Time for Lent and #GoldenActsOfKindness

Hello All!

I hope everyone has been enjoying 2016 so far! And that not too many of you are hung over from Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday Celebrations. It's Ash Wednesday and time again for Lent. I'm not a very religious person but I have always tried to observe Lent because I believe that being able to make a sacrifice, if only once a year, is good for me. Plus the money I usually save by making these sacrifices I'm able to donate to causes that I care for. So for years I've joined in with Lent, much to the confusion of family and friends who know me and my beliefs.

Last year I joined in with the group of #40acts. They are a wonderful organization but this year, I've chosen to branch out on my own. #40acts is very strictly religious based and some of their ideas were not in line with my own beliefs. But I enjoyed the experience so much that I didn't want to abandon the idea. Before I proceed I want to say please don't misunderstand, #40acts is a great organization and they are not preaching anything extreme and I'm not using my powers for evil. I just wanted to apply the concept to my philosophy and open up my capacity for kindness to more of my world around me. So this year I've been inspired to practice (what I'm calling) #GoldenActsOfKindness for the next 40 days.

So what's the plan? Well it's genius in its simplicity.

For the next 40 days I will attempt to spread happiness, joy, love and acts of kindness throughout my world. By doing this I'm hoping to accomplish hopefully two things.

1. To help even just 1 person get thru a day that they may not have thought they were going to be able to make it through.
2. Inspire others to do similar things, so that maybe by taking little steps we can all spread more than pure madness in this world. Because as a species we have to do a better job of loving each other before we rip this place apart.

If your interested in following along feel free to join me on twitter @theonlygolden and I also hope to post updates here on our blog. I am new to snapchat and am still navigating those waters, but I do hope to use my snapchat as a tool for the cause so check me out there as well if you don't mind my dumbass not completely knowing what I'm doing (@theonlygolden2).

Let me know what you guys are up to, if you make any sacrifices or have any ideas for acts of kindness.

-golden

Why I love Cam Newton

Tonight on CBS was Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos or as the media talks about it the Cam Vs Peyton show, a changing of the guard type event. Now I live in a state that’s insane about College Football. Loyalties are formed before birth, often before conception. We taught my nephew to raise his hands in a referee touchdown motion so that we could slip his t-shirt on. No joke, people in my area have literally killed over it. However my state doesn’t really have a dog in the NFL fight. So I’ve often watched the Super Bowl just because everyone will be talking about it on Monday, I watched it for the commercials, but mostly watched it with one eye as I surfed the internet or put together a puzzle since literally nothing else was on.

However this year is different. This year I cared about NFL football. I wanted the Panthers to get to the playoffs undefeated, which they nearly did. I wanted everyone who was talking trash about Cameron Newton to shut up. I wanted people to take notice and man did they ever. However not all of it was great commentary on a man who frankly is just damn fun to watch. May we all have a job we love as much as Cam Newton loves playing football.

Now for full disclosure I’m typing this up as Carolina trails Denver 7-16 so it’s not like Cam is being remarkable on the field, then again neither is Payton. Denver finally figured out that the way to beat the Panthers (at least so far) is to shut down Cam and his offense. Granted the Panther offense isn’t giving Cam much time to do anything in the pocket, something they have been great at all year long. My point is this post isn’t about a Quarterback setting the field on fire with his awesomeness. No this post is about telling people about the Cam Newton that makes me smile. The Cam Newton whom I think little kids should look up to, the Cameron Newton who deserves more respect.

1.     Granted the man led my team (War Eagle!) to an SEC Championship, a National Championship, and did it with class. When I say he LED the team I mean exactly that. I’ve seen him walk up and down that sideline pumping up a teammate who may have had a bad play, cheering for the defense like a little kid for a good stop and I've watched him lead the team (all of them even the "bench warmers") down towards the student section before 4th quarter in an effort to bring the crowd into the game for one final push to victory. He knew then how much the crowd brings to the game, which is why it’s fun now to watch him give a ball to a kid after a touchdown (notice it's ALWAYS a kid). He didn’t just start caring about the crowd that’s been part of his DNA for years. That people is why people who love him LOVE him.

