The thing that affords me the fun the things

In other words, work. 

I think that in some ways, it is easy to get jaded.  You forget why you took the new job.  You forget why you thought this was the best job ever when you took it.  You get jaded.  You think you need to be paid more than you do.  Let's not kid ourselves, we all believe we deserve to get paid more for what we do.  I have yet to meet that person that says, nope I get paid exactly what I deserve. 

But, today is a remind of why I love my job. 

First and foremost...summer is creeping in and we are averaging 90 degree days.  But the beauty of the new job...yes that's right, I have shorts on today.  I assure you all of my previous jobs, that would never, NEVER, ever happen.  But today it does, tomorrow it could and next winter if I wanted it to, it would.  Jeans are even okay.  Sadly, I am finding my dresses only get used on Sunday's now for Church.  I could dress up for work but whenever one is so casual, then you feel over dressed.  So, not really a bad thing.

But most importantly is my special visitor today.  Yes, that is right, Mr. Finnegan is hanging with momma at work.  He had a groomers appointment today at 9:30.  So, he came to work with momma before hand and then is here to hang until it is time to go home.  The best part, no one cares. They want to come in and give him love.  He wants to give them love. 

Really, if it wasn't for his whining, they wouldn't know he was here.  He gets pissed if they walk by without saying hi and starts whining.  It's cute but annoying.

Guinness has also had the privilege of having a work day too.

So, I have those things going for me at work.  I have the great pay and the benefits that no one gets in today's economy...aka the company covers me and my family 100%.  I have the casual attire, I get to bring my dog to work on occasion, a short commute to work and I have zero of the stress that any of the other jobs afforded.  Yes, I had the boss get cranky on me once for something that was out of my control but unlike my old boss...he apologized and was far, far less scary and cranky.  If that was him at his worst, I'll take it.  Plus, a few of us have Red Solo Cup Friday's.  It isn't every Friday but it happens and it is the Friday's of the most stressful weeks!

And so today I am reminded of all the reasons I love this job and not the pain in the ass sales guys that annoy me with their other stuff. 

The best laid plans, can faulter

Yes, I had great visions of doing well with writing and as they say...mother nature won the battle.  I have been battling the flu or some other virus since before the New Year.  I really thought after this past weekend, I was on the downhill slide.  Then, Monday happened.  Clearly I didn't sound well, didn't look well on top of my knowing I really felt like ass.  By noon, Runner convinced me to go home.  After a 4 hour nap, I found some food and back to bed I went.  I think that I am really blessed with two fabulous fur babies.  Yes, most of you see them as the two that go 100 MPH and never slow down.  However, even Mr. Finn snuggled up to momma almost every day staying close to momma to make sure that I was going to be okay.  Outside of a few trips to do business and have some food & water...he was laying in bed.

Now, being the stubborn German that I am...I truly felt I was going to get over all this crap on my own.  Even Momma Bear said go to the doctor and I said no.  But that was Tuesday.  Wednesday I was sure I could go to work.  I did...for all of 20 minutes, hit a wall and back home I went.  I was patient and waited till the doctor's office opened up at 8:30 and made my call.  She figured I was over the tail end of the flu and ended up with a sinus infection out of it all.  Lucky me.  But, it is Friday and I don't feel 100% but feel 100% better than I did two days ago...so work it was.  Plus I get two more rest days after today too!

So, my exciting news is that I am officially done with PT and have been signed off by the doctor for Bootsie.  I am a long way to go before I can try and start jogging again, which saddens me.  BUT, it gives me something to work for.  I have to be able to walk 3 miles with an average of 15 min pace.  Easier said than done but then again, I take the dogs and if you take away the "breaks" I might have a shot at it.  Whatever the case - I am just excited to break a sweat again...especially with the Biggest Loser back on. 

So, who knows maybe I'll be able to complete one of my 2012 resolutions in 2013...my goal for 2012 was 3 races...I managed two before injury.  Maybe this year I can get 3 three in.  Here's to trying and my 2013 goal of being a healthier me.

Money, Money, MON-EY!

One of the big things for me this year is making my budget work.  Yes, I live off a budget and then I get lazy and things fall by the wayside and then it becomes juggling money from this account to that account to cover eating out too much or whatever.  Who's been there?

So, for step one of the new year...I redid my budget.  Thank you Mint.com for making my life easy.  If you have never heard of mint.com or don't know where to start with managing your money...Mint.com is where you go.  As I learned with Dave Ramsey's school, you should plan where you spend your money at the beginning of the money versus figuring out where it went at the end of the month.

Does the initial set up take some time?  Absolutely!  But think about it, anything worth doing takes a commitment.  If I wanted to play softball in college, I just couldn't step out on the field on game day...I had to practice.  If I want to do a race, I can't show up on race day...I had to do runs before hand. 

But now that I have got through the initial commitment, guess what?  Yep, it takes a minute a day every morning.  I can log in, make sure that my money coming out of each account is going out of the correct budget category and guess what...it even remembers it for next time!  Every morning, in ONE MINUTE, I know exactly where I am at and guess what...there is an app for it!  :)

Step two was this great idea I heard on the radio this morning.  So props really go to the JB and Sandy Morning Show.  It is the dollar a week savings play.  For each week of the year, you save that week.  So, week 1, you save one dollar.  Check.  Week 2, you save $2 and you continue through the weeks.  I have included the picture they added.  Don't get me wrong, the end of the year will be tough and maybe I'll mix in some of those later weeks into the earlier part of the year.  However, at the end of the year I have saved $1,378!!!  That doesn't factor in interest either. 

Now I challenge you for 2013...make it the year that you spend your money at the beginning of the month versus wondering where it went at the end of the month.  Plus put away the week of the year into savings each week. 

2013 resolution of making my finances right!