If you read Minare's blog, please don't panic. She didn't delete it - but somehow everything in measi(dot)net disappeared when I was adjusting a blog setting for myself from Blogger to WordPress to experiment with it.
Experimentation did not go as planned. *forehead smack*
Fortunately, since she uses Blogger, she'll be able to republish and all of her entries will come back into being.
In the meantime, I apologize for broken links. Things will get back to normal ASAP.
Regards,
Melissa
28 March 2009
27 March 2009
I read the entire Republican budget proposal... and so can you!
First, read this: http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=03&year=2009&base_name=my_favorite_budget_ever
Then read the proposal: http://www.gop.gov/solutions/budget/road-to-recovery-final
(I promise... it won't take long).
Then go to Fark for charts that are FAR more helpful: http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4291765
My contribution to the cause is here: http://www.measi.net/images/nat1.PNG
Then read the proposal: http://www.gop.gov/solutions/budget/road-to-recovery-final
(I promise... it won't take long).
Then go to Fark for charts that are FAR more helpful: http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4291765
My contribution to the cause is here: http://www.measi.net/images/nat1.PNG
26 March 2009
Death of the American Dream...
News from my mom last night is digging deep into me - it's a state of shock that I thankfully don't have to experience often. And I'm not quite sure how to respond to it, outside of mourning.
My grandpop's metal plating shop is closing in a couple months. They subcontract virtually all of their business to a very well-known company. Said company, due to the economy, is scaling back production drastically. That leaves my grandpop's shop with no work and, again... thanks to the economy... no prospects. Another footnote of small business disappearing under the weight of this economy, another dozen blue collar jobs lost.
The Shop is the foundation of my family's American Dream. My grandfather's life has been the American Dream. He came here with nothing but the clothes on his back, with a wife and two small kids in 1950, speaking no English and having very little formal education, sponsored to come here by a local church. Soon after arriving in the States, he started working at the Shop as a laborer. Conditions were nasty up until only perhaps the last ten years, cramped and viciously hot due to the processes. He (and my grandmother) worked very hard. All three of their kids graduated from college. My grandpop's dream was to own a Cadillac someday. He's achieved that threefold.
At some point, he bought the Shop. He's owned it as long as I can remember. My uncle took over day-to-day operations at some point, but even in his mid 80s, my grandpop still goes to work every day, full-time.
It is the classic American dream - the family that came from nothing, worked their asses off, and were able to achieve a comfortable life, with family and close friends around them.
The Shop closing is a death knell to that American Dream to me. It was my tangible grasp to the ideal... one that many have said has died and gone away. I shook my head, knowing that I had a perfect example of it in my family.
And now that's gone.
The biggest thing, though, is my fear about my grandpop. He's worked at the Shop for roughly sixty years. What is he going to do? The Shop has been his life. Every day, without fail, he goes to work. Since my grandma died, I think it's been the routine he needed to keep going. Whether unfounded or not, I'm terrified about what will happen to him once the Shop closes. I've read stories, and known people, who just seem to whither off when they stop working. My grandpop's one of those people, I think. I'm worried about what he'll do with himself. He'll go stir crazy if he's stuck at home.
In two months, the doors of "the Shop" close forever. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the idea that it'll will be gone.
And I think my brain is bracing me for further bad news.
My grandpop's metal plating shop is closing in a couple months. They subcontract virtually all of their business to a very well-known company. Said company, due to the economy, is scaling back production drastically. That leaves my grandpop's shop with no work and, again... thanks to the economy... no prospects. Another footnote of small business disappearing under the weight of this economy, another dozen blue collar jobs lost.
The Shop is the foundation of my family's American Dream. My grandfather's life has been the American Dream. He came here with nothing but the clothes on his back, with a wife and two small kids in 1950, speaking no English and having very little formal education, sponsored to come here by a local church. Soon after arriving in the States, he started working at the Shop as a laborer. Conditions were nasty up until only perhaps the last ten years, cramped and viciously hot due to the processes. He (and my grandmother) worked very hard. All three of their kids graduated from college. My grandpop's dream was to own a Cadillac someday. He's achieved that threefold.
At some point, he bought the Shop. He's owned it as long as I can remember. My uncle took over day-to-day operations at some point, but even in his mid 80s, my grandpop still goes to work every day, full-time.
It is the classic American dream - the family that came from nothing, worked their asses off, and were able to achieve a comfortable life, with family and close friends around them.