2.     Speaking of kids the man loves kids. He wants them to succeed he wants them to believe in themselves and his love for kids is infectious. He volunteered at an elementary school while he was a student athlete long before anyone took notice of it. When he left his JR year for the NFL he came back to see those kids whenever he was in town, he kept in touch with the school and keeps those connections alive to this day! He cared about these kids and because of that they cared about him. Did you see the instagram post where a kid on the sidelines at practice was telling him how to "throw the ball" and how focused Cam is on what the kid is saying? His caption for the picture was "Always be coachable!" A great lesson for kids to hear in a world where kids think coaches are a waste of time. The man is not just a role model but he should be the bench mark role models are held too.

3.     He finished school. This should be higher on the list cause i'm just so darn proud of this fellow alumni! Sure it was a promise he made to his mom, but let’s face it Cam could have gone anywhere he wanted for school. He came back to Auburn every summer (during his off season), went to classes, attended sporting events, and got that piece of paper when frankly he didn’t need it. It was important to her, so it was important to him. He returned to a school that he had already given so much and he showed kids everywhere that yes an education was important. Again if that's not a role model then I don't know what one is.

4.     His smile. No joke no one has a smile wider, bigger, or more genuine than Cam Newton and the man looks great when he smiles.

5.     His love for his family is admirable. He went back to school for his mom, he says a prayer at the beginning of each game for his mom. His mom is his inspiration, his biggest cheerleader, and I would argue his best friend. Did you see his Instagram page where he posted the text she sent him prior to tonight’s game? That’s love.

6.     His ambition in life is to open a day care center, or some other type of school for kids. There is no doubt in my mind that when his NFL career is over he will do something with kids and those kids will be the luckiest kids in the world for being a part of that environment. Nothing appears to make him happier than being around kids.

7.     I do think that as soon as he’s no longer having fun he will end his career. He’ not going to be a player that plays for the paycheck. He's not going to hang around long after the "glory" has faded and he's just there in the background. Granted he’s not going to play for free but the paycheck does not drive him, it's just what allows him to have fun and play a game he's been destined to play for years. 

So these are just a few of the reasons that I like Cam, notice not many of these have anything to do with his on the field capabilities, I let those speak for themselves. Everyone knows he can throw a ball, even if sometimes I think he might throw it a little hard. I love watching Cam play football, I love how supportive he is of the guys around him, the love he shows to the fans, and the smile on his face. Even in games like this one where not much to write home about has happened he wears his heart on his sleeve. He lives and dies with that team and what is happening on that field. He's not a QB who isn't really paying attention when the defense is on the field until 4rd down. Cam shifts into spectator mode and is as into it as the rest of us are. No one will walk out of that locker room tonight more upset that Cam. You can see it on his face he blames himself for the way tonight has gone, he's defeated but he's not down. They will regroup, they will come back and this is not Cam’s only shot at a ring with the Panthers or anyone else. There is no doubt in my mind he'll get that hardware one day and Chosen will be jumping up and down in the players box challenging his grandma for dad’s biggest supporter when he does!

Everyone needs to sit back, leave him alone and enjoy the ride cause it’s a fun ride to be a part of !

War Cam Eagle, forever and always.

Marcy

Happy 2016!

Hello all! Happy 2016!
So far my 2016 is going much like my 2015.
Work, sleep, be sick, repeat.

It's the worst recycling program EVER! A rut I tend to get myself stuck into far too often. I can tell you there has been a pretty big lifestyle change that's already taken place in the beginning of this year. A change that I'm not sure I should admit out loud, but I guess I will. Any of you that follow me on twitter know of my dedication and leadership in the "no pants" lifestyle. It is one of my founding principles. However, this year I have been introduced to the world of the fuzzy onesie and must admit that I, Golden "Pants free" Dean, am a fan. I know...I know...Hear me out...Please don't revolt yet. I still support the utopia of a pants free society as passionately as ever. I've always said, you No Pants at your own level of comfort, and I stand by this. But when the temperature is reaching a high of below freezing, having an ass of fuzzy angelic style warmth, well that's just tops! But fear not! I'm still living a healthy 90-92% pants free life. So I guess a couple of weeks in to this new year has brought at least that one change.

Like everyone else, I have been asked REPEATEDLY, "What are your New Years resolutions?" So far the only answer I have given anyone was "To not die" followed by an awkward amount of silence in order to not be asked again. Setting resolutions is totally fucking worthless. I think this year I will set some goals.

