Topic : Is This Normal Social Discussion

I just wanted to thank all of you.  Often I wonder why I just can't master the art of brevity.  You know, "hi guys, my cat is sick.  How are you?"

Anyway, yesterday Franco ate and drank and snuggled up to Shannon and my friend Joseph, who came to visit.  Last night he slept with me, purred all night.  This morning I got up and found him on the balcony in his favourite lawnchair, sitting in the sun.  He finally came in, all wobbly in the legs and ironically, or perhaps symbolically, who knows, went into the washroom and laid down peacefully.  No crying, just purring.  Shan and I kept checking on him, talking quietly and petting him.

He died two hours ago, poor old guy, with his paws crossed and his eyes closed.

Diagnosed on Monday, dead on Wednesday.  How's that for brevity.

I will miss him more than you know.  He wasn't just a cat - he was a funny, compassionate, quirky friend who helped me through some really bad times.  Now he gets to go and see Rocky and his Andy.  That brand new, bright star in the sky that you see from now on - that's Franco.

xoxo

Trace.

Well, as usual I've got another hairbrained idea that I'm trying to hash out. I think (tell me if I'm wrong) I've mentioned the possibility of going to massage therapy school. There's a school in Denver that I've got my eye on, that offers a specialty in oncology massage. Classes start Oct 12th and if I went on the fast track program, I could be finished with the basic certification by next May. After that, I could start working and arrange my schedule to take the oncology classes.

The trouble is, figuring out how to pay my bills, after I quit work (Oh, how I like the sound of that!) and go back to school for seven months. Fortunately I have a couple of things going for me. I have really good credit, and I've minimized my debts so that I only have my mortgage and that has been refinanced to a low interest rate. I've figured out that I could probably take a personal loan, that would be enough to pay my bills (especially if I cut out a few extras) and still cover the payment on the personal loan. I can get a student loan to cover most of the tuition. The personal loan would be about twice the amount of the tuition, so when it was all said and done, I would have a fair chunk of money to pay back.

So, I'm trying to think about what Suze Orman would say -- would she approve this plan or would she deny it? Am I crazy to take ont aht much debt, when I've just gotten myself "almost" debt-free? I can't say that I'm 100% sure that massage therapy is the perfect career for me.  I do know that I hate the idea of staying in accounting for any longer than I have to, and I definitely don't want to work another tax season! And I also think that I would really enjoy working with cancer patients.

So, what should I do?

You only live once.

That we know only too well. It's just money nothing more. And sister if it can't buy you some happiness then what the hell does anyone work for anyway?

After wrestling all afternoon with the idiots at the IRS over employment forms they have obviously lost, I can more than understand your need to quit accounting and do something meaningful with your life.

Am I saying accounting isn't meaningful. Yep I am. Surviving filing season is not much of a reward to be honest. Seeing good you can do for people in need.....those rewards would be awesome. It's the difference in being a janitor of numbers and someone bringing pleasure and goodness to someone's life.

I think it's a no brainer myself. Look if it doesn't work out you know you can always go back to accounting. It's not like you suddenly won't be one. And if it doesn't work out....well you will know you tried. Do you want to go all your life wondering....wishing...what could have been?

Hugs,

Ami

xoxo

Thank you, Ami! Of course, I'm not surprised at your opinion; we've talked about the same thing lots of times. And I do know one thing for sure, I don't want to keep doing what I'm doing - that's the definition of insanity, correct?  I think the thing that is holding me back, is just my nerves. About the time I think, "Yes! I'm going to do it!" my next thought is, "Oh %&#!!" And the doubts come in, maybe it's not the right thing, maybe I'd be awful at it, maybe I won't like it.  But hell, what's the worst that can happen? I find out that I hate it, I get another accounting job - which at that point I may be thrilled to go back to - I pay off the loans, and I can give Ralph and Erin and whoever else I might decide to grace with my talents - some awesome massages.

And that's the worst that can happen? And the best is no tax season? three weeks off at Christmas? OMG that alone is worth it! Three weeks off in December - no working, no classes, all the time in the world - if no money - for Christmas shopping and decorating?? That is the description of heaven right there.

