Our Friend, Skye, Was Physically Assaulted

By a peace protester. I told you those peace protesters were violent. That this happens at all is a disgrace - that it happened to Skye, who is always pleasant and reasonable, is a double disgrace. That it was a male striking a female is just even worse. We're behind you Skye - and so angry that this happened. We know that you have the support and strength of those who stand with you weekly in West Chester. We want you to know that you have our support as well. The perpetrator is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, as he committed this assault while obviously being filmed. I know that is small comfort to our Skye, who had to experience the abuse - recorded or not.

Troll and I have witnessed the nastiness and violence of the peace protesters. We have also heard some horror stories. Nothing has ever happened to us personally. Violent peace protesters are an interesting, if sometimes dangerous, breed. The irony of their actions is not apparent to them. This is what we face. Stupid-asses who can oftentimes be violent while screaming how they are for peace. Stupid-asses who will rip your sign to shreds while screaming how they are for freedom of speech.

Well - it is a free country and they can scream all they want. We do live in the United States of America, afterall. Our right to offend is still recognized (thank goodness), but we certainly have no right to physically assault another for no good reason. Thank goodness for that, too.

Thank you Skye - and thanks to all of you brave souls standing together in West Chester. Thank you for showing up every week to let the world know that many of us support and love our troops.

Cross posted at A Tangled Web.

Fear and Loathing in the Workplace

Maybe it's been so many years since I've had to deal with workplace crap - but I definitely don't remember it being quite this bad. I must have been very lucky, either that or time has softened the memories. I have had jobs that I've had to drag myself into with dread and reluctance - - but that was a loooong time ago. I just put one foot in front of the other and endured one day, and sometimes one moment, at a time.

My new workplace seems to be rife with paranoia and back-stabbing. See - this is why I work nights - so I don't have to deal with that crap. Shortly after I started, a pronouncement came from on high: No more swearing in the department, for every shift. Excuse me?? Swearing is a part of the job. It's one of the requirements as far as I'm concerned. Sometimes a well place cuss word directed in just the right way at a machine will kick start it into behaving properly.

The workers started viewing me with a jaundiced eye. I was even asked point-blank if it was me who snuck around to the department head to complain of being offended. I was even asked point-blank(again!) if I were some sort of plant, sent to spy on them. Despite my protestations, things have not been the same since. I will just show up and do my best while I send resumes out for jobs a bit closer to home. Maybe things will improve. Maybe not. All I know is that if I have to spend a great portion of my life locked into a computer room, it must be a workable and halfway pleasant experience. Life is too short, and perhaps this toxic work environment will not improve. There is a long history of nastiness and apparent incompetence there.

Grizzly's Not Getting Any Younger!

I had a fasting blood sugar done - it was 126. Too high. So - I am all kitted up with a brand new blood testing device (FREE! From my doctor...), lancets and test strips. I may now stick myself for blood in many places besides fingertips, and the amount of blood needed is tiny. I had to deal with this when I was pregnant with the girls and controlled it well with diet. My diet has been HORRIBLE for the last couple of years. I just love sugar - love it, love it, LOVE it! I knew the time was coming when I would have to take the bull by the horns and start eating less carbs. I need to lose about 20 pounds, too. Since I've been watching my intake, my after meals blood sugars have been really good.

I found another great article on the political situation that we face. I shall be putting my review of it up soon. I am not allowed access to blogs at my place of work. Harumph! The article contains another very compelling argument for voting for McCain. (as painful as that will be...)

Blessings to all!

McCain and Healthcare

You know that I am not a huge fan of McCain, but we're going to have deal with this because, like it or not, he's ours. I have been observing the meltdown of many conservatives in America over the fact that John McCain is not the ideal candidate for most. He is not. I would prefer that he wasn't 'it'. However, after hearing many Republicans insist that they will sit the election out, vote a write in candidate, or (worse yet!) vote for the Democrat, my sense of alarm is beginning to peak. I was hoping that the histrionics were a momentary emotional reaction to the horrifying probability that we awakened to after the SC and FL primaries. I certainly felt disgusted and considered throwing my vote away in the general election. We must settle down now, and consider the issues.

I will submit my first issue tonight. Healthcare. John McCain sucks in many ways, but on healthcare he is right where conservatives would like him to be. The Hildebeast and Hussein Obama favor complete government control over our healthcare - disaster. This is America for God sake.

A recent article in my beloved Weekly Standard lays it all out very nicely. Here is a paragraph that I feel summarizes it well:

McCain's plan is based around patient-centered initiatives that already have broad support among Republicans in Congress. They include letting people buy health insurance nationally instead of only from state-regulated firms; giving people the choice of purchasing coverage through cooperatives or other organizations (churches or civic groups, for example); expanding health savings accounts; and making health insurance portable by giving people tax credits of up to $5,000 per family to buy their own coverage instead of getting it through an employer.

He has also expressed concern for veterans, and his proposals include allowing vets to obtain healthcare anywhere - not just the VA.

I know that some readers here admire universal, government run healthcare. I disagree entirely, but I do believe that McCain's proposals would improve the lives of every American.

Cross posted at A Tangled Web.

Graveyard Shift

Old Grizzly Mama is back to working 'graves'. It's a shock to the system for all of us. I started the job halfway through recovery from the flu. Here's the other thing - I started smoking again because it was the only thing that would help my cough. Is that stupid, or what??! I had to partake hourly to assist in the paralysis of my lungs. It's the only thing that stopped the spasmodic, yet unproductive, cough. I am finally well so I will stop smoking again this week.

The girls are being assessed this week coming up as part of their application for school. They are totally excited. How did I end up with such nice kids?

Other things on my mind: The dollar, oil prices, housing prices, California courts attempting to outlaw homeschooling, a good thing about McCain: his position on health care, getting ready for the little one's First Communion, missing the girls, getting used to having enough money for all of the bills and then some, sick of cold and ready for spring, what to plant in the garden, not getting enough sleep...