My Lucky Day

Today I am thankful because it is my lucky day.

At least it has been so far....(knock on wood).


I had to take the day off because my braggart gun toting neighbor and his wife likes to scream threats at my exterminator.

Yeah...I signed a one year contract with an exterminator when my ex left the house and we found nests of mice in his bedroom.

The exterminator was afraid to cause trouble by calling the Aurora police -so- I stayed home and planned to park the Hypnomobile in front of my house so that my neighbors knew I was home.

That was when I noticed the orange puddles under my '89 Buick.  The weekend before, I was in my hometown at a St. Patty's day parade when my coolant light came on.  I pulled over and found black sludge in the coolant reservoir.  I went to YouTube and found that this was fairly common, so I let it go.

Well....it turns out that the sludge was motor oil.

Still.....

if it weren't for parking in front of my house, I wouldn't have noticed the coolant puddles under the car. 

My ex ruined the mini-van I gave him.

He left numerous puddles in the garage.  I put stacks of flattened boxes over them to sop up the liquid.  I parked over the boxes so any leaks wouldn't be seen.

I drove the car to the mechanic three blocks away.

The damage was $1,321.98.

The car needed brakes.  I knew that.  The car also needed a water pump as I'd come home with Dexcool on my socks (it leaked through the dashboard).  I had to refill the coolant every few days.

I expected to need to do suspension work.  The car was awfully squeaky!

Low and behold, the engine needed work.  The intake manifolds were deteriorating (which explains why the car went from 0-55 mph in seven minutes).

I pulled out my credit card and sucked up the inevitable.  I'm going to be in a lot more debt.  The lawyers maxed out one of my cards trying to get answers out of Michael and his Colorado taxpayer funded lawyers.

I used another credit card and walked home.  This card has a 34% interest rate.  I fretted about how I was going to pay it off in 30 days.

The exterminator sprayed the house.

I went outside to put kitty litter in the puddle.

My neighbors were quiet.

I checked the mail.

In the box was an envelope from the State of Colorado with a check for $1.324.00.

Apparently, they had intercepted my ex-husband's Federal tax refund.

I have $2 to spare!

I'd buy lotto tickets but I think I've used up my luck for a while.

That will probably be the only bit of child support we see.  I never asked to collect it before.

This was the first time he ever paid anything.  I don't think he'll allow himself to get a tax refund in the future.

Thank you, Michael.

Rather than complaining and worrying about how to pay for the college courses and fees of the eldest, the testing fees of the middle child and the braces of the youngest - I'll count my blessings.

Having a car will help me continue to drive for spare cash.

That will help us survive without child support.

How lucky am I?

May your luck be as great as mine was on this day.

Love ya,

S.

P.S.  I got my car back.

I'm missing a hubcap -but- at least the thing runs.

I found a hubcap on Ebay for $19 with shipping - maybe someday I'll splurge.  I want to get hubcaps with hypnotic spiral centers anyway.

I'll have to replace some of the fuses, the lights are going a little haywire.

The car isn't squeaking as much.  I wonder what he did?

I'm happy it runs.

Oh....and the first time I went on the highway after getting my car back was interesting.  I scared myself.  I pushed on the gas pedal to go up a hill, expecting my car to be incredibly show.

It shot up to 85 mph.

I'm so thankful there were no officers behind me.

I have to stop standing on the gas while driving up hills now.

I also need to save for a new fuel pump.  My mechanic didn't say a word -but- now I smell gasoline when I check the oil.

The car is running better.

I am the proud owner of a happy Hypnomobile.

It's nice to not be afraid to drive to the store now.

When you finally get around to counting your blessings - you'll find them to be plentiful.

Cheers!

A Small Miracle

Today I am thankful that I received a check for $374.00.


This check came from the Colorado office of Child Support Enforcement.  I don't know if it is money paid willingly by my ex-husband to alleviate the $45,000 of child support arrearages he had prior to having his child support gutted.

It could very well be a State Tax Refund intercept.

