Due to the current political and economic situation, we decided to go ahead and buy one more piece of protection for our home.   Apparently we weren’t the only ones with this idea. The local gun shop and a chain store that carries guns were both slammed with customers. It’s interesting, yet scary, to observe the people that are in the market for a new Piece.

There were teenage boys there with their father bonding over which gun would best fit their Bambi killing needs.  Next, you had people like us.. normal people that have been thinking about buying something for a while and decided to do it while we can. Then you had the scary people.  There was an old man that was looking at the most expensive gun they had and was asking very uneducated questions. Thankfully, you must pass a background check in order to purchase any gun in a store.

This brings me to my title. As I was sitting there, waiting for Josh to fill out all the paperwork, get fingerprinted etc., it hit me. This is a good idea! Don’t get me wrong, I trust my husband completely. But it’s not a bad idea to let him get a new toy every once in a while so the state can run a check on him just to make sure he hasn’t been holding up McDonalds without me knowing.

On a side note, I know that guns are a very touchy subject. I think that is because people are scared of them. If you take the time to educate yourself and familiarize yourself with them, you’d be surprised at how empowering they are. I have a friend who’s now ex-husband had a gun, but would never show her how to shoot, despite her interest in wanting to know. She jokes that should’ve been a warning that their marriage was in trouble. I don’t think she’s too far off. Maybe he had a guilty conscience and didn’t want her to shoot him if she caught him doing something he wasn’t supposed to be doing. As for Josh and me, we like to go shoot together. It’s something we have in common. A family that shoots together, stays together.

I recently discovered that right down the street from where I work is a Recycling Center. I was originally inspired when watching an episode of 30 Days. In this episode, a Minute Man went to live with an illegal immigrant family for, you guessed it, 30 days. For extra money, the mother recycled everything. This is what she used for Christmas money.  Granted, the place I go doesn’t give you money, but you get that warm fuzzy feeling knowing that garbage bag of bottled water bottles isn’t going to a landfill.  

This is actually a lot easier that I thought it’d be. I decided to recycle plastics and newspapers. I have dedicated one of the trash cans in my pantry to strictly plastics. I also have a box in the office to put the newspaper in after we get done clipping coupons out of it.  This is also where I put magazines or any papers I get through the mail during the week. 

I haven’t bought a hybrid car. I haven’t put solar panels on my house. But I feel in some small way, I’m doing my part to give Mother Earth a Hug. I challenge you to do one little extra step in your daily adventures to make our planet a little better.

Know when to save your coupons  or when to use them. It just occurred to me today that coupons are like poker. Even though it’s tempting to use coupons as soon as they are in your possession, sometimes it’s better to wait. After all, you have until the expiration date to use them.

On the one hand, you can buy something you buy every week and strategically use your coupons when that item IS NOT on sale, so you get it at a cheaper rate. Or, you can wait until they run it on sale, use your coupon and get it even cheaper. For example, a couple of weeks ago I cut out a Claritan-D coupon. ($3 off!) Today, I noticed Publix had their Claritan $4 off, I used my coupon and ended up getting $7 off the allergy medicine!! On the same trip, I had a BOGO Free for Glade Plug ins. Publix already had the Plug-ins BOGO Free. So I got 2 2 packs  (4 refills total) for $2.57. I got One for free and the other half off!!! The pharmacist who checked me out was impressed with the playing of my coupons.

So just keep in mind your strategy as you plan your next grocery trip. Once you use that coupon, you can’t get it back. (unless they run it in the paper again, or your make phone calls to your friends trying to get your hands on another one) Also beware, they expire on you before you know it. It’s a really bad feeling knowing you COULD’VE saved that money that time took away.

This morning, I decided to turn on Face the Nation. (sigh) This is why I hate politics. They had a panel of speakers for Obama. They started drilling McCain for not knowing how many properties he owns. They were trying to say that if he doesn’t know how many properties he owns, he doesn’t need to own another house (The White House) Really? Do you really want to go there? I’m sorry that John McCain is intelligent enough to have investment properties. I’m sure he has a Property Manager as he has more to do than manage his properties. I can’t BELIEVE they want to ridicule him for this. If you ask me, that’s all the more reason McCain should be President. At least he is trying to make himself money instead standing in line at the Wellfare Office waiting for a handout. 

