How To Fix The Economy

...much less expensive than the BILLIONS Mr. Obama has foisted on the American people...

I received this via email from a friend...gave me a good laugh.

There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force

Pay them $1 million apiece severance with the following stipulations:

1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings -
Unemployment fixed.

2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered -
Auto Industry fixed.

3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage --
Housing Crisis fixed.

4) Include those already retired in the plan, & require that all these folks purchase long term care & health care insurance --Social Security and Medicare problems resolved.

It can't get any easier than that!

PS If more money is needed, have all members in Congress and other public officials pay their taxes!

Fan Appreciation Night

Saturday was the last home game for my Dallas Stars this season. After an atrocious start which had them at the bottom of the ranks for the division, they fought their way up as high as 5th. For those who don't know hockey, the top 8 of the division make it into the play off. So don't laugh at 5th.

But I digress...After a dismal, wait that's not exactly a strong enough word...atrocious, disgusting, and to quote Razor Reaugh, "rancid" March, my Stars ended their season with some pretty awful losses. While you never want to use injury as an excuse, this season it was the glaring "obvious" for the team.

Anyway, they were mathematically eliminated last night, after a gutsy, 5-4 win in overtime. They scored more goals Saturday in one game than they had in their last three or four.

I was there and have to admit I always love the last home game of the season. Fans are recognized and get a bit of the love thrown their way. Although as a 4-year season ticket holder, I've not had any of that love tossed in my direction.

So I've come to the conclusion that most sports franchises only love the fans who can dole out the cash for a full season. Yeah, I would have given my eye teeth to stand next to Brad "ohmygoshhe'ssoooohot" Richards and receive one of his game worn jerseys...but again, I'm not a full season ticket holder.

After the game, the majority of us 18,532 fans got to watch the lucky few receive the jerseys right off the guys' backs...literally...game is over and they are stripping of their jerseys right there on the ice. Sure is was a treat to see, for all of 2 minutes...but why stay when I don't get one.

I think all fans should have received something last night, whether you were a season ticket holder or not. Some little token of affection would have been nice.

Guitar Nails

There are days I feel like a dork when I look at my hands. The left hand sports nails filed below the tip, while the right hand is a thing of beauty. Five gloriously growing long nails. Such are the hands of a classical guitar player. In fact, my right hand is the envy of my teacher.

I find it rather funny that I couldn't grow my nails to save my life and now that I am taking lessons, the nails won't stop growing. Keeping the left hand short is as much a chore as shaping the right hand.

So it only goes to show me that the main outcome of my guitar lessons is some pretty nice nails.

Oh The Insanity...My Own, That Is...

I'm a cross-stitcher, needleworker, enjoyer of the needle arts...I don't know what you want to call it. Anyway, this is the newest project I'm working on. After years of making beautiful pieces of artwork for everyone else; I am finally working on a piece for myself.

If I am lucky, I will have this piece finished within 5 years. Needless to say, it will take countless hours. One inch of the fabric I am working contains 25 x's. That means one square inch contains 625 stitches. 625 intsy tinsy bitty x's. I'll have presbyopia by the time I'm finished. I worked 19 stitches to begin and in those 19 stitches I used 12 colors. There are 90 different colors in this work.

I've actually started and will blog about the progress from time to time. It will be a love hate relationship, but I fully intent to have it finished and framed while I can still enjoy it.

Wish me luck and good lighting!!

Can't You Play It On A Classical Guitar?

Good friends provide the humor of life. My closest friend, KP, has been amused for years by my antics. I won't bore you with all the details, but I finally had my big laugh at her expense.

"Can't you play it on a classical guitar?" Oh dear, such an innocent question, really. The answer is no, but here is what made it so funny. Follow me back to the previous evening....

As my guitar lesson was ending, I asked Jeff if he could play the intro to Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love." Of course, I knew it would be a silly question, but I asked regardless. Without hesitation, he uncased his guitar, plugged it into the amp and BAM!

As I am sitting there drooling (over his guitar playing abilities), I realize that I am jealous of his talent. So, now it's back to practicing regularly. Anyway I digress. I love the intro to that song, and he played it perfectly, without a warm-up, without missing a beat. It was great and I was happy.

So KP and I are conversing Thursday and I'm sharing my awe at Jeff's guitar awesomeness...I told her that in our conversation, I mentioned to him, that I wanted to learn to play the intro. So I was now looking at electric guitars as well.

In all seriousness, she asked me, "can't you play it on an classical guitar?" I laughed so hard that I couldn't breathe. Maybe you had to be there, but for anyone who enjoys the hard rock/metal genre, you would know how silly a question this is.

Some songs are made for classical, other for electric. Guess I should be a good friend and introduce her to hard rock and metal.