billytea, those tassie pics are adorable

Gorgeous pictures, billytea.

Wow, billytea. Gorgeous!

Well, it makes it harder, on a variety of levels. I mean, do we go for the drastic credit counseling option that takes away our credit cards and, I believe, leaves a permanent demerit on our financial history? Do we just live with the high interest rates and do the thing where you pay them off one at a time? I don't know, because THIS was supposed to be my solution.

That sucks about the loan. I'd go for the second option.

Dave Ramsey on debt counseling:

We run into nightmares with most of these services. It’s not that they’re crooks, they’re just unorganized. Stay on top of them and make sure the bills are paid, and work your debt snowball by sending extra to the smallest debt.

Companies like AmeriDebt and Consurmer Credit Counseling Service can help you get better interest rates and lower payments, but at a price. When you use one of these companies and then try to get a Conventional, FHA, or VA loan, you will be treated the same as if you had filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Mortgage underwriting guidelines for traditional mortgages will consider your credit trashed, so don't do it. Real debt help is found only in changing your behavior.

Most people that call in to his show having done it have stories about stuff not getting paid, etc.

Is today ita's birthday?? If so, I hope for a better year for you. Actually, even if today's not a new age, I hope the same thing.

Yes - Happy Birthday ita and may this next year be one of fantastic health.

Also - it's already about 10 degrees warmer than the high we had yesterday.

I'm not sure why I continue to follow this. Maybe because train wrecks are fun?

Intoxicated Britney Spears Hands Over Kids To Cops, Is Hospitalized

Police were called to Britney Spears' home Thursday night in a custodial dispute that lasted nearly three hours before an intoxicated Spears reportedly turned over her children to ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Officers were called to the home around 8 p.m., and the 26-year-old singer turned over the children around 10:50 p.m., Officer Jason Lee, a police spokesman, told City News Service.

Aerial footage from KTLA-TV showed Spears being lifted in a gurney into an ambulance. It was unclear where she was being taken.

Lee said Spears was under the influence of an unknown substance, and no injuries were reported.

The incident involved a family dispute that police worked to resolve "peacefully by court order," he said.

An Associated Press photographer outside the gated community that includes Spears' house saw six police cars, an ambulance and a fire truck enter around 10:30 p.m. A dispatcher with the fire department referred calls to the police department.

eta: Oh, and her lawyers (for the custody dispute) have asked the court to let them stop representing her.

I think she's got to be trying to get the kids taken away from her, without actually having to give them up.

Birthday happies ita! I hope you get a pain-free 2008 for your birthday (at least of the involuntary kind).

Birthday Happies ita!! May this year bring far less pain than last....