NORMAL SATURDAY STUFF

    On Fridays  when I was still working we used to ask each other if they had special plans for the weekend.  When someone asked me, I would tell them that I was planning to do normal Saturday Stuff, as I didn't have anything special, and normally I did the same thing each Saturday.
  This is what I did today:

1. I got up at 07:00 Eastern time I got a cup of cold coffee.  I read my Bible and prayed, which I need to do every morning.  I listened to Joshua's Trail  at 08:00.  This is a Conservative Radio Talk show led by Black Americans in the Metro Detroit Area.
2. I took my daily shower, and got dressed   I made a fresh pot of coffee; had my liquid nutrition.  I ate a sandwich, and had a cup of Fresh Hot Coffee!.
3. Since I am retired I have been volunteering 30 hours a week to the inner-city ministry that my Pastor operates. I get there in the mornings at 10:00am.  On the way there this morning, I picked up a friend who also was a volunteer today.
4. We got there at 10:00.  We have a ministry of mercy to the homeless and needy in the area.  To that end, we have a door and a window which are open 10 am - 2 pm Tuesday - Friday, and 10 am - 1 pm on Saturdays.  We give out sandwiches; hand out food bags for families with children, and try to give out  a word from God to them.
5.  Today I finished working on Radio Notes for next Sunday's radio program; and I finished replenishing the food bag supply by putting together some more food packages.
6. At 1:00 pm on Saturday, we form up teams to knock on doors and pass out informational flyers about our church;  going out to the neighborhood-seeking people to come and hear the Gospel of Christ
7. From 3:00-4:00 we have a prayer meeting.  We pray for the church services the next day, but especially for our Pastor, and the people of the Church
8. At 4:00 I check in with my friend.  I was going to offer to take him home if he could come right then.  He told me he had some other business, but he could get another way home
9. I stopped off by a nearby deli to pick up a couple pieces of Stuffed Pizza for dinner.  I tried to get some money from the ATM but it was out of order.  I could stop at corner store to get the money I needed.  I did stop and get some cash at the corner store.  I also picked up a pound of coffee.
10. After I got home, I put together the blog-post you are reading.
11. I will work at my home business for 2 hours.   Then at 0900  I will listen to the Mentoring for Free Call.  Mentoring for Free is a training system for network marketers.
12. Depending on how I feel after the call, I probably will retire for the evening, and prepare for the next day-Sunday; the Lord's Day.

SEE YOU FOR MONDAY'S POST---

I HAVE CATS

    I have been a lifelong bachelor.  I don't have any natural children.  Sometimes, though, I refer to my cats as my children.  It is not that I don't like dogs.  I made the decision quite a few years ago, that I would rather have a cat as a pet, because they require less maintenance than a dog.  As I had a full-time job, an active church life, and spend minimal time at my apartment, I felt that it wouldn't be fair to the animal, if I had a dog, who requires a lot more attention than a cat.  
   Today, I have 3 cats which are sharing my apartment with me.  This is the third time in my adult life that I've had multiple cats.   In 2002, I had 2 purebred Maine Coons who were brother and sister. and I had a purebred Norwegian Forest Cat.   In April of 2008, I had an accident.  I was hit by a car as a pedestrian. I had a bone broken in each leg.  I was off work for 6 months while I was in recovery.  A colleague of mine from work ran a Cat Rescue with his wife.  The second day after my accident, he offered  to look to take my cats and look after them while I was in recovery and indisposed.   After 10 days at the hosiptal where I endured four surgeries, and 45 days at a Rehabilitation hospital,  I was a resident in a rehabilitation system where I was in an independent living situation.  In June of that year, during the time I was in independent living, both my Maine Coons, Empress, and Rusty, brother and sister, unexpectedly died within days of one another.  They could have been environmentally poisoned, as I had some problems with bugs, and was fumigating on a regular basis; or there could have been some genetic issues as they were  both related.  The Veternerian's verdict was they died of acute liver failure.  At this point, I still don't know exactly.
     The only one of three that survived was Elsa Golden-Belle.  She is my little Norwegian Forest Cat.   I still have her.  She was born in May 2001, and today is 11, nearly 12 years old.  Presently she needs to be groomed and has several large mats in her coat which I've been unable to remove myself.  I adopted a rescue cat in 2009.  He is a male, and a Maine Coon mix.  His name is Spaz.  The foster owner, I adopted him from told me she called him Spaz because as a kitten was 'climbing the walls'.  Today, he is 4 1/2 years old, and had mellowed out.  He was born 4/1/2008, which incidently was the date of the accident I mentioned above.  This fact alone, endears the cat to me.  He is a big cat; about 15 lbs.  People, sometimes do a double take  because he is so big  His coat is Silver Blue, so he is a really nice looking pet.  He has a wonderful, affectionate, outgoing personality.   Several months ago, I opened my home to a friend's cat.  The friend is in transit between homes.  She is a purebred Maine Coon.  She is a little more than 2 years old.  She has a long body, but is ganglely.  At 2 years old, a cat or a dog is little more than an adolescent.  I have had my two cats both altered but she is still intact.  Presently, she is in heat, and is acting strangely, and is making lots of noises.  It help her at night for me to confine in the cat carrier.  Something about it, apparently makes her feel safer and more secure.  I am presently in the process of making an appointment to have her spade.

See You Tomorrow!

