MVM WEDNESDAY

[zip2play]

Hi everybody, rainy morning has JUST turned to snow as the 50 degrees we had at 6AM has dived down to 32.

Bob saw doctor and got a request for handicapped parking signed, sealed and delivered. We will escape the $3000 /year garage expense if it goes through and we're back in the car market. Barb, the YOU GOTTA DO list is what decided me!

Shawnee:

I thought of it today as I caught a segment on Dr Phil: A ''material" couple with 3 kids had jacked themselves into over $400,000 debt via Home Equity Loans...trying to have what their neighbors had..Huge house, BMW, Mercedes, Timeshare condo in HA, Summer Camp. ZERO Savings! The final blow was when the Husband was told that his job was ending in 8 weeks.

Great story and I;ll bet they spent the last 8 weeks skiiing in ZURMATT!

Bob off today and we're poking around.
Kiddies, check you cable...I think SHOWTIME is doing a freebie promo period. SUPERSIZE ME and FAT ACTRESS were both delightful last night and will probably be repeated.
For those without cable, run to your video store and rent SUPERSIZE ME...you will NOT regret it!

OK,
Bob got a prescription for two doses of TAMIFLU (10 tabs, to be taken twice a day.) Should we fill it...at $65 apiece? If we get hit with bird flu it could be the difference between life and death and Bob's excelllent doctor said if you want it get it NOW because the supply is small and the stuff will disappear overnight at the first case in the U.S.A. (Remember a year or two agoI predicted the next scourge will be an H5N1 flu.) But gosh, $130 is so much for something only marginally protective against something that might not materialize for years...but it WILL come!
Excellent article in THE NEW YORKER this week has all New York buzzing. It's clearly not a matter of IF, but rather WHEN!

[zip2play]

OOPS,

Make that Tuesday!
Snowing HARD!

[Jewels]

Off to bowling, lunch for our Bichon Bash and then a massage. I've been stretching more and back spasms are doing much better.
No more time so see ya later..............

[Loretta V]

Hi Ginny and all that follow here on Tuesday.

Thanks for that heads up on Pay Pal, Ginny. I think I had an account a long time ago that I have since cancelled. I have heard lots of bad things about them. Feeling lots better today. I sure do like that flat bread with my string cheese. Hope I can keep that 1/3rd of a slice in my menu. I eat the grilled cheese for a snack 2x a week. We will see how it goes. I am a little afraid to add new stuff thinking I will get out of control.
The crappie are starting to bite now. April is usually the big month for crappie when they spawn. We might get it together by then, but I think DH is getting the crud too.
That was cool that you got to go and pick up your pin instead of messing with postage, shipping etc. Plus you got to meet the people.
Looks like Bub has had some personality changes. That happened to my mom when she had a stroke.

Zip can get me crazy in a minute.

quote:
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But gosh, $130 is so much for something only marginally protective against something that might not materialize for years...but it WILL come!

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That flu might not get here until 2050 Zip. Why do you want to worry so? The end is inevitable some day, some way. Get that list togther and "Live like you were dying" A rather popular country song currently.

Barb I do like your idea of a Yoga retreat. My brother has sure been encouraging me to do Yoga. He is a daily yoga-er. Not sure if it is offered locally but I might just check that out. That sounds a lot more like it than HUT TO HUT. It just sounds a lot warmer.

Linda sorry to hear about that carbquick. It will save me the trouble of trying it out. Just like that carbsense cookie mix. I sure prefer my own combo of flours. It would be nice to buy a product like that that was good to start with instead of docotring it up.

Shawnee I will wait a while longer on the tulips before I go digging around in there. Maybe it did not get cold enough here? Maybe they are late bloomers. What was that flour you bought last year that you waited so long to get? Can't remember the name of that product.
I like that quote also. I think I can look right around me and find so many blessings. More does not always make for happiness.

Susun good to hear from you busy Lady. Slow down a little. How are Dh and the chiropracter progressing?

Julie maybe you have that many passwords because of on line shopping. Every time you make a purchase on online they want to sign you up. It's becomes a real headache.

Gotta go and answer that dryer buzzer.

Later Thank goodness for copy and paste.

[zip2play]

Ginny sorry, you got the day right and I posted first so in the interest of "everything in one place" here's your post:

Tuesday the 8th for MVM
Hey gang,

Back in the freezer for us once again......brrrrrrr it's only supposed to be 41 today I much prefer the 60* stuff we had over the weekend! Did a little flea marketing on Sunday too, primarily to pick up an ebay purchase DH made for me--an orchid pin. The seller has a booth up on the mountain, so instead of mailing a money order and waiting for shipping etc we just went up there. Very nice people, and the pin is gorgeous!

For all y'all that use paypal, a friend of ours just got his account wiped out AND $700 overdrawn from a paypal thief. I WILL NOT EVER use paypal as it's proven NOT secure! Keep a very close watch on your accounts if you do, seems like anyone could be just a click away from getting their account drained. We're hoping he will be able to get reimbursement, but I doubt that will happen. His bank is also pursuing this.

