I still have mixed feelings about Congress doling out more money to the Big 3 Automakers, but considering what is on the line I would say it is needed. Speaking as a resident of Michigan who has more than one family member employed in some way by the auto industry, Congress must approve some form of help or we are all in trouble.

According to the Center for Automotive Research if the Big 3 go under the country will lose another 3 million jobs. Image the economic impact on our financial system if that happens. In a direct quote:

“Our model estimates that a complete shutdown of Detroit Three U.S. production would
have a major impact on the U.S. economy in terms of lost wages, reductions in social security receipts, personal income taxes paid, and an increase in transfer payments,” said Sean McAlinden, CAR chief economist and the study’s leader. “The government stands to lose on the level of $60 billion in the first year alone, and the three year total is well over $156 billion.”

After reading that it seems $25 million is just a drop in the hat.

The crisis that the auto industry faces is in part their own, but it also has to do with the economic recession that the country is facing. Standard math car sales are down over 40% - that’s a lot of revenue to lose. I do agree with many of the critics, the Big 3 MUST cut unneeded expenses. That does not mean employee wages, they have already been cut by 50% for new employees. That means sell the luxury jets and stop giving bonuses, especially to top execs who already make much more than the middle class American. Eliminate concept automobiles until the economy picks up and profits are there again.

The people of Michigan are glued to the news wondering if they will still have a job at the end of the year. GM alone will be out of money come the end of December and they have already extended the normal holiday shut down for many. With an unemployment rate of 9.3%, we are already struggling to survive in this state residents just can’t afford the collapse of the auto industry.

In favor of the Big 3 – they already have a new labor contract with the UAW that will come into effect in 2010, eliminating legacy benefits that are not needed. They also have new more fuel efficient or hybrid cars that will be hitting the market in 2010, in hopes to increase automobile sales.

In favor of Congress – The Big 3 MUST stop the ridiculous spending. They have to cut unnecessary expenses in order to stay on budget – just like the American families have had too.

Download the Report from The Center for Automotive Research

An article I posted some time ago called “The Deadbeat Boyfriend” has had an overwhelming response of people that can relate or are in a similar situation. My heart goes out to all the people who have posted a comment here venting their  story. Below is a comment that was posted a few days ago. After reading this I felt that it deserved to be a post on the front page. Maybe someone, somewhere will know who this guy is and let him know he is a true piece of dirt….

Comment posted by Girlfriend of a Deadbeat:

I’ve spent the last week seeking solace in the stories of others who have been in my predicament. I think the next step in finding my cure is to share my own saga.

I met my boyfriend almost 2 years ago through a mutual friend. He was a kitchen manager/bartender at a neighborhood sports bar who talked about opening his own place. The night we met (much to my horror) was karaoke night and all the neighbors were sharing their talents. My friend knew he could sing and she sent him to the stage. 2 verses into Fly me to the Moon, I was hooked. Things moved quickly and before I knew what happened I was introducing him to my parents . Then all of a sudden it was Valentines. He loved to come over and make dinner for us so I thought it would be the perfect occasion to give him a key to my place and his own drawer in my dresser. Ignorance was bliss.

I knew a lot about him by then. He was divorced, had married too young but had a wonderful son to show for it. His son lived 2 hours north with his mother but he drove up to see him whenever he could. He wanted to make sure things were really right between us before I met his son which I was extremely happy to hear. I felt like we could talk about anything, share everything… it was wonderful.

A few weeks later I found myself in a familiar conversation with him. “Why don’t we ever stay at your place?” He told me that he had his own place and I assumed in the great tradition of men that he had no clue how to pick his underwear up or clean his bathtub. That would be enough to cure me of overnight guests. We had lunch one cold and nasty winter afternoon and we had planned to stop at his place after to pick up a few things. Finally, I was going to see the behind the scenes of my new found love. We pulled up to an older apartment building and he was very quiet. “I need to tell you something. I DO have a roommate.” It made me smile for a minute that he had been this embarrassed over something so minor. Then he said, “… and it’s my Mom.”
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Ok, So I just don’t get it.  Men supposidly love large breasts or at least that’s what some industries would like us to believe.  I am here to tell you, I love my size “D” breasts. They don’t make me mad at all.  A lot of women pay to have them, but here’s my issue.  If they are such a commodity, why do they not make cute bra’s that go with them.  Now, I am sure for a really high price I could get a bra that would allow me to never have to wear anything over it.  But this is real life.  I don’t have money to go to a consignment shop to order and be sized for my bra’s.  I am not able to spend $65.00 per bra to learn about Victoria’s secret.  Needless to say I am submitted to buying my bra’s at places like wal-mart where the price tag is still high for my budget.  Not only do the bra’s get more expensive, they also get more ugly.  How can we be a “breast, thigh, and butt” world and not accentuate the things we like? I don’t get it.  I don’t want to be forced to look like my grandma in my bra and panties.  I went into walmart and had to do some serious searching just to find something that could be a little sexy.  Then they had all these cute little bra’s and panties that match and look so cute together, I was forced to improvise and pick panites that match a little to the bra.  The other bra’s didn’t go past a “C” size.  I think that is rediculous.  Not to mention the bra’s that are for the larger cup size are not all that comfortable.  So not only and I having to put these “puppies” into an ugly ass bra that I don’t even want to look at myself, they are uncomfortable and be careful not to wash them too much, or dry them, they won’t fit next time.  Not to mention that they wear out so quickly.  That may be due to the fact that I can’t buy the expensive ones, but come one, can’t girls with big breasts look sexy and have comfort?  I think they should.  There has got to be another way. Again, I am not complaining about the size, I love them.  It could be a lot worse, but I just want a little cuteness with the fullness.  I don’t want to have to buy “just my size” bra’s that have no flattery at all or have marks at the end of the day because the bra is crap and doesn’t hold what I got like it should.  Just because they are big doesn’t mean that I don’t want flattery and all that.  So by breasts are big, that doesn’t mean I don’t want panites, and I mean cute panties, that match.  What’s wrong with people.  Have you ever tried to find a bra in the size “D”.  It’s like shopping in a rummage sale, everything you like is not in your size.  IT SUCKS.

