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October 31, 2006

Sign Here Please

I finally am oficially a Notary in Pennsylvania now. Notaries in Pennsylvania do so much more than I was used to doing as a notary in Michigan. Besides notarizing signatures, the duties can include oaths of office and affirmations, affidavits, certificates, depositions, and other duties. I had to take my notary bond to Greensburg today to get sworn in. It was nice as it got me out of the office for a couple hours. The drive was nice too as I was able to travel some areas I had not been before along some winding tree lined roads where the fall leaves were very colorful.

Taking the oath of office was a bit comical. The person at the office of "Recorder of Deeds" has you stand up and raise your right hand and swear to "uphold the notary laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, yada yada yada...." and so on. But today being Halloween, this person was all decked out as a witch complete with pointy hat, and long wart-filled nose. So while it was a little distracting to stand in front of a witch with my hand raised while swearing to uphold the laws of my appointment, I got through it without a hex being put on me and I didn't have to resort to tossing my bottled water on her.

October 30, 2006

I Suck At Hanging Pictures

FYI

Sounds About Right

Your Vampire Name Is...
Ignacio the Bloodthirsty

October 29, 2006

Art Auction Day 2

I was able to get two Blenko glass pieces, the only Blenko up for bid, at part two of the auction today. I tried to bid on a couple other little things but my budget was pretty much used up and was out-bid. But with the two Blenko pieces, it was a good day.

Tonight Alison and Paul are coming over for dinner so I'm off to create something yummy.

Peace out.....

October 28, 2006

So Anyhoo

There were a few snow flakes today..YAY !! They are gone now....BOO. But they will be back...YAY !!

Daylight savings time means an extra hour of sleep tomorrow night. I hope Finnigan understands this.

I got a pair of my work slacks caught on something and tore a small hole along the side seam. I tried sewing it myself. There was a needle, some blood, some swearing, a perplexed kitty, and I still have a hole in my pants.

Why has the new season of The Simpsons not started yet?
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My company encourages everyone to give to the United Way. They also "suggest" a fair amount that we should give based on our salary. My suggested amount is a full week's pay. Yeah right. I can go without a weeks pay. I donate to causes and probably give that much over the course of a year but I like to dole it out myself without the helpful suggestion and/or pressure from my employer.

I've had too much Halloween candy this week.

I Never Thought I Would Suggest Shopping At Wal-Mart

Tennessee Church Starts Wal-Mart Boycott Over Gay Support:
(Columbia, Tennessee) A small Tennessee church has become the first to organize a full scale boycott of Wal-Mart for its support of gays and lesbians. Trinity Family Church's 150 members have agreed to take their business elsewhere.....
........Earlier this week the American Family Association told its members to avoid shopping at Wal-Mart but stopped short of calling for a full boycott.......The AFA email called "on Christian consumers to spend their dollars elsewhere as a sign of their displeasure with Wal-Mart's pro-homosexual leanings."
A Wal-Mart spokesman says the retailer is "reaching out to a number of groups" and will "welcome and serve all customers with respect and without discrimination." --- Gee what a christian thing to do, some could learn from Wal-Mart.

Pro homosexual leanings??? Oh for fucks sake, can these groups get any more ridiculous? They are really just laughable now. How many boycotts have they tried over the years? And how many actually worked and had the consequences they intended? Umm zero. How about live and let live?

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ART

I may actually have a pic or two for my walls now. I went to the art auction at Alison's gallery today and bid on a number of lots but was quickly out-bid on most. But I was able to pick up a few paintings. We will see how they look in the apartment. If nothing else I'll have some nice picture frames. The auction continues tomorrow, so we'll see if there is anything else that strikes my fancy.