Loretta, hope you're feeling better finally! This creeping crud is a PITA and takes a good 2 weeks to be over it. I'm sure glad it's gone here, breathing is a good thing. on getting your boat back! I know it will be well used very soon. When is the best crappie fishing for y'all? Forgot to mention earlier, I use the flatbread (per instructions on pkg) as a pizza crust. I do the whole piece along with pepperoni and cheese and it holds me quite a while! No bad effects weight wise so far, and it's a good option for me!

Linda, sorry the carbquick stuff didn't work out May have to do some tweaking and see if you can get it to taste good. I'm not much of a baker (or cook for that fact) so I doubt I'll be trying it.

Zip, didn't you get an extra copy of the Birth Certificate? I'd forgo the aggravation of an office visit if possible and just mail it in (unless you have to mail a picture ID too, then forget that!). Congress did something really right this week and quashed raising the minimum wage! There may be hope yet!

Shawnee, the gang is doing fine here. Old Bub is still holding his own, and really prefers to be outside even when it's cold or nasty out there. Tried to get him to sleep in the utility room last night since it was rain/sleet/sneauxing out there, but he wanted to be in the 'puppy room' with outside access so at 3:00 a.m. I got up and let him out. Used to be you couldn't hardly get him outside if it was yucky out, now he prefers it Go figure! Everyone needs baths, so looking forward to pretty weather and getting that done--but THEY aren't! LOL

Julie, how's the car running now? I know you're glad to have the gas mileage back! We had a Ford truck that had to have the tranny rebuilt @ 90K miles.....that really sucked, since we were on a road trip reposessing a horse! Luckily, the pony wasn't in the trailer at that time (before we picked her up by about 20 miles) but it was bad enough being stranded.

Barb, excellent idea on the want-to-do list! We sure have to keep a good balance in doing the things we need as well as want to do. Gotta keep it all in balance.

Susan, glad your puter is back up and running like it should. These things have become quite the lifeline for us, huh? Are you going to get to the Sunshine State soon? Sounds like time for a vacation in the warmth for all y'all!

Well, off to lurk for a bit, then start the day. Caffeine starting to kick in.........


__________________
Ginny
Maintaining for 7 years--yes, it can be done!

Sorry again.

In the HOW THEY LOVE THE LITTLE GUY department, the Senate voted NOT to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour where it's been for 8 years.
During that time, however, they voted 5 times to raise their own salaries by $28,500 to a total for junior senators and representatives of $161,200 each. Bigger jobs like speaker get much bigger paychecks. Health and pension benefits are worthy of a KING.
The poor shlump making $5.15 an hour has money taken out of his paycheck to pay for the bill so these parasites can live well and do nothing!

BLIZZARD conditions here!

P.S. Didn't shawnee have a relative who got ROYALLY screwed with Pay Pal a couple years back...memory is hazy.

Loretta,
I agree, we all have to go from something, but I have a morbid curiosity about disease processes...just the way my brain works. So is it worth $130? Would YOU buy it?

[Loretta V]

NO I would not waste my money on that possibility. Buy some lotto tickets instead. The results might be the same.

Like what Lilly Tomlin has to say.

[shawneesioux]

Hi Y'all

Another pretty day here...and I'm conflicted re mowing the lawns.
They are fairly wet yet from the dew..which makes for clogging up the mowers..but it may rain tomorrow, which makes for more delays and higher grass.
LOL, shame on me for this being a priority, when so many folk have Serious issues, weather and otherwise, to contend with.

Montana, double-bummer re the Carbquik. Hopefully you will come up with some tweaking to make the product acceptable, even good.
As I've cruised the Recipes on the Recipe Help Board, I'm astounded at the large amounts of various sweeteners in a lot of them. When I've tried any, I automatically cutthe sweet amount in half, and then try to figure a way to replace some/most of it with Davinci.
Obviously, the Mantra of "you'll lose your cravings for sweets" ain't holding up, according to the popularity of the "goodies" recipes there.

Loretta, we had a mild winter here, while y'all were snowed in...so I'm doubtful it was a lack of cold for your Tulips. Hopefully they are the Late variety.
The flour I ordered last Summer was Chef's Blend...still have a small amount left. It was ok, with some tweeking.

LOL, Zip...I didn't know where Zurmat was, had to Google it...Ha, just a few days back I'd seen a tv show about a twit 22 yr old climber survive a 7-day storm near there. Another one I had no sympathy for, he was the victim of his own carelessness, and was lucky to live thru it...while his family went thru Hell because he din't fallow basic Climbing rules.
http://www.zermatt.ch/index.e.html

Well, about Diseases....its a personal choice for all of us, to duck the ones we can, but be rational about our choices. Have seen too many folk do everything right, and still get nailed by Death.
Personally I do not see Death as something to fear, but suffering before it is a whole other ballgame.

Ginny...Pup Baths. Five is a big undertaking
Maybe when ya snap the next pics of the Pups, you'll also get one of your new pin, purdy please?? LOL, on the personality changes...happened to me too...NO became my fav word.
I have noticed that some aging animals prefer to be outside...(my pet theory is cause its closer to their real world and Mother Earth)
I'm the same way.

