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24 March
Okay, I’m getting out the gloves, and I don’t care who gets hit down on this. Here’s the story:
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
I log on to my credit card account and find that there is a charge to PayPal for $392.49. Now, I’ve never used PayPal, so I knew it was fraud. I call my bank and they say they’ll work with me to reverse the charges. I then call PayPal to see what’s up. Turns out that my card went shopping on Amazon.com and bought some stereo equipment. Apparently using an Excite.com email address. Damn! I should have done some research to figure out who was using my account. Too late now, and I’ve reported the card stolen with the bank.
Friday, March 24, 2006
I log on to my credit card account and find that there is another charge. This time to Earthlink.net. Nope. Not my charge. Call the bank back. The charge came in the day I’d cancelled the account; they say no more charges should post, unless they have an authorization (which is a possibility, apparently). Great, now I call earthlink.net. I figure that if I’m paying for the account, I’ll cancel it. It is amazing the information they’ll share when you know the credit card number and name used for an account. So, I put a security lock on said account. Then they are happy to share every account detail with me. It is, after all, my account as far as they are concerned.
Here’s what I’ve learned about the thief:
The billing address the thief used is my “home” address in Cle Elum.
The phone number they are using is 509.674.xxxx.
When you call that number, a message saying “This is Steve … blah blah blah” is heard.
Reverse lookup won’t work on the number, so I can’t know who owns it (maybe it’s a mobile number?).
The Earthlink.net information is as follows:
Username: probablecasue (@earthlink.net, but they’ve not activated the email address yet, and now they can’t!)
Password: spermbar (really, isn’t that sick?!)
So, “Steve”, who the hell are you? Why the hell do you think you can use my account and personal details? I’m not just going to let the bank deal with the financial end of the deal. I’ve called the police and am going through the process of filing a formal complaint. THEY can track the phone number. And I hope that you get busted. I will be pressing all the charges that I’m allowed to by the law of the land. Shame on you!
If anyone knows Steve, or the phone number, please let me or the authorities know. 22 February Two weeks ago, I got my hair cut at a “high-class” Seattle salon; by the lead stylist. I went in and said I needed a trim. Explained that I’d been having my hair layered for the past eight months or so, and liked the look. I further told her that I wanted to keep the same sort of layers, as they really brought out the natural wave to my hair and made it look very nice. (I made it very clear that it needed to be a wash and go cut; that I do not use product or spend any time to "do" my hair).
At the end of the cut, the stylist said I could come back in if I felt the cut needed a bit of “tweaking” or something. So I try a few different styles with it, and am unhappy. I think I need more lift at the top, so I called to make an appointment to get the style tweaked. I went in two days ago, and the stylist happily fixed it up.
Problem: it’s worse than it was. It may very well be a new, trendy style, but I think it looks more like a modern-day mullet! I’ve tried to no avail to style it, but as someone who hates “doing” their hair, this task is near impossible. All I wanted was a simple style that required no more work from me than to wash it. Maybe blow-dry on occasion, but only if I felt like it. It cost me a small fortune to look this bad, too!
For the last two weeks I’ve been miserable with my hair! I hate it, I am not comfortable with it and I think it looks awful (others disagree and think it looks good, but I don’t care!).
Last night, my best friend called and got to hear all about how much I hate this stupid hair cut. She was then able to vent to me about her not-so-great dye job. After complaining to each other for a bit, we got to talking about our hair in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Every color. Every style. Every seven billion cans of Aqua Net it took to get bangs like that. Yep, those were truly bad hair days. Only then, we didn’t know it.
So, I guess in comparison to my teens and early 20s, my modern-day mullet looks quite fabby. Does this mean I am keeping it? Hell no! I've already made an appointment with a stylist I know and trust. The damage should be repaired come Saturday. The moral of the story: just because they charge a fortune doesn't mean they know how to cut hair! 14 February Okay, I can understand peaceful protests. I can understand people boycotting certain companies and organizations. I can even understand why people would become violent when protesting, or why they would stalk and murder those whom they feel served an injustice to society.
What I can not understand is why someone would enter a hunger strike in protest. I mean really. Who are they penalizing there?
I can hear it now: “I am very upset with you. Until you accept and deliver upon my demands, I am going to be on a hunger strike. Yes, you heard me, to punish you and to make you do what I want—I am going to stop eating.”
Give me a break! If someone said that to me, I’d laugh! Then, I would eat a juicy, savory, delicious bacon cheeseburger and French fries in front of them; with a fan blowing all of the glorious aromas their way. And I would make sure they knew how very much I enjoyed the food. I’d slurp and smack and revel in the amazement of food.
Really, what is the worst that will happen to Saddam and his sadistic little crew of fellow strikers? They’ll collapse from starvation? Be threatened with malnutrition? More fool them—the moment they fall infirm, they will be hooked up to a drip line and kept alive intravenously. Do they really think that the people of Iraq are going to let them die until the courts are done with them?
