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Quest for Truth, Humor in AllSuzi Gravenstuk (124)    Suzi Gravenstuk    Our Other Jobs--Parent FundraisersPosted Friday, August 21, 2009 (80 days 4 hours ago.) Viewed 10 times. I woke up around 3AM feeling better than usual when I wake up. My conclusion is that I have been getting too much sleep. Instead of 6 or 7 hours, I should set my alarm so that I get exactly 5 hours sleep. Then I will physically feel better and accomplish even more. Usually my first thoughts are picking up from yesterday--Investors and Rental Candidates. These top of the morning thoughts were disturbed by a note from my daughter laying out by the coffee pot (wise girl). "Mom, do you know anyone who would like to sponsor me?" Skye is a very active member of many school groups and activities, one passion being the Long Beach Concert Choir. One of the first fund raisers is finding sponsors for students to walk 10 times around the LB foot ball track. Here is a link to the official Long Beach Concert Choir web site. Click here to listen to a few of their songs. Sponsors just let us know the $ and or cents they are sponsoring for each lap around the track, or just the total amount. Of course discovering this sudden mission left me virtually helpless as my day is pre-planned, thank GOD; with real estate missions. Fortunately, because of the real estate missions, I feel safe sponsoring her myself at $2 per mile or $20 for this fundraiser. There are more fundraisers coming up. The Long Beach Concert Choir Parent Association is very organized. I have long thought that their model would work well for any business. I just need to take time to put everything in my calendar. Obviously, a reminder from Skye will come at the last minute... By the way--if you plan to buy a Christmas Wreathe, please buy it from me; I mean Skye.  That being said--Our goal is to raise $8, 000 by February 2011 so I can accompany the choir as a chaperone on their trip to France. Skye is so involved in school I do not want her also working a job. I think it best that she focus on her school activities and keep that GPA up in the 3.75 to 4.0 range. However, she is a gifted and skilled writer. Her plan is to major in journalism. Sooo, my next move for both of us is to enroll with Writer's Market/Writers' Digest. Both of us will actively begin looking for contests we can win and possibly earn some paid writing assignments. As I go about my daily business I simply need to keep my eyes and ears open for inspirational topics. As someone once said, "Passion is the Best Route to the Top". Aside from Skye's surprise reminder, today's agenda includes completing three leases if they all make it to the finish line. In between those, I plan to visit several properties to take photos so I can up load some ads to make my phone ring, so I can assist others in making a home choice match, so I can make $, so I can pay down credit cards from past real estate endeavors. Getting rid of the interest will--in the end help pay for both of our 2011 trip to France. Now, if you have a child you are fundraising with, please add it here and write your own article so we can understand what you need; as well as how we can participate. If you have not yet joined SearchWarp as a writer, I invite you to do so by clicking on my SW link. 
Permalink Comments (0) Be Ready to Rent--Document, Document, DocumentPosted Thursday, August 20, 2009 (80 days 19 hours ago.) Viewed 25 times. Renting or leasing a home is serious business. A lease is a legal contract. Do not sign a lease unless you are certain you can honor it. If you walk out on a lease, no matter what the cause you stand a high chance of having a Landlord judgment attached to your credit report. This is a serious ding in the world of home rentals and/or property management. It may be difficult to find anyone who will even listen to your story if this ding pops up. If you have to break lease--please, please talk to your landlord and work out a payment plan ahead of time. In most cases you are not allowed to sub-lease. However, ask if the landlord will allow it. Ask if there is a termination fee. Try to maintain calm, professional communication and document everything! Before you look for a home to rent, please work out a budget. There are many free budget planners online. Be sure you count those little budget breakers. Here are a few:
If you are applying for a home that is in someway involved with a HUD or other Government program be ready in advance with:
Permalink Comments (0) Are You Dependent on Employee Benefits?Posted Sunday, August 16, 2009 (84 days 20 hours ago.) Viewed 17 times. Employers offer employee benefits to boost retention. Why do employees seek employers that offer benefits? ...Perhaps for a little extra peace of mind? The feeling that you are appreciated? The feeling that you are saving money by having the benefit choices? If the reason is medical insurance--what effect will the new health care plans have on employee retention. Awhile back I did a bit of side by side comparison between employer plans and plans currently offered to individuals. Even without Government intervention--sometimes you come out ahead by carrying your own insurance. I have been without benefits for a long, long time. Therefore I cannot tell you how it feels to have them. Recently I turned down a group insurance plan. It turned out to be an insightful decision because about a month later the company informed employees they were no longer providing the group insurance plan. I do know that I would not choose an employer because of the benefit package. I feel that this little package--which you could pay for yourself if you had the difference in wages, tends to create a feeling of dependency. An employee gifted with a super benefit package is less likely to separate from the company willfully. Sometimes, some employees should be separating, purposefully.