My income has dropped insanely since being laid-off last March.  I am working a part-time temporary job with my favorite company -but- this company is experiencing a hiring freeze so my hours are minimal.

I was told last week that I qualified for food stamps.

YIKES.  I haven't signed up.  I didn't really see the point.  I'm hoping to have a good job soon.

It's sad that I'm dirt poor.

I'm so poor that I'm praying to St. Jude.  Yep.....something must be working there.  I had a man call me in for an interview at a major insurance company.

I meet him on Wednesday.

We'll see.

For now....I thought I'd post news about the check just in case one of my avid readers wants to know where his $374.00 went.

I just purchased a used stove.

It is nice.  It heats up (which is an improvement from the last stove).  It is a flat-top electric range with three shelves.

It has some scuffing but I'll try to buff it out.

It will be installed tomorrow.  The grand total was $307.00.

Now, I can make the kids healthier meals.  No more sandwiches!

That leaves me $67 to purchase haircuts and new shoes for the kiddos.

That will free up some of my tax refund money to buy a nice suit for my interview.  

I am also trying to get a gig in a behavioral health crisis call center.  I learned that my degree is now worthless (thanks Shannon.....for stalking me in graduate school and forcing me to leave). The licensure laws changed yet again...and my degree is not from a CACREP accredited school.

The program I graduated from wasn't CACREP accredited until a few years after I left -so- I don't qualify for licensure.

Sigh....so many professionals get caught in the cross hairs of the ever-changing rules of regulatory boards.   I'm sad to say this but, before I was laid off last year, I made a heck of a lot more money in sales than the average licensed therapist.

I could probably go as far as a CAC III if I work at a crisis call center helping individuals with drug or alcohol addiction issues.  I seem to do pretty well in call centers.  Those hours could push me towards certification.

The insurance company needs licensed agents for it's call center.

I'm so desperate, I'll take any job that will offer health insurance for myself and the kiddos.

If I get a good paying job, we can look at gutting the child support even further for this person.

Oh....I truly wanted this job at my favorite company because the health insurance is only $100.00 per month per person.  The deductible is only $1,000 per person!  Even if I only worked two days a week, it would be worth it just for the health benefits alone.

I thought this could save my ex a heck of a lot of money.  With the hiring freeze, I can't afford to wait any more for health insurance.  I have no clue when the hiring freeze will end.  I wish they had mentioned that to me during the interview.

At least I can live the dream until I get a job that offers insurance.  It has to be done.

I learned yesterday that I have another set of braces to pay for.

I'm on my own.

Rest assured, I'll put that tax refund to good use.

Take care,

S.

A Dog that Answers to Zuul

Today I am saddened by Aurora breed ban laws based on emotion rather than facts: I'm not sure what to be thankful for...yet.

I guess I have to start wearing my war paint again.

It's sad....it really is.  Lawmakers and voters don't listen to dog professionals or veterinarians.  They listen to a bitter old woman from Seattle who didn't use her dog bite settlement to get treatment for her trauma.  She put together a website with bizarre statistics in the hopes of getting a certain breed of dog killed.

Why is this coming up for me now?

Well....after learning that a neighbor's dog was killed by Aurora animal control due to its breed, I spent the day visiting a dog shelter in the town where I was born...the town I lived with my mother before her murder.

I fell in love with a dog named Azul.

He didn't answer to Azul.

He answered to Zuul. 

I always wanted a dog named Zuul.  I think a dog named Zuul would freak out my stalkerish ex and his family (especially given the gossip that I'm into Satanism or black magick or whatever the heck they think it is).



Azul was a blue pit-bull.

I need a service dog.  I hear that pit bulls make exceptional service animals.

I also need a dog that would scare away my ex and his family.

I know that the weirdos at the City pound would kill him - no matter where he was trained.  They try to kill German Shepherds because they believe they are wolves.  They kill boxers that they believe to be pit-bulls.

They don't believe in service dogs.  They play games with people who have them.

I know it is for the money.  Seriously....most of the Aurora pound is filled with dogs due to pending litigation with the city.  I read this as "raking in revenue."

