Yep, this is my complaining page. I'm going to sound off on all the things that make me mad. Like the old advertisement, "Where's the Beef?", I'm going let you know what I think is wrong with the world today. If you don't like it, don't read it. If you want to comment, click on the link below and email me. I'll post your beef and my comments to go with it! Don't take any of these items as personal slams against yourself. These are my opinions, and in this country, I have a right to post my opinions, whether you agree with them or not. I'll be happy to post opposing opinions anytime! So here are my BEEFS, not necessarily in any type of order!
And yes, I will take some cheese with my whine !!!
Beef # 1 - Liberals
Oh, where do I start? I have so much to say about Liberals and the "Far Left". Biden, Kennedy, Feinstein, Clinton, Kerry, Schumer and many more. And these are just the public figures. There are others. It doesn't matter what an issue is, if it is presented by a Republican, they will vote against it. WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM??? They don't even look at the merits of an issue. Kerry doesn't even bother to show up to vote. Kennedy shouldn't even be a free man, but that's another story. WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE??? They take the working man's money, live like kings, decadent lifestyles, liars, cheats, criminal acts and THEY GET AWAY WITH IT. THEY are the most BIASED, RACISTS JERKS I've ever seen. I cannot believe the comments they make, the things they do, the lies they will tell, anything to get elected and spend YOUR MONEY!! What is wrong with the people in this country to allow such people to hold office?
I was originally a registered Democrat. I later changed my party affiliation to Republican. But I vote on the candidates and the issues. If I think a Democrat has a better idea or plan, then I vote for him. If a Republican makes more sense, then he gets my vote. If someone has a trustworthy reputation, I believe him. If he is a proven liar, he won't get my vote. It's that simple. Be honest, keep your word, be true to your beliefs, not based on the latest polls. Too bad others don't vote this way instead of blindly voting for their party without regard to the issues. This is OUR Country. Votes matter. Issues matter. Think about it.
The funny thing is that many Liberals feel that the Conservatives are either just ignorant or just don't understand the real issues. They continually try to make us accept their ways and beliefs. Conservatives are just happy to live their lives and be left alone with their beliefs. But the Liberals continue to push. A good example is the case that was just re-tried in California, so that the schools in this one jurisdiction cannot say the Pledge of Allegiance. The Conservatives tried compromise. No student would be forced to say the Pledge if they didn't want to. But that wasn't good enough. The Liberal Nazis wanted it removed from the school so that no one can have the privilege of saying it. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?? If you HATE this country so much, I have a solution for you. LEAVE IT. GET OUT of this country and move to a country that will suit you better. FOOLS. As for me and my family, we'll say the Pledge of Allegiance with reverence and honor. We're PROUD to be Americans. Never ashamed of our country.
This brings me to my last point that I will spout off about today. (I could go on for hours!). How dare any American to go to another country and say they are ashamed of this country. How can you condemn a whole nation by the actions of a few? The incident was the soldiers that took photos of the Iraqi prisoners. There are stupid people in this world, but you can't say that you are ashamed of a whole country because of the actions from a handful of soldiers blowing off steam. Iraq should be ashamed for the beheadings they do to their prisoners. No, you say, because the whole country isn't responsible, just a few rebels perform those hideous acts. Well, duh. Exactly my point. The Dixie Chicks, whom I used to love, are a good example. They went to another country and said they were ashamed of the President and ashamed that they came from the same state. Everyone has a right to their opinion, and to express it, it's true. Otherwise, how could I have these paragraphs on my web site? But to go to a foreign country and speak their opinion against their own country, rates as treason in my opinion. How can the actions of one person or a few people in a country cause an American to be ashamed of his whole country? Again, do the actions of one person condemn a nation? Does that give someone the right to make traitorous remarks in a foreign land? To say you are ashamed to be an American, or that you are ashamed of this country, should be grounds for you to leave this country. Permanently.
Love this country or leave it.
