The weather yesterday (Sat.) was about as perfect a summer day as it gets here in Del. It was in the mid-70s, NO HUMIDITY, with a breeze blowing. Fabulous! Now why can't it stay like this all summer???
Today is just about as nice. Bobby's taken Rebecca and Liam to Breakneck Park and thence to Wal-Mart South to get hot dogs and hamburger for a cookout tonight. (We figured Sara needed a break, too.) The kids rode their bikes then helped dig weeds up from between the bricks on the patio--Liam especially enjoyed digging up the weeds (and dirt!) from the bricks.
I saw lightning bugs for the first time this year during a thunderstorm Friday evening! It was raining pretty hard, too. Who'd have thought lightning bugs would be out in a deluge, but there was a load of them!
Sitting out on the patio today was absolutely wonderful. I sat in the rocking-lawn chair with my cup of tea, Mr. Bird walked around on the picnic table, and we just gloried in the glorious day. I saw the female hummingbird at the feeder a couple of times and even managed to get a couple of pictures of her. Bobby said he's watched her feed then head for the top of the middle cedar in the little plantation; and, sure enough, I happened to be looking at the cedars and saw her fly from the top of the tree! How wonderful to have nesting hummingbirds in the yard!!! Neither of us has seen the male yet, just the female, but that's ok. Where she is, he'll be. She's so tiny that with her coloring--pale green on top, white on the bottom--she could be mistaken for a cicada.
I do love my outdoor birdies!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Sometimes I wonder
Just exactly how tuned in Ariel is.
I was cleaning stuff in the kitchen today when the house wren started singing outside Ariel's window. I said to her "Do you hear that? Do you hear that pretty song?"
Ariel answered, "It's just a bird."
I was cleaning stuff in the kitchen today when the house wren started singing outside Ariel's window. I said to her "Do you hear that? Do you hear that pretty song?"
Ariel answered, "It's just a bird."
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Gimme a break - Chapter II
I got a letter yesterday from the Delaware Democratic Committee, asking for a donation to help the democrats win/keep their legislative seats. Let me tell you, given what the Gov is proposing, this just absolutely set my teeth on edge. Here's the letter I wrote:
****************************************************************************
****************************************************************************
Dear Mr. Daniello:
I received your letter regarding the Delaware Democratic Party Victory Fund wherein you ask me for a donation.
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING
My husband and I are State of Delaware employees. We are facing the possibility of losing 16% of our household income, thanks to our Democratic governor, Jack Markell, for whom, I’m very sorry to say, we both voted. Our Democratic senator, Brian Bushweller, and our Democratic representative, Brad Bennett, are both mealy-mouthed when it comes to supporting the State employees in their districts; and I get the very distinct impression that they will not support State employees, who, by the way, are taxpayers.
That is correct: WE ARE TAXPAYERS.
For some reason, the Governor and the legislators seem to think that State workers don’t pay taxes. If that’s the case, I’m owed 26 years’ worth of refunds for the taxes that were erroneously taken out of my paycheck. My husband is owed 33 years’ worth of refunds.
We State workers are, in effect, paying our own salaries as well as supporting the parasites on welfare who contribute nothing but more hands out for more hand-outs.
The measly 2% “raises” the legislators so generously toss our way not only don’t keep up with inflation, they also don’t keep up with the cost of living. And now they want to REDUCE by 10% what we’re already behind on?! Yes, 10%--the 8% the Governor wants to take off the top plus the extra we have to pay for medical coverage insurance. That’s how much he “values” us!
We are WORKERS, not cash cows to be milked whenever there is a budget shortfall. But, of course, it’s easier--and far more popular--to take it out of State workers’ pockets than actually raise taxes and fees or cut the handouts to non-workers.
Perhaps you, as chair of the Delaware Democratic Party, can get the word out to our Democratic senators and representatives and pass a long a few suggestions.
