Flu, Shmew.

Tell me something, my fellow PNNers. Does it really matter which kind of flu has hit my family? The high temperatures are the same. The smells are just as horrible as ever (sparing you the gross details). The sleepless nights are the same.  Oh, and the amount of laundry is the same.

So, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck...

Right?

I CANNOT BELIEVE MY EYES!

I cannot believe I just saw a man riding an electric scooter, toting an oxygen tank with the tube in his nose, SMOKING!

The recession is over??!!

The recession is in full effect in my area of the country. People are still without jobs, stores continue to close and foreclosures still occur. The banks are paranoid to the point they no longer trust the responsible people in our country, including us.

After the credit card changes were in full effect, I received some information from banks with which we have accounts. The majority of the changes I read about were of a positive nature: lesser penalties for late payments, decreased amounts due each month, and things of that nature; which actually have nothing to do with us because we don't charge anymore. However, it was a nice change to see that banks were forced to recognize they had some stiff penalties in a time when people were having financial difficulties.

Then I received this from Sam's Club. 

My 4 year old son is holding the list of changes being implemented immediately, all negative. It begins with the new APR increasing to 22.90%, and the "penalty" APR increasing to 29.90%!!!  It makes me want to cancel my Sam's Club account and I don't even carry a balance. How is it that other credit card companies (banks) were forced to lower rates and Sam's Club can increase rates?

I don't know what it's like in your neck of the woods, but around here the general consensus is when people get back on their feet financially, and they will, they will not forget how they were treated during difficult times and their choice of banks/credit card companies will reflect that.

Slurpalicious

Do you ever make smoothies?  We're all at the point that we are feeling better ~ at that point of only eating things that sound good. The boys really wanted a smoothie and it also sounded good to me, but I didn't have the regular supplies I normally use.  We got creative and put a can of peaches (drained), a banana, a touch of honey and some ice, and it was GOOD!  We always have bananas and ice (and honey hidden in the pantry) so I'm excited to know that a can of peaches will do the trick. What's your favorite smoothie to make at home?