So, I just want to have you all know that I am VERY happy with the election outcome last night. However, I am unhappy with people in general. I understand supporting and backing a candidate. I was an informed citizen. I did me research, I paid attention, I watched the debates, and I knew where my vote was going. Not only that, but I was informed enough that I could justify why I was going to vote that way. Until I realized that I didn't get my absentee ballot mailed to me this year. My parents had taken the liberty of doing that for me last time. I had not requested it this year and did not realize until it was too late that I could go to the courthouse here and grab one. :( So, I actually did not get to place my vote. History happened and I did not get to help be a part of it.
I log into my facebook account and the majority of my friends who have updated their status have commentary on the election. Those who were happy with the out come, cheered and expressed feelings of joy. Those who were not happy, made comments about moving to Canada and terrorism and socialism...I chose the high road.
I commened John McCain for his concession speech. It was so dignified and the way he acted and accepted defeat was, well, I can't find the word to describe but as close as I can get would be empowering. He actually gave me hope for politics. I am an Obama girl all the way. I love what Barack stands for, I understand his ideals, and I think fresh ideas are exactly what this country needs. But last night, as I was sitting in my tiny living room, watching history unfold before my eyes, I actually felt as though we were seeing two people for who they really are and not who the media was trying to make them into. A man who is going to be the change he wants to see in this world and another man who cares so much for his country, that he is willing to be supportive and encouraging in his time of defeat. and that, is all that one person can ask for....We have hope for the future and some days, that's all we need.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Apparently, I suck at blogging
.....because it's now November and I have not blogged since June/Julyish. So that's a good 5 months, almost to the day.
Well, let me tell you what kind of a difference 5 months can make in a person's life. Let's just start from the beginning and go from there because well, that just makes sense. Again, I promise this to be highly entertaining
So, a few days after I posted my last blog, myself and 3 friends travelled to the cities for a bachellorette party! Now, I had only planned on two big outings all summer long because last summer, it got a little crazy and with paying for school loans, I couldn't justify. So I planned on this bachellorette party and then a month later for the actual wedding. So we load the two vehicles (the bride was staying until the wedding) and head on out...Prior to this, I had just had my oil changed, car filled, fluids and tires checked, and a nice wash and vacuume. We hit the open road and I noticed about 60 miles in that my car was awfully noisy...but then again, I just figured it was the road or something. So we make it all the way to the SD/ MN border, after getting lost, Thanks Renae!, and stopping at my corporate office to drop off some things for work. We leave there, get about 30 miles down the road and *pop* there goes my tire! Mide you, I took Driver's Ed a whopping 10 years ago..do you think I remember my tire changing lesson? nope...so I called a friend from work for help, but the strong girls we are, we decided to do it ourselves instead, and we did. So this already sets us back because we left late, got lost, flat tire, had to stay in cheesey motel, a new tire (Thank you Monte Tire! you were great!), and a crazy good time at "The Hunt." So this little trippy was already costing me WAY more money than I had planned and we hadn't even made it to the cities. Anyway, we get there, have a great time, learn how to ride the pole, reconnect with old friends, and then head home...only to notice that I'd spent what was left of my pay check in 3 days.
So June happens, I keep working and towards the end of the month, I don't feel well...I'm tired my tummy is hurting me and I get a little visitor twice...bam bam..like no time intbetween. So then I'm getting worried. I continue to live life but am starting to wonder what is going on with me....I go home early from work on a Wednesday because I'm not feeling right. I have awful cramps and can't get comfortable. I've taken every over the counter lady drug you can think of, hot baths, heat pads, I tried it all..nothing could get rid of that. So, here I am, considering calling the lady doctor when I decide 'I'll do that tomorrow...' Well, tomorrow never happened because at 2am that next morning, I called my sister because I had woken with excruciating pain. The pain would not go away and I hurt so bad I could hardly talk. My sister told me to go to the ER, so my roommate graciously took me in. A pee test, an IV, numerous questions about if I could be pregnant or not, TWO caphaders (she didn't do the first one right) some morphine, xrays, throwing up all over the x-ray room, some anti nausia medicine, teradahl, CT Scan, blood work, and some old man yelling about "hoe'ing".....I find out that I have kidney stones.... Yup...the stones. The most awful pain I can imagine in my life. And what does the doctor tell me, it's right up there with child birth as far as pain, maybe even worse....but I'm going to be a trooper when it comes to delivery because I lasted a REALLY long time without drugs. Thanks for the compliment. So...what did this little trip end up costing me (after insurance) it's about $450.00...the power of insurance...get some! and then I missed almost an entire week of work due to the "stones" and then a couple of co-pays here and there for check ups and blood work and perscriptions. So, I'm giving this experience a $600.00 price tag. and a new found love for percacet :)
Not only did the stones keep me out of work for a week, but I was not able to hardly drive due to the medications and I was also not able to attend the wedding in the cities (not like I could afford it but still...) .
