Consumption Function

Glass Water Bottles

2010-04-30T17:16:00.001-05:00

http://www.betrulyyou.com/

I think they are very cool, but I would probably break it in some very quiet and inappropriate place.

Groupon

2010-01-18T21:37:00.001-06:00

Check out www.groupon.com/dallas

Bit a Bliss is featured tomorrow!

Chasing Cool

2010-01-12T22:33:00.002-06:00

"The next time someone says they want to be the "ipod" of their industry, ask them this: before he came up with the ipod, did Steve Jobs walk around telling people he wanted to be the Sony Walkman of his industry?"

www.chasingcoolbook.com

A must read!

I want to live in a Moon Hole

2010-01-02T20:22:00.001-06:00

Or even better....a protected lunar lava tube :)

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/space/01/01/moon.lava.hole/index.html

Guilty Pleasures

2009-12-28T17:13:00.003-06:00

Lately, one of my guilty pleasures has been watching Jersey Shore. It's like real world only everyone is striving to be a "guido" or "guidette".

Last week the show became political. A New Jersey lawmaker is asking MTV to stop the show!

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=448791

The latest criticism comes from the New Jersey Italian American Legislative Caucus, which says the show promotes derogatory ethnic stereotypes and is "wildly offensive."

But when you watch the show, the kids on it seem very proud of these attributes that the legislator is calling derogatory ethnic stereotypes. So are they derogatory stereotypes or is it simply a generational difference? I don't know the answer, I"ve never even been to Jersey.

Here is what wikipedia has to say http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guido_(slang)

An appeal from Wikipedia founder, Jimmy Wales

2009-12-28T13:11:00.003-06:00

An appeal from Wikipedia founder, Jimmy Wales

Today, I am asking you to make a donation to support Wikipedia.

I started Wikipedia in 2001, and over the past eight years, I've been amazed and humbled to see hundreds of thousands of volunteers join with me to build the largest encyclopedia in human history.

Wikipedia isn't a commercial website. It's a community creation, entirely written and funded by people like you. More than 340 million people use Wikipedia every month - almost a third of the Internet-connected world. You are part of our community.

I believe in us. I believe that Wikipedia keeps getting better. That's the whole idea. One person writes something, somebody improves it a little, and it keeps getting better, over time. If you find it useful today, imagine how much we can achieve together in 5, 10, 20 years.

Wikipedia is about the power of people like us to do extraordinary things. People like us write Wikipedia, one word at a time. People like us fund it. It's proof of our collective potential to change the world.

We need to protect the space where this important work happens. We need to protect Wikipedia. We want to keep it free of charge and free of advertising. We want to keep it open – you can use the information in Wikipedia any way you want. We want to keep it growing – spreading knowledge everywhere, and inviting participation from everyone.

The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organization I created in 2003 to operate, grow, nurture, and protect Wikipedia. For ten million US dollars a year and with a staff of fewer than 35 people, it runs the fifth most-read website in the entire world. I'm asking for your help so we can continue our work.

Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet has free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That’s where we’re headed. And with your help, we will get there.

Thank you for using Wikipedia. You're part of this story: please make a donation today.

Jimmy Wales

Founder, Wikipedia

Not a Snuggie

2009-12-13T21:42:00.001-06:00

Most of these pictures creep me out.....but they are funny :)

http://notasnuggie.com

Toyota-Lexus Recall...Or Not

2009-11-30T23:26:00.002-06:00

The controversy over the Toyota and Lexus floor mats continues.

We happen to own one of the models that is under investigation, a 2006 IS-250. Several things about this are bothering me.

The only thing we have received in the mail, is a letter asking us to remove the driver's side floor mat. No offer to replace the floor mat......
Click here for a copy of the notice

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has called their floor mat statement "Inaccurate and Misleading" Why? Because the NHTSA believes that there is a defect in the cars, after an incident that killed a family of four that could not stop an accelerating Lexus.

This past Monday Toyota released a statement denying any finding of fault on Toyota's part or any defect in its cars in relation to the deadly floor mat safety advisory issued in late September. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is saying that Toyota's information is "inaccurate and misleading" and that there is in fact a defect in the 3.8 million cars affected.
Click here for full story

Still nothing from Toyota/Lexus in response to this...... So are we safe or not????

Quilted Northern, Economics, Psychology and Marketing

2009-11-05T18:12:00.003-06:00

Any business with a product to market should understand the intertwining of economics, psychology and marketing.

This is where Quilted Northern missed the target. With the case of the smaller toilet paper roll, it's a quite simple example.

If you raise the price of each roll of toilet paper 2 cents, it is unlikely that your consumer will even notice the 10 to 25 cent raise in their toilet paper package, especially if you raise it slowly over time. The consumers that do notice will either stop buying the product or they will decide they don't care and continue to buy. The ones who stop will be a small percentage and may have stopped buying anyway.

On the other hand a consumer that pays the price they have been paying for their toilet paper but opens it and finds a smaller roll feels cheated and ripped off. The actual visual of a smaller product has a major impact on buying decisions, especially when there is a somewhat standard size for toilet paper.

This also effects any loyalty the consumer may have with the brand. They think "this brand cheated me" and will most likely never come back to it.

This intense feeling of being cheated by a company turns viral and you have rip off reports and blogs like mine reporting this feeling.

You never see rip off reports or blogs reporting their toilet paper now costs 15 cents more per package.

The way I see it, Georgia Pacific and Quilted Northern could use a good refresher in the importance of the psychology behind consumer purchases and marketing.

Quilted Northern - the tiny roll

2009-11-04T19:47:00.003-06:00

I have long been a buyer of Quilted Northern toilet paper, you know you have your favorites....

Last week I opened a package and did a double take. It looked smaller. Alot smaller. I put it away and didn't think about it for a couple of days. Then when I got it out to put on the holder I could really tell it was smaller. A 1/2 inch shorter and and smaller in girth. But.....the price was the same.....what's happening here??

When I first researched this I found a press release from Georgia Pacific that I can no longer find, however someone posted a "ripoff report" , which made me laugh a little, but the reply from Georgia Pacific was the same as the press release I had found earlier.

We understand you may have some concerns about the roll width and/or sheet count of Quilted Northern Soft & Strong(r). As noted at the bottom of the package, Quilted Northern Soft & Strong(r) is about 1/2 inch narrower than before, and we have slightly reduced the sheetcount.

Because of today's economy, cost is a factor. We made the decision to slightly reduce the roll to bring you the bathroom tissue you trust and not raise our price to retailers. Quilted Northern Soft & Strong continues to provide the cleanliness and comfort you have come to expect, making it a great value in today's economy. As always, Quilted Northern Soft & Strong(r) is thick, absorbent, and gentle on your skin. The bathroom tissue features strength and durability for cleanliness, with softness and thickness for comfort. With Quilted Northern Soft & Strong(r), you do not have to compromise comfort for clean."

http://www.ripoffreport.com/Miscellaneous-Companies/Georgia-Pacific-CRC/georgia-pacific-crc-toilet-pa-e2647.htm

So no more purchasing the Quilted Northern, any suggestions?

RC and Moon Pie Festival

2009-10-28T22:37:00.009-05:00

I completely forgot to blog about the RC and Moon Pie Festival in Bell Buckle Tennessee. Somehow, someone from Bell Buckle arrived on my blog.....and it reminded me.

Several months ago I was doing some benchmarking for the Chamber of Commerce. While searching I ran across the RC and Moon Pie Festival in Bell Buckle. See excerpt from press release.

Tucked away among the rolling hills, farmland and Walking Horse country of Tennessee lays the historic town of Bell Buckle where every year on the third Saturday in June, the Souths two most honored traditions are celebrated, RC Colas and Moon Pies.

This years performance will be The Ball is in Your Court, starring who else but the lovely little Moon Pie and the charming RC with guest appearances by GooGoo Cluster, Coke, as well as a host of fairies and soldiers

Click Here for More Information and Pictures

I thought it was adorable! Who wouldn't like a deep fried moon pie while watching the synchronized wading?

Green Cleaning

2009-10-21T09:59:00.005-05:00

I'll be updating Bit a Bliss Cleaning soon to reflect, the all non toxic cleaning products we will be using.