They demand that citizens pay for breed testing.  Citizens can only use the one company recommended by City officials.

What do you want a bet that this company has a cozy relationship with a lawmaker?

I'd love to find out which one.

****

This beautiful dog.....seems perfect for me.

I let him go because I cannot afford to move.  The government, basically, let my ex off the hook for child support.  I'm stuck here terrorizing people.

Sorry...I tried.

This amazing animal could be put down next week if he's not adopted.

It breaks my heart.

So...again....

I wish, with all sincerity, that the lives of lawmakers and those who carry out their heinous laws be as valuable as the value they put on other forms of life. 

I guess there is one thing that I can be thankful for.

New people are moving into Aurora and Denver.

They don't like the oppressive breed bans.

I guarantee our new citizens will change things quicker than lawmakers realize.

******

I should put this out there so no one else asks me to cast a spell for them.

People are lucky that the bs I share on this blog is only catering to the gossips.  I would fear for them if I truly were a djinn-master or had any kind of metaphysical power.  Don't discount the power of gossip to keep cowards and people who want to harass you away.  I don't know if it is because they can get enough dirt on me by reading this crap - or if they're scared.

They may be scared.

I noticed some salt sprinkled around my porch the other day.  I didn't put it there.  My daughter quipped that someone was probably trying to keep the demons "inside the house."

Goodness, gracious......

It will clear up by the next rain fall.

A real witch would sweep it off her property.

Local lawmakers should probably count their blessings that my ex doesn't have to pay child support.  Working three jobs makes it awfully hard for me to engage in political activity.

Be forewarned - all my kids will be out of the house in four years!

I'll be saving up my energy and my wrath.

Mark my words: Their reign of terror won't last.

People are getting tired of the bs.

I'd highly suggest they fix it.....soon.

People are moving here every day.  There is new blood in this town.  It is not as liberal and government loving as people might expect.

Things will change.  You can bet on it.

Love ya,

S.

Disgusted (updated 03/08/2018)

Today I am thankful that I can label my disgust with the Colorado State House: I am disgusted with the lack of due process. 

I read body-language.  

I can usually tell when someone is lying: the problem with that, though, is that it can be hard to tell exactly what the person is lying about. 

I can usually tell when someone is running scared. 

I can usually tell when someone is not being completely truthful.

I saw a lot of lying during this televised legislative session.

Watch it here: http://www.coloradochannel.net/colorado-house-2018-legislative-day-52

Be prepared.  The acting is horrible.

In the video, there are two male Democratic representatives complaining about being terrified of guns to the point of wearing bullet proof vests into House chambers: One of the men looks somewhat afraid.  The other is just copying what the first guy said.  It's obvious they are only bringing up their fear to take the focus away from the person being censured.  The alleged offender requested that the house follow protocol and these two guys came to the podium to speak of their fear (even though no threats were made).

These two yellow bellied Democrats succeeded in taking the attention away from a legitimate request.

I'm just going to put this out there: IF someone is threatening to shoot you at work, tell security.  You could save someone's life.

In this case, there were no reports made to security.  For this reason, I think it was just a ruse.

This is an unconstitutional exhibition of Colorado House members avoiding Rule 49 and making up their own means of "firing" a duly elected official due to complaints of sexual harassment.

To get the whole story, you have to watch the video taken the day prior.  In this video Rep. Willet tries to get the House to follow the rules.  The speaker tantrums off of the floor.

http://www.coloradochannel.net/colorado-house-2018-legislative-day-51

I hate bullies.  I don't care who the bully is.

Bullying is a stupid game.

There were no reports of sexual assault or rape - just verbal sexual advances.  Yeah, that is bad but not following protocol to expel a lawmaker sets a much worse precedent.

One of the alleged victims seems credible.

The other....she's the speaker.  She's the one who became irate because another member suggested that the House follow proper protocol. 

I don't trust her now and pray she's not re-elected.

It's a shame.

Rules are rules.

FOLLOW THEM!

Especially IF you are a RULE MAKER! 

