Just Because It's Not True, Doesn't Make it a Lie

That seems to be what The One thinks anyway...you know how you can word something in just a certain way that doesn't make it a true falsehood (ha...true falsehood, funny), but it doesn't exactly ring true? He hit the ball out of the park with this laughable statement:

"There has never been a program of this scale, moved at this speed, that has been enacted as effectively and as transparently as the recovery act..."

Excuse me while I laugh hysterically. Did he say this with a straight face? Were his fingers crossed behind his back?

How can any sane person believe that!?!

I mean, I agree that there hasn't ever been a program of this scale or that has moved at this speed. That it has been implemented effectively or transparently???????

Seriously? When I heard this played on the radio I was actually shocked, though I suppose I shouldn't have been.

Are his handlers and staff shielding him from reality? Has he fallen so far under his own spell that he has NO idea how ridiculous his policies are, how damaging they are, and how badly he is doing as president?

The website, recovery.gov, reported $26.5 million going to ten New Mexico Congressional districts that do not exist. Those millions were credited with creating 61.5 jobs. Spadework by our Watchdog counterparts in other states showed a total of $6.4 billion reported as being allocated to 440 nonexistent, or “phantom,” Congressional districts.

Right, I suppose he's such an empty vessel that these "phantom" districts are perfectly acceptable to him as proof of his genius and prowess in bringing the economy up from the bowels.

This country is in serious trouble financially. I'm still optimistic and believe that we will come out of it eventually. Sadly, I hope we don't come out of it before 2012...if we do it will NOT be because of his insane policies, but in spite of. Yet he will not hesitate to claim credit...the way Biden thinks that the success of the Iraq war will be one of The One's biggest achievements. *sigh*

Delusions. I suppose it's nice to be in their world.

Great Analogy

At least from my perspective, this analogy for health care and government involvement makes the most sense. It comes from a commento on Megan McArdle's piece about first dollar coverage (and I know what that is now since I've been studying for my insurance exam!).

The comment was this...

It's more like groceries + flood insurance. For "normal" medical care, doctor's office type things, people pay out of pocket. You may need food to live but you buy the groceries yourself. The lower income people get food stamps. For big things, such as heart attacks, the government provides or subsidizes insurance like they do with flood insurance (plus probably making it mandatory), you may never need it, but it's there if you do.

 Exactly!

Do the majority of Americans really want the government to pay for their every day food choices? I certainly don't. But I do recognize that some people need government assistance even for the most basic need of food (the efficiency and effectiveness of the food stamp program is something to be debated though).

People should, for the most part, pay for their own food. Similarly, people should pay for their basic health care services.

Last year I went through a pregnancy and it wasn't an easy one. I'm a member of an HMO and so usually have a copayment, but not for maternity services. Except that I had to be referred to a specialist and I had to pay a portion of the cost. It wasn't exactly pretty, but we managed. It did give me a nice view into the actual costs of my treatment. A basic ultra sound was over $800!

It's sad that people with no kids, no plans for kids, single guys, et al help to subsidize my maternity care. It's even more sad that we aren't allowed to pick the exact types of insurance we want. Why should I pay a premium to cover hair plugs, chiropractor services, or psychotherapy if I don't need or want those things? (Granted, the psychotherapy is something I've needed in the not too distant past, but something I could have paid for out of pocket if needed.)

So let me pick my own coverage - which for us would include maternity care - and let our neighbor who isn't having anymore kids pick their coverage without maternity. Or let them choose to pay for basic coverage out of pocket and pay for a catastrophic plan only.

If the government needs to be involved, let it be at a catastrophic level (i.e. flood insurance) so that people don't have to declare bankrupcy in order to receive treatment. And if someone is so poor that they require food stamps, the government can offer basic coverage insurance options for them too.

Universal coverage will do NOT one DAMN thing to increase the actual health of Americans and will inevitably lead to more cost, less access, and way more waste & fraud.

Will You Vote?

I finally found a contest to enter Marshal's cute little face in. Will you go vote for him??? I entered six different photos but I think the cutest are these.

Dressed up in his Penn State Nittany Lions outfit, given to him by his auntie Jennifer.

Modeling his adorable little Sheriff's outfit, given to him by some great coworkers of mine.

