The Massachusetts Myth Finally Exposed

I am not a political blogger so this will not be wonkish, detailed or eloquent as I would like, but this is my place so this is what I think…

Massachusetts, the only state that didn’t go for Nixon, may have just sunk the Obama administration.  

I’m not going to put all the blame on Martha Coakley.  Although she did not run a good campaign – she was complacent early on when she had a big lead, appeared arrogant, did lousy in the debates and didn’t realize she’d lost her footing until it was too late.  Then she tried to make up for it with negative campaign ads that only further fueled the other side.

Massachusetts and National Democrats have long taken for granted the Kennedy seat.  There was a scare back in ’94, Kennedy vs Romney, but the Lion pulled it out and the Universe was in harmony.  But we all knew back then, deep down… there was the possibility…  And then we forgot about it. 

The Republicans did not forget and they have waited, have been overly caffeinated by too much T.E.A. and fueled they were… it was big turnout for a non-Presidential election – and in a snowstorm to boot, more than 50% voted.  The Casares’ did our part – we took nothing for granted, but clearly and sadly we were outnumbered and by no small margin.

My dad and I have always marveled at the notion that MA was considered a liberal state.  It may be a Blue state in the national elections (until last night) but it is far from liberal.  There have been 4 Republican governors since we got here.  And except for most of my city friends, almost everyone I know considers themself conservative and hates the reputation of a living in a liberal state or “Taxachusetts”.  (Kind of a joke when you consider that over the border, citizens of Republican NH pay the 3^rd highest property taxes in the country.)

Ultimately though – it’s healthcare that sunk this election.  Massachusetts has implemented a health care system that attempts to cover everyone.  I think it may be the only or first state to accomplish this.  The problem is, most of the citizens don’t like it – particularly many of those that were previously uninsured but are now covered under MassHealth.  These formerly uninsured people now have to pay for MassHealth but have a difficult time finding a doctor that will take it.  Although it is mandatory that doctors don’t discriminate against people with MassHealth, many of them aren’t accepting new patients. 

Effectively, people who were once uninsured are still not getting healthcare but now they’re paying for the services they’re not receiving.

And those who are covered by their employers or by some other method are now also paying for MassHealth.  And they don’t want to pay additionally for a Federal Healthcare system they are not going to use.

This election was squarely and effectively focused like a laser beam on Obama, Democratic leadership and the unwieldy Healthcare bill.  Massachusetts doesn’t want it and is in a unique position to play a part in seeing it fail.

And if the Healthcare bill fails, the Administration fails if they haven’t already. 

There is always price to pay – it’s either in dollars or in people – but we as a country pay one way or the other.

Seven Deadly Sins

Watching the Seven Deadly Sins on the History Channel again this year.  I watched it last year and was proud that I had things to say, but I’m feeling slothlike today and have no keen insight – I’m envious of those who can wax on wax off wax paper.  It just makes me so angry that I can’t help but stuff myself silly with peanut butter cups.  Ah, but I’m lookin’ fine these days so it’s all good.

Anyway… I often have a hard time remembering what the 7 Deadly Sins are, but the History channel laid it out nicely and Kerouac noticed LEGSGAP as a mnemonic device.  Brilliant, Sweetie! (He’s so cute.)

• Lust
• Envy
• Greed
• Sloth
• Gluttony
• Anger
• Pride

 

For those who like their Irish punk music…

Welcome 2010

I can’t complain about 2009 – it was pretty good to me overall.  

- Work got crazy busy as I volunteered for and received more responsibility – Upside:  mo’ money.  Downside:  the proverbial mo’ problems.

- Mr. Wonderful & I started the year ambiguously, separated but with the possibility of possibilities.  The ambiguity is gone now – the “moving on” has finally become the “moved on”.  There was once a time I thought that would never happen and secretly hoped that it wouldn’t.  Now that it has, the sense of relief is elating.

- I’m quite well now, but 2009 brought a few health scares related to the rollercoaster of my reproductive system in the amusement park that is my body.  I’ll never again assume that unusual pains in my belly are simply the result of overindulgence at Dairy Queen or Arbys (although it can’t be assumed that they’re not either.)

