Snow Stupid

So I was driving home today during a snow storm.  I've been in worse, and all of my family has been in worse weather this past week, so I don't dare complain about the roads.  I will just say the roads were not that great.  In this type of weather, I have confidence in my abilities, but am very suspicious of the abilities of other drivers.  I've also noticed that, with even just 2 inches of snow on the ground, the average intelligence of other drivers drops by 70% (OK, 85%--I was trying to be nice).

As if to prove me correct in this last statement, I had driven only 1 block toward my destination when I saw what could only be described as a moving snowball.  As I watched in amazement, the snowball--a car completely covered in snow, except for the part of the windshield that could be reached by the wipers, drove past.  The driver had, at most, 6 inches of visibility--the hood of the car was covered by at least a foot of snow, all windows were snow-packed, and even if the driver used the directionals or lights (I highly doubt they did), you wouldn't be able to see them because they were buried under snow.  Lots of snow. 
Wow.  My mouth fell open, and then.....dropped...to..the..floor...when I noticed (as I looked through the narrow slit in the front windshield) the idiot driver WAS TALKING ON A CELL PHONE.  I kid you not. 
So here's the thing.  I've decided I no longer want my insurance to cover idiot drivers.  Like the moving snowball.  Like the person who runs the stop sign because they are texting.  Like the stupehead who cuts me off because they aren't paying attention to which exit is theirs. 
I'm going to start attaching a note to my insurance check:  "This money is to be used only for safe drivers who have accidents.  That aren't their fault." 
It's a great idea, isn't it?  I'll bet my representative, Steve Buyer, will be thrilled when I suggest it to him.  He will probably share my idea with Rep. Bart Stupak from Michigan; Stupak will think I'm brilliant, because he proposed just the same thing last month during the health care debate.  He said insurance policies shouldn't cover abortions because he's against women's right to have them.  Even though it's legal for women to have abortions, and sometimes they are needed to save a woman's life.  The Senate, in their wisdom, thought that it would be OK to say if women wanted complete reproductive choice, they could write an extra check every month to cover "those things". 
So, from now on, because representatives in Congress think it's OK for us to pick and choose based on our beliefs, this is my official proclamation:
"I want my insurance checks to only cover safe drivers who get in accidents that are not their fault.  I want my health insurance premiums to help cover older people (especially women), babies, kids, and adults who don't smoke, and people who don't start sentences, "Hmmm...I wonder what this will do?"  I don't want my health insurance money to go to Viagra, or any type of penile erectile dysfunction research.  I will pay my taxes, but I do not want my money to go to the support of war, except for people in our armed services--they just do what they're told.  I do not want my tax money to go to Blackwater or any other government contractor like them.  Actually, just put all my tax money toward Head Start and other early childhood education programs--they are the first real line of defense."
Hey....I kinda like what Stupak et al have proposed!  And how will you spend your insurance and tax dollars?  

Charlie and Kiki and the Hired Help

It's the first day of the New Year, and that means it's time to do some cleaning.  I roust the cats from their temporary take-over of our bed, and let them know how the day is going to unfold.  They are not pleased. 

 But, when I explained how much fun cleaning could be for everyone, they quickly got into the spirit.

Very quickly.

They were quite helpful.

 After all, they could see as well as I did that we have a significant rodent problem. 






In fact, they found great satisfaction in pointing out areas to be cleaned:

"This rug is a mess!"

 

"This room needs immediate attention!

"I have uncovered numerous health code violations!"

Even the computer gave issued some commands:

"This floor is filthy!  How do expect me to keep my paws clean on THIS?!!"

However, I found the "management" was easily distracted.....

And not as "commanding" as they could be......




"Ummm.....I think I'll just wait here until that vacuum is done upstairs....."

 Having issued the orders, it was lunch time. 

Finally, the "management" just gave up and left the labor alone to finish.