Ok, I am going to break a little cover. Ms. Donna lives on the Gulf coast of Alabama. That is more than you need to know, but it does explain why I have been getting a few calls from worried relatives and friends.


You see, there is a storm out there named Isaac. Forecasters say it will be a hurricane soon, and it looks as of this writing to be headed for the Alabama Gulf coast. So people who know us are freaking.


First, this is not the first hurricane Ms. Donna’s family has experienced. This explains why Ms. Donna’s mother (who Ms. Donna lives with) is nervous. Mom lost a lot when Ivan came through, and that is understandable. Right now, this is not Ivan.


This means that we do know (unlike the idiots who party on the beach) how to prepare, and when to flee.


So family, be assured. We are not stupid.


On the other hand, I do have a little spleen for the media people who are blowing this up into Armageddon. Folks, it is not. Sensible preparation is the order of the day. Not hype.


And I have a lot of spleen and anger at the idiots who ARE going to party like it’s 2099 on the beach or in the storm’s path. You will be putting first responders in jeopardy. If someone says evacuate, leave. Stay sober. A hurricane looks exciting on film, with you safe in your seat, but it is awful to feel walls “breathe” in the wind.

Olympics

Now that the Olympics are almost over … Let me congratulate ALL the athletes. NPR said that most of them won’t get a minute of airtime, but they DID work hard to become their country’s representative. I’ve only been a “primetime” viewer, so all I’ve seen is NBC’s stitched-together programs. That means I’ve missed events that don’t have an American contender. Or don’t have enough “glamour.” Or don’t have a story arc that some 20-something assistant producer can’t stitch together. Or attractive people in teeny-tiny and tight singlets, leotards or swimsuits. *sigh* Anyway, congrats to the London organizers and to the people of London. It has been quite an event and thank you for hosting it.

Gun control. Right now, members of the NRA are worried that the recent shooting in Aurora, Colo. means that howl will be on for laws restricting gun ownership. They are afraid that such laws will restrict their Second Amendment rights. Presidential candidates are afraid of the NRA’s political clout, so the two leading candidates are not going to address the issue, according to news reports. Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney, I am looking at you. I wish one of you would get a spine. I agree that the Founding Fathers placed the Second Amendment high up in the Bill of Rights because they had first-hand experience with government taking away weapons from those they considered “dangerous.” (Read enemies of the state.) OK, I understand that. I don’t own firearms, but enjoy going to the range on occasion. But it seems to me that the purchase of two handguns and two rifles (one an automatic) in a few weeks should have raised a flag. Certainly wholesale purchases of ammunition should have been cause for concern. My suggestion: Allow the purchase of weapons, but set it up so that the law enforcement entities that issue permits get a red flag if someone in their jurisdiction purchases and registers more than X number of firearms in Y time period. I leave the X and Y up to legislatures as I don’t know what is reasonable. Maybe someone is a new hunter and purchased weapons for herself and her daughter. This is something a quick query to the weapon purchaser can clear up. I hate to put people in law enforcement in danger, but I think they would rather make an in-person visit to the multiple gun purchasers than clean up a tragedy. Ditto for ammunition. And yes, if you purchase more than X number of rounds in Y time period, the local police should be informed. Certainly someone who is doing a lot of shooting to prepare for an event can explain themselves. (BTW, Kudo to the USA Olympic Shooting Team http://www.usashooting.org/about/olympic-games/olympicteam)

Hi all, Sorry I haven’t been on in a while. Got a job, got laid off (THANK YOU BP) got another job and got laid off. Such is the economy. The last job was in Mississippi, and thereby hangs this next post. Or rant. You decide. I was pleased to get Mississippi Blue Cross/Blue Shield as one of the benefits of working my last job. When I was laid off, I decided to COBRA the benefits so I would have medical coverage while looking for work. It’s expensive, but worth it should I get seriously sick. I moved back to my mother’s home in Alabama to save what little $ I have. My mother is a great person, and she’s putting up with me and the two cats. I needed to see my doctor, first to get back in touch, get some forms filled out and get an Rx refilled. I was overjoyed when her receptionist said I could have an appointment the next day. Got to the office and handed over the Mississippi BC/BS card. Saw the receptionist look over a couple of pages on her desk and scurry to the back. This was not good. I was asked to see my MD’s husband, who handles the business end of the practice. He explained that while the practice was a “National” BC/BS provider, Mississippi insisted on their own set of forms to be filled out to have claims covered. He showed me the inches-thick package of paperwork. No, I would not want to slog through them either. But … So, despite HAVING insurance, I can’t use it. At least not with the doctor I had been seeing for the past five years. At least not unless I pony up the cost of a visit, which I did. Next is a trip to the local hospital to see if they accept Mississippi BC/BS coverage. To say the least, the exchequer is empty. What part of “national” does Mississippi not understand? I know they left the Union in the Civil War, but I thought that had been dealt with. I thought they had figured out that they were part of the United States, and that they should go along with national programs. Mississippians are touchy about being seen as ignorant yahoos on the national stage. With good reason. If a California comedian wants to portray a hick, they paste on a Southern accent and say they are from the Magnolia State. That is insulting. BUT, Mississippi, you are a bunch of ignorant such-and-sos if you don’t recognize an MD in Alabama is a national BC/BS provider. And that sometimes people have to leave the state. Fix this and maybe, just maybe, you can do something about the way you are seen across the country.

Survive Thanksgiving?

Survive Thanksgiving?

Well, it looks like we have survived another Thanksgiving holiday. My sister and her family came over, and it was nice to see everyone.

Of course, that lasted 15 minutes.

My brother in law proceeded to get drunk and sniped at my niece, his daughter, because she’s had issues with anorexia.

When he mentioned having Christmas in the mountains, I piped up and said I only get Christmas Day off and had to put in at least six hours in the day before and after to get holiday pay. He scoffed. It’s true.

I feel sorry for my sister. This isn’t a bad guy, but he is ill-mannered. Seeing him sit at the head of the table where my father should have been was hard.

And the killer - it turns out that Mom still wishes she could go to the Florida retirement community that fired me.

I either need to die or get a new family.

About me, I guess you have to have this

Hi all,

Just another lonely wordsmith (don’t you hate that term?) in Southern Alabama
Quick sketch of me:

I’m a military brat, something I am sure I will be writing about later. I was born in California and raised in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. Home for all us “brats” is wherever we hang our hats.

I was seriously ill last year. I have leaned not to talk too much about that. It can get you fired. That’s how things happened for me.

I moved from New England to Florida to take the job I was fired from a couple of years ago. I left two almost-gown kids with their father up there, and it kills me every day.

After my illness and job loss, I wound up living with my Mom (Dad died in March) in Alabama. I work for a weekly paper, and I worry about its future.

That’s me.

Wandering Words

Welcome!

I live in Alabama and an a writer by trade. I'll fill in more later