Bankruptcy Recovery

Recovering from bankruptcy is a lot easier than it has been in recent years.  I don't know if it's because bankruptcy is more common, or because the economy is so bad, everyone has poor credit.

In the old days there were standards for your credit score and a bankruptcy just flat out would get you declined for any type of credit.  Now, lenders tend to look at the whole picture and your credit score.  If you have a very high score, a bankruptcy may not bring it down to where you wouldn't qualify for anything.

And lenders have grown more knowledgeable about the bankruptcy problem.  A person who has filed for bankruptcy might be a better risk.  Who would you rather lend money to?  A person with $80,000 debt in credit cards, car loans, etc... ?  Or a person who has, shall we say, cleaned the slate, and is now debt free?

You should get a copy of your credit report and challenge anything that is incorrect.  Keep track of it since your bankruptcy and make sure you have only good items reported.  You can discharge a legal obligation but you can not change credit history.  You can file with New Orleans bankruptcy attorneys or Los Angeles bankruptcy attorneys and your history will be the same.  Your report is that history and you want it as accurate as possible.  Try to obtain some kind of credit even if it is a secured credit card.  This type of credit card will become unsecured after a period of time.

All in all, filing for bankruptcy is not the end of life as you know it.  Credit bureaus will count it less and less as time goes by.  You have a clean slate.  Now make the best of it.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

A Great Moment

This past weekend, two of my daughters graduated from college.  It was a wonderful, yet crazy weekend.  I am so proud.  Both have pursued their dreams and both have achieved their goals.  The graduate ceremonies and Masters in Business were Friday, and the undergraduate program were on Saturday.  As luck would have it, both daughter's ceremonies were at the exact same time... but we made it... a family of over a dozen people... running like crazy people from one end of the campus to another.  So much fun and I wouldn't have missed a moment of this day.

The older of the two graduated in Social Work.  Forever dedicated to helping others, she went from Fire Fighter, to EMT, to Social Worker.  She has helped troubled teens, handicapped toddlers, the elderly and the list goes on.  She is on her way to a new state, with interviews in place, as she works to put her husband through dental school.  She hopes to help disabled adults learn to take care of themselves and live in a world without special needs.  She wants to start a family, but will forever be dedicated to helping others.

The younger daughter graduated in Theatre Arts and is fulfilling a childhood dream.  This girl has played make believe since she was born.  Let me give you an example:  She has never learned to ride a bike.  She is 21 years old and has never learned to ride a bike.  People can't understand this... didn't she ever get a bike for her birthday, or Christmas?  Well... she never asked for one.  It was suggested... but she would ask for a vanity (make up), or an art easel (art), dress up clothes.  And to make it a fairy tale ending, she is working for Tuacahn doing hair, make up, and costume design.

One of the great moments in a parent's life.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Women's Sweaters... Not Just For Winter

When you think of womens sweaters, fall and winter comes to mind, but not any more.  Have you been to the mall?  Have you looked around your school campus.  Do you notice what other women are wearing to work?  Sweaters.  Of course, they are of a much, much lighter weight, and come in beautiful summer shades, but never the less, sweaters.

There is a whole new look in women's sweaters for spring and summer.  From sleeveless, to short sleeve, to 3/4 length sleeves, sweaters are everywhere.

Sleeveless sweaters are great look.  Nothing says summer like a sun tanned shoulder.  They look cute over a cap sleeve top, or over a strappy sundress.

Short sleeve sweaters are just a cute layering look and give your look more of a coordinated look or style.  Short sleeve sweaters go with everything and with the lighter fabric, they are cool and comfortable.

My favorite look is the 3/4 length sweater or cardigan.  I admit that my 51 year old arms are not what they used to be, so I prefer the coverage.  With the light, light weight fabrics they are perfect for the warm summer days and give you the little extra you may need for those cool breezy nights.

Like I said, women's sweaters are not just for winter anymore.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

It Doesn't Take Much

Summer is upon us and we no longer have the luxury of covering up with sweaters, vests, bulky coats.  Layering tends to help us hide those bumps and bulges that so easily find their way to our bodies in the winter time.  I think it's all the baking.  I mean what tastes better than warm chocolate cookies on a cold windy fall day?  And Christmas, in our family, brings more baking than you can possibly imagine.  So it's nice to hide those few extra pounds under sweaters, scarves, vests, layers, lots and lots of layers.  But with summer coming all too fast, with it's change in our wardrobes to clingy t-shirts, blouses, and capris, what to do?

