Ok, ok, I'll rake the leaves, maybe

Walking out to get the mail the other day I noticed that the front yard was covered in a blanket of snow, or should I say leaves. Watching the wind blow the leaves of the oak tree, it did resemble a snow storm. So many leaves were blowing, not falling, onto the ground that I could not longer see the lawn. I had already swept them up once. As I looked up there were still a lot of leaves left on this deciduous (big word for a blond)tree, even with the wind pushing them off the tree. Gotta rake again, I guess. After going back into the house, I noticed something else. The tallow tree in my neighbor's back yard. Now this tree sits right at the fence between our two back yards. I am not a real fan of tallow trees. They grow fast and provide quick shade in the summer, but they have annoying fruit/nuts that seem to be around all year long. They really create a mess and have a tendency to propagate the entire neighborhood, kind of like the horny dog the neighbor's have. That's odd, I thought as I looked out the kitchen window. The tallow tree had decided this would be a good day to throw up on my back yard. I guess it held on as long as it could. But the rush to relieve itself of it's leaves was just too much for it. So, there in the corner of my backyard lay yet another blanket of leaves. Funny how they weren't there the previous day. Yet again I am reminded why I dont like tallow trees. Of all the leaves covering the yard, these are the ones that blow around the most and stick to the shoe bottoms the most. In the morning when it is wet is when they seem to enjoy visiting the inside of the house. Like the mother-in-law who wont leave they seem to be a constant reminder of the trouble they have produced. So, I guess I have to rake the back yard now. Maybe I can pull a Tom Sawyer act on my son. Oh Pat, this is such fun, dont you want to help?

Annoying toys and psychology

Why do people buy the kids and/or grandkids annoying toy? Simple. Our kids annoyed us with loud,obnoxious toys usually given by relatives. I still remember the Tuneyville Choo-choo that my ex- sister in law gave my kids. That thing never shut up. Sometimes is goes back to as Erma Bombeck said"just wait till you have kids of your own". While I love my children and grandchildren, sometimes I just gotta do it! The psychology of it, since my kids pestered and bugged me about everything, is that now I can get back at them. Can't spank them anymore. Can't tell them anything cause they dont listen or think they know it all. It has been suggested that certain toys have been left "accidentally" at Grandma's house. Sometimes Mom says to the kid that the toy broke when she really took out the battery. This works right into the plan. If it annoys the mother that much..ha,ha. Serves you right for sticking your toys at me all the time when you were a kid. Let's be honest here, not all kids are little angels. Mine weren't. Oh they did all the usual stuff that little kids do. As they got older I kept telling them what would happen...they didn't listen. Painting the high school at 13 was really fun, till one got caught. One not only stole change, money and jewelry, she would take the car for joy rides. When asked she always said "I didn't do that" No? You have the longest legs and I do not listen to that radio station. And since I work out of town I know how much gas should be in the tank. Just you wait till you have kids. Yeah I admit I look for annoying toys, toys with lots of parts, and toys that are maddening to get out of the box. If that is the worst that happens to you and your kids, you will be lucky. Pay attention to them, they won't be little long. There is a method to my madness. Made you think!

The Art of the Gift

Some gifts just keep on giving...headaches. And just who is the sadistic person responsible? Not the gift giver, unless you are me and love to annoy people. But you are not me, he he. So, have you ever recieved a gift that was difficult to get out of the box? This is usuallly something from a very nice department or speciality store. For example, the gift basket from a bath shop. The gift is presented so nicely, wrapped in ribbons and secured in a pretty basket. Just try to get the bath stuff out of that basket.You'll run out of hot water before you can get the shower gel out! The company secures the items with globs or rubber glue. I defy anyone to get stuff out of the basket. Dont tear up the basket, please. Some times they stick the bottles and tubes into plastic and glue. Trust me, patience and time might make it easy. Then again, maybe not, just dont try to take the bath products out when you're in a hurry.

Then of course some people like to buy children the playsets with LOTS of pieces. Actually, I'm one of those evil people who buy these toys on purpose. After all, it's all about payback! Yes, I go to the store looking for the doll set or toy car set that will surely drive the parent nuts! They look so nice in the store. All those small pieces or dolls that have to be freed from the plastic covers and all the ties behind that are curse worthy while trying to free them for the child. I think these play sets are harded to open than they were when my kids were little.

