Common Sense ~ Where Are You?

2012-08-08T16:54:00.001-07:00

Is it any wonder why so many people call Christians hypocrites???
As Christians, we claim to have love in our hearts for the Lord and others yet we want nothing to do with you if you're "different" or if you don't think like we do, act like we do, talk and walk like we do, worship like we do, attend the same church as we do, patronize the shops that we do, pray like we do, sing like we do, believe like we do, etc.

I find it very hard to tolerate the hypocrisy in the churches. I have read comments on facebook from many people, even pastors, who make fun of people, even the president and say things like they want him dead. How are we suppose to win souls for the Lord when we are so two-faced? People can see right through that.

You absolutely have the right to feel the way you feel or think the way you think but what you DON'T have the right to do is treat others poorly and disrespectfully and wish them ill or even worse just because they are different than you or don't agree with you. Why can't we just respectfully agree to disagree without having to call each other names, yell, or and have hate in our hearts?

If we truly are Christians, we should be able to disagree with others yet still have compassion and kindness in our hearts unlike the Westboro Baptist Church folks. They couldn't be any more mean spirited because God hates NO ONE! He died for us, he loves us all! He may not like what we do or some of the choices we make but he loves us!

We all could learn a lot from the following word:
Tolerance...a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry. A fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.

Interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own.

Have a great day...EVERYONE!!!!

2012-06-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

I was purchasing some household cleaning products to do some summer cleaning and noticed on most of the items that I had purchased there were warnings such as:
* avoid contact with eyes or skin
* do not swallow or inhale and
* hazardous to humans and domestic animals.

Are you kidding me? First of all, why are we selling cleaning products that are so hazardous to humans, and second, have we become so incompetent and feeble-minded as a society that we need warning labels put on everyday household cleaning products?

It's kind of scary to think that some folks might actually consider eating, drinking, pouring, spraying, or wiping a chemical on them that is sold for the sole purpose of household cleaning.
If people are so inclined to want to be clean why not use a bar of soap that is actually made for human cleaning!

Although based on past history of some ignorant people who had absolutely no common sense it evidently pays to be dumb! Google the following cases and you'll understand what I mean:

1. Dukes Family Vs Killer Whale

2. Man Vs Himself

3. New Yorker Vs Subway

4. Holy Roller Vs Magicians
5. Common Sense Vs McDonald’s

If the judges and lawyers would refuse to take on, and hear, these frivolous cases...it would send a strong message to the dumbest of our society to start taking responsibility for their own actions and quit blaming others for their stupidity and lack of good judgment...or maybe not?

Oh well...I just thought it was crazy to have such warning labels on these products but then again...I'm not interested in drinking Clorox or spraying myself with Lysol!
Have a great day, y'all!

2012-05-14T19:17:00.000-07:00

Ina Drew made bad investments for JP Morgan and lost over $19 billion. That's BILLION!

Ina Drew, Chief Investment Officer of JP Morgan absolutely should lose her job and not only should she lose her job but she should be facing jail time.
We ~ the tax payers ~ have already bailed out these stupid banks once and by george, we're not about to do it again. If they are so brainless and clueless as to do again what got them in trouble the first time around then they need to fail and Ina Drew is not the only one who needs to go.

If there ever was a poster child for wall street reform...here it is!

But...let's see? What will probably happen based on past history with wall street greedy worthless dregs is that she'll get commendations and accolades for her 30 years of service and she'll end up walking away with a huge multi-million dollar bonus package, lifetime pension and healthcare insurance, a vacation home and probably several cars.

That's what wall street does. They reward bad behavior because sadly, we don't stand up and fight back.
There is power in numbers...come on people!

Kids between the age of stupid and common sense

2012-04-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

Today's young people are so innocently stupid. They think some of the things they do are so funny and innocent but in actuality, they are overtly dangerous and extremely stupid. Yes, we probably all did stupid things when we were younger but nothing that compares to this generation of stupidity but speaking for myself, I NEVER did anything so ridiculously stupid as to potentially hurt, maim or kill myself.

