A Likely Story!

One Month Check-In

One month ago I made a list of my assets and my debts.

Thankfully, my assets outweigh my debts.  For that, I'm grateful. Still, I HAVE DEBT, which is dumb. I was debt-free for over 3 years but got back into debt when my truck died (at 134,000 miles) and yeah, I guess I panicked when I found that used Subaru's cost more than new Kia's. So I bought a new 2011 Kia Sportage. Awesome warranty! No more worries about my Isuzu breaking down again and again and again. It was safe. Hassle-free. For the first time in years, there was no stress as I started my day, wondering if this would be the day thay my ride broke down AGAIN!

I put 50% down on my Kia and wound up owing just under $17,000. Several months later came  a tragic death in my family and I resurrected the credit card that had been dormant - and paid off - since March 23, 2010. Used it for my flight back to CA. And my rental car. And to fly my grief-stricken parents out to CO for a weekend (and pay for their hotel) a month after the funeral.

Was it emotional spending? Absolutely. Was it necessary? No. But sort of yes. I wanted my Dad & Mom with me after losing a precious member of our family. It was honestly more for me than it was for them...but it was for them too.

Then came the gym membership. And the car registration - didn't have my checkbook with me  when I went to pick up my plates and CO doesn't accept debit cards without adding a surcharge for using a debit card.  

When I started putting restaurant meals  & random purchases on my credit card, I knew I was back at square one.

So I stopped cold turkey.  Started listening to Dave Ramsey podcasts again. Told myself "NO" more than I told myself "yes". Even tho it was difficult, started using a cash budget envelope system. Dave was right. It takes about 3 months to get the hang of it. Doing so much better now than I was 3 months ago.

Part of getting real about this endeavor was selling my beloved Apple stock. It was doing so well and was on the way to high 600 a share. Should I sell? Should I hold? 

Wound up selling 9 of my 10 shares and paid off (and cut up) my VISA credit card. Never again. No more credit cards - not worth it.

A month ago my debt totalled $18,973.80.

Today, after throwing an extra $99.59 towards my car loan principal, I'm down to $13,068.46. The $99.59 came from a check from insurance overpayment, using money I budgeted for food and gas that I didn't use cause I have no life as of late, and a $25 Target gift card from my dentist for referring a friend. I took $25 cash out of my food envelope, replaced it with the Target gift card, and added it to my mid-cycle car principal paydown. That's what no restaurants, no booze, no movies and no Target splurges will do for ya! As well as eating less, driving less, staying home.

It doesn't bother me as much as I thought, cause I view this as part of the "greater good" for my future. For all the times I had fun and wasn't as frugal as I should have been, this is the reverse action. Making up for lost time.

I've been looking into getting a part-time job. Have had 3 house/dog sitting gigs in the last 2 months. Have 2 more lined up. And I'm faithfully bringing my lunch to work on a daily basis. Seriously, this all adds up!

As I discover more and more Debt-Free & Frugality blogs, I'd like to think that the Debt-Free-Frugal-Living movement is catching hold. At least I hope so!

A life without debt beats a life with debt any day. 

 

$$$$

MONEY!!!!

Found some incredibly cool debt-free blogs that have become my new addiction so of course I'm going to share them with you.

A Colorado local, Mr. Money Mustache is a hoot! Common-sense, humor and authenticity all rolled into one...with a mustache. Plus? He and his wife are retired! And they're still young enough to enjoy retirement.

Joe Mihalec of No More Harvard Debt paid down $101K of debt in seven months. SEVEN MONTHS! Beyond amazing and truly inspiring. I read Joe's blog from end to beginning last weekend.

One of my favorite blogs is my buddy Ryan's Becoming Debt Free - his most current post "Going Out" really resonates with me. 

And my story?

I'm on a cash-envelope budget (thanks Dave Ramsey ) and am always looking for ways to save more / make more money.  Cashed out my Apple stock to pay off my credit card (then I performed a plasticectomy on my credit card!!) and the only debt that remains is my car loan, which I want to pay off in the next 16-18 months, if not sooner. My biggest win of last week was paying an extra $250 on my car loan...seriously, it gave me goosebumps!

