Entitlements? I don't think so... Warning: This is all about ME. :)

As always I will start this rant by saying... if you get offended easily, STOP READING NOW.

I worked for the U.S. Marshals Service for 37 years.  I worked HARD.  There were not many days I wasn't busy from the morning till I left.  I loved my job (up until the last year and a half).  It identified who I was for a very long time.  I was extremely proud of my job, and did it exceedingly well.  I had enough of a reputation to be called upon, several times over several years, to set up administrative controls for fugitive operations, called into Headquarters to teach, called to Glynco to teach.  I was a formative member of a Fugitive Task Force that still exists even to this day, having started in 1983.  Did a lot of traveling to nice places, and lots more to NOT so nice places.

So enough about the job....   here goes.

Jump forward to today - someone posted one of those facebook posts of "wisdom" that said, and I quote:

"ENTITLEMENTS?  I paid cash for my Social Security insurance.  Our benefits are NOT some kind of charity or handout!  Congressional benefits... premium federal healthcare, outrageous retirement packages, 67 paid holidays, three weeks paid vacation, unlimited paid sick days!  Now THAT'S welfare.  And they have the nerve to call my retirement an entitlement??"   Repost  yada yada

Well, guess what.  I don't like that this post makes it sound like ALL federal employees get 'entitlement' instead of 'retirement'.  This pisses me off no end.  I worked for THIRTY SEVEN years for my retirement.  Nobody GAVE it to me, I EARNED it, every fu**ing dollar of it.  FOR YOU.  I was a PUBLIC SERVANT.  I worked FOR YOU.  And don't give me that "MY taxes paid YOUR salary" shit, either.  That was always good to piss me off too.  I AM A TAXPAYER TOO,  you simple ass.

I don't get Social Security, and I'm glad.  I paid for my retirement, it's NOT charity.  I PAY for my 'premium healthcare'.  NOBODY gives it to me.  I do NOT have an 'outrageous' retirement package.  I do ok for giving Uncle Sam 37 years of my life.  I did NOT get 67 paid holidays or 'unlimited paid sick days'.  I did get 26 days vacation a year, WHICH I EARNED.  So get it out of your mind now, if that's what you think about what a federal employee gets.  (by the way, they pay into Social Security now just like everybody else).

These congressional ASSHATS make all the money, get all the perks, get all the paid holidays, unlimited sick leave, free travel, armed protection, and they get painfully little done.  If I were half as inefficient at my job as these effin' LOSERS are, I would have lost my job way before 37 years.  And they would have done it, as hard as it is to fire a federal employee.

Now that I've retired (as of July 3, 2008)...  I reserve the right to get up when I want, do what I want WHEN I want (OR NOT).  I can go to church, the library, shopping.  If I wanted to I could get a part time job, or volunteer.  I give blood, have time to go to lunch with my mother, or go to movies with a friend.  I sit at my computer, and read and WRITE, which I love to do.  I always wanted the time to write, and now I have it.  I read papers, blogs, and look at Youtube and whatever else I find interesting.  I cruise eBay.  I like Etsy.  I browse Pinterest and Facebook.  Not a day goes by I don't learn something new.

There may be some (I'm sure there are) who think I'm lazy because I always smile when I say "NOTHING" when people ask what I do now. If I wanted a job, I'd have one.  I looked forward to the ability to do NOTHING for a very long time, so if you think I need to go out and get a job, or do something, or whatever, guess what.  You can eat shit and bark at the moon.  

If you can retire at 55 and do "nothing"... translation:  whatever you want... more power to you.  I did.  I'm very happy, and that's what matters. I guess if you want to call THAT an 'entitlement'...  go right ahead.  Just know I EARNED IT.

If you're offended, tough.  Build a bridge and GET OVER IT.

"Music" at Masses: Songs, not Hymns.

This post is purely my unbridled, uncensored opinion about the so-called 'music' at St. John Bosco church in Hatboro.  I am critical, opinionated and brutally honest. Translation:  If you are easily offended... stop reading NOW.

I am a church going Catholic.  I love my faith, even though I was away for awhile.  I was in the choir at St. John's when they had a REAL trained choir director, Mrs. Winifred Bell.  She was a gifted, wonderful, patient woman, and a good friend.  When she retired, we floundered awhile until we were lucky to snag Dr. Lucy Carroll, another gifted, trained conductor and a wonderful musician.  She taught us much about singing and music.  Then... the pastor at the time, who was a creep, fired her, and we walked.  We went to the Carmelite Monastery in Philadelphia to sing.

We remained at the Monastery for ten years, till a few years ago.  Their choir still does a wonderful job.  And I continue to love the music, the sacred, beautiful HYMNS and motets, polyphony, and chant.  I learned to completely despise the garbage they call music now at masses.  If that's what you like, oh well ok, but it's definitely not me, I don't think it is respectful or sacred.  I still go to the Monastery when I need to hear good, lovely and well executed hymns and music.

Back to St. John Bosco...  a couple of years ago they made their 7am Mass music-less.  Which, considering I can't stand the more 'modern' music, was a welcome thing to me.  I would much rather have silence than the awful din and unsingable excuses for music they pick, and 'sing'.  I have, many times, complained to the parish powers about their music choices.  They insist on throwing songs (not hymns) out there which sound like circus music and BAD 70s disco.  Now they removed their 'recommendations' section from their facebook page, but that certainly will NOT keep me from letting them know how I feel.   Now that it's Easter Season, we devotees of the 7am Mass must put up with their awful music.  Nothing worse than bad music done badly.

If their 'music director' is a trained conductor, I am a monkey's uncle.  She is at best, a lounge singer and at worse, a 'performer' when she should be leading the congregation, not performing.  Now let me say I know many singers, one in particular, who has a beautiful voice.  I have heard her sing everything from oldies to the National Anthem.  She does both well and appropriately.  If she were a cantor at a church, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't use the same singing style as she does in either of her other venues.  If she were meant to LEAD the congregation, I doubt she would make it all about HER.

But this 'music director' makes it all about her when she is supposed to be leading.  And she is over dramatic in her moves and vibrato.  She sings an octave higher than is comfortable for any alto (like myself) or any male voice.  Most times, NO ONE is singing with her because she's out of everyone's range.  Not to mention that the 'music' is so UNsacred and irreverent, und un-melodic.

I see no reason why, if you MUST have 'music' at the 7am Mass, you can't offer more traditional HYMNS as opposed to songs, and God forbid you should sing anything in the beautiful universal language of the Church, which is LATIN.  Not everything, just a hymn here and there.  Maybe to keep your older folks happy?  You think they want to hear the SCHLOCK you are belting out from the pulpit like some cheap lounge lizard?  I think not.  They probably would actually SING ALONG with some traditional hymns.

It's pretty bad when the chimes from the bell tower at St. John's plays better music than what is heard on the inside.  Really.

Get with it, Ms. "music director".  Give us a break.  Pick some traditional, sacred music, and preserve the respect and mystery that the Mass is supposed to be, and leave the Oregon Press schlock, tripe and crap alone for once.  You may be surprised to actually hear people joining in the singing, or even want to actually (gulp) join your choir.

And there you have it.  If you are grossly offended, too damn bad.  I warned you.