I live in the city. Admittedly, 80 years ago my house was sort of on the edge of the city, but it is a decidedly urban neighborhood. 20 years ago it was a somewhat scary urban neighborhood. It is absolutely NOT the 'burbs.
I grew up in the middle of no-where. 1.5 miles to the nearest paved road. 7 miles to the nearest "town." 180 people does not qualify as a town in most American minds, but 30 miles away there was a town with a stop light, and 7 miles farther and actual town, with a hospital and cross streets.
I miss the interaction with wild creatures. Snakes, 'coons, Hawks, Owls, coyotes, everybody slipping into the farm for easy picken at the chickens. So - on a farm the wild is something to be pushed out, protected against. Predators are bad for chickens, baby ducks, bunnies, even small lambs and goats. Wild rabbits, deer and antelope need to be kept from crops. We could walk or ride our horse up the creek, miles from home, and enjoy the natural experience all we wanted - but we could not keep the injured wild animals we rescued, or babies we caught. Feeding or encouraging their presence was a no-no, and a danger to the family's food supply.
In town these creatures are a "nuisance." Exterminators get called when they show up; they are a possible threat to our very life an health. But they are so darned cute! If raccoons want to hang on my porch and eat rabbit food, I cannot force myself to have a problem with that. If a baby possum runs across the road, I will try to help it. Turtles, hawks, and dolphins in the river are wild creatures, learning to cope with man's manipulation of their world. They are beautiful to watch, and not considered a threat to humans. Even the bats in the neighborhood have support from the people. But my adorable raccoon family that keeps me awake at night fighting and makin' babies in the trees? They have adapted too well. Perhaps even dependent on us. I just hope when the city removes them, they are relocated, not "disappeared." If anyone knows different, please don't tell me.
And 'coon friends - I will not rat you out, you were never here. I saw nothing.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Moderation
OK - I think I have achieved some personal insight into American politics. Not earth-shattering, but at least I feel like things make a little more sense in my head.
Moderates are most likely the only people that can truly get anything accomplished. We live in a democracy (sort of), so any push of the pendulum is good media, but not really effective politics. But, in our two party system there is a serious shift in approach to moderates. You can be a moderate republican. It is not easy, and during inter party campaigning, it may seem like catering to the right is the only way to win an election, hence McCain's choice of Palin. But, had McCain won the election, for all of the Right's grumbling about him not being a "true republican" they would have absolutely supported him. He is, after all, a REPUBLICAN. The democrats would have cautiously gone with some of his ideas, he is, after all, trying to meet them part way. The whole hulking mass of progress would have lumbared forward, slow, painful, hunching progress. There would be grumbling. Left, Right, some Center, but; down-played by the media, the focus would be on the crumbling economy, not on what the current administration was or was not doing to fix it.
Enter Obama. Certainly not moderate. He has an unique ability to look forward beyond his left leaning idealism to the future needs of a growing, aging, dis-illusinoned population. He understands the need to build consensus, to find a middle ground (that sounds rather moderate doesn't it)? and he is willing to sacrifice many of his left leaning hopes to do it. WHAT!?! moderate democrat? His own party whines and picks him apart like they have been abandoned. He, as the highest elected citizen in our DEMOCRACY should just tell everyone what to do, and by the sheer force of his position, it should happen. How dare he compromise on a health care bill that never happened when Clinton was in office 12-20 years ago? A reform that many in our country NEED, NOW, even if it is a watered down bill. Progressives want massive change, but some progress is progress, posturing is just standing dead in the water, wishing something had changed. How dare he collaborate with the military when reaching a time-line for pulling out of Iraq? now that he has access to all the facts, he should just rip our troops out of there - citizens and stability in the middle east be damned. And the republicans - they love this. Give the Dem's enough rope and they will lynch their own. It doesn't matter how crazy conspiracy comments and birther rhetoric get spread around, when the next election shows up, a moderate republican will sound like the voice of reason to his own party.
