Choose To Save

In this time of shrinking economy, jobs being down-sized, and home foreclosures there is an abundance of advice. This is a website that I came across in my browsing and I think it's just the ticket for starting yourself on the path of financial education. You know, the one we didn't get or didn't listen to in school.

Feed The Pig

Larry Winget on the Today Show

Cabin Fever

I always thought that it would strike the humans in our household first. Carroll and I have recently down-sized to a smaller apartment, not anywhere near the size that we were used to living in. But, after six weeks of moving things around, finding innovative ways to store things, and just plain old ditching stuff I think that we've made it a home. The cat, Jade, on the other hand has other ideas.

Jade and I have always had a relationship at a distance. I call him names and he stays at a distance. I don't yell at him, unless he's caterwauling at four in the morning. Maybe a pillow heaved in his general direction, but there is no anger or animosity towards him. I've tried to pet him and sometimes he'll attempt to let me.

Picture this: He's within three feet of me and I call him. He feigns indifference while wandering in my direction and then, still inches from my fingertips, he drops to the floor and rolls over expecting me to cover the remaining distance. Fat Chance!

As the weather get warmer (yes, I live in Texas and it will be seventy-five degrees in the middle of February,) we like to leave the doors and windows open. Of the two doors, only one has a screen on it. In the past, we've never had a problem with him wanting to leave the house, but the first night we had a little scare because he disappeared. We found him okay, but it took us about five minutes. Just the other day, Carroll had to chase him again, even after she yelled at him to stop. Did not listen and even ran from her. Totally out of his character. Today, he tried to sneak past me. I sit at a desk right by the back door, so he has to get pretty close to me. I caught him out of the corner of my eye, slinking along. I turned and moved toward him and instead of running away, he kept moving forward. He doesn't seem to fear me. That's a bummer.

I can only speculate as to why the change. The apartment is too small, he's old and senile (11 years old or so), the abundance of smells on the sidewalk that runs by our patio, or the ample amounts of wildlife out our backdoor. Who knows?
Ooops, there he goes again!

ABC News: Baby Animals

ABC News: Baby Animals

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Desperately Seeking Steve

So, to begin, let me say that I'm a fan of many styles of music.  I've seen in the news where Steve Martin has released a new album called "The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo."  He's played on albums before but if I'm not mistaken this is his first solo.  Available on Amazon right now, but will be available everywhere else on April 26th.  Below is a link to a great article on him.  If you clink on the name of the song above, you can go to the Amazon website and listen to snippets of the album.  He's a very talented man, whom I admire.



Steve Martin Article

A New Start

I've been meaning to do this for a long time, but I always seem to find something else to do. I love the idea of being connected and I have ideas I love to share, it's just the writing that I don't like. I wasn't like that when I was a kid.

So, any way. For all of you not in the know, Carroll and I have made some big changes in our lives, for the better. Now don't get excited, we didn't go vegan or anything like that. It's just that she and I weren't very happy with our career choices. I'd been a DJ for 13 years and one day I decided I was tired of being the guy who was responsible for getting the party started or not. Then, there was the whole dealing with folks who didn't know when to say when. I'm a guy that can get a temper. Some people know that, others don't. Those who don't probably never saw me at work the last few years. It started to wear on me and I couldn't control my temper because I couldn't control stupid people. There, I said it. There are stupid people out there. You know who you are. And you don't need no sign.

I went into appliance repair. Yep, some of you said "whoa, didn't see that coming!" Me too. But, I had a background in electronics and some mechanical and it was a job. The last two years I spent on the counter at an appliance parts place. Love the people on both sides of it. But, there was something missing. I had tossed around the idea of getting back into djing, but I knew I didn't want to go back to the clubs. I had done some research on the net and found a couple of schools for broadcasting. One even taught both radio and tv.

Over dinner one night, Carroll finally came out and gave me a nudge. She said that if I wanted, I could go to school full time and take a part-time somewhere and we'd make it work. I fiddled with the thought, but I tend to over-analyze when it comes to a decision that involves both of us. We had been trying to have a baby, we were wanting to buy a house, and I just didn't know how she felt about it. I know, I know, Carroll had told me many times that she would support me no matter what I decided, but at what point does she decide to have me committed to a mental ward.