If the Democrats truly want to cut spending, let me suggest looking at welfare, Medicaid, and other programs that support people who will not look for work but who live off the taxpayers’ money--MY money. I limited the number of children I had because I knew my family’s financial limits. If other people choose to have children they can’t afford, that’s their problem--*I* should not have to pay for them.
Suggestion #1: Cut off State financial aid after the second child if the mother and/or father is receiving State assistance. No extra food stamps, no Medicaid, no extra money in the paycheck they’re already not earning. If they want to keep on cranking out babies, fine; but don’t make us productive citizens--us taxpayers--pay for them.
Suggestion #2: Eliminate the DAPI program. Use that money to fund sex education and birth control. Don’t encourage teen-agers to keep having babies that we taxpayers have to pay for.
Suggestion #3: Mandatory drug testing for all State financial aid recipients. If recipients test positive for drug use, eliminate all financial aid immediately. My tax dollars should not be used to support the drug habits of these non-productive parasites.
In the Governor’s speech before the opening of the legislature, he pointed out that we have thousands of retirees moving here because of our low tax base. Suggestion #4: RAISE OUR TAX BASE. Those people contributed nothing over the years; don’t make us pay for them and the services they demand. Institute a 3% sales tax--it would still be a heck of a lot less than surrounding states’ sales taxes.
Suggestion #5: Raise developers’ fees by 20% for each new building or house they want to put up. If they want to clog up our roads with additional traffic caused by additional people, let them pay for it up front.
Suggestion #6: Raise the property transfer tax. People from NJ, PA, MD, DC, and other states are moving here in droves because our property rates are so very low. They are increasing the wear and tear on our roads, overcrowding our schools, and draining our water and land resources. Let them pay for their using up our resources when they move here.
Suggestion #7: Please don’t bind the mouths of the kine who tread the grain. Don’t support ANY cuts to State workers’ salaries. We who are productive, tax-paying citizens should not be penalized because we choose to work in State government. We have a hard enough time making ends meet as it is--a 10% reduction in our paychecks will make it impossible. Despite everything you read in the News Journal regarding State employee salaries, the majority of workers are NOT making $41,000 a year--they’re making $26,000 or less, and the lower paygrades make less than $20,000. A 10% loss will kill them.
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestions. I hope you will pass them on to the Democrats who want to be re-elected in the coming years. If the Democrats in the State of Delaware legislature pass a budget that does not cut State of Delaware employee salaries, you may send me another donation request. If they do vote to cut our salaries, please remove my name from your list of possible contributors because I assure you I will not donate so much as one cent.
Very sincerely,
Leilani M. Wall
I received your letter regarding the Delaware Democratic Party Victory Fund wherein you ask me for a donation.
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING
My husband and I are State of Delaware employees. We are facing the possibility of losing 16% of our household income, thanks to our Democratic governor, Jack Markell, for whom, I’m very sorry to say, we both voted. Our Democratic senator, Brian Bushweller, and our Democratic representative, Brad Bennett, are both mealy-mouthed when it comes to supporting the State employees in their districts; and I get the very distinct impression that they will not support State employees, who, by the way, are taxpayers.
That is correct: WE ARE TAXPAYERS.
For some reason, the Governor and the legislators seem to think that State workers don’t pay taxes. If that’s the case, I’m owed 26 years’ worth of refunds for the taxes that were erroneously taken out of my paycheck. My husband is owed 33 years’ worth of refunds.
We State workers are, in effect, paying our own salaries as well as supporting the parasites on welfare who contribute nothing but more hands out for more hand-outs.
The measly 2% “raises” the legislators so generously toss our way not only don’t keep up with inflation, they also don’t keep up with the cost of living. And now they want to REDUCE by 10% what we’re already behind on?! Yes, 10%--the 8% the Governor wants to take off the top plus the extra we have to pay for medical coverage insurance. That’s how much he “values” us!
We are WORKERS, not cash cows to be milked whenever there is a budget shortfall. But, of course, it’s easier--and far more popular--to take it out of State workers’ pockets than actually raise taxes and fees or cut the handouts to non-workers.
