The scams of my youth

[hopita]

Anyone who's done any work in retail knows that one giant pain in the ass is when the store is closing in five minutes and someone shows up at your register with a huge freakin' amount of stuff. Ten minutes before nine and this guy shows up in my line with his shopping cart absolutely loaded, but OK, no biggie, and I start ringing and bagging and

Comments

[ratphooey]

I suppose it's irresponsible of me to suggest this, but have you considered bankruptcy?

[hopita]

I considered bankruptcy then -- ten years ago -- but someone told my parents that it would be a bad idea (their accountant?) and I (foolishly) listened to them. If I'd done it then, I'd be long since past it now.

My debts have been sold time and time again, and I often get things in the mail offering me deals -- pay this portion of it now and we'll call it even. I'm hoping that maybe now that I have a steady job, I might someday be able to do that.

[ookii_risu]

Actually I've read a recent article about bankruptcy on MSN and it said that these days they don't smack you as hard after you declare bankruptcy, and it most cases, especially with credit card debt, it's the best thing you can do. America has become the land of credit and debt. So the credit card companies have become lax with that kind of thing... I think in the article it said you can get a new credit card within 6 months of bankruptcy.

[hopita]

I'm lucky I never got sued or went to jail on fraud charges. When I was working on Texas Justice, I saw that a lot of people were getting sued by various credit card companies. I think I made my debt a couple of years early for that trend (knocks wood).

Interesting choice of the word "smack," by the way.

[caelidh]

However, with Bush and co... those days may end up being over...

At least you are aware of the situation. That guy that came to you last night is still in the thick of it.

I am reading a really excellent Buddhist nun PEMA CHODRON who wrote several books.. one that I m currently reading THE PLACES THAT SCARE US: Fearlessness in Difficult times.

Our addictions (whatever they may be) keep us trapped. Your observations and the ability to see negative addictions in others is a good start in healing yourself.

I know that sense of judgement is really a reflection of stuff I see in myself.

There is another good bit of writing on the Buddhist Live Journal titled "Turning toward Pain" which is an interview with Pema Chodron. http://www.livejournal.com/community/buddhists/1107120.html?nc=3

Hang in there!

Talk to you soon!
Peace

(are you planning on going to the reunion this year?)

[hopita]

I'm hoping to go to reunion again, yes. And you?

[caelidh]

Hopefully, yes...

I don't know about doing the entire work project thing... but I want to go for a little while...

Peace

[lurpy]

Wow... You and Spoerl have that in common then. I never did any of that stuff but I think, including school loans, I'm a pretty close second as far as debt goes. I don't think it's quite up to 40k. Luckily back in the party days, I had parents who unknowingly supported my drug habits. Even more luckily, I don't have those habits anymore. But that does suck about the check bouncer guy. He has probably exhausted all possibilites and doesn't know what to do for food. I suppose a job or something would help him. :-p

[hopita]

Well, I had a job at the time of the credit card debt ... didn't help much. It's all in the priorities, you know? And besides, who wants to eat when they're on heroin?

Hey, by the way, doesn't Spoerl have a LiveJournal? Does he EVER update it?

[lurpy]

He does have one and I never bothered listing him as a friend. Let me check....

His last update was June 4th, 2003. No, he doesn't update. :-p