I'm not sure which one is funnier, so they're both getting posted for Friday Funnies.

I was listening to WayFM this morning and they posed an interesting question that I thought could spark some great comments on our blog...

How much money would you and your family have to make in order for you to say, "That's enough; I don't need to make any more."
The host of the show asked for people to call in and give their amounts. He said they wouldn't judge or be self righteous over the amounts, but I must say I got a little frustrated (and almost broke my rule of calling into a radio station) to say something. People called in with various amounts: $150,000; $55,000; one guy was $300,000 which sparked discussion among the hosts because they thought that was too much.
Sure, a family can live comfortably on $45-60,000 depending on where you live of course. But that doesn't mean that the wage earner(s) will go to their superiors and say they don't want to make any more money especially if you have children and you want to provide all that you can for them.
I know that it's not all about the money and it's important that we don't get hung up in materialism...I know this, but I also know that God doesn't intend for his children to be poor; to struggle financially. In fact, it's quite the opposite: He wants us to prosper so that we can in turn bless other people.
So what bothered me the most this morning was the fact that these christian radio hosts were almost disgusted that so many people would want to make a signficant amount of money. The hosts themselves said they were just fine with what they were making - the main host rents a townhouse and his wife stays at home. His point was that he's visited extrememly poverished countries where people live on practically nothing and compared to those countries he is extremely wealthy. (my point would be that we don't live in an impoverished country)
The other co-host wants to make $10,000 more and that will be sufficient. But they both balked at the third host who wanted to make $150,000 - why? So he could fulfill his dream of owning his own airplane and dream house. How awesome! The guy has a dream and his co-hosts/friends just make him feel like an idiot for it.
But that's the perspective I wanted to share - think about your dreams and aspirations, then think about how much more money you would need to make in order to fulfill all of those dreams? God put that desire in your heart and He promises us that He will fulfill those desires. Why must we put God in a box and say well He might fulfill my desires, but not if it's over $30,000 or my current salary.
So at what point will we be making enough money to be content? $10,000; $20,000; $50,000 more than you're currently making? (or some other amount) I'd love to hear what people have to say about this topic, so be sure to leave comments.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - Margaret Thatcher

Ok so I thought I could resist from a Hot Topic Tuesday, but I cannot. Not with the recent news break yesterday regarding AIG. In case you've been under a rock, you can read the story on foxnews.com. Of course it was all of the news yesterday on talk radio and world news. My favorite take on it however is this particular article on foxnews, quoting the Iowa senator who suggests that the AIG executives take a Japanese approach to their mistakes and either apologize or commit suicide. His point is that most Japanese men would rather commit suicide than issue a public apology. Of course, I do not condone suicide, but I do find this rather comical and proof of the outrage of so many Americans regarding the scandalous "bailout" plan.

If you've been an Opp Knocker for a while, you'll recall my first post on the bailout plan and my lack of support of this grandiose plan. Now, not even 3 months later, we've got an even bigger mess on our hands.
I think what's most frustrating, however, is our leadership pointing fingers back at AIG and other corporations who spent the bailout money irresponsibly. My problem with that is why didn't we monitor their spending more closely? Why did we get to this point? Why are we just now starting to implement a "watch dog" mentality? OBVIOUSLY these corporations aren't good stewards of their money, otherwise they wouldn't be on Washington's doorstep asking for a hand out.
We haven't even begun to talk about the auto makers, but I do find this a valid point to ponder:

“So Mr. [Timothy] Geithner [Treasury Secretary], instead of being outraged at AIG’s last revelations, perhaps you can explain to all of us why a UAW worker earning $29 an hour must give back wages and benefits to keep their company alive, while the architects of the biggest financial disaster in history get to keep their gold-plated contracts,” Morici (economist) says.
(You can read the rest of the story here.)

I don't even know how to comment on that because I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it, honestly. It's a "dammed if do" "dammed if don't" situation that we've gotten ourselves into.
Comments? Opinions? Your own plan for a bailout? They're welcome and it's another great HOT topic Tuesday on our hands...one that will likely come back around again.

My sister is a little excited about the baby on the way.
I can see the writing on the wall... har har har

Please read!

If you are an owner of a dog that belongs to a "dangerous-breed" Category and also have a small child, please take this as a warning.Don't leave your dog with the child unattended under any circumstances.





Only a little moment was enough for the following to happen...