And of course, there is always the question of regifting. It's been said that the term regifting was coined by the cast of the Seinfeld TV show. I don't really know. I was probably the one person in the country who never watched that show. But, regifting isn't new. My grandmother, who died in the early 1980's was an expert. No one really every knew what to get Grandmother. After all, what do you get someone who has been around forever and doesn't like anything. It didn't matter what the family gave her for her birthday and Christmas, most of the gifts ended up in "the closet". Grandmother had a closet in her den which always smelled like mothballs. Guess where the gifts went? She had an uncanny ability to know when and who to regift. You never got your gift back. It didn't matter. The gift could be hankerchefs, brooches, earrings, perfume, books or whatever. Some lucky person would eventually be the reciepent of a regift. Maybe we should have just bought her a case of beer. She loved beer. Hey, Daddy, why don't we get Grandmother some beer? At least she'd use that. But, if you got a gift which smelled like mothballs, you'd been regifted! She was a Master!

Gift giving...aint it great!

Wait...slow down!

Christmas is over. We had a nice visit with my stepdaughter and my son, his girlfriend and her son. Annie and Jason went with his parents to be with his family. Traci and her family did not show. Annie had said she was told Traci & family would be here the day after Christmas. I suspect she must have meant next week end. Heaven knows we heard not a word from Traci. Any way, Jimmy and I watched the new Batman movie and the unrated Dukes movie. Then we watched them again when Pat, Amanda, Heather and Logan were here. I think I am way to critical about the current crop of movies. I liked the Batman one ok but I still like the TV version was the best. I was not impressed with the unrated Dukes. Again, I still like the TV one better.

So where is time going so fast. Christmas is over. Wasn't it just summer? The new year will soon be here. I would rather slow down time. I blink and another year has gone. What happened to winter. The week before Christmas the weather people were teasing us with the slight possibility of snow at Christmas, Today we may reach 80.Did I miss a season? Baseball spring training is right around the corner and the NFL draft is not far behind. Slow down will ya. You're driving me crazy too fast. Not that it would be that far of a trip.

I did get a laugh from Queen Latifa's WalMart commercial continuation.Clever way to push her movie.

I am ready to take all the decorations down now. Funny, seems that once the presents are opened and the meals are eaten, I am ready to move on. Maybe I need to slow down too. If only I could. Time moves too fast now. Slow down a little, please!

Drayton McLane--Have You Lost Your Mind?

Of all the bonehead, dumb moves that should not have been made this is it! The Houston Astros are replacing their radio color man, former Astros catcher Alan Ashby!No one expected this, least of all Ashby! After playing for the team for 11 years and broadcasting for 8, he was told he was no longer needed. He was blindsided as were his friends, family and fans. The local media is outraged. Alan Ashby is one of the really nice guys and this is how he gets treated? Since Hall of Famer Milo Hamilton at 78 will only be doing the home games, the team needed another broadcaster. Ashby obviously knows the team very well and has a wonderful history with them. In addition to his playing days prior to radio, he was the bullpen coach in 1997. Having been interviewed for the vacant road play-by-play job, he was called to the ballpark for a meeting thinking he was about to get good news. Instead, he was completely shocked to learn that he was not going to be retained. "I made the assumption I was getting the play-by-play job. They told me they were going in an extremely different direction and I was not going to be retained for 2006. I was titally blown away and surprised, and I'm devastated." Talk about a kick in the gut!

The new team of Brett Dolan and Dave Raymond will be paired with Hamilton for his 22nd season of Astros broatcasting. These guys have experience in Minor League broadcasting. Neither has any knowlege of the Astros. Dolan comes from the Triple A Tuscon Sidewinders. Raymond has Major League experience with the Orioles and Giants. Last year he broadcast the Brocton Rox of the Independent Can-Am League in Brocton, Mass.

