Everything You Need to Know About the Auto Industry Bailout

I was saying something to one of my co-workers about the Big 3 and how if they go under, it will screw the economy because lots of people would lose jobs. However, since they make crap cars, they real should go out of business.

Then she saw this and forwarded it to me:

bailout

Text at the bottom reads: “You probably thought it was smart to buy a foreign import of superior quality, with better mileage and resale value. Maybe you even thought that years of market share loss might prod us into rethinking our process and redesigning our products with better quality in mind. But you forgot one thing: We spend a shitload of money on lyobbyists. So now you’re out $25 billion, plus the cost of your Subaru. Maybe time you’ll buy American like a real man. Either way, we’re cool.”

Just sayin’.

Crazy Single Girl Life – 2 Wheels Edition

Last week, I mentioned in passing that I had joined a bike gang, which is a bit of an exaggeration.     I mean, can two people be considered a ‘gang’.  We’re more like a dynamic duo on wheels – two each.

It all started early in November when Kayphore was having car trouble.   She went out to get in her car, and it just wouldn’t start.  While it was in the shop, she decided that she needed an alternative form of transportation.     She mentioned to me that she would like to get a particular brand of bike that is sold through a shop nearer to my place than to hers.   Since I had also been thinking of acquiring a bike of my own,  I accompanied her to the shop.   I stood by and eavesdropped as she went through all the details of what she wanted on the bike, and how she was going to use the bike.   Her main objective was to have something that would make her seven mile commute and that she could attach everything she would need to it.   I watched as she selected the bike, lights, rack, locks, helmet, etc.   It really inspired me, and I wanted to get a bike of my very own, too.

But I had just dropped a grand on having every belt in my car replaced.  It was one of those things where it was just time.   I knew that I couldn’t drop any money on a bike then and there.   However, I knew I was going to have to come up with some cash.  I was so jealous watching Kayphore get fitted out.

Then, that week, my life got picked up and dropped on it’s head.    I  found myself confused and adrift and in need of . . . something.

So Kayphore hauled me to the bike shop, and I bit the bullet.  I got paid that week, too, so that helped.

HELLO Beautiful!

bike

So, I’ve been riding to and from work every day,  about three miles each way.  And every chance we get, Kayphore make mundane trips to the pizza parlor or piano bar into excursions.     All of life has become an excuse to ride.   And while I do enjoy doing it alone, it’s even better with a friend.

Also, who knew being sore day in and day out could feel so wonderful.   Plus, if you could see my butt!!!!

It’s kind of funny how you can find something, quite by chance, that can make you so freaking happy.  Like, giggling your ass off and bellowing out “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield kind of happy.

Exactly how does this qualify as a “Crazy Single Girl” story?  Because I wouldn’t have done it a year ago, and because it’s something I’m doing for myself and with my friend.  Also, it reminds me just how free and independent I am, and why I love that more than anything in all the world now.

Just sayin’.

Favorite Pandora Station of the Moment – Dec 5

PLW’s Rockin’ Women Radio Pandora Station of the Day!

Getting back into my blogging habits, and trying to post these more regularly.   This station started out as a Go-Gos station.  It’s mostly pop punk with female vocals, with a side of Cyndi Lauper.   As with all Pandora stations, it’s a work in progress.  I’ve been focusing a lot of attention on this over the last couple of days, and I feel like I’ve got it moving in the right direction.   

 

Cancer

Cancer has played a huge role in my life through the last year or so.   I’ve lost two family members this year to this thing, my sister and my uncle who was also like my godfather.    My sister passed away the first week of February.  I had gotten an email from her just a few days earlier, telling me that she the cancer was terminal, and that she was planning on making a trip out to California.  I thought I was going to get a chance to say good bye.   She was gone within a few days.

In March, when my ex ended our two plus year relationship, he told me he would have done it sooner, but it was hard to find the right time, “because someone was always dying of cancer.”   

