Today will be like any other day but it hit me how all society probably always has been just a number.. If it's not what birth order you are in when it comes to your family. (I started out as an only, then went to being a middle-3rd of 6). You are given a birth date which numerologist have there take on this in a mathematical/personality sense. We are then given a social security number that from the day we are born until we die sometimes I feel like it should be tattooed somewhere on our body.
As we stepped into the Internet world passwords/numbers became a part of our lives. It started out small, but now my world has ballooned into a secret notebook in a secret location that has listings of numbers to various websites, accounts well you know I am sure everyone has gotten overwhelmed by how many numbers they have to remember. And Lord if you don't write them down you are forever banned from entering into the world that you have created so that you can maneuver in this number world. You are cautioned not to keep these numbers but are also instructed not to use the same numbers or codes for each account. Ok, you can't have it both ways--you can't expect people to forever remember these numbers....
It's not bad enough but then most women must remember numbers that belong to their husbands or children. Truthfully, I probably know more about David's life then he does, hey as long as I know his social security number than I am good to go..I drew the line when it came to the kids I figured by a certain age it was their turn to start learning this number world they live in.
What goes along with this is usually the off the wall questions they ask you can even get into your information. What is your dog's name? What is your favorite vacation spot? Etc.... Oh well I guess this is just another one of those things that unfortunately we have to except because there really isn't anything that can be done. Someday it will probably be like something out of the sci-fi world, they will will be scanning our index finger or eyes to have us provide the vital information that belongs to us but that they keep hostage....
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Comments on President Obama's Health Care Address
I get on my soapbox on a variety of issues but usually politics is one I keep close to the cuff. I try and listen to both sides but over this past presidential election I feel like that is very hard to do, more so everyday.
My first take on watching the "speech" was that I felt like I was watching a major league baseball game. Usually during the 7 inning stretch they at some point have the crowd doing the "wave". Was it just me or did it seem as though congress was doing the wave. I lost count on how many times they stood up. It was also like watching an exercise video.
I watched in laughter as Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi looked like the two entertainment masks (one with a frown, one with a Cheshire cat grin).
President Obama mentioned how the first health care bill was introduced in 1943 by a Michigan representative and how his son was carrying on the fight for better health care. The speech was also not without mentioning Senator Kennedy's lifelong commitment to improving the health care system. I use the word "system" literally.
I remember back as a kid making frequent doctor visits. I was a child with many colds, ear infections and all the usual childhood issues. A call was made to our family physician, you met with the doctor and paid your bill. I don't recall that we had insurance until my early teen years when we started with the Kaiser Permanente HMO. My father worked for the fire department and they were the plan we had access too. Later when I was employed with the state I also had Kaiser so roughly I had them as an insurance carrier for approximately 15 years. In that period I gave birth to my children. I was always very happy with the quality of care and the doctors for the most part.. You paid one amount for your Dr. visit and at that time prescription's were $10.00. I was covered as an employee and paid for David and the kids which was a reasonable amount at the time..
When we moved to the mid-west it was the beginning of the insurance roller coaster. We have had to change insurance providers 4 times in 13 years and it seems to get worse than better.
In a nutshell I tried to listen as intently as possible last night and it sounded to me like Obama's plan has alot of shady areas, that I am not sure will really be good for our particular situation. Our options seem to get wrapped up in a pretty box and then once the box is opened the funny clown pops out.. Only my take..
When I look how it will affect the elderly (my in-laws) the only thing I can hear that I also heard from President Obama last night and ironically from my MIL yesterday is (I/they shouldn't have to make a decision on whether or not they should have enough money to pay their bills or buy prescription medication). Isn't it a sad state of affairs we have been put in the position to be in? I guess only time will tell...gee just one more thing you get to look forward to in the aging process.....
My first take on watching the "speech" was that I felt like I was watching a major league baseball game. Usually during the 7 inning stretch they at some point have the crowd doing the "wave". Was it just me or did it seem as though congress was doing the wave. I lost count on how many times they stood up. It was also like watching an exercise video.
I watched in laughter as Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi looked like the two entertainment masks (one with a frown, one with a Cheshire cat grin).
President Obama mentioned how the first health care bill was introduced in 1943 by a Michigan representative and how his son was carrying on the fight for better health care. The speech was also not without mentioning Senator Kennedy's lifelong commitment to improving the health care system. I use the word "system" literally.
I remember back as a kid making frequent doctor visits. I was a child with many colds, ear infections and all the usual childhood issues. A call was made to our family physician, you met with the doctor and paid your bill. I don't recall that we had insurance until my early teen years when we started with the Kaiser Permanente HMO. My father worked for the fire department and they were the plan we had access too. Later when I was employed with the state I also had Kaiser so roughly I had them as an insurance carrier for approximately 15 years. In that period I gave birth to my children. I was always very happy with the quality of care and the doctors for the most part.. You paid one amount for your Dr. visit and at that time prescription's were $10.00. I was covered as an employee and paid for David and the kids which was a reasonable amount at the time..
