We ran out of room..over 200 comments. When we do that now..it's lights out. I had to come up with something in a hurry to have a place to continue to communicate so I asked little Vertigo to help out. Remember him? If anyone has anything..please put it up.
88 comments:
I was watching the end of the dog show and just before they got to the winner...I fell asleep. Sure glad I was recording it.
Can't believe the little Peke won. My least fav. Tall.. sleek and gorgeous doesn't seem to be the trend for winners lately.
I was awake this morning before 4 and just stayed up so the first time I blinked too long tonight I guess it was over. I woke up again to find out who won.
Jan..hope everything is OK with you.
I guess I might have been nervous this morning about what the river had done overnight. It was down again. There was a little water over the road but only a good puddle deep.
But there is a 70% chance of rain and a strong south wind expected tomorrow. Not a good combination when worrying about river levels. I'm kinda missing that drought we had.
At work..I caught up with all that time off last week. Miracle. Got all my charts signed and I had time to spend extra time trying to plants some seeds of...hope you find a better career path..in some of my patients today. I enjoy doing that when I think I have something worth digging a hole to plant them in.
Now..I'll go back to bed with Stewart and Colbert. I'm back to being burned out on politics again but I can handle it when hearing about it from my boys.
Well..I'm up again. Seems like it was only a few hours ago. It was...
I did get thru Jon Stewart before crashing again. He was talking about this women..Liz Trotta. He showed a clip of her from Fox News..talking about women serving in the military. Listening to her..I couldn't believe I was watching something from this century. I bet you've heard of her Coreen.
Ya gotta hear this:
Jon Stewart Destroys Fox’s Liz Trotta Over Comments On Military Women Who Are ‘Raped Too Much’
I wonder where Fox News comes up with some of their guests and even their anchors?? I think their strategy is to have people who..by comparison..make Bill O'Reilly look brilliant. Yep..I think that's the plan.
I wonder if women are paying attention to these conservative candidates?? We'll see.
I am back. Did not get on computer last night. Worked a long day - then went to Whole foods for takee outee (my choice). They have a buffet and we both got green chili, chicken enchaladas and I got sick later. John had a little stomach upset. We did have cookies and gelato afterward. Do not know if it was chic enchaladas or too much dessert. We have both been staying away from dessert. Anyway, we are both fine this am.
It snowed last night so the ground is covered with this unusual white stuff ha ha.
We watched some of the dog show last night. We saw the best in show part. John and I both liked the German Shepherd - he seemed to me to have a strange trot and he would pose too which I thought was wierd. I did like the Pekinese who won best in show. The Irish setter was a beauty. I remember my youngest son called them irish settlers when he was a little kid.
John's ex wife had 2 pekes - so he does not care for pekes. She also is from Alabama and he always "roots" for whoever plays Alabama in football. They are a good team so he is often disappointed LOL.
Carol, I bet Maggie's cough does have something to do with the refinery close to you. Bummer.
Jan..you wouldn't believe the stench that refinery put out. Someone told me it was because they bought this sour crude and that was the reason. It wasn't every day. Really bad when the wind came out of the west. You couldn't even enjoy going outside but with my house...not much insulation..when the smell was outside..it was inside.
I could come home from work..not smell anything..open my front door and the smell would throw me back. It seeped in my house and couldn't get out. It was that rotten egg smell..made me nauseated.
No one told us anything even though we called to complain to State Police and EPA. Now I know what I was smelling...very deadly hydrogen sulfide. Killer stuff. And yes...that was the smell. That sour crude is very high in it and they did everything to keep from taking that poison out of the air. They dismantled the scrubber that removed the crap from the emissions. They owe us. God only knows what that poison has done to all of us.
One day..one of my neighbors was found on her bedroom floor. She laid there 3 days before she was found. She had a stroke. She was retired and was at her home more than some of us.
That stench is one of the things that encouraged me to go on and move out here almost three years ago. No smell.
If that company is criminally liable then they should be civilly liable also but I may need Erin Brockovich.
I thought it was weird that there were all these gorgeous dogs that won each class. The German Sheppard..the Dalmatian..the sleek Irish Setter..the boxer..the terrier..can't remember which one..and others. They were all strutting around the show ring and followed by this little brown dust mop..cleaning up their dog hair... and.... the dust mop won!
Sorry little Malachy..I don't particularly care for Pekes. I guess beauty IS in the eyes of the beholder.
I have to go get my hair cut. My hairdresser is a friend and her husband worked at that refinery for years. He quit about the time the charges were filed. I'm going to pick her brain about anything she may know.
Coreen..at the hairdresser's I met this woman who was born and raised in Waterbury. She moved down here because she transferred with a chemical industry she was working for.