I think his little face would be perfect on the cover of Parents magazine, don't you??? :)

Cross Posted at Casto Creations.

Pry It From My Cold Dead Hands

The nanny state, health police are at it again. First it was Tobacco. EEEEveeeeeel tobacco.

Sure it's stinky and gross, but it's a legal product and people have the choice of whether or not to use it.

Now it's SODA!

Apparently we are too stupid to assess the risks of drinking this poison and we need the government to start a campaign to re-educate us.

And a growing number of public health advocates are pushing for even more aggressive actions, urging that soda be treated like tobacco: with taxes, warning labels and a massive public health marketing campaign, all to discourage consumption.

Give me a break. I'm not overweight because I drink too much soda. I'm overweight because I don't exercise...I don't get enough sleep...and I don't eat right. All things that I could change if I had the will power and time (I keep hoping that having a child will get easier...I think I'm subconsciously smoking crack). Time is the biggest thing here...I work full time and have a hubby on a rotating schedule so I'm pretty much in charge 24 hours a day 7 days a week right now (although I will say he does help out when he's awake at 2 in the morning...at least it's something). There isn't a lot of extra time to hop on the Wii or run around the block...much as I'd like to (well, not the running part...I don't run).

“What you want,” says Kelly Brownell, director of Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, “is to reverse the fact that healthy food is too expensive and unhealthy food is too cheap, and the soda tax is a start. Unless food marketing changes, it’s hard to believe that anything else can work.”

These nanny state do-gooders are completely out of touch if they consider Soda to be a "cheap" food option. Soda is freaking expensive and a total drain of our wallets.

Increasing the tax won't produce the kind of "revenue" (aka taxes) they want...when you tax something you discourage it. Just like when they started taxing cigarettes more and more ... the revenue from the taxes decreased and never did reach the levels they anticipated. Nor do I believe the money was used for all of the purposes claimed...somehow I am guessing that a significant amount of the new "revenue" will find its way to "special" projects not at all related to 'educating', 'warning', or 'fighting' obesity.

The state of Washington recently screwed over the tax payers "suspended" Initiative 960, put into law by the citizens of the state to require a 2/3 majority vote by the legislature to raise taxes. It also required more transparency from the blood suckers politicians. So now the Queen Governor is proposing new taxes on everything she can think of...regardless of the consequences.

Gov. Chris Gregoire wants a total of $605 million in higher taxes to help fill the state's budget deficit, including larger levies on oil products, bottled water, pop, candy and cigarettes.

Screw the idea of fiscal responsibility and CUTTING spending! Just because the little people (aka me and my family) have to balance their check books and cut out unnecessary spending, don't expect those who lord over us to do the same. Tax my soda! Tax my candy! Tax the few things I enjoy. Oh and be sure to tax oil products so that all products get more expensive.

I certainly don't need the government to spend my tax dollars on a campaign to tell me that something is bad for me. I already know that. Anybody who has a pulse should know that too much sugar is bad for you. Parents who don't monitor their kids consumption are bad parents. Or they've weighed the risks and prefer a child hopped up on sugar and caffeine. THEIR kids...THEIR choice.

[As an aside...I certainly don't plan to let my boy drink soda ... of course, I say that now. :) I will never put Coke in his bottle...my mom has seen parents (more than one!) do that. That is almost child abuse IMHO. I don't even want my kid to have juice unless it's totally watered down. He can drink water and milk.]

Last time I looked this was still a free country. That means allowing people to be stupid, make choices that are bad for them, say offensive things, and eat crap that will make them fat. The government is already too involved in trying to run our lives ... "for our own good" of course.


They can have my Dr Pepper when they pry it out of my cold dead hands. I know the risks ... I enjoy drinking it! It tastes yummy and I like having it with a couple of meals. I KNOW that I need to cut back and I will...eventually. Probably when we're down to one salary and can't afford to buy it anymore. Until then, the government can suck it.

About Bloody Time

Let's have more of this! Fire their lazy asses! And take the power away from the union who only cares about sucking the public dry rather than encouraging actually teaching and education of children.

Teacher salaries

at the high school average $72-78k. Apparently 50% of the students at the school are failing all of their classes, and the graduation rate is also under 50%. In an effort to turn the school around, the superintendent requested some changes be made whereby the school day would be slightly extended, teachers would perform some extra tutoring, etc.

