Ask Mrs Figgins
- Free Advice & opinion on everyday issues – marriage, children, friendship, love, etiquette, politics & faith – dispensed by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!

Happy Motorhoming!

Dear Miss Figgins:

My wife and I are just about to retire. 

For 4 years we’ve been planning to travel around the country in our motor home.   We’ve been excited about our  golden future.   

Last month our boy called to say he’s getting a divorce,  and is moving back WITH US!   He has two kids and needs to pay child and wife support.  He’ll be broke for a good while.  

Ms. Figgins, we love our boy and we have been good parents. We paid for his schooling and helped with his wedding.  We’ve even set a little aside for our grandkids college.  If  we have to now help financially thru this divorce, my wife and I won’t be able to afford our retirement plans.   

Can you give us suggestions?  

 We love him but we’re stuck in a tough place.  

John and Mady, Wyoming

 

Dear John and Mady:

You’re hearts are in a tough place, but you’re not stuck.   

You should continue to follow the dreams which you have planned for.   

As parents, of course you want to offer your son a safe haven.  But it shouldn’t be a free ride.  Just as your son has a financial responsibility to his family, if he’s living in your home, he also has a responsibility to you.  Otherwise you’re not helping him or you.

Set boundaries of what you expect while your son is staying in your home.  Your home is not a crash pad.    

After a month of help, set a reasonable amount that he pays for rent.  Whatever you set, it will no doubt be far less than a rental.   

If he doesn’t live up to his agreement, then he needs to make other arrangements – elsewhere.   

No doubt you’ll do it all with love.   

Mrs. Figgins  

Children Issues,Love,Retirement,advice

Obama’s Damage

 

Dear Friends,

Thank You to Ruth S. King, Dick Morris & Eileen McGann for the following update and chart on the damage Mr. Obama has inflicted on this country.

Dick Morris & Eileen McGann book “Revolt” is due out 1 March.  It explains how Mr. Obama has wrecked America’s economy and charts a path to reverse the damage and defeat him in 2012.

Mrs. Figgins

 

 

 

	January 2009	Today	% chg	Source
Avg. retail price/gallon gas in U.S.	$1.83	$3.104	69.6%	1
Crude oil, European Brent (barrel)	$43.48	$99.02	127.7%	2
Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel)	$38.74	$91.38	135.9%	2
Gold: London (per troy oz.)	$853.25	$1,369.50	60.5%	2
Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL	$3.56	$6.33	78.1%	2
Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL	$9.66	$13.75	42.3%	2
Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. fob	$13.37	$35.39	164.7%	2
Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall	7.6%	9.4%	23.7%	3
Unemployment rate, blacks	12.6%	15.8%	25.4%	3
Number of unemployed	11,616,000	14,485,000	24.7%	3
Number of fed. employees, ex. military (curr = 12/10 prelim)	2,779,000	2,840,000	2.2%	3
Real median household income (2008 v 2009)	$50,112	$49,777	-0.7%	4
Number of food stamp recipients (curr = 10/10)	31,983,716	43,200,878	35.1%	5
Number of unemployment benefit recipients (curr = 12/10)	7,526,598	9,193,838	22.2%	6
Number of long-term unemployed	2,600,000	6,400,000	146.2%	3
Poverty rate, individuals (2008 v 2009)	13.2%	14.3%	8.3%	4
People in poverty in U.S. (2008 v 2009)	39,800,000	43,600,000	9.5%	4
U.S. rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings	5	9	n/a	10
Present Situation Index (curr = 12/10)	29.9	23.5	-21.4%	11
Failed banks (curr = 2010 + 2011 to date)	140	164	17.1%	12
U.S. dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate	89.76	82.03	-8.6%	2
U.S. money supply, M1, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim)	1,575.1	1,865.7	18.4%	13
U.S. money supply, M2, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim)	8,310.9	8,852.3	6.5%	13
National debt, in trillions	$10.627	$14.052	32.2%	14

 

In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation’s history.  

That is 27 times as fast.  Imagine, if you are driving along at 65 mph and a car rockets past you 27 times faster.  It would be doing 1,755 MPH!

Sources:

(1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. of Labor; (7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; (13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury

 

www.askmrsfiggins.com

Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!

advice

Walk Off Grand Slam?

 

Dear Mrs. Figgins:

I think I got myself in a situation I’m not sure how to get out of or, possibly into.

I’m married with twins, a girl and a boy.   My wife Sandy takes my little girl to her after school activities, and I take my son to his little league practice.

One of my son’s friends Mom is always there at practice and we’ve gotten pretty close.   She’s married with 3 kids.

I’ve always thought Sandy and I had a good marriage, but now I’m not so sure?   The other woman and I have gotten close, and I think I’m falling for her.

Sparks are flying!  What should I do?

 

Dear Sparky:

Take a cold shower, and park that ego.

Your friend has her own family which includes 3 kids.   Those bases are already loaded, and you’re looking at a strike out.  

Get your wits about you before you lose your family.   Most importantly, before you selfishly affect your children’s lives.  

Invest more time and love into your marriage.   It will begin a cycle of giving and returning between you and your wife that will reignite your home field.

You have a son, a daughter, and by your own words a good marriage.  This is your walk off grand slam.

Mrs. Figgins

Love,Relationships,advice

Favorite Recipe!

 

Dear Mrs. Figgins:

Thought your readers might enjoy my husbands portobello burger recipe.  It is the worlds best for sure! 

Janice, Baltimore

 

Dear Janice:

It really is delicious! 

Thank You!

Mrs. Figgins

 

World’s Best Portobello Burgers

Ingredients

• 4 Portobello Mushroom caps, cleaned

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise

• 1 Tablespoon prepared Pesto

• 2 Teaspoons coarse-grained mustard

• 4 Hamburger buns, split, buttered, and toasted

• 1 ¼  Baby Arugula

• 1 Jar (12 ounce) roasted red peppers, drained

Directions

Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

Brush mushrooms caps with olive oil; sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper.

Grill mushrooms, smooth side down, covered with grill lid, for 6 to 8 minutes, or until tender.

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, pesto, mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Spread mixture evenly over cut sides of buns. Divide arugula evenly over bottom halves of buns.

Top each evenly with peppers. Place mushrooms caps over peppers. Cover with tops of buns.

 

Simply Wonderful!

 

 

www.askmrsfiggins.com

Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!

advice