And the blame goes to...

Yesterday in my Politics & Power class we were having a typical discussion about how the rich men of America have screwed us all over and how the government can and must save us. The professor asked, "If you asked people on the street why we are in this economic mess what do you think they would say?" There were the typical answers about it's all Bush's fault and the war, etc. 

Then one kid said it's because of greed.  "The people who sell mortgages have been deceptive and really taken advantage of people..."  He went on for some time about how unfair it is that people are loosing their houses, etc. and how if the people at the top weren't so greedy then we wouldn't be here. 

Another girl said that people have also bought houses they couldn't afford, that are too big. The professor said the janitor in his friend's building makes you know about $8-10 an hour and he has bought two houses. Does that make sense? The conversation turned back to how awful those bankers and mortgage people are. "The person buying the house maybe didn't see the little black line that said they're payment was going to double or triple. That's not their fault."

I raised my hand and said, "Personal responsibility has to come into play here though too." I explained that when I was buying my house I was approved for a certain amount which was more than I had expected - cool! Then when I really looked at the numbers, (my bills, etc.) I realized I couldn't really afford that much so I bought a smaller house with a smaller payment. The prof said that's right (I was a little surprised!) and he said it seems fairly clear that a janitor making $8-10/hour probably can't afford 2 houses and he should know that.

This guy in the back said, "I agree with the young lady [well thanks! I'm probably older than all but one of the students but hey, I like it.] but I just have to defend the janitor. When someone tells you that you can have something that everyone else has you jump at it. You're just excited and you go for it and figure out the details later and worry about whether or not you can afford it later. For once you can have what the rest of the world has."

Who says the rest of the world has that??? I know very few people with two houses! Very few. Maybe I just don't live in the same fantasy world...

At any rate, I think he summed up beautifully why we're in the mess we're in. I'm not saying I'm perfect. Far from it and I've played into the material game far too often myself. BUT I'm not blaming anyone but myself for that and I have never expected someone to come bail me out. 

And, btw, if you are signing your life away on a huge loan for a house, you have the responsibility and right to fully understand what you are signing. If you don't, ask questions! Find out! Be responsible. 

Yes, it's true, mortgage lenders probably need to be more careful about what they approve people for but ultimately, you are the one making the final decision and you are the one responsible. 

I'll save you from my full political diatribe on this one. :) I just thought I'd let out some of my confused, amazed, disbelief at some of the things I hear far too often. 

Feelin' Guilty

We were scheduled to have the missionaries over for dinner tomorrow but they just called and canceled. They have another appointment that will conflict. My first thought was "Yes! That's goo-ood news." Then I felt a little bad. I wonder if he could tell how eagerly I accepted his cancelation? "Oh, no worries! We'll just reschedule another time." 

It's not that I don't want to have them over, it's more that I'm just feeling tired tonight and it sounds like a lot less work for tomorrow if I don't have to clean the house and make a big dinner. Is that really bad or what? That's probably a mark against me so now I better be extra good to make up for it, huh? 

Hallux Rigidus

I went to the foot doctor today because I've had toe pain for a long time.  It turns out I have Hallux Rigidus, which in a nutshell is "a disorder of the joint located at the base of the big toe." It's largely due to the way my shape is formed and it leads to a type of arthritis that makes the bones rub against each other because the soft tissue is mostly gone. In words I understand best - it hurts. 

They did X-rays and I definitely have a bone spur where the problem is (which happens with this hallux thing) and the soft tissue isn't so much there. No wonder I can't walk right. He said he can tell that it's made me start walking on the outside of my foot. I told him that was one reason I came in - if I start walking like that it'll just lead to other problems. He agreed and said it'll lead to knee, hip, and back problem. Like I need more back problems!

Short term solution - I had an injection in my toe, which didn't hurt near as badly as I expected it to, and he taped my foot as though I was wearing an orthodic. These don't solve anything but should make it so it's less painful until I elect to do my long term solution.  

Long term - I'll have to get surgery if I want it to actually go away. They'll go in and shave off the bone spur and clean up around the joint and then I'll be able to walk normally again.

When I left his office this morning I walked without pain for the first time in a year! That was great. The numbing is wearing off now so I can feel a little pain again but hopefully it won't be as bad as it was before... I think I'll do the surgery over spring break - because what else am I going to do over spring break? :) Seriously, I can only put this off so long. I mean, I can't wear heels again until I've had the surgery. Maybe that doesn't sound problematic to you... but to me it's an issue. And frankly, it would just be really nice to not to have to limp or wince every time I walk somewhere.  

One more quick side note, it was really kind of cool to see an X-ray of my foot. Hmm, those are my bones, not just a text book picture. Not that I didn't think those were real pictures, it's just different when it's your own body. 

