Random Thoughts

I was perusing the internet while at work today and came across a list of billionaire bachelors. It was quite interesting to read what they have done to become billionaires. There's the run of the mill, I-inherited-it-from-my-great-grandfather-and-am-now-living-off-of-his-hard-work types, and of course the one or two that have somehow managed to be in the right place at the right time (like being buddies with someone who's looking for another person to take over their Middle Eastern oil business because they're just too rich now to bother with working), and then there are the very small handfuls who have actually started their own business and worked hard and now they have this gigantic bank account. One of these hard worker-types is actually from Canada (you know how the name Canada was chosen, right? See the end of the post to find out). He's only 44. He set up a system to do legal online gambling. He had to set up companies in different countries in order to bypass a few laws, and runs his operations out of Costa Rica, but hey, who wouldn't want to live their life in a beautiful tropical place?

Why do people find it necessary to completely disregard a meeting that is going on between two admins and just plop down all kinds of other work and ask really stupid questions - even after they're told that they are interrupting an actual meeting? People are so rude.

Who's bright idea was it to start the very first "Get to know your friends better" quizzes that are going over the internet? Admittedly, I've done a few and forwarded them on, but this week is out of control! I think I've deleted about 9 of them. I vow to never forward another one of these on again. I promise, if I'm curious about something regarding one of my friends, I'll just ask you, and be done with it!!

Why do companies invent really tasty foods, or wonderful shades of lipstick, or insert other item of joy here, only to discontinue it about 12 minutes after releasing it to the public? This would include the fact that SP has discontinued one of my best-selling products. Yes, I realize that I've only had 3 parties, but I've sold multiples of this at every one of them. Frustrating!

When cows laugh, does milk come out of their noses?

Why do you drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?

If 7-11 is open 24 hours, why are there locks on the doors?

Why do the British keep insisting on driving on the wrong side of the road? We really should sucede from them and start our own country and do things right for a change. Better yet, shouldn't Tony Blair sucede from us and try to get his country to stand on it's own? There's a thought.

Why are people that have so much more education and life experience than me, so completely stupid?

When you get promoted to management, is the procedure that you are required to endure that removes your brain, including all ability to do simple things like use a copy machine or find the BOLD function in MSWord, a painful one, or does your memory of such procedure also get deleted?

And finally - how the name Canada was chosen for our friends to the north:

Someone put all of the letters of the alphabet into a bag. Some super-patriotic person was chosen to be the one to draw out letters and come up with a name. So this super-patriotic Canadian reaches into the bag and says:

"C-eh"
"N-eh"
"D-eh"

And now we have - C-ehN-ehD-eh. Or, as the American's spell it: C-A-N-A-D-A.

Why can't the world be simple like that?

Spring Break

I've been on Spring Break this week. It's absolutely crazy how tired I've been all week long! I think it's because I'm actually allowing myself to relax and be lazy, which I can't do on a normal day. I was in a meeting this morning and I had this gigantic yawn right when someone asked me a question - I actually apologized profusely because the timing of it was so rude (not intentional, mind you, but still rude). Everybody just laughed and we all went along our merry way, but still!

It's been a very pleasant week, allowing myself to be lazy and watch tv and movies in the evening. I usually have a six foot table set up in my living room so that I can work on things while I'm watching tv, but this week, I put the table away so that I can lay on the couch and just be. What glory!

What am I going to do with all of my time once I graduate?

Pirates, they be!

My pirate name is:

Iron Bess Read

A pirate's life isn't easy; it takes a tough person. That's okay with you, though, since you a tough person. Even through many pirates have a reputation for not being the brightest souls on earth, you defy the sterotypes. You've got taste and education. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

Things I'm Thankful For

Sometimes I get so caught up in worrying about things and wondering why seemingly bad stuff happens, that I forget to think about all of the good things that go on in my life. So, what are the things that I'm thankful for?

1. I'm truly thankful for my overall health. I've known many people who aren't as lucky as me and hearing about their day to day challenges makes me take pause and realize that life could so much more challenging if not for my health.

2. I'm thankful that I've had the opportunity to finish my college degree. Some days it's really hard to sit down and finish a paper or read a chapter or do research, but overall, I'm lucky to even be able to have this opportunity. So many people are never able to go to college at all and for me to have fought through and done it while being a working adult is fantastic. And, a college education is something that can never be taken away from me.