Wow I have been gone for so long…..seems that way. Life is not any better around here. Yeah, gas prices let up, but groceries haven’t. The election is getting closer and I am surprised that the phone has not been ringing off the hook like in previous years. News is….the candidates have given up Michigan. I think we are a lost cause anyway…crime is terrible, no jobs, no money, and the cost of living will make you sick. Wish I was on a beach in Australia having a cold margarita with my hubby. We can dream can’t we?

The year has almost gone…Holidays are approaching fast and we won’t talk about that stress. Where did the time go, seems it was just spring a few months ago. Now, it’s plastic on the windows, weather stripping in the doors and pull out the heavy blankets. Word is our natural gas bill will rise about 20% this winter…sure we can afford that.

We found out that we are going to be grandparents, which should be good news since it is our first grandchild. Well, all I can say is I’m happy, but I wish the father was a responsible one. Our daughter is living at home with us and they have “broken” up and he is a piece of shit. As much as I was looking forward to having a life of my own, I now know we will be raising our grandbaby.

Things that are going on across our country, scare me. I read the news daily and it is all horrible…recession fears, killings and kidnappings.

My heart cries for the time when I was truly happy with life, with the world, just plain happy. It’s hard to put a smile on my face these days. I worry when my kids are two seconds late, I worry about the gas price because my husband commutes, I worry about going to the grocery store….It just keeps going.

I want my son back, I want my life back, I want…..

That beach in Australia …yeah the sunshine with no worries!

Miriam created a garden in memory of her only sister who lost the battle against lung cancer in 1996. She describes the garden as a magical path lined with fruit trees, gardenias, day lilies and many other flowering plants. The garden, in honor of her sister Dale has now become a wonderful blog suitably called My Sister Dale’s Garden.

Miriam uses the blog as a way to chronicle the breathtaking garden that she hopes brings joy to others in her sister’s memory. She also uses the blog as a way to ask for donations to The Lung Cancer Alliance in hopes that one person, one day may benefit from it. You may make a small donation in Dale’s memory for one of the many of beautiful garden pictures she has taken.

The ultimate goal of My Sister Dale’s Garden is to bring you joy and a sense of calmness if you are stressed dealing with an illness or life’s everyday challenges. In addition Miriam would like to find corporate sponsors to make donations to The Lung Cancer Alliance.

My Sister Dale’s Garden is close to our hearts. We love the beauty and life that flowers bring into this dreary world. We lost a loved one to lung cancer two months after we lost our son. From diagnosis to death was a mere 8 months.

Head over to this magnificent blog and show your support for a superb woman doing an amazing job of keeping her sister’s memory alive.

My Sister Dale’s Garden

Donate to The Lung Cancer Alliance

I have been a reader of this site for a few months now because it hits close to home in my heart. My husband and I lost a teenage son to a traffic accident a couple years ago. It has been the so hard to move past it and get on with life. My daily thoughts are still consumed with everything relating to him, the precious memories, the accident and the days following. Every where I turn something reminds of everything like a flood of emotions.

At this point in my life I should be happy. My career is finally starting to take off, we own our house in a small town, and we have even been able to take a few vacations. The problem is I feel so alone. When I look deep inside my soul I just see emptiness. My husband who I love deeply has changed, become bitter at life. He was so supportive at first, but now it’s like he can’t emotionally handle me being upset. My family and friends have their own problems and it seems they need answers or support from me more than ever.

My thought….When will someone be there for me? I believe in God and I know he is there for me, but he’s not much for conversation. I am a private person, so I do not want to talk to a stranger face to face about what I’m feeling. I blog part time also and that is why I am posting here. I need to express the way I feel, in hopes that something will change without the whole world knowing who I am.

It is hard to face reality that I will never truly be 100% happy again because there will always be a part of my life missing….our son.