Obama said in every speech that recovery would be a long, arduous, painful process. I'm a farm-girl, I get what that means. Fortifying depleted soil, especially organically, does not happen in a season, or a year. It takes a lot of work, and a lot of shit to produce fertile ground. Never, since the economy tanked in October, did I think that our next president would wave a magic wand and fix stuff. Even with the best, most fiscally conservative plans, I expected things to get significantly worse for 2-3 years, with a slow upturn at the end of this president's term. I honestly think if we stepped back and let him do his job, in eight years things will be significantly better, with a stable frame work for growth. Never, in my lifetime, has a president captured the hearts and minds of the citizenry, and if democracy works, it is that sort of populace support that should drive our future, not watching the center get eaten up by attacks from the left and right.
So why are people grumbling that things aren't better? and blaming Obama? Because democrats don't understand party loyalty, and republicans, as the minority party, can afford to step back and throw fuel on fires. But we can't let him do his job. In a very important press conference about health-care, he was asked his opinion about the Gates arrest. Stupidly, he answered. It was obviously a personal opinion, based on the same media drivel that we have all heard, and all bantered our opinions around. He answered like any American citizen. I know, he is the president, held to a higher standard, yadyada. The president's opinion on this subject is no more important than mine. Why was the question even asked? Because we would rather hear his opinion, then listen to pundits pick it apart for weeks, than have a real news story about things that will actually effect our lives. Can't blame the media entirely - we tune in and they give us what we want to hear.
Question for the day - When did "compromise" become a dirty word in a democracy?
Moderates are most likely the only people that can truly get anything accomplished. We live in a democracy (sort of), so any push of the pendulum is good media, but not really effective politics. But, in our two party system there is a serious shift in approach to moderates. You can be a moderate republican. It is not easy, and during inter party campaigning, it may seem like catering to the right is the only way to win an election, hence McCain's choice of Palin. But, had McCain won the election, for all of the Right's grumbling about him not being a "true republican" they would have absolutely supported him. He is, after all, a REPUBLICAN. The democrats would have cautiously gone with some of his ideas, he is, after all, trying to meet them part way. The whole hulking mass of progress would have lumbared forward, slow, painful, hunching progress. There would be grumbling. Left, Right, some Center, but; down-played by the media, the focus would be on the crumbling economy, not on what the current administration was or was not doing to fix it.
Enter Obama. Certainly not moderate. He has an unique ability to look forward beyond his left leaning idealism to the future needs of a growing, aging, dis-illusinoned population. He understands the need to build consensus, to find a middle ground (that sounds rather moderate doesn't it)? and he is willing to sacrifice many of his left leaning hopes to do it. WHAT!?! moderate democrat? His own party whines and picks him apart like they have been abandoned. He, as the highest elected citizen in our DEMOCRACY should just tell everyone what to do, and by the sheer force of his position, it should happen. How dare he compromise on a health care bill that never happened when Clinton was in office 12-20 years ago? A reform that many in our country NEED, NOW, even if it is a watered down bill. Progressives want massive change, but some progress is progress, posturing is just standing dead in the water, wishing something had changed. How dare he collaborate with the military when reaching a time-line for pulling out of Iraq? now that he has access to all the facts, he should just rip our troops out of there - citizens and stability in the middle east be damned. And the republicans - they love this. Give the Dem's enough rope and they will lynch their own. It doesn't matter how crazy conspiracy comments and birther rhetoric get spread around, when the next election shows up, a moderate republican will sound like the voice of reason to his own party.
Obama said in every speech that recovery would be a long, arduous, painful process. I'm a farm-girl, I get what that means. Fortifying depleted soil, especially organically, does not happen in a season, or a year. It takes a lot of work, and a lot of shit to produce fertile ground. Never, since the economy tanked in October, did I think that our next president would wave a magic wand and fix stuff. Even with the best, most fiscally conservative plans, I expected things to get significantly worse for 2-3 years, with a slow upturn at the end of this president's term. I honestly think if we stepped back and let him do his job, in eight years things will be significantly better, with a stable frame work for growth. Never, in my lifetime, has a president captured the hearts and minds of the citizenry, and if democracy works, it is that sort of populace support that should drive our future, not watching the center get eaten up by attacks from the left and right.