I don't like this change at all. Ashby knows the team very well and had a good relationship with Milo Hamilton. Why would "fix what aint broke"? The TV/Radio sports guys are just stunned. They let McLane know what they thought of the change. And it wasn't pretty. Talk about dumb moves. Drayton, What were you thinking? What a boneheaded, stupid move. It smacks of the move former owner, Dr. John McMullin made when he sent Nolan Ryan on up the road to the Rangers where he went on to make more history. Can you say No-Hitter? Dumb,Dumb, Dumb!

To be honest...to tell you the truth?

Ever notice that some phrases make you stop and wonder about what the person is really saying? How many times have you heard an interview with a politician (Ha), sports star or expert who says something like "to tell you the truth" What does that mean? Were the first 10 minutes not the truth? Same thing for people who, in a discussion, will say "to be honest or if the truth be told..." I dont know why but I starting thinking about these phrases the other day. I was watching an interview with a professional basketball player at the time he said one of these phrases. It stuck in the useless interest part of my mind. Makes you wonder why people say these. We all do it. These phrases all beg the question about the real truth of the conversation. It is almost as if the person has only said things untrue to that point. I couldnt resist thinking that if we say these things what does it say about
what we really mean?

Signs of the Season

We all know the signs of the season. Christmas trees, wreaths, wrapping paper and so on. Some people actually have snow. Here, we just get teased with the possibility (or lack of it)of snow. Turkeys and hams abound in the grocery. The malls have been decorated for quite some time. People are frantic, trying to find just the right gift. The kids are now out of school for the holidays. Christmas music and commercials have been playing for a Long time. But, it is never really the Christmas season until you see two commercials (or actually find one in a store) for, ta da, drum roll, please... Chia pets and clappers. Every year it seems that just before Christmas these things start getting a lot of air time. Does anyone actually buy a Chia pet? Some how I can't see me clapping to turn of a light or turn on/off the TV but these two items seem to be advertised a lot just before crunchtime. Yes, those last few days when you have exhausted your brain trying to thing of something to get Aunt Martha who hates everything. Does any body actually grow a Chia pet? Does it really work? Or is it something for people who can't grow anything? At least now I can finally say it is Christmas time. The true signs of the season are here. Let's all run right out and get someone a gift of a Chia Pet or Clapper! Especially some one we don't really like. Ha,Ha!

Crunch Time

First I must say Thank God for small favors. Finally Jason may have a job. If he passes the background check they can move to Brownwood where he would work with the USAD processing rural home loans. He did this on a temp basis a while back. Now to show just how organized our wonderfull federal government is he has to pass a background check. Funny, he had applied for a job in their Angleton office where they did a background check. Now they need to do another one for the same job but in a different location? Huh!? But, that our tax dollars being well spent!

So, we are almost done with our shopping... This year cheap is the code word. Sorry kids, no TVs or DVD players this year!

We will have most of the family here Sunday for dinner. Amanda will go to her mother's on Sat and here Sunday. My son and his girl friend will come over Sunday. He is so glad he can come here this year, after having to visit his almost ex-wife's family every year. The El Paso bunch can't come since they came for T-Giving. The one thing that gets me, however, is my daughter in Aransas Pass. How come she can tell Annie in El Paso what we can expect but she can't tell me? I found out from Annie last week that Traci and her family will be here the day after Christmas. Of course this is the woman who wont call, would rather e-mail usually when She wants something. I checked my e-mail this am to see if she had e-mailed me her plans. Of course not Grrr!

Ah, So Peaceful

I love this time of the morning. Had my first cup of coffee, the dogs are quiet. That is to say that Daisy has not decided to start yapping at Lady and Astro is not yelling yet. Husband is off to work and I am here in the peaceful quiet. Love it. Then I start to think of what I should be doing... Maybe I will maybe I wont. Finished the tree yesterday. Had to buy some plain ornaments in purple cause I have too much white and red. I was looking for some pretty green, but couldnt find any I liked. Well maybe I'll find some tomorrow. Man if you have not done a tree by now you are just about out of choices for decorations as I have discovered. I might have to go to Michael's or Garden Ridge for some green that I like. Then again I may just wait till next year. Husband's party is this afternoon. Wonder what the menu is? Beer, beer, beer??? They usually cater either turkey, ham or Mexican. Yesterday the weather guys were predicting a little snow on Tuesday (fat chance) but now it maybe too warm. Last year we had a light dusting but I guess not this year. We had 5 inches of rain the other day. At least that's what my rain gauge said. Ah, the peace is about to be broken. I hear Lady whining downstairs. So much for peace and quiet.

