Drunk Blogging....

Hey...just like to tag them, so I can see just how literate I may or may not be and as well, to give my readers a warning that perhaps they may be entreated to a longer than usual post with a more than average vocabulary.

It's kinda wierd now, if you have a good vocabulary, it is actually a symptom? I thought that was something to be proud of. The vocabulary thing, not the symptom thing... The hallmark trait of someone with Aspberger's syndrome is someone with an above average vocabulary, who tends to be verbose and use what they term "fifty dollar words" and still do in some cases...oh and coupled with impaired social skills. WTF does that mean anyway? Social skills are bullshit and a lie, in my humble opinion.

I do not give a rat's ass about small talk...except the weather and that's good to know and discuss...weather can fuck your plan up in a heartbeat. Look...sorry to be that way, I want to look around the lay of the land, figure out what obstacles lay before me and just make a plan. I'm a real simple girl. I'm as honest as the day is long ...and that's just how I roll. That's the real reason I don't do parties. It isn't just blogmeets....I just can't really handle that much input at once. It's not even a personal thing. I just can't and I don't know why. Never have been able to and the fact that I have this big of a family, from the glimpse that my virtual family has seen...you do understand what is so damn special about The Senior Chief, right? You need to really know no more. I'm good with that...you should be too. Too much knowledge ...is a burden and I refuse to be that.

Why is having a good vocabulary now primary criteria for a syndrome? Is it not enough that people like that are made fun of in their formative years? Just for being visionaries and retaining what they read? Must they now be labeled with a syndrome or a disorder?

How does that reckon on the fairness scale of karma? What the hell is wrong with words like eccentric and batty and flighty, all which descriptions were given with a smile of indulgence for all the things the person was not..and how they had paid their dues to be able to finally BE what they are? When did it change? When did it become so ...wrong? To be a lover of learning? When is it time to give up hope, then? Is there no hope left in the world? If I listened to all my elders or whomever, then there is no hope..don't do this because this might happen or don't do that because that might happen...whatever...it's a drag...

Yep, some emotional pain might happen. All learning involves a certain amount of humility for what was right in front of your face and all the things people tell ya, but there are certain lessons in life that nobody can describe to you or you can explain. It's kinda like combat that way...life. The loss of a parent is one of those that is a common denominator in the human experience. Cancer is another one that comes to mind....

Getting back to the subject at hand...fear cannot rule us. If, when we were kids, we listened to our parents, then we would have never risked anything...and risk ..is so much a part of learning, and sometimes the best teacher, that parents don't see the value in it always.

And, our parents wanted us to be them. They made the mistake of thinking THEY had it all figured out. From my perspective, nah....and that's a fallacy most parents make.

And then, you try and use layterms and still are accused of having a phenomenal vocabulary...like it's a bad thing because you know several meanings of several different words.

Somebody, do explain it to me? When did knowledge and hard work become such a bad thing? Geez...what the hell is wrong with just working with people's strengths and weaknesses and learning to let go a little?

I, probably am never going to have what they call social skills but the definition of trophy wife is fixing to change too. I thank God that I married someone that understood that trophy wives turn 80 something too. And the rest of people, ...whatever, then.

Economic Stimulus

The last one didn't work, this one isn't either. As well, the only people that get stimulated when they start handing money out are the people that caused all this shit to begin with.

Remember the extra 300 bucks you got that one year? Well, where did that money go? People spent it, certainly..and then guess where it went?

Well, I'm here to tell ya. Let's play..track the money..

Suppose you got a big enough chunk that you decided to put a down payment on a car at a new dealership. You wrote the check, the money is in circulation..YAY! (NOT!) All it did was go back into the pool and the OWNER of the type of car you bought got all the money..in the form of business profits. The guy who owns it all gets all the money. So it goes with anything you spent your stimulus money on.

We are not in this economic mess because Bush screwed up and Obama certainly isn't going to be able to fix it.

You know why? Because people are greedy bastards. If business ethics, if doing the right thing was part of the daily business operation, we wouldn't be in this mess. But, it isn't and hasn't been for a long time.

You see, a smart business person doesn't need to be told to redistribute the wealth to those that actually made it for them. See, they do an annual closeout and redistribute the extra money. That's called "profit sharing". There's nothing communist about redistributing the profits of a company. You SHOULD because without the people you hire, then you surely are not going to get paid.

