It Blows My Mind

I have been thinking about a certain little bit of foolishness that I heard on the radio, and I just have to say my piece about it.

It was one of those political talk radio programs that are meant to make your blood boil. You know the type. The host is fabulous at pointing out everything wrong with the country, but miraculously manages to never once come up with a solution for whatever happens to be the gripe of the day.

Anyway.

On this particular day, this individual said that it is his RIGHT as an AMERICAN CITIZEN to go into debt. He said that the Obama Administration, in urging Americans to live within their means, are trying to FORCE him into a SUBSTANDARD way of life.

Good Grief.

Here is the thing. I am all for the American Dream, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happy Meals, and all that stuff. Really, I am.

HOWEVER....

It is absolute idiocy to think of going into debt as a personal right. I mean, seriously, folks. I doubt very much that the Founding Fathers, while working on the Declaration of Independence, ever once thought that racking up a huge VISA bill was one of those "inalienable rights" that they were so concerned with.

We here at Barefoot Manor live almost completely within our means. Do we have debt? Yes. We have a mortgage, and financed my car. We also have a mountain of medical bills (thanks, step-kids). For the rest of our spending, we live entirely on what we can afford to pay in CASH. Yeah, remember that stuff? The green paper and little shiny metal objects. You know it, I am sure you have seen it before.

I in no way believe our lives to be SUBSTANDARD. I mean, what an insult! I will admit that we don't dress in high fashion, and that lobster or steak is a rare treat around here. Still, we have a home that is warm and welcoming. We have reliable vehicles. We are never hungry. We have enough for the occasional trip to the movies or night on the town. Would I like to be able to just go out and buy everything that catches my fancy? Yup. Would I like to have the $$ available so that I would never have to say 'no' to my kids? Of course. But we are just fine.

I can't even imagine living a life where everything went on a credit card, and only the minimum payment was made every month. I get the heebie-jeebies just thinking about owing some nameless corporation that kind of money.

Not that I am judging those folks who have found themselves doing that very thing. I totally understand that society has made that very acceptable for the average Joe. I just have never been able to stomach the idea.

Okay. I have vented. I feel better now.

Pet Peeve #12

I cannot STAND it when folks call into work and then ask me if I think Big Boss Lady will be mad about it.

Seriously, folks, if you have a justifiable reason for not being able to be at work, it shouldn't matter if the boss is cranky about it. There are only two reasons I can think of that would cause you worry over calling in. 1) You just started working at a particular place and have called in more than you have been there; or 2) You don't really have a valid reason for calling in and are worried about getting caught.

Think about it, people.

Pet Peeve #12

When the sink strainer thingy is REPEATEDLY removed from the sink (even though it has been REPEATEDLY stated that I prefer it in), resulting in lots of little food bits clogging up the drain. THIS results in Poor Little Old Me having to stick my Delicate Fingers down in SUPER HOT WATER to try to clean out the drain so that the dishwater can go down the tubes as intended by the Plumbing Heroes of the World. It also raises the risk of a clog where I cannot fix it, and therefor requiring a call to those same Plumbing Heroes of the World.

Pet Peeve #24

When Certain People don't think twice about doing things that, if done by ME, would make them very angry.

See also Pet Peeve #23

Pet Peeve #23

When Certain People go ahead and run errands after work without bothering to let me know.

See also Pet Peeve #24

Pet Peeve #43

When folks obviously don't understand what you are talking about, but still seem compelled to argue with you.

See also: Pet Peeve #42

Pet Peeve #42

Folks who talk about things they know nothing about.

See also: Pet Peeve #43

Pet Peeve #36

When a boss expects staff to do something that they are unwilling to do.

Pet Peeve #142

Finding day-old sippy cups full of milk.

Yuck.