'Twas A Night

'Twas a night during the summer, when on the second floor

The girls were talking, giggling, and more.

I in my nightgown and he starting to snore

Had just settled down on the futon by the door.

On top of us the window broke like a flash,

We could smell exhaust and were covered in glass.

Mom sprung from the bed to tell us the news,

A car drove through the house and the driver smelled of booze.

As I gathered my thoughts and turned around,

Down the hall my Dad came with a bound.

He whistled and shouted to the Mustang driver;

"Turn off the engine and call a firefighter!"

When what to my wondering eyes should see,

A fireman, a policeman, and an EMT.

They said we were in shock,

All i could do was listen, I could not talk.

The prompt:
Write a poem about a memory you sometimes wish would disappear.

Stir Fry

1. Buy cut up beef from grocery.
2. Go home open said beef and curse because the shit is bad.
3. Drive back to grocery, forgetting original receipt.
4. Go home with new beef and throw it on a skillet with some fancy oil.
5. Cook for somewhere between 5 minutes and 20 minutes.
6. In this time open beer.
7. Cut up some vegetables too.  Something that looks Asian-y.  Water chestnuts, peppers, onions, snap peas?
8. Remove beef and put veggies in skillet.
9. Everything will look a bit dry so try putting some Asian-y liquids in it.  Teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, beer.
10. Cook for somewhere between 10 minutes and 45 minutes.
11. Boil water for fancy looking noodles.
12. Remove fancy looking noodles and notice that they look like Ramen noodles, although they were not cheap like Ramen.
13. Boil for 3 minutes.  No more no less.
14. Drain and rinse in cold water for some unknown reason.
15. Check out veggies.  Look for some kinda Asian-y spices.  Ginger, pepper, beer.  Add some of those.
16. When the veggies are finished remember that you forgot the snap peas.  Add them in QUICK!
17. Add beef and heat a bit more.
18. If stir fry looks dry try adding more soy sauce/oil/broth/beer.
19. Serve beef mixture atop fancy noodles.
20. Enjoy.  Or try to.

Actual Posted Note

This is the poster that will be posted all over the subways!  See me??  This photo is from last year's walk.  This year will be my third walk.

As you probably know, my mom has stage 4 ovarian cancer.  She has to discontinue her current treatment because it is not working, but she will be enrolling in a different research study soon.  The money that I raise will help fund these studies.

Here is how you can help.

Random Musings

• Aren't kids supposed to have skinned knees?  It is summer and he's learning to run.  Sometimes he falls.  Granted he seems to be falling a lot lately, but people keep commenting on his knees.  Every time they do I feel defensive, like they are being accusing, which they probably aren't.  
• Remember that massage that I tried to get six months ago?  I finally got one!  It was so nice.  Then I went home and napped for a couple of hours.  So nice!
• I had this bear when I was a kid that I carried around sometimes.  I remember standing on a bridge overlooking a waterfall and I really wanted to toss him over the side.  I remember not knowing why I wanted to because I knew that I would be really upset that he was gone, but I wanted to nonetheless.
• There was this weird lady at the park cleaning the equipment with a baby wipe.  I thought at first that maybe her kid spilled something, but she seemed to be cleaning everything.  With the same wipe.  The only thing I can think of is perhaps she was part of the neighborhood group that got the playground put up.  Still weird.
• Have you seen my kid's photography?  I've got more stuff lined up, too.
• Thanks to Kacy, I have a sudden urge to mail postcards to everyone.  If you get one, don't be surprised.
• I asked Ryder about a zillion times if he needed to use the potty and he kept saying no.  The minute that I sit on the toilet he pees himself.  Figures.
• When I become interested in something, I become slightly obsessed with it.  For example, I was listening to Sublime and couldn't remember the details of the L.A. riots, so I read everything I could on them.  Next is epigenetics, look forward to a post about it.

Boycott BP Part II

Yesterday I told you why I am still boycotting BP and I still had some questions.  I found out the answers to some and formed more questions.

1.  "The independents will be the people that feel [the boycott] first," BP spokesman Robert Wine commented. "These boycotts are far more painful to the independent retailer," said Brandon Wright, manager of regulatory affairs and communications with the Petroleum Marketers Association of America. "When you stop filling up at BP stations, you're really hurting that community's economy." source  The first thing I want to point out to you is who is making these statements:  BP spokesman and big oil spokesman.  I am really not inclined to believe what they say.