Kids today have no fear, or better yet, they have no common sense. They are eating spoonfuls of dry cinnamon, drinking liquid soap, sniffing paint cans, texting while driving, and posting compromising pictures of themselves on the Internet that can never be taken back and the list goes on and on. They are not only doing these stupid things but they are posting and bragging about them on the Internet for all to see ~ even future employers.

Recently I saw several stories of teens eating spoonfuls of dry cinnamon and drinking liquid soap. Why? Did someone dare them? Were they that badly in need of attention?
This is exactly what I'm talking about when I say that young people are so innocently stupid. They don't realize that by eating a lot of dry cinnamon that it can clog their throat and they won't be able to breath until they force themselves to throw up, forcing the cinnamon out. It can also go through their nasal passages and burn and irritate.
Liquid soap is just as dangerous, if not more so.

Listen kids...you're young right now and you think you're invincible and that you're just having fun. But take 5 seconds to think about your future. Think about the consequences of what you're about to do. Is it worth taking the dare or doing the deed? What if you don't recover from it? What if you don't get a second chance?
You'll never get to graduate from high school, you'll never get to go to college, you'll never get to meet your boyfriend or girlfriend, you'll never get to get married, you'll never get to have kids, you'll never get to prove your worth to your friends and family, you'll never get to have your dream job and the list goes on and on.

Be smart and don't waste your young life on doing things that "others" consider funny. Their idea of funny might be your death sentence. Have some common sense and let that inner voice (conscience) be your guide.

If you need someone to talk to choose a trusted adult, parent, teacher, friend's parent, police officer, pastor or anyone else you trust.

Romney vs Rosan

2012-04-13T05:04:00.001-07:00

Note to Ann Romney:
Get off your high horse! Do you know how many millions of mothers would love to "choose" to stay home and take care of their children but sadly they don't have that luxury. So consider yourself very lucky that you could and don't think for one second that we don't get it. Because trust me...we do.

Note to Hilary Rosen:
Shame on you. Being a stay-at-home mother is very hard. Not only do you have the babies to care for but you have the home, the husband, the laundry, the cleaning, the cooking, the bills, the running of errands, the helping with of homework, and the list goes on and on.

All women should support each other regardless of what career path we choose. If the support systems were in place for ALL women there would be none of this bickering back and forth.

"OCTOMOM" back in the news

2012-04-11T16:56:00.000-07:00

Hearing Nadya Suleman on the Today Show say: " My kids could not have a better mother" is so beyond laughable that it borders on psychotic. Is she for real?
Let's see, where do I begin.

Prior to her octuplets, Nadya had six children, which she struggled to support, ranging from 2 years old to 7 years old, including a set of twins ~ but that wasn't good enough for her. All of those children were conceived by way of in vitro fertilization, just as the octuplets were by this quack-of-a-doctor, aka Dr. Michael Kamrava.

According to him, Nadya insisted that he transfer a dozen embryos. He also said that she did not want them frozen nor did she want them transferred to another patient in the future." Whatever happened to common sense???!!!"

Dr. Kamrava said that he advised against it and that he was "uneasy," but Nadya had agreed to fetal reduction if she became pregnant with more than triplets, which obviously didn't happen.
In my opinion, a Dr. who truly cares about his patient (especially a patient who shows an extreme lack of mental capacity ~aka Nadya) should decline a procedure that is requested by that patient based on ethics and common sense alone. Laws need to change!

Nadya, in her screwed up mind, might think that her children are all well-balanced, happy, healthy and fulfilled but how can they possibly be? They have no father, which kids need, they have no stable home, they have no stable mother, they have no stable life, they are dependent on welfare and government assistance, and they have a mother who, next to Casey Anthony, is likely the most hated person on the planet.
These children can't possibly have enough one-on-one time with their mother and some children need that for it makes them feel special. And speaking of one-on-one time...when does Nadya get any time to herself ~ not that she deserves it because she knew beforehand what she was getting herself into.