Perhaps you, as chair of the Delaware Democratic Party, can get the word out to our Democratic senators and representatives and pass a long a few suggestions.
If the Democrats truly want to cut spending, let me suggest looking at welfare, Medicaid, and other programs that support people who will not look for work but who live off the taxpayers’ money--MY money. I limited the number of children I had because I knew my family’s financial limits. If other people choose to have children they can’t afford, that’s their problem--*I* should not have to pay for them.
Suggestion #1: Cut off State financial aid after the second child if the mother and/or father is receiving State assistance. No extra food stamps, no Medicaid, no extra money in the paycheck they’re already not earning. If they want to keep on cranking out babies, fine; but don’t make us productive citizens--us taxpayers--pay for them.
Suggestion #2: Eliminate the DAPI program. Use that money to fund sex education and birth control. Don’t encourage teen-agers to keep having babies that we taxpayers have to pay for.
Suggestion #3: Mandatory drug testing for all State financial aid recipients. If recipients test positive for drug use, eliminate all financial aid immediately. My tax dollars should not be used to support the drug habits of these non-productive parasites.
In the Governor’s speech before the opening of the legislature, he pointed out that we have thousands of retirees moving here because of our low tax base. Suggestion #4: RAISE OUR TAX BASE. Those people contributed nothing over the years; don’t make us pay for them and the services they demand. Institute a 3% sales tax--it would still be a heck of a lot less than surrounding states’ sales taxes.
Suggestion #5: Raise developers’ fees by 20% for each new building or house they want to put up. If they want to clog up our roads with additional traffic caused by additional people, let them pay for it up front.
Suggestion #6: Raise the property transfer tax. People from NJ, PA, MD, DC, and other states are moving here in droves because our property rates are so very low. They are increasing the wear and tear on our roads, overcrowding our schools, and draining our water and land resources. Let them pay for their using up our resources when they move here.
Suggestion #7: Please don’t bind the mouths of the kine who tread the grain. Don’t support ANY cuts to State workers’ salaries. We who are productive, tax-paying citizens should not be penalized because we choose to work in State government. We have a hard enough time making ends meet as it is--a 10% reduction in our paychecks will make it impossible. Despite everything you read in the News Journal regarding State employee salaries, the majority of workers are NOT making $41,000 a year--they’re making $26,000 or less, and the lower paygrades make less than $20,000. A 10% loss will kill them.
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestions. I hope you will pass them on to the Democrats who want to be re-elected in the coming years. If the Democrats in the State of Delaware legislature pass a budget that does not cut State of Delaware employee salaries, you may send me another donation request. If they do vote to cut our salaries, please remove my name from your list of possible contributors because I assure you I will not donate so much as one cent.
Very sincerely,
Leilani M. Wall
****************************************************************
I wonder whether I'll hear from Mr. Daniello...
Friday, May 22, 2009
Hog Heaven a/k/a the New Captain Trips?
Glutton for punishment that I am, I'm rereading Stephen King's The Stand. It's been a couple of years, and I wanted to refresh my memory of the aftermath after the flu got loose. (Remember, this story is copyright 1978.) One paragraph in particular sent "Holy shit!" chills down my spine. It's when Stu Redman is in the plague center in Vermont. He's watching the news on TV, and the newscaster says:
"There have been some reported deaths in New York as a result of this latest flu outbreak, but contributing causes such as urban pollution and emphysema have also been present in most of those fatal cases. Government health officials emphasize that is is Russian-A flu, not the more dangerous swine flu. . . ."
GAAAAAH! SWINE FLU!
Yeah, keep calm, folks. The media is blowing these things all out of proportion. You don't need immunizations.....
"There have been some reported deaths in New York as a result of this latest flu outbreak, but contributing causes such as urban pollution and emphysema have also been present in most of those fatal cases. Government health officials emphasize that is is Russian-A flu, not the more dangerous swine flu. . . ."