So why are people grumbling that things aren't better? and blaming Obama? Because democrats don't understand party loyalty, and republicans, as the minority party, can afford to step back and throw fuel on fires. But we can't let him do his job. In a very important press conference about health-care, he was asked his opinion about the Gates arrest. Stupidly, he answered. It was obviously a personal opinion, based on the same media drivel that we have all heard, and all bantered our opinions around. He answered like any American citizen. I know, he is the president, held to a higher standard, yadyada. The president's opinion on this subject is no more important than mine. Why was the question even asked? Because we would rather hear his opinion, then listen to pundits pick it apart for weeks, than have a real news story about things that will actually effect our lives. Can't blame the media entirely - we tune in and they give us what we want to hear.
Question for the day - When did "compromise" become a dirty word in a democracy?
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Absence makes the heart grow stale.
Truthfully, I haven't blogged in months. why? Not busy. I am super-duper deluxe busy, but that is when I usually write - to clear the brain. You know, sort of dump the craziness in my head onto something concrete, black and white, tangible.
So Why not? Guilt. I have always prided myself on not being ruled by guilt. Just doesn't work on me. People that try to manipulate me with guilt get away with a few times, then, well, I have to "unleash the bitch," and go a little psycho. Or not, sometimes I just write them off as not worth the effort, and they fade into the distance of people I "usedta" deal with. Or, I politely sypmathise with their plight, and let them know that with more time, information and planning, I may be able to help them out next time. This last works best in work scenarios, the psycho scene is what I often resort to with family.
But - self imposed guilt. That, I have a hard time working around. If I am writing here more than I write on the "real blog" I am not filling my professional duties. I am not really working in the field that I write about, so I have not been inspired to write. If I am struggling with some old, dark demon, I might say things that would hurt someone that reads this - OK, my mom is the only one that reads this, but she is my dominate psychological figure, and personally knows most of my demons.
I still have not written in Road to Slainte. But at least now I have ideas. I have to wait on most of them, because they come out of a research study that has not been released to the public yet, so I can't go off on my little editorial rant, yet. Ohhhhh - but I will. Alluding to the communication confusion of professional and public use of like terms. Where IS your shoulder?
Hopefully I am back. Maybe even semi-regularly. It feels good to tap-tap-tap, releasing the "monkey-mind" to play and grow.
So Why not? Guilt. I have always prided myself on not being ruled by guilt. Just doesn't work on me. People that try to manipulate me with guilt get away with a few times, then, well, I have to "unleash the bitch," and go a little psycho. Or not, sometimes I just write them off as not worth the effort, and they fade into the distance of people I "usedta" deal with. Or, I politely sypmathise with their plight, and let them know that with more time, information and planning, I may be able to help them out next time. This last works best in work scenarios, the psycho scene is what I often resort to with family.
But - self imposed guilt. That, I have a hard time working around. If I am writing here more than I write on the "real blog" I am not filling my professional duties. I am not really working in the field that I write about, so I have not been inspired to write. If I am struggling with some old, dark demon, I might say things that would hurt someone that reads this - OK, my mom is the only one that reads this, but she is my dominate psychological figure, and personally knows most of my demons.
I still have not written in Road to Slainte. But at least now I have ideas. I have to wait on most of them, because they come out of a research study that has not been released to the public yet, so I can't go off on my little editorial rant, yet. Ohhhhh - but I will. Alluding to the communication confusion of professional and public use of like terms. Where IS your shoulder?
