Up To The Surface

If you ever came into my condo, you would see that I try to keep it maintained neatly, artsy and ready to entertain.  The living room currently has a very modern collage of photos on the wall, colorful pillows, and a dark leather ottoman against a cream shag rug.  The table is always set for two; wine glasses, candles and all. My room is always neat and decorated in a similar fashion to the living room. Dishes are to go straight to the dishwasher and the counters are wiped down daily. It would appear that I am a very clean person, but I was hiding a "dirty little secret": Closet slob-itis. That's what we will call this condition. The act of being too lazy to clean out the closets, and in a frenzied fit to keep the parts of the condo that people see tidy, items are often shoved into said closets and then forgotten. I am lucky that everything hasn't fallen out on my head when I opened the doors. It is just one of those things that you keep ...

"Help! I can only afford to give people empty boxes with an “I O U” note at the bottom for Christmas this year!" This may be you. Especially if you are on such a tight budget that you only have enough money for a little food after bills. The first year that my parents were married, they were only able to give each other Christmas cards. That was truly living within their means that year. You may feel like you are in the same boat,  but chances are, if you work your budget right, you really  can  afford to give something special to the ones you love this year. Here’s how. Stop nickel and diming! I’m going to do it, why don’t you join me? Do you eat out a lot? Buy from vending machines? Pickup a beverage at a gas station every time you gas up? Let’s make up a scenario. Let’s say that you: ·           stop for coffee 5 days a week, and each one is $2. ($10) ·        ...

“Having a Job is the New Raise.” This is the tagline on one of the ever-popular “someecards” that people love to post to their Facebook. I have posted this one to mine. The little share-able online postcards are usually hilarious but sarcastic and even inappropriate at times. But this one is so true. I went to college from 2005 to 2009, and I majored in Communications. It was a small private college and my department only had maybe 50 seniors The year I graduated. Out of those, only a select handful of truly “go-getters” had a career lined up at the end. I unfortunately dragged my feet, not being certain what I wanted, And graduated near the bottom of my department And somewhere in the middle of the entire class of 2009 As far as GPA goes. After college was over, there was nothing but a sort of “purgatory state” waiting for  me as I fumbled around trying to find A means not to be a successful career woman but Just to survive. I...

Shortness of breath. Heart pounding. Mind reeling. Shaking. Stomach in knots. Inability to focus. Feeling Jumpy. Lashing out, saying things you’ll have to apologize for. Leaving the social engagement in the middle, suddenly. Taking a short break or  even a sick day from work. Inability to get a grip. Metaphorically feeling like you are falling and no one will catch you. Welcome to anxiety. If you have it, you are not alone. Some 18,000,000 Americans have it. It can range from light jitters now and then to sudden massive panic attacks that require medical attention and render the person incapable of functioning for a few days.  The causes are numerous, ranging from  a minor chemical imbalance to post traumatic stress from a traumatizing event in the person’s life. It can even just be the result of spending a lot of time around people who worry incessantly. Whatever the root o...