What's the difference in 'Resolutions' and 'Goals'?

Nothing other than a mental block. To me a goal is something I aim for, but to call it a resolution seems...well pretty resolute. It becomes a mandate or a chore. And nothing triggers my childish 'fuck you, I don't give a damn' attitude like a chore. (Trust me, deep down I'm an obstinate disobedient temper tantrum throwing child in a slightly taller package.) 

So please to enjoy some of my 2016 goals...

~See more movies in the theater- there was a time that I saw everything the week it came out, even if no one else cared to see it and I had to go alone. But for a few different reasons I haven't been as dedicated, and I miss the big screen experience. Plus 2016 has some amazing must see movies for a weirdo like myself... Deadpool, Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Fantastic Beasts, Assassins Creed, Star Trek 3, and on and on ...

~Read- I go through phases with reading. As long as its for fun I can't read fast enough. But make it a chore and well....obstinate child. But even when I'm in a phase of not reading I'm still buying as though I'm reading a book a day, which leads me to the situation I'm in now. Huge stacks of books piling up everywhere longing to be read. So it's time to knock that stack down a bit.

~Do more- It can be extremely hard to plan activities when you live with a chronic illness. It's getting harder and harder to travel and having a compromised immune system makes it hard to be around large crowds. Plus when I'm "up" and feeling good I make all the plans, but then the date of the event comes around and it seems that the pain sets in and I just have to forgo my plans. I've got to get better at taking advantage of when my body is in a healthy phase and also take advantage of local adventures.

~Look up- This isn't some spiritual or metaphorical realization but a literal one. I spend so much time looking down when I walk, at work, when I'm out and about, that I miss so much of the world around me and it can become a self imposed isolation. So just by looking up more often maybe I can find ways to engage with the world around me.

~Cook more- I like to cook and I'm not too bad at it but I just don't do it. Instead I exist on mostly heat up frozen or fast food. So not healthy.

So there we have it, 5 goals for me to aim for in 2016. What about you guys? How are you handling your New Year? Join in and let us know. If your goal is cool, I'll probably steal it and do it myself!

-golden (@theonlygolden)

New Year….Fresh Start …..kind of

So I started this post about 12 times and it never sounded right to me and so I deleted it. I do that a lot. I write up this long post that’s supposed to be filled with humor, insight, and a message of some kind then I reread it and go … yeah that’s dumb so I delete it.

I was telling a friend the other day, no one is reading this thing so why is it so hard to write on it? What is holding me back? It’s not like I care if anyone is reading, frankly I’d like to think that you all had better things to do, (please don’t go!) but it would be nice to know someone was interested in my thoughts even if they are a jumbled crazy mess sometimes.

Now I realize that without posting these crazy random thoughts people have the option of rejecting or embracing my thoughts so that’s where I come in. I need to post these thoughts and see where the chips fall. You’d think not having an audience it would be easier to throw random things up on this thing and see what happens. However it’s not that easy.  This blog, writing in general used to be something that made me smile, made me reflective, and yes in some instances cry like a small child. I often wonder what happened.

I don’t want this to be another post where I tell you that more posts are coming, so I’m not going to go there. What I am going to try to do is strive to post even when I think they are silly or stupid or jumbled and dumb and force myself to write something even if it’s only once a month. Cause I’ve gotten lazy in so many aspects of my life, cleaning seems to be non-existent, there’s a Christmas present I’ve been meaning to mail since mid Dec still sitting unwrapped on my floor, and sadly I’ve checked my work e-mail more times on this holiday than I’d like to admit.

So … here’s my obligatory New Year’s Resolution post, but instead of calling it that I’m going to call it things I’d like to change about 2016.

1.     I’d like to see more movies not just say wow that looks good I should go see that then never go see it. That was on my list last year and it was an EPIC fail but this year I’m going to really try to make this more of a priority

2.     I’d like to spend more time actually TALKING to Golden not texting. Our different work schedules haven’t allowed for a 2 or 3 hour gab fest lately and I hope that changes. I miss our talks, she makes me laugh harder than any human on earth.

