IRS Woes Coming to a Close (finally, hopefully)

I spoke to an actual IRS agent today. It was scary and the hour long wait listening to the old elevator music made my stomach turn but it was worth it. After 4 years of attorney fees that got me nowhere and many sleepless nights I felt like I actually made progress today. I think deep down I really thought IRS agents were evil carnivorous reptiles from another planet but it turns out that the person on the other end of the phone receiver was actually that a "person". She was kind and listened. She gave actual real and helpful advice and when I told her my dreams were dead she encouraged that they not be. When I told her I might actually jump off a bridge and end it she told me my family needed me. She walked through options with me and helped me to feel like it would be okay. Needless to say this is not what I expected. It was a pleasant surprise and a relief. I know that my financial situation is hard right now, but I have hope. So I guess I'm writing this to just encourage others who are struggling with the IRS. They are real people and not evil aliens trying to suck the life out of you. They don't want you dead and they don't want to put you in a life threatening situation but they do want your money. As a final message of hope I leave you with this message from the Bible. Jesus loves us all. He loves the broken (me) and he loves the tax collector. It won't be long before me and the tax collector are both dining together before God and will be judged the same. "While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” — Matthew 9:10-13

My Autoimmune Illness controlled by Skyrizi

 Update: see my blog on Adapting Life to the Rash https://notwhatyouwanttohear.blogspot.com/2022/01/adapting-life-to-rash.html for how this all got started but let me tell you where I am at today living with Psoriasis

2023...It's been a little over a year since I was diagnosed with Psoriasis. I had never even heard of this illness until I was diagnosed by a dermatologist. So much has occurred since diagnosis resulting in additional testing, blood work, TB test, etc. To trying different medications to get the dreaded rash under control. Living with psoriasis is so much more than a rash or a medication. It is an auto immune illness. Somehow my immune system got broken. Maybe it's genetic, maybe it was triggered by some external factor and there all along. I don't really know enough to give you the science behind it but what I do know is it makes you feel awful. 

When on medication I'm sick, when off medication I'm sick. I just have to choose the lesser of two evils in this case and it will be a lifelong battle. Currently I am taking Skyrizi. Skyrizi is a biologic injection taken every 3 months. It is painless, quick and easy to take. Side effects for me have included nausea, stomache pain and headache. I have had some respiratory issues but very minor and I haven't noticed any real difference from before when dealing with respiratory allergens from living here in Tennessee. It is better than hurting everyday and feeling like I'm wearing my skin inside out. 

I'm almost positive my hurting is from psoriatic arthritis that came with the psoriasis. It is undiagnosed because I would have to also see a rheumatologist which I haven't seen, but luckily Skyrizi has also helped with the arthritic pain. 

One of the recurring issues I am still having is hair loss. I shed worse than my dogs. I'm not sure if this is from the Skyrizi or from the psoriasis itself. All still worth it though so that I don't have the pain and all over rash.

My advice if experiencing a new skin issue you have never had before is to just not give up. After following the psoriasis and chronic hives groups on Facebook I consistently hear people say they just want to give up and that they don't feel like they can go on living like this anymore. I can 100 % agree with this. I have been there. I felt the same way. I just kept going to doctors until someone figured it out and then I tried all the meds until something worked for me. I'm not going to lie and say the process is easy or that you will even find relief forever. Things change over time. I'm scared to death of a relapse that causes me to have to go back to trial and error of meds. I'm scared to death of any future hospital surgeries that require me to go off my suppressant and inviting the dreaded rash back into my life.

But I know that right now I am 100% clear and for a brief while I have my life back. It isn't always easy and sometimes I have weird symptoms like headache or itchiness. Some foods and drinks don't settle right with me anymore. But it is worth it. Life is worth fighting for and my daily routine is finally something I can live with again. No more lotions every hour. No more steroids. No more what ifs. 

