Banking Economics and The Federal Government (It's Called Capitalism, People!)

If your bank has started charging you fees, don't be angry at your bank. They are just responding to the federal government legislating how they are allowed to make money. A bank is like any other business: it has to be profitable to STAY in business. A bank has to buy supplies; they have to make payroll; they have to pay the light bill; and they have to pay taxes. Interest rates are low, which is great if you want to borrow, but it cuts into a bank's profit margin.

Now I know there have been some dirty dog institutions out there, but why is a bank being profitable wrong? Would you buy stock in a department store chain, or manufacturer, or any other business if it weren't successful?? I am not against all the new legislation, because there have been abuses. But if you write a bad check, why shouldn't you pay a fee?? Especially if the bank floats the funds to cover you. We all make mistakes, but some folks abuse the privilege.

You can look for more fees to come. The Durbin Interchange Amendment (proposed legislation) will slice at the profitability of check card income. Merchants pay fees so they can accept Visa, Mastercard, etc. A portion of that income goes to the bank that issued the card. You get the safety and convenience of a cashless card, and the merchant is able to service more customers. This proposed law will limit what banks are allowed to earn. Now, if merchants have to pay less to accept your card, do you think WalMart or Home Depot or the gas station will pass that savings onto you?? I DON'T THINK SO. Your free check card may be a thing of the past.

The current administration has already excluded private lenders from subsidized student loans. (This nugget was attached to the Obama healthcare bill.) This sounds great--as a student--until you realize how many jobs were lost in the private sector. And how student loan rates will rise from 3.4 to 6.8 in 2012. And how much more of our lives "Uncle Fed" now controls. Our government continues to encroach on our lives. It is now a bloated, bankrupt system. There is no such thing as too big to fail.

Boxes, Part 3 (x 2)

Fifth car load:
One box of magazines to recycling.
Two boxes of books to the used book store.

The best part?
I have inspired my friend to do the same at her house.

I have helped her move out many boxes of stuff for donation, too!

Tres, trois, drei

TODAY'S FOOD

Breakfast:
1/2 c. Cottage cheese
3 large strawberries
Hard boiled egg
2 Coffees w/flavored creamer

Lunch:
1/2 c. Tuna salad (w/mayo & veges)
6 Ritz-type crackers
1/2 c. Mandarin oranges
1/2 c. Banana chips
Diet Dr. Pepper

Snacks:
Few Hamburger dill pickle chips
Few Banana chips
1 Low cal yogurt
1 fat-free licorice twist

Dinner:
6 oz. 50% reduced-fat chicken sausage
2/3 c. Scalloped potatoes
1 c. Green Beans
Decaf Mint Tea w/stevia sweetener

Dessert:
30 M&Ms (105 calories)

Water: VIII


TODAY'S EXERCISE

Warm up
2 mile walk
Cool down and stretches


BTW: Today was my Mama's 75th Birthday. She is the sweetest, smartest, most talented woman in the world. I love her very much.

Day Two!

TODAY'S FOOD

Breakfast:
Low cal yogurt
Boiled egg (salt)
2 coffees w/flavored creamer

Lunch:
Oatmeal w/apples, dried cranberries, raisins and milk (290 calories)
Diet Dr. Pepper

Snack:
Organic pumpkin seed cracker

Dinner:
Tortilla chips and salsa and queso (small amount, but still BAD!)
Beef enchilada w/ranchero sauce
Chicken enchilada w/sour cream (small amount)
Few bites papas and refried beans
[Water to drink]

Water: VII


TODAY'S EXERCISE:

Warm up
30 minutes of intense balance ball workout
Cool down and stretches

Time to Get Serious

Since I finished High School, I have been gaining a few pounds a year. I might lose a few, then gain a few, but basically, over the course of 25 years it adds up to 100 pounds! 100 pounds that I now need to lose. I know I'll never be as skinny as I was at 16, but I cannot age healthfully at this weight. I want my senior years to be as healthy and vibrant as possible. I want to be able to be independent as long as possible. I want to fend off senility as long as possible. I am not yet fifty, but the time to prepare for old age is now! The first part of my life flew by, and time just seems to go faster as we get older. For years I have planned to lose weight, talked and read about losing weight. It has to become a reality NOW. I must start redeeming the time NOW!!

My husband and I are going to spend the next 90 days eating clean and exercising regularly. It will be interesting to see how much weight I can lose during that time period. 90 days is just over 12 weeks, so I think 25 pounds is a reasonable weight loss goal. Our food plan will consist of lean proteins, whole grains, healthy fats, low-fat dairy, and fruits and vegetables. I will be reducing the sweets and salty snacks I eat, and cutting back on artificial sweeteners. I will increase my water consumption. My exercise program will include weight training, walking, and yoga. This will cover the 3 of the basic components of fitness: cardio-vascular health, strength, and balance and flexibility. As we get older we lose muscle mass, and our balance can falter. I hope to stave off these issues with regular exercise.


