A grandmother is a mother who has a second chance

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

I'm annoyed

Like most people, I watch the stock market during the morning news and sometimes look at the numbers during the day. I mean, I'm retired so it suddenly matters! But I don't get it. Unemployment high? Market goes down - or up. Unemployment low? Market goes down - or up. Either way, there is always someone rationalizing. A company has a great quarter, but their stock goes down because it wasn't quite as good as they predicted. Did anyone ever consider that the people doing the predicting don't know what they're doing? And what about the economists who are always spouting off about inflation being higher or lower than they expected. Maybe they are NOT the smartest economists on the playground! It amazes me that our whole economy seems to be based on what these yahoo's say. Hell, I can make bad predictions - wonder if I can get paid for it like they do.

Oh, yeah, and then there's the oil prices. When there's even a hint that oil is going up, the gas stations raise their prices by 5 cents or 10 cents within minutes. Storm in the Gulf? Prices skyrocket in some areas. Over the past week of so oil has gone down over $10 a barrel. Anyone seen lower gas prices? Maybe a penny or two. Today on the news they said it would take quite awhile for us to see any "relief at the pump" based on lower oil prices. Then the Administration says they're "keeping an eye on things" so we don't get gouged! Are they kidding! I don't know about you, but my feeling is that we've been gouged for the past couple of years. Where the hell are they looking exactly?!?!

And, finally, I do not care one whit that this the second notice about the warranty on my car that is due to expire. Who are these people??? I've gotten the call at home, on my cell phone, on the 1-800 number at the office, even in a hotel room in Seattle! If you have caller ID and try to actually return the call, you find the phone is disconnected. One day I listened to the whole message and called the number given in the message. The woman said, "Oh, are you interested in our offer?" I said, "No, I want you to take my phone number off your list." Which lead to her slamming her phone down in my ear! Now there's a company I'd love to do business with.

Yup, feeling a little cranky today.

6 comments:

Desert Diva said...

I have no stocks - sad but true. Also, my not-to-be-named evil ex-boyfriend was a stockbroker. He ate, breathed, and slept the stock market.

As for gasoline, we actually have gotten a little relief in Southern New Mexico. The "cheap" gas is $3.45/gallon. Granted, that's not anywhere where it should be...

I just leave my answering machine on and screen calls. Nine times out of ten it's some sort of solicitor.

Tomorrow is another day - I hope it's a good one for you...

Unknown said...

Ugh. My car lease is almost up and they are calling me non-stop even though I've already told them my plans. Today they called me at work and then called me on my cell phone. I was not pleased!

Nikki said...

I watch the stock market too...and I have no stocks. I started watching it after 9/11 because it was such a good indicator of how things were going. A lot to be cranky about...how about a house that has been on the market for 2 years in AZ, yep 2 years in August...oi. chalk me up as cranky too! :)N

Jenni said...

I would love to know what constitutes "price gouging" in the current administration's eyes. They certainly don't seem to be following the criteria of everyone else!

Chatterness said...

Financial crimes.....

Houses foreclosing, unemployment...banks going bankrupt

Thanks "W."

Anonymous said...

I don't get it either!
All I do know is that our economy is seriously going down the "shitter" and not too many of our elected officials are trying to change things.