2013

Well it’s 2013 and the Mayas screwed me. That’s the last time I trust in a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican calendar that was supposed to predict the end of life on 12/21/12. Man did I have to scramble to get Christmas gifts on 12/22/12. For those that I couldn’t get gifts in time I simple wrote out cards and wrapped them in boxes, the cards said “Sorry, no presents. Blame the Mayas.”  Well, I can tell you that didn’t go over well with the kids. I should have listen to my mother when she told me that you can’t trust the pre-Columbian Mesoamerican Indians and that they love pulling practical jokes on suckers even takes a thousand years.

All kidding aside the reason I haven’t been blogging much is because in November of 2011 I lost my job of 13 years thanks to the economy. I went on UC (Unemployment Compensation) and even though I full compensation it was less than what I use to make. So I was hoping by spring 2012 I would get my job back but that didn’t happen. I applied every week for work and by the end of July 2012 I got a part time job doing morning maintenance for a non-profit organization. I get up at 4am and work from 5am to 10am Monday thru Friday. Hourly pay wise I get less than that I use to get but UC made up for it. Then in November 2012 I got a second part time job working evenings and weekends for a retail store hours started of ok but as decreased in recent weeks and I get the same hourly pay as the maintenance job. I basically work two part time jobs to equal one full time 40 hours a week job and I get no health benefits and make far less than I did on UC and I can’t collect UC as long as I get 40 hours a week regardless that they are two part time jobs and get less than I did on UC. But it really doesn’t matter because my UC is basically up. I may be able to reapply for UC if I drop under 40 hours but my reopen claim will be based on what I have made with the two part time jobs and that will even be less. And now on top of things my pay checks will get smaller because the 2% of my pay will go back to social security which I doubt I’ll ever collect because it won’t exist by the time I can collect.

So anyway the last year was not great for me and even though I knew the Maya doomsday was not going to happen part of me wouldn’t mind if the Mayas were right. As for health insurance the plus side is still have my old insurance through my old employer but I pay a COBRA for it but the downside is I’m going to have to pay more for it this year.

So it’s 2013 and I keep chugging along and I keep looking for full time work or better pay and benefits.

I hope to do more blogging but it seems if I’m not working I’m sleeping or looking for work.

I thank all of you who keep checking in and I’m sorry my blog is not very active but I’ll keep checking for new comments and try coming up with new posts.

Side note:  Someone asked me if I had a New Year Resolution I said yes and it was not to have a New Year Resolution because I never keep them. I wonder if I can keep it.

Your friend,

UR

MERRY CHRISTMAS

            &

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Best Wishes From
UR

Happy Thanksgiving.

That being said, in all honesty for many years I have always had a conflict of conciseness when it comes to Thanksgiving when it comes to Native Americans. Since I don’t want to be a downer I won’t go into it.

Besides being thankful for family and friends and being grateful for what I have I would like to take this time to thank the following.

I like to thank all those who serve in our military who are giving of themselves to protect us. 

I like to thank those who are police, firemen, caregivers, nurses, doctors, animal caretakers, utility service/repair workers, security guards and anyone who works as to work because it is a necessity.   

I like to thank all those who have to work in sales or food services on Thanksgiving and those who have to work in retail on Black Friday for they are all truly unappreciated.

I don’t think thanking  maybe appropriate so I especially would like remember  the Native Americans who ended up having struggle to survive due disease and war and had lose so much just to hold on to their traditions and identity and all the tribes who once were and are no longer.  

Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not I still wish you all happy and safe holiday.

UR

Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Open Discussion cont.

Friends,

We have a new comment at the Open Discussion post.

I was a little late in posting the comment and since it was a subject close our heart for many of us and to make it easier to find moved it here.


At October 15, 2012 2:48 PM , Mack said...
  

Scotland seals terms of historic independence vote -

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/cameron-signs-deal-scottish-independence-vote-124329342.html

America the Hated

Yea we get it the Middle East hates us, Muslims hate us. Yeah, yeah we suck.

Strange thing is during the Arab Spring protests America was loved by the protesters then 18 months later America is hated and all this over a film that was at the time virtually unknown in America. I guess people in the Middle East and Africa are used to living in countries where the government control film making so of course they think the US Government must have given the okay of the making of the film. So much for their school’s education of World Government courses.

So let’s see, an anti-Muslim film creates in the Middle East and Africa anti-American protests, attacks on American embassies and the murder of 4 Americans including a US Ambassador which none of these 4 Americans had anything to do with the film. Yet in America with the attack of US embassies, the murder of 4 Americans including a US Ambassador everyone just goes on with their day. Including our President who went to a fund raiser and a had campaign speech that opens with “So I wanted to begin tonight by just saying a few words about a tough day that we had today”. Tough day? Attack of an embassy and the murder of 4 innocent Americans including an Ambassador is just a “tough day”. Wow.

There was a time which the murder of Ambassador could be considered an act of war, particularly if hosting country doesn’t stop it or bring the perpetrators to justice. Question is are Muslim extremist behind some of these attacks either overtly or covertly and using the anti-Muslim film to flame the fire.  No doubt that many of these countries have some kind of knowledge of the groups that are fanning the flames and making plans. I know many of these countries are now trying to protect our embassies and gently bring an end to the protest, but I believe it’s not because they like America but they like America’s money. 

Perhaps it’s time to close our embassies in those countries that hate us and kick out ambassadors and diplomats from counties that hate us. Cut off financial aid to those countries and even revoke visas. I’m not saying that we go to the extent of Ron Paul and becoming isolationist. All the money that we sink into countries that hate us could go to paying down our deficit, rebuilding our economy or provide aid to countries that want our friendship. Let Russia and China support those countries that hate us and see how long until the Muslim extremist turn on them.       

As for oil, we need to buy from Canada and look for oil within our own boarders and become the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. We need to continue to work on alternative energy and fuel efficiently.

Maybe it’s time that America to take care of its own domestic issues and deficit and be more supportive of its true friends and allies in the world. 

UR

Alligator posted a comment and I was going to simple reply but as I thought about I thought Gator’s comment is too good to let be lost in comments.

Gator said,

I have to cut down on the amount of news I watch or I get depressed. Things are getting wilder with people in general. Folks I live and work around seem to be ratcheting up in "drama" in their lives. I have the sense that this really isn't the country I grew up in...we've slipped from our moorings that much.

July 23, 2012 6:51 AM

I have to agree this isn't the country I was raised up in. It does seem to be something wrong with the world today.

From a song called ‘Living on the Edge’

“There's somethin' wrong with the world today
I don't know what it is
Something's wrong with our eyes

We're seeing things in a different way
And God knows it ain't His
It sure ain't no surprise

There's somethin' wrong with the world today
The light bulb's gettin' dim
There's meltdown in the sky”

I see more self-center over reactionary aggressive behavior today than I saw 10 years ago. Everyone seems to have a major personal crisis.

What ever happen to being stoic?

I understand why Gator thinks the news is depressing. News reporting is based more on feelings than facts. This may seem cruel to say but feelings aren't facts. This also applies to peoples personal lives as well.

Thing are different today for sure. I wonder how much it has to do with reality TV.

It just seems people are lonelier today even if they have 1000 friends on Facebook. It seems a lot of people like to talk but no one likes to listen. I’ve listen to people complain about the same “crisis” over and over again and when you explain how to handle it they won’t do it. They just want to complain about it as if their crisis gives them some sense of wroth or importance.

When I have a personal crisis or problem I tend to say the Serenity Prayer:

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference."

UR