Almost Done

Well finally after a week and a half and some 60 hours I finally finished my Dickens Village.Climbing on 2 tables made of 4 x 8 plywood is not my idea of fun. My knees and elbows are sore. But I'm done. At last I threw the snow on the village. That's the best part. The village is the most tedious and time consuming part of Christmas decorating. Now it's time to do the tree, the bathrooms, the kitchen, the den as well as clean up the mess. Whew, I might be finished next year. Oh and I still have presents to buy. I dont look forward to that. My stepdaughter called the other night looking for ideas of what to get her dad. Of course he says nothing. Maybe a shirt, a video or a Kinky Freedman doll. Does Kinky get the money for that $30 doll. I have a couple of Madame Alexander dolls that didnt cost that much. Then again, they were bought in the 1950's. I just saw some in a store at the prices from $50 to $100! How does anybody afford to buy presents? Yeah, I did manage to buy early one year. Had everything bought, wrapped and hidden by the end of October. But then I forgot where I hid some of them. I'm very good at hiding things, just not good at remembering where. Well, I'm off again to do whatever...

What to do with my ashes?

Guess I'm it after being tagged by Shellie at the life & times of the 5 C Clan .Cute
So I hear today that you can now have your ashes mixed with concrete and made into a bench. Gives new meaning to "sit on your face" Personally, if I were to do anything with my ashes I would rather have them mixed with concrete and used to make a new "coral" reef. I cant see making jewelery out of them. Then there is always shooting me into space. Isnt there enough junk there now? Never have wanted to be buried. Why waste the land. I've always felt a little creepy going to a grave site. Does any one get an answer when they talk to their dearly departed? I always told my kids that I would come back to haunt them. Maybe as a tree with roots they would trip over. Ok. so I am a little twisted. Just wait till you have kids of your own!Ha Ha!

Decorating Diva and other Dreams

Crabby woman has left the building. After some peace and quiet and a little rest, it's time to get busy making this house look forward to Christmas. My cold is better, though my nose still seems to run faster than an F-16 can fly. So we put up the tables and I am now standing, climbing and crawling under, over and around to get the Dickens Village going. Got to get old London going. Then the tree and other decorations can go up. My mother was an artist and I inherited the "artist eye" but not the ability. So it really takes some effort. My one track mind is in overdrive trying to get all this done. After all, got to speak to Santa. Havent done any shopping. Funny we talked about doing it early, somehow like everything else, not done yet.

So, we watched the Texas destroy Colorado in the Big 12 Championship. How did Colorado get there anyway? Talk about a laugher! It really looks like the Rose Bowl will be a very good game! Can't say the same for the Houston Texans. Once again for the second week in a row, the Texans found a new way to snatch defeat out of the mouth of victory. It's embarrassing. Wonder who will be the coach next year?

Well, it's time to take the clothes out of the dryer. Then when I finish my coffee,it's back to the tables, then I need to clean up the mess. Who says I can't multi-task? Gotta get it done, gotta get it done. All right already!

Crabby Woman Warning

I'm crabby today. I rarely get sick, in fact it been a few years since I had so much as a sniffle. As a result, I'm crabby. I feel like my head is a fish bowl minus the fish. Yesterday I decided to get started on the Christmas (excuse me-Holiday) decorations. I put out some decorative candles. That's as far as I got. I have boxes of stuff to work on and have no desire to do any of it. We've been thinking of not putting up our Dickens Village but I may have to anyway cause the kids always want to see it. It's not Christmas without Mom's Village. Because I am crabby nothing suits me and little things are irritating me. Daisy is barking furiously at Lady. Better watch out dog! I'm making soup in the crock-pot today. It had better come out good! Annie calls me last night to ask if Pat is mad because she accidently went back to El Paso with his girl friend's DVD movie. Pat and Heather are mad.He says cause Annie borrowed a movie and it took nearly 2 years to return it. Not my problem man. I asked Annie why she didnt just send it back and she said she had not had a chance to go to the post office and didnt know his address. Jeez!! I'm still mad about the way Traci and Bobby are treating Cheyanne. Grrr. So in between sneezes, nose runnings and occasional coughs I have to do the laundry and figure out how I am going to get all the decorating done and buy and wrap gifts. I have no real desire to do any of it but I have to keep moving. Then, when I went out yesterday I forgot to get wine, so that has me pissed off. I don't like to waste time going out for just one thing. Then I see the story of Tom Cruise buying the sonogram machine for his private use. Those things are dangerous to a fetus if used too often. God, he's such an idiot. Sorry, I'm being crabby again. Thank God I am on the no-call list. I pity the telemarketer who would try to call me today. Oh well, sooner or later it will get better. And Santa Claus said he'd bring me a million dollars! Right!