I told her I had a blog friend from up there. She moved here when she was 21 and she's now in her 50s. I asked how the two area compare.
She said she thought that this was a better place to raise kids.
We talked about how expensive it was to live up your way. She agreed that the taxes were high up your way so I thought that the salaries would have been better up there but she said she made more money at her job here. It was because of the labor unions. We are a right to work state so people don't have to join a union.
Teachers and government workers make more up your way because of the unions.
We talked about lots of things in the short time I had after learning she was from up your way.
It was neat meeting someone who was raised up close to where you live.
Did she have an 'accent' Carol!!....
or has she adapted to your southern
accent!!...
Waterbury is about 30 miles north
about 3/4 hr drive from here...(remember CT is a small state you can drive from end to end in just a couple of hours) it is an old city, seen its best days after wwII & then steadily declined when mfg left the area...
it was called the 'brass city'...companies that made brass products...blue collar, mostly white then (italians, irish) now some minorities black/spanish ...it has a small town look for a city...but depresssing...
Have only been there maybe 3X in my life & that was to go to court there...Not a city I would have any desire to visit...
Imus' wife grew up there (ha,ha)!!
There are many small towns surrounding it...but as with many old northeast cities it just is not 'alive'....Bridgeport has similar problems...very little growth...sadly depressing...
CT is a state with vast differences
in that parts of it are very 'wealthy'
and others poor, decaying & old...
Stamford, which is closest to NY
is a city with lots of new growth...& still pockets of poverty & poor neighborhoods...but again surrounding towns high income
residents...think Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien (all wealthy Fairfield County towns)
Bridgeport has for some unknown reason never advanced since it lost its mfg base...it it the largest city by population, again
blue collar, used to be lots of Italians/polish/irish, but not so much now...they all moved to the suburbs... My town is just a few miles from Bridgeport...
Hartford is the state capital, a big city, but again pockets of poverty...& the insurance capital of the country for years...w/o that industry & the state govt it would be as poor as Bpt...
New Haven (where I go often for work) is another city with a vibrant downtown & because of the presence of Yale Uni. seems hip & new...its outer limits have a lot of minority/poor neighborhoods, just blocks from the downtown & Yale...
Danbury is another CT city...again lost its luster when mfg left...it was called the hat city...for some reason it has retained its small town feeling, not as depressing as Waterbury...but again I've only gone there for court...
Having left CT so long ago when she was pretty young...it does not surprise me that she would find your neck of the woods more hospitable..she stayed there for her life....
It is certainly more expensive to live here...but I would not agree
that your area is necessarily a better place to raise a family...cheaper yes, educationally
probably not so much, culturally
& socially probably big difference than southern style living...obviously the person you met was happier in the south than
here...
Not sure that CT is expensive primarily because of the public unions for state employees/teachers, the loss of its mfg base likely was the biggest impact, which is like many of the northern states...remember I am one who subscribes to the idea that when
the auto industry, steel industry
was destroyed by foreign imports that was the beginning of the downfall of middle class life... a lifestyle that the union movement in this country made possible...unions had a huge impact on the creation of the middle class post-ww2...wages, benefits, work safety issues, etc..
CT used to be very pro union, but again as mfg
left (because of the high
cost of labor) that has changed too, other than the strong public unions (again like many other northern states)...
Remember my mom was vp of the GE
union for years...& my family's contracting business was strictly a union shop of plumbers, pipefitters, sheet metal workers in the 50s, 60, 70s...all of which
have long ago gone by the boards...
We've been talking about the class war that seems to be going on now..well it looks like it's gone to the dogs also.
The Westminster Kennel Club dropped the Pedigree shelter dog commercial this year because they said "...they were focused on the purebred mission." I guess they are members of the 1%. Fru fru for them.
Hearing that really pissed me off. I've had two registered dogs..nothing but health problems and even though I loved them dearly..they weren't the brightest bulbs in box.
A friend who took her dog to the LSU Veterinarian school clinic said a Vet told her you couldn't beat a shelter dog for being hardy.
I heard about this on Colbert last night.
After doing a little Googling tonight..I see Westminster is taking some heat for that decision. I'm glad! Westminster had 100000 friends on their Facebook page and Pedigree had 1.2 million.
Mags says..paws up!
We are approaching the Mardi Gras and I get another long weekend..hopefully high and dry for this one. Have Monday and Tuesday off.
I found an invitation on my garbage can a couple a weeks ago inviting me to enter the Mardi Gras golf cart parade out here. There's trophies for 1st..2nd and 3rd place followed by a gumbo and greased pig run. I wonder who they are going to talk into greasing up. Not me... I still can't run.
My golf cart is under the weather..must be a battery with a dead cell but I don't have time to dress it up anyway. I'll just check out the parade and get some pics.
