Uneducated Economic Questions

Okay, everyone is talking economy and, of course, I'm also concerned. I mean, realistically, I know I don't have any money. I'm not supposed to, I'm a waitress. But, for heaven's sake, the rich people are supposed to have money! I get all confused when the rich people start infringing on my poor territory. So, here are my questions. Keep in mind that I really have no idea what I'm talking about:

If the US is so ridiculously in debt already, where are we coming up with $700 billion? If I already owe more than I have, I can get another credit card or loan, I guess, but I don't actually have the money to loan someone else.

As far as I can tell, the Dem plan has a cap on the compensation of the CEOs of companies we bail out. Um, why are they still the CEOs? If I am manager of a restaurant and spend my whole budget on cabbage and mopheads and none on food we actually need thus making the restaurant lose all its money, I'm pretty sure I shouldn't expect my next paycheck, much less any bonuses.

I also don't get how spoiled we are. The media is saying things like, credit won't be able to be extended and entrepreneurs won't be able to open new businesses, people won't be able to buy new houses. I'm sorry, are these things that are absolutely necessary? Would it hurt to put a slowdown on things like this? Maybe take a bit more time to consider the risks?

Also, if the rich people have less money will they still come out to eat? (selfish concern about self-preservation)

(In case you're interested, here is the *entire* $700,000,000,000 plan - it will take you about a minute to read it: Treasury bail-out proposal)

ACOG and McDonald's

I'm stealing this post from another blogger because she has put it so brilliantly, I can't possibly do it better. :-)

This is an excerpt about the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's (ACOG) legislative goals for the coming year. They listed our little ol' midwives as their number two most important issue!

<<<<<<<
Which brings me to the point of this ramble. When a professional provides a service to about 1% of the general population, why does the professional who services the other 99% jump to the defensive? That'd be like McDonald's, a multibillion-dollar worldwide corporation, attacking a little mom-and-pop restaurant for making a chicken sandwich similar to theirs.
>>>>>>>>>>>>..

Please read the whole post here, it is definitely worth the time: Keyboard Revolutionary

Levi's first game

My baby boy is a real live football player! Pads and tackles and everything! His first game of the season was today and I was really impressed with how organized they were. I mean there were even recognizable plays. He played quite a lot on defense as a lineman and a few times on the offensive line. He did well, had a couple tackles. Unfortunately, they lost, but there's always next week. :-) Here's the only decent pic I got (he's the blue guy,) my next purchase needs to be a camera with a serious zoom.

Oh yeah, and I slipped and fell in a mud puddle, ever so gracefully.

I almost get fired

Alright, let me start by saying that I have an odd sense of humor that not many people get. Actually, I've only ever found two and one is my sister. LOL So here's the story of how I almost/might lose my new job:

Today we had a server meeting and the chef asked me to take notes which I will later type up as official minutes. I do a very thorough job but every once in awhile I add some little comments that just make me giggle. Keep in mind that I think I am the only one who will ever read these. Everyone else will only see the typed version. Examples of my extra comments: another server scribbled on my paper and I wrote that he is a dork. The boss leading the meeting was being silly while teaching us to open wine and I wrote the he wanted us to act like an idiot at the table. At one point he said shit and hasta la vista and I noted that.

Now to the fired part. I left the notes on the chef's desk after I finished typing them, I don't know why, I just did. I thought I should keep them in case he had any questions about what I typed and I could check them to clarify. I should have grabbed them, but I needed to get to work and just left them on the desk (he wasn't even there, no one should have needed in there anyway.) Well, the bar/floor manager went in the office to do something and noticed them. I don't know if she just happened to notice her name or if she was being nosy or what, but she read at least the part about her. At one point she had to leave to take a call or something and I noted it by saying that she left because she was too cool to hang with us. When she returned, I put that she came back because she missed us. If ANY rational person finds that the least bit offensive, please let me know. It was just a silly comment and made me giggle. That's it. Well, she came out of the office and found me in the kitchen (surrounded by people, mind you) wagging the paper and demanded an explanation. I apologized if I offended her and assured her that those were only my personal notes and offered to show her the official copy that had no mention of her at all. She totally flipped out and said she was calling the GM/owner and I would have to explain to him how I could possibly do that, blah, blah, blah. The whole time I was just confused and shocked. I tried to explain that it was in no way derogatory, only my notes, etc. to no avail. Later, I pulled her aside and again apologized if I offended her and that it certainly was not my intention. She was just pissed!