Just my thoughts on it all … 01 February
Ah, bliss! What is that, you ask? Well, is to have a robotic butler or maid to serve my every whim. And to do my dusting! Just imagine the joy that would come with my own personal “Rosie”. As it stands now, I don’t have to push a vacuum around the house. I need only load dishes into a machine, and then unload them once they’ve been cleaned and dried with the help of Maytag. Laundry is cleaned and dried with minimal exertion on my part.
The world today is so full of innovation and gadgetry. I feel both blessed and excited to be surrounded by so much possibility! I will wait anxiously for this little guy to be released. Until then, I guess I’ll suffer with getting of my lazy arse to get my own coffee … 30 January
So, the washing machine in our apartment wasn’t working properly (needs a second spin cycle before going into the dryer). I write a note to the manager, who comes in to check it out while we are at work. He leaves a note along the lines of “I’ve looked at the machine and can see what the problem is. I’ve called a repair man to come and fix it, he will be there on Friday.” Yippee! Won’t it be nice to have the washing machine working properly!
Friday night after work, we walk in the door and notice a couple of grease spots on the entry way carpet. Yep, a true sign that the workmen have been. Now, a look at the machine. Ick! It, too, is covered in grease. Guess I will have to wash the machine prior to putting clothes in it. But wait! What is this on top of the dryer? Why, it is the clothing they have pulled from the machine. One white sports sock, one brown trouser sock and, *gasp*, one pair of Victoria’s Secret’s leopard print skimpy underpants!
Those who know me are well aware that, while I am a bit wild and eccentric at times, I tend to be fairly modest, dare I say prudish, in certain aspects of my life. Yes, I am a 100%-white-cotton undies kind of gal. I would truly hate for someone to image I am any thing more risqué then Fruit of the Loom.
Were the leopard print smalls included in the “I can see what the problem is” comment? Or the brown sock? My embarrassment grows the more I think about it. Of course, that night, our laughter over the subject was uncontrollable. With luck, the manager may assume that the pants belonged to my husband, and that the sock (brown trouser socks? I don’t think so) was faded by harsh laundry soaps. The sports sock? While it is not mine, I don’t care what anyone wants to make of it.
The biggest problem of all? The stupid washing machine is still not fixed! Maybe I can just get an old washboard and a bar of lye … 20 January
One of my favorite things in life is keeping up with the latest headlines. To do this, I read several on-line news sources from around the globe (mostly the English speaking nations, but also a few of those who have English translations).
Today, I thought I would share some of the headlines I think are worthy of comment.
1) Italian court told to prove Jesus existed
Give me a break! This guy really, honestly believes that it is up to the courts to make this ruling. He feels that the Catholic Church has been profiting through deceitful measures. I guess the Italians are getting on board with the whole law-suit culture the Western World is obsessed with.
2) Whale Spotted in Central London
Really, true story. A whale is swimming up the Thames toward Chelsea. No joke.
3) Father: Son Taliban, but not terrorist
Of course not! He wasn’t there because he believed in the Taliban cause; he was there to try to convince them to give up arms against Americans. Sure, I buy it.
4) Shatner sells part of body
I guess the good thing about something this stupid is that the money went to a very good cause …
There are loads more of great interest, too. Like Google refusing to hand over search data to the Bush administration (good on you, Google) and Moscow warming up to a mere 20 below (Fahrenheit), but I guess you’ll have to go on line and read the news for yourselves for the details.
Have a great weekend! 06 January Ever buy something new, and then giggle a bit when you’ve read the warnings attributed to said item? You know the ones: found on hair dryer—do not use in shower; found on a paper coffee cup—caution: contents hot. Well … duh!
But why are they there? Well, because America is a litigious society (don’t worry; the rest of the Western World is catching up with our litigiousness). You see, in America, when someone is stupid enough to electrocute themselves by drying their hair in the shower, we reward them with large settlements. To protect against future suits, companies are forced to point out the blatantly obvious on their products. Just incase.
Why, you ask, am I bringing this up now? Well, because the Michigan Law Suit Abuse Watch has just announced it’s winners for their 9th Annual “Wacky Warning Label” Contest. This year’s winners include a heat gun with a warning that the device should not be used as a hair dryer; a napkin with a map of the waterways around Hilton Head, South Carolina, cautioning that it is not to be used for navigational tool; and a set of knives, warning the user not to try to catch a falling knife.
So, the next time you catch yourself laughing over a warning on a package of Silly Putty urging users not to use the product as ear plugs, just remember: someone out there was really dumb enough to try it! 22 December
As promised, I am finally writing a positive entry, so that I can share with you the joy we received earlier in the week. Her name is Roomba, part of the i-Robot family, and the nice UPS man delivered her on Monday. Let me just say, she has quite the little appetite for such a little girl!
We carefully un-wrapped our little bundle of joy Monday evening, then put her to bed for a while to charge. After a bit of a rest, we woke her up and she was off like a light, sucking up dirt and dust from the carpets and floors. When she finished eating, she crawled back to her little bed to recharge for her next meal.