2.  "I understand people are angry and upset, and they have a right to be. But they're taking their anger at the wrong people," Scaramella said (owner of 22 BP stations.) source  Okay so the argument, to reiterate, is that boycotting hurts our neighbors not BP.  So why doesn't owners just drop the brand?

3. "The franchise agreement is 20 years and requires sites to be supplied with BP or ARCO branded fuels for the term of the 20-year contract."  source  Wait, so they do sell BP gas...  

Does this all get very confusing, or what?  They are just talking in circles.  It makes it difficult to write a linear blog post.


So, we are hurting our neighbors not BP because BP doesn't own the store, and therefore doesn't make much money off of them.  But, the owners are in a 20 year contract with BP to sell their oil and brand.  So they are connected...


4.  

Our success depends on your success... BP offers significant advertising support, regional sponsorship programs and onsite promotions to build brand awareness, cultivate consumer loyalty and help drive more traffic to BP sites. We utilize radio advertising, direct and online marketing, as well as events and sponsorships to move consumers to a more purposeful and intimate interaction with the BP brand... This significant, ongoing consumer following brings greater value and incremental revenue to your site as a BP Branded Marketer. We even guarantee our fuel quality in writing – with a money back promise – the only major energy company to do so. 

This is all from BP's very own site.  So, obviously, the owners are receiving assistance on many levels from BP and in exchange has a contract with them to sell their fuel.

5.  If the owners and BP were separate entities, as they would like you to believe, why would BP be so insistent that they do not own these stores?

Scaramella and other station owners along the Gulf Coast aren't sitting still. They have reached out to BP for assistance -- and help is arriving.  Independent owners of BP gas stations in Georgia and states along the Gulf Coast will be receiving signage, paid for by BP, early next week that clarifies that these gas stations are not owned and run by corporate BP.  According to preview images provided to gas station owners and managers, the signs that will be put up at the gasoline dispensers will read: "Part of your community. This BP station is owned and operated by people from this community. Your neighbors, your friends, your family. Thank you for your loyalty."  BP spokeswoman Sherry Boldt said they are also advising owners on how to answer questions from the public. "We think it's important to connect. They are the face of BP on the street," Boldt said.  source

So, our neighbors are not going to be hurt by the boycott.  They will be receiving help in many forms, including monetary aide:

Russ Scarmella, managing partner of US Oil Holdings, (which is the largest franchiser of BP stations in the US) let slip in an interview on CNBC yesterday that he expects BP to pay for the revenue losses station owners incur due to this disaster. Though he didn't explain why in this short interview, obviously either BP has promised to compensate station owners who have documented sales losses, or more likely, the station owners will take it upon themselves to sue BP over such losses, and cite BP's own gross negligence in damaging the BP brand.  source

6.  "Think about all the plastics that require petroleum as an ingredient. There's really no way to tell where the petroleum came from that went into making that plastic," Wright added. "Given the number of products that use petroleum, avoiding BP's products is nearly impossible."source  Okay so now the argument is BP is so big, including unbranded oil and plastics, that you are going to buy their products whether you like it or not.  Does it not just feel like they are just scrounging for reasons not to boycott their stations?

7.  "If they want to have a protest at the park or somewhere else, super. But to come to my station to do it, and tell people not to buy my products or come inside my stores, to bash my business without even knowing us is hurtful,"  said Scaramella.  source  What?!?  Now that is just ridiculous.  "Okay guys, today we're gonna do something a little different:  instead of standing outside BP to boycott BP, we're gonna stand in that park on the other side of town.  You with me?!?" 

8. "Michael Monahan, who was protesting at the BP gas station in Atlanta, said: 'I feel kind of sorry for them; they're stuck in the middle. But there's not a headquarters for me to stand under today; there's just that sign.'" source  Exactly.

Boycott BP

I know I've mentioned before how I believe that one of our greatest weapons is consumer power.  I do not spend my money at businesses that dump their money into organizations that I disagree with.  I do not shop at Walmart or Dominoes.  I do not buy Coors beer.  I do not agree with their principles so I do not give them my money.  The same goes for BP.

I understand other people's argument that to boycott BP would be hurting the gas station owners, who are our neighbors.  Our neighbors with kids to feed.  I think the same principle applies.  When I decide not to shop at Dominos it is really hurting my local Dominos, but should I turn a blind eye to where my money is going?  Should I continue going to BP knowing that a part (albeit a small part) is going to fund the yacht race?  Do I want to support the company that has destroyed so much wild life and so many ways of life?  BP is hurting our neighbors in the South.  Are they not the real victims?

