Well, another week is in the books. It wasn't any more or less successful than any number of other such weeks, I guess. Tomorrow makes a full week since my daughter started serving her time for drunk driving. It's only been a week and already the bureaucracy, the petty hassles, the incompetence, and other such things are making her vow to never go back. I hope she is right.
I got back into my routine a bit more solidly, writing and quilting most days. I had a somewhat major setback when I discovered that the directions for making my afghan were totally wrong. This is going to necessitate pulling out and redoing an entire afghan. *sigh* Not only does this interfere with my schedule for ensuring all my things are done by the end of the year, but it's just a royal pita in general. After experimenting for several hours I've discovered a work-around that should work. To be sure, I will have to make eight of the small pieces and sew them together. Thus far I have two of them done.
I added some me time to my routines these days. That includes using lotion on rough spots on my legs, making sure I use my face moisturizer and other things like that daily. That includes a night cream. I'm already seeing some improvement. I've been pretty careless and getting older means more not less care.
I'm considering installing my story building software on my laptop computer. It would give me a nice safe place to store ideas, and would be easier to work on there than in my room where it gets pretty cold at times.
I got the results from my sleep study day before yesterday. Everything is just fine. The machine I use for sleep is calibrated correctly and nothing needs to be changed. Of course that does nothing to ensure that I sleep. So I sent my sleep doctor a note asking what the next steps are. I should hear back early next week and we'll see.
So as I said, it's yet another week. Nothing much going on.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Politics
Politics are getting interesting again, especially for a Monday morning. First we get this out of the Justice Department: An official there has said that if she is subpoenaed to testify in the Federal Attorney firing brouhaha she will take the fifth. That's an absolutely astounding and utterly interesting position since the White House swears on a stack of bibles that nothing illegal took place. I wonder what she knows that's so bad it could send her to jail if she were to openly tell the truth about it. I equally wonder how many other people know equally damaging stuff in this case.
What amazes me repeatedly about this whole thing is that there was supposedly nothing illegal about the president exercising his prerogative to fire federal attorneys. He didn't have to give any explanation to the public beyond the fact that it was his prerogative to do so and he was using it. That's been the case with every other president. Why then did this administration have to make up a pack of lies, and bad lies at that, which impugned the integrity of the attorneys being fired? Why couldn't they have just said the president wanted them replaced and let it go at that? What is it about this administration that has to make cloak and dagger out of something this simple?
The next thing to hit the political fan today is the outlines of the new Comprehensive Immigration policy that the congress is beginning to consider. It has some good stuff, and some really bad stuff in it in about equal portions. The good thing would be a legal immigrant database; the bad thing is that it would be administered by the Department of Homeland Security. I cannot imagine a more incompetent group to do something this important. A good thing would be more Immigration officials and Border Patrol, as well as a completed fence and observation devices; the bad thing is that they would be issuing six-year visas to illegals without requiring them to go home first. I understand that this part would also be without background, security, or criminal background checks.
The next good thing would be stricter harsher penalties for those hiring illegals; the bad is again it's under the Bush administration and Department of Homeland security. If Mr. Bush runs immigration policy the way he runs the war in Iraq, we might just as well turn over the keys to the country to Mexico now and abdicate our citizenship.
The nothing but bad thing is amnesty at the end of six years and a place at the head of the line for permanent resident or citizenship status. I don't know if there is a language requirement, but I know that there is a background and criminal check at this time, a few light fines, and the payment of back taxes. What they don't have to do is leave and apply from their home countries then wait for the paperwork to be processed which is what legal immigrants must do. These people would be required to leave, but that "leave" would mean as little as walking across the border at Juarez and then immediately turning around and walking back. They would then be allowed to live in this country while waiting for their paperwork to be processed which takes years under the most ideal circumstances. Meanwhile those who apply from outside the country must wait there all those years while those who snuck across the border and broke the law reap benefits from doing so.
The other questionable part of this plan is expansion of the legal, low-skilled labor program which currently allows about 5,000 of these people to come here legally if sponsored by a business with a job for them. This would expand to 400,000 a year. I don't have any details on how long they're allowed to stay here, etc.
As I said, it's been such a heavy news day that even Anna Nichole's autopsy is getting scant play on the news.
What amazes me repeatedly about this whole thing is that there was supposedly nothing illegal about the president exercising his prerogative to fire federal attorneys. He didn't have to give any explanation to the public beyond the fact that it was his prerogative to do so and he was using it. That's been the case with every other president. Why then did this administration have to make up a pack of lies, and bad lies at that, which impugned the integrity of the attorneys being fired? Why couldn't they have just said the president wanted them replaced and let it go at that? What is it about this administration that has to make cloak and dagger out of something this simple?
The next thing to hit the political fan today is the outlines of the new Comprehensive Immigration policy that the congress is beginning to consider. It has some good stuff, and some really bad stuff in it in about equal portions. The good thing would be a legal immigrant database; the bad thing is that it would be administered by the Department of Homeland Security. I cannot imagine a more incompetent group to do something this important. A good thing would be more Immigration officials and Border Patrol, as well as a completed fence and observation devices; the bad thing is that they would be issuing six-year visas to illegals without requiring them to go home first. I understand that this part would also be without background, security, or criminal background checks.
The next good thing would be stricter harsher penalties for those hiring illegals; the bad is again it's under the Bush administration and Department of Homeland security. If Mr. Bush runs immigration policy the way he runs the war in Iraq, we might just as well turn over the keys to the country to Mexico now and abdicate our citizenship.
The nothing but bad thing is amnesty at the end of six years and a place at the head of the line for permanent resident or citizenship status. I don't know if there is a language requirement, but I know that there is a background and criminal check at this time, a few light fines, and the payment of back taxes. What they don't have to do is leave and apply from their home countries then wait for the paperwork to be processed which is what legal immigrants must do. These people would be required to leave, but that "leave" would mean as little as walking across the border at Juarez and then immediately turning around and walking back. They would then be allowed to live in this country while waiting for their paperwork to be processed which takes years under the most ideal circumstances. Meanwhile those who apply from outside the country must wait there all those years while those who snuck across the border and broke the law reap benefits from doing so.
