Friday, March 29, 2013

when is it too much?

What does it say about me that this bugs me?
I have a problem with someone affording a $200,000 car.  It seems...excessive
Am I wrong? 
I have to ask myself "Where is the line?"
"At what point does something cross over from OK to greedy?" 
I don't know.  But this feels wrong somehow. 
You know what comes to mind?  There are children starving in the world and he's driving a $200,000 car.  That's not (wait for it...) fair.

Yet, I tell my kids daily that life isn't fair.  We were never promised fair.  Even in the Constitution, we are given the right to the PURSUIT of happiness.  There's nothing about fairness or even a promise of happiness itself. 

So is this just jealousy on my part because I want something better?  Except, I don't personally buy things that are expensive (at least not to me).  Perhaps someone who makes significantly less money than I do thinks my spending habits are out of control.  That my living in Irvine is excessive. Where I see that I've worked hard to live someplace I like.

Yeah, I do think people should be free to pursue their dreams and work hard and earn a fair wage.  Perhaps my issue is that certain industries don't seem to have a fair wage?  Entertainment and professional sports seem out of control to me.  Yet, people are willing to pay and who am I to say they cannot spend their money on that?  I'm willing to say I love movies and TV.  I appreciate a really well written and produced show and those people should be rewarded for their talent and work.

It is interesting to me how many topics ultimately come back to God for me.  Perhaps because so many topics ultimately come back to some kind of morality and how does one measure morality without a standard?  That standard comes from God for me. 

Then I wonder, how do we fix these things?  How do we fix extreme poverty?  Why, when we know that on a global scale we have enough food for everyone do people still starve to death?  I believe it is because people can be evil, selfish, greedy, self-serving.  Because they seek to further themselves vs helping those around them.  Corruption in the countries suffering the most where there are extreme differences in what the have's have and the have not's don't.  That corruption ultimately kills.  Greed is bad.  (sorry Michael Douglas)  There is such thing as enough. (?)

However, I don't ultimately believe in socialism because people are not basically good.  We have the same problems with socialism because greedy, power hungry people want to be in charge and often are.  Those who are more motivated by such things often make their way to the top.  Which would be OK with me if they were "fair."

I don't ultimately believe in capitalism because people are not basically good.  (same argument as above with the exception that there is perhaps more opportunity for the have not's to rise)

hmmmm



I think this one is going to take some more thinking.

(don't even get me started on Congress...)


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

rant

You know what I hate?  I hate when I go to to an online store for plus size women and they have skinny women modeling the clothes.  What is up with that? 

In all fairness, the clothes don't even look the same on a skinny girl and a fat girl.  It's poor marketing if nothing else.

OK weak rant, but I think this everytime I go on a site.


You know what is funny to me... of all the posts I've written, the two that got the most views were about cleaning your washing machine!

Monday, March 25, 2013

word of the week


I create a word of the week fun page for work and thought I would share them with you.  I post them in the copy room and kitchen so people have something fun to look at while waiting for something.

cajole       (kuh-JOHL ), verb
1. a: To persuade with flattery or gentle urging:  coax
1. b: To obtain from someone by gentle persuasion
2:  To deceive with soothing words or false promises
Example: 
· Brianna was able to cajole some money from her father before
leaving for the movies.





I went to a restaurant that serves "breakfast at any time". So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance.  Stephen Wright


You can observe a lot by just watching.  Yogi Berra



 

Friday, March 22, 2013

appliances and marriage

This is a two-fer.
I hit my home appliance topic (see here and here) and my living together topic.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/columnist/2012/10/16/craig-wilson-dishwasher/1619899/

