Phantom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUGH!!! Hope your birthday is filled with champagne dreams and homo fun!

To me this was such a good movie. It introduced me to a wide range of emotions regarding the "ex gay reparative therapy" ideals that are going around. I warn you this movie is not for the weak of mind or soul, but will make you think about a lot of things when you are done watching it. Oh and here's a synopisis from the movie:

Good Luck Joe!!! I'm glad things are working out for you and hope you know that we're all rooting for your return

@ Lugh: I tried to do that Lugh and was was flat out denied time off, both unpaid leave and FMLA, and any time off like that must be approved so they can find coverage. The only way for me to do any of this is to wait until June @Ameila: I had surgery before and had extra tooth material removed, and I was out for a week and a half because my mouth doesn't heal right. Also I need the time off because I don't know if a client will have a fit and smack me in the mouth. If it was just an extraction I wouldn't mind, but since it's going to involve stitches and the like, I need time for the stitches to fall out, or at least for the wounds to semi-heal. Also, I was going to say I hope you have more then four teeth

Yesterday I found out I have 4 impacted wisdom teeth that need to come out stat. The dentist told me to make an appointment with an oral surgeon and when I did, I let my job know that I would need to take time off for recovery. I was told off the bat that I was not covered under FMLA and would have to put in an unpaid absence and that they weren't certain if I would get it. When I heard that, I was at a loss for words and began to research it and my employer found a loophole with using my anniversary date of when I was hired full time (June 2010), not the day I actually started (December 2009) as the 12-month period in which I can apply for it. So, with a surgeon saying I need surgery and need time off for recovery, I'm in a bind. Should I be denied (my employer has denied unpaid time off for people in worse situations then mine) not only would I have to wait until June before I hit 12 months, I would also have to wait an additional 30+ days to apply and hear back from my employer before it is approved. When I contacted my doctor, the earliest date that far out would be in July or August. If you calculate it all, it comes out to 4 months of undue pain before I can get my wisdom teeth surgically removed. So, I'm off for a bit, disappointment is really draining, especially when you're at work. Eric

It's March and while most people think of March Madness or Lent or Mardi Gras or St. Patricks Day, it's an important month for me and the clients I work with. As some of you may or may not know, I work for Arc, but a chapter in NJ (not gonna get specific as people might stalk me ) and I happen to work with the month this awareness is all about. I honestly think it's important to bring awareness to the men and women I work with only because no one really thinks about them. I work with a wide range of clients and I enjoy each and every moment with them because I feel like I'm doing something good, and also because I always learn something new from them. It's rewarding in so many ways and even though it drives me insane sometimes, I really hope that I make an impact with them. I also happen to like this because it helps to bring awareness with what goes on with the clients I work with. Awhile back the Governor of New Jersey, Mr. Christie, wanted to raise the Cost of Care that my clients pay each month from 75% to 90%. The self-advocacy groups and I know my union fought tooth and nail to prevent this because it would've hurt our guys terribly. I remember writing letters to all my state representatives arguing against this and shot off a letter or two to Christie himself. Needless to say they fought against this and won and that was a really proud moment for this. Another thing that I've been witness to was The R-Word Campaign, which was to strike the word "Retarded" from all laws and such in NJ and they won. A lot of times people ask me what it's like working with those people and I usually see red when I hear that and immediately correct them. They aren't second class citizens, but human beings, and I've realized how much people forget this but I'm glad my clients correct people when they're around because some of the things my clients say is just hilarious. I remember one time I was with a client food shopping when someone came up to him saying that he was a special person. He looked at the lady and said "Lady, I'm developmentally disabled, not stupid so stop talking to me like a toddler." The woman turned bright red and apologized and walked away. Any who I feel like I'm rambling and gonna head out. If you wanna know more about this, feel free to ask me or look up Developmental Disabilities Awareness month. Loves! Eric

@Tob Does Slingo count? (Also sorry for the neg rep, I accidentally clicked the red instead of green ) @Bigdave976 I don't play Angry Birds as often as I used to @Old Bob Yea it's good with memory, and playing against the computer helps me learn new words too! @Cia If you got Facebook and use the scrabble app, we can play against each other

I'm sad to report I have a new addiction, and it's one that's going to be a bugger to quit. I've been doing it for most of today and on and off for the past few weeks. It's driving me insane and hopefully doesn't progress even further. What is this addiction you may ask? Well, I'll let you all know since the first step to quitting is acknowledging your addiction. I'm addicted to scrabble. Save me.... saaaavvvveeee mmmmmeeee.....

Going a bit out of order, but here it goes... I know a judge like that around here... he's an asshole among other not so nice words... and he doesn't like to be called on the carpet (long story lol). I'm glad things are working out on the surrogate side... I check here as much as I can to get the baby update Also whoever neg reped you is a moron. 'Nuff said. Eric

I've officially laughed my ass off... nice James!

I feel like that when it comes to some things with technology. People tell me i'm good, but when the tech guy at work starts talking to me about networking and routers... I swear all I hear is "Technobabble Technobabble Technobabble and then you just plug it into the socket and technobabble technobabble." I feel you on it, but it's always good for a fairy like Cia to be around Eric

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTIE!!!! Hope your day is filled with Champagne Kisses and Lots of Gay Happiness!!!!

CONGRATS TO ALL WINNERS AND NOMINEES!!!! Also a big thanks to the WST for making these awards happen year after year! Now on to next years....

