Ok. I confess. I watch Dr Phil. hehehe...Anyhow, this morning Dr Phil played referee between two groups of women--Working Moms vs Stay at Home Moms. I had no idea how controversial this was. There was major attitude and at some points, insults were hurled. I thought it might come to blows.

Both groups thought their way was the best and the other way was the stupidest thing that they had ever heard. Whatever happened to doing what's best for you and your family?

I'm a working mother. My mother was a working mother. I never really gave it a lot of thought when I was growing up. Heck, I LOVED that my mom worked, that meant that I ate!!! I also have friends that had stay at home moms. Those moms were cool too. I don't think either option is an automatic "best." Again, folks should do what's best for them. And if you are on the outside, looking in--STAY IN YOUR LANE!!!

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Now, of course I have an opinion. My opinion is that someone should be punished. I mean, really? Seriously? The whole country watched your child floating over Colorado for 2 hours in a giant Jiffy Pop package and he was at home the whole time?

There are some loose ends though. Why did you build this contraption? Why would you let your children near it? Why did your son, just purely by coincidence, decide to film the "accidental" takeoff? And my main question--How do you all support yourselves and your penchant for building giant Jiffy Pop thingies??

As I stated yesterday, the yearn for celebrity-ism is not pretty. Obviously these parents don't read my blog.

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Well, it felt so good to rant last week, that I thought I'd do it again this week. Let's Rant!!!

I've come to the conclusion that mail in rebates are scams. Over the weekend, I bought my daughter a new phone. The sales guy kept pushing the "rebate" angle--"You know this phone has a rebate. You realize that this isn't the real price--you'll get the rebate."

What the heck IS a rebate? Why not give me the REAL price today and save me a stamp, you a stamp, and 6 weeks time?? Are they hoping that I don't send it in and therefore NEVER get the REAL price? Isn't THIS the real price if you expect to get it today in REAL money?

Who invented rebates anyhow?? OFF with their heads!!!

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Well, I know I'm supposed to be looking for blessings in every circumstance, but I have a couple things that I need to rant about. I'm sure the blessing is there, I'm just having trouble seeing it at the moment. Feel free to point them out. Thanks in advance...

1. The photography studio called and said ALL of daughter's senior pictures were on a corrupted disk, so we have to go back in and retake. When I asked if we would have to endure the 4 hour WAIT again, they tried to turn it back on me, saying "it's that time of year." I quickly turned on my Beyonce voice--"You must not know bout me! You must not know bout me!" Needless to say, she agreed to honor our appointment time, without the wait. I intend to hold her to it, too.

2. Dear Son is graduating from middle school this year. He brings home a form for the class trip the other day. Of all places, they are going to Washington, DC! As if he doesn't see Washington a few times a year already. But anyhow, the tourist tour is always interesting, especially when you are a kid. I kept reading the form and I soon got to something that crossed my eyes. The trip is $925 dollars for 4 days! Good grief! DC, the Nation's Capitol? Where all of the attractions are free or close to it? Oh wait, this could be a clue--"CHARTERED PLANE." Chartered plane? to DC? Are you serious? Commercial flights can be had for $150 or less all day long! Hmmmm..I think we will sit this one out.

3. While I died to get my Flip video camera, I've discovered that I don't like to edit video. Hmmmm..the things u dont see coming...Anyhow, I've spent 4 hours now editing a 38 mins of video into a 4 minute clip. WHATEVER!!!

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A few weeks ago, I told you all about the planned family cruise for next June. Next year. June. 2010. So, it may come as a surprise to you, but certainly not to me, that Dad needed to apply for his passport while here on vacation. This year. August. 2009. He had no sooner gotten off the plane, when he announced that he had brought his birth certificate, "the one with the raised seal," so that he could get his passport while here.

Nearly everyday, he reminded me that he needed to get his passport. He's heard that there is a backlog and that it could take a long time for passports. He wanted to be prepared for the cruise. June. 2010. So, yesterday was the day. Now, I've known my Dad all of my life, so I did my homework. I found a nearby Court House that took passport applications. I called and inquired about the wait. I was told that there is usually no wait after lunch.

