Moving over to wordpress mainly because I purchased a domain name. See me at:
http://arepublicanminority.com
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
I'm in Debt.
I'm not really sure what the difficulty here is... The way I see it, when someone is in debt, they have three options:
1. Increase their wages (easier said than done) in order to pay off those debts.
2. Decrease their spending in order to pay back those debts.
3. Default on their loans and suffer the consequences.
Option three is probably the most out of the question. No one wants to renege on their promises to creditors so let's just not go there. That leaves options one and two. I know what I would do. Decrease my spending. The most simple way to put more money towards your debt is to reallocate it from somewhere else.
If you haven't noticed, I'm over-simplifying the situation going down on Capitol Hill & the White House these days. I'm not an economist by any means so I won't try to be too analytic and like I said, it may be over-simplyfing matters, but it really does seem that simple of a choice to me. I understand there are a lot of layers to these talks and a lot of posturing and negotiating, but really it shouldn't be this difficult. The country is in debt. Fine. Wouldn't this be a perfect time to reduce spending levels which have ballooned out of control? And if you have to cut a deal in order to reduce spending then so be it. I'm sure most of the country will agree with me when I say: "Shut up. Do what we elected you to do."
In the end I know a deal will be struck like always seems to happen (see "countdown to shutdown 2011). Right now both sides have to dig their heels in so when the elections roll around they can tell their voter base that they stuck up for what is right. The fact that they are digging their heels in even deeper is good news to me. It means they are getting ready to strike a deal. Members of Congress are imperious, arrogant, and verbose for the most part, but they are not idiots (for the most part). If a largely insignificant economy like Greece threatens to destabilize the Eurozone by defaulting on their loans can you imagine what would happen to the world economy if the mighty United States defaulted?? They will not let that happen. Oh, I left one adjective out in describing members of Congress: egotistic. They all want to make history, but not this kind of history.
Though, looking at things on a macro level, it's rather obvious that problems like these will never go away so long as the current two party system is in place. Now that is a whole different topic that is best left for another day.
1. Increase their wages (easier said than done) in order to pay off those debts.
2. Decrease their spending in order to pay back those debts.
3. Default on their loans and suffer the consequences.
Option three is probably the most out of the question. No one wants to renege on their promises to creditors so let's just not go there. That leaves options one and two. I know what I would do. Decrease my spending. The most simple way to put more money towards your debt is to reallocate it from somewhere else.
If you haven't noticed, I'm over-simplifying the situation going down on Capitol Hill & the White House these days. I'm not an economist by any means so I won't try to be too analytic and like I said, it may be over-simplyfing matters, but it really does seem that simple of a choice to me. I understand there are a lot of layers to these talks and a lot of posturing and negotiating, but really it shouldn't be this difficult. The country is in debt. Fine. Wouldn't this be a perfect time to reduce spending levels which have ballooned out of control? And if you have to cut a deal in order to reduce spending then so be it. I'm sure most of the country will agree with me when I say: "Shut up. Do what we elected you to do."
In the end I know a deal will be struck like always seems to happen (see "countdown to shutdown 2011). Right now both sides have to dig their heels in so when the elections roll around they can tell their voter base that they stuck up for what is right. The fact that they are digging their heels in even deeper is good news to me. It means they are getting ready to strike a deal. Members of Congress are imperious, arrogant, and verbose for the most part, but they are not idiots (for the most part). If a largely insignificant economy like Greece threatens to destabilize the Eurozone by defaulting on their loans can you imagine what would happen to the world economy if the mighty United States defaulted?? They will not let that happen. Oh, I left one adjective out in describing members of Congress: egotistic. They all want to make history, but not this kind of history.
Though, looking at things on a macro level, it's rather obvious that problems like these will never go away so long as the current two party system is in place. Now that is a whole different topic that is best left for another day.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Thankful for 7.11.11
- My mother-in-law. She helps a ton with the kids and never (rarely) complains.
- Hot Tea. Harney & Sons Earl Grey Supreme to be exact. Delicious.
- Abby learning to talk. Love her little voice when she says "pease" :)
- Hot Tea. Harney & Sons Earl Grey Supreme to be exact. Delicious.
- Abby learning to talk. Love her little voice when she says "pease" :)
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Thankful for 7.10.11
- Our house. The first two months we lived here were depressing b/c of how far away we were from Fairfax. Gotten used to it now. It's a great house.