Permalink Comments (0) Ask and AnswerPosted Sunday, August 16, 2009 (85 days ago.) Viewed 1,292 times. The new Ask and Answer section on the home page of SearchWarp is fun! Not only do you get to ask those pesky questions of a large group of people; but you get to put in your 2 cents worth as well. I see extra curricular benefits of participating as:
So, I was sending this kudo through, or endeavoring to send it through when I received this note: Problem: Article must be at least 150 words in length. Currently 101 words. Now, I think it would be awesome to have a word counter on our SearchWarp page; but--I don't want to be so focused on word count that I lose substance either. Therefore, SearchWarp is perfect the way it is. So, Thanks SearchWarp.
Permalink Comments (6) Thinking it ThroughPosted Saturday, August 15, 2009 (85 days 17 hours ago.) Viewed 405 times. I cannot remember the last time that I had time to be almost bored. It is downright scary my friend. I had to treat myself as I would treat my children back in their, "Mommy--I'm bored!" years. My typical response, "...if you are bored, it is your fault. Sit down and think until you have a goal or I will set one for you." That works every time. They visualized goals I could and would come up with:
I realized through years of parenting myself that there exists, many, many constructive tasks I could take on. My boredom is a clear case of avoidance. Maybe a day of unplanned down time is not too bad. Really, should we be constructive every moment that we are awake? I realize I could be working on a weakness, I could be planning for the coming week, I could be preparing for anything. I will snap out of this. I actually plan to mow the back yard after... and, I plan to wade walk on the beach when it cools off a bit. I have my Blackberry within reach because I am on call. A few minutes ago I spent a few moments watching my 20 year old son as he napped on the couch. He spent the summer with my family in Texas, working in my mother's restaurant and taking Anatomy and Physiology. I enjoyed a few random moments of just loving him without his knowledge. If he had wakened he probably would have given me that "Mom, you're being weird again" feedback. A few seconds of gazing at him and I relived highlights from birth to 20. Of all the things God created, I think the human mind complete with memory is the most awesome and creative of all. A boring day spent on the front porch in Long Beach, Mississippi. I hear neighbors working with their power tools and lawn mowers; which incidentally has not motivated me to get up and start mowing yet. I hear all kinds sounds: birds (including Owls and Woodpeckers), frogs, dogs, insects, traffic, airplanes, wind chimes, and distant thunder. (Maybe I won't work in mowing the back lawn and going for a wade-walk). While thinking about writing, I realized it is time to review some basics. A quick Internet search for Free Writing Courses revealed that there is enough free review to keep me busy off and on through the rest of 2009. We should all expect to see improvement. Today, it seemed that writing was not in my spirit. Passion eludes me for most things currently. I did mow the back yard and was pleased and satisfied with the end result. It occurred to me that this is one more way that God created us in His image. We have the ability to look at the results of our work and declare, "it is good". We do not need a supervisor or a manager to tell us so. I repeat, we do not need anyone else to validate our work, or our level of satisfaction. So, I made it through the lawn mowing. Then my 16 year old daughter told me she was ready to join me for the beach wade walk. That was what I needed. It reminded me of the old days when we would walk and inspect nature in detail. This time, she was naming several beach creatures for my edification and to show off her new knowledge gained from her Marine Science class in high school. We delighted in watching two Hermit Crabs fight over a house, their shells--when each of them had a house of their own. For some reason many crabs had washed up on shore. Skye carefully picked them up, peered inside, spoke to them, then put them back in the water right side up. The return walk was tiring as we had walked a long ways without noticing the distance; again, just like old times. Back home, I realized and admitted to myself that I truly was not bored, maybe a teeny tiny, itsy bitsy bit depressed. I have a situation and lack a clear direction on the best course of action. I am old enough and experienced enough to realize this is temporary. I don't need drugs or a doctor, just time. I look forward to the return of passion and drive.
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