http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/YourCreditRating/why-lenders-might-forgive-your-debt.aspx
Remember, the very first qualification for any of these programs is that you must be defaulting on your mortgage. Catch the irony in all of this?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
My Bias is Showing
Poor Starbucks.
Now, McDonald's and Dunkin' Doughnuts are attacking Starbucks. It is understandable for them to make their move now: it's best to get them while they're down.
But I have to go "public" (ha! who reads this?!) and take my stand.
If I'm going to spend my discretionary money on coffee, I want to spend it well. If I want coffee, I do not want to spend $1.50 at McDonald's for a cup of coffee that tastes just as terrible as what I'd make at home. In fact, I've been doing just that. I'm making off-brand vanilla nut coffee (found in the back of the freezer with an '07 date on it), throwing in some milk and sweetener and drinking my utilitarian cup all the way to the bottom.
But if I am going to buy coffee, I want good coffee. I want to go to people whose business it is to make coffee. And Starbucks is good. They're good at what they do. They can ask $3.00 for my tall latte, because that's their expertise. I may be going out less to give them my $3, but they deserve my coffee money. Not McDonald's.
McDonald's and Dunkin' Dougnuts are not appealing to coffee drinkers. They're appealing to Americans who are typical lazy, fast-fooders; they don't care about the quality of food or drink. Just give it to me cheap.
It's a different customer. For that reason, I do think Starbucks will hold out to the end. They may not make it, but they'll die a noble death.
Now, McDonald's and Dunkin' Doughnuts are attacking Starbucks. It is understandable for them to make their move now: it's best to get them while they're down.
But I have to go "public" (ha! who reads this?!) and take my stand.
If I'm going to spend my discretionary money on coffee, I want to spend it well. If I want coffee, I do not want to spend $1.50 at McDonald's for a cup of coffee that tastes just as terrible as what I'd make at home. In fact, I've been doing just that. I'm making off-brand vanilla nut coffee (found in the back of the freezer with an '07 date on it), throwing in some milk and sweetener and drinking my utilitarian cup all the way to the bottom.
But if I am going to buy coffee, I want good coffee. I want to go to people whose business it is to make coffee. And Starbucks is good. They're good at what they do. They can ask $3.00 for my tall latte, because that's their expertise. I may be going out less to give them my $3, but they deserve my coffee money. Not McDonald's.
McDonald's and Dunkin' Dougnuts are not appealing to coffee drinkers. They're appealing to Americans who are typical lazy, fast-fooders; they don't care about the quality of food or drink. Just give it to me cheap.
It's a different customer. For that reason, I do think Starbucks will hold out to the end. They may not make it, but they'll die a noble death.
Work Left to Do
I'm working out at the Y, and trying to do my low-carb thing.
But today, Joseph walked up to me, while I was sitting in a chair. He patted my belly and said, "Mama full! Mama belly full!".
Sigh.
But today, Joseph walked up to me, while I was sitting in a chair. He patted my belly and said, "Mama full! Mama belly full!".
Sigh.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Remembering
Today, after we dropped Aaron off at work, Joseph was looking out the window of the van. It is a very windy day.
He said, "Mama, leaves running!"
"The leaves are running?"
"Yes! The leaves are running from the trees!"
He knows better poetry than I do.
He said, "Mama, leaves running!"
"The leaves are running?"
"Yes! The leaves are running from the trees!"
He knows better poetry than I do.
Night, Night Emma
Operation: Exhaustion
Goal: To relieve our family of the miseries associated with a sleepless baby
The Plan: During Emma's morning and afternoon naps, and at bedtime, she will be nursed, rocked and sung to (as usual), then, once relaxed, she will be put in crib. I will lay her down, cover her up, and say "Go night night Emma". Each time her head pops up, or she raises her knees or bottom, I will gently push her head/bottom down and repeat "Go night night Emma". Repeat, repeat, repeat until she is asleep.
We'll continue this as long as it takes, until she will lie still and fall asleep. We'll progress from standing over her, next to the crib, to standing further and further away (closer to the door) each night/naptime.
Updates are below!
Sun. 12/14: Too hyper.
Sat. 12/13: Did not nap well (Meme and Papa here!). Right to bed at 7:40 with Meme. I nursed her (woke HER up) at 12:00 and 3:00, then she's up at 7:30.
Fri. 12/12: PM nap let her move a bit more (bottom wiggling, head turning); took so long! When I made sure to keep her bottom still and head facing same direction, she was out in 5 minutes! Up at 10:00pm, 12:00, 2:00 and 7:00. Ick.
Thurs. 12/11: At naps, nursed her much longer, and did night-night shorter. Worked! Fussed to sleep, woke several times until 12:00. Slept til 5:00. woke a couple times. up at 6:45.
