Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts

Friday, June 8, 2012

Stop Worrying



As you know, this blog is schizophrenic.  Not in the literal sense (as far as I know).  However, I do tend to veer from fun to sort of fun to sometimes semi-serious.

I leave the philosophizing to other people, because I'm not very good at it.  I don't know if I even have a philosophy, but if I had to choose one, I'd probably go with:  How bad could it be?

I use that philosophy in all sorts of circumstances.  Financial.  Procrastinationally (made that up).  Health-wise.  I'm either an eternal optimist or an eternal fool.

Which makes this post rather ironic, because, you see, I have been worrying a lot lately.  And I find that worries are like M&M's.  You can't just stop at one.

The financial state of....well, pretty much everyone...is not good.  And it's hit us directly.  Luckily, I have free things I can do for recreation (like this).

However, I still tend to worry (at least lately).  For example, why is it that one never experiences health-related issues until one no longer has good insurance (no offense to my company!  It's just that, when one's income is cut in half, having a high deductible is not helpful).  We've had minor issues, for sure, but each of us has had to make trips to the doctor, and in one instance, to urgent care, and we have to pay all these bills somehow.  Sure hope they don't mind installment payments!

I worry about my husband being able to find a job.  I worry that his self-esteem has been irreparably diminished by not being able to find one.

I worry about my job.  However, I will either stop worrying or really start worrying around about the end of June.

BREAKING NEWS:  The private sector is "doing fine", according to the President.

I worry about the state of our country.  I find myself wishing we had someone who could make us feel better; more secure, but that President turned over the reigns about 24 years ago, and I'm pretty sure (okay, I know) he's not coming back.

I worry that I am fat.  Well, I am.  Not fat, per se.  But overly ripe.  I have a big event coming up in early fall, and I don't want to embarrass myself with my fatness, but I am really struggling with willpower.  I did great (well, good) the first two months, and then I used the excuse that it was my birthday, which apparently dragged on for a good couple of weeks, and now I'm trying to get back on the horse, and it's difficult.

In conjunction with this event, I have to spend money to buy fancy clothes and accessories.  I can't afford that.  Still have my Visa card, though, so there you go.

So, today, as I was taking Josie for a walk, the thought popped into my brain that I need to take a moratorium from worrying.  At least for a little while.

It's a nice, albeit a bit too hot, early summer day.  I took half a day off from work.  It's Friday.  Why should I use this time to worry about stuff?

I had to take a run to my local Walgreens this afternoon, to buy bathroom cups and a bottle of calcium (both really interesting things too shop for),  so I bought myself a bottle of nail polish.  Five dollars.  It's pretty.  I like it.  I painted my toes.  That five-dollar purchase made me happy.  I'm a cheap date.

I don't really listen to music much anymore, but I might do that tonight.  It's free.  Because I paid for it already.  Unlike my cable.

The little things do matter.  They alleviate the worry.  Sharing a laugh with a friend over something inane.  Creating something, even if it's just a blog post.  Buying a five-dollar bottle of nail polish.  Eating one of those 100-calorie Special K Crisps.  You'd be surprised how good they taste.  Sure, they're not Lays potato chips, but still.

So, I've decided that I am taking the weekend off.  Here's hoping your weekend, too, is worry-free.












Thursday, November 13, 2008

I'm Looking For A Bailout

I just thought I should jump on the bandwagon now, before everybody else does, and I'm left out in the cold.

So, I really need a bailout. And the sooner, the better.

See, I was (barely) keeping my head above water (well, not my whole head, but at least I was still able to breathe without a snorkel).....


....until our duly elected rats.....I mean, representatives, decided to start bailing everybody out, willy nilly. By everybody, I mean companies that like to throw around money like they're celebrating the clock striking 12 on New Year's Eve.


And then the next day, hung over, they hop on a jet for their "spa vacation". Meanwhile, I'm here in the cold and the wind, trudging to work every day, so I can pay for their "team building exercises". Here's a thought: Hold your "team building" in your conference room! And P.S. Team building doesn't work!

Well, I want me some of that!


I've tried watching the news reports to try to wrap my brain around just what the heck is going on, and while I'm not the brightest bulb, I'm not a total moron, either. But I can't grasp it.

They say they want to "loosen up credit". Well, I say, it's already too loose! All this "credit" is what got me into the drowning pool to begin with! But hey! If they want to raise my credit limit on my Visa, so I can charge up some more stuff that I can't afford to pay cash for, I guess I can go along with that. Cuz I'm pretty much maxed out.

(And by "stuff", I mean regular everyday items, like underwear and socks. I'm not out there buying Jaguars, for heaven's sake.)

The reason I'm maxed out is because I've been paying my mortgage every month! What a dope! If only I'd let it slide, the government would've made my life a whole lot simpler!



And I heard that that whole "loosening" isn't even working! They don't want to loosen. They want to keep all our sweat-drenched tax dollars that are being served to them on a silver drink tray, with cocktail napkins and those little plastic fruit skewers with cherries and orange wedges. That's not how the deal was supposed to go!


And now the auto makers have their hands out, too!


Hey, I just heard that Starbucks lost 95% of its value in one year. Let's bail out Starbucks! You know, so those mini van-driving blonde airheads can still stop on their way to soccer camp and pick up their favorite "coffee-like" drinks.


So, I'm raising my hand right now. I'm hopping on the bandwagon. Put me down for one of those "bailouts". You know, just until....or if.... I can get my business back on track. And by my "business", I mean my "life".

What's in it for you, you say? Well, the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing that you've helped to prop up our economy. If that's not enough, well, I've got some of that General Foods International Cafe Mocha "coffee" in a tin. I could whip some of that up in the microwave for you.


Or, I could pay you back in free music downloads. They make you feel all warm inside, too, just like a $5.00 venti white chocolate mocha half-caf with soy milk at Starbucks!


The easiest way to "contribute" is with PayPal. I want to make this simple for you, my benevolent benefactors!

And thanks again! I'm off now to my spa (television) to do some team building with the cast of "Everybody Loves Raymond".