I Got Your Clunker Right Here, Heatwave Hits, and Pool in Moderation

Where did they come up with the phrase, cash for clunker? That's not what the program is, by the way. It's cash for less fuel efficient vehicles. I know, because I have a clunker! Our 95 Oldsmobile, the one with 115,000 miles on it is fast becoming the poster car for the program. It's a beautiful car, looks brand new, the wife's favorite car of all time. The valves play a melodious tune, either whilst idling, or accelerating, so avoid those 2 things, and you're flush.

The Olds is listed at a combined 20mpg, something I don't think it ever achieved, and of course you have to be below 18mpg. You also have to get the same class vehicle, truck for truck, car for car, or so it seems to someone of limited intelligence, and someone who saw right away they didn't qualify and stopped paying attention. We pay our house payment, live within our means, and drive a fuel efficient car, so far we're not feeling very stimulated!

Here comes the heat, and I mean heat! By tomorrow we could be pushing 100 degrees, above 90% humidity, just stick a fork in me now, I'm done! That cabin above the Arctic circle is looking pretty sweet right about now. Was in the pool all day yesterday, it was wonderful, except I can't wear the stim into the water, so I looked like Quasimodo walking to get in. The water was cool, it was relaxing, and I thought I was going to need a Sikorsky helicopter to get me out of the water. Wobily is a good word for my legs, not what you want to call them, but accurate. Moderation will be king today. In for a bit, out for a bit. I know, party animal.

Multiple Sclerosis, Economic Insanity, and Zoned Weakness

I was watching a thing with Tom Brokaw, he's traveling across the country on RT. 50 from Ocean City, MD, all the way to California. It's the first installment, and I'm already mad! He started in Cambridge, MD, at a crab picking company. The owner of the company is worried he is going to go out of business, not because there isn't enough work, but because there are not enough workers. The county has an unemployment rate of 11%, I sure hope they have suspended all public programs and support until there isn't a job opening anywhere. Can't find workers, who'd of thunk it?

That's like GM, they are going to go the way of Chrysler by the sound of it. The UAW said they would consider a cut in benefits, that's real grown up of them! Now I'm not an economist, I'm not even college educated, but it seems to me that if you have something that is dead, and GM is dead, shouldn't we pull the plug, and look for a new date to the prom? We have GM stock, so I suppose we should be appreciative of the extra help the "experts" are giving our portfolio, but I have got to say, maybe it's time to cut our losses, and let survival of the fittest take over.

Why is it that there are days that part of my legs feel weak, but not the whole leg? My thighs are actually painful they are so weak today, and I don't understand it. They may stay this way for a few days, they may not change for a few weeks, I never know. My eyes are the same way, I never know when or why they are going to act up. It makes it hard to plan, never knowing when, or why I don't feel good. I guess I should stop whining and just be happy that I have days that aren't so bad? That's a hell of thing to be thankful for, things aren't always so bad!

Car Ads, Burger and Drug Wars, and Multiple Sclerosis

What is the state of the auto bailout? Am I the owner of a controlling interest in the big 3 yet? If I am, I'm calling a board meeting about all this advertising I'm seeing on the television. The new Dodge truck with storage boxes that are "fricken" awesome has been on during the football games about every other commercial. GM and Ford are doing the same thing, blasting the airways with high tech ads, for products we aren't buying. Are commercials on network TV expensive during the NFL playoffs? My money would be better spent if the car guys stopped bombarding us with ads and figured out how to make me money instead!

The fast food Shills aren't any better, either are the drug companies. After a day of watching TV, something I rarely do anymore, I feel like jumping into my Ford tough truck, finding one of the Whopper Virgins for advice on what burger to get, and then scoring some Ambein CR to get some rest! Do these ads do it for anyone? Do you watch them and then go sit in a claw foot tub with a Big Mac? The amount of money being spent is sickening! That shows how much money we are throwing away, these company's are spending millions of dollars, hundreds of millions, while hawking their new dollar menu! Wow!

