Life 2.O

Because good decisions have a better success rate than bad ones....

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keepyourboehneroutofmyuterus: kfadich: nefariousnewt: rhrealitycheck: It’s time for some online activism. Who’s with us? HELP US FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT! Kansas, the home of Dr. Tiller, is trying to pass some of the most restrictive anti-choice legislation in the country with the bill, HB2598. People have taken to FB and Twitter to let Governor Sam Brownback, a staunch no-exceptions-even-in-cases-of-rape anti-choicer, know that they are NOT happy about this. They are leaving messages asking questions about reproduction, giving statuses on their menstrual cycle, and making general inquiries about their bodies. JOIN THIS FIGHT! Brownback is scrubbing his FB page as quickly as he can but we can make that job nearly impossible.  Brownback’s Facebook page. Brownback’s Twitter: @GovSamBrownback. If you take the fight to Twitter, please use hashtag: #mybodyyourchoice so we can see all the responses (use that hashtag no matter which anti-choicer you are tweeting at, in fact). You can also call Brownback’s office at 877-579-6757 or 785-296-3232.  Or you can send him an official message through his contact page. COME ON, TUMBLR! SIGNAL BOOST! SIGNAL BOOST!!! Let’s do this! SIGNAL BOOST! KEEP IT GOING! CLICK THE PHOTO TO ASK DR. GOVERNOR A QUESTION OF YOUR OWN!

keepyourboehneroutofmyuterus:

kfadich:

nefariousnewt:

rhrealitycheck:

It’s time for some online activism. Who’s with us? HELP US FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!

Kansas, the home of Dr. Tiller, is trying to pass some of the most restrictive anti-choice legislation in the country with the bill, HB2598.

People have taken to FB and Twitter to let Governor Sam Brownback, a staunch no-exceptions-even-in-cases-of-rape anti-choicer, know that they are NOT happy about this. They are leaving messages asking questions about reproduction, giving statuses on their menstrual cycle, and making general inquiries about their bodies.

JOIN THIS FIGHT!

Brownback is scrubbing his FB page as quickly as he can but we can make that job nearly impossible. 

Brownback’s Facebook page.

Brownback’s Twitter: @GovSamBrownback. If you take the fight to Twitter, please use hashtag: #mybodyyourchoice so we can see all the responses (use that hashtag no matter which anti-choicer you are tweeting at, in fact).

You can also call Brownback’s office at 877-579-6757 or 785-296-3232. 

Or you can send him an official message through his contact page.

COME ON, TUMBLR! SIGNAL BOOST!

SIGNAL BOOST!!!

Let’s do this!

SIGNAL BOOST!

KEEP IT GOING! CLICK THE PHOTO TO ASK DR. GOVERNOR A QUESTION OF YOUR OWN!

(via taylorannasaurusrex)

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So, this is my check in for last week. I did a bit better, but still not as good as I probably should have done. I’m trying to continue to wake up at 7:30am, but I keep getting later and later. I had intended to not spend any money last week while I wait to start my budget on March 1st, (as that’s when my Mint app budget refreshes and it’ll be easier to track), but I still ended up spending close to $20 a day. Working on that same thing again this week, and next week, and the week after I suppose. I’m down to only about $700 in savings, and need to get my car fixed, so, serves me right I suppose. Don’t sacrifice the [financial security] you want later, for the [cheap meaningless instantly gratifying shit] you want now…. or something of that sort, right? 

So, this is my check in for last week. I did a bit better, but still not as good as I probably should have done. I’m trying to continue to wake up at 7:30am, but I keep getting later and later. I had intended to not spend any money last week while I wait to start my budget on March 1st, (as that’s when my Mint app budget refreshes and it’ll be easier to track), but I still ended up spending close to $20 a day. Working on that same thing again this week, and next week, and the week after I suppose. I’m down to only about $700 in savings, and need to get my car fixed, so, serves me right I suppose. Don’t sacrifice the [financial security] you want later, for the [cheap meaningless instantly gratifying shit] you want now…. or something of that sort, right? 

