SUDOKU

Well it took me four months, but I finally completed the Sudoku puzzle I started in November. And what a “thrill of success” I felt when I finished it. No doubt you might wonder, “How does it take someone such a long time to solve just one puzzle?” Let me explain. To begin with, although my Sudoku skill only ranks as average, I don’t attempt the “average” Sudoku puzzles. In fact, I work on the very hardest, as I only subscribe to the Sunday newspaper which contains the most difficult puzzle of the whole week.

As a result, I make a lot of mistakes. Furthermore, because I am a very persistent person I refuse to start a new puzzle until I successfully complete the one I’m working on -- without looking at the answer. That being the case, I constantly have to start over and over until I get it right. And finally, I usually don’t spend much time on the puzzles. More often than not, I only work on the copy I keep in my purse while waiting in the doctor’s office, etc. Thus, it always take me quite a while to complete a single Sudoku puzzle. But this is the very first time it has taken me as long as four months.

By Hannah --www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

THE GOVERNMENT’S BIG BUSINESS

Don’t let it be said that our government doesn’t know how to run big business. If marketing is any indication, they certainly can market as well as the best of them. I received a phone call today, as I often have in the past, to make a contribution to the campaign of our U.S. Senator. But today’s call was unique as the election for the senator does not occur for another year and a half.

In my opinion our U.S. Senator does a great job and has an excellent reputation in Washington. Thus, I gladly support him by making regular contributions. And so I immediately said, “Yes, I will be glad to donate $25.” But the clever and well-experienced telephone solicitor responded, “Thank you, we appreciate your donation. He then went on to say, “Since the election is not for another 20 months, would you consider donating $10 a month for the next 20 months?’ I quickly calculated the total of $200, politely refused, and repeated I would send $25.”

I must admit however, his technique impressed me. He didn’t request a contribution of $200 knowing many people would immediately balk at that figure. Instead, he asked for a much smaller $10 amount and I will bet that many people, without thinking twice, will say yes.

By Hannah --www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

RAINY DAY

I hate going to the grocery store on a rainy day. And wouldn’t you know it. It’s raining today and I have to go to the grocery store. I only shop for food every couple of weeks because it is such a hassle. And so when I do shop, I stock up on frozen foods and canned goods that will last. But, now I’m low on several staples – milk, bread, juice, etc. Thus, I have no choice but to do my shopping this afternoon.

So why does the rain bother me? Very simple. When I walk out of the store, I can’t push the cart filled to the top with groceries and hold my umbrella at the same time. Such a dilemma. Actually, I should consider myself lucky if this is the worst problem I have all day. Meantime, since I will wear my winter jacket, I can just pull up the hood and I won’t get too wet anyway.

By Hannah --www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

MY BASEMENT

I am so excited. I can hardly believe that after 30 years, someone might finally prevent water from flooding my basement whenever it rains. It’s not that I haven’t tried. I’ve contacted numerous handymen, builders, contractors, etc. I’ve even paid a few to fix the problem, only to have wasted my money.

But today, a handyman whom a friend recommended, looked over my property, assessed the problem, and presented me with a solution that makes sense. He showed me where the water seeped into my basement and explained that all he would need to do was buy a 10 pound bag of cement and seal up the opening. Sure sounds good to me. In addition, because he has built and repaired houses for years as his father did, he obviously has the experience to know what he’s talking about !!!

Well, here’s hoping. And I won’t have long to find out if he can solve my problem. It’s almost April and spring rains are right around the corner.

By Hannah - www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

J. MITCHARD’S NOVEL

Recently a friend told me, I must read Jacquelyn Mitchard’s latest novel, Breakdown Lane. “What’s it about,” I asked? “Just read it,” she replied and refused to say any more. But a couple days later she called and said, “I better give you a hint or it just might be too much of a shock.”

Yes I was surprised. As I read the novel I could hardly believe how much the heroine and I had in common. We both married Jewish men, moved to Sheboygan, WI, their hometowns, and gave birth to a son and daughters. In addition, we both wrote newspaper advice columns, her husband was a lawyer and mine had gone to law school, and our awful husbands left us for other women. Well that’s quite a lot of similarities for me to share with a fictitious character. But on top of all that, we both have Multiple Sclerosis. And if that’s not enough, the author and I live fairly near each other. She lives in Oregon and I live in Middleton, two cities very close to Madison, WI. We’ve never met and so I find it absolutely incredible that she should write a story so much like my own.

By Hannah - www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

THE STOCK MARKET.

My son admonished me when I told him I check the stock market numerous times everyday. But it’s fun to watch the Dow Jones activity on www.finances.yahoo.com. Throughout the day as the market goes up or down the chart changes making it possible to view the most current results. And so when I have my computer turned on I view the website once or twice an hour.

“Mom” he said, “if people like you would stop obsessing about the stock market the economy would improve.” Since he works for an investment company in Chicago, I respect his advice. But frankly, I don’t think of myself as obsessing. There is no doubt that the stock market will certainly rise again at some point. My son and I both know that. But the question is simply when. And so for me it’s like a game. I keep looking at the website wondering if this will be the time it goes up.

Nevertheless, I told my son, “Rick, you don’t really want me to stop watching the stock market. After all, I can be your barometer. When it begins a healthy upswing, I will let you know that I have stopped viewing www.finances.yahoo.com. And you will have a heads-up that the market has started improving !!”

By Hannah - www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

A.I.G.

Why hasn’t the public revolted? Why isn’t there more outrage? Why aren’t students demonstrating like they did against Viet Nam in the 70’s and the Union Demonstrators in the 19th century? And where are the “Unabombers” and Timothy McVeighs of today? There’s no question that Americans are extremely furious that some despicable employees of A.I.G. have taken millions of dollars in bonuses. They should never have received bonuses from the money that American taxpayers gave to bail out their failing A.I.G. company. So tell me please, why aren’t Americans rallying against these crooks like they have in years past?

Most all of us know people who have lost their jobs. In fact, both a husband and wife I know have both lost their jobs. These people are having a hard time buying food, paying their bills, and making ends meet. Yet there are hundreds of A.I.G. employees who each received a million dollars or more bonus. One employee even received $4,000,000. I can’t believe how unfair and unbelievable it is.

I do believe that people should be rewarded for a job well down. But such outrageous amounts are unacceptable and something should be done!

By Hannah - www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.