She is quite intelligent for her age. You just give her a list of tasks, and she memorizes them for you. It’s great; we can tell her to spot clean on Tuesday, clean only the living room on Wednesday and to do a full-on cleaning on Friday, and she’ll remember each task she’s asked to do. Here’s the best part; she’ll do the tasks without further reminder! It’s much better than telling real kids what days to vacuum and where. At least this way, we know it will get done!
Of course, no one is perfect. She won’t clean herself and insists that every so often, we clean her out and change her brushes. And sometimes, she gets herself into trouble and needs a little bit of help. Like the other day when she locked herself in the bathroom for ½ an hour!
Who knows, maybe one day when we have more room, we will get her a little play mate.
(For those who were hoping to hear a story of future baby spit-up, sorry. Wrong bLog.) 21 December So, I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday. I took time off from my busy schedule at the office to make my way to “Pill Hill” for my appointment. I even arrived 15 minutes early to fill out paper work, as I was a new patient. What a waste of my time.
The way I see it is that people who make others wait think that their time is more important than the one’s time left waiting. Wrong. My time is very important. And the level of disrespect I received from this doctor is unacceptable. So, here’s a copy of my letter to the clinic’s “VP of Patient Services”:
RE: Cancellation of appointments due to dissatisfaction with waiting policy
To Whom It May Concern:
I write this letter to inform you of my decision to cancel my appointments with your clinic. I was quite excited when I was given referrals to physicians there to address my two chronic illnesses; one with a hematologist, the other with a nephrologist.
My first appointment was meant to take place today, December 20, 2005, at 2:30 pm. I arrived to the patient waiting room and was shortly taken through to Dr. W’s examining room. Where I sat and waited for nearly 45 minutes without any contact from the staff.
Having felt I waited long enough, I returned to the reception desk to alert the staff that I was leaving, as I had taken time away from my busy schedule at work and needed to return. I felt that there was neither concern nor care from either staff or the Doctor, who had by this time come to see me, explaining he had just finished his lunch.
I asked for, and received, a refund of my co-pay. I then cancelled my appointment with the nephrologists, slated for January 2006.
I would like it known to you that I feel the treatment I received at your facility was inexcusable. Had someone come in to see me at some point, to alert me to the fact that the doctor was running late, I would have understood the situation. But instead, I was left to sit, ignored, in the doctor’s exam room.
I feel that this lack of concern is inappropriate for a medical office. I also feel that I need a medical facility where patients are treated in a timely manner, or at least where they are given an explanation for long waits.
While I realize that my choice to not receive medical treatment at your facility is not a major concern for a large clinic such as yours, I do hope that by my writing to share my experience with you, a review of your waiting practices will take place, possibly preventing other would-be patients from losing their patients, too.
Disappointedly yours,
My Name Here 30 November
They are called “GoMobile Advertising.” And, in addition to offering a new spin on mobile advertisements, they are adding to the already degraded problems in the Seattle metro area. But wait! There’s more! They are heading south to Tacoma/Pierce County now, too
Here’s the general idea:
GoMobile rigs are smallish van-like vehicles (think U-Haul, et al). The two side panels and rear panels have scrolling “billboards” which change display every ten seconds or so, with approximately eight ads on each side. The vans then drive around the city streets—during rush hour—to ensure the highest visibility for your advertising dollars.
Some of these vans offer “display” space; instead of scrolling ads, the panels are a clear plastic material and you can set up a scene inside of the van (e.g.: a large pair of ice skates with signage alerting potential consumers to a new ice rink in the city center).
Here are my problems with the gig:
1) It’s rush hour traffic! In Seattle! You know, the major metropolitan region listed with the 9th worst traffic congestion in the nation (but is only number 24 in population!!!). Do we really need more rigs on the road during peak traffic hours? No! Which is why there are so many groups in the area fighting for mass transit solutions.
2) Come on! We all know the risks of pollution. We all know the whole “combine trips” and “carpool” cries that are asked for by the government and ecology/environmental groups. They ask that we do that because the pollution ratings in large metro areas are too high.
3) Um, yeah: Aesthetics. Need I say more?
Grrr … It just makes me so frustrated that in this day and age, people are so wasteful, so blind to the world we live in!
(Okay, I promise that I will, one day, write a positive review about some product or company … just to make up for all of the slamming I generally do) 18 November
As many of you may know, we have recently moved into a new apartment. Moving means, of course, that my various services need to be transferred: phone, internet, cable and the like. Easy, right?
Wrong.
First, we take an audit of our services. What do we have? Well, we have a land-line phone and DSL (Internet) through Qwest and we have cable with Comcast.
Now, what do we need? Okay, we need cable and Internet. But the phone? Well, the only calls we ever got were from solicitors or bill collectors for a woman called “Florencia”. We can definitely do without both of those. Everyone calls on our mobile phones, anyhow!
So, what are our options? 1) Cancel the phone and get DSL only through Qwest or 2) Cancel all Qwest services and get both cable and internet through Comcast. We chose to go Comcast all the way. One bill is just easier, you know?
