Economy Boosting Professional Stupidity?

Abso-fucking-lutely.

As someone who is often in City and County Building Departments, I have definitely seen them go through their ups and downs throughout this recession. In some cases, lines are long, people are overworked, and sometimes due to change of staff, employees are not 100% on top of things or able to answer your questions correctly. This is to be expected.

However, in some cases the employees themselves are getting lazy, and not at all caring about their positions and what they entail. I have always bitched about Miami Beach, because anyone who has been there knows that the permit clerks work in extra slow mode, and the 'router Desk' is pretty much a complete waste of time, not to mention where the majority of your time waiting is.

Here is my complaint for this particular post: Employees not performing up to par, due to pay cuts. One building department recently has really gone down hill. Now I have never like Hialeah's Building Department, though the wait is always long and uncomfortable, it was pretty easy to get your plans and applications dropped off. Now however, someone from this building department has told an employee of ours, that everyone is pissed off about getting paycuts, and therefore slacking. Um, three customers in three hours? All you have to do is stamp the plans, and log in the information that is already supplied for you ON the applications.

Now when you call in for status reports, you get transferred all over and ultimately end up getting someone from another departments answering machine. I understand that working for the City/County can be tedious and stressful - but a pay cut does NOT make it okay to perform poorly at work, especially when there are so many people who are still out of work, even though it's being said that our economy is back on the rise. Sadly, knowing this particular city, nothing will be done. In fact, two employees recently took early retirement because even they could no longer stand everyone else's inability to perform their job.

I ask, 'So what?!' People all over this country are losing jobs, struggling with pay cuts and worse. But they aren't practically going on a rebellious streak that will in the long run piss off their customers and possibly put their position in jeopardy. I, as well as everyone else in the company I work for have taken pay cuts, lost benefits such as 401K contributions and paid holidays, we've even taken hour cuts! Do you bitch about it, sure. But the ONLY way to survive in this economy is to keep pushing forward. Manage yourself and your assets as best as you can, even if it means taking time to sit down and plan out a budget for yourself. Because in the big scheme of things, treating your job like they are beating you down when in reality you are still pretty well paid, and have plenty of benefits...is like beating a dead horse. It's pointless.

So wake up people! If you use this form of rebellion and slacking to express your disappointment, you are only making it harder on yourself. Your customers get angry and lose respect for you, because now you are making THEIR job more difficult and stressful. They are going to yell, scream, and say things you don't want to hear. Because we are all going through it too. But if you don't suck it up, and perform at your best...you just might find yourself on the unemployment line, while someone else settles nicely into your position at a lower pay scale...simply because people these days are REALLY struggling and would sacrifice for even a small income that beats that $250 bi-weekly that they get on unemployment.

Ask yourself this - is bitterness over a few bucks really worth jeopardizing your career and making minimal bucks?

Personal update. Let's call the WAHmbulance.

Funny enough, looking back at my last post....things could not have gone more off track from where I wanted to be by now.

Money is still tight. I mean, I can do small stuff here and there...but I mostly save what I can for the important stuff, and my bills. Reality is, that this double dip recession is hitting our company later than it hit most. We literally have under 10K in our company account today, with about 7K in bills. My dad and the other boss, have not cashed paychecks in months. MONTHS. It's a friggin' waiting game...we wait and pray that the mail carrier brings us some checks. The few employees that we DO have (9 to be exact) are down to working only 3 days a week. And as for me? Well, I'm getting most of my hours, but my credit card is pretty damn high again. I'll have to work on paying that down. And I still need to figure out a name for my freelance makeup artistry, and make the time to get 'models' to make up and photograph for a portfolio before I can really get started on that. To be honest, it's scary.

Another big failure? Working on friendships. As someone who has been in a larger group of friends, I used to joke on my brother for having pretty much a small handful, if that, of friends. And now, I am in that same boat. Why is that? Multiple reasons I suppose. Some my fault, some not so much.

Funny how you get excluded from a lot, when you live further away from the majority of your friends...but when someone is up your way and you spend time with them, because it makes sense, it equates to you being "exclusive" with them. I have a HUGE problem with this. Aside from one or two people who drive up to Hollywierd, no one else really did unless I badgered them to show up for parties. However, a good 90% of the things that were done before in this same group I used to call friends, were done in Hialeah. So nobody could carpool north 35 minutes to hang out....but I was expected to drive south, by myself for no reason other than to hang out...and drive back north at 2-3 a.m. drunk. But they found excuses for when parties were going on by me, or The Gonzalez'. Where is the logic in that? Or people would get upset that I didn't invite them up for impromptu things, that were not planned, but just came together with the people who live closer to me. Yet when it happened with those other friends, and the rest who live closer to them, they argue the same thing...that it was impromptu. But I am exclusive with someone for doing this, and they are not?