Beef # 2 - For English Press 1
I make a call into the Wal-Mart pharmacy to order refills for my prescriptions. As soon as you get the recording, the first choice you make is whether to hear the menu in English or Spanish. Come on, this is America. Speak American. I wouldn't MOVE to Germany or France or any other foreign country and expect them to have everything in English. That's absolutely ridiculous. And so are the bureaucrats in this country who want to offer bilingual everything. This is a very diversified country. We have literally thousands of people who have emigrated here to make a new life. Don't you think that if they are here in America, they would like to be accepted as Americans? Don't you think that by coming to this country, they will be proud to learn English? Instead of spending billions of dollars converting this country to a multi-language fiasco, wouldn't it be better to spend a few million for free English classes for new immigrants? This would help ease them into our free society and truly help them to become American citizens, which is exactly what they have sacrificed their home country and family to become.
Beef # 3 - FEMA
Yes, I listened to the hearings. People just don't get it. FEMA is NOT a FIRST RESPONSE Department of the Government. It is a MANAGEMENT. The employees are sent to help COORDINATE in an emergency. Each state, each city, each county, each jurisdiction, each community, each business and yes, each family and individual should have some sort of emergency plan. Especially since September 11th, 2001. This country has an abundance of potential natural catastrophes, such as forest fires, volcanoes, tornadoes, blizzards, flooding, hurricanes and earthquakes. Let alone various traffic accidents such as train wrecks, planes, and trucks carrying hazardous materials. Then there is terrorism. The potential for terrorists to attack anywhere should, if for no other reason, have each family working on their own personal escape or emergency plans. Which, if it involves escape, should coincide with their local emergency plans.
That's what FEMA is supposed to do. Help coordinate with federal, state and local communities for contingency plans in case of...fill in the blank. Yet, when Hurricane Katrina hit, they expected FEMA director to almost personally meet people at the doors with food, clothing and transportation to new housing, before the disaster had even happened. I listened as the congressman from Mississippi was terribly rude to the FEMA director, accusing him of not doing the job. If FEMA had placed the supplies where the Congressman wanted, there would be no supplies getting into the area for several more weeks. The supplies would have been destroyed along with everything else in the area and the emergency workers themselves would've had to been rescued, like the residents of the area. I may never understand the heartbreak and frustration of the victims of Katrina and Rita. And my heart aches for them all. But Congressman, you must be realistic in your expectations. We were hit, here in Virginia, with just a Category 1 Isabel, in 2003. We had no power for 2 weeks, trees down, no water, no help. Neighbors helped neighbors and we managed to get some water on day 5 of the incident.
Maybe there were mistakes or misjudgements about how to respond in a disaster of this enormous size. Such widespread damage to property and roads and transportation made it impossible to get help to those who needed it for several days. Florida went through similar scenarios with the 4 hurricanes that hit in 2004 and with Andrew in 1992. It is a learning curve. We've not had a massive disaster like this in over a hundred years. Fingers will be pointing and heads will roll, I'm sure. But it's a shame the FEMA director was the first to suffer. What about the governor of Louisiana? What about the mayor of New Orleans? I think some blame should fall on their shoulders, too, if you're going to start blaming individuals. They didn't order evacuations in time. They didn't provide the helpless with transportation. The millions of dollars given to them over the last 40 years to upgrade the levees was misspent on social programs and other personal projects. They gambled on never having a disaster like Katrina. They lost. Now the rest of this country will pay for it, for generations. We'll pay in higher fuel costs, higher costs of produce and products, higher taxes and yes, higher insurances. Here's a thought: How about Congress and Senators going on Social Security instead of the full salary at retirement, to help alleviate the costs of Katrina and Rita? That savings in tax dollars would make a big dent in the amount needed.
Beef # 4 - Eyeglasses & BiFocals
I just have to complain about this one. About 15 years ago I switched to a blended "tri-focal" type glasses to help with reading up close. My normal eyesight is what they call "nearsighted" which for some dumb reason means I can't see far away.
So I've grown accustomed to having the blended glasses which not only help me see the road signs up in the distance but help me to read the speedometer at the same time without having to switch glasses while I'm driving.