October 27, 2006

For All Hoping For Change: Some Things To Remember On Election Day

*** IRAQ ***
Abu Ghraib ** Guantanamo ** Unwarranted Phone Taps ** Unprecedented Powers ** Unmatched Incompetence ** Unparalleled Corruption ** Governor Bob Taft

House Representatives / Senators:
Roy Blunt ** Ken Calvert ** John Dolittle ** Tom Feeney ** Katherine Harris ** Jerry Lewis Gary Miller ** Marilyn Musgrave ** Richard Pombo Rick Renzi ** John Sweeney ** Charles Taylor ** Curt Weldon ** J.D. Hayworth ** Don Sherwood ** Bob Ney ** Duke Cunningham ** Tom Reynolds ** Chris Cannon ** Tom Delay ** ** Mark Foley ** Dennis Hastert ** Senator George Allen ** Senator Bill Frist ** Senator Conrad Burns
********* Senator Rick Santorum *********** David Safavian

Jeff Gannon ** The Vice Presidential Energy Task Force ** Three bucks a gallon ** Record oil company profits Anwar Pipeline ** Anbar Province ** Adelphia ** Merck ** Halliburton ** Arthur Anderson ** Qwest **Tyco ** WorldCom ** Global Warming ** Exxon ** Enron ** Abramoff ** Adam Kidan ** Timothy Flanigan ** Ralph Reed ** Gay Rights ** Rita ** KATRINA ** FEMA ** Terri Schiavo ** Condi ** Harriet Miers ** Diebold ** The Supreme Court ** John Bolton ** Florida 2000 ** Ohio 2004 ** North Korea ** Iran ** Darfur ** Stem Cell Research ** Scooter Libby ** Valerie Plame ** Golden Parachutes ** Eminent Domain **

Social Security ** Tora Bora ** The Baghdad Museum ** Taliban Resurgence ** Iraqi Insurgence

*** MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ***

Illegal immigration ** Intelligent Design ** Swift Boat BS ** Ann Coulter ** Expiration of assualt weapons ban ** Dick (shoot in the face) Cheney ** Donald Rumsfeld ** Kissinger again? ** George Tenet ** General Eric Shinseki ** General Anthony Zinni

And finally, the Decider-in-charge who reads "My Pet Goat" while the US is under attack and has the audacity to describe the party that successfully prosecuted TWO world wars as people who cut and run.

(thx "L")

October 26, 2006

Granny Had The Right Idea

I opened an old fashioned tried and true Christmas Club savings account today, just like grandma always had. It's not for this Christmas because that would be silly since it is the end of October. But being one of the products we offer at my bank, it came up in conversation with my trainee. It got me thinking how nice it would be if I had my check from my x-mas club with the season coming up and all. Since it is not an account where I can withdraw or transfer to my other accounts to spend and I would have to close it out in order to use any of the money, it is a good way to save for the less disciplined saver. (the bank just sends out a check for the balance in October) I figure dropping a few bucks into it here and there along with all my spare change that seems to gather in my car console could potentionally add up nicely. And it gave my trainee something to do by practicing opening an account so two birds with one stone. Luckily retirement savings and the like are auto deducted from my pay and out of sight out of mind, but otherwise I need all the help I can get saving money, so I figure whatever works. Watch for the savings update in October 2007 to see how it went.

October 25, 2006

Common Sense From New Jersey Supreme Court

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Case opinion from the NJ Supreme Court Decision that says gay couples should have the same rights as married couples. The parties, seven couples, were all in commited relationships for over ten years.

http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/cnn/docs/glrts/lewisharris102506opn.pdf

I am of the belief that it is about rights. It's about the legal, financial, and social benefits and protections that are deserved in a free society. And if calling it marriage is the huge hurdle with some people, fine call it civil unions, partnerships, committed unions, or best-friends-forever for all I care. It's about two people in love committed to each other and their rights. The people involved know the true meaning. There is a bigger picture than a symbolic title.

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Busy In The Burgh

It's been a busy week so far, seems like I am trying to catch up on everything. I am definetly feeling the need to catch up on some sleep, but as usual that is easier said than done.

Work has been a bit crazy but today I got some good news -- I will start at my new office on November 13th. I will be so glad to escape, I mean move, from drama-central and start working with grown-ups. I have to figure out how my work clothes situation will be affected. I will be walking to and from work rain, shine, or snow and need to figure out if I will stay neatly pressed and pleated while commuting or if I should be leaving clothes at work taking advantage of the cleaners a few doors down keeping in mind I can occasionally run home at lunch to give The Finnmeister an ear scratch thus making it two trips a day. The $140 a month I will save in gas alone will make up for cleaning bills.

