Paul Newman

Today we mourn Paul Newman. Not only a great actor but a great man.

And those eyes - those eyes. We all fell in love with those beautiful blue eyes.

He will be missed.

Bailout

My husband and I have worked hard all our lives. We paid our mortgage off. It took 30 years to do it but we did it. We paid off our car loans and helped put our kids through college.

We don't have a lot left over now but it should be enough to get us through. Or so we thought.

We can't afford to bail out anyone. What little we have in our financial portfolio we will need to live on in the future. Where is my Golden Parachute?

Happiness

Saturday night I attended the 26th (all of my friends tend to procrastinate) Anniversary party of my friends Keith and Lucy. The party was held at a hotel/resort on the beach. As we enjoyed the open bar and yummy appetizers we watched the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico. There were around 70 guests. Dinner was very good and there was a band and dancing. Lucy’s sister and her husband along with her brother and some very cute children put on a hilarious skit chronicling Keith and Lucy’s path to 26 years of happiness together – and they are truly a very happy couple.

Yesterday I watched multiple episodes of Bridezillas (there was NOTHING else on). I have never seen so many self centered, nasty women in my life. Why anyone would want to marry these women is beyond me. These couples will not make it 6 years let alone 26. I’m sure some won’t make it 6 months.

So I got to thinking – what really makes a happy marriage?

I’ve heard many say it’s all about communication. Communication is important - depending on what you say. The couples on Bridezillas were doing a lot of communicating but it was all really bad.

I think the secret to a happy marriage is respect. Respect you spouse for who he or she is as an individual. It doesn’t mean you have to always agree with them (how boring would that be?) but you should respect their right to their opinion. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. The lesson I’ve learned is to think before you speak. Disrespect cuts to the bone and is never really forgotten. If you love someone, you should never purposeful hurt them.

Keith and Lucy have that kind of marriage and I am sure that some day they will celebrate their 51st anniversary and I hope I am still here to see it.

Experience?

Everyone seem to be concerned with the candidates "executive experience".

I am more concerned with their common sense and I haven't seen a whole lot of it yet.

Tell me the truth

I watch CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and NBC News. I read the newspaper every day and I have watched several speeches by both Obama and McCain. I think (or at least I thought) I was fairly well informed.

Then I received this email the other day.

Subject: Taxes - this is important
Proposed changes in taxes after the 2008 General election:

We’re trying to figure out the impact on the economy, job creation, interest rates and the equity markets of the candidates respective tax programs.

CAPITAL GAIN TAX ON SALE OF HOMES:
MCCAIN
0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax.
OBAMA28% on profit from ALL home sales

TAX ON DIVIDENDS:
MCCAIN 15% (no change)
OBAMA 39.6%

INCOME TAX:
MCCAIN (no changes)
Single making 30K - tax $4,500
Single making 50K - tax $12,500
Single making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 60K- tax $9,000
Married making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 125K - tax $31,250

OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts)
Single making 30K - tax $8,400
Single making 50K - tax $14,000
Single making 75K - tax $23,250
Married making 60K - tax $16,800
Married making 75K - tax $21,000
Married making 125K - tax $38,750

INHERITANCE TAX:
MCCAIN 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)
OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax


OTHER NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA:
New taxes on retirement accounts

New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet.
New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already)
New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity)
New taxes to pay for socialized medicine

In all the speeches I have heard I have never once heard Obama propose these changes. In fact he says he wants to reduce taxes for 95% of Americans.


Am I not hearing correctly or am I just stupid?

There is an ad on TV now that says that McCain went to Washington, took on the Senate Republicans (yes Republicans) and reformed Washington.


What?

When?

How?


Am I also blind because I haven’t seen any reform of Washington.

McCain says Sarah Palin but the Alaska Governors plane on ebay and sold it for a profit. Reports say she put it on ebay but it didn’t sell and was later sold privately - at a loss.


The air waves are full of contradictive propaganda ads.

Will someone, PLEASE, just tell me the truth?

Just keep piling it on

We all know that life ain't fair but just how much crap does one family have to take?

I know there are others much worse off than we are and I shouldn't complain but right now - life stinks. It really, really stinks.

To add insult to injury - here comes category four Ike.

Education

I just went to the bank. It was 2:45. It was like running an obstacle course. The school across the street was letting out and there were kids, cars and parents everywhere. It was 2:45.

When I went to school we went from 8:00 am till 4:00 pm. Everyone complains about the poor quality of education our kids are getting. Well, it's no wonder. They are not in school long enough to get a good education.

That's what I think.