I don't usually like to talk politics. I always feel like others are more informed than I am and that my comments will just fuel the stupidity. I try to be private about my politics and religious opinions. That being said, Prop 8 is pissing me off!
First of all I think we need to really be careful about passing laws that deny rights to some that are granted to others. As a side note, I'm not convinced that felons should lose their right to vote.
I'm against prop. 8. That's not what pisses me off.
What pisses me off is the fear mongering.
One ad actually says gay marriage will become mandatory. What? Do I have to get divorced and marry a woman? Mandatory for who? Yes, the courthouse has to grant gay couples marriage licenses and perform civil services for gay couples.
Churches will not be forced to marry people. Just like a Catholic church does not have to marry a non-catholic couple now. How many lawsuits are there against LDS churches for not marrying Catholics in their temples?!
I teach 3rd grade. I do not "teach marriage" in any form. It is not a California standard. I have not suddenly started teaching same sex marriage now that it is legal. The parents from my classroom do not need to worry that curriculum has or will change. Marriage is not part of the curriculum!
Stay out of my personal life, protect my rights, protect everyone else's rights. Don't use fear in the place of facts to convince me of your issue.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
water cooler
I'm a teacher. We don't congregate at the water cooler. Our meeting place is the copy machine. Today was no exception. I ran into my friend who is wrapping up her first trimester as a prego. It started as a "how's it going" quicky conversation and turned into a three-way birthing story. One thing women can always get wrapped up in is their birthing stories. I'm as guilty as the next. It's a time, one of the few, when we are truly the stars in our lives and not supporting players. The problem today was I was in line for the copier and the woman copying was deeply involved in sharing with the nervous newbie to motherhood. I wanted to chat too, share my own fascinating experiences, but I also wanted to copy and go home. I restrained myself and didn't regale them with the wonders of my two births. Finally the stories were done, the copying queue advanced, and my turn at the machine arrived.
It's funny. We talk all day to our students, but we are starved for conversation.
It's funny. We talk all day to our students, but we are starved for conversation.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Busy Week
This has been Fall Break. Fall Break is a week off in the middle of our first trimester. It seems like a ridiculous time to have a break. Nonetheless (love that word) I've enjoyed the time off.
I've done all kinds of chores including having my baby tooth extracted. A creepy bit of work, but now it's done and I can get on with my life.
I had a few realizations about money this week. First, if you don't have medical insurance, you're screwed. I know this isn't news. It was just made very clear to me. We have a new insurance company as of October first. When Gary picked up his two prescriptions they tried to charge him almost $400 because the old insurance denied it and they didn't know about the new insurance. With the insurance information the charge dropped down to about $25. WOW! My mom was in the emergency room a while back. Before insurance the doctor's bill would have been around $800. With Medicare and her private insurance the charge dropped to $17. The second realization came at the car dealership. I had some work done and I realized they just make up how many hours of labor to charge. How can it take 3 1/2 hours to program new keys?! I know it doesn't take 2 1/2 hours to replace an antenna mast.
During the break I also finished some work in the closet. I put up new shelves and discovered I have an embarrassing amount of shoes. I replaced our old smoke detector when I realized the old one wasn't working. I have this fear of dying in an embarrassing way like a fire when the alarm is broken. This paragraph let's you know I have a fear of being embarrassed. It's why I haven't learned a new language.
I've done all kinds of chores including having my baby tooth extracted. A creepy bit of work, but now it's done and I can get on with my life.
I had a few realizations about money this week. First, if you don't have medical insurance, you're screwed. I know this isn't news. It was just made very clear to me. We have a new insurance company as of October first. When Gary picked up his two prescriptions they tried to charge him almost $400 because the old insurance denied it and they didn't know about the new insurance. With the insurance information the charge dropped down to about $25. WOW! My mom was in the emergency room a while back. Before insurance the doctor's bill would have been around $800. With Medicare and her private insurance the charge dropped to $17. The second realization came at the car dealership. I had some work done and I realized they just make up how many hours of labor to charge. How can it take 3 1/2 hours to program new keys?! I know it doesn't take 2 1/2 hours to replace an antenna mast.
During the break I also finished some work in the closet. I put up new shelves and discovered I have an embarrassing amount of shoes. I replaced our old smoke detector when I realized the old one wasn't working. I have this fear of dying in an embarrassing way like a fire when the alarm is broken. This paragraph let's you know I have a fear of being embarrassed. It's why I haven't learned a new language.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
My Baby Tooth
I have a baby tooth. Not in a jar on the shelf, in my mouth. When I was a teenager it seemed like a quirky cool thing that made me different. I also never had wisdom teeth, another cool thing.
Now it's not so cool and I'm over the quirky thing. It hurts. At least two years ago I decided it was time to have it replaced. Then I found out what that would mean. After another year of pain/discomfort I decided I had to do it. After talking to Dr. Poitras about the process again I decided to wait some more.
"Whimp!" you may say. Especially you who have had wisdom teeth removed, but "Nay!" say I.
First they remove the offending infant and let it heal for two months. TWO MONTHS I'll have a gap. Then they put in the implant post. Not the pretty final tooth - just the post. After another few months they top it with the pretty tooth.