So, since she is the one that brought it up, I looked into it more seriously and decided to do it. As of December 31st, I became unemployed from my full-time job at Appliance Parts Depot. In that time, we have down-sized from a 3 bedroom apartment to a one. I never thought we would get it all in here, but we have a garage that we can put a lot of stuff and with that comes my permanent parking spot. We have very little guest parking so on some nights I had to park outside the gate. Sucks! Rent went down $300 or so and the electricity is almost $100 cheaper plus not as much water and sewer. I also don't spend as much on gas since I don't drive to work, and there is no lunch costs. Really scary thing is that with just Carroll's income, we still put money in the bank and cover all of our bills. We joke that she is my sugar mama.

We wouldn't be able to do this if we hadn't paid off all of our credit card debt. Well, I take that back. When we moved in, we had to get rid of our couch and love seat because it was not gonna fit in here. So, we bought a few pieces on one of those "no interest and no payments for 18 months" plans. Don't go screwin' up your eyes, we do know the risks. Again, we have no debt except for a car payment and an old school loan. We can make payments right now and will have it payed off almost a year before the first payment is due. So, don't worry. We're on it!

Now about the school; I start March 29th and will be in school for about 8 to 10 months. One of the big selling points of the school, in addition to the actual radio and tv personalities that teach here and the state-of-art facilities is the fact that for the rest of my life, I will be able to walk in to any of their facilities and book studio time to work on any project that I need to with no questions asked. The director spoke of two guys that run a videographer business without any of their own gear or studios because they use the facilities there. And, if I ever need a job lead, they will give them to me wherever I happen to be at the time. That's more than some full-blown colleges will do for you.

In the meantime, I cook, clean, run errands, and other assorted task. I'm hoping to get the garage re-arranged so I can get my ebay stuff rolling. And, I'll try my hand at this blogging thing. The only stipulation Carroll put on all this is that when I land my first job, she get's to quit her job and let me take care of her for a while. And I'll be more than happy to do that.

People are idiots

Courtesy of Larry Winget

Parents don’t talk to their kids or discipline their kids; give them
everything they want and then wonder why their kids are a mess. 

People barely do any work while they are on the job, then can’t
figure out why they got laid off when times got tough for their
employer. 

People spend more money than they earn then seem to be surprised
that the people who loaned them the money actually want to be repaid. 

The majority of people can’t read and don’t read. 

Our country is experiencing an obesity epidemic because of our eating habits. 

25% of people cheat on their taxes yet expect honesty from their elected officials.

Where is the money going?

Obama Stimulus Package Breakdown is provided courtesy of Glenn Beck.  I haven't read it yet, but as soon as I'm done with the housework and shopping, I'll give you my take on it.  Housework and shopping is another post all together.

Money Facts

I came across this website called "Milk Your Money" and found these tidbits to be pretty interesting.  There are 43, but I listed 5 to get your curiosity.  Here's the link.  Milk Your Money


Here are few things from around the web you probably had no idea about:

1. More of our fantasies are about money… than sex.
   
    
2. If we could have any luxury in the world (and money didn’t matter) more of us would choose to spend money on a butler and a maid than anything else.
   
    
3. 90% of Americans who own pets buy them Christmas gifts.
   
    
4. Money is the leading cause of disagreements in marriages (after lack of communication).
   
    
5. 65% of Americans would live on a deserted island all by themselves for an entire year for $1,000,000.

CARPE DIEM: Despite Current Economic Slowdown, Consumers Have Never Had It So Good. Ever. Anywhere.

I found this pretty interesting. Anyone got a comment to add, please do!


CARPE DIEM: Despite Current Economic Slowdown, Consumers Have Never Had It So Good. Ever. Anywhere.

Great Photo

Uncle Jay Explains

Way Cool Stuff

Check out the link below to see some really cool t-shirt designs by a U.K. artist, Olly Moss.  Follow the link from there to his page to see other work that he has done.


SCI FI Wire: Invite Darth Vader over for target practice—as the target!

Year of Astronomy 2009

Yeah, yeah, I know. It's been long time no post. Well, for the last couple of months, I've been busy, lazy, tired, frazzled, and everything in between. But, I'm getting ready to get back to it hard and heavy. I'll explain my plans the next time I blog. Right now, I'm wanting to talk about this next year in astronomy.