3.     I’d like to visit Golden more than once a year, it’s just not enough. I want more farting around time with her, more fun in our lives. I think we both need it, oh and her cheeseball. I really really really want a cheeseball. Sure I could make my own and have on a few occasions but hers are better. If nothing else i'm going to the Damn Zoo this year!!!! Mark it in your calendar! Nothing is going to stand in my way this year! NOTHING!!!!  

4.     I’d like to lose some weight, which would require me to be less of a slug. At the end of a long work day I’m just spent and don’t want to move, and on the weekends I think this is my only down time so I want to just lay here and do nothing cause Monday will be here soon !

5.     I’d like to exercise more, even if it’s just walking around the block to clear my head. Again my issue becomes that by the time I get home it’s 7, then I eat dinner and it’s late and so I don’t do it. Maybe I can come up with a plan for this. I already get up at the crack of dawn maybe 30 minutes at the start of my day would be good, then again 30 more minutes in my bed would be nice too.

6.     I’d like work to not be all consuming of my energy. Last year was INSANE work wise. I won’t bore you but know I took a total of 4 days off all year and most of that was spent at DragonCon. I know my boss wants me to take more time and he’s going to try and make it so that I don’t feel I’m carrying the weight of my dept on my shoulders, we’ll see how that works out for me. The last 2 weeks haven’t been any indication of a change but hey it’s a new year and I got a Christmas Bonus for those efforts so …. Yippie!

7.     I want to spend my money on things that make me smile more. Fun goofy things that I don’t really need but I want and not feel guilty about it. I work hard and deserve to play hard too … right?!

8.     I want to go to more concerts/shows/life events this year. I am tired of reading about everyone else having these epic memories. That also requires me to get out of my comfort zone a bit as the world has become a really scary place.

9.     I also hope for more music from some of my new favorite artist, Maddie and Tae, Haley and Michaels, The Springs, etc., I’m ready for the world to find out about them cause they are that good. Maddie and Tae got 2015 but there’s room on my radio for all of them. Come on Country Music make it happen.

10.  Speaking of Haley and Michaels I want to finish my story that I started a while back, if only cause I think Shannon and Ryan deserve to get out of that Airport :D That’s a big goal of mine for the next month or so. Ha!

So there you have it.

None of these are really promises or things that will change the world but things I felt you needed to know. We’ll talk more soon I’m sure, in the meantime have a fantastic 2016 filled with good times and few Butt Slams ... that's right I'm trying to bring that back.

-marcy (@beaslma)

What I Believe ……

I believe in a lot of things, many things that have shaped the person that I am today. Some of these beliefs are listed below …..

I believe if you work hard, you will be rewarded for it …. Eventually.

I believe that if you are running late you will not only hit every single light but will also likely need to stop for gas.

I believe that good friends are hard to come by, and great friends are even harder to come by so hold on to them as hard as you can.

I believe that I’m going to regret not learning to crochet from my mom, tho I don’t believe that enough to change it, sadly.

I believe the more urgent the need to print the more horribly the printer will either jam or not work at all.

I believe the people who put so much effort on religion need to open their book a little more and realize that it’s just a book. It’s a great guide to life but it’s not the only guide you should follow. Especially if you are only picking parts of it to follow.

I believe this election cycle is going to kill me, I also believe that we have let Trump last too long. If anyone else were saying what he is saying they’d have been done by now.

I believe that Hillary should take a Trump speech verbatim and say it on the stump and watch the world implode around her. Then at the press conference about it just play the trump speech and stand there starring at the press like “come at me now!”

I believe technology is fantastic but is also killing us slowly from the inside out don’t believe me next time you are at a Restaurant leave the phone in your pocket and look around. You’ll be one of the few without that box in your hands, including small children.

I believe my family is the most important thing to me on earth, yet sometimes I also wish they’d leave me alone sometimes. Then again that’s why they are family.

I believe that I should spend more time with my friends, however I also like alone time and alone time often wins. I believe one day I’ll regret that.

I believe that Golden's body is one day going to push her to her breaking point and that's going to be a long drive to hold her hand and talk her through it. It may even require a plane ticket. 

I believe in the Great Pumpkin and until Linus is proven wrong I’ll continue to do so.

I believe in Santa, cause frankly a fat man who brings me gifts is not something I want to risk by not believing in it.

