So how many of you out there found out after a rude awakening that you aren't as fit as you thought you were? It can be a very painful reality to face once it has been presented to you.
Lets be honest with ourselves though... Did you really think after a year and a half or more of not doing any real exercise that it wouldn't hurt a little?
Needless to say I guess I have a long road a head of me... Not only will I be attempting to shed a lot of weight, but now I will also be trying to find the strength I once had. Where is marching band when you need it? (laughing out loud)
So I challenge you to keep me updated on your journey, whatever it may be. In return I will try to be motivation, or funny if nothing else, in the mean time to help us all get through this new years resolution. I will be skinny again! I will be comfortable in my own skin again!!
In This So Called Life all it takes is some motivation, and a place to talk to help get me through this. What will it take you?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
In the "Know"
So after searching further for home improvement items on www.craigslist.com and other sites in search of new or used item that might help. I have discovered that perhaps I am out of the "loop", I think that there is some secret or hidden club out there that people are a part of that helps them all the make there yards and external views of their homes beautiful without losing an arm and a leg.
So here it is... So you have to be in the "know" to have that affordable-free beautiful yard? Or is it just connections?
I feel like it is a game of Clue... Is the person I should be talking to male or female? Does he/she wear glasses/contacts? Does this person have freckles, long hair, short hair?
So for those of you who are in the "know" please fill me in! Fill us all in, where are you hiding these all of these amazing finds? How do you have the time to spend all day on the computer or out on the town searching for these goods? I feel like this is somewhat like the working from home deal. People do it... it can be done... but only they know about it. Unless they let others in, let them know their secret... the rest of us are just left hoping that some day we will stumble upon that secret door. The way in to the secret garden...
In This So Called Life I ask you, what has saved you a buck, or made your life "easier" like working from home? Fill us in! Fill Me in!! My "mommy" always said that it's not nice to keep a secret!
So here it is... So you have to be in the "know" to have that affordable-free beautiful yard? Or is it just connections?
I feel like it is a game of Clue... Is the person I should be talking to male or female? Does he/she wear glasses/contacts? Does this person have freckles, long hair, short hair?
So for those of you who are in the "know" please fill me in! Fill us all in, where are you hiding these all of these amazing finds? How do you have the time to spend all day on the computer or out on the town searching for these goods? I feel like this is somewhat like the working from home deal. People do it... it can be done... but only they know about it. Unless they let others in, let them know their secret... the rest of us are just left hoping that some day we will stumble upon that secret door. The way in to the secret garden...
In This So Called Life I ask you, what has saved you a buck, or made your life "easier" like working from home? Fill us in! Fill Me in!! My "mommy" always said that it's not nice to keep a secret!
Recycling
So my husband and I have our little boys 4th birthday coming up in 2 weeks! It is incredible that 4 years has gone by already! Since we are in our own home now we decided to get him a swing set for his birthday. We are super excited about it, however with that said we have been discussing how to "finish off" the swing set area. Our back yard is currently unfinished so we have to decide what kind of edging to place around it and what we want as a base to that area.
The swing set we picked has a sand box... So more sand seems like overkill to me. So I decided I would go searching for recycled shredded tires. We have been to a park here in Rio Rancho, NM that had it as the base layer and it was perfect! In my search I have found that apparently they want you to pay as much for the tire in its shredded form as you would pay for it in its original form!! It is ridiculous how much money companies think they can get away with charging for recycled products!
So in my hunt for the right base layer for this "play ground" I have decided that maybe investing in some scrap synthetic grass or maybe just going the overkill route and using more sand is more realistic than taking the conventional, earth favoring route of recycled product.
In This So Called Life I am clearly in the wrong business!
The swing set we picked has a sand box... So more sand seems like overkill to me. So I decided I would go searching for recycled shredded tires. We have been to a park here in Rio Rancho, NM that had it as the base layer and it was perfect! In my search I have found that apparently they want you to pay as much for the tire in its shredded form as you would pay for it in its original form!! It is ridiculous how much money companies think they can get away with charging for recycled products!
