Random musings

Thought I would throw out a few (and by a few, I am sure I will end up with well over a dozen) thoughts running around that brain of mine.

• I have a lot of meaningful people in my life from family, friends, relatives, and casual acquaintances. If you are reading this blog, you are probably one of those people (unless you just happened by), and I thank you for occupying some part of my heart and mind.
• I think the world is too materialistic. If you have been to my house, you know we are not into nice, expensive things. I just don't care about that stuff. True, I am still debating about that flat-screen TV (leaning more towards no), but mostly what I have is just fine. I think this may be the year I am going to have to retire my almost 15-year old skirt. And I have been wearing the same PSU winter coat for years. Unless I get a job where fashion matters (and clearly it does not at my office), I see no reason to spend a lot of money on clothes or keep up with the latest styles.
• I think athletes are overpaid. Should Big Ben have gotten a lesser contract? He is the franchise QB. As long as others in the league are making the money they do, how can the Steelers not pay him as much as they did? I admit I had this little fantasy (not that kind) where Big Ben said he would take a much smaller amount to make a statement. Then, other players would end up getting less money as a result, and maybe the country would get its priorities straight. But alas it was not meant to be. Hopefully Ben will spend his money around Pittsburgh and stimulate the economy here.
• I don't think it was necessary for the government/IRS to spend 42 MILLION DOLLARS to let Americans know about the "economic stimulus package." Hey, I have a good idea about how to stimulate the economy--don't spend that kind of money on a letter like that. Yes, I know there are probably a couple hundred people who have not heard about this, so they might have needed the letter. But when this country is in the debt it is and most American families are struggling to make ends meet, this really makes me mad.
• I hope most politicians are not corrupt in some way, but I am not so sure. This week we learned the governor of NY had been involved in some prostitution ring for years, having paid something like 80 grand. His poor family. Sadly, this is not the first time we have learned of a scandal like this and I am sure it won't be the last.
• Finally, the PA primary is going to mean something in the race for presidency. Having been a registered republican for a few years, this does not affect me so much (though I will probably vote for Ron Paul just because), but think of all the democrats in this state who will have a voice. Good for them.
• Why are some people up in arms about the possibility of showing ID to vote? I just don't get this. How can you be a functioning adult and not have an ID? Sure, not everyone drives, but at some point, you are probably going to need an ID, to show proof of age (whether to buy alcohol in yours 20s or to get a senior discount in later life). You might have to cash a check (who has not deposited money at the bank only to take some back; you need an ID for that), or you might want to sign up for something that requires an ID.
• I am in a good age bracket when it comes to TV. I was exchanging some emails with the P-G's TV critic the other day, and it turns out that 25 to 54 is the targeted age group, at least for local news. I might not matter in radio, but I matter in TV. And I feel downright youthful!
• I worry about the country, in terms of economics and safety, and I am not sure which scares me more. I don't have any great solutions at least not for the latter. Kids are killing kids across our country. Terrorists are wiping out tens of people at a time. I worry that another 9/11 could happen in my lifetime. I cried off and on for days. I checked the internet every five minutes to see what was going on. I watched Fox News and CNN as soon as I got home, for hours at a time. I don't want to go through that again.
• Verizon FiOS is not worth the money. We have had countless problems with our TV service that are just not going away. I thought that when Comcast told me that FiOS was not good and people came back to Comcast, that Comcast was just trying to sway me. Now, I think not. As I am writing this, I have been on hold for about 20 minutes. I called on Sunday to complain and was supposed to get a call back in 23 hours. Well, it has been almost 72 hours. I feel a letter to the P-G coming on...
• I really need to get more involved in something worthwhile. Before Jordan, I was actively involved in the PSU alumni association (I was on the board, I worked on the newsletter, I planned events, etc.), I volunteered for Pittsburgh Cares and sat on their PR committee, I participated in numerous run and walks for various causes, and I was in the choir. Now I am just in the choir, and I feel kind of lazy. I believe I have so much to be thankful for, that I should get my butt out there and help out in some way. Let's hope I can carry this one out.