I believe everyone has a talent, it just takes some of us longer to find how to harness it.

I believe everyone should give blood, as often as they can, and if they can’t give blood for whatever reason they should at least support financially the Red Cross

I believe that Golden is the strongest most wonderful person I know. She deals with more in an hour than most people deal with in a lifetime. She's my hero. 

I believe in Auburn and love it, it’s kind of a rule when you get accepted to Auburn but I’ve felt that way all my life, always will.

 

I believe these are my beliefs and in no way reflect the beliefs of this blog, Golden or anyone else, tho it wouldn't surprise me that we didn't share some of these beliefs cause well she's awesome and my beliefs are as well. :D 

I believe my nephews are two of the smartest young men in this world. I believe I had very little to do with their education, but I will take credit for it as my awesomeness had to rub off on them at least a little bit.

I believe that I wrote this when still half asleep and if you had read that post you really would have been moved to act or care, however I farted around (had dinner, took out the trash, played some games) and forgot the majority of what I mentally wrote in my head. I believe that happens to me far too often and it makes me sad.

There are many more beliefs that I have but the thing that amazes me about the last week or so is that I’ve NEVER believed in something enough to die for it. I can’t even fathom what that has to feel like. Don’t get me wrong I’m not condoning anything that’s happened, it makes me sick to my stomach and scares me like you’ll never understand but it does fascinate me more than I’d like to admit. What in the world do they tell these guys to convince them this is how their life should play out ? How lost do those people have to be that this sounds like a viable option ? Why isn’t that something we are trying to fight in this “fight against terror?” I think that’s the hearts and minds we need to “win” or at least understand better if this fight is going to be won.

The events of the last month or so are textbook examples of why I don’t like large crowds, of why I have to sit where I can see the door when out in public and why most people see me out in public and think I’m having a horrible time, even when I’m not.

I used to LOVE crowded football games or going to a mall filled with people during the holidays all laughing and enjoying themselves. Then people happen. Someone upset with the Government decides to blow up a random building in Oklahoma, someone on a mission decides to shoot up a movie theaters, schools, malls, it just felt as if the places that were supposed to be safe were becoming fewer and I didn’t know how to handle it. Sometimes I still don’t. It’s not unusual for me to get home from work on a Friday and not move my car until Monday when it’s time to go back to work.

I wasn’t always like this. I wasn’t always skittish or afraid especially in large crowds. I tend to sit back and observe what’s going on around me, not really looking for trouble so much as if trouble does happen I’ve already come up with about 45 different plans on how I can get out or how I can flip the table and use it as a shield. I’m fully aware that if shit really did go down half of those plans would likely go out of the window. I’d either be the person who freaked out and died that way cause I couldn’t think fast enough to survive or I’d be the person who died cause I was over thinking and not moving fast enough, or the person who would fight until there was no breathe left to fight with, especially if I thought there were other people around me counting on me to get us out.

Things are changing in this world and it’s not all good but I do BELIEVE that as long as we get up, we go out, pay attention to what’s going on around us, and we keep moving things will be ok. So as we move towards the holiday season I hope everyone has a safe, happy, and wonderful holiday with friends, family, and loved ones.

-Marcy

@beaslma

2015 Christmas TV Specials Calendar

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!! Happy Freaking Holidays!!!!

As I've said before my favorite thing about the holidays is sitting down to watch a good ole fashioned Christmas TV/Movie special usually with a bowl of popcorn and my mom sitting nearby. I like to make a Christmas TV/Movie Specials calendar so I don't miss a single moment of my favorites both those that I've watched a million times and those that are new favorites.

As you all know Hallmark, and ABC Family have been showing Holiday Specials since no joke JULY. That’s right people July, I mean how insane is that? I just couldn’t buy into the program tho until now. I'm ready to throw on some flannel jammies, pop some popcorn and cry my eyes out. Every year my beloved animated specials are being shown fewer times and early (The Grinch was on this past Sunday ... wait ... what?!) Thank goodness for ABC Family who is keeping the stop motion animation alive and well, they are showing some of the goodness throughout the day... every day ... literally.  