Did you know that Tea Tree Oil is a disinfectant? It is!

That was my big concern with trying to do all non-toxic cleaning, you have to disinfect especially during flu season. I am happy to say I have found the solution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_tree_oil

Bit a Bliss Cleaning Service Dallas, Plano, Frisco and Little Rock, Arkansas

2009-10-15T11:59:00.003-05:00

If you live in the Dallas area and need a maid or cleaning service, call Bit a Bliss Cleaning!

And how could I forget LITTLE ROCK. The phone number will be coming soon, in the meantime you can email stephanie@bitabliss.com to set up your service.

http://www.bitabliss.com/

214-390-3907

Starbucks - Pay It Forward

2009-09-23T08:54:00.003-05:00

I got a Starbuck's this morning in the drive-thru.

When I got to the window to pay I was told the car in front of me already paid for it and said "Have a good day". Of course my mouth fell open and I was shocked. Evidentally it happens several times a day at my Starbucks drive thru.

I bet they wish I didn't love $4 coffees.....

So now I will make someone else's morning and buy their coffee.

Intuit To Acquire Mint

2009-09-14T12:47:00.003-05:00

Intuit will acquire the free online personal finance service Mint, we’ve confirmed from a source close to the deal, for around $170 million. Silicon Alley Insider first reported a rumor on this. The deal should be announced in the next few days.
Update: CEO Aaron Patzer has just confirmed the deal on-stage at TechCrunch50, and written a guest post describing The Value of TechCrunch50 that contains more details.

Go to the following link to see my post on Mint almost a year ago. http://consumptionfunction.blogspot.com/2008/11/mint-manage-your-money.html

The Girl in the Other Red Honda Civic

2009-09-12T20:56:00.006-05:00

When I came out of Target yesterday there was a note on my windshield.

I think my

car was happy

to have found its

twin. Of course, I

don't think it

appreciated me

thinking your car

was mine. :)

-the girl in the other red honda civic.

It made me laugh out loud. I had noticed in the parking space across from me was a car identical to mine, which is rare given that it is 9 years old.

Christmas!

2009-09-11T11:51:00.002-05:00

I got Christmas cookies as marketing yesterday from the The Adolphus. Brilliant!

Beau Arts Style, 1912. Located at the corner of Commerce and Akard, it was completed at a cost of $1.87 million. It was the tallest building in the state and would con tinue to be so for many years. The city's leaders wanted a grand hotel and approached Adolphus Busch in St. Louis to see if he would build one. He agreed to do so if the city's leaders would join him as investors and if he could have any site he wanted. His wish was granted, and he chose the site of the four-story city hall, built in 1889, which was torn down to make room for the hotel. The Adolphus was designed by Barnett, Hayes and Barnett of St. Louis. The tower on the roof is said to be modeled after a Busch beer stein.

When did we become a Nation that censored our children from the President?

2009-09-02T22:50:00.005-05:00

On September 8th President Obama will deliver a national address to school children on the importance of taking responsibility for their success in school. Click here for White House Press Release

In the County I live in and surrounding Counties, some parents have called the schools saying they will not send their children to school if they air it. Some schools here have decided not to air the address.

Seventeen of the nations 50 largest cities had High School graduation rates of lower than 50 percent
Full Story

Vetting the Health Care Rhetoric

2009-08-24T14:59:00.005-05:00

CQ is non-partisan. So no one is trying to beat up on one side or the other. If you go to the link below you will see one of the best True/False on the Health care legislation I have seen.

As politicians and interest groups try to shape the outcome of the health care overhaul, they've offered interpretations that are so wildly different that truth sometimes seems to be taking a vacation.

Some — like the contention that a House health care overhaul (HR 3200) would create "death panels" that decide end-of-life care — are false. Some are misleading, and others are true.

Full Story Here.

Wally Lamb: The Hour I First Believed

2009-08-21T13:05:00.004-05:00

I wonder where Wally Lamb got the idea for his book cover?

Wally Lamb Book Cover-
http://www.amazon.com/Hour-First-Believed-Novel-P-S/dp/0060988436/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250877801&sr=8-1

The Middle Place-
http://www.amazon.com/Middle-Place-Kelly-Corrigan/dp/B002DYJKFM/ref=amb_link_663292_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=10DJJMZCCZ0F17Y8FQ9S&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=486663191&pf_rd_i=45

I accidentally came upon The Middle Place while searching for a new book to read, and thought I feel like I just saw this......

Cash for Clunkers: Not a new program.

2009-08-11T11:41:00.003-05:00

Texas has been doing a similar program on a state level since 2001 with great success and bi-partisan support. It was a Republican bill initially and has been carried by Republicans and supported by Democrats.
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/mobilesource/vim/lirap.html

Along with this program there is a program that is pretty much the same but is for heavy equipment and big trucks like dump trucks.
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/terp/

The programs were started to deal with air quality programs and are attributed to helping Dallas become the first city to have it's Clean Air Plan approved by the EPA.http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2008/2008-07-03-091.asp

Paper = Art=Cash

2009-08-03T20:59:00.005-05:00

I learned how to make a mobile in Kindergarten. Why didn't I learn to continue making them and selling them for $100/each?

http://frazierandwing.com/2009_mobile_collection

Big City Slider

2009-07-27T20:36:00.006-05:00

I am not sure I have ever seen an info-mercial with a product that I wanted this badly.

https://www.bigcityslider.com/flare/next

I see a slider on a Hawaiian roll in my future

Ice Cream Design

2009-07-27T20:33:00.003-05:00

Make your own ice cream and packaging. I will be doing this soon and I'll keep you updated!

http://www.ecreamery.com/

What about this flavor?

base : Gelato
flavor1 : Almond
flavor2 : Chocolate Merlot
mix1 : Raspberry Ribbon

Babies understand dog-speak, new study finds

2009-07-23T21:11:00.001-05:00

Soo.... Can your puppy potty train your baby and vice-versa?????

Babies understand dog-speak, new study finds
Research from Brigham Young University (BYU) gives new meaning to the expression "babes in the woods." It turns out, babies may not be as naive as we once thought especially where their canine counterparts are concerned.

A new study shows that babies can "speak dog" (or at least comprehend it), even with little or no previous exposure to dogs. Infants just six months old matched the sounds of an angry bark and a friendly yap to photos of dogs displaying threatening or welcoming body language, respectively.

While paring babies and dogs might seem like a zany idea, according to BYU, experiments of this kind help us understand how babies learn. Long before they master speech, babies astutely recognize and respond to external stimuli.

These findings come on the heels of a study from the same Brigham Young University lab showing that infants can also detect mood swings in Beethoven's music.
"Emotion is one of the first things babies pick up on in their social world," said BYU psychology professor Ross Flom, lead author of the study. "We chose dogs because they are highly communicative creatures both in their posture and the nature of their bark," Flom said.

In the experiment, the babies were shown two different pictures of the same dog, one in an aggressive posture and the other in a friendly stance. Then the researchers played — in random order — sound clips of a friendly and an aggressive dog bark.

While the recordings played, the six-month-old babies spent most of their time staring at the appropriate picture. Older babies usually made the connection instantly with their very first glance.

Study co-authors Dan Hyde and Heather Whipple Stephenson conducted the experiments as undergrads and don't recall any babies getting upset. "Infants are pretty cooperative subjects," Stephenson said.Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/pets/detail?entry_id=43951#ixzz0M8fzm4QJ

The Beginning of the End?

2009-07-19T21:47:00.008-05:00

When is a Starbucks not a Starbucks? When it's a 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea.
Full Story Here

And what is even worse.....they are being accused of stealing most of their decorating ideas from the bar next door.
If imitation is the kindest form of flattery, the restaurant and bar known as Smith is feeling ... well ... flat-out worshiped.
Located next to the Starbucks store that will now be called 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea in Capitol Hill, Smith owner Linda Derschang said Thursday that everything from the paint color to the light fixtures inside the coffee shop have been replicated to match her rustic, mountaineer-like bar.
Full Story Here

Starbucks, I love you. Please stop this nonsense and just be a coffee shop. If you get a dollar menu or I go into one of your stores and find drunk people, I will leave you forever.

