$4.00 A GALLON!

You have got to be kidding me! I read an article today saying that by spring gas could cost $4.00 a gallon. Now lets go back only two years ago. Do you remember how much a barrel of gas cost? Well it cost $55.00 a barrel. Today it costs over a $100.00 a barrel. What is a brotha to do? Thank God I work close to home now. This may force me to stay put for a minute! I could also get a moped. Can you picture that! I would get a Harley Jacket and helmet and putt down the road. I know this will be a killer for some people. Families are strapped for money and most are on tight budgets. Something has to give. I know the CEO's of the oil companies and dancing evryday. Must be nice to be them.

Chicken noodle soup, Chicken noodle soup, Chicken noodle soup

Money Money Money!

No good news today on the economic front. Consumer confidence plunged, the wholesale inflation rate soared, the number of homes being foreclosed jumped, home prices fell sharply and a report predicts big increases in health care costs.

Inflation at the wholesale level soared in January, pushed higher by rising costs for food, energy and medicine. The monthly increase carried the annual inflation rate to its fastest jump in a quarter century.

The Labor Department said Tuesday that wholesale prices rose 1 percent last month, more than double the 0.4 percent increase that economists had been expecting.
The January surge left wholesale prices rising by 7.5 percent over the past 12 months, the fastest pace in more than 26 years, since prices had risen at a 7.5 percent pace in the 12 months ending in October 1981.

So now let’s think about this in the simplest of terms. I may be off a little on things here so forgive me but I would bet I am pretty darn close. If inflation is rising by 7% and the average annual salary increase is 3 to 4% then the average person is getting behind every year by 3 to 4%. Now this only looks at inflation. We would then take into account taxes. What I feel is the issue is that what we as families need the most will go up the most. Most of us around my age can remember that when we were thinking of buying our first home we wanted to by homes in the counties and suburbs. The reasons were simple. Less crime, better schools, and newer homes to name a few. However our jobs stayed in the city and we would deal with the commute. Now with gas prices over $3.00 people are not having the same feelings anymore. One can easily spend $200 to $400 dollars in gas a month. One can also spend up to $400 a month on a family health insurance plan. Even though it is not a necessity in the house cable TV can easily cost $60 a month. I could go on and on but I know you are feeling me.

Now I know I have only talked about families so I can only assume that the single people out here feel it just as bad. Is there any question now why crime goes up year by year? People are going to try to survive anyway they know how. Well we better learn to fall on our knees and pray to God for his help and mercy. Things are getting crazy!

A new day in Cuba

Well today Fidel Castro stepped down as the leader of Cuba for almost 50 years. His brother Raul will now take his place. Cuba is was of the few communist coutries left in the world. I can remember growing up studying about Fidel and JFK about the "Cuban Missle Crisis". Fidel has always been called stubborn and not willing to listen. Doesn't that sound like our President Bush? My hopes for this day is that the people of Cuba will have a country where they have a better economic system and better health care. Cuba is one of the coutries I would love to go visit. They have alot of vintage cars that are still on the road today. Let's not even talk about the great food and music. Well maybe my visit will happen sooner than later. I can only hope.

Snow Day

Well today was a nice surprise. We had an ice storm and they closed schools and I also did not go to work. I found myself smiling like my kids. I wanted to do the snow day dance like them. I willl take a free day off anytime. It was nice to chill out. We went to the movies and to dinner as a family. Overall a pretty good day if I must say so. Let's hope winter is not over yet!

Turning 40 (Take Two)

Ok, After a comment made on "Turning 40" it was brought to my attention that I did not mention my wife Pamela Lynne Cole Thorpe whom I married on May 25th 1996 on a sunny summer day in Baltimore Maryland. I renewed my vows on May 25th in Jamaica 10 years later also on a sunny day. Thinking of Pam also makes me feel a little old seeing that I met Pam in 1986 at the University of Pittsburgh. Thats a long time. The years we have been married have moved fast. Although when I ponder on them it does seem like forever. (Not in a bad way for those that may read to much into it) Now I know what Obama feels like! We have been through alot together. She has given me two very cute kids even though they are spoiled. They act and look like Pam. Now read into that! LOL

Anyway I will end on this pleasant note. I hope like Pam's Grandmother and Grandfather, I hope that we will celebrate our 50th Anniversery together on May 25th 2046. Also in an island!

Turning 40

I can not believe that I will be turning 40 this year. Time really does fly by. I think time goes by faster when you have kids. Maybe it is that you just pay more attention to things when you have children. It seems like at every corner there is a birthday or a holiday again. It seems like Christmas is every 6 months! I must say I am overall happy with my 40 years. I have been all over the world. That has been great. I have done so many things that most people have never thought about doing or experiencing. If life was a board game and there was a card named "DO OVER" I would not need many of those. One for sure maybe two, but I would be doing very well at the game. I also think about my family. I am the youngest of six. Wow, if I am feeling old then I can only think of how they feel. My mom is 80. I was glad to be able to go to St. Louis and celebrate that with her thanks to a friend Rose Thompson. I have done ok. I have never been in trouble, over achieved in school, athletics and the work world. Chante is a cutie. She has her own attitude that’s for sure. DJ always makes me laugh. He has a good heart. He wants everyone to be happy, even if he does not know them. I hope he keeps that quality. Starting better than his dad. If I am lucky enough to see them maybe marry that will be interesting. Almost funny. I’ve got my small group of friends. My lifelong friend Garry the person who pushes me to be better, Barry who is my sports conversation friend, and Tendai who is my friend who will start the new revolution with me. Of course they are all much deeper than that but I like to keep it simple. As far as women friends I do not have any, just kidding. They know who they are. Don’t need to shout them out because if I people read this and they are not on the list I will offend. LOL

Well my plans for 40 and beyond are to do things that will make me happy. Whatever that may be? I don’t even know.LOL I have a few more places that I want to see in the world. Seeing that I am hoping on another 40 years I should have plenty of time but I will not take that for granted.

Valentines Day

Well it is the day for love. Why isn't everyday like that? Did you know the average person spends $123.00 on this day for their special person? Anyway I guess we all need a day to tell the people we take for granted that we love them. I encourage everyone to call their family and freinds and tell them how much they mean to us. We don't know how much time we have left on this earth so we should not waste it. They may not be here tomorrow. How many times do we say that someone has been on our mind? If you don't call them then at least say a prayer for them tonight. I hope all of my family and friends are having a great day.