Sheryl’s Bailout Plan

This whole financial debacle has been weighing heavy on my mind lately. I have been listening to the news channels at lunch and on my way home from work (gotta love Sirius). Yesterday, I finally did it… I checked the value on my retirement funds. WTF. I’ve lost $14,000 since January. I’m not freaked out. But I’m also not planning on retiring anytime in the near future. I understand that I have time for my funds to build back up… but still… what. the. fuck.

Just for the record, I’m not on board with this bailout plan. Now I have to admit, I don’t know the specifics. However, when you talk about ‘creating’ money and increasing the national debt to bail out corporations with no benefit to John Q. Public, I have issues.

I heard an idea on the news and it started me thinking… The U.S. population is currently around 305 million. If you were to split up that $700 billion they are planning on using for the bailout, which would only equate to $2,300 per person. That’s enough to severely bankrupt the average family if they had to pay it out. But not enough to do any real good if it was given to them.

According to this article, investment bankers have been selling mortgages for “pennies on the dollar.”

Hey, I know, why don’t you sell ME my debt for pennies on the dollar? If you lower my mortgage payments to ¼* of what they are I could use my left over money to help stimulate the economy. I’m guessing many people would buy vehicles… that would help the auto industry. Many more people would then be capable of affording to pay their mortgage payments and theoretically they would actually make them. Those of us who can (barely) afford our mortgages, could now use the extra money to go out and buy things… thus stimulating the economy.

This just seems so clear to me.

…and I didn’t even have to miss work today to come up with this plan.

* I didn’t just pluck this number out of the sky… according to this article I linked to above: “In July, Merrill Lynch, struggling to bolster its finances, sold $31 billion of tricky mortgage-linked investments for 22 cents on the dollar.”

Festival firsts

This weekend we took Hunter to the Fenton Apple Festival. He has ridden rides with people before, but never alone. At least, until now… he loved the kiddie rides. It didn’t matter if it went around, or up and down or what, he seemed to enjoy them all.

Plus he got to have some fun with his older cousin…

And ride a real pony…

Even flyin’ by on the roller coaster of trucks… you could tell he was having fun.

The moonwalk was the only thing he didn’t like. I think it was because there were some older kids in there and he was having a hard time standing. I’m sure he will grow to love that ride also, but in the meantime we didn’t force him to stay.

Hope everyone had a great weekend too.

Morning sun

All morning I watched the sun’s rays coming through the trees. I was making breakfast and periodically going out and taking some pics. I used my exposure lock to get a better exposure. This was the first time I had used that feature on my camera… I’m sure I will be using it again, now that I seem to have the hang of it.

How’d I do?

I’m really starting to feel better about my photographs.

Wordless Wednesday

An apple a day…

September Gremblepix Contest

It’s time for the September Gremblepix Contest already? Wow, time flies.
Be sure to check out the other entries over on Aimee’s.

September 12 of 12

Project brainchild: Chad

Take 12 pictures on the 12th of the month and post your link on his site.

Here we go:

6:59 AM Hunter in the shadows as he makes his way downstairs for breakfast.

7:08 AM My morning shot of MonaVie. I’ve been pretty good at remembering.

7:44 AM Hunter in his backpack as I try to round him into the car. This kid has so much energy it’s crazy.

7:44 AM Another pic of Hunter only this time he has stopped moving. Sorry about the duplicate picture, but it was either this or my hairy toes. Lol Just be thankful.

7:44 AM The maple trees in the yard are just staring to change.

10:24 AM I made a morning run for breakfast at the office.

12:23 PM Lunchtime and I’m headed home. This is an amazing tree that always has the most vibrant colors in the fall. But there are several power lines between it and the street so I actually had to get out and go stand in someone’s yard for this picture.

5:29 PM This is my date for the Scripps Mansion tour… my Mom. She adores going through old homes so when I knew I was going to have the opportunity to tour the Mansion, my Mom was my first choice.

5:56 PM We arrive at the Scripps Mansion, just on time.

9:36 PM Way past his bedtime, but no where near being ready to sleep. Hunter and I eat popcorn and watch hurricane coverage.

10:08 PM Hunters in bed, but I’m still mesmerized by the storm coverage. My thoughts keep going to Rhonda who evacuated with her family days ago. Please keep her (and the others in the area) in your thoughts and prayers.

10:40 PM Hubby is home from bowling and eating a snack while we share our days with each other.

There you have it. Another 12 of 12 under my belt. Go check out some of the other folks’ days… it’s fascinating… really.

