Squeeze My Eyes and Grit My Teeth in Book Five: Working Through the Maze 2018

Granted, I’m not in the best moods right now as it is.
I am having one of those uniquely Fibro days where… my pain isn’t excruciating or demanding… but sensitive. Like every nerve fiber in my body is just waiting for something to brush up against it lightly so it can fire. Imagine runners in their “set” position before a race… now multiple that by 95 Billion (actual scientific number). That’s me. So… my mood isn’t great.

Then Muse tells me that she has a client that is We Chatting her about advice. 20 year old girl with a massively expensive luxury car was issued a ticket for not having a front license plate. Legislative History: Iowa requires almost all vehicles (except motorcycles) to have a front and back license plate. This has been a matter of contention for the last several years. 2016 and 2017 AND 2018, the House passed a bill to remove the front license requirement; but that bill was killed in the Senate. The argument FOR the bill is that many expensive luxury cars do not have a front license plate holder (for lack of a better term) and to put one on the car would make the car look worse. The argument AGAINST the bill is to provide law enforcement the opportunity to see the license plate whether the offending vehicle is charging them or fleeing. SO… this is a contentious issue in Iowa, but the law clearly states that a front license plate is required.
This Chinese Girl wants to know what she should do about her ticket. Flippantly, but honestly, I said “She should pay it, then get her car in legal compliance.” A subdued argument occurred. Because why wouldn’t we fight this? Why would I suggest that she simply accept this ticket? Blah. Blah. Blah. Well, first of all… the “evidence” she gave us… is evidence that proves the officer’s point. Second, we can’t argue down from this ticket. This is a non-moving citation with a scheduled fine. The most brilliant legal mind in the State could only argue that she pay exactly what she is charged. Third, I don’t care what her friend said. He is a Chinese Foreign National as well. I am literally quoting you the State Law. I don’t care that this is Chinese versus White Guy bullshit. HERE is the law.
Besides… if you are rolling around in a car worth over $50,000… why are you bitching about an $80 ticket? The answer that comes back: Because it isn’t about the money or even about the fact that there is no way in Backwards Speaking Monkey Hell that such a minor issue will affect immigration. The problem is… she received a citation. She received an official document or comment that said she did something wrong. And that is unacceptable. I get that this is a cultural thing… the “Asian Requires Perfection” shit but… this cultural response to that is bullshit. Because they are expected to be perfect, when they aren’t perfect… someone else needs to have made a mistake, or they need to be able to fight back. It is never MY mistake, it is someone ELSE’s mistake. Frankly, here’s my tip. If you want to be perfect… be perfect. That means you can’t make mistakes. That means before you act, research. Before you drive, find out the laws of the place you are driving in. OR if you don’t want to do that… learn that you may have to accept “learning through mistakes” and own up to your shortcomings when they happen.

As it is… right now I’m doing work but also working out what I need to get done before the end of March. Meanwhile… my body is starting to crack from the nerve endings being in “ready” position. Bouts of tired turn to energized turn to sore. That is what it is like to have your entire body on edge with no genuine reason for it.

And into that my Misogynist cousin enters again. I’m keeping my mouth shut but it is a chore. I don’t disrespect you if you didn’t like Obama as president. IF YOU HAVE VALID REASONS. I don’t disrespect you if you think Trump is a good president IF YOU HAVE VALID REASONS. Now, as to that last part? I doubt very much you have valid reasons. The man has done very little of any significance and has actively encouraged, if not collaborated with, a threat to America’s sovereignty. Whether you believe he worked with the Russians or not; the simple fact that he has refused to put into place the sanctions his own party voted for tells me that this President, whether he colluded or not, has FAILED to follow through on his oath of office. So… you can hate Obama. I won’t blame you. Celebrating Trump… you’re going to need to convince me that you aren’t a total moron. That being said? Here is what my cousin is sharing today:

And what is so horrifying to me about this is the responses. Because, I’m not kidding, everyone who is in support of this keeps talking about how Obama cost people billions and supported Terrorism while Trump is lowering the deficit and bringing jobs back. THAT IS NOT FACTUALLY SUPPORTED but do you know where those figures come from? Brietbart, National Enquirer, and Fox News. And this is why I am in an emotional place for our country where I think… we’re past saving. We’re completely past saving. I even witnessed an argument between two people because one person’s core belief was “CNN already admitted to colluding with the New York Times to invent the Russia story. Fake news. Hoax. Big scam!” And I just… I… are these people unaware of the recent indictments? Do they have no concept of what it meant when, on live television, then-candidate Trump specifically invited the Russians to hack his political opponent? HOW IS THIS THE UNITED STATES?! At what point did our country decide that political party was more important than facts? At what point did “Us versus Them” become the only principle that mattered? WHY are we in a place where we’re arguing over which Great Evil we’d rather follow? Can we honestly not even contemplate trying for better? Are we so sick, as a people, that we can’t bring ourselves to strive for better? I’m just… I’m heartbroken for my people. Completely, irrevocably heartbroken.