This falls into one of those morality clause kinds of deals and morality cannot be legislated. You cannot make people do the right thing...by passing laws. It has to be unacceptable and you have to take a stand in how you do business. And, if you are cheating on your expense accounts and stuff, then you are guilty too.

For too long it's been people out for themselves and themselves only from the top to the bottom. Everybody is going to have to get with a different line of thinking. Period.

I think that Co-Ops are the wave of the future. Money is merely paper, after all. It is only backed by the producers, anyway. People need to quit feeling so afraid and rejoice that we live in some good times indeed.

Good in that we do have the opportunity to make a difference. There is a revolution going on and how cool is that, in a way? Hey, that's just how I think, though...I think EVERYTHING is exciting. Shoot...living history...I would only want to live NOW. I have no desire to return to the past, or even go to the future because right now..there are things happening. Yes, it's a bit scary, but as well, it's going to be interesting to watch it play out.

That's what I think, anyway.

A Simple Analysis...

Putting aside all the recent politics and bullshit, because really, I am not a politician...


Obama is a rookie. Put a yellow stripe on his ass, rookie.

We as Americans have two choices...make him the rookie that brings us to the Superbowl...or not.

Do YOU want to go to the Superbowl? I sure as hell do.

Choose.

On a Lighter Note..

In a bizarre turn of events, I received an email from a gentleman who wished that I view his online magazine.

I do not usually pay much attention to such things, but this one impressed me enough that I feel like I have to write a whole blog post about it.

So, (drumroll please)..

May I introduce you to The Endive.

Please go. It'll make your whole day, if I know my audience correctly. I laughed my ASS off...it's so worth it.

In Another Life

And, yes, I did have another life before I got married and had kids. Another life that came back to me thanks to that damn Sandy (grin) and her Facebook.

That, however, is a different story. What I am here to talk to you about is something altogether different.

In another life, a good friend and mentor to me, who also happened to be a Viet Nam veteran said to me, impressed upon me...drove home to me... the following lesson:

"It's all mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter. If nobody is shooting at you, it really doesn't matter, either."

And, so I pass this wisdom on to you all. Listen, people, my ass is out there pounding the pavement with you. Trust me. It sucks..but it can be done. And for all things on paper..I haven't done a thing in thirteen years. And I know I'm gonna get a job. You can too.

Because it's mind over matter.

You see, I have this absurd faith that in this day and age, the producers are going to get the jobs and I count myself among the producers. But worry about it, nah, I'm not going to do that.

What I am going to do is this..I am going to get up every morning. I am going to get dressed and hit a few places up and then I'm going to come home. And when I've gone every place I want to...I will start all over again.

Though on paper..it looks like I ate bon-bons and watched soaps all this time..in reality, every place that I go, I know people..they like me, and they'd love to have me work there.

Maybe I'm just quirky, but I am all about professionalism. I always go around town and listen to other people and smile, say something kind and go about my business. People like that. More people know me than I know, believe it or not.

This will serve me well. I am well known as a mom in these parts and whatever your special thing is, people will know you too...and there are jobs to be had.

And listen...it's so not about money right now. Yeah, salaries are going to decrease and all of that, but so is the price of everything else. It will balance out. People lower their prices when they see folks can't afford to pay them. And you'd be surprised at just how low you can go and not cut into profit. You would be surprised. I know how much profit I charge for parts and I gotta assume that the guy I bought them from is making a profit and so on until you get back to the manufacturer. You can mark stuff WAAYYY down..even 70% in some cases and still make a 35% profit on what you sell. Yeah, I been paying attention...

I know how much food costs, I know how many people you can feed with what and I know what they charge on an average ..per plate.. at any given restaurant and I don't care where you go, you are getting RAPED by eating out.

My point being, remember it's mind over matter and if you don't mind, then all the little shit that messes with your head...it just doesn't matter. You'll be able to sit down and figure out a plan to overcome whatever obstacle it is you might be up against.

Yeah, unemployment is through the roof right now, but producers will get the jobs. The slackers and the moochers have been revealed.

Everybody is sick of doing business like that. This has already been coming. We have a customer to this day who is our customer purely because I was impeccable with money handling and his account balances and whatnot. He could call me anytime and get his stuff reconciled to the penny and with a smile to boot. In that case, it did not matter what the senior chief fixed for him or didn't. It mattered that his books balanced, and they did. So, he is still our customer.

