Thoughts and Such

I've been saving things up, so beware.  It's been one of those months and I'm rather sick of all the crap.  So some brief commentary on some of the stuff I've seen trending and some rants about life in general.

First of all, the TSA.  SHUT UP ABOUT IT, OKAY?  Look, we're the ones who wanted increased security in our lives.  That's how we ended up with the Department of Homeland Security and the Patriot Act.  9/11 scared us - as it should have.  But now we've created terror in our own homes because of it.

For those calling for a boycott of TSA, forcing them to do full body pat downs instead of walking through the scanners, all you're going to do is piss off your fellow travelers who don't give a rat's ass and just want to get to see their families.  We pushed the TSA for stronger security methods at our airports to prevent another terrorist attack like the ones that claimed so many lives on 9/11.  Congratulations!  We've got them!  Now deal with it.  Don't like it?  Drive, take the bus, or take the train.  There are other methods of transportation.

Here are a couple links about the TSA that I found with a random search.  They're probably not the ones you're thinking of.

Something positive, and an explanation for a video that's shocked so many people
The TSA blog where you can get many questions answered

Next...Bristol Palin.

For the love of green apples, lay off of her, okay?  She's a teenager.  She made mistakes.  Her mother is an idiot.  Don't let her mother's mistakes be her burden too.  She's got her own to worry about.  What her mother has pushed her into is disgusting because she's using her own children to push her political agendas.  If you don't like what's going on with Bristol, stop supporting Sarah Palin.  Simple, right?

Third...NaNoWriMo.

Okay, I'll admit it.  I'm a major failure this year.  I had all sorts of plans but they've all fallen through since I seem to have lost the drive to finish either of my manuscripts.  I couldn't even hardly start the one dealing with the psionics.  Then I got another idea that I started and made it upwards of 33k.  And there I've stalled.  I've got too much going on over the next few days to try to make up the rest of that.  I haven't written more than 300 words in the last two days.  Part of it is I get depressed around this time of the year because the holidays remind me of what I've lost over the last two years.  I'm to the point where I just don't care anymore about anything.  I get up, go to work, come home, stare at the computer and attempt to write.  It doesn't work.

Fourth...writing in general.

I'm stalled, and probably won't be doing much for a while.  I can hope this funk will pass, but I don't know how long it'll take.  I'm entertaining myself by writing lame fan fic because, hey, it's writing SOMETHING, right?

Fifth...Thanksgiving.

What am I thankful for?  I'm thankful I have a job.  So many people don't.  I hear horror stories from people every day because of my job.  Some of them are probably overblown to get sympathy and help from me.  *shrug*  That's part of my job.

But to the older lady I spoke with who can't pay us, is trying to help an elderly friend move closer into town because his health is so poor that he needs to be where the other people are even though she's about to lose her own house...I wish her a happy Thanksgiving with someone giving her the help she so desperately needs.  To all of the elderly who call because they need help and then stay on my line because they're lonely and need someone to listen to them...I hope your families come to see you and that they spend hours talking with you and giving you lots of company.  I hope your grandchildren and great-grandchildren spoil you rotten.  To those who don't have families, I hope the warm comfort of friends and good companions will make your holidays bright and happy.

What else am I thankful for?  I'm thankful for my husband.  So many people are divorcing/breaking up and it just breaks my heart.  I'm glad I have my husband, who loves me in spite of everything we've been through and all of flaws in my character that he helps me deal with on a daily basis.

I'm thankful that my oldest sister was well enough to travel this year so she could come see her grandsons.  I'm hoping that before she leaves I'll get a chance to see her since I haven't seen her in years. I'm also hoping to get the chance to see and play with my great-nephews, since I dearly love children and enjoy playing with them.

I'm thankful that, in spite of my various aches and pains, I'm still a reasonably healthy woman.  It could be so much worse.  I've got a lot of things that scare me about my health, especially given my family history, but for now I'm still healthy and working slowly towards a more fit lifestyle.

I'm thankful for a roof over my head even if the company I'm keeping (outside of my husband and our friend Parker) is less than ideal.  I can deal with it because I've been homeless.  I don't want to be that way again.

In conclusion...

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.  Stop and take some time to offer assistance to those who are less fortunate if you can, even if it's just listening to an elderly person babble on about their lives or letting a young mother cry on your shoulder about how frustrating life is.  Remember, we all have our burdens and if we can help someone share their load they may be willing in the future to help share ours.