Why? you may ask. I was an avid amateur astronomer when I was a kid. My telescope and I would sweat it out or freeze our behinds off in the evenings back in Louisiana. Where I lived there wasn't a lot of light pollution, but now that I live in the city and don't have a telescope, I get by on the brighter objects in the sky with a pair of binoculars. I still enjoy looking up and pointing out the starts and planets to people who probably never gave it a second thought.

Which brings me to the point of this blog. This year marks the 400th anniversary of old man Galileo looking up to the sky with his new toy and marveling at the wonders in the heavens that God has put before us through random chaos. (like the way I mix creationism and that other theory?)

To get people involved and informed, the group, International Year of Astronomy 2009, has formed a series of events to happen through out the year. You can also click on the title of this blog to get to the website.

And you can also go to this article at the Washington Post and see what's coming up in the next couple of weeks in the night sky.

Happy Hunting.

Bailout Bull

I'm a fan of Glenn Beck. You can see him on TV and hear him on radio and even read his books. He's got common sense going on. Please check out the link below to see what atrocity has been passed by our elected officials.

Glenn Beck

Dave Ramsey's Common Sense Fix

I know I don't write as often as I should to some of you and some I haven't sent anything in a long time, and for that I apologize.  But I felt it important to send this link to everyone.

A little background info first.  When Carroll and I got married almost 4 years ago, we combined a lot of debt.  Wanting to put it behind us, I started looking for solutions and came across Dave Ramsey.  I got both his books and listened to him on the radio.  He even has a TV show on MSNBC that is very good.  In the last 3 years, Carroll and I have paid off 75% of our debt and let me tell you, it was in the 10's of thousands.  Right now, all we have left is her car note and my 13 year old student loan (a few more years and it will graduate on it's on.)

Well, Dave, has gone and put together a plan of action on his own.  Follow this link to his webpage and read it and if it hit's you like it did me, follow his instructions and get the word out to your representatives.  Enjoy!

Dave Ramsey's Common Sense Fix 

Helping Out for Breast Cancer

I received this link in a forward from my father and figured that I would help out a little more by posting it here. You can cut and paste this link, "www.thebreastcancersite.com" or you can click on the title of this blog. It's free to click, but there are some good ads to check out. They also have the pink ribbon store so that you can buy items to show your support.

It's Such A Drag Getting Old

Well, I think the Rolling Stones had it all wrong. At least that's the line from "Mother's Little Helper" says. Thursday, my birthday, I was at work finishing up and had turned the radio on and that was the first line I heard from the speakers. Interesting.

Well, I had a small get-together at a local watering hole where Dave tends bar. If you don't know Dave, he'll be the one in the cowboy hat. Stevon Parrish, Tim and Roz Galvan, and DJ Mary Mary all showed up to pay respects to my dearly departed youth. There was to be karaoke, but the young lady who was to run it had a problem with the hard-drive with all the music stored on it. Tsk, tsk . . . always have a backup.

The Grand Experiment

I thought that I might try a little experiment this past month. It had often been called into question my ability to grow facial hair. I shaved but not everyday like I should and I and everyone else noticed that it did not grow back quite as fast as other gentlemen.

So, for a full month I let my face grow wild with unkempt fury. . . . can you see the fury?

Yes, these photos are accurate. This is the extent of my hair growth for a full month. I'm as embarrassed as you are amused. Actually, that's not true. I save a bundle on the number of razors I don't have to buy.

Comedian Bernie Mac Dies

Even though I didn't watch his show, I could always find something relevant in my own life to laugh about. It's always a shame to see someone pass on so early in life, but if you read the whole article you see where he's been and the struggle that he overcame to get where he was. At only 50 years of age, I begin to examine my own mortality. I turn 40 next week so I think it's time to schedule a few doctor's visits.

clipped from www.cnn.com CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Bernie Mac, the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor and comedian who worked his way to Hollywood success from an impoverished upbringing on Chicago's South Side, died Saturday at age 50. "Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital," his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles, California. The comedian suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently was hospitalized and treated for pneumonia, which his publicist said was not related to the disease.