Thursday, January 22, 2015

Did y'all know...

That people {sell} their kids??
This is how it was presented to me by a colleague.
This is the language she used, "Oh yeah and come tax time, people sell their kids."
I was FLAbbERGAsted, to say the least!
Of course I asked her what in the world she was talking about, and then
she and the teacher's asst. proceeded to tell me exactly how this happens.

Say a woman has eight children, no husband, and does not file taxes.
She will let another person--who the hell ever--probably a friend, who DOEs work
"claim" her kids on their tax form.
So that other person gets money back from having kids--
and then that person and the mom split the money!

Stuff like this makes me crazy!
Esp. since I sit across the table from moms ALL WEEk LONG, who quit school in ninth grade, have upwards of five kids, have never worked, have no husbands or spouses (and therefore no support at home), are homeless, dejected, demoralized, dependent.

It is all quite maddening.
I do wish that politicians would come and shadow people who actually work with the public so that THEy could see what {poor} looks like.
Pouring more and more money into programs--just makes people need more programs, apparently.
AND, when they can't get enough from a program, they can find some fraudulent manner to get more money.  The question is not Republican (no more programs!) or Democrat (more support via programs), but what should be done, completely differently so that poor people would take responsibility for their welfare, and not be completely institutionalized.
something needs to be done.  something completely different.

So. Sad.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Up on the soap box {again!}

My rant today is all about being "on demand"
For years Andy and I did not even have cell phones.
During that time I realized that I really enjoyed not being summoned all the time.
Two years ago we signed up for the cell phones again.
Let me tell you, the cell phone is a major source of anxiety in my life!
The cell phone has created an atmosphere/social situation in which everyone thinks they 
can just change plans at the last minute and it's okay b/c they can text or call everyone.
You know what, What's wrong with just sticking with the damn plan?
I have therapy patients who have parents who need to text or call me three times 
about ONE THERAPY SESSION! 
Really...this appt. happens at the same time MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK!
It ends at the SAME TIME every time...
If  you are three minutes late--who in the world cares?
Just come on...you don't have to text me to tell me you are at the stop light and on the way!
Damn!
If your child is sick and not coming--I will figure that out when they don't show up!  No worries.
Or, you can call me and leave me a msg. with the secretary.
I don't have to read five texts from you.
My phone sits on my desk and freaking buzzes ALL DAY LONG!!
This afternoon when I was FINALLY OFF WORK and I got in my car
what happened?
You guessed it!  That little joker started buzzing and freaking buzzing.
Someone decided to CHANGE A PLAN.
Well you know what?  Too fucking late!  That's what.
You made the plan yesterday...and I am sticking with it!
The stress I feel when that phone buzzes one time after another is just
instant!  
My new policy:  leave it in the car when I get home and just ignore the world.
That is my PLAN!  --and I tend to be a "stick with the plan" kinda girl.
I think that a long time ago people did not do this.  They had to make plans and stick with the plan.
People could not be summoned at the drop of a dime, and I bet people were a lot calmer.

Spot on!

Spot is our family's chihuahua.  He is what we call, "an evil dictator/stuffed animal come to life".  Sometimes, after he has ...