. . . and it is (or was) viral meningitis.
It usually goes away in 7-10 days. I guess I had a more severe form of it, since it stuck around for nearly a month. But at least I didn't have one of those super severe forms that cause life-long damage.
Since everyone knows I love to ramble about stuff, here's the lowdown on viral meningitis.
You have membranes and fluid in your body that surrounds and partly protects your brain and spinal cord--the part the doctors call the "central" nervous system. When any of those membranes become inflamed, it's called meningitis. Lots of things can make it do this--bacteria, parasites, fungus--but it's usually a virus.
Now any virus will do. It just has to get through the rest of your body and into that membrane and fluid and start doing its thing. So the symptoms can be widely different depending on what the virus was and how strong a presence it has. Usually all you get is fever and some dizziness. In my case, I got numbness and a couple of rather ungraceful falls. Which beats the worst case scenarios, which as you can probably guess are along the lines of strokes and seizures.
Is it contagious? Sort of. Remember, it's a virus. So it's just the virus that's transmitted. So you can get the virus, but that doesn't necessarily mean the virus will find it's way to your central nervous system.
Anyways, I'm glad it's over, and I'm glad to be starting a new year. We'll see what eventful stuff the new year brings.
Including (maybe?) me, back to this blog.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Sick Of Being Sick
So I'm not usually the kind to blog about my personal life, even in this blog that I consider immensely personal. I try to be what I consider positive, posting things that I consider encouraging. Instead, I think I come across as preachy, constantly posting sounding like I'm trying to know it all.
Well, here's something I don't know boo about.
I've been sick. For weeks. Since almost the start of November.
It didn't start like an illness. It started, if anything, like a stroke.
Well, I guess it started as headaches. Bad headaches. By about 2 or 3 in the afternoon, I would feel like my eyes were going to pop out of my head.
But then one morning as I was driving home from the early morning class I teach for my church, I started feeling a numbness in my foot. Like my foot was starting to wake up, but it hadn't been asleep.
Then it started working its way up my leg. By the time I got home, it had worked its way up to my abdomen, and had become painful. From there it worked its way to the front and back of my chest. By the time it was done, my lips were numb, like they'd been shot with novocane, and my fingertips were painfully tingly.
The tingling went away, but an excruciating headache stayed behind.
I went into the doctor that afternoon, the first appointment I could get.
He said it looked like the flu. He gave me some flue medicine and a flue shot and gave me a return appointment for the middle of December. He said I was the picture of health, except for a bit of a temperature and these "bizzaro symptoms" I was having. He said it should go away.
It hasn't gone away. Even the slow-moving tingling thing has repeated itself.
It's been kind of cyclical, though. Up until this week, it's peaked on Saturdays. On Saturdays, it's almost become migrainesque, culminating in me conducting worship services between my shower and my sink. This week, Saturday was still worse than Friday, but not nearly as bad as last Saturday.
My friends and family have been collecting similar stories from friends, and it really does seem to be some kind of really persistent flu that's going around. It could be migraines, though--I've also heard descriptions of similar symptoms associated with migraines, so Excedrin Migraine has become my painkiller of choice.
So now I'm debating whether to go in early or keep the December appointment. I'll probably end up going in Tuesday, though. We'll see.
Well, here's something I don't know boo about.
I've been sick. For weeks. Since almost the start of November.
It didn't start like an illness. It started, if anything, like a stroke.
Well, I guess it started as headaches. Bad headaches. By about 2 or 3 in the afternoon, I would feel like my eyes were going to pop out of my head.
But then one morning as I was driving home from the early morning class I teach for my church, I started feeling a numbness in my foot. Like my foot was starting to wake up, but it hadn't been asleep.
Then it started working its way up my leg. By the time I got home, it had worked its way up to my abdomen, and had become painful. From there it worked its way to the front and back of my chest. By the time it was done, my lips were numb, like they'd been shot with novocane, and my fingertips were painfully tingly.
The tingling went away, but an excruciating headache stayed behind.
I went into the doctor that afternoon, the first appointment I could get.
He said it looked like the flu. He gave me some flue medicine and a flue shot and gave me a return appointment for the middle of December. He said I was the picture of health, except for a bit of a temperature and these "bizzaro symptoms" I was having. He said it should go away.
It hasn't gone away. Even the slow-moving tingling thing has repeated itself.
It's been kind of cyclical, though. Up until this week, it's peaked on Saturdays. On Saturdays, it's almost become migrainesque, culminating in me conducting worship services between my shower and my sink. This week, Saturday was still worse than Friday, but not nearly as bad as last Saturday.
My friends and family have been collecting similar stories from friends, and it really does seem to be some kind of really persistent flu that's going around. It could be migraines, though--I've also heard descriptions of similar symptoms associated with migraines, so Excedrin Migraine has become my painkiller of choice.
So now I'm debating whether to go in early or keep the December appointment. I'll probably end up going in Tuesday, though. We'll see.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Shhh! Don't Tell Anyone You Read This!
My wife has taken up a new hobby--mystery shopping.
She's joined various groups around the internet--all free, in case anybody tries to convince you you need to pay to join their service--and when one of them lists a job she's interested in, she signs up.
In addition to the few bucks she makes off each job, she also often gets free food. She's done restaurants, pizza places, and apartment complexes, shipping centers--we haven't done movie theatres yet, but they are available.
It's a lot of writing meticulous reports and taking pictures and remembering names and guessing ages and all kinds of things Marci's better at than me. But it's given us some fun family outings that we didn't have to pay for, and who can beat that?
She's joined various groups around the internet--all free, in case anybody tries to convince you you need to pay to join their service--and when one of them lists a job she's interested in, she signs up.
In addition to the few bucks she makes off each job, she also often gets free food. She's done restaurants, pizza places, and apartment complexes, shipping centers--we haven't done movie theatres yet, but they are available.
It's a lot of writing meticulous reports and taking pictures and remembering names and guessing ages and all kinds of things Marci's better at than me. But it's given us some fun family outings that we didn't have to pay for, and who can beat that?
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Quote of the Day
Man does not live by a turkey in every oven or a color TV set in every home. Man lives by faith and hope and love, by the star on the horizon, by the trumpet that will not call retreat.
E. Merrill Root
E. Merrill Root
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Lessons From New Orleans
I crossed paths with the "tropical storm" that was left of the hurricane as I flew back from Pennsylvania this week. Knowing that if it was severe enough, I might not have got home made me keep my eye on it.
Like most of America, I had no idea how bad it would prove to be.
The take-home lessons, from a financial perspective, are obvious:
1. Have an emergency fund. Some money set aside for crises. Maybe start with $1,000, but eventually try to get 3-6 months worth of salary saved.
2. Have 72 hour kits. Sacks or backpacks with enough food, water, and other necessities for 3 days for each member of your family. Lots of websites give good suggestions for what should go in here.
3. Fill your car with gas when it's half empty. Not only will this make each trip to the pump less painful, but it will insure you have gasoline when you need it.
4. Have some water storage. A big drum or two, if you can afford it, but at least some bottles. Maybe some water-cooler type bottles.
Is it too early in this disaster to be talking preparedness? I don't think so.
Usually we won't make changes unless we have emotional reasons to go along with the logical ones, and I think right now, while emotions are running high, is the best time for us to get a little more ready. We might do things that would seem extreme two months from now, but that we'll be grateful we did when the opportunity arises.
It's also a good time to help where you can.
Like most of America, I had no idea how bad it would prove to be.
The take-home lessons, from a financial perspective, are obvious:
1. Have an emergency fund. Some money set aside for crises. Maybe start with $1,000, but eventually try to get 3-6 months worth of salary saved.
2. Have 72 hour kits. Sacks or backpacks with enough food, water, and other necessities for 3 days for each member of your family. Lots of websites give good suggestions for what should go in here.
3. Fill your car with gas when it's half empty. Not only will this make each trip to the pump less painful, but it will insure you have gasoline when you need it.
4. Have some water storage. A big drum or two, if you can afford it, but at least some bottles. Maybe some water-cooler type bottles.
Is it too early in this disaster to be talking preparedness? I don't think so.
Usually we won't make changes unless we have emotional reasons to go along with the logical ones, and I think right now, while emotions are running high, is the best time for us to get a little more ready. We might do things that would seem extreme two months from now, but that we'll be grateful we did when the opportunity arises.
It's also a good time to help where you can.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Cheap Isn't The Same As Best
I love this quote:
Oh, it's true it's true. We're currently suffering through some trash bags that I am convinced must be made of the same material as crepe paper. However, I think this stuff would have to be layered before it would become crepe paper quality, because it is possible, if you're careful, not to rip crepe paper.
Whatever we saved was absolutely not worth it.
Add trash bags to the list of things worth spending a couple extra pennies on. You know--like toilet paper.
The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price has passed.
Oh, it's true it's true. We're currently suffering through some trash bags that I am convinced must be made of the same material as crepe paper. However, I think this stuff would have to be layered before it would become crepe paper quality, because it is possible, if you're careful, not to rip crepe paper.
Whatever we saved was absolutely not worth it.
Add trash bags to the list of things worth spending a couple extra pennies on. You know--like toilet paper.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Everybody Stop, For Crying Out Loud!
You notice how home prices keep going up and up and up? Feeling frustrated? Wonder how you're ever going to be able to afford a home?
Well, here's a secret: The real problem is America's willingness to go into debt.
That's it! The whole problem, plain and simple. If Americans were not willing to go into debt, home prices would be lower.
It's simple supply and demand. When Americans are more and more willing to go into debt, it increases the amount they're willing to pay for homes. If they're willing to pay a price, simple economic principles push the cost of the product up to meet that price.
Now, why are Americans willing to assume all that debt?
Because they're not thinking in terms of debt. They're thinking in terms of Monthly Cash Flow. And mortgage lenders keep coming up with hot new ways to allow you to have HUGE amounts of debt while keeping an affordable monthly payment. Interest only loans, Ajustable rate loans, fourty year mortgages--all of them designed to put insanely high amounts of debt within the financial grasp of everyone!
If this were a company store in the 1800's shackling us with this much debt, we'd recognize we were just becoming glorified slaves and we'd revolt. But no--the banks aren't forcing us to do anything we're not willing to do, and hey--the prices are already up, so what can you do, right?
You can say no more. Say you won't do it. Laugh at your friends who do. Try to bring sanity back into the world.
Mortgages are a rip off! It's a way for the bank to rent to you, while you still have to pay property taxes and repairs.
Start small, with something well within your means. Pay it off and save. Upgrade as you can.
"But my friends are living in a big house," you say, "While I live in this. How am I better off than them?"
Look--a person who finances a house for 30 years at six percent interest, will pay more money in interest then he paid for the house. If the finances a $500,000 home, he will end up paying over a million dollars for it.
So he can brag to you about how he made a certain amount in equity in so many years--whatever. You're the one who's going to have an extra $500,000 in your pocket because you weren't making the interest payments--the same amount that he's got in equity in his house.
The only way to purchase a house that makes sense, financially, is to get a house you can afford, and to pay it off as fast as you can.
Period.
Well, here's a secret: The real problem is America's willingness to go into debt.
That's it! The whole problem, plain and simple. If Americans were not willing to go into debt, home prices would be lower.
It's simple supply and demand. When Americans are more and more willing to go into debt, it increases the amount they're willing to pay for homes. If they're willing to pay a price, simple economic principles push the cost of the product up to meet that price.
Now, why are Americans willing to assume all that debt?
Because they're not thinking in terms of debt. They're thinking in terms of Monthly Cash Flow. And mortgage lenders keep coming up with hot new ways to allow you to have HUGE amounts of debt while keeping an affordable monthly payment. Interest only loans, Ajustable rate loans, fourty year mortgages--all of them designed to put insanely high amounts of debt within the financial grasp of everyone!
If this were a company store in the 1800's shackling us with this much debt, we'd recognize we were just becoming glorified slaves and we'd revolt. But no--the banks aren't forcing us to do anything we're not willing to do, and hey--the prices are already up, so what can you do, right?
You can say no more. Say you won't do it. Laugh at your friends who do. Try to bring sanity back into the world.
Mortgages are a rip off! It's a way for the bank to rent to you, while you still have to pay property taxes and repairs.
Start small, with something well within your means. Pay it off and save. Upgrade as you can.
"But my friends are living in a big house," you say, "While I live in this. How am I better off than them?"
Look--a person who finances a house for 30 years at six percent interest, will pay more money in interest then he paid for the house. If the finances a $500,000 home, he will end up paying over a million dollars for it.
So he can brag to you about how he made a certain amount in equity in so many years--whatever. You're the one who's going to have an extra $500,000 in your pocket because you weren't making the interest payments--the same amount that he's got in equity in his house.
The only way to purchase a house that makes sense, financially, is to get a house you can afford, and to pay it off as fast as you can.
Period.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Turning Away
Well, I have some bad news.
I'm not that excited about it, anyway.
As I enter into the last half of the year, there has been a dramatic change in my schedule that is going to require an extra several hours a day of my time.
Unfortunately, this means that if I want to keep exercising and writing fiction, something has got to go from my life. We both know this thing can't be my family--my wife and kids are the reason I do everything else, so I can't cut back there.
So unfortunately, one of the things that has to go is this blog.
I think this has been coming for a while, but I've been reluctant to do it. The blog has created an accountability that was unmatched. The months I did the best in posting on it daily were the same months I lost the most weight and paid off the most debt.
Unfortunately, even as I try to return to those with laser-like intensity, that takes focus of everything else, including this blog.
Does that mean I'm going to stop posting altogether?
No. I will still consider this blog active. I will still post on it, possibly as much as weekly, and definitely at least once a month. However, I won't even be attempting to update it daily, so you don't need to check back that often any more.
But please do check back! I appreciate all of your support. I'm grateful you're all here, and I wish you all continued success in your own efforts.
I'm not that excited about it, anyway.
As I enter into the last half of the year, there has been a dramatic change in my schedule that is going to require an extra several hours a day of my time.
Unfortunately, this means that if I want to keep exercising and writing fiction, something has got to go from my life. We both know this thing can't be my family--my wife and kids are the reason I do everything else, so I can't cut back there.
So unfortunately, one of the things that has to go is this blog.
I think this has been coming for a while, but I've been reluctant to do it. The blog has created an accountability that was unmatched. The months I did the best in posting on it daily were the same months I lost the most weight and paid off the most debt.
Unfortunately, even as I try to return to those with laser-like intensity, that takes focus of everything else, including this blog.
Does that mean I'm going to stop posting altogether?
No. I will still consider this blog active. I will still post on it, possibly as much as weekly, and definitely at least once a month. However, I won't even be attempting to update it daily, so you don't need to check back that often any more.
But please do check back! I appreciate all of your support. I'm grateful you're all here, and I wish you all continued success in your own efforts.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
My Real Age
So, apparently, even though I'm 30.1, I'm really 32.3.
But if I do the right stuff, I could be 20 again in 90 days.
So what constitutes the "right stuff?" Check out this list of 12 of the biggest factors in your "real age."
Go ahead and take the test--it's not nearly as long as I had thought previously, and you can skip most of the questions you probably don't know.
In my case, it encouraged me to get a better "social support" network, to quit talking on my cell phone while I drive, to take a multi-vitamin, and to floss more.
And, of course, to lose some weight.
But if I do the right stuff, I could be 20 again in 90 days.
So what constitutes the "right stuff?" Check out this list of 12 of the biggest factors in your "real age."
Go ahead and take the test--it's not nearly as long as I had thought previously, and you can skip most of the questions you probably don't know.
In my case, it encouraged me to get a better "social support" network, to quit talking on my cell phone while I drive, to take a multi-vitamin, and to floss more.
And, of course, to lose some weight.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
The Real Age Test
I heard about this site on the radio today, and thought it sounded pretty intriguing.
I haven't taken the test yet, myself (it apparently takes about half an hour), but I liked the way the guy was talking on the radio today.