I joined the board of my networking group and went to my first meeting tonight. There are lots of ideas and plans to put in motion in the near future to expand and take the group in new directions. Affiliations with other groups, social outings, educational offerings and seminars by members, and general growth are the goals.

I was once again plauged by computer problems this week. My laptop does not like coffee as much as I do because just a little taste of Starbucks House Blend via the keyboard was enough to make it go haywire. So with some help from Paul, my laptop is now a desk-top computer with cables coming out each side as he hooked me up with a spare keyboard and mouse so I can stay connected. I knew I was going to have to splurge on a new computer before too long, but was hoping to make this one last till after the new year but... Sigh, I wonder what it feels like to actually save money?

I Want A Super Power

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I have watched three episodes and am officially hooked.

October 23, 2006

My Faith In Humanity Restored

At least a little bit.

My new trainee started with me today. She is great. She is inquisitive, eagar to learn, pays attention, and doesn't think she already knows everything.
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Crazy and another employe both called in sick today. Must be Monday. And since there was another guy out on a vacation day, it was a bit hectic. But funny thing is, it was better than a normal day with a full staff.

Simple Things

Finnigan + a new pair of flourescent green shoe laces from Ginat Eagle = kitty bliss.

October 22, 2006

One Down

I bought my first x-mas present with a little help from a friend -- thanks Lil !

Now bring on the snow. falalalalalalala.

But first Halloween. It is so hard to pass up the piles of candy in every store.

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October 19, 2006

Wetness

I took a long walk tonight -- in the rain and it was raining when I left so I did it on purpose. It was fun. It was dark but the street lights reflected off the wet ground and fallen leaves in what was a nice autum evening. I even tried doing a Fred Astaire dance type move off a street lamp as it seemed like a good thing to do in the rain. It did not go well.

October 18, 2006

I'm In A Good Mood

No really, it's true. I had fun tonight and there is nothing I want to rant about on my blog.

So instead, just look at cute pics on next page.

CAREFUL NOW, NO SUDDEN MOVES
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AWWWW...
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READY TO POUNCE
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October 17, 2006

Paying Bills Sucks

I'm just sayin...

Good Boy

Dog Saves Owner, Dies Trying to Save Cat

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (AP) -- After a disabled woman's cat started a house fire, her specially trained dog came to the rescue, then died trying to help the cat still in the house. Jamie Hanson said the 13-year-old dog named Jesse brought the phone so she could call 911 and also brought her artificial leg.

"She got me outside and then she heard the cat upstairs and she went up there to get the cat and she wouldn't come back to me..."


-- There is without a doubt a special place in doggie heaven for this pooch.

Condi Keeps It Real - Surprisingly

Rice's remarks at the swearing in ceremony of Mark Dybul, a gay man, as Global AIDS Cooordinator made news this week. It's too bad that treating people like human beings is big news.

.... "I am truly honored and delighted to have the opportunity to swear in Mark Dybul as our next Global AIDS Coordinator. I am pleased to do that in the presence of Mark's parents, Claire and Richard; his partner, Jason; and his mother-in-law, Marilyn. You have wonderful family to support you, Mark, and I know that's always important to us. Welcome...."

Mother-in-law.

Tsk tsk, What's a god-fearing right wing hard core evangelical to do? Oh that's right, shoot their mouths off.

Family Research Council:
"We have to face the fact that putting a homosexual in charge of AIDS policy is a bit like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse....." and ....."profoundly offensive...."
And on and on it, same old crap from those that use Jesus to hate.

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Ironically, The major aspect of AIDS education is abstinence, something preached by many of the religious leaders and their followers who get all excited about two people in love making a family. Where in the bible does it talk of hypocracy and hatred? Is it next to love thy neighbor? Or near the part that claims God made everyone?

