A $Trillion$

The girls and I were walking through the grocery store this afternoon when Cayla asks, "Mom, is a trillion a number?" Sadly, I responded, "Yes! It's the dollar figure of our national debt." What I cannot understand is why the government is bailing out the companies that mishandled the funds in the first place. You know what Einstein says about insanity? "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." I've heard several things on the news lately. The first, if the bailout money were given to actual tax paying citizens, as opposed to companies, roughly 90% of the existing mortgages in America could be paid off. Wow, no mortgage payment. THAT could stimulate the economy! Secondly, I've heard that if the money were given to, once again, actual tax paying citizens, as opposed to companies, it would mean about $2000 per family in the U.S. Again, that's a tidy little chunk of change to tuck away, pay off a bill, or buy a new plasma TV. But no, the big plan to bail us (actual tax paying citizens) out is a new tax relief effort that will net us $65 a month. I for one am thrilled. I mean, $65 a month could make the payment on my new Porsche, Toyota, Ford, Mountain Bike pogo stick! Boing! Boing! Boing! PS...spell check doesn't recognize the word 'boing'. It's obviously the sound a pogo stick makes - and Tigger's :)

Canned Response!

I have a pet peeve that I need to vent. I hate it when I call a 1-800 number in an effort to speak with a customer service representative and I am put through a series of automated answers that do NOT help me. It's not that I have a problem with automated service per se, but I do have a problem with it when the automation is certain there is an answer in their stupid line-up of cue prompts, and I am certain there is not. All I want to do is speak to a REAL HUMAN!!!!! The automated service cannot hear my questions, view my account and make a rational, informed decision about the problem. Believe me, after going through their list of a gazillion choices, by the time I do get a real person, if I wasn't upset before I'm pretty hot under the collar by this time. (side note: fortunately I truly HAVE learned that you catch more flies with honey, and so far I haven't bitten off one customer service dudes'/chicks' head :) I realize companies have these automated systems to save money and hopefully direct the customer to a canned response that will solve their problem, but at the very least they need to include, at the end of their ridiculously long list of options, the opportunity to press a specified number for customer service, aka....someone that breathes! Yes, some companies do this, however the USPS and Qwest do not and you have to beg, borrow, steal, plead, cajole, bribe and speak another language just to get to talk to someone with a heartbeat and a pulse. I'd be really happy if companies would get rid of these obnoxious automated systems and hire authentic people to direct our calls again. I guess it's true, 'good help is hard to find' and 'there's just no customer service anymore.' Thank you for taking the time to read my complaint. If this has resolved your reading needs, please press or say 1. If you need to read more, please press or say 2. If at any time you need to speak with a customer service representative........I'm sorry, this option has been removed. Please press or say 3 to hear your options again!

The Library!

Prior to this afternoon, I'm embarrassed to admit that the last time I actually set foot in a library was around 1996 when I was finishing college. It's not that I wasn't aware of it, I just didn't feel a huge need to visit. My children have countless books and videos thanks to relatives who know they make fantastic gifts; so my urgency to get to the library was pretty low. Last week though, my father in law, while waiting for his cable TV to be connected, was checking out movies from the library to meet his TV cravings. I didn't even know the library had DVD's. I didn't figure I would check out any videos, but this did inspire me to actually go TO the library, get library cards for myself and Cayla and let the girls gather books they were interested in reading. I was pleasantly surprised when the girls selected not only leisure reading books, but also books on jellyfish, dinosaurs and rocks.....WOW! They're interested in Science. Who knew?! I told them they could check out as many books as they could carry. So, 17 books and 1 Hello Kitty video later, we have reading material to keep us busy for the next three weeks.

Absolute Indulgence!

One of the things I love about Valentine's Day is a box of assorted chocolates. Especially when that box does not include nuts, but does include creams, particularly maple creams (I think my parents have been lying to me all these years and I'm really from Vermont). It's an absolute indulgence to take one bite out of each piece that looks tempting, and then consume the remaining or reject it depending on my mood. In honor of tomorrow's holiday (however you choose to celebrate), I'm sharing a box of chocolates with you. They're calorie free so ENJOY!!!

Daisy!

Our home school co-op had a Valentine's Party today that turned out to be a lot of fun for the kids, as well as the mom's. As it turns out, we had been trying to have a guest speaker who owns a baby wallaroo (yes, you read that right) to come and give our group a presentation. He was able to make it to our party today (how many people get a baby wallaroo at their Valentine's Day Party?) and gave a fabulous talk on kangaroos, wallabies and wallaroos, then allowed everyone to pet the wallaroo. Turns out they're extremely social little creatures, and "Daisy" was no exception. Here is a photo I was able to snap while she was being shown to the class. Now I want a wallaroo of my own, and according to Jim, our presenter, I can have one for the low low cost of about $4,000. Sadly, I think I'll have to pass.

Undressed!

I was in the store today and observed, for the millionth time, two fashion hideous trends and one hair option that we'll just describe as a 'peculiar decision'.  The first was a young man wearing boxer shorts with sweats pulled down totally BELOW his rear end.  You'd think he'd be worried they would fall off, but apparently not.  I've noticed that the wearers prevent the pants from falling, by walking with their legs spread about 6 feet apart.  Kind of the way you or I might walk if we'd been riding a horse for 3 years straight.  This trend cannot die soon enough for me and I have to wonder about the parents who let Jr. leave the house with his pants hanging down around his knees.  I've heard of 'picking your battles' but this is a battle I think I'd pick.

Evil trend #2 was seen on a woman who appeared to be in her 40's wearing pajama pants. My first thought was that she should be old enough to know better, but apparently not.  When? no, WHY did society decide that wearing underclothes or night clothes out in public was a good idea?  I couldn't even wear my pj's to the hospital when I went into labor in the middle of the night.  I didn't care if I was delivering that baby myself in the car, I was doing it with my regular clothes on.  

Last I saw a woman who had her hair in old fashioned rollers.  I have seen this as many times as the next person and it makes me want to scream, "if you're willing to show yourself in public with your hair in rollers, then WHO ARE YOU CURLING YOUR HAIR FOR?"

I won't claim to be a fashion diva or even 'in the know' on the latest trends, but I'm not blind and I can certainly tell when "sumthin' just ain't right."

"B" Thankful

In keeping with the 'list' theme, my niece over at Clare's Contemplations has an alphabetical list of 5 things she's thankful for, or things that make her happy starting with the letter "A".  I just thought I'd throw in my two cents worth, by moving on to the letter "B".

Barb - My mother in law!  I know too many people who are not thankful for theirs, but mine is simply the best.  We not only have a million things in common, but we're both crazy about her son.

Baking - It makes me happy.  It makes others happy.  And it makes my house smell heavenly.

Basset Hounds - and beagles, bulldogs, bernards (as in St.).  All my favorite dogs start with a 'b'.  Maybe we need a dog, or we just need to visit our friends' dogs, so I can get my dog-fix!

Bible - My guidebook for life.  "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee."  Psalm 119:11

Baskets - If you've been to my house you know they're everywhere.  They're utilitarian, and gorgeous, and they make me happy.

So there's my 5 "B's."  Anybody want to start on the letter "C"?