Adapting Life to the Rash

For over 3 weeks now I've lived my life with a rash. What kind of rash is exactly the question. It's a mystery rash, even to the now 5 doctors who've examined it. Most of them have agreed to one thing, Penicillin isn't my friend. You see I had strep throat with a high fever and it wasn't treated with a penicillin type drug, but then I developed a rash with it and voila the experts decided Amoxicillin would be the answer. 

I tried to warn them. I'm allergic to Augmentin I said (a kind of penicillin type drug). They questioned me further and I admitted I was only a little kid the last time I'd had it. Maybe I could have antibiotics in the penicillin family after all (smh even now). I knew better, but I took the medicine believing all would be well.

So here I am 3 weeks later and in a world of hurt and itchiness, because I took the medicine knowing it probably wasn't a good idea. It was recommended by a doctor though so what could it really hurt right?! 

It turns out, a lot. What you don't know when developing a rash is what an impact it will have on every aspect of life from putting on your clothes, to shaving your legs, and even to your romantic life, and ability to go out in public.

I went from not wanting to wear short sleeves because I wanted to hide my fat arms, to not wanting to go out in public with exposed skin because it's covered in sores. I'm too embarrassed now that I'm going to be judged. What will people think of me I wonder, will they think I'm on some chemically induced drug like Meth or Crack. I work too hard to be a good citizen for that kind of criticism.

I also feel scared, because no-one knows what the heck is wrong with me. I don't know when if ever this rash will heal because I don't know what really caused it, why it is so bad, and why it is refusing to heal. If something else underlying is causing it what is it and will it go away on its own? I just have so many questions. 

I'm honestly so worried something really bad is doing this to me and that I might not survive long enough to find out what it is. I just want to be well again. I pray more than I take meds that God will see fit to make me well again. Selfishly I really love my life and want to hang onto it as long as possible. It does definitely help me put my life into perspective though. If I had to leave for good I know I've loved with all my heart and that is enough for a fulfilled life. I just want to keep on loving for awhile longer. I do love all of my friends and family fiercely and would do anything for them. 

Crippling Social Anxiety that Has Worsened with Old Age?

I wish I could say this is a post filled with useful information but it’s really more of a post for seeking information. Does anyone have advice for social anxiety? I had a mild case of it when I was young that has almost become completely debilitating over the years. The crazy thing is that most people who know me think I’m an extrovert, but the truth is I rarely leave the house, am terrified of crowds, and spend a lot of time planning how to make money from home so that I don’t have to keep putting myself in situations that make me so uncomfortable. Since I work in communications and am also a glass art teacher at present I am often part of large events. What others don’t know is that I spend weeks planning, trying to build up the courage and energy to attend one event. Events anywhere from 15-500 people. Then after an event I am left feeling exhausted, drained, nerves shot, and physically sick from worry that everything may have not gone as planned, or that someone didn’t have a good time, or that I somehow let people down. For example, I had an art class tonight that I spent weeks preparing for with 16 people attending and although I was happy to meet new mostly friendly people and that so many came it’s now 3 am and I’m still awake, not feeling well and overwhelmed with worry, and class ended seemingly successfully almost 8 hours ago so I don’t even understand why. I am just wondering if anyone else has had the same experience of worsening social anxiety as they have gotten older or if this is just something I’m experiencing, and also how they’ve coped? The worst part of this apart from the physical and mental anguish is that I also feel sometimes that if I could just be normal and venture out into the world on a daily basis that I might achieve more for my family and that I am letting them down. If you know me outside of this group I’d appreciate if you please do not share this with others, but I am reaching out on this issue because I’m just realizing how much worse things have gotten as I’ve gotten older and truly believe if anyone else is experiencing this and has found some way to improve their condition it could be helpful to more than just me. 

How Not to Start Your Own Business...The Real Truth Behind Small Business Woes

written by: Adrienne Diffin
There are many resources that are available to help you start your own small business. Those resources are there to support individuals who are already in the process of taking the leap. They may on occasion tell you the statistics of small business survival, but they are not there to convince you that starting your own business might be a bad idea. They are resources for support and encouragement.

