W - Withdrawing from the banking system

How many of us have been victims of the ridiculously high unreasonable fees of our banks? I know we have!  ATM, over draft, and annual fees, what a racket. Really we completely understand the banks necessity to require fees, but it appears to us that these fees seem to only pray on average working families who are just getting by. 





We say this because really the amount of money banks make on overdraft fees alone totaled $31.6 billion last year, and the average over draft is $20. You know who paid those fees? You got it, regular average Americans.  Where's the sense in that?

Why should we continue to keep our hard earned dollars in the bank, to get charged $30 to $37 in overdraft charges?  Why should we? Where is the incentive anymore to keep our money in the bank? Oh wait maybe it's the .06 cents you'll make each month on interest.  We really still don't see the incentive.  The only good thing about keeping our money in the bank is convenience.  Direct deposit, debit MasterCard / Visa cards, checks.  But that's about it. You can get that now with a prepaid debit card. 

Granted if you have the fortunate circumstances to have investments, money available to you in multiple accounts,  make a larger then average salary and live more then comfortably then yes absolutely your money should be in a bank.  but as for those making practically just enough to pay bills, hit the store and put gas in the car, it might make more sense to withdraw from the banking system. 

U - United?

United? How can this country call it's self the United States of America when we're so divided?!

Rich, poor.  Working class, privileged. Our country was founded on the thought that we all, with hard work and determination can achieve greater things and have more opportunities available to us than what was available to our founding fathers and ancestors at the time in their 'home' countries.  Which is why to this day many people choose to come here. 

That said with the election approaching, our primary is today.  If you have followed our previous posts you may have got the idea that we are prideful middle class Americans.  Who have both Republican and Democratic views.  If you are following our election you would see that according to polls the country is at an even split.  We as a country are very divided on the issues.  "United we stand and divided we fall" how many times have we heard this quote?  We cant help be see that as long as Americans remain divided so extremely on issues we will fall again.  We need to not be selfish as to not just think about what is good for one we must consider what is good for ALL.

One issue that jumps out at us among many is the incredibly high cost of food now and qualifications for food stamps. 

We are not talking about the people who abuse the system and thus take advantage of every hard working American we want to address the concern for the same hard working Americans that pay taxes and CAN'T qualify for benefits.  There are many people who desperately need assistance now not because they don't want to work and provide but because circumstance has been put on them that restricts their ability to properly provide for their families.  Are these cases and families not exactly whom welfare assistance is meant to help. 

We saw this article, Food Stamp Challenge that states there are government officials who are currently attempting to buy and live on $35 a week for a food allowance.  We applaud them, we can't appreciate that they (people we put in office) have a genuine understanding for the needs the voters have unless they have experienced our daily struggles for themselves. We hope that this will prove that there is no way possibly to eat, let alone eat healthy on $35 a week.

This country is in crisis - the government needs to put a freeze on food costs and give breaks to farmers on gas & shipping costs , feed etc...; in order to give the the American middle class a chance to catch up. maybe then so many families that have been hit by the financial breakdown wont NEED food stamps. Perhaps another solution is to guide the American public with incentives to but direct from their local farmers. Better still local governments should support and influence their communities to create their own gardens to help with supply and demand.  Trust us a salad made fresh from your own garden tastes much better and is much better for you.  Salad should not come in a bag.

As long as our government insist on throwing crap on top of us well never dig out! Hope this experiment yields the results expected!

I- In laws

So in our worlds our in laws are  not our friends.  We don't have a good relationship even.  Think its more of a 'I'll tolerate you, you tolerate me' relationship. 

Specifically the widow here, yeah, my in laws have dropped off outta existence since my husband passed away.  I mean no calls, no texts, no Christmas presents, Easter baskets. You know, forget the presents there has been no concern to check on them.  Bizarre behavior.  I feel very unwelcome and can feel the negative energy flooding my way. 

While my guy was alive if there was a squabble or issue he would always say don't worry about them. Don't let them bother you.  I'll take care of it.  So in retrospect he was a buffer and maybe they never liked me and he just didn't want me to know.  I don't know. Maybe ill never know. Maybe I don't want to know.  I do know however its much harder to deal with them with him gone, then ever when he was alive. 

The other side of the in law coin is my families additions. My brothers wives and cousins husbands.  These people seem much more easier to get along with.  That's not to say we don't bother each other at times. But if we have a spat its easily forgotten and we can sit together for cake and coffee 5 minutes later. 

Perhaps if they were writing this they may feel differently but that's my thoughts on it.  Maybe it has to do with the son's somehow.  Daughters tend to stay around family and what not while the sons are dragged to their wives families.  Which in one respect is a bother. I would definitely like to have my brothers and sister-in-laws and nephews around much more but at least we can be in one place and have a good time with no one feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome. We always have a great time.

