"I'll have the Credit Line Special, with the Interest on the Side."

UGGH! It's so frustrating! Long story short of it, I have been grossly underemployed since September, when the Poison Ivy and I parted ways. Proof positive, that life goes on, January has marked a small reversal in my situation, but unfortunately, I have fallen behind on some cc's--first time in 7 years! Anyway, some of them have gone 90 days, and the calls have become irritatingly frequent--24 calls in 11 hours on my cell alone, not to mention the untold numbers on my unplugged home line.

Anyway...I usually just ignore them, but occasionally I take the bait, to explain, I got no $ right now. Well, what a difference 90 days make! The 90 day callers are real assholes, out of the gate, and it's a battle to see who controls the call, a battle gladly accepted by this masochist. I didn't work at Spago-a-go-go, and the Poison Ivy for 14 years total, to be pushed around by some scumbag from Bumfuck Arkansas.

For example, Juniper Visa called tonight. I didn't know it was them since my phone's ID said UNKNOWN. Anyway I answered and this woman starts asking all these "security" questions, before telling me who she is to begin with! Once I found out who it was, I asked them to hold as I checked my phone log of previous conversations. I saw that I had asked for them to put a settlement offer in writing on the 23rd of January. I requested the same settlement offer again, and reminded them that Citibank had done the same, and we had struck a deal.

Then, as a simple gesture of goodwill, I suggested that they identify themselves on their caller ID, like Citibank. She then inquired how I could afford caller ID but couldn’t afford to pay them. I then responded that her line of questioning was outside the scope of our discussion, but since she was getting personal, I now I would have to get personal and start referring to her as “Stupid Cunt”.

Anyway...just venting. It's humbling too, in that they are professionals, they have a script, while I just have my reactions to their insane inquiries.

How to Get the Waiter Vote

Any candidate for President could win the service employee vote by a landslide, regardless of personal politics, if he did the simple act of rescinding the IRS's ability to tax gratuities. Contrary to what the IRS says, tips are not income. They are gifts for services rendered. It's really similar to when I was a paperboy and got paid per newspaper each month, but around Xmas I received a "gift" for a job well done from the customer.

It's a gift and at the very least the first $11,000 of a gift should be tax free. This is the amount the IRS says one can receive without being taxed.

Ask any waiter what they do with all their dough and they will say, as sure as Sarah Palin says, "You Betcha!", that they SPEND it! They pour it right back into the economy, often at bars and restaurants, which perpetuates the growth.

Of course this means states that pay less than minimum wage would have to start paying more, but I firmly believe this would help the over all economy more than a $800 stimulus check. I already get all the stimulus I need watching Sarah Palin bend over to pick up some notes that she dropped. :-0