So in my hunt for the right base layer for this "play ground" I have decided that maybe investing in some scrap synthetic grass or maybe just going the overkill route and using more sand is more realistic than taking the conventional, earth favoring route of recycled product.
In This So Called Life I am clearly in the wrong business!
Friday, January 27, 2012
What was your resolution?
So as some financial stress has been lifted from my shoulders I have now found myself thinking about things like my waist line... or the lack there of. So while we are already more or less a month into the new year, I find myself making a resolution to find my "hidden" beauty. To find a shape that is less round and that is more like that of an hour glass.
Have you made a resolution? If so, who was it for? Did you do it for you, or did you do it for someone else?
If you made this commitment to someone else, consider this... Is this resolution to your benefit? Is it something that you want for you, or perhaps were you pressured into it? If so, it is almost a guarantee that you have set yourself up for failure. On the other hand, if you made the commitment to yourself, have you found someone to help you along your journey? Someone who can help you to "stay in check". I have found that without immediate results, and the lack of support, I set my self up for failure every single time.
So in This So Called Life I challenge you to grab that resolution by the horns and hold on tight!
Have you made a resolution? If so, who was it for? Did you do it for you, or did you do it for someone else?
If you made this commitment to someone else, consider this... Is this resolution to your benefit? Is it something that you want for you, or perhaps were you pressured into it? If so, it is almost a guarantee that you have set yourself up for failure. On the other hand, if you made the commitment to yourself, have you found someone to help you along your journey? Someone who can help you to "stay in check". I have found that without immediate results, and the lack of support, I set my self up for failure every single time.
So in This So Called Life I challenge you to grab that resolution by the horns and hold on tight!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
In Order to Prevent...
If you had to keep something up to date for an audit every 6 months... Would you A) wait until the last minute to update it, or B) set yourself a reminder to update it each month?
And the answer is..... (drum roll please).... B!!!
Why would you wait until last minute to do anything when by doing continual maintenance on that thing (like your car for example) will help you to avoid "breaking down". Why not get your oil changed every 3,000 miles instead of waiting until your car is telling you it needs to be done? Typically by the time your car is telling you the oil should be changed it is a little late and you are in for more than just your basic oil change.
So I challenge all of you to take a step back and in This So Called Life find a way to maintain those things that sneak up on you without some occasional "attention" and some preventive maintenance.
And the answer is..... (drum roll please).... B!!!
Why would you wait until last minute to do anything when by doing continual maintenance on that thing (like your car for example) will help you to avoid "breaking down". Why not get your oil changed every 3,000 miles instead of waiting until your car is telling you it needs to be done? Typically by the time your car is telling you the oil should be changed it is a little late and you are in for more than just your basic oil change.
So I challenge all of you to take a step back and in This So Called Life find a way to maintain those things that sneak up on you without some occasional "attention" and some preventive maintenance.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
To Charge or Not to Charge...
So as the days have gone by... in an effort to make life "affordable" again... I have been re-evaluating my finances with my husband. Well that is more to say that I evaluate them... Talk to him about it... We agree on a decision and go with it! (nothing like flying by the seat of your pants) How many of you out there have managed to live a Credit Card Free life? I am venturing to guess that it is not many of you, because of the "state of the economy" my guess is that I probably don't know anymore than one person who doesn't have some form of debt whether it is past or present that is from a Credit Card. What I wouldn't give to own stock of VISA or Master Card... But if I wanted to own stock in it I may have to put it on my VISA just to buy it!! (laughing out loud)
So as my family braves a new day... a day without the "security" of credit cards I ask you this...
In This So Called Life are you able to take the challenge and live a life credit card free?
So as my family braves a new day... a day without the "security" of credit cards I ask you this...