One of my favorite points he made is that really being healthy isn't about being a "super" athlete or anything extreme like that. He quoted Governor Arnold as once having said something to the effect of, "There isn't an athlete I know who hasn't destroyed their body for their sport."
If anybody does try it before I do, let me know what you think.
I haven't taken the test yet, myself (it apparently takes about half an hour), but I liked the way the guy was talking on the radio today.
One of my favorite points he made is that really being healthy isn't about being a "super" athlete or anything extreme like that. He quoted Governor Arnold as once having said something to the effect of, "There isn't an athlete I know who hasn't destroyed their body for their sport."
If anybody does try it before I do, let me know what you think.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Fame!
I don't think I've liked back to The bearable lightness of being yet, which bothers me. I'm sorry!
I usually try to post a link to anybody who links to me, but you know how it goes.
What I really need to do is put a links list in the sidebar. Maybe that'll be a project for this weekend . . .
I usually try to post a link to anybody who links to me, but you know how it goes.
What I really need to do is put a links list in the sidebar. Maybe that'll be a project for this weekend . . .
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Ground Turkey
It's not the super-lean stuff they encourage you to buy in the fitness magazines, but it is leaner than ground beef, and the way my wife's been getting it, it's been cheaper than ground beef.
Yup. We're talkin' turkey.
It's been an experiment. Neither of us have much experience with the stuff, and I was a little surprised to see that it thawed to more of a soupy texture than the consistency we normally associate with ground beef.
Undaunted, we started thickening it up. Rather than using breadcrumbs, like you'd do for meatballs, we used oatmeal. Higher fiber, complex carbs. Also, I still have a can of Neston I got at an international food shop a while back. Neston is a flakey, whole wheat cereal Nestle sells in Brazil that makes a good additive for shakes. It's got vitamins and minerals and thickens the same as the oatmeal or breadcrumbs would.
We've also learned that it's dreadfully bland by itself. We've added all manner of seasonings, from barbecue sauce to Grillmates to vinegar. We've made burgers, meat sauces and meatballs with it, and while some experiments have been more successful than others, we're getting closer to figuring it out. The spaghetti Marci made tonight turned out really well.
So I recommend it to those frugal adventurers who are willing to put the extra bit of work in the extra few cents will save you, but do be warned that what you're going to get will not be something you can just form into a patty and put on the grill. The addition of the oatmeal or bran or whatever-your-flavor will do the trick, though, and makes the final product even better for you.
Yup. We're talkin' turkey.
It's been an experiment. Neither of us have much experience with the stuff, and I was a little surprised to see that it thawed to more of a soupy texture than the consistency we normally associate with ground beef.
Undaunted, we started thickening it up. Rather than using breadcrumbs, like you'd do for meatballs, we used oatmeal. Higher fiber, complex carbs. Also, I still have a can of Neston I got at an international food shop a while back. Neston is a flakey, whole wheat cereal Nestle sells in Brazil that makes a good additive for shakes. It's got vitamins and minerals and thickens the same as the oatmeal or breadcrumbs would.We've also learned that it's dreadfully bland by itself. We've added all manner of seasonings, from barbecue sauce to Grillmates to vinegar. We've made burgers, meat sauces and meatballs with it, and while some experiments have been more successful than others, we're getting closer to figuring it out. The spaghetti Marci made tonight turned out really well.
So I recommend it to those frugal adventurers who are willing to put the extra bit of work in the extra few cents will save you, but do be warned that what you're going to get will not be something you can just form into a patty and put on the grill. The addition of the oatmeal or bran or whatever-your-flavor will do the trick, though, and makes the final product even better for you.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Fat Man Walking
Okay, a quick word about this guy.
I first heard him on the radio about a month ago. The makers of the insoles who are sponsoring him were having him do radio interviews to sponsor them.
Personally, I thought it was a terrible idea. And not just because he's going to walk right through New Mexico, a state which has driven even some who've attempted to drive through it insane.
And not just because, even though the six months is already half up, he's not even 1/6th of the way.
The fact is that, for all his talk of "No quick fixes for me!" on the website, this is still a quick fix. It's a long, slow, torturous quick fix, but it's a quick fix just the same.
A quick fix is a one-time "stunt" that is meant to make everything all better, but that is so far removed from your natural reality as to be ineffective in the long term. In this case, once he gets back home he's still going to have to go through the process of finding an exercise program, figuring out a healthy diet, and completely changing his life for the purpose of maintaining any weight he lost, or losing any weight he doesn't lose in these six months (or more).
And he'd have to spent six months (or more) of his life away from at least part of his family. Granted, this is the part of his story I know the least about, but that could easily be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Is it worth it to try to change your life, if your family goes to pot in your absence?
But now that I've seen the site, I see his kids are pretty young, and are kind of tagging along in the support van with Mom. Which turns this whole thing into a big six month long family vacation, which I've got no problem with at all. I wish this guy a ton of luck.
Of course, he really is still going to have to get down to the real business of changing his life, eating habits, and exercise patterns once he gets home. The temptation will be to say, "Alright, now a week off." The week will become a month, then a year, and then he'll be back where he started from. And pretty soon his kids will start saying to him, "Daddy, when are you going to walk across the country again," and he'll realize he's back where he started from.
But that doesn't have to be! And I must say, this is a heck of a way to kick off a turnaround.
I first heard him on the radio about a month ago. The makers of the insoles who are sponsoring him were having him do radio interviews to sponsor them.
Personally, I thought it was a terrible idea. And not just because he's going to walk right through New Mexico, a state which has driven even some who've attempted to drive through it insane.
And not just because, even though the six months is already half up, he's not even 1/6th of the way.
The fact is that, for all his talk of "No quick fixes for me!" on the website, this is still a quick fix. It's a long, slow, torturous quick fix, but it's a quick fix just the same.
A quick fix is a one-time "stunt" that is meant to make everything all better, but that is so far removed from your natural reality as to be ineffective in the long term. In this case, once he gets back home he's still going to have to go through the process of finding an exercise program, figuring out a healthy diet, and completely changing his life for the purpose of maintaining any weight he lost, or losing any weight he doesn't lose in these six months (or more).
And he'd have to spent six months (or more) of his life away from at least part of his family. Granted, this is the part of his story I know the least about, but that could easily be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Is it worth it to try to change your life, if your family goes to pot in your absence?
But now that I've seen the site, I see his kids are pretty young, and are kind of tagging along in the support van with Mom. Which turns this whole thing into a big six month long family vacation, which I've got no problem with at all. I wish this guy a ton of luck.
Of course, he really is still going to have to get down to the real business of changing his life, eating habits, and exercise patterns once he gets home. The temptation will be to say, "Alright, now a week off." The week will become a month, then a year, and then he'll be back where he started from. And pretty soon his kids will start saying to him, "Daddy, when are you going to walk across the country again," and he'll realize he's back where he started from.
But that doesn't have to be! And I must say, this is a heck of a way to kick off a turnaround.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Friday Mythbustin': A Magic Pill
Myth: If I just refinance my house/consolidate my debt/get liposuction/get my stomach stapled, my problems will be solved.
Truth: By treating only the symptom of the problem rather than the cause, you're just postponing the moment you have to deal with the problem, and possibly making them worse.
How did I get here?
In trying to find one's way out of a mess, this question is often the first one you need to answer. You need it answered before you even begin to answer the question that seems more pressing--How do I get out?
Because without answering the "How did I get here?" question, even if there were a "magic pill" that could whisk you away to Someplace Better, you would likely begin to wander much as you had before, and end up back in the same spot!
The real power would come not from your relocation, but from your power to prevent your return.
However, the so-called cures are rarely as magical as in our examples.
Home refinances are often more expensive than simply paying off debt. Thirty years of low interest can add up to more than five years of high interest. And if you opt for an interest-only loan, then your debt doesn't go down at all. You pay extra interest for the ability to lock your debt up somewhere, only so it can pop out and terrorize you later.
Stomach stapling is an incredible health trade-off. Often people who have had the operation end up thinner, but with reduced immune systems and other symptoms of malnutrition. Some even manage to re-grow their stomachs and gain back lost weight in spite of the surgery.
It's like if someone who's beginning to have trouble walking rushing out and purchasing a motorized cart. While the cart may seem easier, the fact that it's keeping them from walking can actually accelerate the problem. The answer may be that they need to walk more, not less, and they really ought to consult a physician.
All of these things are treating symptoms, rather than the problem. It's the equivalent of shoving two cotton balls up your nose because your nose is running. It plugs up the leak, but doesn't actually address the fact that you've got germs inside you doing bad stuff.
If you are having problems with your finances or with your weight, there is an underlying cause or two. Some examples:
1. Lack of Information. You simply do not know another way, or are ignorant of the effects of certain things. This one can be obvious--if somebody says 403b, for example, you either know what they're talking about or you don't.
Sometimes, though, the knowledge void isn't obvious, and you have to look a little harder to find it.
2. Incorrect or incomplete information. Someone might have told you, for example, that it's good to carry around some debt at all times in order to boost your credit score, or some other such silly nonsense.
The problem with this one, as opposed to the previous one, is this one is less obvious. There isn't an obvious gap in your knowledge--you think you know the answer!
Because of this, it is impossible to self-diagnose. You have no way of knowing, by yourself, which of your beliefs are true or false or a combination thereof. The only way to address this issue is to be constantly testing for it, by being in a constant state of learning, though whatever medium appeals to you.
3. Assumptions. I think this one is particularly true about weight problems. People think they're overweight because they're big boned, or they have a metabolism problem, or a thyroid problem. Or, they think their weight can't possibly be because of metabolism or a thyroid problem (It's never the big-boned thing. That's just bunk).
The problem with the assumptions is they exist independent of actual reality. And until the assumptions, either through research or professional diagnosis, are corrected, you are incapable of solving the problem.
4. Emotional issues. We are emotional creatures. We don't act logically all the time--Mr. Spock seemed weird to us for a reason. Getting our emotions regarding these things straightened out can be an even bigger hindrance than any of the previous three problems.
So it's in one of these four areas that things have gone wrong, and whichever one it is will keep steering you wrong no matter how many quick-fix patch-up jobs you attempt.
Truth: By treating only the symptom of the problem rather than the cause, you're just postponing the moment you have to deal with the problem, and possibly making them worse.
How did I get here?
In trying to find one's way out of a mess, this question is often the first one you need to answer. You need it answered before you even begin to answer the question that seems more pressing--How do I get out?
Because without answering the "How did I get here?" question, even if there were a "magic pill" that could whisk you away to Someplace Better, you would likely begin to wander much as you had before, and end up back in the same spot!
The real power would come not from your relocation, but from your power to prevent your return.
However, the so-called cures are rarely as magical as in our examples.
Home refinances are often more expensive than simply paying off debt. Thirty years of low interest can add up to more than five years of high interest. And if you opt for an interest-only loan, then your debt doesn't go down at all. You pay extra interest for the ability to lock your debt up somewhere, only so it can pop out and terrorize you later.
Stomach stapling is an incredible health trade-off. Often people who have had the operation end up thinner, but with reduced immune systems and other symptoms of malnutrition. Some even manage to re-grow their stomachs and gain back lost weight in spite of the surgery.
It's like if someone who's beginning to have trouble walking rushing out and purchasing a motorized cart. While the cart may seem easier, the fact that it's keeping them from walking can actually accelerate the problem. The answer may be that they need to walk more, not less, and they really ought to consult a physician.
All of these things are treating symptoms, rather than the problem. It's the equivalent of shoving two cotton balls up your nose because your nose is running. It plugs up the leak, but doesn't actually address the fact that you've got germs inside you doing bad stuff.
If you are having problems with your finances or with your weight, there is an underlying cause or two. Some examples:
1. Lack of Information. You simply do not know another way, or are ignorant of the effects of certain things. This one can be obvious--if somebody says 403b, for example, you either know what they're talking about or you don't.
Sometimes, though, the knowledge void isn't obvious, and you have to look a little harder to find it.
2. Incorrect or incomplete information. Someone might have told you, for example, that it's good to carry around some debt at all times in order to boost your credit score, or some other such silly nonsense.
The problem with this one, as opposed to the previous one, is this one is less obvious. There isn't an obvious gap in your knowledge--you think you know the answer!
Because of this, it is impossible to self-diagnose. You have no way of knowing, by yourself, which of your beliefs are true or false or a combination thereof. The only way to address this issue is to be constantly testing for it, by being in a constant state of learning, though whatever medium appeals to you.
3. Assumptions. I think this one is particularly true about weight problems. People think they're overweight because they're big boned, or they have a metabolism problem, or a thyroid problem. Or, they think their weight can't possibly be because of metabolism or a thyroid problem (It's never the big-boned thing. That's just bunk).
The problem with the assumptions is they exist independent of actual reality. And until the assumptions, either through research or professional diagnosis, are corrected, you are incapable of solving the problem.
4. Emotional issues. We are emotional creatures. We don't act logically all the time--Mr. Spock seemed weird to us for a reason. Getting our emotions regarding these things straightened out can be an even bigger hindrance than any of the previous three problems.
So it's in one of these four areas that things have gone wrong, and whichever one it is will keep steering you wrong no matter how many quick-fix patch-up jobs you attempt.
Quote Of The Week:
The life that conquers is the life that moves with a steady resolution and persistence toward a predetermined goal. Those who succeed are those who have thoroughly learned the immense importance of plan in life, and the tragic brevity of time.
- W.J. Davison
- W.J. Davison
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Super-Fast Updates
This, ironically, is both my slowest and fastest update ever.
As in, it's the longest I've gone between posts, but my first post using my super-fast, super-hype DSL connection.
Wow. It's a little bit faster.
I haven't hooked up my wireless router yet (Thank you, Becky!) but I will soon.
Our house is actually kind of turned upside down right now. My wife borrowed a carpet cleaner thing today, so most of my apartment is in my kitchen and my bedroom, so even the set-up I've got for the DSL right now was just temporary to make sure it was working.
But whoo-doggies, is this thing faster. I am feeling so spoiled right now.
Bring on your big files! Bring on your huge flash-powered websites! Bring on the large version of the film trailers!
I am the king of cyberspace!
As in, it's the longest I've gone between posts, but my first post using my super-fast, super-hype DSL connection.
Wow. It's a little bit faster.
I haven't hooked up my wireless router yet (Thank you, Becky!) but I will soon.
Our house is actually kind of turned upside down right now. My wife borrowed a carpet cleaner thing today, so most of my apartment is in my kitchen and my bedroom, so even the set-up I've got for the DSL right now was just temporary to make sure it was working.
But whoo-doggies, is this thing faster. I am feeling so spoiled right now.
Bring on your big files! Bring on your huge flash-powered websites! Bring on the large version of the film trailers!
I am the king of cyberspace!
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Emma's Eyes
I know there are comments I haven't replied to, and I'll get to them I swear--it's just been a long day and I have to get up early tomorrow for work.
But I do want to let everybody know that the optometrist has officially declared that, while wearing glasses, Emma's eyes are completely straight. She won't even need to use a patch.
This could change six months from now, but for right now, her eyes are responding remarkably well to corrective lenses, and she won't need any other treatment.
She deserves to catch a break once in a while.
(And I do promise to post a pic. Pics have, in fact, been taken--like a dunce, I just forgot to email them to myself. I'll get 'em up! I swear!)
But I do want to let everybody know that the optometrist has officially declared that, while wearing glasses, Emma's eyes are completely straight. She won't even need to use a patch.
This could change six months from now, but for right now, her eyes are responding remarkably well to corrective lenses, and she won't need any other treatment.
She deserves to catch a break once in a while.
(And I do promise to post a pic. Pics have, in fact, been taken--like a dunce, I just forgot to email them to myself. I'll get 'em up! I swear!)
Monday, July 11, 2005
A Big Thank-You
To everyone who participated in my birthday. Thanks to everyone who sent cards and/or presents and/or emails. You all are awesome.
On a fitness note, I got a pair of dumbells, which means I now have no excuse for not lifting weights more frequently.
Since my birthday was supposed to be sort of a milestone in the year, excpect a sort of "year in review"-type post this week.
