2012 Presidential Election - A Disgusting Excess

The 2012 presidential election spending was upward of 5 billion dollars. How is that okay? Every day we read about the unemployment rate in this country. Every day we read about people who are struggling to put food on the table. Every day we read about families who are losing their homes. 5 billion dollars would go a long way to help people that need assistance. Instead it was put into the coffers of the presidential candidates to flaunt their excesses. Disgusting. At the end of the day, it makes me sick.

Those Scrappy Oakland A's

The Oakland A's baseball team are the bomb! They are the "Bad News Bears" come to life. A scrappy, rookie team that won the 2012 American League West Pennant  on a wish, a prayer, a bunch of young talent and a whole lot of heart.
The bottom line is this, the Oakland A's have the 2nd lowest total payroll for 2012. The Texas Rangers are in the top 6 and we blew them out of the park. The Detroit Tigers are in the top 5 and we made them sweat.
Disappointed that we didn't beat Detroit? Yes a littlepr. Proud that we came this far with our heads held high every step of the way?    HELL YEAH!
I have been an A's fan for many years, but at the end of the day I have never been prouder of my team than I was this year.

Dogs, Cats and Snakes Out Shopping

I was in a department store the other day and a woman came in with her little dog and started to put it in a store shopping cart. A clerk went up to her and told her the dog could not go in the cart. She was rather indignant, but said she would hold the dog. What nerve! I have a dog and I love her. She is a well-behaved 100 lb. Greater Swiss Mountain dog. I do not take her shopping with me (with the exception of once in a while to Home Depot or Petco, where she is welcome.) I wonder how these same people with these little dogs would feel if I strolled into a store with my big girl and started scanning the racks? It has become a fad and commonplace for small dog owners to schlep their dogs everywhere they go. They think if they put the dog in a purse or dress them up in a sweater, that the "No Dog" rules do not apply to them. They have an inflated sense of entitlement. Dogs are not our children. They are our pets. Yes, we love them, they mean a lot to us, but they are animals. Can I bring my cat into a store? How about my parrot or my pet snake? At the end of the day I don't want a dog sitting in a cart where I might put my child or where I will put personal items such as my purse or a jacket. I do not want a dog sitting in a cart where I will place clothing I am going to buy. I do not want a dog in the dressing room where I am trying on clothes. If people want to take their dogs on a shopping trip, leave them in the car with the window down, better yet, leave them at home where they belong.

The Death of Philanthropic Organizations

After 86 years of serving the people of the Hayward California community, the Hayward Lions Club has turned in its charter. Dwindling membership, ageing members and a lack of community interest led to the demise of this club. Through the years, many friendships were made, much fun was had working on a variety of projects, and a lot of money and assistance was donated to local, national and international organizations in need. The members have hosted foreign students in their homes and made friends all over the world. They have assisted hundreds of children in obtaining eye glasses, and other eye care through the University of California and the Lion Eye Foundations. Members have traveled throughout Mexico at their own expense bringing eyesight to hundreds of folks who otherwise would never have had that resource. As for remaining members, some will join neighboring Lions Clubs, some will move on to other organizations, but no matter where they go, but no matter where they go they will take with them the memories of camaraderie and good fellowship they have all experienced. The bottom line is when we lose philanthropic, humanitarian organizations like the Lions Clubs it is a loss for us all. Without organizations like the Lions Clubs, the Kiwanis, the Rotary, the Eagles, the Elks, etc. etc. etc. our humanity is in danger. We all have excuses for not joining a philanthropic organization or a non-profit club. We are too busy with work, kids, family, home, yoga classes, and more, but can you spare 2 hours a week to help someone else? Instead of writing a check, give your time. Do it as a family. Get off the couch, pull the kids away from the television and the computer. Ring bells for the Salvation Army at Christmas, feed the poor at a homeless shelter, join a philanthropic organization. As human beings, we have an obligation to help our fellow man. Try it and at the end of the day you will find that people helping people makes for a better world, a better country, a better community.

Who Cares About Kate Gosselin

Kate Gosselin, Dancing with the Stars, Drama, Drama, WAH, WAH, more Drama, Drama.

WHO CARES?

First it Was Cookie Monster, Now Ronald McDonald

I cannot believe that there is a movement afoot to do away with Ronald McDonald. According to consumer activist groups good old Ronald is responsible for hooking children on greasy, fattening, unhealthy food. They are blaming Ronald for childhood poor health and obesity. Hmmm, I don't think that Ronald McDonald is forcing greasy burgers and Chicken McNuggets down our kids throats. I do see the Ronald McDonald houses that are scattered across the world, helping families to stay near their critically ill children. The Ronald McDonald House Charities support many programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Local McDonald Restaurants generously fund portions of the operating costs of the Houses. It was about two years ago when we said goodbye to the Cookie Monster that we all knew and loved. Cookie bent to the pressure and gave up cookies for the better things in life, like vegetables. Ugh! I guess I am confused as to why people feel the need to lay the blame for obese children on anyone but the children's parents. I don't think an occasional meal at MCDonald's or a couple of cookies is going to make a kid fat, and whose fault is it if the child eats more than an occasional Happy Meal? At the end of the day parents need to step up and take responsibility for what their children are putting in their mouths and stomachs. Leave Ronald alone. Be a responsible parent, set limits on what your children eat. Stop the blame game and look in the mirror.

Spanx - A Scam - I Think So!

I received an e-mail from a friend telling me that Spanx by Sara Blakely was having a one day promotion. They were selling the Bra-llelujah $62 bras for only $4.95, the cost of shipping. It was an online offer. You were supposed to put the code "LaurieannBRA" in the code section when ordering your bra. Wow, what a deal. I e-mailed my 3 daughters and told them about this great deal, then I went online and ordered my bra. Sure enough, I paid with my debit card and my order for a $62 dollar bra for $4.95 went through. I got a confirmation and a thank you e-mail for my order. All was well until the next day, when I got an e-mail from Spanx thanking me for my order, but telling me that there was a mistake. The code, LaurieannBRA, was a private code to be used by the CEO of the company for her personal use, but the code leaked out and they could not fulfill all the orders for free bras that had come in, however, they would be happy to give me 30% off on my next order, as long as I ordered it by April 4th. Very disappointing and even worse, the $4.95 had been deducted from my debit account. Hmmmm - suspicious, a scam? Yes, I think so and even if this were a legitimate mistake, at the end of the day Spanx should have honored the orders. This was no fault of mine or any of the other people that ordered. It was the fault of sloppy management.