The Soap Box II - Get Your Rant On!

[Moonshot]

MARILYN, this is the place for a pity party---it's the soapbox, after all!!!!     And each of us comes here, I believe, to be reminded that we all have trials to endure in our lives.   As far as I'm concerned,  each trial we have in our life seems like a Mt. Everest to climb.  I've finally come to realize lately that nobody has a right to minimize another's trial or become sanctimonious and self-righteous because it seems one's own trials are greater. 

Amen.

[Marilyn]

Thank you
You have all come to mean so very much to  me 

[Jan]

HELLO GOOD FRIENDS, HERE IS SOMETHING HOPEFULLY TO CHEER YOU UP A BIT.



LUV
JAN

[clayMaine-iac]

Thanks a million everyone.  Can we have a group hug now??    Ah! That felt good.

I realized that after I typed my rant yesterday, that I felt better just sharing with all of you.  It is always nice to know that you all understand what I am going through.

This thread also makes me realize that I am not ALONE with life's ups and downs.  Thanks for sharing, Marilyn, and thanks for your wonderful words of wisdom, Thea.  I know you have struggles that make mine pale in comparison.

I, too, had 2 teenagers driving their own cars and in college at the same time in the past. We somehow survived that and we shall again, I'm sure.  I guess I must have been hoping things would begin to get easier now that there is only one child left at home.

I now wish I had the wonderful people here for support back then. 

[Glory]

                                    IF I CAN HELP ANYONE I WILL I WISH I WAS RICH I COULD REALLY DO GOOD WITH IT.ALL I CAN DO IS TELL YOU ALL I LOVE YOU. 

[clayMaine-iac]

Jan, thanks for the beautiful drawing.  I just love your work.

Glory, thanks for your well wishes.

We finally got our son's car out of the shop today.  We decided not to claim the damages on our insurance and just get the work done that we needed to keep it legal and drivable.  We saved alot of money this way. It has a few dents and dings, but is road worthy so I am happy.  I got to drive it home because our son is at a basketball team get-together. (He is using my car).  OMG!!  I drive a big SUV, so driving his little mid-sized car was quite the experience.  I felt like I was sitting on the ground.

My old washer and dryer combo was over 20 years old.  I guess I should be happy I got my money's worth out of them.    When we had all 4 kids at home, I don't think they ever stopped running.    Last year, the washer quit and I bought a new one at the appliance store in the town where I work.  I went to the same store on my lunch break this week.  Lo and behold, they were having a huge after Xmas sale.  The dryer that matches my new washer was the best buy in the whole store!!  I gave in and purchased it.  I hated to spend the money right now, but I decided that I wouldn't ever get a better deal.

We have been negotiating with our car insurance agent for a better price on our insurance.  We have finally found a policy that is much more reasonable.  Our monthly insurance payment will go from $559 a month to $225 a month.   

Our furnace is still being tempermental, but so far it keeps restarting when we reset it.  Keep your fingers crossed that it will last the winter.

Well, that is my update for now.  I still feel very poor, but I know we are making some progress here, so I am less depressed at least. 

[Mary]

Wow, we must be a happy group! No rants for a month!

How much?

Those two little words just drive me insane, not that I had far to go.. Everytime I buy something that is the first question I hear.

I have been looking for over a year for new bedding for Brian's room. He moved out, he moved back home again (gave up search so he could buy what he wanted) and moved out again.

Finally I bought something that I love and show it to hubby. First thing out of his mouth is how much. I ask if he likes it and he likes it very much but still wants to know how much. I tell him it was half off on a white sale.

Now the guessing game begins. Oh, he is getting much better at this. He must be reading the ads in the paper. He guessed within $10.00!

If I don't want him to know how much I paid for anything (read Clay tickets, hotel rooms, etc.)
I'll put it on my credit card. For household items they go on a joint card so he will know as soon as the bill comes in.

The next thing he asks is couldn't you find something less expensive. It doesn't matter if it's $5.00 or $500.00.

[Mary]

Tim came home the past two weekends and loves the bed set I bought for Brian's room. First thing out of his mouth was "How Much"!!! He wants it for his apartment in Philly. I did find something that I thought was better for him and it was on sale too. He agreed.

Empty nest syndrome is just a myth! Tim is coming home again this weekend for a corprate meeting on Saturday in NYC.

This poor kid is in a 4 person office in Philly. Newbee quit to join the Army and Office boss quit because of problems with Big Boss. So now Tim and office buddy are left  covering an area that needed 5 people. They were looking for a  fifth.

