quiltersmuse.com Blog

Everyone seems to be trying to cinch their trousers a little tighter these days, whether that entity is an institution or an individual. We are all looking for ways to save money. No matter who we are, we all must live within a budget, that is, unless we want to be plunged hopelessly into debt, with no respite in sight.

Granting “credit” to individuals became a real preoccupation in the 1990s, with college students being encouraged to apply for their own cards, even when there was no visible means of their even meeting minimum balances. No one told them that to pay only a minimum balance is a fool’s game. No one gives away money, or even allows the use of money, without tacking on a hefty fee.

Even those who pay off their balance every month (and these are the people that the creditors despise) are being socked with higher interest rates these days, even when the party has good credit. It has become apparent that no one can “set” on their bill when it arrives. There is a need to send payment back by return mail, or risk the payment not being credited “in time.”

Finances are a matter of choice. You can have “this,” or you can have “that,” but often, you cannot have “this” and “that.” When I was growing up, it was pointed out to me that certain people had fancy cars, but lived in a one room shack. It takes all kinds, but in a small town, these things are noticed. What you have depends on what you want the most.

When times are tough, the optional consumables are those that are left on the shelves. People must eat, so the grocery stores are in no danger of going out of business. Drug stores are flourishing. Restaurants are doing well. However, many businesses have folded, and others are considering bankruptcy. That goes for magazines, even quilt titles.

Not too long ago, there were about 22 different quilt titles available. I haven’t counted the number lately. Changes are afoot. The magazine published by the American Quilter’s Society is going “green” and will offer six issues per year, for $25.00, online. With the high cost of paper, ink, hiring employees, and the hefty price of distribution (1/2 the cover price), it is no wonder magazines are in trouble.

We live in a new world. Libraries were once a central repository of knowledge. In small towns, residents would try to be first on hand every Saturday, when the library opened, to check out the latest books. In Concord, New Hampshire, officials had been thinking of cutting library services altogether. They have come to their senses a little bit and have settled on reduced hours and staff, and limiting Interlibrary loans to in-state transactions only. To me, the latter policy is a kick in the teeth. To limit knowledge is to obstruct learning.

Let’s see, let me process some information. It is okay to give money to the rich and those who mismanage their money, but Mrs. Jane Q. Public cannot obtain research materials, from out of state, now, even if she pays a nominal fee? Despite higher and higher property taxes, services I value the most are evaporating!

Unfortunately, most of us seem to feel at the mercy of policymakers. We may have no control over many things, but we can think twice about our own finances. Keep track of what you spend. Carry a notebook and jot down every amount you dish out, in the course of a week or two. You may be surprised, and you may begin to see how you might manage your money better, daily. You may realize how small amounts can add up, and together might be just the money you could use for something you really want.

Lastly, eliminate these two words from your vocabulary: “It’s only … ” Those words get us in trouble, more often than not. I don’t know about you, but I will continue to purchase the magazines, books, and supplies I wish to have, and an occasional new piece of clothing, or an extra flat of petunias for the flower garden. Figure out what is most important to you. If you watch the pennies, the dollars will follow.

Until later,

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

At one time or another, we are all guilty of putting our lives on hold, sometimes because we have to, and sometimes because we want to do so. I say to myself, I’d like to start swimming again and in the next breath, I figure that I should buy a new bathing suit. How many of us have said that we will do such and such “after we retire?” My father wanted to travel to Ireland. He didn’t. He died before he could retire.

For the last six months, I’ve put my life on hold, pretty much, saying that when I finish a certain manuscript, things will get back to normal. I’m still awaiting that completion and that thought.

My point is this:  Sometimes it is important to wait until another time, and sometimes, we should enjoy life while it is here. I’m sure that both of my brothers thought they had more time, yet both died of a heart condition at 50 and 53. I’ve already outlived them, and I have the same medical condition.

For that reason, I value my time, and I dislike other people wasting it. As the TV commercial says, “I have just this one life to live.” I second the motion. In fact, I’d add that I am glad that I only have to go through this life once. I hope that I’ve absorbed some good lessons along the way. Somehow, I don’t stop making mistakes. Call it being human. You are allowed the privilege, too.

I came across a quote that I like a lot, especially in regard to history. “You are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to your own facts.” = Daniel Patrick Moynihan

We’d best keep that in mind. A fact is what actually happened and a story is your opinion of what might have happened, or could have happened, but did not necessarily happen.