Forward to Saturday, October 29. The Cable man is meant to be there between 12-4 to hook everything up for us. He gets there, and we learn that he needs access to a room in the basement to turn everything on. Crap! The manager is out, so we must re-schedule our hook-up. And we do, for the following Saturday, November 5.
In the mean time, we decide to hook the TV up. Wow. We are actually getting free cable. Hum. Might as well take advantage of this. So, we re-think the services we want. If they come out to hook us up, we will be paying for Internet and cable. We want to keep our free cable, thank you.
Thursday, November 3: “Hello, Qwest? Yes, is it possible to get a DSL only line for our internet? Yes? We can? Great! Oh! You can hook us up on Tuesday, November 8? All-righty then!” (Quick phone call to Comcast to cancel hook-up follows. Yeah! Free cable!!)
Message from Qwest, Thursday, November 4: "Hello, Frances. I am calling to inform you that we ran into blah blah blah problems, and so your hook-up will be on Wednesday, November 9 instead. Your Internet modem will arrive on or before that date."
Tuesday, November 8: “Hi, Qwest. I am just calling to confirm that my DSL only line will be hooked up tomorrow. It will? And the modem will be delivered tomorrow to my work? Great! Thanks!”
Wednesday, November 9: “Hi, Qwest. What? You don’t have my account information? Oh! Well maybe that’s because I was given a different hook-up day. You’ll look into it and call me back? Great! Thanks!”
Wednesday, November 9 (Part II): “Hi, Qwest. Still no modem and no one has returned my last call. What’s that? I’m still not in your system? Oh. I don’t understand…."
…on hold…
“What? You mean to tell me that after all of this, you can not hook my line up for DSL only service? There is nothing more you can do? What do you mean, you can’t give me any more information? (Click)”
Fine. Jerks. I’ll go with Comcast, suck it up, and start paying for my cable.
Thursday, November 10: “Hello, Comcast? Really? And you can hook me up today? That’s great!!!”
So, we pick up the Comcast internet modem, hook it up, and soon realize that the cable speeds are WAY faster than DSL anyhow. Life is good.
But guess what arrives via UPS on Wednesday, November 16? Yep! It’s the modem from Qwest! Idiots! So, I make another phone call. Turns out, their records show my DSL only service as having been turned on Wednesday, November 9. I tell them my story, they say oops, sorry! Do you want the service anyhow? Idiots. Like I would say yes to that!
So, I’ve returned the modem and gone through the cancellation process. But now, I may be getting a bill for the hook up and week’s service, which means soon, I will have to talk to the incompetent fools once again. Qwest, in my humble opinion, sucks!
The good part, however, is that I have found Comcast to be great. And, as they say, truly “Comcastic!” The moral, I guess, is don’t try to get free cable. You always get screwed for trying!!
**This account is the true, personal experience of the author. I’ve not exaggerated any part of this story. If anything, I’ve given it a more mellow angle than the service (anti-service, really) deserves.**
If you click here, you will find more than 850 Google hits for the term "Qwest Sucks" 10 November
Just sending out a grateful thank you and Happy 230th Birthday
to the Few, the Proud and the Brave!!
28 October And do you know why they call this booming metropolis the Emerald City? After a very short Google search, I didn’t come up with the “official” story behind it, but I certainly have an idea of my own.
The WIND. Yes, today whilst out running errands during my lunch hour, I thought I would see Dorothy’s farm house land at the intersection of 3rd and Seneca! Wow that wind is strong. And apparently, today can be considered a gentle breeze as compared to what’s to come.
Well, I hope it’s not too bad—my $30 Sharper Image umbrella is only wind resistant to 60mph! Supposedly, it will not reverse out in the heavy winds. Hence the cost, which is fine with me as my $5 umbrellas only last 3-6 months on average! But I digress…
While I do love the wind-blown look for the tresses, I am a bit concerned that once the high winds are coupled with driving rains I really will end up Somewhere Over the Rainbow … 25 October
Seinfeld really did hit the nail on the head most times. I’m talking about boxes here. Maybe you recall the episode?
At the end of the show, Jerry’s stand-up routine recounts our search for boxes. How, once you’ve decided to move, you can look at almost any box and see a purpose for it. He also recounts our society’s reaction to certain boxes during everyday life. I’m sure I’m not the only one who makes a purchase, and then looks at the empty box, wondering if I should keep it because it may come in handy if I a) want to give someone a bottle of wine for Christmas, b) need to store bulky sweaters for the summer or c) may move one day, and that box is the perfect size for my Lay-Z-Boy. (Thankfully, I’ve decided not to save boxes, and opt to purchase a small box if needed for a gift).
So, what is my idea of the perfect box for moving? Simple: free, and all the same size for easy stacking. I know—it is near impossible to get free boxes all the same size. Near impossible. I suppose this is where the “silver lining” comes in. Thanks to Mom and her need for daily dialysis (and the well-constructed boxes the supplies are shipped in), my packing experiences have been a breeze!