So, we get there, park and go inside. Dad looked at the building and announced that it "looked like there was a jail in there." I'm not sure what buildings with jails look like, but he was certain. We go inside. Because it's a court building, we had to go through security. He forgot to take his phone out of his pocket. The officer with the wand found it. He had to go back and put it in the basket to run through the machine. He wasn't pleased--he ONLY wanted a passport.

We found the office, and sure enough, there was nobody there. I filled out his application, and we went up to the window. Wait--I forgot to say that he didn't have his pictures, but that they offer picture service. Anyhow, we go up to the window. The charges are posted on the glass--$75 for the passport, by check or money order. Then $25 for the processing, in cash or credit card. Dad didn't have his checkbook, I wrote the check from my checkbook. The woman then requested $35 for the processing AND picture. Dad kept telling me that she was cheating because the sign said $25. I explained that the extra $10 was for his picture. He still thinks she's cheating. They took his picture. They showed him the pictures. They had 2. Now, she DEFINITELY was cheating. She took TWO pictures. I advised that they would put one picture in the passport and keep one with the application.

So, all that's left is his signature. He had to sign in the clerk's presence. He did. But then, she bundled his birth certificate ("the one with the raised seal") up with the application, to send on to the Dept of State. He asked for it back. The nice lady told him that he would get it back with his passport in a couple weeks. He wanted it back now. She was confused. I stepped in and repeated that he would get it back in the same envelope with his new passport. He was clearly disturbed, but let it go. And he announced that he did NOT want to go through the metal detector on the way out. He didn't have to. It was over.

However, an hour later, sitting in Olive Garden, he told me that he HOPED he would get his birth certificate back, the one with the raised seal. I love Dad. He's a hoot.

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This weekend, I had a phone conversation with a FOJ. We went to high school together. He's now in the Atlanta area, and I'm in South Florida. One of the things that we discussed during that long conversation was a moment that most native Washingtonians have had.

It's the moment that you realize that you took all of the free cultural activities in the Washington, DC area for granted. I remember when that moment hit me. It was in the late 90's. I was on a business trip to Milwaukee. There was another woman there from North Carolina. She was very young and not very well traveled. I could tell because she considered Milwaukee to be the "big city." Hmmph. Anyhow, she wanted to go to the zoo, but after talking to her mom, they decided that she shouldn't be roaming the "big city" alone. She looked like she was about to cry, so I offered to go with her. Our hotel arranged the transportation.

When we got there, my mouth dropped when I saw the price of admission. If memory serves me correctly, it was something like $25 bucks! I do remember asking the ticket lady if they even had pandas. They didn't. I was shocked, but Country Girl's eyes welled up with tears again, so I just paid it. I hope the Milwaukee Zoo folks don't come after me for this, but they have NOTHING on the National Zoo in DC. I guess it was a lovely way to spend an afternoon, but it was then that I realized that I really need to partake more of the sites in the Nation's Capital.

There's so much there to do, and a lot of it is free or very inexpensive. There's the Smithsonian, the National Zoo, The White House, The Capitol, The Vietnam Vet's Memorial, The Lincoln & Jefferson Memorials, etc. It's a great place to vacation, since the tourist spending requirements are so low. Unfortunately, many residents never take advantage.

What kinds of attractions are in your hometown that are free or inexpensive? What should every tourist see? Have you seen it? When was the last time you did the tourist thing in your hometown?

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Yesterday, I heard one of the saddest stories. One of my relatives was accompanying another relative to their local emergency room. While there, she happened upon one of her former coworkers who was laying on a stretcher. They hadn't seen each other in about 10 years or so.

The coworker explained that she had tried to kill herself that morning. She lost her job and is having trouble finding a new one. She fears that she will lose her home and end up on the street. She was very matter of fact about the whole thing. She has just painted herself into a corner and there's no way out. Suicide seems like a viable solution to her. How sad..

