The Election Fund Checkbox on your Tax Return

Something everyone should know about, but doesn't.  This checkbox on your tax return does not cost you a dime to check.  If you check "you" or "spouse" at the checkbox, it takes $3 (or $6, if you check both) and redirects those dollars to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund.  It does not change your actual tax due or any refund.  You are just directing where you want your tax dollars to go.


If you, like me, think that our government is already flooded with corporate money, you would be wise to check this box.  Again, it does not cost you a cent.  You are merely controlling how you want your tax dollars spent.

Life Changes and Plans

Wow, it has been quite some time since I posted.  Life hasn't really changed all that much for me, although I have been making plans.  With a little effort, I can retire in about 10 years.  Now that seems like a long time, but I have been working a career for 20 years now.  I'm tired.  Really, really tired.

I heard George Carlin (God rest his soul) on YouTube, and he quoted that old line... something about "Inside every pessimist is an old optimist scratching the surface."  I think there may be some in that.  I was once so positive.  I have been told I always had a smile on my face.  But I feel so negative now about our country and where it's going.  We voted Obama in for 2008, but not much has changed.  We are still losing our liberties.  Sure, I'd rather have him than McCain, or any of the crazy people running this year on the other side (Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum), but c'mon... let's face it:  this country is owned lock and key by big money.

So I'm done.  I've been planning an escape upon retirement for years now.

My 2001 Isuzu Rodeo Sport

In 2011, I bought a cool little 4x4.  I have been fixing it up, making it a vehicle I would enjoy traveling in.  I'm selling my Volvo this year.  I have been ebaying stuff I need rid of.  I am finishing up the improvements on my home.  This is all preparation for my move.  I'm not sure which place I'll go, but right now Uruguay and Ecuador are frontrunners for my new home.  I'll be visiting Belize, Panama, Argentina, Venezuela, maybe Brazil, and definitely a few others.  The cost of living is low there, and my retirement should be sufficient to live.

I assume I will be making about $70,000 when I retire, and if so, my retirement should come out to about $37k a year.  Not a ton of money, but after the same of my house (maybe around $170) I should have some options about travel and where I plan to live.  It's going to be near the beach, some warm but not scorching.  I don't need a lot--just Internet, a few movie theaters to choose from, some good places to eat and explore.  Maybe some places I can exercise my little truck.

This will probably be my longest post in a long time.  I don't generally get this wordy, but I figured a decision that I made so long ago should be at least somewhat documented.

I want to be living in a modern home with modern luxuries, but surrounded by regular people who are not fooled by a plutocracy into supporting that elite group.  Give me regular working people any day.  Ecuador put into law a few years ago a very impressive bill of rights, and I know several of those nations down there are pretty liberal.  I want to walk out of my house, smell the ocean air, have a brief phone call with friends, get into the truck with my wife and go have an exotic meal on the cheap.  Then maybe explore some mountainous regions, see some old ruins, maybe even stay the night in a small village somewhere.  What a great retirement it could be!

I am getting on in years.  I am not as healthy as I'd like to be.  I hope planning so far in advance isn't in vain, but I've got to try.  This is what I need.

Buying Gold

Okay, so today I bought gold. Not gold in real life, but "virtual gold" for the game World of Warcraft. Yep, I paid actually money (around $66) for 3000 gold. I can now take that gold in-game and purchase a mount (a horse, dragon, whatever). It's funny to actually pay real money for gold made out of nothing more than pixels. But I'm not the only guy doing it--it's big business! And it's a little scary too, since it's against the rules of the game, Blizzard the game company, can delete your account. So here you are, sneaking through the back alleys of this virtual city, meeting this clandestine level 1 character named "asdfghh" and he's giving you 3000 gold, against game rules.

If they cancel my account, I guess that's not all bad. Maybe I can finally get some stuff done around the house that I've been putting off, like finishing my new kitchen and restaining my deck.

Taking my daughter out trick-or-treating tonight. I've done it for years, but I have had a stressful week. Would be nice to have a break. I may let her mom take it, if she doesn't object too much. She's really daddy's little girl!

President... Obama?

Well, I guess like most of Democratic community, I'll be putting my vote towards Obama. I can't really see that there's another choice at this point. I have to admit I like the fact that he talks about "change" a lot, because to me, that means he at least acknowledges that things aren't all peachy here in the land of the stars and stripes.

The lyrics to one of Eminem's songs have been in my mind this morning:

No more blood for oil, we got our own battles to fight on our own soil
No more psychological warfare, to trick us to thinking that we ain’t loyal
If we don’t serve our own country, we’re patronizing a hero
Look in his eyes its all lies
The stars and stripes, they’ve been swiped, washed out and wiped…

If you get that, then you understand where I'm coming from. I just hope Obama gets it. He's not nearly liberal enough for me, but I guess he'll have to do. Hell, he can't possibly be worse than McSame.

