Tuesday, September 30, 2008

I believe Dickens put it best

“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditures twenty pounds ought and six, result misery. The blossom is blighted, the leaf is withered, the God of the day goes down upon the dreary scene, and - and in short, you are forever floored” This quote from Charles Dickens' novel David Copperfield explains what America is facing.

For far too long, people have been over spending. Consumers have been doing it. Companies have been doing it. Banks have been doing it. Government has been doing it. All this overspending has created a false illusion of prosperity. Now as it begins to implode America will be floored.

There is a simple economic principle which is unavoidable: It takes work to get anything. Credit allows people to have something now with the promise to work latter. Well, America, it's time to go to work for all those things you have already bought, or worse yet, go to work for what other people have bought.

I am against this bailout for so many reasons. One reason is that I believe that failure teaches lessons. Contrary to popular belief I have experienced failure, and through the School of Hard Knocks I have learned (an sometimes relearned) valuable lessons.

I hope that a good hard knock could be used to change American purchasing behavior. Similar to the Greens who want $6.00/gallon gasoline to teach us not to drive SUV's, I want credit to dry up to each us that we don't need financing for all our purchases. Consumer electronics, clothing at department stores, and a host of other small ticket items are being sold on credit. All these things can be bought for cash. This happens when you save money for a while. You have worked and know you are free to purchase something and really enjoy it!

I really hope this is a turning point, in which people will wake up and start saving again. Until then, they are experiencing the hangover from the money party that has been going on, and has hopefully came to an end. So what will you choose: Misery or Happiness?

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Waiting for Daddy to come home

Lounging around eating a snack. I thought Caleb looked funny just relaxing like this.

Is Daddy home yet?

Saturday Family Outing to Governor's Island

View of one of the NYC Waterfalls

View of Manhattan from the Governor's Island

Playing miniature golf. Caleb's first time.



Relaxing after our picnic

It was free kite and bike weekend. Caleb picked the kite and we put it together. We tried to fly it but there was not wind at all. We tried for a little bit though to make Caleb happy. The funny thing was that there were a lot of people trying to get there kites in the air.

Riding the Staten Island Ferry.

Letter of the week

C = Cotton

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Fun photos of the week

Mason if growing so fast. He is now almost 8 months old.

Fun in the tub.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Caleb's ABC

Caleb and I started working on a special touch and feel book of ABC's. Last week we did A-alphabet. He got a little carried away with the glue while I wasn't looking.

This week we did B - buttons. He had fun looking through all the buttons and deciding which on to put on the B.

Girls Night Out

We all had a great night out at Max Brenner's for dessert.

Good food, Good Friends, Good Times!





Saturday, September 13, 2008

Summer Fun

So I know that I have not kept up on the Blog so I'm trying to do a little catch up. Here is some of the Highlights from the summer.


Mike had training in DC and we all went with him. While we were the we went to the zoo and the Space and Air museum.



One Saturday we went to Central Park and Caleb enjoyed running in the water at the park.



We got yummy cupcakes at Dylan's Candy Bar and Caleb enjoyed every bite. Mason even tried to dig in to whatever he could get his hands on.



Dylan's Candy Bar



Christy and I took our kids to a carnival that they had in Stapleton.



Nickelodeon had a slime fest at Snug Harbor that we went to explore. Caleb got to shoot slime from a gun. He was excited.



Mike had training in Boston and while he was working Me and the boys had fun in the Children's museum.



Caleb loved the different mazes that the had set up for golf balls. We spent most of our time in this room at the Children's museum.



Caleb became a fish. He loves the water and learned to swim well this summer.



Mason is just CUTE!!



Marc and Megan got sealed in the SLC temple and Mike was able to go out to be there with them.



We went to the NYC aquarium for play group.



All of us Moms and kids waiting for the show at the aquarium.