This should scare the bejesus out of all of us. Be afraid...be very afraid.
Here is the text of a letter I sent to our Senators in Washington, D. C.: Mary Landrieu - D and David Vitter - R....
RE: S. 773, Cybersecurity Act of 2009, by Jay Rockefeller, IV, D - WV.
Excerpt from the Bill of Rights, the First Ten Amendments to the United States Constitution:
...I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
It has come to my attention that Senator Jay Rockefeller, D - WV, has proposed a bill, S. 773, which would give the President of the United States authority to regulate internet traffic in times of national emergency. Were this to happen, it would be clear violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
While the founding fathers could never have foreseen the explosion of information that became available upon the development of the internet, they clearly were visionary in realizing that the ability to freely exchange information was crucial to the longevity of our fledgling nation. In addition, many of the history’s most profound humanitarian catastrophes were driven by the proliferation of government-generated propaganda. It is imperative that we, as a culture which champions personal freedom, avoid taking any action giving the government the power to regulate the free exchange of information.
This bill must not pass in any configuration. Please vote “NO” to S. 773
Ciao.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Random
I feel tired and used up. Depressed. A shell of my former self. Nothing is as it should be. I am 47 years old and have been living with my in-laws for over three years. I busted my ass, working two jobs, so husband could finish his Associate Degree--which he did--and the thanks I get is for helping him achieve his dream is for him to start job hunting in HOUSTON!
I love my primary job. I have been working this job for over 10 years! I don't want to quit my job and move. It's the first job I have ever had where I have a real opportunity for advancement! I can't tell you how utterly beat down this makes me feel. I am on the brink of tears every minute...even now.
He knows how I feel. I have told him. He says it isn't that he doesn't care, it's just that there are no jobs for him in this area. Which may be true, but it doesn't make this any less painful for me.
Sound selfish?
I love my primary job. I have been working this job for over 10 years! I don't want to quit my job and move. It's the first job I have ever had where I have a real opportunity for advancement! I can't tell you how utterly beat down this makes me feel. I am on the brink of tears every minute...even now.
He knows how I feel. I have told him. He says it isn't that he doesn't care, it's just that there are no jobs for him in this area. Which may be true, but it doesn't make this any less painful for me.
Sound selfish?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Random Updates and Stuff
It's been such a long time since I posted. Could be one of two reasons for this: 1) I no longer need to vent on such a regular basis, meaning that this blog has served its purpose, or 2) I am so overwhelmed that I have no idea where to start!
Actually, maybe it's a combination of both. Is that messed up or what?
Seriously, things are looking really good right now. My husband has taken a skills assessment and been on a series of interviews for a position with the City of Alexandria as an Environmental Technician. At the last interview they gave him a summary of the benefits and a job description. The mayor still has to sign off on it, but it looks like he may get the job!
My daughter will graduate in May. She is seriously beginning to freak out.
My sister-in-law "found her a place" and moved out, but she still hasn't found a job. Why would anyone rent an apartment before they have a stable, steady income with which to pay rent! Auuggghhh! She comes around some, and seems sober, but I don't spend a lot of time in that part of the house when she is around. It may seem a little anti-social, but I FEEL a little anti-social. I figure the less time we are around each other, the less chance there is that I will say something I will regret.
I am still working at both my full-time and my part-time job, but things are looking up, now. I am content, and even beginning to be excited about this job opportunity for Hubby. Living in Alexandria will mean I have to drive little over an hour each way to go to work, but I have 10 years with the school board that I am not going to give up. And, we might find a place to live that is between here and there...
Okay, that's enough for now.
Ciao!
Actually, maybe it's a combination of both. Is that messed up or what?
Seriously, things are looking really good right now. My husband has taken a skills assessment and been on a series of interviews for a position with the City of Alexandria as an Environmental Technician. At the last interview they gave him a summary of the benefits and a job description. The mayor still has to sign off on it, but it looks like he may get the job!
My daughter will graduate in May. She is seriously beginning to freak out.
My sister-in-law "found her a place" and moved out, but she still hasn't found a job. Why would anyone rent an apartment before they have a stable, steady income with which to pay rent! Auuggghhh! She comes around some, and seems sober, but I don't spend a lot of time in that part of the house when she is around. It may seem a little anti-social, but I FEEL a little anti-social. I figure the less time we are around each other, the less chance there is that I will say something I will regret.
I am still working at both my full-time and my part-time job, but things are looking up, now. I am content, and even beginning to be excited about this job opportunity for Hubby. Living in Alexandria will mean I have to drive little over an hour each way to go to work, but I have 10 years with the school board that I am not going to give up. And, we might find a place to live that is between here and there...
Okay, that's enough for now.
Ciao!
Friday, January 09, 2009
You Can't Make This Stuff Up
She is still here. (The sister-in-law who couldn't complete the rehab program.) She seems mostly sober, but sometimes over-medicated, and doesn't seem to have a plan of any kind. And I am, of course, still biting my tongue.
