Dear Senator: Now About MY money

There are Social Security recipients in California, as you know.

 I cannot help being angry when I hear Social Security lumped under "entitlements." This is OUR money. We paid it in whether we wanted to or not. We voted for people in good faith, and some of them "borrowed" it without our permission. It has not been repaid.  If we borrow without permission, or do not repay what we borrow, we are in serious trouble. 

Medicare is not a gift. It comes out of the Social Security I am STILL paying into. And my Prescription coverage is deducted before I see the money. Then from the check I receive, I pay almost two hundred dollars more for a supplement, without which I could not afford the hospital, the retina repair specialist, or even my personal physician.


This money is NOT the property of any political party to keep in part to make up for budget foolishness in other areas, or for whatever was financed with what they "borrowed."

My friends and I are still working. The Social Security we already get does not sustain us in frugal living, and so we work. Please do not allow anyone to take away more of our money, OUR MONEY, and leave us out on an ice floe to die.

Sincerely,

Margaret Fleming

HELLO WORLD - Lady Antebellum

I may need to establish a new award.  This song by Lady Antebellum is blood pressure medicine for me--nothing better the radio could play when I'm on my way to work or on the way home thru evening traffic.  Confession:  the video brought tears to my eyes--something I never thought a music video could do!
So, yeah, I'm a fan now.

AND THE NEXT MAJ AWARD GOES TO . . .

Just got my own copy of HOSTAGE.  And of course, the next MAJ goes to Robert Crais for showing that teenagers and kids can do important, demanding things, come up with creative solutions in the face of danger,  and even save the day. 

 

(Completely aside from the award, I just like his books.)

AND THE AWARD GOES TO:

Announcing the debut of the MAJ award, which for now goes only to mystery writers, but later, who knows.  Obviously the MAJ isn't writing to get what we need, even tho some of us do sorta need our mysteries!  MAJ is for fun, and we do need fun.  

Since this is the anniversary of the death of beloved Robert B. Parker, the very first MAJ is awarded posthumously to him for Best Female Character Created by a Guy!  Sometimes I can almost hear Susan talking to Spenser-- or almost see her.

Congratulations.

CLUTTER - getting smart to get what we need

Is your New Year's resolution to build some new drawers or cabinets or even more ambitious storage to hold what you haven't yet thrown away or given away?    

AARP (of all places) has a quickie six-step tutorial about hiring a contractor.  Hopefully, it applies to all states.  It includes checking out the prospects, what to insist on, even how to negotiate!

Now all you need is to get somebody fifty-something to admit he or she's a member, and to lend you the Jan/Feb 2011 magazine.    Or you can pretend you're going to build a store room and just read their bit on Dancing with the Stars!

Just put my money back where you found it!

For the first time in ages, I bought TIME at the checkstand.  I salute the woman named Phyllis for talking back to Michael Crowley, who supposedly wants Social Security payments cut.   So for the only time, I wrote to TIME:

To: letters@time.com

Let's hear it for Phyllis Hagmaier, Williamsburg, VA (January 10)!
Social Security is not a gift. Not only have we paid into Social Security all our lives, but people working long past retirement age still pay in.


Then Medicare is deducted from the monthly payout. And it pays only part of medical expenses.

The names of people who authorized "borrowing" should be published. But above all, the debt should be repaid.
                                       ***
Maybe we should stop worrying for a minute about identity theft, and get our Social Security savings paid back.

Thanks to TIME for publishing Phyllis' letter.

LAST MINUTE GIFTS: PART TWO

One more thing:
Parties or no parties, maybe give yourself a gift--eliminate one thing that might be causing that upset stomach you've been trying to ignore.   One thing like sugar, or Jeroboam size coffee, or refusing to exercise, or maybe excess arguing with the boss or whoever. 

If that doesn't work, what if you gave yourself a talk with your doctor, or gave yourself a new doctor who listens?
Happy next few years!