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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

April Blog Challenge: C is for Cost of living

I was driving home from Redding yesterday, wondering what my "C" post would be about. When I reached the half-way point, I heard a song on the radio, and I thought, why not post that?

Everyone knows the economy is in tank. Houses up for sale everywhere you go. Foreclosures have become almost an every day occurrence. Gas prices continue to soar. Jobs are still being lost.

This song, "Cost of Living" by Ronnie Dunn (formerly of Brooks & Dunn), is simple yet powerful. The video actually made me cry, because every town that's dependent on a big plant lives in fear that it will close its doors and the majority of it's citizens will be out of work.

I don't know about gas prices everywhere, but in my neck of the woods of northern California, it's been sitting at $4.36/gallon for regular unleaded for a couple weeks now. My little SUV gets pretty decent gas mileage, but damn. Everyone expects it to hit $5/gallon by the time summer rolls around. Some even think it could go as high as $6/gallon by the end of summer.

It makes one seriously think about riding a horse to work every day. And I totally would, except the poor horse would have a hard time climbing a 6300' pass twice in one day - even once is too much to ask.

Anyway, here's the video. It's country, but don't let that stop you from listening to it. Please.


 


Here's another video, just for kicks, from John Rich (of Big & Rich), who wrote a song during the bailouts.



13 comments:

  1. I know how you feel. It's hard enough finding work, let alone paying to get there when you have it!
    Lx

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    1. Seriously! I have three jobs, and two of them I walk to. That's the only thing that saves me.

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  2. Yeah... suddenly I feel ok about our unleaded being ZAR12 a liter, which is about $2. Thanks for putting things into perspective.

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    1. Everyone in the world gets affected in different ways. But yeah, $5/gallon is outrageous.

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  3. I don't want to think about gas getting that high. Thats a scary thought. I'm only 6 miles from work but Ive no idea how long that is on bikes

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    1. It's a very scary thought. Gas prices could bankrupt all of us!

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  4. Stopping by to say hello! Riding a horse sounds like a good option, or there's always the other option of "riding a cowboy". Miss you!!!

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    1. OMG!!!!!! I've missed your blog and your comments!!!!!! You have NO idea how much my face lit up when I read your comment!!!

      And if I can find a cowboy with all his teeth and doesn't chew, then that last option is definitely on the table!! LMAO

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  5. Hello J.Day,

    What a great post! I think this is my new favorite blog! I will definitely be back to see what you dream up for the other letters, and to read more of your lovely writing. I am following now.

    I am doing the A to Z Challenge as well. Take a peek at my blog too if you get a chance! I write humor, or at least I pretend to.

    Best,
    MOV
    http://mothersofbrothersblog.blogspot.com

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    1. Why thank you! So glad I was able to hook in another sucker! lol Will definitely check out your blog!

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  6. There ain't a day gone by lately that I haven't thought about all the things in that song, especially passing the pumps. I thought the other day I wish I could ride on Obama's back for a week or so, with him never being able to shake me off. Maybe then he'd get a glimpse of what it's like to be making 10.50 with little hope of a raise and knowing I can't even afford a 40-mile trip to the damn lake for a day for vacation. And to know how much better I am off than so many others with so much more at stake than me. I am taught to forgive by God... when I think of all those involved in the rising prices, the fleeing jobs, the fleecing taxes, Obama thinking I can afford 700 a month for health care... and I'm just glad I don't get a say at the Judgement. Sorry for ranting.

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    1. No apology necessary. When I did my taxes for last year, I added up what I spent in gas. My jaw dropped. And I really, really like your idea of riding on Obama's back to see how he likes it. I drive by a gas station anymore and cringe. I'm fortunate that one job I can walk to, one job allows me to work from home a lot unless we're delivering; but my vet job, on Saturday's I have a 36 miles round trip over mountain pass. Technically I could walk to the vet job during the week here in town, but if people don't see a car in front, they think it's closed.....Oh and don't even get me started on health care. He shove that idea where the sun don't shine!

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  7. The cost of living is high everywhere and so many of us find it hard to make ends meet each week and so many are asking charity oragisations for help.........loved the song thanks for sharing it with us.......

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