I lie. There was a few months when I really couldn't be bothered with my sister in law but were way past that now. In fact that's what happens. Even when my cousins and I fight we never have to hash it out again to get over it, we just get over it. But my husbands family, there a rough bunch they hate each other for years before they get over something.  Actually, (separate mini rant here ) not until my husband died had they all decided to put crap aside and get along.  For all the years I'm apart of that family never once had all of them been getting along at one time! Really feel like 'oh my god people really? My husband had to die and the kids had to loose their daddy for you all to love each other!'  There I think I'm done.

So there you go - the rant (run on rambling) on the in laws.

C - Children

Were quite certain that were not alone when we say what the heck is wrong with kids these days!? Better still whats wrong with the parents of these kids!?  Now were not saying our children are perfect but we do want to take a moment and rant about others children and their bad habits we cant control.

Sometimes we wish we could be 7 again, just to be able to teach a thing or two to some wise mouth little snot noses! Perhaps give them a beating too!

We try very hard to hold our children and ourselves to a high standard.  Be polite, courteous, helpful, respectful, strong, caring, to stand up for themselves and others, and to set an example.  Move out of the street when a car is coming, pick the kid everyone else would pick last, first, not to pick on friends. 

How do children now get away with yelling at strangers, older or younger then them?  How do young boys not know when to stop annoying the girls?  How do elementary school kids not know when they are hurting someones feelings?

These are not traits learned in school, these are traits learned or at least not corrected at home!  Enough is enough! We understand we cant raise or police every one's children but come on... these trouble makers do effect the good ones! 

Its been our experience, and there are exceptions to this but for the most part if the parents are non productive members of society, or not respectful, kind, polite, caring, then their offspring wont show these traits either. 

We teach our kids that if you show others kindness they will learn to show it in return.  This is not always true, especially when you have no choice but to interact with losers.  - this really is a rant :-)

Annoying things people say when someone dies.

I have had the heartbreaking pleasure to hear the most un-comforting words of sympathy in the days of my husbands passing.

You'll love again.
You'll find someone new.
Your young yet.
He was a good man.
The loss of a child is worse then the loss of a husband. (yes someone said this to me someone quite close actually)
How are you doing?
Oh it's gets easier.
He's with god now.
I know how you feel.
You'll be OK.

These words do not bring comfort. How the hell you think I'm doing! Really did you just ask me this? Why would I think of loving again? This is the furthest thought from my mind! Unless you too lost a spouse you don't know how I feel! I don't care if he's with God now, I want him here with me & the kids! No grief is the same, it doesn't make me feel better that I lost a husband instead of a child! I don't want my pain to get easier so do assume I want it too! It doesn't give me comfort to think in time my hurt or thoughts of him will be less! My youth doesn't matter at all! Seventy year old widows find others to spend time with and get comfort from and sometimes even re marry. Whatever, it's what they want. My age is not a factor!  He IS a good man! Only his body is gone his soul still exists! His soul was before he had a body and his soul will continue to be!  

If you take one thing away from this rant it should be that if you find yourself in the uncomfortable place to have to comfort someone grieving sometimes nothing needs to be said, a simple hug says enough.                                                              

Frig those Friggin Plows

I know theres not anyone who doesn't have this gripe with the plow men.  Do they not have any courtesy?  They come down the street they can clearly see the drive way is clean free from any snow. And what do these friggers do?
They must get a joy out of it.  A little chuckle with each driveway they plow back in. Wonder if after the day is done they go our for drinks and boast about who plowed in more people!

RECEIPTS at the pumps!!

Oh My God, What The Fig - What is with paying at the pump only to have to go inside to get a receipt! We want to avoid the trip inside and avoid the line at the register. Is this not what the pay at the pump option is for?

If we wanted to go into the store to have to get a receipt we would just go in to pay!

How do you have a pay at the pump option then have your patrons go in and wait on line for a friggin receipt!!!

Standing there after you have already pumped your gas waiting now for people to pick out lottery tickets, the type of cigarettes they want, all the while teens with no pep in their step or care to do their job even with a smile take their time making change really tests our patience!

Don't even know what more to say?!

Censorship SOPA & PIPA

Our government has went from governing to controlling - act on your freedoms and voice your opinion.  They control what we eat by controlling the cost of food. They control the costs of gas, the financial market, how we live on a day to day based on their rules and regulations.They control health care and in turn pharmaceutical needs. Now they want to control what we read, and how we use the Internet.  Next they'll want to control what we say - are these not our freedoms that our country was founded on??? This is a giant step in the wrong direction.

