[Guest]

In the township that I'm working in, they take out a one-time tax for all employees who earn more than $12,000 a year in that township. Seeing how I'll not earn that (in what? 3 and 1/2 months), I can get it back when I file my taxes in 2008, but for now, it's all theirs. Hopefully the next check in October will be better, but it's funny to see such a pitiful check. And then to have had it Fed Ex'd over *lol*

Okay. Now I KNOW that this is funny. It has to be, or else God is having one heck of a cosmic joke at my expense *lol* So, I got my VERY first paycheck today ...

I'll admit that I had been feeling a little underpaid at Rittenhouse *blush* that maybe I was going way above and beyond and not reaping the financial benefits therewith, but, this paycheck puts all of that into perspective ...

Now - no tea and sympathy please - just tell me that this is the funniest thing you've read (today at least) ...


My 1st paycheck was Fed Ex'ed to my location (woo!) and was $4.44. Yes folks, that's FOUR dollars and forty-four cents. The taxman cometh and took all my money *lol* Quite literally. I think the Fed Ex fees were higher than that check *lol*

I'll never have a job like the one at Rittenhouse - being able to merge my hobby and my profession and work with some of the most amazing clients (that'd be y'all) was just a blessing. It's still hard to sit on the side and watch Robert continue to work for the company - it's hard cause you know, he doesn't wanna talk to me about it, cause he's worried I'm going to burst into tears *lol* but he's my husband so I want him to be able to share what he did at work, etc.

My new clients are all 3months old - 10 years old and so far it's going well a few tears, a few unhappy separations from mom, but for the most part, it's fun. Not too many hours though - I'm kind of scared to see the first paycheck *lol* Worried there will be more taxes taken out than I actually get money *lol* Gotta love the government!

I wish I could play this year, but I won't be able to. Not even sure if there's money for me to play Santa to my own brood *lol* but we'll make do - just nothing extra to play with. Have fun and I'll be watching from the sidelines !!

So I am now again among the gainfully employed (well sort of gainfully) - I'm working as a babysitter in a local gym's kids club working when my boys are in school. So it works out nicely. Thank for all your prayers and kindness - when I really needed it, you didn't hesitate to provide it Even if I'm not taking care of you all anymore ...

NSU is reporting that Topps has cancelled the forthcoming Pirates set. Sorry to all those who were anxiously anticipating it's arrival

There's a banner for the Heroes trading cards on ICV2's website that has me wondering .... is it a typo, or are they already taking re-orders?

The ad says "Advance Re-order now before it's too late!"

Awww - thanks guys!!! My birthday was SUPPOSED to be a frugal one But hubby decided to go all out. Took us to a nice steakhouse and bought me a box of cards - Allen and Ginter 2007 - those boxes are about $100 apiece. He was disappointed that I didn't pull any of the non-sport autos or relics, but I was thrilled just to open it.

My baby (not a baby anymore) Evan turned 4 on 9/10 too - he got to whack a pinata for his special day Course, he whacked mommy once (owie!!!) but it was fun watching him swing the stick at it.

You'd think they could leave GAMES alone *sigh* I'm privileged to live in a (semi) upscale suburban neighborhood. We've literally got either a school or a church on every corner (one block has 4 churches on it!) so we're pretty insulated from drugs and such.

This game has just come into my notice here in the States - no doubt kids have been playing it forever *lol* - but it's come into notice because of what's going on on-line. It seems some friends of my kids have been making low caliber drug deals in the game - buying marijuana and such - so if you are a parent, please make sure you know exactly what's going on - they were apparantly using 'game speak' so that whenever a parent happened to pass by, the parent was not aware of anything shady.

The children have of course had their internet privileges yanked. And if they had been my children a mildly severe beating may have taken place 

No kidding - that card just makes me sad I kinda wish I hadn't seen it. The artwork is stunning - it's the subject matter that's disturbing. When my son saw it - he thought they were babies being put on a fire

Impatient

We too opened a case of this. We kind of beat the odds a little - 6 sketches and 3 autos. I won't disrespect the signers, but one gentleman was a behind-the-scenes guy, and the other two were among the most common signers. Our sketches were all pencil - no colored sketches and were Cat Staggs Luke x 2, Otis Frampton x 2 (different characters), Ryan Waterhouse and Davide Fabbri. I'm satisfied, though not ecstatic - I was really hoping to pull a "new" artist - one I didn't already have tons of from previous sets (and the Fabbri looks exactly like a sketch from a previous set). We also got a Gold Card - which will likely go on the 'bay this weekend.

Thanks for the kindness - many of you have said things that I hadnt thought of, so I'm looking into some different things. I'll keep you posted

Nienna - it was decided for me. And, feel free to be long-winded, Lord knows, I can be (and often am!)

Lessa - I too find much joy in volunteering - but by it's nature, volunteer work doesn't pay. And an income is necessary, unfortunately. Ideally, I'd love to stay home and mother my young ones until both were in school full time - but it seems there's a different plan for me. I've been considering going back to school and completing my Bachelor's in English but it's soo expensive and I wonder what I would do from there ...

Who am I? Has been a question I have been asking myself a lot lately. What will become public knowledge shortly, is that today, July 31st, 2007, is my last day with Rittenhouse Archives. I had, rightly or wrongly, so loved my job that it quickly became part of who I considered myself to be - I "was" customer service for Rittenhouse. Now that I'm not, I'm not sure I can define who I am. My beloved husband asked me the other night, what did I want to do (with the rest of my life was insinuated, but wisely not spoken ) and I found I couldn't answer it. It is difficult for me to separate "who" I am from "what' I do - I am a wife and a mother - that's also what I do - I take care of the people in this house - I cook meals, wash clothes, pick up after them,  transport them around town, etc. - but is that who I am?

So... who are you, I ask, in the hopes that it will help me figure out who I am.

Sa-WEET!!!!!! Yay for me, yay for me Yay to Kelly too! Those were hard questions!!

Yay for BooBooBeGone!!  I will enter in the sold auctions then and not worry about the unsold ones - unless they merit some observation. I can enter in the BIN's no problem too Thanks for keeping me honest

I entered in the auctions that Cindy asked me too - even though I did make one booboo, but had a question after I finished today's lot ... Do you want auctions that did not sell (there is a button to check if it did sell, but was wondering if anyone cared how many did not sell) and, I saw after the fact, that some people entered in the Comments Field if it was a BIN (Buy It Now) - should I do the same? I will continue doing this until someone tells me otherwise *lol*

I can help, but I'll need a specific task to work on - so if someone can pm me with something like "Joanna - go get all the ended auctions for (insert item name here)" then I'll get cracking. Otherwise, I'd be swimming in an ocean and have no clue where the shore was ...