Operation: Shutdown (Day 2)

Hello Journal,

I'll begin by quoting Reba McEntire, one of my girlfriend's favorite country music artists, on the song, "I'm A Survivor"

"A single mom who works two jobs, Who loves her kids and never stops, With gentle hands and a heart of a fighter, I'm a survivor." - Reba McEntire.

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That's not me. But there is a reason why I quoted that:

I work one job for the federal government, I don't have kids but I do feel like a surrogate uncle to my girlfriend's nephews and nieces already (possibly their uncle in the future). I have the heart of a lion and still fighting on through this shutdown. Yes, I consider myself a survivor and I'm still surviving in this federal government shutdown.

It was another unpaid day in the federal government as I trudged into work with a headache the size of Mexico and angry beyond belief at a CNN article I read that congress is still getting paid while the shutdown was continuing. What? They are still getting paid? While I am coming into work for the nation's security, I AM NOT GETTING PAID FOR MY VALIANT EFFORTS!?

Then I watch CNN's "New Day" as I see members of congress stating: "Oh, well, I'll just give my pay back to charity," and one said she's going to give it the US treasury. I said: "Are you really kidding me? You think that giving your pay to charity or giving it back to the US treasury is going to make people happy? You must be crazier than a person at a mental institution if you think that's going to help make America happy."

They are doing this to secure their vote for the future in 2014 because they know every last member of congress is in big trouble.

I felt the need to quote Reba for a reason... Yes... I am a survivor, I'm surviving on last week's paycheck and I may not get a paycheck for a little while because of congress and their bickering and finger pointing. I'm surviving on a paycheck that still has to pay TWO MORE BILLS (Cell phone and Credit Card). Doesn't congress understand WE NEED OUR PAYCHECKS TO PAY OUR BILLS!?

I was really grateful last night that my girlfriend Joanna paid for my sweet frog dessert last night, but still inside, I felt really bad because I feel like I am the one who should be paying but then again, inside, I know in my heart that I have a girlfriend who honestly and truly cares about me. I can't tell her how much that means to me. Jesus knows, he definitely knows how much Joanna means to me.

I am grateful and surviving. This weekend's festivities I hope will help cool the situation down a little bit but inside, I am burning angry that I have to survive on last week's paycheck.

Yeah, everyone's asking what's on tap for the weekend? I use "on tap" despite my views on liquor and drinking because the weekend is when everyone seems to go to the bar to celebrate the weekend and the beer is "on tap."

On tap this weekend is Hershey Park with my girlfriend and her niece (who lovingly calls her "Na") and then I finally get to meet the mysterious Courtney (Joanna's Ultra Best Friend) and her boyfriend John at the Irish Renaissance Festival. It should definitely be a fantastic weekend together and I'm totally looking forward to all the festivities that are coming up.

Yes Reba's right, you can be a survivor. Everyone has survived something in their life.

I'm already a survivor... I've survived a lot and I have the good lord to thank for everything.

Thanks Reba, you certainly made my day that much better and I appreciate that. Joanna and Jesus made the day great too s well.

"Until my next passage, I'm signing off..."
~ Joshua