- I met Kerouac in 2009 and he’s been a dream for me:  a prince, kind and unceasingly patient.   We’ve been nearly inseparable from the start and our way together has been so easy that there is this sense of inevitability.  Only time will tell but if I were a betting girl… 

We capped off the year quietly – chinese food, Twilight Zones, movies and champagne.   A lovely, simple way to say goodbye to an emotionally turbulent year that started one way and ended completely differently than I ever imagined.  The next year I believe will be more predictable (she stated boldly and perhaps foolishly) and I’m greatly looking forward to it.  

Life feels pretty good right now.  Welcome 2010.

Staying On…

I contemplated packing it up, closing it down.  My blog, Your blog, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, not to mention just trying to keep up with plain ol’ email – I cain’t do it, I tellz ya… I cain’t keep up!

I have a journal, an organizer and a to do list – some of it is on this thin compressed wood-stuff called paper and you don’t type on it, but you have to use a stick with ink in it to make words… it’s weird, I know, but it keeps me busy.

So much of my life is spent recording my life and frequently I feel that I’m recording more than actually living, ironically have less life to record.

This is a twisted little post, I know, and a long winded way to say that I’ve considered and re-considered and I’ve decided to stay a bit more.   (Newscoma helped me make my decision with this post.  She’s always been one of the treasures of the blogiverse.)  Because even when I only post once in awhile and have only kept a few faithful readers (thank you Daisyfae for your unfaltering support and friendship), I really enjoy logging in and reaching out.

I may not who is out there reading, but thank you for being there.

Pink Christmas Tree

The benefits of living alone… I don’t need anyone’s permission to put up a pink tree.  Ah… life just gets better and better.

Post Birthday Post

Had a bout of unexpected melancholy on the 9th.  I’m unsure as to why except that my life has changed a lot this year and as much as new and wonderful chapters open, it highlights that other chapters have closed.

I’m not one to hold on to memories.  I miss good days and don’t like to remember bad days so it’s convenient for me to forget things, but holidays and birthdays etc… 

* *** * *** * *** *

Kerouac escorted me to NYC for my birthday! – he’d never been and I always love to see the tree at Rockefeller Center!  So we had a great time!  It was our first trip together and everything ran ridiculously smoothly as they always do for us.  We did all the New Yorkery things we planned and added a couple of activities that should become tradition for us including going to Serendipity III, as seen in the movie, for their famous Frrrrozen Hot Chocolate, which was amazing, by the way.  We watched Serendipity last week and (except for the fact that I’m clearly way hotter than Kate Beckinsale) there’s a lot in the movie that strikes a chord for me about us so I just felt like we had to go. 

Feel Good Friday 12/4/09

Okay a wee late I am on the FGF meme… so be it… I meant to post this this morning.  It’s been in my head all week…

I had to find one I could embed.

Dogpaddling With Sharks

A “friend” made some comment the other that I was a brown-noser.  In spite of the disgusting picture that puts in one’s head, I laughed about it because I knew what she was talking about and it wasn’t entirely unwarranted however unflattering.

I work in a finance department in the corporate world.  I have a job that requires the big girl panties and sometimes I’m terrified that someone will discover that my panties still reference the days of the week.

I’ve seen many colleagues in the past year abandon ship, get fired, or get laid off for “cost-cutting” reasons.  They quit while they’re angry and they get offended when they’re let go.  I feel for them – it’s a tough time to be out of work – and some people are just not as hire-able as others.  It’s painful – I’ve been there – but it’s not personal.

Some creature, who is just as afraid of losing his job as I am afraid of losing mine, is crunching the numbers to see if my job could be done just as well and cheaper by someone else (or several people).  It’s my job to see that he doesn’t succeed.  It’s a bit of a game but so far so good for me.

We’re swimming with sharks here and no one is safe.  I’m doing well… I’m dogpaddling my little heart out and my number has not come up.  But it could, anyday, and if it does, I’ll try not to take it personally. 

