It seems as if breast implants have been making a lot of headlines lately. The latest one is by far the most disturbing. This girl in Texas raised money to get breast augmentation surgery by PRETENDING TO HAVE CANCER. She told everyone she had breast cancer, and even shaved her head to make it look like she was losing her hair from chemotherapy treatments. The nice folks down in Texas raised funds to help her out, and what does she do? She gets herself boobies. And is alive. And healthy. I feel bad for her kids. She better move far away, dye her hair, and change her name because she has pissed a lot of people off. That is, after her jail time.
Usually I would go into a rant here. But this is so bad that my ranting won't even be necessary.
Another sickening story- This lady in Whales caught her husband chatting with and trying to meet up with young girls online by pretending to be a schoolgirl. She suspected he was doing so, so she set up in the other room and chatted with him on the computer, and then he tried to get her to meet somewhere for sex. Instead of confronting him, she called police, and he was arrested! You go girl! I love that. She did the right thing. I would probably be so angry if my husband did that, I wouldn't be able to control myself and would probably run into the other room with a frying pan like a crazy lady. And, of course, kick him in the nuts. A lot. Then I would get arrested.
I think calling the police was a great move on her part, and although he somehow did not get jail time, it makes his punishment that much worse. Public shame is a bitch, David Roberts!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Day of the Dead
To my loyal readers, I would like to apologize for making my posts so long. I'm assuming that's why none of you are reading them. ha...
Some guy in Brazil showed up to his own funeral! His family had identified what they thought was his body from a car crash, but they were wrong. So when he heard about his funeral, he had to show up to set things straight and everyone got all freaked out and panicky. I thought that only happened in movies.
Some guy in Brazil showed up to his own funeral! His family had identified what they thought was his body from a car crash, but they were wrong. So when he heard about his funeral, he had to show up to set things straight and everyone got all freaked out and panicky. I thought that only happened in movies.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Saving Money & Losing Weight- so easy!
It dawned on me lately that I read a lot of crap. Among all the magazines, newspapers, websites, and even reputable books that I read, I seem to keep getting the same information. It goes something like this: If you want to change your life, start by skipping the morning latte.
Shape magazine told me I could lose a pound by Friday, which I was interested in. Now, I am assuming Shape magazine is read by people who already try to maintain a healthy lifestyle, like myself, so I thought I might be able to kick it up a notch by trying out some of their advice. I wasn't really expecting anything too revolutionary, but what I found was despicable. Included in the diet advice was of course "watch your beverages," and some crap about how that morning latte could add up to 300 calories- or more!! Then they had an activities advice column, which told me to "take the stairs instead of the elevator." Doing this for a half hour could burn 230 calories per day! Easy enough! All I have to do is cut out my latte, and take the stairs, which will burn an extra 3500+ calories in 5 days, which means I have lost a pound by Friday!!
Here's my problem: I already skip the morning latte. I don't like lattes. Sometimes I have a coffee, which I make at home. I also don't take any elevators. I don't have any stairs at all in my house or my workplace. Even if I did take an elevator at work, wouldn't my boss wonder where I was while I was climbing up and down the stairs for 30 minutes??
I feel like I read the same advice day after day after day, which leads me to wonder, who are these writers? If they can do it, can't I? I cut out MY morning lattes, so surely I'm an expert, right? Here's another one: Park farther away in the parking lot so you burn more calories walking an extra 50 feet. Thirty minues of this a day would add up 150 calories burned, and all you have to do is go to 570 different stores!!! How about I park close to the store, get in and out with what I need as quickly as possible, and then make it home in time to go for a 45 minute walk before it gets dark? I guess they're trying to tell me to multi-task to take advantage of every opportunity to burn some extra calories, but it woud be nice to hear something new or creative- how about lunging to my tables at work, and carrying some 10 lb dumbbells with my so I can do some bicep curls while taking customers orders?? I'm onto something here!!!
