The V Day

So who came up with Valentines day anyway and how come the only people that get anything are the women. Actually part of the answer is HERE! I guess this is the reason only women "The St. Valentine the day is named for was, most likely, a priest in the 3rd century who performed secret marriages when the Roman Emperor Claudius II thought single soldiers were more likely to enlist in the army. That St. Valentine was imprisoned and executed on February 4, 270. It is believed he was responsible for giving the jailer's blind daughter back her eyesight, and before his execution, he sent herss a note saying, "From your Valentine." The phrase is still widely used on valentines today." Another site has a closer story: "The roots of St. Valentine's Day lie in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on Feb. 15. For 800 years the Romans had dedicated this day to the god Lupercus. On Lupercalia, a young man would draw the name of a young woman in a lottery and would then keep the woman as a sexual companion for the year." It was a relegious holiday but like other holidays it has turned into a commercial love fest. Just a card is never good enough but I can not believe that us men allow ourselves to be hoodwinked into thinking jewelery and flowers and candy are a must along with romantic dinner. I guess I am lucky that my significant other does not get into this and maybe that is why I always get her a little something. Oh well just wanted something to whine about LOL.

Young People

There is a post over on a message board that I frequent that started me thinking about how the younger generation views things as opposed to my generation. For some reason some young people today feel that the world should be handed to them. They choose not to vote then complain about politicians. They complain about how life sucks, their parents don't care yet do nothing but whine. They would rather cheat and abuse the system rather than make an honest living or try to take that hard road to achieve some of the things they are capable of.

Like many parents I wanted my children to have many of the things I could not but looking back on it that may have been the wrong thing to do because I kept them from learning the lessons of money management. My oldest son has it hard now because he now has to learn these the hard way. In many ways I blame myself for that. I am sure he will survive but it is hard now for me to watch him learn but I must let him and not make the path easy. I wish kids came with instructions but they do not and we must learn as we go and not regret but learn from our mistakes and allow our children to learn from theirs.

Company Loyalty

People wonder why we no longer work for the same company for 20-30 years. In an Articleon MSN the loss of health benefits after you retire and expect them is a big deal breaker. I retired from the Army and one of the things I expected was health coverage for life but when I become elligable for medicare that is gone. What is worse is what GM has done to those that worked for them for 30-40 years. Oh we cannot afford it so you pay it. That along with reducing retirement pensions and Social Security going away it is no wonder the younger generation has no trust of the companies & Unions and has no loyality to them. They just have to look at what they are doing to the current retirees to see what is in store for them. NOTHING! That is why they look for the highest paying job and make their own retirement plan. Ok I'm off my soap box.