Flu shots are a big fat government conspiracy!

Okay, I don't actually have that strong feeling about flu shots, but more about the hype that everyone MUST get a flu shot, and, closer to home, employer mandated flu shots.  Bad.  Very bad.  I have crossed over to the other side...the conspiracy theory side.  I completely believe that this is the chain:

Legislators, well intentioned or not (and I think most at least start out well-intentioned) say "We MUST have flu shots ready, as well as all other national preparedness stuff, 'cause that's the hot new topic."

Pharm. companies say "That's damned expensive to have so much ready each year.  Someone better buy it....say...how about we pressure the govt. to heavily press the benefit of the flu shot." "Well, that's a great idea, a whole marketing (propeganda) campaign."

Insurance, clinics, doctors: "Well, it looks like we better push this."

Media: "You must get a flu shot for yourself, your spouse, your children, your dog, your hamster, your  goldfish, or your a big, ugly, no-good, stupid, evil moron."

Vox Populi: "I better get a flu shot for myself, my spouse, my children, my cat, my budgie, and my tarantula, or I will be a  big, ugly, no-good, stupid, evil moron."

CEO of companies: "Hey we wanna' look good.  We can start our own PR campaign: 'All employees of Rwnokw University, who work here in any capacity, must have a flu shot, or wear a surgical mask during flu season.'" (-no joke, this is my empolyer's policy)

I usually get the shot anyway, because I actually do go through the hospital frequently, but you can be sure I wrote on my flu shot acceptance form what a horrible, Big Brother policy this is.  It is not for the benefit of the employees, or the patients; it is a PR plug front and foremost.

Hey, let's pass out some take-home hand sanitizer, while we are at it.

And my am hurts.  Although that may be from the big batch of challah I kneeded last night.

Hey! 201.6!  but that was in just a t-shirt - I'm so desperate to get below 200, yet not desperate enough to actually diet seriously - one week would certainly slide me under the 200 mark, two weeks would put me solidly below it.  I'm as much an idiot as any of that populi above.

See? I knew I shouldn't have posted.

I just brought on a evil eye.  Backlash.  Furious, scared. 

Have you been waiting?

Okay, here's the deal: my lawyer ran the numbers through the Support calculation worksheet from the state's Court of Common Pleas (and why no one could direct me to this form for the past 2 years, I will NEVER understand), and it was a tremendous relief to read the results, mixed with the frustration that I should have been getting this all along, but the old lawyer never moved to file.  Of course, this still has to go through a hearing, because the opposing side won't just agree to it, and won't meet for out-of-court negotiations - another thing I can't understand.  Hearing is later this month.  I wish I had celebrated more when I was on the big high.  Now I'm back to frugality, although I did stop into Forman Mills and buy the boys new (cheap) rain-jackets, and a couple (really cheap) mock-T's for myself.  Yay!

Whoa! Big news, but I can't share it yet...aren't I the tease?  But let's say I'm feeling relieved, overwhelmed, and nervous all at once, with some other stuff mixed in, plus, I might buy the boys and myself some new shoes, coats ( and books, show tickets, bedding, and what-have-you) soon.

So, holidays were really good, Sunday was fairly productive and full of fun, plus the above news, and I'm in a cloud.  So why do I have people come out of the woodwork, to bring me down down down with their good-intentioned, terrible, upsetting advice? 

203.0  I'm back up and running (hopefully).