Hopefully I am back. Maybe even semi-regularly. It feels good to tap-tap-tap, releasing the "monkey-mind" to play and grow.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Rockin' it
OK - totally the proud mom here - Gym Girl was awesome at her state meet. I have to admit, I like it when she brings home those metals and stuff - when she gets a "State Champion" title, it is pretty awesome. Now that she is competing elite division, there are fewer medals, and each one is VERY well earned. She pulled an amazing bar routine. 9.5 her best score ever, on any event, ever. It only earned her a tie for 2nd - but it was the first time that I have ever seen her happy about her score. Truly proud of her self. She did an excellent routine, corrected all of the glitches that she has been working really hard on at practice, and ROCKED it. Go Girl!
Our gym recieved 1st in level 5 large team. I do not think any of our girls recieved 1st place AA in any division. I may be wrong, I haven't talked to everyone (it is a big team, and we had 5's in probably 12 different age and class groupings), but the 1st place teams shows a quality of dedication, in both athletes and coaches that has to be commended. Our gym is unique in that it is very athlete based, and our girls move up when they are ready to perform the skills, even if it doesn't raise team standings. So we have a whole bunch of consistent, well trained, well rounded athletes, coaches that love them, and parents that are just tickled pink when any of our girls do well.
The life of a gym mom is very very good.
Our gym recieved 1st in level 5 large team. I do not think any of our girls recieved 1st place AA in any division. I may be wrong, I haven't talked to everyone (it is a big team, and we had 5's in probably 12 different age and class groupings), but the 1st place teams shows a quality of dedication, in both athletes and coaches that has to be commended. Our gym is unique in that it is very athlete based, and our girls move up when they are ready to perform the skills, even if it doesn't raise team standings. So we have a whole bunch of consistent, well trained, well rounded athletes, coaches that love them, and parents that are just tickled pink when any of our girls do well.
The life of a gym mom is very very good.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
"No"
It is a pretty simple word. Many people (myself included) find it a very dificult word. We have given it all sorts of weird contextual implications. If we say it, we feel rude. If we say it too often, maybe they will stop asking - and we want to be asked. We get racked by guilt over a simple little one syllable word.
From the other side - it is difficult to ask favors, or to ask people to do more than their share. They say to ask a busy person if you want the job done. But if the person is truly busy - are you offended when they say "no"??? Maybe you feel a little guilty having asked. And what is with the guilt thing?
I took one of those weekend long self-help retreat things a few years ago. You know: the "Rah, Rah, you are a wonderful person, all of these strangers are here for you, get on out of here with your newbie positive attitude. Power of attraction! you go girl!" weekend. I took the class because, quite simply, all of the happiest people I know in Tampa are graduates of this course. It was fun. I didn't get any huge, mind shattering insights. I did not make any life-long, bare-my-soul buddies. I met some interesting people, had some interesting observations. My favorite concept from this class, the one that hit, and I've incorporated is: if you want/need something, you can ask. WHAT? ask? for help? WHAT? The trick, the thing that makes it easy, and kind of fun, is to not be vested in the response.
I learned from my Mom to never ask for help; we are self sufficient farm stock. On the rare occasions I have seen my Mom ask for help, she Really needs help, has exhausted all possibilities, and is VERY vested in the response. If she is refused - which doesn't happen often (you know the whole none of us want to say "no" thing) - she tightens her resolve and becomes even more self-sufficient, closed away, and unwilling to ask. mom - I know you read this, don't take it personally - I'm just using a very close example. But - people LIKE to help. If you ask, with no pressure, you give them an opportunity to show how much they appreciate you, and it is win/win. The old adage "there is no harm in asking" is only true if you are actually "asking." Leave the manipulation muscles out of it.
What about being asked? oh, oh - pick me, I know this one! Where does your response fit into your priorities?
