Great Post over at Papamoka, I think my REFRESHED political voice is needing to be heard once more, I may need to write over at Papamoka once more.

Also excited that I will be attending the New England HIMSS Meeting on Wednesday in Norwood. A great amount of speakers in the Health Information industry in New England. The Discussion will be on Health Care Reform – Impact on New England. I will be going with open eyes and ears in hope to learn more about the impact of reform on the industry that I am in, and hope to continue my career in.

I am getting frustrated with people again. I have been politically inactive on my blog for some time. I can’t stay quiet anymore.

I read something on a conservative blog (To this day the commenter’s on Michelle Malkin’s site crack me up and I do understand that the comments are not the product of Michelle Malkin, but her post are) about NPR, I personally do not believe that NPR is “left-leaning” as I discussed this with someone the other day. I hear both sides of the news, I hear TRUE news. Even on shows such as On Point, Tom Ashbrook makes sure that when discussing politics there is @ least one guest from both sides of the political spectrum. I feel that compared to other news sources I am getting the COMPLETE picture without anger from either side. I get the NEWS, not a load of angry opinions.

A bit of information- currently only 2% of the NPR’s funding comes from Government grants. 2 % !

You know what I enjoy about NPR is that on shows like Talk of the Nation or OnPOINT have callers who call in, who all have different opinion. They express their “opinions” or “questions” without being bullied, told they are wrong etc… There is TRUE conversation, dialog occurring and that is something I can stand behind.

Here is the article on Michelle Malklins site NPR and Abortion Language. People are Pro-Choice not Anti-Life sorry. I believe that an individual has the choice on what they do with their body, it is not my decision or anyones else. I believe that whatever the woman does either keep the child or decide to have an abortion is her decision to live with. The comments on here just make me shake my head.

Looking around a bit more I found this article about Planned Parenthood and Valentines Cards. I was ok with the subject I suppose until I see it links to a Pro-Life website and one great comment stating “Hearts from the people who stop hearts”.

Another FACT: 3% of Planned Parenthoods services are abortions. They focus on sexual health, education services and birth control.  (82% of their patients receive services to prevent pregnancies)

Also a bit of A&P for the person who made that asinine comment: The heart of a fetus is not fully formed for 8 weeks.

I guess I just get angry at how much MISINFORMATION is spouted off as FACT. I also get as irritated with Daily Kos also, so it doesn’t matter liberal or conservative.

Found this post from 2008 about Best Unbiased News Sources

I guess I have ONE big question:

Sarah Palin is campaigning for John McCain in Arizona to help him keep his seat in the senate. She is also speaking at Tea Party “gatherings”.

John McCain- Very Moderate, across the aisle and most Republicans want him out of office because he is not “Conservative” enough

Tea Party-  A Libertarian-leaning, ultra conservative group that oppose “government” and stand behind their ideas and not individuals.  So while it helps to have Palin speaking to get new people interested, they are in essence having a “person” represent them. Here is the Worcester Tea Party page, I still can’t see any information on the main page on what other than limited government that the Tea Party stands for, are they making it up as they go. I understand most of this comes down to taxation, but I have a feeling many people may jump on the Tea Party bandwagon without knowing what they are supporting.  According to the Mission Statement I found online, they are just Libertarians, but a bit more of the activist type. I would like to read some of the forums on this PAGE, but they make you sign in and I am not signing up for this site.

I have no issues with government run healthcare, if it comes to that point, I already live in a state that mandates Health Insurance Coverage and unless I am going to move then the State laws will always proceed Federal laws if they are more stringent. The Government already runs Medicare, Medicaid, and Military Health Insurance. The Government runs the Military. I don’t see peoples issues with these. My daily job is dealing with Government Insurance, the only complaint I know is that the reimbursement is not as high as it should be, but the left over cost is a loss to the clinics I work for and not billed to the patient unless it is a non-covered preventative service and the patient signed an ABN stating they were told the procedure was not covered. Medicare is the largest purchaser of Health Care Services, yet the US Government can not handle insurance for others?

But still trying to understand how Sarah Palin can both back and campaign for one of the least conservative Republicans and speaking at Tea Party Rallies.

Worcester has some great real estate on the market right now for $200,000 or less.

This Elm Street Condo is calling my name !

This funky green bungalow is super cute and fun

This 1800′s Colonial could be great with a little work.