Oh, and by the way, my insurance won't pay for it. They would pay for a bridge, but that damages the neighbor teeth.
So, finally I've put the money aside in a tax free medical account. It's use it or lose it, so I guess I'm committed this time.
I don't wanna!!!!!!!!
Now it's not so cool and I'm over the quirky thing. It hurts. At least two years ago I decided it was time to have it replaced. Then I found out what that would mean. After another year of pain/discomfort I decided I had to do it. After talking to Dr. Poitras about the process again I decided to wait some more.
"Whimp!" you may say. Especially you who have had wisdom teeth removed, but "Nay!" say I.
First they remove the offending infant and let it heal for two months. TWO MONTHS I'll have a gap. Then they put in the implant post. Not the pretty final tooth - just the post. After another few months they top it with the pretty tooth.
Oh, and by the way, my insurance won't pay for it. They would pay for a bridge, but that damages the neighbor teeth.
So, finally I've put the money aside in a tax free medical account. It's use it or lose it, so I guess I'm committed this time.
I don't wanna!!!!!!!!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
quiet
Yesterday morning was quite frenetic.
Showers start at 5:00 even on a regular day. Mine's at 5, Caitlin 5:30, sometime between 6 and 6:30 I help mom. Caitlin is out the door at 6:30.
Yesterday mom had an appointment at 8:00 in the valley. She was stressed because she couldn't keep straight that she would leave at 7:00 not she had to be there at 7:00. It was a long appointment with the drug study group. She's participating in a study of an alzheimers drug. I think she's getting the placebo, because she is steadily declining.
I packed a bag for mom and helped Gary get her in the car.
Alex got up before 7:00 for his shower and was out the door by 7:15.
QUIET
QUIET
How long has it been since I've been home alone. It was heaven. No one needed anything. Total relaxation...ok, that was it. Maybe 10 minutes and then I had to go to work.
That few moments though...wow
Showers start at 5:00 even on a regular day. Mine's at 5, Caitlin 5:30, sometime between 6 and 6:30 I help mom. Caitlin is out the door at 6:30.
Yesterday mom had an appointment at 8:00 in the valley. She was stressed because she couldn't keep straight that she would leave at 7:00 not she had to be there at 7:00. It was a long appointment with the drug study group. She's participating in a study of an alzheimers drug. I think she's getting the placebo, because she is steadily declining.
I packed a bag for mom and helped Gary get her in the car.
Alex got up before 7:00 for his shower and was out the door by 7:15.
QUIET
QUIET
How long has it been since I've been home alone. It was heaven. No one needed anything. Total relaxation...ok, that was it. Maybe 10 minutes and then I had to go to work.
That few moments though...wow
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Siegfried and Roy
Last night I was viewing a total eclipse of the sun from many places around the globe. This statement alone should let you know I was asleep the whole time.
The final way I intended to see the eclipse was skydiving in Africa, or was it the Nevada desert. My diving partners were Siegfried and Roy. After jumping out of the plane, something I would never do if I was awake, I couldn't find the ripcord. I kept looking and looking, not really panicked. After a while it wasn't me who couldn't find the cord, it was Siegfried, or was it Roy? Anyway my chute worked fine and his finally opened. And that was it.
The final way I intended to see the eclipse was skydiving in Africa, or was it the Nevada desert. My diving partners were Siegfried and Roy. After jumping out of the plane, something I would never do if I was awake, I couldn't find the ripcord. I kept looking and looking, not really panicked. After a while it wasn't me who couldn't find the cord, it was Siegfried, or was it Roy? Anyway my chute worked fine and his finally opened. And that was it.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
hermit
I have this fantasy. Now before I go any farther I want to make it clear, I love you and you shouldn't take this personally.
Usually this fantasy hits me in the kitchen.
My fantasy includes one plate, one cup, one knife, one spoon, one fork. Food in my fantasy is single serving, narrow in scope. Cereal, yogurt, bread. Nothing using the stove, pots, or pans. Nothing that splatters.
What is it like to clean the kitchen and come back later to a clean kitchen?
How about the bathroom. One product for all washing. One towel. ONE TOOTHBRUSH.
My fantasy does not include shoes anywhere other than on feet or in closets.
Dog hair does not exist. Neither do used tissues, half empty water bottles, unfolded laundry.
How do other people do it? I can't possibly keep up with the housework and I don't even do the cooking. If I did, we would eat the same thing everyday - and it would be plain.
Usually this fantasy hits me in the kitchen.
My fantasy includes one plate, one cup, one knife, one spoon, one fork. Food in my fantasy is single serving, narrow in scope. Cereal, yogurt, bread. Nothing using the stove, pots, or pans. Nothing that splatters.
What is it like to clean the kitchen and come back later to a clean kitchen?
How about the bathroom. One product for all washing. One towel. ONE TOOTHBRUSH.
My fantasy does not include shoes anywhere other than on feet or in closets.
Dog hair does not exist. Neither do used tissues, half empty water bottles, unfolded laundry.
How do other people do it? I can't possibly keep up with the housework and I don't even do the cooking. If I did, we would eat the same thing everyday - and it would be plain.
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