Dear Mr President

I was driving home from work yesterday and this song randomly popped up in my playlist.

Take a listen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wmMS9XVIa00

This song wasn’t written about the current occupant of the White House.  Parts of it could have been.

Dear Mr President,

How do you sleep when you fill the twitterverse with lies and nonsense.
How do you sleep when families are separated at our borders and children are kept in cages?
How did this country become so small and narrow minded.

Dear Mr President,

We’re watching and a lot of us are disgusted.
We’re marching.
We’re voting.
I hope you experience first hand some of the divisiveness you have encouraged.

I hope you never find what you crave.

Wanna know why the 44th President was so appealing to us?  It’s because he would have taken a walk with any of us.

Not So Different

So I read an article online the other day...it was posted by someone who identifies as a conservative.  It was basically bashing liberals; I know, there's a shock.

We're really not that different you know.  Especially those of us that are open minded thinkers and only lean in one direction or the other.

So no, the article wasn't clever.  It wouldn't have been clever if it had been posted by a liberal bashing conservatives.

So here is what I think.

Re: Guns...I think there should be more laws or maybe more enforcement of existing laws.  If you are a law abiding gun owner, I AM NOT TALKING TO YOU.  Please go about your business.  However, if your troubled teen shoots up his school one day with your gun(s), someone should come for you.  If you are a gun toting right winger that thinks you have the right to have a AR-47 because the Constitution allows it, re-read the Constitution, it does not provide for automatic weapons.  You may also qualify for the mental health exam that should accompany any future purchase of a firearm.  The gun lobby shouldn't own an entire political party.

Re: Abortions...NO ONE without a uterus should be making laws about what a woman can and cannot do with hers.  PS--this doesn't make me pro-abortion.  NO ONE IS PRO ABORTION.  Sometimes there is no opposite term.  An abortion should be between a Dr and their patient ONLY.  I am sorry right to lifers, just as you don't want to have to participate in activities related to abortion or planned parenthood because of your religious beliefs, there is a whole segment of the population that does not identify with a religion.  You are each entitled to your thought process; but you are not entitled to push your beliefs onto others.

Re: Healthcare...everyone should have access to AFFORDABLE healthcare.  I am not suggesting handouts but I am suggesting that a good long hard look be taken at the healthcare industry AND the insurance industry.  Executives are getting rich beyond measure on the backs of America's poor.  You shouldn't have to choose between groceries and meds if you are not lucky enough to make over $50K annually.  You also shouldn't have to pay thousands out of pocket for routine treatments.  Congress should have the same health  insurance as those they serve.

Re: Term limits---ABSOFRICKINLUTELY  No one should be a career politician.  2-4 year terms for President, 2-6 year terms in the Senate, 3-2 year terms in the House at the maximum.  States should follow suit.  I also think that everyone currently serving should be removed from office and we should start fresh, I am sick of the whole lot of them but I realize that may be my own personal issue.

Re: Political races and $$$; it should never be the richest person wins because they can choke their constituents with commercials.  No political race should run  more than 3 months; each candidate can make 1 TV commercial and 1 radio commercial and they can each be played once a day.  For the sake of the environment, no political signs or flyers will be printed.  Political "merchandise" will be considered in poor taste.

Re: Welfare...should require monthly drug screening and job training and it should be allocated in a way that the desired outcome for many is NOT to collect welfare indefinitely.

Re: Death peanalty...is warranted in some cases.

Re: Discrimination; If your religious beliefs are such that you do not want to bake a wedding cake for a same sex couple, that is fine.  Please also realize though that the couple can write a review of your bakery based on your discrimination.  People can also boycott your place of business for that reason as well.

Re: Immigration...I love how people talk about how easy it is to get into this country legally.  If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.  Dreamers should be allowed to stay, if they choose and become citizens.  People who are here illegally and are criminals should be deported.  People who are here illegally should be allowed to defend their reasoning for coming.  Old white men shouldn’t be deciding what qualifies for asylum.  There should be a clear path to citizenship for those wanting to pursue it; not bureaucratic bullshit.  There should also be a place we can send Americans who are crappy citizens....maybe call it Deploraburbia.  It’s just a thought.

