Freedom isn't free...

Freedom is a fucking illusion.

Ok, so maybe that's a little dramatic. But that's how I'm feeling right now. Let me explain.

I've been thinking a lot about other cultures and how they DON'T all bust their asses 40+ hours per week, earning very little vacation time each year. This article tells what other countries get for vacation in comparison to the United States. As of 2004 Americans work 50% more than do Germans, French, and Italians. This article (published in 2001) pretty much sums it up: "Capitalism could be another reason: Americans don't enjoy vacations as a right but as a privilege granted by their employers."

Look - I'm not lazy and I'm not trying to get out of working, but I'm starting to feel like, "What the fuck is it all for?" If you think about it you're really NOT free to do whatever you want unless you come into some money. And in order to do that you usually have to work your ass off unless you just got hit with some luck. Which means that we're just slaves to the system - with freedom being the carrot in front of our little jackass noses. Yeah, we can do whatever we want - as long as we work hard enough to get it. Who decides how hard, then?? As a friend this morning put it, "In America we live to work whereas in Europe (and probably some other countries) they work to live."  That's what I want. Less-strained lives and whatnot.

And let me go ahead and state that I think we're so capitalist because we're all on the brink of losing our fucking minds... if we have to work so hard we may as well have something nice and shiny and new to show for it. Forget all that time spent doing some mind-numbing or back-breaking work... true - that's only precious time we won't get back, but at least I can buy something to have to show for it. That's a problem. We (as a culture) need therapy, I do believe.

And before any of you comment and tell me that if I don't like things then to leave - well - all I can say is that I'm thinking about it. But before I can I have to get up some money so I'm stuck here for now, regardless. And I don't need your shit. I'm not anti-American; I just don't like every little thing about the way things are. And how do you change things?? You speak up, damn it. That's how.

Yesterday...

Yesterday I didn't go to work. And it was SO worth it. I had some things to do with Shadow at school. I enjoyed myself and he seemed to have fun, too. We had lunch together (mmm, cafeteria food - no, seriously - it was better than I'd ever had as far as that goes). And we went to the book fair. Then he was in a little program the school was putting on. It was great.  😀

At the program there was a lady who was "saving" LITERALLY half of the whole first row for some friends. So I went back to the second row. Well, when it started and her friends hadn't shown up I went and took the edge seat on that row. I'm sorry; I wasn't about to sit farther back when there were empty seats available. Well, I heard her telling her kid to go tell me to move (which wouldn't have worked, btw - but the kid wouldn't do it). Then her friends show up about 5 minutes into it... and she leans over and is all "They're here now." I just pointed to the seat I'd left and told her there was an empty seat. I wasn't moving. I feel like if it was that important to her friends they could've at least shown up on time.

Anyhoo, she bitched loudly through the whole thing to her friends about that rude girl that took their seats... I just ignored her. I think she was trying to get me to say something, but I was the bigger man. I would've keyed that bitch if she'd got in my face, though. Well, probably not. But yeah I felt like she was the rude one. I mean, yeah, I did take a seat she was "saving", but when it starts and the seats are still empty I feel like that means they're up for grabs. What if they just hadn't shown up?? Then what? I dunno. I'm personally against seat-saving. I don't do it and I don't expect for it to be done for me. BUT... anyway.  The program was great and I rather enjoyed myself.  😁

My first video! Shadow dancing to "Switch"

We were changing his myspace song and I recently learned to work the video feature on my camera... when he started dancing I just had to try it out. 😁 He had no clue... 😂😍

 

I want you to... read this!

These are to 10 different males in my life - in no particular order. That is as much as you need to know.

• I want you to stop disappointing him. He doesn't deserve that.
• I want you to come home. We miss you.
• I want you to stop treating me like a mother fucking doormat. I HATE!!!
• I want you to come back from the dead. He wants to meet you and I miss you.
• I want you to stop growing up, but since I can't have that I want you to be a happy grown-up when you get there.
• I want you to stop pooping in my floor. I know you do it on purpose. I love you anyway.
• I want you to meet someone that you can share you life with so I won't have to worry that you're stalking me.
• I want you to know how much I truly appreciate you. It's a lot.
• I want you to be happy, too, my friend. You deserve it.
• I want you to know how much you mean to me. I can't tell you with words, but I'd be lost without you.