Spring has Sprung People!! This past weekend has been absolutely beautiful here in Nashville. We had the pleasure of 70+ degree temperatures and nice, summer-like evenings. Today is supposed to set record highs here in Nashvegas. (we won't talk about the rest of the week that's bringing 40 degree temps...)
What's better is that we're half-way into our new house and got to enjoy the weekend in our cozy little neighborhood.
Brent's parents (J&J) came in on Friday for a quick stop on their way down to Alabama. We got a few things done around the house on Friday since Brent and I took the day off, but the majority of productivity was on Saturday and Sunday as my family worked their fannies off to get our new house painted! We had some pretty horrific colors to cover up and thankfully a wonderful paint crew to get it done. (And don't worry - I got the green light to paint from my doctor. Thanks to the beautiful weather, we were able to open up all the windows in the house and make it fume-free)
Jennifer and Bronson had to head back to Chattanooga on Sunday afternoon, but Mom and Dad stayed through this morning. I left work early on Monday, arrived at the new house only to find our house was becoming more of a home! They had worked really hard all day to get the finishing touches on paint and clean all the bathrooms. Moms sure do know how to clean, don't they?
It was bittersweet for Brent and I to head back to our apartment on Sunday night, but we haven't moved any of our furniture yet. There was definitely a sense of dread as I walked all three flights of stairs to our apartment that has lost its luster. It's a lot like buying a house that is brand new: the first few months you live in that brand new house, you think it's FABULOUS. Then as it starts to get "broken" in, you realize that it's just another house. As Brent and I lay in bed, listening to the two-2 year old boys in the apartment below us thunder across their floors (and what sounds like, their walls too), we had no doubt that we'd be moving sooner rather than later.
Everyone's asking for pictures, but Brent and I agreed not to post too many because we want people to come SEE our new house! Selfish? Maybe, but if you know me well, you know I love having dinner parties and having people at my house. We finally have enough room for everyone, so take this as an open invitation to come see us!
I will post a few pictures from this weekend and also a sneak peek of the house and some "before" pictures. To see the "after" you'll have to make a trip up our way...
(pictures to come soon...)

a HUGE thank you again to my parents, Jennifer, Bronson, J & J for coming up this past weekend to help. We DEFINITELY could not have done it without you all.

So this really should have been Hot Topic Tuesday but I missed it by a few days...
I have a few thoughts/questions to ponder and would like to use my blog for those purposes. (Oh the joys of blogging...)
Many people (husbands mostly) are in complete denial that they joined their wives on Monday nights for the past 6 weeks to settle in on the couch and get sucked into the drama of ABC's The Bachelor. It's ok men/husbands, you don't have to admit on my blog, just know that us wives appreciate the time you spend on the couch watching a ridiculous show about a man/woman trying to find the love of his life in 6 weeks in the most unbelievable locations on this planet. (Note: So that I don't get in trouble, I want to make it clear that in no way do my above comments indicate it to be true or false that my husband joins me on the couch every Monday night for The Bachelor.)
This week's Bachelor "The Final Rose" was a shocker to say the least. "In the most dramatic after the final rose ceremony wrap up yet..." there were some MAJOR turn of events. If you haven't watched the episode because it's cooking in your DVR and you're waiting for your husband to go to bed to truly enjoy the episode, I'll try not to spoil the ending for you but by now there's been PLENTY of media surrounding the episode, so I'm sure you've already heard. If not, stop reading this post and go watch it!
Anyone who knows Brent and I know that we dated for 6 years before Brent ever decided to ask me to marry him. Of course, it was all in God's perfect timing and we were (obviously) in no hurry. However, our bestest friends in the world knew after just a few short weeks of dating that they were meant to be together and they married not too long after that.

But these questions roam my mind while watching/talking/thinking about the Bachelor:
How in the WORLD can you fall in love with someone in 6 weeks?
How can you fall in love with someone in 6 weeks while dating 5-6 other people at the same time?
How can you fall in love with someone in 6 weeks while dating 5-6 other people at the same time while in the most fantasy-filled locations on the earth? (ie: mansions, New Zealand, helicopter/plane rides, hot tubs, "fantasy suites"...give me a break)

I think the outcome of this season was more real that any other episode because I don't see how the bachelor/bachelorette can get so close to the last 2 finalists then just throw one to the curb at the last minute. That's like going through a horrible break up and turning around 2 seconds later to fall in love with someone else. HELLO - in the "real world" we call that the "rebound girl."
The fact that Jason was honest enough to tell Melissa that he just "isn't that into you" isn't that shocking. What IS shocking is the fact that he can turn right around, wipe off his Fake tears and run to Molly.

After 13 seasons, ABC obviously has done something right: I've read NUMEROUS blog posts about this show, I have several friends that we text throughout the whole show, inside jokes, and MULTIPLE co-workers all the watch the show each week. Even though we all know it's COMPLETELY and TOTALLY unrealistic, somehow we're sucked into this "reality show..." What's wrong with us?

Comments?? They're welcome...let's strike up a great conversation. Come on - I know you're out there and you watched this....