New Article

As most of us are hurting financially, shelters are also hurting.  Some great writers on PNN have mentioned giving food and money to shelters and food banks when possible.  I love this idea.  Here is another goodie from people helping others. 

As shelters run out of funds and have to make tough choices about feeding their visitors or providing them with other necessities such as toiletries, they have to pick the food.  That was until Holland Cruise Lines stepped up to the plate.

Holland Cruise Lines is taking all of their toiletries, empty or not, and donating them to homeless shelters.  These additional additional shampoos, soaps, and conditioners are brought to the nearest port when the ship docks and then distributed by Holland Cruise Lines employees to the local shelters.  Shelter staff members comment that these gifts are helping the shelter to be able to provide food and other necessities to those that visit the shelter.

Not only is this donation helping the shelters, it is also helping the self-esteem of the homeless.  They are now able to get more frequent showers which helps them to feel better about themselves (and may help to find a job as well!)

To join along with my fellow PNN'ers, I encourage sharing what you can and considering donations for items that you no longer need - no matter how insignificant these items may be to you!

Out of the 401K game for a while..

As I write this, I have just left my 401K webpage.  I have dropped my deductions down to 0% for the time being.

My logic for this is as follows:

I feel like I am literally taking $100 bills and standing over the Grand Canyon and dropping them in.

Now the flip side of it is this:

I could be getting stocks really cheap right now and watching them grow later. 

My decision was based on this:

I'm not willing to take the risk anymore.  Risk, can at times, be very good.  Its not good when I could use the extra money each week just to pay my bills and I cannot be assured that we will ever get out of this horrible market cycle.

What say you?

American Express Yourself

Wow!  The gonads on those executives!  American Express is now sending offer letters to their "marginal" customers.  The letter invites them to get the heck out, pay their bill off, and in exchange, they will get a $300 gift card.  I do know that American Express makes their own gift cards, so I'm sure that we all know where that will come from!

If you get this letter - think about it hard!  It is VERY difficult to get credit nowadays and if you do pay and bail, you will not only lower your credit score by not having the standing credit line but you more than likely will be blacklisted by AMEX.

Oh - and if you do decide to take the money and run - make sure you spend your reward points by the end of February.  They will snatch those up from you as you walk out the door.

My comment is this:  American Express - I don't think you'd have to pay me to leave.  The behavior that your company has displayed is deplorable!

Sec'y of Commerce - Round 3

Tomorrow - Obama is scheduled to announce his third pick for Secretary of Commerce.  Should be interesting!  I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall while that decision was being made. 

The next ball to drop - credit cards

What exactly is the game plan here with these banks and these credit cards?  I know my readers have been hearing a lot out of me on the credit card issue - but this is getting crazy.

We all know that the housing market failed - check.

Last night, Rosemary and I were discussing what may be the next ball to drop.  I thought that it might be the auto market because nobody could afford to buy any more cars.  Quite a possibility, but Rosemary had one better- the credit cards!

If you have read my Bank of America stories, you know that Bank of America took TARP money and began to play a bunch of games with the American people.  We have seen interest rate hikes, credit limit decreases, and bank account management fees increase out of Bank of America.  I have walked away from the bank and I know others who are as well. 

I'm just curious to find out what exactly Bank of America is planning to do with its strategy.  It seems to be targeting people who need credit but can't afford to pay their bills.  Didn't they do this with the mortgages as well?  What happens when everyone stops paying their bills because they can't afford them?  What happens when disenfranchised bank customers stop paying their credit card bills because they have been jerked around too much?

The only thing that I can think of is that Bank of America (and other banks like it) are planning on getting a bail out on credit cards as well.  In the meantime, they will squeeze the living daylights out of the consumers -once again taking advantage of the vulnerable as was done in the mortgage meltdown - and then look to Uncle Sam to pick them up.

I wish these banks weren't seen as too big to fail!  If Rosemary is correct - and I suspect she is - if the credit card system fails as well - we are in huge huge huge huge huge huge huge trouble!  Credit scores will mean nothing, billions (and maybe trillions) will be lost by consumers trying to keep up with an artifically bloated credit rating system, and credit will be so dry that we'll no longer be able to consider it a viable option as way of life. 

That is really scary!

Bank of America - now accepting "broker" customers :)

New Bank of America Tactic:

Beware!  If you have a Bank of America credit card and you are not using your credit, and are making less money than you can comfortably live on - you may very well see a credit limit increase.  Don't get that warm fuzzy feeling just yet - they aren't being charitable!

If your credit limit increases, chances are, your interest rate will jump as well.

My sister and bro-in-law are living on less than 40% of what they used to make.  They have a Bank of America credit card.  The limit on the card was $13,000.  The limit was increased to $26,000.  They have never spent more than $2,500 on that card!  Sure enough - the interest rate is on its way up as well!

Bank of America is working a double-whammy here:

- Those earning less income may need the credit to pay normal expenses....

and

- As soon as the credit is used, Bank of America can arbitrarily hike up the interest rate!

Also, as I have discussed with my best friend, if you have exceptional credit and are able to pay your bills on time and at more than the minimum, you may find yourself a recipient of more Bank of America madness.  My friend found herself in just this position and the bank told her that since she had so much credit, it would be best if they just closed her account.  I guess they figured she would never wrecklessly blow her good credit on their limit!  How shameful of her! LOL

What a twisted little credit world we live in, eh?

WE the People

Am I the only one that wants to make my new permanent residence infront of my toilet, on my knees, worshipping the porcelain god?  The Dow Jones Industrial hit a 6 year low of 7,465 today.  I'm sick, I'm sick, I'm sick. 

And you know what else?  I'm sick of pretending or even slightly pretending that this is okay!  I just want to stop the world and get the heck off!  Please don't step away from the computer to call the suicide prevention hotline - I'm not there yet!  But, honestly, I am getting to the point where I don't even want to know whats going to happen tomorrow.

Now, to get to the controversial point - I'm tired of saying that this is all a whim of the speculators.  NO, IT IS NOT!!!  This slump in the market is a direct result of this extremely wasteful stimulus bill!  Investors (you know, the ones that dictate the stock market) have no confidence in the market and even less in our government.  There is no proof that what we have just done in this Bill will have any positive effect whatsoever.  The bill is basically the government letting (most) of the people get what they want - a snuggy blanket to roll up in on those cold nights!

To my readers:  I don't really care what you think about the stimulus bill.  Yes, I know that we had to do something - but I am 100% sure that what WE did was not it!

WE did the wrong thing.  WE through our elected politicians just screwed ourselves royally!  The market is sending that message to us and to mamsy-pamsily sit around and act like this stimulus bill is not going to rock our market into oblivion is the most ridiculous thing that we have ever thought!  WE voted in people who don't have the scruples to read a bill before passing it and now we are going to find out what the consequences of such choices are!

We would have been better to starve in the streets, freeze to death in the winter, and spend a good couple of decades in deep poverty than we will be for digging ourselves into this financial hole. 

No, these financial woes did not start with Obama, but I will not tolerate the idea that they started with Bush either.  As Americans, WE chose to live in artificial abundance.  WE bought cars for prices that we shouldnt have.  WE spent when we shouldn't have. WE had our priorities in the wrong place.  WE worried about what the Joneses were doing, eating, wearing, and watching.  WE put too much emphasis on the wrong things, and now ...

WE will all go down together. 

Think what you may about me, but today, I am nearly over the edge with sickness and rage.  Above all, I'm done pretending that this is at-all okay!

PS...if you have a "Plan B or C", now might be the time to throw it into high gear. You're going to need all of the headway you can get!

Big Crumbs, highlighted retailer cash back program

It's been a few months since I posted a piece on the website - Big Crumbs - the site that pays you back for purchases made online. I am really excited to have 3 new members join through my link!   In this entry, I wanted to highlight some of the big cash-back opportunities that you can earn while shopping online through Big Crumbs.

As a Crumb Earner, you will get the following amounts back:

Zappos Shoes:  13.5%

Wilson's Leather:  4.5% 

Walmart: 3.6%

Vista Print:  Up to 18%

Vision Direct:  7.2%

The Popcorn Factory: 9%

Target.com:  6.3%

Symantec: 13.5%

Peets Coffee: 9%

Snapfish: 7.2%

QVC.com:  4.5%

Petsmart.com:  7.2%

Petco.com:  8.1%

PetCareRX: 10.8% - A PERSONAL FAVORITE!!! - scrap the loyalty points - take the Big Crumbs money, its better!

PC Tools:  45%

123 Inkjets! : 25.2% - A PERSONAL FAVORITE!!

4Inkjets! : 25.2%

Blair.com:  8.55%

The opportunity to make cash while you shop is definitely there - you just have to take advantage of the click-through shopping made possible through Big Crumbs.

 The rules are simple:

You are paid one month in arrears through PayPal.

You must click thru Big Crumbs in order to get the cash back.

Being a Crumb Saver makes you more money upfront.  If you want to add referrals, Crumb Earning is for you!

Any discounts given to you by the retailer, like loyalty points or gift cards, may be excluded from Big Crumbs rewards!

I hope that you will think about joining Big Crumbs and coming back to tell me what you have made!  You can check out my stats as well!

Earning a little cash back while you shop

Do you shop online and have a PayPal account?  If you do, and you aren't saving money through a referral site, you are losing money!  I have been a member of BigCrumbs.com for quite some time.  The way it works is that I go to BigCrumbs.com, sign in, and shop through their site.  When I find a store I want to shop from, I click on the store through Big Crumbs and whatever I buy, I make commission on.  Advertisers pay Big Crumbs and Big Crumbs pays me.   If I shop from December 1st - 31st, I will receive a payment on February 15th in my PayPal account.  It's worked out pretty well for me. I've earned $104 so far this year.  Rosemary just joined and has already earned $20 cash back. I'm a CrumbEarner, which means that I earn less on my purchases, but can earn commission on what people buy when they sign up through me.  Rosemary is a Crumb Saver, so she earns more on her purchases!  Either way, its a nice income boost when you have to buy stuff for the holidays (and throughout the year) anyways.  If you'd like to sign up under me, please follow my link and click to sign up/join while you are on that page!

I took the time this morning to type out all of the websites that participate on Big Crumbs.  I'm sure you'll find something of interest there!  Some of the payouts are big too!  If you sign up as a Crumb Saver, because you shop more than you want to refer others, you will make more :)  I know that doesn't help me, but it will help you!

1-800 Contacts

1-800 Flowers.com

123 Inkets

4 Inkjets

6 PM.com

A&E

A1 Books

AccessoryGeeks.com

Adobe

Aeropostale

Aerosoles

Alienware

All-Battery.com

Altrec.com

Animal Den

Aperion Audio

Appetizerstogo.com

Apple Store

Ashford.com

AT&T Wireless

AutoAnything.com

AutoBarn.com

Avenue.com

Avon.com

Babies R Us

BabyCenterStore

Back To Basics Toys

Bagsbuy.com

BallardDesigns.com

Banana Republic

Bare Necessities

Barnes & Nobles

Bass Pro Shop

Beaches

Beauty.com

Bellacor

BestBuy.com

Biblio.com

Big Al's Online

BigDog.com

Birkenstock Central

Blair.com

Blockbuster Total Access

Bloomingdales

BlueFly

Boater's World

BooksAMillion.com

Borders.com

Botanic Choice.com

Bowflex.com

Brooks Brothers.com

Brookstone

Brylane Homes

Buckle.com

Buy.com

BuyCostumes.com

CallowayGolf.com

Calumet Photographic

Cell Phone Shop

Chadwicks

Charlotte Russe

Chefs Catalog

Child Craft

Chocolate Source

Christopher and Banks

CircuitCity.com

Clinique

Coastal Contacts

Coffee For Less

ComfortShoeShop.com

Compact Appliance

CompUSA.com

Computers4Sure

Cooking.com

Costume Craze

CostumeCity.com

Dale and Thomas Popcorn

Danskin

David's Cookies

dELiA's

Dell Home Systems

Designer Shoes.com

Diamond.com

Diapers.com

Dickies.com

Discovery Channel Store

Disney Shopping.com

DogToys.com

dotPhoto

Dr. Leonard's Healthcare

Drive America

Drugstore.com

e.l.f. Cosmetics

Eastbay

eBays

eBay

eCampus.com

EconomyTravel.com

EddieBauer.com

eDiets.com

eDressMe.com

eHarmony

endless.com

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Entertainment (coupon book)

EntirelyPets.com

Etnies.com

eToys.com

Expedia.com

Fandango

Figleaves.com

Fingerhut.com

Finish Line

Florist.com

Folica.com

FootSmart

Fossil

FrangranceNet.com

FrangranceX.com

Frank Bee Costume

Franklin Covey

Fredericks of Hollywood

FreshPair.com

FTD.com

Fujitsu

GameFly.com

Gap.com

Geeks.com

GiftBasket.com

Gift Certificates.com

GiftTree.com

GNC

GoCard USA

GoDaddy.com

GospelDirect.com

Half.com

Hammacher Schlemmer.com

Havaianas Sandals

HearthSong.com

Heals.com

Hickory Farms

Hilton Grand Vacations Co.