Another big reason things fell apart? I suppose it had to do with taking sides with said friend, who lives closer to me. Why? Well because when someone gets insulted in my house, and I hear said insult with my own ears...I have a right to pass judgment on the person who spewed that garbage, seemingly unprovoked. Then you have to factor in the big thing-the end of my involvement with this group. I'd already stopped talking to one girl, because she continued to lie to me about dumb little shit, even after asking her to level with me. Someone I was expecting, and talked to multiple times during the day of my birthday, who promised they would be there and never showed, after telling me they were leaving as soon as their mom got home when they could borrow the car. Someone who I later found out (by email from their new boyfriend) didn't want to be around another guest. Knowing that I am very understanding and would have taken that at face value and accepted it, they instead chose to blow smoke up my ass. Which is insulting to me. A slap in the face, considering that I was there during a very hard time not just for her, but a hard time for ALL of us, my main concern being her. Making sure she was okay, holding her up when her own legs couldn't. Slap.in.the.mother.fucking.face.

Following this, a coupling popped up between said girl and the other guests best friend. I don't agree with it. But I also am not all up in their business. Fuck me for making a a general facebook status about people being upsetting and crossing lines shortly after this actually happened. (that status was also referring to other situations, not just the situation at hand, and my opinion on people in general.) And I suppose that part of the mess to follow was my fault for having an opinion and the balls to display it (even though I never called anybody, in any situation I was referring to out) - but I could not have know that the pissing war was going to be about something completely irrelevant to that situation. The whole thread should have stopped after a few comments. But then someone felt the need to attack someone else that they have problems with, with a barrage of truth and lies from the past. Things that should never have been displayed to the public. And then there was retaliation. And then people with no involvement started sticking their noses into it. Somehow I was called a "hypocrite" from all of it, at which point I deleted the entire thread, because I am sure that had I let it go, it would have gotten even uglier than it did. I felt unjustly attacked, and that was the beginning of the demise of one more friendship, sealed by a very nasty email that I did not deserve, based on something that someone else said. Given, an apology was later emailed to me that seemed sincere, and I replied to it very honestly. But of course, nothing more has come of that.

So much for staying neutral. Naturally, my friendship strengthened with the people who weren't pointing fingers, and choosing to not address me at all.

And on top of all of this, my best friend and I were already drifting apart. I had my issues with how the friendship was going, and it is not something that I am going into in detail in here, as I feel I have already shared all of that with said person. That is who it needed to be shared with. I am not naive enough to say that I don't have my own issues, bad habits, etc. I am positive that I do, but a lot of the time we cannot see these in ourselves. But I flat out asked my longtime friend's opinion on these, to point them out to me so that we could work on it, and also to address to me how she feels based on the issues I brought up. It's been months now, with no reply after her saying that she wanted her rebuttal to be right - and "come from the heart." Well, it hasn't come. Period. And that tells me that as I suspected, I was more invested in the friendship towards the end. I was trying...when it was so easy to just say "fuck it, I'm done." And now it has come to the point that I am. Put a fork in me. I know that I have tried to make peace with this person on more than one occasion. Invited her to my house for a party to spend time with her niece, etc. Shot down. I did my part and left the ball in her court. /shrug

It's a fucking shame how things have turned out. And more proof as to why I have trust issues so deeply. Because if you can't trust someone who has been a huge part of your life for 13+ years, then who CAN you trust? I admit, I am lonelier than I have been in some time, even with the few amazing friends that I do hold close to my heart. Because I feel like everything fell apart over stupid shit. Things that could have easily been avoided, but blew up into a huge situation. I feel at part guilty, when I know I probably shouldn't, because I know that I can be harsh, and hard-headed as hell. Maybe I should have tried harder to keep some of these people in my life - but that's just not me. To kiss someone's ass, and forget all the wrongs that have been laid out on the table. But that has always been me, and I have never denied it. It's just shameful that as adults, we are still acting like the kids we were in high school. It honestly makes me question society, how things have changed with each new generation. Makes me a little nervous about how the human race will be in the future. =/