This is an entertainment issue, the oppression does not out way the benefits, in saving and making the entertainment industry money. These bills will not even stop the pirating, it will just make it a little harder. SOPA & PIPA bills protects the entertainment industry while oppressing the American public! Really the entertainment industry!  This just is more proof that our politicians are influenced where there is money. It makes no sense, the money saved or really made, will not benifit our economy. Is buying more CD's, DVD's, and media going to pull us out of economic disaster.

Every blog, every social site, and search engines will be effected.  Imagine not being able to post your favorite quote to facebook! Not being able to post a video to Youtube because of background music. They claim that they will amend the bill once its passed ... do they seriously expect us to believe that... They still haven't settled on a budget and they expect that we should believe they will settle on details of a bill controlling our rights... no way!! It needs to not even be passed ...

Oh wait, i do not own this picture! Just in case.

I just Don't Get It, Mortgages, Forclosures, and Homless

I am very passionate about all things; on the front burner these days is the housing market and the foreclosures happening all around us. It really makes me sick, I just don’t understand how the banks don’t see the ripple effect that this is having. In my small part of the world alone, there are so many homes vacant that no taxes are being paid, that means no money for hmmm let’s see, the police and fire budgets, the school districts, roads and snow removal the list really can go on and on. No wonder the government is broke and wants to raise taxes. Would it not be smart to try and make it work with homeowners, I’m sure they want to keep their homes. Now please understand I don’t understand a lot of the inner workings of the financial system but wouldn’t the banks rather be getting paid for a home rather than have it sit there vacant? I just don’t get it, right is right.  Now we’ve bailed out the banks after they caused this whole housing mess and still these SOB's won’t return the favor to so many Americans facing foreclosure.  It’s unbelievable really! They will settle for less then what’s owed on the loan through a short sale to put people and children out of their homes, but won’t work out new loans for those looking to make good and keep their homes! I have heard stories on top of stories all sounding too similar all from different people from different areas dealing with different banks.  They’ve tried to work the mortgage company who claims they DO want to work something out. All to have hours of phone calls logged with no progress.  Mortgage companies claiming lost paper work, things not being followed through properly, different stories each time, no consistency,  can’t talk to the same person twice, they always have to talk to someone else... its a mess of nonsense. 

                                      

Mean time you have people who CAN who WANT to pay their monthly payments but the mortgage companies refuse payment because its less than the amount due.  REALLY? Why take a loss of nothing rather then something? It’s fueling the mess.  I was always taught something of something is better than nothing. Here is our take on an Easy solution to STOP people from losing their homes. Insist these banks work with homeowners so people will want to spend money on renovations and pay their property taxes.  Does this seem too easy of a solution here? There must be something more right? Why else would this problem be persisting? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? If you’ll take less on a short sale then take the same loss on rewriting a contract with homeowners reflecting the new value of their home and everyone is happy.  Sure the mortgage banks take a loss but they would have taken that loss anyway.  Mean time they’ll be less people and children displaced and more money being pushed through the government. I’m sure almost every one of us knows someone who is on the verge of losing their homes. I think we need to put a face to this problem, it is the face of children having to be uprooted, women in the dream homes be it a one bedroom or five, seniors who have lived, loved, and laughed in their homes, have raised children.  The greed of our banks are taking our memories and our security and sense of safety away, and I’m just not sure they get it.

Catholic Hypocrite

I'm tired of people asking me if I believe in God, tired of people telling me I have to practice my faith a certain way. So we mentioned earlier that we have a strong FAITH and that by faith we don't mean religion.  Let me explain.  I believe Faith is a gift that is given to each of us direct from God.  Religions are man made rules put upon  that faith.  We happen to be a part of the catholic 'religon'.  We find comfort in the routine of going to church on Sunday, in the community of it, chanting our prayers, which also by the way we say at home on a daily basis.  However through life experiences and having learned a bit about other religions over the course of my adult life my perception of what I have been told was my faith all the while became distorted.  I began to realize that  I was taught  this was the right way because the holy spirit told some someones many years ago this was it, this is how we should practice, and this was the way God wanted it.    But I'm quite certain I hear and am divine guided each day, call it the holy spirit if you want. To say I'm crazy would be no different then saying the Pope or Mother Theresa, The Apostles  were just as crazy. Now I am in no way putting myself in the same categories as the Pope or Mother Theresa, but just because my life is less holy doesn't mean that the thoughts in my brain and from my heart are any less from 'God'.  No one religion has it all right, though many will profess that they do, and many more will follow even though they have questions. How can we ignore so many spiritual experiences beyond  religious "rules" and be expected to discount it. Well that's what this ramble is all about. Ask questions people, interpret your Faith, Know that God speaks to us all.

Welcome

Hello & welcome, here you'll find all the things that are in your mind. All the things that frustrate you, things you want to complain about, things that make no sense, stupidity of family dynamics, spiritual growth and enlightenment, grief, and anything else that happens to us through out our day. Its not just you all who feel this way we feel it to.

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