- My job. The flexibility, the friendships, and the opportunities it provides.
- Sports. No matter what's going on in the world they always provide a welcome distraction.
- Lazy Sundays. See yesterday's post. :)
- My job. The flexibility, the friendships, and the opportunities it provides.
- Sports. No matter what's going on in the world they always provide a welcome distraction.
- Lazy Sundays. See yesterday's post. :)
My Dirty Little Secret.
I have a dirty little secret. I'm twenty nine years old and I'm a student at Northern Virginia Community College.
I know it's not that dirty of a secret, but these days it's not the type of information I willingly share. It's weird because, I'm really proud of myself for the way I'm doing it this time around and I wish I wasn't embarrassed to share my story (with some of my friends).
All of my close friends did things on schedule. By that I mean, went to high school immediately after college, were there for four years, then graduated. It all started junior year of high school. While everyone around me was focusing on taking AP classes, SATs, and their GPAs I was looking for an alternative to college. My parents weren't putting any sort of pressure on me to go get a post secondary education either. I think that's because the way they grew up it was more important to start working as soon as possible. Anyway, I found my alternative in the marine corps. By Mid Junior year I had made up my mind that I was going to to boot camp less than a month after graduating high school. I was proud of that. Fast forward to winter of Senior year... All my friends and my girlfriend at the time were receiving acceptance letters to their schools. I had already signed the paperwork with the marine corps the previous summer and I thought I was at peace with that. I tried to suppress any doubts I had about that decision, but it just didn't feel right. By March I had backed out of my commitment with the marine corps and was trying desperately to get into a four year college. Needless to say it didn't work. My grades weren't great and obviously I was too late. I enrolled at NVCC for the fall. It was my only option.
I spent four years at NVCC. They didn't go too well. I just wasn't interested. Looking back on those years it's clear to me how not ready for college I was. Maybe it took me becoming a father to realize how important it is to have that piece of paper (a college degree). I'm back now and I'm doing pretty well so far. My goal is straight A's, although I only need a 2.0. Seven classes before I can transfer to the University of Virginia (they have a Northern VA program). I plan on finishing the seventh class in the Spring and being at UVa by fall of next year.
I've only told a handful of people this and I can't help but get a little awkward when someone sees me going to school. They ask where I'm going and I always wish I had some canned answer to give that would not beg for follow up questions. I don't have that response and I end up having to explain why I screwed up when I was younger. Most are quite proud of me for not giving up. It would be so easy to give up on the dream of a college degree. And it's probably all in my head. No one probably looks at me any differently when they find out I don't have a degree. But I can't help and think that they do, and believe me, some do. It's ok. That's just the extra motivation I need, but don't tell anyone. It's our little secret.
I know it's not that dirty of a secret, but these days it's not the type of information I willingly share. It's weird because, I'm really proud of myself for the way I'm doing it this time around and I wish I wasn't embarrassed to share my story (with some of my friends).
All of my close friends did things on schedule. By that I mean, went to high school immediately after college, were there for four years, then graduated. It all started junior year of high school. While everyone around me was focusing on taking AP classes, SATs, and their GPAs I was looking for an alternative to college. My parents weren't putting any sort of pressure on me to go get a post secondary education either. I think that's because the way they grew up it was more important to start working as soon as possible. Anyway, I found my alternative in the marine corps. By Mid Junior year I had made up my mind that I was going to to boot camp less than a month after graduating high school. I was proud of that. Fast forward to winter of Senior year... All my friends and my girlfriend at the time were receiving acceptance letters to their schools. I had already signed the paperwork with the marine corps the previous summer and I thought I was at peace with that. I tried to suppress any doubts I had about that decision, but it just didn't feel right. By March I had backed out of my commitment with the marine corps and was trying desperately to get into a four year college. Needless to say it didn't work. My grades weren't great and obviously I was too late. I enrolled at NVCC for the fall. It was my only option.
I spent four years at NVCC. They didn't go too well. I just wasn't interested. Looking back on those years it's clear to me how not ready for college I was. Maybe it took me becoming a father to realize how important it is to have that piece of paper (a college degree). I'm back now and I'm doing pretty well so far. My goal is straight A's, although I only need a 2.0. Seven classes before I can transfer to the University of Virginia (they have a Northern VA program). I plan on finishing the seventh class in the Spring and being at UVa by fall of next year.