Here are a few reasons you should not start your own small business (yet).

1. You do not have a solid business plan, set in place that is goal driven with milestones

2. You do not have enough $ to invest in yourself let alone others

3. You have not done research to determine your competitive market


4. You are unable to set aside time to pursue your dream now, while you currently have a JOB


5. You have not tested your success theory on a small-scale before diving in with both feet

6. You are not willing to re-invest in growing your small business

Don't be like me and start your small business by not having at least some of these things in place. Research, research, research, set your goals, and then use those resources to get the results you are looking for.  (HINT) The SBA and your local Chamber of Commerce is a good start.

 Know the Difference and Pursue Accordingly 

(consulting and company are different) 

• Consulting (singular) built on the idea of making enough money to support you and your family

• Company (plural) is goal-driven to support others (not just you anymore)

To build a company you must grow your profit beyond what it costs to take care of company expenses, your own expenses, and have money to spare to pay someone else.
Growth can be one of the most challenging aspects of any small business. It is easy to confuse consultant and company, but they come with a very different set of challenges. It may be essential at first to start out as a consultant depending on the type of business you are creating; service or product-driven. However, you should have a business plan that captures growth initiatives to reach the next level. If you don't you will find yourself stuck.
Keep in mind some people don't want the burdens of a company and are fine with being a consultant, just be sure that if you are providing a service, that you are aware of the difference and that you maintain goals to help you at either level. If reaching the "company" level is your goal then be sure to include a well thought out plan for taking the right next steps to build past yourself.

(how do you know it's time to start a company)

For myself, I began as a consultant. I was a bit of a pro in the areas of marketing/ communications and wanted to make companies look their best. Then one day, as I was burning the midnight oil and stressing over juggling multiple client deadlines, I realized I wasn't a company because at the current pace I was going my "company" would never be bigger than myself. It would never leave a legacy behind. It would simply fizzle and die without me at the helm running things. Also, I realized that without a strategy to grow bigger than myself there would be no-one to pass the gauntlet to and that I didn't have an exit strategy. Therefore, I would most likely work until I died, die from the stress of all the work, or both.

(how not to grow a company)
So here was my biggest mistake. I barely had my consulting business off the ground, and then I invested in building a company before I was ready. I took all the profit and then some from my consulting business and invested it in an office, with employees, to create a new product/ service line. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I had essentially two businesses (less time, less money, no additional resources to support the consulting business, and too much overhead for the consulting business to support). I was spread thin both financially and with no time to spare day or night. The burn out was very real, and both businesses were just mediocre. No profit was being made, all the money was being poured into infrastructure for a product/ service- line that wasn't taking off.

(lessons-learned)
Here is what I learned. When I started my consulting business I had existing clients in place. I had money in the bank from savings to carry me through the first few months of personal expenses. I used my existing network and resources to help me find a recurring source of income that would sustain me so that I could have a chance at success.

When I started my "company-project" there was no "spare" money in savings to be used to help sustain it while it was still in the "new phase." There were no existing buyers in place. The current industry was not "accepting" of the company-project and did not show any support which in-turn hurt business. This should have been researched and tested prior to the dive-in.

(what's next)
So the "company-project" failed and my consulting business almost went bust with it, but I'm still here. I still have something to offer to the world. I am a visionary. I am an entrepreneur. So, what's next for me is to go back to the drawing board. Failure is an objective concept. As long as you continue to learn from it then it becomes just a notch in the belt of mistakes. I recently went to a family cook-out, and was asked are you sad your company-project failed. I answered that I'm not sad, because I know what not to do the next time. That's already one step closer to success than the individuals who are still at the gate.

(the path to success)

1. Proper Planning and Use of Resources
2. Good Money Management Skills and Financial Awareness (be present and understand your financial standing--Your Credit is Important)
3. Solid Investments
4. Gradual Growth with a Phased Approach
5. A Bit of Luck

Not all of them are needed at once, but all of them are needed.

