Random Thoughts

Sorry I haven’t been able to post anything new lately.  Life’s been crazy here.

Anyway, I attended NATCA in Washington (NiW) last month.  It was the first one I’ve attended in all these years.  I was glad I went.  I was a little disappointed at some of the internal politicking that was taking place during business hours, but overall it was a great event.  I’d highly recommend it to other NATCA brothers and sisters.

Pics can be found here.

P.S.  If you get a chance to eat at the District Chophouse or Bobby Van’s, do so.  Great food at both places!

It’s that time again for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association elections.   If there’s someone you wish to nominate for President, Executive Vice President or your respective Regional Vice President, do it today.  The nomination period ends on Wednesday.  The election rules can be found here.

Paul Cox has started a website in an effort to have a central clearinghouse, so to speak, to make it easier for people to find information on each of the candidates.  Hopefully, all the candidates will participate.

I’ve personally been disappointed by the low participation on Rick Foster’s NATCA Elections Forum.  If you’re a NATCA member, please sign up and ask the questions you’d like the prospective candidates to answer.  It’s not only your right, but also your responsibility as a dues-paying member to make an informed decision as to which individuals will lead our union for the next three years.  This is important, especially for those who have been hired in the last three years - you’re the new foundation of the union for the next 20 years or so and you should be trying to find a candidate who will fashion that bedrock in a manner that will benefit the collective you in the long-term.  If you’re a candidate, sign up and answer those questions for all to see.

I don’t endorse candidates because I believe every individual should take the time to get informed about the issues and choose a candidate that most meets their own criteria.  I’m not voting for someone just because I recognize the names of the endorsers and/or know a couple of them personally, nor would I expect someone to cast their vote in favor of my “chosen” candidate(s), just because my name is there.

When making my decision, I also try to look at the total makeup of the National Executive Board.  I factor in the experience of all, hoping that the mix isn’t too weighted toward one skills set or another (mostly legislative, mostly LR, etc.)  In my opinion, if you don’t make an informed choice, or don’t vote at all, you shouldn’t spend this next term complaining about the outcome.  That’s my two cents on the subject. 

Finally got our updated genealogical database uploaded and online.  I’ll try to get the gedcom on Rootsweb tonight or tomorrow.

Got some cool maps now.  Maybe I’ll play with the calendar feature on my Second Site software next.

Let me know what you think.

Last week, I was investigating booster seats for the kids and I really wanted something with a 5-point harness that they could use as long as possible.  If you care to know, I think we’re going to upgrade from the Britax Marathon and go with the Britax Frontier.  In the middle of it all, I was listening to the radio and the lyrics of Different World by Bucky Covington and it reinforced to me how much has changed since I was a girl.

We were born to mothers who smoked and drank
Our cribs were covered in lead-based paint
No childproof lids
No seatbelts in cars
Rode bikes with no helmets
And still here we are
Still here we are

We got daddy’s belt when we misbehaved
Had three TV channels you got up to change
No video games and no satellite
All we had were friends and they were outside
Playing outside

It was a different life
When we were boys and girls
Not just a different time
It was a different world

School always started the same everyday
The pledge of allegiance, then someone would pray
Not every kid made the team when they tried
We got disappointed but that was alright
We turned out alright

It was a different life
When we were boys and girls
Not just a different time
It was a different world

No bottled water
We’d drink from a garden hose
And every Sunday,
All the stores were closed.

It was a different life
When we were boys and girls
Not just a different time
It was a different world

It was a different life
When we were boys and girls
Not just a different time
It was a different world

It was a different world

I guess it hit home a little harder since I’ve been hearing my 4-year olds say things like “I’m going to check my email” as they head for the desktop to surf their favorite websites (Playhouse Disney, PBS Kids, YouTube and Starfall).  And watching them spell words like “blog” and “computer”.  Or fighting for the stupid remote control for the television or DVD player and decide whether they want to watch Little Einsteins or Phineas and Ferb.  They flip-flop between Winnie the Pooh and Hannah Montana.  I sometimes get the impression that they’re toddlers on the brink of adulthood.

I hope that John and I can balance giving them what they’ll need as adults to function in the future with their need to just be kids now.  But I admit that I worry sometimes if, despite our best efforts, the digital age we live in is going to rob them of some of the innocence that every child deserves to have.  And then I worry that I’m worrying too much.