The union balked and refused the terms, so now she is firing the entire teaching staff of the high school and replacing them. This is yet another example of unions digging their own graves by refusing to negotiate or accept reasonable terms. Sentiment is on the side of the superintendent, at least among the folks I have discussed the issue with.

My little cousin had Friday, Monday (a holiday), AND Tuesday off. Why?

She had no idea. Of course, she loved it. But there are two days that could have been used to, oh I don't know, TEACH children! It's not like the teachers were using it as a work day. I know several teachers who hate those lame days off that are supposedly for 'working' or continuing education...or even worse some stupid mandatory meeting that is a complete waste of time.

Yet one more reason I want to send my boy to private school. As much as I'd like to home school I just don't think I'd be very good at it. But maybe if I could find some other like minded parents we could do a sort of rotating school day...I might be able to handle that. One parent teaches history and english and another teaches math and science...etc. That would be cool and offer the kids a chance to socialize as well.

Some teachers deserve 70-80K a year. But most don't. I'd say that out of all of my high school teachers, over four years, maybe 5 of them deserved that kind of pay. They were great teachers who actually taught me things. The rest were just hanging on and punching the clock every day for a paycheck. They taught nothing.

Which is why hubby and I voted NO to the latest levy...of course, it still passed. So more money getting soaked out of our paychecks to fund a system that is pretty much broken.

More Woes for Toyota

Heard on the radio this morning that Toyota is having even more issues...now with the Toyota Corolla. They also mentioned people having problems with sudden power steering jerks to the side.

This caught my attention immediately because my car (Toyota Rav4) has ALWAYS pulled to the left. I can be on a totally flat and straight stretch of road, regardless of speed, and it pulls to the left. Sometimes this is more obvious than others and I have to really adjust my steering to stay straight. But it's something that I've lived with because it didn't seem that abnormal to me and I think I'm just used to driving that way.

It's not like my accelerator sticking issue several years back.

The radio guy was talking about how the "fix" Toyota is coming up with for the accelerator/brake issue isn't really a fix. It doesn't solve the problem of the sticking accelerator, it just creates a new way to stop the car if it does stick. Kind of like a bandaid on a wound that requires stitches but won't kill you immediately.

My faith in Toyota as a safe car is definitely and perhaps permanently shaken. Which is really sad. Because I've always thought of them in very high esteem as a quality car company. My next car might just be a Ford. God bless capitalism that I have so many choices and can 'vote' with my pocket book.

Celebrate Valentine's Day, Even Now!

On President's Day, I went ahead and took Marshal to the baby sitters. I don't have ANY days off. Even on the weekends. At least until hubby starts a day shift again. He works on the weekends right now at night so he sleeps during the day.

I try not to complain but the lack of sleep makes it tough.

Anyway, so I took the day "off" so to speak. Took Marshal to daycare and went back to bed for a couple of hours. Got some studying in and then headed to the movies with my aunt, little cousins, mother in law, and sister in law.

We saw Valentine's Day and WE LOVED IT!!! All of us. From my 13 and 15 year old cousins to my 69 year old mother in law. We laughed throughout practically the entire thing. A lot of it was predictable (I'm sure I drove my MIL crazy saying what I thought was going to happen next) but toward the end there were two scenes that totally floored me. One made me tear up immediately and the other one kind of made me gag. :)

But it was an awesome movie. Totally fluffy, predictable, and pointless but sweet and endeering. And it has SO many all star actors and actresses. Julia Roberts was awesome in her small part. George Lopez was very funny and Ashton Kutcher (is that how you spell it?) did a good job.

But the actor who stole the show was the little boy who was in love with Jennifer whats her name (from Alias), his teacher. He was beyond precious and totally made the whole theater laugh. At one point in the movie the whole theater clapped.

I'm pretty sure the whole theater loved it.

I've been going to move movies since we had Marshal than we ever did before we had him. I guess it's our way to get out and away from the house. I've even gone enough to earn a free popcorn and free candy! Sheesh.

I'm Sure It's A Scam

I love my family...really...I do. My aunt sometimes tries my patience. She believes in ... things. Like crystals. And ghosts. *sigh*

And apparently Oxygenated water.

Yes...Oxygenated.

