HAPPY NEW YEAR

I will raise a glass and toast to the New Year and the hope that 2009 will be a better year for everyone.

I'm sure we are all glad to see an end to 2008.

Percption is Everything

It was just reported on the news that President Obama and his wife will attend, no less than, ten Inaugural Balls. I support our new president but I think that in these economic times, ten expensive balls is a bit to much. Actually, its a lot to much.

Random Thoughts

Well, the Bucs lost again today. Coach Gruden said he was proud of their effort and they will learn from this loss. Excuse me! Isn't that something you say to Pee-Wee and High School football players? These guys are professionals bringing down the very big bucks. Aren't they suppose to already know how to do it?

Every year when the temperature drops below zero and the snow and ice storms rush across the country everyone is so surprised. Hello! It's winter. This is what happens in winter.

I couldn't find the crowds at the mall last Sunday but they were sure out there today. I finally had to resort to stalking people coming out of the store in order to find a parking place.

The Holliday arrived for us last Tuesday. Our son from North Carolina surprised us with a visit. It was short but very sweet.

Economy

My recovery from falling down is almost complete. It took a whole lot longer than I anticipated but I am not hobbling as much anymore.

I am not a Black Friday shopper so we didn’t get to the stores until last Sunday. How bad is the economy? I was amazed. They are practically giving merchandise away and still no one is buying. I expected crowds and long lines but there was, comparatively, no one in the mall. If big business is having this bad of a time it means small business is out of business. This is very sad. Perhaps this a “correction” for business but I don’t think so. I think we are in real trouble and I don’t know what the answer is. I just hope there are some very smart people out there who do have the answer. Congress keeps banging its head against the wall – they think all they have to do is bail everyone out with tax payer dollars. I think this is just throwing good money after bad.

The company my brother-in-law works for was laying people off last year and he was in danger of losing his job. He went to his employer and ask if he could take a pay cut in order to keep his job. The boss was very impressed and said yes. Others lost their jobs but my brother-in-law kept his and is now making his original salary again.

I know this is not a cure for all of this country’s woes but perhaps if we all give a little things will get better.

When I first entered the work force many years ago, the attitude toward our jobs was, “how much can I do for this job”. Over the years I have seen this change to where workers now ask “how much can this job do for me”. Perhaps we need to concentrate less on “me” and more on “we”.

But do I want to be found?

I just saw a commercial for ZoomBack. This is a device, which seems to be similar to the Lojack thing for cars, but this one you can put on your car, your kid, your dog or just about any thing that moves. You then go to your computer and you can track it.

I don't know whether to feel more secure or scared.

Guess it might be good for Alzheimer patients who wander off.

Falling Down

Don't you just hate that?

I fell down the other day. Flying forward, flat on my face.

First, it's embarrassing and second you usually get hurt. Everyone crowds around asking if you are all right. Of course I'm not all right - I just fell down.

When I was eight months pregnant with my daughter I fell down on the sidewalk in downtown Denver. I was working in the medical field at the time so I was wearing a white uniform. I looked like a beached, white whale laying there on the street. The saving grace then was that no one knew me. This was not the case the other day. Everyone knows me. The fact that I was at a public place (the pool) in a bathing suit did not help.

The final result is that I twisted my foot so now I am hobbling around unable to do much for myself. It is getting better and should be back to normal by the first of the week. Unfortunately, the embarrassment will last much longer.

Bailout

Do I have this right?

The government wants to give the big 3 auto makers money so they can keep making big, gas guzzling cars that, do to the economy and unemployment, no one can afford to buy.

Some smart person - please explain this to me.