What has been odd is that this spring we have not had those AMAZING beautiful days - just a small daily climb with a storm every 3 or 4 days! Very very subtle temp climb to summer. This is actually a good thing I feel and is setting up for a good summer, not like last year but a NORMAL summer.
Avg High Temps
Nov 48.5 Avg 43.8
Dec 26.7 Avg 30.6
Jan 23.8 Avg 25.6
Feb 29.6 Avg 31.3
Mar 36.8 Avg 43.4
Total snowfall
Nov 0.5 Avg 4.5
Dec 26.8 Avg 12.5
Jan 20.1 Avg 12.1
Feb 23.8 Avg 8.7
Mar 6.3 Avg 6.4
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Today is my last day as state employee - there is little reason to work in Wisconsin government, the pay is poor, the benefits are not that great any longer and the people you were proud to work for believe you are a leach. So why bother. It's not an occupation to be proud of any longer. I would tell any young person to stay away from Government jobs!
In my 23 years working for the State I helped create a $300,000,000 system that tracks EVERYTHING for Special Needs individuals, what they need, who they are, where they are, how much they cost, EVERYTHING. But the current Governor really does not care about Special Needs people, he will defund, strip and or eliminate Health Care for Special Needs people, trust me, I'm on the front lines and know what is actually happening.
The sad things is - there are three of us left that tended to this program (over 65 years of experience on this one system) - guess how many will be working on this system on Monday! ZERO! We have worked and cuddled and massaged this system for 20+ years and are now being told by our Governor and the by the people of Wisconsin - it was all for nothing, we don't care that you cared for us! You are overpaid and your 60+ years of knowledge is no longer needed or wanted.
They have been working on replacing HSRS (my system) for over 10 years and have are not even close to replacing it! It's HUGE! I personally ran over 250 reports monthly for the fed!
I guess the National Guard will now run the system? Contractors that know NOTHING about the system?
A coworker ask me why I was leaving on such short notice (like MANY people in Health Services), he said they can not do anything to our pensions in the next 2 months (that I have worked 23 years to build up). Well, they also can not pass The Bill without a quorum right?
The Majority Leader has already put HIS BROTHER in charge of Employee Trust Funds. Sort of says it all right there.
But on the bright side I feel the Republicans have made a huge mistake. They have energized the middle class. I solidly feel that the middle class will take back the government and in a HUGE way! Anger does amazing things. While the tea baggers and anti-union morons are gloating and pounding their chests, the unions and the massive amount of pro-union citizens are organizing because they know it's now a war. IT'S ON!
It's big money vs. the middle class and I have never seen the middle class so energized!
As for me! I'll have a lot more time with photography projects and I suppose I'll have to stop forcing my wife to clean the house while I sit on the couch drinking beer and tossing potato chips on the floor! I suppose the house chores now go to me and you know what? That is a good thing! DJ is the one getting screwed by the idiots. I locked in.
As for this blog - I'm still writing it, I lost my work family that always gave me great ideas and different viewpoints of the world. I liked being around Republicans who were ashamed to being Republicans, I liked being around extreme left wingers, it told me that I AM in the middle.
BUT - my life goes on!
Anyway that is my story!
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read at your own risk!
A personal message to "Nickname unavailable" who in the comments said yesterday "Same as 9/11 because you won't be able to get such cushy benefits at the expense of the rest of Wisconsin's taxpayers anymore? Wow, you people are insane."
You are either an elitist big money buffoon or an ignorant red neck asshole who does not have any education past high school or you are just another lazy clueless greedy piece of white trash that works for private industry. I hope whoever you work for fails and you find yourself on the unemployment line - BTW - who do think is behind the counter or giving you your free unemployment money? - Public Servants! So for you my personal message is - Fuck You!
BTW - don't bother responding - I'll just delete your ass! THAT, my friend is what Republican Democracy is!
And THAT, is how your middle class public servants feel right now!
Until Monday!
if you have nothing to do - go to the Square Saturday - I here there might be a small get-together.
Peace
Rod
Great Blog!!!
ReplyDeletemy friend!
Great Blog!!!!
Happy Retirement!!!
Sad it had to be this way,
But on the brighter side, you have more time on your hands for Photography, maybe watching your Grandbabies, a few beers and a clean house for DJ :)
had to sneak that in there.
I hope you would continue this blog~ for petes sakes I could not go through that withdrawal.
Enjoy your weekend as a Free Man!
Ciao~
Good luck Rod! New avenues will be opening as we speak. Maybe you can open a microbrew in Columbus with some of that free tourism money....because tourism is so much more important than education.
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to say anything without falling into how short sighted all of this is.
Good Luck, call if you need anything
Very short sighted Graham Man, I expect 1 year! Feingold for Governor!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the retirement. Sorry it had to come under these horrific circumstances.
ReplyDeleteDouble ditto on Feingold for Gov.
Be sure to vote April 5th for Joanne Kloppenburg for Supreme Court. When this fiasco finally hits the courts we are going to need her on our side.
Great Blog Rod! Happy Retirement but this gives you more time for photography. I agree with you 100% for your comments to nickname unknown. I agree with Robbi, without your blog I would go into withdrawals too.
ReplyDeleteRod, thanks for saying that in blunt terms.
ReplyDeleteI was going to ask that commenter how many years he/she has worked at their job, how many hours outside of that job they have VOLUNTEERED both mental and physical labor-- both involving huge chunks of time-- simply to improve their community, and how many hours they have spent writing and maintaining web sites that advocate issues in their community.
Because that is who you are and what you do. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a complete and unredeemable fool.
You're a Good Guy. Life isn't often black-and-white like that, but this one's an easy call.
Happy retirement! Not a great way to end things, and that stinks. But EIN PROSIT to better times ahead.
ReplyDeleteOh My! You are our HSRS person??? Yikes, what we will do?? I work for an eastern county, in LTS and feel your pain, anger, frustration, and anxiety... we have a labor contract through 2012 and personally pray the most important pieces get turned around. Fiscally, we worry for our families on the waiver, those that are just getting FSP because they "don't want to take money from someone who might need it more"... thanks for all that you have done. The battle is not yet lost.
ReplyDeleteFirst day in retirement and no blog????? WTF! R u sleeping still???
ReplyDeleteGetting things done - I have to work tonight LOL
ReplyDeleteTomorrow will be less hectic - I'm actually AT WORK DHS - working for FREE for the citizens if Wisconsin.
With no one taking care of HSRS I have to train people
Word today is the recall of District 18 Senator Randy Hopper is 75% of the way there. I was told the guy hasn't paid taxes in something like ten years and drives around in a $40,000 SUV.
ReplyDeletehttp://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/03/wisconsin_state_senators_wife.html
ReplyDelete"It's not that Wisconsin State senator Randy Hopper's wife thinks he's been a bad lawmaker, necessarily. More like a bad person. As Hopper's wife explained to protesters at her home last week, her husband now lives with his 25-year-old mistress, a former State Senate staffer. Mrs. Hopper reportedly intends to sign the recall petition against Hopper. Her maid has already done so. "
sorry you are working Grinder can't you collect a consultant fee???? Walker chasing people into retirement...but bless you for helping them out......people that need any kind of help now in WI will need all the helping hearts they can get THANKS dude
ReplyDeleteKitty - All folk that run for office are subject to an open records request on their taxes and verficiation of payment of taxes. So, as awesome as that would be... not true. But we got him in the adultry for sure :)
ReplyDelete