What debt-free/finance blogs do you follow? Do you have a success story to share? What is your biggest 'a-ha' moment when it comes to personal finance?

Experiment - The Prologue

Haven't blogged in awhile. Lots going on I can't / prefer not to talk about.

So why don't I blog about something I DO want to talk about?

Good call, Kath!

An Experiment is in the works. 

Stay tuned!

Listen...

These guys are amazing!!

Also, Happy Spring!

xo

 

Next Stop...

Broomfield. 

ETA of mid-March.

Stay tuned!

 

#ISOKathyland

In A Semi-Perfect World...

...this is what I need for my next place, ideally located in Superior, Lafayette, Louisville or possibly Westminster.

* Attached garage for my car

* Private bedroom with attached private 5 piece bathroom

* Home or townhome

* South-facing driveway

* Shared use of the kitchen/laundry

* All utilities included in rent - no more than $550/month total

* 1 year lease - may be open to longer terms

* Drama-free, drug-free, smoke-free, kid-free & cat-free environment

* Open and honest communicative environment

Why would they want me as a housemate?

* No drama

* Reliable, conscientious, super neat, organized, quiet, considerate, accountable

* Always take my clothes out of the washer/dryer as soon as the cycle ends

* Always clean up after myself

* Pay rent early. Always!!

* No pets, kids, family members will tag along with me

* Have my own furniture

* Gainfully  & happily employed

* And last but not least, why WOULDN'T they want me for a housemate?? :-)

Know anyone  looking for a housemate that fits this description? Let me know!! 

Hoping that my Social Media network will fare better than Craigslist.

Thanks :-)

And Just Like That...

...my landlady sold her house!

Thrilled for her good fortune and very happy for her and her daughters. It's been an amazing stay and I've been fortunate to share in their lives while living in  their beautiful home.

Considering all my options for the next Kathyland. Stay tuned!

Basement Sweet Basement

If you follow me on Facebook or The Twitters, you know I've been looking for a new place to live. And looking. And looking some more.

After lots of pros and cons and sleepless nights and praying and countless hours perusing Craigslist (for rentals), staying in touch with my AWESOME realtor Angela Fox and her assistant Kerri (for purchasing), I'm staying put until my landlady's house is SOLD! 

Until that happens, I'll take my time finding the perfect future Kathyland. Taking it slow is never a bad thing.

For now, Basement Sweet Basement is the place for me.

Happy New 2012

Ambient lighting...one of my favorite things!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...

* Terms of endearment

* Laughing so hard I cry

* Laughing so hard I cry multiple times during the day

* Kindness for no reason

* Celebrating a friend's good news

* Having the house to myself

* HGTV

* 2 days off in a row

* In-room fireplace

* En-suite bath

* The satisfaction of cooking a home-made dinner and bringing the leftovers to work the next day

* Long talks on the phone with friends

* White twinkley lights

* Doggies

* Surprising friends with unexpected gifts

* Elf & Love Actually

* Updating my blog instead of THINKING about updating my blog

 

What are some of yours?

Pet Peeves

In no particular order...

 

* Will it kill ya to put the seat down?

* People that take the last bite/slice/piece and don't throw away the now-empty container

* Slobs

* Shoppers that block the aisle with their carts 

* Litterbugs

* Intolerance

* Cilantro. Yeah, you knew it had to make the list!

My List

My 10 year divorceaversary was  last week. Prior to that, was married for 20 years. Which is a fair amount of years to be with one person.

When I was newly divorced, I figured I'd spend a year or two single, then start to date, then eventually wind up married again. I didn't feel strongly about this happening but just assumed it would since most of my friends that had divorced were usually back to being married within several years.

Except that didn't happen cause I discovered I didn't really want it to happen. And the longer I remained single, the more I liked it. Actually, the more I loved it.

