I think I'm just going to have to quit watching the news. I'm afraid to turn it on when I get home from my pseudo job in case someone brought a loaded gun to a town hall meeting and actually used it! I mean come on folks...enough is enough.
I understand that this is a HUGE issue and one that no one should take lightly. There are millions of citizens on both sides of the issue, that have legitimate questions about what is being proposed in this health care/insurance reform debate. I wouldn't know what anyone really wants to know because people are just going to these meetings and shouting. If you listen really carefully they're not really shouting anything that makes sense - they're just shouting. "EH!" "BOOOOO!" "ARGGGGGHHH!" Matey?
I think the thing that is starting to really bother me the most is that now people are attending these meetings to shout about everything BUT health care/insurance reform. They don't like taxes, they are, "...afraid of Obama...," (PLEASE can we call him Mr. Obama or President Obama even if you are "afraid of him"), they're comparing him to Hitler and Stalin (they have to read from a prepared statement in order not to get those two mixed up when talking about them), they don't want their guns taken away (I've read most of the health care reform proposals and I swear I didn't see anything in there about guns but if I went to one of these meetings I might want one to put myself out of my misery) - it's the chance all of the nuts have been waiting for! If that offends anyone...SORRY! These are people who also don't believe that President Obama is a citizen - they hear what they want to hear and they really don't want to hear the truth because it would destroy their conspiracy theories and wild ass ideas of rampant socialism and anarchy. But...I digress...
Hey...I believe in free speech - that's one of the many things I like about this country. But there is free speech and then there is intimidation and the mob mentality - NOT THE SAME! What is really sad is that there are regular folks, especially older folks, that have had the bejeezus scared out of them (I've always wanted to use that word in a sentence) with the hyperbole, hateful rhetoric and downright lies that have been sent to them. I think there is literally one email that has circulated throughout the country that started this whole thing. I got it, read it, laughed, started to answer it and address each point and then deleted it. Even the so called "right wing" media is perpetuating these lies and now we have at least two Republican Senators agreeing that we must be scared of this health plan. And can someone PULEEEEZZZ put Glenn Beck out of his/our misery!?!?!?!
You all know what I'm talking about - the "death panels!" After watching a clip of someone shouting out to their Congressman, "We're afraid of Obama! You should be afraid of Obama!" Jon Stewart just summed up the idiocy - "Obama scary man! Obama make sun go away!" Sarah Palin shoots off her mouth on Facebook about this whole thing and then has to back track - sorry hockey mom...already out there! Or did she "tweet" it? I forget...
I'm sure those of you who read this blog - all five of you - understand this part of the health care package as it reads, but let me just put it in plain English. There is one section in this massive bill that says doctors will be reimbursed, or patients will be if they have to file their own claim forms, IF THE PATIENT CHOOSES to meet with his/her doctor, and in some cases other family members, to discuss living wills and options on "end of life" care. They can do this if they are healthy, sick, young, middle aged, old - whenever. But if they ever become incapacitated or have a terminal illness they will know their options and might just have a living will that relieves their loved ones of having to make tough decisions. It's an individual's choice whether or not he or she wants to have this discussion outside of their family with a physician. The only thing that is changing is that for the first time a claim can be filed so that this service is covered by insurance. Voila - there you have it - that's it!
This is actually already going on right now - some doctors, those that have the time, sit down with patients when asked and discuss these things; healthy patients and those that are not healthy. The doctor can charge a patient for the time if they choose but it comes out of the patient's pocket to pay for this discussion. Most doctors don't even address this because they don't want to charge for it and because patients don't even know they can ask them about these things.
I think a discussion with your family and/or doctor, lawyer about a living will is a great idea. I'm drafting my own - since I have no money for an attorney - so that if something were to happen to me and say, I was brain dead, my family would not have to make the decision to turn off life support. Or if I am diagnosed with untreatable and terminal cancer, I can say to them...please don't spend a lot of money on treatments that will not work - put me in a hospice, or take me in your home IF YOU CHOOSE, keep me comfortable and let me die in peace. Not easy things to discuss but necessary. If anything, this one part of the health reform should be singled out, whether it passes or not, as a huge issue that should be addressed by everyone. I wish that I could reach out to all of the seniors who are literally scared to death (no pun intended) about this one passage and tell them that they are valued, that no American would ever want to devalue them and ration their health care and let them die, that President Obama and the members of Congress are human beings like us that would NEVER institute these so called "death panels."
The absolute worst thing I've seen so far on the coverage of these town hall mob scenes (they're not meetings in most cases so don't kid yourself) is what I saw tonight. I've seen a lot of people carrying some ridiculous signs at these mob gatherings - some have nothing to do with the health care discussion. "No more taxes!" "Obama's health care is kool-aid and I'm not thirsty!" (one of my personal favorites), "Adam really won American Idol - it was fixed!", "This is socialism!" (REALLY?), "My cat needs a bath and my monkey is on strike!" and so on. I actually laugh out loud at most of these. They are not relevant and the pictures they have on the signs are not only funny but also in most cases offensive. But today...I saw a mother put a sign in her young daughter's hands that read, "Obama Lies. Grandma Dies." The mother then sort of pointed her daughter towards the media cameras so that they would be sure and get the shot. Honest to God - and the young girl couldn't have been older than six or seven years old! If this was a parody I would be laughing...but it's not funny.
I'm afraid to go to one of these mob gatherings and I'm sure there are millions like me who are also afraid. Now there's a real irony - we're afraid of the people who have been reading things that have made them so scared they are turning to violence in some cases. And I'm afraid it is going to get worse - there are irresponsible people in power and in the news media that have left a loaded gun on the table...I hope it is never picked up and used.
Speaking of loaded guns...the man who showed up at the town hall meeting that President Obama had in New Hampshire with a LOADED pistol strapped to his leg thought it was the right thing to do. It was his right, by God, and he was going to exercise that right. How about exercising some good sense. In fact, when asked if the pistol was loaded he responded with, "Who would be silly enough to carry one that wasn't loaded?" It would have been bad enough if he were at any meeting, but he was at the meeting that the President of the United States was holding. He said he thought that if 1000 people came to that meeting with loaded guns it would have been safer. Is he nuts? Well, yes, I would say that he is a little off but that's just me.
