Tuesday, October 31, 2006

And now for a change in our regular programming.....

I recently changed the name of my blog. I found that Rissy had way more Rants than Raves or Recitations, so, I decided to go with something a little more fitting.

My life is full of insanity. My kids drive me insane, the recent change in my family dynamic (IE: the man that lived here, fathered my youngest child and lately drove me most insane, has moved out), my job completely drives me insane what with the shift work, long hours, short staffing, etc. My house renovations which have been happening since June, but really didn't start until August and are no where even close to being complete, has driven me completely mad. Things in the news, those are completely indescribable as to what kind of crazy thoughts they bring to mind. Add all this to the day to day dealings with people that are truly too stupid to live, it is a wonder I am not in rubber room sitting in the corner playing with my toes.

But, in the midst of all of that, I come here. This is where I focus my crazy.....my Focused Insanity. I can write my little rants, talk about things that make me a little nuts.....and somehow, I can leave that insanity here and go back to my life just a little more sane.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups

There has been a lot of talk about stem cell research lately thanks to Michael J Fox. I do not profess to be at all knowledgeable about what embryonic stem cells are supposed to do. All I know is what I have read and what I have heard. Frankly, it is all a bit confusing.

There are arguments for both sides. Both sides have celebrity supporters. Both sides think that only they are right and seemingly refuse to hear the other side. There seems to be no way of compromising and finding a common ground that will suit the majority of people, but of course, there is never compromise in politics. I have tried to do a little impromptu research on the subject, only to find that most of what is being said is basically discounting the other sides point of view. I can only comment here on what I am "hearing" in all of the reports.

What I am hearing is that the American government, ie. President Bush, is against using embryos that have been discarded by their owners for research and possible cures for debilitating illnesses such as Parkinsons Disease and Alzheimers, both of which rob the victim of meaningful quality of life, because an embryo is a potential life. As far as I can tell, these embryos really have no hope in hell of ever becoming a life because either they are the products of conception that have been aborted by a woman who did NOT want this life to be realized, or, they are frozen embryos that have been abandoned and have no hope of ever finding a womb to grow in. I also see in the news that President Bush has no problem letting actual lives be snuffed out by war. Now maybe I am crazy, but I am thinking that the families of the soldiers and the civilians who have died as a result of this war are mourning their loved ones, where I doubt very much that anyone is mourning over the embryos or the aborted fetuses that could possibly give hope to many other actual lives.

I have always considered myself a pro-life supporter. Though, having faced a dilemma several years ago, I chose to end a pregnancy early when there was no hope for a viable life. I even had the blessing of the Roman Catholic church that I attended. Had it been an option for me, I would have gladly signed his body over for research. I do not believe that it would be appropriate to pay women for their aborted fetuses or their discarded frozen embryos, but I do feel that if one were to choose to donate them for the purpose of embryonic stem cell research, it should be an option. I also realize that another facet of this argument is about the financial support for the research from the government. Now, all I can really say about that is that we all know about government waste in so many things. Not to mention the amount of money being spent in Iraq for the purpose of killing ACTUAL lives, lives that will be mourned and missed by someone. Or the amount of dollars spent on health care caring for the individuals with the debilitating diseases that we spoke of earlier. If these fetuses and embryos can be used for something good, they should be, rather than just being incinerated.

I believe in God, I believe God creates all. He created us a free thinkers and of free will. I believe that he intends us to use our intelligence and resources to solve problems. I feel that those that condemn the very things God has created in the name of God himself are hypocrites.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane

I have become the mother of a teenager with a Learner's Permit to drive.

It took him eight tries at the test to pass. That did NOT instill a lot of faith in me on his ability behind the wheel of the van. But, behind the wheel of the van he ended up. Driving home from taking the test. That is probably a young man's third or fourth most exciting moment.....I won't discuss the others here, this is a family forum.

He gets in, tells me to do up my seat belt. I do. I am trying not to be nervous....... I want to be "cool" mom who doesn't get all worked up. Not like my own mother who was so nervous driving with me when I was learning, that when I got too close to a car in a parking lot, she smacked my leg, my foot came off the brake and I hit the car. Then she called the police to report the accident.

He does okay......We get home in one piece. He steps on the brakes a little too quickly..... Forgets to shoulder check every time .... Thank goodness we live in such a small town. It was funny, since as we are driving, people I know are waving and pointing......... They know this must be the first time he is driving.

Today, he wants to drive on the highway. Apparently, he wants his mother to die of heart failure as well. He starts out fine. Is hesitant to get up to the speed limit. I tell him he should speed up a bit, as the horse and buggy behind us are preparing to pass. He gets a little braver, get up to speed, but every time we meet a car, I am getting way too good a glimpse of the ditch. I calmly tell him that he does not have to pull over and slow down every time a car meets us. He says he is nervous he is too close to the center line. I tell him I am nervous we are so close to the grass and trees. I teach him how to "keep it between the lines". He is a good student, he listens and applies my advice well. We get to the small city, he even manages to navigate that well.

It is time to drive home. It is now dark. I want so badly to have him say, "Mom, maybe I am not ready to drive on the highway in the dark" No such luck. He now seems to think he is Kyle Petty (I couldn't spell Mario's last name). I don't particularly like driving at night..... My 40yr old eyes do not always work the way I want them to. I didn't want to dash his confidence either, so, I sucked it up. Buckled in the younger children.......Hugged them tight, kissed them and told them I loved them dearly. And off we went. But, before we could hit the highway, I needed a Timmy's Coffee. I tell him...."You will have to drive through the drive-through and do the ordering"........."COOL!! I love this driving thing"....... I guess they have to learn every aspect of driving, right?

We get on the highway..........I remind him of the brights and when and how to dim the headlights. I give him the hint about, "don't look at the oncoming headlights, focus on the white line in the shoulder" I remind him that there are deer and moose around and that it is fall so those poor things are a little restless what with all the men in orange jumpsuits shooting at them. I am nervous as hell, but I am still maintaining "cool mom" status, not getting too aggressive. I feel it is going pretty well. Then he asks me, "Mom, what are you doing?" Um.... just a reflex thing honey......I am trying to push the van back between the lines with my hand on the window frame. He laughs, and asks, "Did you notice it is broken?" Yeah, well, the van is old and things break....."You don't think it was from people riding with you doing the exact same thing?"

If he thinks I am going to buy him a car when he gets an actual license, he is sadly mistaken.