Need a scarf?

I'm putting my crafting skills to good use! Anyone need a scarf? Its forty dollars and knitted out of chielle yarn and fun fur yarn. I also embelish little girls socks with either beads for a fun fur trim of all different colors. The socks are 6.50 - Everything is made to order. I also make baby blankets and texture quilts to order. Send me an email!

Me... do media interviews???

I recieved an email today from my union president - several of us were asked if we wanted to participate in a training on how to be on camera and give media interivews. The thought of being in front of a camera gives me palpitations. I usually just say whats on my mind - thats not always a good thing. I want to keep my job and even though I would be representing the union and not my employer - they are still not going to be happy about it at all! I have a decision to make. Do I stand up for what I know to be right? Just? THE AMERICAN SPIRIT ... speak up and be heard... ? or slink away, tail between my legs, and continue to complain that there is nothing that can be done about the way things are?

When I was young I used to say, "its a good thing I live in America, because if I were in Cuba, I'd be shot by now, I can't keep my mouth shut... I see and injustice and I just have to be heard". Ahhh, those were the days... when I didn't have so much at stake - now I have 2 children, 2 dogs, a husband, a car payment, and a mortgage. Hmmmm. I'm not so quick to speak up. Isn't that a shame? What should I do?

Politicians - WAKE UP!

I like reading the blog PerezHilton.com - some might see it as frivolous but I think its brilliant pop culture - it keeps me up to date on all different kinds of trends - good bad and ugly.

I'm still furious with the Legislatures - they are arguing and refusing to come to compromises when the state is collapsing all around them - what will it take for them to put aside their stupid politics and put other people - their constituents - before themselves?

The following is from PerezHilton's web site listing - only in part - our country's current struggles. Legislatures - HEY DUMB ASS - Yeah you in the back... take a look and wake up! (This was just in the last few weeks.)

Cell phone carrier Sprint announced that they will be cutting 8,000 jobs.
And, Philips Electronics announced they will be cutting 6,000 jobs.
Williams-Sonoma is laying off 1,400 people.
The A.C.L.U. (American Civil Liberties Union) is laying off 10% of its workforce.
Harley Davidson, the motorcycle makers, are cutting 1,100 jobs.
That The New York Times is in talks to sell part of its fancy schmancy building in New York City.
United Airlines is cutting an additional 1,000 jobs, they've just announced.
Filene's Basement is closing one-third of its stores.
Hearts Publications is closing Teen magazine and it's website
Intel, the world's largest maker of microprocessors used in personal computers, is cutting 6,000 jobs. The layoffs will happen in Silicon Valley, as well as in plants in Malaysia and the Philippines
Microsoft has just announced that they will be laying off 5,000 workers amidst an 11% drop in second-quarter profit, short of expectations.
The Los Angeles Times is planning even MORE layoffs!
Warner Bros. film studio is cutting its global work force by 10%, laying off 800 people.
Fashion house Burberry is cutting 540 jobs—290 in the UK, and 250 in Spain.
Motorola announced today that they are laying off 4,000 workers.
Car rental company Hertz is cutting more than 4,000 jobs.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota's largest newspaper, has filed for bankruptcy
Circuit City is completely closing
Linens and things is closed
Mervyns is closed
Saks Fifth Avenue is cutting a whopping 1,100 jobs!
The Boston Globe announced Thursday that it plans to cut around 50 newsroom jobs.
U.S. foreclosure filings were up a whopping 81% in 2008.
Google is cutting 100 jobs.

I O U's - Happy February

Oh my GOD! The neediest people will be getting NOTHING in way of support from state funds – disabled people who rely on SSI for support, college students, drug and alcohol rehabs… but the LEGISLATORS continue to collect their thousands upon thousands in salary and per diems and perks and extras. But noble Assemblyman Cameron Smyth is rejecting the $3 increase in per diem. Woo hoo! Good going? What about helping out some people here in Santa Clarita – your hometown – who can’t buy milk for their kids because SSI isn’t paying up in February?!?