My bf works for Walmart.  She has a family and she makes decent money at Walmart.  Should I shop at Walmart because I do not want her to lose her job?  I don't think so.

To boycott your local business is the only power we have.  What else can we do?  Write to Congress?  Done.  Donate to clean up projects/  Done.  Pick another station to pump my gas at.

Gasoline boycotts do not, historically, work (although this is the proposed solution in the linked article).  Eventually you need to get gas.  You do, though, have the ability to choose whose gas you buy.  Maybe our local gas station owner will consider switching to another brand, although, I admit my ignorance to whether that is a possibility.  After additional research on the topic, it may not be as easy as I originally thought.  Apparently not all BP stations sell BP gas and some other stations sell BP gas.  I have a real problem with this.  So, I am not buying what I think I'm buying?  This requires more research.  And don't you worry, I will share my findings.

Are you boycotting BP?

Can't Pick Your Family

I had been doing really well.  Really well.  You could probably tell by my lack of ranting.  For two weeks, I hadn't spoken to my mom.  I had talked to my sisters about false shit she'd been saying, but hadn't actually spoken to her.

Until Thursday.

I asked her what they were doing Friday.  She (kinda) invited us to a baseball game.  I told her that I would love to go, but didn't know if I could get out of work early. 

Friday my phone rings at 2pm and it's my mom.  She was bitching that she had been waiting outside my building for 45 minutes already waiting for me.  She tried calling a zillion times before but no one picked up.  I tried to explain that we'd all been working.  I panicked and told her I'd call her back.  I didn't know what to do.  I couldn't leave work early.  If I told her that she would either 1. leave and be pissed that she waited an hour for nothing or 2. wait and be pissed she had to wait longer, be late picking up my dad, and miss the first pitch.  I nearly started crying.  I didn't know what to do and the longer I didn't call her back, the longer she was waiting.

I felt like throwing up.

My coworker convinced me to call her and apologize but explain that I would be another 1.5 hours.  So I did.  She said "WHY?"  "Uh, because I, uh, have work to do.  We've been real busy."  Why does she think I can't leave work early for??  Because I am fucking WORKING!  Blah!  So she decided to wait.

When I could finally leave I was in such a hurry that I just grabbed my bag and ran out.  Not noticing that I left my phone and my Ipod sitting on my desk.  I didn't notice until we got to my house.  I started crying.  I was mad at her for making me rush and I was mad at myself for forgetting them.  It wasn't even a big deal, really, I hardly use my phone, anyways, but I felt like a fucking idiot for leaving them.  Of course my mom is all "Are you crying about the phone??"  That made me feels tons better.  *insert sarcasm*

Then she drives me all the way back to my work after the ball game to get my stuff.  How am I supposed to feel justified in being angry when she does something really nice like that?

Now I feel shitty again.  It was a relaxing weekend, but I have been angry the whole time.  I'm not even sure why.  I am just sad and angry.  Mostly, I think, it is because I was doing better and now I'm not.

How to Say No at Work

First we learned about saying no in a relationship.  Here is your second lesson.

They will not fire you for saying no.

Odds are, unless your job is exceptionally shitty, your boss will not fire you for saying no.  It is important to say no once in a while so people don't walk all over you.  If they know that you will do anything they ask, trust me, they will ask.  This goes for your coworkers, as well.  Yes, you want to be helpful and proactive, but you don't want to be a schmuck.

Know your rights, first off.  Know what your job description is, what you agreed to when you were hired, what your company policies are, and what your state laws are.  These are all important resources for learning to say no.  You probably won't need all this information, but you should know how to get it, should you need it.

Here is a good example of saying no, especially to a superior.  At my job, if you want me to order something (pens, beakers, whatever) you need to fill out a short form.  It is basically your name, what you want ordered, and how many.  This serves several purposes:  there is a record of you wanting it and me ordering it, it won't get ordered twice, and when it comes in, we know who needed it.  Very often someone will come up to me with a scrap of paper, a post-it, or an empty box.  Sometimes they have none of these and just expect me to memorize their order.  I tell them to put it on the list.  If I lose your scrap of paper, I don't want to be responsible, so put it on the list.  Some people find this a major inconvenience so they will find someone who will accept their empty box.  Sure, some people get angry, but the system is in place for a reason.  Ideally, everyone would say no and they would be forced to use the form, but not everyone is comfortable saying no.

