What did you learn today?

They say you learn something everyday. What did you learn today? Hrmmm I wonder if this would be a good QotD? I learned that....you don't learn something everyday. Wait. If I learned that today then I did learn something. So then I have just disproven what I thought I learned.



I learned I'm seriously confused. Lets leave it at that...oh yeah and

Stairs are the devil.

You think I'm kidding? Well would you believe I feel down a set of stairs AGAIN today? I did and they were BRICK. My ankle looks like a basketball and I'm just so disgusted with myself.

Where did all the money go?

I remember when I started my first real job and couldn't WAIT for my first check, only to be taken aback when I saw that the majority of it went to other places besides myself. Do you know what is being taken out of your payroll check? FICA, OASDI - are these Greek terms to you? You should know what they are because THAT is where your money went.



I'm currently fired up about the Social Security Cap for Maximum wages. I know its probably because I don't make that cap that I gripe. Its just frustrating to hear that Social Security is doomed when I've been PAYING and continute to pay into it since I was 15. Its really difficult not to feel RIPPED OFF. I feel like someone has GROSSLY mismanaged my money - FOR WHAT?



I want my parents to receive their benefits -- but personally I'm not placing any bets for myself or my husband. I understand that by raising the cap they have to provide additional benefits to those who make high salaries. However I feel that the burden of the deficit of Social Security has fallen on the working poor and the middle class - how is that fiscally smart?

A little Trivia for you.....

What is the maximum wage contribution for Social Security in 2008?


Maximum Earnings Taxable: 2007 2008
Social Security $97,500 $102,000




And for the record...

•OASDI = Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (AKA Social Security)
•FICA = stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It is actually a fancy name for Social Security Tax PLUS Medicare


Basically the problem is that the government spends the money we put into Social Security FASTER than we can put it in there. The Baby Boomers are almost of retirement age and at that point the scale will drastically tip. The spending holiday for the US Government is over. Its sad really - I would have thought the smart people that work for the US Treasury would have been working on a solution long before the first Baby Boomer could walk. I guess my question is, doesn't this whole thing seem Unconstitutional?

So, what's new?

Well...I am just sitting here. HA!

Tonight I have decided to take a picture of the bare leg. You know the broken, swollen nastiness? :) Its really fortunate for you that its not a scrach and sniff. eww gross! I know I know. I have to wear the boot 23.7.999999 The only time I take it off is to shower - which I do everyday. I don't understeriand why it still smells funky. Last night, I got a new toothbrush and scrubbed it with that and soap to try to get the dead skin off....seriously - any ideas?

Is this TMI? Hit your back button or home button...it will save you!

My reverse push ups are going great. I can make it up the stairs in record time. I'm going to have the best arms for winter you've ever seen. (The women who read my blog will hopefully get that one.)

Did you watch Brothers and Sisters? Sundays episode was so sad...

QotD: Work It On Out

Do you have a regular workout routine? What's your favorite form of exercise?

I DID have one before I BROKE MY FLIPPING LEG FOR THE LOVE.

I'm going to type this up because I really need to do exercise....



With the broken leg: (everyday)

1.15 straight leg extensions (right leg only) (repeat 2 times)
2.15 bent knee raises (right leg only) (repeat 2 times)
3.20 crunches - various types (change it up) (repeat 2 times)
4.20 stairs reverse push ups (twice daily)
5.In the floor playing with daughter 30+ minutes everyday
6.10 wheelchair laps around the circle
7.Twice a week - bicep and tricep weight exercises
That is my goal until the cast comes off. I'll be adding as we go.

Who are you going to vote for?

http://www.politicalbase.com/toolbox/&action=takePersonalityTest&testId=8



Click the link above and find out. I'll post my results in a few days. I'm pretty conservative - when it comes to a lot of things. It stinks you can't be pro-Green, anti-abortion, lower taxes, get out of Iraq for the love!, raise the tax cap on Social Security, no unified healthcare, make private insurance affordable, pro-college student loans, fix the economy and have someone to vote for. Its like trying to find a car you want -- well you can have the navigation, but it doesn't come in black. Or you can have the sunroof but you have to get the tech package. WTH?

