An important victory but not the end.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that bans on same-sex marriages were unconstitutional. It was expected that the court would rule on this beginning sometime last week but most thought that it would come towards the end of this week or possibly on Monday. While I was at work, Roy sent me this message about 15 minutes after the decision was released. I found a bit of humor that I would be getting US news first from Great Britain. 

I am happy with the decision and I think it was a correct one but I am disappointed that it was a 5-4 decision. I had really hoped that Chief Justice Roberts would have joined in with a 6-3 decision. In the arguments, he brought up that this could be gender discrimination and teased the possibility that he could be another pro-gay vote. It has been said that Roberts wants to avoid 5-4 decisions and has angered the right when he sided with the liberals when it came to the Affordable Health Care cases. On the other hand, his positions in the cases on DOMA and Prop 8 suggested otherwise.

I’ve been busy at work but I do intend on reading the opinion.

Just because gays can now marry, it doesn’t mean the march for equality is over. It seems that the backlash is going to be in the form of religious freedom (to discriminate) laws. And it is still true that society is divided. Even my own family.

Personal Inception?

I woke up in an apartment at Western Michigan University. I was confused as to why I was naked in the living room, on a mattress which was on the floor. The morning sun was shining in through the window which was uncovered. I was horrified at thinking how many students had probably walked by and looked into see me in all my glory but I rubbed my eye and made my way to the window to shut the blinds and then I realized the situation was much worse: someone had stolen the door and replaced it with another whose dimensions were shorter than the one that should have been there.  It had gaps at the top and bottom and the color was white instead of dark brown. Then to top it off, there was graffiti indicating that this was some kind of practical joke. I started having a mini panic attack because I would have to deal with this when I had classes coming up.

I woke up in my bedroom, in my dorm room at Michigan State (a real place). I was relieved that I was not a victim of a practical joke but I glanced at my clock and noticed that it was 15:45. It was the middle of the afternoon! How did I sleep in the whole day? I knew I had missed classes but what were they? How can I have forgotten my schedule? How long have I been missing classes? Were there any tests that I've missed?  Logically, I knew that it was probably too late to even worry about it that day and that any worrying would have to wait until I could answer those questions. Still, I was having a mini panic attack.

I woke up in my room and in the real reality here in Buchanan. It was early in the morning and I was not a victim of a practical joke, I am not a horrible student at State, It's Sunday and I could role over and debate with myself I should get up early and do chores or sleep in a little bit more.  It's now close to 11:00. I think you can guess which I chose.

What's wrong with being Facebook buddies?

Today I just noticed that I got de-friended again. This is the second time in as many weeks. I try not to take it personally as the people who did aren't really friend-friends but it still stings a little you know?

I'm a little aloof when it comes to Facebook. I don't rarely post status updates or interact with any friends on there. I've tried to step up my game a bit but my heart really isn't it. More than anything it's more of an intelligence gathering tool for me! Yeah, I know that sounds creepy but I gladly take in whatever friends throw out there for public consumption.

I wonder if it is because I don't interact that much that people don't really care to be friends with me. Then again, it's not like people take the first step to interact with me. One of the biggest things that really gets under my skin is when I have to always have to initiate an interaction. Relationships shouldn't be one sided and I have let some friend fall to the side because I got sick of being the one to start. So I guess I was guilty of that in Facebook world and was let go.

It could have been my political views...

*shrugs*

Oh well. To Brett and Susan: all the best.

What's on fire? Canada.

I went to work in hazy conditions today. There was so much haze that you could see the sun without having to instinctively avert your eyes. The solar disk hung there-big, glowing, orange. It was a sight that you don't get to see often so I savored it for a few minutes before heading in.

Wildfires in Canada are throwing up smoke high into the atmosphere and has been making its way over the Great Lakes. With that much particulate in the air, I was looking forward to the end of the day because this would be a great day to see a sunset. With that much particulate in the air, I figured I could expect a beautiful red sunset.

Perhaps my expectations were running a little high but it was a lovely sight nonetheless.

A Prisoner's Briefcase

I've watched two episodes of CBS's new series The Briefcase. The show is about two families that receive a briefcase of $101,000. A sort of Prisoner's Dilemma is created. Each of the family is given the option of keeping all, some, or none of the money with the understanding that any money that they don't keep will go to the other needy family. The thing is that each family doesn't know that the other has been given the same opportunity.

Although I find the stories of theses families compelling, I can't shake this dirty feeling that comes over me while I watch. For the sake of our entertainment, families in need are put into the position where they need to make heart-wrenching decisions that can cause strife in their own families. What does one do when one spouse wants to give all the money aways while the other insists that the best thing to do is put their own needs ahead of others and keep the money?

I'm not sure if I will continue watching this.

h/t to CBS for posting this video on YouTube.

I shouldn't dread going to bed because of work in the morning.

I try not to talk about work on here but I needed to vent some anxiety that I have been feeling for the past few weeks. I have been told that I will be moving into another position. I am cross trained for this position as I cover for the person that normally does the job and I am fine with that. I wouldn't want to do it full time however. So the person that I am replacing is moving to another position, I'm moving into theirs, someone is moving into mine (actually my job is going to be split amongst a number of people plus my replacement.) With all the personnel shuffling, we need to be doing some training. The problem is that all these plans are in flux, no one has moved anywhere, and no one is getting trained.

I've got my desk half packed up into boxes and they've been that way for the past two weeks. I'm ready to start unpacking and getting back to my normal routine but the manager that I am supposedly transferring under keeps saying that it's going to be soon. I freakin' hate the word "soon" now. My current supervisor says that he doesn't know what is happening and at least he's more honest with me. I think that we both would be happier if the hammer just falls on whichever side it's going to fall on and have this waiting game end. I'd be happier still if I can remain in the current position that I am in now. I know how to do my job well, efficiently, and fast and I think it is crazy that they want to move me.

Tomorrow I will be covering for two people plus doing my own job. I've got approval for OT but the idea that I am going to be spending a potential 12-13 hours at work for the next couple days has got me on edge.

I think that it is time to start looking.