Monday, February 22, 2010

They're Moving

I'm so disheartened. One of my neighbors are moving, or trying to move. I say that because they actually were going to move a couple of years ago, but that's when the market really dried up. She was pregnant, and they had put in a bunch of modifications to their home, so they decided to wait and took the house off the market. Now with their toddler and things shaping up, they are trying again.

Moving is not an easy process. Once they get the home sold, they have to start the packing process and searching for a moving company. That selection process isn't easy these days, so I'm glad I'm not a part of it.

Actually, a friend moved around so much as a kid, teenager, and young adult, that she could pack up a house in about an hour, literally. That's because she had a great ability to sort through the junk and keep with her only things that truly mattered.

Regardless, I'm gonna miss the neighbors once that 'sold' sign pops up.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Wedding Blues

Earlier this week, I saw an interesting story about a couple who got married at a White Castle restaurant. Apparently, the bride works there, and she didn't have money to have a wedding, so her co-workers got together and arranged for her to have the wedding there. Another couple made the news for getting married at McDonalds.

When I watch Bridezillas and see how demanding and ridiculous those women are (and don't get me started on the idiot grooms -- these marriages will be lucky to last a year and certainly not a one will make it through a lifetime) in planning their weddings, it makes me sick.

I'm all for having the wedding of your dreams, if you can afford it. These days, though, parents of the bride don't have tens of thousands of dollars to pay for these magical weddings. People get so stressed. Is that really what a wedding is about? Screaming and yelling and saying awful things to people who you supposedly love? Is that one day more important than a lifetime?

A lot of couples today do what they can to cut wedding expenses. I actually heard one couple recently say that their wedding day was just one day, and while they wanted it to be memorable, they had a lifetime to live together. They couldn't justifiable spending $10,000 on a wedding. If they did, they couldn't buy their home. A one day event or a home to begin a life of forever together with? For them, the answer was simple.

Personally, I like their choice. It's a good perspective.

Trying Times

One thing I'm really grateful for in these difficult economics times is that I own my house. Having a roof over my head without a mortgage due is such a blessing. Through my worst struggles over the last few years, that assurance was so important.

Today, I continue to hear on the news, sad stories about families being put out of their homes. The foreclosure crisis may have calmed, but it's still out there, changing people's lives every day.

With the economic situation still risky, families continue to struggle with survival. I thank my lucky stars that I can now pay my bills and that I have a home to be secure in. That's my hope for anyone who reads this blog as well.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

A Furniture Look that Fits You

People are so concerned with image and style and sometimes that gets in the way of doing something simple and easy that would make their space more livable for them.

One thing we finally did last summer was review the dining room area. My mom had a classical looking set. It was her style. My parents bought it second hand as I recall. I wanted something different, more modern. Dining Room Tables are in our direct focus every day of our lives. We wanted something that didn't make us cringe or take us back to memories of childhood.

While I'm not really concerned with what others think, I just wanted something more functional. This is a small house, so I didn't want such a long table like my parents used.

It may be unconventional, but we actually took the small circular table from the crowded kitchen and put it in the dining room, replacing the table that was there. You know something? It looks great and is functional, how we want it to be.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

California's Early Inmate Release Goes Bad Instantly

It didn't take long. It will probably only get worse. Not only has California was ordered to release a chunk of its prison population, but the governor put into an effect an early release program. Why? Money, of course. California is drowning and some idiots think releasing convicted prisoners is a way of solving the problem. The sheriff isn't happy. Citizens aren't happy. The stuffed shirts said it's okay. These guys were in on misdemeanors. Blah Blah Blah.

Well, tell that to the woman who went through this nightmare. This isn't the answer. Politicians need to have their perks cut. That will save a ton. We are paying these officials ridiculous amounts and then giving them perks galore, and they aren't even reporting their gifts. 38 of them were recently slapped with a teeny $200 fine for non-reporting. Let's up that to $10,000 and see how often they fail to report. $200? That's petty change for these guys.

I can only speak for me, but I'm angry and upset at the early releases, at the mandate to reduce the prison population, at the governor for thinking this was an answer, and at the politicians who should all be kicked out of office so we can start over.
 
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