I don’t talk about my job much. It’s not super-exciting, but it pays the bills. I get to work from home, which isn’t always a good thing, but it’s still better than going to an office most days. One would think working from home that my time would be my own. It isn’t. The job is deadline-driven and can be very demanding.
I write proposals. As my friend Carol has said, “Ew, it’s like you have to sit and write a book report every single day.” The proposals are accompanied by complex Excel spreadsheets, too. Not government grant proposals (thank GOD), but proposals describing services being requested of my employer, a clinical research organization (CRO). Also known as a contract research organization, a CRO isn’t a pharmaceutical company, it’s a company that provides a very wide range of specialty services required by pharmaceutical companies to facilitate the whole drug and medical device development process.
I have to do other stuff, too. All related to the proposal process and all subject to often unreasonable deadlines. My days are very unpredictable. Often I’ll have days like yesterday when I have an empty calendar and plan to get A, B, and C done, but then D, E, F, and G pop up, all demanding urgent attention.
It can get a bit hectic. Often, like yesterday, I’ll barely be able to step away from my desk. It’s especially frustrating when I plan to go someplace at lunchtime, like the grocery store, but am just not able to leave. And I really NEEDED to go get something to fix for dinner.
Once I finally did get out of here, I was already a bit irritated. It had been a hectic, stressful day.
So, imagine me in my already-irritated state getting caught by a long-ass traffic light within sight of the supermarket. The store I frequent is near Arundel Mills Mall, a mega-mall that is always a busy place. On the corner opposite where I sat, was a group of about eight youngish men in business attire. One was waving a large, red flag. Three held up a banner that said some crap like “God’s marriage is man + woman.” One held a sign that read something to the effect of “honk if you agree.” He was flanked by two others who were waving their arms to get people’s attention.
Just seeing those guys there upset me. But what shocked and irritated me more was the number of people honking. There were more drivers not honking than there were honking drivers. But still. It pissed me off.
I will not go on and on about why I support same-sex unions. I just do. Period. And I am vehemently opposed to folks who play the God-card to protest gay marriage.
I am not a religious person. I do not think religion should play a role in politics. I truly believe two people, whether they are of the same sex or not, should be free to marry or otherwise commit themselves to one another.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to sit there stewing for long. When the light finally changed—I was the first car in line, by the way—the small group with the “honk” sign started waving their arms at me.
I very purposefully pulled off slowly, flipping them each the bird as I went. I made sure each of them saw me, too.
I didn’t get much of a reaction, but nevertheless it felt REALLY good.
Assholes.
It didn’t dawn on me until much later why those guys were there. There’s same-sex marriage legislation in the works here in Maryland that just might make same-sex unions legal in Maryland. The Senate has already approved the bill, but it still has a long way to go.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I’ll be sure to uncross them and wave if I see those young men again.
Ugh. Some people are so obnoxious. Glad you felt better for having done *something* about it. The pic you posted is awesome!
Oh, Jeeze. There ya go dipping into politics…
Sometimes, it’s best not to take a public position on a hot-button topic no matter how you feel about it, because for every person you make happy, you piss another off.
That’s just the way it is.
I understand your anger and response.
I don’t want to argue with the previous commentor, but some political activity is necessary. When important rights are at stake, we should speak our minds. Yes, political dialogue can be contentious but the alternative is letting misguided people spread ignorance or hate.
Why should heteros be the only ones to suffer?!?! 😉
I love that bumper sticker that says: Straight but not narrow
If I could make one small suggestion…
Sometimes you need to use the double finger.
I do tend to avoid most hot-button topics. I try hard not to post anything that will offend folks I know (or suspect) read this blog. But this is one of those topics I feel so strongly about, I could care less if I piss anyone off. No one will ever in a million years be able to convince me that same sex unions are wrong. And if it bothers someone that I feel this way, I’d really rather not be associated with them anyway. I’d like to think I have surrounded myself, literally and virtually, with good, intelligent people.
Oh, Fuzzy, that double finger comment made me laugh out loud. I was executing a 90 degree turn at the time which are hard to do with no hands on the steering wheel. I’ve never seen the bumper sticker you mentioned. That’s pretty cool.
Of course political activity is necessary – without it we’d have an American version of Gaddafi or some other schmoe screwing up the rights that our ancestors fought so hard for.
There are plenty of places on the web where one can express whatever viewpoint they want and others can respond in whatever manner they see fit.
Why does *this* have to be the place?
This doesn’t have to be the place. And it usually isn’t. It’s just what I felt like talking about this morning, so I did. And like I said earlier, if one of my readers was that sensitive that they were horribly offended, I’d probably rather not really know that person anyway.
Just wanted to say hello… I have been reading your blog for about 6 to 8 months. I found it while doing some research on how to set trusses on a house….. Me and my life partner are building a home from ground up. It’s nice to know after following your blog for this long that we have your support. And we are thankful that you published your west Virginia project online!!!!! We have used it time after time through our project for hints!!! If you would like to see some pics let me know… Anyway just really wanted to say THANK YOU!!
And to mike the previous poster…… This is “toadmama’s” blog spot if not on her own blog!!!!! Then where else can one speak one’s mind!!!!!!!?????
Jes, Mike has my best interests at heart. He’s really referring to something else I said not too long ago not political but that got me in trouble. Long story…
Jes, I would LOVE to see your pictures. Sorry it took so long for your comment to show. You were in my pending folder and I didn’t have my computer this weekend.
I do remember the blog you posted and the apology(clarification) posted after and I kind of assumed mike was your husband!? And that he was just looking out for you……. I had no anger at all behind my words.
Yep, that’s my Hubby. I didn’t take your words as anger, but I didn’t want others to misinterpret what he said either. I do want to see some of your pics. Thanks for commenting, by the way. It means a lot.
Needless to say, I couldn’t agree more with what you wrote here – and I agree, some things are just too important! Good on you for taking a stand, and I would have made a similar gesture… 😉