You sneaked in again Coreen. Just found your comment.
LOL on the accent. I did detect an accent but not until after learning she was from Conn. It was only a hint of your accent..that you don't have. He he he.
An accent Coreen..is in the ears of the beholder.
My hairdresser is from North Little Rock. She's in her 40s and has been here for over 20 years. Now she does still have that Arkansas accent.
Coreen..you have any posts to put up. How about some pics of that hot American vehicle you bought?
Lil Vertigo was just buying us some time.
I wonder if any owls will be back this year. It's getting close to when they started the mating process. They didn't come to have babies in my tree last year. That tree is hollow inside and I don't think the old owl hole is very accommodating anymore. I sure missed them last year.
If Vertigo made it and is still around..he'd be going on 2y/o next month.
Coreen.. I did ask my hairdresser if she knew anything about that refinery. Her husband worked out there for 4 years..after the current owners bought it. It's had multiple owners over the years I've lived out here.
I was not really aware of all that went down there until I got my victim letter. I just don't keep up with the local news..mostly watch the national stuff.
She mentioned that there was something going on where someone involved in all that stuff was trading crude for food..with some bad people in mid East. I thought she said Osama..not sure. She didn't know much but said they were at some crew party..Marti Gras..and some guy who worked at the refinery with her husband was heading to jail. I haven't heard anything about that. Must be something in addition to the other charges they had.
That small refinery has been trouble since it went up. They started putting it up shortly after I moved into my house back in 1978. First..they were going to put up oil storage bins in the property right next to our neighbor hood.
I got an attorney and stopped that. Got the fire marshal to stop that. They ended up leaving several acres of property empty. It a wooded lot and often there were horse out there.
When they were building the refinery..they used a local labor union that had a very bad reputation. My neighbors joined together to sue over some of the injection wells they were planning. I could barely afford to pay my living expenses much less help them out financially with the law suit. I was a poorly paid college asst prof.
During the litigation..one night I was sitting on my couch watching TV. It was raining outside. There was a lamp on a table next to where I was sitting.
The couch faced the windows looking out toward the street. I have a fairly long driveway and the street sits a little higher than my house.
As I was watching TV..I heard a cracking sound by the TV. I thought it was the TV since it was raining and I had had a problem with the roof leaking even thought that was fixed. I went over to the TV to see if that was the problem . Nothing there. I pulled back the curtain behind the TV and there was a bullet hole in the window. I turned around to look where I was sitting and there was a bullet hole in the wall just a little toward the lamp and behind where I was sitting.
I hit the floor..shaking like a leaf. Someone was shooting at me.
I crawled and got my little 22 pistol. Got behind the fireplace and called the Sheriff's Dept. I'm not sure if they had 911 back then.
I gave the cops the directions to my house but it took them almost an hour to find me.
It turned out that the bullet was a 22 pellet bullet. It was embedded pretty deep into the sheetrock. I don't know if they were aiming toward the light from the lamp or at my head. I don't think they could have seen me.
We figured it was someone from that local union trying to scare us off from the litigation. I don't think it was just a random occurrence..wasn't a good night for joy riding and shooting into windows. It sure scared the poop outta me.
Good article:
Time for a Roemer Revolution
I am catching up on my reading and enjoying reading all of your comments.
Coreen, years ago when I lived in Argentina, there was a young couple with the same company my then-husband was with - they were from Waterbury CT. He was Italian - last name Mastromateo (I am not sure of spelling). They were newlyweds. She was a nurse. Gosh, that was in about 1966-67. She was an RN. They were there about a year.
The newly married couple lived across the hall from us in a high rise apt. They were actually the same age as us - I suppose I just felt older as I had young children and they did not.
Carol, that must have terribly scary- to know someone was shooting into your house.
John is visiting his family in Ark. I drove him to the airport at 4 am this morn. Seems strange here alone.
So Jan..are you going to enjoy having a little space for a short time??
Do not be afraid...it's just a puppy.
Rut rho....
Are they watching us?
"Lawmakers looking into homeland security officials' practice of monitoring social media sites seized on a report Thursday by a civil liberties group that said taxpayers have shelled out more than $11 million to a private contractor to analyze online comments that "reflect adversely" on the federal government."
I wonder if we are on their list???
Are any of you listening to Santorum and some of the other conservatives who are making fools of themselves harping on this contraceptive issue..including...we don't believe people should have sex unless it's to have a baby and you must be married for that??
I keep thinking I've awakened in a time warp. Anyone seen old Phyllis Schlafly around? Remember her?
I don't think it's resonating and IMHO..I think they couldn't try any harder to say....please don't vote for me!
Anyone dare read that article about "the boys" monitoring social media sites and blogs for "...comments that "reflect adversely" on the federal government." I linked that article yesterday.