I agree, the Democrats make this guy out to be a cad -but- he's an elected official.  We can't take the rights away from voters without due process.  That's what the House did here, they pretty much voted to expel a member.  The Constitutional way to do that would be to hold a recall election.

Or follow Rule 49.

Yeah, sexual harassment is uncomfortable.  We can't allow ourselves to break the rules because we are disgusted with the behavior of a perverted jerk.

Perverted jerks are usually over compensating for something.  They are insecure.  It doesn't say anything bad about the person who has become their focus.

Apparently this guy likes to say the word "Fuck."

Big deal.

He hasn't broken the law.  At worst, he seems to be a pervert at political parties.  So what?  I hear worse on the bus.

What ever happened to getting a political jerk on camera and sharing it with the press anonymously?  Filmed evidence.....now....that.....well.....that would have solved all of the problems.

It would saved everyone a heck of a lot of time.

You know something....

I hear the word Fuck a lot.

When I hear the word "fuck" it is usually in the context of..."Oh, fuck [Siegfried's real name] is here."

The last time someone in the political world suggested fucking, I let him know that politics is the art of "fucking" things up.  It has nothing to do with the physical act of coitus.

I bend over for the government every April 15th.  That's enough congress for me.

He laughed.  It died.  NO ONE has propositioned me since.

That is how we handled sexual harassment in the old days.  We laughed.  We embarrassed the offender (male or female).  It died.

If it didn't....well...we'd smack 'em -or- have an older brother, uncle, and/or a friend have a nice little chit chat.

If that didn't work....the last ditch effort is playing contact between my 5" heels and his testicles.  I've only had to do that ONCE.  I was eighteen.

I really don't have problems.

Women can't be wall flowers.  We are leaders.  These guys are not our bosses.  They have no power over us.

If two house representatives have an issue with sexual harassment, they are colleagues.  NO ONE has any more power than the other.

This is NOT the same as....say an employment situation.  The women involved have just as much power as the guys (or woman if the harasser is female - it does happen).  

Ladies - the power is ours for the taking.  Just reach up and grab it.

You don't need permission from a man. 

If you're an elected official, people entrusted you with power. 

TAKE IT! 

****

I am disgusted by the way in which this representative was thrown out of office.

Protocol was not followed.  There was no committee set up to investigate.

The House hired an independent researcher who submitted a report that was so redacted no one could read it:

https://cbsdenver.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/redacted-investigation-report-lebsock4.pdf

That would have been enough reason to follow Rule 49 and give everyone more time to understand what happened.

Now....there is an air of confusion.  There is a sense of a lack of decorum.

I am concerned that this could become a ruse by which to dismiss political opponenents with whom one does not agree.

Remember....what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

NO ONE is safe from this kind of political game.

I'd like to leave with this parting shot -

IF any Democrat asks if you need a fuck buddy.....

this is what you say.....

"I pay more than 30% of my income in taxes.  I don't need to be fucked any further." 

All you have to do is point to a policy the harasser espouses that you don't agree with and use that as a metaphor for fucking.  You can say "there is too much fucking going on with that..." or something.

It will take the attention back to politics.

Or - you can just - hold your head high and WALK AWAY because at the end of the day, you're a better person than any insecure person bullying someone to create a short term sense of self-esteem.

It will help you preserve your power.

*****

Me?  Well...I tire of the whole "if you aren't with us, you don't care" Democrat game.

I care - a little too much.

So....I'll vote against the lot of Democrats next time around.

It's sad.  I voted for some Democrats the last election cycle.  Do you know why?  They were more conservative than their Republican counterparts.

I tire of the games.

I just want someone who can play by the rules.

I know who is breaking the rules. 

Yeah, there are some Republicans on my anti-vote list now.  There are now 52 people that I will NEVER vote for under any circumstances.  I will most certainly vote against any ballot measure they back (seriously.....if they are unethical here.....they'll be unethical everywhere else, too).

I don't think I am alone in this one.

Love ya!

S.

Update:

So now.....Democrats are trying to use the same unconstitutional process to be rid of Republicans in the Senate.  The Senate Majority Leader isn't buying it.