I really wish I had a couple of hundred thousand dollars saved up. I'd take it and move to the Dominican Republic and start over. All these stars with tons of money making threats to leave the country, then not doing it, makes me sick. They can actually afford to go if they want to, but instead mouth off about it. If I had that kind of money, I'd be gone like a shot. Of course, I admit my move wouldn't be 100% politically motivated. I'd love a fresh start.

Karl Rove, Protector of the Constitution

Karl Rove, President Bush's former political director, emphasized Obama's "bitter" comments in his remarks. He urged NRA members to fight on McCain's behalf because Republicans "face a difficult environment."

"Victory in November is not going to be easy," he said. "In this election, the stakes are very, very high when it comes to the Constitution and the Second Amendment."

This is some amazing shit to hear. It's just funny to hear Karl Rove talking about how the constitution must be protected, when he and his party has stomped, shredded, and pissed all over it for the last 8 years. Oh, I figure the Republicans will win yet again, because the American people are JUST. THAT. STUPID.

Here's how I imagine the conversation going:

Republican Party: "Hey, America, we're going to take away your right to privacy and wiretap your phones and email. It'll make you safer. How's that sound?"

America: "Sure, sounds great, pal. Thanks again."

Republican Party: "Oh, and we're going to set up secret prisons around the world, but don't worry, it won't be on American soil. And we're going to practice waterboarding, because it's not reeeaally torture. Is that cool?"

America: "definitely. We gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette, right? But won't that harm our image to the rest of the world?"

Republican Party: "Nah, who cares about image? We've got to do what we do to make you safer. Speaking of which, we're going to stop-loss your soldiers because, well, really, people just don't want to join our military right now. It's downright Unamerican what's happening."

America: "Stop those damn liberals from leaving when their tour is up. But wait, how can they be liberals if they're at war for us? Aren't those guys honorable soldiers, worthy to return home to their families?"

Republican Party: "Sure, we support the troops, but in times of war, we need them all fighting!"

America: "Speaking of war, you know, I'm not really sure I support it anymore. I mean, at least about 78% of me doesn't."

Republican Party: "Well, that's okay. You really don't have to support the war. We do, and that's all that counts."

Democratic Party chimes in: "We support the troops! That's why we constantly vote for this war!"

America: "Well, I guess if you guys all support it, it sounds like a good idea to me!"

Republican Party shushes Democratic Party, "Be quiet and speak when you're spoken to!"


This could go on and on, but I'm tired and have to get back to work. What's really funny is, 82% of the US thinks that we've seriously got off track, yet I bet they continue to vote Republican. Smaaaart people, I tell ya.

Freaking geniuses...

Okay, so I just went through the Dairy Queen drive-thru on my way back to work (late, as usual). I ordered a cheeseburger with "lettuce and tomatoes only, no sauces". So I get back to work, bite into the burger, and there's no cheese.

I've had people actually ask me before if I'd like cheese on my cheeseburger, but nobody's ever left it out.

If anyone is reading this that works in fast food. If somebody orders a cheeseburger, ALWAYS INCLUDE CHEESE.

Quick edit:

Okay, I called DQ and asked, laughingly, if I should ask for cheese when I order a plain cheeseburger. The manager, Tina, was pretty nice. We had a laugh and she took my name and said I could have a couple of free cheeseburgers next time I'm in.

I'm pretty impressed with this girl, who I'm guessing is just somewhere between 20 and 25 years old. Why can't most people be like this? Hell, I can accept a mistake. I make 'em all the time. But people should be willing to fix their problems.

Lowes sucks

Okay, so about 6 years ago, I bought my first riding lawnmower. I have about an acre to mow and using a push mower was a nightmare, so I made the plunge for a $1000 riding mower from Lowes. It lasted 5 years. So last summer I bought another from Lowes, and first time I tried to use it, it dug into the ground. I called Lowes, and after sending the mower to my "nearest service center" 35 miles away in another town, they said the would not honor my warranty because the blade was bent. The fact that the blade was cutting into the ground first time I used it (and on the highest setting) didn't seem to be a factor to them. So I was out about $200 for a new blade. I used it a couple of times, it seemed to be okay, although still cutting way too close to the ground and has almost no power when going uphill. I call Lowes service, but an unhelpful manager named "Chris" simply tells me they're not going to fix it. I put it away in disgust for the winter.