October 16, 2006

VOTE AND TAKE ACTION, you have a few more weeks. Don't forget.

Day Off Today

Got to sleep in this morning. That is after I tossed Finnigan out of the bedroom as he did not want to sleep in. He doesn't bother me on the bed, but he amuses himself by running around the room and under the bed making noise as he finds fun in just about everything that crosses his path. Wouldn't it be nice if humans could so easily find bliss in everything? Even while keeping me awake he is mega-cute.

Lazed around all morning, sipping coffe, playing with kitty and reading the paper. Then Alison came over to play with Finnigan a bit before we headed out. We walked to Panera for lunch, went to the library, and saw a movie (Infamous). It's great being able to walk to all these places in my neighborhood. I was denied in my bid to obtain a library card. The library generals insisted on not only a picture ID which I had in the form of my drivers license, but also something else that had my address on it such as a utility bill. I can adopt a pet, buy a gun, register to vote, cash checks and other things like that with my license, but checking out a book takes twelve thousand two hundred and fifty three pieces of personal info. So if I can sign up for cable and produce my bill, I must be super trustworthy and eligible for a library card. Anyway, it will be nice beacuse it is on the same block as my new branch will be in a couple more weeks. They have a great sitting area with huge windows so it will be nice to go to on my lunch hour and read the paper, have coffee, etc.

So we walked back to my place and Alison walked home. Now I'm relaxing and multi tasking by sipping Crown Royal, listening to some good music, scratching the cute little ear of Finny Finn Finn and typing on the computer.

Good day.

Lewis Black Has The Answers

Congressman: "Marriage can only be a love that can bear children."

Lewis Black: "Hey congressman, Take my word for it. A one night stand, a quailood, and three beers can also bear children."

Friends?

People come in and out of your life everyday. Strangers, family, friends. 99.9% of these people you never notice. They are the people in line at the store, the people sharing the sidewalk, or the ones bringing your food. A few however stick around, family, friends, even acquaintances. Some just awhile, some for good. Sometimes the ones you think are for good shorten their stay. It's kind of sad.

October 15, 2006

Baby

There is a new additon to our family. Lee and Vikki had their baby, a boy. I'm not sure of the name. It was around 3:00 in the morning when Grace called to tell me so I'm not sure if she told me the name. She may have and since I was 95% asleep I just don't remember. I was afraid I just dreamt the whole thing, but Jenna's comment in the previous post confirmed I did actually talk to Grace last night and I am an uncle.

October 14, 2006

Things

Movie:
Saw "The Departed" last night. Great flick. Lots of star power, plot twists, surprises, and action in a movie about organized crime and cops torn between doing the right thing and loyalty to their roots. Each character is conflicted with their own set of demons.
My only minor complaint was the ending. I felt like the creative team got lazy and just wanted a quick way to wrap it up. After all the angles that were played out in the movie, they could have tied up some loose ends and ended it in a more creative manor. But still a good movie and worth seeing.

Weird Dreams:
Weird dreams last night and ones that I actually can remember significant parts of, which is unusual for me. In one, I was going to jail. I don't know why but I was talking to someone, not sure who, in my Grandpa's house and was saying how my life was over and when I got out I would forever be branded a felon and never able to get a job.

In another I was in the wedding party of a cousin who has been married for several years and whom I have not talked to or seen for a few years. It was time for the wedding, I was out on some tree lined country road and I realized I forgot my tux and there was no time to go back. I was angst ridden as I would have to stand up there in jeans and a tee shirt. It was a whole panic what should I do type moment.

Then I awoke to a purring Finnigan sitting next to my face about half an inch away staring at me as he had decided it was time for me to get out of bed.

Domestic Duties:
I have got to do laundry today. It has been almost two weeks and besides the piles in my bedroom, after today I would be forced to go commando. So washing clothes is a prioroty today. And since I am in cleaning mode, the apartment could use a going over too. Eh, it's still better than being at work.

Commuting Fear

Distracted huge Amazon women in tiny cars.

Trust me, scary.