In This So Called Life are you able to take the challenge and live a life credit card free?
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Blunt Factor
So since I have been on my job hunt it has become apparent to me that without stating my needs up front to employers I am wasting their time and mine. So with this effort on board mentally I sent out my resume, cover letter, and a letter of recommendation to several job listings. Now clearly everything you apply through online today is not "real" (if you will). I've already had 2 replies saying that my per hour wage is attainable and that I can do this all from home! "Yes from home!" All I have to say in reply to that is if only it really were that "easy". Also another who straight up told me "we are not a match." Which while I can appreciate his honesty coming from my honesty, all I could think was okay... Ouch... But I'm really not being unrealistic in my request.
Why not tell the person who is offering the job what you are looking for before you waste everyone's time? This way you don't waste anyone's time except your own spent on applying for the positions, just to find out you are "not a match". Which isn't a waste because look at all of the time you saved!?
In This So Called Life we have to find a balance between what is beneficial to us and what is not... Honestly if you are not going to benefit me by paying me what I am worth then you really aren't that beneficial to me... Are you?
Why not tell the person who is offering the job what you are looking for before you waste everyone's time? This way you don't waste anyone's time except your own spent on applying for the positions, just to find out you are "not a match". Which isn't a waste because look at all of the time you saved!?
In This So Called Life we have to find a balance between what is beneficial to us and what is not... Honestly if you are not going to benefit me by paying me what I am worth then you really aren't that beneficial to me... Are you?
Thursday, January 19, 2012
This So Called "Economy"
So a sign of the times has taken place at my place of "business". Yesterday the upper management at my office came to work to discover that we had been "robbed". Someone had between Tuesday and Wednesday stolen our electric meters off the side of our building. So instead of closing business until everything could be confirmed to be up and running... We reopened our business today with no way to do business... Our main ERP isn't up and running AND neither is our email. So I ask, why am I here? Apparently it is to sit here and blog to pass time, or get paid to "sit at work, instead of doing nothing at home". The words of a manager fallen heavy on an employees ears... Apparently I have no life outside of work?
Apparently these electric meters were stolen to resell, or possibly stolen by a previous "pissed off" employee of PNM. Needless to say this act didn't inconvenience PNM at all, only the companies whom they stole the meters from. Go figure...
Mean while PNM has informed us that the unit on the side of our building is so old that we may be replacing it to update our 30 year old model. Now how long does this take? 2-4 weeks!!!? So unless they will approve our machine shop produced cover to their panel we will be closing our doors for a while. I guess if the business wasn't hurting before it will be now...
In This So Called Life I often wonder what it is that keeps any business's doors open. For ours it looks like it may be something as simple as electricity.
Apparently these electric meters were stolen to resell, or possibly stolen by a previous "pissed off" employee of PNM. Needless to say this act didn't inconvenience PNM at all, only the companies whom they stole the meters from. Go figure...
Mean while PNM has informed us that the unit on the side of our building is so old that we may be replacing it to update our 30 year old model. Now how long does this take? 2-4 weeks!!!? So unless they will approve our machine shop produced cover to their panel we will be closing our doors for a while. I guess if the business wasn't hurting before it will be now...
In This So Called Life I often wonder what it is that keeps any business's doors open. For ours it looks like it may be something as simple as electricity.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
A change of pace
So as my wheels turn... I start wondering if I should possibly start looking into a different school program. No I would not be completing my bachelors right now (that is down the road). However I have been considering things like Veterinary assisting, or Cosmetology. If I played my cards right I could do Cosmetology and work part time enough that I could be a stay at home mom and make decent money. On the other hand I could also do Medical Transcription and work from home. These are all options, have you ever considered changing where you are in life to do what is best for those around you?
