Posted 11:58 AM by Bonnie

The case of the disappearing coffee grounds, or, grounds for mental health counseling:

Okay, I admit it was a bit odd a few weeks ago, when after mixing up a batch of low carb brownies I tried to put the pan in the dishwasher to bake them. It didn’t take me long to evaluate the situation and realize something was amiss. I immediately recognized that this was the dishwasher and would be utilized to wash the pan once the brownies had been baked, but in the meantime, I did move them to the oven to bake them.

Now we come to the disappearing coffee grounds. The other day I picked up more coffee. I set the coffee up at night for the next morning following my normal procedure. I remove the old coffee filter with the used coffee grounds and deposit that in the trashcan. I put in a new filter, refill with fresh grounds, fill the coffee maker with water so I can just turn it on when I get up in the morning. The next evening as I went to remove the old coffee grounds I found a wet but empty coffee filter. This took me by surprise, but then I thought, well maybe I had emptied it during the day to make hot water for tea, which I occasionally do, so went about my way tossing out the wet filter, putting in a new one, refilling with coffee grounds, filled the water and the next morning turned it on and brewed the coffee.

Okay…. That evening when I went to remove the old filter to toss out the used coffee grounds once again… NO COFFEE GROUNDS!! Now, I knew there was no way I would forget two days in a row if I had emptied it during the day to put on water for tea. Was I going crazy? Losing what mind I had left? Was I in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s? Deep breath… think about this…. Read the coffee container… what? Instant coffee????? Yep, I had grabbed the wrong container at the store. It looked like the regular coffee container but there it was in small letters…. Instant coffee! Nope, I wasn’t losing my mind… at least not completely.

Posted 2:12 PM by Bonnie

Control Issues and Power Struggles: To put it point blankly I do not suffer fools gladly. Also, anyone who knows me knows in the past I have had issues with control. This is something I have worked on and have come to understand and even control. Now when I am doing a project and someone offers to help or tries to help I simply tell them I don't work well with others and even refer back to my first report card that simply stated, Bonita does not play well with others. Okay, now you have it. But, I do know I have this issue so avoid situations where it may become a problem. Now we have a problem. The weight loss group I belong to will be voting on new officers in March. I have been asked to run for the position of Leader. Our current leader, is a very nice woman outside the group and we get along great, but in the group she is a little tyrant and has turned people off from the group and some have even quit. Other guests never joined because of her. I don't feel I am that bad, but as I said I do not suffer fools gladly and there is a lot in the group if I were leader I would not tolerate.

When I have an issue with her I simply approach her after the meeting and tell her my feelings and we talk. Some simply back bite and gripe about her. I don't want that to happen as I have a lot of friends in this group. My fear is some will find me a bit overwhelming as a leader, start this behind the back talking, and the friendships will become luke warm at best. I'm not sure I would be a good leader simply because of the control issues. They have promised to let me know if I go over the line. I am having doubts about whether this is a good idea. As I said giving a leadership position to someone trying to overcome control issues is like opening up a bar to a recovering alcoholic.

I'll have to think on this one.

Posted 10:17 PM by Bonnie

What Online Subculture are you? Thought it was time to have a little fun again...

Which internet subculture do I belong to? [CLICK] You are a Conspiracy Theorist! Holy cow! You actually did an online quiz? Little did you realise that the information you gave us is being sent to an unknown government agency for evil use against you! Don't try to leave, we are already watching. More Quizzes at Go-Quiz.com

Posted 9:55 AM by Bonnie

Race and Medicine: Recently on the news was a spot about a new medication that has been developed to treat heart problems in blacks. I learned that black people have more heart problems and different types of heart ailments than white people. The news headline started off stating there was a controversy over this new medication and should medications be developed based on race. One white doctor said it would cause issues because it made it seem as if there were genetic differences between black people and white people. Uh... well... yeah... guess what doc? There are! A black doctor spoke at the college about a year ago and one point he made over and over was white doctors had no business treating black patients because of the genetic differences and white doctors didn't know how to treat black patients. I guess it would go both ways, but that's not what this post is about.

Why shouldn't a drug be developed to treat specific ailments in specific races. That's like saying we shouldn't develop an aids virus because not every gets aids. No one thought anything about developing a drug to treat sickle cell anemia which affects only blacks, so why the uproar over this new drug. Are people just looking for controversy? Just looking for ways to start problems between the races? Let's antagonize people by making it look like we are favoring one race of the other as if there has never been a drug developed that was tested only on white people. Wake up America! Don't get caught up in such foolishness. Just my humble opinion.

Posted 9:54 AM by Bonnie

Life is a pissing contest.

