Money doesn't grow on trees. Which is good, I can't grow crap.

In case no one got the memo, we're in a recession.

My attitude about all of this, other than freaking out about how much my home has dropped from what I owe (and it's an adjustable-rate loan that has yet to reset...yeah yeah I’m one THOSE people), has been to just chug forth. What else can you do? Don't spend loads of cash (but at the same time, I'm aware that some level of spending is what's necessary...oh you catch-22!), keep your resume up to date, blah blah.

I only half-listen to the news about the economic situation, stuff about Madoff and AIG...in the grand scheme, it doesn't impact me directly. I feel like we're all running a marathon. I'm trying to not let the distractions around me stop me from plowing through. I look around to make sure that nothing is barreling straight at me, but otherwise I'll let the other runners deal with it. And Obama counts as a runner.

But today, I'm officially freaked out. Like, curl-up-in-the-fetal-position-in-the-corner-crying freaked out. I guess I thought how I'm a GenXer, we survived a massive recession a short while ago...we can all do it again. Yeah, except now it's really bad. Like, I could very easily see myself getting a job at the Gap and then busting my ass in hopes that I can become a stupid 3rd Key manager. No wait, I can very easily see myself APPLYING at the Gap, and competing with retarded-ass Orange County kids. Does a store sales award from 1994 give me an edge in an interview?!

I'm even thinking that for once, maybe people SHOULD litter in case it DOES create a job for someone.

I listen to KFI 640am in the mornings...there was a debate over how much it effs everyone over when money is put towards job programs.on one hand, at least people are getting fed, but on the other hand you're expecting everyone else to subsidize failing businesses. Like a company like GM will never go obsolete. If you let it fall completely, then someone's going to take over the assets...and THOSE people will build it back up (instead of the old skool people who are still operating under unions and pensions) and protect the workers ensuring they have work.

Have you ever thought during a really bad rainstorm that’s lasted for days “Okay Mother Nature, I get it. You can stop the rain now. You’ve made your point!” I am officially telling the Economic Zeus Gods “Okay! We got it! Too much credit! Blowing cash we don’t have! Now bring us back to normal!”

That's right bitches!

Yeahhhh...take a look at the bottom of the page to the HELOC paydown...three digits! The goal was to pay down $15k in 2007, and it's almost done.

Not that it makes a diff...this was the recommendation of Countrywide last year (to pay down $30k of my home equity loan before the rest of the loan is set to switch over at the end of 2009, i.e: pay down 15k per year for two years). Realistically, I think I'd need to pay down another $70k if I had to refinance tomorrow.

So seriously, please...just everyone foreclose already! Get it over with! Let's get the worst of it over with.

In other news, I switched jobs again. As usual, not going to post details here but if you want to know the scoop, email me. If you don't know my email, then GOOD...I don't want no stalkers anyway!

A few seriously random thoughts:

- hummus from Daphne's is like magic in my mouth. It's mouth porn.

- I can't WAIT for the next iteration of America's Best Dance Crew. The last round was absolutely incredible.

- Diet Pepsi trumps Diet Coke all the way

- I'm so annoyed that Barrack Obama hand bumping his wife is actually considered a news-worthy story

- I fantasize on so many levels how much things would be better if I just won a $100k lottery. That's it. That's all I need. I'd LIKE more, but beggers can't be choosers, and $100k after taxes would be wonderful.

- I think I found a grey hair today. I was FREAKING out. I'm going to play ignorant until this weekend, then I'm going to go on a rampage. Getting grey hair is a million times worse than a wrinkle...it's like finding out you're in menopause. But at least menopause isn't displayed all over your scalp for the whole world to see how old you are.

Going to take a nap now. I actually get home at a decent time now where I can nap! Justin can bring sexy back, but I'm bringing napping back!

Bill Gates' Last Day at Microsoft

Bill Gates is the least funniest person on the planet, but it's still interesting how he got so many people (Even Bono, gasp!) to play into this video. I dig Jay Z.

Le dernier jour de Bill Gates (Bill Gates last day)

And let it be stated...Obama's section was WAY funnier than Hillary. Girl almost makes Bill Gates look funny.