Depression...The Fight is Real and it is Daily

I have struggled with depression and feelings of self defeat/ self destruction on and off since I reached my teen years. These past few days, although they have been good days with a lot of little great moments have still been hard days for me emotionally. Inside I have felt like a train wreck. I have been through a gamut of self defeating emotions such as worthlessness, loneliness, deep sadness; the feeling that noone really cares if I exist or not and that life is pointless. I have coped with these types of feelings on/ off since I was a teen.

 

I have been told they are normal by some, I have seen therapists at the recommendations of others, I have tried various medications for depression as prescribed by a variety of doctors, and I have made life altering changes to my lifestyle in attempts to defeat these feelings of inadequacy and sadness.

 

 

Still, they manage to haunt me from time to time and because I've faced them for so many years I am now able to recognize that they are the symptom of what society has labeled "depression" but recognizing the problem doesn't take the pain away and it doesn't make it stop. It only helps me to make it to the next day because I can tell myself "this too shall pass", "it is only temporary", and "i am loved" having survived these feelings before.

 

The hardest part of my depression is that it is SCARY and it seems as if I am ALONE in it. I don't talk about it out of fear of being ridiculed, misunderstood and/ or rejected, or dismissed as attention seeking. I am afraid my feelings will simply be dismissed as pointless and silly. I am afraid that those who I have felt close to will take it personally and wonder if it is something they did wrong and feel pushed away. I am afraid of being seen as weak or mentally ill. I AM AFRAID and these fears eat at me, they feed off each other until they are too strong to bare, they consume me and that is why I am reaching out about my depression. Because it is scary and it is consuming, and sometimes there is no one to turn to. It CAN BE misunderstood and dismissed.

 

 

I'm writing this because I BELIEVE in overcoming my fears and I don't want to be afraid anymore. I don't want others to feel they have to suffer in silence. I urge those who are new to these feelings to hold on and to look deeper inside for the strength to make it to the next day. I urge those who suffer the way I have to seek the strength to talk about their depression. I BELIEVE that talking about it can not only help those of us who have depression to release the pain that is inside, but it can also help others to better understand the nature of depression and that it can affect anyone without warning. I BELIEVE in a better tomorrow and I will hold on (regardless of my inner demons that tell me no one cares and that I am alone) so that I can live. I choose the fight, but it is real and it is daily. It is painful and it is haunting. I never know when I will face another episode/ attack that leaves me wondering if I will fail the fight today. So I am writing this with HOPE and I pray for myself and others that have suffered these thoughts that we find peace in our minds and the strength to choose the fight.

 

 

 

 

Would Your Kids Survive the Apocalypse

With all the hype on the Walking Dead and other post apocalyptic types of movies I often wonder...would my kids actually survive the apocalypse.

 I'd like to think that like Katniss Everdeen of Hunger Games my 7th grade daughter would hunt for her own food and fight like a tribal warrior for her survival. We even bought the kids real bow and arrows for Christmas one year to try and prepare them for survival mode if the need ever occurred. Deep down though, I know that my big ideas of preparation and survival don't amount to much in the scheme of things. We're talking bio warfare/ zombies, changing polar zones with wintery conditions that compare to the Ice Age, or holes in the Ozone layer that are depleting our oxygen levels, nuclear war, even drought and famine, or worse yet (the plague). Any of these things could spell doom for humanity as we know it, but would it end everything and would those that live have been the strong or would they be the chosen few? I often wonder what my kids would do without the "instant life": instant internet, instant conversation, instant food, instant energy. These are no longer conveniences, but rather a normal way of life. I think of Avatar and the Indians and how without those who had the knowledge of the land and how to live off of it without them and that knowledge one would be in the darkest of situations.

