Sunday, November 23, 2008

Jesus Wasn't Available?

A friend, who tags every email she sends with Bible verses, sent me a picture of her baby's first visit with Santa Claus.
Super cute photo, but,
I guess Jesus wasn't available?

Sunday, October 12, 2008

I'm Me, and I Approve This Message

I am an expert on financial behavior because I watch HGTV .
For you, I'll share some of my knowledge.

Check out any show featuring a thirtyish, first-time couple buying their first house. These people will state they feel comfortable spending, for example, $1800 a month on a mortgage. They're pre-approved, usually creatively with two mortgages, for a little over that amount.
I don't know if that includes insurance, interest, et al. I'm assuming.

Then they rattle off a list of wants like they're filling out a shallow profile on Match.com.
They're usually wanting updated marble counter-topped kitchens, extra bedrooms, extra bathrooms, garage, and a yard.
Their wise realtor takes them off to see houses in their comfortable price range.

Of course, they can't find their wants as they imagine it, so they get discouraged.
I was said to be pouting when I was five and got discouraged the way they do. I was told I was unrealistic when I was twenty and acted that way. Call it what you will.

So the savvy realtor, working on commission, shows them a house for the full amount of their pre-approval.
Maybe even more, but they'd have to come up with some cash.
They look at it, "just to see."
The house is beautiful, new or remodeled, and a gorgeous home anyone could live in. It has all or most of desires on the list.

Used to be, you had to be rather successful, not just the average Joe, to reward yourself with a great home for your first home.
To get all that one wanted the first time out was an exception.
It was something that some of us who were starting out hoped to achieve, and deserve.
But on these shows, the first-time home buyers would buy the house that used to take time to save up enough money for a down payment.
The time that it took forced us to compromise and appreciate. It's not such a bad thing.

Instant gratification. Hard to condemn because it's fun, but it must be discouraged, when expected.
Getting constant instant gratification, and also living with integrity, just don't mix for some reason.
So this down-payment-less culture has assaulted the society of just rewards for smart work, and now we all are paying the costs of living in a fearful society with major players stopping their game.

Is this just a generational thing, complaining about progressive changes from what we're used to? Or is it truly the result of bad influences in our society?
Either way, they're taking me down with 'em.

But I could of told you we were headed for a meltdown.
Coz I watch HGTV, doncha know.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Reasoning

I have a friend, in her 50's, who doesn't believe her constant cigarette smoking is harmful to her health. She believes if she is going to get cancer, there's nothing she can do about it.
She is voting for McCain, because she says Obama isn't patriotic enough. She bases that on seeing a picture on the internet that supposedly shows Obama not holding his hand to his heart during a pledge of allegiance.
This friend also thinks smoking pot and talking on the cell phone while driving isn't anything to worry about. She says because she's done it for so long, she's really good at it and just getting better.
I repeat, she's voting for McCain.
All her children smoke cigarettes now. Around their kids, too.
Did I mention she won't vote for Obama because of an internet picture? She's voting for McCain.
I guess, with her reasoning, it makes sense.