Ekika's Mess: June 2012

Growing up in the desert, we didn't have cicadas. For those of you who aren't aware of this loud insect, image a horse fly, the moth-man and a locust had a crazy orgy and they all parented a baby. That baby would be the cicada.
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbnid=uBzlB7zN4UEBlM:&imgrefurl=http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek000722.html&docid=FIOTUFQkI8nxPM&imgurl=http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/CicadaProfile01.jpg&w=500&h=337&ei=KGPpT-WVDOeTmQXZ85X9DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=373&vpy=317&dur=11489&hovh=184&hovw=274&tx=138&ty=69&sig=108014905759262189803&page=2&tbnh=139&tbnw=185&start=22&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:22,i:214
That sucker is huge too!

They first morning after we arrive, we were at the Shogun Inn on Kadena Air Base. I awoke thinking who in the hell is weed eating along this hotel at 7am on a weekend?! Well, apparently, Mother Nature was. Okinawa seems to be the place she plays most of her jokes. I mean, if the Platypus was native to the island, her mission would have been complete.

I know why the bats and spiders are so big, its because all the damn insects on this island are huge!

On another, more random note. I am going to start the Paleo diet. Mainly because I am tired of being fat (5'6 225lbs is fat, no matter your bone structure) and the Paleo diet makes sense. Cut out processed crap and your body will start to function like it should. So starting tomorrow (or whenever I go grocery shopping again) I will be eating clean. I hope I can get into and keep with it because after all the crap its been through, my body deserves to be treated right for a change.

So lets raise our 8+ cups of water each day to good health. *gulp* Cheers!

What is the world coming to when the men and women we elect into office behave like children?

"No, we will not pass this bill because the president wants it. Granted, we have nothing against the bill itself, but Obama likes it, so we hate it. BOO! Denied! Filibustered!"

"Oh, the republicans wrote up a budget in which we almost balance the budget, NO! We will not concede or negotiate! No, they are elephants and we are asses! They don't support our president, so we don't support them!"

Really?! Honestly children, can't you just remove your over-sized heads from your collective butts and work for your country?

Hey Elmo, whats the word of the day? COMPROMISE.

Well, what does compromise mean and how does it apply to our government?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/compromise?s=t

a settlement of differences by mutual concessions; anagreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposingclaims, principles, etc., by reciprocal modification ofdemands.

the result of such a settlement.

something intermediate between different things: The split-level is a compromise between a ranch house and a multistoriedhouse.

an endangering, especially of reputation; exposure todanger, suspicion, etc.: a compromise of one's integrity.

Well, I know that pesky little #4 definition may cause some concern for you, but compromising on a bill or piece of legislature with your colleagues with not compromise your integrity. It will, in fact, appeal to the masses. People will stop and think "Hey, now that's a grown up. S/He sat down figured out the difference between what s/he wanted, what the others wanted and what they could both live with. That's the stuff adults are made of."

With the state of our economy these days, and with the threat of government employees not being paid if congress doesn't pass a workable budget, I have to say I am nervous. My husband is the sole income provider for our little family of three. Twice now, we have had the threat of not being paid looming over our head, and with October rolling around fairly soon, it'll likely be three times. Congress will still get paid, but ALL our service men and women, will not. Last year, when they waited until the last minute to pass a temporary budget, a few of the main credit unions that service the military (Pacific Marine Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union) stepped up to the plate and guaranteed that their military patronage will get a loan for the amount of their regular paycheck, interest free. It would just have to be paid back when the government started paying them again.

We all know that we should have at least six months worth of expenses in a savings account just in case. But we were married young and were stupid with our money, we are just starting to build up our savings and pay off all our debt. So many service members and their families live paycheck to paycheck. taking away even one of those paychecks could spell bad news for hundreds, if not thousands, of us. As an e-5 in the U.S. Marine Corps, my husband makes less than $30,000 a year. The congress men of our United States make six figures until the day they die. Now tell me, how is it fair that they take away the income of those in the "Poverty" bracket, lower-middle class if you will, and they still get paid AND take vacations. Last year, when they had 2 weeks to pass a budget, they took a week vacation. No shit. Please Congress, if I, a young stay at home wife with an associates degree in Criminal Justice, can balance a budget, surely you can. After all most of you are educated beyond a mere AS degree, surely you can make the hard choices and make a balanced budget.

I am also tired of everyone blaming the president for EVERYTHING. Does anyone remember a few years ago, if you ever said anything negative about the president, you were unpatriotic? I do. I know the Dixie Chicks do. Now it seems you can cut down the president and question everything about him, from his birth certificate to his religion. George W. Bush was convicted of cocaine use and drunk driving, Obama is half black and was born in Hawaii... There are three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch is supposed to handle laws, budgets etc. The president, as it so happens, is part of the executive branch. Granted, he has the power to introduce a bill or law, and he has the power to veto almost anything passed, but they have to be passed by BOTH the House of Representatives and Congress. I know the president is our figure head, and when people think of our federal government, he is the first face that comes to mind, but really he has little power in the big picture.

This time around, even though I don't like Romney, I think we should have a different party in the house if only to stop the bickering and to get some stuff done. I hope the American public soon comes to their senses and demands ACTION from their senators and congressmen/ women, not just keeping others from taking action.

I am not a party of the "Anyone but Obama" movement, and while I don't think he should have earned the Nobel Peace Prize, I think he has done a fair job as a two war president. We haven't gotten all we promised, but there have been some progressive advances that I am proud have finally happened in our country.

Please be sure to educate yourself and vote!