AveMaria22's Blog

Just wondered how you guys felt about the news item that indicates troubled and failing Washington Mutual's CEO of 18 DAYS will be leaving with 13.65 MILLION DOLLARS in severance?  Reckon he's a member of the old boy's club?  Thoughts?

Just saw the headlines on the internet news page.  Were you aware that you and I have just backed a 25 million dollar loan to the auto manufacturing industry?  I didn't know that I agreed to that.....you?  I thought we were bailing out bad decisions and loans in the banking industry regarding mortgage loans etc......  I don't know about you guys, but when the buzzards come back for more, do you think someone might say to the execs, "Hey....this money is to make you strong and well, and to give you time to re-negotiate some bad mortgages into good loans with lower interest rates for people......hmmmm.  I guess that was not the purpose of the 700 BILLION dollars....guess that's part of the 1.5 TRILLION dollars in.....what was it, now???? Oh.  The SEVERANCE packages.....I get it now.......do ya think the auto industry execs will get their severance packages on their way out the door, too???? Well, they'd better hurry up while the banking industry has some fast dough in their pockets...OUR dough.

This morning I awoke to CNN with John McCain speaking. Beneath his face, I read a title indicating he was speaking about the economic crisis. He spoke VERY briefly, then began a litany about world health, education etc. THEN, a subtitle noted that the "feed" was being provided via by "Clinton's Globalization Group." Obama showed up half an hour later and did the same thing. Millions of dollars are noted to go to this globalization organization......????? What is wrong with this picture? We are up to our keesters in alligators and like most attention deficit sufferers, we want to talk about something else???? Or...IS it something else? Is Clinton's Globalization Organization going to get some of our TAXPAYER 700 Billion dollars??? Some of the 1.5 TRILLION dollars????? Where was the news media...why this specific "feed"??? Did anyone else see this and have the same questions that I do???? Are we to provide our financial institutions with OUR money in order to prevent a deep, deep depression...or are they blowing smoke???? How can they tell us, "Oh by the way, we need millions for health care for africa, education for....??? Whaaaaat?

Hmmmm.  The pundits are now saying that they are not sure we should be "doing this."  It seems the CURRENT 1.5 trillion dollar bail out is deemed to have been caused by overly zealous profit driven BUSINESS as opposed to simple overextended citizens.  This means that you and I are giving those buzzards more money than they have already stolen in excess profits on credit cards etc.  The one thing that they all seem to be in agreement about is that we will NOT know if the fix is in and working until January or February....I guess by then they will all know if they need some MORE of our hides.  As soon as this election is over, our taxes are going to skyrocket.  Watch.

I'm sure each of you are concerned about the economic future of this country right now.  After listening to all the pundits I came away with the bejesus scared out of me.  I am not a financial guru, and, perhaps that is why I am so concerned.  I have come away with soundbites such as, "If we bail out FannieMae, FreddieMac, AIG and "world markets" that we will BE, forever, a Socialist nation."  "If we do not bail them out, we will plunge into a deep, deep depression unlike anything known to mankind." I hear two presidential contenders arguing about something that neither are experts about.  I do not understand why they don't EACH say, "This economis crisis is being addressed by the brightest minds in this nation.  It is not appropriate to second guess their recommendations until we hear what they have to say."... but neither can do that....fools that they are.  Also, does anyone understand why we are "bailing out WORLD MARKETS?  Now, don't tell me that, "Well it's the new world order" because I, personally, don't give one whit about the new world order...I am just deeply concerned about this poor, unstable, crumbling nation.  On top of this depressing mess, McCain says he will cut social security benefits in half when he is in office.  Most people barely receive enough money to stay alive on social security NOW.  Also, pundits are saying that it makes no difference WHO is president... there will be no money for health care or anything else....it is all in the bail outs which have just begun.  Nice.  Your thoughts on this mess?

I spoke with a family member in Florida.....she stated that about 2 to 3 weeks ago, it was announced that thousands of voting ballots for the upcoming presidential election have been  stolen.  Looks like they are at it again...and guess they will always be "at it" when residents let a corrupt state government get away with that.  How slimey can ya' get????

Hmmm.  Just heard an interesting rumor about the democrats.  It goes like this:  Joe Biden, who is not greatly interested in the vice presidency, resigns and suggests Hillary take his place.  Hillary's 18 million supporters swing back to her side.  John McCain and Sarah Palin are dumped by women voters....and the democrats win the election.  It is just about too late for Obama man to admit he cannot win this election without Hillary....and the DNC's light bulb just went on that they lost this election by shoving Hillary OUT.  I, personally, feel that if THAT happened, the Democrats would go in by a landslide....and McCain would be stuck with his bimbo choice....hmmm.  Maybe she could go back to Alaska and do...........something that she is qualified for......hmmmmm.  

I am a writer, and often find myself in peculiar circumstances...and, sometimes, places.  I know that others must find themselves to be much like me.  I recently related one extremely interesting incident that happened to me back in December 1990 to a friend and she asked if I had followed up the incident with reliable research.  Of course, I had not, but her words tweaked my curiosity.  I've spent the better part of a week uncovering interesting "stuff."