And don't let anyone tell you that President Obama's town hall meeting was "stacked" with those who supported his plan, well his plan in general. There were plenty of people there that were not in favor of it; reporters scoured the crowd to make sure that there was a mix of those for and those against the plan. Here's the difference in his meeting and the others - they have respect for the President, or at least the Office of the Presidency, and showed that respect. I think it is a shame that people do not show the same respect for their Congressmen/women - they have worked very hard and are putting themselves out there just as he is.
What do I want? I want the health insurance companies to get out of the way of the care my doctor needs to give me. I want to be able to choose my doctor with no restrictions. I want pre-existing conditions to go away so that I can go to my endocrinologist as recommended and have my thyroid checked for cancer. And, so that my sister's diabetes care is covered - including free or affordable eye and foot exams. I want to be able to afford to purchase insurance if it is not provided by my employer, and if it is provided I want it provided to my employer at a reasonable cost so that I'm not picking up over half of the monthly premium. In fact, I have no problem whatsoever with it being a requirement that everyone carry health insurance. If there is a sliding scale of the cost based on your income, then we should all have insurance. We're required to carry at minimum auto liability insurance.
I want the drug companies to quit changing one molecule in a drug that is ready to have a generic version released on the market so that they can have the same drug released as a better version of the one they already have - they do this...really! I want the drug companies or the FDA to dramatically cut the time we wait for generic drugs to be released to the public. And, if it will help bring the cost down for those who have diabetes and are insulin dependent, make insulin a prescription that is covered by insurance. We all know why it is not a prescription - the insurance companies didn't want to pay for it. And it's not like these diabetics have a choice whether or not to inject insulin two to three times a day - they will die if they don't. How in the world did we let these companies get away with this?!
I would bet you everything I'm worth (not much of a bet right now, but whatever) that if every single person in this country were asked, "Do you think we need to fix our health care system and put some regulations on the health insurance companies and drug companies?" the answer would be shouted louder than any one has shouted in any mob scene so far...YES!!!!!!!!!! I don't have all of the answers - hell, I can't even hear the questions being asked, much less the answers to the questions! Let's all calm down, ask our questions, allow the answers to get past the lips of the person being asked, treat our neighbors and friends with whom we may or may not agree with respect, and figure out together how to fix this. If the bill put forth isn't what we want let's tell them to work on it and make it right. Let's not just say "no" to everything for the sake of politics. I don't want government involved in everything I do; I don't want our debt to go into overdrive; but I sure don't mind getting some help with this problem.
Folks...I may not agree with everything that the President wants to do but I do agree with his intent. And I do agree with him when he says that if we don't do something now, it will never get better. This has gone on long enough - let's fix it now so that not only will we reap the benefits of a better system, but also our children and grandchildren will look back and be proud that we took a stand and said we deserve something better than what we have today. And if you don't want to join me in this noble endeavor, then go find a monkey to wash your cat!
http://www.monkeywashingcat.com/
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Sometimes it's just not funny...
I try to insert humor into what I write to lighten up the situation that I am in right now. But, sometimes it is just...not...funny! I'm mad and frustrated and unsure of myself; and humiliated and scared and sad. I really want a full time job - you know...one with health insurance, a 401K or profit sharing plan, paid vacation and paid sick days. A normal job...a REAL job. I want to be respected as much as I respect others. I hate working in an atmosphere of disrespect and ignorance of my talents. I have so much talent and experience that seems to go to waste every day that I don't have a REAL job. I want to get up in the morning and be excited to go to work because it's fulfilling and fun; and know that I'm going to a place where I have found new work friends that can laugh with me. I miss that.
I want to be able to pay my bills and pay them on time every month. I don't have that many - is that too much to ask? I just looked at my sad little bank account. My check was deposited this morning electronically and after the two bills I paid by phone, over half of my weekly pay is gone.
I won't have enough money to catch up my rent by the end of August - a condition set by my landlord in order to have my lease renewed in October and move to a smaller apartment. I mean...I won't even be CLOSE to the amount that they want me to pay on August 31st. I will probably have to sell my couch and my treasured antique china cabinet - the one I searched for years ago knowing exactly what I wanted and would know it when I saw it...and then, there it was. I know these are just "things" but some "things" are comforting to have around. But...I'll probably borrow a digital camera this weekend, take the photos and list them both on eBay or Craig's list. I don't have much left to sell but I'll go through what I have and see if I can find anything else to list as well. That's just sad.
Yup...sometimes it's just tough to find the humor in all of this - even for me. I'm better off than some and worse off than others. This was just one of those nights that I had to hide and talk to myself and cry. I've earned a day or night every once in a while to indulge in some self pity and have a little pout.
Maybe tomorrow I'll see or hear or remember something that has happened and I'll once again be writing and laughing out loud at the same time. For now...good night.
I want to be able to pay my bills and pay them on time every month. I don't have that many - is that too much to ask? I just looked at my sad little bank account. My check was deposited this morning electronically and after the two bills I paid by phone, over half of my weekly pay is gone.
I won't have enough money to catch up my rent by the end of August - a condition set by my landlord in order to have my lease renewed in October and move to a smaller apartment. I mean...I won't even be CLOSE to the amount that they want me to pay on August 31st. I will probably have to sell my couch and my treasured antique china cabinet - the one I searched for years ago knowing exactly what I wanted and would know it when I saw it...and then, there it was. I know these are just "things" but some "things" are comforting to have around. But...I'll probably borrow a digital camera this weekend, take the photos and list them both on eBay or Craig's list. I don't have much left to sell but I'll go through what I have and see if I can find anything else to list as well. That's just sad.
Yup...sometimes it's just tough to find the humor in all of this - even for me. I'm better off than some and worse off than others. This was just one of those nights that I had to hide and talk to myself and cry. I've earned a day or night every once in a while to indulge in some self pity and have a little pout.
Maybe tomorrow I'll see or hear or remember something that has happened and I'll once again be writing and laughing out loud at the same time. For now...good night.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Homecoming...at last!
I could watch the reunion of Laura Ling and Euna Lee with their families over and over. I'll bet I watched it five or six times tonight and was reduced to tears of joy each time. I've followed this story from its horrible beginning and never gave up that they would be brought home safely. I think that I had a strong connection to the story because I, like Lisa Ling, have a strong bond with my own younger sister and would have probably been placed in the same position as Lisa was if this was something happening to my family. It shocked me and broke my heart when the two were actually sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. But...with all of the resources at our disposal in this great country and all of the intelligent and honorable people working for their release, I always believed that their return was inevitable.
- The shot of Euna's child running into her arms and not wanting to let go, her husband grabbing all of them in a bear hug just wanting to protect.