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Do The Right Thing

I’ve always thought of myself as being a person of values and conviction. Whenever I would read stories about people who kept their mouths shut when they should have spoken up, or didn’t save somebody when they had the opportunity, I always said That will never be me. Well, for the past couple months that has been me, and it has been a weight on my shoulders. I work at a preschool where I see some things take place that should never take place inside a preschool. I’m not talking about sexual abuse or something of that nature, but the things I’ve seen definitely have the potential to damage the children I work with. Since I’ve been in and out of work for a while since graduating college, having finally found a stable job that i enjoy makes it difficult to persuade myself to put my job on the line to speak up. 

While one voice inside me says I’m not doing enough to protect these children, the other voice says if I’m not there with them, they’re left alone with these other teachers and no real refuge or happiness to their day. Today, after whitnessing repeated name-calling and verbal threats by a teacher I work with, I finally broke down and spoke to another coworker about how I couldn’t handle it anymore. I was this close to walking out and not coming back. I had to talk to management. I had to say something. Instead, she sent me to a link between upper management and our facility, saying he could explain why this is allowed to go on and why these women still have their jobs. 

Basically what it all came down to was office politics. Favoritism. And that if I spoke with management at the best nothing would be done, and at the worst, it would backfire and I’d become a target. He also hinted that he was taking steps behind the scenes to figure out a way to stop this kind of crap from going on, which was slightly reassuring. He also told me to start keeping a written record of incidents I had seen and that if I was approached about going behind management’s back, that I could say that he told me to. 

In the end I breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t what I hoped for, but it gave me a reason to stay at my job, at least until I find a better one more suited to my degree. I can’t fight the system from the outside, and I can’t protect the children from the outside. Quitting so that I wouldn’t have to witness these things would be selfish and I have an obligation to make a difference when I can. Still. I’m glad that I finally had the nerve to speak up to somebody. And I’m glad that I potentially have the ability to have a positive impact because of it. But it’s stressful. TGIF….

-Rex

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Brave New Day

This morning was the second day I woke up at 7am (okay, 7:15, but still an hour earlier than normal). But it was the first day I didn’t actually have a reason to. Monday I had a development seminar for work that began at 8am, so I had to be up early. Normally, work starts at 9am, and I wake up at 8am, shower if I feel like it, and rush around trying to find a comfortable outfit and get ready for the day ahead. I decided to make waking up at 7am my first “goal of the week” because waking up early is something I’ve wanted to train myself to do for some time now. My body usually only requests 7.5 hours of sleep from me, but I tend to be so cozy that I reason my way back to sleep and wake up groggy. I also tend to get more accomplished when I wake up early. By the end of a day of chasing loving and scolding my preschoolers, simple things like running to the post office or throwing a load of laundry in the wash seem overwhelming. Couple that with my love of reading, writing, cooking, crocheting, and fitting in something that resembles a social live, and it’s hard to stay both fulfilled AND get shit done. How parents of small children do it, I can’t even speculate. Adderall focuses me and gives me a bit of an energy boost, but like caffiene, if I take it more often than a few days in a a row, it tends to trigger panic attacks (random episodes of unbearable panic - not stress induced…) So it helps, but I use it sparingly - usually only on week days. (If anybody has any suggestions for natural energy boosters [besides Vitamin B#] feel free to share them with me!) But anyway, I rolled out of bed with 2 hours or so to spare. I showered AND shaved, dressed nicely, did a bit of internet surfing, cooked and ate some hot breakfast, and made it to the post office before work. And it really felt great. It’s something I’d like to keep up on. Days when I don’t have to stop at the post office before work might be a bit more difficult, because sleep is so inviting, but I’d like to start up an RSS feed of my favorite journalists and read that in the mornings over breakfast, or go sit at a coffee shop and do some writing or reading before heading into work. Just get a clear and positive start to my day and really prepare myself to seize it. 

