Miscellaneous Updates and Ramblings...

Well, this is a totally random list of postings but here goes:

First, WE ARE MOVING BACK TO CIVILIZATION!! Woo-Hoo! We have the inspection on the house we are buying on Wednesday, so provided that everything goes well, we are moving the first of March. I can't wait!! We spent a little bit more than what we wanted to but in the end it's a good thing. I love the house and the neighborhood and that's important since my Boo has threatened to make me live there the next 75 years.

Along that same line, we actually got to meet the seller of our house this past weekend. I made the Boo drive me by since I realized I had not actually seen it in daylight hours! We were talking with some friends who already live in this hood and I noticed that people were at our house! I deceided to stroll down and introduce myself. Turns out, I got to meet the seller, Delores, her daughter Gwen (who had an Obama/Biden sticker on her car!) and the listing agent Geneva. Delores looks to be in her late seventies and is moving to an assisted living center in Kirby/59 area. She was a completely delightful person and she is the original owner of our house. She has lived there for over 30 years. She took us around the house and shared some of her memories from the house and her husband (who passed away about 18 years ago). She even remembers dealing with the builder when they were buying the house and what items were upgrades! She tried to sell us her dining room table and hutch! I'm tempted to buy them just so a little piece of her can stay in the house. Meeting her made me feel even better about our home choice. I enjoyed talking with her so much and I hope that she will be as happy in her new home and she was in the old one.

Second, I'm so ticked off about Allstate insurance. It's a long story but they have given me some completely ridiculous quotes for homeowners insurance and flood insurance for our house. I think the Insurance industry, second only to credit card companies, are the biggest scam artists in this country (and probably the world). You buy insurance for several reasons:
1. Because you have to.
2. To protect yourself, your family and posessions against different perils.
3. Because you have to.

Here's what you get in return:

1. A complete lack of customer service.
2. If you actually make a claim they either (a) drop you or (b) make your premiums so huge that you have no choice but to drop them. Damned if you do or damned if you don't!
3. Companies that make the rules up as they go along.
4. Make up rules to NOT pay claims as they see fit.
5. Use poor credit scores to hypothesize that you will make claims-completely ridiculous! They are completely credit score driven and give no thought whatsoever to the reason a person may have a low credit score. Our scores are very high and we're still getting the run around about high premiums!

It is a complete scam. Again, aside from credit card companies, the insurance industry desperately needs further regulation by the Federal government. Not State government, but we need new FEDERAL laws that put these jokers in line. State laws just mean they move to another state to abide by softer rules. Notice that these companies are not asking for bailout money! Know why? They don't have to! They are incredibly profitable. They are profit making machines! I have nothing against a company making a profit but when you do it at the expense of your insured policy holders, that's criminal. I hope this industry gets the major reforms it deserves right up the wahzoo!

Shalom Out!!

Holy Cow Batman!!

What is up with Christian Bale? It seems he's a hot tempered little thing! First, just before the release of The Dark Knight last year, he gets arrested for beating up on his Mom and sisters. Now, he's cussing out people on the movie sets. Give me a break. Dude, you need a serious reality check. I like you Christian but tone down the "star" attitude, please! You get paid mucho dollars for pretending to be someone else. You really should be more laid back for a guy with such an easy job! More importantly, you will never make the exempt list like this...

Listen below, but be warned...the "F" bomb is dropped A LOT...

Obama's Speech - My Favorite Part

From President Obama's Speech:

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our
safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely
imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a
charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the
world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other
peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to
the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of
each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and
dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier
generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks,
but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our
power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.
Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security
emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering
qualities of humility and restraint.

Inauguration Day or Oh Happy Day!!

I'm so happy today. I've been waiting for this day for a long time. In thinking about this day, I saw a post from an acquaintance of ours that said, "I'm clinging to this scripture today"...

Romans 13:1-2

1Every (A)person is to be in (B)subjection to the governing authorities For (C)there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
2Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

I think she's probably not in favor of Obama but I thought it very ironic that I could claim that scripture as well, for the last eight years.

I wish President Obama the peace of Christ and wisdom! Everyone has very high expectations.

Wow...

