Greed or Stupidity?

What is it about some people who take advantage of a good intention? I dated a guy once and a mutual friend invited us to dinner. The friend could afford dinner but it was definitely a little sacrifice on his part to offer the treat. My date, knowing this, STILL ordered the most expensvie item on the menu and we are talking over $30 for his entree. I have always wondered if he was exhibiting greed over the prospect of an expensive meal he wouldn't have to pay for or he was just, plain stupid in matter of social rubrics. We parted company soon after that and I think this meal out contributed greatly to my decision!

I keep running into this type of behavior, however, and from somewhat unexpected sources. One friend invited a lonely fellow parishioner to a simple breakfast. Again, the friend was not wealthy but she felt moved to offer this other person a little treat and companionship. Breakfast is usually an inexpensive prospect but her guest proceeded to order a complete breakfast PLUS several additional sides, coffee, cocoa, milk, and orange juice. She topped it all off by ordering pie to go. Again, was it greed or gross stupidity?

Some gentlemen I knew decided to have a man's morning out and have an early lunch before going on with their day. A female aquaintance overheard their plans and pushed her way into the outing by inviting herself. The man in the group who was treating was more than a bit shocked when not only did he have to pay for her meal, too, but she ordered a complete one to go . . . on his tab. Greed or social stupidity?

Thinking about it, I'm hoping these people were just stupid when it came to the nicities of accepting an invitation. It would be very sad to think they would plan on taking advantage of people. Whether it was greed or stupidity, this kind of person will eventually find themselves lonely as second invites will be long in coming. Knowing one of the 'players' in the restaurant game, I would be very quick to ask for separate checks if she invitied herself to my table. Sad world when there is more take than give in our behavior.

A Milestone . . .?

After years of THINKING about it, I finally put together my thoughts and have written a book! Although I would prefer to have it picked up by a publisher, I'm thinking that self-publishing might be the way to go in order to keep my rights to the material. Anyway, I am the proud owner of a rough copy of a 140 page manuscript. I don't know what that will result in as a book format but probably not a huge book. Just have to sell a few more quilts and such to start the publishing process. What are the chances?

Must be in the writing mode as I am already working on another book. My computer area is cluttered with pages of ideas, rough drafts, and stacks of paper. If messy is the sign of a great mind, I'm a genius!

Naturally, the upcoming holidays takes time away from what I WANT to do with what I HAVE to do. Sigh . . .

Christmas baking starts next week after the freezer gets defrosted and ready for cookie storage. Word of advice: Never purchase anything except a frost-free freezer no matter how much you save. I'm just saying . . .

A Blessed Advent!

The first Sunday in Advent! Where has the year gone this time? It seems like we just sacrificed our way through Lent and celebrated Easter and now the Church year is starting over again.

For once, I got the majority of my Christmas tasks done in November so I can enjoy the process of Advent in a better frame of mind. I certainly don't need Black Friday shopping to get me in the mood!

As we begin Advent, we are certainly finding a lot to pray for given the attitude of the world and the problems in our country. I'm praying and have been praying that our politicians start recognizing the needs of the citizens that put them into office in the first place and enact laws that respect them as citizens. Political power sure seems to overshadow responsibility.

I'm also praying for the Catholics I know who still think our president was the best thing to happen to this country! A friend hasn't spoken to me since the election because I differed on who to vote for! I'm a simple voter. The candidate's view on abortion decides my vote every time. The president got funding for his election from Planned Parenthood. His wife worked with Planned Parenthood. It might just be me, but I'm thinking he is in favor of abortion? Anyway, a Advent gift of prayer for the safety of the unborn seems a good goal towards Christmas.

Also thinking about the festive side of the holiday as I begin to think about Christmas baking. I love an excuse to bake and what better time of the year?

I still have a lot of crocheting to get done before December 25th! I like making and giving handmade gifts. We have a long drive today so you can be sure my yarn and crochet hook will be going along for the ride!

