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Archive for January, 2018

Wow: Almost February. Update

January 29th, 2018 at 05:22 pm

We participated in a modified UFMC. I did spend money on things: some winter clothes were needed as my boys hit growth spurts, I returned to school and that required textbooks. We are eating healthier, so the cost of food has gone up not by too much. I'm participating in weekly Zumba classes at the cost of $6/week (still cheaper than a gym membership).

Real school is different than Seminary school. I'm at a full-fledged university with classes being taught by leaders in the industry (I'm going into organizational design/behavior). I'm on top of the paper writing and there is a lot of reviews of literature. And the interesting thing about this is its the psychology side of business - and I already have the Masters in Psych. I am leading an organized existence and am surprisingly not feeling the same degree of SADD as in years' past.

We've also had some changes with the status of our college students; the one who went away came back as homesickness got the best of her. It is difficult to step back and let them make their own decisions -- but alas, I guess I'm challenged by the whole "roots and wings" paradox.

I still have no real concrete goals for the year, but we still have DH's paycheck coming in (slowed migration of his department's work down to FL is keeping him employed, though I really do think he is ready for the exit and is having to be accountable for decisions that he didn't make and sometimes there isn't the information provided on why decisions were made, so he's not exactly that happiest of campers.

But onward we go.

Moving Forward

January 12th, 2018 at 10:54 pm


Wow, hard to believe that January is going to be half over in only a few days. I made the decision to move forward on the certification in Organizational Behavior. 16 graduate hours of current and contemporary education will yield a marketable skill set. It's been a bit of a culture shock for me, after spending the past few years in a small seminary. But I'm back at a real university being taught by leaders in the industry. It is nice to feel that I am not floundering and wasting my time and money. After a frank analysis of the past few years, I am too liberal for the Catholics and too Catholic for the Protestants and I wonder if I really ever would have fit in anywhere, given the choices that I made.

We are spending far less than we use to. Just because there really isn't that much to spend. I will disclose that I am going off to Southern California for four days next week, a generous gift from my parents. R/T air and car rental for my daughter (who is also coming) and I is $500. And I am taking my daughters to NYC next month for a four-day visit. R/T air was covered by miles (but I did pay $33 fee) and we are staying for free with my cousin in Manhattan. Older daughter is doing agency visits in prep for NYFW 2018. I'm diligently saving my change and have frittered away several hundred dollars for New York. Do I feel bad at travelling given our situation? No, I don't. I'm not amassing debt to do it, and I've concluded that time with family is priceless.

I did find that I am spending more on fresh foods since I am moving away from processed foods. Homemade mac and cheese is about $4 versus the $1 box, but we are at least chemical-free. And we are going through produce a whole lot faster too. And chicken sausage has made its way onto the menu since breakfast items were lacking. Almost no more boxes of sugary crap cereal. But there is a definite increase in time and treasure.

Just checking in. Still here. Still watching the pennies. But moving forward. With purpose. Won't do anybody any good looking backward.

Advice for Selling Things

January 7th, 2018 at 04:30 pm


OK, I'm clearing out and have things to sell, but am seriously wondering if it is worth it. I've had a lot of interest on one item and some on several smaller items. People don't show up, or show up and want to pay 50% less than asking, etc.

Any advice on using local selling FB groups or nextdoor.com.

And can you tell me about Swagbucks? At this point, I'm considering any and all ways to bring in extra funds.

Thanks in advance!

Word for 2018: Forward

January 5th, 2018 at 07:26 pm



My word for 2018 is going to be "Forward" as in direction and momentum.

I'm guilty of stagnation and am just plain tired of feeling that I'm carrying heavy things. I can't even say that I want simple because my attachments, finances, life, and future is complicated.

Truth is that I perseverate, and stagnate, and remuninate. And all the awareness in the world isn't going to change that without action.

I will be able to finish up a graduate certificate in Organizational Behavior in 20 weeks (two ten-week quarters). I offically signed up for two classes and can add the second weekend-seminar for February. I have to move past the regrets that I spent time and money at a religious institution that qualified me to do nothing. A set of circumstances prevented me from petition for a grandfather clause under administration that changed, and in the scheme of things, my life was affected negatively far less than others that I know. And the reality is that I am too liberal some religious settings and not conservative enough for others. Bitter pill to swallow and lesson learned, but according to a career counselor, I should be marketable at the completion of this.

Money-wise, I will just try to continue to make wise financial choices and try to get ahead slowly. Can't do much other than that.

Happy 2018 to everyone.