Last year, I decided that my eyes weren't seeing quite as good as they should, at least according to the DMV, so I ventured into the eye "shop" to get new glasses. The doctor had written out the little prescription which I handed to the sales lady. I browsed the eyewear while I was waiting my turn. That's another problem, trying on new frames. I can't SEE what they look like since I have to take off my real glasses to try on the new frames. So how in the world am I supposed to pick out something that looks good if I can't see it? But I'm drifting...
As the sales lady totals up my glasses, she asks me various questions about did I want the same as what I currently have? No. The doctor gave me a new prescription. Well, do I want the kind that darken in the sunlight and fade to normal inside? Yes, of course. I've always had that kind. My eyes are sensitive to sunlight. Did I want regular bifocals or the blended trifocals? I want the blended. The bifocals might make me look older than I really am. Finally, she totals it up, and as she concentrated I wondered if she was going to ask me if I wanted one lens only or a lens for both eyes. Or did I want the side pieces to the frames, you know, the things that hold your glasses on over your ears?
When she told me the total of $800, I thought she was teasing. So we dropped the sunlight fading aspect. The price drops to $600. I went to straight bifocals and got the price down to about $200+. Unbelievable.
When I picked up the glasses a week later they weren't comfortable, didn't fit right, and I have to lay the back of my head on my back to read.
During the process of purchasing the glasses, they have you put on the new frames and they mark a spot on the glasses of where the bifocals should be. I kept telling her that it was too low. She moved it up just a dot size higher. I still said it's too low.
But I finally figured it out. The folks who make the glasses don't have to wear glasses or they would know better. When I want to see something in the distance I look through the top part of my glasses. Not the middle. When I want to read something, I need to look through the middle part of my glasses. But NO-O-O-O-O. They put the bifocal part at the very bottom so that if you need to read something, you have to lay the back part of your head on your....back. So now if I'm driving down the highway and get stopped by the police for not looking at the road... well, but officer, I was trying to check my speedometer. I was not looking at the ceiling behind me.
So I tried to return the glasses because honestly, I just can't see very well out of them. Even the distance part seems blurry. They wouldn't accept that. I had to go through another eye exam to make sure the doctor had my prescription correct. Then they rechecked the glasses to see if the prescription was correct. They told me if I wasn't happy I could return them and they would put my old prescription into the new frames. But they won't refund the money.
The other funny thing about this whole situation is that the last time I had visited them I had excellent vision insurance through my job. I only had to pay a nominal co-pay and my insurance picked up the rest of the bill. I didn't know how much they charged the insurance company since it was handled through my job. And when I went in this time they kept asking me about the insurance and I kept telling them I didn't work at that place anymore so therefore didn't have the good vision insurance. They even called me on the phone while I was waiting for my glasses to be ready to question about the insurance again. Maybe that was why they gave me the inflated cost for the glasses. However, they never gave me a lesser price until I dropped all the features.
So I'm wearing my old glasses with the old frames that I already had. I have a new $200 pair of bifocal glasses with no sunlight fading protection in my purse that I suppose I will have to wear when my old ones finally break.
And guess where I won't go back to buy eyeglasses again?????
Beef # 5 - Gouging the Government
Several years ago there was a news media frenzy that caused quite a stir. Government waste. They quoted example after example of how the government was paying $100 for a hammer and $400 for a single toilet seat. Yes, the person that stamped the approval on the purchase orders should have lost their job, no doubt about it. However, did you ever once hear about the companies that were cheating the government by charging $400 for each of their toilet seats? What about the crooks who were gouging the government for $100 per hammer?
Well, here's the latest one, straight out of the Time Magazine. "$236 million Amount FEMA agreed to pay Carnival Cruise Lines to house Katrina evacuees for six months in three ships, now half empty. $2550 Average cost per person a week, based on the ships' current occupancy rate, according to Senators Barack Obama and Tom Coburn. $599 Price Carnival normally charges per person for a seven-day western Caribbean Cruise from Galveston, Texas."
