2020 Update

This year was not quite what I expected it to be.  It was supposed to be there year of 2020 vision, which thanks to Lasik surgery, I got.  I ended up having to have my right eye redone, but all in all, I see very well now without glasses.  And oh, how my sunglasses collection has grown.

I'm not going to go through all the ways in which the Covid-19 pandemic has screwed me over because honestly, I haven't been that much affected by it.  In fact, I have been able to make more money this year than ever simply because of what I do, delivery for a restaurant downtown and driving for Uber/Lyft.  I will say that while the city was in quarantine, I delivered a great amount of food and I am grateful everyday that I did not have to go on unemployment.  I have a few friends that did and my heart goes out to them greatly.  

Let's see...what else has happened so far this year.  Not a whole lot, really.  I've been taking the time to get my debt paid down.  I've been working on my credit score and I'm trying to get things together to try to buy a house.  It isn't easy when one's primary income is based on self-employment and tips.  I might have to wait until next year.  *sigh*  maybe it will never happen.  I'm also planning on moving to Texas after Raven graduates high school to be closer to my mom.  Who knows what will change in that time.

Other than that, nothing much has changed.  I did stop the tap lessons about two months after I started.  My ankles just couldn't handle the pressure.  I bought a harmonica at the beginning of this year, but I haven't played much.  I've actually become something of a workaholic this year.  I'm just trying to hard to get the debt monkey off my back.  One day I'll be able to calm down a bit, and perhaps one day not drive for the other guys so much, but today is not that day.

A Month In...

...and I need new pants!

So far I've kept to my new year's resolutions.  I've lost ten pounds already and I've gotten my blood sugar mostly under what I consider to be control.  I haven't had any "red" draws in several days, and only the one in the last few weeks.  It was weird because I have had several draws right around 97-120, which is I guess normal, but for me cause me to shake something fierce. I guess my body isn't used to whatever is normal for most people yet.  And, I actually didn't take my medication for one night and one morning because the sugar levels were so low.

But I really do need new pants.  Most of the weight has been falling off my backside, in turn my pants are doing the same.. lol..

All in all life seems to be going okay.  Nothing new in the relationship realm.  I tried, once again, a few online dating sites, which cause nothing but headache for me.  People don't read my profile fully so I get a lot of really young kids (what else am I, as a 41-year-old, going to call an 18-22-year-old that thinks he's going to get lucky with me?) who like to send me messages.  Even when I politely tell them I am not interested, they persist.  I don't like to block people, to me that's just rude, but sometimes people don't take not for an answer.  And, I don't like to repeat myself.  I'm too old to have the same conversations multiple times...

I have had nothing but bad experiences. I was even stood up by a guy who was older than me (in his 50s, which for me is usually an automatic 'no'), but I was enjoying our conversation so I agreed to meet him.  Thankfully, it was somewhere I was already familiar with.  I get anxiety going to new places alone.  When he didn't show up, I checked back on the messaging for that website only to find that he had blocked me and was no longer accepting my messages.  Do people really do that?  Do they get their kicks on luring people out only to not show up and block them?  Get a good laugh on that did you?  It made me furious for a moment, then sad, then I turned on myself thinking I wasn't good enough, then I decided that it was his loss.  I dunno. I am about to give up permanently.

As much as I would like to think that there is someone out there for me, who will enjoy my company, have similar interests, enjoy travelling, etc, I highly doubt that I am going to find him here.  Oh well.

I am getting ready to go back to school.  I forget if I mentioned this in a previous entry.  I am going back to get my court reporting degree.  I will be able to do much more than just court reporting.  Perhaps get one of those close captioning jobs or something.  But, I'm tired of being broke and not really being able to do much about it. It's time I put my talents (such as they are) to good use.  I know I can do this. It's just a matter of making it happen.  The school didn't have their schedule yet for this year.  I'm not sure how long that takes to make happen, but if I don't hear something back by the end of the upcoming week, I will contact them back.  Yeah.  I have to make a change.  I can't live like this anymore.  Granted, I am surely not taking anything for granted, but there is always the opportunity to live better, right?

Our cats are fat and happy.  Well as happy as two cats can be, I suppose.  Klaus and Elijah fight like grumpy old men.  It's funny to watch Klaus try do defend himself and wherever he happens to be sleeping at the time from Elijah.  Klaus has no front claws, so he furiously bats his paws at Elijah and hisses at him during these altercations.  Mostly, they take place on my bad while I'm trying to sleep.  Klaus follows me around like a puppy.  I did mention that he is a big, fat, long-haired cat, yes?

