Category: Uncategorized

It greatly disturbs me that we, as a society, seem to be leaning towards a more homogeneous society.  If we aren’t all worshiping the same god or behaving the same way then those who don’t are the enemy.  This country in particular was founded on the differences we have.  We wanted to be able to believe differently.  People fled the sameness in Europe and Britain to come here for religious freedom.  It didn’t matter what the beliefs were, here people were free to believe as they chose to. 

Now, however, that isn’t the case.  We (again as a society) seem to expect everyone to think alike and behave alike.  Women behave a particular way – they must like shopping and fashion.  Men must behave a particular way too – they  must like sports and so on. 

The sad thing about this homogeny is that it removes any chances for stellar people to stand out.  Where would we be if Henry Ford had become a Buggy builder instead of innovating the car?  Or where would we be if Thomas Edison hadn’t created the light bulb? 

These people thought outside the box and believed they were capable of creating something better.  The religious and spiritual beliefs are the same.  If you look at the core beliefs of most religions you will find similar concepts.  Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, and Pagans all essentially have the same core beliefs.  Yet this seems to be a point of contention in our world.  We go back to the idea that all must believe the way I do (and you fill in the religion) or you are evil.  When will we outgrow this hateful and hurtful idea?

Most people know my mom is Methodist and my husband is Lutheran.  I took my daughters to the Methodist church so they would have an understanding of what organized religion was.  All the while I sat in church I hated it.  These are not my beliefs. 

Some who know me, know that I have chosen a different path.  Most who know me haven’t a clue what my beliefs are.  I’ve guarded them.  I have told myself that it is because I don’t want to embarrass or cause problems for my husband or my daughters.  I’ve skirted the issue many times in order to have some sense of normalness in life. 

These are the lies I’ve told myself.  In reality, I didn’t want to face being different.  I’ve been different all my life and it is tiresome to always go against the flow.  If I’m going to tout tolerance for different beliefs then I need to be brave enough to stand up and say – I have different beliefs.  I am not a Christian like my mother or husband.  I am an eclectic witch who is seeking. 

Take a deep breath everyone – yes I used the witch word and it isn’t a euphemism for bitch.  Before anyone jumps to conclusions here are my general beliefs.  I believe in a divine being.  I don’t believe it is male or female.  I believe that it appears to people in those forms because we understand them but in reality the divine force is everything from the animals, plants, people, and even the earth itself.  It is everything and everywhere. 

I believe your actions and choices determine the type of life you have.  I believe in karma but again I think it is much more complicated than the simple you did bad so something bad will happen to you or you did good so something good will happen to you.  Life is a bunch of checks and balances.  Our choices determine what checks and balances happen to us.

Let me also state that while I may have these alternative beliefs from most people in society, I still go to work and pay my bills.  I don’t sacrifice animals or children.  I don’t worship a devil (don’t believe in one).  I’m not having sex with goats or other farm animals.  These are all misconceptions about the Pagan beliefs.

I came to my beliefs later in life.  My sister Teri introduced me to some of the ideas and I’ve taught myself the rest in discovering who I am.  I am grateful Ken and the girls accepted my growth in this area. 

When I say we need to have tolerance for different beliefs and lifestyles I am not asking you to accept some strange far out beliefs.  I’m asking you to accept and understand me.

Went to see the movie Red today.  There was no redeeming qualities in this movie other than it made me laugh and I enjoyed the blowing up of things.  Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Mary Louise Parker… all did a great job in the movie.  It won’t get any awards for being a classic but it was a good blow up action with a quirky humor movie. 

Fortunately the movie was in regular film and not the horrid 3D.  I know that is the latest craze but whenever I watch a 3D movie it gives me a headache.  When we went to the Milwaukee museum we went to a 3D movie and ended up leaving because it was bothering me so much. 

On top of which there are studies that show it isn’t good for the development of childrens brains to view things in 3D.  Most people I talk to don’t like them.  My daughter tells me that most comments on news stories about 3D indicate that people do not like the 3D. 

Another downside for the 3D is it costs more to go to these movies.  It can cost up to $3 more (and higher in the bigger cities) to go to a 3D  movie rather than a regular one.  I know my funds are already stretched in order for us to afford a trip to the theater and if my choice is between a movie at regular price (which is too expensive) and one that costs any amount more… I’m taking the less expensive one.

Why is it then that movie makers are jumping on the band wagon to do everything in 3D?  I don’t get this – one rule of marketing is to know your targetted market.  If the targeted market is not into the 3D affects then why continue to do it? 