I'm assuming that when Nadya said, "her kids could not have a better mother" she was validating the fact that she's very proud of herself for her "antics" to raise money. Isn't there such a thing as "dignity" & self-respect?
Unless she's two-faced she would also have to be supportive and proud if her daughters were to do the same things she has done such as, but not limited to, posing nude, posing semi-nude, posing topless, parading herself on T.V., starring in a horror movie, etc.
Yea, she's a "better mother" ~ NOT!!!

A "better mother" would have made better choices from the start. She would not have had 14 children that she couldn't afford! She would not have posed nude, semi-nude, topless, whatever! She would have a stable home and a stable job before she brought children into this world.

It's time to teach our daughters to love themselves and to not depend on having a zillion kids to supply the love that they think they're missing.
Do not bring more children into this world than you can afford and if you do, find a legitimate, self-respecting, normal, hard-working, ethical, and appropriate way to support them.

2012-03-31T17:32:00.000-07:00

With all the frenzy of the $640 mega millions drawing that took place on Friday, March 30th I couldn't help but notice all the negative shows airing on TV about how the lottery can ruin your life and how it's not all that it's cracked up to be.
BULL!
The lottery can absolutely change your life ~ but in a negative or positive way. If you're stupid with your money before you win the lottery then you're going to be stupid with your money after you win. You live what you learn so of course if you can't handle your money beforehand then you're not going to be able to handle it afterwards so it can, and most likely will, ruin your life. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

If you go out and buy tens of hundreds of cars, homes, boats, planes, trains, jewels, furs, restaurants, race car teams, etc then the odds of the lottery ruining your life are very good.
However, if you have managed your finances well before you hit the lottery and you've got common sense then the chances of the lottery ruining your life are slim to none.
You'll most likely have a positive happy experience with the winnings ~ but they rarely show that side of winning the lottery on TV.

My unsolicited advice would be if you ever win the lottery, get yourself back on earth first. Then once you get your affairs in order and your lawyers and financial advisors lined up ~ you can start committing random acts of kindness. You don't want to be greedy with the winnings especially if it's $640 million but you also have to have a willingness to say, "NO" because there are going to be people coming out of the woodwork asking for money.

Be kind but not stupid. Give to the charities or businesses that you have always given to because you obvious trust them if you've given to them in the past. Help the people that help themselves. Don't help the ones who don't deserve it because that's not helping them...that's enabling them. Don't ever be guilted into giving money. Give it with 100% free, willing, glad open heart. You'll feel much better by doing it that way. Good Luck!

2012-03-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

What in the world is up with gas prices? It doesn't make sense to have two gas stations within a 5 mile radius of each other having gas prices at $4.49 while the other is $4.19?

Gas prices have soared more than 35 to 40% in the past few months and are almost $5.00 a gallon in many places. I want to know why costs are climbing so high so quickly. Is it Wall Street speculators?

Who knows ~ but one thing I can say with certainty is that I don't give a rats behind who's to blame for it we just want it taken care of! The country is just now starting to get back on its feet after a recession and these rising gas and oil prices aren't doing us any favors.

2012-03-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

Hmm...if a person is going on a diet or trying to change their lifestyle to be more healthy then why buy, and bring into their home, cookies, ice cream, chips, and junk food? It's just to tempting ~ why torture yourself! If that stuff is easily available and accessible then chances are they will most likely eat it.
However, if it's not in their home and they can't find any "junk food" in their fridge, pantry and cabinets then they are more likely to stick to a healthy plan with healthy habits.

Don't torture yourself by having "junk" in your home and stay away from the people who encourage you to eat it. Instead, surround yourself with people who support you and encourage you to live and eat healthy.

I'm not a nutritionists nor a dietitian but I think it's probably okay to have a small serving of something sweet every now and then without having to feel guilty. To me, it's all about exercise and portion control. I pay attention to what's in people's grocery carts when I'm at the grocery store and very little of what I see would be considered healthy.

If you want to eat junk food then have at it but don't come complaining to me afterwards that you're unhappy with your body and you're mad that you're gaining weight and you feel bloated and your clothes fit you tighter and blah, blah, blah.
I will support those who are honestly trying but I won't support those who talk the talk but aren't willing to walk the walk.
It's called COMMON SENSE.