Now comes the hard part. Knowing that dialysis won’t be forever (**crossing everything in the hopes of a fast move up the transplant list**), I realize that my next move will mean buying boxes. Hummmm…I guess maybe the better plan will just be to start saving money today so that I can just hire professionals to come in, pack, move then un-pack next time. If I don’t have to lift a finger, then the prefect box can morph into someone else’s ideal…
**Move update: Lease; signed. Packing; near completion. Movers; booked for Friday, October 28. Next move; let’s hope that event is a few years away… 13 October
Well, our search ended sooner than expected. We found ourselves a great little pad in Greenlake on Sunday, and will be moving in over the last weekend of October. It has (nearly) everything we wanted: a balcony, washer/dryer (in-unit), dishwasher, more space, parking and is quite near the lake, shopping and coffee. The only thing that we didn’t really succeed in was getting a cheaper place. Well, it’s a little cheaper, but not the $100 cheaper that I was hoping for (I am just so cheap!).
None the less, we are excited for the move. Over the next couple of weeks, we will keep busy with packing our belongings, and hopefully adding some things to our “Good Will” donation pile (That would be my stuff, as my wonderful husband sacrificed most of his positions prior to the move the America).
Next step: Hire the Movers!! Yes, we are going to be lazy and let someone else do the heavy lifting for us. Which basically means there is no need to ignore my phone calls: I will not be calling to recruit moving volunteers! Thankfully, we don’t own enough stuff to break the bank with a move. However, I’m sure that stuff will begin to accumulate as we move into a larger space. That’s just the way of the Western World, I suppose.
Now, it’s time to find a new gym, call the phone, cable, and electric companies and finally, research bus routes as we are no longer going to be a short walk to the office! 05 October Research on a new nation has slowly gone to the way-side for the moment. I suppose that, like many other hobbies, life has gotten in the way. However, I am happy to say that while I am not actively searching out a new land to rule, I am happily searching for a new apartment to dominate. Well, at least my wonderful husband lets me think that I dominate.
Okay, but how does one go about moving to a new apartment? I have to say, this is a true art form; one which may be quite enjoyable at the end of the game; or it may be one big pain in the arse and I will never again want to move house.
First, a list of “must have” and “wouldn’t in be nice if we had …”
We hard must have: Parking! More living space than we are currently residing in (at 471 square feet, it wont be to find larger digs). A balcony, deck or similar.
It sure would be nice if we also had a great kitchen, a separate area for dinning, a pantry, more closet space for linens, air conditioning, dishwasher, garbage disposal, washer and dryer, and a never ending supply of hot water for extra long showers.
I suppose we will have to look somewhere other than where we are living now. Can’t get all of that at an affordable price in the downtown neighborhoods; so, it’s over the Ship Canal we go …
The big step we are taking now is reconnaissance work. Not being from Seattle, it is hard to know where the best places are to live. So, we’ve resorted to going to specific neighborhoods we desire, parking the car and walking around. This way, we can choose the perfect street to live on based on the important elements: number of coffee shops and book stores within a three-block radius. For now, we are concentrating on the Fremont and Queen Anne areas, though our eyes wander to Green Lake and Capital Hill on occasion, too.
One thing is for sure, there is no point in moving unless it is the perfect place. You can bet that we are not looking forward to moving every year, so it had best be a long-term move.
I hope that it's not long before I am researching moving companies! 29 September
Here is a new-fangled plan I could support. I’ve always been a little turned off by the thought of my body being burned upon my death, but at the same time, the thought of being buried in a box never appealed either. Okay, okay—I’d not want to be cryogenically preserved either, but this seems like a great solution to me.
Ah! Modern technology is a great thing, when it's not incredibly scary, that is! 28 September
Okay. What the HECK is this all about? I know I sound a bit paranoid, but honestly I am not a complete conspiracy theorist. It’s just that I look at products like this and can’t help but see all of the possibilities; all of the potential for mis-use and bad intentions.
I feel that we are moving one step closer to a Gattacka-like society. How long before we are all implanted with bio-DNA devises upon birth? I can see the future now: When boarding an airplane, the TSA clones will scan a wand to the base of our neck so that they can verify our status. When applying to Universities, the coding in the chips will determine the course of study one is allowed to take.
Hummm … I think I will need to ponder this one further. Maybe I am just a little saddened because I missed the opportunity to invent something like this myself. *MUST* remember to talk to Pinky about getting our hands on this. What a great step it would be toward World Domination… 16 August Building a nation from scratch is hard work, as I am starting to find. I think that the best way to move forward it to determine the best form of government. So, I’ve started shopping around and this is what I’ve found that holds any interest to me:
Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of that government.
Now, this is a great basis for any government. It gives the structure needed for good beginnings, rather than hap-hazard rules, regulations and legislation being created daily as the government matures. Once the official government style has been determined, a constitution will be constructed. It will be a “living document”, in that, as society changes, we are able to make alterations to our foundation to make it more stable.
Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
Okay, I can get behind the “some people” but not “all people” voting thing. The right to vote would need to depend on your ability to understand the workings of the government and your commitment to a friendly society. Those who cannot pass a test of knowledge/common sense should not be permitted to vote. (Note: the test would not be a typical knowledge test; not knowing the square root of 132.434 is not going to fail you!) Those who have committed crimes against their fellow citizens can not vote. It you can not play nicely with your neighbors, you can’t help decide the laws by which your neighbors will live.
Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.
and/or
Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious authority.
Red lights! Okay, I am a Catholic, I attend church, and my religion is part of my life. But how can you provide a nation of peace and acceptance when the governing body is preaching something that all of the citizens do not take part in? No, it is better that we create a government which embraces all faiths, and shows respect to those who hold different religious views. (Hey—this means that we would have a heck of a lot of religious holidays, which, of course, mean long weekends! How great is that?!)
Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince - with constitutionally limited authority.
Now, this is nice. I can be Queen of the World and have total power. Of course, that sort of power can go to someone’s head, so it would be best to choose sovereign power, allowing for a constitution and parliament or congress to help rule. Hmmm. This idea needs some more thought.
Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation.
Of course, a Republic with limited voting rights, as set out above, may be the answer. We would just need to figure out the best way to assure that the people’s elected deputies are not corrupt and “buying” votes.
After reviewing and considering these forms of government (and more) I have decided that the best option is for me to combine a couple of ideals into one. I feel that taking some of the best bits from each will serve to create a society where everyone is able to prosper and find peace and happiness.
Monarchal Republic – a combination of Monarchy and Republic.
**Note, this is a “new” form of government for which I hope to create**
After some consideration, I feel that this is the best government type. It allows for me to be Queen, and allows for the people to vote, assuming they are able to do so. So. There you have it. Stay tuned for details on my new government. It won’t be long now before I am enlisting advisors and start the process of creating a constitution!
**Please note that (save for the Monarchal Republic) all definitions were “borrowed” from the CIAs website** 10 August The second weekend in August (Aug 11-14, 2005) is the annual Omak Stampede and Suicide Run in Washington State. This event has been going on for some years now, and often causes great amounts of pain (and death) to the horses involved.
I am a carnivore. I don't have a problem with people eating meat, or raising and slaughtering animals for food. But I feel that putting an animal in harms way for "entertainment" or "historical preservation" is wrong. (Yes, I realize the hypocrisy. No, I do not wish to debate the moral issues of vegan v. carnivore. Thank you.)
There are things that you and I can do to help save these poor creatures. We may not be able to stop this year's race, but if enough people band together, we can stop them in the future.
PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society) is asking for you help. Please take a moment to read up on what you can do to help stop the race in the future. 04 August I do not normally do these things, but as Celeste and Jeanne have put me to the challenge, here you are:
Three screen names you have had:
1. no3of6
2. phranyv
3. Frances (I know, original!)
Three things you like about yourself:
1. My self confidence (which I carry with me most of the time).
2. My ability to (mostly) be open to opposing views and ideas.
3. My determination (which, I suppose could also be thought of as stubbornness).
Three things you hate (could improve) about yourself:
1. I am too lazy to go to the gym as often I as should.
2. I get in ruts where I procrastinate.
3. I’m cheap, to the point where I deny myself things I would love to own, because they are not on sale.
Three parts of your heritage:
1. German from Russia (via the Ukraine)
2. SUBS (see previous posting for explanation
3. Good looks
Three things that scare you:
1. Skunks (they are evil creatures spawned of Satan!)
2. Babies (anything that small that can make that much of a mess ought to be feared!)
3. Skunks (they are really scary, and deserve two listings!)
Three of your everyday essentials:
1. Paul
2. Oxygen
3. Water
Three things you are wearing right now:
1. Really cool brown suede mules
2. Scoop-neck salmon colored blouse
3. Platinum wedding set
Three of your favorite bands or artists at the moment:
1. Styx
2. The Saw Doctors
3. The Clumsy Lovers
Three things you want to try in the next 12 months:
1. Ice skating
2. Winning the lottery
3. Not getting sick
Three things you want in a relationship (Love is a given):
1. Laughter
2. Communication
3. Trust
Two truths and a lie:
1. I once got a ticket for 104 mph in a 65 zone
2. I once got out of a ticket, and ended up with a date
3. I once got a ticket for running a red light
Three physical things about the sex you are attracted to you that appeal to you:
1. A nice smile
2. A good laugh
3. Well groomed
Three things you just can't do:
1. Open my eyes when under water (unless I have goggles on)
2. Use power tools in my right hand
3. Go to Cuba (yet—once I get that British citizenship, you bet I’ll be heading there!)
Three of your favorite hobbies:
1. Geeky techie gadgets and gizmos
2. Travel
3. Yard work (I know, it’s a bit odd, but it is fun and rewarding!)
Three things you want to do really badly right now:
1. Get a pay rise
2. Get a cuppa
3. Veg on the couch at home with my husband
Three careers you're considering:
1. Public Relations / Marketing Director for community centered organization (ideally, my local Chamber of Commerce)
2. Free lance public relations / marketing for community and non-profit organizations
3. Director of tourism in WA state or for the WA state wine commissions
Three places you want to go on vacation:
1. Vienna
2. The Heberdies
3. Cuba
Three kid's names:
1. Billy (get it? Billy…kid(d) / goat, billy goat? No? I thought it was cute)
2. Feta (feta / goat’s cheese…)
3. Buckley (okay, sorry but I just don’t have favorite kid names…so this is all goat related)
Things you want to do before you die:
1. Be happy
2. Live each day to the fullest
3. Find peace 02 August And when I do rule the world, this will be my opening address to the inhabitants:
"Welcome to the New World. It is my hope that we can create a society in which we all live together in harmony. While I know that there will always be a little bit of chaos and stress here and there, I also know that it is to be expected with 6.4 billion soles living in such tight quarters.