However, on a positive note; I have been exercising lately, trying to get myself in better shape, with the motivational help of a friend. I'm eating better, and I am back to drinking much more water, and cutting out as much soda as I can from my diet. I follow my eating 6 times a day plan, with 100 calories and under for snacks the majority of the time. I still screw up royally when it comes to lunch.But I am for real about this. In fact, even on my off days from exercising, I have been hopping on the Wii Fit and getting in a good half hour of aerobics and strength training, so that I am burning more calories all week. And you know what, though I have not really lost any weight...I feel good about sticking to it. Because it is something that I need to do for ME. It clears my head, will make me healthier in the long run, and gets my mind off of all the other bullshit that tends to get people down. I don't want to give in to the negativity that circles around us every day. I don't want to end up so depressed that I am looking for the wrong kind of out, purposely or not.

A lot of us said our goodbyes to an old friend last December...I don't want that to be me, be it due to health, depression, even an accident. We are far too young to be saying goodbyes to our peers. What I have learned from all of this - is that maintenance is necessary. Be it maintenance of yourself, or nurturing of friendships. Likewise, sometimes things just shift - and there is nothing you can do about it. So you either be a defeatist, or you get up and move on with your life. Excel at working on yourself, and hoping that in the future you cross paths with people who can see the real you and accept you for that, but are also willing to put in a little effort to stay in/keep you in their lives. And you take the people who you love, family and friends, with a grain of salt. You learn with time what buttons not to push, when to just let them vent, and when to be there to give them a hug when they are hard on themselves or just need one.

Not to be a negative Nancy...but life is hard. And with each year, it only gets more difficult and further tests your strength. But it's also necessary to make you wiser.

Out with the old, in with the new!

I have to say that I am fully embracing 2010 with open arms, and high hopes for the new decade among us. The closing of 2009 brought with it a lot of trials and tribulations. But it also brought a few hard, but insightful lessons.

It all started at the begining of December, when sadly many of us lost a great friend on the day of two other friends' wedding. In the midst of our shock and sorrow, was the proof that a strong group of friends can pull together and get through anything. The DelaTorre' wedding was beautiful, and I believe that Mike was there with us in spirit. His service was very difficult. To experience the finality of the life of someone you have known for nearly 15 years, is devastating. To lose someone so young was completely unexpected, and something I don't want to experience again for a long time to come. And as tragic as the loss was(and still is) it has proven to me that true friendship can get you thru anything. More so, it has taught me to take advantage of the time you have with the people who are important to you, because you never know what is going on in their heads, or how long they will be in your life.

I also learned thru another experience in December that truly caring for somebody, no matter how much it may hurt YOU, means letting go for the other persons happiness. Could I have been pissed off at the situation I am referring to, fought and pushed for what I wanted - easily. But honestly, I am content knowing that this person is happy. Do I wish that the friendship remained stronger than it has - of course. But I believe in time it will get easier...there was a lot of emotion involved. Whether is was only on my part I am uncertain, but I feel that due to this person's leveling with me, I wasn't just some random girl who's company was used for passing time.

And so with 2010, I have decided this is MY year to shine. Time to focus on myself. My weight and health, saving money, nurturing my friendships, and by helping others by devoting my spare time to them. I plan to sign up for some volunteer sites including Hands On Miami, and Habitat for Humanity. I figure that giving back to the community is a great and unselfish thing to do with my time, while saving money as well. I plan to get up to North Carolina to see sistaluv and my niece...and make it a once to twice yearly plan. Because I will NOT allow myself to drift out of their lives. I am going to go meet Jessie's lovely Aria. I'd like to spend a long weekend in the Keys with friends this year, focus on losing weight, go skydiving, and experience new things. You only have one life to live. So be open-minded and LIVE IT. Because again...you never know how much time you have. And a life not lived, is a life wasted.

So come on 2010, bring it. I am ready to face anything you throw at me. Because though 2009 brought a lot of heartache and tears, I am still here and I am stronger because of it.

Your problems are insufficient....

I really don't understand people. At all. It seems like people are stressing over the most rediculous things lately. Our economy sucks, be focused on having fun at as little cost possible, and getting your bills paid. Make sure to spend time with those you love, because you never know when they are going to be gone.

