Wait...WHAT?

 Fifty-ONE Ways to Leave Your Lover

A Border Agent was fired for putting his wife on a terrorist suspect list to stop her from flying home.  Three years ago the woman traveled to Pakistan to visit family.  When she tried to return home to Britain she was not allowed to board the aircraft.  Airline and Immigration officials refused to explain why. 

The Border Agent had put in for a promotion and when the background check was performed it was noted that his wife was on the suspect's list.  When questioned as to how her name got on the list, the Agent confessed.  He has been terminated due to gross misconduct.

Ironically, had the Agent received his promotion he would have had even higher level  of security clearance.

Whit's Wisdom

My family doesn't like to eat the heels of the bread (that's what we call the ends of the loaf....is this a southern phrase? hmmmm....)  So for years I had the heel sandwiches or threw them out for the birds.  But, you know, sometimes it was all I had to offer and then came the whining and complaining.   True story - my Husband knew I was aggravated at him one day because I gave him a heel sandwich.  He called to ask what he did wrong!

Well, my daughter's babysitter was a GENIUS and taught me this trick - turn the bread over!  Put the 'heel part' on the INSIDE of the sandwich....they won't even notice!  All those years that simple solution was right there in front of me and I was too blind to see.

Here are some other creative ways to use bread heels - compliments of eHow.com:  http://www.ehow.com/how_4549886_use-bread-heels.html

Whit's Wit

Stephanie was cutting a cake last night when the knife fell out of her hand and almost stabbed our dog, Zoe!  Always true to form, here is the conversation that followed:

Stephi - "Oh NO!  That almost hit Zoe!  What would I have done?"

Me - "Probably point and scream like you always do."

Stephi - "No, seriously....what would I do?"

Me - "Call 911"

Stephi - "There is no 911 for dogs!"

 Apollo - "Yes there is - K911....."

Who Knew?

Until July 2009 the European Union had laws concerning the proper shape of fruits and vegetables. Typical was cucumbers, which had to be symmetrical and straight (“maximum height of the arc: 10 mm per 10 cm of the length of the cucumber”). Gherkins were exempted... 

The Book of Strange and Curious Legal Oddities

http://www.realstrangelaws.com/ 

Wait...WHAT?

You should never buy insurance or investments in a bank, though they'd love if you do just that. When you buy investments at a bank, you pay monster commissions and they tend to push you into their own products.

Yes, this is another tip from my money hero, Clark Howard.  This is an area where I am so lacking in knowledge.  I personally trust Clark's experience and expertise.  And since he says it best - here it is - straight from the Master:  

Banks push investment and insurance to the detriment of your wallet 

RIP-OFF ALERT:  There's a warning I want to put out about investments and insurance being sold at banks. People buy these things thinking that they're somehow "safe" because they are sold at banks.  They are not, and I have a stark story that illustrates that point.

There was a Boston-area man who had saved money his whole life in CDs. Upon retirement, he went to a Bank of America (BOA) branch to see what he could do about low CD interest rates. He was told by his banker to go speak to a man located right there in the branch, across the lobby. That man turned out to be a stockbroker in BOA's employ.

The BOA broker told the retiree he'd put his money in investments that were supposedly "safe" and could earn him a higher rate of return than CDs. Well, the investments weren't safe and certainly weren't FDIC protected, so the man lost most of his life savings. Despondent, the retiree chose to take his own life.
Now, it gets worse. The man's grieving widow wanted to sue BOA, but the suit was thrown out because the retiree signed a contract that stated any disputes must be resolved not by litigation, but by kangaroo court arbitration. (Such mandatory arbitration is a stacked deck against the consumer. That's why it's common in the financial world and across corporate America.)
Longtime listeners know I despise BOA and all the giant monster mega-banks. They brought our nation to its financial knees and caused millions to be unemployed with their reckless behavior that preceded our country's financial meltdown. And there's good reason to believe if that behavior goes unchecked, as it largely has, that could set us up for a future financial disaster.

But this is not another one of my attacks on BOA.

This is a warning that the friendly person in the branch who you're directed to when you complain that you want to earn more on your money may be selling insurance or investments. You should never buy insurance or investments in a bank, though they'd love if you do just that. When you buy investments at a bank, you pay monster commissions and they tend to push you into their own products. It's a disaster for you.
It's also a terrible tragedy that the retiree took own life. Now, there could have been other things going on in his life, I don't know the family. But I just tell you this stark story so you keep in mind that banks should be about simple banking. Avoid those friendly faces who want to push you above and beyond using a bank for anything other than simple savings, checking, CDs and loans. Run the other way if you get that pitch. It might just save your life.


www.clarkhoward.com

Whit's Wit

I went to the Doctor this morning because I was feeling anxious, irritable and was having chills.  My nurse, who had the personality of a mule, put me in a freezing cold room and made me wait for an hour.  How's THAT for irony??

Another example of their torture.... white floor except for 3 random squares placed near the door.

Isn't it IRRITATING??-------------------->  

Whit's Wisdom

PERFECT Failure?

A lot of the reason I am who I am is because I'm a Stay-At-Home-Mom to two adults and one teenager.  (Yes, I included my Husband in that!)  See, I had my first job at 13 and had been employed outside the home until I turned 40.  Then all of a sudden I was at home - no income - taking care of kids who needed my guidance and my van, but not so much my help to survive.  So I started trying to be a PERFECT Wife and Mother.  And Housekeeper.  And Landscaper.  And Recycler.  And Cook.  And Money-Saver. 

And all I became was a PERFECT Failure.  After the first year I stopped wiping down my kitchen each and every morning.....and ironing my husband's shirts...and making my kids beds and cleaning their rooms.  By the second year I had stopped writing down every purchase we made and only checked our banking statements once a week.  By the third year I stopped making homemade waffles and fixing my daughters breakfast and lunch everyday.  Years four and five are just a blur because I quit mowing the grass and found Facebook.  

I'm now in my sixth year of being home - and I've failed at everything.  Know what?  Not one person noticed.  Hubby irons his own clothes if he necessary.  Daughters fix their own breakfasts and lunches.  I hired my Daughter to mow the lawn.  They PREFER store bought waffles.  I clip coupons but it is OK to go to the store WITHOUT ONE!  (ssshhhh.....)  I monitor our bank accounts but only two/three times a month now.  My house is sanitary - it's not clean and it won't ever be until I have no kids and no dogs....so it won't ever be clean.  I recycle but have been known to get sick of it and throw paper and plastic in the garbage JUST BECAUSE I COULD.  I make my family eat LEFTOVERS sometimes.  And on Fridays - I DON'T COOK.

I have Perfected the art of Failing....and it feels GREAT!