Big Brother thinks I made a Suspicious Transaction

Am I on the terrorist watch list? I just went to get a couple of money orders this morning at WalMart. Because the total was $1000 I had to show ID. I questioned this and the clerk showed me a framed notice regarding cash transactions and the Patriotic Act. Has anyone really read what this piece of legislation has done to our freedom? It didn't really bother me but it started me thinking about this. I have gotten a lot of money orders there. I pay my rent this way. Funny, this was the first time I was asked for ID. As far as I know I am not on any terrorist watch list. Due to the fact, according to the Patriot Act, money order transactions totaling $1000 may be considered suspicious. So what happens if I go one day and get a $500 money order and another one the next day? Am I funding a terrorist group? No I am paying my rent. On the other hand I could be sending the money to a terror group. What's funny, it seems to be who is the clerk, the mood they are in, how busy the store is and so on, because most of the time no one asks for ID. Surely the government has more important things to do with their time. If the American public were to actually read the Patriot Act, they might be concerned at how much the governemt is sticking their nose in our private business. I have heard some of our elected officials say this act is taking away our freedom gradually and that most people blindly agree with it. I dont. I dont like Big Brother watching my every move. Slowly we are being eased into a watchdog state and we are allowing them to do this in the name of freedom. We had better start paying attention before we lose too much.

Dangerous Apartments

Well, Houston's mayor and the police chief have decided that some apartment complexes are too dangerous. People who live in large complexes are more likely to be crime victims than other places. There has suddenly been an increase in crime here. A lot of this is caused by people who evacuated Louisiana. These people are also sometimes victims of crime against them because other people dont want them here. Imagine that...So the mayor and the police chief are trying to work out a system to fix the problem. Every day someone gets robbed, asaulted, or killed in and around these apartments. There are a lot of people in Houston are tired of some of the people who have moved here and are creating problems because among other things some think the world owes them. I am really curious as to how the city is going to fix the problem.

What was I thinking?

Who says 15 people in one house is fun? Annie and Jason and their 2 kids made it to Houston at 4:00 Wed morning. Jimmy and I thought that they would be the only ones staying with us till we went to Cameron. Then Bobby called and decided that since he was not sure how to get to Cameron from Aransas Pass, he and Traci and their 3 would come to Houston and follow us to Cameron. Then Amanda, Pat and his girl friend and her son would come here too. Yikes! Talk about your Chineze Fire drill! So we all get ready to go Thursday morning. Everybody is ready but Jason. Seems he forgot to get gas the night before. So we all decide to head up the road and tell him to catch up. He decides to go a different way. Meanwhile Annie calls over and over asking where we are. We dont know if they are lost or what. Imagine trying to get 4 carloads of 15 people all going the same way!Not going to happen!. Ultimately, with great anxiety we all get to Cameron without killing each other. Some 40 to 50 people are expected there. We have not seen Aunt Pat and her family in 5 years. I guess it was probably a typical family gathering. Aunt Pat was sweet as usual. 2 of her sons were there with their families. One brother is a nice, easy to get along with guy. The other is a pompass blowhard who pontificates his views onto everyone. Makes you want to smack him. Jimmy's sister and brother in law were there along with their son and his girl friend. She will never forgive her son for not following the life path she planned for him. And as usual she rarely makes eye contact with me. So what else is new. Haven't seen her in 5 years. Nice going Jean! We took pictures of everybody. Then Traci's husband did his usual thing of beering himself to sleep. We took pictures of him asleep on the lawn. At least no one comes to blows. That's later.

