As soon as I sued my previous employer for glass ceiling, discrimination they put me in isolation "cold storage".  It continued  -getting worse even- for 4 years before they laid me off buried in their "mass layoff". 

Thanks, S.J.  Until someone has been through it they do not understand.  I gave up COBRA within 3 months since I couldn’t afford it— so they can extend my access to COBRA for eternity and it would be no help to me.  the meager unemployment amount is a joke if you had been earning 6 figures, it doesn’t even cover a the house payment and of course the unemployment is then taxed.  So what I need are real reductions in my costs- and the lower interest rate on my mortgage would be great —but not for me.  I have been in this house for over 20 years as a single mom never late on a payment in fact used to make double payments to reduce the principle, never refinanced for taking money out to pay off bills or vacations or remodelling.  Now my equity line was cancelled - it had no balance so not a big deal, my credit cards paid off in full monthly, and I cannot even get a new mortgage because there are no longer "no income mortgages" if I could sell this house because I am (was) the sole income earner and so I cannot downsize or move to a place with better job prospects (I am in the Detroit area).  I am trapped and am having to drain my savings.  If my assets would help in getting approved for another loan (if I could sell this place - that has depreciated in value so much but is still well above the mortgage amount) than I may have a way out, but ????  

How do retirees get approved for mortgages these days when they are not income earners? 

The typos are awful - excuse me.  I believe between my typing (awful, I deliberately did not learn to type as a kid so I wouldn’t be able to become a secretary) and the mono vison lasik surgery I cannot see the distance the computer screen is, but I can see far away and close up with no reading glasses.    

 

"ny son" should have been "my son" and I meant to type  that your daughter must be very skillful not sillful.

HI Joan,  ny son is still finding his way.  He is interviewing for grad school but so far…????  He has an interview at Yale tomorrow.   Boy I seem to pray more than ever now that my kids are grown.  For the most part the experiences he has had were internships he applied to while in undergrad.   He is a very hard working enterprising person and lives art - has ever since he was about 4. 

I had to smile at your daughter’s interests being pulled by "someone".   She must be very sillful to be asked to do medical drawings - that is no easy task.  When I was in college (while I was a fine arts major - I eventually ended up with an MBA in finance LOL) they had a seperate discipline for medical drawing.   Is your daughter doing anything with art now?

 

Frannie, according to my son they wear some really shocking outfits.

Ha ha Frannie.  Did you know their bright colors were only from the underneath side ?

Washington Cube,  I know the rats you area talking about!  Bold and big.   I also know the sounds of the captured prey.  Usually around 4 am (on occasion)  I will hear a cry outside - very disturbing.  It is probably a rabbit or something like that becoming breakfast for the birds of prey we have around here.

Spartans won this when I was in my senior year at Michigan State - Magic Johnson was on the team at that time.  It was cool to see him watching the Spartans win the last game (I just caught a glimpse on the news). 

You are am inspiration also, Sam.   There is no such thing as "security" in this life and there is such freedom when accept that it is entirely possible "here today gone tomorrow" could happen at anytime and to anyone.   We love the comfort of routines and loss is so hard due to the change in our familiar routine.  So many Americans - world citizens- have lost so much in this horrible economy in addition to those betrayed by Madoff.  Whether you lost it by Madoff or due to those who brought down the system with their corruption & greed of subprime products we are all living on a lot less.  Both are tragic, both are victims - there are a lot of us.  I am impressed with your acceptance and attitude, Sam.

Canuck I saw the most beautiful white curved horned rams or (mountain goats?) in Glacier national Park.

Do rats and mice in Baltimore count?

Oh I forgot the huge snapping turtle that came into our backyard - I thought it was a huge boulder that somehow appeared on our hill,  when I looked again later it had moved  so I got the binoculars (my kids were small at the time and I wouldn’t let them outside, thank goodness) and sure enough it was a huge snapping turtle that must have wandered out of the pond on our street.   This pond also attracts huge herons.

Oh yea, Frannie, I saw crocodiles and macaws in Costa Rica.

Bald Eagles & whales in Vancouver,  Grizzly Bear and black bear in Wyoming, Moose in Canada, buffalo in Montana - crossing the expressway, deer in our suburban backyard licking birdseed out of our bird-feeder, a red fox and coyote in our backyard (there is a problem the past 2 years with coyotes eating peoples dogs left in their yards. ) Wild life is being squeezed of their wilderness and are moving into the suburbs.

Sam, your garden sounds lovely.  I was thinking of planting pansies this weekend as well.  They do well in our cooler (cold) weather.  I was surprised to see how nice the pansies were thriving in Baltimore in December and still in February when we were there.  Hardy little beauties.