The other questionable part of this plan is expansion of the legal, low-skilled labor program which currently allows about 5,000 of these people to come here legally if sponsored by a business with a job for them. This would expand to 400,000 a year. I don't have any details on how long they're allowed to stay here, etc.
As I said, it's been such a heavy news day that even Anna Nichole's autopsy is getting scant play on the news.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
May you live in interesting times
I feel that pretty much defines my life right now. "Interesting" in terms that are not particularly fun or easy. I am thinking of ways to unstress. If stress were money I would be richer than Bill Gates at the moment. Unfortunately, because of promises I've made and my own peculiar brand of loyalty, I'm tied into the situation for at least another 3-4 months. After that things will have to change, if I don't have a heart attack from the stress first.
I am working on reducing the stress somewhat. For instance, I begin a program of meditation tonight just before I go to bed. Tomorrow I will be going to the doctor and from there to the Senior Center where I hope to enroll in a Tai Chi class that I think begins either next week or the week after. Meets twice a week for a month or two and teaches basic forms. It is followed by an intermediate course. I'm hoping these two changes will reap some benefits. For the near term I am also looking into getting a massage because I really loved the one I have had before and it left me all relaxed and noodly (precise scientific term) for hours.
I am a bit worried about my ability to handle such enormous loads of stress which is why I am doing these things. I've had several days recently where I've had periods where I felt disassociated and as if I were viewing the world through a long tunnel. Everything was slowed down. Now I grant you this could just be exhaustion brought on by the fact I rarely get sufficient sleep or anything even vaguely related to it. I'm working on that as well having seen a doctor twice now about it. I will be returning to the sleep specialist when the results of the latest tests are in.
Right now, however, I am sitting in my room with the door closed. I refuse to be a part of the current ongoing drama unfolding outside the confines of this room. It's early but I may just go to bed and take a nap. I skipped breakfast rather than be out there. I have no energy to play WoW and left the last of my afghan pieces out next to my chair. Don't feel like doing that right now anyway. Later when everyone leaves I'll go finish the last square and maybe even begin sewing them together.
Sleep would be nice. I don't care that I've only been out of bed a few hours.
I am working on reducing the stress somewhat. For instance, I begin a program of meditation tonight just before I go to bed. Tomorrow I will be going to the doctor and from there to the Senior Center where I hope to enroll in a Tai Chi class that I think begins either next week or the week after. Meets twice a week for a month or two and teaches basic forms. It is followed by an intermediate course. I'm hoping these two changes will reap some benefits. For the near term I am also looking into getting a massage because I really loved the one I have had before and it left me all relaxed and noodly (precise scientific term) for hours.
I am a bit worried about my ability to handle such enormous loads of stress which is why I am doing these things. I've had several days recently where I've had periods where I felt disassociated and as if I were viewing the world through a long tunnel. Everything was slowed down. Now I grant you this could just be exhaustion brought on by the fact I rarely get sufficient sleep or anything even vaguely related to it. I'm working on that as well having seen a doctor twice now about it. I will be returning to the sleep specialist when the results of the latest tests are in.
Right now, however, I am sitting in my room with the door closed. I refuse to be a part of the current ongoing drama unfolding outside the confines of this room. It's early but I may just go to bed and take a nap. I skipped breakfast rather than be out there. I have no energy to play WoW and left the last of my afghan pieces out next to my chair. Don't feel like doing that right now anyway. Later when everyone leaves I'll go finish the last square and maybe even begin sewing them together.
Sleep would be nice. I don't care that I've only been out of bed a few hours.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Working on Changes
Sewmouse has inspired me to try to get better organized so I can actually do the things I want to do. I have managed to begin some things. I'm going to the doctor about my sleep problems and intend to keep with it until they find something that works. Yesterday I completed a five day, at-home sleep study, so am waiting for the end results of that.
I intend to go to the Senior Center in town either tomorrow or the next day and see not only what they have there that I might enjoy but also see if there is anything I might contribute as well. Sew has suggests a Tai Chi class which I have been looking into for quite some time. I guess I am still not entirely sure I could do it.
Another thing I have been doing faithfully is to work on my afghans. I finished making the last piece of the current one tonight and will begin piecing it together tomorrow. By Monday or so it will be finished and I can mail it off to its intended recipient. It's a wedding present for my sister/niece. Don't ask. That's an entirely different story. I'll post a picture here when it's done. That will leave four more to complete before Christmas.
There are three more things I need to add to my do every day list. The first is write on my story. Half an hour by the clock every single day. The second is work on the quilt I'm making for my son and daughter in law. Another half an hour every day while I listen to the news and drink coffee in the morning. What a perfect way to start a day. The final thing is to make a list of five things to do around either the house or the yard, then do them.
This is way more than enough for right now. When they become habits that are not slacked off on, I'll find other things. For instance, I have an appointment on Monday to have a thorough eye exam. It's possible I will be a candidate for cataract surgery one of these days soon. I know I have them; I just need to see how much worse they've become in the past year and a half. I know they are worse. I can see it.
I do plan to post here more often. On Thursday or Friday it will be about what I'm doing and my progress toward meeting my goals. On Sunday or Monday it will be about politics or something else that interests me personally. If I have other things then there are other days.
I intend to go to the Senior Center in town either tomorrow or the next day and see not only what they have there that I might enjoy but also see if there is anything I might contribute as well. Sew has suggests a Tai Chi class which I have been looking into for quite some time. I guess I am still not entirely sure I could do it.
Another thing I have been doing faithfully is to work on my afghans. I finished making the last piece of the current one tonight and will begin piecing it together tomorrow. By Monday or so it will be finished and I can mail it off to its intended recipient. It's a wedding present for my sister/niece. Don't ask. That's an entirely different story. I'll post a picture here when it's done. That will leave four more to complete before Christmas.
There are three more things I need to add to my do every day list. The first is write on my story. Half an hour by the clock every single day. The second is work on the quilt I'm making for my son and daughter in law. Another half an hour every day while I listen to the news and drink coffee in the morning. What a perfect way to start a day. The final thing is to make a list of five things to do around either the house or the yard, then do them.