They are in an office for 5 and have to cover an area with only two people. He looks at it like an opportunity. This 23 year old and his 27 year old friend are left hanging out to dry.

Tim made #1 salesman once last year, Office boss made it once and office buddy made it 4 times. Their office was the best in the US.

Tim is lucky because he has to cover his old area as well as his new area but buddy has to give up his biggest account and cover office bosses area and yet to be hired newbees area.

[claydevotee]

MY RANT:  I'm already tired of the 2008 Presidential Election!   My head is spinning from all of this "politicking" so early in the game.    

There...now I feel better! 
'Night all!!!   

[Beth]

MY RANT:  I'm already tired of the 2008 Presidential Election!   My head is spinning from all of this "politicking" so early in the game.    

There...now I feel better! 
'Night all!!!   

Ditto!

[ClayHeart]

Oh, I'm so glad to find a place to rant.   

My husband is a Type A and does have many good qualities ... BUT ... he has a hard time getting it through his head that there is more than one way to do things, and just because something isn't done the way he thinks it should be done, does not necessarily mean it is the "wrong way".     I swear, the older he gets, the worse he gets.  I tend to be more of a pack rat.  I don't mean papers stacked high on every surface and clutter in every corner, and the house is clean and orderly, but I do have some cupboards and storage areas pretty full.  He is the kind of person who thinks a room really doesn't need pictures, decorations, plants and only minimal amounts of furniture.  He has decided that he wants all "junk" cleared out ... and that includes my stuff stored in the spare bedrooms that we aren't even using!!.  He has gone through MY things (and his too) I had stored and has thrown some of MY things away without even asking me.  He's helping me get "organized".  Isn't that nice that he decides for me what I should save and what I should keep.  Enough said.  Don't want this rant to get even more wordy!!  Good thing he's great in other areas or he'd be BRUISED!!!

[redhotclay]

I totally understand what you're talking about and it is a good thing that he has
other good qualities. 

[Mary]

You know when you are getting yessed to death? Tim has been doing that to me for years. He has a heart defect and needs to see a cardiologist for a check up.

Brian and Tim are both coming home this weekend to take Norm and me out for dinner for our birthdays. I'm hoping that Brian can talk Tim into going to a Dr.

It's nice outside and this year I'm going to carve out time everyday to just sit outside and read a book.

[Mary]

I've become addicted to apple juice in the past month. Let me tell you that it is not a good idea to drink more than a half a gallon in one day!

Now please pardon me because I have an appointment with the powder room. Again!

[Mary]

Now why hasn't my post count changed in 2 years? I know that I've posted a few times.

Maybe 767 is my lucky number!

[Mary]

Well I'll be darned. I'm up to 768!

[mrs. c.]

Well I'll be darned. I'm up to 768!

Congrats Mary

[woodstock854]

Now why hasn't my post count changed in 2 years? I know that I've posted a few times.

Maybe 767 is my lucky number!

Mary - When you post, your post count changes on ALL your posts.  Your first post doesn't remain #1, etc.  So sometimes it can be a little confusing, but I assure you , your post count is going up.

Thanks for the advice about apple juice.   

I hope your hubby will go to the Dr. as needed.   

My rant...although I know this has been covered in the AI thread:

That was TERRIBLE what was done to Jordin on AI last night.  Not ONLY is it terribly upsetting for her and all her fans, but it is going to affect the voting next week, IMO.  It will make more people vote for her, and that really isn't fair to the other contestants.

I would think Ryan wouldn't be able to do such a thing, although he is told to for the drama, I am sure.  It is just terrible, IMO.   
Woodstock

[claydevotee]

I would think Ryan wouldn't be able to do such a thing, although he is told to for the drama, I am sure.  It is just terrible, IMO.   

I agree, WOODSTOCK.   I thought this stunt was in very bad taste, as well.  IMO it was almost as inappropriate to put Jordan in such a humiliating position as it would have been to send somebody home last night. And I agree that it could temporarily sway more votes toward Jordan, but I don't think we need to worry about Melinda or Blake (my personal favs in addition to Jordan).   But as the old saying goes, "That's show biz".   

[Mary]

I have to stash my trash. Why you ask? Because my husband will garbage pick things that I throw out! The latest was an old frayed extension cord that doesn't work. Before that was some old underware of mine that had clearly seen better days. He thought that it would be good for polishing cars. I won those two battles and he is not a happy camper.

I have a bag full of stuff that I want to throw out stashed in my closet waiting for him to go on a business trip on trash day.