I think this week I’ll invest in some salt substitutes and try going without adding sodium to my food for next week’s goal….

Filed under Waking Early Energy Advice Goals

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This week’s check-in is my first check-in, and is more of a pre-check in because I haven’t really gotten my schedule ready, and my budget isn’t in place yet. Starting next week, after this upcoming paycheck, it will be. But during this upcoming week, I’ve limited myself to only gas money until payday, so that’s what’s going to have to happen for me to count it as having “stayed on budget.”  I didn’t do so hot this past week, but I’ve been having a little bit of a spending crisis, and want to get my emergency fund of 1,000 set away before I start applying my budget. I need to re-do the board (which is done in permanent marker, but is re-doable thanks to Mr Clean Miracle Pads or whatever they’re called…) so that I can track my meat-free days. It’s hard because I have to eat lunch with my students at work, so I end up eating two lunches at school if I bring my own, because we’re not allowed to eat different food than what they children eat in front of them. The solution is to limit myself to eating only the veggies, fruits, and grains they serve, but that’s hard sometimes because they like to mix the veggies and meat together, and I love my veggies. It’s something I’ll have to work on, and keep better track of. I think I ate some sausage with the cabbage at some point last week.  As I previously mentioned, I didn’t save any money. I spent it. On things I shouldn’t have. So allow me to do a public confession of things I wasted money on, and how I justified it at the time. (As best as I can remember).  I traded my iPad in for an iPhone 4s. Which I love. (I spent no money, as it was an even trade, and my iPad was paid off when I dropped an online course that was of no interest or value to me) I justified it by noting that I’ll be able to be more organized and have my meal planner, calendar, and calorie tracker right on my phone, which is with me at all times, instead of the binder I was using previously and will now use to organize other aspects of my life that don’t really have any benefit in being mobile.. I bought some fabric and Stitch Witchery to make myself a blue plaid infinity scarf, which I didn’t need but wanted so badly because they really make my wardrobe much more versatile. I justified this by figuring that by making my own I was saving money as the total cost was something like 7 bucks, which is cheaper than you’ll find it anywhere else brand new.) I bought some more yarn for crocheting (something else I need to fix on my board. I don’t knit) I have tons of yarn I still haven’t used yet, but I justified this by noting that I hope to open up an Etsy shop in the next week or two where I’ll be able to sell items and donate 30% of the profits to my favorite charities, since I’m too poor to do it on my meager salary, plus it’s a little boost to the income.) Note: I need to get rid of this spend-money-to-make-money mentality…. Listography - Self-discovery through lists…. brought brand new from Barnes and Nobel for close to $20 bucks because I couldn’t wait 2 days for Amazon to ship it to me cheaper. I justified this by reasoning that I really could use a method for figuring out what my priorities are and what I want to dedicate myself to. Up inside my head stuff is a mess. I’m holding off with serious relationships right now until I get myself to a good place, where I know what I’m willing to compromise on, and what I’m not. After dating AO the Libertarian, for the brief period that I did, I’ve realized that there are certain things in my life that I’m not willing to let go of. I want to have a record of that to remind myself so I don’t falter next time I fall for a guy. A few cute green storage bins for my drawer and bedroom, justified by the need to organize and clear the clutter.  Excessive amounts of bean burritos and cheesy nachos at Taco Bell. Justified by my compulsive hunger and love of nacho cheese, which is terrible justification coming from somebody who’s trying to clear the cellulite from the backs of her thighs…. False eyelashes. Ok, I didn’t go all out and blow 70 bucks on eyelashes, but I did go to this adorable little shop that specializes in false lashes that last up to 2 weeks. The place was full of adorable and welcoming black women and reminded me of something you’d see in a Tyler Perry movie, and I like that I felt comfortable being in a shop like that knowing alot of other white girls my age would be uneasy. I loved how they turned out, and bought some of the eyelash glue they used so I can do them to myself from now on, at a much cheaper price. I feel so much prettier and more confident. Was it justified? No. Probably not. But this is the one purchase I made where I don’t care. A one month tanning package. Justified by the fact that I’m so sick of my pasty almost translucent skin, and I want to feel comfortable in the 20 different skirts I wasted money on over the past 6 months while they were on clearance. Also justified by the notion that it’ll give me something to do besides going to the store and spending money.  That list is long enough. It includes the major purchases, and ignores the minor splurges like $2 at the thrift store for some Bed Head curl spray and an order of jumbo nachos at the bowling alley (an outing luckily payed for by my incredibly generous best friend). I did manage to get alot of reading done throughout the week, and also exercised a little bit, though not as much as I should have. Still, this is a work on progress and I know I’m not going to be an expert at this organized life stuff right away.  I suppose the last thing to consider is This Week’s Goal:__________________ I want there to be something a little extra to strive for each week since there’s alot of little goals I have that probably aren’t best tackled all at once. I’m thinking either waking up at 7:30 and starting the day by reading the news and eating a nutritious breakfast, or not adding salt to any of my food. I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you have a Tumbler about changing your life in any way, please let me know. I’m curious to read other people’s ideas, inspiration, and progress, and goodness knows we’ll all be more successful when we have other people rooting us on and holding us accountable. Best, Rex

