The Second Post (BEWARE: Extreme Creativity)

I hate waiting. I'm currently sitting in line at Piedmont Tire and Auto, hoping to get our Crapillac inspected and avoid a fine for an expired state inspection. Last thing we need is another expense. This car will pass, even though I'd like to light it on fire and toss it in a swamp. Our Nissan Murano, on the other hand, desperately needs new tires before it'll pass inspection.Cheapest place I can find for that is CostCo; $604 for four 18s, mounted and balanced. Fantastic.

We were hoping to replace the Murano this year with an '09 Ford Flex Limited, but since we're upside down on our mortgage and virtually no one will work with us on refinancing, we'll have to wait a while. The Murano will last as long as we need it to, but this Cadillac is a turkey: the transmission slips, the gas mileage is poor for a car with only 200 horses, it's rear wheel drive and the stereo is lousy. But it'll pass inspection. We bought it for $3000 from Kimberly's uncle, needing another four door car to fit our new baby. It's not too awful a car, but my family deserves better.

I hate waiting for the government bailout to work for people who actually need the help. Now, total disclosure: together my wife and I make a huge pile of money... well into the six figures. But throw in a $3000/month mortgage payment, Richard's hospital bills, credit cards, stupid high HOA and condo fees, utilities, and whatever unexpected expense du jour comes up, and you're left with very little lubricant to work with.

What puzzles me is all these banks have hoarded their bailout cash to buy other banks and line their golden parachutes. They all seemed to be eager to lend so everyone would have more money, including responsible, middle class adults such as myself, but they aren't fixing their situations with payments from responsible debtors. They're like 11-year-olds who just got credit cards in the mail by mistake.

I'm hoping that with Barack Obama at the helm next month, these bailouts will have a healthy dose of common sense in their actual text. Such as, lend this money, do not hoard it, you Grey Poupon assholes.

But until then, I can only wait. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I tend to vent and sound rather negative. More on the vastly more great things in my life later.