But at the moment, we are being pulled apart from one another in a dangerous game of tug-a-war. We are heading to a path of total destruction, and risk loosing what is most important in our world: a society of humanity.
I would like to see all of that change. I would like to see neighbors getting on with one another; enemies building bridges to re-connect their communities; families spending time together; and parted friends forgiving the past to re-unite. We need to find tolerance and acceptance in our hearts, and we need to find it soon. I know that we live in a world full of differences; in a world where every person has a different view, a different outlook, a different set of values and sense of morality. With time, with effort, we can open our hearts and minds. We can learn to accept and respect views that differ from our own. We will soon learn that different isn’t bad, it isn’t scary, it’s just different.
So I ask you, all of you, to help us move into the future. We can take the steps together. Every day, try to learn something new about your neighbor, your co-worker, your grocery store clerk, even a stranger on the bus. Let someone tell you what they believe and why they believe. Don’t talk, just listen. And try to understand. Just because they believe something different from you, doesn’t mean they are evil, it doesn’t mean they are wrong. Respect them, respect their views, and they will do the same for you.
In its Declaration on the Principles of Tolerance, UNESCO offers a definition of tolerance that should be used to guide our mission:
Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. It is fostered by knowledge, openness, communication, and freedom of thought, conscience and belief. Tolerance is harmony in difference. … Tolerance, the virtue that makes peace possible, contributes to the replacement of the culture of war by a culture of peace.
I look forward to getting to know the diverse cultures and beliefs found throughout the world. I dream of the day when knowledge and understanding of our differences brings us closer together as a global community. And I look forward to living in that community, in harmony with all of its inhabitants.”
Now, I realize that I don’t yet rule the world, nor have I managed to gain control over a small island nation, but I hope that the people of the world will get an early start on tolerance and not wait for me to have to legislate understanding and acceptance. So, please, go out any learn something about a culture or a religion that you’ve never understood in the past. Teach tolerance and understanding to your children, and soon, we can put the hatred of so many generations behind us…
Note: For more information on the subject of Tolerance, and how best to teach the pracitice to your children, please visit www.tolerance.org. 27 July
Years ago, I read a great book called “Gadsby”, written by Ernest Vincent Wright. I remember picking it up and being slightly amazed at the idea. A Story of Over 50,000 Words Without Using the Letter “E”, it has given me cause to smile on numerous occasions.
I find the idea of challenging the English language fascinating, and enjoy seeing others break out of the normal flow of our language with such success. And let’s face it, Wright certainly succeeded, especially when you consider that the letter “E” is used five times more than any other letter in the English language.
Of course, challenging the norms and throwing away centuries of lingual evolution are two separate issues…
Some of you may know about the “modern theories” to teaching the English language these days. If not, won’t you be shocked to know that there is a movement to stop teaching spelling, grammar and punctuation in public schools. Yes, you read that correctly. Some schools are allowing children to spell and write as they please, because it will bring out their creative side, and not stifle their genius and full education with bothersome little rules like “I before E except after C” et al.
I don’t know about you, but I’d prefer to have a doctor who could spell the name of the bug he is telling me I contracted whilst touring South America! And, yes, I want my lawyer to be able to form coherent sentences with proper grammar to boot!
So there you have it, a rant in just over 250 words, started because of a book with no “E”s containing 56 “E”s. 22 July No really, I sometimes think I have. Now, you ask, just who is my worst enemy? Well, I suppose it’s not fair to call them an enemy, but it feels that way at times…read on, you’ll understand.
I’m from Small-Town-USA. One of those “quaint” little places in the mountains that just happens to be less than 2 hours from a major metropolis. Because Small Town is so close to the Big Bad City, and it is a great “wilderness” and recreation area, the “City-iots” have become fond of spending their weekends in Small Town and the surrounding area.
Growing up, we learned to despise the City-iots. Why? Because they turned our quite land into a rush of noise and activity, and often left a mess behind when they returned to the “other side” (the other side being over the mountain pass, which is where the metropolis happens to lay). Because when they are in town, many would act as if the “locals” were back-woods in-breeds (which some of us are, but still…).
Often times, you hear the complaints that Small Town doesn’t have this or that like they do in the City. Well…if the City is so great…STAY THERE on the weekends!