Holabird Sports

HomeDepot.com

Hotels.com

Hotwire

HP

HSN

Ice.com

Identity Direct

Identity Truth

Ink Smile.com

irvsLuggage.com

iTrain.com

iTunes.com

J and R

Jakes Dog House

James Avery

JC Whitney

Jessica London

Joann.com

Jockey.com

Jos. A Bank

Journeys

Journeys Kidz

Just Because Baskets

KBToys.com

Kmart.com

Kodak.com

Kodak Gallery

Kohls.com

LaneBryant.com

LeapsandBounds.com

Lego

Lenovo

Lens.com

Lensmart

LetsTalk.com

Lids.com

Lifelock

Lillian Vernon

Limited Too

Limoges Jewelry

Linens-n-Things

Little Earth

LogoYes.com

Lonely Planet Travel Guides

MacConnnections

MacMall (Apple Retailer)

Macys.com

Magazines.com

Masseys.com

MaxStudio.com

Metrostyle.com

Mikasa

Motherhood

Music123

Musicians Hut

Mwave.com

MyWeddingFavors.com

Nero Software

New York & Company

NewEgg.com

New Egg Mall

Nickolodeon Shop

Nirvana.com

NothingButSoftware.com

OfficeDepot

Office Max

Old Navy

Omaha Steaks

One Stop Plus

Oneida Flatware

OneShare.com

OneStepAhead.com

Orbitz.com

Oriental Trading Company

Orvis

Overstock.com

Pacsun.com

PajamaGram

Paragon Sprots

Paul Fredrick MenStyle

PC Connections

PC Tools

PC Universe

PC Rush

PeaPod

Peet's Coffee and Tea

Perfect Match.com

PersonalizationMall.com

PetCareRx.com

Petco.com

Petite Sophisticate

Petsmart.com

Pfaltzgraff.com

Piperlime

PlanetShoes.com

Plow & Hearth

PopCap Games

Potpourri Group

Priceline.com

Princeton Watches

ProBoards Shop

QuickBooks

Quicken

Quill

Rail Europe

RazorGator

RedOctane.com

REI

Relax The Back

Restaurant.com

Ritz Camera

Roaman's

Ross-Simons

Roxio

Rugman.com

Safeway.com

Saks Fifth Avenue

Sandals

Sears.com

Second Act

Sephora

SharperImage.com

ShiekhShoes.com

ShindigZ

Shoebuy.com

ShoeMall.com

Shoes.com

Shopbop.com

Shop.com

Shoplet.com

ShopNBC.com

Shutterfly.com

Silhouettes.com

SitterCity.com

Skechers.com

SmartBargains.com

Snapfish.com

SoftSurroundings.com

Sony.com

Southwest Vacations

Spencer's Gifts

Ssense.com

Staples.com

Steve Madden

StubHub.com

StylinOnline.com

Symantec

T-Mobile.com

Target.com

Tech Depot

Teleflora

The Golf Warehouse.com

The Home Marketplace

The House

The Land of Nod

The Popcorn Factory

The Walking Company

ThinkGeek.com

Tick.com

TicketsNow.com

TigerDirect.com

Timberland

TomTom

Toys R Us

TracFone

Travelocity

Ulta.com

UnbeatableSale.com

UncommonGoods.com

Uniform City

Unique Home Store

USOutdoor.com

Verizon.com

VisionDirect.com

VistaPrint.com

VitaminShoppe

VitaPals.com

Vons.com

Walmart.com

Watchzone.com

Web.com

Weight Watchers

Wet Seal

WhiteSmoke.com

Wine Enthusiast.com

Wine.com

Woman Within

Woolrich.com

WuWearShoes.com

YahooGames.com

Yahoo! Merchant Solutions

Yahoo! Personals

Yahoo! Search Marketing

Yahoo! Web Hosting

Yoga Accessories.com

Yoox.com

Zappos.com

zChocolat.com

Zinios Digital Magazines

If you don't want to join Big Crumbs, you can still shop through my link and help me out at the same time :)

Nadya Suleman's Baby Blues, - Month #1

My Nadya Suleman post got lost in my editing. But I did a little experiment on what it would cost for 8 babies for one month - specifically, the first month of life.  The total that I came up with was $5,313.04.  This includes diapers, formula, baby wipes, powder, 1 crib, carseat, and swing per child.  I also included enough Onesies for five days, a coat and socks for each child!  It is no wonder that Nadya Sulleman's mother is a million dollars in debt.  Remember, she has 6 others at home already! 

Because her website was deleted in my entry, I'll post it again here.  Nadya is wishing for judgement-free donations.  Ummm...okay!

Not Banking on Bank of America anymore!

I forgot to post this a week ago when it happened, but I think its important enough to mention still.

Two weeks ago, after depositing cash into the ATM at Bank of America, I went home and checked the account online to see if the cash had posted.  Yes, it had - but I also noted that my banking fees had been raised almost another $7 a month.  WHAT?!!  When did that happen?  I know I don't read every piece of mail that comes into my house, but that seems to be have been slipped in there under the carpet! 

Sure, $7 increase a month doesn't seem like much, but with the fees I was already incurring, it adds up to a decent amount each year.  And for what?  I hardly use the account - its mainly there to pay my phone bill each month.  I haven't written a check from that account in a long time and the same applies for the Visa Debit Card.  So, what are they managing for me?  NOthing!  They are managing a website that keeps money going in, gaining interest, and very little coming out or being spent with their aid?  I think not!

That afternoon, I drove back to the bank and closed both of my accounts.  The girl who was assisting asked me why I was leaving and I told her that I didn't appreciate being Nickled and Dimed to death while their CEO's were buying $1,400 garbage cans and $88,000 area rugs.  After I said that,  she gave no protest and quickly returned my money to me. 

The simple act of closing my Bank of America account has reinforced in me the courage to not take their crap anymore.  A bank that is wasting money and then taking my tax money does not need my banking fees to boot.  I think I gained a lot of courage that day and plan on being much more mindful of what financial institutions get from me when they are doing nothing to help the people.

Scare tactics and all-or-nothing legislation

It is true, I do not like Barack Obama as a person and much less as a President - but I think he should choose his words wisely.  He is now pushing to pass the stimulus bill lest we face certain failure.  Mr. Obama, you are correct - we have to do something.  We, however, do not have to pass this Bill as it stands.  What we need is some legitmate reasoning from both sides of the aisle and quite possibly two bills.  One bill for infrastructure and jobs and the other for tax breaks.  In that case,  it is urgent to pass legislation.  To force the American people to take a trillion dollar package or nothing at all is simply unfair. 

During the entire campaign, we heard Obama run on an anti-Bush policy and procedure platform.  Bush forced us into a war by making Congress really afraid of Saddam Hussein.  We hated that and lost a great deal of respect for him because of that.  Obama forcing us into a trillion or nothing package will have the same result.

Thank you for Smoking

...No really.  Thank you!

On our rapid march towards Socialism, through President Obama's renewal of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) today, he has assured America that another $39 BILLION dollars (I know, I know, whats a billion dollars here and there anymore?) is headed towards the program in the next five years. 

But would you like to know how the program is being paid for?  It's being paid for by higher taxes on tobacco produts!  Thaaat's right!  All those tofu-eating, jogging at 3 a.m., global warming fanatic liberals that poo-pooe'd on smokers for all of these years are now demanding that smokers pay for their SCHIP program.

Would someone please explain this to me?  When tobacco taxes were hiked more than a few years ago they said that it was to pay for healthcare that would be needed for victims of smoking/chew related diseases.  Follow me here - so, back then, the tax was intended to deter smokers from smoking.  Yet now, it appears that Congress thinks that the American people (at least the smoking portion of the population) are really stupid evidenced by the fact that they are saying that the taxes on tabacco are needed in order to pay for programs such as SCHIP.

Does anyone else see the irony in this?  They tell the American people not to smoke so that costs of healthcare will go down and new costs will not be generated and then they turn around and encourage smoking by budgeting a children's healthcare program under it!  Surely smokers wouldn't want to quit smoking now ... they would be taking away the children's healthcare!

What a fully double-loaded load of malarkey!  Smoker or not, if you are not insulted by this slight of hand, you aren't paying attention.  Congress and Obama are going to keep piling it on, deeper and higher and higher and deeper.

If I haven't convinced you yet - you would be pleased to know that during the signing of SCHIP today, Obama promised that this is just the beginning.  Don't be so gleeful, non-smokers, socialism is an extremely slippery slope.  The government cannot possibly ever give you what you want without taking away what you really need.  Your day is coming too.  Before you know it, there will be a tax on veggie burgers because the cows that make normal hamburgers have sued for trademark infringement and while they are willing to provide their services, they need extra cash to compensate for the methane gas tax that they are incurring from their carbon footprint.  Fear not - oh non-smokers...everyone is going to get their day.  Maybe it will be the chickens and Egg-Beaters first - but I think you get my point!

So, the next time you see a smoker, freezing in the 1 degree weather trying to get a drag down, just remember, its for the Children!

Oh Wow! He found his papers!

Amazingly, one day after Glenn Beck aired the "Where in the world are Chris Dodd's Mortgage Papers?" segment and 191 days after Dodd said he would produce said papers - the papers were found!

It has been revealed that Dodd indeed had a VIP deal from Countrywide and is now looking to re-finance those re-finances. Who didn't see that coming?

Its nice when media does its job to hold our politicians accountable!

Chris Dodd's Missing Mortgage Papers

Are you watching Congress like a hawk?  I am!  I want to know, I want to know, I want to know what they are doing when I'm sleeping.  Well - to be frank with you, the last time I fell asleep while on duty, they passed TARP.  Not that it was fair, they were doing all of this while I was supposed to be sleeping - but who says the rules apply to them anyways?

Glenn Beck made me giggle this week with his "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?" rendition of "Where in the world are Chris Dodd's mortgage papers?"  Even if you hate conservatives, republicans, anyone who doesn't barf when they hear Rush's names, those who can watch Hannity and eat at the same time, you really should watch this little segment.  Turn the sound on before you click the link.  Glenn usually gets me fired up and indignant, but its hard to be indignant when he makes the missing Countrywide mortgage papers seem so funny!  I enjoyed it so much, I had to go online and find the link for all of you!

But seriously, I'm beginning to wonder if we should all have a "skeletons-in-your-closet" meet-and-greet Day.  From Blago to Stevens, to Jefferson, to Rangel, to Geithner, to Daschle and Dodd  (I know, it sounds like Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer)...it just seems that being shameless isn't well.......so shameless anymore! 

