Wednesday, November 4th 2009

11:07 AM

So Little Time, So Much to Do

My to-do list never seems to stop growing and yet the things I've actually been able to mark off the list never seem to add up to having accomplished anything. There is so much on my list that I want to do but never seem to find the time, and so much that I NEED to do but don't the have money or the energy. And with so many birthdays and the holidays coming up there is yet MORE that needs to be done to get ready for all that stuff, and most of that requires money that I just don't have. My main concern this year is going to be getting some gifts for my niece for her birthday and Christmas. I'm not too worried about getting anything for my nephew... I mean, there's not much that a 4 month old baby really needs that his parents are not already well-stocked on anyway, so there's no pressure there this year. My niece however... there's a lot of things she wants and that I would love to be able to get for her. I have some nice things in mind that won't break the bank that I know she will enjoy. But as far as everyone else in my life goes, this is going to be a year when the spirit of giving just will not be visiting other than in the form of giving love because that's all we can afford to give.

I've not worked in almost a month because my neighbor's son has been visiting so she doesn't need me to come over and take care of the animals. (Yep, shockingly enough he's still there after the broken tie-out fiasco!) I did make a little money through my lulu shop, surprisingly. But let's face it, $12 won't even buy you much of your holiday meal these days, certainly not even the ham or turkey can be bought with that. (I checked out prices last time we were shopping... $40 for a ham. Who can afford that?) We just might end up doing lasagna for Thanksgiving supper this year, and chicken and rice casserole for Christmas. Might be a far cry from a traditional holiday meal (and far from what I'm aching to fix!) but you fix what you can afford.

I do want to get some more things listed for sale on lulu & winkelf though; downloadable things so that I will not have to worry about shipping anything. I fiddled around with Art Weaver the other day to try to make some new wallpapers but it doesn't have enough filters and such. I think I'm going to have to find a way to invest in a new photoshop - for now maybe I'll just make some downloads of my photos available. I'm also considering re-thinking my strict "personal use only" policy on my photos. I just don't know. I need something to get some money coming in to help pay bills and pay for food; dad seems pretty set on living off his unemployment checks for as long as he can and while I understand after nearly 40 years of working in that hell-hole of a place he wants to enjoy some time off, it's just getting harder and harder to make ends meet off those small twice a month checks. We've had to borrow money from my uncle (who can't really afford to be loaning out money himself anyway, but that's how my family is) twice now since dad was laid off, and we still owe my aunt a big chunk of money from BEFORE dad was no longer working.

ANYWAY. I'm also feeling a bit bummed that I was not selected for the Hallmark card design contest. I was so sure my design was a winner.... oh well. As I said I would when I first entered the contest, I'm sharing my entry so you all can see it. For those who missed my initial post or who need a little reminder, the contest theme was "birthday his way". The card design had to be suitable for any man in your life, be it your dad, brother, husband, uncle etc. This was my entry:

On the front of the card, the words "You're not old..." and this photo (*though this is the original, for the entry I had to edit out the driver as this was just a snapshot and therefore getting a model release from the driver was not possible and for the contest I'd have needed one from him.)

And on the inside, "... you're a classic! Happy Birthday!"

So... apparently someone else had a similar idea, however they were able to get a picture of the rear of a PARKED classic car. Which I had the chance to do as well but didn't because the rules of the contest said the photos were supposed to be casual, every-day SNAPSHOTS, and silly me I assumed that meant that a pre-planned out shot of a PARKED car might not count. Whatever. I looked at the winning designs and most of them I think are dumb. But what else should I expect; people are not as bright as they once were, I mean look at the tv shows that are popular these days... if that doesn't say people are dumb nothing does. So it's fitting that most winning cards are not exactly brilliant or witty in any way is fitting. (Yeah maybe I'm just a tad bitter over not being chosen... meanwhile there are some entries from people who already won in previous contests. How fair is that, for winners to be able to enter, and then win, again?)

Anyway. I suppose I'm off to try to think up some more money-making ideas and try to get at least one or two things crossed off my to do list today.

1 thought(s) shared.

Posted by Holly:

I hear you about the holidays, lack of money, and giving love as a gift. Of course, every year, I promise myself to shop during the year so that I won't go through all the stress of having no money for gifts, but I never do anything about it. The pressure is off anyway, though, because I stopped buying into the whole Christmas thing a couple of years ago...

I'm sorry to read that you didn't win the Hallmark card contest. You had a really great card, there, my friend; I'd have bought it, and I know a few other people who'd have bought it, too. The good news, though, is that now you can give some thought to making more greeting cards, and send them to Hallmark for their consideration. No pressure, now, right?

I hope you have a great day today, Leah. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself about your to-do list; just do what you can, and congratulate yourself when you DO get to take another "to-do" off the list.