2012-03-22T17:29:00.002-07:00

Labeling people can be such an easy thing to do ~ depending on our own interpretation, huh?
There are so many types of depression from major to chronic to atypical to postpartum to seasonal to blah, blah, blah.
Thankfully, I don't suffer from any form of depression but my heart goes out to the ones who do.

I don't understand why a person can't be mad, sad, frustrated, angry or just flat out livid without having to be labeled a psycho or depressed or bipolar.
Why can't kids who are overflowing with energy just be called kids or rowdy or maybe even bratty but not ADHD or ADD?
We, as a society, are so quick to label people that don't act like us and the medical profession is laughing all the way to the bank. What is our fear?

Some people rightfully deserve lables. People who are greedy, liars, cheats and thiefs are usually called politicians. People who drink alcohol without being able to control it and who especially drink and drive are called alcoholics.
People who are able-bodied and can work but choose not to...they're called lazy.

I believe that there are people who are truly suffering from afflictions and diseases and they can't help it but I also believe that there are many of us who are just having normal ups and downs in life and when it comes to our emotions, we should be able to be happy and excited without being labeled "manic" or be frustrated and angry without being labeled "psycho" or be gloomy and sad without being labeled "depressed".

The more we label our kids and each other, the more the doctors, pharmacists and prescription makers get rich and the more we will be pill popping. It's time to wake up and start dealing with reality...AKA...life.

Are you kidding me??!!!

2012-03-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

I read this story today and couldn't believe it:

"A five-year-old got some extra play time for her birthday... but it wasn't intentional. Police say the child's mother left the girl at Chuck E Cheese. It took nine hours for the mom to realize her child was missing.
The 5 year old and her family are not likely to forget this birthday after the little girl was left behind after her party at Chuck E Cheese on Thursday night.

In the morning the mother called 911 when she realized the child was missing," The mother was not identified.
Investigators say the girls party included 19 children and three adults. 9 of the kids were the little girls own siblings. But no one noticed that the birthday girl was missing when they left."

Seriously!
Don't most parents usually give their kids a bath or snack before bed? Don't they tuck their children in, or read them a bedtime story? How could you, as a parent, not notice your child was missing, especially since the one missing was the birthday girl?
I remember when we'd get home from birthday party's for our kids ~ we'd sit down together and go through all the cards and gifts and maybe open some gifts and play with the kids.

Even though this mom had 9 other children...it is still unacceptable to me that she didn't notice her daughter was missing until the following morning.
What's your thoughts?

Rush Limbaugh and Sandra Fluke

2012-03-07T15:09:00.001-08:00

This hoopla with Rush Limbaugh and Sandra Fluke is a prime example of two sides who are in disagreement yet one of the parties involved can't remain civil. AKA Rush.
I don't agree with girls going on birth control for the sole purpose of behaving in a promiscuous manner (and we don't know that Sandra was doing that!) but I also don't agree with people in power and having a huge platform to vent calling others names such as, but not limited to, slut, prostitute and whore.

Rush was wrong in every sense of the word for calling Sandra names and talking about her in such a derogatory way and even though he apologized for his actions it doesn't take away the fact that he purposely and with pride (if you watch the video) hurt her.
He had every right to disagree with her and to not like what she was doing or what she stood for but what he didn't have the right to do was exactly what he did!

Why can't we, as people, just agree to disagree. When one person says something that another person disagrees with why can't we just voice it civily without hurting or calling them names and degrading them.

I don't agree with a lot when it comes to immoral behavior, birth control, promiscuity, abortions and the like but there is not one man on the planet that should be telling a woman what she should or shouldn't be doing with her own body! PERIOD. And, no man should be calling a woman names just because he doesn't agree with her lifestyle. Until you walk a mile in her shoes...keep your mouth shut!

Insurance seems to cover "male issues" such as, but not limited to, Viagra and vasectomy's but when it comes to "women's issues" for some reason there's a double standard.