On a fitness note, I got a pair of dumbells, which means I now have no excuse for not lifting weights more frequently.
Since my birthday was supposed to be sort of a milestone in the year, excpect a sort of "year in review"-type post this week.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Friday Mythbustin': Don't Eat Before Bedtime
Myth: If you don't eat before bedtime, your body won't store up the calories and you won't gain weight.
Fact: If you eat more calories than you burn, it doesn't matter when you eat them.
I guess it kind of makes sense. If you eat only when you're doing stuff, you'll burn more of the calories, right? When you're sleeping, all you're doing is just . . . sleeping.
Yeah. But to be honest with you, when you're sleeping, you're not burning that many fewer calories than when you're sitting watching TV (Fitday.com gives you no calorie credit for doing either one). Unless you're actually up and moving, eating before you sit down for that Seinfeld marathon is exactly the same as eating before you sleep.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts showed that going to bed hungry (Going 3 hours without eating before bedtime) increased a person's risk of obesity by over 100%! The only things worse were eating breakfast out of the house (137%) and not eating breakfast at all (A whopping 450%!).
Now some people swear by this weight-loss trick, and have had terrific luck with it. I think there's a reason for this:
A lot of people only have access to food once they get home from work. They come home, eat dinner, and then snack until bed time. By eliminating all the pre-bedtime snacks, they significantly cut their calorie intake. As long as they don't eat the food at other times (which they don't, because they're not in the house at other times), they're going to experience weight loss.
What I want to do is reassure them that if they give in and have something, they don't need to beat themselves up over it. In fact, it's probably a good idea.
Obviously, this isn't permission to eat the whole pint of Chubby Dumpy Ice Cream, but it does say that eating is just as important a tool in weight loss as the not eating is.
So grab that apple, or have a little meal replacement shake. High protein meals before bed help the muscle grow while you're sleeping.
Just be reasonable about it.
Fact: If you eat more calories than you burn, it doesn't matter when you eat them.
I guess it kind of makes sense. If you eat only when you're doing stuff, you'll burn more of the calories, right? When you're sleeping, all you're doing is just . . . sleeping.
Yeah. But to be honest with you, when you're sleeping, you're not burning that many fewer calories than when you're sitting watching TV (Fitday.com gives you no calorie credit for doing either one). Unless you're actually up and moving, eating before you sit down for that Seinfeld marathon is exactly the same as eating before you sleep.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts showed that going to bed hungry (Going 3 hours without eating before bedtime) increased a person's risk of obesity by over 100%! The only things worse were eating breakfast out of the house (137%) and not eating breakfast at all (A whopping 450%!).
Now some people swear by this weight-loss trick, and have had terrific luck with it. I think there's a reason for this:
A lot of people only have access to food once they get home from work. They come home, eat dinner, and then snack until bed time. By eliminating all the pre-bedtime snacks, they significantly cut their calorie intake. As long as they don't eat the food at other times (which they don't, because they're not in the house at other times), they're going to experience weight loss.
What I want to do is reassure them that if they give in and have something, they don't need to beat themselves up over it. In fact, it's probably a good idea.
Obviously, this isn't permission to eat the whole pint of Chubby Dumpy Ice Cream, but it does say that eating is just as important a tool in weight loss as the not eating is.
So grab that apple, or have a little meal replacement shake. High protein meals before bed help the muscle grow while you're sleeping.
Just be reasonable about it.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Alice's Adventures In Turnaround
In Lewis Carroll's book, Through The Looking Glass, there's a scene that's always stuck in my brain. It's not in any of the adaptations I've seen, but the scene rings true for me, and the scene is incredibly resonant.
In the book, Alice meets the Red Queen, who is not a playing card, but rather, a chess piece. After some amusing exchanges, this happens:
Just at this moment, somehow or other, they began to run.
Alice never could quite make out, in thinking it over afterwards, how it was that they began: all she remembers is, that they were running hand in hand, and the Queen went so fast that it was all she could do to keep up with her: and still the Queen kept crying "Faster!" but Alice felt she could not go faster, though she had no breath to say so.
The most curious part of the thing was, that the trees and the other things round them never changed their places at all: however fast they went, they never seemed to pass anything. "I wonder if all the things move along with us?" thought poor puzzled Alice. And the Queen seemed to guess her thoughts, for she cried, "Faster! Don't try to talk!"
Not that Alice had any idea of doing that. She felt as if she would never be able to talk again, she was getting so out of breath: and still the Queen cried, "Faster! Faster!" and dragged her along. "Are we nearly there?" Alice managed to pant out at last.
"Nearly there!" the Queen repeated. "Why, we passed it ten minutes ago! Faster!" And they ran on for a time in silence, with the wind whistling in Alice's ears, and almost blowing her hair off her head, she fancied.
"Now! Now!" cried the Queen. "Faster! Faster!" And they went so fast that at last they seemed to skim through the air, hardly touching the ground with their feet, till suddenly, just as Alice was getting quite exhausted, they stopped, and she found herself sitting on the ground, breathless and giddy. The Queen propped her against a tree, and said kindly, "You may rest a little now."
Alice looked round her in great surprise. "Why, I do believe we've been under this tree all the time! Everything's just as it was!"
"Of course it is," said the Queen: "what would you have it?"
"Well, in our country," said Alice, still panting a little, "you'd generally get to somewhere else -- if you ran very fast for a long time, as we've been doing."
"A slow sort of country!" said the Queen. "Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!"
Not to correct poor Alice, but I think there are plenty of times in this country where things seem to work exactly as they do on the Red Queen's chessboard. We run and work and labor and try just to have things stay the same, at it seems like the effort to make something actually change is Herculean.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
The Abs Diet
So my new reading is The Abs Diet, the bright orange book you've seen at the bookstore and supermarket.
The guy who wrote it is the editor-in-chief of Men's Health magazine, and it shows. The writing has the same type of "We want to seem hip so bad, we're going to show you how hip we are at least once a paragraph," writing style that litters the magazine, which wouldn't be nearly so annoying if his definition of "hip" didn't match with that of a sophomore in high school. Hip means beer and girls.
Add to that the title and the promise--washboard abs in six weeks.
That's ludicrous all the way around. People don't need abs. Abs are nice, and are a good sign you've lost weight--the guys who track this kind of stuff say that you'll see abs when your body fat gets down around 11%--but they aren't vital to good health.
And, add to that the cutesy way he tries to make the "12 authorized foods" fit his acronym "ABS DIET POWER 12." A is for "Almonds and other nuts." S is for "Spinach and other leafy greens." The list is extremely forced.
There, in a handful of paragraphs, you have my only complaints about the entire book. The nutrition is sound, the logic is good, the recipes look tasty. He also points out it isn't a diet so much as a way of eating--an important aspect of not just losing a couple quick pounds, but about changing your lifestyle.
A lot of people are skipping the big thick book and just buying the little $8 Food Guide
, which includes the chapters from the book on food, along with recipes and lists of what to get when eating out.
Worth a look.
The guy who wrote it is the editor-in-chief of Men's Health magazine, and it shows. The writing has the same type of "We want to seem hip so bad, we're going to show you how hip we are at least once a paragraph," writing style that litters the magazine, which wouldn't be nearly so annoying if his definition of "hip" didn't match with that of a sophomore in high school. Hip means beer and girls.
Add to that the title and the promise--washboard abs in six weeks.
That's ludicrous all the way around. People don't need abs. Abs are nice, and are a good sign you've lost weight--the guys who track this kind of stuff say that you'll see abs when your body fat gets down around 11%--but they aren't vital to good health.
And, add to that the cutesy way he tries to make the "12 authorized foods" fit his acronym "ABS DIET POWER 12." A is for "Almonds and other nuts." S is for "Spinach and other leafy greens." The list is extremely forced.
There, in a handful of paragraphs, you have my only complaints about the entire book. The nutrition is sound, the logic is good, the recipes look tasty. He also points out it isn't a diet so much as a way of eating--an important aspect of not just losing a couple quick pounds, but about changing your lifestyle.
A lot of people are skipping the big thick book and just buying the little $8 Food Guide
, which includes the chapters from the book on food, along with recipes and lists of what to get when eating out.Worth a look.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Here I Come Back From The Dead, Oh No . . . . . !!!
I got a little under the weather.
For those who don't read my other blog, I'm currently writing a screenplay. It's been interesting, because the book I'm using as a guide is one that acknowledges the difficulties of writing a screenplay. "No other book acknowledges the fact that you think you're going to die of this," quoth the book, and the amazing part is, it's right.
The way the book does it, see, is by paralleling the difficulties you're going through writing the thing with the difficulties your hero is facing throughout your movie.
At the start, you know you want to write a movie, but you're not really sure what all it's going to entail or how it's going to be. Your hero--same thing. He starts out wanting something but he's not sure what he will have to through between now and then.
And then you start getting into it, and you have to keep going forward not looking back, even when it starts to look a little harder than you thought. Ditto your hero.
And as things get going, there's actually a time where the screenwriter and the hero both just feel like throwing in the towel. This isn't what they signed up for, it's not what they wanted it to be, they can tell so much of what's gone before is just bad, bad, bad.
That's the day when it's the hardest for the screenwriter to sit down and plunk out the pages. That's when it takes fortitude and guts and character to keep on going and see it through.
It's true in screenplays. It's true in movies.
And it's true in 365 day turnarounds.
The car problems stunk. Being sick stunk. Coming back up four pounds (wonder why the Tale of the Tape hasn't been updated in a while?) stunk.
So there's that moment where you have to knuckle down, recognize the cost of what you wanted, and decide you want it anyway.
Onward, ho!
For those who don't read my other blog, I'm currently writing a screenplay. It's been interesting, because the book I'm using as a guide is one that acknowledges the difficulties of writing a screenplay. "No other book acknowledges the fact that you think you're going to die of this," quoth the book, and the amazing part is, it's right.
The way the book does it, see, is by paralleling the difficulties you're going through writing the thing with the difficulties your hero is facing throughout your movie.
At the start, you know you want to write a movie, but you're not really sure what all it's going to entail or how it's going to be. Your hero--same thing. He starts out wanting something but he's not sure what he will have to through between now and then.
And then you start getting into it, and you have to keep going forward not looking back, even when it starts to look a little harder than you thought. Ditto your hero.
And as things get going, there's actually a time where the screenwriter and the hero both just feel like throwing in the towel. This isn't what they signed up for, it's not what they wanted it to be, they can tell so much of what's gone before is just bad, bad, bad.
That's the day when it's the hardest for the screenwriter to sit down and plunk out the pages. That's when it takes fortitude and guts and character to keep on going and see it through.
It's true in screenplays. It's true in movies.
And it's true in 365 day turnarounds.
The car problems stunk. Being sick stunk. Coming back up four pounds (wonder why the Tale of the Tape hasn't been updated in a while?) stunk.
So there's that moment where you have to knuckle down, recognize the cost of what you wanted, and decide you want it anyway.
Onward, ho!
Thursday, June 30, 2005
New Phone Deal
Okay, here's the deal:
We're ditching Netflix. They're great for selection, but they're a lousy value, and they've got lousy customer service.
We're also switiching phone companies. The new "Verizon Freedom Unlimited" plan gives us the unlimited long distance my wife needs so badly, and combined with their DSL, we'll actually be paying about the same as what we used to pay for Unlimited Long Distance with voice mail.
So I'm getting DSL and Unlimited Long Distance for less than what I used to pay just for the phone bill and dial-up.
However, I didn't let them lock me in to a one year contract, despite the offer of the free wireless router. I want to be able to ditch this quick if I need to, or if, as the frog and the dog sang, "Somethin' better comes along."
We're ditching Netflix. They're great for selection, but they're a lousy value, and they've got lousy customer service.
We're also switiching phone companies. The new "Verizon Freedom Unlimited" plan gives us the unlimited long distance my wife needs so badly, and combined with their DSL, we'll actually be paying about the same as what we used to pay for Unlimited Long Distance with voice mail.
So I'm getting DSL and Unlimited Long Distance for less than what I used to pay just for the phone bill and dial-up.
However, I didn't let them lock me in to a one year contract, despite the offer of the free wireless router. I want to be able to ditch this quick if I need to, or if, as the frog and the dog sang, "Somethin' better comes along."
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Emma's Eyes
Usually, when people see me after a while, they ask about Emma. She's got a leg tumor and some other problems, but is sweet as pie in spite of it all.
One of the problems is her eyes. To put it gently, they tend to cross. Her right eye tends to drift off course a bit.
As it turns out, this is strabismus, a generic term for any visual defect that causes misalignment of the eyes. Her particular type of strabismus is called accommodative esotropia. That's a fancy way of saying she's really, really farsighted. So farsighted, that her eyes need to cross that much in order for her to focus.
The first step in her treatment is glasses. There's a chance that glasses alone might help. We'll see if we have to do any patching or anything else from there.
We did find some pretty cool Dora The Explorer glasses that were purple, so she's excited. I'll try to get a picture or two up when they come in.
One of the problems is her eyes. To put it gently, they tend to cross. Her right eye tends to drift off course a bit.
As it turns out, this is strabismus, a generic term for any visual defect that causes misalignment of the eyes. Her particular type of strabismus is called accommodative esotropia. That's a fancy way of saying she's really, really farsighted. So farsighted, that her eyes need to cross that much in order for her to focus.
The first step in her treatment is glasses. There's a chance that glasses alone might help. We'll see if we have to do any patching or anything else from there.
We did find some pretty cool Dora The Explorer glasses that were purple, so she's excited. I'll try to get a picture or two up when they come in.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Friday Mythbustin': Crunch Away That Tummy!
Myth: If you have a tummy, if you do enough sit-ups, it'll go away.
Fact: If you do enough sit-ups, you'll have rock-hard abs underneath that tummy.
There still seems to be this persistent myth that muscle can "turn" to fat, and vice versa. That's biological nonsense. That's like saying your hair could, somehow, turn into fingers. It's made up of different biological "stuff."
The only things you can do with fat is burn it or add to it. Period.
And, unfortunately, your body does not select which fat to burn based on what part of your body you're working out. It will still pull fat from the next place it has set up to pull fat from.
On the other hand, that might be fortunate. Because what it means is, you don't have to work your abs harder than any other part of the body. Do a few exercises for it, just like you would for your chest or your back, to make it stronger. Follow your normal combination of a healthy diet, cardio, and weights. That'll get that belly down, and insure there's something nice under there when it's gone.
Fact: If you do enough sit-ups, you'll have rock-hard abs underneath that tummy.
There still seems to be this persistent myth that muscle can "turn" to fat, and vice versa. That's biological nonsense. That's like saying your hair could, somehow, turn into fingers. It's made up of different biological "stuff."
The only things you can do with fat is burn it or add to it. Period.
And, unfortunately, your body does not select which fat to burn based on what part of your body you're working out. It will still pull fat from the next place it has set up to pull fat from.
On the other hand, that might be fortunate. Because what it means is, you don't have to work your abs harder than any other part of the body. Do a few exercises for it, just like you would for your chest or your back, to make it stronger. Follow your normal combination of a healthy diet, cardio, and weights. That'll get that belly down, and insure there's something nice under there when it's gone.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Tale Of The Tape . . .
. . . will be updated soon.
In the meantime, head on over to Dave Ramsey's website and nose around a little.
In the meantime, head on over to Dave Ramsey's website and nose around a little.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
To Whoever Is Stealing . . .
. . . from my wife's container garden:
For a couple of bucks and some water, you can grow all the cilantro and chiles you want. I'll be more than happy to help you get started. But the cilantro and the chiles are our favorites, too, okay? So please just leave ours be.
For a couple of bucks and some water, you can grow all the cilantro and chiles you want. I'll be more than happy to help you get started. But the cilantro and the chiles are our favorites, too, okay? So please just leave ours be.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Quotes of the Day
Thomas A. Edison:
Jeffrey R. Holland on Thomas Edison:
Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress.
Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.
Jeffrey R. Holland on Thomas Edison:
Thomas Edison devoted ten years and all of his money to developing the nickel-alkaline storage battery at a time when he was almost penniless. . . .
