Icewind's Ramblings

For some time now we have seen things slowly coming to the point we are now. It has not happened overnight or over one or two terms in office for our leaders. Greed has had a lot to do with the shape of things and not just in the home industry but also with the auto industry as well as our import and exports. Many people did not want to see it but the signs were always there. There were so many people with a “Jones” attitude, as in ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ that bought into the belief that with nothing or little down they could have that half million dollar house and pay only a thousand bucks a month payment. They didn’t believe that balloon payment due in five years would make any difference in their lives. Well it did and every one of those who were selling or brokering those worthless pieces of paper was making a fortune. Greed on everyone’s part and it all came falling down around us Banks are foreclosing on homes at record rates. Illi...

I decided on the way home the other night that I did not want to cook or have to really do anything for dinner so I stopped at one of the local places to grab something to take home. I ordered and it did not take long for me to be on my way again but as I turned to leave I was struck by something by the front door. When you leave, there's a sign on the door that says "Place your next order on-line NOW!" I think the "NOW" is a little over-ambitious. How much do they think I like this pizza? I haven’t even gotten home yet and I'm holding a hot, steaming pie in my hands already, and now I'm supposed to go home and instantly order the next one? I don't think drug dealers are this pushy. ("Here's your order - oh, and before you shoot up, why don't you go ahead and page me? I'll meet you back here in about 10 minutes.") I took the pizza home and ate it with little fanfare. It was ok but nothing that really made me desire anothe...

Last weekend I had to drive to a town about an hour from my house for an evening get together with a few friends for a 60 th birthday party. As we arrived in the town (it’s been in the news a lot lately since our governor was announced as the Republican Vice Presidential Candidate) it was close to dinner time so I asked my father in law’s Garmin GPS to tell me what restaurants were in the area and it identified a Chinese restaurant about a half mile ahead. It turned out not to be a REAL Chinese restaurant, but more like a fast food Chinese restaurant. That’s ok since the party was supposed to have things to snack on and dinner to follow so maybe a quick snack since we had not eaten might be a wise thing to do. However two things came into play here: 1. I LOVE Chinese food, especially sweet & sour chicken or pork, fried rice and an egg roll. 2. I didn't have time to look for another place and still make the party on time. So we placed our order at the co...