They are watching me.......

2009-07-14T13:06:00.003-05:00

After looking at Alice.com yesterday and signing up for an account.....I magically get an email about a program through Amazon.com "Subscribe and Save"

Same deal but looks like better savings on the products and still free shipping. Already ordered a monthly delivery of coffee for half the grocery store price.

Anyway...I was looking at rugs on Overstock.com a couple of days ago and then I am on a totally different site a few days later and a pop up add comes up for an Overstock.com add with the exact rugs I was looking at!

I know there is a simple explanation for all this but it freaks me out.

Alice?

2009-07-13T21:02:00.002-05:00

I don't know if Alice can help me or not but I'm gonna try it out. It is a site where you shop virtual shelves for household items like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent etc.. and they deliver to your home FREE.

At first glance prices seem reasonable, close to the store prices. And if required I might sacrifice $1 for the convenience of never running out of toilet paper. You can set up a list of items and tell it to deliver to your house every 2 weeks, or every 5 weeks, whatever works for you.

I'm going to try it. Right now we are almost out of body wash and I keep forgetting it at the store. I'll give it a couple of months and report back :)

http://alice.com/

Tea Party

2009-07-06T20:47:00.004-05:00

Boo's all around.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Chorus-of-Boos-Interrupt-Cornyn-at-Tea-Party.html

Why are people so negative that on the 4th of July they want to come out and boo a Senator? Booing even while he is giving a soldier a purple heart? It's disgusting.

New Car Cheaper than Used

2009-07-04T11:26:00.001-05:00

By Clark HowardHLN

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Are you one of the seemingly few Americans in the market for a car? There are more of you out there than you might think.

CNW Marketing Research, a respected automotive marketing research firm, reports that 4 million used cars were purchased in the United States during the month of May alone. That's amazing when you consider that the market for new cars is 9 million in the United States over the course of an entire 12 months.
Yet don't overlook the new car as a potential purchase just yet.
New data from Comerica Bank's Auto Affordability Index shows that new cars are now the most affordable they've been since records started being kept in 1979. In fact, the average new car is now $1,700 cheaper than it was during the last quarter of 2008. And we've got more price cuts coming because of oversupply.

Entire story here

AMZN

2009-06-10T12:36:00.000-05:00

Amazon is up 10% since the May 9th post.

I'm just sayin........

Sonia Sotomayor--Gov. Huckabee swings hard and misses

2009-05-27T21:52:00.002-05:00

and I laugh.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee gave quite the tongue lashing to Obama's nomination for Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayer, who would be the first Hispanic US Supreme Court Justice.

Unfortunately he thought her name was Maria........

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/26/huckabee-maria-sotomayor_n_207620.html

Buy some Amazon-AMZN

2009-05-09T16:58:00.006-05:00

Amazon To Target $5.5 Billion Textbook Market With New Kindle?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071702597.html

Texas House approves bill on funds for school electronic text books.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-textbooks_03tex.ART.State.Edition1.4afd165.html

Textbooks of the future? If that turns out to be the case Amazon is set to grab onto that market share.

It will probably take a while for this to become integrated into schools nationwide, we'll see how it does in Texas.

However, regardless of the kindle/textbook outcome Amazon is a great long term investment. Even in the rough economy, Amazon has still produced a good looking 1st quarter statement, much better than most companies in their sector.

I use Sharebuilder http://www.sharebuilder.com/

Posts that got away from me

2009-05-08T22:13:00.003-05:00

Super gorgeous Valentine's Day Flowers that I took tons of pictures of. Partly because the middle of the flower looked like a gooey brain :)

Trevor came to visit and we took him to Disney on ice!

The reason every kid should have a dog. (I would recommend a Sheltie :)

Trevor was really trying to corral the dogs and get them to smile for a picture.

Do Economic Recovery Programs Work?

2009-05-03T21:52:00.003-05:00

Look to history- The New Deal, The Marshall Plan

The New Deal was the name that United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave to a complex package of economic programs he initiated between 1933 and 1935 with the goal of giving relief to the unemployed, reform of business and financial practices, and promoting recovery of the economy during The Great Depression.

With strident language Roosevelt took credit for dethroning the bankers he alleged had caused the debacle. On March 4, 1933, in his first inaugural address, he proclaimed:
"Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men. . . . The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization."

In 1937, the editors of The Economist published an appraisal of the New Deal in which they concluded that:
"If the New Deal be compared, not with the absolute standards of Utopia, but with the achievements of other Governments, the former adverse judgement must be modified. If it be compared with either the performance or the promise of its rivals, it comes out well. If its achievements be compared with the situation which confronted it in March, 1933, it is a striking success."

The Marshall Plan (from its enactment, officially the European Recovery Program, ERP) was the primary plan of the United States for rebuilding and creating a stronger foundation for the countries of Western Europe, and repelling communism after World War II.

The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April 1948. During that period some USD 13 billion in economic and technical assistance were given to help the recovery of the European countries

The years 1948 to 1952 saw the fastest period of growth in European history. Industrial production increased by 35%. Agricultural production substantially surpassed pre-war levels. The poverty and starvation of the immediate postwar years disappeared, and Western Europe embarked upon an unprecedented two decades of growth that saw standards of living increase dramatically.

The New Economics of Wine

2009-05-03T00:24:00.003-05:00

This 2007 Black Swan Shiraz is in a 187 mL bottle, and comes in a 4 pack, with a screw top cap. I think this is genius packaging. And this one happens to be a great shiraz at $5 for the 4 pack or the regular bottle, with a dark berry and chocolate smooth taste.

I love the packaging in the 4 pack bottles because I can have a glass of wine whenever and not feel like I need to finish the entire bottle so it doesn't go to waste.

I have this problem with drinking re-corked wine. I never feel like it tastes the same!

I also love the screw cap top, it's just easier.

According to several independent surveys, wine consumers buy wine sealed with natural cork over any other closures. Another survey of the wine trade, suggested that most consumers think that non-closures cheapen the bottle of wine. Screw caps, on the other hand, are seen as industrial, cheap and lacking the romance of the old "closure" but they have been hailed as the future because there is no danger they will spoil or "taint" the wine, a problem that is said to affect up to one in 10 corked bottles.

On top of avoiding cork contamination, new technologies in fermenting don't require wines to be aged for years to achieve full flavor.

I am all for a good cheap wine that I can drink in glass by glass over 2 weeks if I choose and not waste a penny.

The Bailout Is a Bargain-Wall Street Journal

2009-04-27T18:49:00.002-05:00

Despite tea party protests to the contrary, the Wall Street bailout is costing taxpayers much less than feared – so far.

Anyone who takes tea with friends will tell you: The parties are painless. It's the gossip that hurts.

In the same way, today's antitax, antispending movements aren't the problem, it's the dangerous misconceptions they spread about the government response to the financial crisis.Their argument -- that huge tax hikes are coming or have been implemented to pay off bailouts for banking fat cats -- betrays a lack of understanding of the government's approach to solving the financial crisis. When protesters or critics complain about the $10 trillion-plus spent on the Wall Street bailout, you can understand how their estimates of the number of protesters in the streets last week were slightly, well, inflated.

The truth: No one's paying new taxes directly related to the bailout. And most of the government rescue packages offered to the banks have gone untapped or are being repaid.

It doesn't take a lot of checking to confirm this. ProPublica, the investigative journalism site, thoroughly tracks the multiple government programs and has filled in the blanks for many programs that are less than transparent. (Or, if you're on the go and want your bailouts simply illustrated, there's a cool little iPhone application called BailoutWatch that monitors more than two dozen government programs, such as the $245 billion Citigroup Inc. loan-loss provision and the $80 billion Credit Union Deposit Insurance Guarantee program.)

Make no mistake, U.S. taxpayers are on the hook for a lot of money. The government has spent or expects to spend about $2.4 trillion in the next few months to keep the financial gears moving. It's a stunning amount of money made worse by rage-inducing missteps such as the bonus debacle at American International Group Inc. and the initial lack of direction for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

We'll shake our head about those mistakes someday, provided the government plan works as hoped.

