Resolutions v1.0

Here they are, everyone. My resolutions for 2009. I am usually really bad about keeping my yearly resolutions, but I have decided that there needs to be a line drawn in the sand, and that my failure to keep my resolutions hurt no one but me.

Get Healthy.
Ideally, this would include losing weight, but I want to be "healthy" in the way that I can run up a flight of stairs without losing my breath, and that incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into my everyday diet. Oh, and exercising regularly (although I think that's implied in the whole "stairs" thing I just said).

Be a Better Friend.
This one comes with the intention that I will communicate with my friends more (and by "more", I mean more than once every few months), and will try and see them whenever possible.

Be Less Self-Absorbed.

I sometimes have a problem seeing the forest for the trees, and I need to stop doing this. I must realize that everything does not revolve around me and my problems (or successes), and that I need to see things from the point of view of others for a change.

Find a Better Job.

I am currently working on this one. Even though the work has started in 2008, I'm still counting it as a resolution.

Be More Positive.

This is going to be a tough one for me. Funny, I really do consider myself a "positive person" -- I just find sarcasm and negativity funny and when I'm down in the dumps, it makes me feel better.

Pass the Bar Exam Once and For All.

'Nuff said.

I am sure there are more, that will immediately come to me after I hit the "Publish Post" button...but this is a good start.

Christmas With the Munsters

Remember that blog post I made a few months ago, when I told you that Shannon compared my family and me to the Munsters and Marilyn? That I was the only "normal" one in the bunch (and that term was being used very lightly)?

Well, it seems my family came through again. I'll spare you all of the agonizing details -- but here's the story in a nutshell:

So we all know that my parents are two of the most dysfunctional people on the face of the planet (or at least, if you didn't know, you know now.) They have been married for 28 years, and I think somewhere in year 2, they started hating each other. I have never met 2 people who needed a divorce more. Anyway, my parents usually come over to my house for Christmas dinner. It's a "tradition" I started about 4 years ago, and it's gone relatively OK.

This year, my mom shows up with food in tow, but not my dad. She proceeds to tell me that they got into an argument that morning (Merry Christmas, everyone!) and that he is supposed to come later. Now, please picture the next couple of hours for me -- my mom continued to tell, and retell the story of the morning argument to me probably about 7 times. I am not exaggerating. She told me over and over. The amazing part in all of this is that I was surprised she expected, after all of these dysfunctional years, that he would somehow be a loving husband to her just because it was Christmas. But he wasn't. He acted like a dick. I should be surprised, why?

Well, long story short -- my dad pulled a no-show for Christmas dinner. Not that I minded. It would have been an evening filled with him dominating the conversation, spewing his particular brand of conservative-republicanism and/or Obama-bashing that I find distasteful, or him drinking a beer and my mom being all over his ass for it. OR both of them or either of them bitching at each other all evening. OR...any combination thereof. Take your pick. It would have been miserable, but we're FAMILY and that's what being a family is all about, right? We're supposed to be together, because one of us could be dead next year, or something. Not to be morbid, but for chrissake!

I don't get a phone call from my dad until the next day. I see his number on my caller ID and I let the machine pick it up, because frankly, I know that this phone call has the potential to last at least a half an hour, and with 99% of it with him doing all the talking = him bitching about how my mother mistreats him. And I wasn't in the mood for that nonsense.

I let the call go to the answering machine and he leaves his message, which I will paraphrase for your reading enjoyment: "It's Dad. Sorry I was not at Christmas, but Your Mother didn't want me to have a Merry Christmas so blah blah and more blah...." I stopped listening after that. Because it was not important to him that he missed Christmas with his family -- his non-fuck-up of a daughter and granddaughter. Oh no. It was only important that he made sure to tell me that it wasn't his fault he wasn't at Christmas dinner -- even though he is a grown man and could have driven himself over -- but that it was my mom's fault. Natch. I haven't called him back, nor do I really want to. I'll have to keep you posted.

The saddest thing of all was that he wasn't even missed. And his presents are still under my tree.

Quote of the Day

"I was sad because I had no shoes,

Until I saw a lunch room that had no paper towel."

--Anonymous

This little gem came courtesy of the wrapped gift that I found on my desk this morning. I unwrapped the item, and found it was a roll of paper towel. Everyone in the office received a wrapped roll of paper towel. Apparently, someone was a little miffed when there was no paper towel in the lunch room -- so much so, he invested in 40 rolls for all his coworkers.

"Why I Drive an American Car" by Jim Hiller

I found this blog post by Jim Hiller of Hiller's Markets through an intercompany email. I thought it said what I was trying to say in my previous post regarding buying American much more eloquently than I did. Happy Reading!

End-of-the-Year Survey

Found this survey on my friend, SGs blog (read her survey answers here, and thought that I should post my answers too. And like her, I'm a sucker for surveys...and am tired of answering the ones with questions like "What's your favorite color?" and other bullshit like that. Enjoy.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I started this blog. I've never kept up on writing in a journal or diary, nor have I ever exposed my inner-thoughts to so many people.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions and will you make more for next year?
Of course I didn't keep my New Year's resolutions. But this year it will be different!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, which is too bad, because it would have been fun shopping for baby things.

4. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
My freaking law license! That and I would like to have more confidence in my future -- both prfessionally and personally.

5. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 26-27 -- took the Bar exam for the first time
July 11 -- the day I lost my job
July 29-30 -- took the Bar exam for the second time
October 20 -- started my new crappy job
November 1 -- found out I failed the Bar for the second time
November 4 -- voted for Obama and felt more optimistic about this country than I have in a long time

6. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Honestly, I can't think of any achievements this year. It's been a relative failure of a year for me.
7. What was your biggest failure in 2008?
Having to name just one is going to be difficult...so I will lump failing the Bar exam into one monumental failure for 2008.

8. Where did most of your money go?
Paying my credit card debt off!

9. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? Personally, I guess I am happier. I guess. Professionally, I am much sadder.
b) Thinner or fatter? Probably around the same.
c) Richer or poorer? I will probably have to say poorer, considering I was out of work for a few months and we had to cash out some things to help pay the bills.

10. What do you wish you’d done more of?
The first answer that popped into my head was I wish I had had more sex. Seriously. It always helps when things are going shitty. :)

11. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying.

12. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Nope. Been there, done that.

13. What was your favorite TV program?
I really try not to watch a lot of TV, but my newest favorite "discovery" was Scrubs.

14. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Most definitely.

15. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 37. And if you had read previous posts, you knew I was in a state of depression. I spent the day feeling sorry for myself then the cherry on the top of that sundae was dinner with my parents and family. Fun was had by none.

16. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the Big Game. That or being able to tell everyone I wanted to tell to go fuck themselves. Hmmm...I smell a New Year's resolution coming on....

17. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Comfortable & business casual

18. What kept you sane?
The assumption here is that I am sane. What kept me from being institutionalized was my friends.

19. What political issue stirred you the most?
I would have to say the entire presidental election stirred me this year, and then probably this whole bailout issue got my feathers in a ruffle.

20. Who was the best new person you met?
The only bright spot at my new job is the guy I sit next to. His name is Jim and he's hilarious. We laugh all day long and if it wasn't for him, I probably would have gone postal.

21. Tell us what valuable life lessons you learned in 2008.
I learned to be more frugal and not spend money like it was my last day on earth.

All I Want for Christmas is the Bailout to be Approved...

AND HOLY SHIT...Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And his name is George W. Bush. If you haven't heard already, President Bush approved a $17.4B bailout package to help the automotive industry.

Thank God he did this because now I can go back to griping about my life in this blog instead of getting all political.

Out of a Job Yet? Keep Buying Foreign!

OK, yes...I'm still on the rant from the other day.

My title comes courtesy of a bumper sticker. I've seen it a million times, as I am sure you've seen it a million times.

I read an article in the Detroit Free Press written by Rochelle Riley about helping the automotive industry, one car at a time. Read it here if you're interested. And remember, next time you're in the market for a new car or truck -- take a gander at a nice GM or Ford. And if you still decide to buy a foreign car, just know that I will be cursing your existence secretly in my head everytime I see it. And no -- I'm not joking this time. :D

I Am Desperately-Fucking-Angry

I have a Sirius satellite radio in my car and one of the stations I listen to all the time is "Sirius Out Q" which is tailored to the LBGT community. No, I'm not gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, but the station has some damn good programming for a fag hag like me. One of my favorite shows is on from 6-10pm -- the Derek and Romaine show. Derek is a gay man, and yep -- you guessed it, Romaine is a lesbian. Their show is a general call-in type talkshow, but it's HILARIOUS. And once a week, they have callers call-in to tell them what they are desperately-fucking-angry about. So, here's my rant -- what I would want to talk about if I were to call Derek and Romaine.

For starters, I am royally pissed that the bailout for the automotive companies fell through last week.

I have avoided blogging about the auto bailout -- mainly because I think I am way to close to it. Husband works for Ford, and you all know this. And basically, in a nutshell, if he were to lose his job, my family is totally fucked. There goes the money to pay for our house, there goes our health insurance, there goes everything.

So as you can imagine, I was desperately-fucking-angry last week when the Senate decided to vote against the auto bailout. I was so pissed, that I earmarked the list of senators who voted against it, and have vowed to write them all a strongly worded letter. And the more I think about it, "pissed" is probably the wrong word. I think I was hurt more than anything. Hurt because I feel like the State of Michigan is going to Hell in a Handbasket -- and no one but the people in Michigan give a damn.

Has this country become so callous, so selfish, that when there is evidence that a state in our country is going down the shitter, that no one cares? When 9/11 happened -- did it happen to all of us, or to New Yorkers? When Katrina happened, did it happen to all of us, or those who lived in New Orleans? Personally, when those two things happened -- I donated money to the American Red Cross. I wanted to help and by making a donation to the Red Cross, I felt like I was contributing. I cared. And in the future, when I see people in this country suffering -- I will continue to care. And I understand there is a big difference between a natural disaster and a large company going broke. But the ramifications are still similar. It would be catastrophic for the State of Michigan and the country if any of the automotive companies goes bankrupt. The ripple effect would be astounding.