Not that I have anything against dating or marriage...it's a good thing if it happens for the right reason with the right person. But not something I felt I needed or wanted. Even tho I felt this way,  the first night I moved into my apt after separating I made a list of qualities I wanted my next partner to possess. Just in case.

The No's -

* No Drugs

* No Kids or Cats (allergic to both)

* No Smokers

* No Tattoos (I know they are fashionable but they scare me & I loathe them)

* No Felons

 

The Yes List

* Kind

* Great sense of humor

* Loves Dogs

* Has a loving relationship with his friends and family

* When he smiles, the edges of his eyes crinkle. The sign of an authentic smiler. Which is important to me.

 

Over the years I've added to both lists.

No intolerance. No rudeness. He can't be mean for the sake of being mean. Hell no to someone that uses 'silent treatment' (btdtnft). He can't be lazy. Or have bad hygiene. Or be a total slob to the point of being a hoarder.

On the Yes side, has to be a great hugger or at least not mind being hugged several times on a daily basis. Has to be open to sex more than 3 times a month. More like 3 time a week. At least. Is confident without being cocky. Knows the difference between calculated risk and a sudden whim. Has a healthy relationship with money. Must be comfortable with someone that lives in the social media world. And while he may not have a Twitter handle or follow millions of friends on Facebook, he has to be ok that I use both. Maybe a little too much at times.

Lists can be good. They're like a road map for an important trip. And if you don't know what you're looking for or where you're going, how will you know when you get there? 

Exactly.

After 10 years of honing my list and getting a grasp on what is a must have and a nice to have and realizing that a list is great but people aren't defined by action items on a list, I'm ready. It's time for the next step.

For years, every time I told a friend I was ready to date, I always changed my mind within 5 minutes. Cause my life was good and comfortable. And the memories of being in a relationship had been bad for so long compared to the length of time I was married, that I truly thought that playing it safe and avoiding the whole dating issue would be the best course of action.

2011 made me see things differently. Nothing specific happened to create this change  in attitude other than waking up one day and realizing that playing it safe was getting me nowhere. And was a horrible way to live an authentic life.

So here we are. 

I've tried EHarmony & Match.com before. Wasn't impressed. Besides. who knows me better than you guys, right? So I'm asking for your help in this "Dating Adventure". If you know someone that might be good for me (we'll worry about Mr. Right later on down the road), send him my way. I'm great for starting as friends and actually prefer it that way.

My list of No's is still intact. Not gonna change my mind if he has kids or cats. Believe me, I've tried guys with kids AND guys with cats and it's not meant to be. And let's not even discuss smokers, ok?

One more question. What kind of list did you/do you have? Did it help? Did you stray from your list? Did you find your happily-ever-after and where did you meet them? What advice do you have for me. Good? Bad? What one thing you'll NEVER do again? And what do you wish you would have done sooner?

I'm all ears. And ready for the next step!

 

 

I'll Tell Ya What I Want...

...what I really really want!

Yesterday was my birthday. And for as long as I've had my blog, I've written birthday resolutions. They resonate more than New Year's Resolutions cause they're tied to my birthday plus by writing them here I feel it makes me more accountable to you guys. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Just re-read every birthday resolution I've written since 2007 and I can honestly say it boils down to one thing...one BIG thing. Listen to your gut.

For advice on how to live, what to feel, what to buy (or not), what to believe in, how to act, how to be happier, thinner, healthier, wiser...listen to your gut. Then? ACT ON IT!  And that may be the bigger action of the two. Cause what is self-reflection worth unless you act on it?

I want to be the person I know I'm capable of being. How to get there? To coin a term from a friend "GOYA" aka "Get off your ass". 

What does that person look like? Healthier. Fit. More financially aware. Less spending time on the internet, more spending time on self-improvement that doesn't involve the internet.

Listen to your gut, act on what it tells you and don't forget to GOYA.

Secret to sucess? I'm willing to bet it is!

What A Wonderful Birthday

Amazing day with more stories to tell, but for now here's one picture that is worth 10 thousand words. And hopes. And dreams!

 

Shout Out...