Rush is intelligent enough (I think) to have said what he said and got his point across in a much nicer way ~ without calling her names and being so mean and hurtful yet he chose to take the low road. Now, he's paying the price. Hope it was worth it!

2012-03-02T13:28:00.000-08:00

My husband and I have been married for going on 27 years and have known each other for well over 29. We have two grown children, a home, and many other blessings.
Our married life is as one. There is no his and hers...it's ours.
Everything we own from our home to our vehicles to every account we have...is in both our names.
We do not have any separate accounts...PERIOD! We are two people who came together as one and that's how we have lived our married life.

So why is it that when I call about a bill or a credit card statement that is in both our names for some reason the representative ALWAYS tells me that she cannot talk to me. She needs to talk to the primary account holder. BULL! If my name is on the account (which it is) regardless of whether it is primary or secondary I should be able to get my questions answered without having to go through hoops. I have the authority to handle these accounts just like my husband does!

This makes me furious! I guess they have no trouble accepting the checks that I send with MY signature on them but when it comes to answering a question that I have regarding the account..."Oh No!" "They can't talk to me!"

Listen, my husband has called every account holder that we have and told them that both he and I are equal account holders and that I have should have the absolute right and authority to make changes, ask questions, add to, take away, whatever is deemed necessary on my part to our accounts.
We both have participated in this marriage equally and we both have contributed over the years and we both have equal power so get over it!

2012-03-01T17:56:00.000-08:00

I heard on our local news the other day that with the advance of medical technology that life expectancy could be as high as 150 years.
I wonder if that means the government will raise the retirement age to 145?
YIKES!!!

To Bosses everywhere ~ Pay Attention!

2012-02-27T12:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen the television show, Undercover Boss?
If so, what's your thoughts on it?
I think it's one of the best shows on TV and it's proof that what most employees want overall from their bosses and superiors is just to be recognized for a job well done.

Most bosses probably have no idea what their employees do and how hard they work. Great employees go out of their way to do a good job and represent the company well so to be recognized for that is a great feeling of validation.
Bosses are usually quick to reprimand and criticize but very slow to praise and recognize.

When it comes to the TV show, Undercover Boss, I think the bosses, without having to give their employees monetary gifts ~ even though I think that's a great idea too, could make their employees very happy by just recognizing them and acknowledging the great job they do.
Keep up the good work ~ "undercover bosses."

Having Bad Service at Restaurants

2012-02-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

Waiters and waitresses probably have one of the worst jobs on the planet. They have to deal with us!
I've never worked as a waitress so I can't speak from that point of view but I have been a customer so I'm speaking from that point of view.

My husband and I were at Cracker Barrel the other night having dinner. The restaurant was sparsely populated so we must have gone in either before the mad rush or right after it. Once we were seated it took about 15 minutes before our waitress came over to get our drink order. She was very friendly (which is always a good thing) but blatantly over-doing it.

When she brought our drinks she asked us if we were ready to order to which we replied, "yes."
So instead of asking us what we wanted ~ she started a conversation (on the mild winter we were having so far.) My husband and I looked at each other bewildered but let her babble on as we politely smiled. Once she finished her conversation she took our order and walked away to other tables.

We paid attention to her as she went on to her other tables neglecting the customers who had already asked her for drink refills, ketchup, A-1 steak sauce, more corn muffins, etc. She stood and talked with new customers for what we considered was way to long all the while neglecting the needs of her existing customers.
Okay, maybe she was new or having a bad day or something but it didn't seem like that was the case. In the eyes of all who saw her, not just us, it looked as if her major flaw was the fact that she loved to talk and wouldn't shut up long enough to pay attention to the needs of her customers!

By the time our food came to the table (and another waitress ended up having to bring it) it was getting cold and dry (especially the soup beans.) Without complaining, we ate it but we were not happy. On top of that not one time did our waitress bring us a drink refill. We had to stop other waitresses to ask for refills. I don't usually drink a lot with my meal but my husband does and if you don't keep his drink's refilled...he let's you know by the tip (or lack thereof) he leaves.