Hope everyone has something great to look forward to this week!

God bless,
Barbara

Happy Thanksgiving!

It seems like I was just putting away the leftovers from LAST Thanksgiving and here we are getting ready for THIS year's Thanksgiving. Time goes by so quickly!

In spite of all the problems our government and politicians cause in our life, we still have a great deal to be thankful for this year. We still have God and we still have the ability to vote which will eventually make a difference if everyone takes it seriously.

Wonderful to have my two college daughters home for the holiday. Quick visits as they have two more weeks of school before Christmas break along with final exams.

I give myself a week off from 'fancy' kitchen work before I begin the Christmas baking. Sigh . . . There is not enough time or butter in the world for me to bake all the cookie recipes I love! My tried and true ones all have some sort of memory attached which makes December a great time to reflect on what has gone on in my life and think about the possibilities of the future.

Hope everyone is facing a fantastic Thanksgiving Day in your immediate future. Hey, and avoid the Black Friday crowds! Is there really something worth risking life and limb in pushing through hoardes of people looking for a bargain?! :-)

Who is drinking the kool-aid now?

The past few days have brought us countless stories about the rude pat downs at our security check points at the airport. While I am all for precautions, it seems to me that touching a nun's or little child's private parts to insure safety is a little over the top even for the liberal mind set.

I've flown with the Israel's planes and, athough the security was thorough, they never touched me! Seems they keep track of who is flying on their planes, watch your passport notations, and profile. They use their minds and intellect rather than their germy gloved hands to find out who they will or won't allow on one of their flights.

I'm afraid the United States is missing the point dreadfully with the pat downs and scans. They tell us that the indecent pat downs are because of the panty bomber LAST Christmas. Seems to me that if they had not allowed the bomber to board the plane without a legit passport, the whole scenario would probably not have happened. It took private citizens to do what security should have done at the onset of the boarding procedure.

And, who is paying for the terrorist threats? The ordinary people who are now giving up vacations and trips because they don't want to be demeaned and embarrassed at airport security. I imagine the terrorist powers that be are laughing at us right now as they see lines and lines of innocent people being abused and delayed at airport security.

The uninformed public is helping the situation. They interview people waiting for flights and they say it is okay for the sake of safety. Instead of fighting for our constitutional rights re. bodily invasion of privacy, they drink the liberal kool-aid offered at the check points. Everyone has to stand up for what is right or everyone will go down

Seems to me that this is just nother stepping stone to convincing us that micro chipping is the answer. That would truly bring us into the horrors of the 'brave, new world'.

Interesting to note that prisoners are not subjected to this random, bodily invasion . . . It's unconstitutional.

Our founding fathers gave us the best country in the world and our elected politicians are doing their best to minimize it's greatness.

Proving all too true . . .

He knows nothing; and he thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career.

George Bernard Shaw

The land of fruit and nuts . . .

How did everyone's state do yesterday? I was pleased the Republicans got the House. Very sorry that Harry Reid won re-election. Where are people's brains? California did not fare particularly well. Aside from voting down the stupid Marijuana proposition, the voters were pretty uninformed about their votes on the other propositions. I'm especially dismayed about the Global Warming Solutions Prop which passed with a wide margin. The trouble with that one was that if you voted NO, it meant you were voted in favor of it. If you voted YES, it meant you were against it. Obviously, the majority of voters didn't READ it before voting. This Prop along with Jerry Brown's 'ideas' for the State, will make the next six years very anxious. The Global Warming Prop eventually wants a moratorium on single-family home building to get people to move into apartments near work, $9 a gallon gas and a 25 cents per mile charge to use the freeway. Naturally, that will chase more companies from the State which will certainly do a lot to increase our unemployment problems. What DO liberals use to think with, anyway?

We certainly live in 'interesting' times! Good thing we all have prayer lives as we are going to need a lot of prayers! : - )