Sunday, October 2, 2011

Letter to the Editor

I suppose you've heard about the protests going on in NYC and throughout the rest of the country. If not, you have now. Here is the letter I wrote to the editor of the Kalamazoo Gazette this evening (morning):
"I understand why protests modeled after NYC are springing up all over the country, but I'm not sure they are going about it in the right way.

The organizer's website (https://occupywallst.org/) states "We, the people of the United States of America, considering the crisis at hand, now reassert our sovereign control of our land." I see a who, a what, a where, and a why, but I don't see a HOW - and that's the most important one! I am all for solidarity and I completely appreciate the right to assemble, but I really wish someone would take the time to think this through. There have to be people out there who think that being rational is more effective than being emotional!
The movement has become known as "We Are The 99%", and the introduction on their website (http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/Introduction) reads as follows: "If you’re reading this, there’s a 99 percent chance that you’re one of us. You’re someone who doesn’t know whether there’s going to be enough money to make this month’s rent. You’re someone who gets sick and toughs it out because you’ll never afford the hospital bills. You’re someone who’s trying to move a mountain of debt that never seems to get any smaller no matter how hard you try."
According to this statement, I am not in the 99%. I'm in the 1% who knows they can afford next month's rent and who can afford hospital and doctor bills if it becomes necessary. My debt is limited to the $72 and some change on my only credit card.
The site also gives a description for the other 1%: "They are the 1 percent. They are the banks, the mortgage industry, the insurance industry. They are the important ones." I am none of those industries. I am a 23-year-old woman. And if this emotional thinking is truly the way our country is headed, then I most certainly am one of the important ones."


Seriously, people.


Also, here's a cool shot I took of Mad today.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Medical Mess[ages]

Just wanted to update regarding my medical issues. It's really become a never ending parade of crap. Super eloquent. CRAP.

So I had my EMG, and it was normal. Ok, cool - why is my hand still tingly and numb?

I also had the blood work run (RA, ANA, sed rate, CRP) and it was normal EXCEPT - and here's where I got excited because previously I'd been used to everything being normal - my CRP. For those of you unfamiliar with CRP, it stands for C-Reactive Protein, and it's essentially just a measure of overall inflammation. Mine was 1.6, when it should have been between 0.0-0.9. That result is nonspecific, so something inflammatory is going on, we just don't know the cause. The rheumatologist I've been speaking with thinks it may be caused by an allergy, which is possible, so I'm cutting out foods one by one, starting with peanuts. It may also be an allergy to my medication, which is harder for me to just stop taking because I know how I'll get. Definitely something to call Dr. M. about this week.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Will Shoot for Food!

I have done a ton of pictures the last couple weekends. Ok, well, not a ton, but quite a few. Along with this I've been working my normal week, writing letters to both of my prison pen pals as well as a couple of other friends, and knitting.





My "nephew" Declan.



Tammi and James' wedding.





Sam and Andy's engagement.




Sam.













Friday I had an EMG, which is quite possibly the worst test I've ever had to have done. It sucked. You don't ever want one, seriously. I also had some blood work done: RA, ANA, CRP, and sed rate. Meaning? They're looking for an autoimmune disease. Balls.

Friday, September 2, 2011

A Wild Blog Appeared!

Oh man, things have been happening!

Bee and I shot a wedding last Saturday, which was stressful, but turned out well in the end, I think. We'll see for sure once all of our pictures are edited and together. Sunday I went out shooting in BC with my uncle and I got a few good shots! I threw a couple of them in the post.

Shooting engagement photos on Sunday, but not before the annual Labor Day Awesomely Fun Time Thing at the Horn lake house! I'm so excited to see Caitlin! and Max and Declan. And Casey and Alex and Allison. and everyone's parents as well, I suppose.

And I got another prison letter today! I really like Matt, he's pretty cool. I think he's hitting on me a bit via letter though - but hey, he's in prison for the rest of his life and there are no ladies there. If I were in his shoes I'd probably be doing the same thing. This past Monday I mailed a letter out to another guy, Kyle, in Iowa. We'll see if he writes back!


Sunday, August 21, 2011

I needed this :)

Friday I got a letter from my prison pen pal! He seems like he's pretty cool. I'm excited to hear more from him.

Yesterday was fantastic! Hung out with Amy Hoe at her boss' birthday party and watched Amy, Jeff, Justin, Ed, and Heather get drunk = I laughed really, really hard.

But the BEST part of yesterday was getting to see Conr! I forgot how much I missed that kid. It was so strange to be hanging out with him, Sam, and Nick Rhodes, of all people. I was almost surreal, haha. Conr is still hands down one of the nicest, most understanding people I've ever met. Sometimes I think he's wise beyond his years. I'm beyond glad we've kept in touch.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

this is what happens when I eat ice cream for dinner.

Is it possible to feel lost and found at the same time? I want everything and I want nothing. I wonder if this is how I'd feel if one of my toes was removed and reattached on the other foot. I am in such a weird, chill mood right now. I wish I could explain it better.

The other day I wrote a letter to a guy in jail. I'm really excited to see if he responds and to see what he has to say. I'm looking forward to having a pen pal who has a completely different life, different experiences, different and potentially similar thoughts.


I just got a chill.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

muddy blues you can't refuse

The Cowpie Blues Festival does wonderful things to my soul. These guys were there. So was my cousin Josh (Motor City Josh and the Big 3). The ground was muddy, the air was cold, and I feel so fantastically chill. mmmmmmmmmmmm