To my buddy Ryan

He's walking the talk on his journey to becoming debt free.

So proud of you, Ryan!

What I've Learned This Week...

PEOPLE

When all is said and done, it's all about how we treat the people in our lives. How we show love. Respect. Trust. Faith. How we praise and motivate and care. How we inspire. Everyone wants and needs a little respect, trust, praise, faith and love in their lives. Are we doing all we can to deliver?

 

WEATHER 

Would falling snow be as enchanting and magical if we called it frozen rain? The power of words and the word choices we use. A topic for a future post, perhaps?

 

GIVING UP vs MOVING FORWARD

Giving up in order to move forward. I'm ok with that. Especially tonite.

 

That's what's on my mind tonite.

Ever Have One Of THOSE Days?

Like I had today?

In the space of 10 minutes I : Turned off my alarm in my sleep, woke in a panic cause I was running late, forgot to take my meds, forgot to pack my headset, left for the gym without my work clothes (had to come back for them), realized I never froze my lunch bag cooler so left without lunch  and discovered my brand new Kia displaying a Tire Pressure Warning. 

All before 5:15am.

But instead of rolling over and going back to sleep (believe me, it entered my mind) I worked out to no music, deleted weights from my workout routine  since I was running late (but still did an hour of cardio and 25 minutes of water aerobics), had the presence of mind to grab an apple & Justin's Nut Butter pack  and a  banana before I left my house so at least I had breakfast.

Super hectic day that turned into a  super hectic afternoon. At one point I had the thought "I am dying for a Coke" and refilled my water glass instead. (Coincidentally, it's been two weeks today since I've had a Coke). Took my lunch much later than planned and  boy did that Larabar I hid in my locker come in handy. 

So what did I learn from my day?

Two things. It's good to be prepared (having healthy goodies to grab and go) but it wouldn't hurt me to be more prepared. And get more sleep so I don't sleep thru my alarm. And those of you that really know me TOTALLY know where I'm headed!

STEP AWAY FROM THE INTERNET!

Need to spend some time winding down at night, prep my gym bag & work clothes, go to bed at a decent hour...like 10pm (no later).

Check, check, check.

Thing #2?

My new motto :

I saw this message about 3 weeks ago. It had the effect of a sucker punch as well as the proverbial lightbulb going on inside my head. And I'm really tired of excuses. While some of them are valid, I'm still tired of them.

I'm in control of my destiny and excuses will be my downfall if I'm not careful.

Long story short, I'm making smart lifestyle changes that I'll clue you in on one of these days.

In the meantime?

NNSD!

 

** nnsd = when we were kids my parents would read bedtime stories to all 5 of us. At the very end, right before they turned off the light, they'd say "Night Night Sweet Dreams". I loved that phase and voila, that's what nnsd stands for!

A Sure Thing To Make Me Feel Better

* Awesome friends

* Challenging days to keep me busy & occupy my mind

* Personal challenges to battle complacency 

* Music music music

* Living in Colorado

* Flying my parents in for a long weekend

* Balancing the heartbreak of missing Terry with appreciating everything he brought to our lives.

* I still remember his voice and the sound of his laugh. I hope I never forget.

 

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Each weekend, for the last month, I replay  the weekend of our Family Reunion. I think about what I did do, what I didn't do and what I wished I'd done.

Friday August 18 -

What I did : Flew into John Wayne Airport and caught a shuttle to the hotel where most of my family my staying. Headed straight to the rooftop bar and joined my family.

What I wished I would have done : Joined Diane and Kelly on their late night Denny's run.

 

Saturday - August 19

What I did : slept in and took my time getting ready. Made it to the reunion with my brother Brian around 11:30-ish. Stayed at the reunion all day, took pix, had fun, ate yummy food, laughed, visited with relatives. Headed back to the hotel, hung out by the pool with family, went back to my room to charge my phone for an hour, rejoined my family at the rooftop bar, called it a night around midniite.

