A dilemma, or just stupid?

Dear readers, I need your input and advice.

Yesterday, an email circulated around the Tasteful neighborhood surrounding Chez Vel-DuRay. It seems that one of our citizens saw a hypodermic needle (presumably used) near the bus stop, and spent half the day calling various city and county agencies to try to get them to come pick it up. No one would, and this citizen's outrage was palatable.

I have absolutely no medical training whatsoever. With that said, I do know that hypodermic needles are not attack animals - that is to say, they will not spring out at you and poke you if you threaten them. Therefore, my solution would have been to pick the damn thing up, put it in about forty disposable grocery bags, and throw it out. If I were feeling particularly concerned, I would poke it with a wine cork, so that no one could stick themselves. Yes, that's not the preferred method of disposal, but much better than just leaving it there for someone to happen upon.

Who is right?

AUGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Whew. Now that I've gotten that out of my system, I can straighten my tie, adjust my mangirdle, and get on with life.....

I know that you think I fell of the edge of the earth, or into the hot tub, or something like that, but really nothing could be farther from the truth. It's just that the site has had some awful technical problems recently, and so I haven't been able to communicate with you, my dear readers, and at this all-important time. I haven't been able to talk to you of my appalled-ness of the Presidential campaign: The dreariness of that McCain character, the hoakiness of that Sarah Palin thing, and my just generally low opinion of the Republicanism of the whole Republican party. I'll just say this - How dumb do they think we are?

Suffice to say, I'm more of an Obamacrat than ever, and I refuse to accept the remote idea that he might lose, because wouldn't it be nice to have a President who has a brain? A President who doesn't play to the lowest common denominator? A President who has a wife and kids that aren't creepy or skanky? Especially now that we are on the edge of a depression or something....

If you promise to vote for Obama, I promise to tell you about my exciting new promotion at The Major Concern. For the time being, just think of me as the Mary Norris of tree-hugginess.....

A nice break.....

Darlings, I know I've obsessed a bit too much about Sarah Palin (whom I have dubbed
"The Schlocky Mom") so it's time for a bit of a diversion from that. First, a palette cleanser: Enjoy Judy Garland and Company performing "Soul Bossanova"



Now, let's talk about new things: The Colonel returns from the hurricanes this afternoon, so I have been cleaning like a wild thing, like a thing possessed: Scrubbing, sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, laundry - you name it. The livestock, of course, conspire against me, but that's nothing new. I have the superior intellect, and yes, the firepower, to keep them at bay.

Thank God for those Small Towns!!!!

Almost one hundred years after Sinclair Lewis wrote "Main Street", the GOP is still trying to work this schtick? If nothing else, at least they are consistent.

Non "Arrested Development" fans don't need to read this...

But it just occurred to me....

Sarah Pallin


is to John McCain



As Kitty Sanchez...



is to George Bluth Sr.



And I think we all know who Lucile is...

Happy Labor Day, Darlings!

Labor Day Weekend is always one of my favorite holidays: Nominally, the end of summer, time to readust mentally for fall, and get the fall china out. Start thinking about holiday parties and menus, and what sort of outfit Kelly and Candy should change to - that sort of thing.

But it's also important to recognize labor: That's you and me, darlings!!!! Our society is always so eager to go slap a wreath on the tomb of a dead soldier - mostly because dead soldiers can't talk and tell us what they think about what happened to them, and whether or not it was worth it - but how many of us remember the labor leaders and the countless workers who sacrificed so that we can have this holiday today?

Not only this holiday, of course, but other fun things. Such as the forty hour work week, the two day weekend (Darlings, did you know it used to be common to work M-F, and then half of Saturday? Can you imagine?), health and safety regulations, hospitalization insurance, whistleblower protections - my, I could go on and on!

Chez Vel-DuRay, being a have of good taste, is of course a pro-union household. Grandfather Miller was an electrical lineman. Prior to the union, you could be fired or laid off for whatever reason, and there were no safety regulations. The fatality rates among linemen were appalling, and he had to cut a few of his buddies down off the pole and let them fall when they were electrocuted. That was the only recourse they had. The union gave him a steady income, and helped him provide for his family of twelve. (They lived in Nebraska and this was before TV - what else were they supposed to do with their evenings?)

Mother Vel-DuRay was a "Rosie the Riveter" then went to work for the telephone company. She participated in the big strike of 1947 that gave the workers a five day work week and a decent raise.

The Colonel, of course, was a union man for years until taking this management job. But he still pays his dues, just to keep a hand in.

And little me? I am a proud member of local 17 of the IFPTE. (Don't ask me what that stands for, I can never remember. I just know that they got me a 12% raise with this latest contract, so I'm very pleased.)

(On a personal note, let me just add that - contrary to popular beliefs, mine included - I have worked harder at The Major Concern than any other job I have had. Certainly much harder than my job at That Other Company. I love my job - it's just a lot more work - and a lot more technical - than I was expecting) So the next time some vulgarian snarls something unpleasant about government and/or union workers, think of little me, won't you?)

Whether or not you belong to a union, we all have unions to thank for our working conditions, because a lot of places improved their wages and benefits because they wanted to keep the unions out. In the end, the result was a better working environment.

So on this Labor Day, as you fuss with your deviled eggs and quaff your beers, pause for a moment and think about the people - normal, everyday people like you and me - who worked so that our work wouldn't be as dreary as their work.

Happy Labor Day, everyone!