It really is a wonder that....

...people aren't taking to the streets with torches!

Oh, its been another sunny day on Wall Street and CNBC has readily handed us some more nuggets of corporate greed.

Over at Yahoo!, Carol Bartz, the newly crowned CEO will be receiving $40 million in pay and compensation over the next few years.  Meanwhile, in her first "executive order" she has suspended the pay-raises of all of the employees at Yahoo! - better known to those of us in the real world as the "grunts". 

Former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain is leaving Bank of America this week and taking his shameful reputation with him.  Last year, when Thain became the CEO at Merrill Lynch, he renovated his office to the tune of $1.2 million!  Go Here are some of the goodies that he bought.

You really must give your funny bone a good work-out by going to CNBC's slide show of what Thain could have gotten for much much less!

I guess I could go on and on about the cost of corporate greed in America, but I think most of us get the picture.  A human brain is only worth so much --- and what these folks are paid just ain't it!

Punched for breaking a crayon

Art teacher, David Adam Grant, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida shook and punched an 8 year old student from his art class after the boy tried to return a crayon that had broken. 

When will the madness end?  What have our once-respectable teachers turned into?  When I was in school, I would have never feared a teacher over a broken crayon - maybe mouthing off - but not a broken crayon.  In my opinion, the education system is totally turned upside down.  We have students being hit by teachers, students molested by teachers, students used as teacher's dates, students given drugs and alcohol by teachers......We're not even going to mention the political bias shoved down student's throats during the election season.

Sending your kids to school has got to be a pretty darn scary idea.  You would almost have to run your own background check on the teacher and give him/her a temperment test at the same time. 

I think teachers should be required to undergo psychological evaluation once every 6 months.  I don't think that all teachers are bad (or even most of them) but I am sure that the job can get very stressful and having someone to talk to would be helpful. 

Wrapping up November and Kudos to some Great Bloggers!

I would like to take just a moment to thank all of my visitors on this page.  As of today, I have received 800 page hits this month!  That is a monumental change in the amount of hits that I normally receive. 

I will continue to offer a variety of interesting blog articles that will get you thinking and talking!  I invite you to respond to each article with your opinions - don't keep silent :)  I want to hear what you have to say.

This month, I wrote on some very controversial topics and some brave folks decided to chime in and give their 2 cents!  I say, "Keep 'em coming!" Surely, I am not the only one out there who thinks the way that I think! 

At this time, I'd also like to draw attention to some great bloggers out there:

MamaBear - who writes about her family, in particular, her son with autism.

Tammy's Tips - Great, Great, Great ideas on how to save and make money in tight times!

Rosemary - Our lead political contributor (and my dear friend).  She will be offering quite a deal on the new Administration.

SoulsCompanion - Who always brings warmth to my heart.

...and

LaurieBoris - who will bring you back down to earth with her great tips on health and wellness.

If I haven't mentioned you here - don't fret! I really do enjoy the writings of so many here on PNN.  If you'd like me to come see your page, drop me a line here and I'll stop in :)

As we get ready to dive into December, you will see my page light up with many goodies of all types.  I hope you'll drop in from time to time to see whats on my mind!

Kid Stories to Warm your Heart

Crayon Marks wrote a story about her son and his class mascot coming to stay at her house for a week.  That inspired me to write a little bit about my experiences with my nephew, Anthony.  Kids, indeed, do the darndest things.

A few months ago, I had bought Anthony the train car named Molly from the Thomas Line.  I had put Anthony in his car seat in the car but hadn't buckled him up yet.  It takes a few minutes for him to calm down enough to be buckled in, so I took the time open up the trunk and show my sister, Liz, the Molly train.  Mind you, when the trunk open, there is only a small sliver of space between the opening that anyone from the back seat could use to see what was going on behind the car.  Well, I finally get to the backseat and buckle Anthony into his carseat.  As my sister was kissing him goodbye, he said, "Aunt Wendy has Molly in the back".  Because I couldn't lie to him, I had to admit that I did have Molly in the trunk.  I ended up giving him Molly.  Now, anytime he wants something, he thinks its in the trunk of Aunt Wendy's car!

Around the same time as the Molly incident, I had picked Anthony up from day care to spend the afternoon with him.  Our visits normally include a trip to Chuck E Cheese or an old fashioned diner named Berts.  On this particular day, we chose Berts.  At dinner, he had a grilled cheese sandwich and some potato chips.  After dinner, he got his Superman Ice Cream, which is multi-colored ice cream.  When we got home, I was changing his diaper when my sister came in the room.  She nuzzled up to his face and asked, "Did you have a good time with Aunt Wendy, what did you have for dinner?"  Before I could change the conversation, Anthony blurted out, "I had chips, and cheese, and a ice cream"!  Liz looked at me as if Anthony had just snitched me out.  Needless to say, that was the last time I took Anthony to dinner without incorporating broccolli or some other vegetable into the meal!

I know that I bring a lot of the spoiling upon myself, but two weeks ago, I had the tables turned on me.  Anthony loves Bob the Builder.  For any of you who have kids who are both aged 10 and 3, you will remember that Bob the Builder was popular back when your 10 year old was 3 years old.  This is not the case anymore!  Sure, Bob the Builder is on tv, but HIT Entertainment has made sure that they don't make any more Bob the Builder toys available to the general public.  Liz tried to get him some Bob the Builder toys but she couldn't find any.  So, she said, "Maybe your Aunt Wendy will get you some".  That put me on the hook!  When I came for my visit, Anthony immediately asked if Bob was in the trunk.   We spent 3 hours searching every store for Bob the Builder stuff and only came home with a $4 DVD.  I had to buy him a Handy Manny toy just to keep him pacified.  I ended up buying him some Bob the Builder toys on eBay (most of them used), but he was nonetheless thrilled to have them!

I am embarassed to say that when we go to Chuck E Cheese, there is a steep competition to see who can play more games.  Anthony calls the Tokens "His Money" and returns to me after each game to get more of his money.  He does the same thing with my bank card when we have to go to Walmart together.

Anthony isn't all spoiled, he's also very kind and empathetic.  When I go to Walmart, he helps me to load the cat food into the cart, can by can.  He always asks if he can get his dog, Biscuit, a treat.  In that case, we usually buy her some cans of Sheba dog food (he picks by the color of the can).  He is always looking for a way to help.  One day at BJ's (a store like Sam's Club), he saw a box of diapers in the aisle and wrestled the box all the way back to its spot in those little arms of his.  He always picks up after himself and will stop whatever he's doing if he hears "I need help".

While you were sleeping

The Fed gave Citigroup $20 billion in cash. This is in addition to the $25 billion they have already received!

If that doesn't make blood shoot out of your eyes, I don't know what will!  I am so sick of these midnight giveaways!  They are literally giving away our future as we slumber!

I think we should quit sleeping and that a million people need to keep their eyes on Capitol Hill at all times!

School Update

I am slowly working myself to the end of a very frustrating semester.  We have a little over 2 weeks left and finals will be here soon.  I am taking an incomplete in my hardest class so that I can have some time when my head isn't in a "central hypothyroidism" fog, but will be completing the other class on time.  The final exam in the class that I am going to complete late is a computerized assessment with 33 questions on it.  I need to get every single one of those questions right in order to pull off a B in the class.  Fortunately, you can start and stop the test at will.  While you can't go back and amend answers, it does give for more time to consider the proper answer.

All I have to say is that when grad school is over, it may really be O-V-E-R for me.  I am so burnt out on going to school.  If there is a Ph.D. in my future, it is a long ways away!  I just can't feel the prestige of a Doctorate deep in my bones right now!

As soon as school is over, I am going to pursue some specialized tests that will be able to tell me if my illness is getting better or worse - or about the same.  I just can't handle the stress of knowing what those results would be right now.

The "New Comfort Zone" Revolution!

...its so en vogue right now!

I hope it stays that way! 

A few months ago, I issued a warning to my readers about the current state of the economy.  About a month after my warning, the doo-doo hit the fan!  I hope that my readers were at least taking to heart what I was saying but more than anything, I hope that I take to heart what I was saying!

I want to echo the though fact that wasteful spending is OUT and frugality is IN.  This darn-near Depression is horrible, jobs are lost, homes are lost, people around the world have had their lives wrecked.  But we don't have to think about all of this as bad.  Aside from certain discomforts such as losing a job or a home, we don't have to let us defeat us.  We can be just as happy was we were before by creating a new comfort zone - and that can be done by accepting frugality as our new comfort zone.

I'm sure everyone here has gotten a Boycott email about certain gas stations.  We were told not to go to certain gas stations for a certain amount of days.  The thought of a gas boycott was good, except for the fact that if you didn't buy gas on Tuesday because you were boycotting the stations on Tuesday, you would eventually buy the gas on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.  Fortunately, not everything in life is as vital as gasoline to get us to and from work or school.  Most of the things we have, we don't really need.          

For example:

Unless you are running a sports bar in your living room, you don't need that 60" plasma tv. We probably don't need unlimited texting.  It is okay to get emails five times a day - really!  And here's one for the ladies....freshening wipes for the bathroom.  News Flash:  Baby wipes work just as well and the generic brands cost half the price. 

We probably don't need many of the things that we have been led to believe that we need.  Retailers know that we are on to their game and are trying to protect themselves from the frugal-revolution by packaging goods into almost irresistable deals.  We can learn to recognize these games and avoid them.  If we can't avoid them, we can try to resist the products until the prices come down.  Unlike gasoline, retailers know that they have one of two choices for most items on store shelves - buy them or leave them there!  Retailers already know what we want and what we need.  We just have to figure that out ourselves!

If you are an impulse buyer (like I tend to be), try this tip out.  If you see something you want, imagine that the price is $2 higher than the price on the shelf.  If you would still pay that much for the item, you may need that item more than you want that item (mind you, it may be an emotional need, but you feel that you need it).  If you decide that a bag of Doritos isn't worth $6 (the price plus $2) - you didn't need them anyways, you wanted them!  Retailers don't want us to think that way, they want to keep prices "slightly within our reach", but still at a breath-taking profit to them.  This is why they get away with offering us a $.25 coupon on a $7 item.  Aside from artificial satistfaction, there is no glory in paying $6.75 for an item that is normally $7 when it only cost $.50 to get it to the store shelf!  If it takes the anger of knowing that the retailer is making a profit sometimes in the range of 900% on your purchase to get you to stop and think about what you are buying, then you're on your way to a better self!

Now, lets focus on some basic money saving tips:

- If you have to buy it on a credit card, you don't really have the money.  You have the bank's money and soon they will have that money back plus more of your money.

- If you walk past a dime on the street and don't pick it up, its either because you have a germ phobia or because you don't want to get 20% of the price of a gallon of gas for free.  And lets just face it, if you'd clip a coupon for $.25 off of a $7 item, passing up on a dime would just be ridiculous!

- If you're clipping coupons for stuff that you would never buy, you're not saving, you're spending - and its money that you didn't even think about spending.

- No prepackaged food ever tastes as good as the packaging would like you believe that it is.  Frozen mac and cheese is not yummy and canned mac and cheese just isn't natural!  If you're going to buy that stuff, remember to swirl it around in your mouth for a while before you swallow - just to get the full effect :)

In conclusion, I say, "Hurray for the Frugality Revolution".  Getting back to the basics can really help us to find out who we are.  We don't need the government or retailers to tell us who we are and we don't need to have another Great Depression.  You can be a winner in a battle of survival of the fittest by getting a head-start on the financial basics by becoming frugal before you are forced into frugality.

Is the White-Way the Right Way?

Today, I would like to talk about race.

No!  Don't run and hide, I'm only going to talk about my perspective as a white girl.  You can add your input if you want. 

My current job (until I graduate) involves entering phone orders for door-to-door sales reps.  It's a crappy job, but for now, its a job that is marginally paying the bills and giving me subpar health coverage.