As I said ... Hallmark, Lifetime, and ABC Family have been vomiting Christmas specials since everyone was still popping fireworks so those channels didn’t get as much love as they usually do. If something had to be cut for room on that particular day those channels got cut first. If say ABC family was showing 3 great shows in a row I only listed one and figured while watching it you’d be alerted to the others, unless it was a show I wanted to see cause that’s right it’s all about me you are just invited in the car.

That said if I don’t have the channel I didn’t include it … again cause it’s about me. There are some great specials on the Hallmark Mysteries and Movie (or something like that) Channel or the Inspiration channel, and other specialty channels like that so check those out if you are lucky enough to have those channels. I don't so those channels can suck it!

This calendar comes with rules ... not quite as ridged as a Mogwai but still rules that need to be mentioned. 

First . . .  a few guidelines:

• NO messages about taking Christ out of Christmas, it’s just a really long word and using X-Mas allows for more shows on the already full calendar.

• Thanks for your understanding.
• For those that don’t understand feel free to move on and forget that this calendar exists. 

• I live in the central time zone, the times on this calendar reflect that, adjust accordingly.

• That said unless otherwise stated the times are PM

• This calendar does not focus on established show “Christmas special episodes” so watch out for those … I did however add a great episode of Psych cause my best friend loves it and she asked nicely.
• This calendar contains shows I want to see, so a mixture of adult themed shows/movies and kid themed shows/movies are represented. Some are classics and some are new, so PLEASE be mindful of what is on before you sit the kids down with popcorn to watch.

• Don’t call me cause your little one watched some holiday movie on Lifetime or and now has “questions”. . . . that’s your mess not mine.

• Please NOTE: The Disney version of a Christmas Carol (AKA the computer animated Jim Carrey version) is a little dark and can be scary (much like the original story btw), you might want to check it out before you and little man/lady plop down with popcorn and a blanket to “watch a classic.”

• Keep an eye out for additional shows/movies that pop up throughout the month as networks change their lineups.
• Feel free to add your own specials and traditions to the calendar that’s what it is there for.
• For you stay at home mom’s they run specials all day long and for the most part my calendar focuses on the after work hour times since that is when I can watch.

• That’s right it’s all about me!

A few programs of note:

• 50^th Anniversary Special about A Charlie Brown Christmas – ABC Nov. 30^th -  a special talking about the greatest Christmas special ever created followd by the actual show. A must viewing if you have little people in your life, even if they aren’t in the room. Repeats on Dec. 24^th
• I can only find A Christmas Story during the TBS Christmas Day Marathon so make sure you work it into your Christmas celebrations. Last year it was on several times ... this year it's sparse .. I hope the channels just haven't finalized their line ups yet.

• Bless you Ted Turner, you crazy old man, may this tradition live forever!!

• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, one of the best movies ever, comes on several times this year. If you don’t know the joy of Chevy Chase finally getting the lights to finally work…well I feel sorry for you and your family and the people that know you because you are missing the joy in your life. Correct that this year please!
• IT’s A Wonderful Life – Dec. 5^th on NBC Repeats on Dec. 24^th
• The “boys” in my life informed me that DIEHARD should have been on the calendar …. boys are silly … however and I couldn’t find it showing anywhere so yeah there’s that. 

A few programs of note that are not “Christmas” related but interesting enough to make the calendar include:

• To Kill A Mockingbird – NBC – Nov. 28^th – a must viewing at least in our house.
• The Wiz – NBC Dec. 3^rd – with the ever ahmazing Queen Latifah
• CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute – Dec. 6^th – it’s nice seeing that in a world full of insanity there are some people out there trying to do good and are being recognized for it. NOTE: I don’t understand why they have already announced the winner, if you don’t want to know stay away from CNN.com. Either way it’s a really inspirational night so check it out.
• Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show – Dec. 8^th on CBS – a dear friend of mine loves this and insists that it go on the calendar every year, she’s the boss.

Anyway, the intention of this calendar, much like the Halloween one is to get your family to pause and spend some time together making memories. In this season where we spend so much time rushing around we forget to enjoy the down time and enjoy the family time. Great specials come and go and if we don’t watch they will go forever.

