Thursday, March 31, 2011

Military Wives ~ not stereotypical ~

So, I read a blog by a woman who I perceive as bitter and cold towards military wives for the most part and she seemingly keeps trying to include herself in the "military wife" category when, in fact, her BOYFRIEND is no longer even in any military service.

Now in this blog she rants and talks about military wives... and I quote...

"And sweet mother of pearl clean your fucking house. If all you’re doing is staying home, turn on the damn vacuum. Your counters could cure cancer."

How is it that she knows EXACTLY what every woman does during the day? How is that she knows EXACTLY whose house is clean and whose isn't?

The women who I know that stay at home all day, DO KEEP THEIR HOUSES CLEAN....and if they seem to be a bit "cluttered", not dirty, it is b/c they have young kids running around constantly. I see women who stay home and are constantly cooking, cleaning, washing clothes.... it never ends!!

And for some odd reason a woman doesn't do this, who the hell is anyone to tell her she is wrong? That is between HER AND HER HUSBAND.

And I quote....

"You married him, this is his job, get over it. Boo hoo you have to raise your kids while your husband is deployed. So do the rest of us and you dont see any of us trying to “rank up” because of it."

Let me get this right... just because a woman marries a man in the military she is never allowed to complain about being alone or having the kids 24/7? Last I checked our military fought for freedom of speech so the women could bitch and moan all they wanted. At least they are bitching and moaning about something valid, unlike the writer of the horrible post who is simply bitching to be rude.

If I'm having a bad day while my husband is deployed or in school and I want to cry and boo hoo about it because I'm stressed with every thing at home, than I will. To those who don't like it - you can kindly fuck off in the direction of hell =)

And I quote...

"You get a lot of perks because of it so shut the hell up and stop embarrassing your husband."

Perks? I don't even know where to begin with that one, but I think I don't really need to for the wives who will read this. Girlfriends would not understand even if it were explained... (By no means am I saying anything mean about girlfriends, I support girlfriends and fiances too.)

And who is embarrassing their husbands? All the soldiers I meet and have met, which is alot, they never complain about their wives... actually they praise them. They are jewels in their crown. But a woman who hasn't lived in the military community as a spouse wouldn't understand or know about that.

And I quote...

"If you have nothing to be proud of outside of your husband’s accomplishments, you may want to seriously reconsider the path you have chosen."

This is funny to me solely because I know a lot of women who have their own accomplishments but don't feel the need to lie, embellish and brag about them like the author of the blog of topic.

Since I like to link my sources, here is the blog that this trash spills from... someone who claims to support military spouses...someone who was pissed off for their interview being removed from a military site b/c of the complaints they got about her...do we really need to question why now? - BitterWomansBlogPost

Now, the women I see and interact with every single day are nothing like what that blogger seems to think.

They are the kind of women who will help you when you need it, no matter what it is...the kind of women who are strong and encourage you to maintain your strength but cry with you when you cry. Wipe your tears and tell you tomorrow will be a better day. The kind of women I know and love are kind to a fault... hard working, whether it be in the house or not, my best friends... my SISTERS... We all support each other and do what we need to do in order to keep everyone sane day to day in our hectic lifestyle...

If you don't know women like the friends I have, than maybe you need to look inside yourself and chip away at your stone heart... if you look for no good, you will find no good... open your eyes and your heart and live with love and understanding... you'll be much happier =)

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Monday, March 28, 2011

30 Days of me - Day 20, Day 21, Day 22, Day 23

Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future.

Well, I'm already married.... but I would love to be with LL Cool J in the future...near future... like now. =)

Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy.

Coffee...
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Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else.

I'm really not so different from everyone else, but there are some things about me that I don't find often in others... one, I'm extremely patient and forgiving... two, my eyes change color.

Day 23- Something you crave for a lot.

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

30 Days of me - Day 17, Day 18, & Day 19

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why.

There isn't anyone I would switch lives with, not even for one day. I'm good with who I am and what I got.

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have.

The most important thing for me to accomplish right now is that I raise kids who are well-rounded, respectful, smart, loving and who will be productive members of society. Can't have no bums running around....LOL

Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them.