Over the years it's been done over and over again..and Coreen..you can call me paranoid..spending too much time worrying about conspiracy theories..
Where's Jesse V when you need him. Really..I haven't heard from him in a while. Did someone bump him off?
It's just that boys like their toys and all that spy shit. Probably my paranoia is pretty tame compared with what REALLY goes on.
According to some statement.."The intention, it said, was to "capture public reaction to major government proposals" by DHS as well as "positive and negative reports" on FEMA, the CIA and other federal agencies."
Is that all they wanted??? All they had to do is ask. I'm full of opinions and I don't mind one wee bit sharing them.. huh Jan. And we are pretty stared up over the DC area.
They could have fixed health care if they only asked for our opinions because I have seriously pondered that shit for 40 years. I've seen many things that needed fixing..when I could..I tried..pissed off alot people also. Most people just follow in line..ask no questions.. no matter how dumb..stupid.. or dangerous something is. Me..I'm thinking WTF are we doing this for??
There have actually been times I have affected change..really..not often..and I have many scars from trying.
But if they want my advice they need to let me know..I need to flesh out my ideas..get more specific.
I do have a lot of common sense. I do. And it's not common to have it..in fact.. common sense is very rare..very very rare!
Jan..I know you don't care much for following politics but lately it's been quite a hoot. I often find it more entertaining than anything else on TV. It's got all the characteristics of those kookie reality shows or a good soap opera..even though I wouldn't be caught dead watching either. But when real reality becomes soapy..I do pay attention.
For example..that billionaire who runs Santorum's Super Pac. The one who doesn't coordinate with him but hovers over him where ever he goes. Did you hear him yesterday? He said that in the olden days they had contraceptives..it's called Bayer aspirin..girls just put it between their knees. Yep..he said that. Can't make that shit up.
And what's really SCARY is...that it's guys like this who are trying to buy our next president. And if we don't pay attention and do what we can to stop them...they will!
Carol, I do follow the bizarre stuff going on in the GOP camp. It seems so ridiculous that I have not been commenting on it, however, I have friends and a step daughter on facebook that post things that I vote for such as the stuff about planned parenthood recently. I am concerned and am keeping up even though I don't enter into your discussions here most of the time. It is just that historically whenever there is an election these stupid issues pop up. Have you noticed there is little or nothing on the same sex marriage thing. I think the GOP's know that is a moot point now. It is going to happen. I too am so annoyed with the contraceptive issue.
What is so crazy is that the GOP's are just ignoring the issues of the economy and jobs. They don't have a clue so they are jumping on stuff that the radical religious right are wanting. Santorum is nut!
Jan..what are the younger women's feelings about what's going on?
Jan..I was really surprised when Hillary was running about how many women did not support her. They just don't remember what we older women went thru to get them what they have today.
I have found that to be the case so often with the younger generation. Even what us old dogs did to fight for improvements in the nursing profession..they don't appreciate. They just step in a reap the benefits.
And unfortunately..I was one of those up on the front lines with many significant changes in nursing and I do bare the scars from those battles.
Remember what we went thru when we wanted to teach physical assessment at the university? It wasn't being done at the undergrad level but we felt like it was so very important to start including it.
The older faculty bucked it and said they would pretend they didn't know what we were up to if anything negative came of it. They were so afraid the docs would be upset. I think we were the first U in the state to include it.
I was one of two of the first NPs working in the ER at one of the hospitals here. This time the docs stirred up a big stink. They thought it would somehow affect their salaries. They tormented the contract agency who we all worked for..the hospital and us.
I thought..at the time..I'm too old to go thru this s--- again.
Did I miss something along the way, aren't both sides attempting to 'buy' the presidency?...
The rich old guy that made crude
bc comments on TV is a foulball, but surprise surprise, there are
a bunch of dirty old men on both sides of the spectrum...
For me, Santorum was always a nasty guy when he was a senator,
very anti-woman in his past life...
wouldn't have thought he would have any traction & yet, he's a contender...it would be a difficult election if he is the nominee, especially if
his attempt to'appeal to blue collar' voters takes hold..hard to fathom indep. voters buying his
views...but then again...
Now would you please tell me
what you see the issue is about the
contraceptive mandate coverage & the catholic church's rejection of it....
do you really think most under 30s or even 40 are giving any
real consideration to any of this
stuff...
and no one, not the President, his party or repubs are addressing the economic issues...& by the way gas prices continue to spiral upward every week...
What will the breaking point be
for most..$4?? $5??? gallon...
And yes here it is already approaching $4, so how high will it go...
Heating oil delivery $4.80/gal....
The red/blue divide....
Why do those who receive govt benefits not see that they are part of the problem they are against?...
