Q and A Debt

In the blink of an eye, here we are. It has been about 4 years since my last post and life has been a crazy wild ride. 2021 was truckin' along and I was starting to get use to my new normal. Kiddo 1 was preparing for their final semester of college. We took a family vacation to Washington D.C. in the summer of 2021. It was full of lots of sightseeing, museums and food! It was a great time. Then August came and Kiddo1's health changed. Very quickly and without a lot of warning came doctor visits, MRIs and ultimately a seizure that severely affected their ability to walk. Multiple Sclerosis was the diagnosis after getting a second opinion just to be absolutely certain. TONS of physical therapy later they are able to walk. Life is not the same. Injections three times a week and pills are now necessary and routine. Kiddo1 went back to complete their final semester of university and graduated Summa Cum Laude. The happiness we felt was overwhelming. How can life be so sad and tragic ...

So it has been 10 months since the pandemic changed how we live. It feels like much, much longer.  Kiddo1 and Kiddo2 are learning from home. It has been a challenge but they have adapted. Mr. Man has had to make changes at his job. His work is pretty stressful and the changes due to the pandemic have only added to his and his coworkers' stress levels. As for myself, change has been difficult on many fronts.  Caring for Dad in this third year was the biggest challenge. It was 7 of us, my five brothers coming from different cities to care for him on a weekly basis, my sister (who had recently returned to teaching) and me. We managed as best we could and did it as safely as possible. Unfortunately, a couple of months ago, Dad passed away. It had nothing to do with the virus and simply the effects of his stroke and dementia that slowly took him. He died peacefully at home.  So now, I'm having to readjust to living.  I am trying to stay busy with life and yet still feel t...

2020 is definitely taking us on a rollercoaster of emotions. COVID19 had us all in a state of anxiety. Then the killing of George Floyd occurred. Watching the video was heartbreaking and incredibly hard to see. Unfortunately, this happens far too often in the United States. This has brought out both the best in people and the worst. Many say at least we know where everyone stands. The United States has a lot of work to do but I believe we are up to the task. We pray that as a nation we can come together and make change possible so that there is peace and equality for all.  So how has all this shaped our lives financially. We refinanced our home for a lower interest rate. It seems like life can change in a moment lately and we wanted to make sure we are saving wherever we can. Mr. Man sold his vehicle. It was 2 years old so the dealership bought it back for what we owed. He then bought a work truck in cash. So no third car payment. Our total debt numbers are now about $138,000 inclu...

Pic from our visit to NYC Dec 2019 Our city issued a stay at home order March 25, 2020. The kids have been not going to any public places since March 13, 2020. School will be closed till May. That may be extended but all we can do is wait and see. Some of you many know that I help care for my Dad in his home. He will be 91 years old tomorrow. To say he amazes me is an understatement. His will to live is strong despite being unable to walk or talk. He has dementia so some days he is very present and some days its a struggle. But through it all, he has given all eight of his grown children strength to persevere despite what life throws at us. I have reduced my hours caring for Dad since my kiddos are home. Kiddo2 requires help with schoolwork and some days have been challenging. I have a little more time to work on Ebay which has been a big help since I can list a few things to help buy Dad's essential needs. Daily Life has been a big adjustment. I'm still trying to ...

So it has been quite a while since my last post. Between caring for Dad and my homelife there is not much room for much else. Friday was my last day of caretaking for the foreseeable future since Kiddo1 and Kiddo2 are not at home and starting school online due to the Corona virus pandemic. Dad is doing as well as can be expected. My siblings will continue caring for him. Adjusting to life in these times has not been easy. Store shelves are empty, friends and family are losing their jobs and the healthcare system here is beginning to show signs of strain. Everyone is tired, scared and full of anxiety. It is hard to be optimistic but everyone is trying. It is just scary times when you cannot find toilet tissue, milk, eggs or bread. Store lines are long and at times tempers may flare. People are trying to stay sane but with each day it gets a bit more difficult. We are all coping as best as can be expected. Aside from that I will take this time to help Kiddo2 with navigating school work. ...

Way, way, WAY back in May, I said I was going to post about my weight loss journey. HA! Jokes on me! I have not posted diddly squat! I'm sorry for whomever (I'm assuming someone reads my blog besides me...lol) was mildly curious if I was going to every follow-up on that post. Soooo..... Where am I at? I've lost a whopping 3 pounds. Frankly, I haven't exactly done a whole lot to help in the weight department. But hey, any loss is better than a gain. So, what am I going to do?  I've slowly veered over to cooking at home again. I'm not a great cook at ALL but I figure it has to be better for us than burgers and pizza every night. Ironically, my kids are not overweight and have way better eating habits than me. Tomorrow I'll resume walking on the treadmill. Not exactly high intensity cardio but crap...I'm moving. My biggest obstacle to healthy living is Dad's house. Its a minefield of ice cream, cookies and pastries. I don't buy the stuff but som...