In the meantime – when my manager asks me for something – I’m gonna get it and I’m gonna be real friendly about it.  And I don’t care who makes fun of me for it.

Anyway, I’m still at the office – smiling and with my head just barely above water.

Fad Diet Day B

Oh Slimfast, my old friend.  I’m on the second day of a Slimfast plan.  I forget that I actually used to like this!  I’m particularly a fan of the powder and not the cans.  The powder reminds me of when I was a kid and making chocolate milk.  And  it’s the most food preparation I’m willing to do – you know, me and the kitchen… not good.

So far the plan is working like this:

• Slimfast Shake around 7:30 am.  Yummy!
• At 8:30 am it’s coffee time.  And then again at 9:00.
• At 9:15 I break out the Slimfast candy bar.  A little early but that’s okay – there’s plenty more!
• At 10:15 I’m kinda hungry again so I have another cup of coffee. 
• That doesn’t do it for me so I have the other Slimfast bar at 11:00 am.  No biggie.
• At 11:45 it’s close enough to lunch so I go microwave my Healthy Choice Meat Clump & Watery Veggiemush.
• By 12 noon I’m done eating and totally pissed that I have no more food until dinner.
• Somewhere between 12:00 & 5:00 I have about 4 more cups of coffee and start snapping at people who offer me food.  “F#&% off, ya dumb ass – I’m trying to lose weight!”
• When I got home I had another Slimfast Shake and booted up to tell ya all about it! 

Day B:  Success!!

Now I’m going to bed so that I don’t eat again – hope I can sleep! 

(On categories: Kerouac asked if he still had to “Pity the Fool That Dates Me”.  Maybe he doesn’t like the implication that he’s a “fool”.  But after a day like this, the answer is clearly still Yes.)

Happy December

Hello December – my favoritist month ever!  It’s my birthday month and the whole country celebrates by putting up pretty lights, singing pretty songs, and expressing goodwill towards all.  Thanks everyone – I think you’re swell too!

I’ve been out of the news-loop for quite awhile now – but perhaps I’ll start paying attention again.   After all, I have no complaints these days and therefore, apparently nothing to talk about. 

Grossly uninformed I am about the state of politics these days so I’ll work with the celebrity news…

• Rihanna calls leak of naked pictures “humiliting”.  From what I have heard and seen, I might be tempted to think the naked pictures may be the high point.  I have not been wildly impressed by neither her music nor her comments on domestic abuse or interpersonal relationships.  Certainly I hope her experiences help young women avoid domestic abuse – that should go without saying, but there, I said it anyway.
• Domestic abuse is no laughing matter but I’m sure we’ll hear plenty of jokes about Tiger Woods if (or even if not) the rumors are true.  Dark humor is certainly something with which I am both familiar and a frequent participant, and when man bites dog, it’s ironic.  But when I remember Phil Hartman, I can’t think these things are too funny.  I’m comfortable with being a wet blanket on this point.
• So Alec Baldwin thinks his movie career is a failure?  “I consider my entire movie career a complete failure,” Baldwin added. “The goal of movie-making is to star in a film where your performance drives the film, and the film is either a soaring critical or commercial success, and I never had that.”  Taking a 20+ year into account, no doubt, he’s made some dogs – in which he was usually the only saving grace – but he’s made so many great movies, I tend to think his “failure” may be in his vanity.
• And the ex-Miss Argentina dies after cosmetic surgery on her derriere.  It’s not funny – but it is certainly ridiculous.  The whole argument of “well, if it makes her feel better about herself” is horseshit.  How does she feel now?  There’s probably not a single woman around that hasn’t considered the nip or tuck including yours truly – but why?  The striving for physical perfection is both futile and pointless and perpetuates the message to our daughters that youth and beauty are worth dying for.  They are not.  I could make a long list about when it’s reasonable to get cosmetic surgery but when The Stunning are risking and even losing their lives for a slighty firmer behind I get a little sick to my soft and squishy tummy.

Okay – I guess that’s my take on the news for today.

Til we meet again!!