So, I did some math just for my own edification. These figures are all based on New York City, the center of the $15/hour demands. So, 40 hours for a minimum wage job is $1160/month before taxes. Federal taxes are around $2500/year - so that's $125 off right off the bat, leaving $1035. State and local taxes here are $10/month at that pay grade, so now we're down to $1025. The cheapest apartment share I ever saw with a working kitchen was $600/month. Bills for would run around $30/month depending on how many roommates. The cheapest cell phone plan I could find (still way cheaper than a home phone) is $25/month, and unless this person has ESP he needs to be contacted by his job to let him know when shifts are. Transit is $116/month. So after only set living expenses, we're down to $284/month for everything else. Groceries, shopping responsibly and buying only cheap, healthy food, would probably be about $150/month for one person. I actually went to see how much health insurance would be, and - surprise surprise - even a single person at this pay rate would be eligible for medicare. Let's say this person doesn't want to take medicare because he doesn't believe he should need government help since he works full time. Cheapest emergency health insurance I could find was $100/month. So now, leftover, we have.... $34. Community college classes are $250 per credit unit per semester. So maybe if absolutely nothing happened to this guy, he never missed a single shift, he never came down with an ailment that his cut-rate health insurance wouldn't pay for, he could save up for 6 months and take one class.

I was working on a project at my kitchen counter when all of a sudden I thought, "what in the world is that strange sound?". Then I realized it was rain. RAIN! It's raining in California, people! I think I'm going to faint now. *thud*

I'm so upset with DH right now. He never likes anything I want to do to make the house look nice. It's always "wait until we do 'this'" first. We've never gotten pass the "this first" step. Our house looks like crap and I hate feeling this way towards him. I feel like he doesn't care how the house looks. Just because roof doesn't leak and plumbing works, it's fine. It's not fine. Our sink is rusting away, we are missing kitchen cabinet doors, our bathroom floor tile is coming off and don't get me started on electrical work. Not to mention the superficial stuff I'd like to do.

I get bad service in restaurants sometimes because I am a woman. I'm sure that's what it is. It can't be because I'm black because I'm not. Or could it be that the kitchen is shorthanded today? Or the waitress has too many tables to serve? Or that the new manager isn't managing well? Hmmm, couldn't be any of those things. Must be because I'm a woman. I didn't choose to be a woman. I was dragged out of the womb female. That's someone's fault too. Guess I won't tip the black waitress. Or maybe I'll just tip the white one more. Or maybe I'll just stay home and eat a sandwich. On white bread.

My dad is almost 81. My mom passed away almost six years ago and since then he's almost become a hermit. He's been taking Ultram for back pain for ten years, even though the surgery he had eight years ago alleviated that pain. Today he called me and asked me what time he was supposed to be here for dinner. #1 I didn't invite him for dinner and #2 my DH was in the middle of re-grouting our kitchen and dining room floors. So DH suggested I call him back and have him meet us for dinner. He was 20 minutes late because he said he forgot. This is a man who refuses to even list my brother and me as being able to be contacted about his health issues, and refuses to discuss finances or anything else with us. I can see him slipping a little every time I see him, but he always says he's 'fine.' I don't know what to do!

I shouldn't be putting the cart before the horse, but I really am excited for these jobs to pan out. I might be working as a CrossFit trainer at two different gyms in the city near mine. My DH might be working as an engineer for a paper company. I'm already starting to look at houses and I really shouldn't start....but I found SUCH a cute little house with a huge kitchen and two bathrooms. And DH likes the pole shed that it has. We're just really hoping it works out and that he gets offered the job. I hate where we live right now :(

Both my parents were adult at 18, supporting themselves. So were my siblings and me. Also my grandfather learned a trade at age 14 by going away from home. He had an 8th grade education and younger siblings. His parents said sorry we can't support all of you, this is what you have to do when you graduate 8th grade (this was legal then). His brother became CEO of a major kitchenware company. Grandfather became director of a nationally known beer company. My grandma worked in a laundry from age 16, no more school. Other grandma worked in a hospital age 18, lived with other girls doing the same thing. My kids were also adult at 18. Both worked as waiters before starting college and during. They could have taken care of themselves if they had to.We all learned there's no free ride and if you want something you better work hard for it. Kids today are wimps.

As an adult, I've had 2 dogs and 2 cats. The dogs never shit or pissed inside, except when the previous one was really, really old and only a few times during the last 6 months of his life. My current dog has never had an accident in the house, not even when she was doped up post-spay surgery. They're pretty easy to potty train. Feed them, take them out 30-60 minutes later. My cats do walk on the counters, but I clean those often enough for it not to be an issue. I think the most annoying thing about my cats is that they like to open up all of the lower cabinets in the kitchen at night. My cats are long-haired and cough up hairballs somewhat frequently, though less often now that they're on higher quality food.

My mom was such a psycho about making ME clean as a kid and even now when we visit she always says "You girls wash the dishes!" before we can even offer. Well yesterday they were in town for Easter and after lunch she asked if I was going to clean the kitchen. I said "Oh yes, later." I cleaned it this morning. It was like my own personal eff you. Lol

I'm in bed soothing LO to sleep. She can't sleep because she's having a coughing fit. I ask DH to bring her medicine from the kitchen. He says he can't, he's too busy playing video games. Yeah, and he wonders why I never want to have sex with him. #fuckingdouchebag #useless