Who's in Charge Here?

All the wrong people seem to get whatever they want with no questions asked. I know the saying goes "nothing is fair", but to actually come to realize that it is true in every case has made me somewhat ill. I was listening to NPR as usual today when new information on Terri Schiavo came across the radio, I can only imagine what her parents and relatives are going through and I pray to God that I never end up in this same situation. Today marks her fifth day without a feeding tube or water, the doctor projected she would live one to two weeks without these necessities; had her parents won the appeal against her greedy husband, she would not be suffering from starvation right now. Why should this woman suffer due to her husband not wanting her to live?, and why doesn't her husband want her to live? In my opinion her husband just wants her money that she has left and undoubtedly has a few insurance policies on her, if she dies he gets just about everything. How is it fair that her husband gets to make the decisions when her parents are and have been by her side, they have raised this girl to a woman and now they cannot even have a say on her future. Parents are your parents forever, husbands may come and go. We now have a woman that is suffering, after she has suffered so long with the brain damage already, why should she suffer more? Once again the question is, where's the justice? Let me introduce my train of thought on this topic; Prisoners facing the death penalty: these elite group of people that have been put on death row and are guilty of their crimes probably deserve to be there. If it was murder that was committed, they have destroyed numerous lives, tortured innocent people that did not deserve it. They now sit in prison, food, water, shelter, and clothing are provided as well as some recreational benefits in many prisons, needless to say they are well taken care of during their stay ( this is however subject to the "prison pimps"). When their time has finally come to face death, the government decides to either gas or electrocute them (if there are any other ways I am not totally aware due to lack of knowledge on topic) needless to say there are not days of torture, it usually is a relatively quick procedure. In this case we have an innocent woman starving, even though I don't have the slightest clue what starving does to the body but I know when I don't eat when I need to it's not a pleasant feeling. In my opinion the almighty dollar determines everything, and the situation the country is in right now means that those dollars are in the hands of all the wrong people and no one seems to care.

Another day another dollar. I have been trying to save up money and pay off my bills, which if you really know me, you would know that for me that's a huge task. I have officially opened a new account and have neatly kept my register up to date and get this, I made sure I still have money in the bank, no more overdrafting for me. It feels a tiny bit invigorating to be semi caught up on bills and stuff, I actually feel a tiny bit more mature. It's odd how quickly my view changed on finances. I mean I know I am only 23, still living at home, but I do have some serious debt, well under 2,000.00, that's serious to someone who doesn't own a home and has never had to pay for anything in her life before. I seriously need to think about saving up cash and moving out of the house. It's about damned time I took responsibilty for something besides my make-up. For those of you with life experience out there please feel free to tell me how big of a baby I am, but leave some good advice along with it please. Also if anyone would like to be a part of the Eric's Insulin Fund, please feel free to contact me. The Scenario: Neither Eric nor myself have jobs that offer medical insurance, therefore we have no prescription coverage for certain daily meds, nor do we have office visit coverage, this means we cannot attend a visit with the doctor because we both make under 25,000 a year and cannot afford a 150 office visit every 3 months, therefore we cannot attain samples of the medication. It's a lose-lose situation. I can go without my daily meds, but as for him he's insulin dependent and is running out of the last of his inventory. To pay cash for these insulin products is a little overwhelming due to the fact that a 10mL vial costs 65 bucks and would only last him a week if that. So please make checks payable to Amanda Michael and contact me for more info. Thanks for your support, receive a free pin with your donation today!

Ahhhh...vinyl........

I found the most extraordinary sofa the other day. I was shopping at St Vincent De Paul which is a thrift shop where I buy most of my accent pieces, so far I have been successful by finding a ceiling hung Tiffany lamp, a vintage Playboy ashtray, some awesome tumblers for Erics' )really mine) bar. I recently found a 60's black vinyl couch with a pull out bed, for seventy bucks, in perfect condition. I am naming it the smoking couch, although no smoking will take place on this sofa. I am now in search of a hookah pipe, ebay has some good deals on them, no I don't want to smoke out of it, it is a piece of art to me and with the way I want my future house to look with the sofa, it's an essential piece. On another note, as usual I worked today, can't stress how much I love my job once again. (cough cough,sarcasim) I'm looking forward to this weekend, last weekend was uneventful, maybe some karaoke maybe a concert who knows, hopefully a coffee house. I am now hooked on espresso or a "Tinny Puppy" as they call it at the Grind which consists of 2 shot espresso and 1 part coffee.

Espresso and a clove...