I know every family has its problems, but this one just seems so unbelievably dysfunctional, that I can't even BEGIN to describe it. My in-laws now have both of their 40-something children living back at home, and still have custody of their 14-year-old grandson, who is on medication for ADHD. My daughter has gone back to Baton Rouge to complete her final semester of college at LSU, so now there are only five adults, instead of six, but sister-in-law is sleeping on the couch. Not an ideal situation for anyone, but I actually have some sympathy for her.
On a positive note...Hubby had a job interview yesterday! He was so excited. He isn't going to be able to take the job, it is 45 miles away, one-way, and only pays $8.50 per hour so the commute would just cost too much. But he was very pleased with how it went, and knows that it is just a matter of time until he is able to start working. It's going to get better, I just know it is.
When I got back to work this week, my computer had bitten the dust. Completely. Not a tragedy, because I actually saved everything to an external hard drive, so no data was lost. The tech who came to look at it said to just order a new computer. (It had crashed two years ago, and they were able to resuscitate it.) The next day, guess what? My external hard drive wouldn't power on! SERIOUSLY, HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN??? Anyway, the hard disk itself was still usable, and they were able to save all of the data to an 8GB flash drive.
But, you can't make this stuff up and one day, I am going to publish my memoirs. It will be very painful, describing the addicted years, but I am certain it will be cathartic as well.
Buon Giorno, Arrivederci
I know every family has its problems, but this one just seems so unbelievably dysfunctional, that I can't even BEGIN to describe it. My in-laws now have both of their 40-something children living back at home, and still have custody of their 14-year-old grandson, who is on medication for ADHD. My daughter has gone back to Baton Rouge to complete her final semester of college at LSU, so now there are only five adults, instead of six, but sister-in-law is sleeping on the couch. Not an ideal situation for anyone, but I actually have some sympathy for her.
On a positive note...Hubby had a job interview yesterday! He was so excited. He isn't going to be able to take the job, it is 45 miles away, one-way, and only pays $8.50 per hour so the commute would just cost too much. But he was very pleased with how it went, and knows that it is just a matter of time until he is able to start working. It's going to get better, I just know it is.
When I got back to work this week, my computer had bitten the dust. Completely. Not a tragedy, because I actually saved everything to an external hard drive, so no data was lost. The tech who came to look at it said to just order a new computer. (It had crashed two years ago, and they were able to resuscitate it.) The next day, guess what? My external hard drive wouldn't power on! SERIOUSLY, HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN??? Anyway, the hard disk itself was still usable, and they were able to save all of the data to an 8GB flash drive.
But, you can't make this stuff up and one day, I am going to publish my memoirs. It will be very painful, describing the addicted years, but I am certain it will be cathartic as well.
Buon Giorno, Arrivederci
Saturday, December 27, 2008
...And a Happy New Year!
Okay, so I all but abandoned my blog. I have been struggling to stay upbeat--not always succeeding--but managing not to post every whine and complaint. (Of course, that means huge chunks of time go by between posts...!)
Since I last posted: Husband graduated with his Associate Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science! The ceremony was a week before Christmas. My daughter was home from college, and the ceremony was really quite nice. (Daughter will receive her Bachelor of Arts in English: Writing and Culture in May 2009!) Money issues will prevent hubby from continuing in school for now, so he is going to concentrate on passing his state licensing exams in early 2009. Then he will be able to look for work, and if he finds something that pays pretty well, he may take part-time classes toward HIS Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Technology.
Hubby's sister decided in early December to check herself into a drug rehab facility for drying out/detox and inpatient treatment for her alcoholism and drug addictions. She stayed only ten days (the amount of time to complete detox) and was told there was nothing else they could do for her, because of her poor attitude. Seems she called a staff member an ugly name--think, "female dog"--and refused to attend scheduled meetings. So, she is here because she had no place left to go. She is depressed and sleeps a lot, but she is still taking the meds they prescribed for her at rehab, so maybe they will help her get her equilibrium back. (But don't hold your breath.) We are all "walking on eggshells" around her for the time being, and deliberately avoiding asking the tough questions like: "Why didn't you feel that you needed to comply with expectations at the treatment center?" and the burning question on the tip of MY tongue: "So, what are your plans, now?" And, so far, she isn't trying to jump back into the "mommy" role for her 14-year-old son and seems content to let her mother continue to make most of the major decisions that affect him. When she decides to assert her parental authority again (whether the courts have actually restored that authority or not), it isn't going to be pretty.
So, right at the moment, there are six adults (me, hubby, our daughter, his parents, and his sister) and one 14-year-old in this house. Still and all, Christmas was really nice! Scaled back, of course, due to the tough economic climate, but the gifts are not the point, are they? We had a lovely steak dinner, with several additional family members attending, including hubby's 96-year-old grandmother! There were no major conflicts and a good time was had by all.