 

These are the rational fears in the back of my mind. That I can't protect them no matter how much I would like to. But, I choose above all to have hope. I will buy them bows and arrows, ground them from technology on occasion to give them a taste of life without it, keep them in sports so that they will stay fast and flexible, feed them so that they will stay healthy and strong, and provide them shelter. Above all I will show them love, because no matter this life, the post apocalyptic life, or in the afterlife love is something they can hold onto. Love will give them hope. Love will help them to find their faith. It's okay that with everyday we step out into a scary world of the unknowns, because with faith we will land together onto something more.

 

 

 

 



Tired of Overly Boiled Eggs, Here's the Fix

I've seen several posts recently about boiled eggs and how to make them. Here are some of the ways others have explained the boiling egg process:

1. Let water boil, add eggs, turn off heat and let sit covered 13 minutes.
2. Add eggs to warm water and let boil 10 minutes then return to cold water.
Plus, there is this debate on whether or not to add eggs to cold water or warm water; or even to add to boiled water. It's easiest to go with the middle road here in my opinion and add to warm water.

3. Here's how I do it and I get perfect eggs Every time:
Add eggs to warm water, add some sprinkles of salt and bring water to a boil.
Continue to boil eggs for 3 minutes = runny yolk
 5 minutes to get soft yolk or 6 minutes for fully solid yolk.
Empty eggs into cold water and peel; refrigerate and eat when chilled.

It's really simple.
Lastly, if the egg spins on a table and continues to spin it's fully boiled. You can also often tell that the egg is lighter weight. These are simple little ways of being able to tell the egg is fully cooked.

Why Women Can't Remember to Turn the Lights Out

In Season One, Episode One of the Walking Dead Shane and Rick have an earnest discussion about women and their inability to turn the lights out. Well in our defense ladies, here are some of the most common reasons the lights are still on.
1. Women are multi-taskers moving quickly from one room to the next to do laundry or make dinner for the man and kids. In this case, women just simply don't need the added inconvenience of turning on/ off a switch. It's just an extra chore.
2. Women are distracted because of their kids. "Mom, I need my shorts washed; Mom I'm hungry what's for dinner; Mom, I have a science project due tomorrow and I need poster board." These questions typically don't get popped on dad, he's generally too busy playing Black Ops with his buddies via virtual reality or cleaning his guns so that he can pretend to be just like Rick and Shane.
3. The woman may also have too many things on her mind to remember the little things like turning off the lights; see 1 and 2 above for proof. Even our dearest Sheriff Rick admits to occasionally forgetting to turn the lights off.

4. Need I stress more that households often include kids, kids, kids. The woman turns one light off, only to have a child come behind her and flip the switch back on. It's like a 6th sense or something to know that the lights were off so that must be the room they need to venture into next.
5. Men, they always come home late. Some women, could just be considerate and not want their man to have to trip over the dog as he walks in the door. Yes...electricity is burning and wasting energy and $, but not having that light on could mean a trip to the ER for a broken ankle or busted face from the fall. After the day the woman has had with taking care of the house, your laundry, your dinner, and possibly the kids or her work the last thing she needs is to take her whimpering, wounded man to the hospital.
Dear comic character Shane from Walking Dead, it's a shame that so many men modeled themselves after you from the TV series because you were like a kid yourself; always complaining about the Woman and her role in the house and never seeing the motives and yes "logic" behind her actions. Personally, I believe you had it coming in the end when you received not one, but two holes in the head. Look who's lights are out now.

This woman is done with her rant (equal in comparison to that of the Walking Dead show clip below) and now will randomly walk through the house turning on all the lights one by one just for the hell of it, because she can.

Create a Family To Do List from Fairy Tales

This family activity was so creative I just had to share. This is something family and friends alike will enjoy and it is for all ages. All it takes is a spark of initiative and creativity. Start by brainstorming use a large poster or a dry erase board and think together about all the best fairy tales you've read, movies you've watched along the way, and other magical moments you may have had in life and wonder at what it would have been like to have done some of the things that you loved about those magical moments. VOILA, you will almost instantly have ideas flowing for your to-do list. 

Why create a to do list from fairy tales you may ask. Well, I'd reply that why not. The world needs a little bit more magic in it and this will be sure to add a magic moment to your afternoon. Then, be sure to Facebook your ideas just because it's fun to share.

Here is our most recent To Do List created on a whim by me, my daughters, and my best friend/ sister in the whole world. Based on my personal experience this is a MUST DO activity. My kids loved it so much and it was nice to see the smiles spread. A special thank you to my sister Courtney for coming up with the idea.

 

CLUE 2013 FREE Manor Beach Score Sheets for Print

Like many Walmart shoppers I was thrilled to find the Classic CLUE game recently at Walmart on sale for only $8.00, only to be disappointed upon my return home that there weren't score sheet cards in the box. This meant there was no way for my family to keep track of our guesses during the game. This is exactly what happens when Walmart goes for the cheapest product, but not a quality product, the pieces are missing or broken, or the product just plain sucks. Betting on the fact that the score sheet pad probably wasn't included in any of the $8.00 boxes at Walmart I got creative and improvised.

1st, I surfed the net on .ebay, Amazon, and google to try and find the pre-printed pads on sale. Afterall, we all eventually run out of score cards anyway right so it seemed only natural there would be pre-printed score card pads available just like a pre-printed post it, but the answer to this question is NO. They do not sell re-fill score pads anywhere. So, this meant I would have to create it myself.

Let me tell you now that typing and formatting a front to back score sheet wasn't an easy task. There is a lot of information to fit onto a small amount of space and the tables have to be formatted just right. Also, each CLUE game is unique in itself. There are various versions of the board with different rooms, different weapons; even the characters look different on different versions. On the 2013 manor - beach version there are two boards in one, so this meant I would have to create 2 score cards in one. Each side came with different rooms or places that the murder could have taken place. One of the cool things about creating my own score card template for CLUE was that I could make the score cards a little larger for older players like myself to be able to see the options a little better.

I've done all the hard work pre-formatting and getting it just right for you. All you have to do is print the front/ flip the paper and print the back. Depending on your print settings there may be a little extra white space at the bottom of one side but it lines up quit nicely. I printed several of these at home and made my own little pre-printed notebook at home for guests to play from. I'm sure you can have Kinkos or another printing service print it for you to if preferred. I used resume paper because it is a bit of a higher quality and feels good to hold in hand.

 So here is what you've been waiting for right...the template. I hope all Fellow Clue Lovers everywhere ENJOY! A link to the .pdf is here, just print/ cut/ and use.

Good Meds vs. the Bad Ones

What doctors don't tell you is that in truth medication may act as a wonder drug for you while it destroys the physical and mental well being of someone else. This is because people tolerate drugs differently. We are truly unique individuals. I've had this very experience with my physician. It isn't her fault because she did all of the appropriate blood testing to determine that my physical makeup was off balance and that I needed something to help control this. In fact, as she put it for the last 20 years since hitting puberty I've actually stayed on PMS according to my blood work. This entire time, I've blamed myself for uncontrollable mood swings, sadness, and body swelling when in fact it was all in the physical makeup of my DNA. Yes, my DNA. All that I had to do was look around me. My mother and her entire side of the family experienced similar feelings of sadness and anxiety. Many of them experienced the same kind of mood swings. These behavioral symptoms have been passed down from generation to generation.

What I also didn't realize was that just because Celexa might work for my mother, didn't mean that it would work for me. I had also tried Prozac/ Zoloft with no success, but what Celexa did was drive me into deeper sadness/ madness and paralyze my ability to function in a normal society. Not only was I unable to function, but my panic attacks increased with sweats and labored breathing. My fears and paranoia set in. I actually believed it was again, my fault that this was happening to me, not because of the medicine but because I was too lazy or scared to get out of bed. I felt like a drag on society, like I wasn't able to produce anything worthwhile, like I didn't have a place in the world and wasn't needed or wanted. Nothing seemed bright anymore, not even the little things and special moments that occur in day to day life. Then, upon returning to the doctors I was placed on Abilify.

