Creative Endeavors

I remember when I turned forty (which was awhile ago) I got to thinking about my life, and where it was. At that juncture in time, I was making roughly twice what my father and my mother were making (combined) when they turned forty. But my buying power was diminished something like five times. So, the “good ole days” are or were, not necessarily that good.

Now days, my money don’t even slow down when it gets to me. I always have more month than money. Not that I am complaining, far from it, I live a good life, despite it all. I am just commenting. This morning I arose from my comfortable bed, washed my hands in hot water, made a pot of coffee and started my day. A lot of folks around the world were not afforded that luxury.

I am doing alright.

Oil Companies took out a full page ad in USA Today and they had the audacity to proclaim to the reading public “that they only make .08 cents on a dollar invested.” Yeah sure, and if frogs had wings, they wouldn’t bump their A** when they hopped. Eight cents on the dollar?

Obscene profits indeed. Had to think on this one.

If they make .08 cents on every dollar, or 8%, then it takes 12.5 cents to make 1 cent. (One divided by .08 cents) So, for every $12.50 dollars they make $1 dollar. Therefore, if they make 40 billion, they must have to make 12.5 times that much to earn the 40 billion. It can be more easily figured by multiplying 40 times 12.5 to get a product of 500. Then add the 9 zeros back on and you will see they have 500 billion (1/2 trillion) invested. Whew!

Please give me a piece of that!  Personally speaking, “put any spin on it you want, I am not buying it.”  Bush recently went to Saudia Arabia “hat in hand” to negotiate for more oil, how sad is that, we are reduced to what is tantamount outright begging.  The crown potentate or head Arab in charge, somewhat amused, said no and then sent him packing. 

Stop buying it, let them EAT IT and see what transpires then.  I am or have been, for a month or two, buying $20 a week and that is it.  Just what I need, now I know a lot of you have to purchase more, and you have my sympathy, but that is all I NEED to get by.

Last week the federal government started sending the stimulus package checks which Bush insists will reactivate the economy. It is not a coincidence they sent the checks last week, just in time to buy presents for Jennas wedding.

Jenna Bush got married this past weekend in a simple ceremony in Crawford Texas. The president walked his daughter to the altar and gave her to the groom while the secret service in the background unveiled a banner that read “Mission accomplished.”

Ahhhh, the splendor of it all, the pagentry … I wonder if Connie got drunk afterwards?

Obammy whats-his-name climbed Bush good yesterday and let him have a little taste of it.  Good for him, someone needs to send this guy a reality check.  He has effectively stopped public opinion under the so-called Patriot Act anyway (no protestors within five miles of him at any time). 

Don’t mess with the Obamma, rumor has it that he is being backed by Oprah.  And we all know how all-powerful she is!  She has people buying books that don’t even read … Don’t mess with Oprah or her protege.

Give me some room to breathe, I am trying to find something amusing in the absurdity of it all, but it is albeit, coming to me very slowly. And it is just not the price of oil setting me off this morning, it is the price of virtually everything (which is basically tied to oil anywho).

The price of everything these days astounds me.

Gasoline is actually cheap, it is just the way or manner in which one would look at it. Or it could possibly be, that everything else is so expensive, it MAKES gasoline appear that way. Here is a list of items that could be purchased by the gallon: This makes one think, and also puts things in perspective to other things we buy.

Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 — ($10.32 per gallon)
Tube of tooth paste —($4) people that brush their teeth live longer, Madison Avenue.
Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 — ($9.52 per gallon)
Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 — ($10.17 per gallon)
Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, 12oz. — ($7.46)
Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 — ($10.00 per gallon)
Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 — ($33.60 per gallon)
Box of Cheerios $3.38, Honey-Nuts are more, $4.12
Honey Nuts? I don’t get that at all, kind like Chicken McNuggets, what part of the chicken is that, exactly?
Vick’s Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 — ($178.13 per gallon)
Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 — ($123.20 per gallon)
Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 — ($25.42 per gallon)
Cheap off brand Orange Juice, $4.00 — Minute Made $5.78
Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 — ($84.48 per gallon)
Box of depends, 20, $4.38 (for the bad days)

And this is the REAL KICKER… Evian water 9 oz $1.49 —($21.19 per gallon! $21.19 for WATER and the buyer doesn’t even know the source (Evian spelled backwards is Naive).

Ever wonder why printers are so cheap? So they have you hooked for the ink. Someone calculated the cost of the ink at (you won’t believe it) $5,200.00 a gal.

Five thousand two hundred dollars for ink, unbelievable.  So, if you find yourself at the Root N Scoot this weekend, at the pump filling up, be glad your car doesn’t run on water, Scope, or Whiteout, Pepto Bismol, Nyquil or God forbid, Printer Ink!

There you go! The next time the kids drop by to stick their feet under the table and visit awhile, and that inquisitive baby will ask all the questions, you will have some of the answers.

Stuff like: “Grandpa, has a candy bar always cost $20.00? When did Hillary give dogs the right to vote?”

You will know what to say …

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