I didn't wear my brace today, gave the old foot a break. It feels good to do that every once in a while, but I can't do much walking because it makes my leg hurt. Tough choice, which way do I want my leg to hurt? I had the yips for a little bit when I took my shoes off, but it didn't last, so I'm thinking things are looking up. I call tomorrow for an appointment for PT, I hope I can see a benefit. I also should get my blood results, so it will a busy day. If I keep up at this pace I am going to need to start taking a nap everyday!

The Parade of Gold, Congratulations Michael Phelps

Wow, Michael Phelp's won like 100 medals or something, pretty impressive. Maybe the taxpayers will build him a swimming complex like they built Cal Ripken a baseball one? Sounds like quite a blast down at the old Fort McHenry, a good time had by all. It has to be a gala, Billy Bush is the emcee for Pete's sake! The County Executive for Baltimore threw Michael a big Blast the last time he came home, naming a street after him if I remember. They are also giving him a parade in Towson, Michael's hometown. Who is paying for this, by the way? Surely my state and local government aren't paying for it, meaning me?

Come on, are we that starved for celebrities that we need to spend the kind of money they are going to fork out? I'd probably go, but I can't afford the gas to get down there! I don't see any sponsors anywhere on the web page? They do have the County, City, and State seals at the end, does that mean it's there because it's their ball? Cool, the new economic plan has already worked in Baltimore! I'm glad to see we have taken care of all the people who need help, the ones who are having a hard time. We must have, we are giving welcome home parties to celebrities, that must come after, right?

Sadly, no it doesn't come first that we help people in need. Michael is an ambassador to China, we all know what that means. Wait, what does that mean? Is China going to fill all the empty business parks along Rte. 43? Because Michael lives here is China going to buy up more of our debt then they do say Florida? The city sure doesn't have anything more important then an "atta boy" for an Olympian. Am I the only one that doesn't get it? Is the rest of Maryland, nay the country, so enamored by famous people that it's anything goes? I suppose so, but anyway, way to go Mike!

Vitamin D Therapy, Financial Bailout, and Hand Surgery

We took the boy for a second opinion to the Union Memorial Hand clinic. They told us he was ugly too! No, seriously, I kid, that's what I am, a kidder! Anyway, we did take him today, and they told us what we feared, he needs surgery to correct his broken finger. He will go in on Tuesday to have a plate and a couple of screws put in to correct the break. He is devastated to say this least. This knocks him out of badminton for the entire year, and will dramatically delay his being able to qualify for the nationals in bowling. It's hard to convince a 16 year old that this isn't the worst thing that will ever happen.

I on the other hand am doing great! My surgery is all healed and I'm ready for rock climbing. The vitamin D is doing its thing, I think, and I'm due another dose tomorrow. I'm in limbo waiting to see if I am feeling any difference or not? I'm looking into what exactly it is that I should be feeling. The neuro didn't tell me that, just take this pill once a week. Vitamin D is the new magic bean, being used for a wide variety of illnesses. I sure hope I haven't put all my hopes on a one size fits all cure?

Who can explain this whole bail out thing to me? How can half of both side be against each one of the drafts? Are we, the average guy getting screwed or not? Somebody is lying to us, but I defy anyone to prove to me who it is! Do any of these plans have a snowballs chance in hell of working, or are we just being whipped into a frenzy, again, to pay for something without question, and without input? Let me know what you think, and let me know what path this should follow.

Congress Bails Out Greedy Home Buyers

Let me tell you how dumb my wife and I are. When we bought our home, the bank told us how much we were qualified for. We both looked at the number and said no way! There is no way we can afford that much. We looked at it logically and decided on an amount we were both comfortable with. What kind of fools are we? If we had bought an outrageously expensive home, it turns out our Uncle Sam would have come to the rescue.