I think Fannie Mae should give investors a special incentive to buy these homes that are going into foreclosure. Just because there are people that were stupid enough to get an Interest Only Adjustable Rate Mortgage just so they could buy a house they can’t afford, doesn’t mean the rest of us should suffer. If these people had bad enough credit they had to get an Adjustable Rate mortgage, do you REALLY think that in the next 3-5 years they are HONESTLY going to clean up their credit so they can qualify for  a fixed rate mortgage when their ARM goes up. That’s like giving someone on a diet a Funnelcake and telling them they have to hold it all by themselves for a week and they can’t eat it. People’s habits do not change that easily.  These Mortgage Brokers didn’t care about these people they were doing loans for, all they wanted was their commission. You are responsible for your own actions. Unfortunately, America as a whole is retarded, otherwise we wouldn’t be in the shape we are in. So for us that are intelligent enough to understand what are are doing before we sign legal documentation, I believe we should be encouraged to buy up these foreclosure properties and help correct the economy. I would be more than happy to buy someone’s home and let them pay me to live there.

From what I gathered from the program this morning. The Obama Campaign wants to raise taxes for the middle class to help fund programs for the lower class. There’s an idea! Why don’t we punish the people who are actually surviving this tough economy by taking their money and make them suffer too. Let’s drag everyone down with the sinking boat.  This election is going to get ugly. It’s also going to be one of the most important elections in our country’s history. I respect people’s views. If you are a democrat, that’s your right. But please, PLEASE be sure you know what you are doing before you vote.

We went to the Fair this weekend. Our county fair is the biggest fair in the state. We’ve won several awards and it gets bigger each year. As you walk through the grounds you see the typical rides, the Demolition Derby, Fair Food, Hypnotist, Exhibits etc. However, this year as we were walking the grounds we noticed something different. We saw a booth advertising the World’s Smallest Woman. She’s only 29 inches tall. The advertisement was the most degrading thing I’ve ever seen! Real Life! She’ll even talk to you! For crying out loud. It’s a human being! People were standing in line and paying 50 cents to see this poor woman who happens to be little.  They had her in a holding tank like she was a fish.  Part of me wanted to see what she looked like. But I would have felt really uncomfortable actually looking in her eyes knowing she knows I was willing to pay money just to look at her. I wonder what happened in her life that lead her to traveling the country just to be looked at as a freak of nature. Of course, if she’s that little, she may not be able to hold a normal job. I guess this is one of the many problems in our society.

Being a Type 2 in the Eneagram, I was bound to be in the profession of serving others.  This is a blessing and a curse. I love to help people. There’s no better feeling than to know you’ve enriched someone else’s life, even if in a small way.

When I was a closing agent, I got to tell people face to face that their interest rate was not what their mortgage broker promised. I needed $1,000 more than what they were told. Or their house wasn’t ready yet and they’d have to come back next week.  These were hard conversations to have, but for the most part, people were cordial. Usually people understood it wasn’t my fault and I was doing everything in my power to remedy their situation.

As an insurance agent, I still deal with people, but not typically face to face. The majority of my job is handled over the phone. The difference that I’ve noticed dealing with people over the phone as opposed to face to face is, people have more courage when on the phone. It’s way easier to speak your mind when you aren’t looking someone in the eyes. For example, today I was told that we are awesome. In the same hour, we were also called worthless pieces of $h!t. When I very first started my new job, I would freak out anytime anyone was unhappy. It’s my personality to try my best to make everyone happy. I would panic when someone called to cancel their policy. I now know that you just have to smile and wish them a good day as your hang up with them. I’ve learned to let it roll off my back. (which is huge for me) Because I know in an hour, I will have made someone’s day, and that makes it worth it.

Just remember as you call your local service providers, just because you don’t like what a company has done, it is more than likely not the person you are speaking too’s fault. You can usually draw more flies with honey than vinegar. 

This seems to be a very exciting year for the Olympics. I was hesitant when some of my friends were getting excited about the Olympic Games. But I must admit, I have been bit by the bug. With all the current issues in the world (wars, economy, politics), it’s nice for us to come together as a country and route for Team USA.

Michael Phelps is just amazing. To the point, that I wonder, how. I pray nothing comes back on him later that he’s doing something illegal. A couple of these races he’s been so far ahead, he’s already gotten his goggles and cap off before the other swimmers touch the wall. Most of the time he doesn’t even really seem out of breath. From what I’ve heard, he’s like the Lance Armstrong of swimming. He has the perfect body conditions to help him be more extraordinary than others. Tonight, he tied with the record of gold medals at 7. It was luck folks. He and Calvic Miliard where there at the same time. It was pure luck that he touched first. Even Michael knew it was luck. Nonetheless, he is still awesome. Tomorrow night he goes for a record breaking 8.

France, all I can say is thank you. Your arrogance fueled our success. 

Kerry Walsh and Misty May are awesome as well. They have played 104 matches without a lose. These two women are 30 years old and they are in crazy good shape. They make it look easy. But, last night when they played Norway, I was sweating for them. One of the women on Team Norway is 6′4. Kerry is 6′2. They gave us a run for our money but in the end Team USA came through.