Well you can make losing a few pounds very complicated... when really it doesn't take much.  I like to start of with a body cleanse which gets me going.  I feel like it's a fresh start and I have cleansed all the fudge, cookies, and pie from my system.  Then I begin my plan.

I try to eat healthy... very healthy.  I start the morning with fruit and a Greek yogurt.  I am drinking water... lots and lots of water.  I eat a tomato, avocado, and onion quesadilla on a wheat tortilla for lunch.  Again, I'm drinking water... lots and lots of water.  Dinner is usually a salad with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, pineapple, and whatever other vegies I have on hand.  I also add a protein whether it is chicken or fish.  And I top it all of with... you guessed it... water... lots and lots of water.  And then there is exercise.

I don't kill myself exercising.  I just go for a nice walk for anywhere between 1/2 hour to 1 hour.  I listen to my iPod and it is very simple and relaxing.

So you see it's no big plan.  It doesn't take much.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Fortunately

I feel very fortunate that my oldest daughter married a man that we all love dearly.  He truly is a part of the family.  I also feel very fortunate that his brother is a dentist.

You see... my daughter and her husband have terrible teeth.  Certainly not from neglect, they both are very hygienic and take good care of their teeth.  They just have poor enamel and consequently require a lot of dental work.  The problem is they live in New York City..... a very expensive place to live.  Dental care is pricey to begin with, but then add the location of one of the most expensive cities in the world and it is ridiculous.  And here is where my son in laws brother comes in....

It was actually less expensive for them to buy round trip plane tickets to Arizona, where the brother lives, and have him provide their dental care.  Fortunately he generously offered to do all of their dental care for free.

My daughter is not too crazy about the dentist and doesn't like to go.  In fact she hadn't been in seven years.  When they arrived, she required four root canals, with three requiring crowns.  Unbelievable.  Fortunately, her brother in law dentist practices sedative dentistry, something I had never heard of before.  She said it was absolutely fabulous.  She loved it!  In fact, she loved the gas so much, that she was begging for more!  She even said she was glad that she didn't have an addictive personality, or sedative dentistry would be her passion.

Fortunately, her supplier is in Arizona.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Her Boyfriend... A Truck Driver

I recently spoke to a woman whose boyfriend is a semi truck long haul driver.  He is gone months at a time.  He is constantly on the road driving through the most diverse of conditions.  He can be driving through a dangerous snowy mountain pass one week, and through the boiling hot desert the next.  Although she does worry about him, and obviously they miss one another, it works for them.

She said the time they spend together is cherished... never taken for granted.  When he is home, he is truly 100% home.  She has his complete attention and he has her complete attention.  They do everything together and spoil and take care of each other.

And there's the old saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."  She says that without question this is true.  They talk everyday... really talk.  In the past she has had boyfriends who live nearby and although they did spend a lot more time together, they got "used to" one another.  This meant they frequently just watched a movie or television, and never really talked.  On the phone, long distance, she and her truck driver boyfriend share with each, get to know each, really talk.

I have to believe that if there were local driving jobs, she would prefer he applied for one of those positions, but honestly she wouldn't want their relationship to go down that "shorter" road.  I guess absence really does make the heart  grow fonder.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Googling

Did you know that the word "googling" is actually in our dictionary now?  It is considered a verb, meaning to use an internet search engine, particularly google, such as "she spent the morning googling aimlessly".  Or, to search for the name of someone, or something on the internet.  When I was a kid, "googling" was a description of the sounds a baby makes.  Of course, a lot of things are different when searching for anything, since I was a kid.

If I needed a phone number, there was the phone book.  Quite large, with different sections to it, it was quite the adventure exploring its pages.  The yellow pages was all businesses listed under category, for example, restaurants would bring up all the local restaurants in your area.  Sometimes it would be tricky trying to figure out just what section to look under.  The white pages was divided into two areas... business names, and residential or personal names.  And for personal names, the phone number was listed under the parents name.  And if your friends last name was Smith or Jones, you could forget it.  There would be pages and pages to sort through.

If I was looking for a person, this was usually handled by word of mouth.  You would talk to... so and so, who knew.. you know who, who was friends with... what's her name, and she knew the phone number of the person you were searching.

And you may wonder how we ever got around without google maps optimization?  Directions were given as...you know where Jack In The Box on Genesee Ave and Balboa?  Two blocks past Jack In The Box, there's that baseball field?  Turn right at the baseball field, and you know Pacific that takes you down to the beach?  Turn there and follow it to Scripps Clinic.  So and so lives just behind it.  Simple.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.