But I think that while the details of what concerns us may be different now than in the past, parenthood itself really hasn’t changed all that much at its most primitive level.  In the meantime, I’ve got a little girl who just brought her blankie and stuffed bear to me wanting to cuddle and a little boy wanting kisses and hugs.  It’s time to remember to enjoy it.  As Darius Rucker sings - It Won’t Be Like This For Long.

I had a few moments to search online for the costs of raising a child, as the subject has been on our minds quite a bit lately. There are a bunch of different calculators/charts online. Check out here, here, here, here, here, here or here. LOL! Anyway, the figures come up anywhere from about $150,000 to about $600,000 per child.

With the twins being a bit advanced academically for their age, we’ve been considering an excellent private school…that we so totally cannot afford. Our son B is correctly spelling 5th-7th grade words - on the computer and writing them. Don’t believe me, look at this video from a year ago when he was 3. His sister A is reading as well, and loves to take things apart and “fix” them. They prefer to watch movies with subtitles and closed captioning on TV shows and recently decided that they need to watch Tinkerbell in Spanish…with Spanish subtitles. Even if John and I had the desire to homeschool, the truth is I’m not sure we could meet all their needs in that area.

Back to costs, I’d go with the higher end figures myself. Nowhere in the calculators (unless, of course, it’s under miscellaneous expenses which seem far too low) do I see the costs you don’t think of before you have children. Cribs, check. Diapers, check. Car seats, check.  Child care, check. Clothes, check. Food, check. Toys, check. Books, check. But I didn’t see the following:

Cases of clear packing tape – for taping up the ripped books, pages and anything else that you need to try to fix for them so they’ll just stop crying.

Locking hook and eye fasteners – for the oven door you can’t afford to replace after the children decided to open and use it to climb up on the kitchen counter, the doors to the attic crawlspaces, outside doors, computer desk drawers, etc.

Light bulbs – since they need to turn the lights on and off…over and over again.

Furniture – the couch, beds and anything else they can “bounce” on. That doesn’t even take into account the Scotchgard necessary to keep it clean or the slipcovers to cover the holes in the fabric because they’ve decided to poke sharp things into it until you can afford to replace the abused furniture.

Small appliances – for when they drop them and break the handles off the crockpots or when they try to take the rice cooker apart and lose the rubber thingy or bent the metal bowls to the mixer out of shape drumming on them.

Belts and repairman costs – to replace the belt(s) in the washer and/or dryer because you’ve overloaded it too many times trying to keep up with the dirty clothes and don’t have a lot of time to do so.

Heating vent covers – to replace the ones they figured out how to remove and then bent out of shape. Really don’t want to lose a pet down the ductwork.

Carpet cleaning supplies – to steam clean those carpets with a greater frequency to get out the juice, ground-in cereal bars, Playdoh, etc.

Bottles of shampoo/bubbles/juice or any other liquid – to replace the brand new ones you just bought that they decided to pour out…or spill.

Bandaids – need a box for most every room to hurriedly cover those barely discernable boo-boos that the kids insist require more attention than a kiss.

Emergency room visits – less for the kids, but more for the parents who’ve twisted/broken ankles, arms, wrists, or whatever from tripping over those toys.

Replacement DVDs/videotapes/CDs – because they’ve used them as Frisbees and scratched them or in the case of the videotapes, they’ve discovered that the insides make a real cool noisemaking boa.

Paper and ink for the printer – for when the kids discover the print button on the computer…and use it repeatedly.

Goo Gone – to remove those stickers from the hardwood floors, tables, any anything else the kids have decided to decorate.

Picture frame glass – to replace the broken glass when the kids bounce off the walls and the frames fall to the floor.

Storage bins – to pack away everything of sentimental value that you own so that it doesn’t go the way of those picture frames.

Computer repair/maintenance contract – for when they spill juice on the keyboard…or drop the laptop.

Gallons of ketchup – no explanation necessary.

Transportation costs – for those extra trips you need to make for any/all of the above.

And those are the just the unmentioned costs that immediately come to my mind. I know there are more.

Enjoy the Superbowl!