I work very close to Washington D.C.  In my office, I am the only white person out of 30 people.  There is one Asian girl, 4 Latinos, and the rest of the people in my office are black.  Since the Asian girl sits in a secluded area in the office, I am the "lonely only" of my race in the room.  Even if the Asian girl sat in the center of the room, the attention on her wouldn't be half as strong as it is on me.  There is a classic level of "acceptance" in the fact that whites and blacks are very different from one another in many ways.

Some days, being in this office is very difficult.  I wasn't there the day of the Election, but the following day that I was there, a very mouthy girl - probably age 26 - made sure to rub it in my face that a black man had won the Presidency.  She then went on to tell the whole group how she couldn't wait for Barack to send out "her check".  Her totally ignorant statement really showed the entitled side of humanity that I am sick and tired of seeing.  It didn't help for me to see through my bright blue eyes the fact that she was black.  After I was done puking from her statement, I did note that none of the other black people in the office said anything to me.  Yes, there was a lot of Pre-Election bravado, but it was very guarded and it is still guarded.  I tend to think the older adults who do this work part-time are being respectful of me and my passion for the losing candidate.  So, where does that leave me?  The obnoxious black girl, who is constantly offending people, really made me despise black people for the color of their skin and not who they were as a people.  But then, the other part of me remembers the majority of the black people in my office who said nothing to me - despite their elation over the election of Barack Obama.  I appreciate the respect of the majority of my black co-workers. 

From that extreme, we move over to the other ways that black people in my office handle the racial gap.  All of the black guys that I deal have their own unique way of dealing with me - some better than others.

My favorite guy is named Tony.  He's about 6'5" skinny as a rail, middle-aged.  He calls me his "Favorite white woman".  Whatever that may mean, I appreciate it because at least he says what everyone else is thinking...that I'm different!  Tony calls me his "favorite white woman" and I call him "Big Daddy".  We have fun with it and it really breaks up the tension.  When I'm talking to him, I don't have to worry about him judging me or thinking things behind is back because he's so animated that he simply says what he is thinking.  Maybe Tony is being 100% sexual when he says I'm his favorite white woman, but he still makes me comfortable, and included.  The only shame is that he isn't in the office every day and none of the three guys that I will refer to here are.

Joe, from the same group that Tony works in, treats me like he's my big brother.  Unlike Tony's flamboyance, Joe is pretty down-to-earth and you can't talk to him without having to use cartoon characters as parallels.  If there is something really bothering me, I can tell Joe.  He may not do a darn thing about it, but he will at least listen and tell me what he thinks.

Another guy is Donnell.  Donnell is like my protector.  There are some pretty offensive guys on Donnell's team and when they cross the line, he takes them on for me.

Believe me, the list could go on and on....needless to say, all of the guys that I work with are different!  When I put it in that perspective, those who are able to cross the racial barrier to be my friend make my job a little easier.

On my inner-office team, half of the black girls are single mothers with no education and the other half have no more than one child and are actively pursuing their educations.  I am like the latter.  I have no children and I am almost finished my Masters degree.  When I have a free moment at work, I do my homework.  I see the black single mothers on my team checking out black entertainment sites online all day and I wonder if they know how important an education will be for them in the very near future.  My "white self" has been trying to probe them for the reason that they won't go to school.  While I don't say it outloud, I am thinking "You could go to school for free while I had to pay for every penny of my education - and yet, you still won't go".  Up until a week ago, when our insurance carrier changed and made us all really hate our jobs, I bet they were all thinking "Why is she judging us?" 

Last week, when the HMO take-over happened, I found out that now these same girls are all going to try to get into community college in the spring.  They want more opportunities.  I'm very happy for them, but I still have my apprehensions because I am almost done and they are just starting.  Will they think that I am better than them because I have painfully travelled this far?  Will they appreciate me for all of my hard work and now understand how hard that work has been?  Do they see my point about the value of an education now?  Do I have a right to even ask these questions to myself?  Am I allowed to be angry that they will get free educations and probably get some benefits from Affirmative Action that I would never have access to?  Is any or all of this wrong of me? 

Moving on - I think that its good that Barack Obama is making statments about certain racial issues.  While I don't believe that we will ever be one race - the human race - I am encouraged by his speech and mannerisms because maybe they will set a good example for the obnoxious girl in my office.  Then again, am I right to even want this?  Most of Barack's refined behaviors mirror "white mannerisms".  Anyone who wants to contest that needs to look around them.  Barack is trying to do the same thing that Bill Cosby is trying to do.  So, if Barack Obama and Bill Cosby are both urging black people to raise their standards, be more professional, and earn instead of asking - why do I feel guilty for applauding these instructions?

Why do I feel like the white way is the right way?  Why do I feel like blacks should assimilate instead of me assimilating to them?  Do I have the right to ask these things?  Do black people feel the same about white people as I feel about them?  Moreover, I have fun with Tony, Joe, and Donnell, but I wouldn't want to live in their worlds all of the time.  Without these guys and a few others, I am not comfortable in my own skin at work.  There has been a great deal of tip-toeing and attacking going on as well - none of which I can exactly attribute to race, although I suspect it plays a key role.  So, where do I fit in?

To those of you who have actually read all of this, I'd like some feedback.  If you are black, I welcome your feedback on my perspective.  Tell me how you feel about this!

Thanks!

Just take the polls!

Don't be boring - Take my daggone polls.  I didn't put them up their for my amusement only!  They are very timely ---- plus I want to know what you're thinking.  Well, I don't want to know what YOU specifically are thinking (the poll doesn't tell me who you are)...but I'm still curious.

The upside is that there isn't a spot on the White House job application that asked if you answered one of Wendy's polls.  Granted, there may be a question that would disqualify you for visiting my page - but not just for taking the poll!

Now you see it - Now you don't - now you do!

That's right, baby, layaway may be back! 

Back in 2006, (before most of us in the real world knew that the sky was going to come falling down on our heads), Walmart, the ultimate haven of long layaway lines got rid of their program.  I guess we can't much blame them for this as they probably thought everyone had credit since homes were being given away to anyone who asked for one.  Needless to say, the advantage of having layaway programs is back.  K-Mart is really pushing layaway and with any luck, Walmart will soon follow suit. Just for those who are interested, you can also layaway a nose-job or a vacation.  Just have to look in the right places! 

I think that layaway is a really good thing for America and I would like to see it come back.  Not so much for the purposes of indulging in more materialism but reminding those of us who have lived in the "microwave generation" that it is okay to wait for things to come to us.  Not only is not taking that plasma tv home from the store that day good for the soul, waiting in that layaway line to put the plasma on an account will make us think about whether or not we really want it!

So, what do you think about a possible resurgence of the layaway program? Let me know!

Hooray! I got my special powers back!

I feel like a kid in a candy store.  For over 2 months, I haven't been able to do any links or do any cool fonts or colors on my Front Page.  Lauren suggested to me that I download Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox to fix the problem.  I.E. didn't do squat (as if I actually thought it would), but firefox did the trick.  For that...hooray for Firefox, me sooo happy!

Boxers or Briefs?

Want a job in the new Obama Administration?  Get a load of this!

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/national/13apply_questionnaire.pdf

This makes your preference of boxers or briefs look pretty tame!

Maxxed out - and I didn't even feel a thing...

Talk about the fleecing of America - recently, myself and many of my friends with great credit have been having their credit card limits lowered to their current balance.  I had 2 of my own cards, owned by GE Money Bank lowered to their current balances.  Never mind you, that these cards were holding a 15% balance at the time that they lowered them.

There is a huge problem with lowering the credit limit on a credit card.  Not only does it impede the card-holder from making any emergency purchases, but it also impacts their credit ratings.  One of the ways that your credit is judged is by how much of a balance you hold on your credit cards versus the actual limit.  This means, if the credit card company lowers your limit to your actual balance, you are at 100% of your credit limit - which means you have maxxed out your cards!

This is unfair and sickening!  If you are out there, and this has happened to you, please write your Congressman and tell them how you feel about it.  It truly is a theft of your good credit rating.

A timely quote

Be very very careful what you put into that head, because you will never ever get it out.

Thomas Cardinal Wolsey (1471-1530)

Despite the fact that Wolsey made this statement almost 5 centuries ago, it still remains the same today.  Look at how we argue back and forth about politics.  Each little thing we say was planted as a seed by someone else and we logically processed it until it can never leave our minds and most likely will never be dismissed. 

Authentic - You know, like the old Levi 501's

Where in the heck have I been all of these months?  *Takes a deep breath*

Okay, well for those of you who used to read my page regularly, you know that I was finishing graduate school and was quite busy.  I was also helping my sister with my nephew on a regular basis, which also kept me very busy.  I was...in short...busy - too busy for PNN. 

But being busy is only half of the story - I was literally too busy for the changes in the swiftly changing environment at PNN.  To be truthful with each one of you, I used to come to PNN to be myself.  Over the winter, I found out that you can't be yourself on PNN unless you are a liberal "anything goes" kind of person who has an unbearably high level of tolerance for elitistism. That's just my opinion, but to me, thats my "truth".  I don't really care for relationship writers who talk about sex in the context of it being the basis of a relationship.  I don't have time to read reverse-racists posts that are acceptable only because the writer is in a minority race.  I don't need to bombarded with same-sex marriage supporters who, if given the chance, would call me close-minded because I believe that marriage is a Sacred Covenant between a man and a woman before God.  I also don't believe that arranging my furniture in a certain way will fill me with peace and joy. 

I've gotten a few nice notes from some of my readers saying that they miss me and I appreciate those notes.  I also know that a few scattered readers are out there as I still get starred.  I have to chuckle as everytime I am starred, I receive e-mails stating that I have been Flagged and Starred as many people associate flagging as a positive and noteworthy action instead of the negative action that it is on PNN. 

I have sat here for months wondering what I could say or how I could interact in a way that made me feel comfortable in my own Dell Computer Skin.  I didn't want to post anything because I didn't want to show my rage and anger against a blog that seems to have sold itself out for popularity.   I also knew that I couldn't say one decent thing about our former President, George Bush, keeping us safe for 7 years without a stream of protests from those who literally worship the ground the Great One walks upon.  Point blank, I don't go for "anything goes" commercialism and lately around here, that is all that seems to work.

What it all comes down to is this:  I want to be a strong voice for me and I don't want to waste my voice on those who don't want to hear what I have to say anyways.  I also don't care to be patronized by fly-by-night commentators who leave comments only to earn a paycheck or a coffee mug icon. 

Some of you may comment on this post and others of you may be far too embarassed to post.  I sense that has been the case in the past and while I am not asking anyone to comment, I would urge you to, for once, take a stand - even if its unpopular.  The last time I checked, I didn't have a third eyeball growing in the middle of my forehead which means that I certanly can't be the only person left on PNN who feels this way.  

Many blog posters come and go and if I go tomorrow, nobody will miss me for very long. Not only do I know that, I am also 100% okay with that.  But for this moment, this very moment, I have to be authentic for me and that means drawing one serious line in the sand.  If I decide to stay, I will be a reflection of the old PNN.  The PNN before free chocolates and pink laptop give-aways.  After all, if you love something, you shouldn't need to be enticed into participating, now should you?

God Bless!

Pimp this Bum

I love this site!!!!  Watch the video at the bottom.  Donate on the right!

Yes, lets do talk "race"

As you local hometown White Girl, I believe that it my obligation to let all of my white friends in on a little secret.  SHHHH...you heard it here first. 

The secret is:  There is NOTHING that white people will ever be able to do to redeem themselves from the ancestory of racism and slavery that they didn't even participate in.  Don't even try to redeem yourself, you're just going to dig yourself in deeper.  Don't try to appease - you just can't and won't be able to do it. 