October 12, 2006

I Need More Room

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No Polish, Just A Quick Trim

Finnigan allowed me to cut his claws this week. While he was not too thrilled, he didn't scratch me up too bad. It may have been the towel he was wrapped in, but I think it is because he is such a good-widdle kitty-witty. I let him check out the cutters first......

HMM, LET ME CHECK THESE OUT FIRST....
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GEE, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS....
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WELL, OK BUT BE GENTLE.....
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October 11, 2006

Regrets

I really want the sweaters I saw at the Brooks Brothers outlet store Monday.

If only Alison would have tried to persuade me to get them.

Bringing Work Home

So I have to fill out a "development plan" for my job. It is kind of a career path plan for managers we have at my company and meant to be an ongoing document to be updated as time goes by. I have a Mentor to advise and a Pacer that serves as an accountability partner that helps me stay on track. I have to put down what I see as my strengths and my objectives as well as action steps to take to meet my objectives. It also has target dates for completion of objectives and for listing progress. The second portion is for development needs. Or before the world got politically correct they were called weaknesses. The same action steps and target apply to these too. It is challenging to come up with these aspects about oneself. Asking others I work with for their opinion is not really a good way to go about it either since I am their manager and they are my staff and truly honest answers may not be the result. So it is up to me to come up with strengths, weaknesses, and plans for my bosses to review.

I personally do not think I have any weaknesses and am a model employee and the standard I set should be held up to the world to emulate. I may be able to put down that I am too modest if I have to reach for something.

Anyway, this is my homework for tonight......

October 10, 2006

OUCH

Is it wrong to find this funny? Does it make me a bad person? Oh the jokes that can be made.

People Actually Argue This. It's Ok To Laugh At Ignorance Sometimes

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Headlines

MSNBC: Hastert says dismissals may follow Foley probe
(Washington) House Speaker Dennis Hastert said Tuesday he'll dismiss anyone on his staff found to have covered up concerns about ex-Rep. Mark Foley's approaches to former pages.......

Good to hear Mr. Hastert. Don't let the door hit you in your intolerant ass on the way out as you try to save it by claiming you had nothing to do with the cover-up.

Bush administration wants sanctions for North Korea....

Yeah that will do some good.

The Bush administration rejected anew Tuesday direct talks with North Korea and said it would not be intimidated by the reported threat.......

Right, who needs diplomacy or any hint of a Foreign Policy. I believe all our guns and soldiers are occupied elsewhere on one of your crusades, so maybe it's time to reevaluate the "keep at arms length" strategy that fails time and time again.

Driver obeys navigation system, no matter what

BERLIN (Reuters) - An 80-year-old German motorist obediently following his navigation system ignored a motorway "closed for construction" sign and crashed his Mercedes into a pile of sand further down the road, police said Monday..........."The driver was following the orders from his navigation system and even though there was a sufficient number of warnings and barricades, he continued his journey into the construction site,"a police spokeswoman told Reuters.

His turn signal was probably on the whole way as he was dertermined to get to Old Country Buffet.

Man recites pi to 100000 places

How did you find time to calculate this with your active social life? Oh wait......

October 09, 2006

My Columbus Day

Good day off today. Slept in a bit as much as Finnigan would let me, got some quality coffee shop reading time in this morning, and took advanatge of the nice weather we are having to do some rollerblading.

Later in the day Alison and I ventured to an outlet mall and did some shopping. I got some new shoes and a winter hat at the Timberland store as well as a couple sweaters from Eddie Bauer. Alison found some bargains of her own so it was a good outing and a bit of a workout hiking all around the vast mall.

We then had dinner at an Irish pub/restaurant. Although the authenticity is in doubt becaus they were playing Kenny G. "The Unicorn" or "Drunkin Sailor" were not to be heard at this particular Ye Olde Irish Pub. I guess it could have been Kenny O'Gee but I doubt it.