- Watching Laura embrace the husband who had gone home alone to that new but empty house for the last 140 nights, wondering if he would ever see his wife again. She is home with him tonight.
- The image of Laura hugging her parents while her sister, Lisa, stood to the side watching, crying and waiting to grab her. After all the months of patient waiting and being the soft spoken but strong spokesperson for both families, Lisa can let her guard down tonight.
- And the two brave women who experienced a nightmare that none of us can imagine, stayed brave and strong and were so gracious in their words of thanks and appreciation to not only those who helped them come home, but also to those whom they will never meet but whose support they felt while in captivity. Sleep well tonight - you are safe.
Let the pundits and media argue about the merits of what was done or how it was done - two of our own are home and out of harms way. There are even those who suggest that these two journalists should have stayed in North Korea and, "...suffered the consequences of their actions." They said that getting them out safely, "...wasn't worth what we MAY have given up in exchange for their freedom..." That...is just shameful. As David Gergen said tonight on CNN in response to those that question what the North Koreans "gained" because of what President Clinton and those behind the scenes negotiated, "Why would we believe what the North Koreans are saying on their state sponsored television and NOT believe what the government of the United States is saying? This was a private and privately funded, humanitarian mission and there is no confirmation of or any indication that anything was exchanged with the North Koreans for the release of Laura and Euna. Let's celebrate that we live in a country that cares about its people!"
And jeez...not a bullet was fired, not a bomb was dropped, not a cruise missile was launched. Yes, the little dictator got his photo taken with a former U.S. President - so what? The women are home with their families and as far as I'm concerned, I believe that their release was negotiated separately without compromising our strong stance against North Korea and its policies and actions; and that it was done so with good will and courage by Mr. Clinton and those who accompanied him. Are we so jaded that we believe a rogue state government's comments over the comments from our own President and Secretary of State? Let's rejoice in the fact that we cherish our own citizens enough to work hard to bring them home safely - with honor. I believe our armed forces have a code stating that they never leave a fellow soldier behind Why should we leave our private citizens behind in dangerous situations?
For those who criticized this action - and I have to say that most of it came from Fox News (just my observations) - tonight in your homes play back the tape from your talk shows and interviews, and then watch the tape of the reunion of these families. Then, report back to us on how well you slept tonight.
I'm sure that these two brave women will continue their work as first rate reporters, finding stories that interest and inform all of us. This is what they do; this is what they love. They may be a bit more cautious now because our journalists don't seem to be exempt anymore from capture, torture or being killed by terrorists who don't value life. Daniel Pearl's horrible death was the beginning of the end of the unspoken code of their safety in reporting the news where it is happening.
But for now - Hana...your mommy is home from her extended "business trip" and she's going to catch up on those bedtime stories. Michael, your wife is home and your family is together again. Iain, your lovely and brave wife is home in your new house - it won't be lonely coming home from work now. Lisa, the sister you adore is home and you can rest. We should all give our kids, our nieces and nephews, our sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers big hugs tonight and tell them we love them.
With love to my mother, sister and brother, niece and nephews, brother-in-law and sister-in-law...
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/05/photo-gallery-laura-ling-and-euna-lee-return-home/
- The shot of Euna's child running into her arms and not wanting to let go, her husband grabbing all of them in a bear hug just wanting to protect.
- Watching Laura embrace the husband who had gone home alone to that new but empty house for the last 140 nights, wondering if he would ever see his wife again. She is home with him tonight.
- The image of Laura hugging her parents while her sister, Lisa, stood to the side watching, crying and waiting to grab her. After all the months of patient waiting and being the soft spoken but strong spokesperson for both families, Lisa can let her guard down tonight.
- And the two brave women who experienced a nightmare that none of us can imagine, stayed brave and strong and were so gracious in their words of thanks and appreciation to not only those who helped them come home, but also to those whom they will never meet but whose support they felt while in captivity. Sleep well tonight - you are safe.
Let the pundits and media argue about the merits of what was done or how it was done - two of our own are home and out of harms way. There are even those who suggest that these two journalists should have stayed in North Korea and, "...suffered the consequences of their actions." They said that getting them out safely, "...wasn't worth what we MAY have given up in exchange for their freedom..." That...is just shameful. As David Gergen said tonight on CNN in response to those that question what the North Koreans "gained" because of what President Clinton and those behind the scenes negotiated, "Why would we believe what the North Koreans are saying on their state sponsored television and NOT believe what the government of the United States is saying? This was a private and privately funded, humanitarian mission and there is no confirmation of or any indication that anything was exchanged with the North Koreans for the release of Laura and Euna. Let's celebrate that we live in a country that cares about its people!"
And jeez...not a bullet was fired, not a bomb was dropped, not a cruise missile was launched. Yes, the little dictator got his photo taken with a former U.S. President - so what? The women are home with their families and as far as I'm concerned, I believe that their release was negotiated separately without compromising our strong stance against North Korea and its policies and actions; and that it was done so with good will and courage by Mr. Clinton and those who accompanied him. Are we so jaded that we believe a rogue state government's comments over the comments from our own President and Secretary of State? Let's rejoice in the fact that we cherish our own citizens enough to work hard to bring them home safely - with honor. I believe our armed forces have a code stating that they never leave a fellow soldier behind Why should we leave our private citizens behind in dangerous situations?
For those who criticized this action - and I have to say that most of it came from Fox News (just my observations) - tonight in your homes play back the tape from your talk shows and interviews, and then watch the tape of the reunion of these families. Then, report back to us on how well you slept tonight.
I'm sure that these two brave women will continue their work as first rate reporters, finding stories that interest and inform all of us. This is what they do; this is what they love. They may be a bit more cautious now because our journalists don't seem to be exempt anymore from capture, torture or being killed by terrorists who don't value life. Daniel Pearl's horrible death was the beginning of the end of the unspoken code of their safety in reporting the news where it is happening.
But for now - Hana...your mommy is home from her extended "business trip" and she's going to catch up on those bedtime stories. Michael, your wife is home and your family is together again. Iain, your lovely and brave wife is home in your new house - it won't be lonely coming home from work now. Lisa, the sister you adore is home and you can rest. We should all give our kids, our nieces and nephews, our sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers big hugs tonight and tell them we love them.
With love to my mother, sister and brother, niece and nephews, brother-in-law and sister-in-law...
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/05/photo-gallery-laura-ling-and-euna-lee-return-home/
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Temp - not the movie version...it's worse!