How much proof do you need? I know I have a smart audience and whoever was responsible for my hit spike yesterday..thank you. Do reveal yourself...

Look, there is work to be had, you just gotta get creative. And not lie, but tap into areas of yourself you didn't know you had. Yeah, I think it's fair to say I know my way around a kitchen...etc. etc.

Everything pretty much breaks down into a process. Doing helps you figure out the process and if you do something long enough, you're BOUND to get good at it and get a hit. The real secret to life is persistance, persistance, persistance. Don't matter what you want.

Hence, I do still have a blog, too.

Be confident and remember...Mind over matter.

Hope and Change

Listen to me. Hope comes from within. Hope is what you make it...change is inevitable.

Do you really want the government to 'help' you? Dictate is more like it. Heard of that tax the gov. of NY is trying to put on sodas? I don't need that kind of help or hope personally.

Hope is eternal. People had hope during the Great Depression. Hell, we can all hope for stuff, but hope is merely hope without work to back it up.

I hope for a lot of things every day. Hope is like wishing. Wish or hope in one hand and shit in the other and see which fills up first.

The American dream has always been about hope and hard work. You hope for a nicer car, you work harder and purchase it. Hope-fully, you made sure you can afford it first. See, I can hope..doesn't do me a damn bit of good does it?

Change is inevitable. It is. Things are going to change no matter who the president is or whether or not you even want it to change. Change is necessary for survival.

The only real solution is to be the master of your own change. Nobody is going to make YOUR wishes, hopes and dreams come true.

That has always been and will always be...up to you.

I Don't Care Anymore

Ok, it's a done deal..it sucks but, whatever..not a damn thing to do about it. I refuse to be miserable for the next 4 years. No, I will save my energy for the next election.

I don't care how "they" were... all during the last eight years, what they said or any of that. I won't play.

Now is the time to focus on more practical matters for most of us. You know, the procurement of survival stuff...food, clothes, shelter...jobs..all of that. That is all that matters.

Perhaps it won't be as bad as it seems it's going to be, but I won't hold out much hope for that. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best is my particular motto.

Now is the time to prepare for the worst, and there's serious work to be done on the part of our citizens...on our part. I really hate to think of being attacked again, but again, refer to the motto. I will prepare and you should too. Keeping the family safe is the name of the game.

Be prepared. It can't hurt...and can only help. But, I don't care about politics anymore. Not for four years, anyway. Gotta work hard these next four and even then, it's still not going to matter much.

Save yourselves is what I say. Do what it takes. Sorry. Wish I had a happier message and all, but it is what it is.

Wondering...

Technology blows me away...well, not really, but sitting and chatting with Army boy on myspace im..and wondering what difference it makes in the lives of those over there????

I really do wonder..does it hurt or help? Does it cause them to lose focus when speaking with a loved one and then going out and having to do some shitty job? Or does it make it better, more comforted feeling..you get to say I love you more often, for sure..

Or, is it like most things...a help and a hinderance? I really do wonder.

I was stationed overseas before the age of technology and the senior chief spent months away from his family before the age of technology.

Does it only help the families? What does it do for the military member overseas?

Questions..endless questions.

Over The Hump

Being officially over the hump does tend to put one in a happy mood upon wakening.

Of course, there are other reasons, as well. A little Capt. Morgan's in the morning tea or coffee helps considerably.

I think I can forsee a positive change in the economic statuse, albeit maybe temporarily, but I can read the mood..

You see, most people are tired of worrying and there comes a point where you cannot worry anymore, you have to accept the unacceptable, and just move on.

For the producers, the only thing that is a balm to the sting of life is to get back to work. And so we will. Slogging along as always, and eventually it will get better.

Simply because we decide to go to work and fix things. I think that is what is being counted upon. The time to quit is not yet, now is the time to redouble our efforts.

I know, I know, we all wish we could form a commune somewhere of producers. That's what makes it fiction. In reality, it's time to buckle down and work like you've never worked in your life.

You know, do what it takes for survival. I'm there too. I'm making drastic changes around here. If change was forced upon us, fine, can't change that, but you can get proactive and make the changes you want. If you HAVE to have change...