Desegregating schools, buses, water fountains and lunch counters didn't do it.  The civil rights movement didn't do it.  Affirmative action didn't do it.  Disproportionate amounts of welfare distributions didn't do it, free college education didn't do it - and even voting for a Black President didn't do. 

White People, you will never be able to fix the racial divide but you will be taunted every step of the way.

What brings on this anger?

I don't know.  Maybe it started with Barack Obama's comments about pictures on the dollar bills.  Maybe it was Eric Holders comments about Americans being cowards about race.  Maybe it was the Black Panthers at the Election Day polls in Philadelphia.  Maybe it was Bobby Rush forcing Roland Burris down out throats in a race to get votes for the Stimulus Plan.  Maybe its James Clyburn stating that governors who don't want to take "strings attached stimulus" checks are against Blacks for taking a stance.

It could have also beeen when we were asked - as a country- to believe that Barack Obama didn't hear a word that Rev. Wright said in his hate mongering racist church for 20 years..not a word of it...nope!  But while we are talking about Reverends, we might as well throw Lowery into the bunch.  He tried to reinforce the oppression of Whites at the Inauguration. 

I can't quite put my finger on it..but its one of them and I am tired of trying to figure out which one of the moves that whites have  made towards racial equality that makes us more racist than we were back in the days of the Plantations and the Big Houses.

Why is it that when race was a real issue, nobody talked about it - and now that it is become a non-issue, every Black politician on the planet wants to crawl out from behind the woodwork and begin a fight over it?

hmmmm.....

******

This is my addendum to the first part of this entry:

I'm going to tell everyone why race issues between Blacks and Whites will never die.  Its because race is TOO powerful of a weapon to be given up so easily.  For the last half-century, Whites have lived with the guilt of some very attrocious things done to Blacks for centuries.  Was any of it right?  NO?  Is it over, yes?  Aside from some crazy whacko KKK members forging their way through streets in some small American towns, there really is no real open presence of racism.

The problem with giving up racism is that it gives White people the right to be forgiven and therefore no longer obligated to do more for Blacks to make it up.

Don't believe me?  Read Shelby Steele's book "White Guilt".  Dr. Steele is a Black author who will tell you in the book the very things that I am typing here.  Allowing White people to be free from the guilt of racism allows them to be free from doing things to make up for slavery.

If the bar for being free from the guilt of slavery is ever-so-slightly risen everytime that Whites do something to right the wrongs and bring equality to all, then they will never be free. 

Who would have ever thought that there would be a day when we would have a Black President?  Who really would have thought that?  I know many elderly blacks, victims of discrimination, who would have never believed they would see the day!  So, what happens?  We get a Black President and now we have Black politicians running around talking about how Whites are trying to keep them down.  Keep them down from WHAT?  Barack Obama - a black man - is holding the highest office in the country.  What is there to be kept down from?

Please bear this in mind, both Whites and Blacks - that ALL have the right to have their voice heard.  If you're Black, you have a pretty good base and get a free pass on your opinions of racial issues.  The press wouldn't dare supress your voice or stand in your way.  If you're White, the case is not the same - but thats because you more than likely allow it to be so.  When no concessions are given to either side - then - and only then will we be able to have real discussions about race.

Me first AND me only mentality

What on earth is wrong with people?  The 93 year old man who froze to death in Michigan, in his home, with the electric bill money attached to the bill might give us some clues. 

Marvin Schur, the freezing victim, left all of his money (hundreds of thousnds) to a local hospital.  But before he unwillingly died at the hands of Old Man Winter and an assanine electric company - he had the money to pay the bills but the inability to pay them! 

City records show that Mr. Schur made several attempts to pay his electricity bill by going to the bank to pay them.  Each time he went to a different bank, they rejected the payment because it wasn't an authorized payment center.  Each time that happened, the late fees got higher and higher until the electricity company limited his consumption which subsequently led to his death.

Now, I ask you - what on earth is wrong with people?  If you see a 93 year old man confused about where to take the payment, you put him in your car and you take him to make the payment.  Or, you go to the post office, buy a stamp and envelope for him, help him to address the envelope, help him to fill out the check, and you mail it for him!  I don't even need to go into how disturbed I am about his family not helping him - but I'm disappointed in the public in general.  What type of kids have we been raising in America for the past 50 years that would make them think that it would be okay to repeatedly turn this 93 year old man away?!   At the very least, someone could have made a call to social services to for a health and welfare check!

Does our "me first and me only" mentality really have to go this far?

He held my heart in his hands

Ah!  Nothing ever works as planned - but sometimes that is a very good thing!

Over the weekend, we had family in town.  My nephew, Anthony, was in my car on Sunday and his fleece-lined hooded coat was left in the backseat.  It was pretty chilly on Monday and Tuesday but he made due with his other jacket.  Today, it was very cold and the sleet and snow came down for a few hours.

At 11 AM, I stopped by daycare to swap out the coats.  The kids were jut sitting down to lunch.  Anthony shared his hot-dog, mac & cheese, and I fed his applesauce and pudding to him.  I really needed to get on with my day but he didn't want me to leave.  Anthony is already attached to me at the hip - but pulling him out of an entire day of paid daycare is not on my agenda any day of the week. 

Try as I may, everytime I tried to leave, he got upset and started to cry.  I promised him a Diego shaped cookie, promised to take him for a toy, tried everything - nothing worked.  Then, in that brilliant moment of aunt-hood, an idea hit me.  In my tote-sized purse, I have a 3M Sticky Note pad that has note pages shaped like hearts.  I pulled one out and asked him to hold it for me until I got back.  He seemed to like that, so I piled 3 more on for him.  He was thrilled!  I blew him a few kisses, he caught them, and I left. 

When I showed up at 3 PM, the kids were just waking up for their naps.  I quietly tip-toed into the still darkened room and there was my Anthony sitting up on his mat - looking right at me.  In his reached out hand were all 4 heart shaped sticky-notes.  He told me that they had gone to bed with him.

The classroom teacher told me that Anthony had cried himself to sleep after I had left him.  Yet, despite all of that, Anthony did not lose one little sticky note.  That means more to me than anyone will ever know.

100% of the time, Anthony has me wrapped around his finger.  But today he held my heart in his hands. 

Jenny went for $186 Grand!

I ask you - who has that kind of money anymore?

Jenny - I want your number (really bad)

As a follow up to my story on Jenny's number, I checked the bid this morning and it was up to $369,100.   Ooooh Jenny - you are something else, girly!

Now, someone in the 970 are code is selling their piece of Jenny's number as well!  That bid is over a grand already! 

.........and the real deal area code 515 area code for a starting bid of $20 grand. 

Jenny - I've got your number!

and I'm selling it on eeeeeBay!

Thaaaat's right.  For the next week, YOU can bid on Jenny's number 867-5309.  A DJ in New Jersey is selling his business and this coveted number on eBay.  Watch as the bid's grow! 

Life is just too fun, isn't it?   :) 

Don't lie.  I know you've dialed it at least once in your life!

To my less-than-useful leaders

Attention Timothy Geithner:

I wish I could tell you differently, but Turbo Tax does work properly.  I just sent in my payment electronically.  Of course, I know that you might have been confused, what with the paper check your employer issued to you for paying your taxes....

Nonetheless...Turbo Tax works just fine - even for those who pay our taxes!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Attention Joe Biden:

I'm going to go hang my flag in the front of the house.  I have done my patriotic duty again this year.

You're welcome.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Attention Congress:

Try not to take every penny that I make and waste it.  I'd appreciate that!

Timothy Geithner - Change you can't believe in!

I am as much in love with the Glenn Beck show as the media is in love with Barack Obama...so you can imagine my thrill when Glenn Beck re-debuted on the Fox News Channel this week!  Giving straight talk and unbiased opinion, Glenn has hit it off with a bang! 

At the top of the Glenn's list today was the discussion of Timothy Geithner becoming Secretary of the Treasury.  Glenn thinks that he is the most qualified but still should not given the position.  Despite the fact that Geithner is highly qualified for this position, he unabashedly lacks the moral compass necessary to do what is right for America. 

Geithner expects Americans to swallow the same bitter pill about his tax boo-boos as Obama expected Americans to swallow about Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, and Acorn.  Geithner will not accept responsibility for what he has done and is now blaming the error on Turbo Tax.  Just to get this off the table, I am a user of Turbo Tax and have been so for several years.  I have used it as a simple tax filer and for more complex tax forms which have included overseas income.  If Geithner is saying that Turbo Tax didn't warn him about a possible error - he is as much of a liar as the as my heel on my foot is the lowest part of my body!  There are no two ways about it!  He and Obama want us to forget this transgression as non-intentional because we are in a crisis.  Does someone getting nominated and elected based on a crisis sound familiar to anyone but me?  For this reason alone, Geithner shouldn't be Secretary of the Treasury.  But - there is a deeper issue.....

That issue is America's insistance on remaining a reactionary government.  America is in the position that it is in because our leaders could see the economic train coming down the track and instead of doing anything to divert the train and/or move people off the tracks - they allowed the economy train to slam head on into the American people.  I won't go so far as to expect them to have stopped the train they could see coming, I will give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe this did somewhat sneak up on them like a frog being boiled alive in warm water.  I will not, however, say that they couldn't have done far more.  When they decide to do more - what do we get....*drumroll please*.....T.A.R.P.!!!!  What happened when we got T.A.R.P.?  Not a darn good thing!  Remember how scared most of us were when this Bill came around?   Remember how badly we wanted to be saved?  Remember the state of crisis that we were in?  That was a reactionary state of mind - and look what it got us!  The T.A.R.P. money that was doled out on a partial-basis was given a mandate that the other half wouldn't be doled out until we saw that the first part was working?  Last week, without a shred of evidence that the first payout was working at all - we doled out the second portion of T.A.R.P. money.  Completely reactionary based on a crisis!

Notwithstanding the fact that I already have very little confidence that any member of Congress can do anything better than screw us a little bit more every day, I am very ashamed of this reactionary push for Geithner.  Since our economy is already badly failing and the only thing that we can do to fix the recession is print more money that will push us into an inflationary situation - whats the harm in waiting to find out if we can find someone with integretary to run the Treasury?  What would it really hurt?

We really need to stop and look at who we are sanctioning as competent to run this country in our time of crisis.  Yesterday, the world watched in awe as Barack Obama became President because it supposedly told the rest of the world that we were progressive and ready to be thrust into change.  The half of America that thought that Obama was competent enough to run this country should take a moment to consider that even undergraduate students in junior college are required to prove that they know how to step back from crisis situations, assess those situations, and make sound decisions before acting.  That standard, expected by adults as young as 18 years old is not one that the American people - and clearly Congress - are holding our President or our government to!

We're not getting change with Geithner, we're getting more of the same with the printing presses still running.  If we wanted that, we could have kept Bush's appointees in their offices.  I say "NO" to Geithner!

Bush Commutes the Sentences of Ramos and Compean

It wasn't the crime that sent border patrol agents Ignacia Ramos and Jose Compean to prison - it was the cover up.  In 2005, the two agents failed to report the shooting of a drug smuggler.  They were caught, lied about the details, tried in 2007, and subsequently convicted and sent to prison for sentences of 11 and 12 years respectively.

In his last day in office, President George W. Bush has commuted the sentences of Ramos and Compeon and they will walk out of prison as free men on March 20, 2009.

While I think that Bush should have commuted their sentences a long time ago, I am so thankful for this day to have come.  The sentence has ruined the lives of their families - who lost everything - as the former border patrol agents were the breadwinners in their households.  Many people lie on their jobs about matters far greater than shooting a drug smuggler but in this heated politically-correct environment it seems like the ones that are doing the most to protect our country get punished the worst when they step outside of the boundaries of the law to "handle the business".  No one seems to care that a drug smuggler was attempting to bring drugs to our children - making our streets far more dangerous than they already are.