You can read about it here:

http://www.kunc.org/post/colorado-senate-president-wouldn-t-expel-legislators-sexual-harassment-without-convictions

This isn't the same as a workplace situation.  The players involved have an equal amount of power here.  They aren't employees either, they are elected representatives.

We need to be above the bar when we expel elected officials lest we violate the voting choices of thousands of Coloradoans.

Edit 03/08/2018

I was told today that the Democrats don't want the Republicans to ask the Denver DA to investigate reports of sexual assault at the Capital Building.  They prefer to just kick the Senator accused of groping a young lady's behind (twice) out of his seat.

I was informed that this was because the Denver DA doesn't like to prosecute these cases.

Well...as leaders....they OUGHT TO LEAD.  They have the power to ENCOURAGE the DENVER DA TO DO HER JOB! 

BY DOING THIS....THEY WILL ENCOURAGE THE DA TO WORK FOR THE COUNTLESS MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN DENVER. 

Guess what county I was in when I was raped back in '87?  Yep.  My assault actually occurred six blocks from the Capitol Building.  

The police wouldn't do crap.  So.....yeah, this hits a little close to home.  Not much has changed in 31 years.  

Sorry about the caps - the message was lost when I shared it earlier.  I'll put it here in the hopes it will get into the collective unconscious and seep into the minds of true civic leaders.

It would appear that this isn't about helping sex assault, sex harassment or rape victims.

This is about kicking politicians out of their seats based on hearsay.

After years of being told by Aurora police officers that they won't take stalking reports because the Arapahoe County DA won't prosecute, I'm very disappointed in Colorado Democrats.

I'm not only saddened by their stance on refusing to teach the DA to do her job.  I'm also disgusted by their gun control efforts.

This is WHY I support the second amendment.

That is the only thing keeping me safe right now.  The cops won't do their jobs.  The DAs won't do their jobs.

We are responsible for ourselves.

I urge our politicians to lead or get the holy heck out of the way and room for people willing to do the jobs they refuse to do.

They're not going to get to hang on to their seats acting like wimpy victims.

Never let yourself be a victim - be a tough survivor.   Life is more empowering that way.

Love ya,

S.

Thursday and a Full Moon to Boot

Today I am thankful for my trio of black candles.

I saw a news story about my city that brought me back a lot of memories of being shafted by the City Attorney.  

I'm going cursing.

Sigh.....

Why would I threaten to curse someone?  Well....people who respond to curses don't believe in science.

The animal services department ignores validated tests to determine dog breed.  They push people to buy from their favored supplier of such tests (who are probably friends with either the chick in charge or someone on the City Council.)  I wish I had time to follow the money.

People who don't believe in science - believe in voodoo.

I'm going to threaten them in a language they can understand.

I'm tired of reading about dogs murdered due to their breed.

I'm tired of taxpayers paying for it.

I guess it's time to keep my promises.

I wish the officials involved good luck and holy water.  If they didn't do anything morally wrong, nothing bad will happen.

I bet they screwed up.

Yeah....I always have to play up the witchy gossip.

When bad things happen to assholes, it's hard to tell if it's coincidence or karma.

Sigh...

Trust me....assholes beget assholery.

They brought any ill luck they receive upon themselves.

*****

That said -  I am really disgusted with Democrats right now.

They have not earned my ire....yet.

They're very, very close.

I'm saddened because they're not acting like leaders.

They're hiding being young people trying to push gun control.

Even though I disagree with much of what these kids say, I feel sad for them.

I, too, was an activist at 17.

I was probably much, much angrier than the tribe we are seeing out of Florida.

I had just been sexually assaulted.  I was turned away from the public hospital because my parents were dead and I was an orphan.  There was no one to sign for my care at Denver General back in 1987.

I was left to tend to my wounds on my own.  There was tearing.  I never had the surgery needed to fix it.

Within weeks of my attack, my sister told me that her foster mother, in Florida of all places, was forcing teenage boys to rape her.

I was livid.

I called EVERYONE!

I called the State Attorney General.

