INTERVIEW!

I am interviewing for the Senior Airport Communications Operator position today.  Wish me luck, cross your fingers, and keep me in prayer! :=)

Adrian

PATTING MYSELF ON THE BACK

I am SO happy right now.  I am viewing my annual credit reports, and I am extremely surprised by how much my credit history has improved! 

In my opinion, I am doing very little, paying as much as I can afford through debt consolidation.  But I have been consistent, and it is paying off.  You'd be surprised at how far a little effort can take you!  I am on the road to financial recovery!  

Who knows, maybe next year this time (or sooner), I will be writing about moving into our new home!  I'm serious, folks, this is becoming a reality for me.  Because I am paying off my debts, many of my negative accounts are turning positive THIS YEAR!!!  Some of my older delinquent accounts, most of which I already paid or are paying off, are scheduled to be removed from my report, some this year, some next year, some in a few years.  I am just playing it safe right now, and trying not to add too many unnecessary flags to my credit history (like applying for credit I know I won't qualify for, etc.).   

I am growing impatient, though, because I want a home so badly.  Things are looking good, but I am not quite there yet.  But I am so glad that I have decided to be proactive about this.  I am tired of not being able to do simple things that others take for granted, like hold a credit card, apply for a car loan (we buy all of our vehicles cash), or a mortgage.  But in a few years, I will be able to do those things again.  A few years! 

Or, who knows, I might just remain frugal.  I'm being honest, I have been living within my means for a very long time now, and it is, surprisingly, extremely stress-free! LOL  I don't buy anything unless I need it, if I have the cash for it, and it is on sale.  I shop at "dollar stores" for cleaning supplies, bathroom tissue, and paper towels.  I am a DEVOUT Wal-Mart shopper, simply because they are still the only ones who issue those great surprises at the cash register (those jeans, sale price $9, are just $3?!? LOL)  I save for bigger purchases, and buy them cash.  My debit card is my "credit card," meaning that if my account says that I don't have the money to buy it, it stays in the store.  I budget, clip coupons, and scour the Internet for bargains.  I make groceries, and cook most of our meals.  We do eat out, but not often.  I almost NEVER buy lunch or snacks at work!!!  I bring them from home.  The girls and I all have pre-paid cell phones (thanks to two delinquent cell phone accounts that I have since paid, that were reported to the credit bureau!!!)  No more minutes, no phone until I refill them.  We take care of the clothes that we have, and add a few pieces here and there to update our wardrobes.  I do everyone's hair, and Matthew only pays $5 for his haircuts!  All of that scrimping and saving has paid off for us; I am even helping Matthew with his credit, so that we both can be in good standing!  Spending money freely will be difficult, if not impossible, for me to do again.  I love the feeling of paying my bills on time, and not having bill collectors call my house.  We may not have the things that we want, but we have everything that we need, and I am, in a word, satisfied.

If ANYONE out there wants to get on the road to financial recovery, but think that it is impossible to do, I urge you to give it a try.  I thought my situation was dire, but I am a living witness that a little goes a long way!  Here is a link to the debt consolidation agency that I am affiliated with.  They are a GOOD, solid, reputable company.  Please bear in mind that you will have to do your part with them; they distribute the funds, but sometimes, you may have to contact creditors to update your balances and such.  Work with them; you won't be disappointed.

Money Management International 

 

Adrian    

 

 

WOW

WOW :

Okay, after further investigation, I have discovered that the first article is written by The Onion, a farcical news source.  Not true, folks, but still a fun read!  Heck, it caught my attention.......

The other two articles are genuine.  Sorry about that!

Adrian

WOW

Okay, I am not a fan of Major League Baseball, but a few articles I stumbled upon recently were interestingly shocking.  You know what a stickler I am for sharing reads that I find interesting, so here are a few links:

This one is in reference to the announcement that MLB is no longer searching for new talent.  Consider all hopes for future careers in major-league baseball dashed, for now!  The alternatives that the commissioner offers to the future prospects at the end of the article is just plain.....well, I'll let you decide what you think about his comments.

