Credit Settlements

Have you heard about them? I get tons of emails in my spam box with info about companies that will contact your creditors and make a settlement with them for a fee. The settlement is a reduced amount owed, and is usually expected to be paid in full at the time of settlement. What's interesting about this is that I just received a phone call from one of my creditors asking for payment (of course). I said OK, let's pay off the balance, and can you please adjust the finance charges. To make a long story short, the gentleman (yes, he really was a courteous fellow) on the other end of my phone line mentioned the word settlement, and of course I jumped on it and began asking questions of the inquisitive type implying I know nothing about such matters. What I learned is that one need not pay a fee for a company to make these settlement deals for the accounts ... some creditors will offer it in negotiation with its borrowers, and we can make the deal ourselves simply by falling behind in payments. Don't, however, make the mistake I just made and initially offer to pay off the account in full prior to asking the questions! You see ... we are all in this financial chaos mess together, and I think no one will escape unscathed. Do you agree?

Presidential Advice Is Good For Us

Seeking Fun

I am noticing that even though the most popular restaurants in town seem to be less frequented lately, the cocktail lounges and bars are still packed on weekends. Does this mean we are (nonetheless) trying to find fun and laughter amongst the economic woes of our lives these days? As for myself, on Friday night, I forget all my problems when I go to the cheers-type bar at the Grill where everybody knows my name and what I will drink. Sometimes my glass of wine is even waiting for me to arrive! Yes, my Grill friends take care of me. I don’t see them during the week. They are my Friday night buddies, and I like it that way. We don’t take anything too seriously at the end of the (traditional) work week, and if the conversation winds around to our finances and gets too depressing one of us is sure to say, “Let’s change the subject.” That person is usually me! After all, Friday night is the night to pretend we are all happy happy happy, right? Hey, guess what? Tomorrow is Friday! Hmmmm … what will I wear?

Are Twitters Worse Than Bloggers?

Shoot me if I get this bad! LOL

Financial Losses

So what's it going to be ... file for unemployment, foreclosure, short sale, bankruptcy, withdraw any remaining cash and stick it between the mattresses, move in with the kids, leave the country, or what?  Does anybody need help in figuring out what to do?  Does anybody have a plan about how to survive this mess?  

Creams And Stuff

OK girls and guys too!  The word for the day is StriVectin, although Dr. Brandt’s products are pretty terrific as well!  Yes ... if you want those deep facial folds to disappear within minutes, you must try this stuff!  It’s a brand of skin care products that specializes in firming, toning, minimizing fine lines and creases, and shrinking pores.  Yes, it is pricey.  You can find it in fine department stores, Ulta, and Sephora.  So get started on it and show up to Bill’s party at Rudy’s house.  

Rudy … are you sure you really want to do this?  I mean, geez … judging from the comments I have been receiving … this could be big!  Personally, I’m OK with the pizza parlor if they do thin crust!  LOL

Myspace Layouts

The Brain Tumor Lady

So what about the young woman who has an (obviously) malignant meningioma-type brain tumor (most are benign) and wants to spend her $50,000+ on plastic surgery so she can die looking like Demi Moore?  What’s with THAT?  Have you seen the photos of this woman?  She is gorgeous! 

(March 13) - A British woman dying of cancer plans to spend about $55,000 on plastic surgery so she can go to the grave looking like her idol, Demi Moore, London's Daily Mirror reports.  Lisa Connell, 29, will fund the surgery with the money her mother had saved to pay for her daughter's wedding. The procedures will include liposuction, a breast enhancement, an eyebrow lift, and work on her skin and teeth.

Does this mean that a 29-year-old woman of these times is unable to recognize the idea of meaningful life purpose?  I am appalled and will be disgusted if any physician really takes on her case.  

Graphics

Texting

I LUV to text so much that I think I'm addicted!  I can't put my new iPhone aside out of arms reach for anything or anybody ... I just LUV the little text message bubbles!  LOL   OK, that might be a bit of an exaggeration ... but here's the truth:  I ask EVERYbody "do you text?"  Most folks our age look at me like I am speaking a foreign language, and I must say, "what's with THAT?"   Are you aware that texting is less expensive than all those extra minutes on your cell phone plan? True story ... just check with your carrier.  And now you can download AIM (AOL's instant messenger service) onto your cell phone and text for FREE!  Unbelievably fun!  I like to tell myself I am using my time more efficiently and am actually multi-tasking when I am texting more than one person at a time.  Texting is the only way I can sometimes endure an otherwise monotonous daily grind or excruciatingly boring business meeting.  I like to think I'm being subliminal about it at the time, and yet I am certain I am not fooling anyone around me.  The problem with an addiction like this, though, is that I don't care! UGH!  I think I will start a support group for people like me ... hookers-hooked-on-texting! HA HA!  HEY ... wanna be my text buddy?

This Darn Thing Just Won't Work

Ever had a day at the office like this?

Cheap Air Fares

For those of us who live out of town ... check out the humongous price drop on air fares today. WOW!  The idea of a party ... at Rudy's ... summer ... not bad, huh?  Go Bill!  Go Rudy!  Go you mighty Vikings!

HEY!  If I fly in, will anybody go down to Rush Street for pizza with me one night?

From Bill Gade

 

Just a short update from our "casual reunion" from last Friday night.  In attendance were:

Kathy Hart

Patti Sugrue (and her husband Paul)

Linda Mjoen

Rudy Publ

Bonnie Shtulman

Chris Johnson

Helen Giannakopoulos

Jean Pipikios

Pam Thummel ( Class of 1970)

Bill Gade

 

We had a great time and it was good to see people we have not seen since HS.

