I’m sitting here in front of my TV, about to do some data entry (I am happy that a lovely org is paying me to help them do data entry), and realize that I give up random hobbies all the time.  I got a PS3 for xmas (or, more accurately, I bought one for myself at Christmas as my gift for helping elect Obama and defeat some super fucked up ballot initiatives), and I don’t have too many games for it, but I rarely play GTA4 (because I found it too hard).

I also noticed that I have a basket of yarn, and a barely crocheted scarf that Daniel was supposed to get for xmas…in 2006.  I haven’t crocheted forever.

I got white boards for xmas to go on my wall, and just finally put them up, but I have yet to put the calendar on one, and who knows what on the other.

I didn’t finish school.

I was really committed to cooking more, which is why i gave up fast food for lent, but that didn’t happen either.

So, I tend to give things up, or not follow through, but this isn’t true in 1) relationships (platonic) with people and 2) “organizing” or “activism” or whatever it is that I do.  I guess maybe it’s because I care more about people and Freedom (capital ‘f’ y’all) than other shit, but fuck.  It constantly feels like I want to be more focused on my regular, everyday, boring life, than all this shit that is either beyond me to impact by myself, or is other people.  I’m invested in other things/people, and leave myself to whatever time I have left.  However, other types of lovey dovey relationships I tend to suck at for a number of reasons which I don’t need to post on the internet for everyone to see.

I try to change this by realizing I need to like, you know, actually start dating people more, since I am inherently bad at seperating friendship from sex and then end up fucking myself over.  So, yes, I went on a few dates with this one guy, but wasn’t too into him a few months ago, but it at least felt better than totally falling for someone.  I’ve been on a few dates with this other person, and I do actually like him a lot.  He’s a really nice, good, fun, cute guy, and since I tend to like douchenozzle assholes, it would be cool to try and make it work.  Of course, that’s if he feels like there’s some potential there.  But I’ve decided to stop presuming things.

I am totally addicted to twitter, btw.  You can follow me there under pinklaura, and if you’re on twitter, let me know, I’ll follow you’re ass.

So, I really want to go see Tool and Incubus at Dick Sporting Good’s Park, but I am broke.  Does anyone wanna go??? Let me know because I want to get wasted and rock out to two of my fave bands/sexy ass lead singers…mmm..

Work is fine, it’s become routine again, but that’s OK.  We had crap sales today and barely any people in the damn store, which means we will be judged despite the fact there’s not shit we could do about it.  If only half the people come into the store than are supposed to, we’re apparently supposed to sell them each $300 worth of stuff.  anything else is inexcusible.  But that sounds bitter.  I’m actually super enjoying my job lately.  Most of my co-workers are awesome and they have gotten rid of the shit managers, and I am happy with the two new totally competent people who are the new managers.  I’m also happy that those promotions are going to make a certain shift manager more money (yay!).

I will likely go to the capitol on Monday to protest the proposed more than 50% budget cut to higher education in the State of Colorado.  It’s fucking ludicrous, and although it seems to have been a bargaining tool to get pinnacol to shore up 500mil, as Square State said (I think), “that’s a poker game you better win.”

Higher ed isn’t something you fucking gamble with, and I think the idea that it is makes it even more apparent that we need to rid this state of TABOR (the taxpayer bill of rights).  Representative Government exists in order to govern.  If you feel you are paying too much, or you don’t like where your money is going, elect new leaders, don’t impose a ludicrous constitutional amendment that ties the hands of state lawmakers to make important budgetary decisions.  What’s 6% of 0 growth?  Oh that’s right, the ratchet effect.

I know I’m not explaining that at all, but I’m still fucking IRATE over this.  And I don’t get that IRATE anymore

Word.  Laters.

If you already know about the Employee Free Choice Act and support it click here to contact your congresspeople and ask them to support it.

So, I don’t post necessarily overt political things as blogs that often (ok, yes I do), but I don’t often ask you to take action, which maybe I should more often. Anyway. The Employee Free Choice Act is something that is close to me, for a variety of reasons. 1) I worked for the Service Employees International Union during the election helping defeat ludicrous anti-worker initiatives in Colorado and electing Barack Obama and, more importantly, 2) I am a low-wage retail worker who cannot afford the benefits “provided” by my employer, I do not get paid sick days, I live from paycheck to paycheck (sometimes less), and I wish there were a way for me to improve these things in my workplace. The fact is, speaking out about things in the workplace is dangerous for me, and whenever I do it, I run the risk of getting fired or punished by getting my hours cut, getting written up, or being treated poorly/ignored. If my co-workers and I were able to join a union and bargain with our management for better wages, benefits, and policies, we would all be happier in our jobs, and my workplace would benefit from happier employees who felt like they were valued.

Speaking out, or asking for better treatment is especially hard in an ecomony like ours because you know that many people would love to have your job and you don’t want to feel ungrateful that you have not been let go.

Of course, this is not to say I don’t enjoy my job. I absolutely love what I get to do every day even if it is tiring and sometimes stressful. But I think my work is worth more than my wage. I feel that I deserve good, affordable health care because of all the hard work I put in (and money I make for my bosses and the company. In fact, today, I had one individual sale that was over $600, which is a little less than what my paycheck for TWO WEEKS usually equals). I don’t think it’s weird to like your job and wish it could be improved at the same time. And I’m certain most of my fellow workers feel the same way as I do.

The Employee Free Choice Act, which was introduced in both the house and senate yesterday would make it easier for me and my co-workers, if we chose to, to form a union, and would make it less likely that we would get fired or “punished” for wanting one. It would allow our voices to be listened to, and allow us to assert that our work is worth a certain amount, which is a right that has slowly been eroded by selfish business interests who have the money to influence elected officials.

And already, these same interests are at it again, pouring millions of dolllars of money their workers earned for them into deceptive ads and lobbying against EFCA. They pretend like it will get rid of a secret ballot elections (which it won’t), or that it will force workers to join the union (which is illegal, and it won’t), and this just pisses me off.

Anyway, the link above talks a little about EFCA, and this link is SEIU’s “Five things you should know about employee free choice”. There’s also SEIU’s EFCA website, which explains a little bit more, and here’s the link (from there) to contact your congressperson and ask them to support EFCA. If you’re a working person, or someone who cares about me and my well-being who is better off, I encourage you to take action and ask your congresspeople to support EFCA so that workers are valued and make what they are worth.

Here’s a vid of Rachel Maddow talking about EFCA, to give y’all some perspective.

And, you know, pass it on.

The Juice Box