Chiming in About the Economy

I've been trying to educate myself over the past week about the economic chaos that we're all experiencing. I don't understand the ins and outs of investments and banking and short selling and high finance. I know I'm not alone in my ignorance, and what's scary is that those who should be in the know apparently aren't either. I do know that for a long time I've been feeling badly for the ordinary people who are having their homes foreclosed, and those whose retirement investments are dripping away like the melting ice caps. The ordinary people like me who see the prices at the gas pumps and the grocery stores rising alarmingly, and the price of prescription drugs skyrocketing - even with health insurance coverage. It's been like watching a train wreck - seeing it coming and not being able to look away.

Like everyone else, I'll be watching to see what happens tomorrow and the days following, as far as what the government, i.e. Congress and the current administration, will do to pull a rabbit out of a hat and save the economy. There is a lot of criticism going on now from all quarters as to how we got into this mess and who is to blame. Greed, of course, and lack of oversight. Deregulation. I think it's just gotten too complicated and convoluted. Just like our Federal Tax System.

I shouldn't dwell on these issues, it just depresses me.

I've been working on some beading this week, yet another bracelet, and I like the way it's turning out, but I'm having a heck of a time getting the beading needle through the beads. I'm using a monofilament nylon thread, like a fishing line, specifically made for beading. The seed beads I'm using have small holes in them, and between constant tangling, the beads breaking, and the needle getting stuck, I can't wait to finish what I'm working on. Next time I plan to use another thread, which should help a lot. I hope so, because it hasn't been much fun, and it sure isn't relaxing.

PHOTOs: Top photo: First bracelet I made, posted earlier, now finished after attaching clasp. Bottom photo: The second bracelet I made, more beads than first. I named it Mardi Gras Hangover because of the mix of colors and beads. Reminiscent of the day after Mardi Gras in the streets of New Orleans. Click on photos to view in larger size.