 

I am not going to tell you who is who in the photo except that Patti Surgue's husband Paul is in the red and blue shirt. Get out your year books out and find out who everyone is for yourself. We have penciled in a cook-out on 6/20 at Rudy's house in Glendale Heights.  More details on what to bring will be out later, but it will be something simple and everyone will bring a dish to pass.  Don't we sound old?  In HS we would have talked about who is bringing the booze or weed; my how we have changed! Pam and I will be there if we are not guiding a motorcycle tour that weekend.

 

Please pass this along to everyone that is not on the distribution list.  There is a facebook page for Amundsen High School Class of 1968, maybe everyone can get on facebook to keep up and catch up with everyone. If you have a Classmates Gold membership please post this message and photos.

 

Bill Gade

March 6th Party

I heard the pizza gathering last night was a blast, and I can hardly wait to receive Bill's photos. I had  asked  Rudy to phone me if Helen was there, and so I had an opportunity to speak to my dear friend on the phone.  I heard a lot of laughter going on, and I know if I lived in the area, I would have been there as well.  Maybe next time for me!  Or maybe I should think about returning to the area as a place of residence so I can pal with Sheila!  Hmmmm ... now that's an idea too!  OH wait a sec ... what's the temperature there today?  OK ... brief moment of insanity on my part ... please excuse!  LOL

My night was kind of a bust last night in that I felt really bored with the same-old-same-old.  I think I'm going to create a new routine for Friday nights starting next week ... maybe hit the Grand Sierra and do some salsa dancing ?!?

What about YOU ... ever get tired of the usual and want to find something new?  How do you go about getting that accomplished?  Do you enjoy the challenge?

Green Hair

OMGoodness ... my hair has subtle shades of green in it! What's with THAT? UGH! Ever had that happen to you? UGH! I think I know why though. I think it's because a couple of weeks ago I decided to buy a metal-cleansing kit for the insides of my body ... you know ... clean out all those metal toxins. HA! Something in this potion is no doubt turning my hair green. UGH! Last time this happened was almost 30 years ago when I put some red henna in my hair and then went into a swimming pool. HA! My boss told me to stay home until I changed it ... bad influence on the kids! Now kids show up with pink and orange hair and no one blinks an eye. Funny how times change!

Graphics & Myspace Layouts

The Bachelor

So how about that bachelor Jason?  WOW … I say (from personal experience as well as this TV episode of blatant deception and drama): beware of men who claim to be in love with two women at the same time!  I will elaborate on those experiences on my love doctor blog.  I so enjoy this show nonetheless that I find my heart pulsating as the hour gets closer to the rose ceremony every week.  Last night being the finale was no exception.  As a matter of fact, I was so excited about who Jason would pick that I devoured an entire bag of chocolate chip cookies for comfort. What's with that, huh?  LOL  Anyway ... for now, suffice to say, or ask as the case may be … if a man or woman dumped you for someone else, how long would it take you to get over it; would you take that person back if he or she asked you to (in a reasonable amount of time); and what would that time frame look like for you?  I want to be the first senior bachelorette.

Seinfield

Remember Seinfeld?  Who can forget, right?!?!?  I LUV that show (yes, I still watch the reruns) because it’s about friendships!  Remember the days when we were young, single, and just “hung-out” with our buds not doing anything in particular and usually having a good time no matter what it was anyway?   For me, those days were in the 1970’s in Clearwater/Clearwater Beach, FL.  There were 4 of us girls, and we seemed to usually gather at either my or Maria’s place.  We were so totally different in regards to personalities and how we embraced life back then.  And today, we are still the best of buds and still live different lives.   If I were to suggest, I think Maria would have been Kramer; Colleen was like Jerry’s character; Phyllis like George; and I was Elaine back then.  We had our favorite breakfast shop on Missouri Street; went to the Judge’s Chambers for night-clubbing; same spot on the beach every weekend; etc. etc. etc.  Our lives were like 4 continuing sagas of nothing that amounted to much in the long run.

I miss those days.  Since I moved away from FL, I obviously don’t see my friends as often any more.  When I do, it is like we haven’t skipped a beat!   We usually get together at Phyllis’ house now because she moved inland and away from the beach, so we other 3 meet at Colleen’s condo and journey by car out to see her.  It’s like a mini-vacation going all the way out to Brooksville!  Once there, we fall back into characters!  

Now that we are all grown up (ha ha) we have evolved just like the show’s characters into different places in many ways.  But one thing is forever certain: I know we will continue to walk and laugh ourselves through life together as friends knowing that our bond is special on a Seinfeld-type-level!

 

 

 

A Renewed Friendship

I have had soooo much fun getting to know Jill McPhearson as an adult, and WOW is she ever a beautiful woman!  Yes, she and her husband have retired out west very close-by.  One of the many qualities about Jill that I adore is the one about how she really listens when I share my life experiences with her.  I know she listens because her responses are on the money.  And I know she cares because she usually makes an effort to offer me something worthwhile such as, "Bertha, maybe this is the year for you to change your holiday traditions" after patiently listening to me lament about how different things are for me during the holidays any more, and how I can't wait for December 26th to arrive!  

I recently received an email from Jill telling me we will grow old together. I realize she treasures me as well.  What about you readers?  Do you have friendships like this as well?  Please share so we can all learn from each other.