Now here's the other thing. The customer who pays $599 for a week on the ship, gets luxury treatment, meals, entertainment, maid service, the works. But what do they charge the government for a week, no luxury treatment, only necessities provided? $2550. Has anyone questioned the Carnival lines about this OBVIOUS PRICE GOUGING? No. The Governor of New Jersey was at least investigating the gas stations that were price gouging the customers. Hello!!! Don't you people get it yet? When companies price gouge the government, they are really taking the money out of YOUR pockets? Since the money that is appropriated for all these type expenditures is tax money, do you get it yet? Yes, fire the individuals who rubber stamp approve this purchase vouchers. But please, PLEASE go after the companies that are guilty of PRICE GOUGING the government!
Beef # 6 - Congress and Retirement
This beef is best expressed by an email that I have received several times from several different sources. How TRUE it IS!!!
"Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congressmen/women do not pay into Social Security and of course they do not collect from it."
"You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan."
"In more recent years, no congress person has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan. For all practical purposes their plan works like this:"
"When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die. Except it may increase from time to time for the cost of living adjustments..."
"For example, former Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000 (that's seven million, eight hundred thousand dollars) with their wives drawing $275,0000 during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two dignitaries. Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive much more during the rest of their lives."
"Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. NADA...ZILCH..."
"This little perk that they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds; OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!"
"From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into, every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer), we can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after retirement. Or in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 per month of monthly benefits for 68 years and 1 month to equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits!"
"Social Security would be very good if only one small change were made."
"That change would be to: Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us....then sit back and watch how fast they would fix it.!"
'Nuff said!
Beef # 7 - Customer Service
I'm re-writing this one, because of my experiences yesterday, October 13, 2005 at Lowe's. I was there at 9:30 am to pick up a couple bags of cement mix, a bag of K-31 grass seed and a 2.375" eight foot galvanized schedule 40 pipe. Doesn't matter what for, just that you should be able to walk into a store like that and find out if they have it, buy it and go home. Not so. I got the K-31, a 25 lb bag which is at the limit for me to lift. Put it in a cart and proceeded to the other end of the store to get the cement mix. The ready mix that Jim needed is in 80 lb bags. No problem, just ask for someone to load it on the cart. HA. I was in sight of the customer service desk and after waiting about 10 minutes, asked them if someone could lift the bags for me. The manager or supervisor was very nice and he called for some employees to help. No one came. He called again. Another 5 minutes passed and no one came. Finally he left the counter and though he was dressed up, he personally loaded the mix onto my cart, telling me there are 15 employees standing in the next aisle and none would come over to help. I thanked him for his help and asked about where to locate the 8 foot pipe.
I was told to go the other end of the store, to the plumbing department and they could get it for me. So pushing a cart with 160 lbs of cement mix and 25 lbs of grass seed, I huffed and puffed my way to the other end of the huge Lowe's store. Plumbing person, said I needed to check over by the lumber, at the other end of the store, of course. So again, I made my way all the way over to the other side of the store. Seemed like the store was growing wider with each trip! I waited at the desk for someone to help, but no one came. After 15 minutes I started searching the aisles for an employee. Once found, they informed me that I could find the pipe I wanted in the Plumbing department. I explained that Plumbing sent me to them. So I was told to check with the customer service. Which coincidentally is at the other end of the store again. So I made the long journey back to the customer service. I don't know why they are called customer service. They don't provide a service and they weren't any help to this customer. The girl said I would have to check over in the lumber department. I explained that I had just come from the lumber department. She said, oh, well, check with plumbing. And she went back to her private conversation with a co-worker about her night. By now, you can imagine that my smile is starting to get a little strained. Couldn't she look it up on her computer??? But I didn't interrupt her again, so pushed the heavy cart the 7 or 8 aisles back to the plumbing department. I waited, waited, until I finally saw an employee in the aisle helping another customer. I caught his eye and really just wanted to get on his "waiting list" to be helped, but he finished with the customer and walked away. And there were others waiting to be helped also. Maybe he had to use the restroom? He didn't come back.
