Here's to Indiana and Utah!

As if this wasn't enough.  This smack-down just in...

History is being made almost daily.  They’re coming at us fast and furious.  No pun intended. Two in one day.  Truly a “twofer” as it were.

Congratulations to all.

More later.

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Congratulations Wisconsin

"It is DECLARED that art. XIII, § 13 of the Wisconsin Constitution violates plaintiffs' fundamental right to marry and their right to equal protection of laws under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution."

From Freedom To Marry:

“Today’s decision out of Wisconsin marks the twentieth consecutive ruling by a federal or state judge since last year that a discriminatory state marriage ban is unconstitutional. Across the country, the courts agree: same-sex couples and their families need the dignity of marriage, and anti-marriage laws are indefensible. With over 70 marriage cases now making their way through the courts, today's decision in Wisconsin underscores that all of America is ready for the freedom to marry. It's time now for the Supreme Court to bring resolution nationwide.”

And it is good brother.  And it was God-Damned Good!

And so it goes.

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Congratulations Illinois

And the hits just keep coming!

More later
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Congratulations, Pennsylvania

Let the good times roll!  This is just too good.

Has Rick Santorum's head exploded yet! He recommended the judge. #Pennsylvania#gaymarriage— Mike Signorile (@MSignorile) May 20, 2014

And Frothy's isn't the only wing-nut head likely to explode. The usual suspects are in an absolute tizzy this morning. Oh well, hater gonna hate.

More later.
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Congratulations, Oregon!

"Oregon recognizes a marriage of love with the same equal eye that it recognizes a marriage of convenience. It affords the same set of rights and privileges to Tristan and Isolde that it affords to a Hollywood celebrity waking up in Las Vegas with a blurry memory and a ringed finger. It does not, however, afford these very same rights to gay and lesbian couples who wish to marry within the confines of our geographic borders." - US District CourtJudge Michael McShane, in just one of many memorable lines in today's ruling that overturned Oregon's ban on same-sex marriage.

Here's to another round of exploding wing-nut heads. May there be many more to come.

h/t: JMG

More later.
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A New Year Adventure in Healthcare

Oh, you know the drill:  Stoopid happens, and all too often we are on the receiving end. Amiright???

Having the benefit of a few days to look back and sort out the events of last week, it's more stupid and scary than it seemed when it happened. 

Let me begin at the beginning - of the new year. Normally, on a patient's first appointment date of each month, the patient is required to register - again - each month.  OK, got that.

Arrived earlier than my appointed time to register only to find that with the new year  a brand-y spanking new computer system, process, program was in place. The new program had been in place since late November 2013, yet no training was provided before the system updated automatically on the first day of 2014.  Are you with me so far?  Good.

A grand total of 45 minutes wasted while the poor patient rep struggled to make sense of the new program. A technician was finally called in and - -  he was as befuddled as everyone else. Meanwhile patients continued arriving for chemo treatments and blood products.

There are multiple registration desks but no one was breaking through the bottleneck at all desks, meaning patients weren't getting labs done, or treatment. 

Finally, the technician suggested that patients present all relevant personal data (insurance cards, photo ID, etc) to the patient rep. who would make copies to be entered into the system as things were sorted out. Because of many SNAFU in the past, I carry all paperwork with me in 3 file folders for easy reference and proof, should there be a need.  And see, now there was a need. Waited another 10 minutes as copies were made and my original papers returned, then I was on my way.

Unfortunately, not everyone was as anal as I and were left at the mercy of the damnable new system.  

The lab and transfusion room were clueless as to what was holding up everything, throwing the entire center into chaos, making frantic efforts to move patients along. Since I was the first appointment - and the first to arrive - the lab took the blood, checked the patient bracelet with my ID and blood code info quickly and sent me to the transfusion room. 

All this madness had thrown everything off balance. In the rush and running around, I checked the blood bag to match the code with my type to that on the bracelet and work sheet. They didn't match.  I called for a halt, telling the nurses that the blood products delivered for me were NOT my type. This caused an epic scene worthy of the Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, and Abbott and Costello combined. With a smidge of Mel Brooks added for kinky good measure. 

The problem pointed to the source. The hospital distribution system made serious errors. This was not a good sign.  Extra care and confirmations were in order. More time lost.

Heated arguments ensued by phone that could easily be overheard - at least one side - loud and clear. Excuses, finger pointing, blaming others wasn't going to cut it.

Note: Never fuck with a mama head nurse who isn't willing to put up with any shit.  Make no excuses for holidays or short staffing. She will cut your gizzard out and hang it from the nearest pole.   I would have happily taken the photographs.

As stated above, I was the first patient scheduled and due to the fiasco at registration then the blood drama, was delayed almost 2 hours. Same for the person arriving after me. And the patient after that.  Seems nobody had the 'patient care' work ethic going for them on NYE and some orders were royally screwed up.

