Why I Love Bernie Sanders

Recent tweets by Mr. Sanders (and staff):
Please RT: Sign Bernie's letter to President Obama: http://ow.ly/5qMnD #SharedSacrifice

If the Republican budget plan becomes law, an estimated 1.7 million children would lose health insurance by 2016. #SharedSacrifice

Today, the top one percent owns more wealth than the bottom 90 percent. #SharedSacrifice

Hedge fund managers who made $1 billion last year now pay a lower effective tax rate than many teachers & nurses.

The Republican plan will end Medicare by providing an $8000 voucher for seniors to purchase a private health insurance plan

Ford's federal income tax rate was just 2.3 percent in 2009 even though it made $3 billion in profits. #SharedSacrifice

The Republican budget would prevent an estimated 34 million uninsured Americans from getting health insurance.

Valero Energy received a $157 million tax refund check from the IRS last year. #SharedSacrifice

In the past 5 years, Carnival Cruise Lines made over $11 billion in profits, but its federal income tax rate was only 1.1%.

In 2009 Exxon made $19 billion in profits, paid no federal income taxes and was given a $156 million rebate from the IRS.

ConocoPhillips made $16 billion in profits from '07-'09 and received $451 million in tax breaks. #SharedSacrifice

The Republican budget would slash funding for roads, bridges, rail and airports by nearly 40% next year alone. #SharedSacrifice

The Republican budget protects $44 billion in unnecessary tax breaks and subsidies for oil and gas companies. #SharedSacrifice

In 2008, Goldman Sachs only paid 1.1 percent of its income in taxes even though it earned a profit of $2.3 billion. #SharedSacrifice

Chevron received a $19 million refund from the IRS last year, even though it made $10 billion in profits in 2009. #SharedSacrifice

The poor and middle classes have suffered. It is time for the wealthy corporations to contribute as well. It is time for #SharedSacrifice

The United States has the most unequal distribution of wealth and income of any major country in the industrialized world.

Since 2000, 5.6 million manufacturing jobs have been lost in America. #SharedSacrifice

He is the only representative who states the truth.

My federal tax rate last year was way higher than 1 or 2 percent.

Corporate taxes are the lowest they have been in decades.

Bush tax cuts to the wealthy have been in place for 11 years now. Where are all the jobs they say they create?

Our federal spending problem isn't nearly as crippling as our revenue problem. Only the middle class is paying taxes now. Chronically poor and newly poor (out of unemployment, out of a job) pay essentially no taxes, the super wealthy and super wealthy corporations pay no taxes (remember, the supreme court gave corp's personhood to participate in politics, so why can't they be forced to pay taxes like the rest of us?)

The huge job growth seen in the 1950's was during a time of some of the highest corporate taxes. Why did they create jobs but this group we have now won't? (Hint it rhymes with CEO bonus)

I believe my exact quote from yesterday was, "I don't give a shit how cold it is in Vermont, as soon as I can, I'm taking my educated, desperately needed job skill having, tax paying ass out of this state."

Tim Scott is a corporate tool. He knows what they are doing is wrong, but it will get him his $$, and doesn't have the balls to stand up and admit it. The only people he is helping are himself and the rich.

The rest of us can go eat cake.

Fat Cat sez: go away little middle class cat, you have served your purpose, I have all your monies and you have nothing.

You Say It's Your Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my awesome momma. I constantly strive to be the mother, the woman she is.

Twosday!

You know what that means!

I Don't Like Mondays

Actually, I don't have a problem with Mondays in general, just this one. Starting PT for my back today, followed by receiving a mandated vaccination, all after a night of very poor sleep. Between my bladder, my ice cold feet and a kitten who shall remain nameTHORless, I don't think I was asleep longer than two hours.

Thor sez: There was a monster behind the headboard and I was trying to save your life.

Started the complete, changed the direction of the story rewrite of part two of the Jericho series yesterday and am in that weird psychological state of not wanting anything bad to happen to my characters, but knowing that it must and feeling guilty about doing mean things to them.

Loki sez: Want to chew on my box? It helps me with my anxiety.

One of my favorite photographs Jason took at the Okatie House:

This was in the back, overlooking the water. Perfectly Southern, isn't it?