But the misinformation surrounding Washington's aid to Wall Street is obscuring exactly how the bailout funds are being used, and it's pressured lawmakers to focus on constituent complaints instead of working on solutions.

If the economy does recover within a year, we'll have spent a lot to rescue the financial system, but nowhere close to the 14-digit figure flogged by tea party protesters.

In fact, there's no way the government will spend that much, because many of the 26 bailout programs aren't being used much, according to Federal Reserve and Treasury Department statistics.

For instance:

Banks have tapped the FDIC's Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program for $297 billion so far. That's about 20% of the total $1.5 trillion allocated. This is the biggest of the government programs, and banks pay 0.5% to 1% interest for the right to borrow the money depending on how long they keep it.
During its first month, the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, or TALF, has only financed $4.7 billion in consumer debt, far below the $1 trillion allocated. In addition, participation is declining with each new funding cycle.
The Money Market Guarantee Program, aimed at insuring money-market funds against losses, hasn't spent a dime. It covers up to $3.8 trillion in money-market debt. This program is actually making a small profit, because participating funds are required to pay a fee.
Other than the stimulus bill, the program with the biggest outlay so far is the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. More than $570 billion has been committed, but less than $400 billion has actually left the Treasury Department. Like most of these programs, it's unclear how much of this money will be repaid, but most banks say they're either ready or capable of giving it back. If not, they have to pay a 5% annual dividend to the government. In just the first three months of this year, the government has collected $2.52 billion in TARP interest.

You get the idea. Most of these programs were designed as backstops and as proof that the government stands behind the country's private financial system. The government is extending its own credit line to banks until the private sector can repair its own.

Recovery, when and if it occurs, will render many of these programs obsolete. The actual cost to taxpayers will be either negligible or drastically less than the most dire forecasts suggest.

Of course, taxpayers stand to lose more if the economy worsens and the financial system losses deepen further. It's not hard to imagine a scenario in which high unemployment leads to bigger loan defaults, setting off a domino effect of lower home prices and bank failures. Americans have $2 trillion in credit-card debt, and banks are holding that, too.

If that scenario comes to pass, financial companies could tap every dollar of the government's massive credit line.

The International Monetary Fund on Monday projected banks world-wide will need an additional $875 billion in capital by next year to get reserves to precrisis levels. That means most banks will need to raise cash through the public and private markets -- or, failing that, from the government.

But potential losses aren't the same as real ones.

Our national debt already stands at $11 trillion. Most of that debt was run up in the last eight years, when government spending outpaced declining tax revenues. The Iraq war is close to costing the nation $1 trillion. Hurricane Katrina cost us about $110 billion.

We ran up a huge tab for our kids well before the bailout, but it's unlikely that such an inconvenient fact will be the talk of the next tea party.

How much is your time worth?

2009-03-29T08:20:00.001-05:00

http://moneycentral.msn.com/personal-finance/calculators/Know_The_Value_Of_Your_Time_Calculator/home.aspx#Results

Where does the money come from?

2009-03-21T08:57:00.009-05:00

We get the money by selling debt in the form of securities like bonds That is how most of the United States operates from the city, state and national level. If you think about it I am sure you have voted on a bond in an election, it would be a Proposition on your ballot.

I remember government bonds being very popular when I was a kid, people would give them as gifts when someone had a baby. They are considered risk free since the government can do about anything to pay them when they are mature.

The national debt is divided into two categories, internal debt and external debt. Internal is held by Americans or American companies and the external is held by foreign countries or companies.

The amount of national debt in the hands of foreign countries is approx 25% right now mostly held by China and Japan. Should we be worried? If the value of the dollar continues a decline and our economy can't seem to recover...then yes. Not because they are going to demand their money back instantly, but because they will stop buying our debt. It is critical to have that option, even if we don't need/want to use it.

As of 3/19/09 our national debt was 11,039,686,130,898.10. Now what do we do about it? Lowering it is critical to the long term health of our economy.

Since 1970, the U.S. Federal Government has run deficits for all but four years (1998-2001) contributing to a total debt listed above. President Clinton was responsible for the four years of surplus, how did he do it? He instituted very conservative fiscal policies that no one really liked. Not one single Republican voted for his budget when he first took office. It involved removing tax cuts instituted by Reagan and Bush and raising taxes on the most wealthy. And it was called the longest period of peace and prosperity of any modern President.

So as we look at the options on the table now, don't be shortsighted. Don't forget the policy of the past and what the results were. Don't forget that in order to achieve stability and surplus again you might not like the administrations tightening of the belt.

And on a side note. For all of those complaining about this administrations actions, I have yet to see a counter proposal. There is alot of complaining going on but no one coming up with alternative solutions. That is a problem.

History repeats...over and over and over

2009-03-18T14:08:00.001-05:00

1973- President Nixon launches Project Independence November 7 with a goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency by 1980; science, technology, and industry can free the country from dependence on foreign oil, he says

Deficit vs. Debt

2009-02-25T13:13:00.004-06:00

Lately I have been involved in several discussions about the National Debt and how it is very worrisome for many people.

When I comment that I am not at all worried about that right now, it makes people cock their head to the side and look at me like I am crazy.

So here is why. The federal budget deficit is what I worry about and what I really think everyone should be concerned with.

Think of the federal budget as your check book and the national debt as your credit card. You are paying for a lot of things with your check book, medicare, the Iraq war, state funds for education and infrastructure etc…. Lately you got some extra expenses (Iraq war) and took a pay cut (tax credits) so you can’t afford to pay all of your bills with your checkbook (federal budget). So you have a deficit and you have to use your credit card (national debt). This has been going on for quite a while so your credit card is about to be maxed out…oh and don’t forget all that interest you have to pay.

And as long as that checkbook stays in the negative you will have to conintue to use that credit card.

So the point I am trying to get across is that there is no point in even talking about the National Debt until the federal budget deficit is corrected.

Another reason I like President Obama is that he gets this.

"WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has committed hundreds of billions of dollars to help revive the economy and is working on a plan to cut the federal deficit in half by the end of his first term."

He believes the budget deficit should still be tackled despite the need to spend money to stimulate the economy. The president has inherited an enormous deficit from his predecessor. The interest being paid this year on the deficit is costing the government about 250 billion dollars, three times what it spends annually on education.

The next couple of blogs will tackle what actually comprises the National Debt....where do we get all of that money!!!!!!!
Then I will talk about the stimulus package and how it is possible to actually get the budget deficit under control while still spending 700 billion on a stimulus package.

Grammar

2009-02-22T21:42:00.003-06:00

I posted a while ago that I was teaching English as a volunteer through a program at the library. What this has taught me is that I don't know grammar rules!!! At least not well enought to just spit them out when asked.

Try to explain to someone who has no context at all of what you are talking about the difference between -this-that-these-those or which-what-whose.

This girl is eager to learn so I have to get it right!!

I have found alot of sites that have helped right now this one is my favorite

http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/TOC.CFM

The Stimulus

2009-02-17T18:29:00.003-06:00

No one can say it quite like Bill.

"I find it amazing that the Republicans, who doubled the debt of the country in eight years and produced no new jobs doing it, gave us an economic record that was totally bereft of any productive result, are now criticising him (Obama) for spending money," Clinton told the CNN in an interview.

--This is some of what he is referring to.

The largest U.S. Embassy in the world is now built in Iraq, costing some claim $700 billion.

The cost of conducting the Iraq War approximately $10 billion a month.

The national debt clock reveals that the national debt has skyrocketed to $10,771, 107, 905 trillion.

George W. Bush has the dubious distinction of being the U.S. White House resident who catapulted the national debt to the highest in history, greater than all the other national debts combined since the U.S. was founded as a nation.

She's got talent!

2009-02-15T21:30:00.005-06:00

I commissioned my lovely Grandmother to make a razorback quilt for Katie's new baby Landon. I just love it!

You will have fun and you will laugh

2009-02-09T20:52:00.010-06:00

Like you never laughed before. It's why I love them.

Doing it yourself

2009-01-11T07:26:00.004-06:00

I have been doing a lot of "projects" lately. I re-covered the dining room chairs and then started looking for curtains. Of course I had something specific in mind and couldn't find it. I had gone to Hancock Fabrics to get the fabric for the chairs and had no idea how much cool fabric they had!

