Leeches

Leeches: a hanger on who seeks gain....definition by Webster. Leeches are my subject of choice today on my blog. Why? I am overdosing on info on Micheal Jackson and his family, children, money, wills, drugs, you name it.

The constant and overbearing media pontification that started before Micheal's body was cold, on his children, his money, his eccentricity and talent are more than I can stand. CNN was reported by Nielson to have gained over 50% in viewership since its coverage of Micheal Jackson's death. Enough is enough. Most of this news is none of anyone's business. Let the man die in peace.

Is there nothing else going on? what about health care reform? the economy? Iranian election and subsequent protests?

There, I feel better now....

Of life, liberty, pursuit of happiness: ramblings

Bailey (my son's dog) goes home today. I have to say that Bailey has endeared himself to me, especially after I had him groomed and the massive hair sheds stopped. I remember how much I loved dogs now. I will actually miss him.

So much going on in the world. Today is just a ramble, no rhyme or reason. Farrah is gone. Knew it would happen, yet sad. She became a symbol of fighting a rare form of cancer with no defined cure or remission treatment. Her documented struggle was both inspiring and sad. Yet she could fly across a continent because she had money to do this. Health care coverage would not cover this in our country. For most of us, the catastrophic coverage clause would have kicked in and been maxed out. We need health care coverage NOW. And, if the government does implement a public plan as an option, Medicare as we know it should stop and be combined in the public plan.

In a country where age discrimination is not endorsed, why do we have separate health coverage for those over 65? There should just be a health coverage plan for those who do not have access to employee or group health coverage. The risk could be shared among the 42 million Medicare recipients and the 40 million uninsured. 80+ million subscribers/members of a health coverage plan would be the largest group in the US. Private plans should be allowed to offer coverage to this group also. And all health plans should be staffed by health professionals who actually have experience in health care. No bureaucrats should be allowed!

Moving on to Michael Jackson...I said this was my rambling. I remember the Jackson 5 and Micheal. Yes, I loved their music. Yes I thought Michael was a genius but his loss of childhood, his eccentricity, his obvious psychos0cial needs were unmet and not supported. No child in a normal family would have been allowed to do or participate in what he did. The enormous unstructured purchases, the lavish spending and the desire to be with children were symptoms that were allowed to go unchecked because he surrounded himself with leeches who never helped him but enabled him. A very tragic figure....a musical genius and by some accounts, a great strategist with business acumen that was contradicted by his insatiable needs. And, probably killed by a narcotic overdose administered by a physician who sadistically enjoyed being a personal doc to a very needy human being. Obviously these are all my opinions. Time will tell. I hope the media backs off and especially leaves his kids alone. They are already pontificating about doing DNA to see if these kids are really Michael's. Who cares. Let's just listen to the music and forget the rest.

Iran: too much to fathom. I feel for the Iranian people who are struggling to make their voices heard. So much going on..........

More to come.........................

It's a dog's life

This is Bailey who is visiting me this week. more on Bailey to come.

I have been remiss about blogging. So much going on in the world, in the US and here in MD. The problem is nothing much is going on in the job search world. I did get to go out with colleagues and friends last night celebrating one of our group that got a new job, in another state. It was so good to see these wonderfully bright and funny women.

Nothing much going on in the job search world and I am reflecting upon what I really want to do in life. Still not sure but that's a discussion for another time. Now, I am distracted by Bailey. My son and daughter in law are out of town so I am babysitting their white lab, Bailey. Bailey is 2 and acts like it. He is massive in girth and has no clue how big he is. He is lovable but needy. And I am exhausted!

I always had dogs but almost 2 years ago, my dog Shelby died after almost 13 years with me. She was the best dog ever and I miss her even today. I had thought about getting another dog so when the opportunity came to babysit Bailey, I jumped at it.

After only 24 hours, I am cured of wanting another dog. Bailey has her own schedule of eating and walking and it does not meet mine. Lovable as he is, I am exhausted. Bailey is very social and loves to walk me. He takes his time finding just the right spot to deposit his waste products. He listens really well and bothers no one, no other dogs or people unless I tell him its OK.

He is shedding and though I have taken up out to brush him, my house has a white dusting of fur EVERYWHERE! Bailey loves to play and has no regard for my needs to attempt to find work! Today I am taking him to get groomed. I am doing it for my salvation mostly. And tomorrow evening, hopefully, he will be back home. Bailey is a great distraction though a constant one.