Could it be that they believe that they did in fact contribute something, therefore, they are entitled to a return, whereas they
perceive other segments of the population as never having contributed, therefore, should not
be entitled...
Carol, Jan...Both of you have direct contact with those in the deep 'red' states, so what do you think....p.s. I don't know the ansswer...
Today's NYT Krugman...
Moochers Against Welfare
Carol, I do remember the issue with the faculty about teaching assessment. Now, of course, even the asso degree programs teach assessment.
More teens are more consistently using contraception when having intercourse. That is why teen births are down.They are having sex. I think more parents are putting their daughters on bc. These parents do not want to be raising more kids. The fact is that it is the poorer kids who are still getting pregnant in adolescence.
New Mexico is a blue state. I don't talk to family about politics.
Coreen...I'm not sure I understand your question.
I don't know anyone who's on welfare except those in jail and they shouldn't be collecting it while in there. And I really don't think most people on welfare..in or out of jail..ponder much about problems or solutions. Well..maybe problems..their own.
I suspect anyone who is on welfare is trying to supplement it by selling drugs or stealing money from the rest of us.
Many of my patients are on SS disability. If I have the time..and I often try to make it..and see an inmate who I think has any potential..I try to explain to them that trying to live on what they will get from SS will not support them adequately. They need a better plan or they will just be back. I tell them to look around..this is where your home will be.
And Coreen...you're dang right about both sides trying to buy the presidency. Have I sounded like an Obama supporter? I've linked articles..maybe here or on TM about what the dems/Obama are/is doing with the Super Pacs. I'll bet Obama gets more of that corrupt money than the rest of them.
Remember..I'm a Buddy supporter. Neither of the other two sides is getting my vote..and I mean it this time!
If or when I have no Buddy to support I'll find another third party choice who is against all this corrupt money or...I won't vote for president.
Not inmates Carol...
Red states get the bulk of so-called entitlement programs....
by way of ss, disability, medicare, unemployment benefits...
the very same group that votes for those who want to cut those programs...
My question is why do you think that is the case...
Krugman says...
"The truth, of course, is that the vast bulk of entitlement spending goes to the elderly, the disabled, and working families, so any significant cuts would have to fall largely on people who believe that they don’t use any government program."
And Carol as things are now, I may
again write Hillary's name on my ballot...
We do have that option on our ballots...
Jan..many of the women in jail have lots of children and many are still very young. They are too busy doing drugs to worry about BC. These are both white and black women.
I'm seeing more white women lately. I haven't done any formal research but with men..there's more black than white in jail..but with the women..it seems like there are more white than black. But then..I only see those who come to medical and those I pass going from one clinic to the other.
I still say.. except for the old people on SS..the rest don't do much thinking.
But then there are people like my SF..big Catholic and Republican. I couldn't convince him that he was voting against his interest. He was not dumb but he was stubborn. And he listened to Rush. Some just want to be mad and those RR pundits feed right into that. They're the party of Mad..in more ways than one.
Most people I know at work just don't pay any attention to anything except sound bites and the RR are good with those sound bites. And they work real well on ignorant people.
Jan, yes, I do know that NM is considered a blue state & that you live in university area...but remember that you do have close ties to Oklahoma, Arkansas...so curious about that part of the country's views...
From gas prices, energy costs, food costs, job security, health care costs, housing costs... are they so much lower in those states that people don't have opinions as to the effects on their everyday lives...not in a purely political discussion, but observations on how they are
or are not managing as a result of the economic downturn that has effected most parts of the country...
Mayb since I see those who have
been financially impacted by their
everyday choices, the impact of recent economic events...I may hear more unsolicited views....
Like Krugman's article mentions, most that get unemployment or ss/medicare do not feel as if they
are part of the 'entitlement'
culture....they see it as a return
for what they paid into the system...
I really don't have much contact with any highly educated people..mostly high school grads..and that's on both side of the bars.
That's why I spend so much time on the Net.
It seems to me that most uneducated people are Republicans..except those in the 1%.
I taped the Ellen show today as she had Nathan Lane on. He is one of my favorite entertainers. I am watching it today. He is so funny. If you get a chance to find it on internet somewhere, it is worth watching.
And Republicans do well with uneducated people because they don't read and don't think much.
Jan..I record the View and recently started recording Ellen. I did today and I saw that Nathan was on. Haven't watched it yet. Looking forward to doing that later.
I started watching the View but only got half way thru. They had their Top Mutt contest today..sponsored by Pedigree.
Now I'm recording Rachel M and 20/20. I'll have plenty to watch later.
It's raining again now and suppose to rain until tomorrow evening. One of the Wardens asked me today if I was watching the river. I told him yes and that I wasn't worried yet. I do have 4 days off and I was caught up when I left today.