I've solved my fitness problems, but I still need to figure out my personal finances. I know I should be saving for a house and retirement and my children's educations, but it just seems so difficult to put money aside when I have to pay for rent, utilities, car expenses, food, credit cards, and student loans every month on a pretty minimal salary. So when I stumble upon an article offering some financial advice, I usually take a look. Why I do this, I don't know, because they all tell me the same exact thing:
Even people with low incomes can save, they just need to cut back expenses in other areas. This is easier than most people think. For example, skipping the morning lattes could save me $25 per week. If I put this into a savings account, that would be $1300 per year!
Holy crap! I, little old me, could save $1300 THAT EASILY? All I have to do is skip my morning lattes. I can do that. Oh wait, I already don't have my morning lattes. And if I did, I would probably have to pay for it with a credit card. So if I'm buying it with money that doesn't exist, what do I put in the savings account? Oh, that's right, nothing. Okay, but this might work for other people I know. I know people that go to starbucks every morning, so they could give it a try. But as it turns out, they've been buying those lattes on a credit card all year, which now has a balance of $7000!!! So, if they stop the morning lattes, they can apply $25/week to their credit card, and their savings account is left empty as well.
This stuff is the biggest crap ever. "Pay yourself first."
Landlord: This is only half of what you owe me this month.
Tenant: Sorry about that, I had to pay myself and that's all I had left.
If you're not a total idiot, the only way to improve your financial situation is to make more money. I already live on the bare minimum, and it's still not working out for me. I still can't save. Why? Because my job has cut me down to 15 hrs/week, and soon I will be unemployed. My unemployment check certainly will not be enough to put away savings, no matter how carefully I "budget." The only way I am ever going to improve things, is by getting a higher-paying job. I don't understand how these people are being paid to write personal finance articles. I could write any one of them! Why do they have jobs, and I don't??
While I'm ranting, I would like to say a little something about my job search. I know experience is important, but to what extent? It seems like employers are going to extremes with their experience requirements.
Job Title: Administrative Assistant
Duties: Copying, Filing, Faxing
-Arranging and scheduling meetings with staff and clients
-Greeting customers and answering phone inquiries
-Must be able to type 45 wpm
-Other general office duties
Requirements: Bachlor's Degree, Master's preferred
10+ years experience
Knowledge of Microsoft Office
Proven track record of success in an administrative role
Great customer service skills
WHAT? The sad part, is that they are not asking too much. They probably will find this person, because the job market is so bad. Why so much experience? Why are those ten years needed? Won't you just have to pay them more? You can pay me $6 less per hour and I'll still do a better job! I am an administrative expert! I have been handling all my personal administrative duties for years now! I talk on the phone, I book appointments (never overlapping), I carefully fill out paperwork, and I use excel to track my finances and fitness goals. I have been working in restaurants kissing peoples asses for the last ten years, so I certainly know about customer service. I am also always on time (on time = 15 minutes early!) for everthing, from work, to doctor's appointments, to movie showings! Clearly I can multitask if I can take 6 upper level college courses and work 25 hours per week at the same time. I can also wait on six tables at the same time. One needs another drink, two is ready to order, food is up for three, bread is in the toaster for four, five needs a drink order, and six needs their plates to be cleared, and it all gets done timely, with happy customers.
But all this means nothing since I havn't been working in a traditional office environment for the past ten years, but that's okay, why? Because I have no intentions of being an administative assistant for ten or more years. If I did, I would consider my college education a waste, and my career a failure.
Crazy world we live in!!
Shape magazine told me I could lose a pound by Friday, which I was interested in. Now, I am assuming Shape magazine is read by people who already try to maintain a healthy lifestyle, like myself, so I thought I might be able to kick it up a notch by trying out some of their advice. I wasn't really expecting anything too revolutionary, but what I found was despicable. Included in the diet advice was of course "watch your beverages," and some crap about how that morning latte could add up to 300 calories- or more!! Then they had an activities advice column, which told me to "take the stairs instead of the elevator." Doing this for a half hour could burn 230 calories per day! Easy enough! All I have to do is cut out my latte, and take the stairs, which will burn an extra 3500+ calories in 5 days, which means I have lost a pound by Friday!!
