WTF?

Seriously?

I know that other people will blog about this, and there will be detailed discussion on the whos and whys and whats of it, but REALLY?

Black Friday is the poster child for what is wrong with our priorities in this county.

I understand the deals. I get that the sales are great. I even know that some people love the hunt, the game of going out at 4 am to stand in line for $5 DVDs at Best Buy. I do. But why have we gotten to the point where people die? Why are people so desperate for junk? Why?

If these people put half of that energy in to raising their children and contributing to society, we wouldn't be in the social economic crisis we're in now.

I'm really sad and frustrated today.

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Welcome, Fellow NO ON PROP 8 Voters!

I've been getting a boost in traffic through Google Images, as my sidebar button for noonprop8.com has been indexed. For all of you that are coming to see it, here's the native size. Use it as you wish, just don't take credit for it :D

I am supporting a NO vote on Proposition 8 in California. I believe that love makes a family, not a man and a woman. I do not believe in taking rights that promote positive ideals such as respect, loyalty and commitment. There is no negativity being forced on others - this does not affect the greater population of the state. Marrying my husband 2 years ago was the best thing that's happened to me - and I think that all people should be allowed to experience that with the one they love.

While I respect the opinions of those who believe that this is wrong in the eye of their personal religion, I don't believe that is an argument that holds any weight in a country that practices a separation of church and state. In the United States, we are free to choose who we marry and when. We need more love and commitment to raising happy, healthy children and families. Don't segregate. Be progressive.

I would love to hear from any of you who have visited this blog to take this picture. How are you supporting NO on Proposition 8?

For those of you outside California, I'd love to hear your opinions as well. I know that some of you from my home state - Wisconsin - voted for or against a ban on gay marriage a couple of years ago.

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Possiblly a Birth Problem

I know I probably should have posted sooner after that last one, considering it was somewhat heavy, but I haven't felt like I had anything to add to what I said.

Maybe I'm just in a flux period, where negative energy has surrounded me? I'm trying to stay optimistic that the force will be relieved. Until that time, though, it seems I'm bound to be in the path of destruction. Not one to shy away from superstition, I'm re-evaluating my relationship to my Mom's maiden name - Murphy. Unfortunately, events as of late make me tend to believe there is an influx in the legitimacy of said law.

On Friday, I was presented with what I'll call the Best, Most Perfect Opportunity of All Time. I will not go in to details on this BMPOAT, mostly because it hurts too much. Suffice to say that it included architecture, color, design, photography, branding, and animals - not to mention a location along the Pacific coast. Sent an email to BMPOAT at 7 a.m. and was called back within 15 minutes to schedule and interview. Saturday, I met the BMPOAT and totally rocked. I was amazing. I brought the A game. We hit it off and things felt very comfortable. However, BMPOAT was concerned about my location, and the drive required (less than HALF of the drive I currently do). I vehemently denied this as a problem, which it is not. Continued to rock, and even met her wife, who is a musician and needs some help with music branding for her next album. BMPOAT and said wife are trying for a baby. Anyway, to make this lenthening story short-er, BMPOAT called an hour ago to tell me she gave the BMPOAT to someone else who lives in the area, but that she loved my personality and thought I was a wonderful person. Let me reinforce that. I lost the BMPOAT because of my location. Some will say this is simply the "right thing but the wrong place" syndrome, I say its either God (if existing) or the sun or whatever controls this earth playing a horrible trick on me, in which BMPOAT is dangled in front of my face, made very possible, and pried from my super-glued grasp. I'm horribly depressed. (Writing about BMPOAT has re-opened the wound, and I may need to cry for awhile. Not kidding. )

My brother (whose last name is Murphy) got in a car accident this weekend and smashed my Mom's car. He isn't injured, and the accident was his fault. He was issued an expensive ticket. This accident comes only one day following my Mom's registration of and insurance granted for my brother's own car, of which he was driving to pick up a battery. This incident will be marked on her insurance instead of his.