Granted in this case the benefit for me may out way what it is for others around me in some ways, but I don't think anyone can be completely selfless in the decisions that they make in life. Some day the government will realize how much a homemaker is worth and pay them, man or women, to stay home and take care of what their family has worked so hard to obtain. Someday... Maybe for my little girl? Or maybe for my little boy? Perhaps what I see as a need for now I can help to make a change for the future. I'm not sure how a person would go about changing life in this way, but I'm sure that "with a will, there is a way".
In This So Called Life we have to grab the bull by the horns and enjoy the ride.
Granted in this case the benefit for me may out way what it is for others around me in some ways, but I don't think anyone can be completely selfless in the decisions that they make in life. Some day the government will realize how much a homemaker is worth and pay them, man or women, to stay home and take care of what their family has worked so hard to obtain. Someday... Maybe for my little girl? Or maybe for my little boy? Perhaps what I see as a need for now I can help to make a change for the future. I'm not sure how a person would go about changing life in this way, but I'm sure that "with a will, there is a way".
In This So Called Life we have to grab the bull by the horns and enjoy the ride.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Friendship
How many friends do you have? I remember a day and time as a child that you had one best friend, and then others whom could compare or not. I also remember a day and time when I had multiple best friends. What is a "best friend", Websters dictionary states that a best friend is: an intimate or close friend (see boon companion). I ask you at what point is that friend no longer a best friend but yet a friend of the past or a friend in whom you know you can call on in a time of need?
Admittedly I'm not sure I am a best friend to anyone who is not blood or relative. After a rather long weekend of baby showers, and cleaning house I have come to the realization that perhaps I have my priorities in terms of friendship out of "whack". I often tell those closest to me that I have no friends, just them, so when I need to gripe about them who am I supposed to gripe to?
After a day at a GREAT baby shower I realize that it is me who has elected to say I have no "best friend" not the people not wanting to be my friend. After all of these years you would think I would know how to carry a relationship outside of marriage? Apparently the poll is in and the answer came out in big bold letters, NO.
So I ask you my "readers" whomever you may be to take a step back and look at your life. If you are unhappy with what it has become, consider this, perhaps by chance it isn't a kitchen knife, but a double edged sword. Without the yin to your yang, whatever in may be, you will forever feel unhappy or as though you have an empty void inside.
So for all of you out there who I would like to call friend please understand that I am working on fixing my relationship issues. In This So Called Life I realize I am not perfect, and am in desperate need of some companionship that will help me find happiness in life again, hopefully in turn I will help bring some happiness to your life as well!
Admittedly I'm not sure I am a best friend to anyone who is not blood or relative. After a rather long weekend of baby showers, and cleaning house I have come to the realization that perhaps I have my priorities in terms of friendship out of "whack". I often tell those closest to me that I have no friends, just them, so when I need to gripe about them who am I supposed to gripe to?
After a day at a GREAT baby shower I realize that it is me who has elected to say I have no "best friend" not the people not wanting to be my friend. After all of these years you would think I would know how to carry a relationship outside of marriage? Apparently the poll is in and the answer came out in big bold letters, NO.
So I ask you my "readers" whomever you may be to take a step back and look at your life. If you are unhappy with what it has become, consider this, perhaps by chance it isn't a kitchen knife, but a double edged sword. Without the yin to your yang, whatever in may be, you will forever feel unhappy or as though you have an empty void inside.
So for all of you out there who I would like to call friend please understand that I am working on fixing my relationship issues. In This So Called Life I realize I am not perfect, and am in desperate need of some companionship that will help me find happiness in life again, hopefully in turn I will help bring some happiness to your life as well!
Friday, January 13, 2012
What is your degree worth to your boss?
So people after much anticipation I have discovered that to my boss my degree is only worth an additional $0.63 and hour or $20 a paycheck... This is suppose to "help" me and my family do better how?
Just food for thought...
On a lighter note:
When one is forced to find things to do that does not cost money...
