Friday, March 06, 2009
Today: Injustice
So, life is simply not fair; I get that and I tell it to my children almost every day. Generally I can just go with the flow and deal with it but over the past 10 days or so, these 4 things have really gotten under my skin. Some may be small things - I get that - but when you add them on to everything else I just end up scratching my head wondering what in the heck is wrong with our world today.
1) Our trash company.
When we lived in the AV we paid about $55 for 3 months of trash service. We got 3 large bins - one for trash, one for recycle, one for green waste. If we had extra trash, we simply set it out on the curb ~ no big deal. If we needed a big item picked up, no problem, and no charge.
Here, we pay our trash through our HOA fees of $39/month. Since our HOA currently does not do a whole lot for our neighborhood, I'll say that 80% of that probably accounts for trash service - seriously. (Please, no comments on all you think the HOA is doing; I don't think that's the case in our situation!) We get one big can for trash and one SMALL BIN for recycle. If we go over that, we are charged about $1.50 per bag. They will pick up large items for a fee.
But it's not just about the cost. It's about the idea that in Colorado - this tree-hugging, "green" state, they make it much harder to recycle than in California! Our recycle bins (plural - we have so much recycling that we usually more than fill our two bins) blew away a few weeks ago. They blew away because they are SMALL. And when I called the company, they cheerfully told me how happy they'd be to replace them for $16 apiece. WHAT?!?
That, to me, is outrageous. Why not provide a decent size container, to promote recycling AND prevent them from blowing away?
(And did I mention we have to pay a separate recycling fee to the City, for which we receive no benefit? Hmph.)
(And since I'm on the subject of recycling, the last time I took cans in for cash in CA I believe the going rate was $1.20 per pound. I GET that in CA you pay CRV, but do you know how much my kids got this past weekend for all the cans they've been saving and crushing for the past 20 months? $8.25. They were paid 25c per pound.)
Why bother?!
2) Airlines.
I get that the economy sucks. I get that airlines have been in financial troubles for years now. But all their cutbacks are completely affecting their service and it's getting ridiculous.
Recently we had a scheduling conflict with some of our airline tickets. The fee to change said tickets would have been $150 PER TICKET. That's almost double the value of the ticket! Is that ridiculous, or what?
You are now charged for snacks, water (!), pillows, TV, and baggage. I even heard recently that they are considering putting a coin slot on the toilets and charging you $1.40 to poo.
Service declines, and we put up with it. What choice do we have, I guess?
Those are my issues... but let me tell you about some things my friends are dealing with that are just beyond belief to me.
3) A young man, nearly 13, has been bounced from home to home since he lived in a Russian orphanage. Last fall his adoptive mother (father always absent) decided he was too much to handle and a couple we know was approached to adopt him. For the past 6 months this child has bonded with his new parents, particularly enjoying having a father for the first time. The child came to know the Lord and has really thrived in this new environment.
But guess what? Adoptive mom decides she wants him back. And back he goes. This is absolutely heartbreaking.
4) I guess I can't really go into much detail on this last situation at this time... but suffice it to say another friend is battling The Powers That Be for her child. It is a battle that will probably involve many, many months, a lot of expense, and much heartbreak. She is doing it because it is the right thing to do, not only for her child but for others as well ~ but the current situation is awful and the forecast is bleak.
It simply isn't fair.
So I realize that my ranting will not change anything, but I promised you earlier in the week that I would do it anyway. :) In the spirit of it being Friday... I'll post after this with something a little more lighthearted. Happy weekend...
xoxo
1) Our trash company.
When we lived in the AV we paid about $55 for 3 months of trash service. We got 3 large bins - one for trash, one for recycle, one for green waste. If we had extra trash, we simply set it out on the curb ~ no big deal. If we needed a big item picked up, no problem, and no charge.
