Cynic, there are a LOT of stressed people in the world right now. I listened to Dave Ramsey a couple of days ago, and what some people are facing is hard to wrap your mind around. I feel so badly that people are in such pain.

No kidding. You wouldn't believe what someone called me today. I couldn't repeat it or type it here.

I think it's the world we live in nowdays. Things are just so much more fast paced and the demands are enormous.

I was chatting with a friend who is a schoolteacher for grade school age kids, and he told me that 60 percent of his students are on some sort of mood altering drug to help them cope, ranging from amphetamines to antidepressants. He said the "stigma" of being medicated with psychotropics is gone. Too many kids are being given Ritalin and Prozac to meet increasing demands and unattainable expectations put on them. Why does a kid need Valium to cope? Sad. If Johnny can't cope we'll give him Thorazine to numb him and push him harder. Scary.

No, there's no stigma to drugging kids these days, rather it's the fashionable thing to do. But when you consider the parents are probably all popping something or injecting something, they have to keep the kids going too so they don't become traumatized.

What's so strange to me is a week or two ago, and before that for months, people were in such a good mood. Even with the cold, the snow, the ice, gridlock, accidents galore, holiday pressures - still smiles, holding doors, greetings and such. That's what was so noticeable to me.

I don't know who Dave Ramsey is, I'm guessing another talk show host or something, but what's been so positive of late to me anyway is seeing so many people get their finances in order and prioritize things. After the 8 years of depression and devastation, people finally learned that yes, they can lose their houses and won't be able to afford the 3 SUVs, RV, overpriced house and be taking vacations every two months. I'd see store carts far less full than 5 years ago. More of the necessities and toning down the purchases to less "upscale" brands and the like. Generic and store brands aren't a dirty word or just for the "po' folk" anymore. This attitude of live of the credit card started to finally dissolve. That's good to see.

Thought just crossed my mind... Why can't Johnny read? He's passed out in the corner! LOL