Living in the Past

Yesterday, we were so graciously welcomed into one of the family's ancestral homes down in Okatie, SC. The house, still in possession of the family, was a wedding present for Edward Wilson Sanders and his new bride, Jane Augusta Eikerenkoetter Sanders. It was occupied by Union forces during Sherman's march through the South, but not burned. There are several stories as to why, but I tend to go with the most plausible, which was it was the last telegraph post between Savannah and South Carolina.
Unsure of when this photo was taken, but almost looks like the 1930's or 40s?

The house as it looks today:

And the big score, a photograph of Jane Augusta Eikerenkoetter Sanders, my great-great grandmother.

And, in an unexpected treat, Cousin Wilson took us to St. Luke's Parish Church to show us the graves.


And in the present:

Me, Cousin* Wilson Sanders and his wife, my mom.
(*Cousin denotes we had a common ancestor but it is too tangled of a web to figure out seconds, thirds, removeds, etc.)

Getting My Patella Polished

My new ortho doc took a look at my x-rays and MRI results, felt my right knee go creeeeeeaaak creeeeeeeeeeeeaaaak and said I needed a patella polish.

Not exactly, but I'm scheduled for surgery early next month. He's gonna clip a ligament and remove all the sharp bony overgrowth that is exasperating the wear and tear on the cartilage, causing pain and swelling which is causing my kneecap to rotate out of position.

Hopefully, this will scare my left knee enough for it to straighten up and fly right.

He asked me what I couldn't do now that I want to do and my list included: full range of motion in my right knee so I can do stupid things like squat and perform most yoga positions, walk upstairs or hike a mountain trail, ride a bike, work more than one shift without it aching like a rotten tooth.

My old cortisone shot and arthritis medicine routine was keeping me relatively pain free, but there is a difference between pain free and being able to do what you want to do. He gets this.

My mother offered me the walker she used after her knee surgery.

Seriously. A walker.

Told her I was more of a crutches kind of girl.

Okay, so I'm driving to Publix this morning to buy coffee creamer and the Muse decides to let me in on how the entire plot line and arc for Part Two of the Jericho series is all wrong, and here is what should really happen.

It's another complete rewrite but the damn bitch is right.

She's always right.

Just wish she wouldn't let me flounder around so long before she lets me in on the secret.

The editing assistants say: Oh, she told us to tell you that a couple of weeks ago, sorry.

Moments that Mean Something

The ManChild called me today. He has legally changed his name. It was a decision long in the making. If the story wasn't so part of our lives, the ManChild and me, it would make me cry. But instead, I just feel a warm sense of rightness.

To understand, first you should read this.

He has taken his mother's name, to honor her. To have a bit more than photographs and other people's memories to give to his children.

I am happy beyond words.

Twosday!

Questions I wanted answered:

1. What kind of arrogant poop head do you have to be to ring the doorbell with a giant sign next to said doorbell that reads: DO NOT RING BELL OR KNOCK! THANKS! (And I don't think it was the mailman, UPS or FedEx drivers, they are all very familiar with the sign and all have asked me about it on the days when the sign is not there.)

2. How many of you knew that while we were all talking about Rep Weiner's dick, a bill to increase our soldier's combat pay was voted down? (Anytime a scandal is rocking every news channel, better get on your congressional and senate monitoring sites and see what is going on, do you really think these scandals appear randomly?)

3. Why can I recall all the lyrics to American Pie and Tangled Up in Blue (when the song is playing) but I can't recall where I put my phone charger?
Ooooh! Look! Kittens:

Monday Mish Mosh

I have spent the morning scheduling: a doctor's appointment, physical therapy, and a mammogram. I've broken up with one doctor so I can start seeing another. I am officially an old fart, my medical commitments are outpacing my social commitments.

I had what was supposed to be a positive thing turn into a negative thing, so much so that I am having moderate anxiety over continuing. First impression kind of thing and now I'm going to be so gun shy about it that soldiering on is going to make me so anxious I need to weigh how much it means to me. I know that's garbled, but I'm not willing to make public the exact details.

Beginning a modified fasting diet today. Why? Because it's all the rage at work. Except they are all paying mega bucks for their treatments. I just read the nutritional and caloric contents of their "meals" and found equivalents. I know, I know, it's one of those stupid nurse things. I would strongly discourage this behavior in anyone else.

Company coming this week. And I'm working. House is going to look like sixty kinds of hell by then.

Doing really boring work/editing on the two manuscripts I'm currently working on. Problem is, I think the second story is better than the first, but it's a series so have to stay in order. Looking at the plot arc in the first as I think that's where the problem is. This involves a lot of outlining and zzzzzzzzzzzzz....uh, what was I saying?

