Education - Our Epic Fail

When I went to grade school I had art classes with an art teacher, music classes with a music teacher, gym classes with a gym teacher, and a Librarian to help discover the wonder of reading. No one expected that my regular teacher, who already worked hard enough, would also expect to be all of these things as well, oh and by the way, be paid less than a baby-sitter is for doing it.

I don't understand why adults of today don't think that children of today deserve the same opportunities as part of their public education. I don't understand why we are so selfish and mean. I don't understand why people think we can have all these things for free. They cost money.

We are taxed for a reason. Roads aren't free, government isn't free, a military isn't free. Nothing is free. Why do people have such a problem paying taxes?

Why do people who make hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars have such a problem paying more taxes when they can easily afford it? Why should someone who makes $100,000 have to pay more than someone who makes $40,000? Because they can afford to and because it is the right thing to do. We need all kinds of workers to make this world run. Not all of us can be the millionaires. You are lucky enough to be one of them. Then fucking realize how fortunate you are and be happy you are able to give more.

I can't easily afford it. I make about $30,000 a year, and yet I would GLADLY give another $1000 of my very hard earned money if it went towards our schools.

I just do not understand why we can't give our children what they deserve. I'm disgusted with this country. With our government. And with people who are lucky to have so much but aren't willing to share it with a child. Did you work hard for your millions? Good for you. I work fucking hard for my thousands too. And I'm willing to give what I can, not what I want to, but what I can for what is needed. Why aren't you??

I know these issues are more complex than this. But only because we make them so.

If all you righteous but incredibly selfish people out there are right, and there is a hell, I hope your greed one day lands you there to burn in it.

I realize this is way off topic for The Lesbian Bride, but these are mad times we live in, and sometimes my wedding just seems like the least important thing the world, and I'd rather spend my energy writing about something that really matters.

What We Really Need

Catie and I had many a debate over registering for gifts for our wedding. She was initially dead-set against it saying we don't need anything and she doesn't want anyone to get us anything. I will mention here that we are having no wedding showers, for this same reason. I don't entirely disagree, but whether we want them to or not, people who are invited to a wedding will bring a gift. And I didn't want 23 vases that I'll never use.

So then I had the idea of registering for charity. And in fact the Human Rights Campaign has a Wedding Registry. Ding. Ding. Ding.

We might not need things, but we really could use legal recognition and equal status with straight couples. And hopefully, the HRC will one day help us get that. A perfect fit. Catie agreed. Haley and Catie's HRC Wedding Registry.

Of course, many people pointed out that some people will still want to give us a gift. So we also registered the traditional way at Target and Crate&Barrel. And admittedly, that was sort of fun to do. Who didn't like making a wish list for Santa as a kid? Registering is sort of like that.

Target was easy. You sight up on line, go in, get a gun, start scanning, give the gun back, and you are on your way.

Crate&Barrel we weren't so sure about, so we asked a sales associate and the following awkward conversation happened.

"Can I help you?"
"We were interested in registering for our wedding."
"Which one of you is going to be getting married?"

Oy.

Normally I have a short temper and that kind of thing puts me off. But I've long been a Crate&Barrel fan. Even when I was broke in Boston I'd save up my pennies and stop in there for some random kitchen accessory I didn't really need. That and we both found a set of dishes we loved there, something we couldn't accomplish in Target where strangely, most of their dishes aren't microwave safe. WTF Target? Dishes you can't microwave in this day and age?

In the end we just did it on line. Much less headache.

So I'm still hoping most people who wish to generously give us something for our wedding make a donation to the HRC on our behalf, but if not, new dishes are always nice too, or a badminton set, whatever floats your boat.

Hotels, Tastings and Sound. Oh My.

This week is a busy one for the lesbian bride. And her Wife to be. And her Dad.

This week we, and by we I mean my dad, called around to area hotels to inquire about setting up a block of rooms. It was hard to decide on where to do it as there aren't really any hotels right by the wedding and reception site. Finally we decided on looking at the hotels near where my family mostly lives, which is also close to where Catie and I live. At least this way everyone will be close to each other for other goings-on or get-togethers or car-pooling or whatever.

We settled on the Crowne Plaza in Wauwatosa. Catie and I have been inside it before and it is really nice. They did not give the "bride and groom" a free room as some other hotels were offering, but they will give us an up-grade to a suite. I didn't even know any of this was a perk of reserving a block of rooms, my dad told me and I was like, wooohooo. We weren't planning on staying in a hotel, since we live here, but I have to admit it might be nice to get ready without worrying about cat hair or a messy house or any of the other reasons being at home can be stressful. Plus it was about 30% off of their normal rate for our guests. Bonus.

Hotels of the world, you need to get with the program though, and stop asking for the bride and groom's info. My poor dad would check every single time if it was okay if it was a bride and bride. How about just asking for the happy couple's info or something?

Tomorrow we are headed to taste our food with my mom. Hopefully it tastes fantastic, because if it doesn't, we are pretty much stuck with it anyway. So I'm not sure what the point of the tasting is, but oh well - Free food!

And Friday we go look at sound equipment with my dad, who also set that appointment up for us. Thanks dad!