Bobby and Traci had decided to drive back home from Cameron, but changed their minds and everybody ended up back at our house. Friday Amanda invited Annie and Traci and their families to her house for dinner. Bobby and Traci decide to go home from there. Well, once again Bobby drinks himself to sleep. Traci and the kids came back to our house. I get up Sat morning and find a 3 year old lying on the floor, only to discover she and all her kids are here. Seems she got mad at Bobby. This was after Bobby had gotten into a fight with Annie because he doesn't like Jason. Don't know why he could not take the problem up with Jason. In the mean time the 3 year old gets sick. Oh, and somewhere in the mix Bobby had gone to a convienence store for more beer and cigarettes and punched out the clerk because he thought he'd been shorted his change. He was actually quite proud of it too. Just add a little more stress for me.

Then They finally decide to leave Sat and Traci and Bobby get into a fight with me over the 10 year old. The 10 year old is 10 going on 30. She doesn't get along with her mother. Seems her mother is always playing on the computer or blogging her friends and Def Leppard groupies. We would like to be able to send Cheyanne e-mails but her mother refuses to let her on the computer because she doesn't keep her room clean. Traci and Bobby let her have a tv in her room for all the kids to watch. As you would expect the 3 and 4 year olds get into her stuff and she gets upset. Traci says that she goes into the little ones room and messes up. Somehow, I feel the kid is not getting a fair deal. I think they have set the rules so high that she is set up to fail. So they argue constantly. I suggested that they give her a little space because she is so much older than the other 2, but got a smart crack that if she wants space, they'll take the tv out. Momma also makes her watch the little ones while momma fixes supper. As a result no one is happy. Call me a meddler but the girl is pre-pubesant and need her own privacy space. Mom and Dad dont see it that way. So they got mad at me and packed up the kids and left without telling me or Jimmy bye, not even the kids. Just an average family get together.

Sunday was fairly quiet, only 2 kids crying. Annie and Jason and the kids left today about noon. Peace has now resettled on the Malitz zoo, I mean house. I still worry about the 10 year old though. What 10 year old keeps a spotless room, especially with a 3 and 4 year old allowed to roam freely throughout the house. If they would just give her reachable goals and a reason to succeed, but I know she feels why bother, no matter what she does, it's not good enough. Only time will tell.

Just your average Thanksgiving with family. Finally, I have my house back, God I love the Quiet!

I feel lost

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and I feel lost. I've been trying to get my daughter and her family to go to Cameron with the rest of the family. Seems that they cant find the money to come. I offered to help them out if they could make it here. So far nothing has worked. My husband is getting grouchy. Now he thinks I should have wired them money. I dont know anymore. No matter what I try I feel that I cant win. We gone from toying with the idea of letting them stay here to get on their feet to giving them a little money to help them get to Thanksgiving. Time is running out and I fear that no matter what I suggest someone will not be happy. My husband is mad because I didnt just go ahead and send them money and be done with it. Maybe I should have. I guess it's too late now and it will be my fault they cant come. I just feel lost.

Who's in Charge Here?

Seems like every time I wash dishes Astro (the parrot) decides to start vocalizing. The longer it takes me to do the dishes the louder he gets. It is as if he is telling me that I am disturbing him. He has also figured out where the bag of peanuts is. Since he gets those as a treat, when he hears me open the bag, he moves to his feeding dish and waits.

Then, of course, we have the bickering girls, Lady and Daisy. Last night Daisy discovered my husband's cell phone. She thought the leather case would be a tasty treat. Luckily, I caught her before any permanent damage was done. And of course Daisy thinks it's great fun to nip Lady in the butt, and run circles around her, barking all the while. One good thing Lady is moving a little quicker. After all she is the Grand Dame at 8 years old.

Oh, but it gets better. During the day it never fails. As I sit down to watch my soaps, Astro decides to interrupt by vocalizing his opinion loudly. Add in the barking dogs and it becomes louder. Now what did Luke just say to Tracy? I have thought of opening the windows since it is cooler, but I swear sometimes Astro sounds almost human in his yelling. I'd hate to have the cops show up thinking somebody was being attacked.

