UPRISING

Song of the Day: Muse's Uprising.


So, as many of you know I've made some great big purchases in the last year. Forget the mattress, and the washer/dryer, and the computer. I also bought a condo. As I entered the world of adulthood, I took on very adult responsibilities. I have a mortgage, and bills, and I now will have to pay them all on my own with no help from a roommate. When I ventured out on this new phase of my life, I did it with the knowledge that I'd have my salary from two jobs and felt very secure in that.

Well, over the past year and as recently as yesterday, my world has been rocked and I'm worried. Now, I'm VERY fortunate that I still have a job and can go to work everyday collecting a paycheck and have health insurance. However, because our economy has taken a turn for the worse, it's affecting my paycheck. We knew at the end of last year that our county's school system would be furloughing employees for four days. What does a furlough mean you ask? Well it means that we don't come to work for four days of the year and, because we don't come to work, we don't get paid. So, throughout our paychecks, we'll be taking a loss. Overall, it's between 1600-2000 in total. And now, yesterday we find out that we may not be receiving our differential as a special educator/speech therapist. This differential accounts for another 2500-3000 a year. So, in total I may be losing close to 5000 this year.

When I signed that lease, it was one of the happiest days of my life, now I'm concerned that I'll be able to pay the mortgage. I know some people think that cutting back on eating out and going to bars seems like an easy solution, but it's not. Five thousand dollars is a lot to lose. I was wracked with worry last night and found myself tossing and turning and then staring at the ceiling into the wee hours of the night. I wanted to be able to prove that I can do this on my own. But, perhaps I'll need a roommate. Or maybe I'll need a third job. Holidays are coming up and I worry about Christmas presents and then there are incidentals. Car maintenance, home improvements, medical bills. I don't know if I'm being dramatic, but I'm not sure others understand the gravity of this situation.

I balance this knowledge, again with the fact that I have a job. Some way, I have an income that I'll scrape by with. I could be much less fortunate. I know this. A wise woman once told me "put your problems in a basket with everyone else's, you'll pull yours right back out." I hold onto that thought while I await my first paycheck and figure out how to stretch those dollars.

Dominoes

I'm always amazed with the way time moves.  Like dominoes falling in a row, the days fall away and it's now August.  It's the eighth month of the year, leaning toward Autumn and I'm astounded with the pace at which it all happened.  The year has brought so many changes and they've been fantastic.  A new home and outlook on life at the forefront!  That and the opportunity to connect with friends new and old.

July went by in a flash.  The Gough family got to reconnect for the party of the year, as my cousin got married.  It's always such a pleasure to see everyone and catch-up in such a great atmosphere.  There were other parties...birthday, engagement.......all fun of course!  Alyson and Megan have moved to Canton, I've purchased a new washer/dryer and mattress set.  Oh, and a new computer.  There's been shopping and lunches and work and relaxation.  A truly wonderful month of rejuvination and gearing up for the next school year.

I'm truly blessed to have such great things help pass the time.  To those who've been there along the way, thank you!