Overall, they keep me company and Raven enjoys them very much.  They are HER cats after all, but there's nothing wrong with me petting them when they allow it.  Elijah is still a bit skittish and doesn't really like Raven much, but once in a while he will crawl up and lay on her lap. 

The weather here has been chaotic.  This morning it snowed and then it disappeared.  It flurried for a short time, then it stopped.  We are supposed to be getting a bunch more snow tonight.  Who knows if the school will start on time, be delayed or be canceled altogether.  I am lucky to work for a company who cares about its employees' safety.  Usually when the roads are bad, we are delayed working as well.  I guess they will just keep an eye on the roads tomorrow and we'll see what happens. 

I find writing so relaxing... it's why I do it.  Thank you for taking this journey with me into what I would consider my pathetic life.  I need more excitement. 

Care to join me?

Account Update

I am very please with my credit union.  They have rocked ever since I got this job and that was about two years ago.  True to their word, they have reversed all charges.  They even reversed an extra $30 fee.  I noticed this and of course I called to let them know.  I would have loved the extra money, but I truly believe in karma and keeping that money would have been no good.  I am happy to say that I will be able to repay the friends from whom I borrowed money and I didn't end up using even half of the borrowed funds for gas.  Now I can go get my car registered, my phone and rent paid and grocery shopping done.  Thank you, once again, to all my friends who bailed me out during this time.  You all rock and I hope very soon that I will be able to repay the favor.

Debit Card Update

I called my bank as soon as they opened today.  They were very pleasant.  All I have to do is go to the bank and fill out a VISA affidavit or something like that and have it notarized, which thankfully they have a notary right there in the bank.  Hopefully it doesn't cost anything.  I'm totally broke until they fix this.  Then, they will reverse the charges after the charges that are going through "clear" on Monday.  She was really pleasant, and I didn't end up having to get upset over anything. I really like this credit union.

Now, I'm on hold with Paypal, as that was the place where the $1800 in charges were placed.  Seriously?  So, I've been on hold for the last five minutes after talking to someone that thought the charges were made from MY paypal account.  No, they were made from some other paypal account.  "Oh, let me transfer you to a specialist".  Yeah, I've used that one a time or two myself when I was on the phones.

So, the charges are getting ready to be reversed on Monday, hopefully before my direct deposit goes through on Tuesday.

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Ok, got through the call with paypal.  They had already flagged the 6, count them SIX charges on MY paypal account as suspicious, and they are now flagged as unauthorized.  I thought that someone had merely added my debit card to their account.  But no, someone hacked MY paypal account.  The charges will take about ten days to be reversed, but the credit union will still be reversing everything on Monday, hopefully, once they rest of the transactions go through.

I will get my new card in about ten days.  I have changed my password on my bank account, just in case.  I will be closing my paypal account.  I never used it anyway.

What a freaking nightmare...... The sad thing is that these transactions were made from paypal, so it is possible that my debit card is still sitting at the bar.  I just find it strangely coincidental that these charges happen to show up the same night that my card disappears.  Oh well, what can you do.  It is the little twists of life that keep things interesting.  I figured I couldn't go a whole year without something bad happening.  LOL.. I am just glad it was only minor.

So, there is it is there.  Does anyone have $20 I could borrow until Tuesday?  :)

Human Decency, or the Lack Thereof

Good morning, Faithful Readers.

I am so livid. Why you ask?  Me? Who feels nothing half the time?

It all started when I decided to go out last night to sing karaoke.  I knew I should have just stayed home.  Oh well, that was my first mistake.  My second mistake was not looking at the card that was given me when I left the second bar I was at.  The first one I was only at for as long as it took for the bartender to tell me that I had to spend a minimum of ten bucks just to use my card.  That was AFTER he already made my Midori Sour.  I took my card and left him with the drink.  I didn't even have that much money on my card.  I don't even drink that much, but I know how important it is to buy stuff at the establishment you are going to.  That's how they stay in business.

So, I went to the second bar.  A really crappy song selection for karaoke if I do say so myself, and their staff isn't that friendly.  I ordered a pineapple juice and when I gave my card to the bartender I told him to just keep it open because the juice was only one dollar and I know that it cost money for them every time they swipe the cards that come through.  I only ended up staying long enough for one juice.

I went to the bar to get my card and the bartender just threw me the card and said not to worry about it.  Sucks for him because I was going to tip him a few buck for the trouble of pouring my juice.  I left in a hurry.

