MY HEAD IS SPINNING!

We need a new vehicle. Before winter. O.k., now. At least, before the truck gives up the ghost and dies altogether. She’s been a good old gal but like most things, with age comes malfunction and repairs. When the upkeep costs outweigh the worth of an object, it’s time to say goodbye.

I just got off the Edmunds web site and my head is spinning. I’m a hands-on type shopper (another reason I don’t buy anything online) and like to see what’s offered in person. The web site did give me some idea of best for the money but within my price range, that means a horse and buggy might be in the offing. They didn’t have any listed.

We are torn between and extended cab mid-size pick-up which is what we have now, or an SUV. Sonnyboy wants something that sits up off the ground and I will have to agree. Driving a vehicle with a six inch clearance to the ground is my idea of driving fright and just asking for a heart attack to happen on the highway. I’m not ready for that.

Since we both love our Ranger (even with all her warts), I think we’ll stick to that vehicle model. We just need a smaller engine and better gas mileage. It doesn’t matter if the style has not changed much in years. We kind of like the way she looks. An SUV is still not out of the question, either.

So, at first opportunity we (or I) will probably be limping to the dealership to talk to my favorite salesman who calls me at least once a year to see if I need his help.

That’s an affirmative, good buddy!

NOT SO FAST!

I guess it all boils down to the fact that you must ask the right questions in order to receive the right answers!

I called both credit card companies this morning good and ready to cancel my Payment Protection Plans. But first, I asked a very important question: Will my credit card balance be paid upon the event of my death? The answer was “yes, in full within a certain limit” (for which I qualified) as long as the Plan is in place and the company has been notified of the death of the card holder. If there is no credit card payment protection plan in place, the deceased’s estate is responsible for the payment of the balance owed.

Well, this puts a whole new light on the subject! Since I have just about enough life insurance to cover my cremation and the balance to be used as the kids see fit, I have kept the Plans to cover the balance of the credit cards.

The only big headache that remains is the debt of the condo and its operation. Since it is also in my son’s name, I guess it will be his headache to do with as he pleases.  At this point, I have no other debt.

Contrary to how this all sounds, I am not planning to leave this earth anytime soon (I’m living to the ripe old age of 97, remember?) but it pays to get the facts and kind of get things in order (just in case).

Now, I must get a will drawn up! Gotta make sure my dust bunnies go to a good home after I die!

SENIORS BEWARE!

I’ve been scammed. No, not recently; it’s been going on for a few years and I am pissed!

Through some pretty slick sales pitches, I bought into the credit card payment protection plan for two different cards. Even though I have not been living under a rock, I just recently found out that if you are elderly, retired or disabled, these plans are worthless. I believe there is one class action suit in progress against one credit card company that I know of and there should be suits against all of them if you ask me.

These plans are based on a percentage of the credit card balance owed and are tacked onto your bill each month right next door to the inflated interest charges plus any other add-ons you may have fallen prey to.

Recently, one card company raised my interest rate and could not give me a satisfactory reason for the increase. I have never been late and always pay more than the minimum payment.

The second card company lowered my credit line by $300 and could not give me a satisfactory reason why (the same payment habit as stated above also applies here). But they both sure love taking my money for worthless protection plans.

Taking advantage of the elderly, retired or disabled is the lowest form of abuse I can think of besides physical cruelty and these companies should be ashamed. But, being ashamed is not lining their pockets.

So folks, first thing tomorrow morning, I am canceling the Payment Protection Plans (ha, ha) on both cards. I’ll let you know what adverse effect it has on my credit rating and credit card interest and/or lines of credit.

If there is any adverse reaction, I know of a lawyer who specializes in credit card issuer fraud. I’ll not be left holding the bag for someone else’s selfishness again!

WAS THIS A JOKE?

I watch Dr. Oz almost every day. With the exception of the stupid games, it is a very informative show.

I believe it was on Thursday of this past week, he presented a new revolutionary “Age Meter” with which, by answering a few health-related questions, one could see the results of their predicted age of death. I was hooked! At the end of the show, I went to the good doctor’s web site, located the test and jumped right in headfirst without even looking to see if there was any water in the pool.

The meter’s prediction is gauged by the way you truthfully answer certain family, personal and health questions. It begins at your current age and increases (or decreases) this number by the answers you give the meter. While taking the test, I seriously expected to have already passed my expected age of death.

After all was said and done, I found out that I am to live to the bright old age of 97! Was this a joke? They had to be kidding! I didn’t hear anyone laughing at the time and I’m not sure I wanted to live that long!

On second thought, it might be kind of fun to live to see my son turn 71 and my daughter turn 67. Now, THAT would be hilarious!

OH YE NIGHTS OF LITTLE SLEEP!

I have been having a time of it lately. Getting to sleep and staying asleep are becoming two big issues with me. I used to chalk it up to my meds and maybe in part, I still do. But something is just not right in Slumber Land at Goat’s house.

I have tried foregoing the afternoon naps but that has no effect. It doesn’t seem to matter whether I nap or not. Each night is a repeat of the one before; Edgar Allan Poe/Alice in Wonderland dreams and waking up five and six times during the night. I might get one night out of ten resulting in good, solid restorative sleep.

I have even tried a snack in the middle of the night to relax me. No good. They’re just making me fatter. Warm milk is out of the question; yuck! I can’t take another pill; I’ll be sleeping through the next day and God knows, I don’t have that many left to waste!

I have blamed it on the noisiness of the neighbors but after almost eight years, I should be used to them by now and for the most part, I am.

I have blamed it on the dog since she is a restless sleeper and may be waking me up since she sleeps at the foot of my bed. Or maybe she is restless because I keep waking HER up?? That’s a toss!

My dreams are enough to keep a sane person awake but since I’m a little nuts, that shouldn’t matter. But they ARE getting stranger as time goes by.

Guess I could try to get my internal clock back in sync by staying up all night but then Richard would be telling me that I’m getting nasty again and to get my meds checked, blah, blah, blah. Well, young man, my meds are fine, I’m feeling good and my last blood tests were normal.

There’s just something wrong in Slumber Land and I can’t seem to find out what!