We are smokin' busy at work right now. We therapist are running all over, we are all working overtime, trying to cram patients into non-existent time slots, and across the board all of the teams are not getting therapy evals done in time. So when an eval comes in, the schedulers BEG us to help. The last few weeks I needed the overtime. The next two weeks, I need to have time off for family things and court things. My schedule is FULL. I could put 90 miles a day on my car, get a bunch of new people in, drive all over the place and feel like I am helping. But here is the deal - the therapists that do that are tired, cranky, burned out, complaining, completely unappreciated (the office people still do not have enought therapists to see all of the patients, and now they are not getting their paperwork in time), and stressed. Right now we need more staff. And currently we are all running all over the county. I like to work hard, but I won't compromise care, or my family, and inefficiency drives me batty.
So - my answer is "NO."
Molly - will youNO how aboutNO can I NO there's a newNO.
I have decided that since the system is inefficient, I have to be proactive about efficiency. I only say "yes" if it is in my chosen geography. The thing is, people actually appreciate it. I am seeing more patients than I am required to, I still get my paperwork done in time, I spend quality, productive time with my patients, and when I walk into the office I am relaxed, happy and cheerful. And, as I have explained my reasons, no one has a problem with my No-ness.
Hmmm - try it. It is just one little word - with the power to make lots of people very happy.
From the other side - it is difficult to ask favors, or to ask people to do more than their share. They say to ask a busy person if you want the job done. But if the person is truly busy - are you offended when they say "no"??? Maybe you feel a little guilty having asked. And what is with the guilt thing?
I took one of those weekend long self-help retreat things a few years ago. You know: the "Rah, Rah, you are a wonderful person, all of these strangers are here for you, get on out of here with your newbie positive attitude. Power of attraction! you go girl!" weekend. I took the class because, quite simply, all of the happiest people I know in Tampa are graduates of this course. It was fun. I didn't get any huge, mind shattering insights. I did not make any life-long, bare-my-soul buddies. I met some interesting people, had some interesting observations. My favorite concept from this class, the one that hit, and I've incorporated is: if you want/need something, you can ask. WHAT? ask? for help? WHAT? The trick, the thing that makes it easy, and kind of fun, is to not be vested in the response.
I learned from my Mom to never ask for help; we are self sufficient farm stock. On the rare occasions I have seen my Mom ask for help, she Really needs help, has exhausted all possibilities, and is VERY vested in the response. If she is refused - which doesn't happen often (you know the whole none of us want to say "no" thing) - she tightens her resolve and becomes even more self-sufficient, closed away, and unwilling to ask. mom - I know you read this, don't take it personally - I'm just using a very close example. But - people LIKE to help. If you ask, with no pressure, you give them an opportunity to show how much they appreciate you, and it is win/win. The old adage "there is no harm in asking" is only true if you are actually "asking." Leave the manipulation muscles out of it.
What about being asked? oh, oh - pick me, I know this one! Where does your response fit into your priorities?
We are smokin' busy at work right now. We therapist are running all over, we are all working overtime, trying to cram patients into non-existent time slots, and across the board all of the teams are not getting therapy evals done in time. So when an eval comes in, the schedulers BEG us to help. The last few weeks I needed the overtime. The next two weeks, I need to have time off for family things and court things. My schedule is FULL. I could put 90 miles a day on my car, get a bunch of new people in, drive all over the place and feel like I am helping. But here is the deal - the therapists that do that are tired, cranky, burned out, complaining, completely unappreciated (the office people still do not have enought therapists to see all of the patients, and now they are not getting their paperwork in time), and stressed. Right now we need more staff. And currently we are all running all over the county. I like to work hard, but I won't compromise care, or my family, and inefficiency drives me batty.
So - my answer is "NO."
Molly - will youNO how aboutNO can I NO there's a newNO.
I have decided that since the system is inefficient, I have to be proactive about efficiency. I only say "yes" if it is in my chosen geography. The thing is, people actually appreciate it. I am seeing more patients than I am required to, I still get my paperwork done in time, I spend quality, productive time with my patients, and when I walk into the office I am relaxed, happy and cheerful. And, as I have explained my reasons, no one has a problem with my No-ness.
