Welcome to my world!

I have three 5x7 photographs to GIVE away.

The pictures are of the following:

1) a beautiful view of a small Portuguese town, taken from up on a hill within the town (taken May 2003 - sunny sky)

2) Paris (including the Siene river and the Eiffel Tower) taken from the top of Notre Dame (taken April 2003 - cloudy day)

3) a mill wheel from the 1300's on a the Guadalquivir river in Cordoba, Spain (taken March 2003 - cloudy/rainy day)

THESE PICTURES are BEAUTIFUL! Please let me know if you'd like one or all to frame and hang in your house. You can see them before you commit to them, of course :-)

WHY AM I GIVING THEM AWAY?
I've framed all of them and will be hanging them in my apartment. When you make a 5x7 copy of a photo at Wal-Mart, it prints two 5x7's on one sheet. Thus, I'm keeping one of each, and giving one of each away.

While my car story isn't quite like Sarah Karmazin's, I seriously need 4 new tires.

Where do I begin?

I drive a 2002 Honda Civic, it has 43,000 miles, and still has factory tires on it.

So, what's the max I should pay for the tires? What's the max I should pay for the service?

Where should I go?

HELP!

Concerts/Shows: I'm seeing Spamalot on Tuesday with the guys from work. It's always such a fun time with them that even if the show sucks, it'll be a great night. No one makes me laugh more than those guys do. My face will be in pain all night! I'm also hoping to see Dave Matthews in Philly the night before I head to Vegas.

Alpha Phi Omega: I'm looking forward to Beach Sweeps this weekend. The forecast is decent, and it's always so darn fun!

Real Estate: I have narrowed down the search area. It's not very narrow, and includes towns in Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, and Hunterdon Counties in NJ, as well as Bucks County, PA. Still a long ways off, but I'm keeping my eye on the market. I just signed a lease for another year in my apartment.

Money: No change to the financial situation, except that there are a few purchases/trips on the horizon.

Finance: I began buying J&J stock. About $150 a month. I think it's a good start.

Auto: I need new tires, and I need a full check-up of the car. I have no idea where to begin, though!

Sports: Florida basketball won the National Championship with the same 5 starters as last year. First time it's ever been done!

Health: No change. I really don't sleep enough. It's probably very unhealthy, and work doesn't help. I have a weird rash. I think it's actually a fungus. No, seriously. Not a big deal, just weird-looking. I've been too busy to get to the doctors.

Entertainment: My friends entertain me :-) They are fun!

Travel: I'm off to Florida in less than 2 weeks! I hope to come back TAN, or at least with a nice base coat. And my grandparents rock, so we'll have a great time!

Forecast: How beautiful has this weather been?! It reminds me of falling in love for the first time, back in Summer 2001. So beautiful and wonderful and warm. I hope it lasts!

I've decided that I'm finished deciding things. Life is more fun when you go with the flow. Plus, how well do I REALLY know what I want anyway?

The one decision that I made today that I'm VERY excited about is to begin funneling $75 per paycheck into J&J stock. So, that's 26 paychecks per year, times $75 per paycheck. At $75 bi-weekly, each year, I'll be accumulating about a $2000 stock position at this rate. With a (conservative) stock price of $60 per share, I'm still only buying about 32 shares per year. But, it's a good start in a strong company. And, the real benefit is that I don't have to buy in whole numbers (i.e. I don't have to buy 100 shares at a time), AND I don't pay fees. Of course, I'll reinvest the dividends as well, which will help build my stock position.

There is a certain satisfaction that financial self-sufficiency brings. There are very few things in the world that make me feel as good as knowing that I'm planning well to take care of my own future, as well as contributing towards the future for future loved ones and future little ones.

But beyond money, no more decisions. My new philosophy is to resist the urge to plan (as tough as that can be), and let other people make decisions for me, and to just do what I want to do in the moment. Living this way should be fun!

Concerts/Shows: Trying to talk Dan into planning another Broadway trip into the city with the boys. Always a good time, seeing a Broadway show with 3 or 4 men, lol. I want to see Chicago. We'll see what the guys say.

Alpha Phi Omega: Is going well. New Section Chair, things moving along with my LD position.

Real Estate: I've decided to buy in about a year and a half. Not sure where yet, but it's looking like Central NJ.

Relationship: Well, that ended, but the relationship I have with myself is absolutely beautiful right now :-)

Money: Just got a raise! Just got a promotion! Tax return on it's way! Niiiiice!

Finance: My balance sheet is in good shape, and my investments are doing well. No debt beyond the college loan. It's all good :-)

Auto: One hour commute each way is probably not great for the car... it's stop-and-go driving. And how do you know when you need new brake pads and new tires?

Sports: Gators are going to the Final Four!!! Big game this weekend!

Health: Lost 17 pounds in 7 weeks on Weight Watchers and they want a note from my doctor, because they say it's unhealthy to lose weight that quickly.

Entertainment: Finally finished watching The Office Season 2. Dan gave me Season 1 to watch, and Boogie Nights. I still want to watch all of The Deadliest Catch that I've had since Christmas!

Travel: This April, it's PA for Easter weekend, and then 13-15 for Conclave at UHa. AND, we have to book flights this month for NVC and VEGAS, baby!!!

Forecast: Is looking good. Moving along, and moving on, and feeling great about myself :-)

I finally drank the kool aid. I'm finally getting my act together on Livejournal.

Leave me little lovenotes :-)

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