     

GOAL SETTING - PART 4

      In yesterday's post, I took the reader through the steps toward obtaining a point in time checkbook balance;  analyzing the transactions which have cleared the bank over a period of time, say 3 months; writing these transactions in a blank checkbook register, with the purpose of arriving at a reasonably accurate account balance
    Having obtained an account balance, we maintain it by using the Check Register to record every transaction that flows through the checking account.
   Every month, when the  checking account statement comes in the mail, record the ending statement balance on a piece of paper.  On another column, record the running checkbook balance that is in the checkbook.  The job in balancing the checkbook is to adjust the checkbook balance so that it matches the ending statement balance.

• Step 1 - The Checks and transactions listed on the monthly statement are the transactions which have cleared the bank.  The first step is to go through all the transactions on the statement, and check them off in the check register.  Once that is done, all the transactions not checked off in the register are known as Outstanding Transactions.  
• Step 2 - Write down and total all the credit transactions and add them to the statement balance.
• Step 3 - Write down and toal all the debit transactions and subtract them from the statement balance

At this point the two balances should  be equal.  When they are equal, the statement is balanced.

GOAL SETTING - PART 3

     In yesterday's post, I start outlining the steps which I need to take in order to get control of my checkbook to the point where I will be able to maintain an accurate balance to my checking account, the ultimate aim being of course, to balance my checking account each month.  Step 1, to reiterate, is to start recording each transaction on a check register;  whether a paper check, on on-line debit transaction, or a phone debit transaction; any transaction which flows through and affects the checking account.

• Step 2 - It is necessary to find out exact where you stand with your account balance at a particular point in time.  It is necessary that you either go to the bank, and sit down with a banker.  They can pull your account information on the computer.  You need to know what the current account balance is.  You then need to know all the activity that the account has been through;  the farther back you can go, the better-a month, two months, or three months.  You can also get this information via the telephone.  Most banks today, have phone systems that will allow one to receive point-in-time account information, and also account activity.

With this information in mind, you can now put together a check register, and get an accurate account balance.  


I'll continue on with Step 3 in Tommorrow's post
 

GOAL SETTING - PART 2

     In Saturdays post, I mentioned that it is my practice to make goals in each of the major areas of my life.  To illustrate this, I mentioned that in the Financial area, I would make a personal goal, of balancing my checking account each month; I informed the reader that except for a short amount of time, I have gone my entire life without regularly balancing my check book; even though I learned how to perform this activity when, I opened my first checking account in the 1970's.  This is a very important item, as I struggle, at times, with money management, and having an up-to-date, accurate check book balance, is a solid step in the control of my finances.  I have to start where I am.  That is important in the fulfillment of any goal.  One must determine where they are, and start at that point.  I will list the steps that need to be taken for me to obtain and maintain an accurate checkbook balance.

• The first step that I need to take in order to make a habit of monthly balancing my checkbook, is to start using a check register on a consistent basis.  Over the years, I have haphazardly written down checks that I have written, and because I haven't done so in a consistent place, and on a consistent basis, I have just wasted my time.  It is absolutely vital, in order to have good control of a checking account, to record all checks written in a register.  The most convenient method is to have a paper register actually inside the checkbook.  Each check must be recorded, writing down the check number, date, payee, description of purpose of payment, per check charge - if any, and the amount of the payment.  There is also a feature in the check register that allows one to keep a running balance, of the account, after each transaction.  Along with the paper checks issued, the different types of transactions connected with the checking account, must be written down and recorded.  For example, today, I used my cell phone to pay two bills; I rented a movie online; and while I was out today, I did several debit card transactions, along using my debit card to obtain cash at an ATM.  All these transactions must be records in the register, and deducted from the account balance.

      The steps to the attainment of this goal will be continued in tomorrow's post 

SOMETIMES CONTROVERSY CAN'T BE AVOIDED

Today is Saturday, December 05, 2009, the week after Thanksgiving. 11 years ago, just before Thanksgiving in 1998, I had a run-in with somebody at work, who just happened to be my manager. She accused me of not being able to locate a case which she was looking for

GOAL SETTING - PART I

       In yesterdays post, I talked about setting goals, and not making resolutions.  Magnificent goals; which are attainable, measurable,  and will add something worthwhile to your life.  The Pastor of my church, from whom I absorbed a great deal of wisdom; both spiritual and secular; has always told us that we need to learn to 'Kick Above Our Heads'

      Yesterday, I mentioned how I set goal in each of the major areas of my life:  Financial, Physical, Spiritual, Mental, Social;  etc.  These areas may vary depending upon the issues that are important in your life.

    In this post, I am going to take one of areas that I need some help with, Money Management.  That falls into the Financial area, or so it seems to me.   I do not balance my Checkbook;  which is bad news.  Especially for me since, I am endeavoring to start a Home Business.
   
    So, this year, I will set for my self a goal of balancing my checkbook each month. 40 years ago, when I opened my first checking account, I learned to balance it.  But, because I have been plagued by laziness during my life time, that good habit of balancing my checkbook each month went by the wayside.
    For me, that certainly is a magnificent and worthwhile goal.  And it is certainly attainable.  When I attain this, it will be a milestone in my life, as I seek to attain, and maintain control over my finances.
   As  I set the goal, I will diagram in detail, steps which I need to take in order to attain it.  I will add a time deadline to the goal, when I plan to hit the goal.

I will detail the Steps which I need to take to begin Balancing  my Checkbook each month in Monday's post.