Vans were dispatched with the corrected orders and eventually the staff got things back to something resembling normalcy. Patients coming after us had no idea what happened earlier, so mass panic was therefore averted.  Smiles were on all faces and the new year had just begun - again.  La-Dee-Da.  I don't care what you say. La-Dee-Fuckin'-Da.

As I tuned out the world listening to Enya, I was grateful when the Benadryl injection kicked in sending me off to dreamland.

All in all, just another day spent where the magic happens. And I get to do it all over again this week.  Yes, La-Dee-Fuckin'-Da!

And so it goes.

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2013: What Brought Us Together

A video compilation of the year.  A little earlier than usual, but I guess that's to be expected from a year that was full of explosives - good and bad.

Here's the description from the YT site:

Published on Dec 16, 2013

A six-minute tribute to some of the moments, people and stories that 'brought us together' this year, from tragic to triumphant, challenging or inspiring. Here's to 2013.

And so it goes.

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Congrats!

As the heads of wing nuts are exploding all over the country. Just step over the mess and keep going on with your lives.  It's all good.

And so it goes.
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A Brief Update

Sheer exhaustion by all at work, having served 284 at lunch today.  At one point we were on a 45 minute wait for a table. Oh, and BTW, Labor Day is 37 days away and my holiday begins 2 weeks later.

The Windows desktop will not boot and remains totally useless. I have learned the hard way(like so many others) that Microsoft Windows 7 is severely flawed,  (though not as bad as VISTA) Windows 8 has become a joke, and the virus scares, system updates, and annoying reboots happen too frequently taking precious time away from the actual computer user experience.

As I wrote recently, my home phone almost never rings, but I received 3 phone calls tonight asking if I was "dying"!!! Ah, the rumor mill has become active again. Now I wonder where these rumors are coming from.  What can I say, it's a very small town. It would appear that someone finally jumped the shark and it couldn't happen to a worse person at such a good time.

Talked to the sister last evening. Well, I talked and she mostly cried for the 40 minutes of our "conversation" repeating over and over that "you deserve this time away, even if it wasn't to be in New Orleans. You need to get away somewhere." I thought that statement a bit odd, since she was sobbing most of the time. I will send my itinerary and she can choose when - where - and the length of time she would like to spend together.  As I wrote a while back, I think there will be some closure for both of us, at least that is my hope.

The Kindle is quite active revisiting Mark Twain's  many works and enjoying them much more than the first time around when I was a child.  He was such a great writer, satirist, and humorist that even Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were written for adults as a reminder that they too, once had similar crazy, wonderful, and dubious adventures. It has been a great ride; one I am grateful to enjoy as an adult.

Had a chat with Ron (the dear of Retired in Delaware fame) via FaceTime and, again find the communication medium remarkable and fun to use. Yep, I guess I am hooked, too.

And so it goes.
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Remember, 37 days...

It's History

And so it goes.
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Response to a Bigot's Response to Marriage Equality

These people are dumber than a box of rocks.  No offense to the rocks. This delicious smackdown is from Delaware Liberal:

They are calling for the immediate repeal of the marriage equality law, I suppose not realizing that the 12 Senators and 23 Representatives are not going to repeal a law they fought hard to get passed. And apparently not realizing that once civil rights are expanded to new groups and classes of people, they are hardly ever rolled back. Indeed, the Hate Amendment in California is the only example I can think of, and even that attempt is about to be struck down as unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Here is a rescued comment from one Ecia. I moderated her (or his) comments on the prior Marriage Equality thread because she (or he) started spamming the thread with this drivel. But I decided to highlight this comment to reveal how bigoted and stupid the opponents of equality are.
Here is her (or his) comment:

Calling For Repeal SB75:
As The State Government has completely ignored the legitimate concerns of the People of Delaware, there is an urgent call for A Special Election to REPEAL SB75 or to do something to correct this unjust law that Desecrates God’s Word.

Let me stop you there. The General Assembly ignored your bigotry. They did not ignore the legitimate concerns of the People of Delaware. To the contrary, they addressed a very legitimate concern: equality for all. What is it with conservatives thinking they always speak for all the people of the state or country. And they loudly pronounce that they are speaking for all the people and all the people agree with them. They doth protest too much. They know their minority and bigoted views are not shared by the majority anymore and it scares the living shit out of them, so they have to scream louder that they do speak for all, I guess thinking that if you shout a lie loud enough and often enough it turns out to be true. But I digress…
Second, a special election? Did a Representative or Senator die or resign? No. So there can be no special election. But Ecia is talking about a referendum here. Thankfully, we don’t have referenda in Delaware. Not because I fear losing a referendum. In fact, the forces of good and equality would win such a vote. I just don’t think it is right to have a vote on someone’s rights. How would you like it Ecia if we voted on whether you could get married to the one you loved?

