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Blog Prompt: Today is Disobedience Day. If you could protest about something, what would it be?

I could whine all day long about how I feel about what are government has been doing the past few months, but I don’t think you guys have all day long.

I am going to post about something that is effecting our family and is effecting many others also.

My husband was a firefighter for 32 years and choose to participate in their pension program and not pay Social Security. BUT, he also worked in the private sector for over 12 years to make sure he had enough quarters for Social Security. Nowadays, you need more than a pension plan to make ends meet and Social Security was going to help in his golden years.

Now that he only has 2 years to go until he is 62, we recently found out that he may not qualify for all of his social security benefits. This is due to the Windfall Elimination Provision.

If you work for an employer who does not withhold Social Security taxes from your salary, such as a government agency, teachers, firefighters, policeman, etc., the pension you get based on at work may reduce your Social Security benefits. Even though you have paid into Social Security for years through part time jobs or from switching jobs, congress considered this, “Double Dipping”. You have to work 30 years or more in the private sector to not have any deductions from your social security. In my husbands case, because he didn’t work enough years, he will only receive HALF of his social security each month. He should receive what he has paid in!

I could not believe what I was reading and found out that just about 1 million people will be effected by this law! The provision was adopted back in 1983 because cuts needed to be made in Social Security. Also in the provision, the president and congress are exempt from this law!! Oh and lets not forget all the Social Security benefits given to illegal aliens. That’s where the cuts should be made, not from people that have worked hard for their Social Security benefits.

HOW DARE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS PENALIZE HARD WORKING AMERICANS FROM THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY!! There are so many of these government employees that have to work part time jobs to make ends meet. I know a lot of teachers that do this too.

How can we fight back? You must write your Congressmen and sign the petition and maybe we can get this law repealed. There is legislature out there, but at the moment, it’s in limbo it seems. What’s new.

Please, if you are a government employee, your spouse, family member or friend, let them know about the Windfall Elimination Provision and how it may take big chunks out of your retirement years.

Everyone have a great July 4th and God Bless America,

Tags: Windfall Elimination Provision // 2 Comments »

My husband and I have been flipping homes for quite awhile now and loved what we were doing. Then the real estate fell completely out and we had 3 flip homes that were just sitting there and eating up all our capital we had worked so hard to earn.

As the months went on and the houses didn’t sell, we were slowly falling into debt that was hard on both of us. We called the banks, credit card companies and worked with them until we were able to sell the flip homes and get ourselves back on track. I think by getting help very early, we were able to stop the high interest on our credit cards and wait for the market to ease off.

We are still not completely out of the red, but are slowly seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. One of the things we looked into was to use Debt Consolidation for our bills. After doing a little research, this would have been great for our credit cards we used to buy supplies for the flip homes. One bill, one payment, less interest and a lot less worry on our part.

Debt Consolidation is a great place to get Debt Help, Mortgage Loans, Refinance Quotes, Credit Solutions, and help with your bills and if you are having trouble with spouse spending. Check out all this great information to help you before you get so far in debt, it will take much longer to get yourself out.

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Blog Prompt: Today is I Forgot Day. What is something you forgot and how did you solve the problem?

Pat, you are asking an aging woman if she has forgotten anything?????  There isn’t enough room on my blog to list the thoughts and items I forget to do.

Walk into a room and realize I can’t remember why I was in there.  So, I will go back out and come back in again and it hits me what I was in there for.    That use to bother me a lot, but then I remember what I have learned about Alzheimer’s and if you can recall what you were trying to remember, that it was a very normal process of aging.

I guess since I don’t work in an office anymore I am really not pressed to remember really important things anymore.  I do forget sometimes to make the deposit of rents that receive to take to the bank.  Yes, I can’t believe I can forget to put money in the bank.  *LOL*

I’m hoping all the reading and puzzles I do and other activities is keeping my aging brain active.  I want to be alert as long as possible.

Last night I watched Tuesday’s Americas Got Talent and saw this wonderful man from Mayfield, KY.  A town close to where I am from in Missouri.  He is a true country boy for sure, but he will tug at your heart when he sings.  I hope you enjoy.

Remember to have a great day,

Tags: womens issues // 2 Comments »

Do you have a home that is rustic and you love that log cabin look?  I saw the neatest website for rustic furniture that is just wonderful.  It reminds me of that little cabin in the woods feeling.   They have furniture for the bedroom, kitchen, living room, bathroom, office  and the patio.  I will tell my friend that camps out about the really cool firepits they have to offer.

I have been looking for the perfect lamp for my lanai and I think this one fits the bill.  I definatly have rustic furniture out there and this would fit right in.

