The economy, my career field, where's this all going, etc.

Chances are, my blog entries won't be about any one idea or topic of discussion. I'm just THAT multi-faceted (read: opinionated) a guy. This being my first entry, I figured I'd go ahead and get that out of the way.

So here's what's rattling around in my head, today.

So it's apparent this economic slow-down's going to be a bit longer than just a few months. Unemployment rates might hit percentages this country hasn't seen since before World War II (Anybody feel like antagonizing the Germans?). What's ironic, to me is that Americans who are working just aren't spending their money - they're (gasp) saving it. God forbid. What always seems to get us into these messes, both personally, and as a nation, is going "credit crazy" to begin with, doesn't it?

I've been "without credit" for the better part of ten years now, myself; the only "credit" I'm even dealing with now is what comes with a truck payment. Other than that, I don't charge clothing, trips, electronics, etc., with the intent on paying a bank for the "priviledge" of borrowing thei rmoney. Instead, if I wanted to buy a big-ticket item, I waited (saved) until I had the money.

The point I'm getting to is this - the supposed "credit freeze" is going to HELP us all, financially, in the long run, I think. Look, I didn't make some "conscious" decision to forgo having credit cards all this time- I found myself between jobs, with lousy tenants in a home I was making payments on from afar, and as luck would have it, I found myself in quite the financial bind. So I surrendered the house, let Countrywide sell it and just decided to lay low, credit-wise. But what came from this experience is a little personal responsibility. I'm currently renting a nice townhouse (fully intent on buying something later this year, all things being equal) with nice furnishings, all the home electronics I coveted, I dine out frequently (I'm single and hate to cook - shocker), and buy clothing I want (even though I'll admit to being a "clearance rack" buyer).

So now I'm re-building credit, but want for nothing. I got my income tax return, and plan to just sit on a good chunk of it; I'll add some spring break/summer personal appearance checks to that and just watch to see where the economy goes in the meanwhile. And while it might not make for good quarterly profit reports from the big-box retailers, the credit agencies (screw 'em, they helped put us where we are now, anyhow) or the "Big 3" automakers (aidos GM) - it means I'm (finally) starting to hink about my long-term financial goals.

I need to; I'm 35, single, with a housecat who won't be around to pay my nursng home bills; right now, I'd have to hope my nephew wins the lottery (age ten, loves scratch offs, already...is that white trash?) and props ol' Uncle Ronnie up in a cush senior living center (that is pet-friendly).

SONG OF THE DAY: "Come On, Get Higher" by Matt Nathanson - dedicated to the freaking stock market.

PLANS FOR THE DAY: '24' at 9pm on FOX. Jack's being held hostatge w/a pistol-whipped lady President. Chris Brown makes for a bitchin' 'bad guy,' eh?

LONG-RANGE: I'm SUPPOSED to go to Georgia this weekend (since I scrapped those plans last weekend - dad and nephew had the flu) but our uhm "outdoor in Atlanta" plans are looking tenuous now with the forecast calling for rain and MAYBE 60 for a high. Are we going to pull this off or no?

IN REVIEW: Enjoyed the weekend; went out w/friends Saturday night, met a pair of brown eyes that made my knees buckled (as did finding out there was a 15-year age difference...wow, that's younger than I thought!!!), took my new bike out for some cardio (do I HAVE to wear this helmet, too, city of Myrtle Beach?), got in an hour of the beach (65 is just too chilly near the water) and had a SMOKIN' dinner at Rioz w/my buddies, Eric and Josh. The beauty about eating at Rioz is (warning this could lead to gross mental images) I don't eat red meat often to begin with, so it doesn't stick to my ribs, so to speak. Doesn't pass go, doesn't collect $200 - goes RIGHT to jail. :) All the flavor, none of the fat. :)

Til tomorrow...