Ain't Dead Yet: Joining the Voices for Freedom

When I was in college, I was very involved in the civil rights movement. I was at University of Maryland when the then Governor of Alabama, George Wallace came to speak. I was one of the hundreds who marched in a candlelight service for freedom and support of the Bill of Rights for all.

I marched in Washington during the first Bush administration for women's' rights and their right to decide their destiny in Roe vs. Wade.

Some people referred to us as ultra liberals. I refuse to be labeled anything more than a human being who cares for people. Along the way, I stopped marching and became a complacent American citizen though became more active again during the last election; not marching, but donating and ultimately voting. I am happy to say I think I have voted in all elections since the time I could vote.

I have been watching the elections in Tehran. I am on Twitter.com/nkbe. I cannot believe the use of Twitter in a way no one could imagine. It is the only way for Iranians to show/talk about the election there.

The scenes of violence as people struggle for their freedom and right to choose is unbelievably compelling to watch. For that reason, I joined a site that would add my picture from Twitter to a green wall of freedom for Iranians. To find out more, visit http://www.greenthumbnails.com/.

Support of freedom, people to people, not government telling other governments what to do, is important. It shows our support of our fellow citizens of this earth. I hope you will join me.

You see, by my writing this, and your reading this, is the purest form of our freedom. In Tehran, the government is trying to block the Internet...Iranian citizens are using Twitter to get the word out...so, here's to freedom, yours, mine, and theirs.

Freedom: take nothing for granted

It's a beautiful day in Maryland. A day to celebrate freedom: the ability to be free to love and enjoy life; to vote, to say anything; to protest. We should not take it for granted.

The sun is shining but much and many are still waging their personal battles for freedom. Remember Laura Ling and Eula Lee still behind bars in "hard labor" in North Korea. Remember the brave men and women in Iran who voted in masses and lost....and are protesting and being arrested as you read this. Remember freedom and what we have...celebrate the days.

What got me started on this? Being with family yesterday at a wonderful celebration of college graduation with friends and family, and seeing the joy on 2 of my grandchildren's faces as they played with complete freedom....remember freedom....the innocence of children but don't forget those who are without.

Why Can't we all just get along??

Yesterday, the killing at the Holocaust Memorial in DC was a terrible reminder of the hate that is still prevalent in our country. Watching the news, I learned that hate groups have actually grown in numbers in the US. Look, I respect individualism and recognize ours is not a perfect world and not everyone believes in the same things. But hate is a terrible motivator of living.

Times are tough but that is no excuse to kill innocent people who happen to work or believe in something or someone that is not in a person's belief system.

The killing of a guard who did nothing more but protect visitors and happened to be African American, in a memorial museum is unfathomable. And doing it in a place that depicts the horror of mass killings of innocent men, women, and children who did nothing more in life than being born into families who believe in the religion of Judaism, is not only sac religious but also, too awful for words.

The same can be said for killing a doctor who believed he was helping others by providing an alternative to their situations in a clinic that happened to perform abortions.

Why can't we all get along? Even if we disagree with other people's beliefs, religions, or practices, as long as these are all legal, why do these idiots have to murder others????? I did not elect them to be sole punisher of what they perceive are wrong. Who are they to say what is right or wrong. And killing......isn't that against what is preached? Don't we live in a free country?

It just blows me away. This are such emotional events that they provoke even more emotional responses.
Respect.....that's what is missing...respect. You can speak about anything in this country and espouse your views....but if someone disagrees, who the heck are you to kill the person???

These are just too awful to even be planted in the Forest of Fools!!!!

Signs of the Times

Sign of the times: my recession deck garden is growing! The first sunny day in weeks yesterday and I took some pictures to show off veggies, fruits, herbs. I actually used some cilantro in cooking this weekend. Not a great photographer (yet), I tried to show the actual veggies or fruit buds growth.

Another sign of the times: I have obviously stuck a cord as many of you post your comments encouraging me. That's the first sign of the times: I am not alone in being laid off and the incredible support from cyber friends and others buoys my spirits. Thank you all!

