Dear U.S. Senators,

When you have allowed months of torture and rape to utterly disfigure and destroy someone, the only sensible and humane thing to do is to take that person out somewhere secluded and shoot them in the back of the head.

Since you’ve essentially allowed this healthcare bill to endure the very atrocities I’ve described, it is my sincere hope you will have enough integrity left in you to consign it to the same fate. Executions are seldom easy, but considering the jaw-dropping debauchery to which you’ve relentlessly subjected this bill, such paradoxical mercy is the only way I see for you to even look in the general direction of redemption. Poor old “Healthcare” Bill was once our friend, but now he desperately wails in anguish, pleading for final respite from the blind, relentless assault of Lieberman’s tiny but deceptively powerful political penis.

Our friend wanted to give us a Public Option so that even the poorest Americans could get necessary medical attention. You laughed in his face.

Our friend believed a Single-Payer system was another way we could get healthcare to the less fortunate and was shouted down for that, as well.

Our friend wanted to fix Medicare Part D so that drugs were acquired at a reasonable price and beneficiaries didn’t fall into the infamous, medicine-revoking “Donut Hole”. In response to that one, you simply farted (although, to your credit, you did lift your leg beforehand so the gesture wasn’t lost on anyone).

In short, our friend’s overall goal was to HELP THE AMERICAN POOR. And you had a serious problem with that.

It’s a noble goal – aiding the poor – and one that is right in line with the teachings of every major religion, including the one this country so openly embraces (despite Constitutional insistence it doesn’t). But how did you react to such Christian kindness? You got all coy and then suddenly goal-kicked poor Bill in the nuts by adding a mandate that everyone purchase healthcare from private companies.

So kill it. Kill it until it’s good and dead and literally nothing of it remains. Better to have no healthcare reform at all (for now) than to have a panty-waste bill with ruptured testicles limping through American history as a permanent false testament to how the poor and weak simply don’t deserve access to medical care.

You know what you must do. If it helps, think about it this way: if all of you vote it out, then killing our friend Bill will be more like a firing squad execution than a cold-blooded murder. And isn’t that how you politicos sleep at night – by reframing the untenable things so they can be better blamed on someone else?

Oh, and Mr. President,  your recent rhetoric surrounding this bill worries me. You seem to be hedging. I have no doubt you recall making it unequivocally clear when you debated Hilary Clinton last January that you are deadset against an individual mandate, so I'm looking to you to keep your promise to veto this bill if it comes across your desk containing that clause.

Sincerely,

Kirk Starr
Your Employer

What are you hoping to find under the tree this year?

A new car.

Oldsmobile 1921

I'm feeling surprisingly good this evening - without meds or alcohol to credit. I'm a little too awake for 1am but that's probably due to my 11p "dinner" (bread & cheese spread) and "un refresco de medico chili" (bottle of Dr. Pepper soda).

I suspect the improved mood (physically/knees, I'm still only so-so, though more good than bad) is due to admitting defeat on the work project and, mentally, giving up. It will get done or it won't. I didn't even want to hurt stupid people (a miracle!!), not even those who are making my job more difficult (wtf?!? who am I??). I genuinely don't care anymore. Since taking that to heart, I've been much more patient and happier and generally a pretty descent human to be around (well, as decent as I ever get). It's only been 2 days. But it's been a nice 2 days!

Having read that le Target is open late, I stopped in after work to pick up a power drill. I figured they're open till 11p so it was okay that I was swinging in at 10:15 but they're actually open till MIDNIGHT. I feel sorry for the staff - except I got out around 10:30 and the parking lot had cleared out pretty dramatically so they probably have slow work nights (at least this week). There were only 3 cashiers so it can't be too horrid... though probably worse for the people who have to restock & reorg.

My goal at Target was for a new power drill. Choices were the 9.6v drill for $18.99 or the 12v drill for $39.99. Both on sale. Would have loved the 12v but couldn't justify the extra $20. If I'm doing a project that needs more power, I should probably be having Adrian do it anyway (assuming he's still around - I haven't talked to him in months).

Of course, being Target, I also had to look at lingerie, pajamas, workout wear, and fat lady clothes. I thought about checking out the electronics and xmas depts but couldn't see any reason to put myself through that hell. Then I picked up deodorant, razor blades, hair gel, a couple sodas, and a card for giving cash to someone (my postal carrier. Yes, she deserves it.). I wonder what my total was - I didn't pay attention. I tried to find the new L'Oreal mascara with the short little brush (to see if that keeps me from getting mascara on the side of my face when doing the outer lashes) but they were out. Target's makeup dept SUCKS. At least at all the locations around here. Always looks like it's just been ravaged... 90% out of stock and the remaining 10% is a disaster area.