I lost a friend recently, unexpectedly. And all I can think about is that I wish we had spent more time hanging out, I wish I had known that my time with someone I've known for 15 years was going to be cut so short, at just 28 years young. But all I can do is mourn, and smile at all the great memories I have of him. The laughs, the random get togethers at Flanigans, seeing him on stage and ripping that bass...doing what he loved. But the simple truth of the matter is, as humans, we make mistakes and we have to learn from them. Don't take people for granted. If they have a problem, you try to help them. If they need a shoulder to lean on, be there.

I'm going to be losing hours at work after the new year, I've lost benefits, I'll be losing half my paycheck if I lose as many hours as I think. It's a simple fix, you readjust your life and take care of the important things. Even if it means having movie nights IN with your friends, ordering in and splitting the cost. Having a pot luck. You have to make sacrifices to survive the real world.

But mourning, that is something that is real. It's a real issue. People who budget themselves and still CAN'T make their bills. That is a real issue. People are losing their homes, vehicles...can't pay their utilities. So it aggrivates the hell out of me to sit here and listen to an ex employee whining about his wife kicking him out of his house for cheating on her. A married man, with children. Stop whining buddy, you did it to yourself. You've bragged for years about the women you pull, and you got caught. What did you expect was going to happen?

Seriously...we in general, need to get a thicker skin, and a better understanding of the important things in life. Like ourselves. Each other. Family values. Budgeting ourselves while still living our lives. And being adults about the problems we create for ourselves, fucking doing something about it other than simply whining about how unfair life is. *shrug*

In lieu of witicism: Un-substancial update!

This is just going to be a random update about happenings in my life, or lack thereof. I apologize I don't have anything to glamor you with today.

I have to say, that October has been a rough month and I have had a few small anxiety attacks. Mostly in part due to the stress of work and other emotional standings. Work has been a little crazy. We have days where I am giving it my all, shuffling paperwork, getting proposals out, working on getting the company some money in. And then there are days [much like today] where the phone has not rang once. I much prefer running permits to being chained to my desk. Upside of the office, I can play on FB [or blog even]. However, even dealing with the atrocious traffic in Miami, I am more at ease on the road. It clears my mind. This whole sitting in the office thing...I get paid, but I feel useless. We are owed so much money that we are beginning to blacklist some contractors, and demanding partial payments, and full payment before applying for final inspections of jobs. Unfortunately, I am also aware that there will be no bonuses this year, no raises, and salary cuts look like they may be in the near future. You all know that December is a plethora of birthdays and parties along with Christmas. *sigh* Another day in the life of regular people trying to get by with the economy in the shitter.

Emotionally, I am in a wierd place. I've had walls up for a very long time. Unfortunately, I let them down and developed feelings for somebody completely unexpected. I was so not ready, or expecting to feel a rush of emotions the way I did...it's borderline embarassing that it is one aspect of my personality that I cannot control. All of the tomboy qualities I have, and I get blessed with heart-on-the-sleeve syndrome. *insert eyeroll here* I despise that side of myself. We've decided to remain friends, which is a difficult task to achieve when you are so into someone, but doable nonetheless. I'm a strong person, and already able to push a lot of those feelings aside, they will be gone with time. I will say that I am glad to still have said person in my life, because I have found an amazing friend in him. It's nice to be able to talk to somebody so openly. Even if occasionally I have to keep myself in check because my head is telling me one thing but my vagina wants another, lol

On the health front, we are still waiting on mom's pathology results, and I will keep those of you that matter informed. You know this. I have dropped some weight, which is an awesome thing for me, really pumped up my self esteem. I still have not started running like I keep saying I will. Though maybe it is a good idea for me to do so at night and wear myself out. I have not been sleeping well at all in the last few months. And in an effort to get out of my head for a while, I admit I have spent too much money, and too much time partying lately. To the point I literally am running on empty. I think it's time I slow down a little.

On a good note, I am leaving SoFlo for a week in North Carolina. I'll be going up to visit Vikki, and my other friends and second family up there, and most excitingly...to meet my beautiful niece Sophia. She just melts my heart. And there is no better cure to stress than playing with babies, and getting lost in the wilderness. =)

Venting

I have not been keeping up with this blog as well as I had initially planned. But today I need to vent a little bit, so I think I will.