Wed. 12/10: Better naps. Let her fuss for morning nap. Did my night-night strategy for pm nap and bedtime. Went to bed late, woke up at midnight. Slept from 12:00-7:00. woo hoo!
Tues. 12/9: Okay. Going through growth spurt, so short naps, lots of eating, and generally cranky. Woke a LOT that night.
Mon. 12/8: Don't remember. I think it was bad.
Sun. 12/7: Good day! Had a BM and everything better after that. Did not do "night night emma", let her fuss to sleep for naps and bedtime. Asleep at 7:30pm. Woke at 4:30am, only wanted to nurse one side. Right back to sleep. Awake at 7:00am. Progress!
Sat. 12/6: Baaad day. Would not take afternoon nap. Cried, babbled, fought. Went straight to sleep at bedtime, but kept waking every hour. Woke at 3:00, did not go back to sleep until 5:00! Stomach problems.
Fri. 12/5: is getting faster (15-20 minutes til asleep). Slept wonderfully last night! Went to sleep at 8:30 pm. Woke at 4:30am. only wanted to nurse one side, for a short while. Calm, relaxed, straight back to sleep. Woke at 7:30am!!!
Thurs. 12/4: same
Wed. 12/3: same
Tuesday, 12/2: Day one. Takes 30-45 min. of falling asleep. Sometimes she cries. Works every time though!
Goal: To relieve our family of the miseries associated with a sleepless baby
The Plan: During Emma's morning and afternoon naps, and at bedtime, she will be nursed, rocked and sung to (as usual), then, once relaxed, she will be put in crib. I will lay her down, cover her up, and say "Go night night Emma". Each time her head pops up, or she raises her knees or bottom, I will gently push her head/bottom down and repeat "Go night night Emma". Repeat, repeat, repeat until she is asleep.
We'll continue this as long as it takes, until she will lie still and fall asleep. We'll progress from standing over her, next to the crib, to standing further and further away (closer to the door) each night/naptime.
Updates are below!
Sun. 12/14: Too hyper.
Sat. 12/13: Did not nap well (Meme and Papa here!). Right to bed at 7:40 with Meme. I nursed her (woke HER up) at 12:00 and 3:00, then she's up at 7:30.
Fri. 12/12: PM nap let her move a bit more (bottom wiggling, head turning); took so long! When I made sure to keep her bottom still and head facing same direction, she was out in 5 minutes! Up at 10:00pm, 12:00, 2:00 and 7:00. Ick.
Thurs. 12/11: At naps, nursed her much longer, and did night-night shorter. Worked! Fussed to sleep, woke several times until 12:00. Slept til 5:00. woke a couple times. up at 6:45.
Wed. 12/10: Better naps. Let her fuss for morning nap. Did my night-night strategy for pm nap and bedtime. Went to bed late, woke up at midnight. Slept from 12:00-7:00. woo hoo!
Tues. 12/9: Okay. Going through growth spurt, so short naps, lots of eating, and generally cranky. Woke a LOT that night.
Mon. 12/8: Don't remember. I think it was bad.
Sun. 12/7: Good day! Had a BM and everything better after that. Did not do "night night emma", let her fuss to sleep for naps and bedtime. Asleep at 7:30pm. Woke at 4:30am, only wanted to nurse one side. Right back to sleep. Awake at 7:00am. Progress!
Sat. 12/6: Baaad day. Would not take afternoon nap. Cried, babbled, fought. Went straight to sleep at bedtime, but kept waking every hour. Woke at 3:00, did not go back to sleep until 5:00! Stomach problems.
Fri. 12/5: is getting faster (15-20 minutes til asleep). Slept wonderfully last night! Went to sleep at 8:30 pm. Woke at 4:30am. only wanted to nurse one side, for a short while. Calm, relaxed, straight back to sleep. Woke at 7:30am!!!
Thurs. 12/4: same
Wed. 12/3: same
Tuesday, 12/2: Day one. Takes 30-45 min. of falling asleep. Sometimes she cries. Works every time though!
Double Speak
"Wall Street put an upbeat spin Friday on the government's report that the nation lost more than half a million jobs last month. Stocks reversed early losses and closed sharply higher as the data raised hopes that Washington will again step in to help the economy."
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081205/wall_street.html?.v=95
It says what?!
We lost 500,000 jobs last month. Wall Street found this comforting, because they see that as a sign that the government will give out even more money. So stocks went up.
Insanity.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081205/wall_street.html?.v=95
It says what?!
We lost 500,000 jobs last month. Wall Street found this comforting, because they see that as a sign that the government will give out even more money. So stocks went up.
Insanity.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
I'm getting Orwellian goosebumps!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuAuPXYT8No&eurl=http://www.gcnlive.com/NewsStory/RonPaul.html
Aaron wanted me to post this. It's Ron Paul saying this stuff, for crying out loud!
Aaron wanted me to post this. It's Ron Paul saying this stuff, for crying out loud!
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