Some days are just better than others. Today was one of the "others."
MY economic meltdown began in early 2007. For the better part of two years I have been searching for a full time job. To pay the bills, or attempt to, I've been working for a temporary placement firm. I was lucky enough to be placed twice in long term assignments at fun places to work, where I actually made some new friends and made a contribution to the company. But, in between, there are the jobs that are more like working at Abu Ghraib . You know...torture and abuse...only legal.
These are jobs where you are not only bored out of your mind but you are in most cases invisible. You are "THE TEMP." "Give it to the temp...that's what she's here for." "I don't want to file, I'll just give it to the temp." "My car needs a good hand wash - did the temp wear jeans today?" "My wife needs flowers, candy, a boyfriend...let the temp handle it." "Is the temp assigned to you today because if she isn't, my desk is filthy." You think I jest.
I'm in a temp job now that is a blessing because it is long term and a curse because I have to go there every day. I have a 23 mile trip to this job each day - each way - so that I can get tossed from department to department, get ignored, not know from day to day who I report to, have to "clock in and clock out" in the morning, at lunch and when I leave, and am generally disrespected by the woman that gives me the majority of my work. She's from another country and I think some of it is cultural - BUT SHE LIVES HERE SO THAT DOESN'T EXCUSE HER BEHAVIOR! All of this joy for $17 per hour. I just got a $1 an hour raise from my agency. I sent a thank you note. Don't get me wrong - I'm grateful that I have anything right now...to a point. I can take being invisible but I can't tolerate being disrespected - especially at $16 +$1 an hour.
I like my agency and the two women I work with on these assignments. They say they have nothing else for me right now that pays as much or higher, and I pretty much believe them. My going rate was about $25 an hour until February of this year. I was lucky to pick up a two day receptionist job for $11 an hour then. Actually, that job was one of my favorites. The phone rang a total of three times the two days I was there. The third call was so unexpected that I almost hit the ceiling from fright and then I forgot what the greeting was and what company I was working for. I think I answered with, "Good afternoon............long pause..........operator." The "management" wouldn't give me anything else to work on and encouraged me to pass the time reading, surfing the Internet or playing games. There was one magazine on the reception table - a 2007 issue of Texas Monthly. I read it from cover to cover.
I'm probably one of the most overqualified temps that all of these companies ever get. Most of the other temps I've worked with are barely of drinking age. They usually end up taking the mindless jobs that are offered by these companies and accept the $28,000 a year salary. I think most of them moved back in with their parents after graduating or have three roommates. Good for them - I've been there, too. I just don't want to go back.
One day I'll have a full time job back in some sort of management. When I need "a temp" I will call her/him by their name, I will treat them with respect, I will look at them and say hello when they pass me and I will let them eat cake with us when we celebrate an employee's birthday.
Sidebar - my post last night jumped around a bit...it happens. I was tired and had many things going through my mind. I can't promise that it won't happen again - it's my blog.
BREAKING SHOUT OUT! Kudos to Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, President Obama and everyone in the State Department. Welcome home Laura Ling and Euna Lee!
MY economic meltdown began in early 2007. For the better part of two years I have been searching for a full time job. To pay the bills, or attempt to, I've been working for a temporary placement firm. I was lucky enough to be placed twice in long term assignments at fun places to work, where I actually made some new friends and made a contribution to the company. But, in between, there are the jobs that are more like working at Abu Ghraib . You know...torture and abuse...only legal.
These are jobs where you are not only bored out of your mind but you are in most cases invisible. You are "THE TEMP." "Give it to the temp...that's what she's here for." "I don't want to file, I'll just give it to the temp." "My car needs a good hand wash - did the temp wear jeans today?" "My wife needs flowers, candy, a boyfriend...let the temp handle it." "Is the temp assigned to you today because if she isn't, my desk is filthy." You think I jest.
I'm in a temp job now that is a blessing because it is long term and a curse because I have to go there every day. I have a 23 mile trip to this job each day - each way - so that I can get tossed from department to department, get ignored, not know from day to day who I report to, have to "clock in and clock out" in the morning, at lunch and when I leave, and am generally disrespected by the woman that gives me the majority of my work. She's from another country and I think some of it is cultural - BUT SHE LIVES HERE SO THAT DOESN'T EXCUSE HER BEHAVIOR! All of this joy for $17 per hour. I just got a $1 an hour raise from my agency. I sent a thank you note. Don't get me wrong - I'm grateful that I have anything right now...to a point. I can take being invisible but I can't tolerate being disrespected - especially at $16 +$1 an hour.
I like my agency and the two women I work with on these assignments. They say they have nothing else for me right now that pays as much or higher, and I pretty much believe them. My going rate was about $25 an hour until February of this year. I was lucky to pick up a two day receptionist job for $11 an hour then. Actually, that job was one of my favorites. The phone rang a total of three times the two days I was there. The third call was so unexpected that I almost hit the ceiling from fright and then I forgot what the greeting was and what company I was working for. I think I answered with, "Good afternoon............long pause..........operator." The "management" wouldn't give me anything else to work on and encouraged me to pass the time reading, surfing the Internet or playing games. There was one magazine on the reception table - a 2007 issue of Texas Monthly. I read it from cover to cover.
I'm probably one of the most overqualified temps that all of these companies ever get. Most of the other temps I've worked with are barely of drinking age. They usually end up taking the mindless jobs that are offered by these companies and accept the $28,000 a year salary. I think most of them moved back in with their parents after graduating or have three roommates. Good for them - I've been there, too. I just don't want to go back.
One day I'll have a full time job back in some sort of management. When I need "a temp" I will call her/him by their name, I will treat them with respect, I will look at them and say hello when they pass me and I will let them eat cake with us when we celebrate an employee's birthday.
Sidebar - my post last night jumped around a bit...it happens. I was tired and had many things going through my mind. I can't promise that it won't happen again - it's my blog.
BREAKING SHOUT OUT! Kudos to Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, President Obama and everyone in the State Department. Welcome home Laura Ling and Euna Lee!
Random Recommendations...
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Movies:
Julie and Julia - you MUST see this movie! I'm just saying...
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - haven't seen it yet...no one seems to want to see this with me. NO...these books and movies are not just for kids. Call me a geek - I don't care! J.K. Rowling is genius!
Eastern Promises - on cable or DVD. I never wanted to see this one in the theater but watched it recently on cable. Excellent! Viggo Mortensen is amazing. Yes, it is very violent and comes right at you, but it is necessary to the plot. It's not gratuitous. I mean, we're talking about the Russian mob - not very nice guys. They make Tony Soprano look like a fat Italian garbage man.