The current Congress has OK'd a bail out of the people who bought more home than hey could afford. Stay with me, because I must not too smart when it comes to number figurin. 400,000 people are said to benefit from this money. Near as I can figure, if you divide 400,000 into 300,000,000,000 you get $750,000 per loan. Someone with more edumacation check that one and see if I did that right? If I'm wrong, sorry for taking up your time on a dead end road. If I'm right, HOLY CRAP!

Does that mean that the feds are going to broker new mortgages for these people, at a better rate, at a lower cost, so they can afford something, they shouldn't have bought in the first place? Well kiss my grits! I see the Democrats were true to their word and got rid of the frivolous spending! What was it they said they were going to do? I see no difference. The Dems and the GOP both posture too much, and get too little done. Both sides keep talking about what they are doing for the middle class. I am pretty sure I am still in the middle class, unless I have slipped down a notch. All I see is both sides making it harder for me to put food on the table, to put fuel in my mule, buy gas for my ass! We are supposed to pick a new President from one of these teams? Good luck!

How do I get in on some of this cash? How is it going to work? What company is going to get rich off of this 300 billion? How many service charges and handling fees are there going to be? Is the money going to be paid back by the same jerks that couldn't afford it the first time? I'm no economist, but that seems pretty dumb to me. Is Congress going after the fly by nights who found these loans for people? How about the banks that gave it to them? When will I get my 300 billion back, and from whom? Why do I feel like this is going to be another Katrina disaster. You know what I mean, here's money, is it fixed now?

I can't tell you how many "new" houses are for sale in Perry Hall. Well, I can tell you, but that's not the point. The point is it's every where. Until we go after the people that caused this, I am still not able to afford food, gas, electricity, and gas to cook and heat my hot water with. How do I make them pay for what they have done? They are living in multi million dollar homes, paid for on the back of these defaulted loans. Is there no penalty for that? Isn't that the financial equivalency of reckless endangerment? Please don't tell me they will make more money from the 300 bil! It's time for some new ideas, some new plans, a way of putting the lid down on this downward flow. Maybe we can get Jesse "The Body" to run for President? He can't be any worse then the 2 choices, or the 2 teams being offered!

Congress Works Together To Make A Problem Bigger

It looks like after a long period of fighting, Congress is finally working, and heading in the same direction, straight down! Senator Dodd seems proud of the bipartisan effort. That's nice, to be proud I mean. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. What's that old saying about opinions? So what is the issue that brought our law makers together? Did it have to do with saving children, or the elderly? With making our neighborhoods safer, or more appealing. No, they decided to insure 300 billion dollars in new mortgages, helping 400,000 homeowners.

Yippee? How am I supposed to feel about this? To make matters worse, this looks like it is going to be one of a handful of times that the President and I are on the same page. President Bush has said he is going to veto the bill if there aren't major changes to it. Now I don't know what the changes are, hopefully not something that will have me back here tomorrow talking about him, but at least for now it doesn't look like it will happen. Not now, but it will happen. It's an election year.

Like I said yesterday, this campaign so far has cost a fortune, but we ain't seen nothing yet! This is where all the posturing, all the smoke, and all the mirrors disappear. Now we see up the politicians skirts and see what they are really made of. The Democrats and the Republicans are bipartisan when it comes to this issue, the issue of either gaining, or holding onto control. Sure they would agree to bail these people out, it would give them the opportunity to say, "look what we our team did for you". What a fool I am, we are paying our own mortgage!

300 billion, with a B! It is unimaginable that Congress would even think of doing this. It is time for we Americans to stand up, and in one loud voice say, "ENOUGH"! Instead of us saying great, look what they are doing to help us, we should be saying look what they are doing TO us. We can't let this happen so the politicians can jockey for position in the next election. Call someone, write someone, put on your button. Tell them no, I don't want to pay for anyone else to live in a home they knew they couldn't afford. I won't be able to afford that and pay for my own.