8 oz of freedom...

So classes start on Thursday. I've been resting and catching up on the entrepreneurial side of life. We've accomplished alot during this break as far as cleaning is concerned.

Things change so quickly! Right now my sole focus is to keep the money coming so I can tackle my goals accordingly. If you've noticed, the changepot has changed in amount. This is due in part to my husband finding loose change during his daily travails.

He has found one FUNNY looking quarter that looks like it's gone through hell and back. It's bent beyond recognition. I'll try to take a pic of it later.

Hurry over to ING!

Keep your Orange Savings Account deposits warm this winter with a little padding! The ING DIRECT Winter Save Up Sale earns you 4.75% APY on new deposits to your Orange Savings Account.

Here's How It Works: Deposits eligible for the Winter Save Up SaleOnly New Funds are eligible for the 4.75% APY. New Funds must:
Be from an external source
Be deposited into an Orange Savings Account
Be deposited any time between January 19, 2006 to April 15, 2006 – the Sale Period
Increase your total balances with ING DIRECT compared to your balances in all deposit accounts at the beginning of the Sale Period 4.75% Interest Calculation To determine what portion of your Orange Savings Account balance will earn the 4.75% APY, during the Sale Period we add up all of your new deposits from an external source and then subtract all withdrawals from the account (whether internal or external) from that total. If that amount is greater than zero, it is eligible for the 4.75% APY. If an account is closed during the Sale Period, the 4.75% may not be earned for the entire period that the new funds were on deposit. Accounts eligible for the Winter Save Up Sale
All new Orange Savings Accounts opened by new ING DIRECT Customers
All existing Orange Savings Accounts belonging to currentING DIRECT Customers
After the Winter Save Up Sale ends After April 15, 2006, all the money in your Orange Savings Account will earn the current APY at that time.
For example, using the Orange Savings Account APY from December 31, 2005 (3.80%), all New Funds that are deposited on January 19, 2006, will yield 4.75% APY for 87 days until April 15, 2006, and would yield 3.80% APY after that date. So, the blended APY for the first year after account opening is 4.03%. The blended APY for New Funds that are on deposit for fewer than 87 days will be lower, as it may vary depending on the number of days the promotional rate is earned. The non-promotional APY is variable and may change during the Sale Period.ING DIRECT retains the right to withdraw this offer at any time

Winter Save Up Sale FAQ 1. Who is eligible for the Winter Save Up Sale? Everyone – current Customers who have an Orange Savings Account (one account or multiple accounts) and new Customers who open an Orange Savings Account. 2. Is all of my money eligible for the sale? All New Funds deposited to your Orange Savings Account between January 19 and April 15 from your linked account (manually or through your Automatic Savings Plan) or through Direct Deposit are eligible to earn the 4.75% APY.Interest earned, transfers between Orange Savings Accounts, and any disbursements from an Orange CD that are transferred into your Orange Savings Account are not eligible for the bonus rate. However, this money will still continue to earn the current rate of 3.80% . 3. Is there a minimum balance required to receive the 4.75% sale APY? No.4. What happens if I make a withdrawal or transfer from my account? Any withdrawal or transfer from your account (which includes moving funds to other deposit accounts at ING DIRECT) will decrease the portion of your balance that is earning 4.75% APY. The best way to take advantage of the 4.75% APY is to truly save and leave your money in your account. 5. How do you calculate the interest for the Winter Save Up Sale? To determine what portion of your Orange Savings Account balance will earn the 4.75% APY, during the Sale Period we add up all of your new deposits from an external source and then subtract all withdrawals from the account (whether internal or external) from that total. If that amount is greater than zero, it is eligible for the 4.75% APY. If an account is closed during the Sale Period, the 4.75% may not be earned for the entire period that the new funds were on deposit. 6. How long is the promotion running? The Winter Save Up Sale runs from January 19, 2006 to April 15, 2006.7. What happens to my money after the promotion ends on April 15, 2006? All of the money in your Orange Savings Account will receive the current APY at that time.8. Where can I see the interest I’ve earned during the Winter Save Up Sale? The interest you’ve earned on your New Funds will be posted to your account at the end of each month as Winter Save Up Sale Interest. It will be displayed as a line item in the Account Details of your Orange Savings Account on our secure website and on your monthly Statement.9. What are the tax implications? Interest earned as part of the Winter Save Up Sale, just like all other earned interest, is generally taxable income. It will be included in your 2006 year end tax reporting.10. Does this promotion apply to my Orange CD Account? No, the promotion is only being offered for the Orange Savings Account.

