If the shoe fits…

then throw it!

I’ll admit that Bush has not done much of a job as Prez but does he really deserve to have shoes thrown at him? Naw…rotten eggs, yes, but not a pair of good shoes. Hope they weren’t Gucci…

The Big 3 try again

This time they came in their hybrids and stated they would take a pay
cut down to $1.00 a year and they’ve requested more money.  Do they
really believe these minor changes are going to increase their chances
of a governmental bailout?  I think they have to give a little more
substance than that.  As of this writing (very late Friday evening), it looks like there will be a “trial period” type “bridge” loan, allowing the government to see what these corporations can do with some of the money up until March.  Should be interesting…

So what industry will be the next to seek a bailout?  The hospitals?
How about the supermarkets?  What if there is another writer’s strike
in Hollywood?  Will Tinsel Town seek a bailout from the government?
Stay tuned….

What would you do?

An interesting scenario was talked about today on Oldies 103.3 with Zito and Karen Blake. 

I didn’t catch the story from the start but as I listened I gathered enough to understand that apparently a gentleman had recently been laid off from his job after 20 years.  I’m not sure what he did for a living but apparently his severance package was decent enough for him to want to use half of it and take his wife on a dream European trip.

I guess this guy wanted people’s opinions of what he should do because he himself wasn’t so sure.  So the listeners began calling.  Most everyone said the gesture was certainly sweet and that he must love his wife a lot.  A lot brought up the fact that he didn’t know what would happen in the future and should hold on to the money.  I didn’t get to throw my two cents in while they were talking about it, but I will now.

As the Nike ad says:  “JUST DO IT”.  First of all, you only live once.  Money is money.  You cannot take it with you.  But if you or your wife died tomorrow you would regret it for the rest of your life that you did not take that trip.  You don’t have to go all out on a trip to Europe.  Just budget it. 

Secondly, a trip may be just what you need after working all those years.  You will return with a breath of fresh air in your lungs, a new lease on life.  It will prepare you to take the next step in your life, whether that be retirement or seeking another job somewhere else.  Both you and your wife will be better people for it.

Two analogies/stories to sum this up:  A woman took a cruise and while on the cruise she encountered a very loving, elderly couple.   She struck up a conversation with the couple and learned that this was their first cruise.  They had worked all their lives and were always too busy to take a cruise.  Money had never been an issue.  Just with their lifestyle and raising kids, running here and there and working, the cruise just left their minds.  Until the husband was diagnosed with cancer.  Then they decided to take the cruise before it was too late.  Although they were finally taking their dream trip, unfortunately the man was too sick to fully enjoy it.

My own personal story:  two weeks before I was to marry, my husband-to-be called to tell me that the day before our wedding day he was going to be laid-off.  After working at this place for ten years, this facility was closing down.

You cannot imagine the panic in me as he told me this.  But I knew I couldn’t just tell him the wedding was off simply because he lost his job.  There was a part of me that felt like telling him maybe we should forego the honeymoon to save our money because who knew what the future held for us once we were married. 

We did get married.  We did take our honeymoon.  And you know what?  It all worked out in the end.  We were gone for two weeks and when we returned, my husband had several messages waiting for him on the answering machine from one of his old bosses who wanted him to temporarily work at one of the company’s other facilities.  To us, that was  a Godsend.

Twelve years later we are still together, living much different lives than back then.  We both have much better jobs.  But imagine if we had never taken that honeymoon simply because we thought the money could be used for other things?  We would’ve missed out on two weeks of very fond memories and probably would never have taken an actual honeymoon.

Once money is gone, it’s gone; but memories live forever.

The Not So Big 3

I love how the three CEOs from Ford, Chrysler and GM all flew into Washington, DC on their private jets, stated their sob stories to the government, were told “no way, no how” and then they split on their private jets back to the Land That Was Built on Motown and Cars.  Who do these three wizards think they are?  Flying around on private jets for “security” reasons–give me a break.  Trust me, if someone wants to kidnap one of them, they’ll do it, private jet or not.

These bozos could have had a great road trip to Washington.  Of course first they’d have to decide which car they would take–a Ford, Chrysler or a GM vehicle.  Wagoner would have to drive first since his company is in the worst mess.  Hell, with three of them in the car, one could drive, two could sleep, they could take turns driving and they woudn’t have even had to stop to rest–just for gas, bathroom breaks and food.  And on top of it they would’ve been able to see some parts of this great country of ours.  The very same country their companies make automobiles for.  They could drive the very same roads their cars drive on.  Think of all the jet fuel they would have saved!

I’m glad there will be no vote on the bailout.  I hope there never is.  How long did these guys think 25 bill was going to last?  Till the next jet trip? 

I know there are a lot of jobs at stake with these companies losing their shirts.  And sure it’s nice the CEO’s say they are doing this for their employees, however true that may really be.  But maybe the end to the craziness needs to start at the TOP, not the BOTTOM.  The Unions are a big part of it also.  These people have been living in a dream world all these years having everything taken care of for them.  How could they have thought it would last forever?

