of things lost

I was cleaning out my junk room this week. I find it amazing how easy it is to hold onto useless things "just because". If they were to be lost, it's like "oh well", but you can't physically part with these things. I wish I knew what makes a pack rat horde things.

I chucked three of the 30 gallon trash bags full of crap. Old pillows, stained shirts, power cords to electronic devises I may or may not own. I even have old raggedy furniture that is of no use to me, but still, someone gave it to me......

I guess I'm just a recovering packrat. I need a packrat support group.

Hi. I'm Michael, and I'm a packrat.

Hi Michael

Yeah, I've been keeping too much stuff. I don't know how it came to this. It just piles up and I can't get rid of it and I don't know what to do with it. I can barely walk through my house any more. I went into a closet yesterday and ....it all happened so fast....the contents came pouring out and crushed fluffy! I knew I needed help.

Well, maybe not quite that bad, but you get the idea.

The burning question was "If if store it away to the point where it is inaccessable, do I even really own it anymore?"

realizations galore

My efforts to return to school have been redoubled. I just realized that I could be making double what I make now in under two years if I go ahead and get it done.

I'm sickened that the cost of everything has doubled but my rate of pay is the same. In 1996 I was getting paid about $10 an hour, worked 35 hrs a week, and I was on top of the world. Today I work 60+ and I mostly broke. What happened? Corrupt government. A dirty criminal and his cronies are in the White House today and look at the mess. Wages have not significantly increased in 10 years, but everything else has.

In 1996:

1. Gas prices in this area ranged from .95/gal - 1.25/gal

2. Dinner for two at a restaurant like Applebee's was under $20.

In 2006:

1. Gas prices range from 2.25/gal - 3.00+/gal

2. A dinner for two at Applebee's is $35 - $45.

AND WE'RE STILL GETTING THE SAME CHECK FROM 10 YEARS AGO!!!!!!!

Oil & energy companies are reporting record profits. Yet almost every other sector is taking a beating and nobody else sees the connection. What do we need to do as a country to make this work? If people could live comfortably on one job's wages, you could have a better job market. I know I don't want to work any more than necessary.

I would daresay that two simple fixes are needed to give this country a much needed boost.

1. Get better control of our energy needs.
2. Legalize a certain substance and use the taxable income, which is in the billions, to fund other gov't programs.

Of course holding all current lawmakers accountable for the actions of their laws would be nice too.