My Thoughts On...

A Thank You To My Friends

February 12, 2010

As I sit here trying to figure out how to begin this post, I find myself utterly at a loss for words.  And for those of you who know me, you know how out of character it is for me to be rendered speechless.  A few days ago when I published “Desperation Time and 19 Miles Past Screwed” the walls were closing in on me.  I was ready to just go underground and tell the whole world to go take a flying fuckin’ leap.  It seemed that anything that could go wrong had gone wrong and there was no light at the end of the tunnel.  I was so far past hopeless I was lapping it for the seventh time.  And then… (more…)

My Guardian Angels

February 10, 2010

Several Twitter friends read the post I published a few hours ago, titled “Desperation Time and 19 Miles Past Screwed“, and subsequently scolded me for not having included something along the lines of a donate button or a PayPal e-mail address or something.  You guys are just awesome.  I don’t even know how to thank you for the encouragement, pep talks and offer to pitch in to help me out of what earlier tonight seemed like an utterly hopeless situation.  I can’t pretend I didn’t consider throwing a PayPal button in the post, but for someone like me…well, it makes me feel like a complete and utter failure to even consider asking someone else for help. (more…)

Desperation Time and 19 Miles Past Screwed

February 9, 2010

UPDATE:  Your outpouring of encouragement has been absolutely overwhelming. That said, several people told me I should have swallowed my pride and put a PayPal “Donate” button on this post.  And while I appreciated their desire to help, I never wanted it to seem as though I was being virtual panhandler.  After being told to stop being a stubborn jackass and just accept the help that was being offered, I realized they were right…so here it is:  My Guardian Angels. No matter how hopeless things seem, I am grateful for the true friends I’ve made and understand that wealth isn’t measured in dollars & cents alone.

UPDATE #2:  Thanks to you guys, as of 5:00 pm on 02/10 I am $355 closer to being able to avert disaster and avoid a complete meltdown.  You guys are awesomesauce.  I can’t thank you enough…

UPDATE #3: As of 8:30 pm on 02/10, a total of $765 has been donated. I am that much closer to a light at the end of the tunnel. There are no words…no words.

In October 2009 I published a post sharing my struggles with MS throughout the preceding weeks and months.  To make a long story short, in August I suffered a relapse that had me nearly incapacitated.  Since then the bottom line for me is that even if I were able to dumb down my resume and myself enough to appear qualified for the jobs I’ve been deemed over-qualified for, I can’t physically perform the day-to-day tasks of those jobs.

I can’t physically stand on my feet flipping burgers for 8-10 hours a day.  I can’t plant myself in front of a cash register at Wal-Mart hour after hour after hour.  I can no longer handle the physical demands, nor rely on my vision, in order to photograph in a studio for 40+ hours a week. I can’t even sit in a cubicle in front of a computer making or taking 40-50 phone calls for hours on end in a call center anymore.

My body has betrayed me and I’m no longer physically able to do what I’ve always been able to do.  I feel much better now than I did back in October.  I can function almost normally and complete my freelance work on schedule, but I can’t physically perform at the productivity levels required to work a front-line job in fast food, retail stores or corporate call centers – which are the only positions anyone is hiring for these days. (more…)

The Obama Presidency – Year One and The State of the Union

January 28, 2010

Broken HeartI’m disappointed.  I’m frustrated.  And my patience is wearing thin.  Before any Obama fanboys – or fangirls, as the case may be – begin trying to espouse the progress that has been made in year one or hammer away on keyboards, indignantly crafting a laundry list of reasons I suck, hold your breath and count to ten. 1…2…3…feeling better? 4…5…6…7…it’s okay…8…9…10.

Now, put your Jump To Conclusions Mat back in the cabinet. I’m aware of what has been done to this point and that doesn’t ease my disillusionment.  Before offering specifics, I need to put the impending criticism of President Obama in perspective. (more…)

A Knockout Blow To American Democracy, Courtesy of the United States Supreme Court

January 22, 2010

Boxing Gloves

photo credit: bfurnace

A monumental 5-4 Supreme Court decision on Thursday has blocked the ban on corporate political spending, giving corporations unparalleled and unprecedented influence over the American democratic process.  Hooray for Democracy!  Oh, wait…not so much.

The ruling ultimately lifts corporate entities to the status of “citizen”, providing them with the same protections under The Bill of Rights and The Constitution as living, breathing human beings – just like you.  Really?  Does that mean they can be held accountable for their actions, tried & convicted, sentenced and subsequently imprisoned for their criminal activity?  No?  Son of a bitch. (more…)

Next Page »

Categories