3. I'm thankful that I have a job. I don't necessarily like my job every day, but I'm glad that I at least have a job. I have also been given some flexibility in my schedule that has allowed me to not only finish my degree, but also take care of day to day things that an inflexible schedule wouldn't have ever allowed. This job also provides me with my health insurance and my retirement plan, which is great!

4. I am thankful that slowly but surely, there is starting to be more money left over at the end of each month. I have struggled with this for quite a while and I am finally starting to see the light at the end of this dark tunnel. It's such a great feeling that lately, after all of my bills are paid, there's still a little left over. The left over isn't much, for sure, BUT, at least there's more money than month!!

5. Because of #4 above, I am thankful that I have been able to invest in a new business, that although is not yet profitable in the sense that I can buy things for myself, or send anything extra to bills, I have at least made back my initial investment and have used that to continue investing in inventory and demo products. There will come a time, very soon, where I won't have to use anything out of my personal funds to support the business, and then after that, I will be able to start paying myself some type of salary in order to reap the rewards of my hard work.

6. I am thankful for my family - my parents in particular. They have, of course, always been there for me, but they have been especially helpful the last few years as I was starting my life over and becoming more independent each day. My dad has even started to help me with the organization of my business, which is a huge help to me!

7. I am thankful for my friends - I have several separate groups of friends and I cherish each of them. My girfriends from my childhood are the best friends that anyone could ever ask for - we are all so completely different and live completely different lives, but when we come together for anything, the bond is something truly inspiring. They have been with me through every single step of my life (a couple of them since kindergarten!) and know me better than anyone, and yet, they still talk to me! You have to love that about them!

So, my list is a little short, but it's at least something that I can reflect on and see how far I have come in the last few years. There was a time when the only thing I had was maybe one or two of these things at one time, so it's nice to see the list growing. I'm looking forward to the next things that I can add.

Less than 8 weeks to go!

So, I realized this week that I officially have less than 8 weeks of school left. Not in the semester, but in total. It's so hard to believe how close it's really getting to the "Big Day". It's been a very long six and a half years working toward this degree. And now I'm to the point where I can truly start the countdown.

So, what will I do with all of my free time? I honestly have no idea at this point. It's going to be interesting to see how I manage to keep myself going - I'm so used to being busy and blowing off homework in order to do other things. Now, I won't really have anything to blow off. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. I guess we'll see once that day arrives.

Who knows, maybe I'll finally take the time to start writing a book or something else equally ambitious.

Did you know?

Did you know that there is practically an unending list of things that are tax deductible when you own your own business? I am learning new things every single day.

A good portion of my rent, phone, cell, internet and utility bills can be written off. Part of the "good portion" is because my place is so small and all of my business stuff is all over the place!!

I get to write off the cost of the swanky new color printer/fax/copier/scanner that I got for such a good deal at the warehouse store. Very cool!

I get to write off all of the expenses involved, including the purchase of things like stationary and shipping supplies.

Oh, and get this - I get to write off all of the things that I have to buy for my demos - so each thing out of the catalog, is eventually free to me, as a cost of doing business. Kind of scary when you think about it!

The best part? The retirement plan that I can now open. SEP-IRA. I am able to put away something like $40K a year if I wanted to. And, since it's my own business, the moola is tax sheltered, AND, I'm 100% vested at all times. Definitely going to have to look into that and get it started. Hey, even if I only put away five grand this year, that's a heck of a lot more progress than the 401(k) at my "real" jon that I've been chipping away at for the last several years.

Going to need to seriously look into that plan!

I'm now visible

Well, my first post since admitting to some of my closest friends what my blog address is. Now it's sort of scary knowing that people will be reading this. OK, maybe not so much scary, just a certain sense of awareness.

It snowed in Denver today pretty much all day, but nothing has really stuck to the ground and nothing accumulated on the streets. Of course, you would have thought that the world's worst blizzard had hit with the way people were driving. Over-cautious to the point of dangerous - oh, and don't get me started on the blue hair that was trying to navigate (I use that word loosely) the roundabouts near where I work. That was probably the most scared that I've been in quite a while.

And while I'm thinking about it, what purpose do roundabouts serve? Seriously. I've seen more near misses, and know several people not fortunate enough to only have a near miss, than I think should be allowed under DOT laws. Were they invented to keep insurance adjusters and tow truck drivers in the lifestyles to which they have become accustomed? Just put in a 4-way stop people - it's so much easier. Although not as commical, when you're perched in the 3rd floor bistro at work, watching it all unfold from a safe distance. Now that's entertainment when you're supposed to be working.

Sick mind, Sick mind!