It's been a long time since I've blogged! I guess I could give a little update. Our holidays were great. We spent Christmas in Dallas with my family and then it was up to Kansas to visit with the hubby's relatives. Then, over the first weekend of January, we had Christmas with the hubby's immediate family back in Houston. Lots of fun was had by all. Since the first of the year, we have been looking for houses. Those of you who read my Boo's blog know that whole story. I have another house that I found this weekend. I really like it but I'm going to make a pretty low offer on this one too (we're in a recession dang it!!) and try to get a good deal out of this guy. Even my "low" offer is still above the average square foot price for the neighborhood but he has done some very nice improvements. (As long as the walls aren't leaking!!) But, after 15 years of the mortgage business and underwriting, I know one thing. Cost is NOT value. If you put $15,000 of improvements in your house, your value does not increase $15,000. It's not a dollar for dollar thing even with something major like a swimming pool, etc. We'll see if he bites. The 2008 taxes on the property have not been paid and he's hanging on for dear life to a buyer who can't get their financing. He's basically told me that if my offer is not good enough, he's sticking with the buyers who will probably never close. Oh well, the first rule of negotiations is...you gotta be willing to walk away! AND, I am. The market is not totally bad in Houston, but it ain't great either, and I want a good deal. There are way too many houses just sitting on the market to not get a great deal right now. I will update more on the house later....

Rick Warren, What's the Big Deal??

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen California pastor, Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration in January.  I've seen many articles criticizing Obama for this choice.  Why?

This article on CNN.com written by Kathryn Kolbert states that Warren doesn't "deserve" the special honor of giving the invocation because he is pro-life, supported prop 8, and opposes stem cell research.  And??  What the heck do people expect?  A Christian pastor who is pro-choice, didn't support prop 8 and is gung ho about stem cell research?  Give me a break! Personally, I don't like this choice because Warren wrote what is absolutely the most stupid book I've ever attempted to read.  "The Purpose Driven Life".  What a total waste of paper.  If you're Christian, you have all the purpose you freakin' need people!  But, I'm digressing.

If Obama is of the Christian faith, it makes sense that he would choose a Christian pastor to do the invocation.  I think it would be rather hard to find a pastor that supports all of these issues. I guess he could choose a homosexual pastor who supports gay marriage but most likely he will not support the other two issues.  Also, she gave absolutely no credit to Warren for all of the good he and his church have done in the world.  Frankly, I'm tired of Christians being slammed all the time for the beliefs we hold.  I don't shove my beliefs down any one's throat but that doesn't mean I'm going to compromise them either.  I think homosexual couples should be allowed to marry.  In my mind, it's a civil rights issues.  My religious beliefs about homosexuality don't have to be everyone else's beliefs.  I would never, under any circumstances, choose to have an abortion but the Supreme Court has made the decision.  Sometimes personal, religious beliefs don't mesh with modern day laws.  Obama was slammed a few months ago for Reverend Wright and his so called "hate sermons."  Now, he slammed for picking someone who in the world of Christianity at least, is considered a watered down, moderate Christian.  Obama is "damned if he does and damned if he doesn't."  Lay off of Obama.  He fought a long, hard campaign and he won.  Let him choose whoever he wants to do the invocation.

"Obesity Tax"

As always, once government decides to "solve" a problem and dictate personal behavior, it ends up being a complete disaster. Now, Governor of New York, David Paterson, (yeah the blind guy that SNL made fun of) has decided to introduce the "Obesity Tax". See article here.

So, now all soft drinks (non diet) and juice drinks that are less than 70% real juice will be taxed 18%.  The governor likens this to the supposed success of the cigarette tax.  There are several flaws I see in this argument.  Of course, my regular readers realize how I feel about the subject of being obese in America.  And, don't get me wrong.  I cringe when I see kids drinking soft drinks.

1.  The obese are "taxed" enough in this country by the onslaught of stigmatization they face on a daily basis.  (Kids included)

2.  You cannot govern personal behavior.  To say that the cigarette tax is the ONLY reason that smoking has declined does not take into account the change in attitudes toward smoking and smokers in this country.  People will still drink alcohol, smoke and drink regular coke even if they pay a higher tax.

3.  What about the junk food in the schools and the crap food that parents are serving them at home?  

4.  What about parents who use the T.V. as their babysitter and have kids who NEVER go outside and actually play??

5.  How about not taking P.E. class time out of the schools so the kids can spend useless time trying to pass standardized tests that don't really measure learning?

6.  How about teaching our children moderation.  How about parenting them and saying "no" when they need to hear it.  (This would probably be good in areas other than eating as well!)

So, in my opinion, this is just another useless tax that will do little to change the actual problem of childhood obesity.  Parents need to parent.  Parents have to teach their kids moderation and slap their hand once in a while when they get in the cookie jar one too many times.  The government cannot solve this problem.  This problem will only be solved in the homes of America when we decide it's time to take personal responsibility and govern ourselves.