Financial advice for my collegiate brethren-

Why Students Should Start Saving Now

We save, basically, because we can't predict the future. If we could, we would know precisely how much money we would need for the things that we want and need in the future. But because we can't do this, the need to save money for the future is vital.

Think about these few reasons why:

Emergency cushion - This could be any number of things: a new roof for the house, out-of-pocket medical expenses, or a job layoff and sudden loss of income. You'll need money set aside for these emergencies to avoid going into debt to pay for what you need.

Retirement - If you intend to retire someday, you'll probably need savings and/or investments to take the place of the income you'll no longer get from your job.

Average Life Expectancy - With more advances in medicine and public health, people are now living longer (and needing more money to get by).

Volatility of Social Security - Social Security was never intended to be the primary source of income and should be treated as a supplement to income.

Education - The costs for private and public education are rising every year, and it's getting tougher to meet these demands.

Without money put away in savings and/or investments, you may open yourself up to other risks as well. For example, not having enough money to pay for emergency dental care may force you into taking a loan that your savings might otherwise have covered.

Source: InCharge Institute of America
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11 Ways to Save Money
By Elizabeth Hart, Virginia Tech

Is there really such thing as a "quick buck?" By following subtle tricks of the money trade, the easiest money is to be made - by learning how to keep it. Below is a compilation of the 11 simplest yet most overlooked ways to quickly salvage and sustain your bank balance in the midst of a collegiate atmosphere.

Play your cards. IDs in your wallet might save you if you know what to look for - student, military, and insurance IDs, AAA cards, or organization memberships are subject for certain discounts. Research benefits and ask businesses which are honored—especially with bookstores, travel/tourism, restaurants or retail chains. "Bonus" cards for grocery and drug stores also offer large savings worth checking out.

Be an employed customer. Where do you purchase the most items? By working where you tend to buy (for example, match your seasonal employment with where you holiday shop most), you ensure your benefit from employee discounts for items you were bound to purchase.

Comparison shop the easy way. The salescircular.com website lists weekly prices, promotions and rebates of electronics at stores near you - and saves you time, gasoline costs and hours of paging through newspaper ads.

Turn talents into cash. A student mass-emailed offers to modulate Xboxes for a fee, working from his room. Whether you tutor differential equations, teach basic guitar or knit scarves, you can easily publicize what you have to offer with online networking.

Seek opportunities. Submit a résumé to a temporary job agency as a back up in case of unemployment. Agencies may help you find day-long/short-term job opportunities to counter downtime with networking, experience and new companies (which will build your résumé as well.)

Go all out, not without. Is there a way that a broader scope can take care of your needs as well as others with the same interests? Many university-implemented groups have designated money for productive student spending. Holiday room decorations were not in my budget, but instead of going without, I organized a decorating program for my dorm's residents. Our residence hall government funded the program, enabling us all to save on decorations and enjoy a larger result.

Clean out the couch. Take random coins from piggy banks and catch-alls to change-converting machines like Coinstar (often found at food stores) make for an easy way to turn loose money into bills. Some banks honor rolled coins or have fee-free machines of their own.

Save and then splurge. While eating fast food 18 times might seem better than eating once at a fancy restaurant for the same cost, don't forget the risk of depreciating your earnings little by little with only mediocrity to show in the end. Save and splurge--at least once--in order to afford things like a great travel experience, college tuition, a nice business suit, or a seemingly unaffordable want. Sacrificing little luxuries (like movie rentals and frappachinos) for a few months in exchange for a worthy product proves college students CAN live luxuriously - just with an even trade.

Discover a new stock tip. Buy large amounts at once when you know you'll want more. Order magazines through a subscription to avoid "off the rack" prices. Stock up "regulars" (i.e., printer paper, frozen waffles, laundry detergent) at bulk stores with better values. Purchase extras of items to spare refill trips.