“A just law is a man-made code that squares with moral law or God’s law” If necessary, I am prepared to go to jail before complying with any law that so blatantly desecrates the most sacred gift from God, The Institute of Marriage.

Unless you are a Clerk of the Peace, as a citizen this law does nothing to you. It does not force you to comply with anything. You do not have to become gay married now. You do not have to become gay now. You even don’t have to stop hating gays now. But I guess because you are such a hateful evil bigot you are incensed that gays get to get married and live happily and be accepted in society now, and your living with that fact without doing something to stop it is “compliance” in your book. So go ahead. Do something stupid and violent. Get thrown in jail. Your incarceration will please me greatly.

Thankfully, these folks are dying off.  

Go and read the rest HERE. Some of the comments are quite funny, too.

And so it goes.

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Well Done, Delaware

Dover, Delaware 23 April, 2013

Five days after Delaware Democrats introduced a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, the legislation is moving forward.
Marriage equality passed the Delaware House on Tuesday afternoon by a 23-18 vote. According to the (Wilmington, Del.) News-Journal, 21 votes were needed for passage, and five Democrats broke rank. The bill heads to the state Senate.
Gov. Jack Markell (D) has expressed support for the bill, telling the Huffington Post in mid-April that he is behind advocates' efforts.
"In 2011, when I signed civil unions, I certainly didn't have the intention of going back to it that quickly," Markell told The Huffington Post. "But when the advocates came to me earlier this year, and said we think it's time, and I said, you know what it is time, and I'm happy to stand right there with you."
According to Freedom To Marry, as of April 2013, nine states have passed laws legalizing same-sex marriage: Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Washington and Vermont.

And so it goes.

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An Historic Day in The First State

The hard work of changing the hearts and minds of the conservative lower slower Delaware rednecks seems to be paying off.  Once they realize they already know us in their lives they are less likely to demonize us. This seems to be happening today.

I'm puzzled, but happy at the outcome. I want to hear more from friends, allies, and enemies.

And so it goes.
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Local Couple in - and on - The News

Some of you may be familiar with the Writer, Fay Jacobs. Well this little story took a happy turn today outside the court of the Supremes.(Fay & Bonnie are the couple at left. click to embiggen.) Not only the story below, but they made the local TV news as well:

WASHINGTON -- Bonnie Quesenberry and Fay Jacobs celebrated their 31st anniversary in front of the Supreme Court on Wednesday. It would have been their 31st wedding anniversary had marriage been legal for same-sex couples back when they got together, in 1982, after meeting at a conference at John Hopkins University.
Quesenberry, a retired dental lab technician, wore small purple sunglasses, and Jacobs, a writer, wore black fleece. As the two women waited on the steps to hear how the arguments in the case against the federal Defense of Marriage Act inside the court were going, they bumped into another lesbian couple, also together for 31 years.
"We're the 31 club!" Jacobs exclaimed, holding out her home-made banner, which read, "If Gay Marriage were LEGAL Today would be our 31st Anniversary," and laughing.
"We've had congratulations said 1,000 times," Quesenberry said, as the four women all embraced. "This just couldn't be better."
Mary Jo Kennedy, a family practice doctor, and her wife, Jo-Ann Shain, a freelance editor, held up their own sign: "31 Years Together, 20 Months Married, 4-Ever Grateful, 2 Marriage activists everywhere."
Kennedy and Shain were among the first couples to wed in New York in 2011 after the state legislature there passed marriage equality legislation and six years after they filed a lawsuit seeking a marriage license.
Like Quesenberry and Jacobs, they also met in 1982, at a health conference in Los Angeles. "But we both worked at the same hospital in the Bronx," Shain said, laughing. "Our first date was in the cafeteria."

To say we're proud of our gals would be an understatement. Read the rest of the story HERE.

And so it goes.

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Game On: Marriage Equality in the South

Great video.  Comin' at you in January 2013.  Make it happen.


We're not going back. The world only spins forward.  This is the future.  Deal with it.

And so it goes.
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Catholic Church Loses Tax Exemption in Italy

And I say it's about time. The Church has meddled in secular, political affairs, king-making (and breaking), warmongering, and land-grabbing for ages (not to mention it's been on the wrong side of history and the truth) and its victories have meant that non-catholics had to live with their policies, as well.

This sets an historic precedent. Opinions are just that, but when they become laws and a stifling force imposed upon others, there has to be a price. Contraception, Marriage rights, or Women's rights to choose the best for their lives and bodies have nothing to do with religion and everything to do with basic human rights.

