kurty[B]

Well, December in general, this is mainly a rant, as there sort of is a light at the end of the tunnel, it just seems to get farther away with each passing day.

So... Let's start. I did some repairs on my vehicle, knowing it needed them, and knowing it would run me broke a few weeks ago. It costed more than expected, and tapped me out completely. OK, no big deal, that's only the third time this year that has happened because of my vehicle (almost the worst decision I've ever made purchasing that thing).

So, I knew I was not going to have much, if any money to buy anybody gifts. That's no big deal, not much of a change from previous years, but for once I wanted to give to the people I love instead of being the "disaffectionate-college-aged-person" out there not giving a damn about others. So, I decided to stay on top of bills, which I have still been able to do, and was planning on using the paycheck I would normally get today for christmas gift shopping for AT LEAST my girlfriend, and my pregnant sister! So, I check the bank account today while pulling up some sites, and about to make some purchases, and there's just barely enough in there for my loan check that's waiting to get cashed. Hmmmm... I check my company's silly time reporting website to see what's going on. And, my timesheet for the last period is "Pending Approval". Turn around, and my manager's computers are not on (meaning she's not in).

Ask my Team Lead "Where's 'said-manager'?"

"Oh, she's on vacation this week".

Look back at the site that says she's the one to Approve my time sheet, and there are no back-ups to do this.

Asking my Team Lead again "So, what happens if my timesheet from last week is still pending approval?"

I'll just get down and dirty with it... Right now, at this point, I'm waiting to see if another manager where I work can get access to approve it, or waiting for my manager to check her e-mail or work voicemail, or cell phone voicemail while on vacation (HAHA), or for the payroll department lady (who sadly enough lives across the country, and I've contacted her so much that I open up my conversations to her with "How is your son doing?"... *sigh*). So, now I'm waiting on a reply from anyone on any of this. Even if it gets approved today, I might be lucky if I get the money in direct deposit on Friday, more than likely it will show up Monday or Tuesday (thanks to 3-4 business day waits). Now, if I can get someone to approve it, I'm sure the payroll lady will be willing to send my payment Western Union as she has done this before for me in similar situations (which have happened too many times in my mind).

So... I'm looking at my loan check going through and not even having a dime to my name (not even a credit card to pay for anything). I won't have gas money, food money, christmas liquor money, pay-the-rest-of-my-bills money, CHRISTMAS GIFT money! the rest of this week, weekend, and who knows till when.

I'm well overdo on the tuition I owe for last semester (thanks to car repairs, *sigh*), and so I'm not taking any classes next semester. I have this dream to transfer to UBC (University of British Columbia), but that's a whole 'nother situation with the girlfriend, and such. At this point, I'm just trying to see what sort of scholarships I can get to just keep going to school in state. I still plan to apply to a variety of colleges I want to go to, and will see what sort of financial assistance I can get from them (after my current financial crisis dies down).

*Sigh*...

On a lighter note... I took my girlfriend snowboarding yesterday for her first time ever (she's from Hawaii, has bodyboarded, but never surfed, or snowboarded in her life), and she picked it up surprisingly well, and is super excited about going up more and more this season!!

Oh, and sorry for the long post. Just needed to rant.

Ishmal

Geeze Man,

Wat a hard break for christmas...

maybe you could call the snow boarding a small christmas present for the missus... and get her something else wen the finances pick up??? i'm sure she'll understand.

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"Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular."

lurkette

Look at this as an opportunity to get in touch with the less commercial side of the holidays. Presents are just a commodified way to show people you care about them, right? So find non-material ways to do that for the people around you. Write them letters telling them how much they mean to you, or if you're not the verbal type, make little "favor" coupons for them for nice stuff you know they'd appreciate - shoveling the walk, washing their car, whatever. Or just make an effort to spend time with them.

Hope things look up for you!

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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France

vox_rox

It sounds like a Christmas from hell, man I feel for you.

This may not help you feel better, but if you can't really change what's happening, just live within your means and do what you can to enjoy the season.

I look around at the lineups of homeless people on my way to work and always think to myself that no matter what happens to me, at least I'm still better of than many, so I can be thanksful, at least, for that.

Does that mean I WANT to be broke over Christmas. No, and like I said, I know this is going to make your holiday season a lot less holiday-ish. so be thanksful for the things you have, and try not to worry about the tihngs you don't have, and you'll come out the other side happier, and maybe even a little bit richer - in more ways than one.

Peace,

Pierre

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There is no such thing as strong coffee - only weak people.
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Master_Shake

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You know something, I don't think the sun even... exists... in this place. 'Cause I've been up for hours, and hours, and hours, and the night never ends here.

kurty[B]

Yeah, the missus understands... And we will probably go snowboarding the day after Christmas. I would do the "favor" thing, but aside from my girlfriend the rest of my family is spread out all over the place.

It snowed a decent amount the last two days, and when I came home after work, I noticed the walks had been shoveled, but a few inches had collected since, because I love the snow I started shovelling the walks, and just decided to shovel the walks of all my neighbors in our little apartment complex, and then piled up all the snow in front of my little lawn so I could jump into it. Mmmmm, I hope the snow stays on the ground long enough to have a white Christmas, have not had one of those since I moved from the small mountain town I grew up in ten years ago.

I always try and look at the fact that I do have more than most people. I have a place to live, good friends, and family, I live in a beautiful place, and nothing is quiet as nice as driving past Garden of the Gods on my way to work while it's covered in snow, and the clouds were slowly peeling off the mountains.

It's just sometimes you feel like you are running towards progress, but everytime you take a few steps forward something is there to knock you back to where you were when you started, or worse.