I also love the patio furniture to put outside where we BBQ.  With a couple of bright cushions, it would be perfect.

Check out Scenicfurniture.com for all your rustic, log cabin type furniture that you need.

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Blog Prompt: Today is Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day. If you could create your own flavor ice cream, what would it taste like?

hhhhhhhmmmmm…….Ice cream in any flavor is great!!!!  But, if I was making my own I would mix chocolate, dark chocolate, brownies, hot fudge and a taste of coffee.  Sounds like my dessert in one big package.

I love making my own ice cream once in awhile, but oh my goodness the heavy cream you have to use to make it.  So fattening, but oh so good.  I actually really like the new ice creams that have come out that is low in fat.  Great stuff to satisfy your taste for ice cream.

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My next week in Project 365 using Weeds and Wildflowers 365 kits and elements.  I LOVE the new templates that they have to offer now.

Tags: Weeds and Wildflowers // 2 Comments »

Even though I live in Florida, my feet are always cold.  I chalk it up to going through menopause.  Anyway, I wear Acorn Slippers all the time in the house, even when its 90 degrees outside.  They are comfy, soft and last forever.  The picture to the left shows the pair I wear all the time.  Aren’t they cute!!

The Acorn Polar Moc II has an outsole with skid-resistant tread for sure footing, fleece lined to keep away moisture, memory foam midsole over comfort cushion layer of featherweight EVA guarantees total comfort and therapy for feet, which makes this the best selling Acorn Polar Mac offered by Hanks Clothing.

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Personalized Creations Bangles Beads Bows has a couple of new really cute bows for the 4th of July season. A cute red, white and blue Patriotic clippie looks great with your favorite patriotic outfit. I love how the stars pop!

And we have a Toddler Patriotic Korker for the little ones. Done in red, white and blue and is the perfect size for the littlest one in your family. This looks great with our thin headbands.

Come and check out all the latest items we have to offer at Personalized Creations Bangles Beads Bows.

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I love to get my hands dirty and play in the dirt and when it comes to organic gardening, I am all for it. But, since I have such a small area behind my house, I only have room for my Butterfly Garden, which is full of beautiful flowers right now.

I don’t want to use any kind of chemicals on that garden because I want the caterpillars to live and I don’t want my butterflies and hummingbirds to die from eating that.  Also, the idea of all the chemicals seeping in the ground and making its way to the holding ponds is not good for the fowl that visit there all the time.

I love the products that Saferbrand.com has to offer and I have been practicing organic gardening for some time now.

The killing soap, pictured left, is a great product for all your plants.  Soapy water will cause bugs to die naturally and keep your flowers and veggies healthy without all the chemicals.  I have a spray bottle full of this stuff ready to carry around with me once a week to look for bugs.    They also offer a great fungicide which we use a lot here in Florida.

Designing Spaces TV showcases Safer® brand and its wide range of OMRI Listed® Organic pest control products in a recent show. You can see a video clip here for more information.

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Blog Prompt - “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” ~Plato. Do you find Plato’s statement to be as accurate today as they were nearly 2000 years ago?

Yes, this statement still holds true today.  Even though they say good people sometimes  commit crimes.  Not in my heart or mind do good people ever commit crimes!

And it saddens me more and more to see more people turning to crime as a way of  “helping” them in a crises.  Stealing isn’t a way of helping you out of a situation.

It also saddens me to see that the family core is more and more not teaching our children between right and wrong.  How can anyone live with what only bad brings them?  Where do they learn that only bad things are good?  I can’t imagine having a heart that only feels bad.

When will it stop?

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I have a couple more layouts using Weeds and Wildflowers Project 365 items for another incentive free kit.  I can’t wait to see Hodge Podge #13.

Have a good day,

Tags: Uncategorized // 4 Comments »

I love having fashionable accessories and that also means my watch. Ladies, your watch can go with your outfits too. Need a gift for a special occasion and you don’t want to pay top dollar when you can get really nice Citizen Watches, Casio watches or my favorite Seiko watch.

The watch pictured left, is the watch I have been wearing for years now. I love how it looks, how it goes with everything and also looks great with evening wear. Water resistant and has lasted so long now and still looks great. A beautiful watch for a fraction of the price. You can never go wrong with a Seiko and this makes a great gift watch too.  It a great lasting watch for any occasion.

Or how about a beautiful Seiko diamond watch for that very special occasion.  A little bling, but not too much.  Gold or silver tone or both.  I personally love both colors to go with all my jewelry.  This is a great watch to treat myself with, since it is my birthday this month.

Bluedial.com is the perfect place for you to go to find that special gift for a loved one.  The prices are great, free shipping and great warranties.

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