I'm Done...

I've been so close to hitting the "delete this blog" button twice now.
But I thought that wouldn't be a very nice thing to do without a good-bye & to say thanks for all the positive energy sent my way! This blogging experience has taught me so much! More than I can express in words & I am so grateful for it! I've had a lot of fun writing posts, visiting other blogs, & getting to know all the really cool people in the personal finance blogosphere. It's just time for me to focus my time and energy in a different direction. Bye...

God Bless & Have a Fabulous Summer!

Prioritizing & Balance...

I love Spring -
We finally get to turn off the overworked furnace and open some windows.
Besides saving money on the utility bill, it's so nice to feel the outside air and sunshine coming into the house!
All the rebirth of the plants, birds, and little critters outdoors ... makes me feel a part of something bigger than myself.

When I started this blog (six months ago this past Sunday) - I titled it "One Woman's Journey Through Finances, Health, and Spirituality."
These were the topics I was interested in talking about.
Don't they also seem somewhat intertwined?
Time has taught me that when these three things are in the proper balance - they all thrive!
Balance is a tricky thing though - not always easy to achieve!
I have been working on the "balance" skill for nearly 30 years.
I'm finally starting to get quite good at it!

I turn 47 years old in about 6 or 7 weeks.
I can clearly remember being 17 years old and incredibly invincible!
It was a time of go fast & not a lot of balance - somewhat appropriate for that age.
But at 46 going on 47 ...
I'm not quite so invincible and have definitely slowed down a bit.
What has helped me - a definite work in progress ... is prioritizing what makes me - me.
I try to live each day working towards those priorities.
I'm still kind of hyper... but it's tempered with balance.
And it feels GOOD!

Have you actually thought about that?
What makes you ... you?
Do you live your life accordingly?
We all have to deal with our personal finances...
It's a reality that cannot & will not be ignored.
But I truly believe that debt reduction and net worth increases will actually be achieved quicker with a balanced approach.
Do you agree?
Or not?

Buddy & Fugee & An Update...

The dogs are so happy!!
They have been in heaven. Hanging out in the yard soaking up the sunshine, and not really being bothered by bugs. That is the best thing about this time of year for them - not too many bugs! (Buddy is the sleepy eyed gray beard & Fugee is the brown-eyed nose).

Hubby finally got to ride his Harley to work this morning - but still froze. The weatherman might have said it was 51 degrees outside... but on the interstate riding to work - pretty darn chilly. He loved it though! He has been itching to get that thing out of the garage for almost 5 months.

The oldest son gave the youngest son a proposal to mull over. Now that he is no longer living with his ex-girlfriend... he asked the youngest son, his brother, to move in. Decisions, decisions, decisions!!! It will be interesting to see what he decides.

We mailed off the checks to the IRS, and our state a couple of days ago. I'm glad all that is a done deal. We are still thrilled, with having to only pay in 50 percent of what we thought we were going to have to. We do totally appreciate our CPA - he is a good man!!!

I've been a bit under the weather these last few days... a nasty headache that has been kicking my behind. This evening has been better - hubby and I even watched the debate.
So there we go - new photos of Buddy & Fugee, & an Update.

By the way... where the heck has RacerX disappeared to?? Anybody know???

A Six Word Memoir...

Bouncing Back From Bankruptcy tagged me with the six word memoir meme...

The rules of the meme are:
1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want
3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post
4. Tag at least 3 more blogs (I cut the number down not everyone likes to "play")
5. Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play...

Here is my six word memoir...
Children & gardens, she grew them well.

I'm not going to specifically tag anybody...
So if you haven't all ready been tagged and want to do it - take this as your cue to go for it!!!

(That is one of my gardens from a couple of years ago - where the bird house gourds just went crazy)!!!

Obama & Clinton Debate...

Did anyone watch the debate this evening???
What did you think???
Did it strengthen your thoughts or add confusion???

Into the Wild...

Have you ever thought about walking away from the pursuit of making money to live a life closer to nature?
And I mean real nature - the kind portrayed here...

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods; There is a rapture on the lonely shore; There is a society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in it's roar: I love not man the less, but nature more...
- Lord Byron

This is the nature Christopher McCandless desired - and he pursued it.
His life journey is documented in a book by Jon Krakauer, called "Into the Wild" (1996).
There is also a film by the same title, released in 2007, and directed by Sean Penn.
I watched it last week.
It was intense.

Since I haven't read the book... I can only comment on the film.
The film's premise is Christopher's opposition to his parent's financially comfortable lifestyle - as well as their concern for appearances & their what "would the neighbor's think attitude?"
After completing his college education, rather than continuing on to graduate school - he hits the open road. Where he soon burns his cash and abandons his car, with the goal of heading to Alaska & surviving off the land.
A somewhat idealized notion - but totally nuts!!!
(I won't divulge anymore in case you want to see it... because it actually is a pretty good film)!

This movie touched me...
As a parent of two sons around the same age as Alexander Supertramp (the name Chris adopted once he hit the open road) - it made me sad that there wasn't better communication in the McCandless family. The film also illustrates that our children are very observant of what we do and not just what we say. As parents how we handle money and prioritize our values is something we cannot hide from our children...

Did you see the film?
Did you read the book?
If you did either - what did you think???

Not Sure About Ebay Anymore...

I got a wild hair & put up some auctions on Ebay tonight...
(Selling some of my spring cleaning cast offs).
Personally, it's been since the end of October that I have listed anything.
A lot of changes have taken place since then...
Listing an item & fee structure are very different.
It said that my earnings will be frozen in PayPal for a couple of weeks too...
Because I don't have a detailed feedback rating.
(Even though I have a 100% positive 92 feedback score).
Interesting to say the least!

I put up six auctions tonight & have about ten more to do.
I'm debating whether I should see how these go before doing the others...
But I'll probably do them anyway - what the heck?!
Does anybody else sell on Ebay anymore... I'm really curious???