My Financial Oath

Here's the deal -

I have way too much debt and too many future dreams to let this current debt stop me. I HAVE to make a plan so that when I'm 80 and living alone with 10 cats that I'm not living off mac & cheese, ramen noodles or extra cat food. My plan (ambitious as it is) is to do the following:

1. Remove a large % of my checking and move it to the new savings account I created yesterday.

2. Set a maximum and minimum checking account balance. Anything over my predetermined balance will shift into savings.

3. Put at least 10% of my paycheck into savings IMMEDIATELY!

4. Current loan debts take precedence over eating out at fast-food joints. In fact, anytime I have the craving to visit Mr. McDonald, I will NOT! I will calculate what I would have hypothetically spent at that evil place and at the end of the month, put that hypothetical $ into savings. If I can spend money going out when I have more than enough food at home, it means I'm not spending responsibly!

5. Calculate how much extra $ I would need to send in order to remove a year off each of my current loan repayment plans. If feasible, then do it!

6. No more loans of any kind until I am completely debt free!

Last but not least (and this rule will make me cry) -

7. No more cd's, books, or gifts to myself unless I put them on a Birthday or Christmas gift list!

For those of you who know me personally - please hold me to this! I don't now or ever believe that cat food is a tasty alternative to human food of any kind.

I did it - finally.

Today I finally opened a savings account for the purpose alone of going on a trip to Jerusalem. And heck, even if I didn't end up going, that saved money would surely be the start of something great or be a total lifesaver.

I'm not a toys-r-us kid anymore. I'm such a big girl now.

No, I don't. Yes, I'm sure.

No, I do not want to be a nurse.

Yes, I do realize that my degree program at school allows me the opportunity to obtain a CNA license, and receiving that is the first step in becoming a registered nurse.

Yes, I do realize that any registered nurse would make more money than me initially after graduation and with that prospective money I could buy a nicer car than say, if I had less money. I believe that is how basic economy works.

Yes, I am sure I do not want to be a nurse. Stop asking me!

How am I sure? I hate blood, that's why. Snot, pee, crap, puke, phlegm and any other bodily fluid/matter I can deal with but blood, I cannot. Not long ago when in training for my new job, I was shown and then asked to prick my trainer's finger. I believe that the terminology used to bring blood to the fingertip (thus making it easier to draw blood once the finger is pricked) was called "Milk the blood". I felt woozy and wanted to cry but did it anyway. It was awful. My trainer was barely pricked and asked if I had actually done it. I ignored her and squeezed her fingertip to draw blood out and then tested it like I was shown. It is my biggest and most sincere desire to never have to do that again.

With that being said, let's assume hypothetically that I will actually do what you ask and become a nurse. When you are sick and ask me for help, I hope that you aren't bleeding. If so, one or more of the following scenarios will occur -

1. I will say - "EWWW! AAAAAH! I'm getting someone else, I don't feel so good."

2. I will say nothing and drop like a fly.

3. I will puke. Then cry. Then puke again. Then I will clean it up myself because that sort of thing doesn't bother me.

If you need your nose wiped, I will do it. Diaper change? Count me in. If you need me to get napkins for you to spit your phlegm in, I'll run for that immediately. Heck, I'll even empty your commode with no complaint.

But please do not ask me to prick your finger. And do not tell me I should become a nurse instead of a health/social work employee, because I AM SURE that is not what I want to do with my life.

Thank you.

Is this real?

I do not know if the picture below is real or not (photoshop does wonders these days)..but either way I think it is a WONDERFUL image. I got the following picture and text in an e-mail.




God Parting the Heavens!


I took this picture on Hwy 30, traveling to London City, KY. It has given me strength in the times of trouble. I feel I should share it with the rest of the world. I hope it is an inspiration to you. It just goes to show what we already know ... We have a God and he's watching over us.

I e-mailed this picture to News Chanel 36. I was contacted by Meteorologist John James. He said that this picture of the sky is showing up, in all states, around the world. He wanted to know where I was from and where I took it. He saw a similar picture taken in Texas. He said this is amazing to him!

The Skittles Rabbit

Ok, I just saw this commercial and could not stop laughing. Please watch (it's about 45 seconds long) and comment!

The Skittles Rabbit

(C)Rap Music

I'm listening to Laura Ingraham who's interviewing Russell Simmons, one of the fathers of hip-hop who also created Def-Jam records. He's calling Akon, a rapper who uses the F, H, C, P, S-word (among others) an artist and a poet who needs to express himself. This same 'artist' sexually molested a 14-year old on stage at a concert, bruising her. After this, Akon was dropped by Verizon wireless as a tour sponsor.

Russell calls rap lyrics a reflection, but not a shaper of our culture. Give me a break! And even if that were entirely true (Is it truly a reflection of our U.S. culture?), how are these words appropriate for children, women, well, practically ANYONE?! I cannot fathom the cultural differences between white middle america and poor black america, but I can assuredly believe that these differences can be explained in song without profanity and degrating language to women! I, and Laura Ingraham is included in this, firmly believe that we have the power to change culture. Rap music has absolutely done this! You don't see teenagers (white boys included) who wear baggy pants, backwards baseball caps, and "bling" who walk around quoting Johnny Cash, do you?

Russell - "I'm not offended by words". Oh really, then you must have approved Imus' nappy-headed h* statement (he didn't)? Not that I approve at all of what Imus said, but you can't pinpoint a difference between Imus and Akon statements if you aren't offended by words in general.

Mr. Simmons believes that parents should be the educating force for my children. This is a very valid statement. So when I decide to have children, I will absolutely be educating them that rap is offensive, degrating, and musically unneccessary.

Things I Can't Believe

...That Hillary Clinton will become the next President

...that people actually wonder if Barack Obama is Irish

...The Big Bang Theory

...That Friends of mine who have been in college for a year already will graduate before I do.

...The Eternality of the World

...Athiests

...That Madonna is talented

...Rosie O'Donnell doesn't believe in terrorism (she doesn't!)

...Barbara Walters is a good journalist

...Our lives have no purpose

...I got a 4.0 this semester

...anyone would read this post and be interested :-P

Dancing with the Ellie

I would totally kick butt on "Dancing with the Stars". No, really.

Imagine this to the Song choice of Bon Jovi's "Livin on a Prayer" -

First I'd pull out the running man, followed by the tootsie roll. Then alternate with the sprinkler and then have a pretend fist fight with my partner. We'd be dressed like 19th century poor English children (my partner being Abe Vigoda, of course!), who would be continually looking like this -



I mean, who wouldn't want to see that?

Come On..

I'm going to write a book, but I need at least 366 ideas! (One for each day of the year, plus leap year). You can find more info at -

Devotional Scratch Pad

This cool picture/video thingy...

Since blogger has added some new features since the last time I posted, I'm going to take full advantage of that. I'll add a new picture or video to the side from now on and try to change it every week or so. It will be good fodder for conversation. First one - leprechaun in alabama...click the first video.