One night the terrifying cry of fire echoed through the film plant. Spontaneous combustion had ignited some chemicals. Within moments all of the packing compounds, celluloids for records, file, and other flammable goods had gone up with a whoosh. Fire companies from eight towns arrive, but the heat was so intense and the water pressure so low that the fire hoses had no effect.
Edison was 67 years old — no age to begin anew. His daughter was frantic, wondering if he were safe, if his spirits were broken, how he would handle a crisis such as this at his age. She saw him running toward her.
He spoke first. He said, "Where's your mother? Go get her. Tell her to get her friends. They'll never see another fire like this as long as they live."
At 5:30 the next morning with the fire barely under control, he called his employees together and announced, "We're rebuilding." Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "Oh, by the way, anybody know where we can get some money?"
Virtually everything we now recognize as a Thomas Edison contribution in our lives came after that disaster.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Friday Mythbustin': I'm Starting A Diet
Myth: Diets are something you go on and off of as needed for your weight.
Fact: You're on a diet, whether call it one or not.
"Diet" doesn't mean "strict eating regimen." It means, "Any eating regimen." Whatever you're doing right now, it's a diet. It is The You Diet.
Seem a little like I'm parsing hairs? Like it's not really a big deal? Like it doesn't change anything, but just is a semantic "Gotcha!"?
Well, it's not. Because think about it this way--when somebody says, "I can't stay on a diet," they're wrong. There is some diet they can do perfectly fine, and that's whatever they're doing. It may not be a perfect diet, or a healthy diet, but they still "have" a diet. If someone were to watch over their shoulder with a notepad, they could even give them a pretty good idea of what that diet consisted of.
When someone says, "I can't diet," what they're really trying to convey is one of three things:
The Diet Excuses:
1. "I can't tie myself down to a plan." Let's say that the person with the notepad came back at the end of the week, took out all his notes and said, "Okay, you have to eat nothing but these things this week at these times." The person who holds attitude number 1 couldn't do it. They wouldn't want to restrict themselves. Even though they found the diet perfectly satisfying the week before, the idea of being tied down to it sounds horrible.
"Do I really have to get up at three AM and eat half a pint of Ben & Jerry's?" they'll whine.
2. "I can't deny myself certain foods." This person might be perfectly fine with the above scenario. In fact, they may eat pretty much the same foods every week anyway. They'd grab the list from the guy, grateful they don't have to stand in front of the fridge any more. But if the guy started messing with the menu, making suggestions here and there, this person would freak out.
"But what if it's three AM and I want to eat a half a pint of Ben & Jerry's?"
3. "I do not want to be subjected to the financial and/or physical difficulties that might come from changing my diet." This last group has, either by experience or by word of mouth, come to believe that it would be either too expensive or too physically painful (e.g. they'd have no energy or feel hungry all the time) to change their eating habits. This group would look at any list handed to them and think either:
"How am I going to afford all of this?" or "Is this all? But what if I need more?"
The Excuse Busters:
1. If you're in category 1, here's the coolest thing you can learn about dieting, that will make you able to diet again: You can be in control. There is no guy with a notepad. The only one who will ultimately decide what you eat is you. At no point has any person who has ever subscribed to any diet stopped being in control. They've still had their free agency the entire time.
What I recommend for the controllers is this: Design your own diet. Learn all you can about nutrition. Read a couple of books that you think sound appealing, and then use all that knowledge you gain to create a diet for yourself. Use recipes from each book that sound appealing to you. Plan it all out yourself. Now, when you have to eat salmon and brown rice on Wednesday night, it will be fun, because it was your idea, rather than be frustrating because some guy with a notepad told you to.
2. Number two--here's your deal: You can eat whatever you want and still lose weight. You really can. There's only two tricks you have to learn.
First trick is to learn how to keep foods from being a problem. Plan for pizza night by eating low calorie, high fiber foods the rest of the day. Plan for the church Pancake Breakfast by having a sensible meal to prepare for dinner that night.
And second, learn tricks to reduce the calories of your favorite foods. Use less fatty cheese and meats on your pizza and more antioxidant-rich sauce. Use unbleached flour in the dough instead of white flour. Figure out how to get the taste you like with less caloric cost.
3. If you're the person who's afraid they'll be hungry if they eat better, think about this: Some foods, like asparagus and watermelon, actually have negative caloric value. It takes more calories to digest them than they contain. In other words, you could spend all day, every day, for a week doing nothing but eating watermelon or papaya, getting beyond full, and you would still wither away and die.
Okay, maybe you wouldn't die in a week. And you definitely wouldn't want to ever try this diet, but there still exists a happy medium. Somewhere between starving yourself and eating watermelon all day long, there's a diet that will keep you full and still be nutritious and help you lose weight.
If it's a financial thing--well, I hear you. While I struggle with just about every issue on this list, this one's probably my biggest one right now. We coupon shop, and with coupon shopping, junk food is where the bargains are at. We could be stocked to the gills with junk food for nothing right now, if we wanted to. But we don't. We want to eat healthy and lose weight.
Again, though--you can do it, if you plan. Not buying junk still saves us money, and we are able to find creative ways to save money. Buying in bulk, growing vegetables ourselves (did I mention I had the first tomato from our patio garden yesterday?), making things from scratch--they all help. It can be done. We're doing it.
Final Note:
You may have noticed all of these answers had a common word--plan. It's really all about making a plan. So I guess there's one excuse that I don't have an answer for:
"I don't want to have to make a plan."
If that's your reason, well--I can't help you. There is nothing in this life you can accomplish by luck. You have to make a plan and see it through.
I won't say "stick to it." You may find you have to modify the plan as life and circumstances happen. But you just adjust your plan so it still brings you firmly to your destination.
Fact: You're on a diet, whether call it one or not.
"Diet" doesn't mean "strict eating regimen." It means, "Any eating regimen." Whatever you're doing right now, it's a diet. It is The You Diet.
Seem a little like I'm parsing hairs? Like it's not really a big deal? Like it doesn't change anything, but just is a semantic "Gotcha!"?
Well, it's not. Because think about it this way--when somebody says, "I can't stay on a diet," they're wrong. There is some diet they can do perfectly fine, and that's whatever they're doing. It may not be a perfect diet, or a healthy diet, but they still "have" a diet. If someone were to watch over their shoulder with a notepad, they could even give them a pretty good idea of what that diet consisted of.
When someone says, "I can't diet," what they're really trying to convey is one of three things:
The Diet Excuses:
1. "I can't tie myself down to a plan." Let's say that the person with the notepad came back at the end of the week, took out all his notes and said, "Okay, you have to eat nothing but these things this week at these times." The person who holds attitude number 1 couldn't do it. They wouldn't want to restrict themselves. Even though they found the diet perfectly satisfying the week before, the idea of being tied down to it sounds horrible.
"Do I really have to get up at three AM and eat half a pint of Ben & Jerry's?" they'll whine.
2. "I can't deny myself certain foods." This person might be perfectly fine with the above scenario. In fact, they may eat pretty much the same foods every week anyway. They'd grab the list from the guy, grateful they don't have to stand in front of the fridge any more. But if the guy started messing with the menu, making suggestions here and there, this person would freak out.
"But what if it's three AM and I want to eat a half a pint of Ben & Jerry's?"
3. "I do not want to be subjected to the financial and/or physical difficulties that might come from changing my diet." This last group has, either by experience or by word of mouth, come to believe that it would be either too expensive or too physically painful (e.g. they'd have no energy or feel hungry all the time) to change their eating habits. This group would look at any list handed to them and think either:
"How am I going to afford all of this?" or "Is this all? But what if I need more?"
The Excuse Busters:
1. If you're in category 1, here's the coolest thing you can learn about dieting, that will make you able to diet again: You can be in control. There is no guy with a notepad. The only one who will ultimately decide what you eat is you. At no point has any person who has ever subscribed to any diet stopped being in control. They've still had their free agency the entire time.
What I recommend for the controllers is this: Design your own diet. Learn all you can about nutrition. Read a couple of books that you think sound appealing, and then use all that knowledge you gain to create a diet for yourself. Use recipes from each book that sound appealing to you. Plan it all out yourself. Now, when you have to eat salmon and brown rice on Wednesday night, it will be fun, because it was your idea, rather than be frustrating because some guy with a notepad told you to.
2. Number two--here's your deal: You can eat whatever you want and still lose weight. You really can. There's only two tricks you have to learn.
First trick is to learn how to keep foods from being a problem. Plan for pizza night by eating low calorie, high fiber foods the rest of the day. Plan for the church Pancake Breakfast by having a sensible meal to prepare for dinner that night.
And second, learn tricks to reduce the calories of your favorite foods. Use less fatty cheese and meats on your pizza and more antioxidant-rich sauce. Use unbleached flour in the dough instead of white flour. Figure out how to get the taste you like with less caloric cost.
3. If you're the person who's afraid they'll be hungry if they eat better, think about this: Some foods, like asparagus and watermelon, actually have negative caloric value. It takes more calories to digest them than they contain. In other words, you could spend all day, every day, for a week doing nothing but eating watermelon or papaya, getting beyond full, and you would still wither away and die.
Okay, maybe you wouldn't die in a week. And you definitely wouldn't want to ever try this diet, but there still exists a happy medium. Somewhere between starving yourself and eating watermelon all day long, there's a diet that will keep you full and still be nutritious and help you lose weight.
If it's a financial thing--well, I hear you. While I struggle with just about every issue on this list, this one's probably my biggest one right now. We coupon shop, and with coupon shopping, junk food is where the bargains are at. We could be stocked to the gills with junk food for nothing right now, if we wanted to. But we don't. We want to eat healthy and lose weight.
Again, though--you can do it, if you plan. Not buying junk still saves us money, and we are able to find creative ways to save money. Buying in bulk, growing vegetables ourselves (did I mention I had the first tomato from our patio garden yesterday?), making things from scratch--they all help. It can be done. We're doing it.
Final Note:
You may have noticed all of these answers had a common word--plan. It's really all about making a plan. So I guess there's one excuse that I don't have an answer for:
"I don't want to have to make a plan."
If that's your reason, well--I can't help you. There is nothing in this life you can accomplish by luck. You have to make a plan and see it through.
I won't say "stick to it." You may find you have to modify the plan as life and circumstances happen. But you just adjust your plan so it still brings you firmly to your destination.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Final Word From Kathryn
10. Now that I have offered you several tips on how to save more money each month, I will tell you how to spend what little you do have. It is a really simple formula, but it has worked for me and I am a single parent with 2 kids making less than $30,000 per year(I am a college student). If it works for me, it will work for anyone!
First start by writing down your TAKE HOME pay. Lets say it's $2000.00.
Use the 30/30/20/20 rule.
- 30% goes to rent or mortgage payment. So for a take home pay of $2000.00, you should not be spending more than $600 per month on your rent or mortgage. If you find that your rent or mortgage is higher than 30% of your take home pay, you cannot afford to live where you live and it is time to move! Sell your house, or move into a cheaper apartment. If it is LESS than 30%, say your rent is only 550, instead of 600, that extra $50 goes directly to paying off your credit cards and bills on your credit report.
- 30% goes to bills and all monthly expenses. This includes car pmt., insurance, utilities, food, gas, etc. So in this case that would be $600 per month. If it is higher because the car pmt. makes it higher, you need to get a cheaper form of transportation. Either sell the car and take public transportation, or get a cheaper car.
- 20% goes to savings, no questions asked-directly from your paycheck into the savings account. For this example, that would be 400 per month, or 200 per paycheck. This money is to sit there. Do NOT touch it for anything. It needs to grow until it equals 8 months of living expenses. In this case, that amount would be $16,000.00. Then after you have saved that much, your credit cards and bills should be paid off as well by that time and you can start investing or using that 20% towards kid's college educations, or whatever your heart desires.
- 20% is your miscellaneous. This is $400 per month for stuff like clothes, gifts, eating out, co-pays to the Dr. office, etc. If you don't use the full $400 in a month, great! Anything leftover goes towards paying off those credit cards and bills on your credit report faster.
I have used this method and nothing I have done before works better. Like I said before, now that I have that down, time to work on the weight loss! I know this email is windy, but I really wanted to share this information with you and your wife because it can and will help you. I have never shared this with anyone before, but since reading your blog, what can I say? I had to put in my two cents...or shall I say my dollar seventy-five? LOL...If you have any questions or want to exchange any ideas or whatever, shoot me an email anytime! :) Meanwhile, I will be reading your blog to see how you're doing. Hang in there!
I'm really glad Kathryn went to the trouble of sharing all of this, and not just because it gave me nearly a week of blog content.
When I read this, my first reaction was to want to nitpick at certain parts of it. "Well I heard that your rent or house payment shouldn't be more than 25% of your paycheck," or "Pay off your debt first!" or other such silly nitpicking.
None of that is the point. The point is, Kathryn made a plan and stuck to it, and now it's working for her. That's exciting. That's inspiring.
We could sit and quibble endlessly over details, but the point is Kathryn is proof it can be done. She's turned her life around, and has guaranteed that her own life, and that of her two kids, will be better than if she had just rode the wave and seen where life "took her." That's like taking your hands off the wheel of the car in moving traffic.
So please, read her post and glean from it all the parts that are useful. Use what works for you. But don't let the details distract you from the big picture--when you decide what you want and make a plan for going after it, and if you go after it with gusto, you can make it happen.
Thanks, Kathryn, for sharing with everybody. Feel free to weigh in whenever you like!
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
More From Kathryn
8. Pull your credit reports from all 3 bureaus. If there is anything on there that is potentially negative, dispute it. You can do your dispute online, and for the reason for the dispute, just say that it isn't your account. That is what I did for quite a few items and they were all DELETED from my credit report because the companies didn't reply to the credit bureau within the allotted 30 days. I have drastically increased my credit score by doing that. Anything negative that remains on your report after the 30 day investigation needs to be paid off because your credit score can't improve with unpaid accounts or collections. So, chip away at any items that are unpaid and they will eventually be paid off. Meantime, do you have current credit cards that you are still using? If you are, your balance owed should never be more than 30% of your credit line because it affects your credit score. For example, if your credit line is $500, you should never charge more than 150 on that particular card. If you don't have a choice and there is an emergency, try to pay it off as soon as possible at least to get that balance down to 150. Hmm..what else? OH, I am sure you already know this, but once your cards are paid off, leave them that way and never charge more than what you can pay off in FULL by the next month's bill. There is a new law regarding minimum payments on credit cards that will be going into place sometime in the next year or so that will dramatically INCREASE minimum payments on credit cards. So, if you have credit cards with balances AND other bills that are unpaid and on your credit report, pay off the credit cards first, especially because of the interest you are probably paying. Then, after the cards are paid off, tackle the other debt, if any. My other old job was working for Visa, so I was fortunate to learn all the in's and out's of credit, credit scores, etc.
9. For entertainment, instead of going to a movie the first weekend it is out, wait til it's in the cheap theater then go see it. Or if you don't have a cheap $1 or $2 theater where you live, wait til its out on DVD and rent it. You will save tons of money by quitting going to the full priced movie theaters.
Entertainment on a budget is sure an issue.
Finding things to do usually isn't--yesterday, since I had to go to Orange County anyway, my family and I had a nice picnic dinner on the beach and then went and watched the fireworks from outside of Disneyland (We sat under the "R" in California) and only paid for food and gas--gas we'd have had to spend anyway, since I already had to go to Orange County.
But as big a movie fan as I am, giving up movie theatre trips has been hard for me. While I did go see the new Star Wars, that's been my only movie trip this year, which is tough for a guy who used to spend every weekend seeing whatever the hot new movie was.
As it is, I'm chomping at the bit about the new Batman movie that came out today--the wife and I might have to sneak out and see a showing after it becomes eligible for Entertainment Book coupons.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
More From Kathryn . . .
The email continues . . .
