So Tired of Banks

I just spent 30 minutes arguing with Wells Fargo over the monthly service charge they promised not to charge me 2 months ago. Then they transferred my call to another service rep that dropped my call and then I had to call again and start all over again. They refunded half the bogus fee as a courtesy. @wellsfargo #fail

I switched from Bank of America to Wamu to get free checking. Wamu got bought out by Chase. Then Chase got rid of free checking so I switched to Wells Fargo.  Then Wells Fargo told me I no longer qualify for free checking. I'm about to start keeping my money under the mattress.

Hang In There and Fix Those Holes

I looked up from my own personal problems and thought 'Egads, we need to repair some of these holes in the bottom of the ship.' That is to say, all my family is in some pretty dire straits. If as a collective we are all in the same boat, then that boat is full of holes and taking on water. If your family is only as strong as it's weakest link, we better weld some new chains together. It's hard to keep caring about a family that continually lets you down. But the alternative is the whole shebang falls apart and you just hope there are enough life jackets around when everyone jumps ship. I'm just trying to figure out how to help when I'm drowning in my own problems. It's not like I'm standing on a dry beach while everyone else is out in the surf. I'm up to my neck in waves. It's not like our family has any rich uncles or sugar daddies. It's sink or swim baby, and none of us are lifeguards.

Blog Frog

I just signed up for BlogFrog, as you can see from my new widget to the right. It was super easy signing in with my Facebook ID, but they have other options as well. I joined a few of their communities but they didn't have one for belly dancing or archery. I could make one I guess but I'm a little swamped what with National Blog Writing Month (Nanowrimo) and National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo). Plus I'm getting reading for Thanksgiving, doing a painting a day, and various other projects with deadlines.

I'm testing the theory that the more you do, the more you can do.

Yesterday's Painting. A semi-abstract series of four paintings.

Veteran's Day USA

Although I have very conflicted feelings about Veteran's Day I do want to acknowledge all those that served so that I still have a USA to come home to.
Both my father and my deceased father-in-law had military careers. My father is retired air force and my father-in-law kept it a secret that he was in the Army. I only found out at his graveside.

I have many many friends that I know are vets and I'm sure there are others that never mention it. So a toast to you all.

Time to Sign Up For NaBloPoMo.

National Blog Posting Month is about to start. So if you are going to participate get on over to my new blog at http://www.blogher.com/getting-ready-nablopomo and click on blog roll and see how to sign up your blog. The official site just left NING for blogher, even if you've participated in the past you'll have to register again.  I don't mine a fresh start though. I'm not doing Nanowrimo this year, which is why I didn't join in with NaBloPoMo before now.  I guess I signed up for it, figured it was pointless since I blog daily anyway, and never did much with it.  But it turns out there are a lot of other benefits, like prizes to be one, and it will drive traffic to your blog.

Trying to Stay Motivated

So much to do today and the only motivation I have is fear. I'd rather be motivated by the carrot than the stick. How can I make this more fun so I'll want to do it. Some of them are intrinsically fun things, like making a belly dancing costume or reading fiction. But I think my depression and repressed anger are taking the joy out of doing things that I normally love. That and having projects dumped on me by other people and also by living in a constant state of poverty and clutter. That I can scrape together any motivation at all is somewhat of a miracle. I'm a hypnotist. I should be the queen of motivation, right? I need to be my own role model.  Then again maybe I just need an hour in someone's jacuzzi.

Time Flies Once You Turn the Internet On

I realized my computer addiction was keeping me from getting stuff done, so I made myself turn it off for five hours. In those five hours I took a series of photos for International Talk Like a Pirate Day, put a load of laundry in, made lunch, watered the back yard, trimmed some vines, straightened up my desk, read some fiction,  cut out some pattern tissue pieces for a dress, picked up the living room and took a catnap.

If you want to see the pirate photos they are here: ITLAPD

I should turn off my computer more often.