Yet another sign of the times: Health care. Sadly another item in the news that demonstrates the loss of a dream. Erickson Living had wanted to expand their health services beyond their communities; reaching out to seniors in Howard County Maryland. Alas, it was not to be. The revenues generated by Medicare reimbursement were not enough to provide the quality level of care that is their mission. The primary doctor there has come up with an ingenious idea to have patients buy into the medical center. If this does not happen, the center will close. It was enormously successful in the numbers of people served demonstrating the need for good medical care for those over 65. What most of the public does not understand is that Medicare is not free. Seniors have to pay for it and must supplement it to get the standard health care coverage most people take for granted. In addition, they must pay for Medicare D to cover drugs. Calling this health insurance entitlement is not correct. You can read the entire story here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.erickson07jun07,0,6304428.story

President Obama returns from his successful trip abroad to begin the push for health care coverage for all. I hope he doesn't forget the seniors. Actually, I believe there should be no age distinction in health care coverage. Let's have the same coverage for all human beings!

Rain, rain go away....it stimulates a down mood

Today I am struggling...rain has stopped after 3 days but very cloudy and may rain again today. COBRA is finally activated and got my meds. Keep applying for the minimal jobs in the marketplace. Finally got my unemployment check after the debacle with my prior company telling unemployment I was a voluntary quit!

The good: my kids and grandchild came for dinner last night and I used the cilantro from my "recession garden". I got to cook a full dinner without fatigue from working all day.

The good: I reserved the domain forestoffools.com to hopefully create a fun site where people can plant virtual trees for the fools they know. And will offer this free and sell advertising. Who knows?

The good: have health insurance finally.

The good: everyone in family is healthy this week.

The good: I have wonderful friends and colleagues who call me, see me, try to find me jobs.

The bad news: I am struggling today with feelings of uncertainty and sadness. My mood matches the weather and I know that is not unusual for lots of folks. I read an article in USA today yesterday about how seniors are the ones who are struggling the most with foreclosures. Scary. At a time when life should be great, the plans for retirement are not what was supposed to be. And that is very scary. Some people believe that older folks are just that: "they had their time". I wonder how many people realize that people work all their lives and save, plan for a time when they can enjoy life but still contribute and be part of life. The mockery that is prevalent in this society about growing older stinks.

For me, I struggle with fear and uncertainty...but then, hopefully, the sun will come up tomorrow and things will be better....ah, maybe I should sing that song....the good news: no one can hear me!

#COBRA and Pink Slips Revisited. Are you sick of this yet?

Here it is June 3rd and no COBRA. I am sick of it, pun intended. I called the company last night purposely to see if it would make a difference if I called at night...would someone review calls in the morning? Would I be the first call? NO . But I found their website and found an email so sent a scathing email to them reviewing for the thousandth time what has occurred or not occurred. Lo and behold, I got a call from them at 9:30 AM.

Guess what? They have NOT even processed my COBRA yet. 7 weeks and not processed and they are the ones that turned off my health insurance and you are not going to believe it. They told me I need to pay upfront. Did they send me a bill? An amount? A letter? NO. Of course once they heard I was severenced and it was to be deducted from my check they said oh ok.....but they had no record from my prior company that I was severenced. Sounds like unemployment all over again. They told unemployment I was a voluntary quit.

This has been such a disaster. I left with sadness and felt badly for my company (I still do and still worry about my colleagues). But the bad taste in my mouth is really sour.

I told them they had till the end of today to activate my card as I need my medicine. I sent yet another email to HR to ask them to please get this done today.

Ah, the forest of fools is growing by leaps and bounds....more to come. Do you have horror stories about COBRA?

Forest of Fools Alive and Well in Health Coverage

I feel like I am losing my mind here. It's 7 weeks since layoff and still no COBRA. This is outsourced by my former company. When I call I get a voice mail. I have left voice mails every single day for the last 3 weeks after completing all that I was told to do. Still nothing. They never call back. And my former company cancelled my health insurance even though I committed to COBRA and was willing to pay in advance so I have no health insurance.

I have allergies and asthma. This is my worst season for grass and trees. To refill meds would cost me over $600 not to mention going to doctor which I did and cost was over $100. The HR dept response: pay for it and it will be reimbursed. Ha! Have you ever dealt with bureaucracies? I have. It's a nightmare for reimbursements. Who cares? Obviously no one in the health administration company with whom my company affiliated.

So today, I added their names to the Forest of Fools where I plant a tree (all in my mind) and I actually visualized a huge group of ferocious dogs urinating on the trees. I feel much better now though I still don't have health insurance.

The Forest of Fools is a place to let anger go.....I am considering launching a website for this. I know there are thousands, if not millions of people who know fools. It will be my donation to the world to let go of anger and to put these inconsiderate, non-customer service oriented people where they belong.

The good news is that my "recession garden" filled with herbs, vegetables and fruits are growing!! Of course, these are not trees, and I'm no fool.