That is some terrific advice. My wife and I have not yet looked into doing anything with our insurance. About the time we started this turnaround, we were going to start looking for cheaper insurance, but then two accidents dropped off our record (well, my record) and it became cheaper without us having to do a thing. Because of those two accidents I had in a row, I've always been leary of lowering my car insurance or going with a cheaper provider--I tend to use my car insurance, and I want it to work--but I strongly advocate having emergency funds in excess of $1,000 for stuff like this, and then going for the higher deductible. Great advice.
Because of the weight-loss portion of my goals, I tend to eat up to six small meals a day, which means I eat 3-4 times during the hours I'm at work. My first "meal" is usually a meal replacement bar--whichever one we were able to get coupons for and was on sale. Lately, it's been the EAS Advantage bar. Then a while later I'll do whatever healthy frozen meal had the right combination of sales and coupons--usually Healthy Choice as of late. Then I'll have maybe an apple and a cup of cottage cheese, or maybe sandwich. Sometimes I'll substitute canned soup or leftovers for any one of these meals. All told, I usually end up spending $2-3 on food a day, although I will skip one or two if we're getting close to a payday or far from a shopping trip, so it's sometimes less.
I don't get payday loans. I make them--it's actually what I do for a living. I give people loans by day at work and beg them to get out of debt on this blog by night.
To everyone--don't get payday loans. If you're tempted to get one, don't. And then, on your payday, take the $300 you'd have had to give the payday loan company if you'd got it and put it in your sock drawer. Then, next time you need one, you can give one to yourself. Put the $300 back on your payday. Repeat as needed.
I will say to anyone looking to follow Kathryn's advice about checks--see what kind of account you have at your bank first. Many banks, such as Bank of America have "Free" accounts only so long as you do all your transactions by ATM or check. If you start cashing your checks or withdrawing sums larger than what you can get from the ATM each day--like if you need a large amount to pay rent--you can often get charged transaction fees for those. Getting to know your bank's policies is valuable. If you tend to go inside the branch, take note of which teller seems most knowledgeable about bank policy and most willing to share. You'll be glad you did.
And as for the debt consolidation company, I'll post my do-it-yourself debt consolidation plan before this month is out. It's the plan that's got me out of all my debt except for my car and the stuff I turned over to those guys, and if I'd have started it sooner, I'd never turned any of it over to them at all.
Even More To Come! Keep It Tuned In!
4. I cut down the cost of my car insurance by changing a few things around on my policy. I have full coverage insurance. I live in Arizona, so car insurance is astronomical anyway, but I did manage to save a few bucks per month by changing my deductible from $500 to $1000, lowering the amount I can use for rental cars from $40 per day to $20 per day, and lowering the medical coverage to $5,000.00 Not to worry about the medical part, because if you get into an accident and your medical bills are more than $5,000, your regular health insurance will cover anything above and beyond the car insurance policy. I used to be a claims adjudicator for blue cross blue shield and saw it all the time-all they will ask you for is a denial letter from your car insurance and the bills will be paid.
That is some terrific advice. My wife and I have not yet looked into doing anything with our insurance. About the time we started this turnaround, we were going to start looking for cheaper insurance, but then two accidents dropped off our record (well, my record) and it became cheaper without us having to do a thing. Because of those two accidents I had in a row, I've always been leary of lowering my car insurance or going with a cheaper provider--I tend to use my car insurance, and I want it to work--but I strongly advocate having emergency funds in excess of $1,000 for stuff like this, and then going for the higher deductible. Great advice.
5. I stopped going out to lunch with my colleagues every day. I used to spend at LEAST $5 or $10 daily on lunch outside. I started bringing my own lunch every day and only going out for lunch on paydays. I figure lunch outside twice a month is OK. Money saved-$100+per month. Another cool thing about this is that it is easier to eat healthy when you aren't in a restaurant!
Because of the weight-loss portion of my goals, I tend to eat up to six small meals a day, which means I eat 3-4 times during the hours I'm at work. My first "meal" is usually a meal replacement bar--whichever one we were able to get coupons for and was on sale. Lately, it's been the EAS Advantage bar. Then a while later I'll do whatever healthy frozen meal had the right combination of sales and coupons--usually Healthy Choice as of late. Then I'll have maybe an apple and a cup of cottage cheese, or maybe sandwich. Sometimes I'll substitute canned soup or leftovers for any one of these meals. All told, I usually end up spending $2-3 on food a day, although I will skip one or two if we're getting close to a payday or far from a shopping trip, so it's sometimes less.
6. I don't know if you are living in a house or apartment, but if you are in an apt. and are paying extra for a garage or cushy parking spot, lose it and save money!
7. Stop using that debt-free service if it isn't free! You can pay your OWN bills if you stay organized. Get a monthly planner or print out a new calendar every month and keep it at your computer and desk. When the bills come in, write on the calendar when it is due, how much it is, and then keep the bills in a neat stack RIGHT next to the computer monitor, like I do. Then, when you have paid the bill, take it out of the stack and put it in a file for your records. Keep doing this until the stack is gone. Same thing for the next month, etc. Also, quit using checks from your bank! That is the fastest way to end up with costly overdraft fees from the bank. If you don't already have it, get online banking, enter in all your bills and their addresses and account numbers. Then when it's time to pay bills all you have to do is sit at the computer and click. No more writing checks, getting postage, etc. If you have a bill that's due on the 30th, for an example, arrange to have the payment go out on the 25th-ALWAYS send your payments out 5 business days in advance. Do that, and you will never pay another late fee. If, for whatever reason, your bank doesn't offer online banking, I would still do away with the checks. Just get 29 cent money orders at your local gas station for the bills and do it that way. Get out your scissors, and those boxes of unused checks and go to town. Cut them all up and never order another box. Checks are nothing but headaches. OH, and not having checks is also another way to ensure yourself of no more costly pay day loans!
I don't get payday loans. I make them--it's actually what I do for a living. I give people loans by day at work and beg them to get out of debt on this blog by night.
To everyone--don't get payday loans. If you're tempted to get one, don't. And then, on your payday, take the $300 you'd have had to give the payday loan company if you'd got it and put it in your sock drawer. Then, next time you need one, you can give one to yourself. Put the $300 back on your payday. Repeat as needed.
I will say to anyone looking to follow Kathryn's advice about checks--see what kind of account you have at your bank first. Many banks, such as Bank of America have "Free" accounts only so long as you do all your transactions by ATM or check. If you start cashing your checks or withdrawing sums larger than what you can get from the ATM each day--like if you need a large amount to pay rent--you can often get charged transaction fees for those. Getting to know your bank's policies is valuable. If you tend to go inside the branch, take note of which teller seems most knowledgeable about bank policy and most willing to share. You'll be glad you did.
And as for the debt consolidation company, I'll post my do-it-yourself debt consolidation plan before this month is out. It's the plan that's got me out of all my debt except for my car and the stuff I turned over to those guys, and if I'd have started it sooner, I'd never turned any of it over to them at all.
Even More To Come! Keep It Tuned In!
Monday, June 13, 2005
Unjumping The Shark
I realize that some time ago, this website jumped the shark. At least, I thought it did. Somewhere around the time my car broke down, this blog went from being helpful to being whiney.
However, I think I've received more comments since I became whiney then I did when I acted like a know-it-all. Quite frankly, the support has been welcome, and lots of the advice has been great!
But I still want this blog to become helpful again. And here to help me do that is Kathryn, who has been going through some of the same stuff I have, and has had to go it alone. She has some great tips I think everybody can use, including me.
I'll be publishing her email, along with my comments, over the next couple of days. Here goes!
I agree completely. My next car will definitely be a Honda or a Toyota.
I'm not going in for one yet, though--my primary goal right now is to become completely debt-free. As crazy as it may sound, I want to pay cash for my next car. That means paying this car off at an accelerated rate, and then starting to save the mileage checks I get from work towards a used vehicle.
The Saturn hasn't been too bad for me, although I have discovered the problem I just had with this one is fairly common (If you have a Saturn, do not, under any circumstances, let it overheat).
I got a great deal on the Saturn--at the time, I looked at Hondas and Toyotas, and they were just a hair out of my price range.
(Actually, there was a Nissan I could have afforded if the guys at Planet Nissan in San Bernardino hadn't tried to pass a 24% interest rate off as an 11% interest rate. But that's another story.)
Wonderful advice.
In my wife's defense, she's become a master of using coupons and offers to make money rather than just save money. In this case, the way the whole thing was presented to her made it sound like an exploitable system she could have cleared some cash on. Not wanting to get ripped off, though, she requested the information.
I do want to say we did get in writing that those charges are all reversed. Came in the mail today.
Check! We don't subscribe to any magazines, and we only get the Sunday paper for the coupons (We also bum coupons of subscribing family members who don't coupon shop).
We did cancel the cable, except local channels. For $5.99 a month, we get the local channels from Dish Network (Unfortunately, antennas don't work where I live). We do make extensive use of the local library, including their audiobook section, since I drive a lot.
(Actually, for any locals reading this, I recommend the Riverside library by the Mission Inn. They have lots of free videos and audiobooks. San Bernardino still charges for both.)
Amen!
I used to love to brag about my ISP--I was getting dial-up for $6.95 a month. Unfortunately, they've gone under, swallowed up by Earthlink, but I'm still getting $9.95 a month for them.
I also agree about the phone bill. My wife and I haggle over this one, though--she can't give up call waiting and voice mail, partly because I spend so much time on the net, and she doesn't want to miss those messages, and because she really does have people she needs to keep in contact with during the day, since she's starting a child care business in the next couple of months to bring in some extra dollars, and wants to be as accessible as possible. Also, she won't give up unlimited long distance, because she really does use it--her family is from back east.
My company pays for my cell phone. Otherwise, I would probably get a prepaid for my wife for emergencies and call it done. Just like you could care less if people who call you get a busy signal, I could care less if people can't get a hold of me when I'm at the park. ;)
More to come! Tune in tomorrow!
However, I think I've received more comments since I became whiney then I did when I acted like a know-it-all. Quite frankly, the support has been welcome, and lots of the advice has been great!
But I still want this blog to become helpful again. And here to help me do that is Kathryn, who has been going through some of the same stuff I have, and has had to go it alone. She has some great tips I think everybody can use, including me.
I'll be publishing her email, along with my comments, over the next couple of days. Here goes!
Hello Erik,
I have been reading your blog for the past few days. I haven't read through all the archives yet, but I am working on it in my free time. I was going to post a comment, but it wouldn't let me since I am not a blogger. Hence this email. Hmm...where do I start? I have some free advice for you and your wife. I am almost 30 myself and have struggled with the exact same things you are struggling with, i.e. weight loss and financial freedom. I have the financial freedom thing down, but am still working on losing more weight.
For starters, why did you buy a Saturn? First things first, I would trade in that Saturn for a Toyota Camry! It doesn't even have to be a new Toyota Camry. I have a 1997 and haven't ever had anything major go wrong with it. After checking the consumer reports, I found out that the Toyota Camry is one of, if not THE BEST, car for families. I have two daughters just like you, so I wanted a good, reliable sedan to haul them around in and luckily decided on the Camry.
I agree completely. My next car will definitely be a Honda or a Toyota.
I'm not going in for one yet, though--my primary goal right now is to become completely debt-free. As crazy as it may sound, I want to pay cash for my next car. That means paying this car off at an accelerated rate, and then starting to save the mileage checks I get from work towards a used vehicle.
The Saturn hasn't been too bad for me, although I have discovered the problem I just had with this one is fairly common (If you have a Saturn, do not, under any circumstances, let it overheat).
I got a great deal on the Saturn--at the time, I looked at Hondas and Toyotas, and they were just a hair out of my price range.
(Actually, there was a Nissan I could have afforded if the guys at Planet Nissan in San Bernardino hadn't tried to pass a 24% interest rate off as an 11% interest rate. But that's another story.)
Next, you and your wife need to start saying NO to everything. I know, it is easy to get suckered into offers, specials, sales. But all those things end up being is another headache. Hence the credit card situation when your wife thought she was only requesting information, but they had to sign her up BEFORE they sent out the information.
Wonderful advice.
In my wife's defense, she's become a master of using coupons and offers to make money rather than just save money. In this case, the way the whole thing was presented to her made it sound like an exploitable system she could have cleared some cash on. Not wanting to get ripped off, though, she requested the information.
I do want to say we did get in writing that those charges are all reversed. Came in the mail today.
Here is what I did for financial freedom:
1. Cut off the cable TV and cancel your newspaper and magazine subscriptions. Now, I get about 2 local channels so if I really want to watch the news or something else on that channel, I still can, but without the monthly $43 bill. I rent FREE DVD's at our local library. I was shocked to find out that they have so many titles, for adults and kids. I also have more time to do other things now that the cable is gone. I don't miss it one bit. Get your news online, and take a trip to the local library once a month or so to read your favorite magazines and check out books.
Check! We don't subscribe to any magazines, and we only get the Sunday paper for the coupons (We also bum coupons of subscribing family members who don't coupon shop).
We did cancel the cable, except local channels. For $5.99 a month, we get the local channels from Dish Network (Unfortunately, antennas don't work where I live). We do make extensive use of the local library, including their audiobook section, since I drive a lot.
(Actually, for any locals reading this, I recommend the Riverside library by the Mission Inn. They have lots of free videos and audiobooks. San Bernardino still charges for both.)
2. Cut off all the "extra" telephone services-NO more call waiting, voice mail, etc. I pared my monthly service down to $13 and got an answering machine. Then I cut off my DSL and signed up for $10 a month Net Zero. I hardly notice the difference in the internet service and I could care less if anyone doesn't like the fact that they get a busy signal when they call my house. My Qwest bill used to be around $87 a month, with all the phone features and DSL, Now it is less than $20.
Amen!
I used to love to brag about my ISP--I was getting dial-up for $6.95 a month. Unfortunately, they've gone under, swallowed up by Earthlink, but I'm still getting $9.95 a month for them.
I also agree about the phone bill. My wife and I haggle over this one, though--she can't give up call waiting and voice mail, partly because I spend so much time on the net, and she doesn't want to miss those messages, and because she really does have people she needs to keep in contact with during the day, since she's starting a child care business in the next couple of months to bring in some extra dollars, and wants to be as accessible as possible. Also, she won't give up unlimited long distance, because she really does use it--her family is from back east.
3. Do you have cell phone service? I used to have Verizon's 1100 min. per month plan, and was paying around $80 per month. I cut my cell phone service down to the 400 min. per month + free nights and weekends and saved myself over $40 per month. I also started being religious about checking how many minutes I have used so far, so I don't go over on the minutes to rack up a higher bill. No problem.
My company pays for my cell phone. Otherwise, I would probably get a prepaid for my wife for emergencies and call it done. Just like you could care less if people who call you get a busy signal, I could care less if people can't get a hold of me when I'm at the park. ;)
More to come! Tune in tomorrow!
Friday, June 10, 2005
Friday Mythbustin': There's Nothing Wrong With Being Overweight
Myth: All this obesity and BMI stuff is way overblown. Being fat isn't nearly as big a deal as they say it is.
Fact: While much of the obesity epidemic is overstated, and BMI may be a gross oversimplification, that doesn't mean we can ignore our weight.
In case you hadn't noticed, the media are terribly hypocritical. The new big thing in the media? Headlines like "Is The Obesity Epidemic Overblown?" "Being Fat: Is It As Bad As They Thought?"
And here's the thing: It's not. A lot of the scientific data right now is reinforcing the idea that the obesity myth is just that--largely a myth.
Here's the problem, though. Who was it who overblew it?
The media themselves. They took valid scientific data and blew it out of all proportion in order to get you to "Tune in at 11."
And now, they're making the same mistake the other way. They're taking more valid scientific data and blowing it out of proportion again in order to get you to tune right back in. Only now, it's turned around--they're lulling everyone back into apathy.
Here's the thing--it's not the data that's wrong. It's the hype.
I don't need a scientific study to tell me that being overweight is bad for me. I didn't start this diet because of any scientific study. I did it because I was getting winded too easy. I did it because my knees were aching constantly, a pain I couldn't bear any more. I did it because I never had any energy.