Heckler Queen - a guy from High School gave me this name b/c he said I heckle him all the time...which I do... lol

Chief Woodpecker of the Spring Dawn - Kevin S. gave me this nickname on myspace... don't know why really, but I like it =)

BabyDoll - this is what my husband calls me, well, use to call me. He still does every once in awhile. That was just his pet name for me in High School.

Bitch/cunt/twat - that's what my haters call me =)

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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Moments~

Someone said something to me that really hit home.

"It's these moments that let you know you have the strength to break from the mold of what was & prepare to go in another direction."

Do you ever do something (or not do something) because you are scared of moving forward? Have you been faced with a problem or situation where you keep going in the same direction because you know it is the safe the direction, being afraid of what may come if you choose the unknown? This seems to my life lately.

Afraid of change... afraid of making certain moves because I'm not sure that I'm strong enough to move forward into the unknown. Settling has gotten me no where. I have to break out of this funk I'm in and get in gear.

What moments have you let pass by and later wish you had embraced? Those days are done for me now. I'm going to grab these moments by the horns and ride them out through the uncertainty and fear and embrace the unknown and the excitement that is sure to come with it... I lost my groove years ago and it's time to get it back.


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If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain. ~Maya Angelou

Monday, March 14, 2011

Government Shutdown~

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I am getting pretty annoyed with all the things that are being said concerning this. I'm annoyed because a lot of things being said are from people talking out of their ass. How about a little education on the subject before ranting and raving?

I have heard two things that really get me.

One - something was said to the effect that the government was voting on paying the troops. WRONG! They simply cannot come to agreement on a federal budget and unfortunately that affects the troops too. It is not some vendetta against the troops.

Two - it's the Presidents fault. Really? NO. The President is not the only one involved in the federal budget so he is not the only one to blame. But why not? It's President Obama's fault for everything, isn't? He's to blame everything from Global warming to my Richie getting a C on his test. /sarcasm.


How about a little education on the subject before speaking blinding about it? GOOD IDEA JAMIE!!! (yes, I'm talking to myself)

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The following info is from Should We Fear a Government Shutdown?

What Causes a Government Shutdown?

The federal government’s fiscal year ends on September 30. Accordingly, Congress must pass, and the President must sign, the necessary appropriations bills before October 1 to continue the funding of government activities. When Congress and the President disagree on budget items and spending levels, the necessary appropriations might be delayed. In these cases, Congress generally passes a continuing appropriations act (referred to as continuing resolutions) to keep the federal government going during the delays.

Thus, a federal government shutdown can occur, and has occurred in the past, due to failures to:

(1) pass regular appropriations bills by October 1,

(2) reach agreement on stop-gap funding through a continuing resolution, and/or,

(3) reach an agreement to raise the federal debt ceiling (i.e., borrow more money).


The Effect of a Federal Government Shutdown

Generally, during periods of lapsed appropriations, the federal government is prohibited from spending, entering into contracts or other obligations, and providing government services and employees beyond those essential “to emergency situations, where the failure to perform those functions would result in an imminent threat to the safety of human life or the protection of property." Emergency situations under which federal employees may work, without compensation, do not include ongoing, regular functions of government, the suspension of which would not imminently threaten the safety of human life or the protection of property.

Thus, the immediate effect of a shutdown is the furloughing (placing in a temporary, non-duty, non-pay status) of federal employees. However, exempted from furloughs are presidential appointees (like the Czars), Members of Congress, uniformed military personnel, and federal employees rated “essential.” “Essential” employees, required to work during a shutdown, are those performing duties vital to national defense, public health and safety, or other crucial operations.

