Good grief.

Planning under way for Obama holiday

The Capital-Journal

Published Sunday, November 09, 2008

Plans are being made to promote a national holiday for Barack Obama, who will become the nation's 44th president when he takes the oath of office Jan. 20.

"Yes We Can" planning rallies will be at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. every Tuesday at the downtown McDonald's restaurant, 1100 Kansas Ave., until Jan. 13. The goals are to secure a national holiday in Obama's honor, to organize celebrations around his inauguration and to celebrate the 200th birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, who was born on Feb. 12 1809.

At 7:30 a.m. on Inauguration Day, Obama Cake [Obama cake!] will be served at the downtown McDonald's, and a celebration is scheduled for 8 p.m. to midnight Jan. 20 at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 420 S.E. 6th.

FlyLady Failure: a whine

I discovered the FlyLady a couple of years ago. My ex was trying to get full custody of our son, my house was indeed in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and I was depressed and had undiagnosed hypothyroidism which not only piled on 30 lbs but also left me in a permanent "blonde moment" and in constant need of a nap. It was horrible.
I liked the concept of FlyLady: baby steps, doing just a little at a time so it's no so overwhelming, getting rid of shit you don't need a/k/a "clutter", setting a timer for 15 minutes. I've always been a slob. Always. Even in the Navy I had a hard time keeping my barracks room fit for inspection, even fear of being written up (there was a word for this but I can't remember it now) didn't motivate me. So I tried FlyLady. But I never really "got with the programme" 100%. I never "got dressed to shoes" because nothing fit except sweatpants and I slept in those, I couldn't do a load of laundry a day because I don't have a washing machine. I didn't put post-it notes up everywhere to remind me to do things. I did manage some of the FlyLady habits. I would, mostly, do the dishes before bed and clean out the sink. I would "swish and swipe" and had somewhat of a morning routine. Not a good one. I was constantly tweaking it, and never could find a routine that worked.
But like most things, I crashed and burned. FlyLady says she designed her system so we wouldn't crash and burn. But there was always something to be done: put out a "hot spot" and the "do it now" approach. Having a toddler at the time, it was overwhelming. I'd no sooner tidy up one room only to find 2 others trashed. There was also a obsessive/compulsive feel to the shiny sink. And there's this expectation that if your house doesn't look like a bread & breakfast, or company ready all the time, it's not the system, it's you. There's also a lot of guilt tripping about making "magical moments" with your children and/or spouse and that you'll have all the free time in the world to lavish attention on them because your house will practically clean itself! I don't know, some of it seems utterly unrealistic. For example, from a FlyLady email about gearing up for the Holidays:

The very first thing that we all have to do is maintain our homes.
Now I am talking about having your routines established so your home
practically cleans itself. I know you don't believe me, but it will
happen if you will just get up and dress to shoes every single day,
commit to keeping your sink shining and lay out your clothes for
tomorrow.

FlyLady worked better for me when I was a smoker, for a couple of reasons. First, I would wake up and go have a cigarette. The only place I smoked in my house was under the oven fan. This would prompt me to put away last nights (clean) dishes in the drainer, and also remember to take my meds (I keep meds in a kitchen cabinet). So I had a bit of a routine to go there. I have no reason to go into the kitchen now and it looks like it should have hazmat warnings posted with yellow caution tape.
Another reason FlyLady worked better for me as a smoker was a "reward" for getting through a 15 minute session: a smoke! It was like a little 5 minute break, and then I'd be ready for the next 15 minute task. I'm not ready to take up smoking again though.
End of this rant.

Oh the Irony!

I'm probably going to Hell for laughing at these people but I can't help it.

Obama workers angry over unpaid wages

Indianapolis - Lines were long and tempers flared Wednesday not to vote but to get paid for canvassing for Barack Obama. Several hundred people are still waiting to get their pay for last-minute campaigning. Police were called to the Obama campaign office on North Meridian Street downtown to control the crowd.

The line was long and the crowd was angry at times.

"I want my money today! It's my money. I want it right now!" yelled one former campaign worker. (Apparently The One has better use for it.)

A former spokesman for the Obama campaign said 375 people were hired as part of the Vote Corps program and said people signed up to work three-hour shifts at a time. Three hours of canvassing got workers a $30 pre-paid Visa card.

The workers showed up to get their cards Wednesday morning at 10:00 am.

"There was a note on the door saying 1:00 pm and then at 1:20 pm everybody was like why is nobody here. They just got here and they're trying to get it organized," said Heather Richards, a former campaign worker.

The large gathering of around 375 people prompted police to call in extra officers and set up temporary barricades. The barricades helped keep the crowd from spilling out onto Meridian Street. Police say the several hundred people in line were for the most part orderly.

"No arrests. Some of the people were upset at first because the line wasn't moving as fast as they thought it should. But we really haven't had any problems," said Major Darryl Pierce, Metro Police.

Eventually people did start getting paid, but some said they were missing hours and told to fill in paperwork making their claim and that eventually they would get a check in the mail.

"Still that's not right. I'm disappointed. I'm glad for the president, but I'm disappointed in this system," said Diane Jefferson, temporary campaign worker. (Better get used to it Diane)

"It should have been $480. It's $230," said Imani Sankofa. (It's called "spread the wealth")

"They gave us $10 an hour. So we added it. I added up all the hours so it was supposed to be at least $120. All I get is $90," said Charles Martin. (wah-wah-wah! Stop being "selfish" Chuck. That $$ went to someone else, who didn't do the work.)

"I worked nine hours a day for 4 days and got paid half of what I should have earned," said Randall Waldon. (Welcome to the Obama tax plan!)

Some people weren't satisfied with filling out a claim form for money they felt was still due to them.

"They say that they gonna call you or they going to mail it to you, but I don't know. We'll see what happens," said Antron Grose.

"Talking about they'll mail it to us. I ain't worried about that, man. They're not going to mail nothin'," said Martin. (Sucks to be you)

I can't help but snicker. What did these people expect? These are the geniuses that elected Obama.

Looking over my shoulder

Ever since oh around 10 o'clock last night, I've had this impending sense of doom and dread. Utter doom. "Welcome to the USSA, comrades"

New Blog?

I had a dream where I started a blog that wasn't really themed on anything; just random stuff typical of what goes on in my head. But then got to thinking "why? Just pick up this one where you left off." So, I guess I could do that. If I stick with it.
I had considered this my "catholic" blog, talking about churchy stuff. But I never update it because I'm such a terrible Catholic, it's embarrassing really. But, now I say heck with it, not like anyone actually reads it but myself and maybe one or two friends. Also, I'm such a coward at saying anything "controversial" which makes for lousy blogging; but at least my blogging is consistent with the rest of my life. So, no new blog. I have a habit of not finishing things and wanting to start from scratch after I've made of mess of it. It doesn't work.