On one hand it would be nice if the government stepped in.  Maybe they should control the Unions.  That way they would have a say in how things are done, how people are paid, how much they are paid, and help employees understand they are going to start paying for their health care coverage like everyone else.  It’s not a free ride anymore, people.  The companies you work for are in deep doo-doo with nowhere to go but DOWN.

My biggest fear with all this government bailout business is the mindset of other corporations.  When another business gets in financial trouble are they going to seek help from the government?  I work in the food industry.  Imagine if one day the food industry began having financial problems.  I shudder to think of the industry going to seek help from the government.  Same thing with any other kind of business.  Wow.  Wonder how it would go over if retailers sought governmental funds to help keep them from going bankrupt.  Maybe Circuit City should have done that–not.

I always thought the United States government was here to help the citizens of the United States.  They govern us.  I don’t think the government was established to “bail out” businesses because they bit off more than they could chew and they failed tremendously.  If they keep bailing everyone out, when the “little people” need help, where will the money be?

Heads up to all Black Friday shoppers!

I know all us BF nuts are anxiously anticipating next Friday’s big hullabaloo.  I also know we’re anxiously awaiting the OFFICIAL release of the Wally World and TRU ads.

 

I know these ads have been leaked (or so I’ve read on various message boards), however I have come across one message board where alleged BF ads for both of these stores have been posted.  However, upon closer examination and comparison with a 2007 BF ad, I have discovered these lists are bogus. 

 

I can understand a store selling a few items two years in a row.  But at the same price as last year, especially with the way the economy is?  I compared 25 items and found them on the 2007 list posted on Gottadeal.com as well as on this bogus list at the same price as 2007.

 

I know we’re all excited about the pending sales; however we must remember to be aware of some people who claim they have a “leaked” ad (leaked from where, I don’t know) when the ad they have is actually something they bought on Ebay for a buck (true story—someone on one of these boards actually admitted they got the ad from Ebay and lo and behold, it was LAST YEAR’S ad!)

 

Just be patient, everyone.  We should have all the juicy merchandise information by this Sunday!  That’s plenty of time to peruse the ads and determine where you will be when and for what!

 

 

 

Holiday music

In keeping with the pre-holiday mood, let’s talk holiday music.  Today
I saw that a new Elvis Christmas duets CD has been released by Sony.
This CD contains Christmas songs that Presley recorded during his
career.  The twist is that they have been turned into duets with many of
today’s contemporary country artists such as Martina McBride and
Carrie Underwood.

Speaking of duets, let’s talk ODD Christmas duets.  The leader:
Bowie and Bing singing “Little Drummer Boy”.  Who the hell was the
brain trust behind this combo?  Another strange duo:  Rod Stewart and
Dolly Parton crooning “Baby It’s Cold Outside”.

With all the different versions of Christmas songs available, there are
only a select few that really stand out as true classics.  In my
opinion, the following songs performed by the particular artist listed
is the best version:

“White Christmas” – who else but Bing Crosby?

“Blue Christmas” – Elvis (Porky Pig comes in second)

“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” – Bruce Springsteen (I’m a
big Boss fan)

“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (The Christmas Song)” – Nat
King Cole (Mel Torme comes in second…only because he wrote it)

“Jingle Bell Rock” – Hall & Oates (with deep respect for Bobby
Helms)

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – Brenda Lee

“O Holy Night” – Josh Groban (that kid could sing “I’m a
Little Teacup” and make it sound beautiful)

“Sleigh Ride” – instrumental version by the Boston Pops

“Jingle Bells” – by just about anyone

“Twelve Days of Christmas” – by nobody (cannot stand the
song—although the “Twelve Pains of Christmas” is always fun to
listen to)

One song I’ll never grow tired of listening to is Band Aid’s “Do
They Know It’s Christmas”.  Where else can you hear Boy George
singing with Bono?

Some songs I’ve already grown tired of hearing:  Wham’s “Last
Christmas”, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”,
“Get Into Christmas” Elton John, “Wonderful Christmas Time”
by Paul McCartney and Wings

It’s definitely beginning to look a LOT like Christmas now!

I noticed the day after Halloween Walmart was playing Christmas music in their store.  Fantastic!

And we’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Christmas music on WODS, as they do every year.  They always start about two weeks before Thanksgiving.  Well, this year it is THREE weeks before Thanksgiving!  At 6:00 a.m. this past Thursday they started doing their annual Christmas music playing.  Just awesome!

And on the way home from running errands today, I took a spin by Jim’s Christmas Trees to see if the lights and wooden figures were out yet.  The yard is all set–all the wooden displays are up.  Lights were on in the gazebo and the Christmas lights have been strung but were not on yet. 

That place will be jumping in about two and a half weeks!  Jim’s starts selling trees right after Thanksgiving!  Whoohoo!

Stop the presses!

Clay Aiken announces that he’s gay!  Um…where is the breaking news there?  WE ALREADY KNEW THAT!!!! DUH!