There is a little button that says "Press Here for Assistance". So I pressed. It caused the automated, "Customer Needs Assistance in the Pipe Fitting Area" voice to sound over the loud speakers. I thought this was a cool thing. NOW I will FINALLY get some help. Five minutes, then ten pass. Nothing. So I press the button again. The announcement starts but gets cut off by a real persons announcement. So I press the button again. Another 10 minutes pass by with no response. So I press again. And hear the announcement. Again. Again. Again. I guess the button was now stuck. Let me tell you, that situation does finally work. A nice man come to help me. We checked in fencing, since the pipe wasn't in plumbing. Then he walked me to the halfway point in the store for Electrical. This is probably where I should've been looking in the first place. They didn't have the size I needed, so I thanked the nice man for his help and pushing my cart to the lumber end of the store (which is where my car is parked) I try to check out. The registers were down. For about 10 minutes. Finally at 11:20 am, I have paid for the 2 bags of cement mix and the bag of K-31 and go out to my car. A young man comes out of the store and immediately loads the heavy bags into my car. He smiled and I thanked him. I almost got the impression that they were happy to see me leave.
I proceeded later to Home Depot, went to Customer Service. The lady wrote down what I was looking for, looked it up on her computer and said she didn't show it in stock, but she would check with someone to make sure. She called both the Plumbing and Electrical departments, which checked and verified they didn't have it in stock. Ten minutes from the time I parked my car, until I was back in my car with an answer. Congrats to Home Depot! You guys are on top of it!!! That's what customer service should be!
Beef # 8 - Telemarketers
I have worked in a similar job. I was a phone sales person, but for a specific software company, Intuit. Not quite the same as the bland telemarketing calls I receive daily by the dozens. Actually, I don't receive nearly that many anymore, maybe a couple daily. However, since the law was passed about being on the "No Call List", the telemarketing companies have gotten sneaky. Now you get phone calls from tape recordings. Oh, I hate the tape recordings. Can't even yell back at them.
Another clever trick is the old "bait and switch" method. They call you, ask for someone else, as if they have gotten a wrong number. When you let them know that there isn't anyone at this number by that name, then they give you their sales pitch. Who do you think you're fooling? They mark it as a "wrong number" on their data, a loop hole legally. If they make a sale, then they don't have to worry about a lawsuit. And now that person becomes a "customer" and therefore the "No Call List" law does not apply. Clever, huh?
A Washington DC news program told a story about a young man who has just written a book about how to make a living off the "No Call List" laws that were passed. He records the telemarketers phone conversations, notifies them that they have indeed violated the law (and he gives the number of the statute that has been broken) and threatens a lawsuit. These companies must then face going to court or settlement. If I remember correctly, the young man said he had only actually been to court one time. All the others settled. He received over $100,000 last year in checks and products. This year would be higher, since now he has written a book about it.
At current time, he spends part of the days online entering contests, which is where the marketing companies get alot of their phone numbers and people lists from. He has installed eight phone lines and recording equipment on all of them. I say Congratulations to this young man, who is combating one of the worst annoyances of the average household. He deserves every penny he collects from these annoying companies who call families as late as 11 pm, seven days a week.
Beef # 9 - Recorded Telephone Trees
And while we're on the subject of phone calls and recordings, here's one that really gets my goat! When you call for help, at a bank, a utility company, a store or practically anywhere these days, you get the old recording, "for sales - press 1, for customer service - press 2, for business hours - press 3"... Up around "press 8 or 9" I have completely forgotten who I have called and why. So you press 0 to hear the menu again. Then for some strange reason you hear it in some foreign language. So you hang up and try again. This time you pick the number that seems like the closest to the reason you are calling. However, after going through about 3 more menus, you finally get a human. As soon as you start to talk, she cuts you off saying you need a different section and she sends you back out to the first "tree" of recordings. You hang up and call back again. You listen to the menu, choose the appropriate number, listen to the next menu, choose the appropriate number, listen to the menu, choose the appropriate number, and after doing this about ten more times, once again, finally get a human on the other end of the line. Whoops, no, it's another recording saying that your call is very important to them and to please hold on for the next available representative to help you. Your waiting time will be two and a half hours. WHAT?????