This example is minor and more likely to be something you might see daily.  A more extreme example is if your boss wants you to work off the clock.  No!  No!  No!  Not only is this illegal and could get everyone in trouble (what if you get injured while off the clock?) but you are not volunteering your time.  You get paid to work.  If you are an hourly employee never work off the clock.  Let them try to fire you for it.

What if something is not in your job description?  What if they want you to take on more responsibility but without a raise?  You need to know the line between being ambitious and being used.  Given work a little outside your boundaries can be good, it may result in a raise or promotion, but if you are essentially doing the work of a manager and not being paid as one, you need to say no.

I caused quite a stir at my last job.  I went through "Team Leader Training" in order to get promoted to team leader.  I finished the course and was offered the job.  I said "Yes!"  Then I got the details:  there would be a three month probation period where I would be the team leader, but not get the raise.  At the end of the three months they could either offer me the job and I'd get the raise, or not offer it to me and I would go back to my former position.  So, I would be working for three months for free (well, without the raise) with no guarantees I'd even be keeping the job.  If I had been hired from outside, would they have not paid me for three months?  Of course not.

Anyways, I said no to the job, which no one had done before and they were pretty pissed about it.  They did spend time and money training me.  I then told my friends why I declined the job and they, too, turned down the position.  I didn't change the world, but they did change their policies.

In closing, you have to learn how to say no.  I'm telling you - they are not going to fire you because you can't work late tonight.  Trust me.

Keeley the Katerer

My sister's wedding was beautiful.  The flowers were gorgeous, the dresses perfect, and the guests lovely.  Her first dance was awesome.  They were introduced by some epic music, danced to a romantic piece, skanked to some ska, then finished off with another slow romantic song.  We were all afraid that my mom was going to ruin everything, but she didn't.  The person who nearly ruined it was the caterer:  Keeley the Katerer.

First off, I love alliteration but I HATE blatant misspellings.  Caterer with a "K" is not cute.

The woman was a bitch.  We called her the Wedding Nazi.  She wanted things done her way and when my sister wanted things her way, the woman complained.  She was clearly confused about whose wedding it was. 

We practiced outside.  The wedding was always supposed to be outside.  That's one thing my sister wanted from the start.  It had rained the night before, but during the day it was beautiful.  A perfect day for a wedding.  When we showed up, the hall was set up indoors.  When asked about it, the Nazi said that it was inside and if she wanted it outside, then she needed to have called by noon and it would be an extra $300, although we had practiced less than 24 hours ago outside.  My sister ran to the bathroom crying.  Bitch.

The Nazi claimed that she knew best.  She has been doing weddings for 40 years and the brides think they know what they want but they don't.  She knows best.  She knows what works and what doesn't work.  When my sister wanted to do the dance first, thus placing it out of proper order, the Nazi was not happy.  Kept claiming my sister had changed everything.

I sat down at my family's table where Ryder was and he reached for one of his glasses.  I asked if it was water and almost gave it to him when someone said it was wine.  Wine?  When was it poured?  It had been poured before we had arrived, hours before.  My bff was not going to sit back and drink old warm wine.  She approached the Nazi and voiced her complaint.  The woman claimed that the wine could be served warm and that is how they always did it.  It was my sister who had changed everything around, that's why it had been sitting out so long.  Also, the longer my bff complained, the warmer the wine was getting.  My bff ended the conversation by asking the woman not to go up to my sister with this.  There was no need to bother her on her wedding day with details.

The woman went straight up to my sister and asked her who my bff was and told her she was complaining about the wine.  She explained how it was my sister's fault because she changed everything around.

First of all my bff was sitting at table #1 with my family, so clearly she was close to my family and my sister told her so.  Then my bff turned around and saw the Nazi talking to my sister and marched right up and told the woman how she had just told her not to talk to my sister about it.

Anyways, to make a long story a little shorter the Nazi was complaining about my bff all night.  She and her coworkers were talking about her (pointing and the works) right in front of everyone! 

The guests complained about the wine, but they didn't have to worry long because right after the toast, the glasses were swept right up.  Actually, all of the glasses were swept right up.  They were taking people's drinks if they left them on the table to dance.  The Nazi herself started to take my drink and I was sitting in front of it!  And I am talking about drink drinks, the sort you pay $4.00 for.  Oh, and soda prices were anything but consistent.  People reported paying any where from $0 to $1.50 per soda.  And all the drinks, including the water was taken away by 8 pm, though we had the hall until midnight.

Speaking of leaving, they turned the lights on at 10:30.  They started removing table cloths at this time, despite the fact that people were still sitting at them.  Everyone felt as if they were pushing us out the door.