Ok, another question -- if I call the bank about getting a personal loan, do I tell them that I'm planning to quit my job and use the money to go back to school? Or would they shoot me down because I'll have no income? Do I need to make up a reason I need the money, and pretend I'm going to keep working forever?

Why do I keep spelling "to" as "ot"?

Is anyone else watching America's Got Talent?

I think they will want to know what it is for. But I haven't messed with borrowing money in a long time so I don't know anymore what they do or don't want. I'm from the days when you knew your banker and he was a friend of the family. Not this crap they call banking now. grrrr. Anyway I would max what I can get in student loans first, I got some of my living expenses and tuition that way. (About $5k a semester over tuition iirc.) The interest rate is lucrative and you have no payback until you are finished if you qualify. Also might check to see if there aren't some single mom type incentive financing programs. The more socialist the government the more there are programs. LOL (Education programs is the one and ONLY upside to socialism....ok I'll hush now.) The school financial aid office is who should know that.

My grandfather stayed completely frustrated with his father when he was growing up. They farmed and if there was a decision to be made my great grandfather had a horrible time making one. He would be for it, then against it, then for it and would second guess himself over and over. It made my grandfather nuts. So when my grandfather was grown and started making his own decisions (read age 16...married, bought a farm yadayada) he determined that he would not be like his father. He said when he made a decision he stuck with it, if it was the wrong one he would soon know it and he could make another decision at that time.

I still say go for it, be ready to bite the bullet. It's not going to be easy. But tax season has become such a downer and burden it obviously isn't easy either. So for my part I would rather do a not-so-easy life at least with something I don't dread.  I dread and hate tax season with a passion. I know how you feel Neecie and I would have never ever said I would feel that way five years ago. I have LOVED my job for years and years. But AC (after cancer) I just don't feel the same. Life is too short to not be doing something you feel good about!

You know what you need to do, let your hair down and unpucker dear and just do it! hehe Worrying will give you wrinkles anyway! =P Pray about it Neecie you will feel it in your heart.

America's Got Talent....Oh yes!! My mom called to tell me it had started again. This is the only show I watch on tv when it is running. Bad thing is I forget it because I don't watch any tv other than that and am not used to it.  I loved the guitar and tap dancing guys last week. I loved a lot of the acts I've seen. I think I missed a night though. Is it every Tues and Wed?

Hugs,

Ami

xoxo

Well, that's one problem, you see... I'm not sure the student loans will cover the tuition.  We're talking about a 7 month program here, the equivalent of one semester.  Of course, I don't know for sure until I fill out an application, and pay a reg fee. But the woman I talked to last week, at a different school then the one I want to go to, said that the limits on student loans, means that the tuition for the Fast Track program would not be covered. If I went part-time and spread it over a year, then it would cover it. So, I'm not sure how much of the tuition would come out of my pocket. But, I have some savings available, and my living expenses are really quite low, after you deduct what I get for child support.

 I DO think I will probably go for it, but I have a couple of months to work out the details and make sure that something doesn't point me in a different direction. I'm looking forward to visiting the school I'm most interested in, on Friday.

I'm really enjoying America's Got Talent.  It is on Tuesday and Wednesday's at this point; I think they have one more week of audition's before they go to LV and start eliminating acts. My favorite at this point, are the Spiritual Harmonizers. They are a bunch of guys who work at the Rchmond, VA post office, and their lead singer is the most adorable, talented guy. I hope they do well.

And JP -- I would move in with Ralph in a heartbeat! But, as you know, he lives with his mother at the moment, so that's a bit too much to ask. Plus, we wouldn't live together without getting married first. But I do think we're moving in that direction. We have plans to spend a week in Jackson Hole, Wy next month...  :-D

Kevin Skinner that sang Garth Brooks song is from Mayfield Kentucky about 35 miles from my home. =)

I love it, a home boy making good!!

And Sharon laughing at his accent.....hellloooooo, she's the one with the funny accent. =P 

PS-I sound like that......very country.

Don't I Janet! ;)

Hugs,

Ami

xoxox

http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/video/clips/kevin-skinners-performance/1131369/?__cid=thefilter