I am in love with this bungalow, I would want it to be another color but that is a small detail.

Nicole is asking for help for the Swan Lake Neighborhood:

“As some of you know, the Regional Environmental Council is holding the 21st annual Earth Day Cleanups on May 1st, and for the third year in a row, I’ll be site coordinator for the Swan Avenue/God’s Acre site.”

For those is other areas of the city here is where you can go to see what projects are happening in your neighborhood

I officially change my voter registration. I left the party affiliation BLANK. Undeclared…

So I have been getting my fitness on, but this last week my plantar fasciitis has been acting up. It is now a chronic condition and extensive use seems to cause it to act up again. But the good news is I have lost 32 pounds since November and 19.4 of that since January 20th.

Current measurements/size:

And below is when I place my 1st Goal Weight etc.. about another 30 lbs, but I will get there soon.

Then my final weight loss goal, this will take a lot of work but hopefully I will get there at some point

I have been the weight set for this last VM, but it required more work than I have done in 8 years. But with my vegan lifestyle and need/want to be healthy I believe I could get there once more. But I would be perfectly happy with the middle VM.

So I saw the BIG BILLBOARD about the Tax Day Tea Party Protest.

I think I need to go, just to see first hand. Lets see how much ruckus is raised in the process.

City: Worcester
When: April 15, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Where: Lincoln Square (in front of the Auditorium)

I think my biggest issue is that NATIONAL Health Care Reform PROTEST in the State of Massachusetts laws/regulations are still more STRICT than what the National laws/regulations.

I am still trying to figure out what separates the Tea Party from the Libertarian Party. I believe they are far too the right, as I feel the Green party is far too the left. This country will never be the extremes in either direction. We as a country need to come together, not push apart.

I don’t think I am as progressive as many think, but this seems about right. Yes I took a quiz to see how “Libertarian” I am.

CENTRISTS

espouse a “middle ground” regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on the issue, they sometimes favor government intervention and sometimes support individual freedom of choice.

Centrists pride themselves on keeping an open mind,tend to oppose “political extremes,” and emphasize what they describe as “practical” solutions to problems.

On Talk of the Nation

My Previous Post Is HERE

“A sad thing in life is that sometimes you meet someone who means a lot to you only to find out in the end that it was never bound to be and you just have to let go.”

I tend to put myself out there a great deal as of late. I have grown as a person, it is amazing as much as disappointing. I have so much to focus on right now and yet my head is only thinking about one thing. When did I become so reliant on someone else to make me feel good or not. I am a strong-confident and pretty damn awesome gal.

“Don’t waste your precious breath explaining that you are worthwhile”

Not sure I like the new a bit more emotional Crystal, really not sure where it came from. I have always be very closed off, but in the same sense I have learned that something unsaid hurts more than saying something even if the outcome is something other than what you would like.

“I must learn to love the fool in me the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries” ~Theodore Isaac Rubin

But as I mentioned the next year is very busy for me, I will have limited time to meet new people, or date for that matter. I need to start studying for my exam and with weekend plans every weekend I am not getting that done. I need to focus on me and no one else. Maybe listen to my mom for once

May head over to the Boston Underground Film Festival at the Kendall Sq Cinema this weekend. $35.00 Recession Priced Tickets.

I am not at all in the mood to write anything about the Health Care Reform Bill passing legislation last night. Maybe because I figure enough other people are getting their say out there. But the fear-mongering needs to stop. People listen to Fox News and Republican Talk Radio and takes opinions as their own personal convictions. I say people need to research themselves.

This right here makes me want to SCREAM: I understand that “abortion” was taken out as part of an agreement, but still this post below just makes me want to scream.

Other NY Times Blogs

Rick Santorum is a former Republican senator from Pennsylvania and a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

This legislation will indeed be historic in its destructive effect if it is not repealed or substantially altered. This bill will devastate our economy and its ability to create jobs and a higher standard of living; government spending and debt will explode; health care quality and choices for most Americans will suffer; and millions more innocent children in the womb will be killed. Worse still, to avoid bankrupting the country, care will be rationed so only those “useful lives” will be given the care they need.

