Barbarian's Curmudgeonly Rantings

I am writing a thesis for my Composition I class with a topic of "Families in Contemporary Society." My working thesis statement is fairly simple: "Traditional marriage does not fit the needs of all potential relationships in contemporary society." I'm considering aspects of same gender relationships and polyamorous ones, but I'm also looking at problems faced by people who just plain don't want to be married for whatever reason. Odd that I should run into one of these myself yesterday.

I've been meaning to list bookwurm as my Medical Power of Attorney for quite some time now and the research I've been doing for my paper reminded me of this. When I was asked about filing some advance directive paperwork during my last VA visit, I took it as a sign and set an appointment. I thought I might have trouble with the social worker when filing the paperwork since I put "significant other" as my relationship with both my primary and secondary designated MPoA, but honestly she didn't even raise an eyebrow. Ten minutes after I walked into the office, I had everything signed, filed, and witnessed without a hitch. We briefly discussed my plan of distributing my living will directives to my family of choice, which she thought to be a sound plan. She made the additional suggestion that I list a secondary emergency contact with the front desk.

That, of course, is where I encountered the problem. I've dealt with one of the receptionists before--she's one of the reasons I decided it was a good idea to list a MPoA. I was happy to see that she was busy so I'd be talking with one of the other ones, but of course as I start giving him my information to add a second emergency contact, the first one comes over and tries to start the same old song and dance about how my emergency contact needs to be a blood relative. I don't even let her finish the sentence. "Yes, I can list her as my emergency contact. She's also my power of attorney." The one taking the information waved off the other one, apparently not wanting to be in the middle of the argument.

So let me get this straight: I can list my girlfriend (significant other) as my medical power of attorney without the least bit of resistance, but you'll try to keep me from making her my emergency contact? WTF? My 'blood relatives' don't even live in the same time zone as I do, nor would I trust them to respect my wishes about life support equipment. I can understand suggesting that the emergency contact being such a relative, but when I say "thank you for the suggestion, but this is my emergency contact" them you just need to back off.

I can only imagine trying to list a same gender partner. I'm quite sure they don't have a form for that!

Hey, I said I'd post about this, didn't I? I got home on Saturday; how did it get to be Thursday Friday the next week already? It's also apparent that Spring has finally kicked in, but I'm sure not complaining about that.

As I said, tarrestrial and I took a trip to New Orleans with some of her family. As we rode in the back of her Dad's SUV across the approximately 922 miles between her house and the Quarter House (the resort where we stayed) it really struck me that we need teleporters, a fact I've mentioned elsewhere in my LJ, I'm sure. That and the fact that I really don't feel welcomed in either Mississippi nor most of Missouri and would just as soon not spend any money or time there as a result.

After 16 hours in the car, not counting rest stops, food, or the overnight in a hotel, we arrived in New Orleans!

( Contains: Work Safe Pictures )

This is just an 'official' announcement that tarrestrial are sweeties. There's really not much to add right now and I know that everyone kind of figured this one out ... probably before we did. That's all for now!

I should really try harder to write this things sooner after the events! Anyway ...

In mid-October, I visited with my lovely sweetie, isolde_deely for about a week. The short version is driving, food, visiting, gaming, camping, and more driving.

( The Long Version ... )

I'm sufficiently recovered from DucKon to try and put words to screen, at least. I'll start out with saying that I must have had a good time since I not only didn't run away screaming once it was all over, but I've actively been writing up panel ideas for next year as well as already contacting some panelists. Oh yes, and I seem to have gone completely insane at some point ...

( Ducks, Panels, and Friends ... )

For those that didn't already know exactly how disgustingly cute we really are I'd like to share the fact that bookwurm and I usually write "sandwich notes" on each other's lunch. I had to share today's note ...

Ferret says "Chirrr"
Kitsune says "Mew"
Dragon-Bear says "Grumph"
Rabbit just grins
Dragon says "Growlf!"
Dog's pack says "Tickle tee-hee."

(Reference: I Had A Shoggoth by Tom Smith.)

Where to even begin?

I went to visit isolde_deely over a nice long weekend -- leaving Friday morning and returning Monday evening. The plan was ... well, the plan was to not really have a plan. Neither of us had any expectations going in; I was going to visit a friend and that was it. Certainly we discussed the normal "safety" issues just in case, but we didn't plan anything more than "let's see where things go and take it from there." And as it turned out, things went really well.

( Read more... )

I have a hotel reservation for my April trip. Let's hear it for whirlpool suites!