Within a month, I was diagnosed with a pre-cancerous condition that could develop into the same type of cancer that had taken my sister.   Most cases do not develop into full-blown cancer, though, and since my lesions were considered “low-grade”, the doctor thought it was best to monitor the cells, rather than prescribing any treatment.  I would be retested every three months until I had had three negative/normal tests in a row.

Then in May, the week of my birthday, my uncle passed, too.   I spent my birthday in airports, trying to get to Iowa for the funeral.   I got a text from my ex while I was sitting in the airport, and I wanted to scream and rip his guts out.  

Cancer has been this force and this fear.    

On November 1, Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) I went down to my local tattoo shop, and I got this tattoo:

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These types of designs, these skulls are part of the celebration of the day when the dead can walk amongst the living again.  I wanted to do something for my sister, my uncle, and my other family who have left in the last few years, including my grandfather.  

Yesterday, I got the results of my second Every-Three-Months test.   It was my second normal in a row.  If it had been positive, I would have had to start all over again, and it would be a year before it could be over, and always with the fear of it progressing.   Now, I feel like I’m free, because with two normals behind me, I just have to get one more test, and it’s highly unlikely that it’ll come back at this point.

 

Cancer is behind me.

 And the rest of my life is in front of me.

Reaction to the Reaction to the Election

To all the people who say that the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president will lead to the end of the United States of America . . . Now you know how I’ve felt for the last eight years!

To all the people who say that this country has turned, is turning, or will turn into something that they don’t even recognize . . . Now you know how I have felt for the last eight years!

To all the people who say that they’re afraid that an Executive and Legislative branch both ruled by the Democrats will ruin their security and their future . . . . Now you know how I have felt for the last eight years!

To all the people that say that Barack Obama isn’t American enough to be president, because he’s not white, not a Christian, or has a funny sounding name. . . .Well you can just Fuck Right Off!

This is my country, too. I am not 100% Caucasian. I am not a Christian. I don’t live in “the heartland.” I am a Real American . . . so all of you who have insinuated or implied that you had to be all of those things to be an American or to represent and serve this country . . . . I want you to kiss my lily-white, mix-raced, agnostic, raised by a Buddhist and a feminist Methodist, female, mutha-fuckin’ ASS!!!!!!

Bitch all you want . . . it’s not going to change the fact that you are now THE MINORITY!

And if you don’t like it . . . well you have four years to try to figure out how you’re going to change it. And don’t even think that your pathetic, delusional Alaskan is the answer. She’s not. She may be an American, but she is not The American. Also, it’s time to re-think this whole strategy of telling the ruralites that they’re the only real Americans, and that those of us that live in the urban areas . . . you know, on the coasts . . . are out of touch and off base, because all you did was PISS OFF a lot of people who are making MOST OF the money for this country. You won’t get very far by biting the hand that feeds you.

I am so freaking happy with the election. This is America the way that i have always seen it, where I feel like it’s something that represents me, and that I can represent, as well. I am damn proud of my country. Damn proud.

So don’t you dare piss on my parade!

Crazy Single Girl Life – Zombie Party Edition

This last week, The Phenomenauts hosted their annual Zombie Party.   It’s usually my favorite night of the year.   I’ve been going for years.  The party is always around Halloween, but not on the actual evening of Halloween.   The thought is that you would zombie-fy your Halloween costume, or come up with a unique zombie costume.  I’ve been Zombie Statue of Liberty, Zombie Tinkerbell, Zombie Frog Prince, Zombie Lounge Singer, and this year, Zombie Peabody.

It was a lot of fun, going on my own, not a half of a pair.  For one thing, I was able to come up with a really funny costume, dressing up as Peabody.   Also, I got to stay well beyond the bitter end.  

There was much fun, much drinking, much music, much dancing, and much good times.  Oh, and I took A LOT of pictures.

ACORN Rebuttal

One of the things that Republicans and conservatives have liked to bring up in regards to Barrack Obama is ACORN.  ACORN is a community organization that works to register voters, especially low income, minority voters.    Obama has had ties to them in the past.

There have been allegations that ACORN has submitted fraudulent registration cards, and that they are somehow trying to steal the election.   Here is their response: