Mercury in retrograde - I LOVE YOU

Today is the last day Mercury is in retrograde for 2011. If you do not know what Mercury in retrograde is, talk to my friend, Wonder Bright! She's amazing at letting you know how to understand yourself through astrology!

I'm now starting a practice of sitting down and writing a list of "things to do" and actually take action on it while Mercury is in retrograde. It's a time where I sit down, asses and reassess what I'm doing in my life. I figure 4 times a year set aside to catch up is a great time frame and so far it works. Just to let you know, Mercury is in retrograde happens 4 times a year.

It was very uplifting to cross things off the list, complete those items lingering in the back of my head and clean! The closet is clean, clothes are donated, electronics are recycled and there's physical freedom in my space! There's also a lot of unexpected things that showed up. I found thins to start moving that used to be at a standstill. Also, because all the clutter is cleared, I get to be present in my life more times than not. I know it's probably because of the holidays, but I am really enjoying it. For the first time, I'm enjoying company, I'm enjoying being present and grateful for my life and I'm thankful for the people in my life. It is a real nice treat to end my year with! Because lord knows, last year ended a little differently.

The other thing that came out of this journey is realizing who I am, what I like to do and embrace it all. I'm taking ownership and through that... I know that I can handle any challenge coming my way.

At last, Mercury will go direct tomorrow, I'm prepared for the new things that will appear and the opportunity to be with the challenges, people and my life!

Happy Holidays!

Getting into the Holiday Spirit

As some of you may already know... I'm turning into an avid shopper/couponer! I'm all about saving money and making sure I'm getting a deal. I guess you can say it's the modern day haggling process, where I find codes and coupons instead of doing a back and forth negotiation.

Given the state of economy today, I must say that the Christmas spirit doesn't need to be crushed because there's not enough green. It's just a matter of staying informed and keeping your eyes and ears open. Of course, there's the whole being patient process, waiting to purchase what you need when there's a deal instead of waiting to the last minute. But all in all, I've been able to finish all of my Christmas shopping with not spending a whole lot of money! :) I think I spent $100 for everyone in my circle!

I'm going to show you a couple ways in which I've been able to save:

First, use the points you have. There are a lot of programs that you may already be a part of that you can turn your points over for cash or merchandise. Or at places you never thought of like Dave and Busters! For a 7 year old kid that wants a ball, you can get one that lights up for 450 coupons.

Second, take advantage of the online deals so that you don't have to fight traffic, find parking, wait in line and waste gas. A lot of websites are doing free shipping and some may even let you pile on coupon codes! Always do a search for coupons they may have. But first, make sure you head on over to Ebates , search for the place you're going to shop and click on the shop now button. By going through Ebates, you get some cash back from your purchase (The percentage varies by site, it ranges from 1% to 10%). In essence, when you shop with coupons, you save on the front end and when you shop with Ebates, you save on the back end. Also, when you sign up now, you get a $10 gift card. That's free money!

Lastly, there's nothing wrong with having a gift that comes from the heart. Lately, I've been feeling really grateful for what I have in my lift, for the friends and family that are with me and for knowing a lot of people that have moved on. Having a little something cherish a memory is just as good as the new iPad. Also, start finding some cool recipes to bake. My boyfriend and I made chocolate covered oreos and puppy chow. Great treats for the holidays and everyone loves them!

I hope your holidays are starting off smoothly and enjoy the time you have NOW! :)

Happy Shopping!

ING Direct's Disappointing Respons

Hello Readers,

From the last post, I posted my email to ING Direct. I thought I was clear on the issue, that the screen didn't show a pending or a scheduled transfer and that I didn't like being accused of lying, but they missed the point and the real issue. Here is their response:

Our records indicate that you signed in toingdirect.com at 1:47 PM ET on October 14, 2011, and requested to transfer $180.60 from your Bank of America checking account xxxx8253 to your Electric Orange checking xxxx3542.  You signed in to the website again at 1:50 AM ET on October 17, 2011, and scheduled an additional transfer for $180.60 from your Bank of America checking account xxxx8253 to your Electric Orange xxxx3542.  You also scheduled a transfer for $180.60 from your Bank of America checking account xxxx8253 to your Orange Savings Account xxxx3073 during this web session.

 

Additionally, we reviewed the phone call you shared with our Associates on October 20, 2011.  During the call, the Associates attempted to explain that you signed in on 2 different dates to schedule the transfers to your Electric Orange.  The Associates advised you that the transfer you scheduled on October 14, 2011, wouldn't appear under your scheduled transfers because it was already effective when you signed in to the website on October 17, 2011.  Please know that we deemed the service and information you received from our Associates as accurate and sufficient.  Since there was no ING DIRECT error, we're unable to reimburse you for any overdraft fees you may have incurred.

I'm actually disappointed. So I'm transferring my money and my families money. Currently, I've moved to Ally Bank and it's been an interesting journey trying to understand their process. The initial comment is that the website is slow - in terms of downloading all of their pictures and stuff. There are some components that don't logically flow for me but I can learn. The bright side is that I can scan my checks to deposit, they give you free checks, you get to create as many savings accounts that you'd like and give each account a nickname! Overall, it's good enough for me to give it a try! :) If you're interested in checking out other banks, here's a great article on which bank is the best for which category! 

Until next time, enjoy the Mercury in Retrograde! 

ING Direct - you have disappointed me

For those of you who don't know, I used to work at ING Direct. LOVED the company, I actually left because I was relocating. But now, I am so livid with #ingdirect that I am officially divorcing them and moving on! I got really comfortable with using their internet site that I didn't bother looking elsewhere. There are other options, in which I have found a replacement for my bank. To let you in on what happened, I'm posting the email that I just sent them with regards to what happened. Stay tuned next time on which bank I chose and why. (I hate it when I'm being called a liar!)


Dear ING Representative,

I am writing to you regarding my recent experience with your customer service while I was overseas at Thailand attending my Grandmother's funeral. I believe I made my phone call on 10/26 or somewhere around that time. I was alerted via email of an overdraft that occurred with my BofA account.

The last time I logged into my ING Account was on Sunday, 10/23 and I had noticed that there was no evidence of my transfer that I had made from my BofA account of $180.60. I was previously employed at ING Direct and I know that the transfer will either say that it's scheduled or pending. Neither of which was shown on my screen that Sunday. I assumed that it was my imagination and I redid the transfer.

The transfer was not my imagination and ING Direct had done an ACH transfer with my BofA account twice. I immediately called ING Direct via my Google Voice number, thank god for internet and free international calls. I spoke with a representative who then transferred me. I looked through my email to see if I received a confirmation and I didn't find it. While waiting to be transferred, I found the email. At which point I told the customer service representative that there was confirmation but the screen didn't say anything. I wouldn't do the same transfer twice, let alone overdraw on my account. I wanted to know why. He said he would go and find out. When he returned, he told me that ING Direct would not be able to credit me the overdraft fee since I received a confirmation, and said that there was no problem with showing the pending or scheduled transactions.

As a former employer and a fan of ING Direct and a recipient of the Golden Glove aware, I was livid.  I was basically accused of lying and he didn't do what he said he would do. It would be a shame if this was an ongoing problem that your customers faced and they were charged with constant overdraft fees. It would be counterproductive to the "saving" that your customers would be doing. And it is unfortunate that this happened to me. Personally, I hate being told that I am lying when I am a customer. I have no reason to lie, I wasn't event calling for a credit. I was calling to inform you that there is problem. Giving the situation I was in, I immediately got off the phone. This incident is upsetting enough for me to leave ING Direct and not refer anyone to your bank. I'm currently in the process of moving my money and automatic payments to another bank and my family's money over. I know that I do not have a lot to make a dent in your profit margin and I do not know if any action will be taken. It is unfortunate to see that ING Direct who has been about its customers and saving, would turn into the typical brick and mortar bank that I see everyday. It's unfortunate.

I feel that my reason for leaving should be communicated. If you'd like to look further into the situation, feel free to pull up the call and listen to it. My customer number is xxxxxxxx. Good-bye.

What do you do now with new bank fees?

I was not surprised when I heard that BofA was looking to implement charges for Debit Card transactions. Personally, it didn't matter to me - only because I don't use my debit card. However, I read this article about how BofA is still going to make money if you don't use your debit card. Here's how.

Those customers who are outraged and threatening to leave the bank... probably will not. It will take some work to leave the bank: take your money out, find another bank, get some new checks.. ect. Effort that may deter someone away from leaving.

Those customers who are looking to find an alternative to using debit cards, will... they'll just use their credit cards. But you have pay the balance in full at the end of each billing cycle or else you'll be charged interest. Which is exactly what the big banks want because they make more money on the interest than the $5 debit card fee.

Now, when you decide your new course of action, make sure that you're aware of your choices. I believe BofA still gives free checking for student accounts, with free checks. Even though there's the debit card fee coming out next year, you get unlimited transactions at the ATM. If anything, just change your habits.

Lastly, if you're looking to change banks, I came across this article that has some really great options! I'm personally a BofA customer and primarily an ING Direct Customer. If you want a $25 bonus for signing up with ING Direct, let me know so I can send you the promo link. :)

Happy Saving! Every little bit helps!

Another way to increase savings!

I know a couple posts ago I talked about how much of a fanatic I am about extreme couponing and I've taken it on to really coupon for things that I need. Through this experience, I've learned that some stores have their perks and you need to understand it in order to fully maximize it.

For example, Ralphs will double each of your coupons up to $1, so a $.50 coupon will turn to a $1 off. CVS and Target have their own coupons that can be matched up with manufactured coupons which means great savings! It really helps to reach my goal of saving more than 50% during each shopping trip.

Lastly, there's a website called Plastic Jungle where you get to purchase gift cards at a discount and sell unwanted gift cards that you have laying around! I've purchased gift cards from Target, The Body Shop, and Starbucks through this website giving me additional savings on what I'm already saving on! It's been a really fun treat and you don't have to pay for shipping! It's turned to be one of my favorite places and they're starting an affiliate program. Meaning that everyone you refer, for their very first transaction, you get $5! So head on over to Plastic Jungle, sign up, find a gift card for you and tell your friends and family out there.

After all, a penny saved is more than a penny earned! Happy Shopping!

There are two types of people that I encounter...

Continuing from the last post, there are two people in life that I encounter. The people who have an obstacle that comes up and immediately gets stopped from what they're doing and the people who say how can I find another way. Now, you're not stuck in one category or another forever and you can always switch back and forth. However I do believe that to be someone who is "unstoppable" or always looking for ways to make something happen it takes practice.

It's a practice of conditioning yourself to recognize when you're stopping because of some obstacle, a practice of asking for help when you don't know where to turn and a practice of thinking of other solutions. This is not something you're born with nor does it happen overnight. So ask yourself, do you immediately get stopped or do you keep on going? Are there unfinished tasks that you have on your to do list that can easily be done when you just take the time, to focus and give a little brain power? What can you finish today that's been burning on your list for a while now?

Facebook... you're driving me crazy!

I know that I am not caught up with the social media world nor the digital world. The free time I had back in the day (when I was in college) is no longer the same. I don't have the time to find all my friends, to learn a new social website or to create another profile.

This also creates more frustration when the sites I'm currently working on keeps updating and I have to "RELEARN" it all! Boy does it make me feel old! The latest frustration I have is with Facebook. I am holding a fundraiser for my Speech and Debate team. Naturally, I would put the event up on Facebook. Two weeks ago I found out that they took away the option of sending a message to your guests! This means that I cannot update them on what's going on and I can't remind them to show up to the fundraiser! WHAT THE HECK!

Of course, I tried other options to get the word out, but I haven't found one that would quite do what that nifty button did back in day. I'm now left with either saying "I can't" or "How can I?"

More in next week's blog about who you are... but more importantly, check out our fundraiser! www.ghscreamingeagles.com

Persistence - Interacting with Others

Continuing from last week's post of listening to what people are really saying, I actually noticed how I interacted with people.

In my business, I'm always working with people and what I've noticed is that in working with people, there are some people who don't return my phone calls and emails or they just say no to everything I ask of them. As time goes on, my willingness to call them again or ask them to do something again diminishes and I'm left doing the work myself or frustrated because I haven't received a follow up. I'm making it mean that these people are people I don't want to interact with or they really don't want to work with me. In the end, I'm resentful of them, frustrated and nothing gets accomplished.

But what if that's not the case. What if they legitimately forgot, something happened or they really are busy? What if I gave up the idea that they don't want to work with me and gave it a whole new meaning? After all, I do forget things that I don't write down. I am also guilty of not returning emails for weeks at a time because my email blows up and the email gets lost. And we did just have a holiday weekend!

So I'm going to try that. I'm going to continue to call them, email them and ask them. It only really takes a minute or less out of my day, whereas the resentment and the emotion of making them wrong takes a lot longer. Try it and let me know what happens!

Communication - What are they really saying

Lately, I've noticed that people haven't been saying what they've been meaning. As a former debater I have enhanced my skill of paying attention to what people really say and basing my conversation on what they said.

However, in society, we don't really operate that way. 95% of the time, we're saying something but meaning something else. So how the heck are we suppose to communicate? We don't. No wonder we're in the trouble that we're in.

What would happen if everyone said what they meant, meant what they said and said it nicely? Think about it.

Until that happens, I received some advice on how to deal with this. When you're talking to someone, listen for what they are scared of and then address their fear. Now, I'll just have to remind myself when that happens. In the meantime, my girlfriend shared with me this pretty funny video that brings humor to this situation I find myself in. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. (FYI: it's a clip basically noting that what women talk about, gossip, is nothing but birds chirping.)

Patience is a Virtue Part 8 - Quibids

There have been a lot of auction sites popping up lately about winning things for as low as 1 penny. I've caught onto the recent trend and decided to try out Quibids.

Can I say that I'm a big fan of the structure. First and foremost, it's definitely a process to get used to and you need to take some time to understand it before you jump right in. Each bid you place with cost you some money and each bid will add some time to the clock so it does take some patience.

I've seen some bids take hours before they close, typically those are the bigger ones. I personally like to go for the smaller prizes because I don't have the patience to wait for a long bidding war. But there are some big ticket items that will take about 5 minutes before they come out with a winner! You just never know how things are going to go, I just make sure I'm prepared to sit down for the long haul if need to be, and that this is something that I need and want.

So if you haven't already, check out Quibids. It's a nice entertainment, but patience is worth it. Patience with figuring it out and sometimes long bidding wars... because when you think it's going to end, thing again!

Patience is a Virtue Part 7 - Extreme Couponing

Okay, so I'm turning into an addict of watching Extreme Couponing. Because of the show, I see an endless amount of possibilities of what someone can do with couponing! I mean come on! $1500 grocery bill down to a couple hundred dollars? That's pretty amazing.

Now, I'm not as extreme as those on the tv shows, I strive to save about 50% of my bill each and every time and sometimes I've gotten really great deals and others are just okay. Nonetheless, I'm saving money. I also don't have a stockpile... I buy a couple things at a time, as they are needed and because of the limited amount of coupons I have.

However, I've noticed that in the couponing world, waiting is a major part of the game. I've noticed that I won't buy something because I have a coupon for it; I actually wait till it's on sale. And what's even cooler is that Target and CVS may have their own coupons that you can combine with a manufacturers coupon which gives you double the savings! That is what I look out for!

The other thing is that it takes time to build up your inventory of coupons, so when you first start, it may not seem like a lot but as an ongoing thing, it can turn into a huge binder. I do have some friends that watch out for the amount of time that it takes them, making sure they're not spending too much time nor buying things they don't need. I personally find the cutting, the filing, the thinking and the math problems stimulating. It gives me a break from my job, from deadlines and from projects to think about something else. Also, it's very exciting to when you score a package of Keebler Fudge Cookies for $.50 a piece or free shower gel! You get to see the instant gratification. However, what it all boils down to is balance for each individual person, it can be an outlet or a burden. Personally, I am happy that TLC started the series because who knows how long I would be in the dark about the couponing world.

Happy Couponing!

Patience is a Virtue Part 6

I've started reading "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho again, it's my third time reading the book. I enjoy reading it because it takes me away from the world in front of me and reunites me with my "personal legend".

There was a passage I read, but cannot find right now, where Santiago made a really wise statement. He said that he needed to be patient with achieving his personal legend. His path has been written and he must listen to the omens of the world because they will guide him to his treasure.

What I'm taking away from this is to really be patient when I'm working towards my dream/my treasure/my goals. There's my measure of time and there's GOD's measure of time. It's almost as if with patience you run with a little bit of faith. And with the faith, you get to be surprised when the results come.

For example, I've had a potential customer meet me at the very beginning the year, in January. He said he wanted to take some time and think about it. We kept in touch, once every several weeks and finally he chose to my customer this past week! That was 8 months of waiting and being patient with him. I have no complaints about the process, I had full faith in him fulfilling on what he needed to take care of so that he could fully participate in the real estate journey.

So when there's a new objection, someone wanting more time, or something comes up, just breath, take your time, give them time and have a little faith!

Patience is a Virtue Part 5

This past week LA celebrated Navy Week (www.navyweek.org) and my dad got the excitement to check out the USSR Lincoln Aircraft Carrier. It turned out to be a family affair and the only day to attend was Sunday - the very last day.

We arrived at the parking lot at about 10 am, when the tours would start. There was already a line! The security guard estimated the wait time to be 6 hours! My dad wanted to see this thing, so we waited. I had found out that "opened toed shoes" was not allowed and what was I wearing? Sandals! So I found a target 1.5 miles away, walked there with my mom to buy some new shoes and walked back!

On the way back, they had closed the walk way to the parking lot. Apparently, the tours had been on hold and no one was allowed in. I spoke to one of the officers and he said "sorry" I can't let you in, even if my family and car was inside. (Good thing I didn't drive to target) Then I just waited. The same officer came back to verify my story and said, "Just wait and I'll try to sneak you in". In a matter of minutes, he allowed us to cross the street but then a different officer stopped us. I kindly told him my car is was parked and he let us pass. The next step was to find my brother and my father who were waiting in line. I told another security guard the situation, and he told me to wait here until the line crosses, but nothing else. I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing... but my mom and I were able to cross and find my brother to reunite the family. It really felt like I was infiltrating a high level operation! :) And yes I felt important.

We waited a total of 4.5 hours and my Dad was practically at Disneyland! It was awesome! The moral of the experience was... just wait and be patient. Just because you're not getting your way now doesn't mean you won't be getting your way later.

I've personally noticed that things are taking a lot longer to happen not just in my life... but in the world in general. I mean we got the debt ceiling bill passed right before the deadline. Just let it happen at it's own pace. That's always something I struggle with, letting it happen at it's own pace! :) And that process of practicing being Patient!

Patience is a Virtue Part 4

When I was a kid growing up I could remember once a year, during the summer, it would be so hot outside that the ants would come into the house to stay cool and find food. (That's what I believed about the "staying cool" part - I don't really have proof). Then one year, they never came and I quickly forgot about my annual visit - that is, until now.

Randomly I would find a couple ants in my bathroom on the second floor. Then the next couple days they were in the kitchen. But there were only a few so I couldn't find a trail to zap and end the infestation. It started to be an annoyance and I quickly ignored it, but they kept coming!

Last night, as I was filling up my cup of water, they were all over the kitchen floor! The frustration was still there because I still couldn't see a trail! Then, I took a deep breath and scanned every part of where the ants could come from and I found it! It was from the water filter! ZAP! They were done!

But the bathroom upstairs was still a problem. In the morning, I found a couple ants on my counter and then on my shower wall. I was getting impatient again and wondering to myself... if I only knew where they were coming from! So, I just followed an ant hoping to find the hole. It took a little while, they seem to have A.D.D. sometimes, but after a few minutes, it crawled into a hole from my shower handle! ZAP! It was done.

Now the idea of waking up to ants crawling all over me in the middle of the night is put to rest! There's no more surprise, no more frustration and no more torment! There's peace and calm - all from being patient for a couple minutes. Isn't it funny how waiting a little bit longer can provide so much for a human being? Next time, breath and wait. That's my advice on taking care of ants.

Patience is a Virtue Pt. 3

Today's topic is about diets/losing weight/being in the best shape of your life! The inspiration of this blog is from "The 4 hour body" by Tim Ferris and The Bitter Truth About Sugar Lecture.

I've been doing the slow carb diet since the beginning of this year and there are definitely highs and lows. The biggest question of all from this diet is since people are losing massive pounds in a week - AM I? If not, the diet is not working or I'm doing something wrong. However, I'd like to point out the pitfall - comparing yourself to others. That is the number one thing not to do in any area of your life because you're always going to be discouraged and it will ultimately invalidate your progress and ultimately lead you to quit.