My SIL wanted to speak to the owner, but he would not come out of the kitchen.  She planted herself outside the door, but he just ran out back to hide.  The Nazi kept coming up to my sister with questions, comments, and complaints all night long.  Even once interrupting a dance. 

It is too bad, really.  The hall was pretty, the garden perfect.  The food was good - although the Nazi came up to us and said "Boy, you girls sure do have an appetite!" because we were still eating.  We were still eating, not because we are heifers, but because we were socializing. 

I would strongly advise against hiring Keeley the Katerer in Portland, Maine, for anything.

Too Much History!

When I didn't have any money, I didn't go anywhere.  I didn't have any money to do anything.  But now that I have some money saved, I have been finding all of these free things to do.  Why didn't I find these things before?  I guess even leaving the house costs money; gas, food.

Have you ever heard of Letterboxing?  If not, click on the link and check it out - it's like a treasure hunt.  The first couple boxes I looked for, I couldn't find, which was pretty discouraging, but I found three today and now I feel like making this a full time job!


So, I found these boxes while we were exploring Concord, MA today.  Orignally I just wanted to go see Walden Pond, but we got sucked into all sorts of history.  Walden Pond is really high right now because of all of the rain we've been getting.  There is no inlet or outlet, so I suppose it's not going anywhere any time soon.

We went over to Sleepy Hollow and Author's Ridge where we saw the graves of Thoreau, Emerson, and Alcott.  Old cemetaries are always cool.  I looked for a couple of letterboxes over there, but couldn't find them.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Then we went over to the old North Bridge where the "shot heard 'round the world" was fired.

We don't care about no stinking rain!

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a great book, but I don't need to tell you that.  It is fairly common knowledge at this point.  If you haven't read it or seen the movie, you ought to.  From here on out I am going to assume you have read it and discuss the ending freely.

I love Amir's character.  He feels more real than other protagonists.  I feel like other characters do something they regret and when the opportunity to atone presents itself, whether in a week or a decade, they jump on it.  Amir, on the other hand, does not.  He rights a wrong, not because he wants to, necessarily, but because it is the right thing to do.  I think he was a coward all the way up until he finds Sohrab in the bathtub.  Even as he was healing, he was caring for this boy because he didn't have any other real choice.  It wasn't until Sohrab tried to kill himself did he truly want forgiveness.  Only then did he feel it in his heart.

I think religion really illustrates this point.  Amir was not a praying man until he is in the hospital with Sohrab.  His father, too, was not religious, and he never forgave himself for not being a father to Hassan.  Baba never turned to God for forgiveness because he could never forgive himself.  I like how religion is a very mild undertone to the book.

Can you imagine flying a kite where the string is covered in glass??  I really am skeptical about how fun that is. 

What are your thoughts?

Soundtrack to My Life

Soundtrack of your life: Pick 10 songs that you would have on a soundtrack for your life, pick a line from each that you most identify with and write a short statement of why this song made it.


Phish "Waste" - Come waste your time with me  I love these lyrics.  A perfect day for me would be with another person and we would just waste time.  We would just be together and that would be enough.

Saves the Day "Shoulder to the Wheel" - And I say "Just go.  Please, Dave, just drive."  I guess this taps into my inner fight or flight instinct.  I think the flight portion is stronger.  So often I just want to run away.

Secondhand Serenade "Stranger" - I'd have to write a thousand songs to make you comprehend how beautiful you are. - If a man sang this to me I would be his forever <3

Bob Marley "No Woman No Cry" - Everything's gonna be alright, everything's gonna be alright This is the song I turn to when I am crying.  I need to be reminded that everything's gonna be alright.

Spongebob Squarepants "F. U. N. Song" - F is for friends who do stuff together, U is for you and me, N is for anywhere and any time at all.  Reminds me to have fun :D

Rolling Stones "Mother's Little Helper" -  And goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And two help her on her way, get her through her busy day  I am eternally grateful for my little helper.  Makes life so much more bearable.

Jewel "I'm Sensitive" - I have this theory that if we're told we're bad Then that's the only idea we'll ever have But maybe if we are surrounded in beauty Someday we will become what we see  This is a good philosophy, I think.

Harry Connick Jr "Cry Me a River" - And now you say you love me, well, just to prove me you do, cry me a river, cry me a river.  I cried a river over you.  This describes my relationship with the ex.

Andrew Llyod Webber "Everything's Alright" - Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to Problems that upset you, oh.  Don't you know Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine.  See a pattern forming?  I need not to worry so much.