Here's my problem: I already skip the morning latte. I don't like lattes. Sometimes I have a coffee, which I make at home. I also don't take any elevators. I don't have any stairs at all in my house or my workplace. Even if I did take an elevator at work, wouldn't my boss wonder where I was while I was climbing up and down the stairs for 30 minutes??
I feel like I read the same advice day after day after day, which leads me to wonder, who are these writers? If they can do it, can't I? I cut out MY morning lattes, so surely I'm an expert, right? Here's another one: Park farther away in the parking lot so you burn more calories walking an extra 50 feet. Thirty minues of this a day would add up 150 calories burned, and all you have to do is go to 570 different stores!!! How about I park close to the store, get in and out with what I need as quickly as possible, and then make it home in time to go for a 45 minute walk before it gets dark? I guess they're trying to tell me to multi-task to take advantage of every opportunity to burn some extra calories, but it woud be nice to hear something new or creative- how about lunging to my tables at work, and carrying some 10 lb dumbbells with my so I can do some bicep curls while taking customers orders?? I'm onto something here!!!
I've solved my fitness problems, but I still need to figure out my personal finances. I know I should be saving for a house and retirement and my children's educations, but it just seems so difficult to put money aside when I have to pay for rent, utilities, car expenses, food, credit cards, and student loans every month on a pretty minimal salary. So when I stumble upon an article offering some financial advice, I usually take a look. Why I do this, I don't know, because they all tell me the same exact thing:
Even people with low incomes can save, they just need to cut back expenses in other areas. This is easier than most people think. For example, skipping the morning lattes could save me $25 per week. If I put this into a savings account, that would be $1300 per year!
Holy crap! I, little old me, could save $1300 THAT EASILY? All I have to do is skip my morning lattes. I can do that. Oh wait, I already don't have my morning lattes. And if I did, I would probably have to pay for it with a credit card. So if I'm buying it with money that doesn't exist, what do I put in the savings account? Oh, that's right, nothing. Okay, but this might work for other people I know. I know people that go to starbucks every morning, so they could give it a try. But as it turns out, they've been buying those lattes on a credit card all year, which now has a balance of $7000!!! So, if they stop the morning lattes, they can apply $25/week to their credit card, and their savings account is left empty as well.
This stuff is the biggest crap ever. "Pay yourself first."
Landlord: This is only half of what you owe me this month.
Tenant: Sorry about that, I had to pay myself and that's all I had left.
If you're not a total idiot, the only way to improve your financial situation is to make more money. I already live on the bare minimum, and it's still not working out for me. I still can't save. Why? Because my job has cut me down to 15 hrs/week, and soon I will be unemployed. My unemployment check certainly will not be enough to put away savings, no matter how carefully I "budget." The only way I am ever going to improve things, is by getting a higher-paying job. I don't understand how these people are being paid to write personal finance articles. I could write any one of them! Why do they have jobs, and I don't??
While I'm ranting, I would like to say a little something about my job search. I know experience is important, but to what extent? It seems like employers are going to extremes with their experience requirements.
Job Title: Administrative Assistant
Duties: Copying, Filing, Faxing
-Arranging and scheduling meetings with staff and clients
-Greeting customers and answering phone inquiries
-Must be able to type 45 wpm
-Other general office duties
Requirements: Bachlor's Degree, Master's preferred
10+ years experience
Knowledge of Microsoft Office
Proven track record of success in an administrative role
Great customer service skills
WHAT? The sad part, is that they are not asking too much. They probably will find this person, because the job market is so bad. Why so much experience? Why are those ten years needed? Won't you just have to pay them more? You can pay me $6 less per hour and I'll still do a better job! I am an administrative expert! I have been handling all my personal administrative duties for years now! I talk on the phone, I book appointments (never overlapping), I carefully fill out paperwork, and I use excel to track my finances and fitness goals. I have been working in restaurants kissing peoples asses for the last ten years, so I certainly know about customer service. I am also always on time (on time = 15 minutes early!) for everthing, from work, to doctor's appointments, to movie showings! Clearly I can multitask if I can take 6 upper level college courses and work 25 hours per week at the same time. I can also wait on six tables at the same time. One needs another drink, two is ready to order, food is up for three, bread is in the toaster for four, five needs a drink order, and six needs their plates to be cleared, and it all gets done timely, with happy customers.