Of course, over the past ten years or so, many of the City-iots have re-located to Small Town, where they live all week long. But they commute to the Big Bad City because the money is better and the commute is not that bad, when compared to bumper-to-bumper commutes in the City. This basically means, every formerly pristine hill-side has become housing developments for people to build their 2500 square foot “cabin”.
(Side note: for a while, I was one of them, commuting to the City every day. People tout that you have a “better quality of life” in Small Town, so the commute is worth it. Wrong! By the time you commute to the office five days in a row, leaving town at 6:30 am, then return home around 7:00 pm, just in time to eat dinner and go to bed, you are dead come the weekend. Yeah, you don’t have the energy to brush your teeth on Saturday, let alone enjoy a quality life! But I digress…)
Still, the weekend boom happens every week. Worse in the summer, but all year around. And now? Well, my husband and I live in the heart of the metropolis, because that is where my work is. Now, ideally I will find work back in Small Town, or even Medium Town 30 miles away, but in the mean time, I need to be where the money is. And as much as we hate to admit it, money is the driving force for many of life’s choices.
What does all of this mean? It means that I go home to Small Town most weekends to see my family. I go back to Small Town because my husband and I love it there. We are comfortable and “at home” there (and, they have a great little coffee shop…). I am now part of the Friday push over the mountains, where City-iots arrive in Small Town like locusts. Then on Sunday, we make the drive back, abandoning Small Town and its inhabitants, giving them the chance to breathe a sigh of relief as the get back to life as normal, where the streets of town have little traffic, and the line in the grocery store is two people long.
So, I guess that I will just need to get used to the fact that I have become “one of them”. One of the weekend commuters, come to take in the scenery and the fresh air for a few days before returning to the Big Bad City…
21 July
A typical marriage:
Two people meet. Start dating. Fall in love. Become engaged. Get married. Live happily ever after. Or something like that.
If only life were that simple for all of us! But, where matters of the heart are concerned, you just have to roll with it, knowing that every step you take is well worth it.
I met my wonderful husband whilst living in Scotland. I had no intention of meeting someone there, it just happened. Then, the government stepped in. Yep, my visa expired so I packed my bags and returned to the states. And I started to miss this great guy on the other side of the pond.
With him in Edinburgh, Scotland and me on the West coast of America, we emailed every couple of weeks to lessen the 6,000 miles of land and see between us. After a summer of doing that, I think that we both knew attempting a long-distance relationship was insane. So, we decided that we would keep at it, with me flying back to spend the Christmas holidays with him, then him flying to the States for a week that summer.
Enough of that stuff though! Back to the drawing board, we now realize that we need to be on the same continent to be together. So, I apply for a temporary work visa then return to Scotland for six months. Six months later, I find myself without a permanent visa, so it’s back to America. This time, however, we are engaged to be married.
What’s that? You thought that a marriage would be the end of it, no more trouble? Ah! If only life were like Hollywood…
So, we’re getting hitched. Next comes the question of where to live. He has a great job, I am an unemployed bum. But wait! I am offered a great job in Seattle and it seems that his relocation to the States is going to be the best option for us at this time. Now it’s time to say hello to Immigration…
Round One:
Fiancé Visa: this way, Paul can come to the states and we can get hitched (legally). We fill out loads of paperwork proving that: 1) we have really and truly met in person at least once in the past two years; 2) I make enough money to support the two of us while he is not legally able to work; 3) he’s not a criminal, nor am I; and 4) my check clears.
Then we wait. And wait. And wait. Just to hear that our petition has been approved to move on to the next round. And we wait…again. Finally, he gets an interview date in London, but first, he must have a medical exam. With the wedding not far off, we are a little nervous that we will not have the visa in time (but we have a couple of “fun” back-up plans, just incase!). Medical and interview take place (this means more money…lots more!).
Paul arrives, we are married in three weeks time, then off to a wonderful honeymoon in Hawaii.
You would think we were done, right? Wrong! You guessed it, MORE bureaucratic red tape…and more money, of course!
Round Two:
Adjustment of Status and Employment Authorization. More paperwork, more money. After filling in more forms including more proof of my ability to support us, we send everything off (with the appropriate checks) to the processing center.
This brings us to current day. Now, we are waiting for two things: Paul’s work permit and his “Green Card”. The first should take about 4 weeks; the other can take up to two years (though it likely will not take that long). Before either is issued, he will have to have “biometrics”, which consists of finger prints and photos (yes, these cost extra!).
Now, if you have actually read this far, then you deserve a nice treat as a reward. Of course, I am giving all of my spare money to the government to help us move through the red tape they are so fond of, so you will need to treat yourself to that reward…this bank is almost dry. Later posts will, I’m sure, have a rant or two about the process from here on out, if you are so inclined to read…
*NOTE: For anyone thinking of attempting this: it is all WELL WORTH the money. Every penny. I mean, you can’t put a price on love, can you? (also, I should mention that between the Fiancé Visa, medical, adjustment of status and work permit, we are under $1500, so it’s not that costly, really. I’m just cheap and like to complain about spending money…).
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