I'm not a big proponent of change, personally, but change is necessary for survival. Adaptation of the fittest and all.

Hey, I intend to stay on the very top of the food chain.

Thank God It's Over...

Well, I guess I'll get out of bed today. God only knows, one cannot stay in bed for the next 4 years.

If I was Mr. Bush, I'd KILL the fucker that woke me up this morning. I hope he gets to sleep til noon...and maybe him and Mrs. Bush can have some morning loving or something fun, you know?

I'm going to miss Mr. Bush a lot. He was my next favorite president besides Mr. Reagan (RIP).

Now we have a new CINC and I wish him all the best in the world. I pray he has the skills and wherewithal to deal with the mess that this world is in. I pray that he's up to the task.

Congratulations, President Obama.

Some Days..

Are better spent not getting out of bed. Today was one of those.

Early Bird

Have you ever been depressed enough that you just didn't want to get out of bed in the mornings? I think it probably happens to all of us at one time in our lives or another.

You do it anyway, but you just don't WANT to. I think there's probably a LOT of people it's happening to today..all over the country.

However, you can only be depressed for so long. Sometimes, it is really something simple that gets you bounding out of bed ready to conquer the world like you were young again.

For me, it's my morning chats (evening for him) with my Army boy. Every morning, when I wake up and turn on my computer, there he is and we sit and shoot the shit and you know, most Sat. mornings I am a grouchy bitch because the sun came up...

But, this Saturday, I bounded out of bed like a little kid again. Feels good.

People..it's the simple things in life that matter and the simple things..such as having to pee..will get your ass out of bed.

Anyway, the early bird gets to talk to the kid.

Thoughts...

Look, people. The name of the game is and always has been...survival.

Now, over the years, the bare minimum of survival has been keeping up with the Jones'. Who ARE the Jones' anyway?

The Jones' right now...are sweating real bullets.

SURVIVAL is the name of the game. I hate to think about ALL the fallout going to happen due to these economic times but fallout there is going to be.

Look ...marriages are going to fail because of the economic times. I hate to think about that, really I do. Shit is going to happen. People are going to commit suicide and all kinds of mean and nasty things are fixing to happen.

What I am going to tell you is this. And I mean it.

Get down on your knees right now and thank whoever you talk to when times are tough...and say a simple thank you because no matter WHERE you are...it could be worse. No matter what, it could be worse. And worse in a way you cannot even imagine.

The first step in the journey is a simple thank you. And then, you go to work and you figure out how to keep what you got, and if you can't, then you decide how to get something different.

And, every step of the way...you show and FEEL gratitude that it isn't worse. Because it could ALWAYS be worse. Always.

If you have a breath in your body, and you can do something...you can survive. It's all about the producers now.

I wish, I really wish it was all fiction and that there was some magic John Galt but the fact of the matter is that YOU are John Galt, I am John Galt...

Each and every one of us has the capacity to make the changes necessary in order to survive these economic times. If the greatest generation can survive, then so can we.

I'm just glad I'm not a Jones, personally.

More later on how to accomplish it...

Doom, Despair, and Agony On Me..

If it weren't for bad luck, we'd have no luck at all.

Horseshit, I say. Look, I know there's a LOT of anxiety out there, but just listen to this song and remember...

In America.

Whatever.It.Takes.

I am hearing the panic in people's voices. What's going to happen? What if? What if?

What if you can't make your house payment and your house is up on the auction block? Well, one of two things. You are either going to rent it from the mortgage company, or you're going to move. You're going to find something you can rent that is cheaper and save that money or apply it to something else.

What if your car gets taken? You're going to save your car payment and you're going to get a different car and pay cash for it.

What if it's all happening at once? That's how it's going to go or is going for most people.

What you are going to do first is sit down with a pencil and a piece of paper. You are going to calculate how much money you need to keep a roof over your head, food in your belly, and some form of wheels in order to have the ability to get some more money to accomplish these things. Make a list of pure..needs. And then throw a little luxury in there because all work and no play makes people crazy. You have to be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor even if all you can afford is a special beer once in a while.

You make sure that there is enough money to cover the needs. Anything after that can be used to pay off credit card debt.

First and foremost, the basic needs must be taken care of. If you do not have enough income to support your basic needs, then you need to take drastic measures. It means that you are going to have to do whatever it takes. Get a job doing roofs, slinging burgers...whatever.it.takes. It's that simple.