I'm generally the type of person who likes to know what I'm doing to my body and mind. I like to know what it is that is going into my body. So, before taking the first 2mg. dosage prescribed by my doctor I did some research only to find that at least 1/2 of the peer reviews out of 600 online 1st hand experiences were negative regarding Abilify. Many people complained of the symptoms that I had experienced the same feelings of complete sadness/ madness I had while on Celexa. They complained of extreme weight gain, bloating, anger, and numerous other negative things.

This made me even more nervous to take the medicine that had been prescribed to me, but then I realized the other 1/2 of the reviews said great things about this medicine, that it could be a life changer for the better. I was willing to take the risk to be able to face life and the day again. I was tired of living in a dark place that seemed to have claimed me for most of my existence. I was tired of feeling like I couldn't be around people because it was a genuine problem that I even existed. So, I tried the medicine. One of the great things I've found with Abilify is that even on the smallest dosage you can begin to see improvement and being on the smallest dosage may be exactly what you need to make life livable again. I've been on the 2mg dosage compared to Celexa's 20+ dosages and suddenly I'm a morning person again. I not only get up, but am actively pursuing my dreams again because of this medication which turned out (so far) to be my wonder drug. Abilify may not have worked for many of the other patients who took the time to place a review, but it did work for me. This is why I had to write this blog to deliver hope to those who are suffering from depression and anxiety or OCD and other mood disorders. There is something out there that can help you, you just have to work with your doctor and seek it out. It's also important to be able to recognize when your symptoms are worsening on a medication and to visit your doctor regularly while trying these new medications, because your doctor may be able to help you recognize when things aren't working and get you on something that will.

In just a short amount of time Abilify has given me hope again. It has helped me to function normally in society. I no longer live in fear that I'm unwanted and that my existence is meaningless, or that I'm worthless. These thoughts had been plaguing me to the very point that I was defeating myself, completely unable to continue fighting for my dreams or for my life. I had given up. I was in a dark place, but things are looking up for me now. So, please if you don't feel right. If you are possibly going through some of these same thoughts or feelings see your doctor and work with them to get the medication right. It may not be Abilify for you, it may be Celexa or Seroquil, or something else. It could even be that you are already on too many medications and need to decrease dosage or eliminate a few medicines downsizing to just one. Whatever the case there is hope. Get help. I probably wouldn't be able to write this article if it weren't for the help I've received. I probably wouldn't even be here.

Stay Away from Bed Bugs, This is How

Stay Out of Hotels that have Bed Bugs

Many hotels are not what they seem. Shockingly even some of the most exclusive and high priced hotels are not the place to be. I recently took a trip to Nashville and almost every nice hotel had been reported for bed bugs ranging from Hilton to Grand Ole Opry Hotel.  I recently discovered www.raveable.com and you should too. This site includes a bed bug/ no bed bug symbol immediately placed to the right of any hotel with bed bug reports in the last 12 months and you can view it from your phone. I don't know about you, but it's worth checking up on this stuff to me. I don't want bed bugs.

Do your part to keep these parasites from taking over. Stay out of hotels that have been reported for bed bugs.

On another note. I stayed at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in downtown Nashville, March 2013. Although it didn't seem to have any bed bug problems and was clean it wasn't a good bang for the buck ($286 nt.) it's being renovated right now and staff/ managers were hateful and rude. I highly recommend staying away from it at least until renovations are done if you want to make your stay anywhere near worthwhile.

Alex Hope an ingenious advertising ploy

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/crashing-the-market-friday-march-9th/3xd2dj69

http://www.fastgrowthentrepreneurs.co.uk/

This is a very interesting advertising ploy. This 23 year old financial trader was promoting an executive entrepreneurs club that launched this March. By spending what the normal person would consider big money ($320K) at a local bar he peaked the interest of the media spreading his name across the world for free. When you run a search on him, you find that he is the sponsor behind the exclusive club that launched this month. $320k is nothing compared to the millions the club will bring in from new financially independent members and the money he spent may even be tax deductible if it was part of his sponsorship to the club.