But NO I will not be voting for Mayor Guiliani OR Hillary. So THERE.



Oh yea, and Brothers and Sisters comes on in an hour...are you ready for it? :) And if anyone is reading this that buys my sister gifts for Christmas, she wants Season One on DVD. :) k?

Vox Hunt: My Latest Download

Audio: Show us a song or album you've recently downloaded.


Wicked I was supposed to go see this show next month in NYC. As of this moment, its a no-go because of the leg issue. It really stinks because I have pre-purchased everything - airfare, hotel and show ticket.



I do love the music...poor thing -- who knew the Wicked Witch was just misunderstood?

Lose the plaster - tomorrow! YAY!

Tomorrow is a big day... I get my staples out of my leg, the cast comes off and the moon boot goes on (see photo)!!! I'll still be a mini Home Depot. Hopefully the screws will be taken out in mid-November; the plates and the pin will stay forever.

My toes are just getting to be kindof gross...not to mention the bandage covering it has baby food (carrots) on it. I've cleaned it and my toes but still -- its a piece of cloth that has been wrapped around my leg for three weeks and not been washed -- just think about it.

Anyway, in my world this is progress. Progress is good.

Tiny Earthquakes...

My mornings have gone better, I have to admit. I first woke up this morning to the massive pain in my right leg. It could be because I broke the stupid thing three weeks ago. If any of you out there in voxland have broken your leg, would you clue me in on the schedule of nasty pain? I went a few days with minimal pain and now the nasty pain is back again. What is the deal? I welcome any insight on this.

I digress...this post is about earthquakes. So insert nice little pain pill zapper and off to numbville I go (thank you hoosband). The second time I wake up is because my house is shaking. We're talking pictures on the wall, the TV popping, fan swirving shaking! Instantly I am thinking grab the BABY GIRL, get under a doorframe kind of earthquake. Silly me this is no earthquake. This is just progress! The builder decided to build on the empy lot beside my house. Welcome to SIX MONTHS of earthquakes. One good thing? By the time the sheetrock is on the house next door, the sheetrock on my leg will be gone.

Hey I never promised my blog would be -- entertaining.

QotD: Well, I Never!

Finish this sentence: "I am glad to say that I have never ___."
Submitted by chl*.


Should we discuss the validity of calling it a QotD when the above is not actually a question?


Not only that but haven't you ever heard the statement - Never say never? These things can come back to haunt you. I know because in July I wrote a reply to a post saying "I have never broken a bone." Well, I have certainly had to eat that one!

Fall TV Review: Brothers and Sisters - Sundays 10 PM est

Brothers and Sisters is a fall show in its second season on ABC. The more I watch, the more I really really like this show. As a former Ally McBeal groupie its refreshing to see Calista back on the small screen. And Sally Field rounds out a REALLY awesome cast. The characters are very complex and I hate it when the hour is over...



From the B&S website:

Brothers and Sisters"...is about a collection of five enmeshed and somewhat damaged adult siblings and their strong but passionately devoted mother, Nora Walker (Oscar and Emmy Award winner Sally Field). The Walkers' lives have not been without challenge; romance, parenting, divorce, infidelity, addiction, war and even death have pushed each of them to the limit, but they continue to work toward living their lives as individuals, while loving each other unconditionally and trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy after the loss of their larger-than-life family patriarch, William Walker. "

Brothers and Sisters airs on Sundays at 10:00 PM est.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

blah blah blah....I had a complaining paragraph here....

and then another one here....

I'll leave the next one....

I never thought I'd say this, but I miss my wheelchair. (I am away from home this weekend.) For people who cannot walk, wheelchairs are power. I totally understand this now. In my wheelchair I can carry my daughter around, fix dinner, sweep and mop my floors, GO FASTER....

OK so, I was going to rant about how miserable I am...but I should just be grateful I didn't break my neck or something else. This is a small blurb in my life and I just need to get over it.

October is...

Breast Cancer Awareness month.