Then I remembered years ago my mom had given me a sewing machine. I got it out once and spent hours trying to thread it and finally gave up and put it back in the box, which is where it has been for at least 5 years.

Last weekend I got it out again and after 2 hours I threaded it. I really felt like I had accomplished something!

Another thing, which I think might be a sometimes detrimental personality trait is that I just like to be able to accomplish something, I am not so great at working at something forever before getting results.

So I got some clearance fabric so I could practice. But because of that personality trait I mentioned, there wasn't alot of practice....I just made a curtain!

I made the green checked one :) The white is from a store

The other thing that I have been doing myself is making Starbucks! I don't know if this is new or I just didn't know about it but they have a site where you can buy their products like syrups and sauces.

http://www.starbucksstore.com/

I now make my own iced or hot caramel macchiato's and it saves so much money!

Doggie Daycare

2008-12-30T21:25:00.002-06:00

We have been so lucky to find this wonderful place where we feel comfortable leaving the dogs when we are out of town. We had a very bad experience with another place, so I decided no price was too high to be sure that my favorite little furry kids were safe and happy.

Last time the two had a "private suite" so they could stay together, and Casey got a "Sugar Cookie Bath" We have to do our part to help out the economy :) The consumption function says spending is good!

They even do a blog! Check out Jasper's (the sheltie) cute pics (Casey didn't go this day)

http://doggiezenden.blogspot.com/2008/12/chilly-dogs-get-yer-chilly-dogs.html

Charlie Wilson D-Texas

2008-12-11T22:27:00.003-06:00

Last Friday I had the pleasure of meeting Charlie Wilson. I knew I was going to be meeting him so the weekend before I watched "Charlie Wilson's War". I had no idea until watching the movie, the history this man had made and that I was living in the future that it brought.

Charlie Then

Charlie's war was the catalyst that brought down the Soviet Empire in the 80's. It was a relatively small war between Afghanistan and the Soviets, but such an important one.

"That was the experience that will always be seared in my memory, was going through those hospitals and seeing, especially those children with their hands blown off from the mines that the Soviets were dropping from their helicopters. That was perhaps the deciding thing... and it made a huge difference for the next 10 or 12 years of my life because I left those hospitals determined, as long as I had a breath in my body and was a member in Congress, that I was going to do what I could to make the Soviets pay for what they were doing!"

Charlie Wilson led the largest ever covert CIA operation in US history. Appropriating enough money and weapons to the Afghans that they were able to successfully defeat a super power.

Charlie Now

What happened after the war was won is something Charlie regrets even today. We just left. We left a broken country that had no leadership but many weapons of war. The appropriating committee was no longer willing to give money to Afghanistan once the war was over.

In his own words "These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we f'd up the endgame."

Charlie Wilson has a great respect for the Afghans and called them the bravest, fiercest fighters he had ever seen. He also said that what we need to remember is that 2/3 of the Afghans are with us. 2/3's of the Afghans also want Al-Qaeda out of their country. Although it is terrorist groups from this country that were responsible for 9/11 there is some thought to be given to the fact that the groups developed as a result of leaving a country broken and defenseless after they fought a war that ended decades of communist rule from the Soviet empire.

He believes that we should stay in Afghanistan and rid the country of the terrorists that now hide there.

People like Charlie Wilson are so intriguing to me. They are reckless, the kind of reckless that can produce amazing things.

Tut After Dark

2008-12-06T10:34:00.007-06:00

Last night we went to the Tutankhamen exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art and of course it was fabulous.
One of the things that made it even more fabulous was that we were able to go to a members only event. So instead of having to see the exhibit with hundreds of other people there were only about twenty people in the entire exhibit with us at Tut After Dark. We were able to really take our time and get up close and personal with the tomb artifacts.

One of our best purchases this year has been becoming a member of the Dallas Museum of Art. The perks with a membership are great. At the Tut exhibit for instance not only do you get a semi-private viewing but there are also hor d'ourves and a cash bar so afterwards you can have a glass of wine and discuss the exhibit. They also have the option of seeing a movie at the museum with this event. Throughout the year when new exhibits come in you get the same private viewings and sometimes the artist is in attendance. Since I am not a crowd person at all, it makes my museum experience very valuable. Check out membership to your local museum!

On this particular night I thought about my girl Kylie alot, with the Chihuly's in the atrium and remembering her dream to become an egyptoligist :) Had to get you a present! I'll put in the mail asap and love ya.

Mint-Manage Your Money

2008-11-22T08:04:00.005-06:00

For years I have been budgeting using an excel spreadsheet. With only sporadic success because I had to spend a lot of time with it, entering information from my bank account every month. So a couple of months ago I decided I needed another solution.

I chose Mint

http://www.mint.com/

All you have to do is enter your username and password for any account you want to keep up with checking, savings, credit cards, investments etc. You can then set up a budget under any category, many of which they already have or you can enter your own. And it is FREE!

What I like about it is it will send you an email or phone alert when you go over budget on something or when a payment is due. It also pulls your spending into categories and shows you where you are spending the most money. For instance "food and dining" if you click on that it will show all transactions related like the grocery store, dining out etc. You can compare your spending from month to month.

One concern of course was the safety of online budgeting. But this is safer than shopping online. Your banking information is not stored on this site and no money can be transferred or moved by using this site, unlike sites where you shop online and they store your credit card information. Here is more in depth information about safety http://www.mint.com/privacy/

Shares on Wall Street began to slide

2008-11-19T19:51:00.003-06:00

Breaking News Alert The New York Times Wednesday, November 19, 2008
-- 4:15 PM ET-----
Stocks Fall Sharply on Fears of Deepening Recession

As hope for an emergency bailout faded Wednesday for American automakers, shares on Wall Street began to slide. The DowJones industrial average was down 427.47 points, or 5percent, settling below 8,000, while the broader Standard &Poor's 500-stock index was 6.1 percent lower. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index was down 6.5 percent

See post below for relevancy.

Now lawmakers will feel pressure to stop the Wall Street madness and they will bailout the auto makers anyway. No congressman wants the label of the one who tanked the economy.

What might happen without a Big 3 bailout

2008-11-18T20:27:00.003-06:00

How many jobs are at stake?
GM (GM, Fortune 500) has about 120,000 U.S. employees. Ford (F, Fortune 500) has about 80,000 and closely-held Chrysler LLC has about 66,000.
In addition, the three automakers have about 14,000 U.S. dealerships that between them employ another 740,000 workers.
The suppliers used by the Big Three also employ an estimated 610,000 people.
Add that up and you have more than 1.6 million jobs tied to the auto industry.

We know that our current economy can not absorb 1.6 million jobs, an excellent economy couldn't do that.

-So lets do the math......

1.6 million jobs and lets say that there is an after tax average of each worker making 40k/yr.
With unemployment you get ~60% of your salary and let's just say for 1 year , which is 24,000

For a grand total of $38,400,000,000 in unemployment pay tied to the auto industry alone.

This is not including other government needs like medicaid for those that no longer have nor can afford health insurance.

This is not including a trickle down effect that will happen to the suppliers of the auto makers, the business in the town that these plants are located in. The towns and states depend on the tax revenue. The aftermath of letting the big 3 automakers go under will cost taxpayers exponentially more than a 25 billion dollar loan. Not to mention that this will again send panic through Wall Street and the financial markets.

Fidel?

2008-11-15T07:52:00.003-06:00

Fidel Castro has not been seen in public for more than two years and earlier this year I predicted that the Cuban leaders death had already occured and that it would be announced probably by August this year.

That did not happen however in June a video of a supposed meeting with Fidel and Chavez was released and this week a picture of Fidel meeting with a church official was released.

