Chasing The All Mighty Dollar

I want to be financially independent and self-sufficient.  Like everyone else on the planet.  Money is a necessary evil in this world.  My mindset however has changed in recent years.  Growing up I always wanted to be rich (but never famous), and while that would be nice, now I’m more concerned with just having enough money in the bank that I don’t have to worry so much about it.

I want a steady stream of income.  But more importantly, I want to be able to enjoy my life.  I don’t want to spend my every waking moment working for money, because that’s going to shortchange the truly important things in my life.  My daughter, my hobbies, becoming more self-sufficient in other ways, the things I really and truly love. 

I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s when everything was about what you had…the best car, best TV, best house…and bigger was better.  It was all about consumerism, and unfortunately, I was at my most susceptible at that point.  Too young to really understand what those messages meant, and definitely too young to understand how it would work out in my life.  Plus there was the message at home that we never had enough money.  I missed out on a lot during my childhood because of that.

I no longer want to keep up with the Jones-es, and frankly, they’re up to their eyeballs in debt.  Right now, $1000 sounds like a pretty big chunk of change to me, even though realistically that doesn’t go very far in today’s world.  I make less then that now.  Millions sound unattainable but heavenly.  My dream right now is 200 acres of land or more, a big house, a decent car (and a 4 wheel drive vehicle) and just what I need to take care of my family in the way they should be taken care of. 

My family is my wealth, not how many dollars I have in the bank.  The memories I create with them are priceless.  Knowing that I’m doing what I can to take care of my family the best way possible makes me happier then a check or deposit.  Money doesn’t make me happy anymore, nor does the stuff I can buy with it.  At least most of it.  There are some things that money can buy that would make me very happy indeed.

Above Photo By sxc.hu user dspruitt

Photography

One of my goals this year is to take my photography to the next level.  Among many other things, of course.
Sheer honesty time, the only camera I use is my Kodak EasyShare C813. It’s the only digital camera I own.  I also have no photo editing skills.  All the photos I’ve posted have been straight off the camera, and I’ve never figured out how to use the onboard editing tools either.  I know how to do the very basics, as in resize, crop, sharpen…but other then that, nothing.  And I know literally nothing about Photoshop.  I don’t even own Photoshop, as amazing as that might sound.

Obviously, there is a large amount of gaps in photography for me.  And if there is one thing I cannot stand, its gaps in knowledge.  While the C813 is a good little point and shoot I think, there is so much that annoys me about it.  For one thing, even with ISO changes, it takes horrible night shots.  And there is nothing I love to take a picture of more then the moon on..well…anything.

I’m looking at (and have added to my honkin Amazon Wish List) one of these bad boys.  From what I’ve read, it looks to do everything I need it to.  It’s the Nikon D3100, though the D7000 looks real purty too.  But considering I’ve never owned a DSLR before, and I’ve only played with my Dad’s Canon Rebel XTi.  So I really have very little experience with working with a camera like this, but I know it will do far more then my puny C813.  I also debated getting one of Canon’s DSLRs, but I love how Nikon’s photos come out straight off the camera.

I’m a bit of a photo junkie, and while I take semi-decent photos with my C813, I really want to expand my world.  Which means its time to save up for a decent camera, some good editing software…and actually learn how to use both.

What camera do you use?  And do you Photoshop/edit your photos?

My House Is Mine Again!

Oh how exciting, the boys are gone!  Now I can get back to the business of living, writing and damn, cleaning.  My house is completely trashed from their two week stay…its amazing what three kids can do compared to one.  And I just didn’t have the energy to stay on top of it, so really its my fault.  This Momma does not do good on very little sleep, let me tell you, especially not when its sudden.

I can say with heartfelt sincerity that I will NOT do this again.  In my current place and where I’m at in life, it’s just too much.  Way too damn much.  There really isn’t any room for them here, and my house is definitely not childproof, although I tried before they showed up.  Nothing like a couple of toddlers to show you where you messed up!

No matter how cute they are.  During the day, fine…overnight once or twice okay.  But for two weeks straight?  Nuh uh, not happening.  I’m too old for that.

Oh, and that “big” snow storm we were supposed to get?  4 whopping inches.  Of course it did change to freezing rain, with some thunder and lightning action.  That’s twice in the past two years there has been thunder and lightning during the winter…something I never saw before as a kid growing up here.  Never.  The closest I had ever gotten to lightning during the winter was the glow of the shocks we received any time we touched anything…got to love static electricity.  Not.

It started out so pretty too.