Jane Siberry "It Can't Rain All the Time" - It won't rain all the time The sky won't fall forever And though the night seems long Your tears won't fall forever  Yeah, I think you've picked up the pattern now.

Oh, and if you like these songs, I've made a nice neat playlist.

Joe Legal

I received the following email from my aunt.  She clearly doesn't know me at. all.


You have two families: "Joe Legal" and "Jose llegal".

Both families have two parents, two children, and live in Arizona.

Joe Legal works in construction, has a Social Security Number and makes $25.00 per hour with taxes deducted.

Jose Illegal also works in construction, has NO Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash "under the table".

Ready? Now pay attention...

Joe Legal: $25.00 per hour x 40 hours = $1000.00 per week, or $52,000.00 per year. Now take 30% away for state and federal tax; Joe Legal now has $31,231.00.

Jose Illegal: $15.00 per hour x 40 hours = $600.00 per week, or $31,200.00 per year. Jose Illegal pays no taxes. Jose Illegal now has$31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays medical and dental insurance with limited coverage for his family at $600.00 per month, or $7,200.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $24,031.00.

Jose Illegal has full medical and dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal makes too much money and is not eligible for food stamps or welfare. Joe Legal pays $500.00 per month for food, or $6,000.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $18,031.00.

Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for food stamps and welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays rent of $1,200.00 per month, or $14,400.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $9,631.00.

Jose Illegal receives a $500.00 per month federal rent subsidy. Jose Illegal pays out that $500.00 per month, or $6,000.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $ 31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays $200.00 per month, or $2,400.00 for insurance. Joe Legal now has $7,231.00.

Jose Illegal says, "We don't need no stinkin' insurance!" and still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal has to make his $7,231.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, etc.

Jose Illegal has to make his $31,200.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, and what he sends out of the country every month.

Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work.

Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family.

Joe Legal's and Jose Illegal's children both attend the same school. Joe Legal pays for his children's lunches while Jose Illegal's children get a government sponsored lunch.

Jose Illegal's children have an after school ESL program. Joe Legal's children go home.

Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same police and fire services, but

Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.

Do you get it, now?

If you vote for or support any politician that supports illegal aliens.......You are part of the problem !

It's way PAST time to take a stand for America and Americans!



And here was my response:

What about when our friend Jose Ilegal doesn't get paid "under the table"? He still pays the same taxes as Joe Legal and now he too makes too much money for any welfare, just like Joe. If we are going to talk about people being paid "under the table" and abusing the welfare system, then we cannot just limit it to illegal immigrants. I would bet that more of the people who are abusing the system are citizens. Illegal immigrants are coming to this country to work and make money. They are not coming here to just suck off of our system.

Furthermore, the problem with the Arizona law isn't just that the cops are stopping illegal immigrants and asking for their papers, they are allowed to stop anyone. You and me included. You and me, tax paying citizens. They can stop anyone and ask for proof they are here legally. What if you were a legal Mexican immigrant? Would you not be afraid to be stopped by the police every single time you left your home??

Raine

Ignorance makes me so angry.

To Those I Love

Good Things

Top of Pike's Peak

Denver Zoo

Our family at Liz and Justin's wedding

Ryder with the Bride and Groom

In Which Raine Gets in Her Car and Drives Away

I was pumping gas at my local Hess station when a big-ass black truck pulled up behind me.  I could hear the yelling immediately.  I looked behind real quickly and saw a man in the passenger's seat and a woman in the driver's, both about my age or a touch older.  The man was yelling something about how she had fucked up and she needs to learn to drive.  I couldn't make out the rest, but I know it was nasty.

I didn't know what to do.  I didn't want to say anything in front of him and make him angrier and perhaps make things worse for her and I didn't want to call the police or anything because he was just yelling and I didn't know what was going on, really.

I stood in front of my pump awkwardly when I saw him go into the store.  I got into my car and watched the store.  It didn't look like he was coming back out immediately so I got back out and walked towards the truck.  I asked the woman if she was okay and she said she was.  I asked if she was sure and she said she was.  Then I got back into my car again, and drove away.

I feel weird about the whole thing.  On one hand, I really wish that I could have done something more for her, but on the other hand, I know that there was nothing else I could do in that situation.  I thought what if I had handed her my phone number?  But what if he had found it and it made things worse for her?  Would she even call me anyways?

If I were her, and I wasn't okay, would I tell me?  I don't think so.  But maybe just me asking will make her feel better.  I hope so.