Today’s “classic Christmas special” may be next year’s no show on the calendar. That’s the other reason for this calendar, if we stop watching they will stop showing. So just because you have The Grinch (which is not on this calendar nearly enough (NOTE: I can’t tell if it’s animated or the movie anymore and I’m NOT ok with that!) on your shelf or the Charlie Brown Christmas (which comes on twice this year), take the time to watch it with your family as it airs so that it will air for years to come.  I can name a ton of specials that no longer come on cause we stopped watching ... Garfield, the Chipmunks, the Smurfs, the Flintstones, The Nutcracker, Casper, the Gift of the Magi, etc.,

So here's the 2015 calendar, you should be able to save it and zoom in and out without losing too much readability. You are best printing it 11X17 if possible.

 

So sit back, laugh, smile, and cry (some of these are sad, I mean who doesn’t cry when George Bailey is standing next to the tree with Mary and his friends are coming in to save the Bailey Savings and Loan, oh no did I give the end away ?!) and have a good Drunksgiving, a full Thanksgiving, and a safe BlackFriday, so that you can enjoy this fun and have a wonderful Christmas!

Marcy (@beaslma)

Hey, what's up, hello!

Argggghhhhh!

You ever have that feeling that your life is just a real game of wack-a-mole? I know I've been MIA for quite some time now. It's been hard to write. And I'm sorry that my first time back is a bitch and moan post. I've been fighting for my right to live, these past few months. Ok so it's not really that dramatic. I have been going months of being undermedicated because my insurance company has been refusing to cover the meds that my rheumatologist wants me to have.

Check this routine that I've been on since June. The doctor that has known me for over 11 years writes a script. The script goes to my insurance company. (Now at this time let it be known I have a very well known, nationally recognized insurance provider. It's not something fly by the seat of your pants, late night commercial scam company.) The insurance company denies me coverage on the script. They prefer me to try a cheaper med, that I've tried in the past (I had a horrible reaction to it. It wrecked my body.) But it was awhile ago and insurance feels I may not have the same reaction to it. My doctor petitions the insurance company to accept the script. We wait. And...they refuse.*whack-a-mole* So my doctor researches and tries another script. It goes to the insurance company. They deny the script. Doctor petitions the insurance company. We wait...they refuse. *whack-a-mole* So my doctor researches and tries another script. It goes to the insurance company. They deny the script. Doctor petitions the insurance company. We wait...they refuse.

 

You see the pattern here?

For four months. Four months without meds in my system to help stabilize a progressive illness. (If I'm being honest I have to put some blame about this on my doctors head too. She knows me and my body well enough to know not to do this)

You know what the insurance company doesn't have a problem approving and covering? Pain meds. Pain meds that I wouldn't need if they would cover the meds to help me not develop pain. That's fucking shameful in and of itself. But finally on the fifth try my insurance company approved a medication! *wack-a-mole* So I call the pharmacy to get everything set up and I'm informed that my insurance company has approved this medication at 100% repay. Meaning I pay for everything upfront and the company will pay me back 4-6wks later at 100%. So. How much is a one month supply of this medication? $3,988.00. Because who the fuck doesn't have $4,000 just laying around each month? *slowly raises hand*

So what now? that's right .... *Whack-a-mole*.

I contacted the drug manufacturers and applied for their underinsured program. But because I have insurance from a popular company I'm not a priority. All this time still no meds in my system other than the pain meds that they are willing to cover each month. I did eventually get approved and am now on this medication. I'm having slight reactions against it but I fought too damn hard to get it so we are just monitoring everything.
*whack-a-mole*

It's starting to build up in my system and that's a good thing. But the damage of not being properly medicated for months prior has taken it's toll. I've weakened myself to the point of last week managing to mess up my vertebrae pretty severely. *wack the next f-ing mole*

My doctors have been trying to get me to go on disability since I was 25 and I keep pushing myself to work. For a few reasons. I've worked because I enjoy working, being useful. But also to have good insurance to help cover the things I need for my illness (yeah fucked up huh?). But mostly because this...As long as I keep struggling, I'll be ok. But the moment I stop, I'll sink. But I guess at that point I'll have no more moles to whack.

 

So hopefully going forward I will have more energy and strength to be more involved with the blog. But I promise just because you may not be getting regular posts from me doesn't mean I'm not thinking about you guys and gals. And it definitely doesn't mean that I may not pop back up when you least expect me. I'm kinda like the blog version of the Spanish Inquisition.

--Golden @theonlygolden