Sunday, May 18, 2008
Friday was my sister, Elizabeth's, 22nd birthday. It's hard to believe how grown up she has become! I'm so proud of her and the level of maturity she has reached. I was so worried about her all through her teens years. Terrified which direction she would choose to go down as time went on. In honesty, she has shocked us all and has proven to have a very level head on her shoulders. A bit vocal and my favorite term, "an ankle biter", but at least I don't fear that people will take advantage of her as much as I once worried.
Well, fuel prices continue to rise more and more each week. I guess I never thought I would see these prices at this stage of my life. I'm in so much shock each time I drive into the gas station that's it hard to even comprehend what has happened to this country in a few short years. I read that if minimum wage rose at the same rate that inflation has been rising that it would now be $26/hr!!! (That's even more than what I make!!) Instead my poor hardworking sister is making a lousy $7.50/hr (which is "really good money" in the state of South Carolina that doesn't follow the federal minimum wage rate - in fact they don't HAVE a minimum wage, so they can in essence pay $4-5/hr and there's nothing the people in that state can do but move. I was shocked to learn this a few months ago.) Anyway, I wonder how people like that survive with the higher food and fuel prices. It's no wonder it's such a poverished state like Mississippi and Arkansas. These places don't have or have very limited public transportation options, so it's not as simple as buying a bus or train pass to save money on fuel and car upkeep. With all the job losses over the previous years, people ending up in extreme credit crunches (some instances is their own fault but others were taken advantage of due to corporate greed), and prices of everything else around us rising at faster than normal rates, how will people survive?? We're only going to see more needing government assistance - from a system that is already overly strained and people like my mother having to work even through her retirement years as there won't be much of anything left to help subsidize her retirement. (Once again, another situation that faces this country - so many like her that were stay at home moms. My mom was for many years due to the religious organization we grew up in where they didn't allow women to work outside of the home. Even after 20 years of being removed from that place it continues to haunt and hurt her after working so hard to get on her own two feet and build a new life herself.)
A barrel of oil reached another record high again on Friday - $128/barrel with economists expecting it to reach $200/ barrel before it tops out, which would cost the average American driver $5.60 gallon. (At $5.60/gallon for regular fuel I'm terrified to know what that will mean for me on my diesel car where diesel has consistly been rising faster than unleaded for the past year!! I'm already paying $4.80/gallon at the least expensive station while the rest of the country is paying $3.89/gallon for unleaded!! OUCH!!!! When I bought my car diesel was less expensive than unleaded AND I was receiving better mpg than all other cars.)
When Bush first ran for president in 2000, he criticized the Clinton administration for high fuel prices and said the president must “jawbone” oil producing nations and persuade them to drop rates. At that time, oil was nearing $28 a barrel — less than a quarter what it is now. When Bush took office regular unleaded was $1.46 a gallon...compared with today's prices that's a 250% increase in 8 years!!! So, why doesn't HE "jawbone oil producing nations and persuade them to drop their rates!!!" Hmmm...if you recently heard, he flew to Saudi Arabia for a one day visit with the Saudi King but they were not willing to nor did they feel it was necessary to change the production levels. Was that not a conversation they could have had over the phone first to determine if they were even willing to negotiate?? Yet, at this time of the highest prices of oil the Bush Administration is replentishing the reserve! WHAT??? What economics class did he take??
Well, instead of bitching about it since there isn't much I can do (collectively as a group of people we all can make a change, but change needs multiple voices), I have finally started to do my part to make some changes in my life. I have been wanting to get in much better shape for four years now and this has spurred me on to start conditioning myself so I can begin riding my bike to work. I figure for a measely 7 miles each way it will be a win-win situation all the way around. 1). Better on the environment, 2). I will be excerising much more which will help me look and feel better about myself, and 3). I'll save money on fuel and car maintenance. So I started my conditioning training this morning - rode 4 miles in 25 minutes. Granted all flat area (and I have THREE hills to go over on my route to work) but it's a good start and definitely looks to be a very reachable goal within a short amount of time. I purchased a bike lock this weekend and plan to walk or bike whenever possible - grocery shopping, quick run to target, run to the pharmacy, etc. Only time I don't see that happening is when I have to travel long distances or purchase a heavy item. I'm excited about what a difference this will make in a very short amount of time!!
So on Friday California announced that they have overturned it's ban on gay marriage. I'm very happy for what this means for my wonderful friends!! Of course one of the first things I did was email Arvin and ask him when the wedding date is. Oh, that's right, he has to meet the perfect man first!! Sorry honey!! I sadly had to inform him that all the good ones have already been taken so not to get his hopes up. I know, he was finally thinking he would have the opportunity to walk down the aisle before me and I even had a headstart. haha!!
That pretty much sums up the story of my life at moment - leaving more of the sad pieces out for now as I'm trying to keep my more positive upbeat mood in front of me with preparing myself for yet another work week.