Be prepared to gift-give. The need for impromptu gifts is inevitable--preparation will save you from overspending during empty-handed panic. For example, if you stocked 10 decorated ceramic plates, some matching ribbon, and cookie mix, you'd have quick hostess gifts or thank you presents for 10 occasions ready to go. Generic gifts on sale work best. If you make good cookies or use ideal "formula gifts," new recipients won't complain about the repetition; they'll hope for it.

Get on the go. Staying busy distracts us from feeling the need to spend. The more involved you are, the less likely you are to steer towards boredom expenses (snack foods, excess movie tickets, video game rentals, etc.) Active organizations like clubs, mentoring, business fraternities, or intramural sports allow less time to think about purchases needed for extra entertainment… and an active résumé may help you obtain a higher-paying job - another step towards financial stability that was seemingly effortless, too.

Four Shiny Dimes (and a wasted trip to a furniture store)

Mrs. Krabs has an aversion to particle board furniture. Mr. Krabs was looking forward to buying new bedroom furniture for the little crustaceans but I just couldn't bring myself to part with 900 bucks. 900 bucks for a temporary furniture solution. We have fallen prey to the Ikea insanity far too long (all their furniture falls apart rather quickly!).. sigh...

We went into a place here on the island which will remain unnamed for discretion. What a waste. First off, it smelled like cigarettes. And old men. Plenty of funk and fags (cigs Brit slang) to go around. As we walked further into the store, the smell nauseated me (nothing worse than an ex-smoker). I soon found out why. One rather large, balding man sat at the far end of the showroom happily puffing away RIGHT NEXT to a sign that says "Smoking Prohibited".

F**k it.


BUT....

I found four dimes today in front of my house!!!! I have added them to the changepot. YAYYYY!!

(Grade Update: Four A's and a B! That would have made me $4.75 in high school back when mom used to pay me a buck for A's and seventy five cents for B's)

Git Ya Freak On!

I am pissed. Lately people are posting inflammatory remarks about how internet companies are changing their relationships with E-gold. Wake up, people! E-gold requires NO identification. It's used by lots of fraudulent businesses that belly up on the net. I personally don't have an E-gold account because of this dilemma. Last year, the E-gold offices in Melbourne, Florida were raided shortly after Int-Gold. Here is the article found on various forums:

On the found money front, hubby made a killing in spare change at the Pep Boys parking lot (of all places). He came home with a pocket full of quarters and pennies, especially by the smoking area. I was shocked because a woman had her head blown off there a few weeks ago.

Yay!!

On the found money front, Hubby found a nickel on campus last night. I am amazed at his honed skill of finding loot in the dark like that- it was like OWL VISION... Hooray! We've been finding change here and there but no one is putting it into the changepot. I will update the progress today or tomorrow (perhaps add a new picture)

(Side note: A personal commemoration of my deceased grandma. You will always be in my heart. Thank you for your fountain of knowledge. Your smile is still imprinted fresh in my memory.)

Job Markets

I received an invitation to go to an exclusive Job Seminar on Friday- and I feel a little conflicted. The average salary for the position I qualify for begins at 44K. Part of me is a little excited because I can use the 44K for house expenses and I can save my business profits entirely. The other half is concerned with the amount of time I'd have to spend with my rugrats. Bad enough their dad works with uncle sam and his latest position will pretty much guarantee him out of the house at least 14 out of the 18 waking hours. Unless I find a nanny for my wee one, that conflicts with grad school BIG TIME.

Happy New Year! Back from the HOLI- DAZE.

I hope everyone's had a wonderful bunch of holidays. It's 2006- we're all a year older (and some of us a lil' bit wiser!)

I've decided to ditch the resolutions because I got rid of a few habits last year- primarily the most costly habit (smoking). All the other flaws can be dealt with on a daily basis. What have YOU given up?

Updates..

Today, I withdrew ten of these babies in order to open a CD at Apple Bank. I am very impressed with their CD rates considering it's such a small bank and all.


These days are flying by. I updated the changepot contents. Looks like we are going to close out 2005 with $35.70!!