So if I’m a little tired if you see me out, it’s due to my late nights watching Team USA do it’s thing. I’ll have plenty of time to rest between 8.24.08 and 2012.

Anyone interested in Coupon Swapping?  I know there are websites that do this, but I’d rather do it with people I know. I guess its a trust factor. The ideal situation would be to meet once a month at a neutral location to swap out. But we may need to do it by mail if that’s not possible. Anyone interested, let me know. If you let me know the type of coupons your interested in (if you have kids, babies etc) I can start saving them for you. Just thought I’d throw this out there.

As you know, Josh and I have been trying to find ways to save money.  He wanted to be able to get our grocery bill down to under $100. Thus the quest began. After going to Kroger, Publix and Wal-mart and buying the same type stuff at all 3, and using coupons, survey says… it can’t be done. We got close last night at Wal-mart. The grand total was $101.14. In Wal-mart’s defense, I didn’t have a fresh newspapers worth of coupons to use, but I still used 2 I already had. Josh loathes Wal-mart entirely. Therefore, despite the savings, he would rather go to Kroger. At Kroger we spent $120.00 (but we bought drinks that we only buy every month or so) Publix’s receipt came in at $114.00 and Walmart, as mentioned above, was $101.14.

  I must say Publix has the nicest shopping experience to date. The people are friendly, they have a WIDE variety of stuff and they take your groceries out to your car unless you insist they don’t. Wal-mart is not designed very well. We had to start in the back of the store, work our way around and then go back through to get the meat. Not very efficient at all. We had to go late on a Saturday night so it wouldn’t be so crowded. Check out was still a nightmare. 14 kids running around in their PJs, and everyone’s buggy is filled to the top, so it takes twice as long to get through the line. Kroger is middle of the road. It’s not the most expensive, (considering we bought drinks) and its not the cheapest.  The store is laid out nicely and it’s right by our house. One problem is every time we go, we run into someone we know and end up having a 30 minute conversation with them. Also, most of the time Josh has to bag our groceries. Sometimes this isn’t a bad thing. When someone does actually bag our groceries, they bag it all wrong! Maybe we are too picky, but we try to put all the frozens together, meats together etc. I even put them on the belt that way so its easier for them. Yeah, they don’t care. They are too busy about talking about their date last night to the cashier.

So Kroger it is. That is until Publix get’s opened up next door. Then I may go to both and just pick and choose who has what on sale each week. If you have any tricks of the trade about saving money at the store, please share.

My chiropractor and I had a very interesting talk the other day.  I was having my monthly scan to see how my adjusting has been going. We started talking about stress and how it affects us physically. I was wondering if my previous job’s stress level had any affect on my body and why I was in such pain.  He told me about this Psychological Theory he’s been studying up on called "Enneagram". Based on this theory he pinned me as a "worrier" and I probably don’t handle stress as well as some. Therefore, it could impact me physically more than it could someone else.  He started explaining his theory to me and I was VERY intrigued.  What really sparked my interest is he told me how he used to be in a funk and not know why. After studying The Enneagram, he learned enough about himself to know how to get himself out of a funk before he actually got in one. Using these practices has actually strengthened his relationship with his family, his patients and improved his quality of life.

I came home, googled it and took two tests. Both tests indicated I am a "Type 2, The Helper" as I read the description, it fit me perfectly! Most two’s are tender hearted, love animals and are very nurturing. We are the "Mother" type that want to take care of everyone, even if it means not taking care of oneself.  We tend to take on careers that are in the service field.

Here’s the definition of a Two, do you think it fits me?

"Twos are empathetic, sincere, and warm-hearted. They are friendly, generous, and self-sacrificing, but can also be sentimental, flattering, and people-pleasing. They are well-meaning and driven to be close to others, but can slip into doing things for others in order to be needed. They typically have problems with possessiveness and with acknowledging their own needs. At their Best: unselfish and altruistic, they have unconditional love for others.

• Basic Fear: Of being unwanted, unworthy of being loved
• Basic Desire: To feel loved
• Enneagram Two with a One-Wing: "Servant"
• Enneagram Two with a Three-Wing: "The Host/Hostess"

Key Motivations: Want to be loved, to express their feelings for others, to be needed and appreciated, to get others to respond to them, to vindicate their claims about themselves. " Information from http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/TypeTwo.asp

Anyway, it’s very intricate but I think once I learn more about it, I can learn more about myself and others around me. If you want to check out more info, go to www.enneagraminstitute.com If you take the test, please share with me what Number you are. Thanks!