Hey..I didn't miss any beats even being out most of last week. I just did my work on the phone. All I couldn't do was suture. Don't think anyone even needed that during my usual working hours. Can't do that over the phone.
Coreen, Most people I know here and in other states we visit are doing what most other people are doing. They are tightening their belts and not driving as much as before. Most of my family have jobs and are able to continue in their usual lifestyles. The only person I am aware of that the downturn in the economy has affected is my grandson who recently finished his accounting degree. He has not been able to find a job doing what he would like to do. He had 2 part time jobs before finishing school. He quit both of them. I think he wishes he had not. He is pretty discouraged.
I taped the View and will watch it later too. I like daytime TV better than prime time shows this season.
At 11:30 am is the "Millionaire quiz show" John watches that and now I am hooked so I taped it too.
Carol, You may have discovered something great by being captive on your little island - that you can do telemedicine. You could probably talk one of your staff through doing suturing with skype - ha ha.
I am watching the View now. Whoopie has on some shoes that the heels look like little doggie legs and feet.
Jan, what I tend to hear mostly from clients...is that
they are frightened, discouraged
and can not understand that no one
is doing anything to assist them...
that they have done the 'right thing', to school, to work,
paid their taxes & they still find themseleves not being able to sustain their family & their
life...they feel forgotten, frustrated with no leadership from
any side...
Those I know who have businesses are as you said tightening their belts, hoping that things will turn around for everyone's sake, but not hearing from any of those that want votes any real
direction on how things will change...
Jan.. when you see the View..check out Liza. She's one of the dogs that needs a family. Except for having short legs..she reminds me of my Maggie girl.
OK Carol. Love the dog from the movie, Artist.
Nothing will change Coreen as long as people continue to vote for any of those greedy bastards.
We just don't know the half of what's going on in Washington. It's outrageous what we now are finding out.
Lisa is a really cute dog.
I'm watching the 20/20 program about Whitney Houston. I wonder about her daughter. She also seems to have a drug problem. I wonder if mom and daughter ever did drugs together. I haven't gotten too far into the program yet.
I saw several people this week who also had bad drugs problems. So many of my patients do. I asked them what drugs were involved and most said..anything they could get their hands on. These were nice looking people. Had nice parents..from what they told me. Parents didn't have drug problems. I'm sure parents were brokenhearted.
I asked them how many people they knew died because of their drug problems and one said 15-20 and the other 4-5. How awful. I asked..that didn't scare you? Both just kinda looked at me.
Jan..I don't know where Whoopie gets those crazy shoes but she has a lot of them.
By the way Carol, I love the pic of the little owl. I kept meaning to tell you. It is one of my favorite pics that you have posted.
Coreen, It is sad for those who have done what "they were supposed to do" and now find themselves in a place they never expected. I have been there a couple of times in my life - once when I was in my early 20's and again when I finished my PhD and I was nearing 50 and had no money - at least I could get a job. Strangely, I never felt scared. I should have been when I was young and had 2 little boys to care for. I think it was my dad who always felt that if you had your health and could work, you could find a job. My family did not have much money when I was growing up and I have always felt that if I had enough to eat and a roof over my head (that was mine) whether owned or rented, I would be ok. I was raised with the understanding that "there are no guarantees" On the other had I am very conservative and do not spend more than I have.
Both the king and queen of pop..Micheal and Whitney toyed with that dividing line between life and death. At the end they both gambled and they both lost.
When families/friends have loved one who scare them with behaviors like Whitney did.. probably so very often..it's almost a relief when it is finally over. They finally can work through the grief instead of constantly living with it.
Jan..for years I struggled to make ends meet. Interesting.. that with all my education it took a good job and a half to make it. It was because I was single and because I chose to teach full time and practice nursing part time. When I switched that around to practicing nursing full time and teaching part time.. I doubled my salary. That's when I finally could start putting a little money away.
I did..when I first bought my little house..over extend myself a little. I had to get a signature loan from the credit union just to make the 20% down payment.
Back then..they wouldn't even give you the loan if you couldn't afford to put that 20% down..that's why I had to make a signature loan for my down payment..I was cheating.
My interest rate on that loan was 10 1/2% and it was for a 30 year loan. I did finally refinance when I added on to my house..got my interest rate down and paid it off the loan early. That didn't happen until I made that career switch.
I only bought a house that was about twice what my annual salary was and I was struggling. Now a days these young people buy homes that are 5+ times their annual salaries. It's no wonder they crash and burn and I blame it on the lending institutions for letting them.
There was about a little over a year that I starting buying lots of stuff..that I didn't need but wanted. It didn't take me long to realize that having stuff really didn't make me happy. It was far more fun wanting and anticipating than it was getting. Shortly after you get it..the thrill is gone.
