The Curse of the Lottery

All That Money and You'll Still Go Broke!

I was watching the Today Show this morning and their continual coverage of the woman in Arkansas (woman "A") that won the AR lottery, but the ticket actually belonged to another woman (woman "B") - who tossed it in the trash after claiming the lottery machine made a mistake and said the ticket was not a winner (with me?).  Want the full story, click HERE.  

First, let me sat that both women are clearly of less than intelligent stock.  Here are 2 people who clearly don't have 2 nickels to rub together, yet, play the lottery - it would appear regularly - and are now fighting over ownership.  At stake is about $680,000 after taxes (of course!).  Woman "A" regularly takes tossed tickets out of the trash and "Tossed tickets" bins and re-scans them for winners (quite the hobby).  Woman "A" is also out of work, her husband is out of work and they have already spent almost $200,000 of the winnings.  A judge has ruled that the ticket belongs to woman "B".  Right or wrong, clearly woman "A" cannot afford to pay back the $200k she's already spent.  Both parties cannot agree on any terms and woman "B" is refusing to consent that woman "A" can just keep the $200k.  So, to trial this shall go.  Really?!

I seem to recall a Bible or children's story about two people fighting over something so badly that both ended up with nothing (help me out here!).  What is the matter with people?  This situation clearly was a mistake on both parts, yet each of these hill-jacks are refusing to compromise and walk away with more money than they will ever yet see in their lifetimes.  Instead, they are going to try to stake there claim to the whole ball of wax - and walk away with nothing after all the legal fees.  Just what they deserve.

QNexa Should Not Be Your Next Choice

QNexa?  Leave it to Big Brother Pharmaceutical to look out for our best interests - right?  Please tell me you know the answer is wrong!  There are very few instances where the right answer is taking a relatively new drug whose side effects may include some serious heart issues.  The FDA is concerned enough about heart problems from Qnexa that they are considering requiring studies – but the studies could come after the drug hits the market and loads of people begin taking it.  Really? What on earth is the FDA here for?  To let drugs hit the market, see what happens and then make a decision about whether its safe or not?  WOW!


I heard a radio news story about QNexa and how the pharmaceutical companies thought they had a good answer to weight loss.  I'm sure that's exactly what they think.


Perhaps each of us need to take our health into our own hands.  You know in your heart what is best for you and what isn't.  What I hope for each person that is struggling with weight loss is that you find yourself a good support system and discover what the real issue is.  Oftentimes there is an emotional cause as to why many women struggle with their weight, so keep in mind that there is NEVER any shame in seeking professional help in overcoming your hurdles!


That's the end of my sermon for today.  Take care of yourselves and let's be each other's cheerleaders!

Hope to talk with Your Kids

Any tips we can share to be able to talk with - and listen to - our kids, we will!

In any relationship, the positive power of communication is highly underrated!

Have Sippy Will Travel

Happy Ground Hog Day!

Useless and Fun Ground Hog Day Facts you wish you knew!  Hey, we're all about sharing fun!  Our friends at the Huffington Post did all the work for us, so why not share the HogLove?

To put more of an eco-spin on it, Ground Hogs are just another reason to keep our waterways clean and our forests standing.  Humans are not the only living creatures on the planet and didn't our Mommas teach us how to share?!


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/01/groundhog-day-2012-facts_n_1245259.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003#s649298&title=Woodchucks_Dont_Chuck

The Menopause Journals

Cathy Tiffany, author

I'm 42.  I'm in menopause.  Seriously - full blown, no periods menopause.  The new period thing I dig.  The hot flashes, body changes, sleep altering stuff - I do not.  It's really strange.  I got off the birth control pill three yearsish ago.  As soon as I did, I dropped 5-7 pounds (I'm thin anyway), the nifty wave in my hair disappeared, My sleep went to hell in a hand-basket and my hot flashes went from occasional to crazy.  Oh yeah - and my breasts started leaking milk.  Really?

My next gyno visit bought me a mammogram, an internal and external ultrasound (by a male technician - great.) and blood work $$$.  Anyhoo - as suspected, all was fine, but I am one of not many my age that is in early menopause.

The thinner you are, the younger you are and the faster you go from regular periods –irregular periods – no periods, the worse your hot flashes are.

