For the Love of Money

L: Do you remember that wonderful, twirling feeling you got in your tummy when you are waiting for that new someone special to call? From the moment you met you couldn't stop thinking about him, what he likes, what he doesn't like, what kinda tricks you were going to need to pull to hang onto your new catch...don't frown and criticize, you know you did it too.

K: Truer words were never spoken. Unfortunately, I am doing that now and finding it an 'oh so' tired dance. But now it has me thinking...do we really choose our partners for love anymore? I know folks say they choose for love, but that love seems to need to come wrapped in a Tiffany Box right down to the big white bow.

L: I can see that...don't get me wrong, I'm not critical of anyone for the choices they make...to each his own and all that. BUT...with that said, I acknowledge that we may be returning to the way of the gold digger...Yep, I said it! I am not suggesting that anyone, male or female, should marry or mate down, by all means soar high...feel me? But I don't think it is fair either for anyone to latch onto another person purely because of their financial situation. I mean really...if you are carrying a price on your head doesn't that make you a kidnap victim demanding a ransom or at the very least a paid companion?

K: Paid companion, mail order bride, high priced call girl, dominatrix...it's a slippery slope. lol We may need to examine the previous practices a little more to really give adequate background to how we even got here. Arranged marriages often require dowry payments in advance. So the idea of payment before marriage is really not that far-fetched.

L: K, I feel you on the arranged marriages, but I feel like that's a bit different because both parties are aware and agree. In the world of the gold-digger, their mate is none-the-wiser and the poor thing doesn't see it coming. Next thing you know they are out in the street, pockets hanging out empty with a cup asking for spare change...I mean really...it's awful isn't it? On the other hand, if the one holding the bank knows that this is the main reason their mate is attracted to them and wants them anyway...does that make it ok?

K:  "Ain't nothing goin' on but the rent!  Got to have a J.O.B. if you wanna be with me...No Romance without Finance!"  Girl, Gwen Guthrie was really serious! LOL  All things considered, yeah its cool.  To quote George Bernard Shaw, "Lack of money is the root of all evil."  It isn't delusional to expect to live better together than we do apart.  We are all adults here so the fact is while love is grandiose, money is comforting.

It Ain't Trickin' if You Got It

L: Ok, so isn't it crazy how social networking has become the number one way to connect, hook-up and flirt, etc.? LOL...Remember back in the day when being social meant actually being face to face, lustful, googly-eyed convo with a real person? And people you called friend were people you actually knew? When even an ol' skool hoe came face to face with a dude first? So K, imagine my shock to hear about these girls selling their goodies on Craigslist? Talk about socially networking LOLOL...According to "Dirty Cash", a special I watched on MSNBC, this is a new trend emerging especially among college girls who want to make some quick and dirty cash. I know it sounds really crazy, but I'm so serious. These new school companions are cyber-hoein' themselves by providing their phone numbers and other random info so they can be ordered and delivered as easy as cheap takeout. All that's missing is the two-for-one coupon.

K: Wow, L. I am flabberghasted by what you are saying to me. Not the part about prostitution. I mean that is the oldest "profession" in history, but more so by the choice to use Craigslist and maybe other cyber outlets to peddle skin for money. So it's like a whole generation of girls were not taught to be wary of strangers. All the warnings to not engage in promiscuous behaviour go unheeded. It is one thing to have cyber porn available, but meeting strangers via internet expressly to exchange sex for money. Man, I can just shake my head. But this leads to another interesting twist. If selling sex for money is dangerous via any medium but specifically via internet. What about internet dating? Wouldn't the same caution apply?

L: HECK YEA, I think it does apply. Truth be told, I always thought internet dating a bit suspect. Let's be logical...like without all the fluffy foofy faux romance depicted on matchmaking site's commercials showing these awesomely lucky people finding their "soulmates" and all because they checked all the right boxes on the form :) Snarky? Yeah I'm snarky! I mean, I get it. I realize that if they expose incidences with negative outcomes that may have occurred through use of their trusty, virtual matchmaking tool sales might fall off a bit. But to be fair, I do think these commercials should have some fine print, warning label or escape hatch. But what can you say...capitalism at its best, exploiting and preying on the broken and lonely hearts out there frantic they may never find the "one"...and no longer trusting their instincts throw caution to the wind and at the same time could be putting themselves in danger.