I am a workaholic and it is no secret that I could make a whole career out of correcting the stupid misrepresentations of the facts, as presented by other so-called historians and quilt historians. Yes, they mean well. So did Hitler, or so he thought.

My message is two-fold. Build some enjoyment into your life or you will soon become bitter and resentful. Find fun things you used to do, and reinvent the process. Part of fun is getting the facts straight. There is accountability in this life … and the next. Enjoy every moment. We never know how many are left. As we take our last breath, I can guarantee you that we will not be saying that we wished we’d cleaned the oven more often. Personally, I am looking for a quality life, as I know I may not have as much time as others. There is no expectation to live to 101 for me. In the meantime, I’ll contribute what I can, and try less and less to put the things that make life worthwhile … on hold. I hope you do the same.

Patricia Cummings

A program aired on PBS last night with Bill Moyers, a long time advocate of health care. The show was a startling revelation only because the guest confirmed something I have suspected all along. Doctors receive incentives (kickbacks … rebates) for prescribing medications. Americans take more pills that any other civilized countries. For this, we only have to look to heavy advertisement campaigns and doctors who have become indiscriminate pill pushers. Turn on the television on any given evening and many possible health problems will be described, including the most intimate concerns, and then a treatment will be suggested. After mentioning a list of possible side effects, as if rattling off the specials of the day on a restaurant menu, the speaker will say, “Ask your doctor if this medication is right for you!”

Supposedly, it is of little or no consequence that the pill you consume might, indeed, be the “final solution,” the equivalent of the “Black Pill” on the television program, “Mash.”

Pills are no laughing matter, unless perhaps one is a pharmacist or other person who stands to gain financially from the millions of dollars that are spent on unnecessary and potentially lethal chemicals that are consumed each year. Why aren’t more people talking about this? They should be. Most folks want to believe that the solution to their woes is only as far away as their own medicine chest.

I have known about this situation for a while now. A doctor asked me if my legs jump at night and before I could answer “no,” she was ready to write me a prescription for RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) of which I had never heard before. In the same visit, she asked me to hold my hands out straight and thinking that she detected a little “shakiness,” she announced that I am beginning to have Parkinson’s Disease, a statement I do not believe. She advised me that I was a “border line” diabetic and would probably have to start using insulin “the next visit.” However, laboratory work proved results that were all within a normal range.

In the meantime, I had been taking Pravachol for high cholesterol but that drug managed to increase joint pain to an intolerable level. I quit taking the drug and felt instantly better. I also stopped taking an estrogen replacement pill that no one should take for more than five years … after I’d been on it for eight years. That person is no longer my doctor. I feel healthier than ever. Luckily, in a free society, we can make choices.

Perhaps it is time that we take back our lives and stop listening to our formerly “trusted” health advisers, or perhaps find doctors whom we can trust. Of one thing I am certain, I will not live a day or a minute longer than is ordained by a higher power. I am not thrilled about becoming a potential victim of the drug industry, just so someone else can make a dollar.

The guest on the Moyers’ show pointed out that hundreds of people die each year, not because they overdosed on a medication, or didn’t take it properly, but simply because they took a drug. New medications with their catchy names are pumped into the system frequently. The name of the game is money, pure and simple. Think about the chemicals you ingest. That might just save your life.

Put your faith in the Almighty and keep your hand on your wallet. Remember to advocate for yourself, and ask a LOT of questions if a health care provider suggests a new medicine. Know why you are taking a new pill, what side effects it will potentially have, and what the ramifications would be, if you chose not to adhere to that regimen. It’s your life and it’s up to you to live long and live healthy.

Be well.

Patricia Cummings

A word about online translation devices: they don’t work, folks. If you really want to translate anything to another language, consult someone who is a proficient speaker of the language. Otherwise, some of the results could be downright embarrassing to an upright individual. I cannot share the details of a situation that has just come to my attention. Just a word of caution: If you are thinking of using such a system, “don’t.” Most especially “don’t,” if you are a student. It could result in an “F,” or make you look like the rear end of a horse.

No language system is superior to that of man. The reason for that is that language is super sensitive to inflections, tone of voice, and mood of the speaker. This is where the Internet can sometimes fall short. When we try to interpret even our own language, sometimes we “read too much into” the printed word.

Words themselves cannot be translated word for word into a foreign language. That simply does not work. When you want something done right, consult someone who has the knowledge to help you. That’s all I’ll say on the matter. Just thought that I should let you know … for whatever that is worth.

Patricia Cummings