GAAAAAH! SWINE FLU!
Yeah, keep calm, folks. The media is blowing these things all out of proportion. You don't need immunizations.....
Give me a freakin' break!
I got an "offer" in the mail to apply for a new BLACK Master Card. Oh, they assured me this thing is way better than any ol' gold or platinum card: This thing is carbon! I will attract lots of attention wherever I use it! Woooooooooooooooooooo! And dig this: It would cost me only $495 a year to carry it!
FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE DOLLARS for the dubious privilege of simply carrying a carbon black credit card??? For the love of God, how stupid do those people think I am???
Well, I took that application; wrote "NO" with the stinkiest Magic Marker I have; folded the application, the envelope it came in, and all the miscellaneous junk including the invitation card into a nice little wad; and crammed it in the self-seal, self-addressed, postage-paid envelope. I was very careful to seal the openings with mailing tape. Oh, and on the invitation card I wrote a little note that said:
"$495 a year for the dubious privilege of carrying this card??? Give me a break! When you pay me $495 a year, I'll think about applying for one."
So, when do you think they'll send me a check?
FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE DOLLARS for the dubious privilege of simply carrying a carbon black credit card??? For the love of God, how stupid do those people think I am???
Well, I took that application; wrote "NO" with the stinkiest Magic Marker I have; folded the application, the envelope it came in, and all the miscellaneous junk including the invitation card into a nice little wad; and crammed it in the self-seal, self-addressed, postage-paid envelope. I was very careful to seal the openings with mailing tape. Oh, and on the invitation card I wrote a little note that said:
"$495 a year for the dubious privilege of carrying this card??? Give me a break! When you pay me $495 a year, I'll think about applying for one."
So, when do you think they'll send me a check?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Major Frustrations
I've been in contact with the union, sent in my "I want to join" card, and am still encouraging my co-workers to sign up. I haven't given up by any means! There is going to be a huge rally of State employees this coming Wednesday; unfortunately, I have some very important career-enhancing training on Weds. that I absolutely cannot miss. I still have three years to go before I retire, and I still want a new job!!! But I've posted notices all over the place in the building . . . on the sly, of course, since we're not supposed to do this kind of thing on "State" time. But bugger them--no one else is doing a damned thing to help us.
The AFSCME reps were in the building with information and handouts a couple weeks ago. Did our HR office let us know they were going to be there? Oh, HELL NO! I found out quite by accident when I had to go pick something up from the front office! Boy, was I pissed off that none of the employees had been told. So after stopping in and saying hello to my friends there, I hightailed it back upstairs and started telling my co-workers. I hope at least some of them went down.
I'm also still telling folks that it's not too late to bang on their legislators and to do so early and often. The politicians need to know that it's NOT ok to expect us to take a pay cut, that we're already behind the inflation and cost of living curve, and that they need to find other expenses to cut. And you can bet your bippy I let them know what I think could/should be cut: the programs that support the nonproductive parasites that contribute nothing to society except more mouths that they expect us--the tax payers--to feed. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I won't get started on that...I WON'T get started on that....
The AFSCME reps were in the building with information and handouts a couple weeks ago. Did our HR office let us know they were going to be there? Oh, HELL NO! I found out quite by accident when I had to go pick something up from the front office! Boy, was I pissed off that none of the employees had been told. So after stopping in and saying hello to my friends there, I hightailed it back upstairs and started telling my co-workers. I hope at least some of them went down.
I'm also still telling folks that it's not too late to bang on their legislators and to do so early and often. The politicians need to know that it's NOT ok to expect us to take a pay cut, that we're already behind the inflation and cost of living curve, and that they need to find other expenses to cut. And you can bet your bippy I let them know what I think could/should be cut: the programs that support the nonproductive parasites that contribute nothing to society except more mouths that they expect us--the tax payers--to feed. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I won't get started on that...I WON'T get started on that....
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