Yeah, my DSon got ripped off by PayPal a couple years back; he didn't even USE PayPal...too much like his Mom, suspecious of money/info transactions on the Net...anyhoo, luckily for him, the Account that was emptied only had a lil over $200 in it. (he's not too trusting of Banks now either)

The State Min Wage here is (I think) the highest in the Nation, at $7.35...we also have some of the Nation's most outrageous gas prices...
I lay this Country's financial difficulties at the feet of top-heavy, (over)Tax and (over)Spend, out of control Government....(well, some of the blame must also be shared by the Meth makers/Drug Dealers too, they certainly contribute to Society's downfall/expenses.)
One annual Senatorial Pension alone could support several "regular" families more than adequately.

Gotta run, Bob wants help...so "nice" to be needed!

[zip2play]

My God,

We got hit with a BLIZZARD with near hurricane gusts out of nowhere. La Guardia is facing 8 hour delays (imagine getting stuck that long in an airport!)

Geez, I KNEW my trip to SS wasn't goint to be easy tomorrow...damn!

Shawnee,
Temporary NJ governor (Codey) is working hard to push though $7.15 as a NJ minimum wage...not sure where the legislation stands right now.

Linda,
Sorry the CarbQuick was too much like CarSick.
Try some Bisquick (we won't tell!)

Watched tapes of ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE (Britcom series) this afternoon...GOD that was a funny show!

[Jewels]

Mount St. Helens has just blown some. 25,000 ft high is estimated at the moment. Shawnee...are you getting any ash??????

[JackiCWa]

No ash here. But we can see it from the back door. I bet it's mostly steam. Think the dome just gained some size??

She's settling down now....with some ashfall warnings in a couple counties. Not in our part of the county tho.

Heck....a gal---even volcano gals need to blow off some steam once in a while!!

[Jewels]

Thanks Jacki! I see it is blowing another plum again. Now they are estimated the first one to be 36,000 ft. Quite spetacular. We could see the plum from our front lawn back in May 1980. Didn't go look today but doubt it's that high for us to see. Check back later....

edited to say, we see lava now...bright red/orange...

[LoveMontana]

So Mt. St. Helens' is at it again? Here is a web cam but it's dark now so check it tomorrow.
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/

Not too chatty tonight. My stomach is upset for some reason. Maybe because I'm trying to quit smoking yet again. LOL This is day two. UGH!One of the reasons I'm trying again is because wonderful NYS is sending TAX bills to people who purchase tax free tobacco on the internet. BASTARDS!!!

NYS just raised the minimum wage and that will put some small businesses out of business. Our State gov. officials are way overpaid and there are far too many of them. Layers of county and town government too. I HATE NYS.

I have to go lie down again.


Later.

to all.

[BarbCO]

WOW!! Thanks Julie and Jackie , history in the making!!

Sorry you are not feeling well Linda. You aren't sick that often -- maybe it was the carbquick telling you something.

A blizzard AGAIN for the northeast, no wonder I don't live there!! I just can't imagine either anyone having to wait that long in an airport. It drives me crazy to wait 2 hours for a flight.

Minimum wage -- isn't it just a crime that some can make so little for the amount of work they have to do? I've always felt that people who work with kids (the next generation) are paid the lowest when it comes to salaries.

THINK SPRING !!

Barb

[OrchidCactus]

Our govt officials are definitely paid too much....they are ELECTED to SERVE US. This needs to change, and has needed to change for many, many years.

Minimum wage, of course is a separate issue. Those on a fixed income, i.e. Social Security, should have a huge interest in keeping the minimum wage low. These jobs are NOT the BREADWINNER'S job........over 90% of the minimum wage earners are SUPPLEMENTAL income jobs or part-timers such as students. Here's the deal: if they raise minimum wage, the costs of the companies paying it to their employees will go up. That means that the price of product will go up. That means that WE ALL have to pay more for the same stuff. That means that MY DOLLAR does LESS, and I DON'T GET A RAISE WHEN THEY UP MINIMUM WAGE SO MY BUYING POWER GOES BACKWARDS!!!!! This is true of everyone, even those in min. wage jobs will be in the SAME BOAT because everything will cost more. So, keeping min. wage low keeps prices lower for EVERYONE.

Now, I may sound unsympathetic (prolly cuz I am for the most part) but for those who can only get minimum wage jobs, LEARN A SKILL. Learn to do something that will put you in an income bracket that you can survive in. DO NOT penalize ME for having a skill that pays me more, by requiring me to spend more of my hard earned money on NOTHING!

Barb, I do agree with you that child care workers are underpaid, especially for the responsibility of that position. Many only make slightly over min. wage, and are responsible for the health and well-being of our future. Unfortunately, that industry will always have cheap labor as there are many willing to work for a pittance. It is up to the employees to fix it, whether they unionize, strike or whatever.

Ok, rant over. I am trying my best to provide an acceptable income in which my family can thrive. I will not willingly allow myself to be put in a position where I lose ground.

Hope all have a good night!