FUNNY NEWS

Woman Swallows Cell Phone After Argument

Sat Dec 24, 4:24 AM ET

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - A lovers' dispute over a cell phone ended suddenly when the woman swallowed the phone whole, police said.
Police said they received a call at 4:52 a.m. Friday from a Blue Springs man who said his girlfriend was having trouble breathing. When they arrived at the house they found the 24-year-old woman had a cell phone lodged in her throat.
"He wanted the phone and she wouldn't give it to him, so she attempted to swallow it," Detective Sgt. Steve Decker of the Blue Springs Police Department. "She just put the entire phone in her mouth so he couldn't get it."
Police said an ambulance transported the woman to St. Mary's Medical Center in Blue Springs. A hospital spokeswoman said she couldn't give details about the woman's health since police have not released her identity

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Pickpocket seized at police Christmas party

53 minutes ago

BERLIN (Reuters) - Police in Berlin made their easiest arrest of the year at their annual Christmas party, after spotting a man rummaging through the pockets of their coats in the cloakroom.

Officers of the Federal Police criminal investigations unit said the unlucky pickpocket had not known that the revelers in a Berlin brewery were law enforcers.
"He was definitely surprised," said a police spokesman in Berlin. "He did not realize who he was dealing with."
Confronted with 35 officers, the 45-year-old Albanian, who police said held a forged passport and was wanted for other offences, offered no resistance.

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Mobile phones to announce 'you've been indicted'

53 minutes ago

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Koreans may look at their mobile phones with some trepidation in the new year because prosecutors will start telling people they have been indicted via text messages, an official said Monday.

In a country where about 75 percent of the population carries mobile phones, prosecutors felt it was time to move away from sending legal notices on paper and send them electronically instead, said Lee Young-pyo, an administrative official. "Most people in South Korea have mobile phones and since the notices don't reach them immediately by regular mail, this is a more definite way for the individuals to know they have received a legal notice," Lee said.
The indictments by text messages are not intended to take people by surprise. "People will receive a text message of a legal notice only after they apply for the service," he said.
Prosecutors expect to save about 160 million won ($158,000) a year by shifting to the service and reducing the number of legal notices it sends through the mail.
Other notices that will be sent by text messages include information on fines and penalties.
The service starts Tuesday but will be fully implemented in 2006.

Sincerest Wishes...

Here we are.. another Christmas eve in Cyberspace. After vacuuming down Christmas Dinner (Turkey, Arroz con Gandules, Stuffing, Biscuits & Gravy), I am now watching "Forrest Gump" on TBS. Poignant film. I think I may create a new "Lieutenant Dan" because the character is fascinating. The men in my house are yelling at the television downstairs. WTF is up with the GIANTS? REPRESENT Y'ALL!!

Found Money Update: DIDDLY SQUAT. I am thinking people are becoming more vigilant with their change (good for them!)

Sun Spots.

4 more days til' Christmas.
I am 98% finished with the shopping and it pisses me off that I had NO time to do a few things I had planned. I am supremely pissed at the MTA workers strike because that REALLY messes up city plans. The idiot head of the strike Roger Toussaint is trying to follow this Toussant's steps, I guess. Lots of people will be affected.. Bloomberg is PISSED (you don't want to get on his bad side) Each day these people strike, they are losing two days pay- with no sympathies from their fellow new yorkers.

I better go hop in the shower and clear my head!

DONE WITH FINALS!!

FINALLY! I get to breathe! I handed in the last two papers and now I get to do absolutely nothing!! Yayyy!

Actually, I am going to jump ahead of the game and read a play I'll be discussing in January. It's not long at all. Part of me is ready to take a vacation, but my job makes it hard to go anywhere for more than a few days.

FOUND MONEY NEWS: Today hubby found ONE DOLLAR nestled amidst the drying blades of grass on campus. He found two pennies right at the bursar window (as I was paying my grad tuition bill) . I think it was HIS day. Truthfully, I am a little angry because someone spent ALOT of money on christmas gifts which I'll eventually have to pay. Ya gotta love shopping with Amex- the sky's the limit (unless the wife catches ya in mid-spend!)

Aside from the money he found, I have spent half the day trying to clean up the room (with minimal success). I can't see the surface of this computer desk and the keys feel like something furry is growing on them... I'd hate to see what kind of crablike parasite nests under the patch of green moss.. ewwwwwwww.

