A week from Tuesday I may not be allowed to go into work.
Why?
Because I work for the federal government, and our budget runs through September 30. The House of Representatives passed a budget, but they included language defunding Obamacare, and that will never pass the Democratically-controlled Senate.
I have 2 points.
1. It really sucks that those of us who choose to work for the federal government because we love this country and what it stands for will be required to stay home. It would be illegal for us to go to work. Not only have we had our pay frozen for 3 years, but now you're playing politics with my career because you haven't been able to roll back Obamacare the previous 39 times you tried? How is that fair? And how much of a waste of resources was it for you to take the time to vote on this issues 40, yes, 40 times for no purpose? I want to go to work, and because Congress is full of asshats, I won't be able to if the situation continues as it is.
2. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't the biggest fan of Obamacare in the beginning. I didn't support it, but I didn't hate it either; I was pretty ambivalent. Cancer has changed my perspective. Now that I have a "pre-existing condition," if I ever left my current job and needed to get health insurance, Obamacare gives me the right to coverage that I might not have otherwise had. I think this shows that sometimes we need to experience something before realizing why it is needed. It's kind of like some anti-gay folks change their minds once a family member comes out or they meet someone who is gay, and they realize that these are normal people who deserve all the rights that straight people have. Or those who are pro-gun and then are affected by gun violence sometimes change to anti-gun. I wonder what our Republican Congressmen would think if they couldn't afford health insurance and got cancer. Most of our representatives are wealthy enough though, that it's unlikely they will ever be in that position.
I really resent the Republicans doing this especially because they haven't proposed an alternative. If you want to get rid of it enough to cause a shutdown showdown, show me something that you think would be better. Especially since Obamacare is based off Republican Mitt Romney's plan.
Sigh. What a mess.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
'Twas the Night Before Surgery...
A year ago on September 16, a Sunday, I went to Rosh Hashana services, and then came home to wait for Dad to arrive. He was flying in from Los Angeles to drive me to the hospital, where my surgery was scheduled for the next morning, and to stay with me for a few days post-surgery. He got to my apartment at about 11:30pm.
I remember when he arrived he commented about how calm I was. I also remember wondering how else was I supposed to be? I knew I had to have surgery, and I'd prepared myself as best I could. Looking back, I think it's a good thing I didn't read up too much on other people's experiences with wide site excisions, because since my surgery I've read a few horror stories. It just never even occurred to me to look up people's accounts because the surgeon was pretty thorough in explaining everything to me and I'd read enough on the major skin cancer websites to understand what was being done and why.
In fact, I think I was more freaked out about having cancer than about the surgery to be honest. Surgery is something you can control (for the most part). Cancer is something we try to control and barely understand. So I knew what was happening the next morning, I'd had a month to research and think about it, and all that was left was for it to happen.
And a little over twelve hours later it was done.
I remember when he arrived he commented about how calm I was. I also remember wondering how else was I supposed to be? I knew I had to have surgery, and I'd prepared myself as best I could. Looking back, I think it's a good thing I didn't read up too much on other people's experiences with wide site excisions, because since my surgery I've read a few horror stories. It just never even occurred to me to look up people's accounts because the surgeon was pretty thorough in explaining everything to me and I'd read enough on the major skin cancer websites to understand what was being done and why.
In fact, I think I was more freaked out about having cancer than about the surgery to be honest. Surgery is something you can control (for the most part). Cancer is something we try to control and barely understand. So I knew what was happening the next morning, I'd had a month to research and think about it, and all that was left was for it to happen.
And a little over twelve hours later it was done.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Always Remember, Never Forget
Today is a day that will never be normal.
Every September 11, I remember where I was when I saw the second plane hit. I also remember sitting in class and watching the Towers fall.
Now I will also remember waking up on the morning of September 11, 2012, and reading the news that Ambassador Chris Stevens and 3 others were killed in Benghazi, Libya. I also remember all of the attacks on our Embassies around the world thanks to the youtube video that I refuse to name.
It was not a good day.
Maybe one day I'll have more positive memories about September 11, but I hope I always remember to take a moment and think about those who lost their lives on that day in 2001 and 2012. And I hope I remember them in days other than September 11 as they deserve more than to be remembered solely in tragedy.
In fact, I prefer the phrase "always remember" to "never forget" because it feels more active. Actively remembering takes more effort than not forgetting on one day a year.
My plan is to to be thankful for what I have every day, and to remember those who lost their lives on September 11 more than just once a year.
Every September 11, I remember where I was when I saw the second plane hit. I also remember sitting in class and watching the Towers fall.
Now I will also remember waking up on the morning of September 11, 2012, and reading the news that Ambassador Chris Stevens and 3 others were killed in Benghazi, Libya. I also remember all of the attacks on our Embassies around the world thanks to the youtube video that I refuse to name.
It was not a good day.
Maybe one day I'll have more positive memories about September 11, but I hope I always remember to take a moment and think about those who lost their lives on that day in 2001 and 2012. And I hope I remember them in days other than September 11 as they deserve more than to be remembered solely in tragedy.
In fact, I prefer the phrase "always remember" to "never forget" because it feels more active. Actively remembering takes more effort than not forgetting on one day a year.
My plan is to to be thankful for what I have every day, and to remember those who lost their lives on September 11 more than just once a year.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
New Year, New Beginnings
Last night was Erev Rosh Hashana, which means that as of sundown yesterday, it is a new year in the Jewish calendar: 5774. Yay.
Last year Erev Rosh Hashana fell on September 16, the night before my surgery. So in Jewish calendar time, a year has passed since my surgery.
Weird.
Anyway, last night I went to services. It was ok. Starting at 6pm was pretty lame in my opinion, since getting across DC in the middle of rush hour traffic is next to impossible to do quickly. Especially when you're relying on public transportation. So I was 5 minutes late and it took another 5 minutes to find a seat. Blah. Anyway. After services I went to the Sixth and I NYE Party, where we had a countdown to sundown, which was kinda awesome. It was certainly a much better new years than December 31 was!
Last year Erev Rosh Hashana fell on September 16, the night before my surgery. So in Jewish calendar time, a year has passed since my surgery.
Weird.
Anyway, last night I went to services. It was ok. Starting at 6pm was pretty lame in my opinion, since getting across DC in the middle of rush hour traffic is next to impossible to do quickly. Especially when you're relying on public transportation. So I was 5 minutes late and it took another 5 minutes to find a seat. Blah. Anyway. After services I went to the Sixth and I NYE Party, where we had a countdown to sundown, which was kinda awesome. It was certainly a much better new years than December 31 was!
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