MLB No Longer Accepting New Players

The other two articles are in reference to the one who everyone seems to think is responsible for the ruin of baseball as America once knew it, the "super agent" Scott Boras.  I must admit, reading about the way this guy operates, so unabashedly greedy, was shocking and obscene to me.  And it is interesting to finally read about who was responsible for A-Rod's overpriced contract.  I'll bet he's not happy at all about the commissioner's news.

 

Breakdown: Scott Boras vs. Satan (blog)

Is Scott Boras A Bad Person?

 

Enjoy!

Adrian

 

 

WHAT'S GOOD?

What's good?  I'm just sitting here, reading a book, snacking, and uploading pictures that I had taken of my self with my new Samsung phone, LOL.  That's what having a cushy job can do for you! LOL

I like Samsung phones for their picture quality, but I LOVE Nokia cell phones.  I think that they are the best-quality phones out there.  Picture quality is poor, though.  I had a basic Nokia phone, a 6010 with no camera, that I passed down to Maya.  I purchased a Samsung A-127:

 

It's a TEENY-TIIIIIIINY little phone, which is exactly what I wanted.  I needed a phone small enough to fit in the clutch purse that I use to run my errands with, or in my pocket.  It's a basic, stylish phone with a camera as a bonus.  The battery life is HORRIBLE compared to Nokia phones, but it still is a pretty cool little gadget.  You can customize wallpapers, download ring tones, text, send messages to e-mail, all of that stuff that cell phones do these days.  And it opens up to a pretty impressive size, enough to hold a decent conversation comfortably.  I'm still playing with it, hoping that the novelty will wear off soon. LOL 

Last week was pretty rough.  That time of the month was rolling around and is now here, and I don't know, it seemed to me like everyone in the universe was hell-bent on working on my last nerve!  Co-workers, the kids, my husband......it was rough! LOL  It didn't help that I have become hooked on those McDonald's iced coffees, knowing DARN well what coffee does to me!  I received a slew of free coupons for the coffees from the restaurants themselves, friends and family members, so I have been indulging.  I will have to back off of them, though.  It's been so long since I last had coffee, and I forgot how unpleasant a caffeine withdrawal was! 

Thanks to all who still read my journal.  I hope that everyone is doing well in 2008.  Oh, and Matthew seems to be getting the hang of his new job.  He is doing really well; I already knew that he would!  Nikki was cleared of her charges in juvenile court last Thursday.  She didn't even need to turn in the essay that they had her write! LOL  Be blessed, everyone! 

Adrian

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

THANK YOU, JESUS! A TESTIMONY

Today, I took Nelly (my 21 year-old car) for his inspection.  I thought sure that he wasn't going to pass.  Turns out that he did INDEED pass inspection!  There was some minor damage done to the car that needed to be repaired, but when it was all over, all I had to pay out-of-pocket was $184!!! 

This means that I don't have to rush when buying another car this year.  If I would have had to dispose of Nelly now, because he didn't pass inspection, I would have had to rent a car until I purchased another one. That could have taken two to four weeks!  I probably would have bought a car before I was ready, or before finding the right car for me at the right price!  Oh, and as for borrowing my brother's car, it never happened.  The Cadillac failed on him, so I wasn't able to drive it back here, let alone use it!  

When Nelly failed inspection last year, I went through the trouble of putting some money into him.  Everyone, including my husband, thought that I was crazy, and that I should have scrapped him instead of fixing him.  But today, an entire year later, I am reaping the benefit of what was thought to be a misguided investment.  I can keep him a little while longer.  I have time to find a really good car.  Nelly is legal.  I have WAY more money than I thought I was going to have in my pocket!!!  What a blessing! 

This seems like such a minor thing, I know.  But I do know that God cares for and keeps His children, and He only wants what's best for them.  Waiting on Him and being patient reaps great rewards.  He protects us, keeps us, and preserves us.  He is FAITHFUL. 

I also understand that sometimes, it's best to hang in there and don't give up on things and people so easily.  Every day of my life, I am learning a new lesson in this area.   

I can hardly wait to see what He yet has in store for me;  something tells me that my next car will be better, and much nicer than  I had anticipated it to be!    

Adrian