Today, we leave for Houston, for our annual stay with my dad and brother. We will celebrate the New Year with them, before coming home. This will be the first time our daughter won't accompay us. :-( She has made arrangements to fly to Florida to meet her boyfriend's family for the first time. (I knew this was coming, of course, but it doesn't go down any easier.) AND...I don't have to be back at either of my jobs until January 5, 2009!! Now, that's what I'm talking about!
Hope everyone has a New Year filled with awe and wonder! Ciao!
Since I last posted: Husband graduated with his Associate Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science! The ceremony was a week before Christmas. My daughter was home from college, and the ceremony was really quite nice. (Daughter will receive her Bachelor of Arts in English: Writing and Culture in May 2009!) Money issues will prevent hubby from continuing in school for now, so he is going to concentrate on passing his state licensing exams in early 2009. Then he will be able to look for work, and if he finds something that pays pretty well, he may take part-time classes toward HIS Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Technology.
Hubby's sister decided in early December to check herself into a drug rehab facility for drying out/detox and inpatient treatment for her alcoholism and drug addictions. She stayed only ten days (the amount of time to complete detox) and was told there was nothing else they could do for her, because of her poor attitude. Seems she called a staff member an ugly name--think, "female dog"--and refused to attend scheduled meetings. So, she is here because she had no place left to go. She is depressed and sleeps a lot, but she is still taking the meds they prescribed for her at rehab, so maybe they will help her get her equilibrium back. (But don't hold your breath.) We are all "walking on eggshells" around her for the time being, and deliberately avoiding asking the tough questions like: "Why didn't you feel that you needed to comply with expectations at the treatment center?" and the burning question on the tip of MY tongue: "So, what are your plans, now?" And, so far, she isn't trying to jump back into the "mommy" role for her 14-year-old son and seems content to let her mother continue to make most of the major decisions that affect him. When she decides to assert her parental authority again (whether the courts have actually restored that authority or not), it isn't going to be pretty.
So, right at the moment, there are six adults (me, hubby, our daughter, his parents, and his sister) and one 14-year-old in this house. Still and all, Christmas was really nice! Scaled back, of course, due to the tough economic climate, but the gifts are not the point, are they? We had a lovely steak dinner, with several additional family members attending, including hubby's 96-year-old grandmother! There were no major conflicts and a good time was had by all.
Today, we leave for Houston, for our annual stay with my dad and brother. We will celebrate the New Year with them, before coming home. This will be the first time our daughter won't accompay us. :-( She has made arrangements to fly to Florida to meet her boyfriend's family for the first time. (I knew this was coming, of course, but it doesn't go down any easier.) AND...I don't have to be back at either of my jobs until January 5, 2009!! Now, that's what I'm talking about!
Hope everyone has a New Year filled with awe and wonder! Ciao!
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Nine Kinds of Hell
Being married to a drug addict is nine kinds of hell. Even one who is supposedly recovering.
Right now, I am so angry, I am trembly.
My recovering addict husband has relapsed. Proof? All circumstantial. But our cell phone records show that he called a known pill dealer at 3:30 and 4:00 this morning. He was unreachable for about 8 hours. Finally, he called and asked where I was. (He had asked me to be at his place about dark.) I asked him why I couldn't reach him. He said he fell asleep. Wrong answer. I had campus police check on whether his car was in the lot. He wasn't home. He hung up on me.
I want out.
I stayed with him for the sake of our daughter. She is grown now. I stayed while he was in rehab, and I lived with his parents while I worked two jobs to make it possible for him to go to school. I'm done.
It's all very sad.
Ciao.
Right now, I am so angry, I am trembly.
My recovering addict husband has relapsed. Proof? All circumstantial. But our cell phone records show that he called a known pill dealer at 3:30 and 4:00 this morning. He was unreachable for about 8 hours. Finally, he called and asked where I was. (He had asked me to be at his place about dark.) I asked him why I couldn't reach him. He said he fell asleep. Wrong answer. I had campus police check on whether his car was in the lot. He wasn't home. He hung up on me.
I want out.
I stayed with him for the sake of our daughter. She is grown now. I stayed while he was in rehab, and I lived with his parents while I worked two jobs to make it possible for him to go to school. I'm done.
It's all very sad.
Ciao.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
The Good American
Like a truly patriotic American, on this morning-after, I am trying to find the good qualities in President-elect Obama, even though he was not the man I felt best qualified to lead the United States. For one, He is an outstanding public speaker, with much more polish and finess than John McCain. We need those qualities to repair our battered national image in the rest of the world.
Right now, that's all I can think of. Perhaps others ideas will come to me.
Arrivederci.
Right now, that's all I can think of. Perhaps others ideas will come to me.
Arrivederci.
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