Using the "B" Word and Acting Your Wage

I have this friend, we'll call her Heather because, well, that's her name.  On her most recent trip to visit us Tucsonans she gave me a book called The Total Money Makeover.  Written by Dave Ramsey, this book is popular among people I know, and tackles the tough topic of getting out of debt.  His plan isn't a painless one but it is simple.  His philosophy is simple, pay off your debt and pay it off as fast as you can. 

As I began to read the book I was encouraged by the stories of people who had gotten themselves out of some pretty  tough financial situations.  Being a single mom my income is not that great.  As a matter of fact I am currently an unemployed student receiving unemployment benefits.  I did something really smart when I found out that my job was about to end.  I paid off the one credit card that I had and I reduced the amount of money going out every month.  I don't have a huge income but I don't have a crazy amount of debt either.  Some student loans and a car loan are all that I have, (I say "all" because I have known people with far more debt than I would ever like to have).  What was encouraging about this that paying them off seems more feasible than it did before.  Before I had no plan, now I do.

I encourage you, if you feel overwhelmed by debt get this book.  Like I said the plan is easy.  Sticking to it can be as easy or as hard as you make it.  Two things you should know about his particular plan: one, it involves making a budget (yes you heard me, A BUDGET); and two it requires you to live within your means and "Act Your Wage".

http://www.daveramsey.com/store/prod326.html

Making the List

Last week as I walked out of my class I noticed that the school had posted the new Honor Roll, Dean's List and President's List for the spring quarter.  My name wasn't on the Honor Roll nor the Dean's list, but it was on the President's List.  I was/am very excited.  I worked hard for that and I did it with bronchitis, strep and pneumonia. Out of the entire school only 8 of us made that list.  Yay!

It's not over though.  That was just quarter one.  I still have several quarters to go.

Back in the Kitchen Again.

Last quarter ended with bronchitis that turned into pneumonia and a slip in the kitchen on the last day of school that landed me in the E.R. with a head injury.  I have to admit I ended my first quarter of culinary school feeling defeated and discouraged. I began to question if I was supposed to be there. 

I had a chance to recuperate on vacation in LA.  Away from the kids and the demands of college.  As my strength returned and the knot on my head shrunk I realized all that I had accomplished that last week of school.  With pneumonia,and the fever that accompanied it, I not only passed all  5 of my exams, I aced them.  So, I ended the quarter with a 4.0 GPA and the knowledge that I am stronger than I think I am.

Last week quarter two started.  It is good to back in the kitchen again.  I missed my classmates and the fast pace of the kitchen.  I am so determined to finish this thing and nothing is going to stop me.

This is your flight attendant. Please prepare for your final approach!

Yes my friends, finals are approaching.  I am excited that first quarter is about to wrap up. It means quarter two is just around the corner. I am not excited about the studying that awaits me. I am already preparing and freezing meals, trying to get things cleaned and organized and of course making sure that each of the children has a survival buddy. I am loading up on green tea, coffee is too strong, (I might not be saying that in a few days).  I have all my 300 and something notecards and I am ready to go.  Countdown to finals is on!  Five days until the first test. Wooooo!   Bring it on!

Not Everyone Has to Like You

I just completed week four of culinary school and I have to say I LOVE IT!!!  The gals in my kitchen lab, (I call them the kitchen sirens), are awesome.  I love working with them. I love the chefs that I am learning from. I love learning all the techniques and even the book stuff. The kitchen is definitely where I belong.

The kitchen sirens and I are taking this culinary school thing seriously. Not only are we getting good grades but we are also very hard workers.  As a result we have caught the eye of our instructors and classmates.  In the case of our instructors this is a positive.  They see our hard work and initiative. We are the first ones to volunteer for the extra duties. In the case of our classmates it's quite the opposite, well, at least with some of them.  I don't know if it is because they see us as a threat, competition or that they see us as the suck ups.  Whatever the reason, they DO NOT like us.  It is very obvious and even other people have picked up on it.

Let me explain something, (that's for you Rosie).  I really could care less if they like me or not.  I'm not here to make friends.  This isn't a game or a way to pass the time.  This is my future.  So if they don't like us, that is fine.  They are one less distraction on my way to my goals and dreams.

It amazes me that in college people still behave like they are in Junior High. Grow up people!

You're fired! (actually, laid off)

It might have been easier to accept, to have been fired for not doing my job or not submitting to authority, but I was laid off.  The youth program that I was working for was doing things that no other program was doing in town.  Unfortuantely our president, Obama, disagreeed with the absitinence until marriage work that we were doing and had our funding cut.  When HR informed us that they were cutting our program, (rather than raise funds to keep it going), I wasn't surprised. 

So now what?  I began looking for work.  Ten years of experience and no degree will get you nothing.  Faced with the realization that I would not get a decent job without a degree I decided to go back to school.  Next week I begin two and a half years of Culinary School.

Yay!