Blessings, affirmations, grace, and reflection

I have decided that I am going to live my life in abundance. Now, that doesn't mean I will be careless but I will not live in fear of lack. I just went through my wallet and discovered I still have the full rebate from my phone on a debit card. I think I was saving it for a rainy day. However it expires in September so I had better use it before I lose it. I am also finally going to start generating incoming from my writing. I am hoping to use those funds to offset my initial investment and to stash away into a rainy day fund.

Didn't hit my goals today. I figured I was doomed when I couldn't get to sleep on time last night. Wasted my whole morning and was still groggy. Never kicked into gear. Went to physical therapy and the therapist wants to see me another 4 weeks. My eyes were like a cash register (think the cartoons) where I was adding up my $50 co-pay two times a week times four. Yep. Like that. I hadn't eaten and as I headed to pick up my mega-D prescription from the pharmacy on the other side of town, I realized I was hungry so I stopped and ate. That didn't perk me up any. Sadly, I only logged 2,000 steps today. I'm wondering if my PT work counts as a work out?  I think I am feeling sluggish because I have been lax about taking my vitamins and I haven't been juicing or eating as well as I should. I have to get back on track. My body knows the difference. I was so tired by the time I came home I tried to force myself to stay up so I wouldn't wake up in the middle of the...

Seeing a family that is STRUGGLING have huge smiles on their faces when "Santa"  brought gifts. Who says money can't buy happiness? 

Man, listen! I miss having money tucked away in different places. This recession has taken a toll on me. I was excited because I got paid today. I checked my balance and discovered that the car insurance company took the entire six month payment out in one fell swoop through auto pay. I could have sworn I changed my payment plan. This sucks for me because I still have to pay student loan and car note with this check. I was looking forward to having some 'extra' money around to play with. I'm trying to be good about taking care of business, but these unexpected expenses hurt. The good news is I won't be stretching that expense out. This also affects my plans to take a vacation. I dread the thought of not taking a vacation this summer, but damn I might have to wait until Christmas to head home now. I'm good though. Just need to do a little juggling this month.

Yeah! I got a raise! Still not making what I would like to make, but getting closer to it. I wish my total compensation (social security and insurance) was my salary. Getting closer to reaching my goal. **** Just did my budget and determined that I can afford to move if I reduce my student loan payments in half. I also have another year to pay my car off and my insurance rates will also drop if I don't trade in my car. I think if I hold on and maintain another year I will be in position to do bigger and better things in my life. I was hoping this year would be the year, but another year is doable. Patience is indeed a virtue.

Happy Father's Day to any dads who land upon my long forgotten blog. I had a stressful week, but I will come out on the other side as always.  Most of the stress was work related and while I don't like to vent about work on here, I feel like I need an outlet for my frustrations. I have been holding it in and then it always comes out in the most inappropriate times and ways. Please be patient with me, God is not through with me yet. I start vacation next week. Yay!  I planned to travel and possible move. Well, the devil quickly squashed those plans.  My student loans became due and I was threatened with have having my salary garnished if I didn't fork over nearly $1K a month! Extortion. It is crazy because you can have your credit card bills settled and negotiated, but your education expenses can cause you to be homeless. What is wrong with this world? I will never advise a person to take out student loans. If you can't afford to pay for your education yourself or get ...

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10 The question of love vs. money is one that comes to the surface every now and then. Friends going through relationship drama offer an interesting perspective into the human mind. Let's look at friends A and B. Friend A is a hard working 40 y.o. who married young, divorced young and remarried in her late 30s. In marriage number one, money wasn't an issue. In marriage number two, she was looking for characteristics that she didn't find in marriage number one. Marriage number two lasted four year. The problem? Money. Friend A makes a decent wage and works a few side jobs whenever she can. On the other hand, her hubby was what some might consider a financial loser. As much as she loved money, she thought that co-mingling their funds showed her trust. I don't even have to tell you how this sto...

Um, didn't I just blog about this the other day (See Sept. 19)? Why was I thinking of getting a box of Mac and Cheese to cut some hot dog up in?  Sodium hell!  Other cut backs include going from drinking top shelf liquors to having cheap wine ($2 buck Chuck) and beer buzzes. I guess the days of Carrie Bradshaw and the girls hey day has come to a end. Pass the baked beans and franks, please. 

I'm getting so tired of having good banks go down the drain.  The nickel and dimers are the only ones that can seem to stand firm.  Why must I paying you to hold my money?  Yes, you do provide some services, but not much.  RIP WaMu.  Sorry to see you go out like that. Chase didn't waste any time .

I'm still here trying to make things happen.  Trying not to freak out about the state of the economy and the community.  I've lived in two different states this year and both have been immersed in a violent crime wave. That was the first indication that things were only getting to get worse.  On the one hand, I know that there is a huge problem with the economy.  However, this is an issue that has been going on for a while now.  Why else was Bush approving the economic stimulus checks that we've been cashing since he has been in office?  Hello, red flag! I've lived through several recessions in the past.  I'm a kid of the 70s.  That was a bad recession. Then there was the recession in the 80s when Reagan was in office.  Things improved a bit when Clinton came into office, and when the Repubs came back into power they tried to make it seem like we were still in that same economic state.  But the tension has been in the air for a long time.  It was only a matter of ti...