Television:
Entourage - I am a latecomer to this one and I'm catching up. It is hilarious and smart; clever writing and in a word...Ari!
Saving Grace - I've been with this one from the first episode. I just got caught up on the last two episodes and am recording tonight's episode for later. It just gets better and better. Two words - Holly Hunter!
The Daily Show - Jon Stewart may just be the funniest, quickest, most clever man around today. Laugh out loud every night!
The Amazing Race - Only "reality" show I watch. It's smart, clever, challenging, interesting and keeps you guessing until the end. I keep trying to talk my brother into entering this with me but he never answers...
Books:
Anything by Anna Quindlen or Maya Angelou
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet - Again, a late comer to this one and I'm slowly making my way through it. Fascinating and reads like a modern thriller. It's extremely long but stick with it.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy - Terrific and moving!
The entire Harry Potter series. I've read all of them twice and will read them all again - in order! So there!
Movies:
Julie and Julia - you MUST see this movie! I'm just saying...
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - haven't seen it yet...no one seems to want to see this with me. NO...these books and movies are not just for kids. Call me a geek - I don't care! J.K. Rowling is genius!
Eastern Promises - on cable or DVD. I never wanted to see this one in the theater but watched it recently on cable. Excellent! Viggo Mortensen is amazing. Yes, it is very violent and comes right at you, but it is necessary to the plot. It's not gratuitous. I mean, we're talking about the Russian mob - not very nice guys. They make Tony Soprano look like a fat Italian garbage man.
Television:
Entourage - I am a latecomer to this one and I'm catching up. It is hilarious and smart; clever writing and in a word...Ari!
Saving Grace - I've been with this one from the first episode. I just got caught up on the last two episodes and am recording tonight's episode for later. It just gets better and better. Two words - Holly Hunter!
The Daily Show - Jon Stewart may just be the funniest, quickest, most clever man around today. Laugh out loud every night!
The Amazing Race - Only "reality" show I watch. It's smart, clever, challenging, interesting and keeps you guessing until the end. I keep trying to talk my brother into entering this with me but he never answers...
Books:
Anything by Anna Quindlen or Maya Angelou
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet - Again, a late comer to this one and I'm slowly making my way through it. Fascinating and reads like a modern thriller. It's extremely long but stick with it.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy - Terrific and moving!
The entire Harry Potter series. I've read all of them twice and will read them all again - in order! So there!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Insomnia, hormones and why did I marry the devil's best friend?
It's late but since I have a horrible case of insomnia going on for several months now, does it matter? It's not like I don't have anything on my mind. No full time job, no insurance, need to have my back rent caught up by the end of this month (guess I'll be selling the couch and the antique case that I love), a car that I pray each morning will start. Why is it that they put these programs in place like the "cash for clunkers" when I can't take advantage of it!?
And I know that when I go to bed I'm just going to fall asleep and have to get up at the crack of dawn to drive 23 miles to a temporary job that I...well, hate is a strong word...dislike intensely, and pays $16 per hour. A job where I am using none of my skills or experience but instead am filing, scanning and entering credit card information into database. It's no wonder that I'm in my car with the motor running at 5:01 each day ready to peel out of the parking lot. Other employees are huddled in the doorway just waiting for me to leave so they will live another day to see their children. But hey...that's all that is out there right now and by God...THEY LIKE ME! Oh yes, I'm the best darned filer/scanner/copier/database entry temporary employee they've ever had. They want to keep me - oh goodie...they really like me! Yup, my dream job right before my eyes. One day I even got to alphabetize 1000 pieces of documentation before filing - I felt special that they gave that project to me.
And by the way...I finished my degree late and I had better jobs and higher salaries before I got the degree! I'm thinking I should have left well enough alone. I am like garlic to a vampire when it comes to an interviewer and a good job. Hisssss...sign of the cross, back off you evil thing! Maybe I should have another look at my teeth - my front canines are a tad pointed. Veneers might be a good investment - oh yeah, I have no money. Hmmm...maybe it's not insomnia...
And, I'm sure some of this insomnia is hormonally driven - the bane of women...hormones. They rage uncontrollably and cause acne when you plunge into puberty. They drive you (and your spouse/partner) insane when you are pregnant. I saw my sister yell so loud at her husband one time, and about the stupidest thing when she was eight months pregnant that he actually cowered in the corner of the couch. She's tiny (well she wasn't then) and he's a big man. I left the house - I didn't want to see her head spin. These hormones then drive you into depression after your baby is born and you cry and wonder why you had this noisy, stinky thing. At least that doesn't last long. You then lose your mind when you approach peri-menopause. And then...you're hot and cold and achy and depressed and forgetful and have acne again and you're mad at the world ("and everything in it" as a friend once said) and your skin is so dry it cracks and you drive yourself and everyone around you insane and you're depressed. Yes, ALL of the symptoms come together in one mind-blowing event called menopause.
I was LUCKY enough to go into peri-menopause (the new "it" term for those who don't want to quite yet confront menopause) at best guess in my late 20's, and entered menopause in my late 30's and early 40's. There are a lot of medical reasons for this, and for my inability to have children, but I prefer to refer to it in two different ways - God's punishment for marrying a demon and God's blessing upon me for the inability to carry the demon's spawn to term. I would, of course, be referring to my ex-husband. The one I waited for...the one I passed up better men for...the one that if my late father had met would have been only a memory. Ahhh...one can wish and dream.
This "man" decided to take up golf as a past time while we were engaged. He was even lucky enough to play a round with the pro golfer/PGA Champion/2008 Captain of the Ryder's Cup team, Paul Azinger. My dad played golf. My brother plays golf and one of his sons plays so well he can beat my brother. But one thing I learned from all of them is that you have to practice to get better and you have to have patience. You can still enjoy playing even if you never break 100 but you have to like it for what it is - a game of skill that only a few ever master and one that can be frustrating but oh so fun and rewarding. You have to take bad shots with a grain of salt. You have to follow protocol on the course and, if you do get mad at one of your shots, just have another drink and move on.