The Shop closing is a death knell to that American Dream to me. It was my tangible grasp to the ideal... one that many have said has died and gone away. I shook my head, knowing that I had a perfect example of it in my family.
And now that's gone.
The biggest thing, though, is my fear about my grandpop. He's worked at the Shop for roughly sixty years. What is he going to do? The Shop has been his life. Every day, without fail, he goes to work. Since my grandma died, I think it's been the routine he needed to keep going. Whether unfounded or not, I'm terrified about what will happen to him once the Shop closes. I've read stories, and known people, who just seem to whither off when they stop working. My grandpop's one of those people, I think. I'm worried about what he'll do with himself. He'll go stir crazy if he's stuck at home.
In two months, the doors of "the Shop" close forever. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the idea that it'll will be gone.
And I think my brain is bracing me for further bad news.
24 March 2009
Randoms
Dragons that need clicks. :) (I guess the Dragon Cave is somewhat back up... I dunno)
Erich and I saw our best man's production of The Sound of Music at one of the local all-girl Catholic academies this weekend. He directs both plays per year at the school, with his mother as the long-time musical director & a brother helping with backstage work. Very, very good, especially for a high school performance. Two girls in particular, twin sisters, have the most amazing voices. Something genetic runs in that family!
Sunday was a lazy day. I made corned beef & cabbage. It takes too long to cook on a weeknight with my commute schedule (really don't want to eat at 11 pm). It was delicious as always, and worth the time needed to cook it. My recipe includes beer & a bunch of spices in the boil pot, so it definitely doesn't come out with the "bland" flavor that a lot of people associate with boiled food. We have a bunch leftover, so I think tonight's going to be a leftovers night. :)
It's one of those dinners I should make more often, but we only cook it for St. Patrick's Day. I suppose it's mostly because it's something I really can only make on the weekend. It takes about 4 hours, all told. It's kind of like turkey - I love making it, but just don't that often due to the time involved. But really, neither are THAT complicated. Most of the time the food's just cooking on its own. *shrug*
I signed up for Netflix finally... I know I'm a bit behind the times on it, but it's honestly been more due to the fact that I just didn't have the time to watch a lot of DVDs until recently. Now that things are slowing down, and the weather's better so I can safely transport the laptop on the train again... it made sense.
I'm starting out with the John Adams miniseries on HBO last year. (And no, there's no spoilers here - unless you don't know how the American Revolution turned out). I'm three eps in, and it's very, very good. The actors are phenominal, and the scenery is gorgeous. I like that while it's definitely from the American perspective (and New England perspective in particular), some of the ugliness of the American side is being shown, too. AND... it shows the Founding Fathers in more realistic ways than we normally get in our glorified history classes here in the States. I'm appreciating that these men have flaws and limitations to what they achieve, the fighting between them, and how the "some things never change" bumbling when they see the European heads of state, who look down their noses at the silly new worlders as children... makes sense.
It's also surreal to see Boston's portrayal. Seeing places that I see all the time - the old State house, the wharves, etc... and then the places that don't exist anymore, particularly the hills. I realize I live in one of the hotbeds of early American history, but I'm finding that I'm starting to take it all for granted. It's wonderful to see it refreshed again.
Colley's going to the vet tomorrow for another round of dental cleaning & tooth extraction. *sigh* Poor cat. He's going to be gummy within a few years at this rate. Granted, he is getting older (he's 10), but man, he has poor teeth genetically. He'd lost a good deal on his own before he was 5. We had to have a couple more pulled 2 years ago (including one of his front fangs.. so now he's a snaggletooth). Poor guy.
Thank goodness for tax refunds, eh? Kitty dental work doesn't come cheap.
Erich and I saw our best man's production of The Sound of Music at one of the local all-girl Catholic academies this weekend. He directs both plays per year at the school, with his mother as the long-time musical director & a brother helping with backstage work. Very, very good, especially for a high school performance. Two girls in particular, twin sisters, have the most amazing voices. Something genetic runs in that family!
Sunday was a lazy day. I made corned beef & cabbage. It takes too long to cook on a weeknight with my commute schedule (really don't want to eat at 11 pm). It was delicious as always, and worth the time needed to cook it. My recipe includes beer & a bunch of spices in the boil pot, so it definitely doesn't come out with the "bland" flavor that a lot of people associate with boiled food. We have a bunch leftover, so I think tonight's going to be a leftovers night. :)
It's one of those dinners I should make more often, but we only cook it for St. Patrick's Day. I suppose it's mostly because it's something I really can only make on the weekend. It takes about 4 hours, all told. It's kind of like turkey - I love making it, but just don't that often due to the time involved. But really, neither are THAT complicated. Most of the time the food's just cooking on its own. *shrug*
I signed up for Netflix finally... I know I'm a bit behind the times on it, but it's honestly been more due to the fact that I just didn't have the time to watch a lot of DVDs until recently. Now that things are slowing down, and the weather's better so I can safely transport the laptop on the train again... it made sense.
