MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION... I have discovered the secret to SAVING MONEY!

Before you even think to say it, yes..... it has been some time since I wrote a blog. It doesn't mean the intent to blog  was not there.  It is very similar to each and every Saturday night before I go to bed, I place my clothes out for 10a.m. Sunday church service.  On Sunday, I wake up around 10:18am,sometimes later,  so you guessed it, no 10 am service. No worries I think to myself, I will go to the 12 noon service, after all I have my clothes laid out.(smile)  Aaaannnd...I don't make it. 
So I say all this to say...I know its been a while since I last  blogged, but as with church on Sundays, the INTENT  is always there.
 Many are still recovering from the economy being on the mend, and for many things are tight for many of us.  That age old question continues to remain unanswered,  how do you save money when you are already living on a tight budget? I have  figured it out, and for today only, like a one day Macy's sale, (which by the way, doesn't it seem like Macy's is ALWAYS  having a sale? They ARE NOT SLICK, you hear me MACY'S you not slick!  Those commercials are a manipulation talking about a pre day sale then THE ACTUAL sale.)  SHUT UP...YA'LL STAY ON SALE!  Where was I? Yes, I have figured out how to save money, and I will give you this gem FOR FREE! You ready? the key to saving money is....drum roll...
STAY YO ASS AT HOME!!!
For those of you who are thinking..."she's such a talented professional lady why does she have to be so vulgar"?  And I say, first of all, where are you in the 1900s?  When did the word ASS become vulgar? And B. sometimes there just aren't any other words to use that will do justice to telling someone to STAY THEIR ASSES HOME.   Listen, if I  said, STAY YOUR BUTT AT HOME, or STAY YOUR BEHIND QUARTERS AT HOME.  Boooooo!  STAY YO ASS AT HOME, IS THE MOST FITTING. 
And 3...This here my JUKE JOINT...lmao...You know, I don't really care  if you laugh I CRACK ME UP! And often. However , it is worth mentioning it has become more and more evident, that I REALLY need to have my ADD medication adjusted!
So yes, stay at home.  My daughter spends time with her father during the summer, and so I am afforded the luxury to finally chill.  No practices,  girl scouts, sleepovers, camps, games, track meets, cello, bass guitar lessons,  just me and my 13 year old dog who by the way has been bumping into furniture because he is going blind.  IT KILLS ME. bless his little mole covered  dingy fur, that covers his little heart murmur having heart. And his little arthritis and emphysema cough. But OTHER THAN ALL THAT HE IS IN GREAT SHAPE!(side eye)
  I have found, I have spent no money.  No stops at 7-11, no stopping at grocery store, no burning up a whole lot of gas, no redbox or regular movies, no Rita Ice, no salads or Subway.  I think in just this first week I KNOW  I have saved at least 125 dollars. 
It is the strangest thing, I tend not to eat when my kid is away, it is like some kind of sub conscious fast I go on, but when she is gone I have no appetite, I literally have to MAKE myself eat.  So there you go...no groceries, hence NO COOKING.  I drink more water because I am not running into 7-11 every other day buying Gatorades, bananas, and peanuts for energy for practices. I feel much healthier because I am back to walking, everyday, sometimes twice a day because it is quiet and not a lot of...mommy can I ride my bike, mommy can I ride my scooter.  SHUTUP!!!!!....
So if you want to save money...put your kids in a storage unit somewhere and walk away.   I"m kidding, I'm kidding, I'm a kidder. lol
If you want to save money, DON'T HAVE KIDS! That is the secret, because without kids you are not constantly out and  spending money.  Wow... that was A REAL EINSTEIN MOMENT RIGHT?  I think I will make bumper stickers, You want to save money, DONT HAVE KIDS. I like it!
I feel like I have really helped people today, with the most obvious discovery since Brook stones started offering "neck massagers"  We ALL KNOW WHAT THEY ARE REALLY FOR!  But THATS ANOTHER BLOG, on another day, hopefully sooner than not.

The Olivia Fox Fix: ON MY NERVES

The Olivia Fox Fix: ON MY NERVES: In the true tradition of all my blogs, I write when the mood strikes.  Or when I am in desperate need of professional counseling and opt to ...

ON MY NERVES

In the true tradition of all my blogs, I write when the mood strikes.  Or when I am in desperate need of professional counseling and opt to write instead.  Both very therapeutic for me and entertaining for others.  With  the breaking news stories, and very smallest things setting people off, I thought I would submit to you,
SOME THINGS THAT GET ON MY NERVES!