A person/people can:
Have you ever wondered how we put a price on a person no matter what the work is that they provide? I have found myself constantly considering this due to my unfortunate circumstances. It seems to me that one has to know exactly what it is that the person contributes in order to come up with this amount. If you don't know what your employee does or contributes to the company or society, how can you "justify" the amount of money you do or don't pay them? In This So Called Life I'm not sure that anyone has actually done this... that or they are trying to "out-mode" me...
Just food for thought...
On a lighter note:
When one is forced to find things to do that does not cost money...
A person/people can:
- Paint an entire shed
- Repair and clean out the inside of the shed
- Remove a cemented in gate from a side yard
- Finish moving pavers to complete a patio
- Last but not least bake a coffee cake, and a yellow cake for no apparent reason
Have you ever wondered how we put a price on a person no matter what the work is that they provide? I have found myself constantly considering this due to my unfortunate circumstances. It seems to me that one has to know exactly what it is that the person contributes in order to come up with this amount. If you don't know what your employee does or contributes to the company or society, how can you "justify" the amount of money you do or don't pay them? In This So Called Life I'm not sure that anyone has actually done this... that or they are trying to "out-mode" me...
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
What if you knew a co-workers salary...
What if you had accidentally seen a co-workers salary? I am not saying oops I searched for it and found it, or they told me... This was a kind gesture from a co-worker showing me how to use a budgeting spreadsheet, when a tab was clicked that had the hourly rate this employee made right in front of my eyes... I try to remind myself through my frustration of not receiving a worth while raise that I may or may not be comparing this to that number I saw that day over a year ago...
Here is the bigger issue, I now have 4 1/2 years of experience doing what I do, plus an associates degree to back it up. Mean the person mentioned above has no college education added to experience and has been given the title of "President" in a different company... I wish there was a way to hold some sort of leverage in this situation with my boss... What this employee was making compared to what I am making now is about a $5/hr difference... With NO college education... How does that work?
This is why you aren't supposed to know your co-workers salaries though... I know this and understand it well, however in this accidental case of knowledge how do I learn to grow and move on from this? Maybe I will never be able to move on from this... Maybe the answer to this all is to just move on?
I wish there was a way to stay at this job since I enjoy it, and get the raise and acknowledgement I deserve. Instead because I need to be paid appropriately in order to "live" I have been placed in a position of job hunting. I may end up in a job that I hate but pays me well and be stuck there for years... But I guess at least I will be paid well... Right? This is my so called life after all...
Here is the bigger issue, I now have 4 1/2 years of experience doing what I do, plus an associates degree to back it up. Mean the person mentioned above has no college education added to experience and has been given the title of "President" in a different company... I wish there was a way to hold some sort of leverage in this situation with my boss... What this employee was making compared to what I am making now is about a $5/hr difference... With NO college education... How does that work?
This is why you aren't supposed to know your co-workers salaries though... I know this and understand it well, however in this accidental case of knowledge how do I learn to grow and move on from this? Maybe I will never be able to move on from this... Maybe the answer to this all is to just move on?
I wish there was a way to stay at this job since I enjoy it, and get the raise and acknowledgement I deserve. Instead because I need to be paid appropriately in order to "live" I have been placed in a position of job hunting. I may end up in a job that I hate but pays me well and be stuck there for years... But I guess at least I will be paid well... Right? This is my so called life after all...
Monday, January 9, 2012
Which is Worse...
I don't know what hurts worse...
Knowing that everyday I go to work and am under-appreciated and under-paid
or...
Knowing that everyday I go to work and am under-appreciated and under-paid, while someone else is raising my children for me.
Mean while...
If I were to quit tomorrow (for example) I would be hurting those same children and my husband that I love so much. So perhaps I should start auctioning off debt?! Anyone want to by a 2007 Mazda5 for 18k? Ooh!! Or a consolidation loan, or credit card debt?
