Hodge Podge

It’s been a few days and I feel like I should have posted something by now. I’ve started a few entries, but by the second paragraph I’ve questioned the scope of what I was thinking and just haven’t bothered.

So…since I feel obligated, I’ll retrace some steps and offer up the ‘Cliff Notes’ version of this week in my brain…

(1) Karma…funny thing it is. Tom Cruise’s kid being born on the same day, in the same hospital as Brook Shield’s baby. You have to wonder if he’s stopped by to wish her well and drop off some vitamins. You have to wonder if she's stopped by with a special 'care package' for Katie. Connected forever in some cosmic way these two are…giggle.

(2) Watched an earlier episode of Oprah last night about living on minimum wage. It certainly was an eye opener and I literally went to bed last night with a hole in the pit of my stomach. In addition to the general scope of the show, one comment on the show really hit me and seems to me to be a reasonable expectation of what we should as a nation should use to base the minimum wage rate. One of the guests, Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me fame,) made a poignant comment along the lines of it shouldn’t be too much to expect that minimum wage should at a minimum be enough to allow a family of four to live above the poverty level. Spurlock and his fiancé were on the show because they are doing a documentary about their experience of living on minimum wage for 30 days. Even knowing they would eventually return to their lifestyle wasn’t enough to keep them sane during the experiment. By day two they were hungry, tearful, and fighting. According to the data referenced on the show, 30 million Americans work full time and live under these circumstances.

(3) Paula Abdul’s breasteses were quite impressive on Idol last night. I mean the girls were ample and on display with her microphone all snuggled down in there. Yeah, I noticed. Even Simon can’t keep his eyes off ‘em.

(4) General Motors this week announced that they are spending up to $17M a year on ‘performance enhancing drugs’ through their heath coverage plan. Taking liberty and making a few assumptions I suspect this coverage is in place due to the fact that the auto industry is a male dominated and possibly aging workforce. I would like to know how much they spend on birth control for the female employees. As insane as it sounds, I know of companies that won’t provide coverage for birth control under their medical plan, but will pay for up to two abortions a year. I suspect there’s an algorithm out there somewhere that justifies to the suits that this is more cost effective and so it goes. I’m a bit discouraged that our priorities are such that we will willingly spend that kind of money to enable a 62 year old man to ‘get his football through the tire swing’ but not fund the precautions necessary to prevent the natural outcome of ‘scoring.’

(5) I suggest that everyone take a moment and review your household budgets. You’d be surprised how a few minor changes you’ve probably not been thinking about can save you a few bucks. Spurred by our decision to build a new house I went into cost cutting mode. Over this past weekend I contacted our cable company and wireless company and by switching some of our plans around and consolidating some services I found about $100 in monthly savings that I probably could have taken advantage of a long time ago and just never bothered. I have to admit, Oprah’s debt diet is rubbing off on me. Now, if I could just quit smoking again…

(6) Again. Paula’s breasteses…I mean, they were RIGHT THERE. I bet they are soft and pillowy.

(7) Goin’ to see INXS in May. Saw them earlier this year in Philly, but they are my all time favorite band, and while Michael was my first true man crush…I’m very happy with JD as the new singer. These guys are so tight and talented as a band and I’m oh, so thrilled to see them back to work…I shall again indulge myself.

(8) Found this gem on the internet this AM. You too could be a winner! Sent this out as a 'hump day giggle' to a few friends and received back what might be the most perfect response from my friend Bryanne.

"I think the thing that really bugs me about this is that anyone old enough to remember and to have “loved” Rick Astley is now WAY too old to be having a GIANT 8’x6’8” posterboard of Rick Astley in their house.

Seriously."

Yeah...I'd have to agree. Seriously.