Those employees deemed “essential” are required to continue to work without pay during the shutdown, but are guaranteed to be paid retroactively when funding for their agencies is restored. And generally, even nonessential federal employees who have been affected by the shutdown have received their salaries retroactively after funding has been restored even though they did not work.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines “essential” government services and “essential” employees as those:

* Providing for the national security (i.e., armed forces and certain Defense Department personnel), including the conduct of foreign relations essential to the national security or the safety of life and property;
* Providing for benefit payments (i.e., social security and veterans benefits) and the performance of contract obligations under no-year or multi-year or other funds remaining available for those purposes;
* Conducting essential activities to the extent that they protect life and property, including:
o Medical care of inpatients and emergency outpatient care;
o Activities essential to ensure continued public health and safety, including safe use of food, drugs and hazardous materials;
o Continuance of air traffic control and other transportation safety functions and the protection of transport property;
o Border and coastal protection and surveillance;
o Protection of federal lands, buildings, waterways, equipment and other property owned by the United States;
o Care of prisoners and other persons in the custody of the United States;
o Law enforcement and criminal investigations;
o Emergency and disaster assistance;
o Activities that ensure production of power and maintenance of the power distribution system;
o Activities essential to the preservation of the essential elements of the money and banking system of the United States, including borrowing and tax collection activities of the Treasury; and
o Activities necessary to maintain protection of research property.

Thus, the federal employees who provide us with these “essential” services will remain on the job throughout any government shutdown.

What Will a Shutdown Mean?

Despite the rhetoric coming from some on Capitol Hill and the White House, the consequences of a potential shutdown of the federal government are not as dire as they make them sound. Sure, there will be major inconveniences to the public, but the following essential services will be little affected:

* Social Security: Checks will probably keep coming, but no new applications would be accepted or processed.
* Welfare: Checks will continue, but new recipients might be delayed.
* Mail: The U.S. Postal Service supports itself, so mail deliveries would continue as usual.
* National Defense: All active duty members of all branches of all armed services would continue duty as usual. The Defense Department’s essential civilian employees would also work. Border Patrol will continue.
* Justice System: Federal courts should be open. Criminals will be pursued and prosecuted, and federal prisons should still be operating.
* Farms/USDA: Food safety inspections will probably continue, but rural development, and farm credit and loan program will probably close down.
* Transportation: Air traffic controllers, safety personnel and the Coast Guard will remain on the job.
* National Parks/Tourism: Parks and forests will be open, but visitor and interpretive centers will be closed. Non-volunteer rescue and fire control services might be shut down. National monuments and most historic sites will be closed.

Thus, most of the American public should not be terribly inconvenienced by a temporary federal government shutdown. Unfortunately, the people who will immediately feel the effects of the government shutdown are the hundreds of thousands of nonessential government employees who will be immediately furloughed. However, if history is any indication, they will not suffer lasting severe hardship since, as we previously noted, in the 1995 and 1996 shutdown, these nonessential government employees were eventually paid not to work.

Summary

Understanding the real facts about a potential government shutdown and how it might affect essential services should help cut through the political rhetoric to understand that a brief shutdown will not be a matter of life and death as some politicians are trying to make the American public believe. After all, the U.S. survived the 1995 and 1996 shutdowns.

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It is the President AND Congress who decide on the federal budget. Here are some links on this current issue. Have I ever mentioned that Google is a wonderful invention? Some below are facts, some are opinions... either way it proves that not one person it to blame if this happens.

Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects (PDF)
Reid’s Obstructionism May Cause Government Shutdown
Reid: GOP refusal to compromise could force government shutdown

Poll: Blame for possible government shutdown is divided
How a government shutdown could happen.
White House: Government shutdown plans in place.


**please, if you don't like my links, do your own research if you need to...just please please please stop with the blind talk!!!! Read up on it before opening your mouth...ugh

That is my rant blog post for the moment. =)

Friday, March 4, 2011

Job Search ~ Part 3: Your Resume/Job search letters

Having a resume will increase your chances of landing an interview for the job you want. Your resume should effectively communicate your skills, abilities and experiences so that an employer will want to meet you and interview you.

Here is a link to the types of resumes there are and examples of each:
Resume Types

You should always send a Cover Letter with your resume. The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce your reader to your resume. The basic contents of a cover letter are:
*heading
*introduction
*supporting body
*conclusion

Here is a link for more info and samples of cover letters:
Cover Letters

After you've had your interview you should follow up with a Thank You Letter. This will help your name stand out more among the other applicants and show professionalism. Your thank you letter should be short and show sincerity but not overkill.
Here is a link for more info and samples of thank you letters:
Thank You Letters

Don't forget to read Job Search ~ Part 1: Your skills & Job Search ~ Part 2: Opportunities.

More to come... =)