There is a lot of talk going on about 'Cancer Awareness Month.' In reality, this month is Breast Cancer Awareness. I bet you guys didn't know that the month of November is Lung Cancer Prevention month. In fact, nearly each month of the year focuses on one or more forms of cancer and the awareness and prevention of each type. Unfortunately it is not as commercialized as the campaign against breast cancer.

As someone who has watched a very close family member suffer from and ultimately lose the battle with one of the least treatable forms of cancer, I know how scary the word is. And I know that not only the person with cancer suffers, all of their loved ones do as well. I mean, afterall...the most commonly used method of treatment [or sometimes prolongment of life] involves either radiation, or pumping poison through ones system. They have to make you sick, on the chance that they can make you better.

<>
My grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer sometime in the fall of '99, during my senior year of high school. She and I had a relationship more like that of a mother and daughter, we were that close. My parents chose not to tell my brother and I about her diagnosis until after the holidays, on January 1st of 2000. Only later would I find out that it was at my grandmothers request, and it would take even longer for me to understand her reasoning for wanting it that way. She knew ahead of time, that it was going to be a tough battle. I think this was the turning point in my life, when my depression actually began. I lost a lot that year, relationships, what little faith I did have, and friendships...which I know now, were merely lost acquaintances. Senior year was rough...prom, my grandmother was on my mind. Graduation...I cried my eyes out, because I know how important it was for her to be there...she couldn't make it because she was too sick from the chemo. Those of you who know me, know that very few of you have ever seen me shed a tear. I close off. In fact, outside of direct family, I only broke down once. It was at the funeral following her casket out of the church. The finality of it all got to me. It's difficult to watch someone you love lose a lot of their independance, their strength, their hair, and even worse their spirit and the light in their eyes.

I'm not going to go completely into that story, because to this day I get emotional. You don't really realize the impact that chemotherapy can make on somebodies body, health, and state of mind. Long story short, the cancer eventually spread into her esophagus, into her bones, and ultimately to her brain before she couldn't fight any longer. Luckily I got to say my goodbyes to her before dementia hit and she could no longer recognize the family. She passed away early the morning of September 9th, of 2001 ... on my parents anniversary. 'Anniversary' being one of the last words she spoke. She was so thoughful, that even on her deathbed at UM, she was trying her hardest to hold on not for her, but for someone else. But in all honesty, no matter how bittersweet...we all felt a sense of relief when we got the phone call. She was finally no longer in pain. <>

Now, what brought all of this on, you may be asking? The last few months my mom has been having female issues. After an initial surgical procedure a few years ago, there was nothing wrong. But three months ago when problems flared up again, the doctors found pre-cancerous cells in her uterus. But insurance won't approve a hysterectomy [so much for prevention.] One would think that if a few years ago, there was nothing, and suddenly they find pre-cancerous cells...something bad is a brewin'. This makes me livid. For the past three months, they have had her on a hormone, hoping that it would decrease these bad cells. How it will do that, I am unsure. Either case, now she will have to set up an appointment for the same procedure a second time. Once the results come in, if there are more pre-cancerous cells or no improvement, a hysterectomy will finally be scheduled. THREE months. That's a long time. You would think that insurance would realize that if these cells have developed out of the blue, it's probably a good idea to get them the hell out of there.

I am confident that insurance will approve the hysterctomy this time, and that everything will be fine. But it still scares me that they would gamble like that with a patient who has been in menopause for 20+ years, and clearly won't be having any more children. [I won't lie, it also makes me nervous because my grandmother had Endometrial Cancer a few years prior to the lung cancer.]

Aside from this, a friend is dealing with a form of more treatable cancer in her family and going through a tough time with that. I understand. A friend who is practically a cousin to me is having health issues with her son...the doctors overlooked some tests from when he was 2 months old, and are now testing for Leukemia or blood cancer over a year later. So yes, the word cancer has come up a lot lately.

I don't know where I was going with this other than venting my anger about the insurance situation, and the stress of it all.

I suppose my point is this: Don't ever be so naive as to think that cancer could never touch the ones you love, no matter their health. Because it happens to the people who deserve it least. My grandmother quit smoking 15+ years prior to her diagnosis. She would have given the shirt off her back to someone in need, and she fought the hardest and longest that she could. I hope to one day be half the woman she was. Don't ever take life for granted.

The word cancer, whether there is a prefix attached to it or not, is a scary word. It's not something to be played around with. I really wish that insurance companies were a little more sensitive to the matter.

