Food Stamp Misery (AKA -- It's Too Damn Hard)

I was alerted to the piece via e-mail by Celebrity Watchdog George Anthony Watson. He informed me that the North Coast Journal (a publication I have written for before) had a piece on food stamps that was sure to piss me off. It had pissed off others, including Watson, and he hasn't worked there in years.

I won't reprint the piece here out of copyright considerations. But you can read it here.

I was going to write a huge piece on this (and actually did before I deleted it). I figured I had a huge conflict of interest, and may be stepping on toes, since I didn't want to come off as a representative for food stamps. But what can I say? Hyperbole and laziness goes a long way. That's it. I have sympathy for neither. (Soul-crushing should be reserved for things like answering questions on your child's sex life for an assault case, not being at the welfare office. Idiot.)

On a totally unrelated note, I had a wonderful birthday. Saw a movie with my five-year-old and then went to dinner at Liu's. My daughter ordered for me ("he wants the beef extra spicy"), served me my food, and even asked for the check. When I asked if she was going to pay, she seemed shocked. "I have no money!" It was nice. Parts of the day were depressing (didn't hear from my grandmother or sister). But overall, being with my girl was the best way to spend the day. She gave me lots of hugs, kisses and plans for the next birthday. And then she asked if she would get her Christmas presents tomorrow. Gift overload, I guess.

I've got a ton of things to do tomorrow. Too much, actually. Don't really want to go to work Monday (too soul crushing). Back to the grind. And what a grind it is ...