After getting my home into shape by giving away 1/3 of my stuff, I feel ready to focus more on getting my financials into shape. I'm already in fairly good standing with my money, but I do have debt, some of which I really want to get rid of sooner rather than later.
My student loan is on track to be paid down within 5 years, which is still too long for my liking, frankly, but I am paid ahead about a year and a half and I have been paying on it until it hurts. The car is also paid ahead, but not as much, and I feel like I should put more effort into erasing that debt first.
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Goodbye, Stuff
Declutter. Minimize. Give away. Donate. Sell.
I have been getting rid of my stuff for the past several years. Every time I think I have my stuff level down to where I want it, I look around and find more stuff I don't use, need, want or love. I think this is largely due to my changing personal style and an evolution of how I regard things.
Books and CDs used to be incredibly important to me. Books still are important, but I've realized that I don't need to keep every single book I've read. So away went about 6 boxes of books. My shelves are still full of books, but not crammed full and only contain the books I regularly use or that have had a profound impact on my life.
I have been getting rid of my stuff for the past several years. Every time I think I have my stuff level down to where I want it, I look around and find more stuff I don't use, need, want or love. I think this is largely due to my changing personal style and an evolution of how I regard things.
Books and CDs used to be incredibly important to me. Books still are important, but I've realized that I don't need to keep every single book I've read. So away went about 6 boxes of books. My shelves are still full of books, but not crammed full and only contain the books I regularly use or that have had a profound impact on my life.
Monday, May 29, 2017
A Rainstorm in Chicago
The day started at 530AM. My mom and two of my sister's kids were sleeping in my living room.
We got ready, grabbed some coffee for the road and headed to the Kewanee, IL train station. About an hour drive.
We got ready, grabbed some coffee for the road and headed to the Kewanee, IL train station. About an hour drive.
Hog Capital of the World. With train station!
it's almost here!
Illinois Zephyr
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Vegas Flotsam
A photo journal journey through the Las Vegas area.
The first set of pictures are from 2016. I am not always good about doing things with pictures.
Saturday, May 20, 2017
A Weekend West
two and a half days.
Three states.
Two national parks.
One Ferris wheel/observation wheel.
I flew out Friday afternoon, arriving in Las Vegas about 315PM (Vegas time, gained 2 hours!). Note to other hostel dwellers: certain airport shuttles will not deliver you to the hostels in Vegas. So I wound up riding the shuttle that I had already paid for to the Stratosphere, which was nearest the hostel. The Deuce bus took me the rest of the way.
After finally getting situated in my bunk, and locking away my stuff in the locker, I set out for the Strip. The High Roller was my main objective. I had to skip it last year, but promised myself I would get to it on a return trip. Always vacation as though you will come back, but also as if you don't need to sleep. It's a fine balance between going full bore for what you want and letting go of things you can't control.
The High Roller. The cars don't stop moving, The wheel moves slowly enough that passengers can simply walk on as they glide by. You then watch the Vegas scenery as the car rises, reaches its apex, then comes back around to the dock. The view is pretty great, and it's a good way to take a moment and gather your bearings before heading back out onto the chaos of the Boulevard.
Saturday had a bit of a rough start. My tour guide had called me the night before to confirm pickup at the Golden Nugget. No problem. I had to be at the hotel (because they didn't do hostel pickups) by 530 to catch the bus. I had arranged for a cab to pick me up and get me there, but they didn't show up. The hostel was fortunately near the bus stop, so I walked around the corner hoping it wouldn't be too long of a wait. The clock was ticking though, so I called the phone number I had received the night before to let my guide know that I was having logistical issues. A few minutes later, he called back and told me he could drop by the hostel to get me. Wonderful, wonderful!
Three states.
Two national parks.
One Ferris wheel/observation wheel.
I flew out Friday afternoon, arriving in Las Vegas about 315PM (Vegas time, gained 2 hours!). Note to other hostel dwellers: certain airport shuttles will not deliver you to the hostels in Vegas. So I wound up riding the shuttle that I had already paid for to the Stratosphere, which was nearest the hostel. The Deuce bus took me the rest of the way.
After finally getting situated in my bunk, and locking away my stuff in the locker, I set out for the Strip. The High Roller was my main objective. I had to skip it last year, but promised myself I would get to it on a return trip. Always vacation as though you will come back, but also as if you don't need to sleep. It's a fine balance between going full bore for what you want and letting go of things you can't control.