Ahhhh it's March already? Ok time to update, Februrary was the absolute shittiest month. Grandparents were sick, problems with work and money, problems with men. Valentine's Day was alright, I usually don't do much anyways, hopefully St. Patty's day will be more eventful, although I highly doubt it. I think I have just about had my fill with older married men hitting on me. I get a call at work the other day about a patient's bill, I'm not overly nice or anything to this guy but he sounded cute and was over polite to me and offered me to lunch (this was before I had his chart in my hand and knew that he was 30something and married). I call him back after figuring out a complication with the bill and he asks me out again and I made it clear that I knew he was married and could and would not do that. For some reason this turned him on I was told I had a sexy voice, he wants to take me out, I'm turning him on and he wants to spank me. No I am not kidding, I really truly wish I was on this one. What married man calls up a girl he doesn't know and asks if we can have a spanking session. Either way I am in hiding in the office now. Had a good night tonight, took the bro up to Dearborn Music for some culture in what a real music store looks like. We then hit the City Coffee House in Allen Park, which is a "real" coffee house with "real" artists,punks and beatnicks. I managed to buy four new cd's tonight, Head Automatica, My Chemical Romance, Thievery Corporation and Death Cab for Cutie, not to mention a grand deal on a used Blind Melon sheet music book. The artsy flame is back once again, I think it may be caused by my patchouli oil and massive amounts of espresso. Current events: there was a massive fire downtown at a really neat antiques auction house that I never got a chance to go into. It was quite a sight, and for Monroe it was a big deal. My coffee house downtown reopens Monday due to an apartment fire above them, just when I want to go to open mic night this happens. Anyways, I will be writing again soon, I am thinking of topics to write about as we speak and will have a new schedule commin up hopefully by monday. Ta-ta for now my book and new cd's are calling me. PS..Im in search of a track jacket and not a new one, if you happen to spot the saught after item please tell me.

Can someone cover for me?

Ok I am still alive! Been too damned busy to stop and chat with my friends, damn me! Anywho no exciting news to tell other then I went to the North American Auto Show when it was in town, pics to come hopefully soon, got my tax return back and by now have spent most of it. Valentines Day is comming up and here's my plan, I am cooking a special dinner for a special guy whos just a friend but little does he know that I am setting it up like a regular upscale rest. and hired my "little" brother to waiter for the night. Now if I dont score brownie points with this I dont know what. You tell me if that's not charming and a lil romantic, Ill tell you more after it has happened dont want to give out too many details just in case someone is looking on here. If I am still single after Monday please send photos and resumes directly to my address, no serial killers, or psychos need apply please.

Oy! The Justice..