Hmmm - try it. It is just one little word - with the power to make lots of people very happy.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Random Acts
I love the "Random Acts of Kindness" movement. You've seen the pretty purple bumper stickers - Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Beauty. The concept got a huge boost in the population at large with the movie "Pay It Forward." (Great movie - but - spoiler alert - very sad! Don't watch it unless you schedule some emotional recovery time afterward). The new insurance commercial, (if I was a better consumer, I'd remember which company), about people doing simple kind acts for each other in a sort of chain reaction - love that, and shows that the concept has hit mainstream.
I, myself, often do nice and unnecesary things for strangers. You, know, opening doors for people, helping people pick up stuff they dropped, letting people in during tight traffic situations. Once I even paid for some guy's groceries because he was obviously on a tight schedule and his paycheck hadn't hit the bank yet - 6:00am on his way home from a double shift, he really didn't need to think about how to get back to the store before he went to work that night. But the acts aren't really random. In each and every incident, I saw a need, and I filled it. I sort of look at these as opportunities to fill my Karmic bank account. And being from a very proud, self sufficient family, I do not take withdrawls from that account. I would never allow a stranger to give me money for something, and if someone helps me pick up stuff, I certainly do my best to pick up MORE, and thank them, profusely, - to prove that I appreciate, but did not NEED their help. Oh no, needing other people? not me. no way.
So - the other day, I was the recipient (victim?) of a truly Random Act. Standing in line at the grocery store express lane, patiently waiting my turn to pay for the few items that were on my list the day before, but I forgot - dammit - don't have TIME to be going to the flipping grocery store everyday! The lady in front of me had a small child with her, used her debit card to pay for groceries. The checker started scanning my things. The lady was still there, swiping her card - odd. The fax machine at work allows multiple faxes and numbers to be entered in succession - I didn't realize that grocery store scanners had gotten so advanced, maybe she forgot to get cash with her purchase? I walked up to the key-pad and started to scan my card - the clerk stopped me - oh no, the lady ahead - she paid for you. WHAT? REALLY?
Now - that was random. As I walked out of the store, I saw her getting her child out of the cart, and started to thank her. She said, "no, no, do something for someone else."
Now I have been charged by the Gods of Generosity to repay an unfathomable debt. I am looking. Looking for the opportunity. Something random. Something faceless. Something that will restore some random person's faith in mankind. Or at least something nice.
I, myself, often do nice and unnecesary things for strangers. You, know, opening doors for people, helping people pick up stuff they dropped, letting people in during tight traffic situations. Once I even paid for some guy's groceries because he was obviously on a tight schedule and his paycheck hadn't hit the bank yet - 6:00am on his way home from a double shift, he really didn't need to think about how to get back to the store before he went to work that night. But the acts aren't really random. In each and every incident, I saw a need, and I filled it. I sort of look at these as opportunities to fill my Karmic bank account. And being from a very proud, self sufficient family, I do not take withdrawls from that account. I would never allow a stranger to give me money for something, and if someone helps me pick up stuff, I certainly do my best to pick up MORE, and thank them, profusely, - to prove that I appreciate, but did not NEED their help. Oh no, needing other people? not me. no way.
So - the other day, I was the recipient (victim?) of a truly Random Act. Standing in line at the grocery store express lane, patiently waiting my turn to pay for the few items that were on my list the day before, but I forgot - dammit - don't have TIME to be going to the flipping grocery store everyday! The lady in front of me had a small child with her, used her debit card to pay for groceries. The checker started scanning my things. The lady was still there, swiping her card - odd. The fax machine at work allows multiple faxes and numbers to be entered in succession - I didn't realize that grocery store scanners had gotten so advanced, maybe she forgot to get cash with her purchase? I walked up to the key-pad and started to scan my card - the clerk stopped me - oh no, the lady ahead - she paid for you. WHAT? REALLY?
Now - that was random. As I walked out of the store, I saw her getting her child out of the cart, and started to thank her. She said, "no, no, do something for someone else."