Well my ex thought he could take it up and break 100 in a month. This is a man who cannot spell or even pronounce the word, "patience." He spent hundreds of dollars on his FIRST set of clubs. When he didn't break 100 on his timetable, he sold the clubs. A few months later, he spent a few hundred dollars more on a second set of clubs - convinced by a friend to give it another try. That friend should have talked to me first. The last time he played he came home and announced he was finished with golf and would never play again. He was without his clubs in a foul mood. I asked him where his clubs were and he said that since he didn't play well he ran over them with his car. I asked him, as most reasonable people would, why he would do such a thing. He said that if he couldn't play well with them then he didn't want to let anyone else play well with them. In fact, he stopped at a convenience store for a "slushie" and when he went back to his car he noticed that a putter had fallen out of the bag into the back seat. He took the putter out, went over to the metal trashcan and proceeded to beat the club against the metal trashcan until it was irreparably bent out of shape, all the while slurping up his slushie. He then dumped the club in the can. He couldn't even leave one club unharmed. He kept the slushie - he wasn't finished with it and it a cost him a dollar.
Mind you...we were not yet married - I had time! He told me this story and I sat there stunned, mouth hanging open, speechless. I had never been exposed to anything like that in my life - never known anyone to do such a thing and for such a stupid reason. AND I STILL MARRIED THE GUY! And I can't say I was young and stupid - I was 34 at the time. I was just stupid. When I tell this story now I can barely get it out without choking with laughter. I mean, c'mon...it sounds like I made it up! He didn't want anyone else to have the chance to play well with those clubs if he couldn't - BAD CLUBS!
Before we were married we took at trip to Corpus Christi for a combination of business/short vacation. Our hotel was not the Ritz but it was decent and clean. It wasn't on the water but we weren't far from the water. But Good Lord, you would have thought they put us in a homeless shelter. He was mad the entire time we were there, which made for lovely nights out and romantic dinners. AND I STILL MARRIED THE GUY! A side note: this trend followed us throughout our marriage on almost all vacations we took - including one to Paris. But those are tales for another time because they definitely merit their own stories. Just remember these places...Santa Clara, Paris, St. Croix.
But...I STILL MARRIED THE MAN! I never admitted this to anyone but there were two or three times that I felt that something was wrong. There was just a very strange feeling in the pit of my stomach and during those times I wasn't attracted to him at all. But those feelings didn't last and since I had never been married, I chalked it up to pre-marriage jitters. I mean he said he loved me; he bought me the most beautiful ring you've ever seen; he helped pay for most of the wedding; he put up with me during the planning (of course he lived in another city four hours away so he wasn't with me every day for this); and I believed he was finally the man I could really, really trust. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I laugh now but I was so far off base on that one single trait that I was in another ballpark in another city.
As I'm getting ready for bed those things popped into my head and I thought I would get them out, get them down and give a little tease for more to come. I guess I should write a proper introduction so you'll know a little bit about me. It's too late for that tonight - just keep in mind I came from a middle to upper-middle class family; was taught wonderful values and work ethics by my mother and father; grew up in a home where putting your fist through a wall in anger wasn't an option (actually never knew people did that); was the first of three children so my parents were stricter on me than my younger sister and brother (like most parents are); had a great education; was/am intelligent - in essence all of the the things that you think would have prepared me to see that I was getting ready to marry a Class A jerk; the anger management poster child; a woman hating philanderer; and a man who would eventually break me and break my heart. But who knew...?
And I know that when I go to bed I'm just going to fall asleep and have to get up at the crack of dawn to drive 23 miles to a temporary job that I...well, hate is a strong word...dislike intensely, and pays $16 per hour. A job where I am using none of my skills or experience but instead am filing, scanning and entering credit card information into database. It's no wonder that I'm in my car with the motor running at 5:01 each day ready to peel out of the parking lot. Other employees are huddled in the doorway just waiting for me to leave so they will live another day to see their children. But hey...that's all that is out there right now and by God...THEY LIKE ME! Oh yes, I'm the best darned filer/scanner/copier/database entry temporary employee they've ever had. They want to keep me - oh goodie...they really like me! Yup, my dream job right before my eyes. One day I even got to alphabetize 1000 pieces of documentation before filing - I felt special that they gave that project to me.
And by the way...I finished my degree late and I had better jobs and higher salaries before I got the degree! I'm thinking I should have left well enough alone. I am like garlic to a vampire when it comes to an interviewer and a good job. Hisssss...sign of the cross, back off you evil thing! Maybe I should have another look at my teeth - my front canines are a tad pointed. Veneers might be a good investment - oh yeah, I have no money. Hmmm...maybe it's not insomnia...
And, I'm sure some of this insomnia is hormonally driven - the bane of women...hormones. They rage uncontrollably and cause acne when you plunge into puberty. They drive you (and your spouse/partner) insane when you are pregnant. I saw my sister yell so loud at her husband one time, and about the stupidest thing when she was eight months pregnant that he actually cowered in the corner of the couch. She's tiny (well she wasn't then) and he's a big man. I left the house - I didn't want to see her head spin. These hormones then drive you into depression after your baby is born and you cry and wonder why you had this noisy, stinky thing. At least that doesn't last long. You then lose your mind when you approach peri-menopause. And then...you're hot and cold and achy and depressed and forgetful and have acne again and you're mad at the world ("and everything in it" as a friend once said) and your skin is so dry it cracks and you drive yourself and everyone around you insane and you're depressed. Yes, ALL of the symptoms come together in one mind-blowing event called menopause.
I was LUCKY enough to go into peri-menopause (the new "it" term for those who don't want to quite yet confront menopause) at best guess in my late 20's, and entered menopause in my late 30's and early 40's. There are a lot of medical reasons for this, and for my inability to have children, but I prefer to refer to it in two different ways - God's punishment for marrying a demon and God's blessing upon me for the inability to carry the demon's spawn to term. I would, of course, be referring to my ex-husband. The one I waited for...the one I passed up better men for...the one that if my late father had met would have been only a memory. Ahhh...one can wish and dream.
This "man" decided to take up golf as a past time while we were engaged. He was even lucky enough to play a round with the pro golfer/PGA Champion/2008 Captain of the Ryder's Cup team, Paul Azinger. My dad played golf. My brother plays golf and one of his sons plays so well he can beat my brother. But one thing I learned from all of them is that you have to practice to get better and you have to have patience. You can still enjoy playing even if you never break 100 but you have to like it for what it is - a game of skill that only a few ever master and one that can be frustrating but oh so fun and rewarding. You have to take bad shots with a grain of salt. You have to follow protocol on the course and, if you do get mad at one of your shots, just have another drink and move on.