This week’s check-in is my first check-in, and is more of a pre-check in because I haven’t really gotten my schedule ready, and my budget isn’t in place yet. Starting next week, after this upcoming paycheck, it will be. But during this upcoming week, I’ve limited myself to only gas money until payday, so that’s what’s going to have to happen for me to count it as having “stayed on budget.” 

I didn’t do so hot this past week, but I’ve been having a little bit of a spending crisis, and want to get my emergency fund of 1,000 set away before I start applying my budget. I need to re-do the board (which is done in permanent marker, but is re-doable thanks to Mr Clean Miracle Pads or whatever they’re called…) so that I can track my meat-free days. It’s hard because I have to eat lunch with my students at work, so I end up eating two lunches at school if I bring my own, because we’re not allowed to eat different food than what they children eat in front of them. The solution is to limit myself to eating only the veggies, fruits, and grains they serve, but that’s hard sometimes because they like to mix the veggies and meat together, and I love my veggies. It’s something I’ll have to work on, and keep better track of. I think I ate some sausage with the cabbage at some point last week. 

As I previously mentioned, I didn’t save any money. I spent it. On things I shouldn’t have. So allow me to do a public confession of things I wasted money on, and how I justified it at the time. (As best as I can remember). 

I traded my iPad in for an iPhone 4s. Which I love. (I spent no money, as it was an even trade, and my iPad was paid off when I dropped an online course that was of no interest or value to me) I justified it by noting that I’ll be able to be more organized and have my meal planner, calendar, and calorie tracker right on my phone, which is with me at all times, instead of the binder I was using previously and will now use to organize other aspects of my life that don’t really have any benefit in being mobile..

I bought some fabric and Stitch Witchery to make myself a blue plaid infinity scarf, which I didn’t need but wanted so badly because they really make my wardrobe much more versatile. I justified this by figuring that by making my own I was saving money as the total cost was something like 7 bucks, which is cheaper than you’ll find it anywhere else brand new.)

I bought some more yarn for crocheting (something else I need to fix on my board. I don’t knit) I have tons of yarn I still haven’t used yet, but I justified this by noting that I hope to open up an Etsy shop in the next week or two where I’ll be able to sell items and donate 30% of the profits to my favorite charities, since I’m too poor to do it on my meager salary, plus it’s a little boost to the income.) Note: I need to get rid of this spend-money-to-make-money mentality….