I fought with the Denver Dept of Human Services.

I called my Senator.

I called my House Representative.

I chewed out the person who was supposed to have custody of my sister in Colorado.

I finally got help from the Governor's advocate.  He sent an official down to Florida to collect my sister.  I guess back then, Democrats gave a sh!t about children.

I know how hard it can be to be traumatized and pissed off, especially as a teenager. 

I know that teenagers have a heck of a lot of energy.  If it is channeled into ending something that disgusts them, they will stop at nothing to try to get what they feel is needed.

Now.....there is one big difference between what is going on with these Florida survivors and what I endured.

When I was a child, people sat with me.  People at the Governor's mansion actually helped.

They talked to me.

They solved the problem promptly.

My sister was flown home and vindicated.

For her, the triumph didn't last very long.  The Denver Department of Human Services awarded custody of her to a pimp.  With the help of a Denver police officer, she escaped prostitution around 2005.

*****

Who has really sat down with these kids outside of Donald Trump?

Really...

Who has been honest with these young people?

They are never going to get gun control passed.

They aren't even going to nick the second amendment.

I'm sorry.

We saw the Florida legislature shoot them down.

The Federal government is going to do the same.

Where are all the Democrats?

Seriously.....why hasn't anyone outside of the Trump administration met with these kids?

Why hasn't anyone told them what they are up against?

It's not the NRA.

It is the Constitution.

*****
I saw a Twitter post from David Hogg.  He's asking for bullet proof glass and reinforced doors that lock from the inside in the classrooms of his former Florida high school.

He was told that they cost too much money.  If I could talk to him, I'd tell him that a true leader would get both sides on the bandwagon.  He could bring them together.

I'm sure conservatives would be all for a conversation on school safety.

I don't think David Hogg is asking too much there.

The adults let the students down.  They didn't keep the shooter out of the building.  The cops were too terrified to do anything.

Few politicians are trying to help the children - in this way, the adults are continuing to let them down.

The least they can do is make the school safer.   Heck, I'd bet the students could put together a GoFund me and get the equipment needed for the school given all the press they're getting.

Here is my question.....

Why in the heck won't Democrats talk about school safety?

Why in the world won't they sit down with these kids and treat them like human beings rather than make them symbols of the gun control debate?

******

That said.....I suffer from PTSD.  It most likely stems from the death of my parents and my rape.

After my parents died, I spent several years trying to rescue my baby sister from the foster care system.

I never took the time to focus on me.

It took me seven years to save up money to get therapy.

I think the focus on solving my sister's problem made my PTSD worse (if it didn't create it)*.

I'd hate to see the same for these kids.

These kids are going to need time to heal.

Spending too much time fighting can keep one away from the healing process.

I urge politicians to act like adults and stop hiding behind teenagers.

Sit down with these young people.  Don't give in to things that can't be done.  Don't make promises you can't keep.

Be honest.

Be open.

Give them something that can be done.

They're demanding for school safety.  Give them that.

Of course, you don't have to listen to me.

I'd like you to watch David Hogg's face....not when he's in front of the camera.

Watch him when he's in the background.

That is when the pain reveals itself.

*****

*I do have PTSD.  I was told a pit bull would be very helpful as a service animal -but- I fear that I'd be cursing the holy crap out of city officials if they killed my dog.  My gods don't tolerate animal abuse very well.

May Nemesis stalk and stare.....

May the officials feel the ire of Hecate.

You know.....

I'm growing to the point of enjoying the glow of black candles each and every night.

I may be joking....I may not.

Truth be told.....crap has a way of sorting itself out.

Trash has a way of taking itself to the curb.

If you don't do what you're supposed to do,

well......

you'll be irrelevant soon enough.

Aurora's animal control ordinances are based on pseudo science and the hatred of a Seattle woman towards a breed of dogs that she claims bit her.

I think she needs therapy for her trauma.  She may even have PTSD.  If so, may I recommend a pit bull.....

(okay, I'll admit that was mean).

Leaders should be mindful about believing all the crap they see on the internet.


Love ya,

Witchy S.