Here, we pay our trash through our HOA fees of $39/month. Since our HOA currently does not do a whole lot for our neighborhood, I'll say that 80% of that probably accounts for trash service - seriously. (Please, no comments on all you think the HOA is doing; I don't think that's the case in our situation!) We get one big can for trash and one SMALL BIN for recycle. If we go over that, we are charged about $1.50 per bag. They will pick up large items for a fee.
But it's not just about the cost. It's about the idea that in Colorado - this tree-hugging, "green" state, they make it much harder to recycle than in California! Our recycle bins (plural - we have so much recycling that we usually more than fill our two bins) blew away a few weeks ago. They blew away because they are SMALL. And when I called the company, they cheerfully told me how happy they'd be to replace them for $16 apiece. WHAT?!?
That, to me, is outrageous. Why not provide a decent size container, to promote recycling AND prevent them from blowing away?
(And did I mention we have to pay a separate recycling fee to the City, for which we receive no benefit? Hmph.)
(And since I'm on the subject of recycling, the last time I took cans in for cash in CA I believe the going rate was $1.20 per pound. I GET that in CA you pay CRV, but do you know how much my kids got this past weekend for all the cans they've been saving and crushing for the past 20 months? $8.25. They were paid 25c per pound.)
Why bother?!
2) Airlines.
I get that the economy sucks. I get that airlines have been in financial troubles for years now. But all their cutbacks are completely affecting their service and it's getting ridiculous.
Recently we had a scheduling conflict with some of our airline tickets. The fee to change said tickets would have been $150 PER TICKET. That's almost double the value of the ticket! Is that ridiculous, or what?
You are now charged for snacks, water (!), pillows, TV, and baggage. I even heard recently that they are considering putting a coin slot on the toilets and charging you $1.40 to poo.
Service declines, and we put up with it. What choice do we have, I guess?
Those are my issues... but let me tell you about some things my friends are dealing with that are just beyond belief to me.
3) A young man, nearly 13, has been bounced from home to home since he lived in a Russian orphanage. Last fall his adoptive mother (father always absent) decided he was too much to handle and a couple we know was approached to adopt him. For the past 6 months this child has bonded with his new parents, particularly enjoying having a father for the first time. The child came to know the Lord and has really thrived in this new environment.
But guess what? Adoptive mom decides she wants him back. And back he goes. This is absolutely heartbreaking.
4) I guess I can't really go into much detail on this last situation at this time... but suffice it to say another friend is battling The Powers That Be for her child. It is a battle that will probably involve many, many months, a lot of expense, and much heartbreak. She is doing it because it is the right thing to do, not only for her child but for others as well ~ but the current situation is awful and the forecast is bleak.
It simply isn't fair.
So I realize that my ranting will not change anything, but I promised you earlier in the week that I would do it anyway. :) In the spirit of it being Friday... I'll post after this with something a little more lighthearted. Happy weekend...
xoxo
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Today: Education
Georgia sent me this link some time ago and it's very, very cool. Robert has even tried (with success) the tip about the freezer ~ I remember him doing that a few years ago at our old house in Palmdale. Check it out and experience some URAZAWA.
Here's the linky:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/technology/personaltech/19basics.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&no_interstitial
Here's the linky:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/technology/personaltech/19basics.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&no_interstitial
Monday, March 02, 2009
Today: Entertainment
Believe it or not, I have had several blog posts swirling around in my head but they simply haven't found their way onto the screen.
I've considered educating you.
I've considered ranting to you on the injustices I'm seeing in my current life.
I've considered entertaining you with anecdotes about Grace.
Perhaps I will do all of those this week.
Where to begin? I know - you all will vote for Grace, won't you?
All right. Here's a couple of the ways Grace brought us laughter this past week.
1. She slapped me in the face. When I looked at her in surprise (yes, and anger!) she said, "Mommy, that was a love pat!"
2. We were ready to take Josh to school when I called Grace. As we're walking out the door... she appeared at the top of the stairs:
I know she looked like a clown, but I had to take her like that. We were already late! She thought she looked beeeeeeeautiful!
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