She heads to court on Friday and I hope that everyone out there who reads this blog will send good wishes her way. She's battling the father of her youngest 3 children - who wants to discontinue his child support payments because his "career status" has changed. This is the man who moved an hour away from the family and has failed to see his children on any regular basis, who illegally tried to claim the kids for head of household benefits on his 2006 tax returns (causing a year-long audit process), and who owes my Mother over 6,000 in past-due child support benefits. The woman needs a break, and so do my young siblings. Anyway, send her your wishes. She could really use the positive energy. I'm trying to muster up the morsels I have to give to her.

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Black Friday

Wow. It has been a week for weeks, that's for sure. We made it through. We made it through without our bank failing, or having to worry if the FDIC would cover our money should our bank fail.

But, damn.
These are some scary times.

And to aid us, what does our government do? They created a plan that would effectively give every big bank the freedom to fail without repercussions - if Congress passes this bill, we will take on the debt of ourselves and others around us. The only problem here: it's not the American Public's fault.

A couple of years ago, Congress passed a bill that made it much more difficult for Americans to declare bankruptcy, in fact, almost shutting down the relief of debt in exchange for a payment plan scheduled by the Government. Now, I think it's great that people take responsibility for their spending - in most cases. The astounding thing to take in to consideration here is that over 50% of bankruptcy cases in this country are a result of MEDICAL BILLS. Medical bills!

The BS situation that the banking giants have gotten us into is a result of THEIR INCOMPETENCE, GREED and a number of the other seven sins. The idiots running these companies, paired with the idiots in the White House removing regulations on that type of business activity, has created this problem. Who in their right mind thinks that a person on a small income can afford, first, an excessive house loan, and second, an irresponsible double-digit interest rate? The only answer to this is that these companies knew all along that these home buyers would not be able to afford the contract they were signing, and that eventually, they would default - at which point, in the housing industry pre-bubble, the house in question would be worth MORE money, and could be sold for a profit - having collected ridiculous interest rates up to that point.

So, this new bill going to Congress in coming days is, in effect, stating that our government thinks that the American public is responsible for their actions, or acts of God, and that the American corporate is responsible for absolutely nothing.

This is egregious.

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August 28, 2008

I'm sold.

For all the anger, exhaustion and fury that's been America for the past six years, for all the people in all the places and all the colors and all the dreams and all the nationalities, religions and beliefs,
this man is our chance.

To wake up after six years of pessimism and fear and indifference, to see that there is someone who still believes that this country is great, not only in military dominance but in content; to feel again that it's worth fighting for, not to be saved but to be enabled to succeed, to better ourselves and those around us.

I questioned him more than anyone, and he will have to learn and learn quick, and it won't be easy. But to have someone who gets it - that's what I'm now willing to try.

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Sleeping WOULD be Nice...

Last night, the visiting friends and a few other friends came with us to a showing of "The Dark Knight" at our local indie Deco movie theater, which shows 2 for 1 movies on Wednesday nights. The best part about the place is the fact that you can sit on a couch while you watch a movie. Oh, and they make food. So you can sit on a couch, eat your dinner, and watch a movie that you paid $3 dollars to get into. They also play classics every other Sunday.


The place was packed, and while Dave and I got our own couch, the girls had to share one. It was their "Triple Date Night".

It was our second time seeing the film, and I actually liked it better this time. Though I did fall asleep for about 10 minutes during the last quarter, long day at work and couch=tired. But for $3, hey! It was cool.

In other news, I'm excited to watch Barack Obama's nomination acceptance speech tonight. I hope he tries to bridle the JFK and talk to Americans with his best adult voice. It's crunch time!

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Pass It Along

This is un be-f*&#ing-levable.

I don't want to be this way. I don't want to lump all Republicans (and well, many politicians in general) in to the refuse bin. I don't. But when you actively work to segregate, punish and take rights away from people who need those rights more than anyone, why should I believe that you will protect me when I need it most?

I want someone to explain it to me - how keeping people who are in love from marrying will save families. How preventing a woman who either has been victimized or needs a second chance from accessing a safe, legal abortion will save anyone's life. How can you believe in giving so much control back to the state and back to the individual, engaging a capitalist society, but feel that you have the power to make decisions about our bodies and souls? It's such a glaring hypocrasy!