Now I have been charged by the Gods of Generosity to repay an unfathomable debt. I am looking. Looking for the opportunity. Something random. Something faceless. Something that will restore some random person's faith in mankind. Or at least something nice.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Waylaid
OK - been gone for the longest time. Sort of got thrown into a tail spin in early March - found myself in an emotional spiral over what I percieved as a - I don't know - Betrayal? Abandonement? I actually schedule a counselling session over it, which I then cancelled, because the girl got sick.
Which has kind of been my month. One or more of us have been very ill all month, I have been incredible busy - picking up tons of overtime, working in my little clinic (which I am probably going to close in June), barely keeping up with social obligations and gymnastics doings. Did I mention my stress level? Anyway - things are settling, and I have come to a few realizations:
#1 Being a Grown Up SUCKS! - Now that I am make real money for the first time ever, I have to make decisions. Retirement. Health Insurance. Debt management. When your pay does not cover your basic, necessary bills, the extra money that shows up now and then is like a drink of cold water. You use it, enjoy it, relish in the short lived luxury. Now that my paycheck is consistently bigger than my basic bills I have CHOICES. I could enjoy the money - I could really use furniture that I'm not the third owner of; window dressings; an actual vacation that doesn't involve kid sports, camping or visiting family; or - I could put money into the 401K that my company will begin matching after a year - pay off the credit cards that the darling man used to make the house livable when we bought it, pay on the principal of mortgages and student loans. Responsibility will win - kicking and screaming perhaps - but my sister is a consistent influence, and the original life plan of having the little girl support me in my old age is right up there with winning a lottery. But seriously - making twice the money should not result in zero lifestyle change. At least I'll have some kind of future - and the good new is that I did not invest BEFORE the economy tanked.
# 2 - having people that love you makes up for just about everything.
Easter approaches - last year we fed 97 of our closest friends and family :-), this year we will probably break 100. Plus I have a week off, and since I don't have the kidlet full time, I'll get lots done, and it will be more smooth than ever before. The boy child and his friend cleaned up the yard (for a price - there is always a price) and the "sorta daughter" cleaned my house today (pretty), so I believe I'll be all ready.
So that's the recap - I'll be glad when March is behind us. April looks to be much brighter!
Which has kind of been my month. One or more of us have been very ill all month, I have been incredible busy - picking up tons of overtime, working in my little clinic (which I am probably going to close in June), barely keeping up with social obligations and gymnastics doings. Did I mention my stress level? Anyway - things are settling, and I have come to a few realizations:
#1 Being a Grown Up SUCKS! - Now that I am make real money for the first time ever, I have to make decisions. Retirement. Health Insurance. Debt management. When your pay does not cover your basic, necessary bills, the extra money that shows up now and then is like a drink of cold water. You use it, enjoy it, relish in the short lived luxury. Now that my paycheck is consistently bigger than my basic bills I have CHOICES. I could enjoy the money - I could really use furniture that I'm not the third owner of; window dressings; an actual vacation that doesn't involve kid sports, camping or visiting family; or - I could put money into the 401K that my company will begin matching after a year - pay off the credit cards that the darling man used to make the house livable when we bought it, pay on the principal of mortgages and student loans. Responsibility will win - kicking and screaming perhaps - but my sister is a consistent influence, and the original life plan of having the little girl support me in my old age is right up there with winning a lottery. But seriously - making twice the money should not result in zero lifestyle change. At least I'll have some kind of future - and the good new is that I did not invest BEFORE the economy tanked.
# 2 - having people that love you makes up for just about everything.
Easter approaches - last year we fed 97 of our closest friends and family :-), this year we will probably break 100. Plus I have a week off, and since I don't have the kidlet full time, I'll get lots done, and it will be more smooth than ever before. The boy child and his friend cleaned up the yard (for a price - there is always a price) and the "sorta daughter" cleaned my house today (pretty), so I believe I'll be all ready.
So that's the recap - I'll be glad when March is behind us. April looks to be much brighter!
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