toothpaste

Toothpaste is used for one thing. To clean your teeth with. But do people think of the other things that is can used for. Jason, my husband, lived a life that required him to be creative and use what means he had available. So one day he told me, much to my discomfort, to use the toothpaste and a toothbrush to clean your rings. For some reason I thought that to be a little gross. However, once he did it my ring sparkled. I actually prefer to do that now since my ring isn't that high quality and I fear if I put it in the jewelry cleaning solution my ring may fall apart. I know I am weird. The next use I found to be the absolute best thing I have discovered is toothpaste is an excellent zit zapper. I saw it online. I had really bad acne when I was teenager. REALLLY BAD! My parents and I used all the things you could think of to get rid of my acne. Eventually, we found a experimental drug called accutane, I think, and took part. The drug worked and my acne cleared and has yet to resurface thankfully. Now adays I still get the little zits that one gets when stressed or doesn't care to wash the face before bed. So I decided to put a dab of toothpaste on one of those blemishes and ZAP. Within two days, the ugly red thing was gone. I live by toothpaste as an exceptional zit zapper.

sisters

My pregs aka Beebs told me to write on my blog more. So here we go. I was able to come visit the family this past week. I was super excited to see Beebs pregnant. It tripped me out to see her like that. I would poke her belly, or rub her belly just make sure it was real. She looks adorable. It made me really think about having children. Jason and I have been talking and talking about it. We had a set time to start trying and I am FREAKED OUT. Babies are a big deal. We have a boy name and a girl name picked out already. I live a lifestyle much different than the typical 9-5. So its questions galor to my friends at work who have children and live the life I do. Two major things that have plagued my mind are finances of course and child care. I live in Arizona, miles from my family. Family being close would be so ideal if I needed a babysitter for free. Child care is super expensive. Of course, the other solution is that Jason and I work opposite schedules. My analytical mind is completely overwhelmed with finding a solution. At least I have people around that can give me advice. I have awhile yet, but its not like time stands still.

Fees

Warning to all you bankers. We have been banking with Bank of America for a few years now. As I was doing a routine browse of out statements I noticed a maintanece fee of 9 dollars. It happened again on the previous statement too. I looked it up and it indicated that we have this fee cause we aren't maintaning a certain amount in our accounts. Also we can't waive the fee because our companies don't offer direct deposit. So we go to the bank to talk about our options. Apparently this fee spreads across our other accounts. The amount we need to maintain is higher than we are able to keep in there at one time. The teller didn't seem to understand that our lifestyle is very different than most. She didn't understand that we don't get offered direct deposit and she was at a loss when we said that I get paid in cash everyday. The look on her face made me realize the she wasn't going to help. I was infuriated that we are paying for the bureaucratic, CEO salary for someone to press a button and stare at a screen 9 dollars every month and that people can't see past their regular life and notice a life that isn't the typical 9-5. I immediately called other banks to compare. Although they also suggest direct deposit, they also DID NOT charge maintanence fees. I closed one of my accounts and once that gets here we will close the rest and move our money to a bank that doesn't try to take money for rediculous purposes. What a world this is.

Thoughts

My dog is the cutest thing ever. She had developed this stance of laying alond the back of the couch with her little hind paws stretched out behind her. She also has a biological clock at 1030 every morning, if Jason and I aren't awake, she will take it upon herself to wake us up by stepping on our head or face and licking us. Can be annoying, but you can't help but love her like a human child. We want to get her a friend so she isn't alone when we are working. Jason has a friend that has a dog they want to find a home for. Jason is very impulsive and would have taken the dog in a second. However, he has me the voice of reason that said we can't afford another dog while living in these apartments. I told him to tell the friend to hold off til April unless another owner can be found. I feel bad, but rent on top of dog rent on top of bills and another major issue we are dealing with adds up to money strains.

Christmas was a good one. we bought a 37" flat screen TV for our christmas gift to each other. Its the bomb. In our apartment it looks like a movie screen. We love it. Next is a sick sound system.

Once our lease is up in April we will try to find a place that is less expensive, and more spacious. We just have a few to many things for our little place. Its manageable, but storage is limited. Counter space is ZERO. As I looked online for places I was a little stunned to find that a house for rent is about 200 dollars cheaper than our apartment. I don't really get that. Besides the amenities available here I don't think the price is worth it. So I am excited to get a place with more space, a nice kitchen, storage, and no pet rent.

DUI

Why do people think they are invincible, indistructable, and responsible when they drink and then drive. People are stupid. IDIOTS! my friend has been battling his DUI for two years now just to get it dismissed. So much money and time for a simple phone call to a cab or friend would have avoided that situation in the first place. And why do friends (if they are friends) let thier fellow friends walk out of the bar or whatever drunk and not offer a way home even if they had been drinking but are totally sober enough to drive the person home or call them a cab. Friends....puh whatever, no trust there. It is the worst thing in the world to see someone you know shouldn't be driving sent away by thier friends and you don't know them but still worry about them. Tons of water and a little time and one could be sober to drive. it completely escapes too many people's common sense to remedy thier behavior and then redo it once they are safe at home. It is such a frustrating thing to see and know people that have been beyond stupid and paid the price. Yet they still never learn. What is it that makes them think they can drive safely home after having drinks. If you don't know your limit then you shouldn't even be participating in bar activity etc. So ridiculous. I am grateful for my up bringing and that I can be that person to care for friends that can't care for themselves.

work woes

All of us that have work are grateful and happy to provide for our families. I am grateful for my husband that works so hard everyday. He deals with so much and is always stressed about work. Believe me, he will talk in his sleep about work. It is that bad. Me on the other hand doesn't know how I feel about my job anymore. When I first started working there I was the work horse and would work anytime, anywhere. Than I started taking parties and actually had a couple I would have every week. I also started having shifts in the bar a couple times a week. And presently, I am now fully in the bar as a bartender/cocktailer. I didn't sign up for that. I am a server. I am not a fully trained bartender. I make far less money even if I have a shift by myself in the bar. A restaurant that is part of our corporation had closed and we took on a couple of people from that restaurant. Suddenly some of the senior staff's shifts are less and these new transfers are working the shifts we should be working. It is good to know that they trust me to be alone in the bar anyway. However, I must go back to the MONEY. Even on a slow night on the floor chances are I would make more than if I was in the bar. As a cocktailer, we pool the tips in the bar. so unless I close or stay on for awhile I don't make a lot. It is frustrating. I don't want to say anything cause for some reason management can be very vengeful for stating your concerns. It is slow, I understand. But I can still make good money. I just don't know what to do. I will fight for my right to work during the holidays. Not in the bar either. Why does it need to be this hard to hold a position you have become established at. It is all complete crap.

travel channel

I love the travel channel. I like to watch a occasional Samantha Brown, lots of Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmermn. They make it look easy, tasty, and entertaining. Now if only we had the money to follow their excursions. I find myself hesitant to travel to foreign places like southeast Asia or even south america. My taste in food is pretty basic and to dine in a foreign country just to try the food is a little scary. They are eating food sold on the streets and served from the most questionable kitchens (if that is what you want to call them). It is odvious that I have been brought up in sanitation and simplicity. I work in restaurants and I would never serve food from an open kitchen, with street smells, bugs, and people secretions buzzing all around. But there is also the problem that its hard for my stomach to take spicy foods. I am not a fan of the Hawaiian style of mango, pineapple, guava etc. mixes in food. And my husaband is a pork fanatic. So whats left our there for me to eat? I suppose I will have to settle with the kid classic, pasta and butter. I will never be able to follow these travelers in their culinary quests. I hope to at least see the sights.