I'm not usually this angry

I want to apologize at the outset for the tone of this post (and future posts in all likelihood). I am so outraged by the actions of Arizona politicians that I wanted to rail against them for a few minutes. I hope it will be cathartic.

The worst people I am currently aware of are Russell Pearce, John Kavanagh, and Bob Burns. All of these GOP hacks have swallowed the Grover Norquist "Taxes are evil no matter what" poison pill. (Grover Norquist is also a horrible person.) Let us be clear. TAXES ARE NOT THE PROBLEM!!! In fact, taxes are not a problem at all. Cutting education is a problem. We are intentionally destroying the future of our state for no obvious reason. We are in an economic downturn and all analysts say college enrollment will go up because of the lack of jobs. At the same time, these idiots are cutting education. (BTW, those students are borrowing against future earnings to go to college. Why is it good for them to do it and bad for the state? Oh right, IT ISN'T BAD FOR THE STATE TO DO IT EITHER!) All of this will be rubber stamped by another horrible person, our new governor, "Bobblehead" Jan Brewer. (You can find her online. Her avatar is a giant rubber stamp.)

The horrible Republicans have actually INCREASED funding for the virulently racist Maricopa County sheriff, Joe Arpaio. Apparently the Republican Party platform looks like this: education is bad, people who aren't white are bad, children are bad, college students are bad, poor people are bad, people without jobs are bad, people without health care are bad, and only cutting taxes is good. As it turns out, they are wrong in all of those beliefs.

Republicans are bad. They don't have to be, but they choose to be. I've known a lot of Republicans who seemed to be ok, but then they support this kind of insanity. It leads me to believe that they are either stupid or horrible. I've read the conservative reporters and bloggers; they aren't stupid. Therefore, they are intentionally mean.

If you are a Republican, please stop this ridiculous behavior. If you know Republicans, call them out on their destructive, morally bankrupt stands.

Thanks for reading. I'll try to do better next time.

Just a few weeks until baseball!

I miss the Diamondbacks. I just love baseball and I can't wait for it to start. I hope they pick up some starting pitching. I hope they sign Brandon Webb to an extension. I hope they play like 2007, not 2008. I'm going to some regular season games and some spring training games this year again. I'm really super excited.

Nothing else for now. Thanks for reading. I'll try to do better next time.

A truly inspiring day, but not for Arizona

I was fortunate to be able to watch our new president's inaugural address. It was neither the greatest speech ever nor was it a let down. It was a reminder of the action we must take and the sacrifices we must make. And it was a message to the world that our country is not an easy target because a new man is in the White House. He reminded us of our common vision of the nation and gave us a way to get there: working together to find a solution. I want to do my part.

Unfortunately, Arizona will not be taking part in the new hope. Janet Napolitano's untimely departure has insured that we will be punished by the mean-spirited, angry Republican legislature and their new rubber-stamp governor, Jan Brewer. Maybe they will punish us because we failed to elect a Republican. Maybe they will punish us because we didn't elect our native son, Senator McCain. Maybe they will punish us because they couldn't do so while Gov. Napolitano protected us. In any case, we will be punished. Those less well-off will be knocked down, while the corporations who caused our current economic plunge will be lured with sweetheart deals, which, as always, will benefit no one else. Those seeking an education will be prevented from getting it, especially in the public schools and university the Arizona GOP seeks to ruin. This is not scare mongering. You can read the Republican budget plan for yourself. It's all in there in black and white. The Arizona Senate president, Bob Burns, "rejected the idea that Arizona's education funding is lacking and should be preserved from cuts." http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/story.cfm?id=10229

"Other options under consideration are cutting funding to the board of regents and eliminating KidsCare programs. " http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1028927

It IS that bad. Don't come to Arizona. Pray for us.

Thanks for reading. I'll try to do better next time. (Unless the Arizona GOP have me arrested for being a teacher...)

Hey, legislature, leave them kids alone! (Or "Republicans are mean...")

I'm pretty angry at the Arizona legislature right now. Let me say at the beginning that my job is safe and Katie's might be too, but the cuts they are calling for would make it dicey for her. This is personal, but the big problem is that we will lose funding for the things that help us teach the kids. The proposal for cuts that the GOP is proposing would gut education and social services. Everyone takes a hit, as they will be telling us over the next few weeks, but they are crushing those two areas to make up nearly 40% of the shortfall. Unfortunately, we no longer have a sane (Democratic) governor, so we will have this garbage plan rubber-stamped and the kids will suffer.

That actually reminds me that I'm angry with Janet too. The lunatics are running the asylum now and she knew that's what would happen. And she left us to the wolves anyway. I'm depressed. Republicans are just plain mean.

Thanks for reading. I'll try to do better next time.

Everybody hurts sometimes

I'm feeling old today.  When I was a younger person I could do pretty much anything to myself and not need to worry about the consequences.  That seems to have changed.

Yesterday I fell on the ice outside of school.  It was no big deal.  I got a little scuffed up.  Unfortunately, my body thinks it's a VERY BIG DEAL.  I ache everywhere today.  Wha' Happened?  I used to jump off the roof on a semi-regular basis with no ill effects.  Now I can't fall from a distance of me without being listed as damaged goods.  To all my younger friends, don't get old.  To all my old friends, anyone got a good home remedy?

Thanks for reading.  I'll do better next time.

Very tired...

Anyone know how to keep a 20 month-old asleep?  I can't keep functioning if Kieran won't sleep more.  There's no rhyme or reason to it.  Last night I was up 7 times with him.  No good.

Help me!

Thanks for reading.  I'll try to do better next time.