But I want you to look at them....and the difference in Castro in both. The first one released in June is of a thin man with almost white hair. Then the pic last week it seems Castro has put on a lot of weight and his hair got much darker! Something isn't adding up. Not to mention I can't believe that this media loving leader who would give speeches to the public that would last for hours, would not be out and about if he was able.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7460449.stm -June

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7729254.stm - November

Nutrition Data

2008-11-15T07:38:00.003-06:00

This is a great site I thought I would share

http://www.nutritiondata.com/

You can look up just about any food that you might eat including restaurant meals. You can enter everything you ate in a day or just an individual food and it will tell you not only calories, fat and carbs but also the vitamin content. What you will learn is that no matter how healthy you think you are eating you probably need to take that daily vitamin. These features are under "MY ND"

You can also enter recipe ingredients and find out calories per serving. For instance I make these chicken enchiladas that I made up the ingredients to and I found out that they are only 98 calories per enchilada! However, I also discovered that no matter how hard I try I almost never get enough calcium without a supplement.

Literacy for Life

2008-11-10T20:14:00.003-06:00

I spent this past Saturday in a 6 hour training class. Why would I give up my Saturday for a training class?

Because I am going to teach someone how to read.

I am excited about this opportunity. I was looking for volunteer opportunities in Plano and ran across Literacy for Life. One of my favorite things to do is read and I just couldn't imagine not being able to do it. So I decided I would dedicate a Saturday to learn and 2 hours a week with a student and teach them how to do something I treasure. I haven't met my student yet but I know she is a 36 yr old woman who wants to learn to read so that she can help her young daughter in school. I hope I am successful.

I hate cilantro

2008-11-10T20:08:00.002-06:00

Actually I LOVE it, but some people don't. 2,285 people so far.

http://www.ihatecilantro.com/stories.php

Vote!

2008-11-01T10:48:00.003-05:00

If you have not already voted, don't forget Tuesday is your day. Take either your voter registration card or your driver's license (or both).

While I will not tell you who to vote for, I will ask one thing. Please do not chose your candidate based on what your friends or significant other say, or information in emails forwarded to you (it is usually false information). And certainly do not base your vote on what the television says! Take just a few minutes to read about each candidate and what it is they are trying to do with our nation.

Something I think all should consider.....even though I am still not telling you who to vote for.....you should consider history.

The longest reign of peace and prosperity, with a balanced budget and federal surplus came from former President Bill Clinton

When Clinton took office from Bush Sr. the economy was headed south and Bush Sr. had driven the national debt higher than any other president in history. (only to be topped later by his son) http://www.lafn.org/gvdc/Natl_Debt_Chart.html

So don't let anyone tell you that Bush Sr. set Clinton up for success or that Clinton set Bush Jr up for failure. After 8 years your successes and failures are your own.

And finally, you know what situation we are in today with the economy. So I voted Thursday for the candidate that I believe will bring back that peace and prosperity that we enjoyed under Clinton.

Either way VOTE

My baby is growing up!

2008-10-29T20:25:00.001-05:00

Best Buds

Hanging Out

Just being Adorable

Happy Halloween!!

2008-10-19T22:25:00.005-05:00

We did pumpkins this weekend! Shawn carved, I painted and pinned. I think fall is my favorite season for sure. Also, I have probably blogged about it before but you have to get some Blue Moon Brewery, Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale. It's seasonal and sells out fast! I was so excited I loaded up the shopping cart. Last year when I discovered it I only got a few six packs and never saw it again on the shelf.

Why does Snoop Dogg carry an umbrella?

2008-10-13T20:19:00.001-05:00

Fa tha Drizzle

First thing my darling said to me Saturday morning :)

Entry

2008-10-11T22:30:00.003-05:00

The entry has actually been done for quite a while and I really wish I had taken a before picture. It was white wallpaper with tiny pale blue flowers and a strip of trim in the middle. Like a chair rail I guess, which is strange in an entry. Although somehow a chair got in this picture :)

Hope brightens for fast Memphis-LR rail trips

2008-10-06T20:12:00.001-05:00

LITTLE ROCK — A study to assess the feasibility of high-speed passenger rail service between Little Rock and Memphis is part of a larger effort to upgrade railroads throughout the region, which proponents now say will come sooner rather than later.

read more here

Financial Rescue for Bikers

2008-10-05T21:35:00.003-05:00

Interestingly, the financial rescue package passed by House and Senate last week includes a tax break for those that bike to work. You can be reimbursed for buying a bike, repairs to the bike and $20 a month for riding that bike to work. What do you think? Appropriate in a bill that is supposed to save our economy?

SEC. 211. TRANSPORTATION FRINGE BENEFIT TO BICYCLE COMMUTERS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) of section 132(f) is amended by adding at the end the following:''(D) Any qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement.''.

b) LIMITATION ON EXCLUSION.—Paragraph (2) of section 132(f) is amended by striking ''and'' at the end of subparagraph (A), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting '',and'', and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:''(C) the applicable annual limitation in the case of any qualifiedbicycle commuting reimbursement.''.(c) DEFINITIONS.—Paragraph (5) of section 132(f) is amended by adding at the end the following:''

(F) DEFINITIONS RELATED TO BICYCLE COMMUTING REIMBURSEMENT.—''(i) QUALIFIED BICYCLE COMMUTING REIMBURSEMENT.—The term 'qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement' means, with respect to any calendar year, any employer reimbursement during the 15-month period beginning with the first day of such calendar year for reasonable expenses incurred by the employee during such calendar year for the purchase ofa bicycle and bicycle improvements, repair, and storage, if such bicycle is regularly used for travel between the employee's residence and place of employment.''

(ii) APPLICABLE ANNUAL LIMITATION.—The term 'applicable annual limitation' means, with respect to any employee for any calendar year, the product of $20 multiplied by the number of qualified bicycle commuting months during such year.''

(iii) QUALIFIED BICYCLE COMMUTING MONTH.—The term 'qualified bicycle commuting month' means, with respect to any employee, any month during which such employee—''(I) regularly uses the bicycle for a substantial portion of the travel between the employee's residence and place of employment, and ''(II) does not receive any benefit described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph(1).''

(d) CONSTRUCTIVE RECEIPT OF BENEFIT.—Paragraph (4) of section 132(f)is amended by inserting ''(other than a qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement)'' after ''qualified transportation fringe''.

(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008.

Chipotle Burgers

2008-09-20T08:19:00.003-05:00

No this isn't going to turn into a recipe site, but these were so good! If you like the chipotle flavor but not the spice remember to remove the seeds from the peppers and use more than one adding extra adobe sauce,

1 pound ground turkey
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, finely chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 slices mozzarella cheese
4 hamburger buns, split and toasted

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate. Place the ground turkey, onion, cilantro, chipotle chile pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl; mix well. Form into 4 patties.
Cook the hamburgers on the preheated grill until the turkey is no longer pink in the center, about 4 minutes per side. Place the mozzarella slices on the patties 2 minutes before they are ready. Serve on the toasted buns.

Taco Soup

2008-09-14T08:00:00.003-05:00

This is great when you need to throw something together quickly.

2 cans kidney beans (don't drain)
2cans black beans (don't drain)
1 can 7oz diced green chilis
1 cup frozen corn OR 1 can corn
1/2 onion diced (we like onion so go by your own taste)
1pkg taco seasoning
1pkg ranch dressing mix
1lb ground turkey OR beef

Cook ground meet as usual in a pan, then combine all ingredients in large pot stir well and simmer for 30-45 minutes stirring every 10 minutes or so. Judge the consistency, you made need to add a cup of water to the soup while simmering.

Great when eaten over tortilla chips and topped with grated cheese.

I was looking at pictures.....

2008-09-08T21:02:00.013-05:00

I know see that I definitly need a picture with a crown on.

So Annoying

2008-09-02T20:28:00.003-05:00

that you can not go shopping anywhere without someone trying to get you to open their store credit card. "But you'll save 10%" Oh wow Target, I can finance my toilet paper or my toothpaste...no thanks.

San Fran

2008-08-30T11:29:00.002-05:00

I know this takes planning ahead to a new level. I booked our hotel rooms for the Fillmore Jazz Festival next 4th of July in San Francisco! http://www.fillmorejazzfestival.com/?op=home

I am posting this in hopes that some of my friends will be booking hotel rooms too! I am giving you almost an entire year to plan :) http://www.jdvhotels.com/drisco/ Stay here..it's only five blocks from Fillmore.

We're not what people?