This is way more than enough for right now. When they become habits that are not slacked off on, I'll find other things. For instance, I have an appointment on Monday to have a thorough eye exam. It's possible I will be a candidate for cataract surgery one of these days soon. I know I have them; I just need to see how much worse they've become in the past year and a half. I know they are worse. I can see it.
I do plan to post here more often. On Thursday or Friday it will be about what I'm doing and my progress toward meeting my goals. On Sunday or Monday it will be about politics or something else that interests me personally. If I have other things then there are other days.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
What a Shock
As with many older folks, I remember Van Halen as a great rock band. Eddie was the heart of the band; young, handsome, and enormously talented. I was shocked to find this picture of him today. I guess this is what a lifetime of hard drug use does to you.
I admit I'm horrified. I can't see any of the old Eddie VanHalen in this picture. I see a man who looks years older than me and utterly dissipated. It's really sad.
Friday, March 09, 2007
It's Going to be a Long Night
You can count on that. My daughter and I are both up and are both waiting for her former girlfriend to show up and try to break into the house. The woman is roaring shitfaced drunk and wants to get to my daughter. Right now she's out trying to find my daughter, but I warned her and she ran from where she was and came home. The doors are bolted and we're just waiting for all hell to break loose. My daughter is on the telephone with the police right now finding out what we have to do should she manage to break in. We know the door will hold as she's tried to kick that in before, but there are big glass windows.
We know she will come back here because she has nowhere else to go. All of her friends have given up on her erratic behavior. This all started earlier in the day. My daughter got another DUI and has been going through all the court stuff. Later this month she will be serving some jail time as well. The only really good news besides work release is that my daughter found out today that she will be able to get a provisional license that allows her to drive to and from work as soon as her jail time is over. This woman recently lost her license after she got busted for driving while on a suspended license. Seems she got stopped some months back and got a ticket (which she never paid) for driving without insurance. She's furious that my daughter gets her provisional license (she paid her fines, etc.) so she went out and got drunk, came back here, and things went to hell.
My daughter left to avoid a fight. Then this mess started. Right now this woman is in a nearby bar getting progressively drunker and drunker and and talking more and more violence. This has happened before. This time I am hoping my daughter is serious and doesn't just change her mind. I no longer trust the woman after some things she said to me, and after she tried to pick a fight with me. I refused to fight, telling her I'd be happy to talk to her later when she is sober. She left and later told people I had "gone off on her." Hell, I don't raise my voice to my daughter, much less to this woman. Then she called me a liar which buried it as far as I am concerned.
The police just left. The officer says there isn't much we can do, but if she tries to break down the door we are to call him and he'll come back immediately. He'll be in the area until 6 in the morning, so it should be ok other than for the upset. At least I hope so. We can't even lock ourselves in the back room. While I was talking Susan to a safe place, she kicked in the door and ruined the lock there. I have a hunch I'll get precious little sleep tonight.
We know she will come back here because she has nowhere else to go. All of her friends have given up on her erratic behavior. This all started earlier in the day. My daughter got another DUI and has been going through all the court stuff. Later this month she will be serving some jail time as well. The only really good news besides work release is that my daughter found out today that she will be able to get a provisional license that allows her to drive to and from work as soon as her jail time is over. This woman recently lost her license after she got busted for driving while on a suspended license. Seems she got stopped some months back and got a ticket (which she never paid) for driving without insurance. She's furious that my daughter gets her provisional license (she paid her fines, etc.) so she went out and got drunk, came back here, and things went to hell.
My daughter left to avoid a fight. Then this mess started. Right now this woman is in a nearby bar getting progressively drunker and drunker and and talking more and more violence. This has happened before. This time I am hoping my daughter is serious and doesn't just change her mind. I no longer trust the woman after some things she said to me, and after she tried to pick a fight with me. I refused to fight, telling her I'd be happy to talk to her later when she is sober. She left and later told people I had "gone off on her." Hell, I don't raise my voice to my daughter, much less to this woman. Then she called me a liar which buried it as far as I am concerned.
The police just left. The officer says there isn't much we can do, but if she tries to break down the door we are to call him and he'll come back immediately. He'll be in the area until 6 in the morning, so it should be ok other than for the upset. At least I hope so. We can't even lock ourselves in the back room. While I was talking Susan to a safe place, she kicked in the door and ruined the lock there. I have a hunch I'll get precious little sleep tonight.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Sleep
Today's the day. My appointment at the sleep clinic is only a few hours away. Actually I've got two appointments. One will have them check out the machine I use, the other one will be with the doctor.
I don't expect much to happen today as these are first appointments. I've been to sleep clinics repeatedly for years and they've not been able to actually help me sleep, but we'll see. There are lots of things they could do including trying sleeping pills to break the cycle of non-sleep. It will be interesting to see if something actually gets done. Still, a bit of hope is better than none, so I'm looking forward to going there.
With any luck, given the timing of the visit, I should be done and home without hitting too much of the commute. The traffic around here is awful and the area where I will be driving is one of the worst in the nation. On the other hand, I've driven it for years so I'm used to it.
I'm going prepared to have to wait a while between visits, but that's ok too. The actual appointments are an hour apart. That's not all that bad.
I don't expect much to happen today as these are first appointments. I've been to sleep clinics repeatedly for years and they've not been able to actually help me sleep, but we'll see. There are lots of things they could do including trying sleeping pills to break the cycle of non-sleep. It will be interesting to see if something actually gets done. Still, a bit of hope is better than none, so I'm looking forward to going there.
With any luck, given the timing of the visit, I should be done and home without hitting too much of the commute. The traffic around here is awful and the area where I will be driving is one of the worst in the nation. On the other hand, I've driven it for years so I'm used to it.
I'm going prepared to have to wait a while between visits, but that's ok too. The actual appointments are an hour apart. That's not all that bad.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Miscellaneous Things
I haven't been posting here much. Mainly I'm busy and dealing with a lot of stress at the moment. Also, I'm posting a lot more in an area called gather.com. It has literally hundreds of discussion groups. My current favorite is the politics one which should come as no surprise to anyone. What I am proud of, given that the group has over 30,000 members is that I've had things I've posted as their front-page feature three times in the past ten days. I have some aspirations toward being a political blogger that people actually listen to, so this definitely doesn't hurt.
