I've always wanted to.....

I have decided that I am at an exciting stage in my life. Most people want to avoid getting older or hate it. So far for me I'm at that incredible transition stage where all my friends are beginning to say (bucket list) things like... I've always wanted to.... (fill in the blank). Bingo... we are actually doing them. All of the kids are launched (or slingshot at least) and we have part time jobs that allow us to have flexible schedules (sort of depending on the time of the year). So... when we hear someone say... I've always wanted... I (or even we sometimes) sign up to participate. So far I have been been included on a cruise, drumming, Bruce Springstein tickets, Deadwood, Derek Trucks band tickets, FACE tickets, trip to Thailand, theater shows, and a fun week in Nashville! Just today at the grocery store a friend mentioned that she would like to go to Branson, Missouri and ride the riverboat.... I so jumped in to help make it a reality by saying... I'll go with you!!!!!

Soccer Balls

I've decided that life is like the soccer ball section of the wii fit where they kick soccer balls at you along with shoes and pandas that you are to dodge. Life sends events at you and you go for it and meet most of them head on and feel terrific. Every now and then you get hit with an event which you are supposed to avoid but somehow get hit. What's important is how you handle being blindsided or hit with something you can't control. You can drop, mope, feel sorry for yourself, complain, or you can rebound and go for the next challenge. Right now I'm going for the challenge!!!!!!

The Dread is Worse Than the Doing

I have started Taxes today. Yes, taxes! I am responsible for not only my taxes but Uncle John's and the last filing for Pop. I have been dreading even getting started. Not just dreading but starting to have full fledged nightmares! Today (during my workout no less...yes I get full credit for working out today!) I gave myself a pep talk. The result..... I completed step #1 for Uncle John's taxes. I have all the data entered in Quicken, all bank statements reconciled, reports run, tax documents collected, and found last year's tax filing. All I have to do is add up some numbers and begin filing! Yea for me. I found I was wasting more energy thinking about taxes than was necessary. By getting started, hopefully I will get on a roll and get all my tax responsibilities done by Spring Break!!!!!!!!

Chocolates & Money

I'm spending the day eating chocolates and reading about money. Great huh? I was helping Dan do TIE work this morning and it led us to Kinko's (yes! there are times when it's just cheaper and easier to have another business copy and cut your downloaded files!) While browsing around Kinko's I spotted the new Suze Orman book. Now, my cousin had just told me that I should read this book. I have no idea if this is a good idea or not.... sometimes advice from relatives is .... well..... how do I put this?..... a little off? Hell.... why beat around the bush... let's just knock that sucker down... sometimes the advice is just plain whacked! Like... how many pain killers I need to have on hand in case I should need them... oh, let's get real.... However, she does know all her medicines! Where was I... oh yes, I did make an executive decision and buy the book (she does have more money than me) but I realized quickly that if I was going to read a book on money I needed chocolates to go with it. Best idea I've had in a while.

Home Again!

Always when you get home one of the first things that needs done is laundry. I had a helper that followed me around all day when I was working around the house. I guess it was a little lonely for the "homeboys" while we were gone.