Here’s my explanation of this group, written by me:
WYFP? means, What is Your F-ing Problem.
It’s a joke, because, traditionally, when someone speaks that phrase, it’s an angry, verbal attack. “What’s your f-ing problem!??” means, “Why are you annoying me?!?”
But here at Daily Kos, we are all about puppies and kittens, and we express mostly concern, and a desire to give each other emotional support.
So, when we ask that question in this Saturday night series of diaries,
we are truly asking if you have any problems you want to tell us about, and we will be your sounding board, your group therapy group, your peer support group.
That’s why the sign board above says, “May we find peace and healing here.”
There.
I took care of one of my problems: folks asking what does the WYFP? stand for.
Now, on to more problems.
I just turned 64, last month:
If you forget to wish me a great new year, on my way to age 65, if you forget to mention that, in the comments, that will be a problem!
A very small one, but still.
Anyway, about the poetry class, mentioned in the title:
Here in Wichita, Kansas, we have one of the finest universities in the world:
Wichita, State University:
en.wikipedia.org/...
The National Science Foundation ranked Wichita State University No. 4 among all U.S. universities in money spent on aerospace research and development in fiscal year 2013, with $39 million in expenditures and No. 1 in industry-funded aerospace R&D.[19] Wichita State's W. Frank Barton School of Business was listed in The Princeton Review 2011 "301 Best Business Schools," ranked as the 11th best program in the country for students seeking an undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship for 2007.[20]
The Aerospace Engineering department was founded in 1928 and has longstanding collaborative relationships with Airbus North America, Boeing, Bombardier-Learjet, Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft, Spirit AeroSystems, and other Wichita aviation concerns. The department teaches in the areas of composites, structures, Engineering mechanics, computational Fluid dynamics, applied Aerodynamics, and Flight simulation. Students can readily do internships at the nearby airports and many airplane company like Cessna, Learjet, etc.
The Wichita State University Libraries have holdings of more than 2 million volumes, over 200 electronic databases and more than 70,000 journal subscriptions. The University Libraries consist of the main Ablah Library,[21] the McKinley Chemistry Library,[22] the Thurlow Lieurance Music Library[23] and University Libraries Special Collections.[24] The libraries are open to community users and serve as a regional United States Federal Government Documents Depository, a State of Kansas Government Documents Depository, and is the State of Kansas' only Patents and Trademarks Library.[25] WSU Special Collections and University Archives contains numerous rare books, incunabula, historical manuscripts collections, maps and photographic archives documenting Kansas history, as well as hosting the Wichita Photo Archives.[26]
I posted this information, to help you see that we, the citizens of Wichita, are living next door to what can be seen as an Ivy League school.
I am getting too old to enroll in regular classes, and work towards a degree, but they also offer community education classes:
www.wichita.edu/…
THE POETRY OF CLIMATE CHANGE
“All nature has a feeling.” — John Clare, 1793-1864. Climate change is a reality our current world is facing. The only way to mitigate this impending problem is through collective action, which can be advocated through poetry spanning from the Romantic era to poetry of today. Through readings and discussions we will look at how past and present poets react to, advocate for and warn against the dangers of climate change. Instructor: Ruth Vernon, Graduate Teaching Assistant, English, Wichita State University
Location: HMC Weeks: 4 Starts: 9/5 Day: Th Time: 7-9pm Fee: $59
I enjoy writing poetry, so I figured this class would fit my mood.
I sent in my money, online, and showed up, early, for the first day of class, two days ago, and they told me,
the class was cancelled.
Only me and one other person had signed up, so it was cancelled.
They sent my money back.
I love my family, but I was looking forward to getting away from them, one evening a week
I already get away for three days a week, at my Walmart workplace.
But I am greedy, I want more.
I want to interact with like-minded folks, as we do here, but face-to-face.
When we have Bible study, here at the house, my brother-in-law rants about things, such as, he found out the rare occasions in which a trans woman may be causing trouble, such as, a man says he identifies as a woman, and he wants to compete in some kind of fighting league, and, since men average twice the upper body strength of women, he nearly kills a woman, with a head injury.
My brother-in-law, and the world in general, fail to see, that all boxing and fighting contests should be shut down, since they are all, in fact, assault and battery, and attempted murder.
The local sheriffs should shut them down, all of them.
And:
In nearly all cases of violence involving trans women,
the trans woman is the victim.
The trans woman is the victim.
But I am forced to sit in the living room,
and listen to my brother-in-law spew anger,
raising his voice, as if he wants to kill someone,
venting his anger towards trans women.
And he believes he listens to all sides of all issues, no echo chamber for him.
He thinks I only read Daily Kos, and I cannot see all sides of things.
But, to end this diary on a positive note,
that same brother-in-law,
24 hours after the angry rant,
showered me with praise and gratitude,
gratitude for my actions in buying:
training pants and baby wipes,
for my niece, who is two and a half years old.
And, for buying:
nine dozen eggs,
to help the whole family eat healthy,
and eat cheap,
since scrambled eggs, with onions and cheese,
costs way less than any take out food from any eatery.
My brother-in-law truly adores me, he hugs me, a lot.
Oh, and I need to mention,
the brother-in-law,
and his brother, the other brother-in-law,
and his wife, my sister-in-law,
and their teenage son, who is 17, and tall, and lean, and all energy,
the four of them are, right now, as I write this,
they are out mowing lawns,
to the tune of $500 worth of lawns, today.
That is very important, and very loving,
because our family does not keep money separated from each other,
in the sense that if anyone needs help,
the others will help.
So, if my family is working, very hard, to get more and more money,
and I am getting older and less able to earn money,
that makes me feel secure.
I will never be put into a nursing home.
My family, if I need nursing care, my family will take turns,
and maybe hire part time workers,
but they will keep me at home.
I may or may not ever need such care,
but my family is working hard, building a prosperous business,
to make sure they can help me, if I need it.
So.
Here I am, 64 years old, cringing at certain things,
yet basking in the glow of family love.
So, tell us all your problems,
(after you wish me another great year, as I move on towards 65 years old.)