October 07, 2006

Week Over

This past week at work was actually pretty uneventfull. Maternity leave has claimed the biggest distraction and cause of angst so all has calmed down a bit. Had a nice meeting Friday with the Regional Manager. It was a quarterly developmental meeting. Talked about career direction, the future, got an "atta boy," blah, blah , blah. What it really accomplishes is it gives me an excuse to head downtown, visit with people at the corporate offices and chat, you know about "official" bank business. No chit chat or going for coffee or anything like that, nope just "ahem" business, yeah that's it. After leisurly walking the streets downtown and going back to my place to play with kitty, I then head back to the office. I don't know why a lot of people I work with hate going downtown, I find it fun.

Internet has been fixed. Turned out I had a bad router and was able to troubleshoot it over the phone with the comcast tech.

Also checked out a new bar/lounge with my networking group. It was another classy venue and the owners of the places we choose each month are very welcoming. I think gay professionals converging on an establishment like that brings a lot of class and probably better tips for the staff. I did have one bartender, a guy, charge me $3.50 for my drink and another, a women, charge me $6.50 only a few minutes later. It was not happy hour either time so that was curious. But she did look a bit daffy behind the bar. See for yourself, I took a picture:
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And now thanks to the holiday Monday, I have a long weekend. I love three day weekends that lead to four day work weeks. Peace out.

October 05, 2006

When Not Ranting

I play Light Brite

Look In The Mirror

Alcoholic. Gay. Possible victim of molestation.

Could a lawyer and his client brainstorming for damage control only come up with only three diversions?

Alcoholism does not make you a victim.
Being gay does not make you a victim or a pedophile.
Being molested is not an excuse to engage in inappropriate behavior with teenagers.

Many Republicans have now turned the spotlight of this set of events on their own party, diverting it from Mark Foley. Ironically the party of "family values" seems to have tried to shield one of their own by not acting on tips of inappropriate behavior a few years ago and even having more specifics provided only months ago. Have they now become immune to the stench of their own hypocrisy? So out of his hole climbs New Gingrich to explain on Fox News (of course) that if they would have acted they would have been accused of homophobia. If I can paraphrase Desmond Tutu, if you know about injustice and do nothing, you are just as bad as the aggressor.

FACT: Homophobia has nothing to do with this. It is about inappropriate behavior towards minors. The GOP leadership directing the story towards gays is the height of irresponsibility and the audacity even for a group of people with a history of bigotry, is outrageous in the face of their cover-up.

FACT: According The Journal of the American Medical Association, 90 percent of pedophiles are men, and that 98 percent of those men are heterosexual.

So as much as some of the self righteous hate mongering idiots in the GOP want to blame gays, they have to go no farther than Foley himself and then a step farther into their own hearts and consciousness'. For many it will be a first time, but there are already a few stepping up. Those that continue to try to sheild the persons responsible for cover-ups should have the light of the sun shone on their behavior for the rest of their lives.

COMCAST SUCKS

I repeat, Comcast Cable/Internet sucks. It has now been down for over 24 hours. Last time it was three days. DSL is looking like a good alternative. Yay for living so close to Paul and Alison and their DSL.

October 03, 2006

Everything Is A Toy

Finnigan figured out that if he gets on the ironing board, he can reach my tie rack. Silk ties and new kitty is not a good combination. In fact, it is a really really bad combination.

So like any good parent, I planted him in front of the TV so he stays out of trouble.
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October 02, 2006

Moods Today.

It's been awhile since I had a really bad day, so I guess I was due.

Angry. Two disturbing emails dealing with the recurring drama left me pissed off and shaking my head in amazement. Respect is a two way street bitch earn it and you'll get it. Remember, you have to be a quality employee and prove yourself to throw someone else under the bus, be careful. People with documented track records don't make good targets. My mentor at work talked me down from what could have been a major hissy fit.

Sad. Another school shooting, the third in recent weeks. Shooting kids?? Schools will soon become prisons, restricted entry, guards, limited movement. Politicians sending perverted emails to teenage pages at the capital and his party colleagues covering it up to hold onto seats in an election year . WTF is wrong with people?

Drained. Tired of bullshit. I like to be hopeful and optimistic. It's getting harder.

Tired. Need to go to bed, forget this day and start over tomorrow.

sigh