I'm making good progress with my current afghan (a Christmas present for my sister) and also on the quilt for my son. I had a small setback there yesterday because I wasn't paying attention and had to rip out a bunch of quilting so the area would lay flat. There is an order in which you must do these things and I didn't do that. Voila! Bunched up mess.
Some of you know that I also play an online game called WoW. It used to be fun, but the real world is intruding to such an extent that it's more of a chore to log on than it is fun to play. I have one low-level character I'm still having fun with, but I have to go play my main as well since in a few levels (well ok six huge levels) she gets to fly on her own like a bird. Actually as a bird. That will be such a kick. I haven't logged her on in like three days to do more than check mail.
I've been doing one thing this week that is helping with all the stress. I've begun making a list of all the things I have to be thankful for. The common ones and the not so common ones. It really does help to keep things in perspective.
I'm making good progress with my current afghan (a Christmas present for my sister) and also on the quilt for my son. I had a small setback there yesterday because I wasn't paying attention and had to rip out a bunch of quilting so the area would lay flat. There is an order in which you must do these things and I didn't do that. Voila! Bunched up mess.
Some of you know that I also play an online game called WoW. It used to be fun, but the real world is intruding to such an extent that it's more of a chore to log on than it is fun to play. I have one low-level character I'm still having fun with, but I have to go play my main as well since in a few levels (well ok six huge levels) she gets to fly on her own like a bird. Actually as a bird. That will be such a kick. I haven't logged her on in like three days to do more than check mail.
I've been doing one thing this week that is helping with all the stress. I've begun making a list of all the things I have to be thankful for. The common ones and the not so common ones. It really does help to keep things in perspective.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
My Latest Effort
This is my latest effort. I always have one project or another going. It's simply a part of who I am and what I do. I can't sit still without having a project in my hands.
This year I will be making something for virtually everyone on my Christmas list, plus two or three other things I've promised one person or another. I like this pattern because I like knitting to begin with, but also because it looks a lot more complicated than it actually is. The best part is that it's knitted in narrow strips so there are only 24 stitches on the needles at any one time.
I have already located the materials for the next one. After that is an afghan for my sister, another for my daughter's ex-husband's sister, another for my daughter's ex-husband's girlfriend, and possibly one for a couple of other people. Well, one very very involved one for one special person, and a much easier, but fairly flashy one for another person.
This does not include finishing a queen sized quilt and making a quilted computer carrying case. That should keep my hands busy for a bit.
Friday, February 02, 2007
I done good
It's sort of coincidental that my friend Sewmouse published a piece on finding books for her family that meant a lot to them when they were younger.
My son's birthday was the 31st. When we were talking he mentioned how much he wanted to find his two favorite children's books so he could read the books he loved to his daughter. I promised him I would look, but to be honest they were kid's books from 30 or more years ago. The odds were not good. Or so I thought.
Bright and early the next day I started my search. Almost immediately I found the first of the two books. I ordered it on Amazon.com and it began winging its way to him. I sent him an email telling him I had found it.
Unfortunately I had no luck with the second book. Then quite by accident, while typing something into an email, I discovered I was spelling piranha wrong. I was leaving out the "h". I typed it into a Google search and almost immediately got a number of hits, one of which gave me the author's name, the publisher, and the date it was published. Armed with that and crossed fingers, I hit Amazon again. Immediate success. That one is on its way to him as well. Both should arrive within a day or two of one another.
I felt so good being able to do that. I remember these books from when David was just a child. I remember his laugh as he read them over and over. Now I have been able to help out and see that his daughter enjoys the very same books he so loved as a kid. That makes me happy.
My son's birthday was the 31st. When we were talking he mentioned how much he wanted to find his two favorite children's books so he could read the books he loved to his daughter. I promised him I would look, but to be honest they were kid's books from 30 or more years ago. The odds were not good. Or so I thought.
Bright and early the next day I started my search. Almost immediately I found the first of the two books. I ordered it on Amazon.com and it began winging its way to him. I sent him an email telling him I had found it.
Unfortunately I had no luck with the second book. Then quite by accident, while typing something into an email, I discovered I was spelling piranha wrong. I was leaving out the "h". I typed it into a Google search and almost immediately got a number of hits, one of which gave me the author's name, the publisher, and the date it was published. Armed with that and crossed fingers, I hit Amazon again. Immediate success. That one is on its way to him as well. Both should arrive within a day or two of one another.
I felt so good being able to do that. I remember these books from when David was just a child. I remember his laugh as he read them over and over. Now I have been able to help out and see that his daughter enjoys the very same books he so loved as a kid. That makes me happy.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Talk about a miscarriage of justice
I was listening to the radio on the way home from the store when this story came on. I was fuming by the end and still am. There is a woman in the Seattle area. She used to have three kids. A baby, a kid a bit over one year old, and one two and a half. She and the babies' father are not living together. When he didn't hear from her for quite a long time, he went over to where she lived.
He found her passed out drunk on the couch with over 330 beer cans tossed around a filthy room. Two of the children, the younger two, were dead of malnutrition and neglect. The third was barely alive and may be brain damaged.
Today the prosecutor announced that she's unfit to stand trial and dropped all charges. She will go to the state funny farm for a year or two, then more likely than not will be released to carry on her life, a thing she denied two of her three children. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? She chose to drink like that. She chose to not feed or care for those children. Yet she walks. If she wanted to drink herself to death she could at least have seen to it that the children were safe. She chose not to, and chose to let them die.
To say I'm really angry is putting it mildly.
He found her passed out drunk on the couch with over 330 beer cans tossed around a filthy room. Two of the children, the younger two, were dead of malnutrition and neglect. The third was barely alive and may be brain damaged.
Today the prosecutor announced that she's unfit to stand trial and dropped all charges. She will go to the state funny farm for a year or two, then more likely than not will be released to carry on her life, a thing she denied two of her three children. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? She chose to drink like that. She chose to not feed or care for those children. Yet she walks. If she wanted to drink herself to death she could at least have seen to it that the children were safe. She chose not to, and chose to let them die.