By the way, I tried not rinsing and my dishwasher returned concrete food particles that glistened on my dishwasher.  I think there should be a caviat that your dishwasher needs to be purchased with the last decade for this to be true.  I don't just rinse, I clean my dishes and use the dishwasher as a sanitising process because I don't like having my hands in hot water (not to mention I don't like drying the now clean dishes).  My dishwasher is an original appliance that I think the Caroline Ingals used.  I've had to replace the basket where the silverware goes and I have to purchase special crystal powder to go in each cycle to keep the hard water from destroying the inside of the washer (which had a yucky film on it) and my dishes.  However, I'm the only one that remembers to use it so I'm always checking the dishwasher and often rewashing things.  Sheesh.  This all makes me sound like one of those cool wives/mom's I always admire who run this great household and everything is clean and dinner is on the table if not at the same time, on a nightly basis.  sigh... One day I might attain such a position in life.  But since I'm guessing that will require me putting cooking and cleaning much higher on my To Do list that is ever has been... I won't be holding my breath.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

stuff you need to know

What I'm Reading

http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clarkhoward/travel/mac-users-being-fed-pricier-hotel-searches/nPfRc/

...and if you were thinking that a Cruise would probably be a great deal right now...
you're right!

http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clarkhoward/travel/italian-cruise-ship-disaster-and-its-impact-indust/nGTx5/

I found an Alaskan cruise for less than $500 and am now attempting to work out the airfare and convincing my husband that we need a vacation.  (wish me luck)

I even asked a couple of friends if they would like to go do this on the off chance my husband says yes.


Update:
Darn... husband said no.
Any of you have luck with it!?

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

how to clean your washing machine

So, I posted the "outraged" idea that one now has to buy a product to clean your washing machine when said machine basically is filled repeatedly with hot soapy water.  One could easily intuit that the machine by it's very job is always clean.

Apparently, I was wrong.
http://laundry.about.com/od/washermaintenancerepair/a/cleanwasher.htm

I found that site while trying to relax last night.  Listening to a teaching with my daughter and playing on Pinterest.  Click...click...click... I do need to clean my washing machine???  Wow, who knew. 

Guess what I'm doing this weekend?

Friday, March 8, 2013

now I have to clean my washing machine?

When did this become a thing?
Clicking this button will do nothing because I am not linking to something I deem as unnecessary.
Wait, when I think about that, I may not be entirely honest there.

Still, no link.
Now, on top of having to clean my clothes in the washing machine I also have to actually clean my washing machine?

Did I miss something?
Don't I put soap and alternate hot water and even bleach into this machine which churns and activates said soap/water/bleach?!?

Now I have to clean that too?

Hmmm, considering there are dishes in my sink from 3 days ago, I'll add this to the bottom of the list.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

living together before marriage?

Why is it wrong to live together before marriage?
A friend of mind is dealing with this dilemma.  We aren't even talking about having sex before marriage, but about living together without the sex (trying to be good and all).

So my initial response is to not do it. 
That's my gut feeling.
So I thought about it.
Why is it wrong?
Appearance of evil is one reason.
Creating an atmosphere of temptation is another.

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-living-together-before-marriage-is-a-bad-idea-infographic-2012-7

I have this strong feeling that it's wrong and damaging to a relationship.  It sets up expectations that may not be fulfilled.

More on this as I process.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

frustrated

So, I met this great Christian counselor and he was amazing!  He talks about spiritual warfare and prayed with me.  I was very encouraged about my marriage from that first meeting.

But my health insurance sucks.  I seriously wonder what exactly I'm paying so much money for because with health insurance I can barely afford to go to the doctor with the deductible looming over my head!

I asked if the counselor would take less money per session and he doesn't do that.  I'm disappointed, but honestly, I totally understand!  He deserves to be paid his wage!

But now I'm feeling even more frustrated because I feel like I've been "teased" into having some hope and now that's been taken away.  Do I suck it up and pay $100 per session or look for someone else?

I feel rejected.
I don't like feeling rejected.

Then it pulls up all the feelings I have about marriage.
I do not want to be divorced but I want to be in a better relationship than I am.

I look at other people who have divorced and now have "good" second marriages and I think am I supposed to do that?  What about the idea I have that divorce is bad?  That I should work on my marriage.  OK, obviously I know I should work on my marriage and that I should avoid divorce, but at what point do I give up?

Sheesh!