One of the servers who was there for the whole thing texted the chef to let him know what was going one and he told her to have me call him. I did and he said the only reason he wanted to talk to me was to make sure I didn't do anything rash like quit and that he wasn't at all worried. He knew I didn't do anything wrong and sometimes she just flips out over nothing. He said she probably won't even call the GM but even if she did I shouldn't worry.

So, that's my story. Fun, huh?

Losing part of my youth

The Woodlands Athletic Center to be Closed

The WAC

I don't know why this is bothering me, it's silly really. But many things that bother me are.

Backstory:
I grew up in The Woodlands, TX (1977-1987) and even though I have been in Missouri for over 2/3 of my life, I still call it home. My parents were volunteer firefighters and part of their "compensation" was a membership at The Woodlands Athletic Center (WAC) for the family. Kara and I spent most of the day everyday during the summer there. (Actually, that's not true; some days we spent the morning at the ice rink at The Wharf, then went to the WAC.) I spent most of the time in the dive well.

I think and talk about the WAC a lot even now at 33 years old. When the kids took swimming lessons this year I so wished they could have taken them there where I did. I wish we had a platform for them to dive from. There is nothing closer to flying. From 10 meters you have time to look around and think before you hit the water and then after you hit you are so far under water you have more time to think on the way back up. I am more comfortable in the water than anywhere on land. I don't have a lot of truly happy memories growing up but everyday at the WAC was rejuvenating.

I remember the water being sooo cold in the mornings after the early morning swim team practiced. I remember sneaking into the gym to pretend to be Olympic gymnasts. I remember taking my Red Cross training course and having to tread water forEVER! I remember new lifeguards trying to stop me from climbing to the platforms because they thought I was too small and the older guards telling them that I was fine, I dove constantly. I remember the one time I belly flopped off the 10m platform and nearly needed to be rescued (I managed to get to the side on my own, but it was a bit rough) and when the guard asked if I needed anything Kara told me to ask for a Coke for her! I remember the long, long climb all the way to the top and how quiet it was up there, surrounded by tall pine trees and blue sky.

I miss it a lot, I think those dives represent for me what was good about my childhood, where I could go to get away from the stress (real and perceived) of my life.

Obama picks Biden!

I am so excited about Obama's pick of Joe Biden for VP! When he was in the running for the Democratic nominee I always matched up almost perfectly on the myriad of political quizzes available. I didn't plan to vote for him because I just didn't think he was as electable as Clinton or Obama (I think he had dropped out by Missouri anyway), but I am thrilled to have him as the next VP!! Here is my favorite quote so far about the pairing (from Jasper on The Daily Show Blog):

Their campaign should be "The future of the USA is going to be sensible. The American people will have better things to do than be terrified and angry. And the rest of the world will stop thinking we're dumb."

On a side note, as I read several accounts of the pick they all mentioned the ridiculous hour that the text message to supporters went out, making jokes about Obama being ready for the 3am call, so I went to see what time it really was - 2:41am - I guess that might be a little late, huh? I wasn't even ready for bed when it came, as a matter of fact I was in the middle of another text conversation. LOL

The smallest thing

It's amazing how the tiniest gesture can have the greatest impact.

I have been having some trouble staying focused on the fight to keep midwives legal. I just want to believe that the opponents will give up rather the redouble their efforts like I know they are doing.

Now to the small gesture. Last week I was shopping at Target and when I came out to my car there was a note on a small scrap of paper attached to the windshield. I thought maybe the car next to me had dinged my door or something. Nope, it was a note telling me that she loved my (midwifery) bumper stickers and to keep up the good work. The fact that someone took the time to show appreciation to a stranger illustrated just how important and far-reaching the fight is.

When I talk to people who are not anywhere near the child-bearing part of their life and they have heard about our efforts it warms my heart. Just last night I told my new boss that I do some lobbying for midwifery and he had heard about it! I was amazed. Just the fact that the term "midwifery" is in the modern lexicon is unbelievable. The knowledge that I played a role, however small, makes me feel worthwhile.