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No longer on the river and, again, an empty nester. Back to living on Fleming Island and making some more friends!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Cliff diving

As much as I hate to do it, I have to use the media/government's word for our pending financial disaster, the fiscal cliff. One of the reporters from Fox hit the streets of NYC, Times Square in fact, to ask folks what they think the cliff is all about. Of the ones shown, not many knew much about it, but most knew it was not a good thing. It is not!

As I browse my catalogs from the various mail-order people and see the lovely things for decorating my home or someone elses, I cannot help but feel sad. Where I used to just purchase whatever suited my fancy without much consideration I now do exercise restraint. Nothing is the same as it used to be, and I think nothing ever will. My neighbors just had an appraisal done on their unit for a refinance and it came back quite favorable. Quite. However, that appraisal was done before our other neighbors lowered their sales price to below "the mark"---less than half of what they have into it. Rats!
                                          
Justin is researching more economical phone plans for himself, and for me, as I am presently out from under the contract on my cell phone. Now a month to month customer. He found a lesser-known reseller, MetroPCS, which he thinks would serve us well and save about me $80 a month on my bill. Wow! If it sounds too good to be true, it might be! We are going to check that out when I get back from WI. We are also going to look for what I need to add the Internet to my little laptop for when in WI, this after I had sort of decided not to do that. He is quite the salesman!
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Years ago 'we' had a friend and business partner in my hometown, who was also our neighbor. He was the first millionaire we'd ever encountered. He was somewhat off-putting, a strictly business-type of guy, but once you got to know him, he was fine. He told me something once which I ponder to this day: "There is nothing worse than a former smoker or someone who has lost weight..." Think about it!

One of my friends has lost weight this year. I am glad for her but now her every conversation or comments have something to do with cardio workouts or similar. Enough already! She claims it is not obsession to exercise and lose weight, but if it isn't, I don't know what is! When someone quits smoking successfully, they are all over everyone else who smokes, trying to get them to quit, too. It is misery loves company, but in reverse, kind of....