Re: News Networks...keep your political beliefs to yourself.  You're supposed to be unbiased.  There are many people in this country that are not smart enough to discern if you are being biased to a political party or not so you need to offer the unvarnished TRUTH as ugly as it might be.  Maybe a watchdog group is needed and news networks that spew party rhetoric should be stripped of their licenses to broadcast; that would apply to both parties of course.  The same could be said about newspapers.

Re: Taxes...the more you make, the more you should owe.

Re: The Truth...if you lie running for office, you don't get to win PERIOD.  If you lie while in office, you are removed immediately PERIOD.  There are no such things as alternative facts, or "what I meant to say was...".  Again, things need to be as clear as possible because not everyone is as smart as they think they are.

Re: Hypocrisy should be punished by public flogging.  Just going to leave that here.

So, as you can see, I don’t fit into the clever cookie cutter definition of conservative or liberal.  Frankly, in this day and age, either term can be considered an insult.  Of course what is worse is on either side as well; the inability to see any view but your own.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave...

So we're back here again.  The NFL has voted to require its players to stand for the National Anthem if they are on the field before a game. 

I am as patriotic as the next person and love this country far more than the idiot living in the White House.  I believe in the Constitution.  Which is why it's OK to take a knee for the National Anthem.  I believe in the WHOLE Constitution; not just a couple of amendments that suit my purposes in life.  The Constitution is a living document and gets amended as needed; and should be amended regularly, in fact it could use some amending right now. 

The right to bear arms was written when it took over a minute to reload a rifle.  I am guessing the founding fathers had no clue what technological advances could be applied to rifles and ammunition.  That's why they created a document that could be adapted as this country grew.

I have sung the National Anthem.  It is a beautiful song.  It is a difficult song to sing.  I get goosebumps when I hear it sung/performed well.  It has special meaning to me.  I am sure it has special meaning to a lot of people.  For some it has no  meaning at all; and that's OK. 

Here are a couple of facts about the National Anthem that you might not know:

 "In 1931, Congress passed a bill to make "The Star-Spangled Banner" the official national anthem of the United States. ... The lyrics were written by American attorney Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, but the music was borrowed from the 18th century British song "To Anacreon in Heaven."  --the music is NOT even orignal!

Trust me when I tell you, the person on Fox and Friends saying those who don't stand shouldn't be in the country doesn't hold the Anthem dear to his cold dead heart.  He is simply pissed off at the press that Colin Kapernick got for kneeling.  He doesn't have any deep feeling about anything other than himself.  He isn't the standard for any type of patriotism or respect for this country; quite the opposite actually.

If you're going to condemn Colin Kapernick for the way he acts during the Anthem, you need to also condemn Roseanne Barr and Steven Tyler for their horrible (by normal singing standards) renditions.  You will also need to condemn Chicago Blackhawks fans (of which I am one) for trying to raise the roof of the Madhouse on Madison before each game.  You don't get to pick and choose to suit your needs.

I think it's time that a lot of people in this country go back to their history books.  This country was founded by people wanting to escape oppression.  They were looking for freedom.  This country is a free country.  With that freedom comes responsibility.  It doesn't mean that we are free to do whatever we want whenever we want with no regard for those around us.  But it does mean that we can speak out against oppression.  It means that we can worship (or not) as we please.  It means that we can adjust the right to bear arms to align with current reality.  It means that you can love (and marry) who you want.

I have often wondered why the religious right thinks it is OK to push their beliefs onto others when they are too narrow minded to consider any other position but their own.  That's not how it works.  You cannot deny scientific FACTS because you don't think they align with YOUR religious beliefs.  Facts and beliefs are two different things.  You can believe in something that is factually false.  You can also choose to not believe a fact; it doesn't make it any less factual.

If we blur the lines between church and state, we are going back to what the founding fathers were trying to escape.

So stand for the Anthem...or kneel/sit.  Your choice; it's one of the many things that makes this country great.   Defend your position with pride.  Open your mind to beliefs other than your own.