Maybe this Beef should also be in the CUSTOMER SERVICE Beef section? Come on, people, please, can't I just call and talk to a REAL person?????
Beef # 10 - Mail-In Rebates
I just don't get the Mail-in Rebates. They aggravate me. The stores are gambling that the majority of people will just not bother to send them in. The ones that DO send them in, will somehow make mistakes and get the obligatory letter saying the rebate is null and void since they didn't follow the instructions. Obviously, the company itself has lost your "original" receipt or your attached box top, or the proof of purchase got ripped out during the mailing process going through the automatic post office sorting machines.
If the stores and companies were really truly intent on offering an incentive for folks to buy their product, offer a discount at the register. That's incentive. That's a rebate that everyone would enjoy! Personally, I try to avoid the mail-in rebate products. I have a couple outstanding currently, and wonder if I will ever receive them.
Probably not. I'm sure that even though I followed all the instructions to the letter and have even photocopied my rebate mail-in, the company will come up with something that I missed.
Mail-in Rebates. Another way for the companies to get more for their product than advertised.
Beef # 11 - Oil Prices
Yes, I'm old enough to remember when gas prices were 33¢ a gallon. It does age me, but when you think about it, it really wasn't that long ago. Just a year ago prices were under $2.00 per gallon. Yet, right after Hurricane Katrina, I rushed to the gas pumps to fill up at $3.49 a gallon, fearing that the prices would soar even higher. They did in some locations.
Now I have a beef with this. The gas in the stations tanks were there already from a previous truck load, bought at the lower price. Why did the stations all bust a gut to raise the prices as soon as it was suggested by the news media that the oil production plants might suffer damages, before the Hurricane ever hit?
There are currently seven major oil companies in this country. Used to be more, but most have merged. These seven remaining companies reported the largest EVER profit during the 3rd quarter. Billions of dollars in profit, ranging from $3 billion to over $10 billion per company.
Their excuse? Well, their profits were in line with all the other US major companies for the 3rd quarter.
Hey Oil People.....That's NOT an answer. That's what we call an EXCUSE. Johnnie did it first, so I only did what Johnnie did. My Opinion? Greed. Total Unadulterated Greed!! And the average citizen is the one paying out of the pocket for these big shots to live in their fancy homes and drive in their fancy vehicles. Shame on you.
Beef # 12 - TV Commercials
What is with the TV Commercials? Not only are there a zillion during your prime time watching but so loud that you have to mute the TV while they are playing.
The advertisements pay for the programs, I get that. They want us to buy their products. Again, I get that. But why do they advertise things that only my doctor can prescribe? I don't know about most people, but I have a doctor who does not like you to tell him what medicines he should prescribe for me. And, personally, I'm glad that he is that way. What kind of confidence would he gather from his patients if he depended on you, the patient, to say what medicines you think he should prescribe, or what tests or procedures he should order? Thanks, but no thanks. I prefer my doctor to decide what I need or don't need.
The TV commercials cut 8 - 10 minutes from a normal 30 minute show. What is with that? Sounds like a form of brain washing. And what does that do to young children? I can tell you it makes them want items that sometimes they have no business even knowing about. The toy industry has gone absolutely nuts! When you see the things advertised on TV and go to look at them in the store, the prices are outrageous! What is with spending $100 + for toys for toddlers? Yes, I know, I am like all parents who want to give their kids anything they want. But, I've learned that this is not always the best thing to do. Not only is it hard on the budget, it isn't always the best thing to have everything you want. Sometimes it is better to learn about budgeting and saving to get that item. You certainly appreciate it more that way.
How about the items for women, birth control, sanitary supplies, viagra and meds for men, you've seen the ad, the man with the smile that won't go away? We laugh at it, but what a message it sends out. These things don't need to be advertised on TV where young children watch and absorb so much. I am constantly amazed at how my two sons can repeat things they heard on TV verbatim, years ago. Not good.