I was traveling through the Asuncion, Paraguay airport with my two year old son.  I carried one carry-on and had checked one bag.  The airport was jammed with people and as I chased my wayward toy car carrying son in high heels, I was rapidly wearing down....and the plane was two hours late.  There was no place to sit down.  At that time I was a smoker and found a reasonably clear space near the sand urn where my son could play safely and I could prop against a large pillar.  I noticed a man with brown-black hair salt and pepper hair, wearing a business suit, and rimless glasses smoking beside me.  He placed a paper bag onto the concrete floor...inside was a large bottle of Jim Beam and an open carton of american cigarettes.  Two packs of cigarettes were missing from the carton.  As I chased after my son, he watched my carry-on.  He noted my high heels and picked up my son and said, "Let's have a soda at the bar and you can get off your feet in those heels."  The bar was an open-air bar and it seemed safe enough to accept this man's suggestion.  Once at the bar area, I noted that it was a zoo...filled beyond capacity.  The stranger lifted his hand and the bartender raced to our side and chased away everyone seated at a large table nearby...no one asked questions...they simply scattered.  My son and I order a coke and the stranger ordered a beer.  We were treated like royalty.  Within an hour the plane began to board.  We noted the long line and the stranger suggested that we wait to board.  When the line was down to two or three people I reached for my son and rose to my feet.  The stranger threw his head back and laughed, saying "You don't really believe this plane is going to leave without us."  I laughed and said, "Yep...they surely will."  He rose to his feet, picked up my carry on and we walked slowly to the boarding gate.  Once on the plane he asked where I was sitting and I showed him our boarding passes...pretty far toward the rear of the plane.  I noted that he held seat number 2....first class.  He walked us to our seats, raised his hand in the air toward a stewardess...and she removed our neighboring passenger....the stranger took her seat.  He sat until the plane was ready for takeoff, then left us.  When the plane was in the air he returned, the stewardess brought a silver tea service and china cups...and we had tea.  We talked a bit and I learned that his name was Chuck Ramos, Venezuelan born, married with a daughter.  He was a charming, magnetic man, extremely bright, and quietly commanding.  He reached across me to touch my son and his arm brushed across my breasts...it was no accident, and I felt a white heat through my jacket.  We talked about the new president of Paraguay...Rodriguez...and of his recent coup.  Soon it was time for "lights out" as occurs on all international flights.  He returned to his seat, and my son and I settled in to sleep.  Upon arriving in Miami, my son and I were the last two off the plane.  I took him by the hand, picked up my carry-on and we found a cart.  I put my son in the kiddy portion and carry-on in the bottom.  As I approached the carousel, one bag remained...mine.  As I reached for it, a hand reached out and lifted it onto my baggage cart.  It was the stranger.  I thanked him and worried that I might have a problem with this man, here in the deserted Miami Airport, at 3:00 in the morning.  As I headed for Customs, he was right behind me.  He once again, raised his hand into the air as customs officials waived us through, checking nothing.  The stranger walked with me to the front of the airport, hailed a cab, handed me his business card, closed the door and waved goodbye.  I placed the card into my purse.  Approximately two years later I was watching TV one day, looked up to see the face of Chuck Ramos....I was very excited at seeing my friend again.  Then, I learned as I watched the program....that the man's name was Carlos Ramirez...or, "Carlos the Jackal."  I was stunned.  I watched the entire program, hanging onto every word.  I felt a strange sort of loyalty to this man, in that I never told a single soul about the event....I immediately understood that I was his cover....there is none better than a man traveling with his "wife and small son."  Even a woman sitting behind me on the plane made a chatty comment about my handsome "husband." I may still have the business card that he gave me, with a soft smile, and a knightly  "If you ever need me....you can always reach me at the number on the card that I gave you." I've often wondered why he was in Paraguay, which was not a great place to be in the late 80s and early 90s...troops were on the streets with automatic weapons and machine guns...scarey for the average citizen.  I took my friend's comments to heart and googled "Carlos the Jackal."  I learned that he is in prison in France now, with a life sentence.  He married his lawyer...she fell in love with him when their eyes met.  You see...I told you he was magnetic.  It seems he loves to read all the books that have been written about him.  In one, a book of fiction, he is called "Ramos."  That was the name he gave me and that was written on his business card...Chuck Ramos....Chuck is short for Charles, or Carlos in spanish...Carlos Ramirez is Chuck Ramos.  I studied his most recent photos and see that we are eighteen years downstream and his hair is very grey to white.  His body is the same, perfect.  His dark eyes are not accented by brown brows...they, too, are grey to white.  If this man had not taken a road that I do not understand...the road of terrorism...I would say that he is the most perfect man I've ever met.  He is truly magnetic. I cannot imagine a more frightening event than to be in the company of an international terrorist, in retrospect.  He, however, was completely in control at the time...I have never felt so safe.  I know that we all have had moments in our lives that have left us feeling separate from the rest of society.  I'd love to hear your stories....please tell me.

