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
17
Posted by Lizzie under
Uncategorized
Well, I’m back. For a while anyway. I’ve been quite sick the last week or so and needed some rest- so to speak. Apparently the stress has aggravated my condition a lot more than I’d thought. Who knew that FM was so damned nasty? I certainly didn’t. I developed a bad infection that they thought (initially) was maybe lymphoma, but ruled it out. Doc says I’m just a wreck and my body is protesting. Really? Thanks for the amazing diagnosis, man. I wonder if there’s anyone like “House” in my area. Too much to ask, I think.
Anyway, I’ve dropped one of my classes and have picked a day of the week when I can just be by myself with no children or husband to stress me out. I wouldn’t let them up my dosage of Elavil so I’ve got to do something to get my stress levels under control. I’m also looking into getting a part-time RL job (weekends only) just to be able to have some real adult conversation. And just to get out of the house. I feel like I’ve become that table beside the door where everyone throws their junk when they come home. A junk drawer. Yup, that’s about what it’s like for me right now.
I’m off to the video store right now. I’m going to get some kind of idiotic comedy to cheer me up. Something with Adam Sandler (I love him. No, really…LOL). Maybe I’ll get a portable DVD player and take the movie to the backyard- complete with earphones so I don’t have to hear anyone calling me.
I know, this is a whining post. I’m a bit of a whiner lately. But I’ve been under a lot of pressure and I’ve really got to let some it out. I apologize if I’ve depressed you in any way. The silver lining to all of this is that I’m basically healthy and just need to rest. Without children, grandchildren and the husband.
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Oct
05
Posted by Lizzie under
Parenting a teen parent,
family,
sinful pleasures
Sometimes I think I need a new hobby. Maybe flying rc helicopters or planes? There’s a man behind my father-in-law’s house that flies them and it looks like he’s having a lot of fun with it. Anyway, my old hobbies have been: knitting, gardening, drawing and blogging. But I can’t seem to find time to really enjoy any of them. Not right now. And I really need to find something enjoyable to focus on.
I know, I know. I should focus on my kids and they will make me happy and bubbly and wash all my cares away. I get that. I just don’t get that. Are women not more than what their ovaries can produce? Is that my only good quality?
Ok, I’m getting depressing. I’m just under a good amount of stress and need something. Perhaps a Wii? That sounds like so much fun and I know the girls would love to have one. I’d have to buy one off of eBay and how do I know it won’t be infested with cockroaches? Pfft. Maybe I’ll get Pee Wee one for Christmas. Of course, if that happens, I’ll get addicted to it and she’ll take it with her when she moves out and I’ll be left without the fun. But buying it for my child would make buying it at all a little less indulgent, right? And I’ve got some time after Grump goes to work to be able to play, play, play.
Yeah. I can see that taking time away from my studies. Ha! Of course, it would help with my weight issues. And my need to exercise more. My lord, whoever came up with the idea that a video game would be good for actual physical activity should be given a Peace Prize of some sort. Except that I’ll become addicted.
Ok, I’ve convinced myself. Pee Wee is getting a Wii for Christmas (calm down, she wants it too). And I’ll have fun with that sucker when she’s at school. Life will be fun again.
Until I start feeling guilty because I’m addicted to a video game. 
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Oct
01
Posted by Lizzie under
health&wellness
I’ve been collecting a lot of healthy recipes for my new journey into healthy cooking. Most of the things I’ve gotten require fresh vegetables and good meat (chicken or fish), which makes complete sense considering my goals. Except for the tiny fact that the price of fresh vegetables and fruit are going straight through the roof. I went to the store to get some tomatoes and almost cried at how much they cost now (vegetable patch is gone now and that’s where the tomatoes have been coming from for a couple of months). There is no way that I can buy fresh, whole tomatoes for that recipe I wanted to try. Not a way if I was going to buy fish along with it.
I’m lucky because I live relatively close to a fresh meat market. So I can get locally raised chicken, beef and pork for not very much. But there are no fisherman in the middle of Ohio. There is no where to get fish at a decent price. And there’s no way we’ll be able to refinance our home to be able to afford the groceries needed for my new diet regime. Frozen or canned veggies will have to do.
Of course, frozen are way better than canned- because they lack most of the sodium. And any veggies are better than none. But what if I want a grilled fish and avocado sandwich. Bleh. See what happens when you get used to living in a relatively healthy economy and it all comes crashing down around your ears (right when you’re getting serious about eating right)? Can you even grill frozen zucchini? Would you want to?
Looks like I’ll be starting cheap and praying that my income level magically goes up so that I can afford the good stuff. Someday, someday…
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