Finally, as we were paying our bill and leaving we heard several other customers in front of us in line asking to speak to the manager.
We didn't want to get this waitress into trouble but we did feel as though she needed to get some additional training. She needs to learn to pay more attention to the needs of her customers instead of trying to be so "phoney-friendly" because without customers...you have no business.

2012-02-21T10:48:00.000-08:00

I guess the saying, "Money can't buy you happiness" is right after all.
When we look back in history at some of the richest people on the planet and how they died it goes to prove that you can have all the money in the world but it doesn't buy you a happy, fulfilling long life.

From Elvis to Whitney, and from Rockefeller to Steve Jobs money might be able to (temporarily) buy you happiness, gadgets and luxuries but it can't buy you the undeniable and sincere love of your true friends and family and the love of the people who whole-heartedly want to see you succeed. Each one of the people named above died way to young.

Maybe celebrities should start surrounding themselves with "NO" people instead of "YES" people who see nothing but dollar signs.
Sometimes saying, "No" might not be the most popular decision to make in the moment but in the end if you save a life...wasn't it worth it?
Don't be afraid to say, "NO" if it's the right thing to do and you'll know in your heart if it is.

OMG! Men Drivers (and some Women)

2012-02-20T10:32:00.002-08:00

When most men are driving they, undoubtedly, think they are the only and best drivers on the road. They can cut you off but God forbid if you cut them off. They don't have to yield to you but how dare you not yield to them. They can tailgate you but you had better not be within a ten foot radius of them, and the list goes on and on.
I just recently saw on our local news where police say a 58-year-old man was traveling and he said he accidentally cut off a silver or gray pickup truck. The man said when he stopped his car on the side of the road to apologize the other driver got out of his truck, walked over, and shot him the stomach.

Some of the things that men do (my husband included) while driving are exactly what they accuse other drivers of doing yet they don't see it (or rather don't WANT to see it.) It's somewhat comical and a bit sad when my husband and I are together in the car how irate he can become at other drivers just because they act like idiot drivers too, but how dare I mention it to him because that would probably just start an argument.

This entry isn't just directed at my husband or other male drivers (because I know some female drivers, me included, who can be idiot drivers too) although it's been my experience where I live that male drivers are much more aggresive than female drivers but we all need to take a lesson in patience and empathy.
Being kind, nice, patient and understanding to other drivers can go a lot farther than being an imbecile. And...you never know, it could spread.

I want what I want when I want it!

2012-02-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

Does the title of this blog entry sound familiar?
Most of us who are parents or grandparents have probably heard, "I want what I want when I want it!" at one time or another from our kids and grandkids. And yes, we of course, want to make our kids and grandkids happy don't we?

However, making our kids and grandkids happy could also be turning them into spoiled brats. Does anyone other than myself notice that some of the kids today who get what they want when they want it seem to be more demanding, selfish, self-righteous, with a sense of entitlement, unhappy and self-centered.

It has been my experience that kids who are given everything they want when they want it without having to sacrifice are not happy people. They grow up and turn into mean, nasty adults who are still demanding, selfish, self-righteous, with a sense of entitlement, unhappy and self-centered.

Kids who don't have to help out or help earn what they get tend to treat their stuff with no respect and see no worth or value in it. They know if it breaks that mom & dad or grandma & grandpa will buy them another one.
They don't know, understand or care about the fact that someone else had to work hard to earn the money to buy it in the first place.

Contrary to what some may believe, it's not a bad thing to make your kids help out around the house ~ even at a very young age ~ it can give them a sense of pride and self-worth. A list of the few chores our kids had to do was keeping their rooms clean, washing their own clothes (which means throwing their dirty clothes in the washing machine, adding the laundry detergent and turning it on!), drying their own clothes (which means taking them out of the washing machine and throwing them into the dryer and pushing the start button!) & putting them away, emptying garbage cans, and dishwasher, filling dishwasher, and making their beds.

Kids need to know that they have value and worth and that they are smart enough to earn what they want. If they're given everything they want then they're bound to feel that they're not good enough or smart enough to earn things on their own.

