A Letter to Michigan Businesses

Dear Business Owners in Michigan,

I hope you are enjoying the tax breaks you have received from the State.  You must be thrilled.

In addition to your tax breaks, you no longer will have to worry about those pesky unions representing your workers.  The days of their effectiveness in protecting your employees are surely on the wane.  Pat yourselves on the back.

I am doing my part to make you happy by contributing more of MY money to the State so that you can keep yours. 

Unfortunately, you will be seeing less of my smiling face in your small local businesses.  Since I have fewer dollars of disposable income to spend, I have had to make those hard choices of where I will not be spending them.

I am a pretty good cook.  That means that I will spend even fewer dollars than I already do at local eateries.  100 fewer breakfasts or lunches, or 400 fewer dinners each year.  Sorry.  NOT.

I can certainly get  by with spending less money on new clothes.  But I am sure that Chico's and Macy's can survive without me.

There was that idea of a vacation up north, but if I am limited in what I can spend, then I'd rather opt for someplace more exotic than Beaver Island.  I mean, funds are limited, so I must make the best of my choices.

You see, what I don't understand is how taxing any of its citizens more and putting the money in the hands of the State can possibly make businesses grow?  If I have less money to spend, you have less money to earn, even if you pay fewer taxes.  How can you sell a product that no one can buy?  It is just supply without demand.

Alas, I likely sound like just another whiner and I am sure you do not care.  But maybe when we all stop frequenting your establishments, you will get the general idea.  Unlike the government, I do not spend money I do not have.

Have a good day!  While it lasts.

The Good News was the Bad News

Who hasn't known a senior citizen who fell at some point?  Tripping is what we seem to do best.  But my problem is not a lack of balance, it is just plain carelessness.

I am great in yoga class, doing my tree poses and practicing 'warrior III':
 
Alas, when I am working around my house my yoga brain goes offline.  Yesterday, I was getting ready to leave my house and go to a meeting.  I opened the door to the garage and noticed the box I had thrown into the garage right in front of the step.

I stepped out of the house onto the small step, grabbed the box, and then stepped down onto a pair of shoes that were under the box, shoes that I never even saw.  Whoa, ho ho!  What a trip!

I immediately crumpled.  My right foot twisted as it hit the shoe and my knee met the floor.  My left arm went down to break the fall.  And then the parked car broke my fall to the floor.  THAT was the good news.

THAT was also the bad news.  It was the side of my head that hit the car.  Nice sturdy Buick.  POW!

I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and headed to my meeting.  My hostess was gracious enough to give me a bag of ice, which I proceeded to move from one body part to the other - my hand, my knee, my face, my shoulder, you name it.

Once I was home that evening, I again did the bag of ice routine, though I have this 'comfort gel pack' that I keep in my freezer.  (It gets a lot of use at my house.)

I guess I need to be more careful.  No, correct that.  I know I need to be more careful and aware of my surroundings.  It is just so easy to move too fast and not pay attention to what we are doing.  And if you happen to be someone who has a problem with balance, the results could be far worse than looking like an idiot sitting at a meeting with a bag of ice on your head.  Take care, my friends.