But all this means nothing since I havn't been working in a traditional office environment for the past ten years, but that's okay, why? Because I have no intentions of being an administative assistant for ten or more years. If I did, I would consider my college education a waste, and my career a failure.
Crazy world we live in!!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Nothing is Fair!
Which is to be expected, of course. I was recently reading an article on www.insidehighered.com about student loans, and if they should be considered for bankruptcy. Currently, they are not, unless you are blind and only have one limb. If they were, plenty of people would do it. I would probably just take out a crapload of loans and go get an MBA and a JD and another bachelor's degree just for the fun of it, all along knowing I would just declare bankruptcy at the end! I would probably get credit cards from every store that would allow me to have one and get a ton of clothes and nice furniture and stuff too. In other words, there is a serious negative incentive to allowing this. It should, however, be allowed under strict regulation and certain circumstances. And perhaps private loans shouldn't be given so willy-nilly? Maybe loan companies should have to interview students, and find out what their plan is for after college, before giving them tens of thousands of dollars. If they can't pass the interview or the underwriting, then they might choose to go to a cheaper school!
I'm getting off track. My purpose for writing here is in response to a comment that really angered me. IHE Reader posted a response to the article titled "can't call the repo man." IHE Reader presents a valid point, education is an asset that cannot be reclaimed. Maybe they could take away your diploma, and your educational records, but the knowledge and the experience will forever be yours, and you can still use it even after filing bankruptcy. This is unfair to the others who file bankruptcy based on other assets, because once their houses, cars, computers and boats are taken away, they can't use them anymore!!!
He or she goes on to say "Discharging student loans for those spendthrifts who stupidly get themselves into too much consumer debt shouldn't be an option."
WHAT? So shouldn't he be saying that bankruptcy shouldn't be an option for ANYONE? How is he saying it's okay for people to do it if they bought a yacht but not okay for someone who bought an education? The people with the houses and the boats are the stupid spendthrifts! An education is an investment that many people hope to get a return on, but unfortunatly, given the state of the economy and the unemployment rate, it is not working out for many people.
My other problem here is saying that an education can't be "repo-ed." This is correct, you can't just liquidate that college degree in order to make a settlement. This is a pretty stupid argument because you can't liquidate good times and fun memories either! Let's say instead of going to college I moved to Las Vegas and took out credit cards. I spent four years gambling, drinking, smoking, laying by the pool, eating expensive steaks, getting plastic surgery, going to the spa, etc. Then I grow up and realize dispite all the surgery, no one loves me enough to pay my rent or gas, and I am $50,000 in debt. What to do, what to do.. oh yea, declare bankruptcy!! None of these items can be "repo-ed" either, but for some reason this is forgivable but an education is not? Cool. Now I know there are laws about this kind of frivolous behavior and declaring bankruptcy as well, and I don't know exactly what they are, but I know there is a much better chance of being forgiven. I saw a show where a girl declared bankruptcy on $30,000 in credit cards. What was she buying? Clothes. And manicures. Did she have any assets to barter? Nope. Did she have fun shopping? Yes.
I'm all done. This is a sad world we live in.
I'm getting off track. My purpose for writing here is in response to a comment that really angered me. IHE Reader posted a response to the article titled "can't call the repo man." IHE Reader presents a valid point, education is an asset that cannot be reclaimed. Maybe they could take away your diploma, and your educational records, but the knowledge and the experience will forever be yours, and you can still use it even after filing bankruptcy. This is unfair to the others who file bankruptcy based on other assets, because once their houses, cars, computers and boats are taken away, they can't use them anymore!!!