To say I'm really angry is putting it mildly.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Why Women Don't Sew Any More
When I was growing up, a lot of women sewed. We made clothes for ourselves and our kids, made stuff for the house, etc. It was cheaper and stuff fit better. I was a particularly good seamstress and for two summers was actually paid to sew costumes for a university's summer theater program. That was one of the most fun times of my life because I love live theater, always have. Working and living in the world of the theater for two summers was magical for me.
I've probably mentioned elsewhere that it's cold where I am. Of late I've been considering picking up a pattern and sewing myself a couple of flannel slips to wear under my skirts for warmth. They would sew up fast. Fabric is still a good buy in most places, so it seemed like a good idea. Yesterday I finally got to my local Joann's Fabrics, and I discovered why women don't sew any more. They can't afford to. Patterns for the simplest things cost around $16, while the really fancy stuff is more. It's simply cheaper to buy whatever you want ready made and alter it to fit. Add to that the fact that most of the pattern catalogs don't even carry undergarments like slips any more, and you can see why I say it's just not worth it. I can buy a slip such as I want for under $20 online. It would cost me almost that for the pattern if they had them. That's ridiculous.
I've probably mentioned elsewhere that it's cold where I am. Of late I've been considering picking up a pattern and sewing myself a couple of flannel slips to wear under my skirts for warmth. They would sew up fast. Fabric is still a good buy in most places, so it seemed like a good idea. Yesterday I finally got to my local Joann's Fabrics, and I discovered why women don't sew any more. They can't afford to. Patterns for the simplest things cost around $16, while the really fancy stuff is more. It's simply cheaper to buy whatever you want ready made and alter it to fit. Add to that the fact that most of the pattern catalogs don't even carry undergarments like slips any more, and you can see why I say it's just not worth it. I can buy a slip such as I want for under $20 online. It would cost me almost that for the pattern if they had them. That's ridiculous.
Monday, January 29, 2007
A Disturbing Mindset
There is a new vaccine on the market. It protects girls and women against cervical cancer and genital warts that are caused by a specific set of viruses. The tests show that it will prevent 70% of all cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. Both of these conditions are passed on by sexual contact.
To be most effective, the girls have to be vaccinated before they become sexually active. Once a woman is sexually active, the vaccine still offers considerable protection, but not as great as when the girls are vaccinated around the age of nine.
You would think that people would be doing handsprings that this terrible disease has become manageable. In some instances, however, this is not the case. There is a vocal group out there who don't want the vaccine even offered because they fear it will "encourage young women to be sexually promiscuous". I admit I don't even begin to understand why someone would deny this unarguably life-saving vaccination to their own children, much less want to see it denied to every other child.
If the argument were that the drug has no long term studies for its safety or that the side effects are not well known as yet, I would acknowledge that those are both valid reasons to take a wait and see attitude. Many of us remember a drug called DES which was given to pregnant women to prevent miscarriages. Over time it became evident that while the drug indeed prevented miscarriages, it also exposed female children born to those mothers to an inordinately high incidence of cervical cancer.
What I find mind boggling is that there are parents out there who would see their own daughters die or become permanently sterile by a preventable disease for no other reason than as a punishment for having sex before marriage. This same argument was offered against the birth control pill where the threat of an unwanted pregnancy was punishment for not heeding the warnings against premarital sex. I find such narrow minded focus to be utterly incomprehensible. Yes. Abstinence is undoubtedly the best path for the majority of youngsters for a variety of reasons. It is, however, unrealistic to expect to terrorize them into abstaining. This sort of mindset and control has to come from within not be imposed from without. The biggest thing is that it begs off recognizing human nature, rape, incest, and a number of other factors.
Simply put, sometimes people don't think rationally and young people often exhibit poor judgment and do things that they really shouldn't do. They are impulsive and thoughtless. We can curb this tendency in our children to some extent, but not entirely. The consequences of such actions should not be death or an unwanted pregnancy. Pregnancy should never be viewed as a punishment. I also defy anyone, religious or not, to tell me why one bad decision should condemn a girl to a long, slow, painful death. What these people seem to be saying is that they would prefer to see their daughters die from cervical cancer than risk that she might have premarital sex and have the punishment element removed. Further, they are saying that no only should their own daughters be exposed to the risk of dying from this preventable disease, but that everyone else's daughter should as well. I find this to be a disturbing mindset.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Pressure and Stress
For the past couple of weeks I have been feeling more and more as if I live in a defective pressure cooker. There is pressure from all sides, I feel shut in, and there is no way to let off steam.
I am not a person given to outward displays of bad temper or other acting out. I expect to act as an adult. Since I moved back to Washington I have not made any new friends who actually live close enough to talk to face to face. I have only rarely left the house other than for essential errands for well over a year. Since I don't work and my daughter goes to watch TV in her room or nap I pretty much am existing in total isolation with only the Internet, some good online friends, and a game as outlets.
My daughter has a severe drinking problem and about six weeks or so ago she was pulled over on her second DUI in three years with a blood alcohol level of 2.5 times the legal limit. So we've been living with this. She said she quit drinking, but that's not exactly true I found out recently. As I said, I don't say much. Mainly I don't because she doesn't listen anyway.
When she's drinking she tends to be rude and hyper critical, which means she was bitching at me about minor things when she was talking to me. I mean so minor as leaving my bedroom light on while I went to the bathroom.
Just before this DUI incident, she had a breakup with her then girlfriend that resulted in the girlfriend being arrested and a restraining order issued. The girlfriend, in fact, was the one who goaded my daughter on the phone until Susan lost her temper and took off drunk off her ass to confront her.....and got pulled over and arrested. That part doesn't sound too bad until you know that the girlfriend is back. All is forgiven. *sigh* Again, I have said nothing since nobody would listen anyway.
Today was my daughter's court date. She plead guilty on the advice of her attorney so that the prosecutor would recommend a lighter sentence. It appears now as if she will be sentenced to 45 days in jail with work release for her job, another 30-90 days on home detention (she can only leave the house to go to work). Her license is suspended as of today. In a year she can apply for a provisional license. That means that for an additional two years she can only drive to and from work, and must have a breathalyser installed in the car. If she slips up even once, then it's six months in prison and a very large fine. Probably more because some new laws are about to go into effect.