TODAY'S EXERCISE
Warm up
20 minutes of upper body weight training
1 mile walk
Cool down and stretches


TODAY'S FOOD

Breakfast:
Boiled egg
Low cal yogurt
1/4 cup Grape Nuts
Coffee w/flavored creamer (Gotta get off this stuff!)

Lunch:
Grilled chicken thigh (skin and fat removed/no sauce)
Lima beans w/2 tsp. Smart Balance
Cinnamon apple sauce

Snack:
NO sugar added cocoa (The high is 60 degrees here today...usually it's 80!)
1/4 cup dried cranberries

Dinner:
Salad of mixed greens with steak; also tomato, cucumber, cheese, olives, tortilla crisps, and chipotle ranch dressing.
Unsweetened peppermint tea

Dessert:
30 M&Ms (105 calories)

Water:V

Tornadoes, Thanksgiving, and Prayers

On Wednesday, April 27, our area was hit with a series of violent storms. The first line of storms hit about 9 a.m., the second about 3 in the afternoon, the third about 6 p.m., and the fourth and final about 8 p.m. The Weather Channel had said that morning that tornadoes were "likely." Not just possible, but LIKELY. I had never seen that before, and I am the daughter of a hard-core weather junkie. I have lived in tornado prone Denver, and in the Southern tornado alley half of my life. But this day was not going to be like any other.

Death and destruction are all around us. Numerous towns around us have been devastated. Many lives have been lost. Many more have been injured. Hundreds of homes have been obliterated. Countless others have been damaged. Looking back, my co-workers and I were very foolish. Our weather radio had been sounding tornado warnings since we arrived at the office at 8 that morning. We went and stood by the safe room, but never really heeded the warnings. God was very merciful to us. We later learned a funnel cloud had been seen very near us.

My husband was at the doctor when the 6 o'clock storms hit, and I was home alone. Our power had been out since about 9 that morning, so I couldn't follow the storms on TV or the Internet. The wind began to howl again, and then large hail began to fall. They were larger than golf balls...closer to a tennis ball at a 2" diameter. I went to the window(which I later thought was stupid!) to check on my car and began praying for the Lord to stop the hail and protect my car and our house.

God had mercy, and my prayers were answered. The hail only lasted a few seconds, and while it sounded like gun shots on the roof, the hail stones seemed to be missing my car!! I had no dimples on the hood or roof of my car. I laughed because I was so shocked and happy!! ( Oh me of little faith.) One tail light was cracked, but that was trifling compared to what could have been. The roof of our house could have been damaged, but was o.k. My husband's doctor's office was nearby. He had been huddled to safety in an inner room, while I was hiding in our bathroom. His car had suffered no damage from the hail, either!!

We had no electricity for 3 days. We had bathed before the storms hit the first day. We had warm water the second day and were able to bathe. The third day the water was cold, so I had a chilly sponge bath. We lost all our food in the fridge and freezer. We lost a few limbs off of trees in the yard. We had a few inconveniences. We have suffered NOTHING compared to those who have lost loved ones or their homes. We have so much for which to be thankful!!! Our job now is to pray, to help, and to give to those who have suffered so much.

Boxes, Part Deux

In addition to clearing out clothes, knick-knacks, papers, books, et cetera, I have been cleaning things around the house that needed some TLC. I cleaned our white mailbox and post, cleaned out the lint trap and dryer vent, cleaned the heat pump vent, and cleared out the gutters. My main focus is getting rid of STUFF, but it feels good to do some Spring cleaning along the way. My job is very demanding. We are in one of the busiest locations in our entire corporation, and we always seem to be short-handed. Working full time, plus regular chores, bills, cooking and dishes, and these projects is tiring, but getting some long needed work done is energizing!!

We also had some fun cat sitting for a friend and dog sitting for a family member. We don't have a pet of our own right now for several reasons, so it's been fun to spend some time with their animals.

I did take some time to do some things for myself. I got a new haircut and touched up the grays (ahem.) I also got a mani/pedi...it was good to get rid of those scary winter feet! For my birthday I had some yummy seafood and saw "The King's Speech" with my DH. It made getting a year older a little less painful!!


Fourth car load:
2 boxes of magazines to recycling.
1 box of cardboard to recycling.
1 box of computer paper to school.

Plus: Filled the trash can again!