And the last thing I'll complain about is how loud they play the ads. My hearing isn't what it used to be. As I have gotten older, I know my hearing is not as good. I tend to play my music and TV louder than I did years ago. But though I often turn up the TV to hear what the people are saying, when the advertisements come on, I always have to turn the TV down. Most of the time anymore I just mute the TV. So all you companies out there who have the networks crank up the volume when it comes time for your ads to be played, you are losing BIG TIME. Who in your company thought up that strategy? Stupid. Most people just mute or channel surf during the ads.
Beef # 13 - Molded Plastic Containers
Coming Soon !!!
Beef # 14 - Child-proof Containers
Don't you just love it? Child-proof medicine containers. Child-proof cleaning products. Only a child can get into them.
I'm all for protecting children. I know, since I have two sons, how quickly they can get into things that could hurt them. You can be the best mother and still have a tragedy to deal with. Small children move fast and it doesn't matter how closely you watch them. I have a niece that as a child got into kerosene and drank some of it. She's lucky to be alive. My youngest son, at the age of less than two, managed to get into our medicines, which were kept on the top shelf of a kitchen cabinet, and ate 2 bottles before we caught him. They were both in child-proof medicine bottles that I had difficulty opening. He ate about 130 pills (Flintstones with Iron and a fluoride prescription). Naturally his stomach was pumped and thankfully he survived the incident with no ill effects. Another time he drank over a half a bottle of white vinegar. Are we going to need to child-proof vinegar too? But yes, I know that some children may be saved by child-proofing some things, so I do believe in it, generally, if you have children in your household or who visit regularly.
But when you are older, your children grown and no other small children around, can't you please let me have medicine bottles that don't have the child-proof lids? I have mild arthritis in my hands, not serious at all, but enough that I have difficulty removing the lids. I leave the lids undone on my household chemicals or put them in some other container, so that I can use them. Usually, I end up either dumping pills into some other container or just leaving them sit on the shelf with no lid. I've even had to smash one medicine bottle with a hammer to break the lid off. This is ridiculous. A little common sense about child-proof caps would be helpful. If the day comes when someone visits with small children, then I would need to re-think this issue. But for now.....PLEASE.....have a heart. I need to be able to take my meds! I need to be able to clean my house!
Moral of this story? When you need help opening a child-proof medicine bottle, just give it to a two-year old. They can do it.
Beef # 15 - New Improved Upgraded Style
A few weeks ago, while in the process of organizing my sewing stuff, I purchased a small three drawer plastic thingy that is stackable. I thought this was really cool for holding knitting and crocheting odds and ends. It was essentially perfect for what I needed so figured I'd pick up another one next time I made the trip to town, to stack on top of the first one, as advertised.
So I went back to the store and to the aisle where I had purchased the little drawers and to my surprise, they were gone. In their place was a new, improved, upgraded version. A little more expensive, of course, but similar in design. So I bought it and happily came home to stack the drawers on top of the first set and finish organizing my stuff.
Doesn't fit. The grooves on top are different. Oh, sure, it's about the same size, and should do the same thing. But it doesn't stack. It doesn't fit. Now what? Do I try to go back and buy another one of the 2nd style? Will they still have it in stock? After all, it's been two weeks. They've probably got another version by now.
Hm-m-m-m-m-m. Sneaky way of trying to get more money from the consumer.
Beef # 16 - News Stations-What's Coming Next (they spend 2 minutes telling you what stories they're going to tell you about)
Coming Soon !!!
Beef # 17 - SPAM
Coming Soon !!!
Beef # 18 - Say what you mean (don't expect me to read between the lines)
Coming Soon !!!
Beef # 19 - Taxes
Coming Soon !!!
Beef # 20 - Cost of Buying a Home
What is with the costs of buying a new home? They are building a new development outside of King George, Virginia. Now King George is not a wealthy county. Most residents are in the middle to lower income category. Yet these homes are priced "starting in the mid-$400s". What??? How can that be? Usually, when you go into a bank or a realtor to talk about a home mortgage, they explain that the average person can afford a mortgage that is three times their yearly salary. OK, let's do some math. That means that folks applying for mortgages on the houses being built would need to be bringing home about $150,000 a year. I guess it's certainly possible in some situations where you have two professional spouses earning $75K each annually. And some may even have some money from a previous home sale to add into the mix. Fine. But the only people in this area that earn that kind of money is the Head of Board of Education and maybe some of the Real Estate people themselves.