Mayday, Mayday

Right before 45 was inaugurated, everyone was talking about how those of us that shuddered at the thought of him living in the white house shouldn't wish that he fail because that would be like wishing the pilot of a plane we are all on, crashes.

To those who support him, he's been dragging us all through horse shit for 16 months now.  This is somehow better?

Frankly, I'd rather have him fail than make us the tone deaf isolated laughingstock of the world.

I am reading James Comey's book.  These two men could not be more different if they were from two different species. I actually think they might be.

To those that support 45, without mentioning  his opponent in the 2016 election, the 44th president, or political parties, please tell me why.   I'd love to understand it but I simply cannot put my brain around it.

Sex, Lies, and Democracy

So there have been polls circulating on Facebook asking if you care if 45 slept with a porn star. Honestly, I don't care.  If he can find a porn star stupid enough to sleep with him...oh wait.  No, I don't care about this.

I care about the fact that he tweets lies daily and most of the time in piss poor grammar.

I care about the fact that his base eats it up no matter how vile and base whatever it is he is blathering about.

I care about the fact that there are people that think God wanted 45 elected president of the United States.  I care about he fact that there are people stupid enough to believe that.

I care about the fact that 45 has a 12 year old son who has to live with the fact that his father is doddering old narcissistic whack job who thinks that a warranted FBI raid of his lawyer is an attack on our great country.  It's not. 9/11 was an attack on our country.  The raid the other day was the FBI doing its job.  Apparently Mr Trump, your lawyer is almost as scummy as you.

I care about the fact Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election and it remains to be seen if 45 was involved.

I care about the fact that this so called "tax break" puts about $50 in each of my paychecks while those in the top 2% of earners in this country get millions and those who need it most are getting less than $50 per paycheck.

I care that 45 is trying to dismantle everything that was accomplished in the previous 8 years because he was pissed that a black man was president.

I care that hypocrisy runs rampant in this country.  I care that hatred is becoming acceptable.

I care that guns are killing our children and the NRA keeps writing checks to the fools in Congress.

I care that the old fool in the White House was elected because people were too complacent, ignorant, lazy, pick an adjective to go out and vote against him.

I care that he still talks about crooked Hillary--you're president (god I hate the sound of that) old man.  It's about you now.  The whole sordid, ridiculous story is about you.

I care about the fact that a revolving door is needed on the West Wing to accommodate the parade of staffers that quit, or are fired or run screaming from the building.

I care that a pearl wearing crone spews lies with a drawl worse than nails on chalkboard in a cranky condescending tone. I am waiting for the day when someone in the press pool busts out laughing at the crap that comes out of her mouth.

I care about the fact that 45 taunts world leaders via TWITTER.  I have teenage children that are more mature.

I care that I think Kiefer Sutherland would make a better president on his worst day than what we have now.

I care that 45 thinks he is above the law.

I care that there is a whole percentage of the American public who think that all of this nonsense is OK.

I care that people in his party in Congress sit back and watch all of this crap unfold and DO NOTHING (except retire).

In the grand scheme of things, sleeping with a porn star is not a big deal to me.  I'm not married to him.

The rest of this stuff...to quote the tweeter in chief is "UGE".

Hospital Gown Hell

 Can we talk about hospital gowns?

I had to go in for some routine scans recently and because of the types of scans, I had to disrobe and put on one of these gowns on 2 different occasions.

Who invented the hospital gown anyway?  If you google "hospital gown" you will see that it has its own Wikipedia page...more than you ever wanted to know.

I've tried cotton gowns, flannel gowns, and paper gowns...do you wear it backwards, forwards???

More importantly, which is the back and which is the front???  I don't think I have ever seen one with a tag.

And the tab ties??  WTH???  I will be the first to admit I am not the skinniest person on the planet but good lord, I am also not the largest person.  They never seem to fit comfortably and you always have part of it or you flapping in the breeze.  Have you ever noticed how breezy it is in a hospital? 

That cannot be a good thing.  At the hospital, I tied my gown together as best as I could had still had half a thigh (in true Angelina Jolie fashion) and the left side of my right boob hanging out (Kim K would have been proud).