Come on moms & dads, give your kids some credit and send them the signal that they ARE smart enough and they CAN help earn what they want and that you value their opinions and you TRUST their judgement and you're there for them ~ even when they make mistakes and trust me, they will. We all do!

"Thank You" is such a small expression but has such great meaning.

2012-02-14T13:15:00.000-08:00

At one time or another I'm sure we've all been invited to a wedding, baby shower, anniversary, birthday and/or retirement party, and usually we take a small gift or token of our appreciation to give to the intended recipient. It's just our way of letting them know that we appreciate them, love them, and want to help them out as they start this new chapter in their lives.
Buying them a gift is not something that we HAVE to do or are FORCED to do rather it's a tradition and something that we normally want to do.

With that being said though, we also want to know that our gift was not only received but was appreciated. So, you would think that the intended recipient, who received all of the gifts, would be so grateful and appreciative that they would take a few minutes out of their busy schedule/day/or life to send a quick "Thank-You" note to everyone who gave.
But no, not only do they not take the time to send a hand-written "Thank-You" note they can't even take the few seconds it takes to get on the social media websites such as facebook and twitter to send a "Thank-You". How sad!

In 2002 my husband and I were invited to a wedding of a young couple that I didn't even know very well but my husband did. We bought them $85.00 dollars worth of towels and washcloths as a wedding gift and to this day, 10 years later, we have yet to receive a Thank-You.

In 2006, we received another invitation from this same couple to attend a baby shower and needless to say, we passed ~ not only on the shower but also on the gift.

In my opinion, if people don't have enough respect for you to say or send a "Thank-You" for what they've already been given then they don't deserve your "presence" or "presents" again.
It's called Common Sense!

2012-02-08T06:10:00.000-08:00

I don't understand what happens to some people when they age (and for those of you who know me, you'll most likely know to whom I am referring) but the elderly people in my family that I've been around who use to be very smart with their minds and money have gone down hill quickly, and what I mean by that is things that they use to think were scams and trivial and a waste of money (which actually were) they now think are the best things since sliced bread.

Listening to corrupt television preachers and radio talk-show hosts and unscrupulous door-to-door salesmen these elderly people now think that the "junk mail" they receive and the "miracle pills" or "miracle cures" advertised on TV and radio and the unsolicited phone calls they receive telling them "they've just won a million dollars in the Australian lottery but in order to release the funds they must first send $5,000.00" will all of a sudden make them lighter, brighter and richer! Come on!

I love the elderly people in my family but this is ridiculous! Getting older shouldn't mean getting dumber. My husband and I recently found out that a door-to-door salesmen sold (an elderly family member) an AT&T "bundle package" for well over $450.00 which included internet service and this family member didn't even own a a computer! Needless to say when we found out about it...we took care of it!
Unfortunately we're not in a situation where we live close to our elderly parents (due to our jobs) so we have to depend on the kindness of other family members who live closer to keep an eye on them for us.
We try to talk to our parents and warn them of things and situations that we know or hear about but they come from an era of trusting people and taking people at their word.
If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to live close to your elderly family members then that's great! Hopefully, you can keep an eye on them and keep the greedy, crooked, exploiting, unethical, rotten, shady fools away from them.

I have to say though that not all the elderly people I know are this naive. I have friends and neighbors who are in there upper 80's and lower 90's who are still very much independent and are able-bodied and able-minded and can manage their own finances and households quite well. Kudos to them!

I just wish the elderly people in our family who are so naive would listen to us (or others who have their best interest at heart) and stop being so foolish. It's kind of like they're reverting back to childish ways instead of continuing to be the smart, intelligent, bright, resourceful, alert person they use to be

2012-02-05T13:18:00.000-08:00

Seems like no matter where you go or what you're doing or what you're watching on TV or listening to on the radio there always seems to be a reference to "drinking" and they make it sound like you can't have fun without drinking. To those of you who are drinkers ~ good for you ~ but for those of us who are not drinkers, we can have fun too.
We don't need to have our body and mind "altered" to be able to have fun.