What is worse is that my boss dared to tell me to cut back on some of my "extra expenses". I haven't had any of those is years... $7 a month for Netflix is the only thing I have that is a luxury... Somehow I just don't think that $7 a month is going to help, much less would I call Netflix a luxury. I could be wrong, but I'm going to take a leap of faith and say probably not. Now on the other hand if I weren't cutting everyone's hair at my house, and I was dying my hair and getting pedicures and manicures... I could see where he might could say that... I will admit that perhaps we could cut back on some of our eating out, lets be serious though really how much is that going to help either?
So I will also add that Emily is for hire (you know what I mean...)! I won't advertise my cost on the WWW, but lets just say whatever the amount I am a hard worker and well worth it. I take pride in my work, I have to, is there any other way?
Just an associates degree...
Just extra work...
Just not completely worth it...
Knowing that everyday I go to work and am under-appreciated and under-paid
or...
Knowing that everyday I go to work and am under-appreciated and under-paid, while someone else is raising my children for me.
Mean while...
If I were to quit tomorrow (for example) I would be hurting those same children and my husband that I love so much. So perhaps I should start auctioning off debt?! Anyone want to by a 2007 Mazda5 for 18k? Ooh!! Or a consolidation loan, or credit card debt?
What is worse is that my boss dared to tell me to cut back on some of my "extra expenses". I haven't had any of those is years... $7 a month for Netflix is the only thing I have that is a luxury... Somehow I just don't think that $7 a month is going to help, much less would I call Netflix a luxury. I could be wrong, but I'm going to take a leap of faith and say probably not. Now on the other hand if I weren't cutting everyone's hair at my house, and I was dying my hair and getting pedicures and manicures... I could see where he might could say that... I will admit that perhaps we could cut back on some of our eating out, lets be serious though really how much is that going to help either?
So I will also add that Emily is for hire (you know what I mean...)! I won't advertise my cost on the WWW, but lets just say whatever the amount I am a hard worker and well worth it. I take pride in my work, I have to, is there any other way?
Just an associates degree...
Just extra work...
Just not completely worth it...
Education...College or not...?
For those of you wondering what on earth does Emily have to blog about? Here it is... My so called life. I recently have graduated from college, with an Associates of Arts in Foundations of Business. Sounds fancy doesn't it? WRONG! Apparently this still isn't enough education to justify a significant raise at work. Instead I get to continue to suffer and attempt to pay student loan bills on top of that.
Why is it that this country "bad economy" or not cannot seem to take pride in its achievements no matter what the value of them is? Instead we continue to look on to the bigger and better things and leave what used to be considered "great" in the dust. So those of us who are striving to accomplish something in this "bad economy", and are accomplishing are now worse off then they were before without the education. It seems to me that something has got to change, and in my opinion there is no amount of voting that would change this. If a company cannot take the time to acknowledge its employees how does it expect to keep them around? Are employees no longer an investment, but instead something that is easily traded in/out for newer or older models?
Too bad I can't make money off of my opinions...because I have got a few... No I don't have to just be grateful to have this job, yes I should typically have gotten my degree for me, but if I had done that... I would be making less than I am now... I know it is life, and I know I have said this before... but it just really shouldn't be this hard.
Why is it that this country "bad economy" or not cannot seem to take pride in its achievements no matter what the value of them is? Instead we continue to look on to the bigger and better things and leave what used to be considered "great" in the dust. So those of us who are striving to accomplish something in this "bad economy", and are accomplishing are now worse off then they were before without the education. It seems to me that something has got to change, and in my opinion there is no amount of voting that would change this. If a company cannot take the time to acknowledge its employees how does it expect to keep them around? Are employees no longer an investment, but instead something that is easily traded in/out for newer or older models?
Too bad I can't make money off of my opinions...because I have got a few... No I don't have to just be grateful to have this job, yes I should typically have gotten my degree for me, but if I had done that... I would be making less than I am now... I know it is life, and I know I have said this before... but it just really shouldn't be this hard.
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