Clearly, being overweight hurts. The "data" still supports this. Sure, some of the numbers may have been overblown. But even the true data, while it may not be "Tune in at 11" kind of exciting, well--let's just say it brings a smile to my face when I can walk three miles without noticing my knees.
So don't believe the hype. And don't believe the anti-hype. Do what's best for you.
Fact: While much of the obesity epidemic is overstated, and BMI may be a gross oversimplification, that doesn't mean we can ignore our weight.
In case you hadn't noticed, the media are terribly hypocritical. The new big thing in the media? Headlines like "Is The Obesity Epidemic Overblown?" "Being Fat: Is It As Bad As They Thought?"
And here's the thing: It's not. A lot of the scientific data right now is reinforcing the idea that the obesity myth is just that--largely a myth.
Here's the problem, though. Who was it who overblew it?
The media themselves. They took valid scientific data and blew it out of all proportion in order to get you to "Tune in at 11."
And now, they're making the same mistake the other way. They're taking more valid scientific data and blowing it out of proportion again in order to get you to tune right back in. Only now, it's turned around--they're lulling everyone back into apathy.
Here's the thing--it's not the data that's wrong. It's the hype.
I don't need a scientific study to tell me that being overweight is bad for me. I didn't start this diet because of any scientific study. I did it because I was getting winded too easy. I did it because my knees were aching constantly, a pain I couldn't bear any more. I did it because I never had any energy.
Clearly, being overweight hurts. The "data" still supports this. Sure, some of the numbers may have been overblown. But even the true data, while it may not be "Tune in at 11" kind of exciting, well--let's just say it brings a smile to my face when I can walk three miles without noticing my knees.
So don't believe the hype. And don't believe the anti-hype. Do what's best for you.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Rental Car Bargains
Since my car's been in the shop for a while, I've been forced to rent. And I've learned about the rental car system.
If any system is sufficiently messed up, and you can find a way to take advantage of it, you can save a ton of money.
In this case, the rental car system is pretty messed up. Dave Barry once joked that the world would not truly be fair until two people sitting next to each other on the same airplane had paid the same price for their tickets.
Same way with rental cars.
My first rental car was actually paid for by my company. A Chrysler 300 from Dollar. Last year's Motor Trend Car of the Year. Wow. It was pretty darn cool, and I didn't have to pay for it.
For my second car, I got a Pontiac Grand Am from Alamo. Using coupons in the Entertainment Book, and a discount they give to anybody who uses the coupon book, I was able to get it for about $115 for five days.
So when the day came to return it, I knew I wouldn't have my car back yet. So I called up Alamo the night before and asked what it would be to keep the car another four days. They said it would normally be about $130, but with a $10 a day fee for keeping the car past the contract, it would come out to $170.
"So lemme get this straight," I said, "It would be cheaper to go in and get a new one than keep this one?"
"Probably. Go ahead and call and see."
So I hung up with the local rental center, then called the main distribution center. They rented me a mid-size for the next morning for four days. Using another coupon, it came out to about $80.
So I go the next day, drop off my mid-size, walk inside, pay for the new midsize, go back outside, and pick up a full-size. See, there were no mid-sizes on the lot, so I got a free upgrade. Even though the mid-size I had just returned was sitting maybe 20 feet away with the keys still in it, it hadn't been "cleaned and prepped" yet, or whatever.
So here's some tips for renting cars:
1. Always make your reservation for a small car. You should do this in the hopes of getting upgraded free. If you want a bigger car, and they don't upgrade you free, you can always "change your mind" at the last minute. In my case, I made the reservation for the smallest size the coupon would allow. That did happen to be big enough for me, but I did get upgraded once.
2. Always make your reservation over the phone at the 1-800-number. Since the phone center folks know less about what's on the lot than the lot guys, they're more likely to book you something the rental lot won't have. This is a huge help when you're renting moving vans. I once made reservations over the phone for a Ryder center that, unbeknownst to the phone center folks, only had like two trucks. Since the small one was out, they were forced to rent me the big one (and it was huge, probably bigger than my apartment) at the same price.
3. Use Coupons. The Entertainment Book has great coupons, but you can find them in the travel section of the Sunday paper, too.
4. Call around. If it takes you an hour and you save $40, you just made $40 an hour for your time. Not bad, eh? Ask about each company's specials before you tell them what you want--you may be able to fit the special into your plans.
5. Use the web only after you've called. Part of the messed up rental car system is that there are different specials on the web vs. on the phone.
If you have any other tips or ideas, feel free to post them!
If any system is sufficiently messed up, and you can find a way to take advantage of it, you can save a ton of money.
In this case, the rental car system is pretty messed up. Dave Barry once joked that the world would not truly be fair until two people sitting next to each other on the same airplane had paid the same price for their tickets.
Same way with rental cars.
My first rental car was actually paid for by my company. A Chrysler 300 from Dollar. Last year's Motor Trend Car of the Year. Wow. It was pretty darn cool, and I didn't have to pay for it.
For my second car, I got a Pontiac Grand Am from Alamo. Using coupons in the Entertainment Book, and a discount they give to anybody who uses the coupon book, I was able to get it for about $115 for five days.
So when the day came to return it, I knew I wouldn't have my car back yet. So I called up Alamo the night before and asked what it would be to keep the car another four days. They said it would normally be about $130, but with a $10 a day fee for keeping the car past the contract, it would come out to $170.
"So lemme get this straight," I said, "It would be cheaper to go in and get a new one than keep this one?"
"Probably. Go ahead and call and see."
So I hung up with the local rental center, then called the main distribution center. They rented me a mid-size for the next morning for four days. Using another coupon, it came out to about $80.
So I go the next day, drop off my mid-size, walk inside, pay for the new midsize, go back outside, and pick up a full-size. See, there were no mid-sizes on the lot, so I got a free upgrade. Even though the mid-size I had just returned was sitting maybe 20 feet away with the keys still in it, it hadn't been "cleaned and prepped" yet, or whatever.
So here's some tips for renting cars:
1. Always make your reservation for a small car. You should do this in the hopes of getting upgraded free. If you want a bigger car, and they don't upgrade you free, you can always "change your mind" at the last minute. In my case, I made the reservation for the smallest size the coupon would allow. That did happen to be big enough for me, but I did get upgraded once.
2. Always make your reservation over the phone at the 1-800-number. Since the phone center folks know less about what's on the lot than the lot guys, they're more likely to book you something the rental lot won't have. This is a huge help when you're renting moving vans. I once made reservations over the phone for a Ryder center that, unbeknownst to the phone center folks, only had like two trucks. Since the small one was out, they were forced to rent me the big one (and it was huge, probably bigger than my apartment) at the same price.
3. Use Coupons. The Entertainment Book has great coupons, but you can find them in the travel section of the Sunday paper, too.
4. Call around. If it takes you an hour and you save $40, you just made $40 an hour for your time. Not bad, eh? Ask about each company's specials before you tell them what you want--you may be able to fit the special into your plans.
5. Use the web only after you've called. Part of the messed up rental car system is that there are different specials on the web vs. on the phone.
If you have any other tips or ideas, feel free to post them!
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
The Whole Messy Story
Okay, so sometime last month, the car broke down. It's our only car--a Saturn SL1.
I purchased it--well, August will make three years. It was five years old, and it had only 24,000 miles on it.
I financed it for five years at 11%. This was a mistake I will never make again. Actually, I hope to never finance a car again, but even if I do, it will not be for five years. As my Dad correctly pointed out at the time I bought it, my little daughter, who was not yet one, would be in kindergarten before this thing was paid off.
Anyway, I put a lot of miles on it driving for work. Last month, I brought it up over the 100,000 mile mark. Although I try to be real, real good to it, I had the proverbial "bad feeling."
Sure enough, one morning as I was driving to work, the thing overheated. I pulled into the WalMart station to check my fluid levels and see what was going on. My radiator exploded a dark, thick goo all over my engine that looked like something Nickelodeon would sell to kids.
Turns out oil was leaking back into the radiator. A big mess. A big mess that's kept me from having the car for several weeks, and backwards in my debt payback plan to the tune of about $2,500. That's about equal to the amount I still owe on the car.
I'm taking a week's pay in lieu of vacation to help me pay for a chunk of that--I'd been planning to do that to pay off some of the debt anyways--and will shift some of my dramatic paydown money and my mileage checks into paying that off in a few months.
In all, this means I'm about three months behind, now, in my debt pay-off plan, which was already about six months too slow to get me out of debt by the end of the year.
What will happen, true believers? Will the 365 day turnaround be forced to become a 780 day turnaround? Will this debt-free thing ever happen?
Stay tuned to see how we get ourselves back on track!
I purchased it--well, August will make three years. It was five years old, and it had only 24,000 miles on it.
I financed it for five years at 11%. This was a mistake I will never make again. Actually, I hope to never finance a car again, but even if I do, it will not be for five years. As my Dad correctly pointed out at the time I bought it, my little daughter, who was not yet one, would be in kindergarten before this thing was paid off.
Anyway, I put a lot of miles on it driving for work. Last month, I brought it up over the 100,000 mile mark. Although I try to be real, real good to it, I had the proverbial "bad feeling."
Sure enough, one morning as I was driving to work, the thing overheated. I pulled into the WalMart station to check my fluid levels and see what was going on. My radiator exploded a dark, thick goo all over my engine that looked like something Nickelodeon would sell to kids.
Turns out oil was leaking back into the radiator. A big mess. A big mess that's kept me from having the car for several weeks, and backwards in my debt payback plan to the tune of about $2,500. That's about equal to the amount I still owe on the car.
I'm taking a week's pay in lieu of vacation to help me pay for a chunk of that--I'd been planning to do that to pay off some of the debt anyways--and will shift some of my dramatic paydown money and my mileage checks into paying that off in a few months.
In all, this means I'm about three months behind, now, in my debt pay-off plan, which was already about six months too slow to get me out of debt by the end of the year.
What will happen, true believers? Will the 365 day turnaround be forced to become a 780 day turnaround? Will this debt-free thing ever happen?
Stay tuned to see how we get ourselves back on track!
Monday, June 06, 2005
Tale Of The Tape
Up two pounds. I wasn't really bad for eating, but I haven't really been exercising.
So I'm really behind on my birthday weight goal. A lot of that is discouragement from the car situation, which I still haven't mustered the energy to blog about. I'll probably post more about it on Wednesday or Thursday when the car's back and the dust has settled and I'm back to where I was a couple of months ago, financially.
Which, I really need to keep in mind, is still way ahead of where I was a year ago, financially and weight-wise.
So I'm really behind on my birthday weight goal. A lot of that is discouragement from the car situation, which I still haven't mustered the energy to blog about. I'll probably post more about it on Wednesday or Thursday when the car's back and the dust has settled and I'm back to where I was a couple of months ago, financially.
Which, I really need to keep in mind, is still way ahead of where I was a year ago, financially and weight-wise.
Laugh Yourself Skinny
This article is a bit misleading.
See, on the surface, it says that laughing burns more calories than your basal, or "resting" metabolic rate.
That sounds really exciting. Laugh yourself skinny, right?
Only see--what they compared it to was sitting watching TV.
Your body never burns fewer calories than when you're sitting watching TV. You could sit and talk and burn more calories than sitting watching TV, since you'd be moving your mouth, gesturing, etc. You could hiccup and burn more calories than sitting watching TV.
So as far as exercise goes, they admit right in the article this is a great way to burn about four and a half pounds a year.
So don't swap your Kathy Smith videos for Marx Brothers just yet. Or, if you've already memorized the Smith routines, then maybe you can go ahead and make the swap and watch Groucho and Harpo while you do the memorized routines. Now that's multitasking.
See, on the surface, it says that laughing burns more calories than your basal, or "resting" metabolic rate.
That sounds really exciting. Laugh yourself skinny, right?
Only see--what they compared it to was sitting watching TV.
Your body never burns fewer calories than when you're sitting watching TV. You could sit and talk and burn more calories than sitting watching TV, since you'd be moving your mouth, gesturing, etc. You could hiccup and burn more calories than sitting watching TV.
So as far as exercise goes, they admit right in the article this is a great way to burn about four and a half pounds a year.
So don't swap your Kathy Smith videos for Marx Brothers just yet. Or, if you've already memorized the Smith routines, then maybe you can go ahead and make the swap and watch Groucho and Harpo while you do the memorized routines. Now that's multitasking.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Friday Mythbustin': The Extended Warranty
A few weeks back, a post about how I took advantage of I took advantage of my own stupidity when I'd bought an extended warranty. Using it now, I was able to get my old video camera working again.
Well, it turned into a celebration of all things warranty. We all posted about great things that happened when we got the warranty from one place or another. That, together with the enthusiastic endorsement of the person trying to get you to buy the extended warranty, may lead you to wonder why I even said in that post that warranties are usually a bad bet.
So, I thought I'd clear it up.
Warranties are insurance.
Insurance is a way of making things more expensive.
For example, we as Americans pay more for health care than what health care actually costs. This is because most doctors are not actually paid directly--they're paid either by an insurance company or the government. Which means that we not only have to pay for the salaries and equipment of the people in the doctor's office, but also for the salaries and equipment of the people who work at the insurance offices or the government buildings who process all of this money and these payments.
But what we do is put our money in a big pool and gamble, collectively, that we'll be the one it pays off for and that we'll get more out of it than we had to pay into it.
Now in the case of health care, it's obviously a necessity. The mere existence of the insurance industry has caused the prices to get so high that a medical crisis without insurance would bankrupt nearly anyone.
But for smaller things, odds are against you. Consider this quote from Dave Ramsey:
In other words, statistically speaking, you're only going to use that warranty 13% of the time--about once for every ten items you purchase. Those are horrible odds! A Vegas game with odds like that would be ignored even by the dimmest of casino goers.
Instead of shelling out money to these folks for each purchase you make, create a well-stocked emergency fund of your own. If the statistics hold true, your dollars will go almost eight times as far as if you'd paid them to take care of it.
And, don't underestimate the value of good old fashioned customer service. Use the regular warranty as often as is necessary. More products than you think actually have "lifetime warranties" on them. Also, many stores--like Wal-mart, dreaded as they seem to have become--have very liberal return policies as long as you're trading for merchandise rather than getting cash. As my cheapie Wal-mart VCRs have broken down quickly, I've just returned them and shelled out a couple more bucks for a slightly nicer model. I've done this a couple of times, until I finally got one that's worked fine for me.
So, use the customer service programs that already exist in the store, set up an emergency fund, and, in most cases, do a Nancy Reagan on anybody who pushes the extended warranty at you--just say no.
Well, it turned into a celebration of all things warranty. We all posted about great things that happened when we got the warranty from one place or another. That, together with the enthusiastic endorsement of the person trying to get you to buy the extended warranty, may lead you to wonder why I even said in that post that warranties are usually a bad bet.
So, I thought I'd clear it up.
Warranties are insurance.
Insurance is a way of making things more expensive.
For example, we as Americans pay more for health care than what health care actually costs. This is because most doctors are not actually paid directly--they're paid either by an insurance company or the government. Which means that we not only have to pay for the salaries and equipment of the people in the doctor's office, but also for the salaries and equipment of the people who work at the insurance offices or the government buildings who process all of this money and these payments.
But what we do is put our money in a big pool and gamble, collectively, that we'll be the one it pays off for and that we'll get more out of it than we had to pay into it.
Now in the case of health care, it's obviously a necessity. The mere existence of the insurance industry has caused the prices to get so high that a medical crisis without insurance would bankrupt nearly anyone.
But for smaller things, odds are against you. Consider this quote from Dave Ramsey:
When you buy an extended warranty, you're covering commissions, overhead and profit. Thirteen percent of what you're paying for an extended warranty goes toward actual repair costs. If you'd set that amount aside, you could cover that average repair expenditure on your vehicle. The remaining 87% of what you are paying is going toward the warranty company's marketing costs (commissions and sales expenses) and profit. Extended warranties are extremely profitable for those selling them and a terrible deal for those buying them.
