So I'm leaving my house today...in a fairly good mood. I get to the entrance to the highway - Central Expressway (75 S) and I notice its not moving nor is the service road. Well I've no where to go, so I hop on the entrance ramp and wait my turn. I figure its an accident and I'll get through the mangled mess eventually. Boy, was I sorely mistaken - but I don't want to jump ahead to quickly.
So I decide to plug in the iPod and jam to some tunes. My car speakers start to poor out the sounds of Journey's "Greatest Hits." As I sing along to "Open Arms" I'm reminded of my childhood when the song was first released and my friends that I used to hang out with. I remember going to the skating rink and couples skating to this song. Haha, funny the things that you remember right?
Well the song ends and the next one comes on and at this point I realize that I haven't moved ONE SINGLE INCH!!!!! I look around me and see others in their cars with the same glazed over looks in their eyes, like - WTF is going on here?
I try and look around the cars to see if I can glance any emergency lights in the distance - nope - nothing - nada - a caravan of brake lights as far as the eye can see. Well this does not help my cause. I decide that Journey needs to take a pause and switch on the radio to see if I can catch a traffic report. Surely they will update the status of this monstrosity that is Central Expressway. I mean this is a main artery into downtown Dallas for goodness sake. Someone has to know what is going on!
I wait for the "Traffic on the Five" report on the news with anticipation. My palms are beginning to sweat and my heart is beating faster! I mean its like I'm back in high school and trying out for the cheer leading squad again. Will they mention 75? Will I finally find out the fate of this treacherous highway that has now had me sitting in the same spot for 20 minutes?
The Traffic comes and goes and NO MENTION of Central Expressway at all. What - are you kidding me? There has to be some mistake! OR is it? Maybe whatever happened has been cleaned up and we're going to start moving any second now.
I start to relax putting faith in the news media. I mean if there was an issue they'd let me know about it right? They know people are trying to get to work. I switchback to the iPod and crank up the volume. This time - I opt for something my upbeat - I pull out a little Madonna and Justin Timberlake! From there it just spirals out of control, REO Speed wagon, George Michael, David Cook, Dean Martin, Duffy, Eagles, Jason Mraz, Kelly Clarkson.....
WAIT...I'm still not moving!!! It's been another 30 minutes! I've only gotten about 1/2 mile and there's no where for me to go! I can't get off - the service road is packed FULL of cars! Something is seriously wrong!! I switch back to the radio - and this time - I switch to another station hunting for a traffic report...again NOTHING!!
Now - I'm Pissed! I've got thoughts going trough my head that are not so nice. I'm cursing in silence. Which I actually wonder if you curse someone out in your head - does that count as if you were to do it face to face - or out loud? I'm a little concerned about that. If so, I have a lot of repentance to work on after this morning's episode. Personal note - call the bishop for a lengthy conversation!!
I take another look around and notice the dude next to me hitting his head on the steering wheel. I laugh and he happens to look directly at me at the same time I start laughing. He does the same thing. I mean seriously people - what else can we do but laugh? We're not moving and the temperature is already 80 something degrees out at 8:45 in the morning. Ugh! Its pathetic really.
OK, I’m not going to drag this out any longer….It took me 1:45 minutes to go 2 ½ miles. And do you want to know what the issue was?? The Texas Department of Transportation decided to CLOSE down 75 S at 8am on a Wednesday morning to ONE LANE for road construction.
What engineering genius thought that up??? I mean really, did someone loose a bet and the rest the North Dallas area had to suffer for his/her wise decision? I’d just like to shake this person’s hand; because what should have been a 25 minute commute for me took me two hours this morning. It was awesome!
I’m just glad to see the bail out dollars at work Mr. President! Good Job!! Give these guys a raise – obviously they are doing a BANG UP JOB!!!!
Showing posts with label Planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Planning. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Planning for the future to take care of today
For the past three weeks I’ve gone through some personal health struggles that have put a real strain on my household income. It was not something that I could have planned for; it was sudden and out of the blue. Because of that, I wasn’t prepared financially, physically, and neither was my household prepared for what was about to happen. The only thing ready for this new trial was my “spiritual wellbeing.”
I am very close to the members of my church and they helped me out by delivering meals while I was sick. At least I didn’t have to worry about trying to cook dinner for my children. That was one burden lifted from my shoulders. You see I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. If there is one thing that we sister’s can do for one another its cook. And my kids were spoiled rotten. I don’t usually make desserts and my lovely Relief Society Sister’s all brought yummy brownies and bundt cakes. So after a week of that, my kids have come to expect these scrumptious and delectable treats to finish off their meals.
Unfortunately my new found budget will not allow such grandeur. I know that you think brownies and Bundt Cake, how expensive could that be? Well when you’re trying to take care of medical expenses on top of all the other daily bills that you have, it adds up to A LOT!
But if I had PLANNED for this, or at least had something saved up and food “in storage” as my church advises us all to do, I might not be in the situation that I currently find myself. Now, not to use this as an excuse, but I am a recent convert as of August 2008. So I am still learning about all the “planning and preparing” that goes into being part of the church. And I have to say that this is a fantastic idea. I want to share some of this with all of you because I think that we can all benefit from such knowledge.