Everday I read comments posted on the internet, or hear people on the radio, or see them on the television, basically saying "Fuck 'em! Let the automotive companies go bankrupt!" Yeah, bankruptcy sure will give a hearty spanking to the executives of those companies for "mis-managing" those companies "all these years." Nevermind that by putting the screws to big business -- (as most of those that are against the bailout want to do) the one getting screwed the hardest are the families of the workers, and not the executives.

I'm also desperately-fucking-angry because I am tired of hearing about how "lazy" and "uneducated" and "unskilled" the auto workers are. I am married to one of the most hardworking men I've ever met. This is a man who never calls in sick to work (and when I say "never", I mean he receives the "Perfect Attendance" award every year, so I'm being literal, y'all) -- and he is never late. He leaves for work a hour before his official start time. He always works more than an 8-hour day (it's usually a 10-hour day and he doesn't take a lunchbreak). And he frequently goes into work for a few hours on the weekend. There's always something that needs to be done as far as he's concerned. I mean, his work ethic is HARDCORE. I've never seen anything like it before (except maybe in his dad -- which is where I know he inherited his work ethic. And his dad was a Ford employee working on the line for over 30 years.) So I don't want to hear about how all of the auto workers are lazy, or unskilled. And I certainly don't want to hear about how they do not deserve getting paid a decent wage, and receiving decent benefits. You try working in a industrial plant for 30+ years, at a job that is mentally numbing, in an enviornment that is not only dirty, but is cold in the winter and stiffling in the summer...only then will I think you know shit about who "deserves" what they make. Freaking Britney Spears is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. She is uneducated and unskilled (you know she is so don't even tell me she is "talented"). But you don't see Senator Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) on TV griping about her and how she doesn't deserve her money, do you?

And I won't even get into all of the UAW bashing. This whole situation makes me sick.

I read a article written by Mitch Albom yesterday -- and I think this is what prompted me to write this blog post. The last line in his article says, "Honestly, what has become of this country?" -- and that's exactly how I feel. Read for yourself here.

Oh...and one more thing I'm desperately-fucking-angry about regarding this whole thing. The automotive companies now have to rely on President Bush to approve carving out a portion of the $700B approved earlier this year for them. To think that we have to beg President Bush for anything a month before he's leaving office is appalling. Especially considering his approval rating is so low, and he'll probably go down in history as one of our worst Presidents. I wouldn't be surprised if he flipped us all off on is way out of the White House and washed his hands of this whole thing. I wouldn't be surprised.

You Gotta Love My Mother

I have a job interview this week...and depending on whether I get the job or not, details could possibly be forthcoming here on my blog.

This weekend, I went to a play at a church with my mother and my aunt. Prior to the play, we all had lunch together. It was nice because it was relatively low-key and it's a rare occassion when you get my mom and my aunt and me together without Daughter. :)

So on the way to the play, we get on the subject of my interview this week. My mother asks me if I was planning to straighten my hair. At first, I'm puzzled, because it is such a RANDOM question...like, where did that come from. I reply that no, I wasn't planning on straightening my hair. I mean seriously, I can't remember the last time I did it. And I think I almost did a "What's up with that?" kind of question to my mom, just because it was such a random thing to ask me.

Then I ask her why she wanted to know. This is where I made my fatal mistake, because really, I didn't care why she asked, and I really didn't care why she thought I needed to straighten my hair.

She said it was because when I wear my hair curly (remember, in it's natural state) I look like, and I quote, "I don't care" and that it's just "so messy" and I should really try harder to look more "polished."

And then she wonders why I don't call her all the time.

I had to ask.

More Blogs....For your reading enjoyment....

I've been meaning to do this for a while, after I saw the idea on my friend, SG's blog. Following are some blogs you may enjoy. I know I do.

http://averypoliticalwoman.com/ (written by my good friend, SG. This is her crazy-ass-liberal-feminist-democrat blog. And I pretty much agree with 100% of everything she writes -- so I guess that means I am also a crazy-ass-liberal-feminist-democrat. Just with a lot less political things to say.)

SG also has a second blog, http://perfectlycursedlife.com/, that is more about her life, friends, etc. and is hilarious. I mean, life is so much funnier than anything anyone can make up. If you know this is true, then this one is for you.

http://fakeinterviewswithrealcelebrities.blogspot.com/ This blog I "accidentially" came across, and I am so glad I did. It's hilarious. This woman has one heck of a sense of humor, and I wish we were friends.

http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/ (written by Margaret and Helen -- 2 women in their 80s that have been friends for over 60 years. I LOVE THIS BLOG and you will too. There's nothing better than sassy old ladies. Especially the latest rants about Sarah Palin (priceless!!!) Thank you to SG for turning me on to this one.)

If you love the idea of reading blogs, then you will enjoy the ones I mentioned above. I don't have a lot of time to read a bunch of blogs all the time, but these ones are definitely worth the time.

Hope you enjoy them as much as me!

Quote of the Day

"You can call me 'cupcake' if you want." -- Daughter, last night, after deciding that "Cupcake" was her newest favorite nickname (and I had to call her "Cupcake" for the rest of the evening)