Kittens!

This is Your Kitten on Nip

Paranoia thy name is Loki.




Thor sez: Seriously, dude, go sleep it off.

Run (from the) DNC

The other night, I was rushing to get my teeth brushed and face washed before getting on the road to work when Jason walked into the bedroom and stood outside the bathroom door.

"There's a phone call for you," he said.

"Who is it?" I asked, my face buried in the towel.

"The DNC."

"The WHO?"

"The Democrats."

"I sent them their money!

Now, people who know me, know I get, uh, um, what's the nice word for I have a big mouth and a tendency to dramatics?

Needless to say, my "I sent them their money" came out like I was afraid Vito and Tony were on the way to break my kneecaps or something. A pure jest, some verbal silliness to amuse my beloved.

Who, as I saw when I turned, was holding the phone out to me, allowing the DNC to listen in.

Uh, just kidding Mr. President, just kidding. Thanks for the White House postcard. I keep it on the fridge (except when having workmen to the house because I'm afraid they will sabotage something or overcharge me, I mean, I do reside within the borders of the insane asylum that is South Carolina).

Thor sez: I got your back.

Monday, Why Does It Always Have to be Monday?

Questions I have asked recently:

Is having out of wedlock sex a mortal or venial sin?

What country would you go be an illegal immigrant in when Sarah Palin wins in 2016?

Why do they make this print so freaking small?

Do you think it is healthy or safe that I can clearly hear that you are listening to Michael Jackson through your head set from two rooms and three fans away?

Well, aren't you a Barky McBarkerson? (to the new neighbor's dog)

Thor sez: If Palin will be our competition, I'm launching Loki's 2016 Presidential run as the candidate of the Cat Nip Party. She's about as smart as Loki.

Loki Sunday

I don't purposely overlook Loki Sunday in favor of Thor's Day. It's just that Thor takes better pictures than Loki and how many stories can I make up about bug eyed, looking terrified pictures of Loki?

Loki sez: This is untrue, sometimes I look goofy.

I went to a party for my niece Lexi, who graduated from high school this week. I got to see her big sister Caitlin, who I haven't seen a few years. She is all busy studying and working in New York City. She is an amazing singer and actor and is about to graduate from college up there. She is trying to decide what her next step will be, move to France to teach English? (She is fluent in French), stay in New York and take a position with a small theater group, or move to California and work in earnest on developing her own PR firm (she already almost has a client), while pursuing singing and acting.

And she is barely 21! I wish I'd been that brave and that confident when I was that age. So, so, so proud of her.

Saturday Morning Stuff

I think we have new neighbors. I never saw a for sale sign or moving vans or anything, but there are different people living in lady-who-hates-me's house. They have a gorgeous white German Shepherd and a Yorkie. Very cute.

But this morning they discovered that their portion of the fence ends in the marsh and they can hop the ditch, run through my yard and be free. My yard is only partially fenced - the gate was gone when I moved in, and not having kids or dogs to keep corralled, I never replaced it.

Jason took the trash out and the dogs decided they wanted to come in our house. I thought they were the cutest things ever until I saw the shepherd in the back yard eating deer poop. Ugh. Now there is something you will never see a cat do - eat poop.

I am getting ready to head out to a volunteer orientation at a local no kill pet shelter, something I've been wanting to do for a very long time.

My gorgeous niece Lexi graduated from high school. Congratulations, Lexi!

Jason and his daughter are going to see the new X-men movie this afternoon. I said I would go, but I just might go see Thor again. Seriously. Sigh.

Thor sez: You can see me right here.

Thor's Day

And, oh, my my my my. Feeling like such a pathetic old lady. Went to see Thor (the movie) and participated in the little shudder/sigh that rippled through the theater.

I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend seeing the movie on the big screen, as many times as your wallet will allow. And watching all the trailers.

Thor sez: I knew my movie would be a hit!

This is why I love my fella:

Found that when I opened the fridge this morning.
(From the movie, Idiocracy)
Bird geekery: The bluebirds, after two or three years of being terrorized and murdered in their house by that little sparrow that if I ever catch, I'm personally driving to the Awendaw Bird of Prey Center to "donate" to help rehab injured birds, have three fat and sassy fledglings.



Thor sez: I tried to get out so I could help you with that sparrow, but nooooo! "There are fleas outside" you say. "There are raccoons and snakes and dogs and cars outside" you say.