Making ends meet

The state of the economy weighs heavily on my mind, as it does on most Americans. Just being able to make enough money to cover the bills, keep a roof over our heads and keep our animals fed is tough, but we were on the upswing, paying off our car loan, cutting our expenses to the absolute minimum, we were doing okay - until unexpected expenses popped up such as our only vehicle breaking down make the day to day struggle even harder.

There are many moments when I just want to sit and cry and give up - throw in the towel, swallow my pride and beg for help from my conservative republican parental units....

But then small miracles happen - a friend offers a ride to and from work, another offers to watch over our cats whom we cannot get to due to the car being dead, and our dogs come up to me and completely lick my tears away, as my husband gives me an amazing hug.

We're going to make it - we're going to get through this. I know we're not alone, that there are so many out there like us, living paycheck to paycheck, having cut every possible extra expense, living on bare minimums. We have to be there for each other right now - we have to reach out and support each other - be that ride for someone, take care of someone's beloved animals, be a shoulder to cry on or a hug that someone really needs.

We are a community, spread out a bit, yes, but a community - let's pull together now and support each other through these tough times. And remember to hug someone today, whether they ask for it or not, expect it r not - just give a hug, and pass it on.

Surviving the Storm

Wow - when Mother Nature decides to make a storm, she really puts everything into it. Many friends and locals are still without power - more than 9 days after the storm first hit. It could be another week for some of them. That Tuesday night, sitting in our tent in the dark, listening as the trees cracked and came whooshing to the ground - was the scariest night of my life. I've never prayed so hard for so long for anything.

The good news is we survived, our tent was intact, our car was miraculously not hit by any falling trees or limbs and our dogs were blissfully happy bouncing around in the leftover sleet/snow.

And now the clean-up begins - pulling out the chainsaws, moving limbs, rebuilding what was lost. A lovely old white oak landed smack dab in the middle of our cabin floor - it could have been worse, but the set back is disheartening.

Hopefully this is the last ice blast Mother Nature has planned for this winter - I for one could really use a heat wave right about now.