Thursday, May 12, 2005

Pharmacists and choices

This morning I noticed this on one my blog stops:
http://layingblames.blogspot.com/2005/05/i-like-ted-leos-pharmacists-much-more.html
This posting details well the blurring of the lines between fact and emotion in the "Pro-life vs. Pro-choice" debate.
I consider myself pro-life.
I consider myself pro-choice.
What does that mean? How can I be both?
It means that I believe life is a unique gift given to each of us from God, that there is value to God in each life (even though it may not be apparent to us), and that it should be treasured and celebrated.
It means that "all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Humans everywhere should be able to make choices about how their life is structured. I choose to have a relationship with God, enabled by His Spirit to consider His will for me and my actions. I have no problem if another chooses otherwise (although I do have sadness for this choice and pray they might reconsider). As a civil society, governed by law and common consent, we MUST be mindful another's right to choose.
If a druggist decides not to fill certain prescriptions, okay. If I own the business, I should have the right to dismiss him/her from the position, schedule him/her at certain times (and make my customers aware of his/her hours) or support the decision. The goverment does not need to meddle in the affairs of private businesses, other than the protection of rights expressly guaranteed by our constitution.
If a retail store does not stock a product I want to purchase, I must either adapt to a different item or shop elsewhere. Suppose I want Post brand Frosted Flakes, but the grocery store only carries Kellogg's brand. Should the goverment force the store to stock the Post product for me? What if they don't even carry breakfast cereal? Should they be forced to stock it for me, because the goverment has said it is part of a healthy breakfast?
C'mon people. Chill out a bit and let others be idiots if they want to be idiots.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Roommate issues....

Sometimes I forget the blessings of being an old, married fart. My oldest daughter is away for the second year at the University of Alabama/Tuscaloosa. Last spring when school was ending, she came to her mother and I with the desire to rent an apartment with her dormitory roommate. They had gotten on alright the first year and the prospect of playing house (grown-up style) had them giddy. Since Hannah is paying for her own living expenses, we counseled her on budgets, fiscal responsibility, all the other parental beatings that go along with this topic and agreed to co-sign the lease, along with Tonia's parents (so we thought). Hannah was slightly offended when she heard Tonia's mom questioning Tonia about whether Hannah would be able to make the rent payments, but continued with the plans. Truth be told, Hannah (my daughter) is way smarter in her financial decisions than either of her parents have been, but that is another post!
Anyway, things go along well until mid-March when Hannah calls to let us know that her roommate's parents have not made the rent payment for March (a late notice arrived in the mail). When Hannah questioned her roommate, the response was that there had been a mix-up, it was paid and her father was handling it. Hannah was upset and worried about this appearing on her credit report. This created much tension between the two of them.
Finally a check arrived in the leasing office just as the roommate and her family were departing on a cruise for spring break.
I had already told my wife this smelled bad. I thought the parents had decided they were finished paying rent (the lease goes through July) and were planning to just abandon the place to Hannah after final exams the first week of May. I assumed they had calculated how long the process would take for the landlord to remove them from the apartment (eviction) and they were safe until that fateful day.
The check bounced (returned for insufficient funds) and Hannah was notified the first week of April.
Hannah's mother spoke with the leasing office and learned that the entire balance of the lease (all rent through the lease term) was the responsibility of ALL parties that signed the lease. If one signator defaulted or failed to make payment, it was the others that would have to make it up. Ouch. Oh yeah, we also learned that the "back-up" person for her roommate is her elderly grandfather who lives in Brooklyn, NY. The apartment managment let us know that when they contacted him regarding the account status, he was unaware of anything about it and denied involvement.
Anyway, they WERE served an eviction notice, Hannah moved out to live with friends and continues to pay her half of the rent for the apartment. The parents brought the account current and Tonia's father threatened Hannah that she needed to continue to make one-half of the utility payments as well. Not likely, but then we treat Hannah as an adult. She will make those decisions, although she does speak to us frequently on such issues. She's a great young woman and I am very proud of her. I can't see where she acquired the wisdom she demonstrates - I don't think it came from me!
It is a tough lesson to learn (that some people would think more about the TV show they will watch tonight than screwing someone else out of $1500.oo), but a good one to get early in life I guess.
Me? I'm still very thankful for a quiet life of desperation....

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Proof some of us have way too much time...


check out www.wheresgeorge.com Posted by Hello
A few months ago I was managing a barbeque restaurant located across the street from a truck stop. When counting money each night, I began noticing currency marked with the web address noted above. Today I registered at the site and noticed there is a city in Utah that has registered more than 300,000 bills! Someone has way more dollars than sense and loads of time. Must be nice.

Mavs win! Mavs lose ;(

Good news, bad news. The Dallas Mavericks were able to recover and advance past Houston. Yippee. Last night they met the buzz saw that is the Phoenix Suns. I'm sleepy because the games are on late at night. Oh well. I'll get over it.