Sometimes it feels as if the inmates are running the asylum. Where's the Haldol? Then just as quickly Daisy tuckers out. The next thing I see are Lady and Daisy lying quietly together. Of course Astro continues a running commentary on life in the Malitz zoo. Makes me wonder who really is in charge?

Government Speak, Ain't it Great?

I've seen reports about the new Medicare Drug program and something occured to me that has nothing to do with it. Ever notice that lawmakers make things impossible to read? How does this happen? It really doesn't matter whether it is local, state or national. Somehow it seems that all bills and laws are made in such a way that no-one can understand it. Why can't it be simple? Maybe the lawmakers dont want us to understand. Maybe there are too many lawyers making laws? I find it interesting that a person who is interested in this kind of stuff starts out with good intentions and the ability to speak plain English. Then they get elected so plain English goes out the window.It is bad enough that all the bills are packed with "pork" but it the average constituent would not understand it.Why to they have to make it so complicated? We all know what a mess the tax situation is. And to think there is panel which recommended streamlining it. If what they have done is simplify this , how come people still dont understand it? Who is getting the kickbacks? Even the health people dont understand the drug program. I know that the insurance companies going to be making big bucks. And what happens if a person has all their medicines on one program approved by a company and then the doctor gives a medicine that is not on that company's formulary? Do they have to get other coverage for that at additional cost? Why do the lawmakers make it so hard. How did they get this way. A normal person with normal views and suggestions suddenly talks in 100 word sentences when a simple five word statement would say the same thing? It is no wonder people dont trust the people who are supposed to represent them. There are thousands of pages of legislation written in this country every year. How many people actually understand them? Obviously the KISS system is not invoked for law makers.

Devil or Angel, Which am I?

What to do , what to do. Once again we are on the fence about helping my daughter and her family. I really dont feel that we will be sucessful, but that is being negative. My husband and 22 year old step-daughter and I have been discussing this for a while. What is the best way to push a 26 year old with a husband and 2 kids into independence. They have sunk into nothingness. You'd think after 6 years of marriage and 2 kids, you'd think they would have figured out how to grow up. Apparently they have not. It seems to be easier to live with his parents (and his older sister and her 2 kids)then be on their own. In the time they have been married, they've only been by themselves for a few months at a time. Most of the time they have lived with family. So we have been discussing if we should try to help. This would not be the first time we've tried to help people. So, far it has not ended well. In talking with my daughter, I've suggested different options. Each one had been rejected. The other day I asked if they had looked into finding jobs in Las Cruces, but was told that because it is a college town, they would not be any jobs. So, being shot down yet again, we wonder if her husband' mother is allowing them to be lazy and not encouraging them to move on. So,as a result we are once again toying with the idea of letting them stay with us get jobs here. Do I be the Good Mom or the Bad Mom? Hubby wants to set a time limit and ground rules. This includes helping with our increased expenses and babysitting while they search and find work. My step-daughter said he has contacts as far as possible jobs and housing. One of the problems for me though is I am afraid that they will take advantage of us. Having been burned a couple of times before, I hesitate to offer help. After all they are 26, it's about time they grew up. I just don't know what to do. He is not easy to get along with, and their kids stay up way to late as far as I am concerned. Since these 2 adults are no longer going to college or are employed, they tend to lounge around. They dont get the kids showered and dressed until late morning. We are early morning people. He is very smart, was planning to go into aerospace engineering. But his "I'm smarter then everyone" attitude angers people. She seems to have gotten lazy and depends on (or uses) to get what she wants. I really feel that his mother has done her children a disservice by allowing such sluggish behavior of her kids. Or maybe she is blessed with an overabundance of patience. Not Me! I can not imagine me allowing grown children and their children living with me free and clear till whenever... My stepdaughter has been on her own for 2 years now and is doing fine. I am really not in favor of trying to help out this people. I don't know what expectations my daughter and her husband have. If I don't help I'm bad, if I do help I am bad. I just don't understand how 2 smart people can't seem to figure out how to make a go of things. I remember when I got married a long time ago, we moved from South Carolina to Texas on a wing and a prayer.We did better than they are with less than they have. What do I want to be? Devil or Angel, I fear that either way someonw will be unhappy. Most likely me.