There are other things of this type that are driving me nuts. Several others. The downside of all of this pressure is that I'm getting by on perhaps 3-4 hours of broken sleep a night and am so exhausted I have no energy for any of the bazillion things I need to be doing every day. I have an appointment at the sleep clinic the end of next month and maybe that will eventually help. I'm considering meditation but don't have a clue as to how to start with that.
The bottom line is that I am tired of being so tired. I want energy to write, and finish my website, and work on my projects. I'd like to feel that the prospect of a walk wouldn't be more energy than I can muster. Even thinking about it takes too much energy. I would love to finish my book and perhaps sell some magazine articles. I want to finish my non-fiction book outline. Right now I am barely eating (a good thing) and feel as if my head is stuffed with cotton. I'm back to having an upset stomach all the time, and a raging headache most of the time. I'm bored and too tired to even care.
I am not a person given to outward displays of bad temper or other acting out. I expect to act as an adult. Since I moved back to Washington I have not made any new friends who actually live close enough to talk to face to face. I have only rarely left the house other than for essential errands for well over a year. Since I don't work and my daughter goes to watch TV in her room or nap I pretty much am existing in total isolation with only the Internet, some good online friends, and a game as outlets.
My daughter has a severe drinking problem and about six weeks or so ago she was pulled over on her second DUI in three years with a blood alcohol level of 2.5 times the legal limit. So we've been living with this. She said she quit drinking, but that's not exactly true I found out recently. As I said, I don't say much. Mainly I don't because she doesn't listen anyway.
When she's drinking she tends to be rude and hyper critical, which means she was bitching at me about minor things when she was talking to me. I mean so minor as leaving my bedroom light on while I went to the bathroom.
Just before this DUI incident, she had a breakup with her then girlfriend that resulted in the girlfriend being arrested and a restraining order issued. The girlfriend, in fact, was the one who goaded my daughter on the phone until Susan lost her temper and took off drunk off her ass to confront her.....and got pulled over and arrested. That part doesn't sound too bad until you know that the girlfriend is back. All is forgiven. *sigh* Again, I have said nothing since nobody would listen anyway.
Today was my daughter's court date. She plead guilty on the advice of her attorney so that the prosecutor would recommend a lighter sentence. It appears now as if she will be sentenced to 45 days in jail with work release for her job, another 30-90 days on home detention (she can only leave the house to go to work). Her license is suspended as of today. In a year she can apply for a provisional license. That means that for an additional two years she can only drive to and from work, and must have a breathalyser installed in the car. If she slips up even once, then it's six months in prison and a very large fine. Probably more because some new laws are about to go into effect.
There are other things of this type that are driving me nuts. Several others. The downside of all of this pressure is that I'm getting by on perhaps 3-4 hours of broken sleep a night and am so exhausted I have no energy for any of the bazillion things I need to be doing every day. I have an appointment at the sleep clinic the end of next month and maybe that will eventually help. I'm considering meditation but don't have a clue as to how to start with that.
The bottom line is that I am tired of being so tired. I want energy to write, and finish my website, and work on my projects. I'd like to feel that the prospect of a walk wouldn't be more energy than I can muster. Even thinking about it takes too much energy. I would love to finish my book and perhaps sell some magazine articles. I want to finish my non-fiction book outline. Right now I am barely eating (a good thing) and feel as if my head is stuffed with cotton. I'm back to having an upset stomach all the time, and a raging headache most of the time. I'm bored and too tired to even care.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Discouraging Day
This is not starting out to be a good day. I woke up barely able to walk for about the first hour of the day. I had somehow managed to turn onto my back and then lock my knees, resulting in both legs hurting like mad until the circulation finally got restored. They are fine now.
I checked and found that we are nearly out of the wood we will need to heat the house the rest of the winter, so we will have to buy more in order to make it through. Considering that the Social Security people "forgot" to take out my supplemental Medicare insurance premiums for three months, I will be extremely short of money from the end of Feb until the end of March. *sigh*
Then I went out today and spent money I don't really have on a new headset for my computer because I need to be able to talk to my game guild during our dungeon runs. Unfortunately it doesn't work. Well, half of it does. The earphones part. I already have working earphones. Better ones at that. The microphone doesn't work. I am heading out to the website now. Of course there isn't a manual with these things. I can't actually take them back since they came in one of those plastic bubble things you have to destroy to get the damned things out.
I decided to eat garbage for lunch and stopped by Wendy's for a jalapeno burger. They don't make them any more.
I think I will go to bed.
I checked and found that we are nearly out of the wood we will need to heat the house the rest of the winter, so we will have to buy more in order to make it through. Considering that the Social Security people "forgot" to take out my supplemental Medicare insurance premiums for three months, I will be extremely short of money from the end of Feb until the end of March. *sigh*
Then I went out today and spent money I don't really have on a new headset for my computer because I need to be able to talk to my game guild during our dungeon runs. Unfortunately it doesn't work. Well, half of it does. The earphones part. I already have working earphones. Better ones at that. The microphone doesn't work. I am heading out to the website now. Of course there isn't a manual with these things. I can't actually take them back since they came in one of those plastic bubble things you have to destroy to get the damned things out.
I decided to eat garbage for lunch and stopped by Wendy's for a jalapeno burger. They don't make them any more.
I think I will go to bed.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Common Civility
Whatever happened to common civility? I remember as a child my parents working hard to make sure I had good manners. Adult men did not even swear in the presence of women and children. Using bad language or being intentionally rude could get your mouth washed out with soap.
Today the anonymity people enjoy on the Internet and the political climate in this country seems to have convinced people that civility is no longer a necessary part of any adult's normal personality. It's no longer enough to disagree with someone and explain why. You have to call him or her stupid names and insult their opinions, etc. It's not enough that we formulate stupid names for groups whose philosophies we disagree with, now we have to do it with people as well.
It doesn't make a person look educated, intelligent, informed, or incisive and powerful when they look down their nose at someone else and then express their contempt in rude and derisive terms. More importantly, it doesn't foster a climate in which a genuine exchange of ideas, a sharing of philosophies, compromise, and perhaps better understanding can take place. For that matter, when did the word compromise become a dirty word?