In other words, statistically speaking, you're only going to use that warranty 13% of the time--about once for every ten items you purchase. Those are horrible odds! A Vegas game with odds like that would be ignored even by the dimmest of casino goers.
Instead of shelling out money to these folks for each purchase you make, create a well-stocked emergency fund of your own. If the statistics hold true, your dollars will go almost eight times as far as if you'd paid them to take care of it.
And, don't underestimate the value of good old fashioned customer service. Use the regular warranty as often as is necessary. More products than you think actually have "lifetime warranties" on them. Also, many stores--like Wal-mart, dreaded as they seem to have become--have very liberal return policies as long as you're trading for merchandise rather than getting cash. As my cheapie Wal-mart VCRs have broken down quickly, I've just returned them and shelled out a couple more bucks for a slightly nicer model. I've done this a couple of times, until I finally got one that's worked fine for me.
So, use the customer service programs that already exist in the store, set up an emergency fund, and, in most cases, do a Nancy Reagan on anybody who pushes the extended warranty at you--just say no.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Free Credit Report
Okay, so I'm the last one to find out about this.
At least it feels that way. But since I still hold on to the hope that this might be useful to someone, I'll post it anyway.
It seems that there's been a new law passed that requires every credit reporting agency to issue a copy of your credit report to you for free at least once a year.
It's being phased in regionally, and as of yesterday, only the northeastern states are not yet eligible. Everybody else can go to annualcreditreport.com to get a printable copy, or call 1-877-322-8228 to request a copy be mailed to you.
The northeast will become activated for this September 1st.
Now, keep in mind, this is the only website that is legitimately offering these free credit reports. Other websites that purport to offer free credit reports actually sign you up for a credit monitoring service upon your request. I've heard this site makes a similar offer, but it does not require you to join, nor does it involuntarily place you on any list. This is where to go.
At least it feels that way. But since I still hold on to the hope that this might be useful to someone, I'll post it anyway.
It seems that there's been a new law passed that requires every credit reporting agency to issue a copy of your credit report to you for free at least once a year.
It's being phased in regionally, and as of yesterday, only the northeastern states are not yet eligible. Everybody else can go to annualcreditreport.com to get a printable copy, or call 1-877-322-8228 to request a copy be mailed to you.
The northeast will become activated for this September 1st.
Now, keep in mind, this is the only website that is legitimately offering these free credit reports. Other websites that purport to offer free credit reports actually sign you up for a credit monitoring service upon your request. I've heard this site makes a similar offer, but it does not require you to join, nor does it involuntarily place you on any list. This is where to go.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Make Diamonds -- Not Chaos!
If you've been to my house, you've seen there's a lot of signs around my desk. Some are about debt, with Dave Ramsey quotes, and others are about writing, with Artist's Way quotes. My wife makes these for me, as a way of encouraging me.
The title of this post is from the newest sign she made. It's from a quote that's my own. I wrote it in a training article for work.
"Explosions don't make diamonds. They just make messes. Diamonds come from consistent, intense pressure over time."
It's meant to be a reminder that it's better to do a little bit of something day after day after day than to try to do a whole bunch of stuff, all on one day. I think it's in our culture to make explosions rather than diamonds--we're used to the idea that problems can be solved quickly. TV teaches us that if a problem is funny, we can solve it in half an hour, and if a problem is serious, we can solve it in an hour.
For this reason, I think TV also teaches quick-fix values ("So what if your doctor says your weight problem will kill you? The most important thing is that you learn to love yourself for who you are").
The truth is that success at anything is slow and boring. Jackie Chan can make jumping through a window look easy because day after day he was forced to do arduous exercises at the Chinese Opera where he was raised. Successful writers don't just fling books out at the world and bask in fame--they spend most of their time alone tapping keys.
We tend to make dramatic starts--we stuff all the junk food in a trash can, or we rush out and buy a huge home gym or we vow to run 5 miles, right now, today. In a movie, that's all we get. The moment of resolve. The time when the change happens. We can just assume from there that it's all flowers and roses and happily ever after.
In reality, it's not always that way. If you've ever pushed against a door you thought was stuck, only to discover it wasn't even closed, you've experienced an interesting sensation--you pull back. You stop going through the door. Even though it's going where you wanted to go, your body has to compensate for the extra force you put into it.
Same thing here. Too much force at the start can force your mind and heart to pull back. It can actually inhibit your efforts. Counterintuitive, maybe, until you give it a little more thought.
A little each day pays off far more than a whole lot of fireworks that fizzle out fast.
Make diamonds, not chaos.
The title of this post is from the newest sign she made. It's from a quote that's my own. I wrote it in a training article for work.
"Explosions don't make diamonds. They just make messes. Diamonds come from consistent, intense pressure over time."
It's meant to be a reminder that it's better to do a little bit of something day after day after day than to try to do a whole bunch of stuff, all on one day. I think it's in our culture to make explosions rather than diamonds--we're used to the idea that problems can be solved quickly. TV teaches us that if a problem is funny, we can solve it in half an hour, and if a problem is serious, we can solve it in an hour.
For this reason, I think TV also teaches quick-fix values ("So what if your doctor says your weight problem will kill you? The most important thing is that you learn to love yourself for who you are").
The truth is that success at anything is slow and boring. Jackie Chan can make jumping through a window look easy because day after day he was forced to do arduous exercises at the Chinese Opera where he was raised. Successful writers don't just fling books out at the world and bask in fame--they spend most of their time alone tapping keys.
We tend to make dramatic starts--we stuff all the junk food in a trash can, or we rush out and buy a huge home gym or we vow to run 5 miles, right now, today. In a movie, that's all we get. The moment of resolve. The time when the change happens. We can just assume from there that it's all flowers and roses and happily ever after.
In reality, it's not always that way. If you've ever pushed against a door you thought was stuck, only to discover it wasn't even closed, you've experienced an interesting sensation--you pull back. You stop going through the door. Even though it's going where you wanted to go, your body has to compensate for the extra force you put into it.
Same thing here. Too much force at the start can force your mind and heart to pull back. It can actually inhibit your efforts. Counterintuitive, maybe, until you give it a little more thought.
A little each day pays off far more than a whole lot of fireworks that fizzle out fast.
Make diamonds, not chaos.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Chase Visa Wants Blogged About
Chase Visa, apparently disappointed I haven't mentioned the $400 card I kept for emergencies after I paid it off, has decided to do something stupid in order to get some blog time. I'm willing to give it to them.
A little after we paid off the card, my wife got a call from them asking if we wanted to sign up for some kind of protection service where we'd have certain transactions monitored. My wife, not sure if this was something we needed or not, asked them to send us the information.
When our bill came this month, we were charged for the service. Which we never signed up for.
When my wife called to point out that we'd never signed up for it, she was told that she must have signed up for it, because otherwise they wouldn't have been charged for it.
So she explained the prior conversation to the lady, saying she had only asked for information.
Honest, the lady's reply was something to the effect of, "Oh, well that explains it. We have to sign you up for it to send the information."
My wife still hasn't been able to convince them to reverse the charge and cancel them from the program.
I'll be calling them myself tomorrow, and I'll be sure to tell you all about that conversation.
A little after we paid off the card, my wife got a call from them asking if we wanted to sign up for some kind of protection service where we'd have certain transactions monitored. My wife, not sure if this was something we needed or not, asked them to send us the information.
When our bill came this month, we were charged for the service. Which we never signed up for.
When my wife called to point out that we'd never signed up for it, she was told that she must have signed up for it, because otherwise they wouldn't have been charged for it.
So she explained the prior conversation to the lady, saying she had only asked for information.
Honest, the lady's reply was something to the effect of, "Oh, well that explains it. We have to sign you up for it to send the information."
My wife still hasn't been able to convince them to reverse the charge and cancel them from the program.
I'll be calling them myself tomorrow, and I'll be sure to tell you all about that conversation.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Coupon Sadness
Okay, so how was I supposed to know they wouldn't put coupons in the paper on a holiday? Other holidays, they load that thing up with more coupons than . . . than . . . well, than something with a lot of coupons in it.
You can always try it next week.
Have a great holiday!
You can always try it next week.
Have a great holiday!
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Coupon Joy
My wife sent me out to pick up some things since we were having a couple of people over for dinner. I got to do the coupon thing. Match the coupon with the sale and all that. Got a couple quarts of ice cream (Dreyers Slow-Churned Light, if you were worried) for a song. I can see the thrill she gets from it.
Come on--just try it. Find some coupons, then find some sale papers for a few grocery stores. Then play a matching game--it's like the one you used to play in grade school. Put the two together, and do a little math to see what kind of deal you can get on fun stuff.
Go on. Tomorrow's coupon day in the paper. Give it a whirl.
Come on--just try it. Find some coupons, then find some sale papers for a few grocery stores. Then play a matching game--it's like the one you used to play in grade school. Put the two together, and do a little math to see what kind of deal you can get on fun stuff.
Go on. Tomorrow's coupon day in the paper. Give it a whirl.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Friday Mythbustin': Knowledge Costs Too Much Money
Myth: Knowledge is expensive.
Fact: Knowledge is not only cheap, but it's worth it at any price.
Whenever I talk to somebody who's paying hundreds of dollars in interest and in debt up to their eyeballs, and they complain about the bind they're in I'll usually suggest something. A book, maybe, or a class down at the city rec center.
Their answer is inevitably the same: "Oh, I can't afford that!"
I don't usually press the issue. But think about it--how can they afford not to? It's not reading the book or not going to the class that's costing them the money.
Besides, they could get the same book for free down at their local library. They could find all the same information on the internet for free. They could invite a financially competent friend over for dinner in exchange for getting advice and tips. There are a million ways they could learn the things they needed to know to get out of their fix.
Why don't they? I'm sure there are as many reasons as there are people. In my case, it was procrastination, pure and simple. I knew what I needed to do, but I knew that making the turnaround would be painful. I was taking what felt, at the time, like the easy route, hoping that in a couple of years when I was making more money or things had settled down it wouldn't be quite so painful to do it. It's the American dream, right? That things can be better tomorrow than they are today?
Well, it finally dawned on me that things can get better any time I want them to--if I'm willing to make the effort. While the year may be half over, and my debt's only a quarter of the way gone, that's still better than what probably would have happened if I hadn't started this--the hole would be even deeper, and when I finally got around to making the turnaround, it would have taken even longer.
Knowledge is knowledge, and they'll package it up whatever way you want it, and put whatever pricetag on it you're willing to pay.
I noticed this a while back when I started getting into books by guys like Robert Kiyosaki and Tony Robbins. They'll put together a package for every price range. Want to pay $20? Here's a book. Want to pay $100? Here's a CD set. Want to pay $1,000? Here's a seminar. Want to pay $10,000? Here's a seminar on a private island. The knowledge is the same; they're just packaging it to what you can afford and what you think you need to pay to get worthwhile information.
It doesn't take money, but what it does take is time. And while I realize most of us don't feel we have enough of that (I know I sure don't) it's still the same deal as with the money--the longer you wait, the less of it you'll have. You're never going to have more time than you have today.
Fact: Knowledge is not only cheap, but it's worth it at any price.
Whenever I talk to somebody who's paying hundreds of dollars in interest and in debt up to their eyeballs, and they complain about the bind they're in I'll usually suggest something. A book, maybe, or a class down at the city rec center.
Their answer is inevitably the same: "Oh, I can't afford that!"
I don't usually press the issue. But think about it--how can they afford not to? It's not reading the book or not going to the class that's costing them the money.
Besides, they could get the same book for free down at their local library. They could find all the same information on the internet for free. They could invite a financially competent friend over for dinner in exchange for getting advice and tips. There are a million ways they could learn the things they needed to know to get out of their fix.
Why don't they? I'm sure there are as many reasons as there are people. In my case, it was procrastination, pure and simple. I knew what I needed to do, but I knew that making the turnaround would be painful. I was taking what felt, at the time, like the easy route, hoping that in a couple of years when I was making more money or things had settled down it wouldn't be quite so painful to do it. It's the American dream, right? That things can be better tomorrow than they are today?
Well, it finally dawned on me that things can get better any time I want them to--if I'm willing to make the effort. While the year may be half over, and my debt's only a quarter of the way gone, that's still better than what probably would have happened if I hadn't started this--the hole would be even deeper, and when I finally got around to making the turnaround, it would have taken even longer.
Knowledge is knowledge, and they'll package it up whatever way you want it, and put whatever pricetag on it you're willing to pay.
I noticed this a while back when I started getting into books by guys like Robert Kiyosaki and Tony Robbins. They'll put together a package for every price range. Want to pay $20? Here's a book. Want to pay $100? Here's a CD set. Want to pay $1,000? Here's a seminar. Want to pay $10,000? Here's a seminar on a private island. The knowledge is the same; they're just packaging it to what you can afford and what you think you need to pay to get worthwhile information.
It doesn't take money, but what it does take is time. And while I realize most of us don't feel we have enough of that (I know I sure don't) it's still the same deal as with the money--the longer you wait, the less of it you'll have. You're never going to have more time than you have today.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
On A "Lighter" Note
As of this morning, I am officially down 30 pounds.
I was worried. The car problems had sent me straight to stress eating, which I am very good at. However, we really don't have any junk in the house any more, and the hotel room had nothing but water, so I guess I was forced away from snacking.
But I also wasn't doing my 3 miles a day. Or lifting weights. So I've probably just lost 4 pounds of muscle.
But who cares! It's a great feeling to know I've hit the 30 mark. To weigh as much as I did at the start of the year, I'd have to be holding my kid.
And six pounds a month is a good average.
Of course, that only leaves me a month and a half to lose another 12 to get to 220 by my birthday--but I think we can do it. Month and a half is about 6 weeks, so 2 pounds a week still keeps me on schedule. Although I do know the pounds get harder the lighter you go.
Anyways, woo-hoo! 30!
I was worried. The car problems had sent me straight to stress eating, which I am very good at. However, we really don't have any junk in the house any more, and the hotel room had nothing but water, so I guess I was forced away from snacking.
But I also wasn't doing my 3 miles a day. Or lifting weights. So I've probably just lost 4 pounds of muscle.
But who cares! It's a great feeling to know I've hit the 30 mark. To weigh as much as I did at the start of the year, I'd have to be holding my kid.
And six pounds a month is a good average.
Of course, that only leaves me a month and a half to lose another 12 to get to 220 by my birthday--but I think we can do it. Month and a half is about 6 weeks, so 2 pounds a week still keeps me on schedule. Although I do know the pounds get harder the lighter you go.
Anyways, woo-hoo! 30!
Don't Call It A Comeback
Well, don't ever brag about herbs if you ever want to blog again.
What's happened to me? What has led to my absence? Did I see fit to gouge out my eyes, Oedipus-like, after the Lasik incident? Did I give up on this whole turnaround and abandon hope, going down in a blaze of glory, with only bits of Krispy Kreme and Pringles left to mark the site of the tragedy?
Actually, I had to, once again, be right. Only this time, that wasn't a good thing.
Earlier in the year, I predicted I'd see at least one major car problem before this year was out. Well, it's upon me.
My engine started overheating on the way to work last week. When I got out to check the appropriate fluid levels, I discovered my radiator was filled not with a refreshing, cooling, brightly-colored liquid, but with a thick, black goo that looked like something Nickelodeon could have marketed to kids as a toy. Which meant that oil was getting into the radiator. Which meant that somewhere, something was cracked or broken. Something that would be expensive to repair or replace, and take lots of billable hours to get to.
So I turned my car in and was doing the "telecommuting" thing, when I got a call from my boss that they needed me to head down to San Diego for a couple of days to help with some things. She knew my car situation, so they rented me a car. This worked out well--they rented me the car for long enough that it should get me by until the other one is repaired--a fortunate twist.
However, I am still dreading the announcement of the final cost of repairing my car. Estimates put it somewhere around $1,400. As of my last payment, that's more than half of what I still owe on it. And if I borrow the money to pay for it, that's going to put me a month and a half behind on my already slow debt payoff schedule.
