to move on.

Right.

Football and Facebook and Schoolwork and Crazy

I have started at least 2 possibly more posts on the health care bull hockey floating around. I am not even certain NPR is giving it a fair wrap. I am, personally, sick of the fighting, but then I realize most of the people doing the fighting are those with jobs who provide decently priced benefits. Or those who are older and on Medicare who shudder at the thought of "socialized" medicine. Damn hypocrites.

Today was the first day of UF Gator football. Ok, it was actually a scrimmage game against Charleston Southern University, who drove to Gainesville for the $450,000 they were being paid to get their behinds kicked. 62-3 is a pretty nice behind kicking for that kind of money. DSD and I were in the Swamp last year when the Gators did a beatdown of the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Final score 63-5 and they didn't make any money from the game.

I will be in the Swamp next weekend for the Gator beat down of the Troy University Trojans. Yes, I am, technically, attending Troy University. Yes, I am cheering for the Gators. I have been a fan for at least 25 years that isn't going to change. Ever.

I should be working on my book report. Ok, it isn't technically a book report, but that is what I call it. I have to do assignment, 1 other and 2 mid terms before I leave town next Saturday morning. I should do that now. Any of it. But it is late and I am tired. I will work on it tomorrow, I swear. Maybe.

I have been spending too much time on Facebook. I have mentioned the fact that some of my family is slightly insane. It isn't just me, I have confirmation from others that they are crazy. On Thursday I posted the following on my 'status'

"Daddy Bush spoke to school children across American and no one thought anything about it. Maybe, those of you who have a problem with the duly elected President of the US speaking to your child(ren), you should search your hearts and ask yourself "Why?" I am pretty sure I KNOW why. And none of those reasons are very Christian. Yes, I went there."

In case you have not heard, the President is supposed to speak to the nation's school children on Tuesday. He is supposed to speak on the greatness of education. I am not certain how that is going to hypnotize our children into murdering Jewish people (there was a Hitler reference in the comments to the above status), but I guess it can be done in less than half an hour.*

On top of everything else my life at work has been... uncomfortable. Two of us have blown the whistle on a third and the investigation is moving slooooooooowly. So person #3 is still there until it is over. I am constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I am also job hunting, because I will not be comfortable continuing in my current position if that person stays.

So, all in all, a fairly busy week in front of me. Probably a busy month. I am trying to make sure I stop by all of your blogs as often as possible, although it isn't often enough. I will try to do better.

I am working on getting a guest blogger, so that someone else can talk about the political stuff that I am missing, because I know I am missing a lot.

Thank you all for your patience.

*I hope I have done a better job of raising my child than that. If his mind can be swayed in less than 30 minutes, maybe I should let the crazies have him?