JOURNAL ENTRY # 63..my republican moment 1

Two things most people know about me:

1.  I work for the federal government
2.  I am not a republican

There are more things but if you have read any of my blog entries I have mentioned that I work for the feds (it's also in my profile) and my views tend to be more moderate.

I had a republican moment though recently and I shared it with a few people, including fellow blogger CJ Anderson (On the right side).

In June my office announced at a meeting that there would be a training in Dallas for the support staff in August.  I wasn't moved at all by the announcement.   Actually most of the support staff wasn't.

Most of my support staff co-workers are upper middle aged.  The average age is near 50.  People with lives and families, etc.  Most aren't interested in traveling to Texas.  They grumbled about it.

For the first part of July we heard nothing about the training except that it would be in Dallas mid-August.  Nothing on the arrangements or anything.

NOW......with the exception of going to visit my mother in Florida I don't fly anymore.  I have too many anxiety issues.  Because of my sinuses my ears close up.  If the plane is in a holding pattern I experience anxiety.  If we are at the runway too long I have anxiety.  So I take the train.  Even if AMTRAK is stuck somewhere I can walk around and keep from losing my mind.    When I do fly I am VERY meticulous with my arrangements.  I fly JetBlue.  They are a great airline plus they have satellite television which helps with anxiety.  For an extra charge they offer seats with more leg room and I can sit in the front of the aircraft.    I fly early in the morning which usually helps me avoid high air traffic and runway waits.  I also avoid the afternoon thunderstorms which plague Florida.  When I arrive in Florida I take my time, get something to eat and gradually get my ground transportation to Daytona Beach.  If I land in Orlando at 9 I may not get to Daytona Beach until 2.  That is how I have to travel if I don't want my blood pressure sky rocketing.

For a training that according to my Union rep is not mandatory, these people have us going to Dallas and back in three days.  My training would be Wednesday-Friday.  I would fly on Wednesday, and, then run to my training at 2.  I would go to the training on Wednesday morning then run to the airport to go back to New York.    Oh and they just allowed us the chance to make our reservations for a training that is two weeks away.

MY REPUBLICAN MOMENT?  For years I have heard mostly republicans talk about downsizing or privatizing government jobs.  It's as if we were welfare recipients just getting a check to show up.  I resented that.  In my office there is a lot of work to be done.   It is also work a contractor should not be doing.  If I make 40K a year I am lucky.  My take home each week is embarrassing.  There are only a few good things about my work, with the tops being the health benefits.  We do not get rich off the government.  HOWEVER, my superiors are trying to force us to go to a non-mandatory training.  I suffer anxiety so I declined the invite.  I have no desire to pop Xanax just to go to Texas during the hottest time of the year.  But I was told I need a doctor's note to excuse me from the trip.  WTF?

I went to a training last year in Kansas City Missouri.  It wasn't mandatory yet I felt pressured to go.  I flew down and took the train back.  I no choice but to take connecting flights going down there but I insisted on taking AMTRAK back.  I booked my trip two weeks in advance and we have to fly the government rate, which in some instances is higher than the regular rate.    My one way flight was about $500.  It was about $95 a night to stay at the hotel.  I was there for about three days (Wednesday thru Saturday).  We get paid a per Diem to eat.  That was about $50 a day for the non travel days and half of that for the travel days.  All of that costed over $1200.  Returning my trip would have cost $695 because it was Labor Day weekend.  As I mentioned I insisted on travelling by AMTRAK.  The job initially resisted but gave in.  AMTRAK was $200.  It would have been $125 but a screw up by the travel agent brought the price up.  So if you add the itinerary it cost taxpayers about $2,000 to go to Kansas City plus the actual price of the training.  A training I did not really need.

Getting back to Texas because we are waiting so long to book the flights the airfare alone could cost $1,000.  The overall trip may actually be more than Kansas City.  And it is not mandatory.  My therapist is writing me a note out of this mess.  Like I said, I am not popping Xanax just to go to Texas.

But my republican moment had me wondering about waste.  To send a group of people halfway across the country on a trip they don't want to go for a training that is not mandatory is waste.  We need more people on staff.  Overtime is rare and you have to almost sacrifice an animal to get it.  Yet money is there to go on trips.  Next time I see a right winger complain out government employees  I will understand

JOURNAL ENTRY #62 another quick rant

Florida issues persist.  I got more calls and texts this week because Mom is not drinking her water and she is supposedly getting mean again.  I am hearing this from multiple sources.  Of course when I speak to Mom she tells me she is drinking.  Of course I don't believe her.

Mom is also not getting up and walking.  Or even moving around.

I have already accepted the fact she will have to be begged t drink water and to get up.  She has absolutely no ambition to do anything except watch television occasionally.

As for her attitude I know that if you push something on her too hard or too often she will bark at you.  Because she cares Maureen will push, maybe too much , but that is how she is.  Mom will on occasion get sarcastic and a little nasty.

Even though there is nothing horrifically wrong with her I think she is waiting to die.  Chronic arthritis and high cholesterol are her biggest problems but I think she may not care anymore.  She is there mentally but is no where near as sharp as she once was.

I guess this is common with some elderly.

My aunt is not as old as Mom (Mom is 87 and my aunt is about to turn 80) and she has very limited mobility but her desire is off the chains compared to my mother.

Sad and stressful.