[A big thank you to Ruben for whipping my ass into shape for not getting all of this out, you are right. Sometimes we do need to vent. Thanks bro! Mom's has an appointment MOnday for her follow up...then we'll see where this all goes. <3]

LASIK Vision Correction: What to Expect

Since having my LASIK performed on Friday morning, numerous friends have asked me about the experience and procedure. There are many options for laser vision correction, so LASIK may not be for you. But I will explain the best I can for those of you that are interested. I apologize for the length, but wanted to be thorough.

GETTING STARTED
First off, you are going to want to set up an appointment with an Opthamologist, not an Optometrist.

He/She will spend some time with you dicussing your options and what to expect from vision correction. You will receive a more thorough eye exam than you are used to, but nothing is painful or freakish. You will need to take your contact lenses out beforehand, obviously, and these tests will allow the Opthamologist to decide if you are a good candidate. Once you are decided on the procedure, you will be told not to wear your contact lenses for at least 2 weeks, so that the natural shape of the eye will be exposed. You will have another eye appointment previous to surgery, where the doctor will double-check the thickness of your cornea by taking high quality pictures, that resemble a doppler radar. You will also be given an antibiotic drop to use 4 times a day in each eye to prepare for surgery, as well as a surgery date.

THE PROCEDURE
First off, no jewelry or perfume, because the laser does not like it. Second, make sure to dress warmly, because the room that the laser is in is cold as shit! The first step after checking in, is that a technician will take you back to a room, where more pictures will be taken of your eye for comparison numbers. If you are nervous, they will give you a xanax to calm you. This tech will be your doc's wingman throughout the process. Next, your eyes will be cleaned and prepped. You'll close your eyes and the tech will wipe your lid area down with an antiomicrobial soap, and clean it off for you. Next he will put about 6 drops in each of your eyes, these are numbing drops.

Next you are taken to the room where the laser is, and you will lay down on a leather table, and the doc will swing you under the laser. He will put more numbing drops in your eyes. The laser is basically a really bright ring of light above you, with a small, flashing, red dot in the center. You keep your focus on the red dot at all times.

First the doc will cover one of your eyes with a patch. Next he tapes your top lashes up, and your bottom lashes down on the exposed eye. He will put an instrument that looks something like an eyelash curler between your eyelids and eyeball, which will allow the eye to be opened nice and wide. You don't feel any of this. Your doctor will rinse your eye (which is actually really cool looking.)

This next step is the only part that was uncomfortable, though not painful. A suction cup is placed on the eye, to pop it slightly higher out of the socket. When the suction is on it will feel like your eyes do in an airplane or under water due to the pressure, but a little worse, and your vision will go completely black. He will then turn the suction off, and rinse the eye again. Your blurry vision will return.

Next you will hear something that sounds like a dental drill, but half as loud, and the doc will make a small cut on the eye (really you feel nothing, and your eye is so blurry it is hard to even see whats going on.) This creates a flap that is peeled back, to expose the cornea. Your vision will get twice as blurry.

Once this is done the laser will be set to work for a certain amount of time alotted for the correction needed in the eye. Your doc will tell you to focus on the red light, hold your head in place so that you don't move, and turn on the laser. It looks exactly like the tip of a sparkler when the laser is doing it's work, just flashes of white light around that red light that you are still focused on. It's actually pretty.

Next, the eye is rinsed yet again, and the doc will carefully pull the flap down over your cornea and set it in place using a surgical sponge. The flap of the eye will secure itself. He removes the eyelid instrument, and untapes your lashes. He'll cover that eye, and repeat the same process all over again on the other eye.
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Now, you are done! Takes 15-20 minutes for this whole procedure, tops. You will be given a bag of drops. One is the same antibiotic you used before surgery, and one is a steroid to help the eye heal. You use them both 4 times a day, and wait 15 minutes in between the two drops so they don't wash each other out. You also will have a bunch of bottles of artificial tears. Your job is to keep your eyes moist. You will need these until your eyes are healed and able to tear on their own again. You get a goofy ass pair of goggles which you have to wear when you sleep, so that you don't unconsciously poke your eye, lay on your fist, get fibers in the eye, etc. And lastly, these huge hater blockers that are very dark and fug, but they protect your eyes from the sun. And an appointment will be set up to visit your doc the following day for a check up.