Glued Fingers

Sometimes I glue my fingers. I know, how odd. But you see, in the winter, even when it's only a pretend winter like this year (not cold, not snowy...), my skin dries right out and and the ends of my fingers split right by the finger nails. So, a few years ago I started using superglue on the worst of the splits and it seems to help most of the time. But not always. And then I'm left wondering what I can do because the split can last for-ev-er! And, I don't know if you have this particular problem, but if you do, have you ever been shocked and it is somehow channeled right into the split? OH-MY-HECK! That's a beast! 

When the glue wears off I reapply but really, when even the glue isn't working what's a girl to do? 

Bad Comparison

If I see Obama compared to Abraham Lincoln one more time I'm going to scream!! (So, get ready, I'm sure I'll be screaming very soon...) There's no reason on this green earth to compare the two! What exactly has Obama done yet besides make a series of really bad cabinet and secretary picks and name several czars to regulate things that, really, the government should not so much be involved in? (Are we Russia now by the way?) And, which oppressed people is the new King going to set free? The comparison makes me sick every time I see it. 

I would rather crawl into a hole on coronation day than have to see and hear all day how our savior is here at last. And I just hate to think where we might be in a year or four from now since everyone is so wrapped up in his majesty rather than thinking about actions and consequences. But hey, let's just take one thing at a time and let the man become our all before we worry about what it might mean.

Seriously though, he is NO Lincoln and will never be! So Cut. It. Out. 

Cookin' Ahead

I made freezer meals again yesterday since school starts next week. I made 2 the day before and I made a few dry meal mixes the week before because clearly I had to have something to display for my "Cooking Ahead" class. And hey, I'm gettin' into the mix thing too and they're so easy.

When all was said and done, I ended up with 22 meals, mostly in the freezer.  I was smart this time, not on purpose mind you, I made shredded BBQ chicken and shredded BBQ beef.  I don't eat beef so the BBQ beef does me no good. (I had thawed too much chicken so I just used it for BBQ. I think I'll do that next time too. 

Now, don't stress, I did not make 20 separate meals yesterday.  I'm able to split lots of the recipes in half because J won't eat much, well, let me check my list...  Um, no, in fact he won't eat any of the meals I made. What does J eat?  That's a good question.  I'll let you know if I ever figure it out.  And I don't eat the ones with beef so really there are only two eaters in that case, so I can make multiple meals from one recipe. Not to mention, a recipe that feeds 8 will easily make 2 meals for us even if we all eat. 

At least one part of me feels ready for school to start again! Which reminds me! I also made a few quick little lunch things, such as Sweet & Sour Chicken, that I can take to school. I'm pretty excited to see how they work because I'll have a long pause between classes (see 'schedule change' post) and I'll need to be better about bringing lunch not just a snacker this semester.  

What's That in Your Hands?

It's been so quiet here this afternoon which is highly unusual.  I walked into the living room and there was J with a .......book in his hands.  He's been reading for hours!  I'm amazed.  Clearly I'm not going to disturb this rare phenomena, which makes me think, kids don't realize the potential power they hold over their parents when they are caught doing things that are good for them.

Schedule Change

Get excited! Since I got an A in math last semester (this is HUGE for me for those of you who don't know) I can skip the last remedial math class and then I'll only have one more math class to take!  That, of course, will be math for non-math majors - why go any deeper in this insipid subject than one has to?  This is cause for celebration.  

But, it also threw a snag in my well planned schedule.  I try to make sure I get home from school about the same time J does because, well, I just want to be here when he's here.  I keep telling myself it makes a difference.  I'm a pretender, what can I say?  So, I was able to drop math-for-dummies but I had one heckuva time scheduling a new class.  This is a new problem for me since I'm not generally in the category of students who wait to the last minute to do things.  The only class that had an opening will mean I won't get home until about 5 twice a week.  I told J the news, knowing that he'd be crushed, and here's what he had to say:

J - You won't get home until 5? - (then under his breath, but only slightly) -  sweet!

Mom - Gasp!

J - I mean, (use your most sarcastic, dripping with fake sympathy voice here), oh noo-oo! 

Mom - Yeah, I know!  It's no fun for you.

J - (same voice as above) - Oh, dang!

The moral of the story is, if you ever want to feel loved or appreciated, just ask you teenager.  :)

Such a Let Down

I got a panini press for Christmas and I'm super excited about it because I make a lot of sandwiches and this will be great.  I haven't had a chance to use it yet so I was excited to get it out tonight and make dinner.  As I was opening it I thought that part of the outside looked as though it had had grease splatters on it that had been wiped off - you know, like on the plastic legs of your griddle?  I figured it was nothing.  Then I opened the press to wash it before I used it.  Um, yeah, good thing!  It's been used!!!  How sick is that?  And what is wrong with people that they return something that they used?  And return it all dirty!  I'm so sad.  Now I hope we can find the receipt so I can go exchange it for a clean, not-previously used one.  Ish.