Water.

You know...water...otherwise known as H2O...and the O stands for...

Anybody?

OXYGEN!!!

It's called "Perfect Water" and my poor, sweet, naive Aunt bought some for my Mother in Law, who's cancer has returned. She will not be getting any treatment other than blood and plasma transfusions. Her doctor gave her between two and six months.

It's not the news we wanted to hear but we're all dealing.

This so called improved water just preys on people's fears and desire to be healthier...just by drinking water. But it's crazy expensive.

So color me skeptical.

This is also the aunt who believes that Democrats are "for the poor". I guess that's true if by "for the poor" she means that Dems want more people to be poor.

I am not a fan of marketing something as a health tonic (aka snake oil) with little to no scientific proof. God bless the capitalist system...but it isn't without it's flaws.

I'll Give You $1 if You Give Your Neighbor $100

That's pretty much the gist of the so called "jobs" bill The One is proposing.

"A company could save a maximum of $6,621 if it hired an unemployed worker after the bill is enacted and paid that worker at least $106,800 — the maximum amount of wages subject to Social Security taxes — by the end of the year. The company could get an additional $1,000 on its 2011 tax return if it kept the new worker for at least a full year."

Wow...really? So if I hire someone and pay them at least $106k+ I'll get a tax break of $6,621. What a deal! I'll take two!

It's such BS. I mean, sure, if I were already going to hire someone at that salary it'd be a bonus for me. But as far as enticing me to hire someone new, someone I hadn't planned on hiring...it does jack.

"CBO estimates that such a tax break would generate only eight to 18 full-time jobs per $1 million in tax breaks."

Great. Some job "stimulus".

Once again, The One and his followers show their fundamental lack of comprehension. The private sector is the only path to recovery, not the government.

Where Are the Real Men?

I can guarantee you, regardless of what any stupid contract said, if my husband saw a beat down about to take place he would intervene to help the victim. (If the video doesn't load it is also at the link.)

"Two security guards stand over the victim while she's being pummeled and do not intervene. At one point in the video, one guard is seen raising his arm toward the assailant, who ignores him.

The guards, who work under contract with Metro, are restricted from intervening in assaults."

He wouldn't walk away as one pussy ass "guard" did. He wouldn't nicely ask the attacker to 'please stop' as it appears another guard is doing. He would MAKE the juvenile stop thrashing the girl. It's not like the guards should be afraid of a little girl when they are clearly much larger and MEN!

Well, obviously not real men.

Sure, they are bound by some piece of paper to not intervene or provide actual security. But human decency should have prevailed here. Sure they could have lost their job for HELPING A BEATEN GIRL ... but is any job that requires you to stand by and let people get brutally kicked in the head really the kind of job you want to keep?

I'd be PROUD if my husband got fired for stepping in to prevent such an action and I'd shout from the roof tops the despicable company who decided to fire him for being a decent human being. Because my husband is a REAL man.

Not only are these security guards lacking some testicular fortitude, but the policy that requires them to sit on their hands just proves once more that government is not to be relied upon to protect us. Or provide us with health care. They can't even provide basic protection in a bus transit tunnel!

Washington State Screwing Taxpayers - Again

Well, they've done it again. Gone and screwed over the taxpayers of this fine state. Bastards.

NO, not just bastards. RAT bastards.

I loathe these scum sucking, life draining weasels who are the elected officials of Washington State. The Democrats are in the majority and the Republicans are toothless and have no recourse to stop the out of control spending. This state has had a Democratic governor since before I can even remember - at least more than 20 years.

Who cares that the people of this state passed an Initiative to limit tax increases? Not prohibit tax increases mind you. Simply limit them so that it was hard enough to raise them so that they'd only be raised for necessary reasons.

Instead of cutting the outrageous and unneeded spending, the Democrat controlled legislature last night passed a suspension of Initiative 960. Well, almost. In their incompetence they only passed 90% of the bill, when they really wanted to screw us over 100%. So they're having another vote today.

""We'll be telling the people to shut up and pay up, and we know what's best," said Sen. Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake."

True. We're just the citizens of this state. Who cares what we think? Who cares that we are already struggling to pay our bills and keep our jobs? The queen needs money to pay her bribes promises.