When whoever is driving you home, you will notice you can already see quite well, and your eyes will clear up over the next several days. No reading, TV, or computer the first day. Put your goggles on and go to bed...becuase that xanax will have fully kicked in and you will sleep like a baby for a few hours.
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My surgery was done exactly 6 days ago. My prescription was Left eye:-875 Right eye:-725. Today I am seeing L:20/25 and R:20/30. This will still clear up a bit more over time. And the only thing I have found that my eyes are sensitive to are the sun [wear sunglasses when outside] and flourescent lighting. Aside from that, no pain at all, no itching while healing, NOTHING!

For reference, if you are in South Florida and would like to check out my doctor, here is his information:

Jonathan F. Wise, M.D., F.A.C.S.
3816 Hollywood Blvd, Suite 101
Hollywood, FL 33021
ph:(954-963-4990)

He's also got an office in Pembroke Pines. You can ask for that info when you call. I will warn you though, that during your initial first few visits, he is very dry and monotone. Almost cold sounding, it's just his personality though. Once you are a patient and the LASIK is closer his attitude and personality improve tenfold...he'll even crack jokes! And another thing I loved is that during the surgery he will explain everything he does as he goes, to prepare you, way better than I described here.

I am very happy with the result, and go back again for another follow-up Monday afternoon. I will not need glasses again until my late 40's or early 50's, for reading. At that age, most people need reading glasses anyway.

An oldschool Mansonite...scarier than Marilyn's

So as of last Friday, Lynette Fromme [a.k.a. Squeaky] was released from Prison. For those of you who live under a rock, 'Squeaky' is/was one of Charlie Manson's disciples. She did not have direct involvement in the slayings at the Tate residence, however once Charles Manson was arrested, she became the head of the family and was arrested numerous times. She was eventually arrested and improsoned, for life, after putting a gun to then president Ford's head, to prove her devotion to the family. Apparently this latest parole hearing, some moron decided that she has paid her price. So much for life in prison.

Of the many years that Fromme was imprisoned, she has kept in touch with Charles Manson most of this time. And also has the telltale 'X' carved into her forhead. As of now, she is free at 60 years of age.

It makes you wonder...can this person really function in society, when they were so easily manipulated and brain-washed by Manson? She attemped assasination on a president and has been in touch with her...mentor all of these years. Maybe releasing her to a psychiatric ward would have been more effective than releasing her into the public. Who knows, maybe she will end up in the limelight, always being watched closely. Maybe not, but if she's a good actress and can convince a judge that she was ready for freedom...she could also still have the drive to try and regroup a following. What are the chances that she is not going to go batshit crazy and commit an actual homicide this time...or succeed in another assasination attempt this time, on our current president?

I don't know guys, I'm iffy on this one. What do you guys think on this? Do you think she is atoned, or does the fact that she was and is so close with Manson still seem a little creepy to you all as well?

Andie's Take on the Twilight Movie and Books

I will admit that I jumped on the Twilight bandwagon a little late. Fortunately for me, I did it the smart way...by reading the books before seeing the Twilight movie. Let me explain, for you non-Twihards out there, why it seems lame if you have seen the trailers.

THE TWILIGHT MOVIE
I will be the first to admit, though I would love to make Rob Pattinson my bitch, that I am not the biggest fan of the movie. For those who have not read the books, it was probably an even worse cinematic experience for you. The scenes seem to be almost pieced together. So for a first timer...it can be confusing. The handsome brooding guy that glares at the new girl in disgust, awkwardly tries to befriend her, scares the shit out of her in a forest, and BAM! Suddenly they are in love and there is a vampire fight scene. Essentially the first book was based on the love story element...doesn't make for a great vampire flick. So I think the direction they went in was to skip to the action and try to draw in a new audience. Result: definitely a tween geared movie. I honestly believe that the next movie 'New Moon' coming out this November will be much better, though still not comparable to the books. And please, don't get me started on the acting...because I think that a better job could have been done...

THE TWILIGHT SAGA
On to the books. First, let me start by saying that one of my favorite things about this series is that the author writes her character Bella in first person. Very rare for a fictional character, but done in a way that allows you to better connect with the feelings and emotions of the character.

'Twilight' essentially introduces you to the characters, where they come from, and the differences between them. For the most part it is the story of how Bella [the plain girl] and Edward [the century old Vampire] fall in love after struggling to keep their distance from one another, because they know that they are different and a relationship would be a huge struggle to make work....without one or both of them dissapearing. There are plenty of vampire type things in this book, a great vampire baseball scene [which was actually played well in the movie], and yes, the fight scene. But still, more or less a love story. By this point I was already loving the characters and their depth, and was already hooked.