Have a great week everyone!!
Well, fuel prices continue to rise more and more each week. I guess I never thought I would see these prices at this stage of my life. I'm in so much shock each time I drive into the gas station that's it hard to even comprehend what has happened to this country in a few short years. I read that if minimum wage rose at the same rate that inflation has been rising that it would now be $26/hr!!! (That's even more than what I make!!) Instead my poor hardworking sister is making a lousy $7.50/hr (which is "really good money" in the state of South Carolina that doesn't follow the federal minimum wage rate - in fact they don't HAVE a minimum wage, so they can in essence pay $4-5/hr and there's nothing the people in that state can do but move. I was shocked to learn this a few months ago.) Anyway, I wonder how people like that survive with the higher food and fuel prices. It's no wonder it's such a poverished state like Mississippi and Arkansas. These places don't have or have very limited public transportation options, so it's not as simple as buying a bus or train pass to save money on fuel and car upkeep. With all the job losses over the previous years, people ending up in extreme credit crunches (some instances is their own fault but others were taken advantage of due to corporate greed), and prices of everything else around us rising at faster than normal rates, how will people survive?? We're only going to see more needing government assistance - from a system that is already overly strained and people like my mother having to work even through her retirement years as there won't be much of anything left to help subsidize her retirement. (Once again, another situation that faces this country - so many like her that were stay at home moms. My mom was for many years due to the religious organization we grew up in where they didn't allow women to work outside of the home. Even after 20 years of being removed from that place it continues to haunt and hurt her after working so hard to get on her own two feet and build a new life herself.)
A barrel of oil reached another record high again on Friday - $128/barrel with economists expecting it to reach $200/ barrel before it tops out, which would cost the average American driver $5.60 gallon. (At $5.60/gallon for regular fuel I'm terrified to know what that will mean for me on my diesel car where diesel has consistly been rising faster than unleaded for the past year!! I'm already paying $4.80/gallon at the least expensive station while the rest of the country is paying $3.89/gallon for unleaded!! OUCH!!!! When I bought my car diesel was less expensive than unleaded AND I was receiving better mpg than all other cars.)
When Bush first ran for president in 2000, he criticized the Clinton administration for high fuel prices and said the president must “jawbone” oil producing nations and persuade them to drop rates. At that time, oil was nearing $28 a barrel — less than a quarter what it is now. When Bush took office regular unleaded was $1.46 a gallon...compared with today's prices that's a 250% increase in 8 years!!! So, why doesn't HE "jawbone oil producing nations and persuade them to drop their rates!!!" Hmmm...if you recently heard, he flew to Saudi Arabia for a one day visit with the Saudi King but they were not willing to nor did they feel it was necessary to change the production levels. Was that not a conversation they could have had over the phone first to determine if they were even willing to negotiate?? Yet, at this time of the highest prices of oil the Bush Administration is replentishing the reserve! WHAT??? What economics class did he take??
Well, instead of bitching about it since there isn't much I can do (collectively as a group of people we all can make a change, but change needs multiple voices), I have finally started to do my part to make some changes in my life. I have been wanting to get in much better shape for four years now and this has spurred me on to start conditioning myself so I can begin riding my bike to work. I figure for a measely 7 miles each way it will be a win-win situation all the way around. 1). Better on the environment, 2). I will be excerising much more which will help me look and feel better about myself, and 3). I'll save money on fuel and car maintenance. So I started my conditioning training this morning - rode 4 miles in 25 minutes. Granted all flat area (and I have THREE hills to go over on my route to work) but it's a good start and definitely looks to be a very reachable goal within a short amount of time. I purchased a bike lock this weekend and plan to walk or bike whenever possible - grocery shopping, quick run to target, run to the pharmacy, etc. Only time I don't see that happening is when I have to travel long distances or purchase a heavy item. I'm excited about what a difference this will make in a very short amount of time!!
So on Friday California announced that they have overturned it's ban on gay marriage. I'm very happy for what this means for my wonderful friends!! Of course one of the first things I did was email Arvin and ask him when the wedding date is. Oh, that's right, he has to meet the perfect man first!! Sorry honey!! I sadly had to inform him that all the good ones have already been taken so not to get his hopes up. I know, he was finally thinking he would have the opportunity to walk down the aisle before me and I even had a headstart. haha!!
That pretty much sums up the story of my life at moment - leaving more of the sad pieces out for now as I'm trying to keep my more positive upbeat mood in front of me with preparing myself for yet another work week.
Have a great week everyone!!
Comment
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Comment by Arvin on May 18, 2008 at 7:30pm - I love it love it love it. Yes I agree with you wholeheartedly that change can in fact start with one voice and can start with one's life. I'm so happy for you love. You actually decided to do something instead of just bitching. Thank you for this blog. It really does help inspire people.
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