Staircase to Success

A Leap of Faith... that's what most people use as a definition for the most terrifying decision of your life; one that could be a huge payout or a disastrous mistake. This decision could make the difference between chaos or success.

As I found myself at this decision in my life, I tried to picture what my leap of faith would actually look like if I were physically there. A dark pit, that's where I'd find myself, seemingly bottomless as I stand hopelessly on the edge of what could quite possibly be suicide.

No... to me success is nothing like a leap of faith, at least not in my situation. Its hard to picture anything good coming out of leaping blind into an endless hole with no destination in sight. What sort of message does that send?

Metaphorically, I imagine it to be more like a staircase and I'm standing at the bottom looking up. In fact, its nearly exhausting to try and view myself at the top. That is how I could see my risky choice laid out in front of me.

As I reached this epiphany, other questions began to surface. If success is a staircase, what if one of the floor boards are loose? What if I trip and fall? What if I don't have the strength to climb all those stairs?

In the end the questions came down to, what if I fail? I would have to climb all the way back down those stairs to where I started, nursing my injuries, left to sit in anger and frustration about all the time I had wasted even attempting it in the first place. That time could cost me my relationship or my job... I could end up in an even worse position than I had started.

Failing was not an option so why even begin climbing those stairs in the first place? Stay with your comfortable lifestyle of safety away from the unknown. It's what you've spent all your life doing anyways.

So I did. I sat there at the bottom of those stairs, looking up at success with frustrated tears in my eyes until my mother came along and answered my questions.

What if one of the floor boards are loose? You nail it back down.

What if I trip and fall? You stand back up.

What if I don't have the strength to climb all those stairs? You rest until you've caught your breath.

What if I fail? You try again.

Time to climb those stairs.

"The Rep laughed and hung up on me." - My HORRIBLE AT&T Experience

I'm not even sure how to start this one... honestly I never thought service with such a well known company could ever be so terrible.

I called on the 25th of July to get internet service for our new apartment. Hold times were a bit annoying but that's the usual with any service. After getting to speak with a representative I was put into a no-contract plan (Trust me, she tried really hard to put me into that contract.) for DSL internet.

She gave me little to no information over the phone, saying it would be emailed to me and said I'd get my internet modem sent to me on the 30th and my service would start on the 31st.

I was excited at first, thinking previously that the only internet provider in my area was the infamous mediacom and it's 1.2 online star rating, but that enthusiasm began to fizzle out when I checked the front office for a package on the 30th... nothing.

I waited and checked again on the 31st before I finally called the AT&T customer service line. After a string of holds and transfers taking around 2 hours, (Apparently the order number that was emailed to me didn't exist) I was told that there was a small mixup with my order and my internet boxes would be here on the 2nd.

No big deal, right? Until on the second when my boxes had yet to arrive and I found myself calling AT&T's customer support AGAIN. More transfers, holds and promises of callbacks with one representative actually laughing and hanging up on me (Yeah! SERIOUSLY?)

When I finally got through to a person who spoke English, I was told that there were no boxes coming at all. My order had been put on hold to wait for a technician to come out and run a line - BUT no technician had ever gotten an order to be sent out. Both the representative and I were completely baffled and I was told to call back on Monday to get a technician sent out there since they were now closing. (Since the many transfers and holds had pushed me past their business hours.)

Monday comes and I still have a shred of hope that the problem will resolve itself. That shred was squashed after the first person their customer service line put me in touch with said that my bill started on the 31st and my service was completely fine. She didn't seem to be able to understand that I had NO AT&T MODEM to use MY INTERNET.

And so began the transfers and holds while we attempted to get to an English speaking representative who might understand what the word "internet" means.

I was on my final straw when the last woman told me that in order to fix my service I would have to start the whole process over again and re-run my credit. She asked for my social and after how unprofessionally they had handled everything else I told her just to cancel the order completely.

Another transfer to a woman who tried to con me into keeping my service but I was done talking. I told her you better wipe your systems clean of my name because if I get a bill in the mail from AT&T I'm going to flip. Within seconds she told me my service was cancelled and the nightmare was over... I hope.

Now I think I will call Mediacom and admit defeat - 1.2 star service is better than .5 star service which is what I'd rate AT&T at.

The Biggest (Furry) Loser

A few months ago, my husband and I adopted an adorable Dachshund that we named Tobi from a local shelter. He was sweet, energetic and loved to pin you down to lick your face. Our only concern was his weight. Miniature Dachshunds usually have a max weight of 7-8 lbs and our new baby was a whopping 25!

Due to their hotdog like nature, that particular breed of dog is at an increased risk of back injuries... being 17 pounds overweight definitely wasn't helping those odds. It was time to play the biggest loser!