Rmember the teachings of our forefathers. It's all about an honest day's work. Take the jobs back from the illegal immigrants. I'm not proud, I'll do it in a heartbeat.

I'll work my fingers to the bone, blisters ..the whole nine yards. And be damn proud to do it. That's me, personally, though.

Whatever it takes to survive, that is honest. Hell, I've had a job catching watermelons off a truck before. I don't think you can go any lower than that, and you know what...I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Keep looking to the future. Where one door closes, another opens. Mechanics are going to make a killing in this day and age. Customer service is definitely going to become the standard again. All those things the greatest generation knows...we're going to learn firsthand.

Who knows, maybe we'll become the next greatest generation. The lessons are there, we have been taught. It's put up or shut up time now.

And believe me, I feel the pain. I do. It's hard. It's humiliating. Nobody ever thinks that when retirement is within reach, you'll still have to be saying .."You want fries with that."

However, the real answer to the questions at hand is this: You are going to do whatever it takes to survive. Whatever. It. Takes. And you'll be ok.

As A Consumer...

It is rather easy for me to understand my customers. My customers are the manufacturing community.

Being a tightwad and all, it is easy for me to understand the thinking of the customer. Pretty much, right now, the thinking of most manufacturers is ..if it ain't broke, we ain't spending money. Period.

Correct thinking, in my humble opinion, would be to take care of the equipment/lines you just shut down. Make sure that when you have a hot order, and you go to fire those spare suckers up, they are ready to work. Alas, though, most manufacturers don't think about that. Most haven't gotten that proactive yet. Maybe now is the time.

I'm fairly sure of my market. Slow times are for making those sales calls. Getting to know people, building that rapport...so that when things pick up, you're in like Flint.

So, all I gotta do is hang on until they go to fire up some of that equipment that's just been sitting there, and then...we're cruisin'. Sounds easy, but it isn't. It's nervewracking as hell. Just sayin'.

Mondays

I kinda like Mondays. Mondays bring a schedule and normalcy. In large families, normalcy is rather hard to achieve after a certain age. ...or hard to achieve due to your family dynamics.

Ours are more complicated than most and frought with more stress that most people could bear to hear..let alone live. And by stress, I mean outside stress. Stress that is just brought.

I swear...even Batman had a batcave to hide in when he just didn't feel like rescuing the whole damn world. And we don't even have super powers although most feel like we do. We don't.

Post traumatic stress comes in many forms. It comes when you are in such a state of stress all the time, that you eventually forget how to relax. It becomes impossible to ever completely relax. The longer that stress goes on, the harder it is.

And, when you get it from every angle and year after year, you are topping out the stress scales..deaths, constant change...it does take it's toll.

And, seriously, the only real option...is to get up every single day and fight back. It's nicer when you have someone by your side who will fight with you and I am very thankful in that area. Others don't have that.

Counting your blessings is always helpful.

Here's The Thing

I didn't feel like editing the below post...so I'll write a new one.

No pain, no gain. So, if life was all wine and roses...it would suck, in my humble opinion. I revel in it all. I am not afraid of pain, so a tumultuous year isn't necessarily bad.

I would like a year to build on all that I learned. Some years bring more learning than others...last year was a big learning, growing year. A changing year. Now is the time to take the lessons and apply them. Simple and plain as that.

Time to get to work. And work hard we all shall need to do in order to get through all the challenges the coming years are going to bring.

Happy New Year

Like most, 2008 was a tumultuous year for the senior chief and myself. Not all bad, though, ...again, like most.

I won't hit the highlights..it's cool. I really, really hate reliving shit. I got the lesson, I don't need to relive the experience, per se.

So, it's onward and upward for us.

We did have a rather small gathering for this year's festivities. I was glad, all things considered. It was nice having my whole family ...minus one, under the roof again. There's a few kinks to smooth out...but, it still feels good.

This year, has it's challenges laid out already. Hopefully, things will move smoother. All we're..and by we...I mean the human race...is looking for is a little momentum. That's what I'm working towards, anyway. Building a little momentum and then finding a cruising gear.

Stop and go is never good. Not good for your car..not good for a person, either.

My motto for this new year...Keep on truckin'.