We have got to fix this economy! When normal, sane folks are plotting their own demise to get away from bill collectors and financial troubles, there is a problem. I pray for her and others like her. There, but for the grace of God, goes Jewel...

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So, here it is April and the economy is not getting any better. Everywhere folks are getting laid off and taking paycuts, but the cost of living is rising. Food, gasoline, and utilities are astronomical. And it seems that things will get worse, before getting better. How will we cope?

If you are like me, you're looking for ways to cut household costs. I'm examining things that I've always taken for granted to see if we could do without them. Do we really need 4 cell phones? Do we really need every channel DirecTV has to offer? Do we really need a lawn service and a pool service? Do we really need a fax line? Is 2 ply toilet paper really necessary? How many of these things could we live without?

Is it just me or are you too cutting back? What things have you given up? What things are you contemplating giving up?

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Just a reminder, April 15th is coming up! You may have lost your job--you may be losing your home--you could have lost your life savings, but you best get right with the Tax Man!

I have always been sickened by the personal income tax system in this country, but in this day and age, it's almost too much to take. In a time when our Government says that they are focused on the Middle Class, I can't really figure out what the middle class is. In my mind, you are either rich or poor. And you know exactly where you fit in. The rich get richer, and the poor just stay poor. The Haves and the Have-nots.

So this is just my warning--the IRS does NOT play. PERIOD. They are immune to begging, pleading, or even presenting plain old logic. All they want, All they want to hear is WHEN will you have their money. As I read in the Op Ed pages this morning, "Why do you demand and insist that people pay their taxes rather than their mortgages?" Makes no sense to me..

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Is it just me or has pricing on groceries increased to the point where it's becoming unreasonable to eat? Fresh produce, meats, and laundry supplies are especially expensive.

Though I try to do it, clipping coupons regularly is just not something that I find time for. I do try to stock up on staples when on sale, and compare prices per unit rather than per package. But, the best cost cutting initiative for my family seems to be shopping alone. If I bring the kids or even the husband with me, I spend more and end up with more items than I have on my list, busting my budget.

I have simply got to get a handle on this. Please help me. What kinds of cost cutting grocery tips do you have that won't cost me an hour a week? How are you saving money?

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It's the end of March and my mailbox is being flooded with invitations and "save the date" cards for summer weddings. I can't possibly attend all of these weddings across the country.

Even if I had that kind of time, it would cost me a small fortune. Besides, I barely know most of the brides/grooms and I have two sitting on my desk waiting for someone to tell me who they are. I don't recognize the bride or groom names, the parent's names, or even the city where the nuptials are taking place. Who ARE these folks???

Then there's one where-Bless their hearts--they cancelled the wedding last June at the 11th hour, only to have a change of heart and are planning again for July. Yeah right! I'll rush right out and buy a plane ticket for that one!

Am i expected to send gifts to every wedding that I'm invited to? How does one financially manage this? Please help...

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I got my taxes done last weekend. Now, I'm waiting on my refund to be deposited directly into my savings account. My friends who live in California may have filed their taxes as well, but they don't know when to expect their refund. California has halted all state tax refunds indefinitely. What?

In this age of economic crisis, with foreclosures and repossessions everywhere you turn, they are suspending payments to their citizens? Seriously? Suppose those people have debts and were counting on that money to give them some breathing room? Suppose that check is the only thing standing between them and eviction/foreclosure? Suppose they've promised debtors that they would catch up on payments with that money? And they can give no indication of when to expect it?

Why is it that everyone gets a bailout except the folks whose money we are using? Can we get a moratorium on foreclosures, evictions, utility shut offs, and credit reporting of a negative nature? No? Then be prepared for the inevitable.

It's not right to back people into corners with no place to go. A person who feels that they have no way out can be dangerous. It breeds undue pressure, stress, and unfortunately, suicides and homicides. I believe the Federal Government should step in on this one. After all, whose fault is it that California is in this position--certainly not the residents'.

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