I can see my family falling apart before my eyes, ever since my grandmother died; it's as if she was the glue which held us all together. She died and my grandfather fell into dementia which is quickly evolving into Alzheimer's. My uncle came out of the closet, and the only person with a problem with his sexuality is him. It's as if something snapped inside his head once he finally admitted to himself that he was a gay man. When he was "straight", he was the best uncle--so involved and loving. I had decided long ago that he would walk me down the aisle since he was the closest thing to a father figure I had, and that was especially so when he first came out; he was sad because all he ever really wanted was a family, but he refuses to bring children into a home without a mother. When I heard that, I was sure that I wanted him to walk me down the aisle because that's one of the biggest events in a father's life. But now, I don't think that he deserves it. He seems to have forgotten my birthday, phone number, email address, etc. My mother can give me away. I love Brian's family, and I can't wait to be a Noone.



Happy things: I got offered a permanent job at the company I'm currently temping at! I'll go from Editorial Assistant to Competitive Analysis Coordinator; salaried, a lot more money, benefits... awesome. Brian and I will probably move North Shore somewhere, following our stint at my aunt's in Chelmsford. Maybe I can go find something for super cheap to move in...

"Man's biggest mistake is to believe that he's working for someone else." -fortune cookie

This country was founded on rebellion. Where did that spirit go?
Our government is walking all over us, and we sit back and let it happen.

The fact that the Brown's were convicted and will spend the rest of their lives in jail is enraging. These people were standing up for what they believe in, and rather than listening and working with them, this government simply throws them away. They are two smart human beings, beneficial to society, a well-to-do couple who was doing their part to stimulate the economy. The Brown's need all the support they can get right now.

I can't help but wonder...why did the judge dismiss one juror the day before deliberation, and then tell the remaining jury to not speculate about it? He was the one who would have hung the jury, causing a mistrial. It's very upsetting. How a jury of their peers could have found them guilty of plotting to kill US marshalls is beyond me. It seems pretty obvious that they were only planning to defend themselves if necessary. The only party who fired shots WAS the government. Not necessarily at them, but at supporters. It's just...ridiculous.

Photo Challenge

1. Go to your photo files, select the 6th folder/album.
2. Select the 6th photo.
3. Post the picture and the story behind it.




My cousins Stanley & Kelly were from Springfield, Illinois. Every summer they used to come to Massachusetts for a month or so and stay at our grandparents, which was on John's Pond in Mashpee. Those summers were easily the best of my life: skiing, tubing, kneeboarding, laying out on the driveway, building a tree fort down the street, walking to Andy's Market for some candy...

This picture was taken on the dock; the skis they're holding have been the "kid skis" since our parents were kids. (And they're still in use!)

Stanley died September 18, 2008. RIP cuzzo.

Let's Play the Blame Game

I've been reading a lot of articles about the credit card companies taking crazy measures to make more money, and then a few comments other readers have made. The ignorance of the majority of this country isn't really astounding, but it still drives me up a wall. If people can't be bothered to find out the facts for themselves and make opinions and decisions purely on hearsay, then they need to sit back silently and watch.

The Obama administration put new regulations on credit cards...to take effect NEXT YEAR. Until then, the credit card companies still have free reign to do whatever they want, and they are obviously doing just that.

This country is separated by the ignorance of BOTH PARTIES; members of both parties love to play the blame game. "Thanks for voting for him, DEMS" or "It's all the REPUBS fault for this decade". It is just that thinking which sidetracks our progress as a free country; it is time for everybody to UNITE, put aside the petty differences where they aren't appropriate, and ban together! We all have one common goal when it comes to the credit card companies: STOP THE LOAN SHARKING. In order for that to ever happen, everybody needs to stop playing the blame game and focus on the real issue at hand here.

Those of you blaming each other: do you even know what the new regulations (which, let me repeat, have not been put into effect yet) are? I am going to tell you.

1. Credit card companies will no longer be able to retroactively raise the interest rate on existing balances (unless your account falls into delinquency). That credit card you don't use anymore but still have a balance on? They won't be able to say, oh hey, we want to raise your interest, so we are.

2. Furthermore, that policy which every credit card company in the universe adheres, "The terms of your agreement are subject to change at any time and without notice", will be NULL & VOID. They will have to send out a notice 45 days prior to the change.

3. Point 1 + Point 2 = Point 3 : interest may only be tallied on balances in the current billing cycle.

4. Your bill will arrive earlier in the billing cycle, in order to minimize that element of surprise.

5. Payments will ALWAYS be put towards the portion of your bill with the higher interest rate, until that is paid off, and then you continue payments with your previous interest rate.

6. No more huge fees for over-limit transactions unless YOU, the cardholder, permits such a fee ahead of time.

Are these not sufficient changes for you? It just hasn't happened yet. Stop blaming Obama; he did his part, it just takes awhile for these things to come into effect. Blame the right people: those who are in charge of the credit card companies and see impending change, and are trying so hard to set themselves up, and ONLY themselves.