I just read a discussion-debate-dialogue between two white men regarding illegal immigrant workers. It was refreshing to read the intellect, the facts, the opinions even. But most of all, the non-racist or derogatory remarks of the ethnicity of the worker. Everything was so even keeled. See America? We can be decent human beings even when we don't have the same views. It's all the name calling and uneducated spew that comes from people's mouth's when you try to have a conversation with someone that really bugs me. If you want me to respect your view, hell, if you want me to agree with you and change my views, do it with knowledge. But when you call Trump an ass, I won't argue with you about that (haha).

I used to wait tables in a very wealthy part of NY and I waited on several famous models and actors. They were all very nice, I never ran into a nasty one! Although I did hear that Donald Trump's then-second wife (Marla Maples) came in once and was horrible.

I don't get your confession starting with "But that's the thing:" on one hand it's like your saying "they love each other" so love is what matters above all... but on the other hand... you say it isn't about "together forever because love is everything" so there you say it's not about love... Hmm? So is the love thing what's most important, or is it not? I would normally think love trumps all, but I don't think it does. I get tired of hearing "Oh buuut I loooovvve hiiiiimmm!!!" I mean, if he is a chronic cheater or abuser, love doesn't trump it. You gotta draw the line somewhere.

My community college classmates out of class of 300: Head of dance department at large university Founder of fast food chain Guy who handles insurance for Trump 2 bestselling NYT authors 1 movie star, Hollywood 1 cosmetic surgeon 1 PhD psychology, nationally known in field 1 director major computer company Several lawyers Couple more doctors Several school principals Lot of teachers 1 PhD professor biology 1 PhD professor English and literature 1 well-known sculptor, work showcased many public places 1 marine biologist 1 leader of minor music band, copies Beatles 1 Broadway actress & theater coach 2 news reporters/feature writers/book reviewer 1 editor large daily newspaper 1 minor opera star Many small business owners Many nurses 1 navy captain At least 2 airline pilots 3 or 4 dentists Number of managers, like purchasing & accounting depts. of large companies That's all I can think or know about. They all went on to graduate from university after community college. Their college educations cost a bit more than half of those of their friends who went to 4-year colleges. Living at home for first 2 years was a big money-saver.

I enjoy my job for the most part -don't make near enough money for what I do and all the stress, but I like my supervisor and coworkers. And I am good at my job. Days like today though I wish I was a SAHM. Ds4 is sick, I have an 8:00 meeting I have to be at. Husband makes a ton more than I do and carries the health insurance so his job trumps mine. He'll stay home in the morning until I am done with my meeting, then he'll go into work, and it'll take me 3 days to get caught up after missing work tomorrow. I know I am lucky to have a spouse to help, and to have a stable job but it's still hard to figure out the logistics when a kid is sick and can't go to school/ daycare. Plus I feel bad even leaving my kids when they're sick even for a little bit. Ds is a total daddy's boy, except when he is sick. Then he just wants mommy snuggles :(

Hello. My name is XX and here is my confession. Walking around my house tonight I encountered some things that made me feel good. And they are (in random order, and not including the humans *and a large quantity of pinot grigio – not ashamed*) 1. My dad’s cameras and photographs: I was the youngest of six children and my dad was not the same person for me that he was for everyone else. He had suffered the loss of my mother and was a shell of his former self. But! When he was young he was very much into photography and took amazing photos of various places around the globe, being in the military. And I am lucky to have all of the photos and the cameras. I have them on display in my home. They are quite beautiful and vintage (1960’s). I look at them and I get a sense of who he really was- when he was young and happy and hopeful for a future for his family. And I’m happy….. but I’m sad at the same time because that is a man I never got to meet or know. 2. A photo of my kids: They are 2 and 6 in the photo and they are fast asleep in my bed, cuddling. It was summer and they were so tan and beautiful. It was <i>my</i> bed for the first time. I had just gone through my divorce and I remember when I took that photo I was feeling really hopeful for the future. That was a feeling I hadn't had in a while. It was like the three of us against the world and by God, we were gonna win. 3. A set of lamps from Korea: again, my dad. They are beautiful and when they came to me they needed a ton of restoration. DH and I spent hours and hours making them new again, and I love them. 4. My fireplace. I have worked so, SO effing hard in my life. And to me, a fireplace is a sign of affluence. And I deserve it. I make really good money (not by trump standards, but my own) and I have a nice warm home, a reliable vehicle, a freaking fireplace, and I don’t worry about my bills. If my daughter wants something, she usually gets it. I really wish I could say the same for when my son was growing up, but I think he wouldn't be the man he is today *awesome* if his life had been different. 5. My dog. Oh. My God. Do I love my little Boston Terrier dog. He is the sweetest cutest, I can’t even describe. He is my baby. I love him so much. We have two other dogs but they are not the same. My little baby puppy (he’s grown, but I still call him baby puppy) is so precious to me. He sleeps in my bed and hangs out with me whatever I do. He simply has to be with me. He has endeared himself to my DH I think just because I love him so much. Ok, I’m done. :)

Sometimes it isn't worth it to speak to a person about an ongoing issue. Sometimes it really is best to just stay away from them. Some people can be so delusional and dysfunctional that it is best to just set a geographical boundary with them and move on with your life, even if it makes you sad. Self preservation trumps a proverbial Norman Rockwell Christmas. That shit is just a fairy tale anyway.

Give me one good, valid reason that doesn't include God or His Plan to explain why terminally ill cancer patients shouldn't end their lives. A valid reason that should in fact, trump their feelings. Go. Seriously.

Lol I have to come back and also state that I am not a nuclear physicist or a doctor. I don't know anyone who is. My friends are administrative assistant, a CNA, a finance guy at Chistian Science Monitor, a cocktail waitress, a waiter, a computer programmer and a soldier. My degreess are in political philosophy (dumb) and social work. My grad school programs are not elite. It just is what it is. I'm not going to covet a degree at a big name university or pretend I'm superior because I've been farther in my simple education than my friends. My debt doesn't trump my struggles to get here and no one has ever laughed in my face or scoffed at my choice of path to get here. To do so would only make them the lesser person, not me. I hope most people feel that way about their lives. I wish they did anyways.

I find it really annoying when I talk about an issue I'm concerned about only to have someone "trump" it with something they consider bigger. Eg, the sexist way women are presented in the media and someone will say something like "In other countries women are genitally mutilated and have to cover themselves top to toe...consider yourself lucky". I once did a volunteer project at an animal sanctuary abroad and the amount of comments I got saying that I should have volunteered with children. I can't donate to everything or spend all my time volunteering (because I have to work!). and no issue deserves to be trivialized because other issues are "bigger".