Anyways, I'm back now, and I'll keep you filled in on all the sordid details.
What's happened to me? What has led to my absence? Did I see fit to gouge out my eyes, Oedipus-like, after the Lasik incident? Did I give up on this whole turnaround and abandon hope, going down in a blaze of glory, with only bits of Krispy Kreme and Pringles left to mark the site of the tragedy?
Actually, I had to, once again, be right. Only this time, that wasn't a good thing.
Earlier in the year, I predicted I'd see at least one major car problem before this year was out. Well, it's upon me.
My engine started overheating on the way to work last week. When I got out to check the appropriate fluid levels, I discovered my radiator was filled not with a refreshing, cooling, brightly-colored liquid, but with a thick, black goo that looked like something Nickelodeon could have marketed to kids as a toy. Which meant that oil was getting into the radiator. Which meant that somewhere, something was cracked or broken. Something that would be expensive to repair or replace, and take lots of billable hours to get to.
So I turned my car in and was doing the "telecommuting" thing, when I got a call from my boss that they needed me to head down to San Diego for a couple of days to help with some things. She knew my car situation, so they rented me a car. This worked out well--they rented me the car for long enough that it should get me by until the other one is repaired--a fortunate twist.
However, I am still dreading the announcement of the final cost of repairing my car. Estimates put it somewhere around $1,400. As of my last payment, that's more than half of what I still owe on it. And if I borrow the money to pay for it, that's going to put me a month and a half behind on my already slow debt payoff schedule.
Anyways, I'm back now, and I'll keep you filled in on all the sordid details.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
What's On Your Plate?
This morning for breakfast, I had an omelet with fresh oregano and cilantro. Fresh, as in right off the plant.
I don't know if I mentioned this, but my wife has taken up gardening.
Container gardening, to be specific. Since we don't own a home and live in a two-bedroom apartment, I'm really proud of her for her ambition. We've got everything from green peppers to chilies to strawberries growing out on the porch. And, as you guessed, a nice selection of fresh herbs.
This is her own contribution to our frugality experiment. This year we'll see what grows well and what's worth the effort, and then we'll improve our talents expand our repertoire of deliciously fresh fruits and vegetables as the years go on.
She grew up with a garden, so I guess this is old hat for her. I'll post more about it as some of the produce starts to come in.
I don't know if I mentioned this, but my wife has taken up gardening.
Container gardening, to be specific. Since we don't own a home and live in a two-bedroom apartment, I'm really proud of her for her ambition. We've got everything from green peppers to chilies to strawberries growing out on the porch. And, as you guessed, a nice selection of fresh herbs.
This is her own contribution to our frugality experiment. This year we'll see what grows well and what's worth the effort, and then we'll improve our talents expand our repertoire of deliciously fresh fruits and vegetables as the years go on.
She grew up with a garden, so I guess this is old hat for her. I'll post more about it as some of the produce starts to come in.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Wise Investment: Life Insurance
Well, I finally sprang for life insurance. Fortunately, my company has a pretty good set-up where I get a fair amount for fairly cheap. It's a good shake.
I still don't have as much as I should have. How much is that, do you ask?
If you have kids, your best bet is to get 10 times your household income in term life insurance.
Why? Well, the first part--the 10 times your household income--is so that the money can take the place of working. Invest the entire amount somewhere where you'll get around 10% return on your money, and you'll be able to continue your current lifestyle without working, living just off the interest.
Why buy term, rather than whole life? A couple reasons. First, it's way cheaper. Second, if you're following a financial plan, you should have a good idea when your plan will replace the insurance. If you have $300,000 in insurance, get term insurance for the amount of time it would take you to get $300,000 sacked away yourself.
Obviously, if you're saving about 10 percent of your income, this would be about 10 years. Figure fifteen just to be safe. So get 10-15 year term insurance for 10 times your income.
Again--it doesn't even have to be your income. If you are a single parent, you would want to get enough to pay off any debt you had, with 10 times the amount it would take whoever you have legally designated to take care of your children to pay for them from year-to-year.
I don't recommend waiting for this. If you're young and healthy, you can usually get 10-15 year policies for up to a half a million dollars for under $20 a month. Nearly any budget can find room for that.
I am waiting for the debt to be paid off before I start making many investments, including my 401k, but not this one. My primary goal here is peace of mind, and I just bought myself a nice chunk of that, for just a little bit of money.
I still don't have as much as I should have. How much is that, do you ask?
If you have kids, your best bet is to get 10 times your household income in term life insurance.
Why? Well, the first part--the 10 times your household income--is so that the money can take the place of working. Invest the entire amount somewhere where you'll get around 10% return on your money, and you'll be able to continue your current lifestyle without working, living just off the interest.
Why buy term, rather than whole life? A couple reasons. First, it's way cheaper. Second, if you're following a financial plan, you should have a good idea when your plan will replace the insurance. If you have $300,000 in insurance, get term insurance for the amount of time it would take you to get $300,000 sacked away yourself.
Obviously, if you're saving about 10 percent of your income, this would be about 10 years. Figure fifteen just to be safe. So get 10-15 year term insurance for 10 times your income.
Again--it doesn't even have to be your income. If you are a single parent, you would want to get enough to pay off any debt you had, with 10 times the amount it would take whoever you have legally designated to take care of your children to pay for them from year-to-year.
I don't recommend waiting for this. If you're young and healthy, you can usually get 10-15 year policies for up to a half a million dollars for under $20 a month. Nearly any budget can find room for that.
I am waiting for the debt to be paid off before I start making many investments, including my 401k, but not this one. My primary goal here is peace of mind, and I just bought myself a nice chunk of that, for just a little bit of money.
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Sorry, You Didn't Win Free Lasik At Custom Laser Center, Even If They Say You Did
About a week or so ago I blogged that my wife might have won free lasik from Custom Laser Center in Los Angeles.
Well, she didn't. It's a marketing scam. Here's how it went down.
About a month ago, I entered her in the contest. You can see the entry form here, on their website, although we entered through a local radio station.
(Notice there are no "rules" posted for this contest, nor any mention that there exists any possibility other than "Win Free Lasik").
At the end of the month we get a phone call saying she was "this month's winner" in the "Win Free Lasik" contest. She'd be sent a $2,000 gift certificate. There was no mention of "2nd place," no mention that she had not actually won free lasik. If you inferred that, simply because you were told were a winner in the "Win Free Lasik" contest, oh well. As they would tell me later, they never actually said she had won free Lasik. She was told, as is correct, she had won a $2,000 gift certificate, so why would you think the Lasik would be free?
Well, partly because when we asked what the normal price range for surgeries was, we were told it was between $800 and $5,000. Again, this leaves the impression that there are surgeries that would be covered by a $2,000 gift certificate, since even if $800 was only for one eye, $1,600 would still be covered. After all, this doctor does surgeries for people with presbyopia and all kinds of other problems my wife doesn't have, so there's got to be some prices at the upper end that are beyond our needs.
Now, as you saw in my post about the win, I was suspicious. But, because of the price range quoted to me, I still thought there was at least a possibility.
As it turned out, the price range quoted was also technically accurate, but still deceptive.
Once we got down there, and after watching the video about Wally Joyner, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, radio DJs, and local news anchors all getting surgery at this place, we were ushered into the back room where the girl sat at the desk with the computer and the paperwork.
She launched into the spiel, and when she came to the "How did you hear about us?" question and my wife said she'd won the contest, the lady proceeded to tell us how the contest worked. What we had actually won--the $2,000 gift certificate--was second place. It was the same thing they gave celebrities. It would not cover the cost of any procedure. In fact, it would not cover half the cost of any procedure, unless we wanted to drive down to San Diego and use their "old laser." Then it would be $1,700.
What about the $800-$5,000 price range quoted on the phone? Absolutely accurate. That includes all prices they charge anybody with or without the gift certificate. One eye, with the certificate, on the old laser, would be $800. Two eyes, without the certificate, on the good machine, would be $5,000. The full price range.
Never mind that it would have made more sense to quote us the price range either with or without the gift certificate, and then tell us which we were being told. Never mind that isn't what we had asked the guy (We'd specifically asked for the "normal" price range). Instead, quote the "full" price range just to get them down here and hope that after they watch the video they'll agree to "finance" the whole thing for $40-$50 dollars a month.
For the next nine years.
The price they charge you seems to have nothing to do with your problem. It's all about which machine you want them to use. Even though their website says, "We understand that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions in Ophthalmology," they seem to have found a one-price-fits-all solution where they charge a certain amount no matter what your problem is. So my assumptions that pricing would be based on severity of problem were dead wrong.
I don't know why I'm so furious with these guys. Even in my last blog post, it's clear I knew this was going to happen. I guess it's just the fact that I drove down there thinking I would see a full spectrum of prices, ranging from well below the amount of my gift certificate to well above--
The guy's exact words on the phone after he quoted the price range were "Why don't you come down and see how much it will cover?" Again, leaving the impression there was a chance it might cover "all" of it, or that it might cover "some" of it.
Instead, he knew exactly how much it would cover. It would cover $2,000. Since no surgery is less than that, there is never any situation where the gift certificate covers any other amount.
Any business relationship is about trust. A customer has to feel he can trust the place he's doing business with. I have to trust the mechanic is telling me the truth about what's under my hood. I have to trust the checker at the grocery store isn't going to steal my credit card number. I have to trust my bank will be able to give me my money tomorrow.
In this case, I'm sure that Dr. Gene W. Zdenek is probably a fantastic surgeon. I'll bet my wife's eyes would be as safe in his hands as in any of the top doctors in the world. I certainly do not think he's a quack, and I do not think anybody who works in his office is anything but sweet and nice. They really were fantastic to us--especially to my kids--while we waited.
But if I feel I was lured into the office under false pretenses, do I even want them going at my wife's eyes?
I don't know. Maybe that's just sour grapes.
I've wanted to get my wife free laser surgery for a while now.
In fact, Lasik surgery is one of the reasons I'm even doing this turnaround. Last Christmas I was thinking how wonderful it would be to get my wife Lasik surgery for Christmas this year. If I could save enough each month, I could have it for her at the end of the year.
Only when I looked at my finances, there wasn't the money to save for it each month. There wasn't enough money to pay the bills I already had each month. I had to do something, and I had to do it now. If I could get all my debt paid off in 2005, then I could get Lasik on the radar for 2006.
So when I took the message from the Custom Laser Center for my wife that she'd won, I guess deep down a part of me was hoping that somehow the universe was finally cutting me a break. Things were finally lining up in my favor.
Well, don't believe it, kids. Nobody's going to hand you anything on a silver platter. There's only one person who absolutely, completely and totally has your best interests in mind, and that's you.
Don't wait for the lottery or the casinos or your rich dying relative or the government to pop up and bail you out or give you what you need. If you know what you want, don't wait around for somebody else to give it to. Just knuckle down, put your shoulder to the wheel, and make it happen.
TANSTAAFL.
Well, she didn't. It's a marketing scam. Here's how it went down.
About a month ago, I entered her in the contest. You can see the entry form here, on their website, although we entered through a local radio station.
(Notice there are no "rules" posted for this contest, nor any mention that there exists any possibility other than "Win Free Lasik").
At the end of the month we get a phone call saying she was "this month's winner" in the "Win Free Lasik" contest. She'd be sent a $2,000 gift certificate. There was no mention of "2nd place," no mention that she had not actually won free lasik. If you inferred that, simply because you were told were a winner in the "Win Free Lasik" contest, oh well. As they would tell me later, they never actually said she had won free Lasik. She was told, as is correct, she had won a $2,000 gift certificate, so why would you think the Lasik would be free?
Well, partly because when we asked what the normal price range for surgeries was, we were told it was between $800 and $5,000. Again, this leaves the impression that there are surgeries that would be covered by a $2,000 gift certificate, since even if $800 was only for one eye, $1,600 would still be covered. After all, this doctor does surgeries for people with presbyopia and all kinds of other problems my wife doesn't have, so there's got to be some prices at the upper end that are beyond our needs.
Now, as you saw in my post about the win, I was suspicious. But, because of the price range quoted to me, I still thought there was at least a possibility.
As it turned out, the price range quoted was also technically accurate, but still deceptive.
Once we got down there, and after watching the video about Wally Joyner, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, radio DJs, and local news anchors all getting surgery at this place, we were ushered into the back room where the girl sat at the desk with the computer and the paperwork.
She launched into the spiel, and when she came to the "How did you hear about us?" question and my wife said she'd won the contest, the lady proceeded to tell us how the contest worked. What we had actually won--the $2,000 gift certificate--was second place. It was the same thing they gave celebrities. It would not cover the cost of any procedure. In fact, it would not cover half the cost of any procedure, unless we wanted to drive down to San Diego and use their "old laser." Then it would be $1,700.
What about the $800-$5,000 price range quoted on the phone? Absolutely accurate. That includes all prices they charge anybody with or without the gift certificate. One eye, with the certificate, on the old laser, would be $800. Two eyes, without the certificate, on the good machine, would be $5,000. The full price range.
Never mind that it would have made more sense to quote us the price range either with or without the gift certificate, and then tell us which we were being told. Never mind that isn't what we had asked the guy (We'd specifically asked for the "normal" price range). Instead, quote the "full" price range just to get them down here and hope that after they watch the video they'll agree to "finance" the whole thing for $40-$50 dollars a month.
For the next nine years.
The price they charge you seems to have nothing to do with your problem. It's all about which machine you want them to use. Even though their website says, "We understand that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions in Ophthalmology," they seem to have found a one-price-fits-all solution where they charge a certain amount no matter what your problem is. So my assumptions that pricing would be based on severity of problem were dead wrong.
I don't know why I'm so furious with these guys. Even in my last blog post, it's clear I knew this was going to happen. I guess it's just the fact that I drove down there thinking I would see a full spectrum of prices, ranging from well below the amount of my gift certificate to well above--
The guy's exact words on the phone after he quoted the price range were "Why don't you come down and see how much it will cover?" Again, leaving the impression there was a chance it might cover "all" of it, or that it might cover "some" of it.
Instead, he knew exactly how much it would cover. It would cover $2,000. Since no surgery is less than that, there is never any situation where the gift certificate covers any other amount.
Any business relationship is about trust. A customer has to feel he can trust the place he's doing business with. I have to trust the mechanic is telling me the truth about what's under my hood. I have to trust the checker at the grocery store isn't going to steal my credit card number. I have to trust my bank will be able to give me my money tomorrow.
In this case, I'm sure that Dr. Gene W. Zdenek is probably a fantastic surgeon. I'll bet my wife's eyes would be as safe in his hands as in any of the top doctors in the world. I certainly do not think he's a quack, and I do not think anybody who works in his office is anything but sweet and nice. They really were fantastic to us--especially to my kids--while we waited.
But if I feel I was lured into the office under false pretenses, do I even want them going at my wife's eyes?
I don't know. Maybe that's just sour grapes.
I've wanted to get my wife free laser surgery for a while now.
In fact, Lasik surgery is one of the reasons I'm even doing this turnaround. Last Christmas I was thinking how wonderful it would be to get my wife Lasik surgery for Christmas this year. If I could save enough each month, I could have it for her at the end of the year.
Only when I looked at my finances, there wasn't the money to save for it each month. There wasn't enough money to pay the bills I already had each month. I had to do something, and I had to do it now. If I could get all my debt paid off in 2005, then I could get Lasik on the radar for 2006.
So when I took the message from the Custom Laser Center for my wife that she'd won, I guess deep down a part of me was hoping that somehow the universe was finally cutting me a break. Things were finally lining up in my favor.
Well, don't believe it, kids. Nobody's going to hand you anything on a silver platter. There's only one person who absolutely, completely and totally has your best interests in mind, and that's you.
Don't wait for the lottery or the casinos or your rich dying relative or the government to pop up and bail you out or give you what you need. If you know what you want, don't wait around for somebody else to give it to. Just knuckle down, put your shoulder to the wheel, and make it happen.
TANSTAAFL.
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