For me, weight has been a slight issue, but ultimately the biggest thing is I'd like to look more toned. I didn't do the diet to lose weight, I did it for lifestyle changes. The diet has forced me to plan my food, to cook my food, to eat more vegetables and really to take care of myself. Ultimately with keeping up with the "rules" of the diet and understanding that sugar is bad but I can have it 1 day out of the week - it has worked miracles on my body. I've lost pounds, I've lost inches, and I've lost fat! I can truly say it's best body I've had and I can't wait for the beach! :) Now, it didnt' happen over night, which means my weight, inches and fat aren't coming back over night! Patience was the key in having my success and not being obsessed about the scale was what had me stick to it. Although I weighed myself almost everyday, I measured myself every 2 months. Those are the numbers that prove to me that the diet is working - over time.

So for all those people out there who want a lifestyle change, I highly recommend those two sources above and to be patient with yourself. Your true body image will emerge when you choose to take care of yourself! Happy BIKINI body!

Patience is a Virtue 2

Part of me feels like I'm always trying to get a post written but I'm always putting it at the bottom of the list. And now, I've just come to the realization that I'm going to post when I can. Who says that I have to post every week and who says that I have to do anything at all. Enough with beating myself up!

Now onto the good stuff. In this entry I want to talk about patience with myself. After the last post, I got sick and it took a week to get better, and another week to get back in the routine of things - hence the delay. But that's besides the point. What I realized when I was sick laying in bed, was that in high school, I would plow through the fatigue, fever, sore throat or whatever illness I had at the time, and still do what I needed to do - which was go to school. But now, I find myself laying in bed the moment I feel sick; and I wondered why. This immediately brought me back to the book by Tony Robbins, Awaken the Giant Within, where he talks about values that we all have. It was then I realized my value of health was really low and practically non existent in high school, and now, it's a concern of mine. It's funny how the things we value shape our actions, our thoughts and our life.

Today, I find that I do not value partying, but I value family, health, love and my work. This shift, has me hang out with people that share the same values, which then you're surrounded with like minded people.

Now, there's nothing wrong with plowing through, or partying. It's just what that person values at that moment in time. That's all. And sometimes it takes something simple to happen to sit and rethink what's important. For me, it was getting sick. And recovery was making me very impatient. But the thing that bugged me most was that it took me almost two weeks to get back into the swing of things. In the fast pace world that I live in, to have something take two weeks is crazy. But I've come to realized that sometimes taking a step back or two, may be the best thing that will ever happen. Feeling like I took two steps back when it was just one step forward is not bad, it's just life. Especially today, where we don't stop to think that the world issues are really impacting our day to day activities.

So today, I leave you with one action item this weekend as we celebrate our Independence Day, where have you beaten yourself up in your life and can you let it go and be patient with yourself?

Patience is a Virtue

The common theme that I've seen this year is patience... mainly me being patient. I've heard the saying, "patience is a virtue" and since I've noticed it showing up in all areas of my life, I figured it could be a series of blog posts I could write. So, for the next couple of posts, you'll read how being patient shows up and how it pays off in my life. I hope you enjoy it and it makes a difference for you.

The first post will be about relationships. After dating someone for a while I've become really clear that I cannot make him do what I want him to do. This also works with friends and family. When I'm talking about making them do something, it's not like clean the dishes or wash the car - it's more than that. I'm referring to the "ah ha" moments in life where they make their choice to change their life for the better. Like quitting smoking, quiting drinking, seeing how they are judging someone, making someone wrong, or they are in the way of producing results in their life. I find that if I tell them that they are doing something wrong, or their behavior is a problem a couple things happen. Either they get mad, they get defensive, or they are in denial. The end result is the same if not more of the same behavior continues. I've come to the conclusion that I have to be patient and have them get that it's a problem. They have to come to the conclusion themselves that something needs to change in order for the change to take place. So, if you've noticed that there's a problem to point out, listen for when it's time to share your concern, but share it in such a way where you're not expecting an action or an outcome. Just share from your point of view. Sooner or later, they will get it, just trust that they will. After all, your concern for their issue is weighing only on you, not them. So why stress over it?

The Surprise of Death

Earlier this week, two people in my community died in a tragic plane accident. I say from my community because I knew of them but we've never talked. However, their influence to the people around me have been astronomical and because of that, I see this incident as a tragic loss.