Posted 2:14 PM by Bonnie

Fast Food Girl: A comment made by Victoria to my previous blog reminded me of this poem I had written a few years back. It is about the wife of a friend of mine who works in the fast food industry and at the time worked at Wendy's.

Fast Food Girl
by Bonita Rivas

She serves up burgers and fries,
Fake smiles and happy lies,
“Would you like a drink?”
At least she doesn't have to think,
Just take the money, give back the change,
Don't worry if she's a little strange,
She serves up burgers and fries,
Fast food and happy lies.

She wipes the tables, washes trays,
Never has much to say,
Ask her opinion she doesn’t know,
"Is that for here, or do you want it to go?"
That's what you get from a fast food girl,
She lives in her own little world,
Serving up burgers and fries,
Fake smiles and happy lies.

She sweeps the floor, gets out the mop,
Cleans up other peoples slop,
Her hours change from day to day,
She doesn't care, just collects her pay.
She knows in her heart there's so much more,
Says goodnight as she walks out the door,
Goes home smelling of burgers and fries,
Serves fake smiles and happy lies.

Posted 4:14 PM by Bonnie

Chalk: I went to buy more chalk for my husband, who is an associate professor of math at a local college. When paying I said in passing, to the cashier, how I thought it was unfair teachers have to buy their own supplies. She shrugged nonchalantly and replied in a snotty tone that all teachers had to buy their own supplies. I said, hmmmm, but doesn't it seem unfair that teachers, who have one of the most important jobs out there (teaching your children) and are also one of the lowest paid should have to buy their own supplies? She reiterated her last remark about all teachers having to do it. So, why not other professions I asked? Would it be fair for cashiers such as yourself to have to buy your own cash register tape in order to perform your job? Would it be fair for bus drivers to have to buy their own gas? Or secretaries having to buy their own ink cartridges, paper, and such? She looked at me as if I were crazy and said that was different, because all teachers have to buy their own supplies. Hmmmmmmmm... so if suddenly all businesses started making their employees buy their own supplies I wonder how long people would accept it and not stand up and say, Hey! this is wrong! But hey, it's only the teachers who have to do it and since ALL teacher have to, it's okay. Any comments?

Posted 1:06 PM by Bonnie

Deny me my right to vote? I think not! When I got to my voting precinct this morning, even though I had my voter registration card in hand with the Black River Civic Center Folsum Park as my voting precinct I was told my name was not on the roster and I was at the wrong place to vote. I told them to read my card, this was where I voted last election, and it is where I am to vote. The told me I could do a provisional ballot. I told them no way! I said, "they aren't counted until after the election is over, correct?" The two people who were trying to deny me my right to vote shrugged their shoulders and said that was my problem. I told them, no, it was there problem. The man told me to go sit off to the side and he would see what he could do. The woman, snottily, came over and told me I would have to to go the court house and see if I could find out what had happened and they would tell me where I was supposed to vote. I explained again I was to vote right there. She said then I would have to use the provisional ballot and refused to help me. The man said he had been trying to contact the court house for two hours because others were having issues also but he couldn't get through and made what looked like an effort to get through and then told me to go to the court house myself. I refused. The woman came over and started snapping at me that it would be easier if I did it myself. I told her easier on her, but I was there to vote now. She told me I could sit there until 4 PM and maybe she could get the court house for me then. I blew!!!

I stood up and hollered across the room. Everyone looked and everyone listened. I said, "I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. I AM A REGISTERED VOTER AND AM REGISTERED TO VOTE AT THIS PRECINCT. DUE TO AN ERROR ON THEIR PART THE CANNOT FIND ME ON THE BALLOT AND ARE TRYING TO DENY ME MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE BY REGULAR BALLOT."

An elderly couple were also being denied and she said let me see your card. She verified the information for everyone listening and the people running the shindig were looking horrified. I thought they were looking for Michael Moore and the hidden cameras. I started once again..."IF YOU WERE GIVEN A PROVISIONAL BALLOT AND YOU KNOW YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE DON'T USE THE BALLOT AND YOUR VOTE WILL NOT COUNT. DEMAND YOUR RIGHT TO A REGULAR BALLOT."

Darned, if that guy didn't dial the court house and lo and behold! he got through first try. They had changed my name!! My voter registration is under Johnson but they had listed me as Rivas on the roster! Another friends husbands address was changed and they told him he would have to go clear across town to vote. We called the voter complaint line and left our complaints.

Another friend said she doubted there was a conspiracy because I am a democrat and the man is a republican. I said we don't register our party, but they are profiling. I am hispanic, he is on disability. Two groups who would normally vote democratic. Anyway.... I fought for my rights and I won. Remember your voice is the most powerful weapon you have right now.