Well, folks....I suppose you read the blog that I wrote regarding the fact that Obama stated that he wanted to donate a couple of million to Georgia...and I don't mean OUR Georgia.  I was pretty ticked off by that remark because we, the American taxpayer, had nothing to do with the fact that we are not to blame for Russia's actions.  Well...can you believe it that the republicans have pledged a BILLION dollars to Georgia...and I don't mean OUR Georgia.  Sigh.  The asylum inmates are still in charge.

YES!  Folks, we have another reason to vote for Senator John McCain....Sarah Palin, his newly picked running mate.  This is a terrific choice for Democrats like me who watched Hillary Clinton spat upon by Dean, Obama and his crowd, the DNC and others who were too ignorant to recognize that the Democratic Party needed our candidate...in fact, the most qualified candidate.  Now, John McCain has listened to those of us who are disenfranchised and need a new Party....what a great welcome to the Republican Party.  We don't know much about Governor Palin, but I look forward to learning about her over the next two months and my intention to vote for Senator McCain is even further insured by his choice of running mate.  By his selection of Sarah Palin, he surely has quieted the critics who have said that he is too old.  He has proven that he is forward thinking and we have lifted our glasses of iced tea to toast the new team.  Thanks for giving us a voice, John McCain.  You've brought tears of joy to my eyes.  I am very proud of you.

Well, my son bought himself a little sports car to help out his gasoline bill going back and forth to college.  One day he drove his larger SUV.  My van was in the shop and the Mercedes has a sticking throttle (lots of fun if you don't mind hair raising rides...it's like having a ghost pushing the accelerator to the floor, while you steer and hold on for dear life...unable to stop)....so I decided to drive HIS little car.  Well...first of all, I got in the car and found that kids today drive from the back seat.  I had to find the seat controls to lift the back of the seat.  Then, since my legs were not long enough to reach the pedals, I moved the seat forward.  Since I am short, I had to find the control to raise the seat.  Satisfied, I buckled the seat belt, then realized i could not reach the door to close it.  I unbuckled the seat belt, closed the door, then re-buckled the seat belt.  I examined the controls, and satisfied that I understood all of them, turned the key and the car's nice little motor purred to life.  I put the lever into reverse, then as I started to give it a little gas, realized the emergency brake was on.  I sat there, searching for the emergency brake.....didn't find it....noted a little lever low on the panel to my left and pulled on it.  The trunk lid flew open.  I turned the car off, unbuckled the seat belt, got out of the car and moved to the rear, and closed the trunk....beginning to use a bit of the vernacular in the process. I got back into the car, forgetting  to close the door, buckled the seat belt, and started the engine.  I scanned the dash for an emergency brake lever...then suddenly the light bulb went on...it was on the console.  Kicking myself, I put the lever back into reverse and was about to back out when I realized the door was open.  I sighed, shut off the engine, unbuckled the seat belt, got out of the car and went back into the house...exhausted.  I decided to have a nice nap.   

As expected, the DNC has declared another openly corrupt skreu-job over Hillary Clinton.  Okay, are we supposed to be stupid...or blind?  Anyone who believes in a democracy...you remember...the one our forefathers fought so hard for....cannot possibly observe what has happened to Hillary Clinton without screaming to the rafters about the corruption.  Apparently Obama's campaign group became frightened that the nomination of Hillary and the accompanying FLOOR COUNT of delegates and super delegates could actually rip off the  democratic nomination....the DNC suddenly declared that ONLY 2 STATES' delegates would be allowed to be counted, then New York would be next and Hillary will be required to jump up and nominate Osama wholeheartedly....and URGE her supporters to support Obama.  Don't you just love corruption?  The very audacity of the DNC...they think we are stupid.  Hang in there John McCain...we want a true American to get our votes in the end...at least we CAN do that....let's just hope the voting machines and cards are not corrupted... by the DNC this time.

How does everyone feel about Obama's running mate?  I know little about Joe Biden, however he looked great with Hillary.  He makes Obama look even more like a big eared kid.  I just saw a sign that presented "OBAMA" in HUGE BOLD letters...below that in thin wimpy letters about 1/3 those of Obama, "biden"......really shows how Osama's camp thinks...guess they assume people are so stupid they won't know which one is running for president....and no, i don't feel one bit better with "biden" in the buddy seat...those two's roles should be reversed.  Too bad.  Do you guys think Osama helped his position by selecting Biden???

Okay, gang.  Someone just told my son (college aged) that McCain has said he will reinstitute the draft.  If you have heard this, please tell me the source and when McCain said this.  There are three voters that will probably not vote AT ALL at election time.  If McCain said this, is he nuts?  I don't get it.  Is he TRYING to get Osama elected????

Folks....Obama said he will give Georgia several million dollars to rebuild after the Russians depart.  WHY?  WE did NOT invade Georgia....Russia did.  Obama needs to shut his mouth about rebuilding outside this country and REBUILD the infrastructure HERE......Doesn't that comment by Obama show where his interests lie?  He surely does not give one tinkers dang about the United States of America.  If he had a lick of sense he would be encouraging RUSSIA to pay reparations to Georgia....NOT US poor butted taxpayers in THIS falling apart country!  Am I alone in this?