He or she goes on to say "Discharging student loans for those spendthrifts who stupidly get themselves into too much consumer debt shouldn't be an option."
WHAT? So shouldn't he be saying that bankruptcy shouldn't be an option for ANYONE? How is he saying it's okay for people to do it if they bought a yacht but not okay for someone who bought an education? The people with the houses and the boats are the stupid spendthrifts! An education is an investment that many people hope to get a return on, but unfortunatly, given the state of the economy and the unemployment rate, it is not working out for many people.
My other problem here is saying that an education can't be "repo-ed." This is correct, you can't just liquidate that college degree in order to make a settlement. This is a pretty stupid argument because you can't liquidate good times and fun memories either! Let's say instead of going to college I moved to Las Vegas and took out credit cards. I spent four years gambling, drinking, smoking, laying by the pool, eating expensive steaks, getting plastic surgery, going to the spa, etc. Then I grow up and realize dispite all the surgery, no one loves me enough to pay my rent or gas, and I am $50,000 in debt. What to do, what to do.. oh yea, declare bankruptcy!! None of these items can be "repo-ed" either, but for some reason this is forgivable but an education is not? Cool. Now I know there are laws about this kind of frivolous behavior and declaring bankruptcy as well, and I don't know exactly what they are, but I know there is a much better chance of being forgiven. I saw a show where a girl declared bankruptcy on $30,000 in credit cards. What was she buying? Clothes. And manicures. Did she have any assets to barter? Nope. Did she have fun shopping? Yes.
I'm all done. This is a sad world we live in.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Convenience is Difficult
Sometimes things are supposed to be made better, but really they are made worse. For example, the baby formula I use, Similac. Instead of using cans like every other brand, they use these super technilogical boxes that are supposed to make things easier because they have a groove for your hand (retarded and pointless) and they have a little holder in the lid for the scoop. Henry is almost 2 months old, and I have gone through quite a few of these boxes, and every time I open a new one, I cut my knuckles, and have to wear bandaids. And its not that I forget, in fact, I fear opening them every time, but there is no way around it. Then, I have to peel the foil off. There is a little tab in the corner, and every single time I pull it, it just pulls the tab off and then I have to injure my hands more trying to get the foil off. Then, when the formula is almost gone, there isn't enough to make a scoop, so I have to pour the remaining powder into the new box (with my bloody knuckles) but there is a stupid lip on the corner of this stupid mishaped box, and I can't get it all out. (Rip off!) So basically, the only good thing about this retarded container is the place to store the scoop in the lid, but believe me, it is not worth it. Not to mention, they could have done this with a regular can. This container is even endorsed by Ty Pennington, "design expert." Ty Pennington can shove it!!!!!!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Judging
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." -Mother Theresa
Judging others is something we are born with an instinct to do. As babies and children, we cannot help ourselves. If someone is smelly or ugly, we dislike them, and let them know why. In elementary school, I can remember thinking that certain children were stupid because of the way they looked. In middle school, I recall thinking I was better than other kids if they were the same dirty clothes to school every day. And don't even get me started on high school. But as we get older, we slowly learn. In high school I would still judge people, but I would not say anything bad to the people I was judging, because I respected their feelings, and didn't want to get beat up.
Things became more real for me in college. I was working more, meeting more people, and living at a huge University. My instictual judging habits had not gone away, but I was starting to realize that I was often wrong about people. The ugly kid down the hall had a great sense of humor. The bottle-blonde gorgeous girl in my class was actually a devout Catholic and a virgin. My roommate, who refused to wear anything other than sweats and flip flops, was actually from a very wealthy family. I took a moment to reflect on all of this, and decided to try to stop judging people.
Not judging people makes life much more fun. You can make many more friends, hear very interesting stories, and meet people that care about your stories, too.
If you look around, you will see that judgement is all around us. In our families, in our communities, and on the news.