I just got my March 2009 copy of the Ensign. Now for those of you that aren’t Mormon, you might not have heard of this magazine, but I’ve come to love the articles that are featured. I’ve included the link for those of you that would like to check it out. Turn to page 56 and the article is entitle “Family Home Storage: A New Message”.
http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/EN_2009_03_00___04203_000_000.pdf
Guideline 1: Build your three-month supply gradually.
One of the things that I really took away from this article is that we’re not expected to “plan” for an entire year right up front. “Start small and do the best you can. Begin by purchasing a few extra items to add to your storage each week. Strive to build a one-week supply; then expand it to a one-month supply, then a three-month supply. By building your supply slowly, you can avoid financial strain and start down the path toward self-reliance.” Pg. 58 Ensign, March 2009
Guideline 2: Store drinking water.
I know that we all go to the grocery store and buy bottled water. So when we go we can buy an extra case and set it to the side. With everything that has happened within the last few years from 911 to Katrina to the flooding in Iowa this past summer, you never know when a major catastrophe is going to take out the water supply. “In times of need, having water to drink can be the difference between life and death—or at least between peace and anxiety.” Pg. 59, Ensign, March 2009
Guideline 3: Set aside a little money.
Now as far as this goes, this is where I will struggle the most; because if I have money available then I will spend it. So this money needs to be in some type of account that is safe from “prying hands.” This is why Jared, my sweetie, is perfect for me. Because he will ride my butt hard on any purchases if I tell him to guard my finances for me. “From the First Presidency comes this counsel: ‘We encourage you wherever you may live in the world to prepare for adversity by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you to be modest in your expenditures. . . . Save a little money regularly to gradually build a financial reserve’.” Pg. 59-60 Ensign, March 2009
President Thomas S. Monson is quoted as saying “Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year’s supply of debt and are food-free.” Pg. 58, Ensign, March 2009
There are more guideline’s listed, but these are the three most important that I wanted to share with all of you. If I would have heeded the first two then I would not have even felt the shift of being down for three weeks with an illness.
All I am saying my friends, is in this economy that is such a mess right now, lets take more time to consider our homes and families. Let’s plan better and secure a future for our families that have them well provided for and keep them safe.
Many Blessings Everyone,
Mel
I am very close to the members of my church and they helped me out by delivering meals while I was sick. At least I didn’t have to worry about trying to cook dinner for my children. That was one burden lifted from my shoulders. You see I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. If there is one thing that we sister’s can do for one another its cook. And my kids were spoiled rotten. I don’t usually make desserts and my lovely Relief Society Sister’s all brought yummy brownies and bundt cakes. So after a week of that, my kids have come to expect these scrumptious and delectable treats to finish off their meals.
Unfortunately my new found budget will not allow such grandeur. I know that you think brownies and Bundt Cake, how expensive could that be? Well when you’re trying to take care of medical expenses on top of all the other daily bills that you have, it adds up to A LOT!
But if I had PLANNED for this, or at least had something saved up and food “in storage” as my church advises us all to do, I might not be in the situation that I currently find myself. Now, not to use this as an excuse, but I am a recent convert as of August 2008. So I am still learning about all the “planning and preparing” that goes into being part of the church. And I have to say that this is a fantastic idea. I want to share some of this with all of you because I think that we can all benefit from such knowledge.
I just got my March 2009 copy of the Ensign. Now for those of you that aren’t Mormon, you might not have heard of this magazine, but I’ve come to love the articles that are featured. I’ve included the link for those of you that would like to check it out. Turn to page 56 and the article is entitle “Family Home Storage: A New Message”.
http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/EN_2009_03_00___04203_000_000.pdf
Guideline 1: Build your three-month supply gradually.
One of the things that I really took away from this article is that we’re not expected to “plan” for an entire year right up front. “Start small and do the best you can. Begin by purchasing a few extra items to add to your storage each week. Strive to build a one-week supply; then expand it to a one-month supply, then a three-month supply. By building your supply slowly, you can avoid financial strain and start down the path toward self-reliance.” Pg. 58 Ensign, March 2009
Guideline 2: Store drinking water.
I know that we all go to the grocery store and buy bottled water. So when we go we can buy an extra case and set it to the side. With everything that has happened within the last few years from 911 to Katrina to the flooding in Iowa this past summer, you never know when a major catastrophe is going to take out the water supply. “In times of need, having water to drink can be the difference between life and death—or at least between peace and anxiety.” Pg. 59, Ensign, March 2009
Guideline 3: Set aside a little money.
Now as far as this goes, this is where I will struggle the most; because if I have money available then I will spend it. So this money needs to be in some type of account that is safe from “prying hands.” This is why Jared, my sweetie, is perfect for me. Because he will ride my butt hard on any purchases if I tell him to guard my finances for me. “From the First Presidency comes this counsel: ‘We encourage you wherever you may live in the world to prepare for adversity by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you to be modest in your expenditures. . . . Save a little money regularly to gradually build a financial reserve’.” Pg. 59-60 Ensign, March 2009
President Thomas S. Monson is quoted as saying “Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year’s supply of debt and are food-free.” Pg. 58, Ensign, March 2009
There are more guideline’s listed, but these are the three most important that I wanted to share with all of you. If I would have heeded the first two then I would not have even felt the shift of being down for three weeks with an illness.
All I am saying my friends, is in this economy that is such a mess right now, lets take more time to consider our homes and families. Let’s plan better and secure a future for our families that have them well provided for and keep them safe.
Many Blessings Everyone,
Mel
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