Featured Post
Posted by Lizzie on Sep-5-2008
There’s a lot of talk about women’s issues this election cycle. Thanks to Hillary Clinton, and now Sarah Palin, we’re back in the spotlight. In that vein, Congress is pressing for a revote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which failed to pass previously. McCain has come out again it:
“I am all in favor of pay equity for women, but this kind of legislation, as is typical of what’s being proposed by my friends on the other side of the aisle, opens us up to lawsuits for all kinds of problems,” the expected GOP presidential nominee told reporters. “This is government playing a much, much greater role in the business of a private enterprise system.”
I’ve recently engaged in a half-hearted IT job search - in anticipation of my eventual graduation from the Tech program. There seems to be a little available, but I’ve heard that women are not treated favorably in the IT industry. It would please me, and thousands of other women, tremendously if this actually became law. Would I know that my male counterparts were making more than me? Probably not. But this act would give me recourse should I find out about a pay discrepancy after the fact. As a woman hoping to work in a male-dominated field, I would feel just a little better knowing I had a safety net.
There was some talk that this law isn’t necessary. I beg to differ. I worked with a company (unrelated to the tech field) that cut me a mystery check. When I inquired to what the purpose of the check was, I was told that it was to make up for a pay difference between me and my male counterparts. I had no idea that the men were making that much more per hour than I was, but there was a lawsuit and the settlement agreement was that this company would pay the hourly difference to each female for whatever period of time they agreed to (I think it was 3 months, even though I’d been there for over a year at that point). I left that company not long afterward, but my eyes had been opened. The reasoning for the lower pay was that women are mothers and so are prone to miss work because of their sick children. Men, on the other hand, are more reliable and should be rewarded. Really?
At a time when a major political party has nominated a self-proclaimed “hockey mom” to be vice president, there should be no more “she should get less because she’s a mom”. This woman is seeking a job while parenting 5 children (and potentially helping parent a grandchild) so the reason listed above would apply to her and her pay should be cut significantly. Right? No. Wrong. Her husband will be able to tend to the children while she runs for office and he can tend to the children while she continues to govern Alaska (except that he’s got a full-time job plus an extra job on the side in the summer, but that’s not this issue). It’s only fair that the rest of American women enjoy the same equality in pay as the women who govern them.
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Oct
01
Posted by Lizzie under
Living with Pain,
health&wellness
Today is one of the best days I’ve had in a long time, I think.
When I first woke up I was sore and a little woozy. I thought for sure it was going to be a bad episode day. So, I went researching to see what the hell is wrong with me. I found a lot of things that just made me want to poke my own eyes out. (Have you ever done research on your condition to the point that you just knew you were dying?) Then I made a decision that I really hope I won’t live to regret.
I broke out the Cymbalta. Back in August I wrote that my doctor wanted me to take SSRIs and I refused. He’d actually given me samples to try, because he wanted me to find a working dose for me. I didn’t like that idea because of my previous experiences with those types of drugs. He was very insistent that I take it and that’s the last time I ever went back to him. I almost threw the samples in the trash. Who knows why I didn’t. Anyway, today I took one along side my pain meds.
I feel a lot better mentally. I can still feel the nagging pain in my arms and hips and everything is still really stiff, but I’m clear headed. That’s what’s really important to me right now. I have a test tonight and Math class and I’m just so sick of these damned episodes. I’m willing, at this point, to pretty much try anything. I’m getting desperate, I guess.
If this stuff helps me focus I’ll deal with the other side effects. If it keeps that dastardly fog at bay it may just become my best friend. We’ll see how it goes. I’m still going to find a Rheumatologist because I do think my condition is autoimmune. I have symptoms of both Fibromyalgia and Lupus (and I just found out Celiac Disease… huh?). I’ve even read that it’s possible to have both conditions at the same time. Talk about a maddening combination!
At any rate, the Cymbalta seems to have helped a lot so far. I really do feel so much better today that I have in a long time. That’s something to be thankful for.
Now, if I can get through that Web Tech test tonight I’ll be good to go. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Update:
I had to throw it away. I had vivid dreams and couldn’t sleep. Didn’t do much for my pain after all. And certainly didn’t do anything good for my level of focus. Oh well. On to something else.
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Sep
29
Posted by Lizzie under
work from home
I’ve been pretty busy today- looking for ways to make money. I’m pretty sure I signed up for about a hundred different programs and sites. 
Ok, well, maybe not that many.
One that I found that I think I might really like is myLot. I forgot how I found it, but as soon as I remember I’ll post the link to that site too. So, what is myLot?
I’m not quite sure. It’s a discussion site for blogs and articles and news and just whatever. It’s set up like a CMS, so you have your own profile page and blog page. Every time you respond with something substantial (on point and contributing to the discussion) you earn money. I have no idea how much money. I’ve found some really interesting discussions, so it’s not hard to get involved. I’ve seen some discussions that aren’t really substantial too. “What color is your hair?” HUH? Ok, I’m sure that’s not posted so someone can earn points or whatever. Other than that there are some really interesting things going on.
I especially like it because I don’t get out much. That means I don’t get much adult conversation. This gives me a chance to discuss without getting flamed. So many message boards, forums, blogs or whatever now are breeding grounds for flamers. And if you voice an opposing opinion? Watch out! It gets ugly then. I really don’t need that kind of stress. And I’m glad for the moderation. I’ll be spending a good deal of time there, I can tell.
You can find me here. If you’re there, please add me to your friend’s list. If you sign up through here, please let me know so I can add you.
On another note, I’ve found some really good blogs through Blogcatalog. I really like that service for socializing and networking. Later this evening or tomorrow I plan on adding some of those blogs to my links list. Also, if you comment here with something to add to the conversation, I’ll follow your link back to your blog and probably add it to my list. Soon I’ll be adding dofollow tags, but I’m waiting to build up my traffic a little more first.
Edited to add:
I found the site that sent me to myLot. It was The Domestic Diva! Thanks so much, Sela!
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Sep
28
Posted by Lizzie under
Living with Pain,
health&wellness
One of the many symptoms of my mystery illness is the damned “brain fog”. It’s incredibly frustrating and, I think, the worse part of being sick. It’s worse than the pain, the stiffness, the damned rashes. All of it combined doesn’t hold a candle to the fog.
What is “brain fog”?
The term “brain fog” is often used by those suffering from chronic illness to define a cognitive dysfunction. Wikipedia specifically defines it:
Brain fog is a term for the “woolly” sensation of a physical obstruction to clear thinking in the brain, often extended to apply in general to neurocognitive symptoms experienced by many people who suffer from neuroimmune diseases such as ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis, amongst others.
It can be symptom manifest of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
The term brain fog is also used often used to describe the relevant symptom or symptoms of inattentive ADHD or resulting from chemotherapy.[1].
Brain fog involves persistent or episodic cognitive dysfunction, and may be associated with forgetfulness, confusion, slowed thinking, distractability, depersonalization, the inability to remember the correct words when speaking or writing (dysphasia or aphasia).
Brain fog is so named because the sufferer can feel like a cloud literally surrounds him or her that reduces the speed at which things can be recognized or clearly seen. Brain may promote feelings of detachment (depersonalization), discouragement and depression.
Have you ever been so tired that you couldn’t think straight? Or had to wake up suddenly and couldn’t immediately get your bearings? That’s similar to what it’s like having a brain fog. For me there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason for the occurrence. Every time it happens it’s like my left brain and right brain are refusing to communicate and I’m stuck in the middle.
Read the rest here.
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