From here, the next three books [New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn] are completely action packed with heartbreak, suspense, new friendships, good vampires, bad vampires, insane fight scenes, a total shocker, and so on. I can't even begin to explain without giving it all away, because I'd end up rambling on about every amazing scene that comes to mind. Yes, this series is geared towards a teenage audience. But it is not just a vampire love story, it is so much more than that. The characters are written so well that you literally can relate to their feelings. Not to mention the author debunks so many of the traditional vampire myths...sleeping in coffins, frying to death in the sunlight, etc.

This is one of those collections, that once you've read them, had such an affect onyou, that you will immediately find yourself re-reading the series.

Ultimately, I think the movies will get better, as the books did in succession. But I cannot preach enough, that you are missing so much if you did not read the books. And I strongly suggest that even if you've seen the movie, you read the first book. A lot of things were not included in the movie, that are going to lead into major parts of the NEXT movie.

/nerd mode

'The Depression' of the 21st Century?

Is this it? I think it is comparable, or getting to that point at any rate. This post was inevitable. The current state of our economy is affecting all of us.

During President Obama's speech, the small portion I did listen to a few nights ago, he made a point of saying that things are getting better, leveling off in regards to the economy. Personally, I don't see it. Maybe it was meant as a comforting statement for those out there feeling hopeless right now.

In the last month alone not only has our workload shrunk, but we have been forced to lay off a few employees (and likely more soon), stop contributing to 401K's, cut some employees pay, and their hours as well. We are making our bills, thanks to lines of credit...but we aren't getting any money in. Once that contract is signed, we have to honor it. The most we can do at this point is put liens on properties, and we won't get paid until that property owner tries to sell. That's nice...but it doesn't help us right now. So see, the state of the economy is catching up with all of us, we're just lucky that we were unaffected this long. Moreover, I'm lucky in that I live at home and don't have a mortgage to pay, so that I can pay the bills that I do have.

A few days a man called (one of many) in search of a job. He spent a few moments talking to me about our trade, and how he has been in it for 40+ years and has never seen it this slow. The poor man sounded so dejected. You could practically hear the worry and defeat in his voice. =/ And it's not just the fire sprinkler trade or construction. So many of my friends are out of work right now, and relentlessly going through the interview process over and over again. Either businesses are not hiring, or are sending people away for being overqualified. This is happening all over the country.

So I went to BarackObama.com to see what he had to say on the economy, which was this (my commentary italicized):

"Get the economy back on track:
President Obama signed legislation to jumpstart our economy, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, less than a month after his inauguration. The plan will save or create 3.5 million new jobs, make critical investments in our infrastructure and give 95 percent of working Americans a tax cut."

That's great news. But nowhere does it say how this Act works. Sure cutting our taxes is a great relief for us as citizens. But really what does it do about the 1.3 TRILLION debt deficit that our country is in? At the way things are currently going, people are not going to run out and spend all of their tax savings. They are going to invest it, or bank it. And how exactly it this Act going to save and more so create new jobs???

"Rebuild our economy on a new, sustainable foundation:
By making bold and wise investments in healthcare, energy and education, and restoring fiscal accountability to government spending, we will cut costs for American families and businesses, create good jobs that can’t be shipped overseas, give our children the education they need to be competitive in the global marketplace and leave our grandchildren a legacy they can be proud to inherit."

This also sounds great in retrospect. But what does it really mean? Come on Obama, dumb it up a little for the general public. We are not so naive as to think an entire country's problems can be repaired in a few months. But in order for us to believe in you and have hope, we need to know how your plan works. I'm not Miss Cleo up in this bitch. Giving children a competitive edge with a better education is great. But we need jobs in order for them to put that to use. And everything that has been proposed is just going to cost the government more money and put this country deeper in debt. How do we even begin to climb out of that?

See, I am not bashing on Obama, I just am curious how he is going to pull this off. Again, in retrospect it sounds wonderful. But as an American, this is one of those things that is in the back of my mind. Then again, our grandparents and great grandparents made it through 'The Depression,' they held on and pulled through. So we can too. It's just a matter of how much are Americans going to lose before seeing the light at the end of the tunnel?