Well my ex thought he could take it up and break 100 in a month. This is a man who cannot spell or even pronounce the word, "patience." He spent hundreds of dollars on his FIRST set of clubs. When he didn't break 100 on his timetable, he sold the clubs. A few months later, he spent a few hundred dollars more on a second set of clubs - convinced by a friend to give it another try. That friend should have talked to me first. The last time he played he came home and announced he was finished with golf and would never play again. He was without his clubs in a foul mood. I asked him where his clubs were and he said that since he didn't play well he ran over them with his car. I asked him, as most reasonable people would, why he would do such a thing. He said that if he couldn't play well with them then he didn't want to let anyone else play well with them. In fact, he stopped at a convenience store for a "slushie" and when he went back to his car he noticed that a putter had fallen out of the bag into the back seat. He took the putter out, went over to the metal trashcan and proceeded to beat the club against the metal trashcan until it was irreparably bent out of shape, all the while slurping up his slushie. He then dumped the club in the can. He couldn't even leave one club unharmed. He kept the slushie - he wasn't finished with it and it a cost him a dollar.
Mind you...we were not yet married - I had time! He told me this story and I sat there stunned, mouth hanging open, speechless. I had never been exposed to anything like that in my life - never known anyone to do such a thing and for such a stupid reason. AND I STILL MARRIED THE GUY! And I can't say I was young and stupid - I was 34 at the time. I was just stupid. When I tell this story now I can barely get it out without choking with laughter. I mean, c'mon...it sounds like I made it up! He didn't want anyone else to have the chance to play well with those clubs if he couldn't - BAD CLUBS!
Before we were married we took at trip to Corpus Christi for a combination of business/short vacation. Our hotel was not the Ritz but it was decent and clean. It wasn't on the water but we weren't far from the water. But Good Lord, you would have thought they put us in a homeless shelter. He was mad the entire time we were there, which made for lovely nights out and romantic dinners. AND I STILL MARRIED THE GUY! A side note: this trend followed us throughout our marriage on almost all vacations we took - including one to Paris. But those are tales for another time because they definitely merit their own stories. Just remember these places...Santa Clara, Paris, St. Croix.
But...I STILL MARRIED THE MAN! I never admitted this to anyone but there were two or three times that I felt that something was wrong. There was just a very strange feeling in the pit of my stomach and during those times I wasn't attracted to him at all. But those feelings didn't last and since I had never been married, I chalked it up to pre-marriage jitters. I mean he said he loved me; he bought me the most beautiful ring you've ever seen; he helped pay for most of the wedding; he put up with me during the planning (of course he lived in another city four hours away so he wasn't with me every day for this); and I believed he was finally the man I could really, really trust. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I laugh now but I was so far off base on that one single trait that I was in another ballpark in another city.
As I'm getting ready for bed those things popped into my head and I thought I would get them out, get them down and give a little tease for more to come. I guess I should write a proper introduction so you'll know a little bit about me. It's too late for that tonight - just keep in mind I came from a middle to upper-middle class family; was taught wonderful values and work ethics by my mother and father; grew up in a home where putting your fist through a wall in anger wasn't an option (actually never knew people did that); was the first of three children so my parents were stricter on me than my younger sister and brother (like most parents are); had a great education; was/am intelligent - in essence all of the the things that you think would have prepared me to see that I was getting ready to marry a Class A jerk; the anger management poster child; a woman hating philanderer; and a man who would eventually break me and break my heart. But who knew...?
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Wanted: Good Health Care Coverage at a REASONABLE PRICE!
Hello world! Is anyone out there?
I am extremely interested in getting the FACTS on the four, soon to be five health care/insurance reform bills going through Congress. I have no full time job. I have no health care coverage. I had an extremely expensive private health care plan for a while. It excluded all but basic care. I had to choose a high deductible to afford it in the first place. It classified almost everything I had ever seen a doctor for as a pre-existing condition, thus little was actually covered. It was called a PPO but never negotiated a reasonable payment to my doctors, so I received bills from them for the remainder of the charges. And, the premiums went up almost monthly - especially if I actually used the insurance. The dental insurance didn't even cover the bi-annual checkups as advertised. I finally had to drop the coverage, hope to find generic prescriptions, hope that the tooth requiring a crown would hold up for a while longer, and hope that I didn't either become very ill or involved in an injurious accident.
There are a lot of details to work out in the health care/insurance reform bill. The AMA, AARP and pharmaceutical companies are still backing reform. The insurance companies participated in the initial discussions and expressed their backing, but have reversed that decision and are now sponsoring ad campaigns against the reforms. In my opinion, the health insurance companies (I'm not talking about auto, home, life or p&c insurance coverage) are just as greedy as those financial institutions that nearly brought our economy to a complete collapse. This is why Mr. Obama keeps repeating that health care reform is critical to the long term recovery of our economic health. This is just as important as making sure that the banks are not failing and are conducting business in a fair, realistic and profitable manner. This is equally important as re-tooling our automotive industry so that it is solvent and building fuel-efficient automobiles for the 21st century.
The health care problem affects everyone in one way or another. If you have health care coverage provided by your employer the amount you pay each month out of your paycheck will keep increasing if nothing is done. If you are lucky enough to have your coverage 100% funded by your employer, that will soon cease as prices increase - you will gradually begin to shoulder some or most of the cost of those premiums. If you lose your job you are offered the opportunity to keep your current coverage under Cobra. How many of us who have lost our jobs can afford Cobra? I paid into the plan for two months until I could no longer afford it. Health insurance coverage shouldn't be tied so closely to employment - full time employment - but it is. Good private health care coverage is extremely expensive and not accessible to those who need it; contract workers, part time employees and the unemployed.
I have been in all three situations - I have been 100% covered by my former employer; I have paid up to 50% of the monthly premium that my previous employer provided; and I have purchased a private health care plan. The first is almost obsolete now. The second becomes more expensive each time an employer evaluates the coverage they are providing, or are notified of a rate increase. The last is quite frankly not even an option unless you are independently wealthy.
I don't know when I will find a job. I don't know what type of health care benefits a new job will offer. I have "pre-existing conditions" that won't be covered. I find the latter the biggest cop out that the insurance companies use. In order to increase their already huge profits they have us pay for these premiums and either exclude certain conditions (mental health coverage) or pre-existing conditions (diabetes, cancer, allergies, previous joint or muscle injuries, thyroid conditions, head colds), or delay the treatment of these conditions for a year or longer. And God forbid they offer comprehensive wellness coverage. If they did we might be healthier or need less expensive treatment for a condition caught in the early stages, and the profit margin for the insurance provider would decrease.