Well I should have named this blog neglection Part Deux, but I didn't. Once again it's been a little while since I have shared my thoughts with you. So let's get the small talk out of the way first.... This weekend is my 2 favorite guys Birthdays! HAPPY 25TH ERIC AND JASON!!! This weekend you will most likely find my downtown D-town once again. The infamous Car Show is going on, I can't wait to dream and drool all over the new cars that I cannot afford. Even better, there is a huge Winter Festival going on downtown, there's music, food, ice skating and a 200 foot snow slide. Small talk is over, but I am going to tie my small talk into some current events. Speaking of Detroit, today on my ride into work I was listening to WJLB and overheard a wonderful little story on Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Here's a little info for you: 1. The Super Bowl is coming to town shortly, new businesses are opening up, renovations are being made to the slums and weed over-grown parking lots. People are losing their jobs left and right in Detroit. I think it's totally fair to cut jobs and wages to try and fix a horrendous mess that should have been fixed a long time ago ( I hope you caught my sarcasm) 2. No matter how much they "try" to "fix-up" Detroit (I use those two terms lightly) Detroit will be Detroit. People from out of town will not feel more safe because you cleaned the weeds out of the parking lot by Ford Field, they will not feel more safe because you tore down an abandoned building. These things should have been taken care of long ago. Those run down houses could have and should have been torn down and re-built as affordable housing for the working people of Detroit. Abandoned businesses should have been gutted and used either for homeless shelters or for new businesses. I know a few local artists that would give an arm for some working space, I know a few independent business owners would love to have a small quaint little space to sell their wares. Now that was the brief history and editorial, back to the radio. They announced today that there was a brand spanking new Red Lincoln Navigator purchased in Detroit, but not by a wealthy doctor or entrepreneur but by the Detroit Police Department. Hmmmm, a huge RED Navigator, to be used for undercover drug busts. Damn I know if I made a living off selling drugs in Detroit and a huge red SUV was pulling up I would go straight to that window and sell them drugs. Is it not asinine that they would used such a luxurious car, cruise it around town and buy drugs from all these people. I think the people of Detroit, especially ones who chose that type of work would figure that one out rather quickly. So here's the kicker, the Mayor's wife was either seen or wants to drive it (don't quote me it's what I heard on the radio) It seems to me that while all these job cuts and poverty in Detroit are happening, the police dept and especially not the Mayor or mayors wife should be purchasing such things. If you are an official ( and I am not knocking the Mayor or Detroit, I love Detroit, it has so much potential) in a time of change and need, I would take the 5 karat studs out of my ears, I would ride the bus to work, get to know the people, experience what everyone else has to experience on a daily basis. These officials need to understand why America seems to be so angry, where's the justice? Why should they parade around in barrages of expensive cars and wear the top of the line suits, why would they, to rub it in the face of the poverty stricken, and the working class? Does it make them feel as if they are irreplaceable, or better then the people they are overseeing? This leads me into my next argument. Inaugural Ball is just around the corner. Now, my friends know and my enemies know that I did not support President Bush in the last election nor the election before that, however, he is the President and there's basically nothing I can do about that. What I can do though is speak my mind (since it's a "free" country, right?) I totally see the point on spending millions to have 9 Inaugural Balls for a President that was re-elected (maybe), well with the mud slides and flooding and tsunami's we need a little fun right? Anyone, I mean anyone, right wing, left wing, green party, poor, homeless, rich, working, welfare whatever.... would see the need for this (once again I detect some sarcasm) Couldn't we take that money that would be spent on these elaborate snooty balls and send some over to California, and the rest of the West that was flooded and torn apart, why not send some over to the Tsunami victims family? Why not take that money and try to get people off of side walks and feed hungry mouths here in our country. I see the point in sending BILLIONS over to Iraq to rebuild people that are basically ungrateful for our so called help. Take that money Mr. President and disperse it to all the fallen solders families, since everyone knows that they get next to squat after losing a son or daughter, after sending their children off into an unnecessary battle against corrupt people that are not going to change on our account. This is a free country, this country is fair and just, if you have the money and know the right people. I stick up for every underdog and every top dog that truly deserve it. We needed a change, one was promised but never given, and not recently, this has been a promise ever since I was old enough to understand the words out of Mr. Reagan's mouth. I am a 23 yr old left wing, liberal. I am also able to see both sides of a story, what I don't understand is, why can't anyone else, if I can do it, it is certainly not hard at all. If America would get off it's high horse and realize there are others in this world, they were born the same way we all were, they put their clothes on just like us. Why do we get treated like were of a different breed? It's just my opinion, I know it doesn't really matter, but it matters to me. I have a strong passion for justice and fairness, ask my friends.

Coffee and books....

This morning me Mustang and I got stuck in the driveway. I didn't make it to work untill 12:30 and that's only because my father had to take me. Work sucked as usual. Right now I am once again in an "artsy" phase all I really want to do is paint and read and listen to massive amounts of music and hang out at coffee houses and shop for vinyls. It's actually getting hard to get up in the morning knowing that I have to go to work and stay at my computer till 5. Hopefully that feeling will pass shortly. I am now officially addicted to coffee, I have to have at least 2 cups a day in order not to get a headache. I want to go to school full time so badly right now, but I can't. Here's my vision for the upcoming year: Work full time till summer, hoping to get all my bills paid off and if not paid off at least at a managable payment. In the fall I want to attend school again full time and work part time to support my cell phone and car payments. I cannot wait to have my time occupied with homework and books and notes again. Right now I don't really have a new goal to work towards besides the bills and it's depressing. At least with school I could meet new people and learn things, I feel like a vegetable right now, I had to start reading books not a book at a time but 2 or 3 at a time just to feel satisfied. I recently found myself wandering through my lap tops Encarta, just to find things I have never heard about and to read about them. Im cared Im going to start memorizing the phone book or somehting if I dont start classes soon. More to come tomorrow. Email me with any odd questions or suggestions.

State and Main.....

I love Ann Arbor, it is one of my favorite places. I stopped by there tonight for some light shopping and a trip to my favorite coffee house Espresso Royale on State St. They have the best Raspberry Mocha, it even beats Borders, which is pretty damn good. While at ER I stumbled across a flyer with a web address, which promotes the stand against the Inauguration. You can visit it here... www.progressivesolidarity.com . I thought it was neat, and for friends of mine I already sent you an email on it so please pass it along. Anyways, happenings for this week, catch me Wednesday night either at the multi-sports complex for my brothers hockey game or downtown at Cafe Classics for open mic night. Wish Jerry still worked there, I could get the hook up on some coffee. Still haven't put any of my art up there yet, someone needs to give me a swift kick in the ass. Next Tuesday I will be at the Majestic on Woodward for the Scissor Sisters concert and this weekend you'll probably find me at Erics' or in Ann Arbor.