On a side note:  I am very thankful that Bush has made this decision.  We need to do the exact same for these soldiers in Iraq who are being put on trial for things that they had to do in order to ensure our safety.

This has truly lifted my spirts and I will be one happy girl when Ramos and Compean walk out of prison!

Walmart wants to be your "save-our"

This morning, Walmart stocks opened $5 lower than they had closed the night before.  No big suprise after every the hairy Christmas season, job losses, and a woeful outlook for 2009.  Commentators on CNBC's Squak Box made mention of the fact that people are now buying just straight necessities.  Again - no big surprise!

But now, Walmart, is advertising in new ways that make me tend to think they want to be our save-ours!   Because they know that Americans are cutting back on everything, they are now focussing only on what Americans have to buy or what they just simply cannot cut out of their lives in one way or another.

It all started last month with the Christmas Party theme.  Shoppers were supposed to go to Walmart to buy their gifts for the party, their attire for the party, and the food for the party.

This month, Walmart started an ad for the Football party theme.  Plates of Chips and Dip piled high with cold-cut sandwiches on the side.  They had a large screen tv in the commercial, so I'm assuming that was supposed to be something that needed to be bought at walmart as well.

Today, I saw an ad for Walmart about dieting.  The woman wants to take the Special-K Challenge and can do so by buying her cereal at Walmart.  I also saw an ad for a coffee pot.  Walmart says buying the coffee pot and coffee at Walmart will save over $400 a year when stacked up agains going to the local coffee shop (lets all just call it what it is - Starbucks!).

This new trend is definitely different than the old "Rollback" commercials but in a way, they are quite sad.  First, it means that we probably are going to be a Walmart Nation even more than we already are.  Secondly, Walmart is going to prove how ridiculously many of us lived and how much money we wasted on frills that could have been handled in a much simpler and more frugal way!

I think Walmart should open up a "We'll save you" hotline and allow shoppers to call in for their suggestions of alternative ways to live their lives on a Walmart budget. 

How do you feel about that?

My kinda pet-sitting!

When my sister called last month to ask a favor of me, I gladly agreed to help her out.  Since times are tough, she needed someone to watch the dog, Biscuit and the cat, Danny Boy while she and her hubby took my nephew to see his grandparents in South Carolina for Christmas. 

I was glad to do it because she's my sister and I do love her.  I also don't want her spending a fortune on a kennel right now.  That was - until I found out that she was diagnosed with Pink Eye 24 hours before leaving on her trip.  The doc gave her medicine and she was determined to go - so I was still on for the petsitting venture! 

On Christmas Eve, I hit the door at her house running. My mom had stopped by the house beforehand and sprayed the mud-room door (entry to the house) and the other common doors.  Armed in thick dish-washing gloves and Lysol Wipes, I wiped everything a human being would touch.  Then, with the gloves still on, I systematically began to wash everything in the house that wasn't in a closet or dresser drawer.  In between the clothes washing, I wiped down all of the hard surfaces that I missed before, saturated the air with Lysol spray and cleaned the bathroom.     

Amidst all of this hustle and bustle, I had to take care of the dog and cat.  So, I decided, "House rules be damned - they are doing whatever they want as long as they live!".  In allowing that, Both animals decided to jump up on the beds that they are not allowed up on and relax for a bit.  Danny Boy who is hardly ever in the house slept on the master bedroom bed for almost the entire 3 days.  Danny even got to pee on the kitchen floor (the reason he isn't allowed in the main house in the first place) without being yelled at.  Biscuit got a double-cheeseburger on Christmas Eve, Salisbury steak on Christmas morning (I was too lazy to make a real breakfast), and meatloaf on Christmas night!   Quite frankly, when my family comes back from South Carolina, I'm not sure who will have had a better vacation - them or their pets! 

OPEC shot THEMSELVES in the foot!

Did OPEC cut off their nose to spite their own face?  I'd say that they did!  In the past year, oil rose to $147 p/b.  Today, oil hit the low of under $37 p/b.  OPEC countries are now scrambling to figure out how to fix their own budgets next year based on oil prices that they can't depend on.  When the OPEC countries planned their 2009 budgets, they based their entire budget on getting $90 p/b.  I'm sure that seemed pretty reasonable to them.  Even without a horrible recession, they probably thought that Americans (and other recipient countries) would easily pay at least $90 p/b - at the very least!

OPEC has quickly found out that they were wrong -dead wrong.  But how much are they to blame for their own losses?

While it is true that the recession has made it difficult for anyone to cash in - including OPEC - they didn't make matters any easier on themselves.  In fact, they were the cause of their own demise because they helped to cripple the world economy.  Here's what we already know:

We know that with the crumbling housing market, the citizens of the world were scrambling to stay in their homes, pay bills, and get to and from work.  When oil prices went up, it made it harder to stay in a home, pay bills, buy food, and get to work.

To compound that problem, oil prices were so high that American car manufacturers, with their large-gas guzzling vehicles, starting losing business bit by bit.  As consumers moved away from American vehicles that weren't gas efficient to foreign (and a select few American) vehicles that were gas efficient, OPEC ultimately lost more business because not as much gasoline was needed.  For those who still had gas-guzzlers, they couldn't afford to run back and forth in their vehicles.

As oil prices continued to rise, the cost of flying became unreal.  The general public, being strangled by high prices everywhere, couldn't afford to fly as often.  Baggage costs passed on to the consumers complicated the deal even more.  The airlines were stuck and they couldn't help OPEC with more business even if they wanted to.

Then, more damage was done to the "Oil Economy" by putting truckers out of business.  Truckers were a mainstay in OPEC's budget because they cosume so much fuel so often.  The loss of the ability to afford to run the trucks was definitely a blow to OPEC's 2009 budget. 

OPEC isn't just getting smacked in the face by the American economy, recipient countries all over the world are refusing to pay outrageous prices as well.  China just dropped the price they are willing to pay for oil and their economy tied into the American economy makes it difficult for OPEC to offer any concessions. 

This week, when OPEC cut production by 4 million b/pd, they did so in the hopes of getting the price of oil back up again.  Nice Try!  They are now coming to the rest of the world, hat-in-hand, with absolutely no options.  If they refuse to sell the oil to us and the rest of the world at a reasonable price, then they won't be able to sell it at all.  If they don't sell it to us, their economy will sink even further and at a much faster pace. We will ALL go down, but we will do it together.  Last year, when we were paying $4+/gallon of gas, OPEC raised production by a very small amount, less than 1 million b/pd.  They didn't want to offer us any relief and now we are unable to do the same thing - not that we would be willing to do so in the first place.

So, did OPEC put themselves into their own predicament?  You bet they did!

Casey needs to stop playing with her family's emotions

A little more commenting on the Caylee case, here.  I have never been a huge fan of grandmother, Cindy.  Part of me just doesn't believe that she could be dumb enough to fall for her daughter, Casey's, lies.  But when I saw Cindy coming out of church on Sunday with a teddy bear in her arms, I couldn't help but be sad for her.

With the skull of the child found in the woods 1/4 miles from the Anthony's home all but identified as Caylee's,  the Anthony grandparents are still holding tight to their belief that "it was the nanny".  I don't know how long this coping mechanism will hold on but I suppose that I would need some help coping if I had even an inkling of a clue that my daughter had killed my granddaughter and then placed her remains within walking distance of the house. 

Casey, meanwhile, is still "playing it up" for everyone at the jail. When she heard the news of the skull being found, she was so "upset" that she had to be sedated.  There have only been two times when Casey has cried and they were both about her.  First, she cried when they denied her bail on the child neglect case - and the second time was at the unveiling of the body she didn't think anyone would find. 

This case is definitely turning into one of emotional involvement.  For so many reasons, I can't stop watching.  I'd like to see Casey punished - but even more so - I'd like to see George and Cindy get some peace and closure.  Most of all, I'd like to see Caylee get the chance to truly rest in peace.

Entertaining Angels Unaware

Living in the Washington D.C. area, I am ever-reminded of how dangerous the world can be.  Every contact that I have with another human being has a pretty good chance of ending up negatively.  I am constantly torn between doing good for others and walking away because of the fear of the unknown.

Tonight, after working a long day, I discovered that I had no canned cat food in the house.  That meant only one thing - a quick trip to Walmart.  As I walked out the front door, there was a black Monte Carlo sitting across the street with some pretty well known drug dealers inside.  Walking to my car in the dark makes me nervous enough - doing it with drug dealers less than 20 feet away really makes me nervous.  They had been there since I got home from work at 6 PM.  I took my time at Walmart hoping that they would just leave and be gone by the time I got home. 

As I stepped out the door of Walmart, a middle aged heavy set woman approached me and asked me if I would be passing the hospital on my way home.  I asked her if she needed to go to the hospital and she said that she worked there and needed a ride.  I told her that it wasn't on my way home, but that I would be glad to take her to work.  I introduced myself to her and she told me her name was Valerie. 

Valerie said she catches rides to and from work every day. The bus on weekdays when it runs, and friends and strangers on the weekends when the bus isn't running.  It must be just as scary for her to ask for a ride from a stranger as it is for a stranger to give her a ride.

As I let this perfect stranger, Valerie, into my car, the thought crossed my mind, "Please God, don't let me die trying to help someone".  This thought has crossed my mind a few times as I have taken people where they need to go.  Valerie, by far, has been one of the safer bets of people that I have given a ride, but she was no less of a risk than any other passenger.  As we rode along, she told me that she had been standing outside of Walmart for almost an hour asking people for a ride and everyone said they weren't going that way.  The hospital is only 5 minutes from me and our local Walmart is the only Walmart within 12 miles in one direction and 17 miles in the other direction. Of course somebody was going that way, they just didn't want to and weren't going to take the chance with Valerie.

I can't say that I blame anyone for not wanting to take Valerie to work.  The world is a very scary place and even middle-aged heavy set women can be predators.  I try to practice caution and have quite a bit of street-smart, but in the end, it is all absolutely 100% in God's hands.  My great-grandmother Emma used to say, "You won't hang if you weren't meant to drown", and I guess I believe that.  God allows me to have a job, a place to live, money, and a car if I don't believe that I would be put into a bad situation unless that is what He wanted to happen to me.  If God wanted me to hang tonight (or get shot, stabbed, mugged, carjacked..etc...), it was going to happen whether I tried to help Valerie or not. 

Five minutes after dropping Valerie off, I pulled up infront of my house and looked ot my left.  The occupied black Monte Carlo that had been there since 6 PM (over 4 hours at this point) was gone.  Maybe Valerie was my angel and I was "entertaining her" for a sum total of 10 extra minutes in order to give our neighborhood drug dealers time to leave.

This story leaves me with some many lessons - take from it what you will :)

What we can learn from O.J.

O.J. got sentenced to up to 33 years in jail and Kato Kaelin calls the Las Vegas incident a "Karma Trial".  Judge Jackie Glass, in her sentencing, made it clear that O.J. and his co-defendent C.J. Stewart were only being sentenced based on the incidents that occured at the Palace Station Hotel in 2007.  Perhaps O.J. was only being sentenced for his role in the armed robbery and kidnapping that took place in the Palace Station Hotel, but Karma was sentencing O.J. for so much more!

Karma started sentencing O.J. right after he was acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.  Karma tried to reckon with O.J. through the civil trial in which a judgement of $42,000,000 was levied against him.  O.J. didn't pay through a criminal trial and he evaded his responsibilities in the civil trial.  Karma tried to catch with O.J. in calls to police for home disturbances and domestic cases and also in a road rage incident.  Through all of this, O.J. stayed one step ahead of Karma. 

