My wife has her pretentious friend and her blowhard husband from Geneva come over for dinner about every six months. I tried to fake being sick the last time but she figured out my plan when she saw I was scheduled to play golf the next morning.

Anyway, the last time they were here they were using their French they were studying in preparation for a trip there. Like we didn’t all backpack through Paris when we were in college, looking for Jim Morrison’s grave? Since we were having a barbecue I casually mentioned “dijon vu – the same mustard as before,” and they totally bought it.  Idiots.

I also laughed when I heard they never took that trip to France.  Seems like a little layoff problem got in the way. Not like any of us are immune.  I’ve been consulting now for two years since I took my package from the bank. It’s a good life sometimes, but sometimes you’re waiting on an invoice and some bills come due and you’re not sure how to pull it off.  That’s why I am quite familiar with St. Charles Title Loans.  They spot me with cash against my Lexus just when I need it.  Last time I took $4000, the time before $5000. You get the money in a day, pay your bills, then pay off that one when your own money comes in.  I’ve kept a clean credit record despite all adverse circumstances.

Take that to France, losers.

By the way St Charles is near, Addison, Downers Grove, Naperville, Winfield, and York.

We seem to have entered into one very bad economy. I think stupidity got us into this mess – why can’t it get us out?

Seems like the boys in Washington and Wall Street are trying their best. They say they’re working for us, the little people in the heartland who toil away for years, following the rules. And then we read about billions in bonuses to bankers who screwed up royally, and the congress people don’t exactly look like they’re going hungry either.

We’ve had our own money problems here in Kane County. My wife lost her banking job and my days at the plant were over in 2006 already. We’re working part time jobs here and there, piecing it together because we really don’t have much of a choice. We’re too young to retire, but too old for some of the salaries we see in the advertising. But we’re making do and there’s nothing stupid about that.

I found a new trick, car title loans.  It’s the kind of loan you can get when no one else has money for you.  With us, it was when the old stove gave out. We can pay it in installments, but just try getting a loan with part time work only.  The great thing is South Elgin Title Loans didn’t care about our employment status. They just needed to see we hold title on our cars.  We got that money in two days, just in time to go to Glenview and get a deal at Abt appliances. And I’ll do it again if I have to.

By the way South Elgin is near Batavia, Aurora, Geneva, Huntley, and St Charles.