Even when I had roommates..I never asked them to share the rent since it was my house. I didn't always even get half of the bills and I usually bought all the groceries because I did the shopping.
I was going to go to the casino tonight until my friend called to tell me that our weatherman said we were going to get 7-8 inches of rain tonight. I looked at the Internet weather and that wasn't validated by what I read there but I wasn't going to take a chance.
So far it just drizzled a little and it hasn't rained at all in several hours. Not sure if the weatherman was way off or my friend was exaggerating. She often does that but I'm not sure she is aware of it. She also seems to want to put a damper on it when I'm going to do something fun. She doesn't ever want to do anything fun herself but seems to like to find ways to take the fun out it when I try to do something. Don't get it.
I had a lousy last two days at work and I needed a phew. The problem wasn't my patients or playing catch up..it was staff related problems.
Those kind of problems seem to ebb and flow around the joint. Things go relatively well for a while and then they go to s---. I just have to hang on until they come back around. Working in nursing situations always seems to be that way. It was so nice to work from home that last week..no crap to put up with.
Playing slot machines..for me.. is a good way to get a..phew. It can also be an expensive way to get a..phew. I had a little stash of cash from a previous winning. I don't play to make money..smart thing..I play for that ..phew. If I win..I stash it and use it when I play again. I've been playing from my stash for a little while now but I don't go often.
Gambling is like a drug especially those slots. You push the button and the tumblers go round and round. When it looks like something good will come up..there's a rush of adrenalin. I can definitely see how it can be just as addicting as drugs are.
Then when you put your money in and when what you brought to play with is all gone and you didn't even get that phew you came for..it's seriously disappointing. You want your money back..no satisfaction. You have that tendency to want to get more money so you can get your money back and to work on getting that phew you came for. I've done that before..and stood in line watching that desparate look in other peoples eyes when they are going after money they shouldn't have used in the first place.
As you can see..I've studied the gambling experience. I study everything. It's an interesting place to study social and psychological behavior.. and addictions.
Interesting that I had a patient this week who came in for stiffing the casino for quite a bit. I asked him how long he would be visiting with us. I always to so I know how long I will be providing their care. He said he didn't know so I took a peek at his rap sheet. It had pages of charges something to do with hot checks.
I said it looks like you have a few hot checks so you might be here a while. He said..oh that's nothing it was just at the casino. I said..so that doesn't matter that you took markers you couldn't pay for at the casino? I could tell he didn't think that mattered. I think he'll have plenty of time to rethink that.
Jan..I like that little Vertigo pic also but ya can't give me any credit..I just caught the pic..God sent him down for me to take it. I remember how scared I was when he fell outta that tree.
Isn't it interesting that it really doesn't matter what species it is..kids are all so cute..even if they can be a pain later in life.
We have learned a little something from those Super Pacs and that is...that the top 1% of the top 1% are pretty dang dumb. They must have either gotten rich by being very lucky or by inheriting it.
And money don't buy good sense. They are blowing millions of dollars on tainted fruit. Don't ya think they could find a little something better to blow that kinda dough on???
I heard that Newt's billionaire was thinking of throwing in another 10 mil on him again. He has a 16% favorability rating and someone wants to spend 10 mil on him??
I just know there must be a better conservatives.. somewhere out there.. who would be willing to run for president... but maybe not any who are corrupt enough.
These turkeys running must enjoy the campaign but I can't even believe they really want to win. Each seem to have a bright red light flashing..DON'T PICK ME!
Also heard that the GOP said that if Romney doesn't win the state that he was raised in..Michigan..they need another candidate. They do have Roemer but they certainly don't want him..he's too clean.
I think Roemer is the perfect compromise between liberal and conservative but neither party understands the word...compromise. And the dissing of him.. that is going on by both parties and the media.. screams that loudly.
And just maybe a higher power is trying to help us out. Even the intellectually challenged has to see that this is all crazy.
The Universe is saying...I'm doing everything I can to show you humans the light..it's up to you to decided if you want to follow it or continue to walk in darkness. I hope we chose the former.
Ya know that Montana..a state you got to spend some time in Jan..has a century old ban on corporate political spending. Their supreme court recently upheld that ban. Then the Supremes blocked that decision.
"Since the Citizens United ruling over two years ago, millions of dollars have flowed from the super-rich and corporations to elect or defeat candidates. A handful of billionaires have manipulated election outcomes in a matter of days, buying vicious ads through super PACs that candidates pretend are independent from their own campaigns -- while their former colleagues and pals run those PACs"
"The Supreme Court justified Citizens United by ruling that super PACs do not allow corruption or the appearance of corruption"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-silver/citizens-united-revisited_b_1286029.html
Well..there's another group of dummies..the Supremes. Even all but the most intellectually challenged could have seen that coming. I just wonder how they are getting their payday. Wife or kids have some business being financed or is it a Swiss bank account? Can't see that they are dumb enough to do it for free.
