Life stuff

I would have written yesterday but I was recovering from a rough Monday. More on that momentarily.

First, I want to publicly apologize to my sister and anyone else who read my last posting and was offended by my use of the phrase "bleeding heart liberal".  If it isn't right for politicians to use derogatory words/terms; it shouldn't be right for me either.

 I think that what I did is another example of why politicians and the rest of us need to lesson the impact of emotions and discuss issues in as much of a rational manner as possible. From what I have seen on TV lately it looks like things are getting worse between the three parties.

With all the technology that there is now; it's a bit ironic that a little thing like a stamp can still affect life. Let me explain.  In February I received the highest electric bill I have ever seen in 20+ years since leaving my parents home. On my limited income there was no way I could pay the whole thing. I made the payment I could afford and was planning on sending the most I could afford on the first of this month. I don't know for sure, but I suspect, most people pay their bills now with credit cards. I have really bad credit and pay the old fashioned way I mailed in my payment. Which works OK with me except when I am out of stamps.

 Most of you who know me realize I am a little bit odd. One of my oddities is that I hate buying stamps. Unless there is an underlying reason I'm not aware of; I think I just don't like buying more than I need for something that I don't think of as necessary.

Most months that I need stamps I convince myself to get them in enough time to get the bill in quickly. This month I knew that I would be seeing a friend who would let me have a stamp on Thursday. It never occurred to me that I needed to make the payment ASAP.  Yes, I am an idiot sometimes. And I found that out at around 3 on Monday. I knew where to get help but felt it would best to wait until early Tuesday to do that.

Honestly, I was angry at myself and a bit ashamed. I don't think I had the conscious thought to punish myself by going a night without electric but I am sure on some level that was a part of it. The shocking thing was that it wasn't that bad. Reading by flashlight as a kid so my parents wouldn't know I was up late was easy; but as an older man with trifocals is difficult. But I am seriously thinking about getting a battery power lantern and using as little electricity as possible at least once every coupe of weeks.

Some good can come out of any bad.