Photo Contest…

Yep, I entered one. For some strange reason, it feels like it’s a giant step in my photography arena.

There were amazing photos submitted, so I don’t have any disillusions that I should win, but I also feel proud to have my photos sit next to the other photographer’s work.

I am also amazed at how much a matting around a photo can make it pop. I didn’t take any pictures of the final product, but I can do that when I get them back. Unless they sell….
AAAaahahahhahah…
ok, so I will take picture when I get them back.

Here they are: ( I know the names are corn-bally, but I had to name them).

Scripps Hidden View

Summer’s Bloom

Fountain’s Reflection of Fall

For those of you playing along with the home version, tomorrow is September 12th…. as in Chad Darnell’s 12 of 12 Project. When you get up tomorrow, start taking pictures. It’s easy. It’s fun.

Friday wrap-up

Yay for short work weeks!! But can you tell me why the week still seemed a month long?

From way back in the end of August…

Kev and I went to a friends wedding. I got this great shot, but I’m so ticked… it’s blurry. And it’s the only one I took from this angle. There are a few more pics over on flickr, just click on the pic and it will take you there if you care to see them.
Lee and Steph (did I mention Kev and I fixed them up?)

The day after the wedding I had a photography class that was taught by a good friend of mine and a great photog. The class was at a local mansion that the Orion Art Center is trying to help refurbish. The mansion and the gardens were so cool. It was an honor to get to shoot there and I may even enter a couple of my shots in the photo contest they are having.
The Scripps Mansion

Here is my buddy Bill. I love this picture I captured of him.

Insert bizarre-o week here.

Then following week we went north and went canoeing. It was a blast. Yes, my husband was a mere 72 hours out of surgery, but he went anyway. And as you can tell from this picture… healthy as ever.
Kevin and Jimmy.

I started taking self-portraits again, but I have already missed some days. With my birthday rolling around here in less than a month, I am going to try really hard to remember to take those daily self portraits.

This week, Hunter started school. I didn’t take my camera on Tuesday, but Tuesday evening I was able to catch the essence of the day. I give you Hunter, in his backpack and pullups. Yea, I know he’s trying to army crawl away from me and the camera… but that’s just how he rolls.

Lastly…
Today, I started drinking Mona Vie. It’s a drink that contains the Acai berry as well as 17 other fruits all from the rainforest. I’m hopeful all of the amazing nutritional claims I have heard are true.

See? This is why this blog is called crap-o-rama.

Have a great weekend!!

Seamless

Dear Hunter,

As I picked out your clothes this morning the thought crossed my mind that you should wear something special… I pushed it away. It won’t be so different, I thought to myself. Perhaps I was in denial.

Even tho’ you are just a couple weeks shy of 27 months… you started school today. The daycare has moved you over to the K-2/K-3 side of the hall.

I no longer have to walk you down the hall to the nursery, sign you in and let you knock on the door or lift you through the window. Now we go to the first door. It’s already open.

Your Dad and I searched for a small back pack for you. Frankly, we were still in shock you were at a point where we were shopping for school supplies. The backpack was on the list the daycare/ academy gave us. They were all so large but we found a light one. It was camouflage… bonus!

This morning when we got out of the car, you were so willing to wear it, but you still walked funny when I put it on you. I thought about bringing my camera today, now I wish I had. Perhaps I was in denial.

There was some confusion. There always will be on the first day. As I was sorting details out with Ms. L, what was needed now and explaining to her that you were in Pull-ups today, you ran off to play.

It was so seamless for you but I was choking back the emotion of it all.

In all the confusion, I forgot to kiss and hug you before I left. You didn’t even notice. I can’t even explain how it makes me feel.

I know you will have a great day today. You will play with new friends. No more sippy cup, you get to drink out of the drinking fountain now and I know how much you love that. They won’t be changing your diaper anymore; they will take you to the big boy potty and change your Pull-up, if needed.

There are fishies on the wall for you to count and felt letters and numbers for you to play with. You have a new coloring book, new crayons and new stickers to play with in your new room.

A whole new world of words will open up to you as you are now hanging out with the older kids and not the babies.

I hope you don’t get bored. You already know the stuff they will be teaching the K-3 children. I love the way you say ‘rek-tango’ when you see a rectangle. Jeez, you can even ‘read’ your name. You are such a little sponge. I am in constant amazement of you.

Holy crap, where did the time go? Please don’t grow up too fast.

I love you!