I was at work today while our 44th president was inaugurated.  A coworker and I made a deal about how to arrange our breaks; he’d get to watch the swearing in and I’d get to watch our new President’s first speech.  I think I got the better end of that deal.

I heard President Obama make a speech I was proud to hear our nation’s leader make.  It struck me as honest.  I can’t always say that about our politicians.  What I heard is our President expecting us to own our contributions to this country and its change.  Don’t expect it all to be done for you; pitch in and help.  Don’t just complain, don’t give up; come up with solutions, and help implement them.  Claim it, work for it, be proud of it, be cognizant of what you’ll pass on to your grandchildren.

My suggestion is to start here.  Sign up for the updates, be informed, offer opinions.

But it’s funny the things that catch your eye and make an impression.  Two things I’ll remember most from today’s speeches and immediately afterward have absolutely nothing to do with the dichotomy of the fervor and solemnity of the celebrations, the hope for our country’s future, or even the history in the making with our first black president taking office.

The first was seeing Vice President Joe Biden taking the time to snap a photo from his vantage point for Malia Obama with her camera and handing it back to her with a real - not a “I’m just being polite” - smile.

The second was observing Michelle Obama being a mom, keeping an eye on Malia and Sasha, ensuring they behaved as well as you can expect children their age to behave in public.  Seeing her send the reassuring and encouraging smiles to them touched my mom’s heart.  Knowing that no matter how proud she is of her husband, some of her attention was rightfully (and inevitably) diverted to their kids.

My personal opinion is that our First Lady has the tougher job right now.  She needs to aid her children and husband to transition to their new roles without any of them losing sight of their family and their family values.  She needs to be the rock and earth that grounds them all and keeps them focused on the most important thing in their lives - their family.  Because without that personal nexus, President Obama will not be the best POTUS that he can be during these trying times.

In other words, she needs to continue doing what every other wife and/or mother does…only on a grander, more public scale, but with less recognition for her contribution than most. Keep them human and real, Michelle.  I wish you the best of luck.

Open Season for changing health benefits for federal employees was originally slated to end on December 8, 2008, but has since been extended through January, 2009 based on a review of one carrier’s non-emergency surgery coverage.  But since I was unhappy with the rising costs of health care and decreasing coverage, I investigated a change and actually made one before the original end date.  Doesn’t seem to matter much, since according to the health insurance company, my family no longer has health insurance coverage.

Despite my receiving a confirmation of the change I made, it seems my employer neglected to send my enrollment information to the insurance carrier for the new plan.  What makes this even more irritating, is that it is the SAME insurance carrier, just a different plan.  I only found out about it when I went to pick up John’s monthly prescription.  So if it doesn’t get fixed by tomorrow (he runs out of his medication tonight), I’ll have to pay $110 out of pocket for a generic prescription.

But that really isn’t the conundrum mentioned in the title.  You see, when I was looking at plans, I considered a number of factors.  First, my health insurance premiums have close to doubled in the past 4 years, but my coverage has decreased.  Our doctors’ visits and prescription co-pays have increased over the past few years as well.  Take a look at my old Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan:

2005 bi-weekly premium: $136.11 (x 26 pay periods=$3,538.86 annually).

2006 bi-weekly premium:$166.55   (x 26 pay periods=$4330.30 annually).

A premium increase of $30.44 per pay period, but I received a base and locality pay increase of approximately $118 per pay period.

2007 bi-weekly premium: $189.32  (x 27 pay periods=$5111.64 annually).

A premium increase of $22.77 per pay period, but the only pay increase I received was a gross of $26 per pay period in locality pay.

2008 bi-weekly premium: $236.57  (x 26 pay periods=$6150.82 annually).

A premium increase of $47.25 per pay period, but the only pay increase I received was a gross of $19 per pay period in locality pay.

2009 bi-weekly premium: $261.34 (x 26 pay periods=$6794.84 annually).

An increase of $24.77 per pay period.  I haven’t received word yet on what my locality pay increase will actually amount to.

The 2009 HMO plan also now comes with a deductible of $200/person, $400/family (an increase of another $15.38 per pay period), only 90% coverage of hospital admissions, including room charges and 90% coverage of doctor outpatient surgeries.  An HMO plan with a deductible?