I miss X. X was a point in my life that made things much more... colorful. I remember a time when it was cool NOT to wear a bra- of course, I also smoked parliaments and thought eyeliner was meant to put a dulled black slash underneath the eyes. I remember having friends named Miki and Blade, Chilly and G-lo, Pu-tun-tun and Din, Nash and Granieri...(wow, I need a red rimmed vanity mirror now). I remember listening to freestyle when I lost my virginity to an older security guard (15 years older, that is) who boxed in the golden gloves. I remember being spellbound by snow- especially when I used to throw myself down the hill of st. george's crescent-wondering if I accidentally slid across frozen dog shit or broken glass from an unfriendly ripple bottle. I loved the Bronx. I loved being a minority in the Bronx; I walked the whole Grand Concourse (138th to 206th) one day after school at Hostos Community College with a friend who had a huge crush on Jerry Rivera and Christopher Williams.
"Every little thing you do/ it turns me on"
He fucked Aaliyah AND the cute black chick from the movie "Clueless". He was into threesomes.
I remember handballing at Bronx High School of Science against the drunk mexicans who thought girls were scrubs. I made over a hundred bucks one summer that way (thanks for the quarter waters and cigarettes!)

Stacey Dash. That's the girl's name. I remember going to my first white girl birthday party at Catherine Gerdes house. I was a little shocked that they didn't have santos in her living room. Actually, I kind of expected "comida pa los muertos"- you know, some hens blood all over the saints... Modupúe.

The Bronx... those were the days. While going to one of my father's many toques, I met Erik Estrada. Of course he was much more good looking back then. My first encounter with Celia Cruz wasn't too far behind- her and my grandma were friends from the same town in Cuba with one small exception- Celia believed in Castro (yes, she was pro-Communist).

I remember feeling out of place. With all the mixed blood in my veins, it's hard to pinpoint an ethnicity. How can you define color? Wasn't this the almighty melting pot? Or is this truly the Rib of Russia? If you consult Kushner's "Angels in America", you will understand what I feel.

Enough. Tea time. Peace and Love.
-B

Stupid Moments..

Ever had one of those "duhhhhhhh" moments? Could you imagine doing this??


New Zealand Man Tries to Rob Bank by Phone

Dec 9, 7:24 PM (ET)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A man who robbed a New Zealand bank was so disappointed with his haul he tried again - this time by phone, police said Saturday.
"He's rung (the bank) and said 'I'm the guy who robbed you the other day and I want the manager to put some money in a bag and go and stand in the street," said Detective Sergeant Chris Winder of the Auckland Police.
"(He said) 'I'll drive by slowly and take the bag from you and drive off.'"
A plain clothes police officer stood outside the bank in the northern city of Auckland on Friday carrying a bag but the man did not appear. Instead, he called again.
"A phone call was made by the offender saying, 'I've been watching and I don't like what I see,'" Winder said. "He said 'can you meet me down (the road) instead.'"
A plain clothes officer waited for the man at the second rendezvous but he again failed to appear.
Police traced the calls and arrested a man Saturday, charging him with aggravated robbery and demanding money with menaces.


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I got paid again today.. this time a smaller amount with about 400 dollars profit. Not bad for a few weeks planning. Hubby and I are planning our vacation now since we're both starting school in Jan and I'll be nose diving into more courses. By the time I'm done with school, they'll have to wheel me off campus heheh.
I'm thinking of going to the Caribbean. I need some sun, drinks, and ocean breeze... mannn.

Well.. I'm off to finish the last paper for Prof. Brandt.

PayDay Times Three

Thursdays are usually shitty for me. After my 3 hour class, I am often bogged down with work and readings, etc.

All in all, not a bad day financially. I am happy to report that I am done with Christmas shopping. Here's little quotes to make you think

Casey Stengel: The secret to managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided.

Denis Waitley: The secret to productive goal setting is in establishing clearly defined goals, writing them down and then focusing on them several times a day with words, pictures and emotions as if we've already achieved them.

Dale Carnegie: The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way.

Irving Berlin: The toughest thing about success is that you've got to keep on being a success.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: The true worth of a man is to be measured by the objects he pursues.

Andrew Carnegie: The way to become rich is to put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket.

AND HERE'S MY FAVORITE ONE:

Dennis Waitley: The winners in life think constantly in terms of I can, I will, and I am. Losers, on the other hand, concentrate their waking thoughts on what they should have or would have done, or what they can't do.