Why can't people feel safe and secure enough to say, "NO" to drinking when they are out with their peers and why can't their peers accept them when they say, "NO" instead of making fun of them.
It doesn't matter what time of the day it is or where you're at...references to drinking are everywhere from HGTV to daytime shows to late night shows to even some news shows.

Isn't it enough that our youth (and people in general) have so many stresses and pressures in life that we have to add more pressure to them if they don't want to drink or "join in" when they go out?

I had friends growing up that did things that I didn't do but they had enough respect for me NOT to pressure me into doing it and I had enough respect for them not to judge and we are all still great friends today! They sometimes drink when we're together but they NEVER get out of hand and they are always respectful of those of us who DO NOT drink and vice-versa.

If you really want to be a true friend to others, accept them for who they are and what they stand for (as long as they're not hurting themselves or others) and don't make fun of them if they choose not to drink or smoke when they go out with the group and always make them feel included. If you want to HAVE a true friend first you have to BE a true friend.

How would you feel if your pressuring them into drinking caused them to have an accident and they (God forbid) killed themselves or someone else while driving home? You can NEVER get a do-over and their blood will always be on your hands...so before you pressure and make fun of someone for not wanting to have a drink...try accepting them and their decision NOT to drink while still being their friend.

2012-02-02T14:53:00.000-08:00

I was getting my oil changed today and while I was sitting there waiting on that to be completed there were two women beside me discussing co-signing a loan for someone who evidently has bad credit and no job. I wanted to interrupt and say, "Are you kidding me? "Seriously!" but I kept my mouth shut.

Listening further one lady said, "Well, he needs a job but he can't go look for one because he has no transportation so I figured if I co-signed for him, he wouldn't have any more excuses" to which the other lady replied, "Well, what happens if you co-sign for him and he doesn't, or isn't able, to get a job especially in this economy?"

Then...my car was ready so I had to leave. I was kind of sad that I couldn't stay and hear the rest of their conversation but...oh well.

On the way home I thought to myself, there is no way on earth that I would co-sign for anyone who doesn't already have a job or have one lined up. I've worked to hard to get and maintain my good credit and I definitely wouldn't want to take a chance on having someone else ruin it and I also wouldn't want to be responsible for having to make their car payment if they missed, neglected or refused to make it.

In the above scenario it wouldn't matter to me who was asking, friend or relative, the answer would be the same, "NO."
My answer would certainly be different if the person who was asking had a good credit history, a long history of employment, a current job, and had proven him or herself to be responsible and trustworthy.

I just hope those two ladies think about everything that can happen, good and bad, about the decision to co-sign before they jump in with both feet.
Common Sense

2012-02-01T17:07:00.000-08:00

I was in Wal-mart tonight getting a few items when all of a sudden I heard a child screaming to the top of their lungs several ailes over so I swiftly walked over to make sure everything was alright. I saw the mother of this tantrum-throwing child begging him to please behave. He looked to be about 5 or 6 years old and evidently wanted a toy which the mother, at first, denied?

Oh well...what to do? This mother did something that I NEVER would have done. She was undoubtedly horrified that her child was throwing a fit in a very public place so guess what...she caved!
The tantrum-throwing child got his way...again! So what did he learn? That if he makes a scene and throws a fit he'll get his way!

Part of me felt sorry for this mother. Maybe she wanted to discipline him but was afraid of nosey on-lookers calling the police or interferring if she tried or maybe it was her pattern to give in? Who knows?
Either way, I'm thankful my kids are grown and out of the house and that they NEVER acted that way in or out of public view. They knew better! Thank you kids.

2012-01-31T17:09:00.000-08:00

It amuses me when I hear these republican candidates say, "When I get into office things will be different. I'll do this and I'll do that and I'll change this and I'll change that." BULL!
I'd like to know what planet they're living on?
President Obama also wanted to make changes when he got into office but when you have a congress and senate whose only agenda is to create gridlock and proudly admit they want to see you fail ~ not much gets done. So, come on republicans...let's see how much you get done when and if you're elected.
Newsflash: if you don't have bipartisan support and a willingness to help ALL Americans then not even the president can get things done.
Good Luck!