K: Everything appears to be of the instant,  "Add water and stir" variety. There is supposedly a common sense to meeting a person from the internet. Like meeting in person in a crowded place, etc. Even with that being the case, there is a real disconnect between meeting people in person vs. the anonymity of a cyber-manufactured persona. The real ad for the internet should be "Be whoever you want to be! We won't tell!" :-) Hiding behind technology so they don't have to be their true selves. Folks fall in love with your avatar, once they are invested it's the gotcha - gotcha!

L:  The scary part is that means even the craziest bird in the sky can hide behind that avatar and prey on some unsuspecting person.  I guess the morale to the story is, hold on to your head before you lose your heart and make sure you know who you're dealing with...face to face or online.  Keep it tight and safe ladies :)

Can We Give Her a Standing Ovay?

L: Today was one of THOSE days. Do you know what I mean? Of course you do! When you worked like a dog, doing the job of four people and only being paid for one. When no matter how many buildings you leapt over in a single bound, bullets you deflected with your awesome bullet deflecting bracelets and fires you put out with your built-in trusty, handy dandy fire putter outer...LOLOL...it was just never enough. Well that's the day I had and in the end everyone tells me I should...ready? wait for it...wait for it...BE POSITIVE and be grateful I have a job in this economy. Not that I'm saying I am not happy to be among those to maintain their regular direct deposit, because I am. But what if I just want to be ANGRY? Mad as HELL! Pissed to the highest level of PISSIVITY! I can't because the world won't let me. Yep...ya heard me...they won't let me because somewhere along the line it became practically un-American to express anger over just about anything. Everything has become so darn positive that we celebrate death, disease, unemployment...hey you name the problem...we need to celebrate it. Doggonit that's right, throw a party for that newly unemployed husband and father of four...because this is something he should embrace rather than be totally depressed and disgusted about.

Even when K and I first introduced this blog, we were told that we shouldn't sound so ANGRY and don't use the word SAVAGE because it sounds ANGRY LOLOLOL...sometimes we even hold back from saying what really needs to be said...oh like the TRUTH, because it can be perceived as too harsh. When did this happen? When did we become a culture so afraid of an emotion that is not "positive"? Why do we always have to turn our frowns upside down, when in reality we might be experiencing something in our lives that warrants our whole entire face, mood and body to wrenched in a frown. I mean really...really???

So imagine my delight when I'm reading this months Elle magazine which features an interview with author Barbara Ehrenreich, titled "Positively Perverse", who is or has just released her new book Bright-sided. I won't go into any depth here because I have not yet read the book, but trust...the Savage women will be all over this. She talks about this very phenomemon where individuals who have been diagnosed with life-threatening diseases are constantly told to think positive thoughts and she frankly discusses how ludacris that notion really is. I mean sure, it probably does the patient some good to try to stay in good spirits, but I'm telling you right now if I'm diagnosed with a disease that could possibly end my time here on Earth...I'm gonna be mad enough to smack the spit out of the doctor's mouth. That's my word!

She also discusses the prosperity based worship trend that we see that claims a positive attitude with God will certainly yield riches and/or wealth etc, which puts us all in charge of our destinies and what happens in our lives purely based on our positive attitudes. So what happens when you're Miss Shenehneh Sunshine all the time and still you lose your job, your home and your car? Now what?!? Based on this positive thinking culture we're creating, Miss Shenehneh must keep thinking good thoughts and good things will come to her. I wonder if she has enough money left to buy a bridge that I could sell her :)

Anyway...I just needed to rant about that right quick because some days are just bad days and if one really believes in the true balance of life and the universe, that's a totally normal occurence. Just like some days it's sunny and pleasant others are rainy and mess up your hair...life is like that too. If we are constantly forcing pleasantries on ourselves we are not giving ourselves the chance to experience the full spectrum of emotions required to maintain a healthy emotional balance. It's no wonder we are considered a Prozac nation...people are so scared to have a sad feeling that they'd rather medicate and stay "positive".

Hey...these are just my thoughts. No gospel here, but just something to think about the next time you want to cry, scream or slap a fool. Those are just emotions and totally normal for a human being...I say let go and well...let go again :)

K: All I can say is "Can I get a witness?!!" LOLOL I have felt that all this positive schmositive talk was far too narrow in scope all along. Holla, if you're with me!