So, I get over the stones and then I'm working at the mall one Saturday, which happens to be Crazy Days, only to find out that some 88 year old lady was backing out of a parking spot, tapped another car who was also backing out, and freaked out, slammed her car in to drive, and nailed MY car, head on. She did about $3,000 worth of damage to my car. So, now here i am...life literally just gave me a lemon and I wasn't about to ask for some vodka. But, what comes out of the ashes, opportunity. The opportunity to sell my car I love, he's always gotten me where I need to go, never had a problem (minus the tire thing), and always been dependable...and i was willing to ship him down the road, just to pay off my credit card debt. Throwing the money from my car at my CC debt was mom and dad's idea...and a good one. However, there were many stipulations and it's been a learning process ever since. Somedays, I do SO good...and others, I'm horrible.
There was another very tragic loss this last summer as well. My family lost a very dear friend to us and it has really taken a toll on all of us. My younger brother's high school sweetheart was killed in a train/car accident. Had she been wearing a seatbelt, she may have only been badly hurt. Now, I've had a stellar year but nothing can compare to the pain that her family is feeling and the amount of suffering they all have gone through. And it stems out. She was a great person and everyone misses her dearly. I know that my younger brother esp. is having difficulty with this and it is a constant reminder to me that life is so short and I never want to see him in this much pain again. I made choices that got me in the situation that I am in so while I like to have these little pitty parties for myself, that's come to a screeching halt because I always remember that there are people out there with bigger problems than mine. We all miss you Kayla!
okay..so, now back to it....
I had to literally give my mom and dad every single credit card statement and bill. Do you know what that is like?! Oh man, it's the most exposing feeling I have ever had. All of my retail secrets were put out on the dining room table and and gone over with a fine tooth comb and magnifying glass. Mom and dad's stipulation for the paying off the debt (the sale of the car didn't cover it all but a nice chunk)....I had to see a therapist. Mom and dad drove up one day to make sure I went to my first session and then I had to check in with them afterwards and let them know how it went.
I love it. Going to see Patty is a highlight that I look forward to. She gives me suggestions and ideas and a lot of times, I end up talking through an issue on my own..it's like I just need to talk out loud and have someone in the room listening. She's been great and I've actually got a workable budget set up, I'm current on bills, and I know the difference between a need and a want. Not only that, but I am starting to feel like my old self again. I feel more like "me" than I have in so long, and that alone, I cannot put a price tag on.
I have also learned that some of my friends and acquaintances can't afford the lifestyles they were living either. So what have we done? We created a support system for each other. We will go out for dinner/drinks one night a week and each only spend our alotted $10.00 for the week. And while we're there, we chat about life but then we also visit about budgets and who is finding new ways to save money. Things that our parents did all along and we never cared to continue. And I'm also starting to research online more. I'm finding blogs from other people and books and tips and coupons..it's CRAZY how many frugal people there are out there
glutenfreefrugal.blogspot.com This gal is actually from here in Aberdeen...and I get inspired when I see her and her family out and about shopping. She has three kids, herself, and her husband. She uses a lot of Dave Ramsey's ideas as far as paying down debts and their household is gluten free. So, she really finds great deals and manages to stretch every dollar. Not only that, she's posts easy, affordable recipies,and the ones that i've tried, happen to be quite yummy.
So there you have it, that's what's going on with me...and this time, I'm really going to be a better blogger...watch out!
Well, let me tell you what kind of a difference 5 months can make in a person's life. Let's just start from the beginning and go from there because well, that just makes sense. Again, I promise this to be highly entertaining
So, a few days after I posted my last blog, myself and 3 friends travelled to the cities for a bachellorette party! Now, I had only planned on two big outings all summer long because last summer, it got a little crazy and with paying for school loans, I couldn't justify. So I planned on this bachellorette party and then a month later for the actual wedding. So we load the two vehicles (the bride was staying until the wedding) and head on out...Prior to this, I had just had my oil changed, car filled, fluids and tires checked, and a nice wash and vacuume. We hit the open road and I noticed about 60 miles in that my car was awfully noisy...but then again, I just figured it was the road or something. So we make it all the way to the SD/ MN border, after getting lost, Thanks Renae!, and stopping at my corporate office to drop off some things for work. We leave there, get about 30 miles down the road and *pop* there goes my tire! Mide you, I took Driver's Ed a whopping 10 years ago..do you think I remember my tire changing lesson? nope...so I called a friend from work for help, but the strong girls we are, we decided to do it ourselves instead, and we did. So this already sets us back because we left late, got lost, flat tire, had to stay in cheesey motel, a new tire (Thank you Monte Tire! you were great!), and a crazy good time at "The Hunt." So this little trippy was already costing me WAY more money than I had planned and we hadn't even made it to the cities. Anyway, we get there, have a great time, learn how to ride the pole, reconnect with old friends, and then head home...only to notice that I'd spent what was left of my pay check in 3 days.
