Trials & Tribulations

This has been one heck of a year between no full time job for Rick and car trouble we have just seem to be hit from all sides.  My boss reminded me that I must be thankful of what I do have and she is so right, we have our health and a roof over our head (that is one bill I make sure is covered every month).  As some of you may know Rick's car has been giving us some issues, well it finally kicked the bucket last week.  The bad thing is it's only 5 years old but he does a LOT of driving for his old job and current part time job that it had 130K miles on it and the engine just gave out.  My bosses were so kind and were going to help me get a leased car so he could drive my car and I could have a new car to drive around.  Sadly this car of his is like the ugly wart that drags us down financially and emotionally.  So it's not the route we wanted to go but it looks like we will have to fix the engine and then drive it until it's paid off. The bad thing is Rick's part time job does have odd hours which does overlap with the boys school or with their other activities so it has been trying to figure out how to get all of us around with one car.  A VERY sweet couple from the boys school have offered a spare car up for us to drive it, they are so kind and fixing it up now to pass emissions and get new tabs on it so we can drive it.  Hopefully by Friday I can have that car as a back up until Rick's car is repaired (thanks again to my bosses who are stepping in to help fix that).  Now to get his car up and running and the crazy high payments under control.  The double edge sword is keeping payments up with only one full time income coming in, which if you are late even by 10 days which is usually how it lands it just screws you and your credit go figure!  Some days you just want to say I'm the good guy I'm making my payments maybe late but you get can you give me some slack.  LOL it makes you so frustrated sometimes when you see others just getting everything handed while you have to claw your way up, but as I have learned it is the process and the getting there that has made me stronger plus I know with faith it will work out.

So my dreams of a nice new car have been dashed but just when a door was closed a window was opened with some hope.  Oh yeah and just to be the cherry on the top of the mess my car's check engine light came on.  Thankfully just needing a tune up but that is $300!!!  Hello Christmas gift to me :).  So there you have it, the good, the bad and the ugly ... teehee

OK hands up ... My shoulders can hold no more!

It seems lately we have just one thing after another.  BUT I must remember that we are all alive and I have a wonderful job that has kept us a float during all these times.  Rick has been  off work since May, he thankfully has a part time job that gets very busy during the summer and has helped and hasn't hurt us.  Being a virtual employee always me to be mobile and has been great so I can help my dad out during the day.  It has been going great, during this time Rick has been helping me with the boys.  We have been going along great, then Rick's car started to act up.  We thought it would be the plugs and a few wires, a little $200 and we fixed that.  Then the car started to act up again, so yesterday Rick took it in and it came back NOT good.  It looks like the engine needs to be replace ... UGH.  So either we do the engine or just trade it in and eat the horrible equity. YUP I'm spent and done!

I know I'm blessed and I can handle this and the Lord is watching over us.  Just having a pity day ... lol.

Source

Sick Guilt

Do any of you get the Sick Guilt?  I do I hate being Sick, I feel like I’m letting people down.  I feel like I’m not pulling my weight and then worse when someone has to step in and pick up your slack.  It’s horrible when you feel like you can do what you need and then to have to rely on someone else makes me feel even more guilty.  Then the list of things to do piles up!

The Laundry is piled up!

Dinner is called out for (so not healthy):

House is a mess:

And the part that upsets me the most is missing work.  As many of you know I work 6 days a week and have for about 5 years now.  I don’t mind Saturdays are easy it’s just 3 hours and it’s before the kids get up so It’s not big deal.  I hate letting people down so I don’t take that day off for much, it takes a lot for me to take a day off.  It’s also because I’m a nut and have a fear of someone else doing my job.  I use to work for a plastic surgeon who let you all know EVERYONE can be replaced which means not be too safe with your job.  NOW I have an amazing set of bosses and know they take amazing care of me but of course the little voice in my head (plus the big one called my husband) say don’t get too comfy you work virtual they don’t see your sick or need time off and you can be replaced. 

Fast forward to this week, week 2 of this cold … and NO VOICE!  Which can make for some problems when my job is calling people, making 60 to 70 calls a day you kind of need your voice.  And we had a huge event this weekend that needed confirmation calls done for.  No voice means Alexis is benched from the calls we had to call in the replacement.  So I had to take care of myself and rest for a WHOLE DAY.

Lot’s of Rest and Tea:

What happens when you take time off work?  I of course get freaked about what if the other person does better then me?  What if they like this person better then me and replace me?  I know it’s crazy to think like that but something in my brain always does it to me. 

Am I the only crazy one?  Or do you feel the same way when you call in sick?  Do you think of money lost?  I’m a contractor so I don’t have sick leave so my mind always goes to that.

Then because it’s my life, when the going gets tough you have to have a few rocks throw at you … insert drum roll please!  Some joint & belt goes out on Rick’s car on Monday.  Oh yes the quotes are coming in around $650.  OH yes when it rains it pours here.

So there you have my week … hehe.  So how do you handle being sick?

thank you Google Images for the pictures above. alp

When the tough gets going ... It all falls on me?? (PINT Style)