Sharing...not just giving but understanding

I remember almost 4 years ago I was sitting in an apartment I could barely afford, newly divorced and no sign of child support money, barely making 9 bucks an hour...a far cry from the income I was used to and not very well trained on priorities as you will discover reading on.
The apartment was clean... sparkling clean. I couldn't afford to go anywhere or do anything, the boys were with their father and I had vacuumed the floor 2 times already, went for a run and drank my breakfast... the proof was in my weight (or lack of) and under my sink... stuffed full with empty beer bottles and not cheap beer, my favorite beer which was 8$ for a six pack. I rationalized every time I bought it that I could get the 5 cent deposit I had just put down on each and everyone bottle to buy groceries with, next time when I recycled them. I always had my kids taken care of, but in my heart I knew I couldn't do it, I felt horrible...depressed... anxious... desperate and broke. I didn't want to look like a failure, like I NEEDED anyone as I was so adamant on proving them wrong. No one had said anything to my face, they didn't need to I had decided they felt this way and nothing was changing my thought. I scrounged change in my car and around the house to buy gas and the majority of my paychecks went to barely making the rent payment, daycare and groceries. My first thanksgiving I wrote a bad check, one I knew I couldn't pay just to put a meal on the table for me and the boys. I have never felt lower... waiting for a 72 hour notice to be posted on my door because I couldn't afford all the rent out of one check. I was on the verge of losing it all...

The purpose of me sharing this is that we are all human and most have gone through some type of struggle in their life... "character building" as some would put it. We all need a little helping hand... I suck at posting a link to anything but if you click on the right hand side of my blog under "pages I enjoy" and click on the top one, "behind pinned eyes" another blog I read you will discover it, the post is called "Times of Trouble". Read it, if your feeling the need to help, than please do, if you don't I understand. it is a chance for those of us who have a little to give a little. I don't ever want to be in the position I was 4 years ago and it pains me to hear of others struggling, it seems so unfair sometimes.

The First Of Many

My first "work" day, first Monday without the routine of work.... It wasn't like it was just a vacation day, because I received ZERO phone calls that were work related or from my boss. Weird, yet ever so enjoyable. I got done SOOOO much of my little tasks... simple things I could just never find the time to do. I only have health benefits for myself until the end of the month so I filled a 3 month supply of prescriptions and have a "routine" dental appt on Wednesday so that if anything cant wait I can address it before it gets more costly. (I know there is back up insurance, but that is expensive)
I took Katie to get a haircut and got my nails done... tomorrow I get my hair done. (I know its really important stuff eh?) But I did some important stuff, got my oil changed and my brakes fixed. The brakes made this horrible screeeeeech sound and not even when I was braking... when I was backing up, driving forward... pretty much just in movement. I don't know a lot about cars, fixing cars, parts of cars but I do know it is a tale tell sign that it is the brakes and probably wasn't too bad because it is a fairly new car with only 25 thousand miles, but I was always driving in stop and go traffic not to mention the noise is embarrassing.
What is even more embarrassing is that I got ripped off. I am admitting that I don't know a lot about cars, I know how to shop... clothes, shoes, toys, groceries... but car stuff is not my thing. It cost me $300.00 to get my brakes fixed. the pads have a lifetime warranty the guy told me.... he didn't have to I was sold on fixing the noise I wasn't knowledgeable enough to know that was an outrageous price. So I send a text to E... my text read this.. "it is going to cost 300 to fix the brakes... yikes! I guess my car will be good for a while though". He called me SO fast. He was flipping out and when he was done flipping out on me for being so naive he called the shop and flipped out on them... telling them they flat out knew they were taking advantage of me. Of course by then it was too late for them, they were pretty much done. So now E has asked that I call him from now on before hand and run the price by him so he can tell me if it is good or not. The best part is when I went in to pay, the guy who told me it was $300.00 had his supervisor standing over him the whole time as if I was going to continue razzing him as E had. Geeze people. You already did the work and pretty much had the money how is razzing you going to do any good? besides I was now officially more embarrassed for being sold like that. arrggghhh.

Mixed Up Friday

So Friday comes... mixed feelings and relief totally take over. I am feeling a little bad about the work that needs to be done, but I wont be the one working on it come Monday and that fact needs to remain in my head. It isn't my job to do anymore. I am officially unemployed and happy. Utterly happy. I am almost anxious about what to do with all my new found time. I am sure stuff will come up and fill it quickly though. I have lived and survived off of stress and go, go, go for so long that it is definitely harder to accept this slower pace as easily as I want it.

The morning went fast I was just waiting for the papers to sign and bail. It finally came, my turn to go into my bosses office (who still hasn't said much to me) I go in with a bit of a bitter ending grudge and then out comes a little blue box from behind his desk. Ladies, you all know what that is. TIFFANY'S! Holy Crap! there is something really nice in that box! I read the small card and it expressed how much he was going to miss me and to not lose touch. I started to cry.. he urges me to read the card later and open the box. So I open it. A ring I have been wanting for so long! A co-worker of mine must have told him. I couldn't fricken believe it... of course it wasn't a thousand dollars, but I wasn't expecting ANYTHING and I got Tiffany's? In all the years we have worked together successfully he chose our parting as a way to really express that (that is why I cried) why do men chose the parting part to be or do things that potentially make you change your mind?!!

So here is a pic of the ring. I love simple rings. This is a perfect ring for me.. I am so exited and love it!!!!