If this fight gets another supreme court hearing..will they change the ruling? What ya think Coreen. Have they seen the light yet? They do have job security.
If anyone is interested in watching Whitney's funeral..it's going to be on BET at 10:30 C.
If you don't already know..I think you ought to know who did dissent to the Citizens United decision..
It was.."Justice Stevens, with whom Justice Ginsburg , Justice Breyer, and Justice Sotomayor join, concurring in part and dissenting in part."
Gotta know who the good guys are. I heard Justice Stevens talking about it on Colbert and I was extremely impressed.
Here's their dissent...
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/08-205.ZX.html
Those who voted for it...maybe should be damned to hell for what they have done to our democracy.
Got rough weather this morning. Have a tornado warning just south of here. Little Girl has taken cover. She's always prepared.
Treehouse is not my favorite place to be when there's a bad storm out there.
This morning I tried to get Maggie out between downpours. We found a little slack and headed out. I'm really surprised that Maggie was even up for it.
We got out there and I herded Maggie to the front yard..no trees. Just as she stepped foot out from under the camp..the lightening struck close by. We both did an about face and high tailed it back in. I have to crip hightail. She was dragging me.
Hey..still only a little over 1 inch of rain in my gauge.
Carol, hope you guys are staying safe, that mass of rain over you
is the one that until a couple of days ago they were saying might have been coming to me on Sunday as a noreaster BUT thankfully they
all have now said it will slide to the south of us...so no snow or even rain for us...
Do your reports say the river is
going to go over flood stage again...never sure where your weather comes from, looking at the map in motion, looks like this is coming at you from texas & the gulf
would that be considered from the south & west...
Hope you get to the casino this long weekend...don't you usually go there around mardi gras...
And your long weekend is it for both President's day & then Mardi Gras day....we only
have President's day as a legal holiday....
Covering Whitney Houston's funeral
today...cnn is already live on the case & think it is to continue throughout...& every NY news all week has had segments at the location...
Have never read the citizen's united opinion...honestly not particularly interested in it, since $$$ will always be the driving force in politics...
none of them have a real desire to change things, regardless of how
the dems in particular wring their
hands and cry foul...& if you think I am generally more critical
of the dems..I am, after all they were supposed to be the 'good guys'
the ones who really helped the 'little guy' & guess what they
have proved to be equal to if not
more disinterested in any but themselves & their base voters who
like the repubs..do not reflect the majority...so now we have the most polarized country..I see no hope for a compromise...there is no such thing anymore...another of my pet peeves with the president...he has proved he was
never a leader...
As far as the Supreme Court makeup
it is clear that they all have an
idealogy/agenda (just depends on whose idealogy you agree with)...their underlying
views are evident in the way they
come down on most issues...not reassuring...in the distant past
it was beleived that they were above the partisan divide, but seems that human nature beng what it is, they are just like everyone
else with bias/views that emerge in
how they decide cases...
The same applies to the way the politicians have redistricted to
guarantee they win in most House districts....no room for an 'outsider' there....
Carol, I just went back and found the link you put up to the puppy that looked like something else. Underneath the puppy is a little video of a puppy and a little kid each pulling on different ends of a blanket. Too cute. That is the thing about a pet - it can give a child hours of pleasure. I will never forget when we moved to Alb in 1979. Steve was 13 - it was summer- nothing much for him to do and his brothers were not at home at that time and we were living in a new state. We moved into a neighborhood with 2-3 other boys his age, across the street, but they ignored Steve. We got him a puppy and all of a sudden ours was the most popular house on the block. Steve was not lonely after that. He is still friends with those boys. I think it was one of his favorite summers after all. I have some great pictures of him with his puppy that summer. The puppy was a golden retriever. Steve named her Sandy. She was almost white and a ball of fur. I don't think I have ever seen a cuter dog. Steve and Sandy were inseparable. I will see if I can find some of those pics and will scan and put up as a post.
The good guys.. dissenters to Citizen's United..Justice Stevens was a Ford appointee. Gingsburg and Breyer..Clinton and we all know who appointed Sotomayor.
NEW POST
It's still raining but not as hard. I've collected about 2 inches so far. I zeroed it last night before it started to rain.
The NOAA chart has the river going up again to 5.5 on Wednesday. Great..the day I'm suppose to go back to work. Now..I think I can do 5.5.
Never really know what will happen until we get closer to that day. Anything can happen. I'll see what it looks like on Monday and Tuesday before I panic.
Jan..I think all kids need a dog..one that is selected to endure children.
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