That’s My Story

I am happy to say that a prediction I made in a Feb. 2 blog has come true – well almost.
In February I offered my opinion on a new Spike TV show called Repo Games where a crew goes to repo a car, however, if the delinquent car owner can answer some trivia questions they get to keep their car, free in clear.
At that time I wrote: ‚ÄúSo basically in the middle of anger and denial a game show host will pop out and ask the upset car owner ‚ÄúHow many ounces are in a cup? Either the person will say ‚Äúeight‚Äù or punch the guy out …‚Äù
This week news broke that a North Las Vegas middle school teacher was arrested for allegedly opening fire on a reality television crew.
Which show was it? Repo Games.
Now here is where I was wrong, Carlos Barron was upset that the Repo Games van was in front of his house and was not a target of a repossession.
Luckily the car owner did answer enough of the trivia questions to keep the car.
He is facing charges for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, aiming or discharging a firearm where a person might be in danger and obstructing a police officer.
Now it is not clear whether the man was upset about Repo Games or he is upset with the real issue - the producer of Repo Games.
See people behind Repo Games are also behind trainwreck and offensive Jersey Shore. The same producers that want to send that trash to Italy in an attempt to ruining Firenze for me. No I did not spell Florence, Italy, incorrectly. That is the Italian word for the town. Something I am sure the drunken Jersey Shore idiots will not be able to understand.
If people are willing to get drunk and run amuck then fine, put them on television because there are plenty of stupid people out there to watch them. But I am still firmly against a show that takes people during a hard financial time and make a game show out of it.
Check out http://onourtown.com/michelleganassi/2011/02/02/emotions-will-run-high/ for my original Repo Games blog.

I am all about saving money and getting a good deal. So when TLC promoted a new show called “Extreme Extreme Couponing” I decided to watch.
But I am not sure I am extreme enough to roll with those ladies.
In the previews you see women buying hundreds of dollars of groceries for less than $10.
So I tuned in to learn their secrets, which include 7-mile walks, Dumpster diving and stockpiling circulars.
These women are good. one episode a woman’s pain reliever coupon added to the store discount came to -$.51, which she used to purchase meat. Another saw a more than $1,000 bill end up around $6. It’s very impressive.
The issue is these women spend hours upon hours couponing and getting ready to go to the store. One was retired and others were home-makers. For those of us that have to put eight hours in a day, which I know is a lot of us, finding the time to devote hours to diving through Dumpsters and asking others for circulars may be difficult.
Another reason these women save big is they buy a lot of one item. They have impressive stockpiles of non-perishable items. I am not sure the Forry residence has room for me to keep 100 boxes of pasta, 60 jars of sauce and a closet full of soda.
While I may not be able to go extreme there are some valuable planning in their ventures. Saving several coupons and waiting for items to go on sale could save a few bucks, as long as the coupons do not expire before hand. Being more organized and looking at prices at different store can also help save a few bucks.
Since I do not have the time to track down circulars I am have signed up for several sites that send coupons in an attempt save a few bucks.
But I am not sure I will ever be extreme. But if anyone knows good coupon websites please let me know.

I cannot be getting old.
But lately there have been signs that maybe I am not as young as I once was.
The other day I was driving in my car, letting my radio scan through the stations. Then I hear Steve Perry belting Don’t Stop Believin.’
The radio volume went up and an off-tune rendition of the song filled the Neon.
I was feeling pretty good about myself - hearing Steve Perry before work has to be a good sign.
Then I looked at the radio station. Why is Journey on 3WS, the oldies station? In my mind oldies are the songs my parents listen to – not the 80s music that I love.
This isn’t the first time this has happened. Lately I have been listening to oldies station a lot as they have been playing Michael Jackson, Tiffany and Phil Collins.
Am I really that old that my favorite music is now considered old?
But I see more and more that I do things that resemble someone a bit older than I.
I have made comments about the kid driving a vehicle looking about 12 and large groups of kids just seem to annoy me.
The icing on the cake was last week when I received an invitation to my 10th year class reunion. Yes for some that isn’t that long but it is a milestone I just hadn’t thought about. That may be in part that my stellar class could not get their act together for a fifth year reunion.
But maybe the biggest clue that I am not as young as I once was is when I order a drink the waitress doesn’t give it a second thought - she walks away without asking for ID.
Yep I am getting old.