At no point was O.J. willing to accept the fact that he can't always run away from responsibility and that at some point, everyone has to pay the piper.   Had O.J. "manned-up" back when the civil judgement was levied against him, he would have been far too humble to attempt the Palace Station Hotel robbery.  Had he humbled himself during the road rage case, again, he would have been too humble to attempt the roberry.  Karma has been chasing O.J. for 13 years, trying to catch up with him and bring him back down to the planet Earth with the rest of us.  Unfortunately, O.J. never paid attention to Karma.  Even after his initial arrest in Las Vegas, he slammed Karma's head up against the pavement by offering shady bail documents. 

In the end, O.J. found himself railing against reality for the last time and Judge Jackie Glass wasn't trying to hear any of it.

The moral of the lesson is this:  When you know Karma has it in for you, just face-up, fess-up, get it out of the way and move on with life.

Doctor, Doctor, give me the news....

Oh my goodness!  What has rocked the nation into distress this week?  You would think that with the economy in an "official recession", threats of a biological attack by 2013, job losses, and a climate that is all over the place, folks wouldn't be worried about a free soda.  But, Oh!  You would be incorrect!

It seems that Dr. Pepper made a lil deal with America.  Dr. Pepper said that he (we'll use he, it makes this story so much better), would give everyone in America a free soda if Guns N' Roses came out with their album before the end of 2008.  Well, Axl Rose pulled through with "Chinese Democracy" and now the fans of either Dr. Pepper, GN'R or both want their free soda!

Dr. Pepper initially offered a coupon for a free soda on its website but the popular race for the coupon crashed the site.  Then, they lengthened the time allowed to grab the free coupon from 24 - 42 hours.  Then, they set up a phone line for the free soda coupon.  Then, they set up an answering machine for those who couldn't get through on the line.  Apparently, they just can't make everyone happy.

No matter what poor old Dr. P does - he's going to be wrong.  GN'R wants an apology from the soft drink company.

Perhaps they could just make it rain Dr. Pepper and make everyone happy at the same time.

As an editorial note:

This all leads me back to my firm belief that the more people I meet, the more I like my cats!

Are you a TiVo / DVR addict?

I found a great article on CNN this morning.  Aside from the general news that everyone is talking about - economy, bailouts, Christmas, Mumbia, terrorism, more terrorism, and people who we think are terrorists, there is very little that creeps inside my head the way this morning's article on TiVo did!

I don't own a TiVo, but I do have a dual-tuner DVR from the cable company.  For those who don't know what a DVR is, its a Digital Video Recorder.  Basically, it records programs right onto your set-top box without having to use tapes.  It's Wonderful!  On a DVR, you can start watching a program and pause it, rewind it, or decide that you want to watch it - but later.  With the press of one button, the show starts recording for you!  I can even record a show and watch another show while the first one is recording by switching to the other tuner on the DVR.

I generally record House, Prison Break, Nancy Grace, First 48,  Rookies, and American Justice.  I used to record Crossing Jordan every morning.  It isn't so much that I record and watch these shows that is the problem, its the other shows that I record and never watch that is a problem.  For example, right now, I have 2 episodes of Greta Van Susteren on the DVR from last week that I haven't watched yet.  There are also some History Channel shows that seemed interesting that I have yet to watch either.  My recording limit is about half full and when it creeps above half full, the watching of some regular shows usually stamps it back down to half.  When it gets to 68%, I am at my limit and start to purge shows that I am never going to watch. 

I think that my psyche is set to always have something to do and while I don't remember a third of what I see on TV, having those recorded shows is like a life vest for me.   I must be subconsciously thinking, "What will happen if there is nothing on the 400 channels of TV that I want to watch?"  I must be saving these for the day that there actually is nothing on to feed my eyes and my brain!

On yet another disturbing level, DVR keeps me from discovering new shows.  The only time I know that a new show is on is when I accidentally don't hit fast-forward fast enough on the DVR while I'm watching a recorded show.  In those few seconds, a new show that might interest me is advertised!  That's how I found out about Rookies! 

My conclusion is that DVRs and TiVo lead us into the constantly revolving door trap.  The machine keeps feeding us shows that we want to follow and we always want more!  I think there should be a TiVo Anonymous out there somewhere!  I don't think I'll ever be able to delete the First Episode of Crossing Jordan when Bug sings the song from the Wizard of Oz.  It's only 20 seconds long, but I have to keep the whole hour of the show for that 20 seconds! :)

Anyone else addicted to recording?

What would you tell this boy?

There are so many sad stories coming out of Mumbia, India - and rightfully so.  The one that tugs so much at my heart is the story of a 13 year old boy who is in the hospital recovering from shrapnel wounds.  He hasn't yet been told that both of his parents, his uncle, and three of his cousins all died as a result of the terrorist attack.  His older brother says that when his brother gets out of the hospital, he will tell him about the death of his parents and show them the grave site.  The boy has asked for his parents and people keep telling him that they are seeking his parents out and that they will come soon.  Surely, he knows the truth.  

This is so terribly sad.  How do you tell a boy who more than likely had a very close relationship with everyone in his family that not only are both of his parents gone - but also his cousins whom he was close to as well?

Is it better to lie to him in the short run or just tell him the truth and hope that it doesn't crush him enough to keep him from recovering in a timely manner?

What would you do?

Stick to the Calendar, Pal!

I'm trying very hard to be extra nice to my boss today (because his last day is Friday as he was laid off), but he's really pressing his luck.

Two weeks ago, he called me on my day off to ask me to modify my schedule over the holiday months.  I told him that I would and I sat down at my calendar while on the phone with him and discussed in detail my schedule.

Well, he asked me not to come in today and tomorrow and asked me to make it up later in the week.  I agreed.  I put it on the calendar, I confirmed it, and that was that. 

Apparently, after the phone conversation, he changed the schedule without notifying me.  So, when nobody was at work this morning, he caught a really bad attitude with me.  First, he told me that he knows that I go by my calendar but that he has a different calendar (the same one I coordinated with in the first place), and then he said that I had to work tomorrow.

I told him that there is no way that I would have agreed to this on finals week. I don't know what kind of professional environment he came from, but where I am from - we work off of calendars and if you are going to change something, you notify everyone in writing and get confirmation before you are sure of the change.

Now, he's giving me the cold shoulder. 

I'll work tomorrow if I feel like it.

Inauguration Melee?

Tonight, I am talking about the expected Inauguration Day turnout.  There is expected to be up to 4 million people coming to the Washington DC area for the Inauguration of Barack Obama.  Some estimates have the turnout being from 2-4 million.  These prospects scare the hell out of me because I know what a congested Washington DC is like! 

I think that if we have even 1.5 million people showing up for this event, we put ourselves in a state of public crisis.  Please read the following from the Metro site.  (for those of you not from the DC area, Metro is our train system):

Metrorail will operate rush hour service for 15 consecutive hours (4 a.m. to 7 p.m.), will stay open for two extra hours (until 2 a.m.), offer free parking at its facilities and will be one important transportation alternative for people who are planning to attend the Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.

Metro officials expect extremely crowded conditions on Inauguration Day. Metrorail stations and trains will be packed as people head to the Inauguration, and expect to see even tighter conditions afterward. Expect the crowds to be huge with hundreds of thousands of people expected to be in the nation's capital not only for Inauguration Day, but for the days preceding it as well.

The U.S. Secret Service has deemed the Inauguration as a special national security event and due to security measures, the Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter Metrorail station on Metro’s Green and Yellow Lines, will be closed all day on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20. In addition one of two entrances to the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange Lines will also be closed. The Smithsonian station entrance on the National Mall will be closed. The Independence Ave SW entrance will remain open.

Please believe me, this inauguration will be a melee of epic proportions!  Even if everyone in the DC area took the day off from work, the trains would still be crowded.  Even the Metro system is telling people that they would be better off walking on Inauguration Day!  They are expecting 120,000 people an hour!   What does that say for their confidence to perform?  As a commuter who used to use the trains everyday, I can tell you that it was a cattle car with just normal commuters.  Normal circumstances being an average of 700,000 commuter spread out throughout the entire train system for an entire commuting day (6 a.m. - midnight/2 a.m.)  - not localized to the Inauguration route!  BIG TROUBLE!

This kind of crowd also brings with it some major security concerns.  How will we be able to ensure ourselves against terrorism?  Where would people go if a terrorist attack took place?  What if the worst took place and there was a biological attack.  All of these things really frighten me.

While I understand the historical implications of this particular Inauguration Day, I can't foresee anything less than tragedy.  What are your feelings on this?  If you live in the DC Metro area, what is your take on this day?

You CAN be prepared when traveling abroad!

In light of the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbia, India, I urge all of my readers to be well informed before they travel overseas!  You have some great sources at your fingertips compliments of the State.gov  warnings page  and traveler alerts can keep be useful to a traveler from anywhere on the planet! There is also a page jam-packed with a list of every country, so that you can take a peek for yourself!  These pages will tell you about health care, crime, and logistics of any country you could imagine visiting.  Don't say you weren't warned! :)   While this site was created for American travelers, there is very important information on the page for travelers from other countries.  In particular, the

If you are an American citizen, the consular is your friend and you should know in advance what the consular can do for you.  The following pages can give you some important information about what to do if there is a problem while you are overseas.

Death while traveling abroad

Arrest while traveing abroad

Victim of a crime while traveling abroad

Missing American Citizen while traveling abroad

Child Abduction while traveling abroad

You may also be very interested in knowing which countries are bound by the Hague Pact.  This may influence your decision to travel abroad.

Most importantly, be sure to register with the Consulate before traveling overseas or as soon as you get to your destination.  If you don't register with the consulate, they will have no idea where you are and if you are in a bad area, they won't know where to look for you.  If they don't know where to look for you, they won't know how to get an evacuation team to you or get you to a place of evacuation.  Remember the summer of 2006, when America was trying to get its citizens out of Beruit?  If you don't tell the Consulate where you are at, you will experience the same difficulties that those people experienced.  Many countries got their citizens out, but they have to know where there people are in order to get them out!  Do yourself a favor, register!

I say all of this because I want people to be proactive in their own safety.  If terrorism is going to strike, there isn't much that we can do aside from being prepared.  So be prepared!

Nobody in my family knows what sleep is!

My dear friend, Rosemary, knows what its like to not get much time to herself.  She and I have been in the same boat lately.  For the past few weeks, I have been trying desperately to get to bed at a decent hour and catch a nap a few days a week and everytime I do - something happens.

Because I have a toddler nephew and a mentally-straying father, I refuse to turn my cell phone off at any time during the day or night.  Point blank, I am reachable 24/7.  I wish I didn't have to stick to the "Wendy is always available" policy because it's really starting to get to me. 

The other night, after working four 10 hour shifts, I was fading off to sleep at 10 pm, having to be up for work again at 6 a.m. when my phone rang.  It was my father.  He didn't really have anything to say, just wanted to check on me.  I appreciate that more than he will ever know, but I can't get it through his head that 10 p.m. is an inappropriate time to be on the phone unless I am initiating a call to someone who will accept a call after that time.  Guilt ridden for yawning at my father, I stayed up and talked to him about absolutely nothing for 10 minutes.  I then didn't get back to sleep until almost midnight.

My sister, for whom I keep the phone on in case of emergencies with my nephew, doesn't understand the concept of private time either.  On my days off, she calls me at 8 AM and then seems taken aback when I sound tired. She also calls quite often when I am taking a nap.  She's an anti-napper, so no hope for me getting any respect there. I know she is calling out of boredom and the need for adult communication, but I am not good for it that early in the morning!  She also calls me on the way to work 3 days a week.  I like to use my drive-time to work to catch up on the news, not chat.  Needless to say, a lil less calling wouldn't hurt.

Tonight, I got home early from work and wanted to catch a quick nap before starting some classwork and housework.  I watched last nights DVR'ed episode of Prison Break (I have to record everything because of my busy schedule!)and was just fading off to sleep when the Red Cross called me for blood donations.  I call the Red Cross the Vampires because they always want to take my valuable O+ blood.  I could have done without their call tonight!  They always try to hook me up with a "convenient" blood drive in my area and its never "convenient" or "in my area".  I'd much rather just give at work or at the closest hospital when they need it. 

