Heat!

I just wanted to let everyone know (for no real good reason) that I hate the heat. I would much rather be cold than hot. I'd probably rather freeze to death than burn to death. Here are a couple of things I think about hot weather and the heat.

• I think it's ridiculous that in this day and age that not every building (including our apartment) has central heating and air. I need better AC than an ancient machine.
• When it's cold you can always bundle up and get under blankets, but in the summer you can only take so much off.
• I get annoyed when people complain that the AC is too cold when it's nearly 100 degrees outside. Bring a sweater if you must because the rest of us would not like to melt.
• I get annoyed when weather people think that the weather/temperature is better when it gets closer to 100 degrees.
• I feel claustrophobic in the heat. I just can't escape out of the situation.

I think I should just move to London one day where it is much cooler and it rains a lot. Now that, I can handle. Good luck to all of you who are trying to stay cool out there!

Healthcare "Reform"

I am so not happy with the new ideas for health care in our country. I'll go point by point so that I don't get muddled in what I'm trying to say.

• They are talking about an "individual mandate" which is absolutely offensive to me. Part of the beauty of America is that we are free to choose, but if they require this of us then it is no longer a choice for all of us. I understand that when someone becomes seriously ill or injured, but has no insurance it hurts the system as a whole, but then find a way to make them pay for it without punishing me.
• They are setting an income limit for being able to afford your own health care. This like most other government programs is a poverty program. If they set the maximum at $16,250 then people will strive to make $16K when they could make $17K or $18K. In the long run they'll save money by letting the government and other taxpayers carry the burden.
• What about all the illegal aliens that use our health care system without insurance. They won't be legal citizens so by law they don't have to have insurance. Also, they'll probably make less than the maximum so we'll pay for it anyway.
• Those of us who have decent jobs and wages will end up paying more in taxes for many people who are capable, but unwilling to work harder to pay for their own medical care.

I am not opposed to health care because I know I've needed it in my life. However, I worry about where the money will come from and what this could do to our outrageously high national debt. I want people to be taken care of and perhaps we could find other ways to make it work. We're a young country with many new ideas, so let's get to work and use them.

Change of Plans

Original Plan
When we moved to LA in late 2008 we decided that I would work full-time while Eric interned. After interning for about 2 to 3 months then he'd get a full-time job in a mail room of a talent agency or a production company. Then, he'd work his way up to a desk (being an assistant). He'd be an assistant for one to two years. After that he'd continue to work his way up until he could finally start producing the movies he wanted to produce.

Reality
We moved out here and I found a job while Eric interned. During that time the economy took a nose-dive. Once Eric had completed his internships he looked so hard for work. He's been looking, applying and interviewing for over 6 months now and nothing has come of it. Things in the economy have possibly gotten worse. He's had to do temp work and other things that he doesn't care to do. Our financial situation is often scarier than I would like to think. While Eric has had the time at home he has written one script that he is now working on re-writing, but the story is really good and interesting. Plus he's working with friends to hopefully produce a piece that they've written.

New Plan
Eric is going to continue to look for permanent work that was mentioned in the "Original Plan" however we're moving on to Plan A.1. In this plan Eric will spend the majority of his time focusing on his own projects. He will finish re-writing his own script so that he can sell it to bring in some income. He'll also work toward getting scripts completed with his friends and colleagues so that he can produce those on low budgets down here. Basically, if no one else is going to give him a job he'll just have to make one of his own.

My Feelings
At first this kind of made me nervous to think of no consistency of income, but anymore I feel pretty okay with it. I think it will be just fine. We're going to move forward with faith and so far that is already paying off.

Fathers and Marriage

I read this article today and it really touched me. The article does include a sad and tragic story, but it's so much more than that. We do in our society think that fathers are insignificant to our lives and the lives of our children. Marriage and divorce is treated as lightly as middle school romances. Marriage is a sacred covenant we make with our spouse. It should be regarded as a serious contract to not be broken. If it becomes absolutely necessary then it can work, but all other options must be eliminated first. On the subject of father's we should all do better. A father is a huge influence on a daughter's self-worth and on a son's sense of male responsibility. The way a father treats the mother of his children will illustrate how man-woman relationships should work.

As adults we should all try harder to be responsible for the ourselves and the children we bring into the world. How can larger institutions (ie. companies, government, etc.) function when the smallest of them all (families) are crumbling. We need to do better!

Immigrants and the Economy

I was reading an article today about how hard the economy has hit immigrants, in particular illegal immigrants in this country. I am not opposed to immigration and I'm often more liberal in my acceptance of "illegal" immigrants. They are trying to better their lives and do what is good for their families.

However, the article was pointing out how much they are struggling now too because of the economy, but that they don't want to go back to their home countries. One even said that Mexico was a third world country. I can understand not wanting to go back to that because I wouldn't want to either.

I'm mostly upset that this article is trying to get me to feel bad for them or to show how horrible their situation is. Well, I'm in a pretty hard situation too. My husband has been looking for work for at least 6 months, if not longer. Still, he has found nothing. As much as he wants to work, there isn't really work to be had.

I just don't want to feel bad for people who walked into this country illegally and are having a hard time. I won't feel bad for that. I'm even trying to not feel bad for my own situation. It's hard, but eventually things will improve.

Fat

So, I want to know why doctors don't just tell those of us who are overweight that our excessive pounds is likely the cause of our medical problems. Dealing with infertility issues I knew in my heart that it was because I was overweight, but not one of the doctors I spoke to even mentioned that. In fact, they were giving me medicines and other things to help me get pregnant. They didn't even consider that it would be unhealthy to get pregnant at my weight. As much as I want children, I know that I have work to do on my own health to make that possible. Different individuals in my family have had various health concerns/problems. Never do doctors really say that they need to lose the weight or that their problems could be related to the obesity that tends to run in my family.

Of course, no one wants their doctor to say, "You're fat! There is no hope for your medical condition." But maybe a gentle reproach with some guidance. Why don't they send you to a dietitian or at least help you lay out a plan for losing weight? So many medical problems are related to weight, yet doctors are too afraid to say anything about it. Is it some sort of job security? If people stay fat they'll have to keep coming to the doctor.

Tori and Dean

I totally saw Tori (Spelling) and Dean (McDermott) last night. We were going to see Up at the Arc Light Theater at the Sherman Oaks Galleria and right before we got on the escalator Tori and Dean were in the midst of a conversation. It was just like any other couple you might see standing there. They weren't filming for their show and no paparazzi were around. At first I wasn't sure if it was Tori because she had huge sunglasses on, but then when I saw Dean it was for sure them. I didn't want to stare so I just looked quickly and kept going on my way. This is my first celebrity sighting while I was just out and about since I moved to LA. I thought it was cool since I watch their show and think I'm a lot like Tori in some ways.