In our families:
A mother will get upset if her teenage daughter is hanging out with a goth-looking pierced up boy, and secretly wish her daughter would choose better boys, such as the All-American high school quarterback down the street. Little does she know, the goth boy is a straight-edge gentleman, and the jock is a binge drinker who pressures girls into sex.
In our communities:
The local quik-mart owner gets jitters every time a black man walks into his store. He is so busy watching the honest black man collecting items around the store that he needs for his family, that he is completely unaware of the elderly lady stuffing phone cards into her purse..
On the news:
Political activists and Church leaders are at war over gay rights, both judging each other over what is right vs. what is wrong. Would they ever take the time to get to know each other? The gays are fighting for love, and the Church is supposed to love, so why the war when they want the same thing?
By telling people what is right and what is wrong, what they should and shouldn't do, you are judging them. We are all guilty of it, and we are ALL wrong. There is only one person who should be judging anyone, and that is God. For those of us who have no God, the world should be free of judgement.
My resolution is to continue my path of judging people less and less, and hopefully as I get older and wiser, I will stop this nasty habit altogether. By forcing our values on others, we are judging them, and this needs to stop. Lets take Mother Theresa's advice, and simply love them.
Judging others is something we are born with an instinct to do. As babies and children, we cannot help ourselves. If someone is smelly or ugly, we dislike them, and let them know why. In elementary school, I can remember thinking that certain children were stupid because of the way they looked. In middle school, I recall thinking I was better than other kids if they were the same dirty clothes to school every day. And don't even get me started on high school. But as we get older, we slowly learn. In high school I would still judge people, but I would not say anything bad to the people I was judging, because I respected their feelings, and didn't want to get beat up.
Things became more real for me in college. I was working more, meeting more people, and living at a huge University. My instictual judging habits had not gone away, but I was starting to realize that I was often wrong about people. The ugly kid down the hall had a great sense of humor. The bottle-blonde gorgeous girl in my class was actually a devout Catholic and a virgin. My roommate, who refused to wear anything other than sweats and flip flops, was actually from a very wealthy family. I took a moment to reflect on all of this, and decided to try to stop judging people.
Not judging people makes life much more fun. You can make many more friends, hear very interesting stories, and meet people that care about your stories, too.
If you look around, you will see that judgement is all around us. In our families, in our communities, and on the news.
In our families:
A mother will get upset if her teenage daughter is hanging out with a goth-looking pierced up boy, and secretly wish her daughter would choose better boys, such as the All-American high school quarterback down the street. Little does she know, the goth boy is a straight-edge gentleman, and the jock is a binge drinker who pressures girls into sex.
In our communities:
The local quik-mart owner gets jitters every time a black man walks into his store. He is so busy watching the honest black man collecting items around the store that he needs for his family, that he is completely unaware of the elderly lady stuffing phone cards into her purse..
On the news:
Political activists and Church leaders are at war over gay rights, both judging each other over what is right vs. what is wrong. Would they ever take the time to get to know each other? The gays are fighting for love, and the Church is supposed to love, so why the war when they want the same thing?
By telling people what is right and what is wrong, what they should and shouldn't do, you are judging them. We are all guilty of it, and we are ALL wrong. There is only one person who should be judging anyone, and that is God. For those of us who have no God, the world should be free of judgement.
My resolution is to continue my path of judging people less and less, and hopefully as I get older and wiser, I will stop this nasty habit altogether. By forcing our values on others, we are judging them, and this needs to stop. Lets take Mother Theresa's advice, and simply love them.
Old Blog
Here is a link to my old blog:
http://ixheartxemily.livejournal.com/
I really like some of the entries in it and was going to copy and paste them here, but since most of them are three years old, it didn't seem right. I was definately living a MUCH different life back then..
http://ixheartxemily.livejournal.com/
I really like some of the entries in it and was going to copy and paste them here, but since most of them are three years old, it didn't seem right. I was definately living a MUCH different life back then..
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