Really, just let members of the GLBTQ community get married. I don't understand the upset that people have about this particular issue. In a time where marriages are as likely to end in divorce as they are to survive*, I think that two people who are willing to pledge to spend their lives together should be given that chance. I know some people balk at the idea of calling it marriage. Call it a commitment, call it whatever you want, but let them have equal rights. I've seen many GLBQT couples whose commitment to each other has spanned DECADES. If you've spent your life with someone, you should have the same rights as any heterosexual couple.
*Divorce statistics in America for marriage
Marriage Divorce statistics (in percent)
First Marriage 45% to 50% marriages end in divorce
Second Marriage 60% to 67% marriages end in divorce
Third Marriage 70% to 73% marriages end in divorce
Source of this Divorce Statistics: Jennifer Baker, Forest Institute of Professional Psychology,Springfield
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Rambling on health care
I am sick, which royally sucks, but I'm privileged enough that my job provides good health insurance. That got me to thinking about who I work with. I work with kids who don't have access to on-going health care nor do they have a regular doctor. Parents have no other option than to treat the kid with home remedies or rush them to ER.
I don't know what the solution is to our health care issues, but I do know that these kids are suffering and it really breaks my heart.
I don't know what the solution is to our health care issues, but I do know that these kids are suffering and it really breaks my heart.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Absurdity at its best.
Resolutions for the new year are about to roll out. Often absurd, or just plain silly, resolutions often give a glimpse into what someone values. In lieu of resolutions, this year I'm making myself promises. Seriously, if you can't keep a promise to yourself, who can you keep a promise to?
And rather than make myself some private promises where, if I don't fulfill my promises, it is no skin off my teeth (which is the American slang) or It's no skin off my nose, I'm making some promises here, where everyone can read them.
This year, I promise several things:
1) I will cut myself some slack
2) I will continue to be active to keep my body happy
3) I will continue to eat healthfully (and even ramp it up a notch to semi-vegetarian) to help me be the best I can be
4) I will continue to work on hobbies that make me happy
And rather than make myself some private promises where, if I don't fulfill my promises, it is no skin off my teeth (which is the American slang) or It's no skin off my nose, I'm making some promises here, where everyone can read them.
This year, I promise several things:
1) I will cut myself some slack
2) I will continue to be active to keep my body happy
3) I will continue to eat healthfully (and even ramp it up a notch to semi-vegetarian) to help me be the best I can be
4) I will continue to work on hobbies that make me happy
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas blew my mind
Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I love the lights, the decorating, the Christmas trees. You name it, I love it. This changed somewhat once husbeast and I moved in together. Christmas in his family was ALWAYS overwhelming and all about the gifts. I'd never spent a Christmas like that. We were always somewhat poor, so Christmas was about well-thought out, wonderful gifts and not about how many one amassed. I started to dread Christmas with husbeast's family, but this Christmas blew my mind. It was all about family, the way Christmas has always been for me, and about giving people something they wanted/needed/liked and not just more useless junk. It was the first time that I really truly enjoyed Christmas with my in-laws. Suffice to say, Christmas this year blew my mind. :)
So why am I rambling about all of this? Well, I think I'm going to clamber on my soap box for a bit. Christmas shouldn't be about who gets the most toys or most stuff or most expensive stuff. For me, Christmas has always been about spending time with the people who love you and care about you. It's not about what you get, but about what you give. Part of the love I have for Christmas is due to people being more willing to donate to someone in need or having a little more compassion for those in less fortunate situations. I think the world would be a better place if people started caring less about what they "got" from Christmas and cared more about the intangible gifts they received.
So why am I rambling about all of this? Well, I think I'm going to clamber on my soap box for a bit. Christmas shouldn't be about who gets the most toys or most stuff or most expensive stuff. For me, Christmas has always been about spending time with the people who love you and care about you. It's not about what you get, but about what you give. Part of the love I have for Christmas is due to people being more willing to donate to someone in need or having a little more compassion for those in less fortunate situations. I think the world would be a better place if people started caring less about what they "got" from Christmas and cared more about the intangible gifts they received.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Odio sonitus , EGO partum quietis.*
*Despite the noise, I create quiet.*
An accurate description of my life. For as long as I can remember, I've always lived in a world of "noise." Too many thoughts in my head, too many distractions in the world outside, just too much of everything. For as long as I can remember, I've always been full of questions and unable to sit still for long periods of time. I didn't know I had ADHD when I was younger. It didn't affect me in typical ways, such as doing poorly academically, but it did affect my "behavior" and "citizenship." As I got older, I found ways to deal with the "noise" and make my life more managable. I found hobbies and kept myself as busy as I could. I did well in high school and college, but never quite felt like I found a quietness for myself. That all changed when I picked up knitting. I had learned to crochet in high school, but never did it in earnest. I picked up knitting in 2004 at the behest of an ex-boyfriend who wanted a handmade beanie. Despite losing the jerk, I found something for myself: knitting.
Most people comment on the knitting because I seem to always have it with me, they comment on my patience, they comment on selling the things I make.
Knitting is always with me. It helps me quiet the world around me. It helps me to center myself and slow down. I don't sell the things I make because I put hope and good intentions and joy into each thing I make and I could never sell that. I create because it helps me to find my calm and helps me to express myself to those around me. I knit because it helps me be more comfortable in my own skin. I knit because it is one of the few things where I feel like I'm competent.
Despite the noise in my life, I create and find peace.
An accurate description of my life. For as long as I can remember, I've always lived in a world of "noise." Too many thoughts in my head, too many distractions in the world outside, just too much of everything. For as long as I can remember, I've always been full of questions and unable to sit still for long periods of time. I didn't know I had ADHD when I was younger. It didn't affect me in typical ways, such as doing poorly academically, but it did affect my "behavior" and "citizenship." As I got older, I found ways to deal with the "noise" and make my life more managable. I found hobbies and kept myself as busy as I could. I did well in high school and college, but never quite felt like I found a quietness for myself. That all changed when I picked up knitting. I had learned to crochet in high school, but never did it in earnest. I picked up knitting in 2004 at the behest of an ex-boyfriend who wanted a handmade beanie. Despite losing the jerk, I found something for myself: knitting.
Most people comment on the knitting because I seem to always have it with me, they comment on my patience, they comment on selling the things I make.
Knitting is always with me. It helps me quiet the world around me. It helps me to center myself and slow down. I don't sell the things I make because I put hope and good intentions and joy into each thing I make and I could never sell that. I create because it helps me to find my calm and helps me to express myself to those around me. I knit because it helps me be more comfortable in my own skin. I knit because it is one of the few things where I feel like I'm competent.
Despite the noise in my life, I create and find peace.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Why, yes, I am a bit odd.....
So I decided to start writing a blog again after a chat with a friend. I do know I need to write creatively but I haven't given myself the chance to in a long while. Anyhow, I chose the title of the blog for a reason. Sometimes, most of the time, life defies all odds and can be profoundly absurd. There's just two choices: whine/scream/cry or laugh/suck it up/move on.
This past year has been utterly absurd for me and I'm hoping 2010 is much better. While the beginning of the year until August sucked, the end of the year has gotten better. But, I got lost in the absurdity of everything for awhile.
I will try not to be so philosophical in future posts, but hey....what's life without some philosophizing sometimes.
This past year has been utterly absurd for me and I'm hoping 2010 is much better. While the beginning of the year until August sucked, the end of the year has gotten better. But, I got lost in the absurdity of everything for awhile.
I will try not to be so philosophical in future posts, but hey....what's life without some philosophizing sometimes.
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