Normally I am a chilled laid back person, away from work, especially having been out the spotlight from the line of work I am in.  (no I'm not an old dusty retired stripper, for those of you reading my blog for the first time) I refer to my current state as being in my very own bubble.  However there are those times when I must venture out. Try as I might to avoid confrontation, conflict, foolish situations and people, some how, it finds me.  So, this is 1of many things on my nerves.  I am somewhere  minding my own business and here YOU COME!  I don't care who you are, everyone knows a person, either at work, family member, client, boss, etc. that BRINGS THE DRAMA. Want to know the sign that you are encountering this person?  When you see them coming towards you, you say to your self, Oh.... here HE come, or HERE HER ASS COME,

Another thing on my nerves, when I go to  buy a bag of potato chips.  They blow the bag up nice and full don't they?  You tear into that bag and all the air rushes out the bag and all you have left is a bag that is 1/3 full.  REALLY?! Just make the bag smaller, don't try to fool me into thinking I'm getting all these chips  On my nerves.

Frequent occurring scenario,  in traffic, bumper to bumper, your turn  is coming up, you signal to get over, AND  the car behind you SPEEDS UP and wont let you over.
 They speed up only to be held at the light! WHY?  Ummmm... yeah...what was the big rush for you where you could  NOT LET ME OVER. 

ASS!! (smile)  OMN....that's on my nerves for those of you who are like what?  what? what does that mean?

It is worth mentioning,   I'm not a whiny, complaining person, in fact I feel that now I have vented on these things that get on my nerves, perhaps  they will no longer bother me, but...while I still have your ear here is my all time top thing that gets on my nerves! PEOPLE WHO WRITE ABOUT WHAT IS ON THEIR NERVES.
 NOBODY CARES!!!hahahahahahaha

Bottom line, most people can't go through their day without getting on some body's nerves somewhere at some time.  I do it myself, I will drive my daughter by 4 different Subways, ON PURPOSE,  having her think each time  oh...I'm gonna get me some Subway..and...NO YOU'RE NOT.  Petty right?  I know but BOY IT IS FUN!
I could go on and on about what is on my nerves but my hands hurt from typing, and THAT RIGHT THERE?

 IS SO, SO,SO  ON MY NERVES!

LISTEN TO THE OLIVIA FOX SHOW Tuesdays 12-2pmEST www.listenvisionlive.com. LIVE from The Nations Capital. Heard and watched in over 125 Countries!

The Olivia Fox Fix: What a difference a FREAKING YEAR makes

The Olivia Fox Fix: What a difference a FREAKING YEAR makes: Well, well, well... Today I stumbled up on my blog thinking to myself, it has been a minute since I have written, probably 3 or 4 months, so...

What a difference a FREAKING YEAR makes

Well, well, well... Today I stumbled up on my blog thinking to myself, it has been a minute since I have written, probably 3 or 4 months, so much is happening in the world and my own life let me go on here and share a little bit about what is going on with me.  Upon my surprise it hadn't been 3 or 4 months, IT HAS ALMOST BEEN A YEAR SINCE I HAVE BLOGGED.  I'm all like, how can THAT BE? However,  once I sat down and thought  about the past year and all that has occurred, the highs the lows. IT HAS BEEN A FREAKING YEAR!

This tells me many things, one...I really need to get my SHIT TOGETHER!! (smile)  It tells me I REALLY GOT TO GET SOME SHORT TERM, MID TERM, AND LONG TERM GOALS ON PAPER SOMEWHERE!!  But most importantly, it tells me what I have always known throughout my life, time waits for no one, regardless of what you have going on, what you are doing, people and situations coming in and out your life, death, life, job loss, money made, places visited, various transitions. 
TIME IS CONSTANT, and it continues to..well.....tick on.

Some of the greatest lessons I have learned in this past year have been the importance of patience, having a proper perspective, and possessing  the ability to crisis manage. With each passing day one of these 3 and many times all 3 at one time have helped me to thrive and stay in the game.  I could go on and on of all the things I have faced, endured, and tolerated over the past year, but why?  Even the good,  the past is called that for a reason, it is the past.  Things happen, we go through it, sometimes more gracefully than others, but we do, and we move on.  I have had many blessings to occur in the past year, and  some situations and ultimate outcomes, have transpired that never in 2 lifetimes would I believe could actually occur in my life. But due to all those challenges and triumphs I am able to still be here today.  Not bitter, broken  discouraged, or defeated while merely existing , going day to day with no joy or expectation of it.  I am HERE with joy, a feeling of accomplishment and more important a positive, hopeful, perspective on things to come. 

