Reality Check

Hello Everyone,

Got an email from my Nephew Steve a few days ago. Seems that all systems are go for his marriage to a Thai woman in late June or early July. I got all excited and started making plans to go. A few more emails and I had the town name. Then a run up to the Buddhist Temple to see a fellow that I knew there that was from Thailand. Sompop is young intelligent, fun and an owner of a Pizza Hut. He leads the lay Buddhists on Sunday Morning Dana in our chants. He knew the reagion that Steve was talking about. He asked good questions that I shot back to Steve.

I searched on Google and found maps of the area and learned that another greatness was that Roi Et, was close to Ubon where the International Buddhist Wat is located. Best flight is with (uh change that to cheapest) Tiger Airways. Flies through Singapore to Ubon for around $750 return. Not knowing the exact date is unsettling as I like to purchase tickets far in advance to save some dollars.

Then late on Sunday evening the reality check hit into place. The only way that I could do this trip would be mad dash up and back in a week or less and I would also lose a weeks pay. I started looking at the reality of my finances which have been in the basement for months. I have just quit the NewStart program which was putting $500 every two weeks into my finances. I have just had the room mate move out which was putting in $420 per month. So that is less $1400 a month and a loss of another $750 for a weeks work with a thinning balance, YIKES. So, sad as it is I just cannot go to Thailand for this wedding. Bugger!

Sorry Steve. No family with you at this important time.

I won't say that this has depressed me today, yet I certainly have not been my old cheerful self. Life as a forklift driver came home today you might say. A forklift driver working through a hire company. No insurance, no vacations, no support. I get sick, I am out of money, boom. Funny thing that idea of working for someone to get ahead. Works fine till you get that good old statement, "you are fired". Yet, I have not been able to really successfully make it as self-employed either. So what do I do? Well, for now with my back against the wall I keep working, carefully, steadily, sensibly.

I remember doing a reality course in Uni way back when. It was to do with here is your income. Here are your choices. It was set up for everyone to go into debt really fast. Me, I choose the starvation route of staying at home, listening to the radio and reading books for weeks on end. Funny those choices that we make as a project as a child or young person and then they come true.

I have taken many workshops on breaking the cycle of poorness. I have the skills. It is sort of like having a really fantastic super dooper lawnmore without any gas. Tools only work when all the ingrediants are present.

Well, enough for tonight.

peace

may you all be well and happy

gene