I really wish Target sold booze cause I would have liked some tonight (though not any of the 12 million kinds I already have in the house).

I got home and my Old Navy order had been delivered and EVERYTHING (8 shirts) FIT. Probably cause I mostly bought size "2xl maternity" (my tummy looks preggers and, sure enough, those shirts fit me well - and accent my boobs!!). I really love the sweater I bought - glad I thought (in my drunken state) to get it in 2 colors. Disappointed that I bought 3 shirts in pretty much identical styles/colors (bright magenta) but... oh well. I want to wear one of the sweaters to work tomorrow but it occurred to me that I don't have any clean, non-wrinkled, pants (cause clean laundry is in a pile on the floor). It will be fun to see what I work out in the morning!

The big box in the backyard (found last night) is clearly the auto cat litter box. I still haven't brought it inside. The box is HUGE... too much to deal with till I have more time. I don't want to let myself bring it nside cause I know me, it will take another 2 weeks to remember to drag the monster. Better to open it outdoors so the box goes from backyard straight to the recycling bin!

Am I still waiting for another order? Oh yeah... the clothes (pants, jacket and ??) from Newport News. I should probably also make up my mind about the 2 items I got from Hips & Curves (long skirt and a leopard robe/coat)... keep or return? I also have returns for Home Depot and Penny's in my car but I keep forgetting about them. I might remember, and have time, to do the HD return this Sun but I don't know when I'll make it to JCP.

Sooooo.... should be another relatively decent day at work tomorrow. I might even get out early (8p-ish) but I won't count on that. No plans till Sat. Whatever shall I do with a free evening... vacuum? put away laundry? sit on the sofa like a slug? **ding*ding*ding** - we have a winner!!!

Now for a musical interlude...

• 12:01 Looking at: The official Twitter account for the PlayStation Network Digital Comics Service twitter.com/psncomics #
• 12:07 Reading: Watch streaming game trailers on Life with PlayStation bit.ly/5QHGgR #

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15:40 It's true, it is. RT @ImTheQ: But it IS!!! @mojowriting I told you, we always think it's about us. lol

15:48 WTF is up with that song? RT @ImTheQ: Last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away...

16:14 My son just tried to extort money from me via a go-between. Sent his brother to tell me "C say he needs one dollar or he going to kick you."

19:40 Have now explained the concept of "smartphones" to my mom FOUR times, and she still says "data package?" every time like it was new.

21:59 It's #Eastwick time!

22:50 Is #Eastwick going to end with everybody dead? Seems like it's going that way.

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http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26497660-952,00.html

Cruise control driver runs down his critics

Back on track. But so hot here today. And windy. And stuffy.

So today is get all the final little bits and pieces I want to add to the pile.

I know it looks like there's a lot of wet ones there but I'll be the one laughing when there's no toilet paper somewhere we go. They they'll all be calling for me.

Muesli bars because Emjay has convinced me I must never eat on a plane for fear of food poisoning. Because then there will only be 2 toilets between hundreds of people. And my wet ones would be in high demand then.

Diarrhoea tablets, because..... well because its starting to sound like I have some fixation with toilets and bowels.

Lots of antiseptic handwash, allergy tabs because I always get itchy and ear wax because my ears get sore in water. I think I only need to add panadol and mylanta.

I'm sure I can buy all this stuff over there for half the price. I should have been a girl guide. Apprently you can get all your prescription meds there with no prescription really cheap.

 

 

 

And I'm cashed up in baht now. I felt like I was carrying a brick around in my handbag. Just enough for us all to get through a few days.

 

 

And now I'm off to take up my temple pants.  Bought a pair of light white longs in case we go anywhere where they like you to be fully covered.

Which means getting out the trusty old sewing kit. Look, it even has white cotton.

 

 

Then its off to my doctor to see what he thinks about what the hospital doctor told me and advised.

We will ply The Boy with massive antibiotics.

No cancer!!!!!
Fungal cultures not growing!!!

So we're officially at WTF.
Newest working thesis is bone swelling in jaw is unrelated to tissue changes in kneecaps.
Which become again caused by his lousy kittenhood nutrition.
And this lot is perhaps some unknown invasive infection of the jaw.