It appears from the one article I saw on it that after Avatar the 3D craze started to fizzle out.  So if this is truly the case why are so many movies still coming out in 3D?  I want to say to movie makers to get a clue…

I DVR the View.  I most enjoy it when Barbara Walters is on there.  She is an amazing woman.  I watched yesterday’s show where Bill O’Reilly was on.  I KNOW why I don’t watch this man.  He is condescending and sensational.  He says things that deliberately provoke a negative response in people.  Joy and Whoopi were so offended by his comments they walked off the interview.  This was somewhat diva like and if they were in the role of journalist then they were unprofessional.  However, when someone sits there and says Muslims (the implication being all of them) caused all the deaths for 9/11, that is offensive.  Muslims did not cause the attacks.  The Muslim faith does not tout violence or death.  Extremists who follow that faith did the heinous acts on 9/11. 

There are many incidences where Americans have caused terror and mayhem both here in the US and abroad.  If you want to point fingers and say we need to restrict movements, then we all need to take a step back and look at what principles this country was founded on.  So we restrict the KKK and white supremacists from having rallies and their freedom of speech (yes their propaganda is HIGHLY offensive).  What happens when Pro-Choice people want to rally in an area where Pro-Life is dominant?  Do we restrict them?  We have to be careful of this slippery slope.

There is an issue in front of the supreme court concerning the reverend who picketed at the same time a soldiers funeral was going on.  I find this offensive.  The supreme court has to choose between the right to privacy (which we have so little of anymore) and the right of free speech.  Which one will they restrict?  I don’t know but either way they are taking our legal system onto a slippery slope.

I firmly believe the reverend was WRONG in every way.  My question is – why did the media give him so much time?  They have certainly allowed his idiocy and moral ineptitude to play longer than it should have. 

These issues are complex and volatile. Unfortunately there are no easy answers – just more questions….

I’m driving a shorter distance, I’m working shorter hours and still I come home more tired than when I was at the DOT.  How is that possible?  I know my brain is working hard to learn new things and to fit in…

I’m very happy to report that my pain level is way down from my previous job.  I’m enjoying my job (not that I’m anywhere near full capacity on tasks).  The people are super nice and it has been a good start to a new job. 

I’ve only made it to the pool once this week.  I’m so tired by the time I’m done the thought of going to the pool is just too much.  I’m falling asleep while I eat just about. 

Vicki has been having supper ready when I get home – delicious suppers.  I’ve had pork chops and stuffing, turkey filets, and bbq ribs… all good stuff.. and veggies – I like my veggies.  🙂 

While I’m coping with all the learning and trying to take in all that I’m being told, I’m also enjoying the challenge.  I’ve got my student help doing an inventory so I can know what we have for office supplies.  They are also helping out with other things.  They have been great to work with. 

Alicia has been a JEWEL!!!!  She answers my million questions nicely.  She is always there with encouragement and assistance.  Lunch with her has been pleasant.  She reads, I read or write in my journal. 

So far this has been a very good move.  I’m sure it will continue to be so and I’ll be glad when I can go to work and not be so exhausted at the end of my day….

First day on the job and its gone rather well considering I didn’t have an ID to log on to anything.  I took time to look through drawers etc.  This is about the only time its acceptable to be snoopy. 

I actually got to perform one task – logged in as someone else – but it was good to learn the one thing.  Hopefully tomorrow my log on works – not holding my breath though.

Tomorrow should be interesting because my boss is gone all day tomorrow.  So I’m not sure how much I’ll have to do. 

I did make it to the pool for a 1/2 hour work out.  That was FABULOUS to get back in the water and work out.  It was colder than usual but still enjoyed.  I also enjoyed the 10 minutes in the hot tub. 

This week promises to be a long week.  I’m sure I’ll settle in a bit, learn lots and keep moving forward.  Right now though – I’m just plain whipped.

I start my new job tomorrow.  I am remarkably calm about it.  I’m not nervous or concerned in anyway.  I know it is the right move for me.  I also know the next six months I’ll be learning all sorts of things.  I’m actually looking forward to that.  I’m hoping over my probation time I’ll create a niche for myself. 

I’m excited for tomorrow to get here but not overly anxious about it – that is a nice change of pace.  I’m also excited to go to the pool tomorrow night after work.  In my head, I’m organizing all the things I have to get done today including packing my gym bag. 

It will be wonderful to go back to the pool.  I don’t think I’ve been in the last month because I’ve been so busy with other things.  This way after work every night I’ll be able to stop at the pool, work out, sit in the hot tub, and then come home.  I’ll still get home at my normal time but I’ll have gotten so much more into my day. 

Wish me luck…

Recently my daughter was telling me about (and I saw it on the View as well) about a woman who wrote in to Dear Margot about her husband kissing his six-year-old daughter (her step-daughter) on the lips.  The woman felt it was inappropriate for him to do this. 

