Freedom Friday will return next week.
Today IS Friday, isn't it?!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
By Popular Demand
A lot of you have expressed interest in my take on the President's speech last night.
And by a lot I mean one of you. Thanks, Kendra!
Let me tell you up front that I did not watch the speech.
Gasp!
It's true. Whenever I listen to Obama all I hear is Charlie Brown's teacher, "wah wah wah hope! wah wah wah change!" However, being the concerned, involved citizen that I am, I did watch some clips and read the transcript.
First, you must understand that Obama's words don't literally mean anything...they are just supposed to sound good. Inspirational even. Therefore, his speeches don't really lend themselves to analysis. Just feelings. If you watched it you probably felt all warm and fuzzy.
So with that being said, here are what I considered the highlights:
1. My favorite line: "I'm proud that we passed the recovery plan free of earmarks..." Oh my. Where do I start? Props to The One for sheer guts. Perhaps we have redefined what an earmark is and I missed it? Or maybe it just depends on what your definition of the word "is" is.
2. I also loved the line: "Not because I believe in bigger government - I don't." Snort followed by loud guffaw.
3. I also noticed that he's been using his focus groups wisely. Did you notice how he threw in all those conservative-y sounding phrases like "America will emerge stronger," "responsibility to ensure that we do not pass on to {our children} a debt they cannot pay," " eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs," "we're also suffering from a deficit of trust," "restoring a sense of honesty and accountability, " "to keep our sacred trust with those who serve [in the military]?" Almost made me forget he's a socialist.
4. Another great line: "...the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy." Yeah, that's been the problem. I don't know about you but the lifeblood of my household economy is income-production.
One last thing completely unrelated to the speech.
Could someone PLEASE tell Michelle that she really doesn't have the arms to go sleeveless? Besides, HELLO, it is FEBRUARY!
And by a lot I mean one of you. Thanks, Kendra!
Let me tell you up front that I did not watch the speech.
Gasp!
It's true. Whenever I listen to Obama all I hear is Charlie Brown's teacher, "wah wah wah hope! wah wah wah change!" However, being the concerned, involved citizen that I am, I did watch some clips and read the transcript.
First, you must understand that Obama's words don't literally mean anything...they are just supposed to sound good. Inspirational even. Therefore, his speeches don't really lend themselves to analysis. Just feelings. If you watched it you probably felt all warm and fuzzy.
So with that being said, here are what I considered the highlights:
1. My favorite line: "I'm proud that we passed the recovery plan free of earmarks..." Oh my. Where do I start? Props to The One for sheer guts. Perhaps we have redefined what an earmark is and I missed it? Or maybe it just depends on what your definition of the word "is" is.
2. I also loved the line: "Not because I believe in bigger government - I don't." Snort followed by loud guffaw.
3. I also noticed that he's been using his focus groups wisely. Did you notice how he threw in all those conservative-y sounding phrases like "America will emerge stronger," "responsibility to ensure that we do not pass on to {our children} a debt they cannot pay," " eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs," "we're also suffering from a deficit of trust," "restoring a sense of honesty and accountability, " "to keep our sacred trust with those who serve [in the military]?" Almost made me forget he's a socialist.
4. Another great line: "...the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy." Yeah, that's been the problem. I don't know about you but the lifeblood of my household economy is income-production.
One last thing completely unrelated to the speech.
Could someone PLEASE tell Michelle that she really doesn't have the arms to go sleeveless? Besides, HELLO, it is FEBRUARY!
In Which I Confess My Shame...Part Two
Today I balanced my check register for the first time since October 10, 2008.
Yep. October.
And I don't mean "reconciled to my bank statement." I literally mean I just calculated the balance in my check register.
Yes, I am a CPA. Yes, I have chewed out clients in the past for such irresponsibility.
I could point out that October was when Congress started debating the much-loved TARP bill. I could make a correlation between the government's inability to keep it's own books and mine.
Wes: Hey, where'd all our money go?
Me: (shrug) I dunno. But it really stimulated the economy...I'm sure of that.
But I won't go there.
Unlike our fearless leaders, I will take full personal responsiblity for being a bum.
So, if you are one of my former clients and I ever chewed you out for being loosey-goosey with the check book...my apologies.
Yep. October.