Needless to say, nobody in my family but me has an interest in my getting some good sleep!

I have classwork to complete all the way up until the beginning of January.  All I want between now and then is 10 good nights of sleep and about 5 good naps.  Does anyone out there think I'll get them?

Anthony's Aunt's Great Recommendation!

For the parents of young children out there - I'd like to recommend Crayola BathTime Color Dotz.  These little tablets turn the bath water brilliant colors!  My nephew just loves them!  All of the colors come out so vivid (2 works better than 1) and children get fascinated by them! P.S. You can mix colors to make other colors.  We mix blue and red to make purple. 

I get them at Walmart, but you can buy them directly off of Crayola for about $.90 more (plus shipping).

Buy Gift-Cards with Caution!

Just a little FYI from Newsweek, be careful where you buy gift cards this year.  The stores may not be open in 2009! 

If I buy gift cards, I'm probably going to stick to Walmart, Starbucks, grocery stores, or dare I say it - gas station.  You might want to check the trends on your favorite store before you run out and buy a gift card.  I was in Linens n Things about 2 weeks ago, checking out their bare "Going out of Business" shelves and they are no longer accepting store gift cards. 

Field Report: Black Friday

My alarm clock went off at 2 a.m.  this morning.  I sat up for a minute and wondered why my alarm was going off that early.  Then, I looked on the dresser and saw my mini-purse and remembered that it was time to shop!  For women, a mini-purse is essential for Black Friday because its one less thing to carry.  Believe it or not, it is possible to survive 5-7 hours of shopping without back-up lotion, a manicure kit, or makeup!

I was out of the shower, hair done, dressed, and in the car by 2:30.  Granted, I looked like crap in my gray sweats, a yellow shirt, and a red jacket, but I was out there.  By 2:40, I had a fresh coffee and a tank of gas. 

I arrived at the St. Charles Town Centre Mall at 3:10 a.m.  I was the first one at the J.C. Penney's door!  By 3:30, I had about 30 people behind me and by 3:56 when they opened the doors, there were almost 200 people behind me.  I immediately hit the men's section.  My dad and my brother-in-law are the hardest to shop for because they both wear strange sizes in pants.  Because I was first, I had time to calmly leaf through the sizes until I found my dad 3 different kinds of pants - jeans, khakis, and courderoy and my bro-in-law a pair of jeans and carpenter jeans (he is a carpenter after all!).  I got them each some sweaters and some do-dads and checked out.  I dropped the stuff off in the trunk of the car and met my mom, sister, and friend outside.  I went upstairs, got some more stuff for myself and checked out again!  Overall, I saved about 65% at JCP.

By then, it was 5:10 a.m., I had been through 2 lines at JCP.  I went to Lane Bryant where I had the nicest guy in the world helping me to find my clothes!  Lane Bryant had a B.O.G.O. and I had separate coupons as well.  Overall, I saved about 65% at Lane Bryant as well!

I bid my sis, mom, and friend goodbye and left the mall.  From there, I went to Best Buy to get the rest of my mom and sis's stuff.  I had Reward Zone coupons and had already scoped their stuff out in the sales ad.  Best Buy was smart this year!  The news cameras were there and they had choppers in the sky.  I made sure to wave!   They had separate lines for "Door-Buster" items like laptops, tv's, and cameras.  I was out of the regular line in less than 3 minutes. Savings at Best Buy were about 60% with my coupons.

By 7:10 a.m., I was home and had all of the stuff I bought lugged into the house.

Now, I need a good nap before I go to work tonight!

Happy Black Friday, Everyone!

Tisk-Tisk!

...And this is why the President can't have a Blackberry!

Verizon wireless has reported that an employee at the company was going through President - Elect Barack Obama's cell phone records.  The company says that it is investigating the breach, but that voicemails were not listened to.

I can't think of a better reason why the president shouldn't have a cell phone or Blackberry - can you?

A ticket you won't soon forget -

Talk about the Grinch that saved Christmas!  In Barre, Vermont, citizens who receive parking tickets can now pay their tickets by dropping off a toy for the Christmas for Kids program.  Like most of the country, the program is down on its luck.  This program will help the city to make a brighter Christmas for needy children. 

Of course, if you still feel the need to be a grinch, you can just pay the ticket!  :)

                                  Who couldn't love this idea?

Radio Silence on Casey's Phone

Am I eating crow now, or what?  They still haven't found lil Caylee's body.  New theory.   I think that Casey knew about cell phone pings and purposely sat in different areas with her phone on for certain amounts of time in order to throw the cops off.  There are, after all, some pretty huge gaps when her phone was not on - which gave her plenty of time to get rid of the silence.  For a girl who was always on the phone or texting, any silence is a signal that something was amiss. 

I think cops were asking the right questions, they just weren't asking the secondary questions!  They heard the hoofbeats, thought it was a horse, and it may very well end up being the zebra!

Scott Peterson was a cute baby too!

I wanted to update everyone on what is going on in the Casey Anthony case.  As some of you may know, she has been charged with the murder of her (then) 2 year old daughter, Caylee.  Equusearch is in Florida getting ready to look for the remains again.

The Prosecutor has received some paperwork from the Defense stating that Caylee's death may have been an accidental overdose.  All the while, they are maintaining that Caylee is still alive and well out there somewhere in Texas, Puerto Rico, or Mexico.  The Defense is getting restless because they know with all of the cell phone pings in the wooded area around the Anthony home and the airport, there is a darn good chance that they will find Caylee's remains and they want to get some kind of begging out on the table before that happens. 

Meanwhile, the Defense has leaked to the press pictures of Casey Anthony as a baby in hopes that the Prosecution will soften up and not seek the death penalty against her.  Casey Anthony is a pretty young lady, there is no doubt that she was a cute baby - but it leads me to the following rationale:

Scott Peterson was a cute baby too!

(Chapter 11) Bankruptcy is not a bad word!

The people of Anna, Ohio say that the Auto Bailout is not a good idea!  While they live in a town where the failure of the American auto industry would devastate the town, they still don't like the idea of the bailout.  At the Inn Between diner, staff state that a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy would be a better idea because you can't throw money at a problem and expect the problem to be fixed.

It is heart-warming to me, and my belief in American intelligence and ingenuity, that victims of the car industry "crash" (pardon the pun) would be wise enough to know that if you don't get the bad people out, reorganize, and retool, the problem will continue to perpetuate itself!

Let's get down to the nitty gritty here.  The American economy has been run for decades on the false presumption that if you aren't making money or worse - have to claim bankruptcy, you are not a valuable company and you never will be.  We are so afraid of the word "bankruptcy" that we often will do anything to avoid it.  I have seen people who need to take Chapter 7 literally rob Peter to pay Paul until the very end.  Eventually, they find out that Peter is gone and Paul is still looking to be paid.  When they finally start the liquidation process, they have lost years of rebuilding their lives - years frittered away trying to avoid the inevitable.  The same parallels can be drawn for GM and a Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  They are robbing Peter (the US taxpayers) to pay Paul (the Unions).  Even if we were to bail them out this time, if they don't reorganize by claiming Chapter 11, "Paul" is always going to come back with his hand out for more and "Peter" will not be around to pay him.  Meanwhile, as GM remains unable to restructure because they have shunned a Chapter 11, they will be going deeper into debt and have no way to dig themselves out of it.  They will also be losing prescious time that could be dedicated to retooling and new product innovations.  All the while, the foreign auto makers will continue to pull ahead.

Do you see where I am headed here?  Eventually, even if GM doesn't want to, they will have to admit defeat.  If Congress allows them to be bailed out, they are telling us that we have to pay for the prolonged process of being defeated.

As a note to GM, I'd like to say: Bankruptcy in the form of a Chapter 11 Re-organization is not a bad word!  Let go of your pride and just do it!  You don't get any brownie points for stressing the American economy more than you already have.  If anything, you are losing respect from the portion of the people who have their money invested in the economy (and the tax system) by not dong the right thing.  Bankruptcy is not a four-letter word - quit acting like it is!

Good Books

For those of you who love reading and have not read "Escape" by Carolyn Jessop, I'd recommend it as an A++ read!

Carolyn was born into a polygamist family and at the age of 18, was married off to Merrill Jessop, a man who already had 3 wives.  She was absolutely miserable in the marriage and she and her children were subject to abuse by Merrill and the other wives.  For many years, Carolyn survived only on her ability to keep her husband happy in bed and have his children.  She ended up with 8 children!  Her last two children, Harrison and Bryson were special challenges.  Harrison developed a brain tumor and was very difficult to deal with on a day-to-day basis and was left permanently disabled after surgery to remove the tumor.  While she was dealing with all of Harrison's problems (with no help from her sister-wives), Bryson was born prematurely. 

Despite all of her struggles, Carolyn still did everything that she could to maintain her individuality.  She received a teaching degree, ran a hotel, and reared her children and those of her sister-wives.

Carolyn is an inspiration to me because she shows that no matter what happens in your life, whether you choose for it to happen or not, you can rise above it.  Carolyn had nothing and nobody on her side and she still managed to rise above the difficulties that would throw the rest of us into a state of permanent shock. 

************************************************

Another good read is Anderson Coopers "Dispatches from the Edge".  Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, the son of Gloria Vanderbuilt, he really didn't have to go out and maintain a living for himself.  Anderson wilfully places himself in harm's way to bring the news to us in raw, unedited format.  This book will make you cry and still want to turn the next page.

Remembering 9/11

I wasn't here when they landed on the moon, I wasn't here when JFK or Martin Luther King, Jr were assassinated, but I was here for 9/11. 

On that Tuesday morning, I was passing a television at work when I heard that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. I thought that it was a little Cesna hitting the top of the towers - a complete accident or freak event.  I didn't think much about it, but said to my co-workers as I went back into a meeting, "A plane just hit the World Trade Center". 

It was only a few minutes later when the news came out that we were under attack.  I remember parents running to their cars at break-neck speed to go pick up their children.  The entire office was empty and quiet.  Out of the few people left at work, I was one of the only ones who had cell signal.  I let my co-workers call home to see if their family members were okay.  I left my phone with them, went into the bathroom, threw up, and tried to pull myself together. 

Everyone's priorities had changed.  Nobody cared about what was going on at work.  We had been forever changed by the events of that day.

My heart goes out to the victims of 9/11.  They share a pain in history unlike any that those in my generation will ever know.

Political Blogging

Political Blogging for 2008.

Rosemary's Blog

Visit my friend Rosemary's blog.  She's a great writer and a wonderful finance professor to boot! 

I hope he gets mauled!

I don't know where to put the anger this morning.

On my way to my car this morning, I saw a dog running behind his owner.  He wasn't running away from him, just playfully running behind him.  The dog ran up to the owner and instead of the owner jut putting the leather leash on him, he started beating him with it, all around his head and his face.  The dog was cowering beside a fence, not fighting the guy to put the leash on or anything.  I shouted "HEY!" and the guy sneared at me, "Don't worry about it". 

I may have stopped the beating this time, but I don't know where the guy lives and I don't live in a neighborhood where a white face looking for a dog belonging to a black guy wouldn't go unnoticed.  I am so angry right now that I don't know what to do.  My sister called me to talk to my nephew, Anthony, and the anger was still raging so badly inside of me that I couldn't even enjoy Anthony.

I hope one of the following things happens:

1.  The dog runs away and gets picked up by someone who will care for it.

2.  The dog mauls the owner to death and then runs away.

3.  Someone who knows where this jack-off lives reports him, has him arrested, and gets the dog taken away from him.

Most of all, I wish the dog would maul him to shreds.  I would be more than happy to record it and show it on YouTube!

Do I feel better after writing this?  YES YES and YES!