Unbelievable. Can't believe I didn't think of this one.

Never Say Never to Reality TV

After recently condemning Reality TV prior to this seasons new episodes of American Idol and Dancing with the Stars and blatantly bashing them for their lack of unique and entertaining episodes have lately found myself wondering what's next. I hardly expected passing up the gym to sit in front of the TV on weeknights to catch the latest episode of the Spring 2011 season with the occasional vote for James Durbin and Kirstie Alley thrown into the mix, but this season has proven to be more than promising with the vocals of rock stars and the ever large personalities of Kirstie and Ralph, no pun intended to her weight.

Loving the Tiger Blood in Charlie Sheen

I recently watched Sheen's live interview and his webcast and believe it to all be a marketing ploy on his behalf to promote his new tour, which quickly booked at $75 on the low end for a ticket across the nation. The question still being asked by many is what is in store next for Sheen, and after following him on his new Twitter account have to say that with the new intern he hires for promotional savvy we are sure to see something interesting. I for one am interested in his "winning" attitude and will stay glued to the tube for some time as long as I can follow more than his latest tweet.

On Charlie Sheen's Addictions

Not everyone can understand addiction. The fact is you either have an addictive nature or you don't. Others who don't have this nature don't understand because they don't know what it's like to over enjoy something. That's what addicts do. There is just something in them that says it's too good to stop. While others are commenting on yahoo and other sites about Charlie's problems and that he's out of control. I've decided to blog from the perspective of the other side of the coin. Although I don't know Charlie personally I can sympathize with his problems.

You can substitute the addiction and you can put it on hold, but the nature of over enjoyment will always be there. I just hope he can find a way to over enjoy something that won't put him in a body bag. I'd much rather enjoy new episodes of Two and a Half Men or whatever his next acting leap may be than to see that on TV.  He's an amazing actor and it shows thru his dedication to his work outside of what happens in his personal life.

There are a lot of addicts; whether it be food, alcohol, drugs, or shoes and just because they have a problem most of them hide it very well because they are so good at what they do. Most of the addicts I know are perfectionists who carry the burdens of everyone else on their shoulders for the majority of time and find a brief release in the over enjoyment of their addiction.

For Sheen to pop up in the tabloids once in 10 years for his problem he's hid it well. Think of how much he's exposed to public viewing. Think of the pressures to meet script deadlines and to perfect his character so that others can enjoy watching him on the screen. Not to mention the pressures of being the best in a family of famous directors and actors, setting himself apart from his brother Emilio and dad Martin. Or to be a husband when the women he's with only care about his money and fame. If I were him I'd drop off the map for awhile and forget about rehab. He has enough money to really enjoy life. He should take off to a remote paradise somewhere and spend six months on an island away from his contacts just enjoying the sun, the sailing, and the peace and quiet of me time. That's what I would do if the shoe was on the other foot.

Show me the Money

Can someone please direct me to a place other than China where I can find American money? That being said, it looks to be the old fashioned economics of supply and demand at play here. China supplies it and we demand it, and the American jobs that are thriving are the ones that figure out how to move the goods, market the goods, and lure Americans into buying the goods. Let's hope those "service" jobs are enough to keep America afloat so that we can continue being the consumer nation that China enjoys. The upside, working with China to develop new ideas for the American consumer is the way to go if you want something produced cheap and in bulk for distribution here in the states.

Demi and Ashton Weren't Ready for Brazil

Just recently read that Demi and Ashton got booed in Brazil for being late.  I'm not a morning person, but if I had a big trip planned to go to Brazil I think I'd brush up on the culture a bit before leaving.
Plus, you can follow their posts on Twitter. Ashton told Brazil in a recent post "I'm ready for you Brazil, are you ready for me?" Well Mr. Kutcher apparently you weren't ready for them. They had to wait an entire hour for your arrival.  Next time trade the fake smile for a real Portuguese to English translator and an alarm clock.