"Another bill extends a freeze on pay raises for nonunion state workers. It was approved on a 33-15 vote and heads to Gregoire's desk."

Because gosh, it would just be wrong to freeze pay raises for UNION workers.

Photo shamelessly filched from The Liberty Zone.

What the hell is the point of having an Initiative process if the government just takes a crap on the will of the people the second they can?

I'm ready to move. Is there a state somewhere that doesn't screw over its citizens???

And in a related note...if they can't handle the money they already take from us what makes them think they can properly manage MORE of our hard earned dollars?

Think It Can't Happen?

Think again. The green police have struck.

Lawn height requirements!!!

Oh the humanity!

Although to me this is actually an anti-green measure. I mean, if you want to be truly green you just let your yard grow au-natural. And using a lawn mower means polluting the air with noise and fumes. That's just wrong I tell ya.

The premise of this new law is the same though...government interference into the private and personal lives and decisions of its citizens. The nanny state striking again for the good of society - whether you like it or not. Freedom be damned.

After all, they know better.

It's Not Charity If It's Forced

Reading a post on a blog that I subscribe to today...they mention that they are getting a refund check from their taxes this year. They also mention that they are one of those who pay fewer taxes and get more back in return. A pretty good gig if you can get it.

Anyway, he thanks people who DO pay taxes for the "charity" they've given. This line, more than anything else in his entire post, grabbed me and made me see red.

"If your income level is such that you do not qualify for a tax refund, I want to thank you for the donation that you have given the rest of us."

WHAT!?!?!

My taxes are not given as a DONATION for charity. They are forcibly removed from my earnings, often for purposes other than my choosing. I support the military. I want my taxes used for roads, fire/police, and community things like national parks. I do NOT want my hard earned money given to people who haven't earned their own

[By the way...Stew is actually very gracious about this. He totally realizes that his refund is technically not money he earned in any way. I get that. He is taking advantage of the way the system is set up and I don't blame him for that...I would too. I just think the system is broken.]

Our family does not make a ton of money (and are poised to make much less this year) yet we have owed money the last two years because we would rather keep our money throughout the year rather than loan it to the government interest free and get a "refund".

Last year we owed about $400 or so. Not a huge amount but still painful. And to know that there are people paying no income taxes getting "refunds" (aka welfare in the form of a tax refund) really chaps my hide.

I'd really like to see some sort of flat tax or at least a system where EVERYONE has a stake in the system. If everyone had to write a check for their taxes, instead of having it withheld from their paycheck, I think people would pay a LOT more attention to what our government spends and where. Maybe more people would realize how stupid it is for the federal government to fund things like the National Endowment for the Arts. Or public schools. Or the Post Office. Privatize them all. If you love the NEA so much, donate to them. Let the USPS compete for business. And let local communities keep their tax dollars and invest them in their schools...where locals know the issues and needs.

Instead our paychecks are raided and our tax dollars are allocated based on what some politician in a far away land deems worthy ... or where they think they can get the most political bang for OUR buck.

I Still Love My Toyota

Toyota is having a rough week. :)

And the government is piling on because they smell blood and are hoping that the injured Toyota will allow for Government Motors to move in and take advantage.

The thing is...even with all of their issues, Toyota is STILL a better company with a better product than GM or Chrysler. Just is.

I LOVE my Rav4. No, mine is not involved in the recall (it's a 2004) but it wouldn't surprise me if they expanded the recall to include it. On the other hand, I've already been through the sticky gas pedal situation and lived to tell the tale. If my accelerator stuck today I would know what to do and how to safely shut my car down without crashing or killing myself. Any GOOD driver should (even when I was a not so good driver, somehow I managed to survive the incident).

So let’s set the record straight about how a perfectly normal Toyota, or any other car, truck, or SUV, can accelerate wildly “out of control” with an even reasonably competent driver behind the wheel. Can’t happen. Period. End of story if the driver simply puts the gearshift in neutral (that “N” just above “D”) and safely steers over to the shoulder of the road. And if the engine races until you shut it off, so what? All you really care about is keeping you and your passengers safe.

Duh!

And don't tell me that if GM were having brake or accelerator issues that the government would be making ridiculous statements like 'just don't drive them'. They would be praising GM for taking action and letting people know about the issue, reassuring the public (and stock holders) that everything was fine.