So this spring, I dug it back out, and boom, the blade goes right into the ground again, and it's just not able to climb even small inclines. Throughly pissed off, I call Lowes and ask for their legal department, as I'd like to know who to put on the paperwork for small claims court. To make a long story short, I finally get some results after a few painful conversations with management and one coming out to my house to inspect the mower. The mower seemed to be fixed, although there was no mention of refunding what I paid a month into having the mower. "Fine", I thought. At least it's fixed.

So today I get the damn thing out to mow my grass after the recent rain, and the blade scalps my grass again. I call the manager at Lowes again, who acts like he's done me some massive favor in the past, and he keeps repeating, "I don't know what else I can do." He said this at least 4 but not more than 5 times in our brief conversation. But he finally offers to come "look at it" tomorrow. I can see where this is going already.

After reflecting upon the conversation, and staring at my scalped front lawn that I pay TruGreen $650 a year (and that's cheap) to treat, I feel my temperature rising and I call him back. I told him I'm going to go ahead and file in small claims court tomorrow, and if he fixes my mower I'll drop the case. Apparently, I hurt his little bitty pride, because he then says if I'm going to threaten him, then he's not even going to come look at it. What do people have to be full of shit? I can see this is a game he's playing. His problem is that he doesn't realize that I'm serious. I don't need this headache. Rather than have him waste an hour of my time squawking about how he can't fix it, and how, although it's not even a year old yet, it's not covered under Lowes warranty, and how they'll have to eat the cost because it's just under manufacturer warranty, blah, blah, blah... I'd just as soon sue his ass in small claims court and recoup the full cost of the mower, the repairs I've put into it while it's been under warranty, and maybe even reseeding costs to repair my lawn. I've been to small claims court twice, and won both times. It's incredibly easy to win when you're in the right. It really is. I guess he thought I was just bluffing. Maybe he was hoping I'd start begging him to come look at it. Wrong answer, pal. By the end of the conversation, he agreed to just refund my money. Oh, hell. Now I really am worried because I have no idea where my receipt is! lol

People amaze me. They really do. If you sell a product, stand by that product. I can't count the thousands of dollars I've put into Lowes in the last 7 years that I've owned this house. Just offhand, I spent $2500 on windows, $1500 on custom blinds, $13000 on kitchen cabinets, another $4400 on a quartz countertop, $500 on my front door and lock set, another $600 on a side door, $1000 on my first (crap) riding mower (oh wait, am I supposed to call it a "lawn tractor" so that it seems more worthy of that $1000?), and now under $1000 on this second (even crapier) riding mower.

The $400 front door is peeling, and Lowes also didn't want to cover that. I walk into the place and see a sign that says "lifetime warranty on fiberglass doors", and I immediately think, "I wonder how they'll try to get out of this one?" Sure enough, the door guy says it isn't covered under warranty because I'm supposed to wipe it down with mineral oil. I ask for the documentation that's supposed to be handed out, because I don't recall getting any, and he says, "Oh, there's none. I just try to tell everyone." I said I don't remember you from 6 years ago when I bought my door. He responds that he's only been there two years. So what the hell? Am I supposed to just "know" that my door must be wiped down or else I have no warranty? And I won't even go into detail on my 4 picture windows that were installed side-by-side, and the redneck installer that Lowes sent made them all 4 different sizes so that they look zig-zagged across the outside of my house, or how the first door installer put the door in, caulking the weatherstrip to the door in an attempt to hide the fact that the door seal was terrible (light shined through all around the brand new $600 install).

This whole mess reminds me of the power company that tells you it's impossible for them to stop a disconnect unless you come in and pay the bill "right now." When you finally impress upon them that you're at work and can't come right now, and tell them to just cut it off, they say they can wait for payment. (Yes, in the youth of my early 20s, I had just that situation occur.) They LIE, trying to manipulate you into whatever it is they want, and only give in when they realize you can't or won't bend to their will.

It's like the tree cutting guy who knocks down your tv cable and when you inquire about it, he says, "Hell, maybe chipmunks chewed it in half." (Yes, another true quote.) This story has a happy ending, though. I told him I wanted it fixed, and the next thing I knew, the tv cable place came by and fixed it, but wondered how the "anonymous caller" knew the line was down when you couldn't see it from the road.

Lowes sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks. I am just sorry that Home Depot is closing down in my small town. Even though they probably suck just as bad, at least it was competition. Still, I'm done with Lowes. The stuff I've bought, even though hawked as though it's high quality, has been crap, and the only way I can get them to stand behind their products is to fight with them about it. That's not how I want to spend my evenings. I don't enjoy that. Hell, if I wanted that kind of torture, I'd go talk to a car salesman about buying a new car.

Lowes, I hope you read this. I want real customer service. You guys suck.