I have now been called stylish.

According to Things That Bother Me I deserve this award.
Okay. I'll take it.
:)

Before I do, click on that link and go read at least three posts. Guarantee you'll laugh, end up adding the blog to your reader, and then laugh every time he posts.

Here's a recent quote, chosen at random from the zillions of possibilities.

Do you know that there were 109 Grammy Awards given out? There was even one for "Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album". Did they say Rap Gospel? What, does 50 cent have a new song called; " Yo bitch, lets find Jesus?"

The guy is consistently funny.

Here's what I'm supposed to do about this award.

First, I'm to thank the person who gave it to me.
Thank you, Mr. Bothered.
I love getting awards. But I never know whether it will be appreciated when I pass it on, so I usually chicken out and don't pass the award on.

And I'm not going to this time... unless you want it. And if you do, please. Take it. Follow the rules if you can. Don't if you can't.
If nothing else, it gives you something to write about if you're suffering from 'what am I gonna say today-ish-ness'.

After thanking Bothered, I am supposed to tell you seven things about myself.
I've been writing here for a long time, but I know there are still some things that you may not know. In fact, I'm sure there are things I don't want you to know.
:)

I'm fairly certain that none of the following things about me will surprise you.

1. I think everyone in our current elected government is stupid, short sighted, selfish, on a power trip and has done and will continue to do irreparable harm to our country.
This isn't new. We continue to vote for fucking morons who can't hold a real job, allow them to shit on everyone, re elect about half of them even though they've never done a goddamn thing to deserve it, and worst of all, support some of them for life.

WHY????
::shrug::
I have no idea.

I take small consolation in the fact that most of the time, the people who win the elections are people I voted against.

That consolation is balanced by the fact that if the 'other guy' had won, we'd still be receiving an abysmal fucking, just in a different position and maybe with more K-Y.

They're all stupid assholes. Every damn last one.

Thing is, to be elected, especially to a national office, you have to be rich.

Eric and I were talking about that the other day. In his line of work, he has met many people who are well off.

And a huge percentage of them are just... dumber than a box of hair.

It almost seems to go together... the pairing of good (monetary) fortune and not so good brain power/common sense.

Which of course makes me feel a lot better... clearly, I'm too smart to be rich.
:-D

So only really wealthy people get elected, get their hands on the controls, and inevitably make things worse. And they're too stupid to figure it out.

Evidently, we, the voting public, are stupid, too.
I almost think it's smarter not to bother voting. No matter how I vote or who wins... I always lose. So do you.

2. I am fairly even these days.

The preceding bit of political rant aside, my crazy has mostly been medicated into submission.

I resisted the clear fact that I needed help with it for a long time.

It's shame, more than anything. Even though what my doctor said to me is completely true. She said, "If a diabetic comes to me and cannot regulate his or her blood sugar, I give them medication to help them balance that. You are not able to regulate your chemistry any more than they are. That's why we have medication."

So I take the medication.
And occasionally read back over the diary I kept at the beginning. I was having such a horrible time. And all the gut wrenching and awake all night obsessing are just... gone for the most part. However, sometimes, despite the fact that I'm on enough medication to make a horsie happy, I can still wake up and worry. But I can usually go back to sleep and wake up calm.

Impossible before the meds.

It's not related to happiness, people. Otherwise I would definitely not need the assistance.

But I still mostly keep the fact that I'm on drugs to myself and a few close friends.
Well, and the whole goddamn internet. But 99.9% of the internet has never heard of me. They don't know I'm Mental.

Neither does my extended family. Even though more than a few of them are far beyond mental and off into the land of what-the-fuck ness.

At least four of my family members could use some serious therapy of some sort... either medication or counseling. Or both. But they won't admit there's a problem.

I know it's hard to admit.

Can you imagine me sharing my medical stuff with parents as they arrive to pick up their children?

Hell, I am taking medication and I'd be concerned about leaving my kid with someone who has to be medicated.

How screwy is that? And what is there to be done about it?

3. Maybe there are some types of crazy that can't be medicated.
One of my kids asked me the other day, following a discussion about the amount of money I've spent making my program the way I want it, "If you won like 10 million dollars in the lottery, would you quit your job?"

And I really had to think about it.

This may not surprise you. I'd stay where I am, at least for awhile.
Then, I'd open up my own before/after school center.
And still work with kids.
I love it.

But I'd take more time off.

4. I am comfortable with a lot of different viewpoints. I may not agree, but I am fine with allowing people to feel the way they want to. As long as it doesn't hurt someone else.

You may notice that on my reading list over there on the left, there are blogs written from several different perspectives. I read blogs written by Christians, Pagans, Atheists, gay people, straight people, Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians... I feel that I get a broader view of the world because of it. And I'm learning things I would not otherwise have known. I like that. I can agree to disagree, as they say, and feel fine about it.

5. I have (gasp) gay relatives and friends.
They're just... people. You know... relatives and friends.

And it awakens my own intolerance to hear people say stupid things to them like, "Well, I don't approve of your lifestyle, but I love you anyway."

Really? Could you be any more demeaning?
Who the hell are you?
Oh I remember. You are a condescending and superior asshole, that's who you are. You're sanctimonious and somehow under the impression that your religion gives you an excuse to be a fucking jerk.

I was recently told by a family member that he 'refuses to take sides' in the argument.

Okay.

It's your right to do so.
Even if I think it's chickenshit.

But by not taking sides, you are doing exactly that. If you won't stand up and say, "It's wrong to voice your disapproval or judge someone," then you're taking sides. Like it or not.

I don't refuse to take sides, though.

And the recent blowup in the family (a certain family member thinks that not allowing his children around his sister because 'teh gay' might be catching is just fine...) has me steaming.

Why can't people just... love? Accept?

I prefer to stand up and be honest about what I really think. And if my cousin and her wife (for example) are not welcome somewhere, then I won't go there, either. My children have the right to decide for themselves, and I'm beyond proud to say that they believe in giving love and respect to the people who have earned it.

Regardless of their 'lifestyle choice'.
As if it's a choice.
Grr.

Why are people so frightened by the love shared by others?

6. I swear. Often. Cheerfully. With great gusto. Internally and externally. The word fuck is like a comma in my thoughts.

I don't do it around the children I work with. I don't do it in the grocery store (well, not audibly) and I know not to say shit in front of people who might be uncomfortable with it.

But here? On my blog? I have no problem using words that would have made my grandmother blush. Or telling you stories that would have done the same.

I don't set out to deliberately offend anyone who reads here, but I say things that some people would definitely find offensive. The best suggestion I have for you does not involve profanity or judgement... just don't read here. You're likely to find almost anything on any day.

Click here for something that's less offensive than my blog .

7.   This 'mother' pisses me off. There's something to be said for taking responsibility, but her first responsibility would have been for her to supervise her children. After she screwed that up, she made things exponentially worse.

I'd like to kick her in the taco.