Isn’t this crazy?  What is the pits is that my gyno office was so worried that they signed me up for all these tests, but once everything was OK, they sent me on my way with no info as to how best to deal with all this crap.  Hmmmm.

My hot flashes went away for a bit but are now back and my body is changing, which is not making me happy.  I’ve been blessed with a high metabolism and don’t have to be too careful with what I eat, but choose to eat healthy.  I now better start watching or I won’t be happy L

So, as an act of sisterly love, if you happen to be facing any of this, I researched info on my own that will help alleviate these symptoms.  As I was reading these symptoms (just now) I am shocked that I see several other things that happened to me that are all associated with menopause!!  Aha – I’m NOT falling apart or crazy!!

Common and not so common symptoms:

• Hot flashes and/or night sweats
• Fatigue
• Cravings for sweets or carbohydrates
• Diminished sexual desire, vaginal dryness
• Irritability, mood swings, depression, and/or anxiety
• Insomnia or restless sleep
• Fuzzy thinking (difficulty concentrating, memory problems)
• Weight gain, especially around the middle
• Stiffness and joint issues
• Irregular periods

Other menopause symptoms include headaches, heart palpitations, thinning hair, dry skin, dry eyes, increased facial hair, urinary dysfunction, and digestive problems.

Common Treatments:

Avoid caffeine/alcohol
• Sleep 7-8 hours per   night
• Intake vitamins B,C,D,E
• Practice breathing   exercises
• Eat a balanced diet
• Exercise regularly
• Stay hydrated

Here is a link that had much more info……http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/treatments.htm

Oh this is going to be a long year.  Negative campaign ads, with their sound bite "facts", leading you to believe that what they are saying is the truth.  Here's the sad part:  most people you know will not take 15 minutes to get on the candidate's web site and verify whether something is true or false.  Ever hear of a "lie of omission"? Basically that's not telling you the whole story and letting you assume the obvious - even though it's a lie.  We are so much smarter than that!  But, we're often too busy to do anything about it.  My hope this political season is that we all - and I'm just as guilty - take that 15 minutes and arm ourselves with knowledge that will ultimately help us all.

What's up with MONEY?

This week there have been a lot of articles written about how our (taxpayers) money is being wasted.  I have to admit, this is one of the few ways that I feel totally helpless.  Congress makes laws that don't apply to them, millionaires have legal loopholes that allow them to pay taxes around a 10-15% bracket, while most people I know are in the 20-30% bracket.  Hmmmmmm.  One of the things that B.A.B.E is about is saving, investing and growing your money.  Sure would be nice to be able to use what we really earn to secure our own futures! Our deal here is apolitical, which means we don't preach politics as I believe it's a personal decision who you vote for.  But, encouraging you to vote and make your voice heard, is a different story!  To make it easy, here is the handy address for said representatives:
http://www.house.gov/

Intersting accompanying article: http://www.foxbusiness.com/investing/2012/01/16/congressman-takes-up-buffetts-debt-offer/

Our Money is being hung out to dry!

Another thing?  Anyone who thinks that the rich should "pay more"  is missing the real point.  What "pay more" is supposed to mean is "pay your fair share".  That is fair and right.  What I hear people grumbling about, and what I think they think it means, is that the rich should pay more than the rest of us.  The United States was built on the principles of "work hard and get rewarded".  Not "some of you can work hard and share your wealth with those who choose not to work hard or have a career that doesn't pay as much as you make". Many people seem to have gotten into this mind set that we all should be equal, that there are no winners and losers, that there is nothing exceptional - or acceptable - about those who can rise up and excel.

What I wish everyone would do is learn to live within whatever means they have and be happy for those that can do better.  My disclaimer:  this does not count those folks that have special needs, illnesses, deaths, horrible and sucky situations that come about in life sometimes.  I had a friend that was a single Mom of an extremely special needs son who sucked every last dime she could get.  She did the best she could with what she had, but was always behind.  But, she - as a matter of fact - was happy for those that excelled, tried her best every day to rise above her situation - never quite making it  - but still tried to live that REAL American Dream of making a better life for herself and her son - honestly and with dignity.  Too bad there weren't more people like that in the world.