I've only told a handful of people this and I can't help but get a little awkward when someone sees me going to school. They ask where I'm going and I always wish I had some canned answer to give that would not beg for follow up questions. I don't have that response and I end up having to explain why I screwed up when I was younger. Most are quite proud of me for not giving up. It would be so easy to give up on the dream of a college degree. And it's probably all in my head. No one probably looks at me any differently when they find out I don't have a degree. But I can't help and think that they do, and believe me, some do. It's ok. That's just the extra motivation I need, but don't tell anyone. It's our little secret.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Thankful Thievery
I'm going to steal an idea from my friend Meghan. Everyday she posts a list of things that she is thankful for. What a great way to put your heart into a thankful mindset. So often we focus on all the negatives we deal with on a day to day basis, we forget to just give thanks for the little things. When I'm putting the girls to bed and we're doing our night time prayer I'm always sure to thank God for basic things that we don't necessarily think about. A good example is I always say thanks for our beautiful home and the roof over our heads. Hopefully this will make the girls aware of just how blessed we are.
So I'll make my daily list as well and I'll make it based on that particular days events. I'll stick to at least three per day...
Thankful for 7.9.11:
- My mother. Today is her 59th birthday. We've had our differences in the past (and still do), but I love her and all she has done for us. Some may say she has a funny way of showing love, but she shows it.
- Ava's smile first thing in the morning. She's four and a half years old and every morning she comes in wide eyed and smiling. Doesn't get old.
- Lazy Saturdays. Had zero plans for today. At the beginning of the day it seemed like it would drag, but it went by fairly quickly and the girls were great. Can't ask for much more.
- Meghan's idea & posts. Here's to giving thanks.
So I'll make my daily list as well and I'll make it based on that particular days events. I'll stick to at least three per day...
Thankful for 7.9.11:
- My mother. Today is her 59th birthday. We've had our differences in the past (and still do), but I love her and all she has done for us. Some may say she has a funny way of showing love, but she shows it.
- Ava's smile first thing in the morning. She's four and a half years old and every morning she comes in wide eyed and smiling. Doesn't get old.
- Lazy Saturdays. Had zero plans for today. At the beginning of the day it seemed like it would drag, but it went by fairly quickly and the girls were great. Can't ask for much more.
- Meghan's idea & posts. Here's to giving thanks.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Welcome back.
Everything that needs to be done on a computer seems a lot more enjoyable when it is done on a macbook. I'm so happy w/ my new macbook pro. School work is more enjoyable, work is more enjoyable, hell even blogging is more enjoyable.
I wrote a paper the other day for class and I literally could not wait to turn it in. I kept thinking to myself "geez, the older I get the more I crave feedback." And it's not just for classwork, but on all things. I will say it's weird being in school again, but for some reason it feels right. in my late teens and early twenties I had exactly zero interest in school. I mean, every once in a while i would run into a teacher that made a particular subject interesting, but for the most part there was no motivation or will to try on my part. Looking at my transcripts is quite sad. English 111 - D, only to turn around and get A's in both English 112 and American Literature. there was a lot of that in my early school years. Like I said though, this time it seems different. A lot different. I want to complete work, turn it in, and be graded. I want to plow through school as quickly as possible and fast forward to the fall & UVa. Focus. That's the theme for the 29th year of my life.
One thing that is definitely making school more enjoyable this time around is technology. It's nice to not have to lug around a bunch of textbooks. I have all my English class books on the iPad. Very cool.
Focus.
Thank you. It's nice to be back.
I wrote a paper the other day for class and I literally could not wait to turn it in. I kept thinking to myself "geez, the older I get the more I crave feedback." And it's not just for classwork, but on all things. I will say it's weird being in school again, but for some reason it feels right. in my late teens and early twenties I had exactly zero interest in school. I mean, every once in a while i would run into a teacher that made a particular subject interesting, but for the most part there was no motivation or will to try on my part. Looking at my transcripts is quite sad. English 111 - D, only to turn around and get A's in both English 112 and American Literature. there was a lot of that in my early school years. Like I said though, this time it seems different. A lot different. I want to complete work, turn it in, and be graded. I want to plow through school as quickly as possible and fast forward to the fall & UVa. Focus. That's the theme for the 29th year of my life.
One thing that is definitely making school more enjoyable this time around is technology. It's nice to not have to lug around a bunch of textbooks. I have all my English class books on the iPad. Very cool.
Focus.
Thank you. It's nice to be back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)