So...I'm following these bills closely. I am an Independent and I want to see politics taken out of this important issue. I'm sure that sounds naive but I can be hopeful that rational minds will prevail. I see a lot of scare tactics going on, especially directed at seniors and individuals with mental and physical disabilities. I've done enough research to know that what is being said or written by those using these tactics is either distorted or blatantly false. I will continue to research the facts and what is actually written into the legislation and let my congressmen/women know how I stand on the proposed reforms - no matter their party affiliation.
I'm new to blogging and mine will be a mixture of humor and serious discussion of what is going on in this new economic environment. I've never been as scared, frustrated or unappreciated in the job market as I am today. I am extremely experienced in my field, intelligent, highly educated and a hard worker - I have not found a full time, salaried job in over two years. I'm not ugly; I'm older but not that old; I'm a little heavier than when I was 21 but who isn't; I dress very well; I don't smell bad; I shave my legs and under my arms each morning; I wash my hair and have regular salon appointments; I'm nice, honest and fair; I'm fun and funny; I'm outgoing. In short, I am what I would look for in a new employee. If I could hire myself, I would!
I know that I am one of millions in this position. I have a variety of sad, angry, funny, uplifting and realistic stories to share. This is my way to get it all out of my system so I can survive. The health care issue is so current and fresh that I had to get some of that "off my chest" in this first blog. I'll write as often as I can between temporary work and job searches. Until then I'll have on my surgical mask, my handy antibacterial wash in my purse and will be taking the side roads instead of the highways in order to avoid an accident. Don't honk if you see me waiting the recommended 3-5 seconds at the green light before proceding.
More to come and I hope you enjoy...
I am extremely interested in getting the FACTS on the four, soon to be five health care/insurance reform bills going through Congress. I have no full time job. I have no health care coverage. I had an extremely expensive private health care plan for a while. It excluded all but basic care. I had to choose a high deductible to afford it in the first place. It classified almost everything I had ever seen a doctor for as a pre-existing condition, thus little was actually covered. It was called a PPO but never negotiated a reasonable payment to my doctors, so I received bills from them for the remainder of the charges. And, the premiums went up almost monthly - especially if I actually used the insurance. The dental insurance didn't even cover the bi-annual checkups as advertised. I finally had to drop the coverage, hope to find generic prescriptions, hope that the tooth requiring a crown would hold up for a while longer, and hope that I didn't either become very ill or involved in an injurious accident.
There are a lot of details to work out in the health care/insurance reform bill. The AMA, AARP and pharmaceutical companies are still backing reform. The insurance companies participated in the initial discussions and expressed their backing, but have reversed that decision and are now sponsoring ad campaigns against the reforms. In my opinion, the health insurance companies (I'm not talking about auto, home, life or p&c insurance coverage) are just as greedy as those financial institutions that nearly brought our economy to a complete collapse. This is why Mr. Obama keeps repeating that health care reform is critical to the long term recovery of our economic health. This is just as important as making sure that the banks are not failing and are conducting business in a fair, realistic and profitable manner. This is equally important as re-tooling our automotive industry so that it is solvent and building fuel-efficient automobiles for the 21st century.
The health care problem affects everyone in one way or another. If you have health care coverage provided by your employer the amount you pay each month out of your paycheck will keep increasing if nothing is done. If you are lucky enough to have your coverage 100% funded by your employer, that will soon cease as prices increase - you will gradually begin to shoulder some or most of the cost of those premiums. If you lose your job you are offered the opportunity to keep your current coverage under Cobra. How many of us who have lost our jobs can afford Cobra? I paid into the plan for two months until I could no longer afford it. Health insurance coverage shouldn't be tied so closely to employment - full time employment - but it is. Good private health care coverage is extremely expensive and not accessible to those who need it; contract workers, part time employees and the unemployed.
I have been in all three situations - I have been 100% covered by my former employer; I have paid up to 50% of the monthly premium that my previous employer provided; and I have purchased a private health care plan. The first is almost obsolete now. The second becomes more expensive each time an employer evaluates the coverage they are providing, or are notified of a rate increase. The last is quite frankly not even an option unless you are independently wealthy.
I don't know when I will find a job. I don't know what type of health care benefits a new job will offer. I have "pre-existing conditions" that won't be covered. I find the latter the biggest cop out that the insurance companies use. In order to increase their already huge profits they have us pay for these premiums and either exclude certain conditions (mental health coverage) or pre-existing conditions (diabetes, cancer, allergies, previous joint or muscle injuries, thyroid conditions, head colds), or delay the treatment of these conditions for a year or longer. And God forbid they offer comprehensive wellness coverage. If they did we might be healthier or need less expensive treatment for a condition caught in the early stages, and the profit margin for the insurance provider would decrease.
So...I'm following these bills closely. I am an Independent and I want to see politics taken out of this important issue. I'm sure that sounds naive but I can be hopeful that rational minds will prevail. I see a lot of scare tactics going on, especially directed at seniors and individuals with mental and physical disabilities. I've done enough research to know that what is being said or written by those using these tactics is either distorted or blatantly false. I will continue to research the facts and what is actually written into the legislation and let my congressmen/women know how I stand on the proposed reforms - no matter their party affiliation.
I'm new to blogging and mine will be a mixture of humor and serious discussion of what is going on in this new economic environment. I've never been as scared, frustrated or unappreciated in the job market as I am today. I am extremely experienced in my field, intelligent, highly educated and a hard worker - I have not found a full time, salaried job in over two years. I'm not ugly; I'm older but not that old; I'm a little heavier than when I was 21 but who isn't; I dress very well; I don't smell bad; I shave my legs and under my arms each morning; I wash my hair and have regular salon appointments; I'm nice, honest and fair; I'm fun and funny; I'm outgoing. In short, I am what I would look for in a new employee. If I could hire myself, I would!
I know that I am one of millions in this position. I have a variety of sad, angry, funny, uplifting and realistic stories to share. This is my way to get it all out of my system so I can survive. The health care issue is so current and fresh that I had to get some of that "off my chest" in this first blog. I'll write as often as I can between temporary work and job searches. Until then I'll have on my surgical mask, my handy antibacterial wash in my purse and will be taking the side roads instead of the highways in order to avoid an accident. Don't honk if you see me waiting the recommended 3-5 seconds at the green light before proceding.
More to come and I hope you enjoy...
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