Many people can't go through crisis without being scarred, without having  lost a major part of who they are.  They may  be only a small part of who they were prior to the crisis.  They have allowed a temporary situation to negatively impact not only their present day self ,but all the potential they could be in the future. I am a  thinker, and sometimes I over think and over analyze situations and people, but some  may not necessarily require such thorough examination.

I guess with a passing of time one would learn a lesson or 2.  I guess I received more than  my share in this past year  Have I really shared anything with this blog about my life?  The superficial clones, and blinded sheep  would say no. However, those who know me, those who have gone through a storm, and those who are in the midst of chaos as you read this,, you KNOW  exactly what I have shared, and hopefully someone will see they are not alone in the struggle, and the test cannot and will not .last forever. 

I was always told the test in a testimonial is the equivalent of the  silver lining of a dark cloud.
 I agree.

WHAT MAKES A HERO

In a few weeks I will embark on a new frontier of sorts, you see for the past 4 years I have been suffering from full renal failure, and I have been on dialysis.  Almost everyone I encounter knows someone who knows someone who is on dialysis.  Why is it becoming so common?  My guess would be the 2 top causes for kidney failure are hypertension and diabetes, therefore with so many of us being over weight, out of shape, having terrible eating habits, a lack of  medical insurance and being unable to see a doctor on the regular, along with a  lack of exercise, there are tons of folk on dialysis awaiting kidney transplants, and many who are on their way and just don't know it.
For those of who are closest to me, they always ask  me, HOW DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?  Raising an incredibly talented child with tons of energy, while trying to juggle career goals, and day to day obligations, it is tough.  Some who know me even consider me a hero or sorts.  I don't see myself in that light, I just see myself as a person who has tried to make the best out of a challenging situation.  A person who has no other choice BUT TO LIVE and continue to do what I need to do to stay here. 
But the more I hear the word "hero" the more it got me to thinking about what a hero means to me.  I guess when I think of the heroes in my life, my father comes to mind.  He died nearly 4 years ago but there is not a day that goes by that I don't miss him and hear his voice in my head.  "Red Top"... (he would always call me)
"hang in there baby girl.  HANG IN THERE!"  And when I would ask him how he was, even when we all knew he was dying from prostate cancer, in his last days he would say....
"I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD FOR THE SHAPE I AM IN".  HERO.... Even in the face of adversity, he never gave up. and he lived his life like that until the end.
 My mother, my shero, a woman who didn't get the chance to go to college but she put ALL 4 OF HER CHILDREN THROUGH COLLEGE.  One through a masters program, one through law school.  And always growing up I never had to wonder where I came from, what stock of blood ran through my veins because I was raised proud, knowing who and what kind of a people I came from. .HERO.... Or my brother and his wife,  she a double breast cancer survivor enduring a double mastectomy, then reconstructive surgery only to go through it again 5 years later with a more aggressive cancer 2md time around,  enduring chemo, radiation, and yet..... she STOOD on her faith! In fact when I asked her how she did it she says I just put my worries on the mantle and STAND ON MY FAITH!. HERO.... My brother enduring the trauma of dealing with his beloved wife going through hell, while also dealing with a son with special needs in and out of the hospital... and yet... with the spirit of our dad.... HE STANDS AND HOLDS MY DAUGHTER DOWN as she deals with missing her father being in her life consistently.  My brother  STANDS AND HOLDS MY CHILD DOWN AND ALWAYS  MAKES  SURE SHE NEVER GOES WITHOUT. HERO!!!!..  God has afforded me the honor to know many people who I consider heroes.  In fact one of my heroes will impact my life SIGNIFICANTLY,  my dear friend Mike Green whom I have known for over a decade.  He goes and gets tested to be my kidney donor and turns out to be a match!!!
He WILL SAVE MY LIFE and end my grueling 3 times a week dialysis treatments.  HERO....
A Hero stands when many others would crumble, positive when it would be so much easier to not be, encouraging and optimistic, and able to take on another person's weight and worry while they are going through their own.  HERO.....to me THAT'S what makes a hero, and I thank God for all of them to be in my life. As always in closing....
Get life baby.... this ain't no dress rehearsal and remember you can be some body's HERO TODAY,
BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR AND SAVE A LIFE.