Laissez-Faire

I just watched Enron the Smartest Guys in The Room. I confess I snoozed through part of the documentary, nonetheless, it was really a great watch and horrific at the same time. At times as I was watching it, I thought if this was a fictional movie who would believe it? I wouldn't. I would think that certainly with the eyes of the SEC, investors, analysts, employees, accountants, shareholders, auditors, etc that SOMEONE would figure it out and or report the crimes being committed. It is astounding what they did and the number of people involved in committing the crimes and/or covering up their deeds. For me what I find so completely unforgivable is the employees AND retirees who lost everything. Not the traders or most of the executives - not so worried about those guys - but the people who really didn't have a clue what was going on or were completely dependent on their salaries and their retirement funds from Enron. The middle class folks I worry about. I wonder how they will handle their retirements - particularly those who were in their retirements at the time it all happened.

Since about the age of 24 or maybe 25, I have been slightly obsessed about retirement funds. I don't know where this need to be fiscally solvent in my seventies emerged from but it just is in me and I accept it. I don't anticipate any expenses in my retirement actually coming from social security so in my head I don't plan on those funds being there for me. If there are funds from SS for me, then I will get a boob job or a butt lift or something crazy while I am tooling around with my blue hair in some hot convertible.

The movie reminded how strongly I feel about adults being responsible for their own selves in all things. I am all for everyone having the right to manage their own retirement funds. This includes the funds used to put into 'our' social security. I would rather be responsible for myself. But I know that our funds are really paying for folks who are in retirement now because they were told there would be SS for them.

Laissez Faire has always seemed like a really great idea to me on most things - from a state level to a personal one. Let me keep my money and save it my way. If I screw it all up, my fault. At the very least, I would like an option. An option to do it my way.

sleeping Duo

sleeping Duo
Originally uploaded by heighlo.

Dynamic duo....snuck in and took this before they could pretend they didn't like each other...

Saturday at the 'Pie

8pm - 485 & the orphanage

485 - Leigh, Bill, Adam & Duke

the orphanage - Leigh, Bill, Adam, duke, Katrina, Dewb, Sean

COME CHECK things out - it is some good fun and only $5 for the whole night!!!! Stay for the 9:30 show too - Einstein Meets Elvis. AND at 11pm is Knucklebones - Atlanta's Improv Mixer! Come play or just watch and this one is free.

www.jackpie.com for directions to the Relapse Theatre on 14th Street. See you Saturday!

MOVIE Review - Sssssss

A few weeks ago I was working late on the computer - trying to get some real estate listing photos down loaded. I like to watch movies while I do this sort of thing because there is a lot of waiting while the photos down load. I scanned through my on demand free movie selection. I choose to watch Sssssss. Boy was it fun to watch!!! Made in 1973 by Bernand L. Kowalski, the film stars Strother Martin, Dirk Benedict and Heather Menzies.

The plot is pretty predictable but that is what makes this whole genre fun for me to watch. Crazy scientist, Strother Martin, hires Dirk Benedict, college student, who falls in love with Heather Menzies, who is the daughter of the crazy snake scientist. Crazy scientist had a specialty and passion for snakes - including his beloved Harry, his pet snake. College boy is given shots to turn him into a snake with the brain of a man. College boy thinks the shots are venom to help up his immunity while he works with the crazy scientist and all of the poisonous snakes. All the while college boy falls in love with daughter. The opening has a note that the cast and crew worked with real snakes including poisonous ones. I would not have been in that film.

One of the joyous moments in the film is Snake boy in the county fair. The previous college boy assistant who is one of the crazy scientist's earlier and failed experiments is snake man. Awesome fun!!!

Movie was directed by Bernard L. Kowalski who has a long list of credits - beginning in 1957 on television and include: Rawhide, Mission Impossible, the Untouchables, Perry Mason, CHIPS, Baywatch Nights and many more. Movies - Night of the Blood Beast, Hot Car Girl & Attack of the Giant Leeches are also included in his credits. WOW!

Dirk Benedict looks about 18 years old in this film. We love him from his days on Battlestar Galactica and then A-Team. And you gotta love someone who had a few episodes on Love Boat as well. He is in his 60's now - hard to believe - and still working on projects.

Easter Possum

I let Dagny out this morning. She went completely bonkers with a bark reserved for live things. I knew without looking that last night we had caught our possum. Indeed on the side of the yard was the little guy in a trap. He had polished off the cat food left for him. MaryK is right - they are Cah-ute!

I thought that perhaps there was some great meaning with the possum arriving on Easter Sunday. But I think it has more to do with the fact it is cold out and the little guy was looking for a warm place - under my house.

The possum will get a new beginning today. He will get relocated in a witness protection program where he will get to live in a world where possums are welcomed. I am happy for the possum and his new life.

Possum 1 Newman 2

Peeps & Passover

Here is a ridiculous site....Peeps for Passover. Here is a teaser picture - the 5th plague - disease in livestock. check out the link for all of the plagues. I love too they have used the EASTER bunny peeps for passover.

Hot Posse Breakfast

Met some of the hot posse this am for a impromptu breakfast. We were at Highland Bakery on Highland Ave in Ponce Highlands. They have the best carrot cake of any place I know of in the city. Today's HP was Mel, Mitchell, jlu and me. I took some pics and here they are. Somehow I left without shots of Mitchell's beautiful face - but I did get a good one of her food. I love these ladies.




We were moved from one table to another...they incentivized our move with a cinnamon bun. We would have moved without a bribe but certainly happy to oblige with the demolition of the bun. Before I could pull out my camera, we dug into treat so there is only an after shot. YUMMY.





We all ordered versions of the breakfast sandwich. The bread on the left - rosemary garlic wheat (YUMMY!).

The other one is Mitchell's jalepeno foccacio which looked yummy.







This is just some silliness.....