When we moved to the mid-west it was the beginning of the insurance roller coaster. We have had to change insurance providers 4 times in 13 years and it seems to get worse than better.
In a nutshell I tried to listen as intently as possible last night and it sounded to me like Obama's plan has alot of shady areas, that I am not sure will really be good for our particular situation. Our options seem to get wrapped up in a pretty box and then once the box is opened the funny clown pops out.. Only my take..
When I look how it will affect the elderly (my in-laws) the only thing I can hear that I also heard from President Obama last night and ironically from my MIL yesterday is (I/they shouldn't have to make a decision on whether or not they should have enough money to pay their bills or buy prescription medication). Isn't it a sad state of affairs we have been put in the position to be in? I guess only time will tell...gee just one more thing you get to look forward to in the aging process.....
Friday, September 4, 2009
The Pressure to be Wise
After the last several weeks of a life in constant flux and turmoil I needed a little "me" time and pulled out the last issue of AARP Magazine that I hadn't had a chance to read on my downtime. The first thing that made me chuckle was the fact that Bruce Springsteen was on the cover. Yes he will turn the big 60 this year. It is hard to believe for me but then every time I hear someone either a celebrity or just us every-day-Joe's and Jenny's it still boggles my mind. I guess it is my attempt to not admit I am getting older right along with everyone else.
One of those moments was recently attending my 30 year high school reunion. Those years came flooding back as soon as I stepped into the room. My fears of not being good enough, what people perceive you to be or not to be, I know it is silly even after all these years but like everyone those were stressful times and fun times too. I am not exactly sure what outweighed the other even today.
The fact that my memory of events and people baffled alot of people because as anyone knows I am like an elephant and I don't forget things from the past, sometimes my present or close to present isn't that cloud free but think it's more by choice then not.
Everyone was still concerned of all there great accomplishments and those of there kids and yes grandkids but reunions are what they are and the experience was something I probably would do over again...Only time will tell....
In this same issue of AARP was an article with the above title. The article by Margaret Atwood chronicles her participation in a series of videos called Wisdom Keepers. Without having viewed these videos my take was that they are tools for just about anyone be it teenagers (young adults as they would prefer to be called), less young adults, thirty-somethings, middle aged and what the French call "that certain age" of mellow, mature.
I have always detested the categories we are always put in. I disliked being a pre-teen, (I never felt like I was taken seriously), from the age of 17-28 (I was always the youngster on the block no matter where I worked or was involved in) when I hit 30 (that was probably the black cloud in the room period, still not exactly sure why) and by the time you hit 40 you and everyone around you seems to forget your birthday right along with you whether by choice or the out of sight-out of mind syndrome..
One comment that the author makes was a little bit of a wake up call for me: At 20 you know everything. At 70 you're not so sure.... I am still a little bit one to shake my head at this because..what about the in between? Is this to mean that you are constantly learning either from the masters or non-masters and until you reach the age of maturity you aren't as wise as you think or as wise as other perceive you to be?
I have no crystal ball, yes I have a degree from the school of hard-knocks and my tough experiences by some probably are not as life shattering as other's but only time will tell.. When other's ask advice I think my new motto will be, "Hey I am just along for the ride, on the wisdom merry-go-round"...
One of those moments was recently attending my 30 year high school reunion. Those years came flooding back as soon as I stepped into the room. My fears of not being good enough, what people perceive you to be or not to be, I know it is silly even after all these years but like everyone those were stressful times and fun times too. I am not exactly sure what outweighed the other even today.
The fact that my memory of events and people baffled alot of people because as anyone knows I am like an elephant and I don't forget things from the past, sometimes my present or close to present isn't that cloud free but think it's more by choice then not.
Everyone was still concerned of all there great accomplishments and those of there kids and yes grandkids but reunions are what they are and the experience was something I probably would do over again...Only time will tell....
In this same issue of AARP was an article with the above title. The article by Margaret Atwood chronicles her participation in a series of videos called Wisdom Keepers. Without having viewed these videos my take was that they are tools for just about anyone be it teenagers (young adults as they would prefer to be called), less young adults, thirty-somethings, middle aged and what the French call "that certain age" of mellow, mature.
I have always detested the categories we are always put in. I disliked being a pre-teen, (I never felt like I was taken seriously), from the age of 17-28 (I was always the youngster on the block no matter where I worked or was involved in) when I hit 30 (that was probably the black cloud in the room period, still not exactly sure why) and by the time you hit 40 you and everyone around you seems to forget your birthday right along with you whether by choice or the out of sight-out of mind syndrome..
One comment that the author makes was a little bit of a wake up call for me: At 20 you know everything. At 70 you're not so sure.... I am still a little bit one to shake my head at this because..what about the in between? Is this to mean that you are constantly learning either from the masters or non-masters and until you reach the age of maturity you aren't as wise as you think or as wise as other perceive you to be?
I have no crystal ball, yes I have a degree from the school of hard-knocks and my tough experiences by some probably are not as life shattering as other's but only time will tell.. When other's ask advice I think my new motto will be, "Hey I am just along for the ride, on the wisdom merry-go-round"...
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