Photos 234 - 243

Photo 234:

Another shot of the resident raccoon.

Photo 235:

A charm I've made from a key I found while walking Holly.  I've empowered it to help me unlock the doors to wealth (namely to get my punk ass out of debt).

Photo 236:

A full body shot of Leviathan....she's around 5 feet long.

Photo 237:

Cute sign at Michael's.  I can't believe they already have Halloween stuff out.

Photo 238:

Turned the key charm into a necklace that I will wear daily.

Photo 239:

Jungle Leviathan.

Photo 240:

My weird snake doing a backbend.

Photo 241:

Folder that the boss made for the site supervisors at ESD (afternoon job).

Photo 242:

Resident raccoon brought a friend to dinner.

Photo 243:

Post card from Ukraine (via Postcrossing)

Photos 224 - 233

Photo 224:

Post card from China (via Postcrossing)

Photo 225:

This must be comfortable, as this is the second time I've photographer Leviathan this way.

Photo 226:

Holly in her "nest" with her "radar ear" up.

Photo 227:

Leviathan peeking out from under her turtle shell hide (it's made of cement).

Photo 228:

Raccoon is back!

Photo 229:

Leviathan

Photo 230:

Most delicious chip known to man -- crunchy Cheetos.

Photo 231:

art journal page (work in progress)

Photo 232:

Alpha (head) and Omega (tail)

Photo 233:

Leviathan stare down.

Thankful Thursday 08.30.13

I am thankful.....

1. second week of working at Kids R Kids is over and done with....and that I have Monday off of BOTH jobs!  Woohoo!
2. Gabriel -- my little screamer at Kids R Kids -- is doing WORLDS better and just utterly melts my heart.
3. that Kids R Kids is paying me 50 cents MORE than what I asked for my hourly rate.  It certainly makes the job more bearable.
4. that ESD has started back up.  I really need the money it brings in.
5. Leviathan's being super social.  She likes to watch me when I'm over by her tank, and she'll follow me from one end to the other too!
6. the break I get between the morning job and the afternoon job.  It's the only way I can keep my wits together.
7. finally drinking more water like I should be.  I feel better physically for doing it.
8. a big Pow Wow is coming up next weekend.  Hopefully David will be able to go with me.  It'll be his first!
9. sweet baby sparrow that sang and sang to me when I came home today.
10. almost the weekend.  I'm ready for a break.

Thankful Thursday

ART: Rainbow Fluorite - in my garden
ARTIST: andromeda

I am thankful:

1. for the morning job going as smoothly as it has.
2. for a full two days of training/meetings for ESD (on ESD's dime) for today and tomorrow.
3. beautiful full moon.
4. Mom's offered as a Christmas gift to pay for David and I to fly up and see his parents in Delaware whenever we choose (aka have the time).
5. Pinterest having a variety of things to peak my interest.
6. my faith and spirituality.

Sadistic Parents, I Hate You

I really should be in bed.
But I'm putting that off.  Because, when I go to bed, that makes tomorrow come all that swifter.

Day one at Kids R Kids honestly wasn't that bad.  I wasn't even frazzled by the time I got home.  Which is saying something, as I got tossed into a classroom instead of doing training, like I was supposed to.  I'm going to be in the classroom tomorrow and Wednesday too.  Had a poor kid that just screamed/cried the WHOLE time I was there.  He's 3 years old and this is the first time he's away from Mom for more than a minute.

Seriously people, get your kid socialized BEFORE then.  Tossing a 3 year old that's never been away from your side for more than a few moments, into an all day program with people he doesn't know is HORRIBLE on the kid and the teachers that have to deal with him.  If nothing else, put him in a half day program a few days a week starting when he's a year old, PLEASE, I beg of you.  Those of you who don't are some of the most sadistic people I know.

Anyways, I'm not exactly looking forward to being back with that tomorrow, hence why I'm putting off going to sleep. 
Silly, I know, as it will only make me more tired in the morning, but that's just how I roll.

Tomorrow I do the classroom in the morning and then training in the afternoon.  Gonna be a long, drawn out day for sure. 
Blah, guess it's time for me to head to bed.

Moments

ART: Lion in the Morning Light
ARTIST: DaSchu

Tomorrow is my first day working at Kids R Kids.  I think it's just going to be all paperwork and training.  I'm actually kind of hoping that's all it will be.  I'm not exactly looking forward to working with the younger kids.

I'm trying my damnest to be more positive about the situation.  It's a necessary evil, so I might as well look on the bright side.

This is what I'm having to do to get myself out of debt.  Keep looking to the future.  Visualize what life will be like without that damn credit card debit hanging over my head.

I picked up a polo shirt to wear tomorrow.  I'll get one of Kids R Kids' fancy logo ones at some point.  And I should buy another (they are $13 a pop).

My goal is to use the paychecks from Kids are Kids to build an emergency fund (Step One of Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover) of $1000.  After that, it will be extra payments on debt relief program until that's pay off and then extra payments on the Bank of America credit card to pay it off. 

The reward for paying everything off will be a trip to Wolf Park.  I seriously need a carrot to keep me going, and that trip is going to be it.  It's a whole lot cheaper than the Polar Bear trip, so I'll be able to save up for it quicker once the debt is gone.  After that, it's crazy saving for a house and then the Polar Bear trip.

I'm trying to break my bad habit of depressive thinking.  I've become a wallower.  I wallow in self-pity, self-doubt.  And I don't like it anymore.  So I'm going to work on that. 

I've agreed to do Buns of Steel with Allie.  A lot of those moves are similar to the ones I was supposed to do for physical therapy for my bad knee (but very rarely did), so it will be part working out and part PT for me.  I'm hoping it will help strengthen my knees so that I can get back to using the elliptical and start shedding some of these pounds.  I don't want to be scrawny, but I could certainly stand to loose a good 60 pounds and tone up.  I'd much rather be toned and in shape than skinny as a twig.  Hopefully by the time I'm physically able to do mixed martial arts lessons, I'll be able to afford to do them.  I want to be able to defend myself properly should the occasion ever arise.  I'm tired of being scared of becoming a victim again.  I know I should probably look into some therapy for that, but I ask you which would be better?  Talking about my fears of being a victim, or learning how to kick ass should someone be stupid enough to fuck with me?  Yeah, the fighting skills just seem better in my opinion.  And if, after learning how to defend myself, the fear is still there, then I can go to therapy and change the thinking to reflect reality.  It's not like I can only do one or the other.

So yeah, that is what is going on with me and my mind at the moment.
 

Thankful Friday

I am thankful for.....

1. that I got the job at the Kids R Kids academy.  I go in Monday morning to begin the paperwork and training.
2. for a nice paycheck from the Summer Camp.
3. great time at Allie's last night...our final party for Natalie before she heads off to Texas Tech.
4. that Jason (horrid coworker of David's) got fired on Monday, so now David doesn't have to deal with doing his job PLUS Jason's.
5. that ESD (the after school job) starts up soon.  I have training/meetings on Thursday and Friday of next week.  Can't wait.
6. having this time off to recharge my batteries and sleep as much as my body is needing/wanting.
7. that Holly's jaw is doing worlds better.  She hurt it playing tug-of-war.
8. that David's had half days yesterday and today.  It's been nice having him home.
9. that my Discover Personal Loan is almost completely paid off.  That only leaves one credit card in the debt relief program.  I'm so ready to have that over and done with.  Still have one credit card that won't accept the debt relief program, but I can pay that one down once the program is over and I have that cash back in my own pocket. 
10. Dave Ramsey's book and for having a plan to get  a handle on my finances.