The radiology area of a hospital is often pretty chilly too, you have to keep all of that ridiculously expensive equipment cool and in turn freeze out your staff and patients!

Snaps??  They sort of work as long as it makes sense where the snaps are located.  What about velcro?  That would work.  I bet velcro doesn't hold up to multiple washings in super hot water.

I have had nurses suggest wearing one front-wards and one backwards to "cover all the bases" so to speak.  Yeah, that's a good look.

Part of me feels sorry for medical staff, I realize they see body parts daily, it's part of routine job "hazards" LOL but it seems to me that it's avoidable.

WHY HASN"T SOMEONE COME UP WITH AN EASY IN AND EASY OUT HOSPITAL GOWN??


Why am I spending so much time thinking about it? 

I go to a clinic that specializes in mammograms...the gown is short.  You only need to disrobe from the waist up for a mammogram.  These gowns are flannel, bordering on fleece, have snaps AND ties so while you're sitting in the waiting room, you almost feel clothed, what a concept!!

The one day I spent in the hospital, I wore a couple of gowns; each one crazier than the other trying to get into (and out of) without flashing a cast of thousands.  I finally sent Chris home to get some yoga pants and a fleece jacket.  Lymphoma was going to be the least of my problems...I was going to freeze to death or give some poor unsuspecting tech PTSD because they saw more of me than necessary!

Years ago, I worked in the intimate apparel (read lingerie) department of a now defunct local department store chain.  They sold house coats.  Some buttoned/snapped up the front and others zipped.  Couldn't they make something similar for a hospital gown...maybe with zippers in both the front AND the back in sizes XXS to 10X to cover people of all sizes.  Maybe in flannel for the chillier exam rooms??

Spending time in the hospital, whether it's outpatient or inpatient is rarely fun and it's often uncomfortable and can be humiliating.  Patients should be as comfortable as possible, don't you think?  Also, maybe some footies...when you disrobe for a scan...socks on or socks off, same with your shoes??  Can I just say that a hospital gown with beige suede booties or black riding boots looks ridiculous but again, it's cold.  What about size 15 athletic shoes?

I went with my socks yesterday in case you were wondering...picture it...pale blue hospital gown opening up in all the wrong places with maroon socks.  Go ahead, laugh...I did, so did my techs when I shared my frustrations.

OK, my work here is done.  I may work on researching how to make a speculum warm to the touch.  Look it up if you don't know what it is.

Just an A**hole

For the last year and half or so I have noticed a change in people.

There are some people who go out of their way to be kind to the people around them.  I'll get to them another time.

The ones I want to talk about today are the ones who ride past a bus stop on a rainy morning in the curb lane, showering the already wet commuters.

The ones who think they are so important they need to cut around the lines of traffic waiting to pass an intersection with a malfunctioning signal and then cut off those who have waited patiently (or at least it looked like they were patient). 

The ones who think it's OK to taunt an African America hockey player as he sits in the penalty box at the United Center (stay classy Chicago).

The ones who applaud an accused cop killer.

The ones who take 2 weeks worth of groceries for a family of 5 through the 15 items or less line.

The ones who think their right to bear arms trumps the right of a child to feel safe in a classroom.

The ones who park in a handicapped spot without the appropriate placard or plate.

The ones who bitch about parking restrictions set to allow for snow removal.

The ones who think rules are made simply to inconvenience them.

The ones who brag about their rights but have no problem infringing on the rights of others.

The ones who think it's OK to text a woman (or a man), over and over looking for a date (or whatever) even after being told, the object of their advances isn't interested.

The ones who slant the news in such a way that it's not even real anymore.

The ones who take responsibility for nothing and are constantly looking for someone to blame.

The ones who have a problem with another person because of who they love or the color of their skin or the faith they follow, or the fact that they are poor, or mentally ill.

The ones who like to hide their horrible behavior behind the guise of their faith.

The ones who like to bend every situation to fit their needs at the time.

I am sure you can add your own.

I feel as if there is a whole group of people that think their poor behavior is acceptable these days when they couldn't be further from the truth.


Listen up...the world owes you NOTHING.  You're not cool or clever.  You're not more important than ANYONE else.  In fact, you're just an asshole.