This day will go down as either the day that America turned its back on our unique system of democratic capitalism or the day that ignited a firestorm to reclaim the vision that has made our country the greatest in the history of the world. Today is owned by those who believe that an all powerful federal government is the future of our republic, tomorrow freedom-loving patriots will begin the fight against this tyranny to reclaim our birthright.

I am not a fan of all the aspects of the bill and do not believe that it is the FINAL answer to the crisis in this country but something needs to happen. There is still plenty of time for the outcome to give and take.

Found on the NY Times today

I know I have spoke of this book in the past but I still think it is relevant

Health Care Reform Now- A Prescription for Change

and Health Care will Not Reform Itself

George Halvorson knows first hand what changes would work and not work. The biggest change that is needed is the payment system.

Health Care Reconciliation Bill

It is amazing what you learn about yourself at points in your life when you figured you had it all figured out. I do sometimes think that 30 is the age of self-actualization, for the most part by the time you hit 30 you have fulfilled most of your basic survival needs. You have a decent job, food to eat, a roof over your head and you have figured out what outside of all that makes you happy.  When you have been on your own almost 14 years by the time you hit 30, you should have it really figured out, hell I have been living an ADULT life almost as long as a KIDS life.

But after a few months of moving on from my last relationship, to someone I did love a great deal at one point. I acted tough as if I didn’t need anyone, that I was perfectly happy being alone for however long. That my friend, is not me. Don’t get me wrong I am extremely independent and pretty damn ok with this apartment and my cats. But I do want someone to be along for the ride with me. I want someone to grow old with and sit on the rocking chairs of the beach side home in New England. The problem of living alone is you do not have that built in movie buddy or someone to grab a quick drink with when your day sucks. Currently I call up or Facebook a friend stating I need to get out and  after 2 hours of negotiating we meet up. I have spent the the largest part of my adult life in relationships whether healthy or not I knew I could depend on them for things that I could not handle myself.

So what does this come back too. Well anyone that knows me and some who only know me from the blog will understand that I have stood by my conviction that I never wanted to have kids. Lately the little voice in my head that I swore would never appear has reared its ugly head. Maybe because I finally see my future as going to be good that maybe I see the potential of kids. I have always been ok with adoption as I see many children who need someone to love them and why bring another child into the world. But then a tiny part (at this point maybe 5%) of me thinks I would be a really cool parent, I would be very involved and make my child as cultured and experienced as I could. Trust me I am not in baby mode at all, but this small part of me seems ok with the idea someday. I understand I am 30 and many people like to tell me that I am not getting any younger but I also know due to some of my own bodies issues I may or may not be able to have my own anyways. But maybe instead of being closed off to the idea, I am open to it but very undecided. I guess if I meet someone who really wanted children and I would believe would be a great father, I would consider it. This realization about myself is scaring the shit out of me. I would still really need to go between the battle that I would feel like my life has ended and the little voice telling me that babies are cute. I am not sure at all how I would feel when it comes the time to make that decision. I was told the other day to not FIGHT the voice and just see if it gets louder. I am kind of hoping it just goes away. I like my life and I feel I could be perfectly fine with someone who we both just want to travel and explore and really invest in each other. But what happens once we have traveled the world? Seriously this baffles my mind at this moment. I think I have spent the last 10 years convincing myself that I never would want or have a kid. I almost feel like I do not know who I am at this point. Again it is a small voice and it could pass (part of me hopes it does) or maybe I will think it is a great idea when I am 45 and no longer able to reproduce (ideal). But this would be a huge wrench in any dream of mine and my life would need to be re-evaluated.

It comes down to the fact that I have spent 9 years with two men who one was “fixed” and the other just didn’t like kids so for me it was never a thought. But here I am 30-single and realizing that the dating world at this point is not as kind as it was even at 25. Men in the age range I want seem to already have kids or want to start a family. So while in my mind the last few weeks I have been thinking of what I really want, do I want someone who will never commit to anything or do I want someone who will be there. I honestly don’t know what I want but I guess I am a bit more open to things than I was. The time of casual dating and “friends with benefits” (which I think is a total bullshit idea) is over for me, I do know that. So going forward I am not going to waste my time with someone that has no intention of settling down or someone who isn’t even sure they want me enough to try. I know I am a good catch maybe I just need to be a bit more picky.

So the moral of the story goes- Don’t have too many convictions before you are 30.

APRIL 20TH- Yeah this feeling went away….GONE…Thank GOD