I'm starting out with the John Adams miniseries on HBO last year. (And no, there's no spoilers here - unless you don't know how the American Revolution turned out). I'm three eps in, and it's very, very good. The actors are phenominal, and the scenery is gorgeous. I like that while it's definitely from the American perspective (and New England perspective in particular), some of the ugliness of the American side is being shown, too. AND... it shows the Founding Fathers in more realistic ways than we normally get in our glorified history classes here in the States. I'm appreciating that these men have flaws and limitations to what they achieve, the fighting between them, and how the "some things never change" bumbling when they see the European heads of state, who look down their noses at the silly new worlders as children... makes sense.
It's also surreal to see Boston's portrayal. Seeing places that I see all the time - the old State house, the wharves, etc... and then the places that don't exist anymore, particularly the hills. I realize I live in one of the hotbeds of early American history, but I'm finding that I'm starting to take it all for granted. It's wonderful to see it refreshed again.
Colley's going to the vet tomorrow for another round of dental cleaning & tooth extraction. *sigh* Poor cat. He's going to be gummy within a few years at this rate. Granted, he is getting older (he's 10), but man, he has poor teeth genetically. He'd lost a good deal on his own before he was 5. We had to have a couple more pulled 2 years ago (including one of his front fangs.. so now he's a snaggletooth). Poor guy.
Thank goodness for tax refunds, eh? Kitty dental work doesn't come cheap.
20 March 2009
The official plug for Support Stacie
I will be writing again for the Support Stacie Auction, being held April 3-6, 2009. (link above). I've pledged for one 5,000 word fic (bids will start at $10) in one of the three fandoms: Doctor Who, Torchwood, or X-Files. Prompts, rating, pairings, etc. are up to the winning bidder's choice. The only restrictions I've asked for are no requests for babyfic, wedding fic, or songfic, and if asking for a Doctor Who fic, please limit scope to sometime in the New Series, as my Classic Who isn't yet up to snuff for writing.
AND...
AND... ;)
my special offer for the auction is that if bids go above $100 for my fic, anyone bidding $100 or over will also get a fic of at least 1,000 words according to their requests as well, to be finished after the winning bidder's fic. (And knowing me... any of that fic is going to go at least 3,000 words, honestly).
So bid! Not just on me, though - bid on everyone! :)
Blessed Ostara
Shocking, I know - I haven't posted here in eons. I'll be honest - it's mostly due to my webhosting having new password requirements, and I keep having publishing problems. *sigh* I've been debating switching the whole thing over to WordPress, so it's all internal on my site.
We'll see how crazy the year is - maybe I'll entertain myself and geek out with some reformatting. The site definitely needs it.
So let's see... quick bullet status updates for me...
- Erich and I are well. Married life continues to be good
- Still employed, as is Erich. Matt is still searching
- I've lost some weight. (Hooray!)
- Focusing on redecorating my house this year
- We're going to see Billy Joel & Elton John in concert this summer
- Finished some fanfic (finally!)
- I've joined a charity auction to be held in two weeks: Support Stacie
One of my quiet goals for Ostara was to start writing here more often. Proper journal entries like I have in the past, meandering if I need to. I'm feeling the need to do some reflection writing again. So hopefully I'll be able to stick to it.
But for now... back to work. :)
We'll see how crazy the year is - maybe I'll entertain myself and geek out with some reformatting. The site definitely needs it.
So let's see... quick bullet status updates for me...
- Erich and I are well. Married life continues to be good
- Still employed, as is Erich. Matt is still searching
- I've lost some weight. (Hooray!)
- Focusing on redecorating my house this year
- We're going to see Billy Joel & Elton John in concert this summer
- Finished some fanfic (finally!)
- I've joined a charity auction to be held in two weeks: Support Stacie
One of my quiet goals for Ostara was to start writing here more often. Proper journal entries like I have in the past, meandering if I need to. I'm feeling the need to do some reflection writing again. So hopefully I'll be able to stick to it.
But for now... back to work. :)
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