My first questions was age of daughter and types of kisses.  That is when I found out it was a 6 year old.  Apparently he kisses his daughter like most parents do – lovingly.  No tongue, no passion, nothing inappropriate just lovingly like mom’s and dad’s do every day.

What is our world coming to when this is an issue?  Seriously I kissed my dad on the lips until he died – I was 20.  If he were still alive today I’d probably still be doing it.  Children need affection.  Furthermore if this man stops kissing his daughter because of a new wife then the daughter will resent the new wife. 

Here is another thing – why didn’t this come up before they were married?  If their beliefs are so far apart that this has become an issue – wouldn’t you think this should be discussed before they got married? 

I say if the action is appropriate and it doesn’t make the child uncomfortable then daddy should definitely be showing his little girl he loves her.  It is a sweet and loving action meant to show love and affection – not be a competition with a sexual embrace as a kiss would be with a wife or girlfriend. 

Tomorrow is my last day.  It is definitely a sad but happy time.  I’m glad to move on to a new job and learn new things, meet new people and have a new adventure.  I’m not glad to be leaving my friends at my current job.  I’m also sort of sad that I didn’t get to finish off two projects that I think are really important.  I’m trying to let that go….

This week has been very interesting for me.  I’ve been letting people know I’m leaving.  It’s been amazing to hear from some people.  I got several very general congratulatory emails. Then I get emails like from the one regional person I’ve worked with a lot.  She emailed me today with a sweet and complimentary note.  It almost made me regret my decision.  I also spoke with another regional person who was very upset I was leaving.  He also was quite complimentary about the work I’ve done.  It was great to hear that the work I’ve put in and the ideas I’ve put forward have been noticed and appreciated.

I have my exit interview tomorrow.  I’m half hoping I don’t get asked two questions – why I’m leaving and what they could have done to keep me.  I know the answers – the question becomes do I want to share the answers.  Being a very blunt and straight forward person I will in all likelihood share the answers but I am trying to think of a tactful way of doing it.

Why I’m leaving is 85% health (handicapped unfriendly environment compared with handicapped friendly environment), 10% need for something new, 5% lack of say in what is produced.  This is the hardest part for me.  I like the people I work with but some of them can be a bit disparaging.  When I put forth an idea or even produce something, it would be severely criticized.  That has increased a lot in the last few months.  This makes it very difficult to have a positive attitude towards work.

What could they have done to keep me – well once I got to a point where I could see a better place for me, not a lot.  Had they helped more with the handicap issue, offered me more money, given me a bit more control in output on certain projects – I might have thought less about leaving and more about staying… though I can’t say for certain that I would have …

Tomorrow will be emotional I’m sure… but then I will have the weekend to rest, relax and shift pace… before I start my new job….

Well today was my last Monday at my current job.  I went to work worried I would not get everything done that I wanted to.  I kinda stressed over it.  I had a list (when don’t I?) and a plan for tackling the tasks I needed to get done. 

I got to work and the plan went right out the window.  There were so many things that distracted me and I got off my game.  Then I sat down, plugged in my head phones and started an audio book.  While listening to this audio book (First Test by Tamora Pierce), I worked on the tasks at hand. 

My day FLEW by.  I looked up, realized it was after 1:00, and I hadn’t taken lunch.  I was astounded.  So I took lunch and was going to read the physical book I had in my bag – nope.  Listened to the audio book while I ate. 

After lunch I continued listening to the book and next thing I know it’s nearly 3:30 and I’m done with proposals.  It’s time to move on to the next task.  I don’t want to though because the next task isn’t conducive to listening to my book. 

When I left for the day, I didn’t want to stop listening.  This book was engaging and fun.  It made my day just fly by and allowed me to settle into the work without worrying about the clock.  It is a young adult fantasy book and I’m really enjoying it. 

Tomorrow, I want to finish the book but the tasks on the top of my list aren’t conducive to listening to a book.  I guess I’ll have to see if I get to tasks that are… or maybe I’ll get distracted again… One can only hope!!! 

Why is it women’s work is supposed to keep us confined to the indoors?  I don’t like indoors work – never have and probably never will.  I don’t mind cleaning the bathroom or doing laundry (especially if I can hang my clothes outside on a great summer breeze).  Other inside work just sucks. 

Ken and I just split some wood.  I stood and did the splitting.  Before anyone thinks wow she must have some great upper body strength – we have a log splitter.  I filled up wheel barrows with split wood and he hauled it to the backyard and stacked it. 

I really LOVED being out in the autumn cool weather, getting the wood split, and working with him.  I know that may seem strange to all the women who do housework and hate the possibility that they might break a nail.  I guess I’m strange.  The smell of the wood was soothing and comforting.  The knowledge that this wood would bring many wonderful times by the fireplace makes the job go easier.