2008-08-20T19:26:00.003-05:00

The other day I managed to stab myself in the eye with my mascara brush while getting ready for work. Completely blinded all I could do was yell for Shawn...well the screech I made when I did it may have alerted him. My eye would not produce a tear for anything just dry dry dry so I couldn't get the massive amounts of burning mascara out.

I asked Shawn to bring me some eye drops. He replied in all seriousness....we're not eye drop people. Which made me laugh hard enough to bring the needed teardrop. And he's right I don't believe I have ever in my life purchased eye drops.

Starbucks

2008-08-17T18:43:00.002-05:00

It is a five hour drive to visit my parents which I made this weekend. After going past Sherman, TX about 45 minutes from house there just isn't much. Between Sherman and my parents it is pretty much 4 more hours of gas stations (that you might see on a horror movie set) and a few fast food places but mostly nothing.

And there is a great need for coffee on these trips. Not the stomach ripping gas station coffee but a nice civilized non fat white chocolate mocha or on a hot day a non fat iced caramel macchiatto.

To my great delight sometime last year a Starbucks opened in McAlister, OK and exit 5 off I-40 (possibly Van Buren but I am not sure it is actually in the city limits.

To my great despair today I found out the Van Buren store had closed and the McAlister store is set to close the end of September.

I found great comfort in the Starbucks green (which is now sometimes brown). Not only for the coffee but for a reasonably clean restroom. I am mourning the loss of my comfortable starbucks but I must figure out what to do before the next trip because I have actually been frightened in certain locations that I tried to stop for coffee or a restroom.

Easy Banana Crepes

2008-07-20T09:10:00.002-05:00

I was in the produce section buying strawberries, blueberries, bananas etc...and ran across a package of crepes. Yuuummm I love crepes, then I flipped over the package and saw 1 crepe only has 50 calories and 1 gram of fat. Okay I want crepes now. So picked up some cream cheese and decided I would figure something out.

1 crepe
1 tbsp of fat free cream cheese
1/2 banana sliced very thin
sprinkle of cinnamon
little bit of powdered sugar

Place your crepe on wax paper or foil so it won't stick. Use a butter knife to spread cream cheese thinly over your crepe then put the thin sliced bananas on top ( I would recommend putting them on in straight lines, it helps make the rolling up easier. Sprinkle cinnamon to taste. Roll them up, place on foil and put in the oven until golden brown. I had mine at 300, but who knows? Take them out and sprinkle powdered sugar on top and enjoy!

Best part....Crepe 50 cal 1g fat, Fat free cream cheese 1tbsp 15 cal 0g fat, 1/2 banana 50 cal 0g fat. Oh yeah for a grand total of 100 calories and 1 g fat!!!!

I have been using this great site for a while where you can find the nutritional value of just about anything, right down to the vitamins. http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1846/2

Cheers!

INTRODUCING...........

2008-07-07T21:21:00.004-05:00

The newest member of the Cassedy/Dale family

Jasper

Napping with big sister :)

We got him on the 4th of July and he has been the perfect little puppy.

Sorry Steph...I couldn't just say I got a puppy you had to SEE the puppy!

Never ending project

2008-07-07T20:57:00.003-05:00

Most of it is finished, there is some trim to finish and we still need to get a shower door as well as towels and decor. I know I am putting it off...the doors have to be custom glass and I just got a shower curtain which is the "oh it's temporary....that turns into 6 months. It was not an enjoyable experience and I totally dread doing the other bathroom and kitchen. I do wish I had a before picture and I think Shawn's mom does. Imagine beige porcelain tile, white ugly tile in the shower oh and a tiny tiny door, we knocked out the entire wall in front of the shower. Imagine white cabinets almost the length of the wall with a countertop from the late seventies early eighties (gold swirly stuff in it) and ugly ugly brass fixtures on everything.

With this being my first remodeling experience I didn't realize 1. that everything is twice as expensive as you think it might be and 2. you have to pick out so much stuff!~wall color, sink fixtures, shower fixtures, lights, tile, toilet aggghhhhhhhhh

Trevor

2008-07-07T20:29:00.012-05:00

Trevor came home with us from the visit to Arkansas/Oklahoma. Seems like so long ago but was just the middle of June. The drive home was scary for a little bit. It is possible we drove through the edge of a tornado. And I found out that NO ONE answers their phone at 9:30am on Sunday morning. I was desperately trying to get a hold of someone to have them check a radar online. Going down I40 in Oklahoma, the clouds came and there was a large (looked like a funnel) cloud but I couldn't really see rotation. All of a sudden the wind came and blew us so hard I thought we were going off the road, then the hail. It was pretty scary because the truckers never stop and put on the hazards. It can be raining so hard you can't see and they are still going 70miles an hour. They stopped this time and that's when I started calling...so mom, jaime and steph if I am calling you at a strange hour on a strange day it's because I might be terrified :)

We had a great time the whole week, Shawn's parents met us at the house when we got in on Sunday and we had a great lunch. Then the week was in full swing, Trevor went to a summer day camp and loved it. I loved it too, there is nothing sweeter than riding in the car every morning and afternoon with a little boy that tells you he loves you to space and forever. But we were so busy I didn't get many pictures which I regret!

But I did get some at the airport, I took Trevor on his first plane ride from Dallas to Little Rock where we met up with mom and Jaime, Steph and Liv. Then Sunday Mom, Trevor and I had a great breakfast with Katie at Ozark something something.....Great chocolate chip pancakes!

Getting ready to board....

He was Mr. Cool, acted like he had been flying forever

We got to LR and had lunch with mom and the girls. Trevor and Liv are too cute together. Thank goodness for Steph and her picture taking abilities because I am constantly missing the action!

Steph capturing the moment, the kiddos were in a very serious conversation and it was the cutest.

Pizza face

Oh Gelato!

That's my sweetheart :)

So busy!

2008-06-16T10:01:00.006-05:00

It's been a terrific but busy past few weeks. The girls all came down, including Kylie. I did not realize until Kylie pointed it out that it had been almost exactly 1 year since we had seen each other. We vowed to never let that happen again! I have been friends with Kylie since we were 18 years old and up until I moved to Texas we had probably never spent more than few days apart. Now with her in Seattle and Jaime and Steph in Little Rock we are going to have to do alot of planning to make sure we all see each other every few months. I know I need it, after a weekend with these women I feel rejuvenated!

We spent alot of time just hanging out on the patio. Even in the terribly hot evenings we spent hours and hours talking and catching up. Ms. Livia brought little extra excitement to the weekend.

We took Liv to American Girl for brunch and some birthday shopping. I got Liv an itty bitty baby from American Girl for Christmas, and I hope to make trips to American Girl with Auntie Scarlette a tradition for her. I am going to have to search out something special in Dallas for little boys so Aidan Patrick will always have something fun to look forward to with Auntie Scarlette.

This past weekend was my Granny's 84th birthday, so Shawn and I traveled home to celebrate with her and family. My Granny is a very special lady who I have so many great memories with growing up. We lived very close to her and my Papa and I just adore the lady who could can anything Papa could bring in from the garden and makes quilts so unique and beautiful by hand but with the perfection of a sewing machine.

Not to mention the lady's got style :)

And we brought Trevor home with us for a week. He is going to day camp, which should be a blast for him and is going to have his first plane ride next weekend when he and I will head to Little Rock to meet up with mom and spend some time with the girls once again!

The Remodel

2008-05-11T22:19:00.004-05:00

The demolition and remodel of the house has started and there is no turning back now.

Gutted...ewwww

Shower in progress, travertine tile and some drywall

Casey getting away from the stress of it all.

I'll post more when I have time to breathe in between picking out tile, vanities, shower heads, faucets, toilets and paint colors.

A Knight in San Francisco

2008-04-28T20:45:00.010-05:00

A few weeks ago Shawn and I went to San Fran for the wedding of a long time friend of Shawn's. They were in the Army together and met in Korea. We had a great time, the wedding was just fabulous and the city....well I am in love with the city.

We had unusually warm weather for April so all of our time was spent outside hiking the hills. If you go I must recommend staying at Hotel Drisco http://www.jdvhotels.com/drisco/?cid=gl_dri it is located in Pacific Heights neighborhood and it is an experience you won't get staying in hotels that are in a more tourist area. It is walking distance to Fillmore, Chrissy Fields, Chestnut and many more cool places.