And I don't mean "reconciled to my bank statement." I literally mean I just calculated the balance in my check register.
Yes, I am a CPA. Yes, I have chewed out clients in the past for such irresponsibility.
I could point out that October was when Congress started debating the much-loved TARP bill. I could make a correlation between the government's inability to keep it's own books and mine.
Wes: Hey, where'd all our money go?
Me: (shrug) I dunno. But it really stimulated the economy...I'm sure of that.
But I won't go there.
Unlike our fearless leaders, I will take full personal responsiblity for being a bum.
So, if you are one of my former clients and I ever chewed you out for being loosey-goosey with the check book...my apologies.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
In Which I Confess My Shame
I don't know what kind of laundry system you use but let's just say mine isn't working. In fact, I hesitate to use the term "system" to describe the haphazard methodology that I use.
When we built our house I really did put a lot of thought into making laundry easier. I have lots of counter space...lots of cabinets...a hanging rod over my shiny, white, front-loading, high-efficiency washer and dryer...and pretty, yet functional baskets for each family member that sit on top of the washer and dryer. The plan was that as I take clothes out of the dryer I can fold them and place them in their owner's basket.
But what we have here is a failure...of epic proportions.
I now have mountains of neatly folded clothes that I continue to stack in my lovely baskets, and stack and stack and stack. Until the pile falls over behind the shiny, white front-loading, high-effiency washer and dryer and has to be fished out with a broom handle. And re-washed and re-dried.
As a side note..."high-effiency" does not mean it will fold and put away your clothes for you. I know. I was disappointed too.
I have begun to notice that my family lacks laundry putting-away skills. Sadly, I also lack them. I have also begun to notice that my kids wear the same pieces of clothing over and over. I hasten to add that these clothes are not dirty (at least not most of the time.) They have been washed but they are also in those lovely baskets. Which is the only place my kids know to look for clean clothes. On top of the stack, because, you know, there's really no sense in digging to the bottom of the pile and having them all fall behind the washer.
I have tried having my kids put away their clothes. Sadly, this is even worse. Caitlin stuffs all of her clothes into one cubby and then can't find anything. Because it's way to much trouble to dig through the cubby. Much easier to go get the clean clothes from the top of the stack in the basket. With the added bonus that you don't have to put away what you're wearing.
I have foiled her plan.
I spent about and hour and a half today making these:
and placed them here:
Yes, it took an hour and a half. I have the uncanny ability to waste inordinate amounts of time looking industrious while actually accomplishing very little.
It's a gift.
Oh, and if I work for you I never, ever waste time at work!
When we built our house I really did put a lot of thought into making laundry easier. I have lots of counter space...lots of cabinets...a hanging rod over my shiny, white, front-loading, high-efficiency washer and dryer...and pretty, yet functional baskets for each family member that sit on top of the washer and dryer. The plan was that as I take clothes out of the dryer I can fold them and place them in their owner's basket.
But what we have here is a failure...of epic proportions.
I now have mountains of neatly folded clothes that I continue to stack in my lovely baskets, and stack and stack and stack. Until the pile falls over behind the shiny, white front-loading, high-effiency washer and dryer and has to be fished out with a broom handle. And re-washed and re-dried.
As a side note..."high-effiency" does not mean it will fold and put away your clothes for you. I know. I was disappointed too.
I have begun to notice that my family lacks laundry putting-away skills. Sadly, I also lack them. I have also begun to notice that my kids wear the same pieces of clothing over and over. I hasten to add that these clothes are not dirty (at least not most of the time.) They have been washed but they are also in those lovely baskets. Which is the only place my kids know to look for clean clothes. On top of the stack, because, you know, there's really no sense in digging to the bottom of the pile and having them all fall behind the washer.
I have tried having my kids put away their clothes. Sadly, this is even worse. Caitlin stuffs all of her clothes into one cubby and then can't find anything. Because it's way to much trouble to dig through the cubby. Much easier to go get the clean clothes from the top of the stack in the basket. With the added bonus that you don't have to put away what you're wearing.
I have foiled her plan.
I spent about and hour and a half today making these:
and placed them here:
Yes, it took an hour and a half. I have the uncanny ability to waste inordinate amounts of time looking industrious while actually accomplishing very little.
It's a gift.
Oh, and if I work for you I never, ever waste time at work!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