Listography - Self-discovery through lists…. brought brand new from Barnes and Nobel for close to $20 bucks because I couldn’t wait 2 days for Amazon to ship it to me cheaper. I justified this by reasoning that I really could use a method for figuring out what my priorities are and what I want to dedicate myself to. Up inside my head stuff is a mess. I’m holding off with serious relationships right now until I get myself to a good place, where I know what I’m willing to compromise on, and what I’m not. After dating AO the Libertarian, for the brief period that I did, I’ve realized that there are certain things in my life that I’m not willing to let go of. I want to have a record of that to remind myself so I don’t falter next time I fall for a guy.

A few cute green storage bins for my drawer and bedroom, justified by the need to organize and clear the clutter. 

Excessive amounts of bean burritos and cheesy nachos at Taco Bell. Justified by my compulsive hunger and love of nacho cheese, which is terrible justification coming from somebody who’s trying to clear the cellulite from the backs of her thighs….

False eyelashes. Ok, I didn’t go all out and blow 70 bucks on eyelashes, but I did go to this adorable little shop that specializes in false lashes that last up to 2 weeks. The place was full of adorable and welcoming black women and reminded me of something you’d see in a Tyler Perry movie, and I like that I felt comfortable being in a shop like that knowing alot of other white girls my age would be uneasy. I loved how they turned out, and bought some of the eyelash glue they used so I can do them to myself from now on, at a much cheaper price. I feel so much prettier and more confident. Was it justified? No. Probably not. But this is the one purchase I made where I don’t care.

A one month tanning package. Justified by the fact that I’m so sick of my pasty almost translucent skin, and I want to feel comfortable in the 20 different skirts I wasted money on over the past 6 months while they were on clearance. Also justified by the notion that it’ll give me something to do besides going to the store and spending money. 

That list is long enough. It includes the major purchases, and ignores the minor splurges like $2 at the thrift store for some Bed Head curl spray and an order of jumbo nachos at the bowling alley (an outing luckily payed for by my incredibly generous best friend).

I did manage to get alot of reading done throughout the week, and also exercised a little bit, though not as much as I should have. Still, this is a work on progress and I know I’m not going to be an expert at this organized life stuff right away. 

I suppose the last thing to consider is This Week’s Goal:__________________

I want there to be something a little extra to strive for each week since there’s alot of little goals I have that probably aren’t best tackled all at once. I’m thinking either waking up at 7:30 and starting the day by reading the news and eating a nutritious breakfast, or not adding salt to any of my food. I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you have a Tumbler about changing your life in any way, please let me know. I’m curious to read other people’s ideas, inspiration, and progress, and goodness knows we’ll all be more successful when we have other people rooting us on and holding us accountable.

Best,

Rex

Filed under check-in life changing growing refresh fresh start starting over exercise goals accomplishments failures progress

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Clearing the clutter…

I have so much crap.

 Like, tons, people. Really.

To the point that I’m not sure if I’m trying to be a million people (and cater to each of their many whims) all at once, or if I’m just so terrible at deciding what aspect of myself to showcase on any given day that I need to be prepared for any possible outcome. Or I just really have a serious addiction to consumption. But that would imply that what I purchase actually gets used. And that is definitely not the case.

I have cameras that I only use rarely now, oil paints that are still sealed in their box, and jewelry notions and projects that I sell to raise money for charity, but also to fund my spending habits, which border on that of a 14 year old with full and uninhibited access to Daddy Warbuck’s credit card.

Spending money makes me feel happy because it makes me feel like I’m improving some aspect of my life, which is why I’ve invested even more money into a personal journal which I intend to use to fully investigate and define who I truly am and where my priorities actually lie. Because let’s be honest, six different perfumes, a bonsai tree, and an iPhone say very little about me outside of I am an impulse buyer easily swayed by a desire to create the( false) impression that I lead an intellectual lifestyle; which is either totally inaccurate or embarrassingly dead on.