Barack, Bush, and Babylonia

I was at the gym last night (thanks Marlene :P) and I ended up watching three shows:
TMZ (not much to report, it was pre-Britney's latest meltdown)
Celebrity Apprentice (I love you Carol Alt. When i grow up, I want to be just like you. Sadly, that will never happen, but a girl can dream).
CNN

CNN aired Barack Obama's victory speech, and it reminded me of something from the John and Ken show earlier that day: in the grand scheme, the most LIKEABLE (not the most competent) person generally wins. Which is good, 'cause I kinda dig Barack and I think he's very likeable.

THEN i thought...pretty much allt he reasons I prefer Barack Obama isn't his position vs. the other candidates...it's Barack vs. Bush.

Here's the list of reasons why Barack Obama kicks ass, all compared to our current president.
Disclaimer: normally I wouldn't care at all about this, but now that I can vote (if i actually registered to vote), I feel like I probably should take note of this crap.

1. Barack isn't a country bumkin. Apparentlymost of America likes a hillbilly for their president (as evidenced by him winning a 2nd time), but Barack has zero southern drawl. He went to school in Hawaii. I dig that...I don't want someone who grew up on chicken fried gravy to run the country. I do have to admit however that at one point during his victory speech he started to pull the Martin Luther King accent, but i'll let it fly because he was discussing freedom.

2. He wasn't born into politics and had to follow his dad's dream. Call it the Gossip Girl syndrome: boy wants to follow dream X, but affluent and reputation-seeking father wants dream Y. So boy follows daddy's dream ("No, i don't WANNA go to Yale!" "But son, I went there, your father went there, and your grandfather went there. We funded their library. Now hush on these dreams of backpackingi n europe. Here's ten thousand dollars, go buy yourself something nice.") I feel like Barack (or Barry as he was apparently called in high school) truly wanted this for him, for his dreams, not because he was raised into it.

3. He's got the color thing down pat. He's not white. He's not black. Being mixed, he can hang out with all folks. Except maybe skinheads, since his hybrid blood goes against their aerian plan. Georgey-boy is as white at they get. You know how white he is? I imagine the first time he tried Indian food (made mild) he was probably all "ooohhh weeee! Now thayt is sum spah-cey food rih' there!". He's so white it's impossible for him to become any more diverse. If he knew how to use email (and AOL doesn't count), he's the guy who's off forwarding the crap about how people should boycott The Golden Compass because in the books, the kid (allegedly) kills God. Then i bet his autosignature is some religious passage. Basically he's so white that in his super hillbilly white behavior, he actually manages to offend others (like ME).

4. Barry's got a sense of style. It reminds me of a Nip/Tuck episode...Dr. Shawn McNamara gets chided by a homeless guy for wearing Armani and he offers him his old Brooks Brothers suits. Barry's wearing Armani. Georgey is wearing...is it even Brooks Brothers? I feel like whatever he's wearing, it's like an old man who puts on a sport coat over a plaid shirt with beige pants. If i have to see your face interrupting my tv show whenever there's a crisis, damn right your clothes better be aesthetically pleasing.


5. Does Georgey boy even have a sense of humor? If so, does he get that he's the joke itself? I was actually impressed with Barry went on Ellen...not because he made the appearance, but because the guy can clearly roll with the punches. First he danced with her...and for a politician, Barry's got moves. Then they sort of prank called a viewer, which I could not IMAGINE Georgey Boy ever doing. LOVED IT. During the interview the topic of gay marriage came up, and Barry gave the perfect answer. I dont' remember it perfectly, but he managed to give an answer that "protects" regular marriage while still allowing gay folks a marriage thing as well.

6. Barack's catchphrase is "Change". Keep in mind, the entire time i've been in teh US it's been ALL Bush (minus 1 month of Clinton). I'm desperate for that "change", to see what this country is like when there's not some hillbilly running it.

Although to Bush's defense, i was here for less than a year when 9/11 happened, and naturally that's created a profound impact on this country. So i really don't have much opinion on what the US was like before that...all I know is what it's like since, and what I want changed.

**Disclaimer2: i'm not saying i'm pro-Barack vs. the other candidates...i'm simply saying why I like him if i think about him relative to the current president and how he'd do in that role.