Somewhere along the line we seem to have lost the ability to view those with whom we disagree as fellow human beings who have ideas that don't conform to ours. We see them as the enemy, as stupid, etc. and because they don't agree with us, we ourselves become the very type of person we most abhor in others. We hate people who disagree with us politically and wish them ill or even dead rather than recognizing they simply see things differently. This particularly alarms me because all you have to do is look at militant Islam and the Middle East to see what happens to people when they lose the ability to view people with whom they differ as fellow human beings. Or step closer to home and look at how some people treat gays in public.
I've been watching this trend grow over the years. It's change for certain, but I'm not sure feeling free to call someone stupid, an idiot, etc. is really a step forward.
Today the anonymity people enjoy on the Internet and the political climate in this country seems to have convinced people that civility is no longer a necessary part of any adult's normal personality. It's no longer enough to disagree with someone and explain why. You have to call him or her stupid names and insult their opinions, etc. It's not enough that we formulate stupid names for groups whose philosophies we disagree with, now we have to do it with people as well.
It doesn't make a person look educated, intelligent, informed, or incisive and powerful when they look down their nose at someone else and then express their contempt in rude and derisive terms. More importantly, it doesn't foster a climate in which a genuine exchange of ideas, a sharing of philosophies, compromise, and perhaps better understanding can take place. For that matter, when did the word compromise become a dirty word?
Somewhere along the line we seem to have lost the ability to view those with whom we disagree as fellow human beings who have ideas that don't conform to ours. We see them as the enemy, as stupid, etc. and because they don't agree with us, we ourselves become the very type of person we most abhor in others. We hate people who disagree with us politically and wish them ill or even dead rather than recognizing they simply see things differently. This particularly alarms me because all you have to do is look at militant Islam and the Middle East to see what happens to people when they lose the ability to view people with whom they differ as fellow human beings. Or step closer to home and look at how some people treat gays in public.
I've been watching this trend grow over the years. It's change for certain, but I'm not sure feeling free to call someone stupid, an idiot, etc. is really a step forward.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Hatred and Divisiveness
The hatred and divisiveness of political discourse these days is really alarming. Not only does it mean hardened positions with no room to maneuver and to compromise when necessary for the common good, it means that each side of an issue doesn't even hear the arguments of the other.
This is the legacy of Watergate, and after George Bush is gone from office, it will almost certainly become his legacy as well. There is no question that since Watergate political divisiveness has grown. When the Republicans with the help of the religious neocons of the far right took power the circle was completed. They went after Bill Clinton with a viciousness never before seen in American politics, even during their worst days. They literally spent tens of millions of dollars chasing any way they could find to bring charges, even trumped up ones. It was a bitter pill for them to swallow in the end when all they could do was see their personification of evil acquitted of lying about a blowjob.
So now we see Mr. Bush. First of all, were the political system not irreparably broken he could never have been president. The far right, however, has successfully driven most men and women who might be superbly qualified for the job out of the arena with their rabid persecutions. A reference to the Swiftboat or the Willie Horton (Bush's dad) ads are excellent examples as is the backlash response of attacking the current Mr. Bush's National Guard record, or more precisely, lack thereof. The man is a product of the elite class. He's never held an honest job in his life that wasn't handed to him through the influence or interdiction of others. He's out of touch with the working and middle classes. He has the arrogance that comes with too much money and too little responsibility and the pig-headedness that accompanies religious neocons who cannot imagine they can possibly be wrong about anything.
And the circle is complete. Only a miracle will break the cycle of hate and retaliation now. The harm caused by Mr. Bush's ill conceived war in Iraq and his incomplete war in Afghanistan will haunt our society for generations as we see or children and grandchildren taxed to pay for them. The failures there and Mr. Bush's squandering of our reputation with the world community will echo for a very long time as well.
We will have another president in just under two years, and he or she will be left to clean up Mr. Bush's mess as someone has cleaned up after him his entire life. The next political campaign will be another vicious cycle of false accusations, personal aspersions, and character assassination. The really qualified people are already distancing themselves, and what remains will be those who can raise a lot of money to buy the election in one way or the other. Once again we'll approach the ballot box not to vote for a candidate who will fill us with confidence and hope, but rather holding our noses and picking the person we think will do the least damage. If we bother going at all.
This is the legacy of Watergate, and after George Bush is gone from office, it will almost certainly become his legacy as well. There is no question that since Watergate political divisiveness has grown. When the Republicans with the help of the religious neocons of the far right took power the circle was completed. They went after Bill Clinton with a viciousness never before seen in American politics, even during their worst days. They literally spent tens of millions of dollars chasing any way they could find to bring charges, even trumped up ones. It was a bitter pill for them to swallow in the end when all they could do was see their personification of evil acquitted of lying about a blowjob.
So now we see Mr. Bush. First of all, were the political system not irreparably broken he could never have been president. The far right, however, has successfully driven most men and women who might be superbly qualified for the job out of the arena with their rabid persecutions. A reference to the Swiftboat or the Willie Horton (Bush's dad) ads are excellent examples as is the backlash response of attacking the current Mr. Bush's National Guard record, or more precisely, lack thereof. The man is a product of the elite class. He's never held an honest job in his life that wasn't handed to him through the influence or interdiction of others. He's out of touch with the working and middle classes. He has the arrogance that comes with too much money and too little responsibility and the pig-headedness that accompanies religious neocons who cannot imagine they can possibly be wrong about anything.
And the circle is complete. Only a miracle will break the cycle of hate and retaliation now. The harm caused by Mr. Bush's ill conceived war in Iraq and his incomplete war in Afghanistan will haunt our society for generations as we see or children and grandchildren taxed to pay for them. The failures there and Mr. Bush's squandering of our reputation with the world community will echo for a very long time as well.
We will have another president in just under two years, and he or she will be left to clean up Mr. Bush's mess as someone has cleaned up after him his entire life. The next political campaign will be another vicious cycle of false accusations, personal aspersions, and character assassination. The really qualified people are already distancing themselves, and what remains will be those who can raise a lot of money to buy the election in one way or the other. Once again we'll approach the ballot box not to vote for a candidate who will fill us with confidence and hope, but rather holding our noses and picking the person we think will do the least damage. If we bother going at all.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Web Site
Well, I've finally gotten off of my ample backside and began work on a new website. I will need it for a lot of things if any of my plans come to fruition this year. Besides, it's good practice....I keep telling myself that as I tear my hair out.
