I was /am / are a simple man

Don't know how much longer I'll be around. I don't have an agenda or timeline, but I do have that itchy feeling. It's just a matter of time now.

It's a bunch of little things. But they begin to add up. Like body blows to a fighter. No single blow is all that hard to absorb, but over time they sap you. I am a believer that life should be user friendly. A view that I am afraid is not shared by those around me. However, I am not one to "make do". If I can't make my round life fit into a square hole, I suppose I'll have to find a different hole. Don't let your mind wander into vulgarity over my analogy.

John Warner passed a law that takes effect Jan 1. It makes my medical insurance supplement illegal. Or rather, it makes my employer's contribution to it illegal. I served 26 years, in part to get 2* things: A retirement check every month until I die and access to medical insurance for life. And, apparently, they are happy to provide the insrance. They just loathe that I choose to use it.

I'll explain. See, I work. And medical insurance is made available to me through the company. But it costs a lot more than my Tricare. So the government thinks that it would be better (for them) if I were to take that, instead of the cheaper and more comprehensive Tricare. But, as they say on the playgound, "you can't make me!" Now, my company also provides a Tricare supplement that takes care of co-pays and all that, making my health care 100% covered. That supplement costs me $12 per month.

John Warner, another of them troop-supporting good old boys in the GOP, sponsored legislation saying that those supplements make using Tricare too tempting, and outlawed employer contributions. Oh, I can still keep the supplement, I just have to pay $119 per month out of my pocket, rather than $144 per year. It pisses me off to be given a benefit only under the stipulation that I don't really use it. I didn't sign up, raise my right hand, and collect my paycheck and then mention after the fact that, "Oh by the way, those 14+ years at sea....I don't plan to actually DO them."

So I stoppedat the Arco station in Sacramento on the way to return my rental car. Gas was $3.39, which gave me pause, even though it was company money. What happened next was, to me, surreal. First off, the Robo-pump would only take MasterCard or Visa. That is unusual. But when I swiped my MasterCard Debit card to pay for the gas, a window popped up informing me that there was a 45 cent surcharge and inquiring if I would like to continue. So, if I have this right, I need to pay you 45 cents for the priveledge of buying overpriced gas??? You know that is a trend that will only continue unless we take up torches and pitchforks, and attack it like the Frakenstien idea that it is.

The thought crossed my mind that I might should move to southern Sudan. I mean I am, after all, a southern boy. But them crazy dudes are people after my own heart. I guess oil is making them all a lot of money. And the neuvo rich in southern Sudan are kicking it like rednecks with money. I quote the local paper when I say: "Much of the newfound wealth inJuba, caital of South Sudan, goes to beer and motorcycles." What's not to love about the place?

F*** Me Pumps

You Know I'm No Good

Reelin' in the years, out

Ramblin' Ed

*OK, the other part of my decision to stay 26 years involved soft girls and hard liquor. I told you I was a simple man.