Do I Cut the Red Wire, or the Blue Wire?

I have to make a decision that may blow up in my face.

In this ticking time-bomb of an economy, we’re all concerned for our jobs, and our families’ futures. And just like so many millions of other regular people, I live paycheck-to-paycheck. And THAT means I’m just one unemployed month away from homelessness. Saving money is a great idea on paper, but in the real world, most of us don’t make enough to save AND pay the bills. And if your luck is like mine, if you do find yourself sitting on, ohhhh....say $400 with no earmarks, and you open a savings account, the car breaks down and it’s a $600 repair. It happens to me every time! I almost would rather NOT save money, because at least when I’M broke, nothing else is.

So, here’s my dilemma: With lay-offs looming large on my horizon, do I stay at my job until the bitter end and hope I survive the cut? Or do I jump ship now, and start looking for a new job at a company that’s hiring? I mean, if I wait until I’m laid off, and THEN start looking for a job, it could take weeks. And unemployment compensation in my state is the same for everyone, very little, and only about a third of my current pay. Counting on that to see my family through is simply NOT an option! But if I start looking now, and actually find a job at a company that’s hiring, I could wind up with a job that’s a wrong fit.

So, which is it?

The red wire - where I stay at my job, (which I LOVE, by the way), holding on in breathless, white-knuckled despair until things ease up?

Or the blue wire - where I find a new job now, and wind up in breathless, white-knuckled despair working for a boss who’s turned out to be Buttholius Maximus.

The red wire - stay at my job hoping the company survives, giving everything I have in the way of prayer, good vibes, positive thinking, sacrifice and elbow grease, only to see the company tank and lose my job anyway?

Or the blue wire - where I LEAVE my current job in order to avoid a possible lay-off, only to see the company make it through with flying colors and leave my ship-jumping, disloyal self in the dust?

Ah, but I forgot! In the movies, when the guy looks at his partner for a decision, red or blue, he always chooses the THIRD option…the green wire!

My green wire - my third option - is to move to Scottsdale.

At least that way, when I end up homeless and living under a bridge, it will be a nicely landscaped, fashionable one, with a great view!

Best Grammy Show in YEARS!

I haven't enjoyed a Grammy show as much as last night's (02.08.2009), in as long as I can remember. I'm a musician, and some years I even SKIP watching it because I know it's going to be so very, very bad. (read: the years when the Britney types were the rage).

Last night was such an amazing array of real TALENT! The first knock out punch came early, "Let's Stay Together" with Al Green, Justin Timberlake, Boyz II Men, and Keith Urban.How great was THAT! I've been blessed with having been in a band and performing onstage. And I've been there for that moment, when a group of people are playing a piece of music, where you can feel everyone slide into a groove, lining up in sync with each other, and the song takes over. You are no longer performing the song, the song performs itself and you are the instrument. Fantasia had that moment when she sang "Summertime" on Idol, and that amazing ensemble of musicians had that moment last night. I said to my husband "They need to release the recording of that performance as a single for radio play!" Well done! It was a joy to watch AND hear!

Now, I know this is going to pigeonhole me as out-of-touch and middle-aged, but I've never been a fan of rap or hip-hop. Don't get me wrong, I like edgy music with a message, but I'll take grunge for that. (I was never so musically satisfied as I was during the 90's.) However, amongst the newcomers such as Duffy and Adele, the hip-hop just seemed so......Tired. Done. Over. Hip-hop and rap have just devolved into a caricature. The best of that group, Queen Latifah, Diddy, Ice-T, have all attained more "grown-up" careers. What's left just seems like a big waste. I've never even heard of M.I.A. before last night, (I KNOW! I'm OLD!), but what in the HELL was she wearing?! She looked like an idiot. Period.

And what does everyone feel like the only way to gain street cred is to have an angry rapper chime in on their song? That's another supposedly shocking arrangement that's been done to death. Aerosmith and Run DMC cornered the "cool" in that market, and everyone since then is just copycatting. And besides, Justin Timberlake, YOU have plenty o' street cred all on your own! Robin Thicke, maybe not so much...

But in between the tired stuff, there were many shiny, bright spots of music genius. Jennifer Hudson, Adele, the afore-mentioned ensemble with Al Green, Coldplay...and then towards the end, the Grammy producers knocked me out AGAIN with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, John Mayer and Keith Urban again, doing Bo Diddly's tune! Any time I can see Keith Urban (who is my future ex-husband, by the way) is a treat, and two performances in one night, neatly bracketing each end of the show like a finely sculpted, hefty, smooth....hard.....(oh 'scuse me! kinda got lost there!) set of bookends - well, it just doesn't get any better. Frankly, their performance could have turned into a 30 minute blues jam, for my money!

All in all, last night's Grammy's delivered in a way it hasn't in years. Not too glitzy and over-produced, the producers for once just relaxed and let the music and performances speak for themselves. It seemed more like a great concert than some boring old awards show! Nice WORK!

Bill O'Reilly Has Bumped His Head.

Hillary Clinton was publicly sworn today, although she's been legally sworn in for a couple of weeks already. Afterwards she gave a speech, in which she commented that she'd like to thank her husband (who stood behind her on the dais), for giving her a lifetime of "interesting experiences". The former president proceeded to turn beet-red, despite the good-natured laugher all around.

Tonight on his show, Bill O'Reilly, in all seriousness, asked a panel of women if they felt sorry for President Clinton, at having been embarassed that way.

I think Mr. O'Reilly has bumped his head. He MUST be sufferin' a concussion.

Why would anyone feel SORRY for Bill Clinton? For 2 seconds of embarassment? How about how Billy-boy embarassed US? He defiled the sanctity and diginity and honor of the Oval Office, by playing his whoreMonica. Before Bill, the Presidency was still regarded as a position of honor, integrity, respect. Bill Clinton was the first one to reveal that even the President is just a man. He besmirched the legend, made himself and the office just seem so...pedestrian. So UN-remarkable. I was embarassed, for the most powerful man in the world to turn out to be just some lecherous creep. I imagine he's the kind of guy I'd slap in a bar for pinching my tush, and thinking he's soo slick. THAT'S embarassing, to think of my president as Creepy McCreepster.

And not to MENTION how he must have embarassed Hillary. Who handled all of it with quiet grace. And in the case of today's speech, I don't think she intended to put her husband out on front street. It appeared to me to be just an off-the-cuff, humorous aside. She was speaking in code, talking to anyone who doubted her ability to handle the awesome responsibility of the job she's undertaking. She was saying, "Look, if I can deal with what has come before, I can deal with what's yet to come. I am strong, wise, and capable".

So, Mr. O'Reilly - the answer is "no". I don't feel sorry for President Clinton. Any embarrasment he feels, he brought on himself. He SHOULD feel lucky this woman still stands by his side.

And you, Mr. O, should seek immediate medical attention for that head trauma.