My first decision was to use a template for the site since it has been so very long since I've actually worked on a site. I've built several from the ground up by hand, but I don't really have much imagination where site design is concerned and my stuff frequently resembles something a kid might draw with crayons. I wanted a professional site, so that's what I set out to build.
If you have read any of this blog you already know the story of the infamous boomerang site building book. But it was worth the trouble. Over the past few days I have selected my template and set out to begin constructing the site. That's where the trouble started. Learning where in the code to put everything was a challenge. Knowing how to read the code in the first place helps a lot, but I still had a lot of work. Today I finally finished the last of building the bare bones skeleton for the site. The links work. I like the way it looks, etc. I've decided on content, what goes where, layout, and all that.
Now the real work begins. I will be slowly building the site, page by page of content. There will be dozens (in the end maybe a hundred or so) of pages. Some I have. Some I will create over the next couple of weeks. It is beginning to look good, and that part I love. I'm still tearing out my hair more often than not. But I am also making progress. Right now I have put it all up for the day. I have earned a nap or at least a time to relax with a movie.
My first decision was to use a template for the site since it has been so very long since I've actually worked on a site. I've built several from the ground up by hand, but I don't really have much imagination where site design is concerned and my stuff frequently resembles something a kid might draw with crayons. I wanted a professional site, so that's what I set out to build.
If you have read any of this blog you already know the story of the infamous boomerang site building book. But it was worth the trouble. Over the past few days I have selected my template and set out to begin constructing the site. That's where the trouble started. Learning where in the code to put everything was a challenge. Knowing how to read the code in the first place helps a lot, but I still had a lot of work. Today I finally finished the last of building the bare bones skeleton for the site. The links work. I like the way it looks, etc. I've decided on content, what goes where, layout, and all that.
Now the real work begins. I will be slowly building the site, page by page of content. There will be dozens (in the end maybe a hundred or so) of pages. Some I have. Some I will create over the next couple of weeks. It is beginning to look good, and that part I love. I'm still tearing out my hair more often than not. But I am also making progress. Right now I have put it all up for the day. I have earned a nap or at least a time to relax with a movie.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
UGH!
Well, the president is out trying to drum up support for his latest non-plan for Iraq. Again he starts with references to 9/11 and transitioned into Iraq as if the two were somehow related. "Leave before the job is done" has apparently replaced "cut and run" as the horror to be avoided. "Stay the course," is nowhere to be heard.
Again he offers platitude after platitude and generality after generality rather than present a real plan with measurable milestones to track progress toward the goal. Of course the "goal" has only been defined as "victory" with absolutely no definition of what that might be or how we can tell when it's accomplished.
He is speaking before a military audience in Ft. Benning, GA, and the response to his remarks is tepid at best. The expressions on the faces of those forced to be there and listen to this tripe says much more about how these people feel than anything they might say if asked by the media.
The saddest thing is that he still refuses to acknowledge that the country has a multitude of other problems that need to be addressed, all of which he has studiously avoided in his mad rush to war. He invokes the boogie man over and over again. He punctuates his comments with a smarmy smile that I'm sure is intended to convey compassion and leadership. It got so irritating and so embarrassing to watch that I came in here to work on my website and to write. It is really sad when our president elicits a cringe of sympathy rather than a surge of confidence and hope.
Again he offers platitude after platitude and generality after generality rather than present a real plan with measurable milestones to track progress toward the goal. Of course the "goal" has only been defined as "victory" with absolutely no definition of what that might be or how we can tell when it's accomplished.
He is speaking before a military audience in Ft. Benning, GA, and the response to his remarks is tepid at best. The expressions on the faces of those forced to be there and listen to this tripe says much more about how these people feel than anything they might say if asked by the media.
The saddest thing is that he still refuses to acknowledge that the country has a multitude of other problems that need to be addressed, all of which he has studiously avoided in his mad rush to war. He invokes the boogie man over and over again. He punctuates his comments with a smarmy smile that I'm sure is intended to convey compassion and leadership. It got so irritating and so embarrassing to watch that I came in here to work on my website and to write. It is really sad when our president elicits a cringe of sympathy rather than a surge of confidence and hope.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Update on the continuing Amazon drama
Some of you may have read my previous post about my frustration with Amazon and a book delivery. Well the saga continues.
Today I got two emails saying that they had sent my sister's Christmas present back because nobody there would accept the package. They then called my sister and told her they were refunding her money. There are a couple of problems there. First off, the package had never been taken to the house. And yes, the address was correct. Secondly, my sister never ordered it so it was rather premature for them to be refunding her account. So I have contacted Amazon yet again. We'll see how it works out.
Now for more on the notorious boomerang package. As you may remember, I ordered an overnight delivery that UPS finally got to my door on Monday (three days late). So yesterday morning I took the unopened package back to the UPS store and told them to return it to Amazon, and told them why. The guy there said "no problem." He obviously underestimated UPS's ability to really screw things up. This morning the same package is back on my doorstep and I have re-contacted Amazon asking how in hell I get it back to them if UPS keeps bringing the same package back to me. Inquiring minds want to know these things.
Man am I getting frustrated.
Today I got two emails saying that they had sent my sister's Christmas present back because nobody there would accept the package. They then called my sister and told her they were refunding her money. There are a couple of problems there. First off, the package had never been taken to the house. And yes, the address was correct. Secondly, my sister never ordered it so it was rather premature for them to be refunding her account. So I have contacted Amazon yet again. We'll see how it works out.
Now for more on the notorious boomerang package. As you may remember, I ordered an overnight delivery that UPS finally got to my door on Monday (three days late). So yesterday morning I took the unopened package back to the UPS store and told them to return it to Amazon, and told them why. The guy there said "no problem." He obviously underestimated UPS's ability to really screw things up. This morning the same package is back on my doorstep and I have re-contacted Amazon asking how in hell I get it back to them if UPS keeps bringing the same package back to me. Inquiring minds want to know these things.
Man am I getting frustrated.
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