Schrödinger's Cat This is a commonly used idea in regards to describe a paradox in which a cat is placed in a box with a vial of poison with a hammer held overhead. A radioactive isotope is used to fray the hammer's string holding it up and once it breaks, if it does, the cat exists in two phases, living and dead because the box holding the poison and cat are opaque. The two planes of existence are only broken when one supersedes the other by intervention of another plane of existence. The reason for this brief quantum theory is simple, it's what I feel like anymore. I feel like I'm in two existence's at once, living a dual life. I know the reason behind it, because I haven't found a job in the Greater Philly Area, so I'm living in NJ on my work days and down in Philly on my days off. From what I can tell, it's normal to feel this way when doing what I'm doing, but honestly, it's the only option for me. When I was doing some reading and I came across this example, I found it funny really because I discovered how a quantum theory can easily describe life in general. I'm the cat, existing in two planes of existence, waiting for something to bring me out of the existence. Fun times no? Well, in other news I'm still alive and healthy, which is good, and going through the motions at work (I've been leaving a sticky on my cubby that says "I QUIT!!!" and in small letters below it "until tomorrow" Any who back to work for me... take care! Eric

Woohoo! Congrats James Good things are on their way to you!

@Nephylim which addiction is that? Spending money or buying Mac products

@JamesSavik Exactly what came to mind as I was explaining the situation to the verizon rep @BigDave976 It may be a walled garden, but I find the less fractured app market to be more appealing, the droid I encountered numerous apps disgusied as viruses but the apple app market I have yet to encounter one. Of course I could go into a whole diatribe of what different marketplaces (verizon apps, google apps, etc) could do to the whole ideal of a marketplace but that'll take to long.

Well I ain't gonna miss it anytime soon, my droid phone. It's been acting up and not hanging up on calls when I end them, and the screen was messed up as well as in it wouldn't read my touches right. Maybe I gave it a bad touch... But who knows and who cares. I hate android... Well moto droid. So I went out last night and replaced it with, yes an iPhone on Verizon. I LOVE it. I got all my old apps from the iPad on here (that are compatible) and I also got a few new ones. It's faster then my coworkers iPhone 4 (she's on AT&T) and she blames the phone and how old it is, but that's a different conversation altogether haha. So I'm officially mac'd out. I have a Mac desktop, laptop and now phone. Life is good... Except for the bill ;p

I forgot to mention that I also have the nook eReader on my iPhone, MacBook air and Mac mini. I just happen to like the nook better when I'm really reading College textbooks though I like on my MacBook air

Fascinating... I think my brain melted half way through... But it was fascinating...

I like this topic! Here's mine: Joy Love Happiness Friendship Fun Pride Faith Sunshine Stars Rainbow

Well I own an ereader, namely the original nook. I really like it because when I go out somewhere I can't bring my laptop, it makes it so much easier to read multiple books rather than taking two or three books and getting them messed up. I've been looking at getting another ipad to use as one (my old one suffered at work and ended up dying) but honestly I've fallen in love with my e-ink screen with books. My eyes don't feel as bad as when I used my ipad. I even brought this up to my eye doc and he said that people who have eye issues he recomends e-ink because of the reduced strain. So yea, ereaders are becoming the way of the future for that reason. Another reason is that independent artisis can publish easier to barnes and noble along with amazon and google I think, but that's a different topic. Eric

Furniture? Check. Electronics, files, other important stuff? Check. Massive bills paid off? Nope. New job? Nope. It's hard moving from one area to another, and right now I'm stuck in transition between one and the other. I've been attending certification classes for my current field, but they mean a whole hill of beans because most jobs want me to have at least an associates degree with the certifications, a bachelors without. So, I'm looking around still at different agencies and hospitals and such to do what I want to do with my job, and as much as it's a stress living in two places, it's kinda fun really. Mom and Dad annoy me? I'm at my place with my roommates. Roommate and bf annoy me? Back to the parents I go The one job I was hoping to go for fell through because of the degree requirements, but thankfully Mike (the HR guy) said he'd call me as soon as he found a position in the organization, but he also said to keep looking around because there's a large amount of agencies with varying requirements that I might be able to get in to. So I'm still looking and the bf is looking as well by asking around. So to all the GA peeps in eastern PA, know anyone who's looking for a Direct Care/Support Professional? On another note, the state of NJ is a bunch of morons. I got a letter in the mail saying my license is to be suspended in a month due to no medical forms being sent in per the agreement to get it back. I got it on a friday so I can't call and bitch them out tomorrow and tell them that I called for an extension due to medical insurance issues preventing me from seeing a doc and that I asked for one and another set of forms for the doctor to fill out, but never got them. I think they're looking at suspending my license to make me pay $200 bucks to get it back. Asshats. On a third note, Verizon Wireless FINALLY came out with the iPhone 4 this year, but no I didn't get it. My credit cards (thanks to the move) got a good workout anyway with the move and purchases (new laptop, furniture, etc) and since I'm trying to pay off my debt, I figured I'd wait to pay off my debt first before getting it (i'd have to get it out of cycle for my contract). Besides the way I figured it out, I can keep my phone until my contracts up, go with the new every two and get the newest iPhone. Well. I'm off, I just got off work and I wanna chat with mom and see how she's doing. For as much as she drives me insane, I still like talking with her. Kinda. Eric

Vic, you should just give him the ol' wham bam thank you ma'am and be done with it Honestly, it takes time for people and there's nothing wrong with that. Patience is a virtue and for all the razzing you give me and I give you, I'm glad things are starting out to be a positive for ya. Remember to work at your pace and hope all goes well Eric PS: The course of true love never did run smooth, so here's hoping it goes well if he's what you hope!

Congrats!!! Guess you both will have to learn how to share now Best Wishes!!! Eric