Legislators Per Diem - Tres Gross

I read recently on Assemblyman Cameron Smyth’s website that he has declined the increase of his daily per diem of $170 to $173. My jaw hit the floor. Although I supposed he might be expecting congratulations for his NOBLE gesture, those three dollars is meaningless. You and your fellow ASSemblymen are getting $173 PER DAY for expenses while in session while I am being furloughed 2 days per month, which works out to about 10% of my salary. Do you know that I can feed my entire family of four on $173 PER WEEK? I have worked for the State of California for 18 years. I am being cut by 10%. I am not opposed to some type of cut. I understand and I get the shape the state is in. What I am FURIOUS about is that my pay will be cut but I still have to pay all the proposed higher taxes too. My pay will be cut but the legislators have the audacity to give themselves a per diem increase when most of us can feed our family’s for a week on what they get as their EXTRA PER DAY PER PERSON. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED! There are both single parents and two parent households that will not be able to afford childcare due to the furloughs, we have to pay higher taxes, higher gas prices, higher everything. Where is the equity? Exiting Assembly staff just got awesome retirement packages – with one staff even having received a 25% increase over the last 3 years. As a state employee, we can’t even get 2.5% cost of living increase.

A day in the life of a state worker….

Okay not all state workers – just me. I cannot share what I do or which agency I work for due to a fear of being reprimanded. Yes you read correctly! Last time I spoke as a private citizen about how I felt about the California State budget impasse - I was reprimanded! Our whole department was chastised and ordered not to speak to the press about ANYTHING! Hmmmm Last I checked this was still the United States of America – isn’t it? We just elected the first African-American president – didn’t we? I get to say what I think and feel. Don’t I? Isn’t that in the constitution or something? Or is there a clause that says “…unless you work for state or federal government.”?? My family fled communist Cuba to this great land so that we could be free to say and do as we choose. Family members in Cuba were thrown in jail for speaking out against Castro… and I am reprimanded for speaking my mind on the budget impasse? Really? SO! In order to avoid any problems – I’ll be mysterious. I will not reveal whom I work with or any trade secrets… Geeez. How stupid is that? Anyone out there work for the ACLU? Can you advise me of my rights? Working for the State of California is no picnic – but most of us put up with it for one main reason - most of us believe in what we are doing. However, the State likes to bully their employees and most take it – I used to be one of those taking it. I think I’ve reached the age of – oh come on… really? I gave birth twice without any meds… you can’t bully me. I’ve been barfed on, pooped on, spit up on, I’m coated in Teflon kids… really – no really – I’m not allowed to speak my mind? Puleeeez. I preach to people – just about everything in life is a choice…. Here I am making my choice to be heard…. On this tiny itty-bitty blog – here is my voice.

Rhyme 2 Riddle
As always, my mind is racing with ideas but putting them down on paper is the most difficult and arduos task these days. Once upon a time I could write stories and stream of consciousness without batting an eyelash (huh) but these days if it does not involve poopy diapers, making the space shuttle out of egg cartons, school, work, then I struggle to get the words to come out of my head.

I thought I would have a hard time turning 40, but as a friend of mine recently told me, 40 is the new 29! And that is exactly how I feel. 29. I certainly don't feel old. I feel great! Probably the best I've ever been in my life. I am finished with the craziness, I stablized in my 30's, and now I'll just enjoy my family, friends, life, interests, and .... my writing.

I started a small book a long time ago.... the zen of sneezing.... maybe i'll pick that one back up again.... yeah.... maybe not.

My first posting.... how cool. Do I have an audience? Should I have an audience? These Blogs are a bit frightening.... anyone can post their opinion on the internet now and unfortunately when someone see's words in print, whatever medium, people take it as true, real and often gospel. This is a warning for all of us to take the written word with a critical eye.