On turning 30 and other potentially disheartening issues...

Ok, this is me admitting that I'm turning 30 this year. I've protested until now, mostly because, well, screw numbers. They're confusing and distracting, and all that really matters is what "is". And goddamnit, I feel 25.
But I have changed since 25. So what does that mean, really? For the best? The worst? It's really subjective. If we're talking about learned submissiveness, score one for me. If we're talking settling down and hitting the mute button on my crazy level, score one for me too. I suppose life is about choices; about getting by the best we can, and doing the right things whenever possible. But right for whom?
When I was just starting my 20's (and any time I've been under the influence) I had a plan not to have a plan. Why do we need a plan, really? So we can become carbon copies of our parents? How exciting. Bleck. Why does anyone want to see the same things, do the same things, see the same people for the rest of our lives? I thought want and desire was all about what can be learned and explored and found.
So my non-plan was to reject settling down with a job, a car (ok, maybe a car), a house, a man- and just go where I wanted to go, when I wanted to go there. You buy a house, or an expensive car and you are roped into paying for it for the next 5, 10, or 20 years. Which makes you have to have a solid job. And since the economy blows, it forces you into a relationship so you can afford to live comfortably. (Enter children, at any point...) So one day you wake up and you're staring death in the face and you haven't done or seen a fucking thing.
Screw that.
Give me an old VW bus- paid for, of course, and let me loose on the world. I'll hitch up a little tear drop camper on the back and stay where ever I stop. Find a skill and sell it for whatever I need- food, etc. But more than anything, I don't want to feel obligated to stay anywhere any longer than I want to.
Enter my kids.
Ok, a little hitch in the old plan. But why? Cause they need government controlled and propaganda filled textbooks to tell them about life and the world? How better to teach them than in person, through experience and actually seeing the shit- living it. And kids need stability? A myth, created by the man to keep everyone quiet and stablized where they're at.
Enter (republican-as-stable-as-they-come) husband. Ok. I give.
I know I sound a little stoner-y right now, but you can't tell me you haven't even at least considered it.
I have way too much to experience to actually be 30. Jesus, I have so much to do.....

Rendition

If you haven't seen it, watch it. It's an amazing movie that really makes you think about the human side of all this shit going on. You can feel however you want to feel about the war, but one thing is undeniable. Terrorism begets terrorism. And that's the truth. Watch it and see what questions you ask yourself afterward.

Issue 4

As a nurse, and until recently, a single mother, I am in favor for the most part of employees staying home when they are sick, and even having the ability to take care of a sick child, I am wondering if this legislation leaves too many loopholes. As I hear too often, people are always there to complain about those who "take advantage of the system". Well, that is in any case.



However, here, whether or not this is passed, it has opened an opportunity for the businesses to take advantage of their employees. My company, as well as many others in my area, have all decided to take a proactive approach, and lump all our leave into one bank (sick, vacation and PTO). While doing it, they are going to decrease the accrual rate of my vacation. Basically what this has accomplished is this:


Say I accrue 3 days sick time and 10 days vacation time a year, with 2 personal days off. As of October, I now have a bank that accrues a total of 15 days off. (And if this is passed, 7 of those 15 days will HAVE to go towards sick time, leaving me with only 8 to use as vacation.) The other thing it accomplishes, is that my company, by acting proactively, is not held accountable for decreasing my vacation days. Without more tweaking of this bill, I cannot be a supporter. However, I fully understand the fault lies in my employer's hands, which no matter what happens, screwed me out of 4 vacation days per year, from here on out.


Other than that, companies that haven't yet established themselves in Ohio will have one more reason not to. We already rank something like 48 out of 50 in the nation for the creation of new jobs. Those that are established will (and already are) changing their policies to mirror more of the above. While I am not against encouraging healthy employees, I only hope that we can all vote "no" on this issue. At the very least, it needs rewritten.



**Update: Now that the issue is off the ballot (thank me for emailing both representatives and the governor, lol) my employers have changed their minds about their great new plan, and have moved further discussion to 2009. I'm not stupid. Come on.