Every human being wants to make a difference in the world. And through my life, I've found people who don't realize that's what they want to do, who are in pursuit of that and who are doing it. Chad Wade and Justin Yates were those people who were doing it - one person at a time. I know that the difference they made on this planet is huge and will last a lifetime.

As I said, I didn't know them like I know my close friends, but death has us react in all different ways. I was never taught what to say, what to feel, what to do and how to react when you hear that someone has passed. It was, for the most part, hidden from me when I was growing up. It was something not to concern with the kids. But it wasn't until this past week that I gave myself the freedom to feel and do whatever was there. I was shocked, sad, upset, in denial, torn, and really aware of what I was doing. I was thinking of where my life was going. I now know that there is no perfect way to deal with death, there's no proper thing to say or do. There is just being with what is so and not doing anything else. Getting the reality check of my mortality has me write this to you - my community. I want to have you all do something you've been putting off, share your love with someone even though you know they know or even better - tell someone you've never told them how you felt. Because I promise you, sometimes you'll never know when the time is up. Chad and Justin were off on a business trip, they didn't think that when they left it was going to be the last time they would say good by to their families. So just for today, live it fully so that you can say you have.

Getting Started and Then Some

I know that I haven't written anything in a while and I have to admit that writing a "blog" entry was on my list for a long time but I never got to it. As each week passed by, I realized that it was bugging me and bugging me and bugging me.

Then I realized that this happens a lot. If it don't do something that is on my list, and it's on my list week after week after week, it starts to bug me. Then it consumes my brain, and next you thing I know, this is all I think about. At that point, I don't have the capacity to do anything else. I would say that I'm not the only one that has trouble doing everything on their list, prioritizing their list and having it nag you. Although I've heard of many ways of how to get through it, the only one that seems to work is really to just do it.

Hence, I'm now taking on writing all of my ideas down so I don't have to worry about remembering them and then scheduling a time to work on it. I make sure I do one thing at a time and finish it before I move to something else. Because once I complete the daunting simple task, I can then see the next thing that's suppose to come my way. And maybe that's what I need to be reminded of, that there will be something greater on the other side.

I hope this new context helps you in your week on fulfilling those daunting tasks that's been on your lists this year!

Spreading the Word Part 5

Okay, here is the last and final two things you can do to Save the Earth!

9. Get off: if you're on mailing lists of catalogs and you don't buy from them, just give them a call and tell them to get you off their list.

10. Support WWF: They're working to protect threatened species and preserve their habits. Urgency is needed!

Well that's it. It's taken me a while but it's out there! Thanks WWF for putting the simple steps together and it's just a matter of creating the habit in our everyday lives that will truly make the difference!

Spreading the Word Part 4

Here is #7 and #8

7. Flip 'em off. It's sad to say, we can't see the stars at night anymore. Turn off the lights in the house that you're not in. Enjoy the peace and quiet of the dark, the night and maybe the stars.

8. Get in touch with your roots. Plant a tree! It's good for the soil, for the birds and reducing climate change! Also, it cleans the air we breath! Personal note: If you don't have space to plant a tree, join Arbor Day Foundation and they'll plant 3 trees on your behalf with an annual membership.

Don't forget, San Gabriel has an Electronic Recycling Day Saturday 1/15 from 10am to 3pm at San Gabriel Christian! Thanks WWF to give us the simple steps to save the planet!

Spreading the Word Part 3

Happy New Year Folks! I hope you were able to finish off 2010 with some fun and start 2011 off with some excitement. Here's step 5 and 6 on the simple things YOU can do to SAVE the Earth!

5. Paper nor plastic. Bring your own bags with you. Americans use an average of 350 bags per year. Reduce the needless deaths of marine life from plastic bags! Personal tip, leave them in the car so when you do an unexpected shopping trip, you'll have one with you! Or, don't take bags at all when you can carry the items yourself.

6. BYOB - bring your own bottles. Last year, we Americans - just in the US ALONE, used 50 billion plastic water bottles. Fill up a reusable water bottle at home and bring it with you. Personal note: I've been reusing glass bottles that were once sparkling water. It's worked real well for me - other than it being a little heavier than plastic bottles.

That's it for this week. Please share with others and take these little lessons with you! Tune back next week for Steps 7 and 8. Thank you World Wildlife Fund!