So June happens, I keep working and towards the end of the month, I don't feel well...I'm tired my tummy is hurting me and I get a little visitor twice...bam bam..like no time intbetween. So then I'm getting worried. I continue to live life but am starting to wonder what is going on with me....I go home early from work on a Wednesday because I'm not feeling right. I have awful cramps and can't get comfortable. I've taken every over the counter lady drug you can think of, hot baths, heat pads, I tried it all..nothing could get rid of that. So, here I am, considering calling the lady doctor when I decide 'I'll do that tomorrow...' Well, tomorrow never happened because at 2am that next morning, I called my sister because I had woken with excruciating pain. The pain would not go away and I hurt so bad I could hardly talk. My sister told me to go to the ER, so my roommate graciously took me in. A pee test, an IV, numerous questions about if I could be pregnant or not, TWO caphaders (she didn't do the first one right) some morphine, xrays, throwing up all over the x-ray room, some anti nausia medicine, teradahl, CT Scan, blood work, and some old man yelling about "hoe'ing".....I find out that I have kidney stones.... Yup...the stones. The most awful pain I can imagine in my life. And what does the doctor tell me, it's right up there with child birth as far as pain, maybe even worse....but I'm going to be a trooper when it comes to delivery because I lasted a REALLY long time without drugs. Thanks for the compliment. So...what did this little trip end up costing me (after insurance) it's about $450.00...the power of insurance...get some! and then I missed almost an entire week of work due to the "stones" and then a couple of co-pays here and there for check ups and blood work and perscriptions. So, I'm giving this experience a $600.00 price tag. and a new found love for percacet :)
Not only did the stones keep me out of work for a week, but I was not able to hardly drive due to the medications and I was also not able to attend the wedding in the cities (not like I could afford it but still...) .
So, I get over the stones and then I'm working at the mall one Saturday, which happens to be Crazy Days, only to find out that some 88 year old lady was backing out of a parking spot, tapped another car who was also backing out, and freaked out, slammed her car in to drive, and nailed MY car, head on. She did about $3,000 worth of damage to my car. So, now here i am...life literally just gave me a lemon and I wasn't about to ask for some vodka. But, what comes out of the ashes, opportunity. The opportunity to sell my car I love, he's always gotten me where I need to go, never had a problem (minus the tire thing), and always been dependable...and i was willing to ship him down the road, just to pay off my credit card debt. Throwing the money from my car at my CC debt was mom and dad's idea...and a good one. However, there were many stipulations and it's been a learning process ever since. Somedays, I do SO good...and others, I'm horrible.
There was another very tragic loss this last summer as well. My family lost a very dear friend to us and it has really taken a toll on all of us. My younger brother's high school sweetheart was killed in a train/car accident. Had she been wearing a seatbelt, she may have only been badly hurt. Now, I've had a stellar year but nothing can compare to the pain that her family is feeling and the amount of suffering they all have gone through. And it stems out. She was a great person and everyone misses her dearly. I know that my younger brother esp. is having difficulty with this and it is a constant reminder to me that life is so short and I never want to see him in this much pain again. I made choices that got me in the situation that I am in so while I like to have these little pitty parties for myself, that's come to a screeching halt because I always remember that there are people out there with bigger problems than mine. We all miss you Kayla!
okay..so, now back to it....
I had to literally give my mom and dad every single credit card statement and bill. Do you know what that is like?! Oh man, it's the most exposing feeling I have ever had. All of my retail secrets were put out on the dining room table and and gone over with a fine tooth comb and magnifying glass. Mom and dad's stipulation for the paying off the debt (the sale of the car didn't cover it all but a nice chunk)....I had to see a therapist. Mom and dad drove up one day to make sure I went to my first session and then I had to check in with them afterwards and let them know how it went.
I love it. Going to see Patty is a highlight that I look forward to. She gives me suggestions and ideas and a lot of times, I end up talking through an issue on my own..it's like I just need to talk out loud and have someone in the room listening. She's been great and I've actually got a workable budget set up, I'm current on bills, and I know the difference between a need and a want. Not only that, but I am starting to feel like my old self again. I feel more like "me" than I have in so long, and that alone, I cannot put a price tag on.
I have also learned that some of my friends and acquaintances can't afford the lifestyles they were living either. So what have we done? We created a support system for each other. We will go out for dinner/drinks one night a week and each only spend our alotted $10.00 for the week. And while we're there, we chat about life but then we also visit about budgets and who is finding new ways to save money. Things that our parents did all along and we never cared to continue. And I'm also starting to research online more. I'm finding blogs from other people and books and tips and coupons..it's CRAZY how many frugal people there are out there
glutenfreefrugal.blogspot.com This gal is actually from here in Aberdeen...and I get inspired when I see her and her family out and about shopping. She has three kids, herself, and her husband. She uses a lot of Dave Ramsey's ideas as far as paying down debts and their household is gluten free. So, she really finds great deals and manages to stretch every dollar. Not only that, she's posts easy, affordable recipies,and the ones that i've tried, happen to be quite yummy.
So there you have it, that's what's going on with me...and this time, I'm really going to be a better blogger...watch out!
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