So three-weeks broad spectrum antibiotics, and cross our fingers that he winds up with a functional jaw after the dust settles.
After the first week we can be looking for improvement.

IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE DANG BLACK AND WHITE CATS AND THEIR MYSTERY ILLNESSES!!

GirlCat with her week spa stay at UC Davis because of unexplained fluid in lungs -- she got a spigot in her chest.
OliverCat had random seizures.
Motley had unexplained anemia to force us to adopt him.
And then picked up a liver infection.

And Lurker's got TK and his Bad Ways...

Next time I want a cat with a warranty.

As the pipe clamp blisters began to pop and heal on my hands, I knew I was in a race against myself to find my next gig in woodworking. I had just quit my job after I was put on a mandatory 72-hour work week schedule, which was neither safe nor necessary in the warehouse where I was a full time furniture maker. From my first taste of sawdust, I was hooked. I loved everything about it, especially the aches & pains associated with putting in a hard day of manual labor.

I had moved thousands of miles from my industrial Michigan factory roots, only to go to college and decide the blue collar life is what I wanted. I quit my job, only when it was obvious that it would either kill or permanently injure me...but it was still one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. Besides the fact that I love it, I realize now how wrapped up I was in the identity of being just one thing...In my working life, I have always had to have at least three side hustles going on and I've done everything from nude modeling, to being a maid, a well-paid executive assistant, an extra in movies, a make-up artist, to an apprentice sander in a woodshop.

When I call home to update my family, typically, whatever it is I describe is met with unconditional love & acceptance, even if there is a tinge of it not necessarily being understood. As a woodworker, I was finally able to align myself with an identity - one thing that I loved being and doing...and it was so much easier to explain that!

Predictably, when the job fell apart, I scrambled for any paying gig I could find on craigslist. As it turns out, it was a good time to be involved with film making and I even signed up for acting classes. Being involved in the process is as exciting as it seems like it would be - even the long hours of waiting, while being completely dressed to the nines for a 6:00 a.m. call time, shouldn't be exciting, but it still is.

Around this time I also found work as a fit model, working for a local design house. It's a job that pays very well but the work is inconsistent. Still, I am extremely thankful to have it, even if it is a bit weird for me to use it as an identifier at the dentist's office and have the receptionist squeal and ask me a bunch of questions about the job. That's a rock star moment, I'm not going to lie, but it's completely foreign to me to identify myself as "model" in any capacity...especially when "factory rat" was a closer signifier just weeks ago.

I'm not sure if all the discomfort in lacking a fixed occupation or identity squarely rests on my shoulders, or if I am reacting to other people's confusion when I try to explain, "Well, I'm actually a furniture maker, but I'm out of work, so I'm doing the acting and modeling thing, while looking for another woodworking gig." Who does that? I'm not sure if I even understand myself anymore.

In the long run, it's probably a good thing that I am so versatile & adaptable - I always have something relevent for any type of resume I'm creating for myself (and I have at least 3); but I long for the day when I have a short answer to the question, "So what do you do?" 

 

 

It's been freezing cold, I went running at the Lake today and it's already covered in ice. Lovely, though. Downed conifer limbs, blue jays singing.

Now I'm drinking my third hot beverage (hot chocolate) and hoping to hear back from employers. Oh, did I mention, the school hasn't sent me my diploma yet? But the Registrar confirmed that I'm officially graduated. I'm not celebrating until I get the diploma in hand.

We've been consuming good movies and hot cider for Solstice. No fancy celebrations this year, til we get to my sister's. SyFy channel has 2 great holiday specials. One is a remake of Alice in Wonderland. We haven't seen it yet. The other is a really dark, modern remake of Wizard of Oz.

The second one is called Tin Man and I never thought I'd say this, but Alan Cumming is adorable as the Scarecrow. The plot is completely different and you wouldn't even recognize the characters from the original. I love, love love creative remakes, or just simple, creative films. They're in low supply these days.

Another fun plug is the new Sony Ericsson "eco phones", Hazel and Elm. (Cute, right)? They look nice and I used to love my old Ericsson before the *ahem* screen ribbon broke.

Does anyone have other fun film ideas for Solstice? I don't especially like fantasy unless it's mixed with a good plot. Harry Potter is pretty fun for this time of year. I thought the sci fi was a stretch but as long as it's not overly dramatic vampire movies or something, it's an okay medium.