THE END.

I've been tagged...

1. I've failed miserably tonight, TWICE, at trying to boil an egg. The first time resulted in a melted bowl, the second in a burned and cracked egg.
2. I'm not so much a people person. I'd probably rather be sitting at home with my animals than hanging out with you. (No offense.)
3. I collect jackets and wear them year-round.
4. I gather ink pens. I don't care if you hate me for it; I usually only take the unattended ones anyway.
5. According to the LPA I'm a little person.
6. I don't like touching metal anything... keys, silverware - you name it. It makes my little hairs stand up. Gross.
7. I haven't shaved my armpits in pushing a year.
8. I pretty much hate the way society is and hope everyday that aliens come and save my little family from this hell.
9. Babies gross me out. They leak from EVERYWHERE. I'm in no hurry to do that again.
10. I just fucked up another egg.

Pretty good weekend. :D

So this is how it went:

Friday

My brother called. He gets to come home in July for about two weeks. I CANT WAIT!!! Shadow seemed disappointed when I told him the news and when I asked him why he said he didn't want to wait that long. Aww! I feel him, but I'll take what I can get. 😀 Woo!

Also, I went shopping (sort of). I bought two jackets and a shirt from Martin's and spent about $8, TOTAL. That rocks my face off. 😁

THEN, I went home and figured out how to use the film feature on my camera. Yeah, I've had the damn thing for over a year... I guess it's about time. Not that it will do that much good, but good enough. I think I can only get about 30 seconds at once. But that'll be enough to film my gliders acting silly and hopefully see some baby action. It looks SO weird. They look like they're almost too big to be in Yorda's pouch. But anyway.

Saturday

I went to clean the shelter cats at PetSmart like usual... while I was re-newspapering one of the condos I looked up out the window (cause someone was staring in at me) and it was my dad! I love it when stuff like that happens. It was so good to see him. 😁

I went to Target briefly after the cats. I bought two more jackets... this time I spent about $10. But that's ok. I really like them. Then, we went to Douglasville to see the Aqua Teen movie... it was pretty funny. ESPECIALLY the very beginning. LOLzzzz...

Sunday

I got a new phone. It's sort of goofy-looking, but that's ok.

My mom and her husband came over for a while... they brought my grandmother with them. She's got Alzheimer's. I haven't seen her in a long time. It was good to see her. I've been in my house for about a year and this is the first time she's been there to see it. Shadow was really patient with her, though she kept asking him the same questions (what's your name?, how old are you?, where do you go to school?, etc.) over and over again. He's such a good kid. 😍

I guess aside from that Sunday wasn't so great. I fought a migraine most all day (and nausea) and had a terrible ear pain also (just on the right side, wtf?). Then my dogs got out which (of course) made me panic. (I got them home safely, though). And all in all I just didn't get much done. 😕

But that's ok, I guess. I made up for some of it this morning. Seeing as how I couldn't sleep I decided to get up wayyy early. Then I got busy because I suck at sitting around. And knowing my luck had I gotten comfy I would've fallen asleep and woken up wayyy late or something anyway. But also, the dogs got out again this morning. I think Emma's learned how to open the gate. Smart bitch. Luckily, they were hungry and thirsty so they came right to me when I called.

Anyway, today will be better. I have something exciting sort of going on a little. Something to look forward to. 😀 Yeah.

Will someone please bring me a space heater??

Seriously, (I'm serious). I'm sick of freezing my ass off. I'm like ice. And I'm angry about it. GRRR!

I just hurt my tongue with butterscotch. 😞

This morning Hairy bit me. It didn't hurt or anything. I think she's become the toll-keeper of her cage. No one shall pass without giving her a treat (that's what I normally do first thing - give her a yummy). 😊 I'm sure it was accidental... she probably thought I had something in my hand for her. I'm not mad.

In other ratty news this morning Minuit accepted food from my hand for the first time. 😁😁😁

Saturday we went by CD Cellar. I found a tick on me in there and promptly freaked out. 😨 Luckily it was not stuck in.

I'm sleepy.

And I love you.