So if I had chosen to stay with the HMO, my health insurance premiums (and deductible) would have increased $3655.98 annually over 2005, and my coverage would have significantly decreased.  Obviously, I went looking into other plans.

Now, isn’t this interesting.  Same insurance carrier with a new High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).  2009 cost is $106.82 per pay period.  That’s $2777.32 annually…less than my premiums in 2005.  Of course it has a high deductible (hence the name).  Hmmm, $1250/person, $2500/family.  Once the deductible is met, 100% coverage for all those things that the HMO plan will only pay 90%.  Prescriptions go up for brand-name pharmaceuticals from $25 to $35 (and an increase for mail order prescriptions).

Now you get a Health Savings Account with the HDHP plan.  Of which $1250.04 of the premiums I pay go into.  Which, in effect, means that the family deductible has come down to $1250.  $2800 plus $1250 equates to $4050 annually - less than my premium costs in 2006. I’ll have to put money into the account to preplan for the deductibles, but I can contribute the difference in my 2008 premiums and the new premiums and still come out ahead in the short and long term over last year.

What’s the catch?  Ahh, there it is - preventive care office visits aren’t subject to the deductible, but if you are sick and head off to see the doctor, the deductible applies.  The point is to keep subscribers from going to the doctor because we’ll have to pay out of pocket up front.  As I’m in a profession that I need to address potential health issues earlier rather than later and can’t take over the counter meds for colds and the like, this can create a problem.  As you can see, I haven’t received a base pay increase since 2006.

So, can anyone give me a reasonable explanation why, if you’re willing to pay the extra money for an HMO, you get less hospitalization coverage than if you pay for a HDHP plan?  I would hope we wouldn’t need it, but with twins and both John and I getting older, I’m not willing to take the risk of getting hit with a huge hospitalization bill.

I just don’t understand.

The episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition with the house that John worked on this past October airs this Sunday, January 4, 2009.

Obviously, I’ve not written in quite a bit, I just have not had time.  I recently lost the election for NATCA Rep at our facility, but now I’m finally able to concentrate on things like getting the kids fully potty-trained, my genealogy research and my personal blog posts…LOL!  I know that there are more than a few people who are awaiting responses from me for questions they’ve sent from the genealogy portion of our website.  I promise I will be responding sooner rather than later now that I’m free from my duties of facrep.

While I work on catching up on some things that I’ve been putting off at home and here, take a gander at this video of the Mom Song from a blog at Northland Church, located somewhere in Florida.  I promise that anyone who has ever lived in a household with children, mom or not, will find it well worth the time to watch.

Hmmm, maybe I’m not as free as I thought.  But that’s more than okay with me.

Happy New Year, all!

Polls opened at 7 am here in Pennsylvania.  Reading the news reports of the lines and waits around the country for the states that allowed early voting, I decided to get there early.  I arrived at 6:15 am.  First one there, but sat in the car until people began standing in line to get in.  My vote was probably the fifth one cast in the precinct.

The plan is for me to go vote (Done! - Check that off the list for today), come home to stay with the kids so John can vote and head off to work afterwards.  It’ll probably take him longer to walk the distance from where he’s now going to have to park than it will take him to actually cast his votes.  It’s a small parking lot and people are parking along the side of the road; might even be resorting to parking on the crossroad by now.

I spoke with a volunteer while waiting in line.  Our precinct has 1100 registered voters.  I estimate 4-5 percent of them were there waiting in line before the doors opened for voting!  According to the volunteer, our precinct normally runs about 5% higher than the state average for voter turnout.  The good news is that if people are getting there early, those that have to wait to vote until they get out of work this afternoon should have shorter lines.

My personal opinion is that GWB is going to go down in history as the president most responsible for motivating the highest voter turnout (percentagewise) for a presidential election.  If so, then at least we can say he had something good come out of his two terms in office.

Someone in line made the comment that a vote counts more if less people show up.  I don’t know about that.  What I do know is that it is my right to vote and if I choose not to exercise that right, then I forfeit my right to complain about the results.

Regardless if you want to vote for change or vote for more of the same or somewhere in between, get out and VOTE!  Let your voice be heard.  Your/our chosen candidate(s) may not win…but the odds are higher they will if you vote than if you don’t.