The wedding was beautiful. Among other cool things like speaking six languages, Joe has been knighted by the Vatican and had the required attire including a sword at his hip. Then off to the dinner at the Presidio officer's club. Joe is Portuguese and has recently moved to Brazil so we had wonderful Brazilian cuisine for appetizers and Caipirinha's!

Then there were the Fado's, Portuguese folk music, one Portuguese guitar, one classic guitar, a bass and a woman singing music that moves you on the inside. It was just mesmerizing.

The next day we spent finding great restaurants and walking Chrissy fields. The sailboats were in full show.

Like I said, I love this place and we will be going back soon very soon!

2008-04-25T16:26:00.005-05:00

The View From Gate 14
DECLARATIONS By PEGGY NOONAN

America is in line at the airport. America has its shoes off, is carrying a rubberized bin, is going through a magnetometer. America is worried there is fungus on the floor after a million stockinged feet have walked on it. But America knows not to ask. America is guilty until proved innocent, and no one wants to draw undue attention. America left its ticket and passport in the jacket in the bin in the X-ray machine, and is admonished. America is embarrassed to have put one one-ounce moisturizer too many in the see-through bag. America is irritated that the TSA agent removed its mascara, opened it, put it to her nose, and smelled it. Why don't you put it up your nose and see if it explodes? America thinks.

And, as always: Why do we do this when you know I am not a terrorist, and you know I know you know I am not a terrorist? Why this costly and harassing kabuki when we both know the facts, and would agree that all this harassment is the government's way of showing "fairness," of showing that it will equally humiliate anyone in order to show its high-mindedness and sense of justice? Our politicians congratulate themselves on this as we stand in line.

All the frisking, beeping and patting down is demoralizing to our society. It breeds resentment, encourages a sense that the normal are not in control, that common sense is yesterday. Another thing: It reduces the status of that ancestral arbiter and leader of society, the middle-aged woman. In the new fairness, she is treated like everyone, without respect, like the loud ruffian and the vulgar girl on the phone. The middle-aged woman is the one spread-eagled over there in the delicate shell beneath the removed jacket, praying nothing on her body goes beep and makes people look.

America makes it through security, gets to the gate, waits. The TV monitor is on. It is Wolf Blitzer. He is telling us with a voice of urgency of the Pennsylvania returns. But no one looks up. We are a nation of Willie Lomans, dragging our rollies through acres of airport, going through life with a suitcase and a slack jaw, trying to get home after a long day of meetings, of moving product.

No one in crowded gate 14 looks up to see what happened in Pennsylvania. No one. Wolf talks to the air. Gate 14 is small-town America, a mix, a group of people of all classes and races brought together and living in close proximity until the plane is called, and America knows what Samuel Johnson knew. "How small of all that human hearts endure / That part which laws or kings can cause or cure."Gate 14 doesn't think any one of the candidates is going to make their lives better. Gate 14 will vote anyway, because they know they are the grownups of America and must play the role and do the job.

just funny

2008-04-19T10:21:00.003-05:00

This picture has a funny story, I ran across it at work yesterday and it made me laugh. The story behind it is I work in downtown Dallas, but had a meeting in Arlington. When I left for the meeting I headed toward 30 and of course there was a wreck blocking my entrance so my only choice was to go the other direction and exit and turn around, but of course another wreck blocked me there.

So I end up on a different road and I call the office to get some directions there are two or three other roads I am going to have to connect to now to get to my meeting.

Well after some wrong directions and alot of driving I end up about miles past my meeting and many many more miles from Dallas :) If you go from right to left the orange stickers show where I started, where I was supposed to be and where I ended up. Thanks to my colleagues I have this nice map to commemorate the trip, labled "Scarlette travels DFW" :) It was waiting for me at my desk the next day.

Photo project

2008-03-30T21:00:00.004-05:00

I blogged a while ago about the some photos I was going to do a little project with. This is the start for now, I may do more...or not. The six I had frames for fit perfect in this little space in the hallway and I kind of like it like that. But I have many more pictures than frames so we will see, I could frame them all and give them a bigger wall in the house.

This one is by far my favorite, it was a good enough resolution to have printed in 14X18

Long time no see

2008-03-24T20:50:00.004-05:00

This weekend Ginger and I went to Shreveport visit a long lost friend, Amanda. We all lived in the dorm together at Hendrix. We have so many great and crazy memories. What was really an eye opener was that we had not seen each other in 11 years! But we didn't miss a step, it was like that time had never passed.

There wasn't a moment of silence when we were all together, it was so fun to catch up. The disappointing part is somehow I didn't take any pictures.....uggh I hate it when that happens! That's ok though, we are going to plan another trip soon and I'll take bunches.

Love you both, and I cant' wait to see you again!

Lovely weekends in LR

2008-03-10T20:45:00.007-05:00

I had such a great time, I guess two weekends ago, whew time flies! Nothing makes you feel more at home than consistently running into people you know. I ran into Katie's father-n-law in Dallas at the terminal on my way to LR, then I got on the plane and saw Cory, a friend I never get to see. We were stuck on the tarmac for a while and then had the flight to LR to catch up.

Jaime picked me up and the best part was Livia running to greet me as I came off the plane. Nothing better than a sweet little girl running to you with her arms stretched wide :)

We met up with my Mom, "giggle" finally :) I was excited to see her and excited for Liv and Trevor to get to see each other. He hasn't seen her since her first birthday and still talks about Livia, I hope they grow up to be friends like Jaims and I.

Saturday was a wonderful day filled with time spent with Steph , Jaime and the kiddos. Saturday when mom and I went to dinner, I ran into Lauren, who I hadn't seen since I moved. After two years away, going to Little Rock is like going back home, everything is familiar and comfortable....I just love it.

Sufficient Grounds (I don't care what they call it now)

The Wonder Place!

Goodbye hug

Mom and Trevor at George Washington's house he informed us when saw it.

Time for a Pet Post!

2008-03-03T21:52:00.004-06:00

Hey..Come see what I did!

Wooohoooooo!

That was hard work.

When you come to visit

2008-02-25T21:08:00.002-06:00

Plan on goign to Exhale with me for a facial.

My face has been transformed! My pores have never been this clean and my lips this plump :)

Artist from Ohio

2008-02-24T16:19:00.002-06:00

Has made a nice addition to our home :)

New Favorite Brand of Shoes!!!!

2008-02-21T20:20:00.005-06:00

Naughty Monkey has the CUTEST shoes and they are comfortable!

My interests vary

2008-02-19T22:24:00.002-06:00

The name of the blog deserves a little explanation.
At Hendrix I had two great instructors for both my micro and macro economics. In Micro, my professor would often wear sunglasses while teaching...no one ever knew why and he would also occassionally lie flat on his back on the floor while teaching. He was usually using a pointer, pointing at a graph he had drawn on the board. Maybe flat on his back with sunglasses on gave him a better angle? Anyhow this was my intro to supply and demand.

Then I had another great professor for Macro. And for some reason that class was where economics became "my thing". Before that I was going to be a doctor and then an accountant. But after the section on the Consumption Function I was hooked. Why? Because how could you ever forget anything that had a name like that. That was the first economics test where I made a %100. For some reason every single tidbit of the equasions, graphs etc. of the Consumption Function stuck in my head....forever. C = c0 + c1Yd it bascially says that consumption is a function of income with the marginal propensity to consume being the slope of the consumption function. Of course it is!!!! Economic words are so fun!

The other thing.... I am pretty sure that Fidel Castro has been dead for about 1.5 years. Some of you might know about my fascination with him, and I am going to write a blog soon on why I have that fascination and why I think most people are mis-informed about the history of Castro. Anyhow I think he is dead and has been for a while and once the current government which is Castro's posse, is assured that everything is calm after Raul takes office, they will announce his death. I predict ~6 months. Anybody want to wager? I would put $20 on an August announcement of Castro's death. :)

Fidel Castro Resigns as Cuba’s President

New Blog

2008-02-18T22:13:00.001-06:00

This is going to be the new blog!

Hope you had a fabulous birthday Kylie!