"...Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, wants to hold hearings about how Toyota has handled the recall. Let’s see, a Democrat from Michigan who represents a government that owns a good chunk of Toyota’s automotive rivals. What could go wrong?"

Maybe it's a good time to buy Toyota stock. I don't think the company is going under and I'm sure that they will recover from this (eventually) and continue to build good (non-union!) cars. Since the government helped the stock plunge yesterday it is basically on sale. :)

When I'm ready for a new car I will be looking at Toyota, but I admit that this incident has shaken my faith. So I'll probably also look at Ford...an American company not sucking at the government tit.

I Think I'm A Bad Mom

Not trying to have a pity party or say oh woah is me or anything but I've really been questioning my motherly instincts lately.

Please don't misunderstand, I adore my son. He is so cute and his smile warms my heart.

But I don't always want to be with him. I don't always feel like entertaining him. I don't even want to always hold him. I'm often relieved to drop him off at daycare and wondering how I could get weekend care! What the hell?!?! I'm supposed to be raising this little guy to be a good person and eat his veggies and I want to pawn him off on a sitter.

How in the world do you entertain a 4 month old? They have the attention span of a gnat. He's got a little Jeep walker and that will occupy him for ... a nanosecond before he starts fussing. The other night I didn't even get to finish eating dinner before he was wailing.


My favorite time? When he's finally asleep! I'm the luckiest mom in the world to have a baby who has been sleeping through the night since before 3 months of age. I get bummed when he ONLY sleeps 8 or 9 hours in a row.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Why can't I think of things to do with my son that don't involve sitting glassy eyed in front of the computer on Facebook? When he was 2 months old he just sort of sat there in my arms with few complaints, and often would fall asleep. Now that he's 4 months old he doesn't just sit nicely while mommy studies or plays her games. He gets pissed!

How in the world do parents of multiple kids handle it?

Somehow my husband managed to make pancakes on Monday morning, while I was sleeping (I was sick all last weekend and Monday...and still am actually) and he was watching the boy. PANCAKES!?!?!

I can't even heat up a bowl of soup.

I keep telling hubby that he's clearly a better parent than I am because he seems to be able to get a lot of stuff done even when he's in charge of the crumb cruncher. I, on the other hand, feel completely paralyzed and trapped ... unable to even go to the bathroom without five minutes of thinking about how to do it without a screaming baby as the result.

Does it get better? Do I just not have the mothering instinct? Maybe I'm just too selfish. I get bored trying to keep him entertained. I want to go make jewelry or study or heaven forbid do laundry!

I have been saying that I do not want him to watch TV until he's at least 2 years old, and even then keep it limited. But on Sunday I found myself rolling his Jeep in front of the TV so I could get a couple of things done.

I am a horrible mother!

P.S. No actual alcohol was consumed in the creation of this photo! I'm not THAT bad!

What Have I Done?

Faith as small as a mustard seed...that phrase has stuck with me since I was a child because sometimes I feel my faith is indeed just that small (a mustard seed is super tiny by the way).

I quit my job several weeks ago...even though I won't actually stop working at this job until April 23 (my official last day). It was important to give my final notice so we could move forward and find my replacement (which may take awhile considering how many people have already expressed interest ... and the job still isn't even officially posted!).

Why did I do this?

This Guy!

And the company headquarters (where I work) is moving to Seattle from Tacoma. My current commute can range from 30 minutes to 90 minutes depending on traffic (that's one direction...the longer time is generally in the afternoon). Driving to Seattle will MORE than double it because traffic just gets worse and worse the closer you get to the big City.

I'm not willing to sacrifice that much time in my car (or on a bus or train) away from my family. It would cost me MUCH more just to work and I'd be getting less compensation (they are not increasing anyone's salaries just because we'll be working in a much more expensive place and it will cost almost everyone more to get to work). I'd be away from home anywhere from 12-14 hours every day. There isn't even a daycare available for that amount of time...a couple coworkers suggested finding a daycare in Seattle and commuting with my boy. Yeah, right, there's a stellar idea.

Even though the company isn't going to be done moving until December 2010 (or so they say, I don't know if I really believe it'll happen that fast...nothing happens fast here) I decided that I could not just wait to see what happens. I decided to take control of my future...