This morning I went to purchase water, as I do most mornings, and upon paying, I noticed that my pin number wasn't working.  Strange.  I tried it three times, then the clerk tried to run it as credit.  It came back declined.  I looked at the card... It wasn't mine.  (Like you knew that wasn't coming.)  Ok, so the crappy bartender at the second bar gave me the wrong card number.  No problem.  I could always call later on in the day to see if the bar still had my card and I could return this card.  You know, like a decent human being would.

I get to work today and check my account.  Apparently, I'm the only decent human being in this town.  The jerk who got MY card ran up $1800 work of paypal charges.  Not even MY Paypal account.  It looks as though they have added my card to their paypal account or something.  So much for human decency.  This really sucks because if I don't get those charges reversed before Tuesday, my check will hit and I will still have a negative balance on my account.  *sigh*

Thankfully, my bank is open on Saturdays, but not until 9am.  It is currently 7:35am here as I write this.  Be sure that I will drop whatever I am doing and call them at 9am sharp to get this straightened out.  I don't care if I have to go to whomever is the top dog in my bank's company.  Those charges WILL get reversed and my card canceled.  It will suck to be me for the next few days without my card to access my account, but as long as everything gets taken care of in a timely manner I will be ok.

I think I have learned two very good lessons with this.  NEVER go out on a Friday night when I know I have to be up the next morning.  And, ALWAYS check the name on the card that is given back to me.  I don't know why I didn't think about that before I left the bar.  Chalk that up to sheer stupidity.  I guess I am too trusting.  I don't think that I'll use my card at any bar ever again.  I'll always take cash with me.  There are just too many shady people out there, and I am WAY too trusting, I guess.

Be sure that I will keep you all up to date on the progress of this little mishap in the life of me.  I am just very glad that I have nothing coming out of my account automatically, like bills or whatnot.  I do have rent, car insurance and my phone to pay with this upcoming check.  Goddess, I hope that I get everything straightened out before Tuesday.

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The Proverbial Monkeys/New Soldier

I'm sure we've all been there. That financial feeling of utter dread. That feeling that you won't be able to get out no matter how much you work, fight, promise, beg and steal, you won't ever be able to get out from under the bills. This seems to happen every year for me in some way. Last year and this year it ended up being Raven's daycare expenses. Last year it was the purchase of a car that at the time seemed to be needed and was promised to be paid back. This year it was an unexpected move that caused me to become so terribly behind on the daycare.

Raven's daycare have been extremely patient with me. I tried to put myself on a plan after moving earlier in 2010, but I never got out from under the several hundred dollar debt that it ended up incurring.

Well, this year I did my taxes just like I do every year. Because I made so much more money in 2010 than 2009, I ended up in a higher tax bracket, oh goodie. So, that being said, I didn't get as much back as I did last year, but hey, it was enough. I got that return back today and was able to pay off the $1,130 in daycare expenses and get my rent paid. I've also put several hundred dollars away in my savings account, some which will be used to make my trip in April. I can't wait for that. After all that, I will have enough left to go grocery shopping, do some clothes shopping for Raven, and catch up on the rest of the bills. That's about it though.

At least I will have that monkey off my back.

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In other news, I adopted a second soldier yesterday. This one is actually a Marine. I was having a difficult time figuring out exactly where he's from, but I think that I will have better luck with the packages this time. He did leave some comments for me as to what he needs and wants. I think I am going to become very familiar with NASCAR by the time his deployment is over. hehehe...

I've sent him a card in the mail today introducing myself. Those are always the hardest. Really, no one wants to hear about my boring life. I mean truly that is why I joined Soldiers' Angels in the first place. So that my life would be a little less boring. If you are wondering, yes, it worked. Or is working. I have something to tell people now. Something that isn't just "I work, I go home, I take care of my daughter." I LOVE being an Angel.

They still need more volunteers to become Angels. If you are interested, please visit www.soldiersangels.org and sign up. There are teams you can join if you don't want to adopt a soldier. When I have been there for six months I will be eligible to join a few of the other teams, like the Angel Bakers team. I love to make cookies, cupcake and all sorts of other treats. When I'm there for two years, I will be eligible to join the K-9 team. I don't want to spread myself too thin, so we'll see what happens.

Ok, that is my public service announcement for the day. :)


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Everything else in my life is going pretty good. I still need to get motivated to get my apartment cleaned up. AND, I really need to invest in a writing desk. I've got paper, post cards, other cards, envelopes, and stamps just in a huge pile on my tiny computer desk, and it's a total mess. I can't hardly find anything and things keep falling off the table. It's really lame.

Now if I could get my laundry done and get motivated to get everything else clean I would be all set. I guess I've got the spring cleaning bug a bit early this year. I think I'll take a whole two days and just get it done. And find time to continue to run.


I'm going to be busy for a while I think.


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