I used to be an artist. I wasn’t an awe-inspiring aesthetic prodigy by any means, but I had the soul of a wanderer and a talent for finding the beauty in things. In white ink braille, hardly noticeable, I have tattooed on my wrist the word “happiness” as a symbol for the saying “Happiness writes white.” Which is to say, when things are going well I write for nobody but me. But my connection and communication with other people has always been through the formation of words on pages, and I’ve never had much desire to write solely for myself. It’s not that I’ve wanted recognition, but I’ve wanted to open more of a dialogue than what currently exists about pretty much every intellectual topic ever. I have no desire to write white, and so I’ve never had much desire to seek out pretty and perfect things. The drama and lunacy of politics has always appealed to me, as has the wrecked shells of abandoned schoolhouses and  the empty rooms in vacant, decrepit homes. But in establishing myself as a functioning member of society with hopes of a career and family in the future (such stereotypical dreams) I fell prey to the rest of society’s norms.. Overspending, fashion, sex. I see other girls who survived the transition and they are beautiful. They sit at typewriters with ice tea in mason jars, and run wild with messy hair„ glow so real in their portraits, and speak in poetry. And I fight with who I’ve become, and how that should have been me. That still is me, under the make-up and diets and receipts. Under all this clutter, I know I’ve got that glow too.

But fuck. I have SO. MUCH. CRAP.

Maybe it’s time to throw some of my recklessness into the Goodwill bin…. 

Perhaps this weekend. Somebody remind me.

Filed under clutter spending money fashion overdoing it consumption selfishness beauty art fresh starting over

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Getting Fresh With Myself

Hi. My name is REX and I suck at alot of things. 

This is a list of things that I suck at:
Budgeting
Eating healthy
Exercising
Staying awake in class
Finding stable relationships

This is a list of things I’m really good at:
Naps
Bargain shopping
Lounging in bras and sweatpants
Arguing
Finding unstable relationships
Eating. Everything. ALL THE TIME

So, for the New Year I decided to do right by myself by making a fresh start. I began by letting go of people that weren’t enthusiastic about being a part of my life (all those ex boyfriends I was stalking) (except that one I really really like). 

I had plans to put a budget in place, and to start planning my meals and eating healthy. For Christmas back in 2010, my dad aka Santa, purchased for me The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. My 2011 Christmas present to him was to start reading it. Which I did. Starting January 1st, 2012. I’m ready to change something besides pants that were urinated on during naptime (I’m a preschool teacher - bodily fluids are going to be a common theme in my writing so get used to it now) and changing my spending habits and getting rid of my debt is honestly the best gift I can give to my father (who only wants to go to the grave knowing that I’m not going to become a prostitute if my car breaks down). It’s also one of the best gifts I can give myself. 

So I started on the track by beginning to save (the wrong way, of course). I planned my budget and downloaded somecute printable envelopes which I will carry my budgeted allotment of cash for food, spending, and fuel in.

I was doing really good until I discovered that my University offers students a spending account which can be used to purchase school supplies from the bookstore, tax free. The spending limit for the account is $1000, and after filing bankruptcy at age 19, this is the closest I’ll get to a credit card for another year or two. 

So I bought an IPad, and a keyboard, which I am now using to type this. 

And while I realize now that I have a spending problem, I am not about to go returning it. What kind of punishment would that be? I should have to sit here and suffer through staring at my personal failure day after day until it’s payed off, right? Probably not, but like I said, I suck. I’m ashamed. 

So this blog will be a diary of my failures. And also, when I have them, my successes. I’ll share my goals, my plans, my lessons, and all the intimate details of my life, and I hope that you’ll share yours with me as well. Lord knows I need all the help I can get, and chances are that if you’re taking the time to read about somebody like me who has the tendency to not be good at life stuff, you need some help too. No offense. I still love you.

-T.REX

Filed under new beginnings fresh start version2.0 2.0 life