From RT:
Italy’s Catholic Church will be forced to pay taxes starting in 2013 after the EU pressured the country’s government to pass a controversial law stripping the Church of its historic property tax exemption.
­The Catholic Church in Italy is excluded from paying taxes on its land if at least a part of a Church property is used non-commercially – for instance, a chapel in a bed-and-breakfast.
"The regulatory framework will be definite by January 1, 2013 – the start of the fiscal year – and will fully respect the [European] Community law," Italian premier Mario Monti's government said in a statement on Tuesday.
The move could net Italy revenues of 500 million to 2 billion euros annually across the country, municipal government associations said. The extra income from previously exempt properties in Rome alone – including hotels, restaurants and sports centers – could reach 25.5 million euros a year, La Repubblica daily newspaper reported.
On Monday, the Council of State, Italy's highest ranking court for administrative litigation, ruled against the new law. Authorities stepped in, arguing that everyone in Italy should pay property tax, including the Church.
The measure came after the country’s leadership decided in February to alter Italy’s property tax code, ending the Church’s longstanding privileges due to the severe debt crisis.
Last December, after new austerity measures were adopted in the country, 130,000 Italians signed an online petition urging the government to strip the Church of its tax exemption.
“It was time that they paid, too, with all the exemptions they’ve had throughout the years,” Marco Catalano, a 35-year-old shopkeeper in Rome, told the New York Times in February, adding that he goes to church twice a month. “They own the most beautiful buildings in downtown Rome, on Italian soil, and rent them out at market prices. They don’t give them for free or at low prices for charity.”
Two years ago, the EU began to investigate whether the tax privileges of some Church properties in Italy could be considered illegal state aid.

And so it goes.
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Discount Cell Phone Plans that Aren't

While researching a new cell phone, plans, and options for us older folk, I learned another ugly truth. It would appear that the major cell carriers are delusional regarding the desires of the 65+ demographic.  Either that, or they think this demographic is senile and very, very stoopid.

AT&T and Verizon insult older folks with pseudo-discount "come-on" plans. Very sneaky, beware of the dreaded *asterisks* as you read the tantalizing bits of technology thrown at you in the sales pitch.

Wait, Wait!!! These plans (*actually 2-year contracts) cost only $29.99 per month, so what's not to like, right?, compared with the plans the kids have costing $60 - $80.+ monthly? Watch out for the asterisk.

1. The major carriers seem to believe that anyone over 65 is in need of a Life-Alert connection (I've fallen and I can't get up!), can't type or spell; so offer basic senior plans of 200 anytime airtime minutes and 500 night/weekend airtime minutes per month. Sounds good at first. It's not that easy. And, don't forget the asterisk.

2. There's an 'activation fee' - a one-time charge of $36.00 ($35. for Verizon) and remember that asterisk...

3. Many of the phones listed as free or at low lost in the "discount deals" are embarrassing; including some that would rival a land line desktop phone of 20 years ago in size, boasting large numbers and letters and distinct chirps or beeps for the vision or hearing impaired. Not exactly fitting easily into that pocket or purse, if you get my drift.

Now to that asterisk.  The Contract: Yes, a binding contract = you are bound, the carrier is not.
This 2-year plan/contract MUST (no if, and, or but) include the following:
Minimum of 300 Mb Data. - $20.  monthly
Unlimited Messaging. - $20.  monthly.

Now, suddenly that $29.99 deal turns into a $70. contract after the initial cash layout of $106. with phone activation.  Some deal, huh?

I am going with Virgin Mobile's basic plan of $35. monthly which includes 300 airtime minutes, unlimited text and data - and NO contract. Seldom receive voice calls, but use lots of time messaging for work, and having the added advantage of unlimited access to the web, I think this is a step up from my current pre-paid service, Tracfone. While Tracfone has suited my needs over the last 8 years, it is time to go.

(The image above - click image to embiggen - is that of my new smartphone/android, the LG Optimus Elite that was delivered to the restaurant this afternoon - my day off.)

There are many ways we seniors pay more for less and this is a glaring example. Don't get me started on some of my other consumer pet peeves, 'cause we'd be here for a while.

Note:  I wanted to go with Credo because of their activism regarding the planet, equal rights, and support of the progressive agenda, but they don't even attempt to offer a plan for seniors. I am going with Virgin Mobile because of Sir Richard Branson's video PSA supporting marriage equality, as well as the signal strength of the 3G network here at the shore.

I hope to activate the new phone after work tomorrow evening and since it's a droid (smartphone) the learning curve may be a long, deep one. But I don't care. I am a captive audience and ready to learn.

OMG! A Kindle Fire and now, an Android!

And so it goes.
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Tweet from Delaware's Progressive Senator

I donated a little bit to his campaign and so happy I did. I am proud of my President, and equally proud of my Senator in Washington.  It's been too long since I have been able to write or verbalize that sentence.

And so it goes.
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Homecoming

I meant to post this last week, but clouds got in my eyes.

What can I say? I cried, too. And so it goes. *

Congratulations to California & Washington State

E'nuf said!

More later.