My mom is a 5 year survivor! YAY MAM! :) We were supposed to go on a remission trip to the beach next week...but I BLEW IT when I fell down the stairs at my house. Mom said we could go in the spring...

Understanding Jena, LA

Two weekends ago on our news, I saw where a group of people went down to Jena, LA to protest the "Jena 6". I didn't know what the deal was. Then my Mom brought over People (magazine) and I read an article that didn't really tell me much. Friday and then continuing today, Dr. Phil had people from the town on his show. I still felt like I didn't have the entire story! Its frustrating. I want the TRUTH. Thank goodness for NPR! :)



If you want the unbiased details of what happened click here: Beating charges in Jena, LA

So after reading that article -- here is my take.

1.First of all, I don't think any of the incidents have to do with the MAJORITY of the school population. I'm sure there are many students (black and white) who were not involved in ANY of the vandalism, beatings etc. I would like to think that the ones who are clearly breaking school rules and the law are misguided few. The squeaky wheels being bad again!
2.The "white tree" thing was a problem that should have been cleared up - long before now. The Principal tried to do the right thing - told the boy he could sit "anywhere he liked". Good for him!
3.The boys who hung the nooses - should be expelled. They brought weapons to school. Nooses actually are weapons. Again, the principal tried to do the right thing. The superintendent - probably a wannabe politician - was wrong.
4.The DA thing -- looking at someone as a threat - probably misread. I mean he was speaking to a crowd. You do look at people when speaking to a crowd. He had to look at someone. My question is, why in the world was the DA there? The school should have tried to promote unity -- not invite threatening police - law people. Why not bring in two speakers - black and white to discuss how people need to stop this insanity? Show a video of 9/11 or WWII to get this tree crap in perspective. The school got it wrong on this one.
5.Whether or not the school district is racist -- hasn't been proven in my opinion. The details of similar black students bringing weapons to school haven't been released. Again see #3, Schools cannot have weapons in them. Period. If a student brings a weapon to school - as a prank, with intent to use, no intent to use, show and tell or whatever they should be expelled.
6.Crashing the party. WHERE ARE THE PARENTS?!@#! Someone should have called the police at the party. The student forcing himself in was clearly trying to create a stir. I'm really torn on this and here is why... I think what I would do to someone trying to force their way into my house - uninvited - unwelcome. I struggle with this because isn't that a form of breaking and entering? If I were having a party, I would call the police...definately. Its very scary someone coming into your home with bad intentions (think robbers, murderers etc)....so I can see the situation elevating very quickly. He should be taught - you don't force your way into someone else's home. Who beat him up? Were they threatened? I need more to this story.
7.Why in the world did the white boy have a pistol? WHY? Did he feel threatened? He should be dealt with as a juvenille - carrying a weapon without a permit. If anyone, he disturbed the peace. Does LA give kids permits for weapons? It was wrong that was not addressed.
8.Stealing the weapon was wrong. Hello that is one of the big 10. The black boy should be charged in juvenille court for theft.
9.Justin Barker mouthing off. No he shouldn't have done that. But mouthing off isn't against the law.
10.Beating the crap out of someone is against the law. The 6 students who beat him up should have been expelled at the least. I'm not sure where the line is drawn - school discipline or crime. . All across America kids fight in school. At what point does it become assault? I really don't think the Jena 6 intended to kill the student. I'm sure there is some law or provision or something. If you know, please post it. Whatever the rule is it should be clear. I think 2nd degree attempted murder is probably harsh. Assault is the more probable crime.
11.All of the cases etc should be tried in juvenille court. These kids (white and black) are all under 18 as far as I know and are clearly in need of some guidance.
Do they relate to the DA, Police, Mr. Civil Rights activist this and that? NO. The adults need to find a way to relate and wake up the kids.

That's my 2 cents.

October is...

Breast Cancer Awareness month.



My mom is a 5 year survivor! YAY MAM! :) We were supposed to go on a remission trip to the beach next week...but I BLEW IT when I fell down the stairs at my house. Mom said we could go in the spring...