His past history, the shelter told us, consisted of lots of human food with little exercise... sometimes being abandoned inside the house for days on end. First thing to cut - human food!

Yep, our poor abused Tobi would give us the saddest eyes while peering down from under our glass table. How could we love him and not share?

Next I began measuring his food portions instead of leaving a giant bowl of food others 24/7 like we had for our previous dogs. This seemed to help a little but our biggest challenge was exercise.

Now Tobi was a dog who couldn't even hop up onto the couch by himself, continuously smacking into the side overtime he tried and then rolling over with that tearful look he gave us so often. You can imagine just getting him down the stairs of our third floor apartment was a task!

We started out carrying him up and down the stairs and starting the morning with a log walk followed by four shorter walks throughout the day. This also helped keep him from using any particular part of the house as his personal toilet.

Eventually he got to the point here he was able to walk up and down the stairs himself with a lot of encouraging and before we knew it, he could even hop up onto the couch with only a few piggy grunting sounds.

A few months later and we just took him to the vet... 8 pounds less!! (That's a lot of weight for a dog that small) our fat little bratwurst had shaped up into a muscled workout machine. Besides his chub slimming down, he's also acting a lot happier as well. Booting around the house, playing with toys and springing from couch to recliner and back again.

He's such a motivating little guy... if he can do it - so can you and I! Here's to a happy, healthy life! :)

New Redbox Code - Rent One + Get One Free!

New Redbox Code - Rent One + Get One Free! (Good for today only)

"Redbox: Deal alert! Rent any DVD, get a 2nd free today w/code KZHNDVZR. 1 use, online/in-app/at the box. Exp 7/10/14@11:59pm CT."

Indecision

It seems like right now I am struggling with one of the biggest decisions of my life... my career. I have several paths that I could take, yet indecision keeps me planted.

One decision I'm considering is attending college at Embry-Riddle to get a bachelor's in Technical Management while majoring in Information Security. Computer work has been one of my greatest skills and it would seem only natural to pursue a career path doing what I'm good at.

However college is expensive and full of the unknown for me. I once discouraged my husband from continuing his college education since he was failing and we were several thousand in debt from student loans. Any discussion concerning myself going to college quickly turns into a heated argument because of this.

On the flip side I can skip college and try to get a job... well... somewhere and work my way up into the positions I want. Make money on the way and avoid debt and problems with the spouse.

Lastly what I would like to do is work on a farm. I want to raise my own food and enjoy a relaxed life out in the country somewhere. I want to do a craft, not on the computer but with my hands. Something that I can be good at that other people have need for.

Finally something I've experimented around with is starting my own business and working with my family. I have a lot of skills and by myself I'm almost capable of running a one-girl business... with my family and all their many skills and talents behind me I know we could make some money. The only question of mine is what business would we start?

We have... Web design, graphics design, author/writing, videography/photography, cook/baker, gardener, gamer, youtuber and social media specialist, public relations, salesman, editor, newspaper/media, marketing, flash game design, singer, networking... many of these skills are universal to any business. With Shh a broad range of skills in our family... what would we do as a family business?

I'm hoping that writing this article will help me sort out the jumbled thoughts in my head. Already I think I like the idea of starting a business but need money now. Business' take years to develop before they begin earning any profit. I guess my next step will be to sit quietly by myself and meditate with prayer. Hopefully this indecision will clear up soon and I'll get some purpose back into my life.

The Tie Crisis

My husband had a tie crisis today. In the early morning rush to work, he was frantically searching for a tie to match his deep blue dress shirt. Of course all the ones I suggested were turned down with a scoff... it should be obvious that the silver tie with blue stripes held a slight purple hue which would contrast badly with his navy blue apparel.

I wondered how many of his customers were actually going to be studying his color choices in clothing, but kept this comment to myself. The life of a Car Salesman is so difficult...

DIY Fairy or Pixie Dust

So as I was surfing the web for cute craft ideas to do with my two little girls, I stumbled upon this recipe for the elusive and magical fairy dust of Pixie Hollow... or at least that's what the girls are calling it.

The recipe is quite simple and all the materials can be found at your local walmart or craft store.

You will need...

Glowsticks (pink or white preferable)
Diamond Glitter
Jars
Hot glue gun
Scissors

Take your jar and pour some of your diamond glitter to about a third of the way full. Then take your scissors and cut off the end of your Glowsticks.

Pour in the liquid and then super glue the lid of your jar shut. (Safety first!) Shake it up really well and you have Pixie dust!

I haven't tried this craft yet with the girls but they're really excited to make it themselves. Have a magical weekend!