Well...let me rephrase that. I prayed very hard late last year and the only thing I felt called to do was quit my job. How freaking scary is that?!?! Our economy isn't exactly booming and God wants me to quit my job, which pays well enough that hubby and I are very comfortable with two salaries. We're not rich but we manage.

So there I am with this calling to quit my job (before the move is even in progress) before I have any other job lined up. In early December I met with our company's Aflac agent to update our policies. We've had the Accident policy for more than 8 years and have had to use it twice already. Plus I wanted to add the Cancer policy and add Marshal to our plans.

When I met with the agent I asked how she liked it and how the business was doing. And out of nowhere I decided that I could work for Aflac.
I had no idea what this would require. I've never held a true sales position (I sold Avon when I was 19, and of course I do hock my jewelry *grin*)...I've never had any desire to sell any type of insurance (although Aflac isn't traditional insurance). And all of a sudden I'm saying...I could do that.

WTH!?!!

Now I'm studying for my Washington State Insurance License exam and once I pass that (*knock on wood*) I'll start training with Aflac (hopefully I can do it while I'm still in my current job). As of today I am not even technically employeed with them. Talk about scary.

Even scarier...I'll be working for commissions. EEK!!!

Lord...are you sure about this???

There are lots of benefits, without a doubt...

• Working on my own timeline - and as much or little as I desire (which can be good and bad)
• Working near my home and not commuting every day
• Being with a company that I truly like and from what other agents have said treats their associates very well
• A flexible schedule that will allow me to be home with my son more often - and work around hubby's ever changing schedule
• Potential for an incredible salary in a time of economic uncertainty

The downsides are huge and scary...

• No steady paycheck...commissions! *gulp*
• Having to buy healthcare on my own since I'll be an "independent contractor" (we're looking to see how much it will cost to get on hubby's healthcare)
• Having to pay self employment taxes (haven't confirmed this one but if I do it's going to totally suck)
• Having to network and "sell" myself...something I don't know if I'm good at, but people have been telling me that I am

With great risk can come great reward. I just hope God knows what he's doing. Doing a quick budget calculation based on our basic bills and only hubby's salary......We'd be in the hole by over $300 before even buying any groceries, formula, or diapers each month.

Again, I ask, What Have I Done?!?!?

It's a little panic inducing (me being prone to panic attacks already!) but I am trying to take deep breaths and continue to pray.

Things that make me feel more calm...

• I've got a good bonus coming up that is approximately two months of my pay (a little less after the extra taxes the government always take out...bastards!) that will go to paying off some debts and putting into savings.
• My last 5 paychecks will go into savings accounts and paying bills that aren't covered by hubby's paycheck (and saving for daycare expenses for when I'm training and doing sales things)
  
• I passed my first certification exam with 88%!!! WOOT!
• I'm going to be my own boss (mostly)!

So while I feel a little insane (actually, ... oh never mind ... insert your own snarky comment here) I am excited and exhilarated. And terrified!

Marshal...if mommy winds up in the looney bin, this whole experience is why. :)

I Want a T-Shirt

So, I'm reading this article about Che (well, really about our ol pal Hugo) and how brain dead celebrities and naive teenagers think he's so uber cool and the antithesis of authority and I decided that someone needs to make a t-shirt with the famous Che face ... only with a bullet hole between the eyes. 'Cause that's the only way this monster did any good - being murdered like a coward while trying to flee the 'cause' he supported.

Why do intellectuals (so called) and celebrities think that mass murderers are so cool...as long as they're the "right" mass murders? i.e. Mao, Marx, and Che. Hitler isn't as cool apparently because he was just so damn obvious about his atrocities. Plus he lost this brutal war, you know.

My son is going to learn about these monsters. History does matter and forgetting history (or believing the white washed version that some lib-tard professor tries to teach) has consequences.

I recommend this book. I've heard the author interviewed a couple of times and have read his book (it's good, and not super long). Reading it at work (I used to work out at lunch and would read it on the treadmill... note the past tense) a coworker saw it and got all excited that I was reading about Che. Until she saw the full title. *grin* Then she stormed away in a huff.

It saddens me when otherwise intelligent people defend mass murderers. One excuse? "The people who tell these stories are just the rich ones who were forced out."

*insert cricket chirps and blank stare here*