Decided to come back while I ate breakfast and waited for the washer to do it's thing.
We have a saying out here in the rest of the world - America sneezes and the world catches cold. Well America is sneezing and the rest of us are dashing for cover and trying to sort out our messes.
The news from Wall Street this morning was a bit better - people with the available cash are picking up bargains and getting richer. However the worst is not over. This care package needs to go through. If the banks fail, then business fails - usually small business and shopkeepers first - then jobs go and then the number of unemployed start to restrict the pensions of those elderly, incapacitated, single mothers etc. If the pollies care more about their country than getting re-elected then they will pass this bill with strict criteria effectively limiting bank lending.
It affects the rest of the world through the fact that much of our mortgage money comes from the States and through the global economy many big business companies are listed on various stock exchanges throughout the world. I was never a fan of the global village. I am even less enchanted now. Australia is fairly lucky - due to the mining boom and the ever present demands of China, we will only slide into recession rather than depression. But even that will wreck the lives of many of our already hurting pensioners.
If the care package proposed by Pres. Bush does not go through and depression results in the USA, then you can forget about being the dominant world power and start being nice to China. China will become the next power and life under them will be even worse than now. They have no human rights, no animal rights and forget the environment, who cares as long as they have face and power. Forget anything about the truth as well. Well we just about have forgotten about truth and justice, but the vision is even worse from where I stand.
My superannuation is affected to the tune of 8.40% down in the last year and probably the same in this year if I am lucky. It's invested in cash, bonds, stocks, overseas stocks and property. Not much of that is doing much earning right now. I don't know that I will ever be able to retire and probably my future travel is going to be severly curtailed. Like Ruth, I might need to trip to the financial planner. I'm working on it and trying not to get upset about that which is totally out of my control.
Happy - sorry to hear about the tooth. Hope it gets better soon. I wonder why we feel worse coming out of the dentist than going in - and that's before we are presented with the bill. Maybe DH was playing the blues because many of us are feeling somewhat blue just now.
Mel - stirring the pot again with the red room? No way, no how, no red! Sorry to hear about the wheelchair, the doctors absence and the underperforming insurance company - expect more of this!
Ruth - good to hear from you. Disney seems to be doing a grand job in comfort you. Where are you going in October may I ask? Not to bat some people on your chat thread around the ears I hope. They got into some heated discussions while you were practising moderation in NC!
Michelle - red rooms are supposed to incite passion and activity. Perfect choice for the bedroom???!!!
Mel's remarks about painting the place red is a reference to a tv show we watched together at her place. Every episode they painted some room red! There is enough rage in this world without us waking up and seeing red immediately! Nothing wrong with a blue or green wall - it has a calming, relaxing effect. So do most of the pastels for that matter which is probably why Happy's mom loves the peach. Happy, calming, relaxing, just the thing to put us in the mood - right!
Ceejay must be off doing the housework or something or maybe STILL working long hours. Relax woman, paint a wall or something.
Okay - this time off to paint the walls, you will probably hear me from wherever you are if the paint peels again. I shall be fairly loud and rude.
I'll start the new thread later today. I might even let you know whether the wall is still there or not - or if my foot is sore.
I know, I know....TMI. 
I hope your painting went well and that nothing peeled. 