While I didn't intend to make this post centric on women's rights, my last statement is this: why do I feel, when I read this, when I see this, when I hear this, that someone thinks I aspire to abort my unborn child? Why are the lawmakers speaking loudest about this issue men? No woman wants to have an abortion. Ever. Stop flapping your egotistical, narcissistic and hateful mouth about issues that have no, and I repeat NO relevance to you.

**Complete anger and harsh reality to follow** I cannot BELIEVE I am supposed to live in this country shoving God down my throat while some man tells me who I can marry and when I can have children. Hey, John McCain! I am cordially inviting you over to my Mother's house for dinner, anytime between today and October 30th. You can help her work through her tens of thousands of dollars in my brother's hospital debt while you explain how her children's father can run off, skip his child support, and leave her with four children and a job as a waitress. Still think that heterosexual couples are the only ones fit to raise a child?

I know absolutely no one will comment this post, but I wish someone out there would explain why I shouldn't feel this way. Lately, I feel like I'm either preaching to the choir or on deaf ears.

Someone has to wake up, and fast.

***ADDENDUM***
I am a 100% supporter of adoption, and I have friends who were adopted and lead wonderful lives. The issue does not lie there. Carrying a child to term only to give it up takes and incredulous amount of strength and bravery and unfortunately, the women who are seeking abortions don't always have those qualities or support systems in reserve. We SHOULD be promoting adoption, but when we ignore the reproductive rights and system surrounding it so blatantly, how is that possible? John McCain touts the fact that he "and his wife, Cindy, adopted a little girl from Mother Teresa's orphanage in Bangladesh. She has been a blessing to the McCain family and helped make adoption advocacy a personal issue for the Senator." If he's so serious, why didn't he adopt an American child?

*******SECOND ADDENDUM*******
I found this blog while researching for a work project and continue to read it for enjoyment. The author posted this today, and it brought me to tears.

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An amazing quote from a loving fan over at OfficeTally:

To the writers: if you have Pam meet some new guy at design school to provide more angst, I will stop watching this show, burn all of my DVDs, and pretend that it never happened.

'Nuff Said.

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Love and Marriage Prevail

A year or so ago, I spoke with my Mom on the phone after she had voted No on the Wisconsin measure to ban gay marriage through the state's constitution. She voted no, but the state voted yes - the measure passed, and I was disgusted and embarrassed to be a native.

Today, I drove through Downtown San Francisco listening to a special broadcast of "Out In The Bay" on KALW as the sun set, on my way to pick up my husband, feeling like I lived in the greatest place on earth. Our Supreme Court today bravely overturned the constitutional ban on gay marriage - putting this great state once again at the forefront of progress for all people. This is the same state whose supreme court struck down the constitutional ban on interracial marriage in 1948 (while the US court did not vote on thus until 1967).


From the WSJ:

“The right to marry,” Chief Justice George wrote, “represents the right of an individual to establish a legally recognized family with a person of one’s choice and, as such, is of fundamental significance both to society and to the individual.”

Chief Justice George conceded that “as an historical matter in this state marriage has always been restricted to a union between a man and a woman.” But “tradition alone,” he continued, does not justify the denial of a fundamental constitutional right. Bans on interracial marriage were, he wrote, sanctioned by the state for many years.

I'd like to meet this man. He's got it exactly right.

In a society where we see 50% of heterosexual marriages ending in divorce, why do so many people wish to deny the right of marriage, of family, to people who so desperately want it? I do not understand why love would be denied, especially with our country's degrading view and importance of family.

And free means free. Without progression, there is no freedom. I respect the religious population who say that same-sex marriage is forbidden by the book they live by, but considering that this is a country employed on a separation of church and state, those opinions have no weight on this legal point. I'm sorry, National Organization for Marriage, but YOU are wrong from top to bottom on this one. It's not an issue of religion. This is a matter, like Chief Justice George said, of the right and freedom of every American to legally construct and establish a family, their family. Why would anyone want to take that right, that love, that happiness away?

The aforementioned National Organization for Marriage is a questionable and misleading group who have fought to get a November vote on a Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in California. Let's hope that when this matter is presented to the population of California, they will stand up for the rights our Justices have given today. LGBT people are the minority - those of us who are heterosexual and concerned about freedom and liberty must stand up for their rights now.

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