The High Roller. The cars don't stop moving, The wheel moves slowly enough that passengers can simply walk on as they glide by. You then watch the Vegas scenery as the car rises, reaches its apex, then comes back around to the dock. The view is pretty great, and it's a good way to take a moment and gather your bearings before heading back out onto the chaos of the Boulevard.
Saturday had a bit of a rough start. My tour guide had called me the night before to confirm pickup at the Golden Nugget. No problem. I had to be at the hotel (because they didn't do hostel pickups) by 530 to catch the bus. I had arranged for a cab to pick me up and get me there, but they didn't show up. The hostel was fortunately near the bus stop, so I walked around the corner hoping it wouldn't be too long of a wait. The clock was ticking though, so I called the phone number I had received the night before to let my guide know that I was having logistical issues. A few minutes later, he called back and told me he could drop by the hostel to get me. Wonderful, wonderful!
Sunday, August 31, 2014
a long walk
I'm a map person. I will choose a good map over GPS any day and prefer to travel that way. Which is why the encounter I had with an unknown man two days ago sits so oddly with me.
It was Friday, and I had to be at work at 5am to open the pool. I had made an agreement with another lifeguard to come in at 8am to give me an hour break, before I worked my other shifts. He wisely obliged, as it was his opening shift I was covering. Anyway, he arrives at 8:00 and I head out for a coffee break. I half jog and half walk to a delicious local coffee shop for a tasty egg sandwich and another cup of coffee. along the way I am stopped by a guy who appeared to be in his mid-40s, wearing hiking boots and carrying a duffel bag. He asks me if I am from "around here?"
Sure, bud, whatcha need? He asks me where Omaha, Nebraska is from here (here being Davenport, IA). I tell him he needs to go west. Omaha is west of Davenport. I even remind him which direction North is, so he can get his bearings. He says something about just coming in from Chicago and how he's walked about 250 miles so far. Fine, I guess. We talk a bit, me trying to explain to him how to get to Highway 6, so that he can stay off of the Interstate. I remind him another couple of times which direction is North.
Just before he takes off down the street, (headed due West), he asks me how far it is to California. Oh, I say, a long way. 2000 miles, more or less. Okay, he says, and we go our separate ways.
This man didn't strike me as a foreigner, or even as a Canadian, but I suppose that's possible as he said he just got in from Chicago. And I probably should have told him that he is on the Eastern-most part of Iowa and has a long way to go to get to Omaha, I also wondered why he decided to walk across an entire country without so much as a road atlas. Shouldn't that be the first item on your list if you are planning a cross-country trek? Of any country?
And that's all I have to say about that.
It was Friday, and I had to be at work at 5am to open the pool. I had made an agreement with another lifeguard to come in at 8am to give me an hour break, before I worked my other shifts. He wisely obliged, as it was his opening shift I was covering. Anyway, he arrives at 8:00 and I head out for a coffee break. I half jog and half walk to a delicious local coffee shop for a tasty egg sandwich and another cup of coffee. along the way I am stopped by a guy who appeared to be in his mid-40s, wearing hiking boots and carrying a duffel bag. He asks me if I am from "around here?"
Sure, bud, whatcha need? He asks me where Omaha, Nebraska is from here (here being Davenport, IA). I tell him he needs to go west. Omaha is west of Davenport. I even remind him which direction North is, so he can get his bearings. He says something about just coming in from Chicago and how he's walked about 250 miles so far. Fine, I guess. We talk a bit, me trying to explain to him how to get to Highway 6, so that he can stay off of the Interstate. I remind him another couple of times which direction is North.
Just before he takes off down the street, (headed due West), he asks me how far it is to California. Oh, I say, a long way. 2000 miles, more or less. Okay, he says, and we go our separate ways.
This man didn't strike me as a foreigner, or even as a Canadian, but I suppose that's possible as he said he just got in from Chicago. And I probably should have told him that he is on the Eastern-most part of Iowa and has a long way to go to get to Omaha, I also wondered why he decided to walk across an entire country without so much as a road atlas. Shouldn't that be the first item on your list if you are planning a cross-country trek? Of any country?
And that's all I have to say about that.
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