But wait, there's more. Outside of Fredericksburg, the new housing development has a sign stating that their houses start in the mid $600's. And you know if the houses say they start at a certain price, that is the barest minimum. Probably just the outside walls and roof. If you want drywall or floors, you have to add to the price. Oh, you want windows too? Well, you get the picture.
The worst thing about all of these new housing costs is what it is doing to the people who already live in the area. Especially those on fixed incomes. I'm not just talking about retired folks, but many people work in jobs that just don't increase the salaries, like small businesses or government workers. Hey, just because Congress gives themselves a big fat raise, doesn't mean the government workers get one. We just got our property taxes statement. Our costs essentially doubled. We haven't made any improvements, we haven't changed anything. Our house has just gotten older. Yet our costs have doubled. It's NUTS! There is no incentive for the county and state to hold down costs. More money in their pockets. No incentive for the realtors to hold down costs. More money in their pockets. Greed. Everybody wants their "cut" of YOUR money. GREEDY, GREEDY, NASTY CROOKS. Everyone of them.
Beef # 21 - Cost of Insurances
Coming Soon !!!
Beef # 22 - Types of Music
I'm a big music fan. I like to sing and play the piano and keyboard. I love all types of music for the most part. Not the rap or soul or opera. And I don't really care for the songs that put women down or use all the bad language. But most other types are all good. What really makes me mad is people who are sure that their type of music is the only kind to listen to. Some feel that if you are educated and sophisticated, you should listen to classical and opera type music. You just don't understand or are a country bumpkin if you don't understand Beethovens 21st movement of the 10th symphony.
Get over yourself. This country is full of diversity as you liberals always spout. Well, there is diversity in music also. Why on earth would I listen to some idiot in tights sing something in a foreign language when I can listen to Toby Keith tell it like it is? You can have your opera's, just leave me alone with Willie or Hank.
I sometimes listen to some classical music. I also happen to love to hear piano classical and actually have several CD's in my car for when I'm on the road. I love to hear orchestra music and on a modern note, Mannheim Steamroller blows me away. There is no better Christmas music! I love some of the Celtic sounds and lately I've gotten into bagpipes. It just grabs me! Southern Country/Bluegrass Gospel ranks up as my number one religious favorite. I love to hear band music, even enjoy some of the Big Band era. Likewise I enjoy Disco and Classic Rock. I'm also a fan of the 60's Bubble Gum and Beach Boys music. I've loved the Beatles, Herman Hermits, Rolling Stones, Norah Jones, Barbara Streisand and Julie Andrews. I've loved musicals since I was a child, starting with the old Shirley Temple movies and songs which I still know by heart. I love Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlin, Dido, Garbage, Fleetwood Mac, Evanescence, Elton John, Tom Jones and ZZ Top. I've loved almost all of the groups from the 1950's through current. And then I backtrack to the 1890's music, the roaring 1920's and the Andrew Sisters of the 1940's. Lawrence Welk was my favorite Saturday night show for years. Don't tell me I'm not diversified.
But I like best the songs with a country flair, about life at it's best and worst. So call me a redneck or hillbilly, call me ignorant. I know what sounds good to my ears. I don't force you to listen to my music and I don't yet call you names for listening to what you prefer. You listen to your music. I hope you enjoy it and it gives you happiness. But I don't think it does since you keep picking on people like me who prefer other types of music. If your music made you happy, you wouldn't care what I listen to or sing. So just leave me alone to listen and sing what I like best.
Give me the twang and harmony of country music, the fiddle, mandolin, dobro and banjo of bluegrass. The harmony, straight from the heart, seeps into my soul and makes me feel good. My piece of heaven on earth. And don't tell me I don't get it. I get it. Do You???
