Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Recession-Proof BBQ Wins with Friends and Family!

(Photo Courtesy of Freefoto.com)

So, mom and I decided to throw a Recession-Proof BBQ the Saturday of this past Memorial Day Weekend! She baked her heart out and I barbecued the night before. We joyfully served and waited on our guests. We decided to love on them and they loved us back! It was a hit!
The whole thing cost us less than a night's stay at a 3-Star hotel. We entertained about 30 people over the 8 hours our friends and family came and left. It gave us all an opportunity to escape the press of the recession and our personal drama. WHAT A RELIEF!

When we take the time to focus on others, we actually feel better ourselves. The cost is more time than money but the rewards are countless! Freedom!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Californians Vote NO to Tax Increases

There's nothing wrong with not wanting to increase taxes and it's okay to cut back or downsize spending and/or programs. It seems that eliminating is a bad word unless it relates to constipation. Well, it's not a bad word. We can also eliminate some of the voting districts and have fewer state lawmakers represent more people. Then, maybe, a fewer number of talking heads can reasonably come of with budgets that work decade after decade.

We see it everyday, programs and services, people in positions that the state government doesn't need to provide. Even as a public school educator, I've personally identified thousands of wasteful activities that stray too far from reading, writing, arithmetic, technology, and the arts over the two decades I've been in the system. (I still believe the government should provide basic educational services but in case you didn't know, many of the kids throw away the free lunches. We can encourage those who can to bring their own lunch and eat all of it!)

When I decided to eliminate debt from my life in 2004, I gave up a lot of foolish spending/thinking and "special programs" that I thought I had to have in order to really live. Guess what, I am living well without spending more than I can afford. Eliminating the practice of personal deficit spending has given me new life! I have more than enough mainly because I need and want less. Freedom!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Connecting

Healthy connections with others, not spending money, makes life worth living but may not help the economy. Oh well! Nurturing healthy connections has been a primary focus for me in 2009. Many successes, some failures, I continue to enjoy the good at the core of the people I spend time with day in and day out. Freedom!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

People ARE Spending So Ignore the Media!

(Courtesy of freefoto.com)

Again, was out yesterday taking mom to lunch after a pampering Mother's Day Eve morning at the day spa and guess what I saw? A restaurant and mall packed with people spending money! You just can't believe the media on this topic as I've been repeating over and over again since last Thanksgiving!!!



Maybe folks are spending half of what they once did but THEY ARE spending. Maybe a business once took in a million a month and now only collect half a million but, HELLO, adjust. No more whining to the media or the government!
From BLS.gov, "Unemployment rates rose in April for adult men (9.4 percent) and blacks(15.0 percent). The jobless rates for adult women (7.1 percent), teenagers(21.5 percent), whites (8.0 percent), and Hispanics (11.3 percent) were little changed over the month. The unemployment rate for Asians was 6.6 percent inApril, not seasonally adjusted, up from 3.2 percent a year earlier. "

I just want the media and government to give a balanced representation: 15% of blacks are unemployed which means that 85% are employed. 9.4% of adult men are unemployed which means that 90.6% are working.
10% of the national/state/local population that wants to work are unemployed. The other 90% who are working are spending, just not as much. Uh, this glass is more than half full!!!
Adjust! Adjust! Adjust!
Enjoy life and love each other! Speak the truth! Freedom!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Auto Zone is Hiring - Saw Ad in El Monte, CA

If you live in the Los Angeles area, Auto Zone is hiring! I took a look at their online application so it may be regional or national. I personally would talk to a store manager to get a feel for what they are offering. Check it out! Every little bit counts! Freedom!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Here's to Your Healthy Heart

We can't control how long we live but we do have some say in the quality of life we have. Check out the healthy lifestyle recommedations offered by the American Heart Association.

Hope you aren't allowing this crazy recession to depress your life and positive outlook. Our lives are so much more than society lets on. The free joy of eyesight, beauty in nature, smiles of those we encounter are all part of real living. Daily, I choose to push aside the media and gratefully enjoy the basics, the boredoms, the no-drama paths that allow me to live as stress-free as possible. I can't change anyone but myself and that's hard enough but not impossible. When I decide to make healthy changes, I see what I missed before and actually live better. Freedom!