I'm off to see the Rude Pundit live this morning.. at 0900 EST, no admission required.

December Madness

So I'm done with the 8 page paper for Independent Focus. I had alot to say about this man and this woman. I feel bad for the professor because I dragged so much because the material was scarce and I used covert English Lit major tactics to fill up the space between quotations.

Getting back to this chick, I feel I must add some of the tall tales that plague her "good name" after her 5 year regime in Panama. Here is a direct quote from wikipedia.com:

Her term in office began with huge popularity and hope for change. Nevertheless,
throughout her five-year government, numerous corruption scandals were aired on
the media and none of her close allies, allegedly involved, were investigated.
One of the most famous corruption scandals was the "Durodollar" scandal.
Moscoso´s Executive Secretary filed a complaint with the police accusing her
gardener of stealing thousands of dollars from her freezer. The gardener was put
in jail, but the police never asked why a secretary had thousands of dollars
inside her freezer, under the bed, etc; at her house. She only said that she
"didn't trust banks".
Moscoso raised eyebrows soon after her election in
1999, when she gave all 72 Panamanian legislators expensive Cartier watches and
earrings worth an estimated $146,000 just before the vote on the
government-proposed budget package. She claimed they were Christmas gifts and
that she paid for them from her own money, not from public funds. No
investigation was made.
Her popularity at the end of her government was the
lowest for a Panamanian President. At the end of her term in office she held
inauguration ceremonies for several unfinished public works. The most famous
example is the new Centennial Bridge over the Panama Canal, inaugurated
with big parties by the government despite the fact that it would take at least
another year to enter into service after the access roads leading to the bridge
were completed.

Funny, Mireya Moscoso's tale reminded me of one particular mayor that promised alot of things yet never delivered. So sad... The name? Why.. David Dinkins, of course.

LOL, I think I should stop reading Rudepundit's blog because I'm starting to rant about politics- and that's just simply NOT my style. Much love to RP though.. I'll be discussing war plays with him in January woohoo.

BUT ANYWAY>>>>>>>
Today I have two parties in school (leisure), dirty clothes to wash (home chores), two papers to work on (school), and 14 spreadsheets to fill (work). I guess it's better to be busy than to idle away

On the found money forefront, I have yet to find a penny anywhere lately. People are becoming more aware of the money they drop and it's a good thing. The main purpose of this blog is to tabulate just how much money people throw away, or accidentally drop.

Well, it's off to class to say farewell to this man-

the loveable, inspiring Arnie Kantrowitz.

Motivational themes to make you THINK (PART ONE)

Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit. - Conrad Hilton

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." – John Quincy Adams, 6th US president

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Boost Your Productivity :

Push to the Top All successful people are very productive. They work longer hours and they work better hours. They get a lot more done than the average person. They get paid more and promoted faster. They are highly respected and esteemed by everyone around them. They become leaders and role models. Inevitably, they rise to the top of their fields and to the top of their income ranges, and so can you.

Everything is Learnable Every single one of these tested and proven strategies for managing your time and doubling your productivity is learnable through practice and repetition. Each of these methods will eventually become a habit of both thinking and working. The Payroll Is Remarkable When you begin applying these techniques to your work and to your life, your self esteem, self confidence, self respect and sense of personal pride will go up immediately. The pay off for you will be tremendous, for the rest of your life.

Make A Decision! Every positive change in your life begins with a clear, unequivocal decision that you are going to either do something or stop doing something. Significant change starts when you decide to either get in or get out, either fish or cut bait. The Vital Quality of Success Decisiveness is one of the most important qualities of successful and happy men and women, and decisiveness is developed through practice and repetition, over and over again until it becomes as natural to you as breathing in and breathing out. Why People Are Poor The sad fact is that people are poor because they have not yet decided to be rich. People are overweight and unfit because they have not yet decided to be thin and fit. People are inefficient time wasters because they haven't yet decided to be highly productive in everything they do.

Become An Expert Decide today that you are going to become an expert in time management and personal productivity, no matter how long it takes or how much you invest in it. Resolve today that you are going to practice these principles, over and over again until they become second nature. Action Exercises Here are two steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into action. First, hold your own feet to the fire. Resolve to start earlier, work harder and stay later. Don’t let yourself off the hook. Second, become an expert in time management. Learn and practice time management techniques every day until they become habits.
By: Brian Tracy

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EVERYTHING HAS A PURPOSE

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, they serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be; your roommate, your neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover or even a complete stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you and at the time they seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never have realized your potential, strength, will power of heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments or true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of the soul. Without these small tests, if they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smooth paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life and successes and downfalls you experience, they are the ones who create who you are. Even the bad experience can be learned from... Those lessons are the hardest and probably the most important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart... forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them. Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen, let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it.

Motto for today: Prioritize

The body is a world of fantasy:
Layered (each fraction of skin a tale of twin cities, towers and longitude)
And weathered (sprits break when love goes awry).
Textures, sensations- a multitude of colors
Flash in an instant, then fade in the troubled murky blue of your eyes
We loved hard and fast-
And slow.
Then fast again came the quickening of our hearts.
Its hard to leave when the awkward silence begins-
The syntactical war forms within my throat
Only to be met with reason then quenched with love’s delicate brush of kisses.
A hurried pant, a stolen glance-
And then… a break in the clouds.
An unkempt angel stumbles in with padded feet
And proclaims this sonnet a marker to attest the corporeal dance..
-excerpt from my poem "Swan"


I miss inspiration. Right now I need motivation to finish THIS PAPER!! UGHHH.

The Plan

I've spoken with two of my associates and have decided to formulate a business plan which includes three subdivisions of my company. Since one of my businesses is already registered in Staten Island, the progression of the latter branches shouldn't be as difficult. As with any business venture, I have carefully laid out the projections and have found the numbers to be sustainable for at least six months.

The Changepot is hungry for more pennies. I haven't found a red cent anywhere due to the "penny-pinching" crunch. Christmas is around the corner and people finally realize that even pennies matter. I haven't really been looking though. As of today, I owe three papers: 10,5,6 pages in length, respectively.

Tomorrow is the last day for Drama class. I signed up for the course anticipating some acting workshops (sigh... wishful thinking) but the professor had other things in mind. Out of a jolly class that boasted over 30 drama/english majors, we are now reduced to a dedicated 14 or 15 (oh well, que se va hacer?)

Enough banter.. it's off to write one of the three papers. I think i'll go dive into South American politics for the last time (this semester).

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Bourgeoise Blues

I make it a habit to wait until everyone is sleeping so I can read my mail in peace. I received a hefty envelope from school- telling me what I've already assessed- I am entering student loan repayment. Since I hit hard times from having not been able to get financial aid for a few years, I took out loans in the name of borrowed wisdom. As I impatiently tore away at the envelope, I envisioned an al-pacino look-alike banging on my door shouting "I know you're in there.. you owe us 104.00 u hussy!!" Oh well.. serves me right to acquire the only debt that is unexcusable under ANY circumstances. It's okay though. A promise is a promise.

While I am settling into Grad school, I haven't given thought to what i'll do workwise. ::SIGH:: This sucks. Each plan outlined in my paperwork seems outrageous because I'm looking at finishing the payoff sometime in 2045 or so, at which time I will probably be gumming through prunes and sippin' vegetable juice in hopes of keeping up with my budgeting practices. Hubby tells me not to worry and I can't help but laugh. Me?? Not worry? I'm like borderline "Monk" right about now. I worry about EVERYTHING. This new bill on my horizon will cost me about 150/mth more. Oh well, at least I can claim it on my taxes?

The voices in my head offer pieces of credible advice... now to choose which one suits:

The Financial Planner in me says "Pay off the loan now (I have the full amount in different liquid accounts) and set aside 150 each month until 2045. You'll have a nice spot of change to put into a HYSA like Capital One or ING.

The Entrepreneur in me says "F*** Dat! Use the money you'd pay in full to yield more cash and use the tax credits. Okay.. if you want to pay more.. shell out like 200 bucks a month instead of 100."

The Procrastinator in me says: "Get to playing FF3. Wait until the very last minute to pay and that's that!"

The Frugal Fraulein in me says: "Fill out forebearance paper work until you get a physical job. Go out there and get yourself a part time just to pay this 150"

I say "forget it all" , flip them off individually, and will now go back to sleep. It's quite early, you know.