What I wished I would have done : Gotten up at the crack of dawn to help Diane and Kelly with the food and setting up our site. Had breakfast with them. Hung out with them. I wish I wish I wish I would have stayed at the bar with Diane, Terry & Nichole and Kelly and closed it down with them. I wish I would have taken pix of everyone with my camera - which I packed but never unpacked - instead of my crappy iPhone. I wish I woulda taken more pictures with my crappy iPhone...especially of Terry. This last part just kills me. I didn't take any pix. Thank goodness Kelly did. Thank goodness there's several pix of Terry's last night.

4 Saturday's ago, Terry was alive and laughing and we were all hanging out as a family.  Tomorrow, which will be 4 Sunday's ago, he died.

Weekends just aren't the same anymore. And I still can't believe Terry's gone. 

 

 

Terry

"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you made me smile, I would have the whole night sky in the palm of my hand."
Author Unknown

See that handsome guy above? That's my nephew, Terry Carrigan. 

I could write so very many words about Terry and tell you so many stories about Terry, but right now the words won't materialize.

For reasons known only to God, Terry passed away in his sleep the morning of Sunday August 20th, the day after our Family Reunion. Our world has been rocked and while we all know Terry wouldn't want us to be sad and mourn, it's impossible not to do just that.

The memory that stays with me (which I hope I never forget) is of Terry and his girlfriend of 9 years Nichole spending Saturday night with us at our hotel while we laughed and joked and enjoyed each other's company. My last words to Terry were "Good night honey...I love you...I'll see you at breakfast in the morning".

As happy as that night was, the sadness experienced the next morning was indescribable. Life without Terry doesn't seem like much of a life. But it's what we're left with and we really have no choice but to go on living.

Thanks to all of my friends and friends of our family who have called, written, prayed and thought good thoughts for me, for my family,  for my Sister Diane, Terry's Mom, Terry's brothers Patrick & Casey, his Dad Patrick and especially for Terry's partner Nichole.

 

We're all in a world of hurt and I still can't believe Terry's gone. It's just too cruel of a concept that someone this wonderful could be taken from us. 

Thanks Terry, for all your lovely smiles and the way you filled our lives and hearts with your love. We'll miss you for the rest of our lives.

 

So...

Long story short, something's been wrong with me for awhile. I have extreme dizziness...don't know why...and it's getting worse. It's not vertigo. I've been tested. It's not anything having to do with ears or eyes...I've had those tests too. Anxiety was considered a cause but after visiting a Biofeedback Clinician and having her witness one of my 'episodes' she urged me 5 times in 3 minutes to get a brain MRI. Stat.

So.

Had one scheduled last week and even tho I've had several MRI's before (none were of the brain) and I thought I could handle it, to be blunt, I 'freaked the fuck out'. Severe claustrophobia. Hyperventilated. Couldn't stop crying. It was horrible.

I've started using a trek stick to help maintain my balance as I walk. It used to help but lately things are getting worse and tomorrow I'm looking at getting an actual cane. This is all so weird.

Having an Open MRI on Thursday which I hope I can manage. Anything has to be better than the closed MRI. I'm still having nightmares from that episode.

I miss walking unassisted. I miss being social. I base all social plans on how close I can park to where I'm going and how much walking is involved. I loathe walking into and out of work each day and do everything I can to stay away from the food court and the rest of the mall. (Wide open spaces are much worse than small spaces).

So that is what's going on in Kathyland. Thought you should know. Not for sympathy. Not for anything but keeping you in the loop. Life is short. Don't take your health for granted.

Over and out for now.

xo

90 Days

Texted a friend earlier to ask if they were interested in participating in a "No Nonsense 90 Day Challenge".

Basically, I'm fed up with myself. I've fallen off the eating healthy wagon. Still on the exercising wagon, but could do better. I spend too much time online.  I'm not sticking to my budget. I don't lead a balanced life. I could do so much better. I want to be so much better.

So....

Tomorrow is August 1. Brand new month. And roughly 90 days left of decent weather before the snow and (shudder) ice come to call and I go into hermit mode (I'm not the 'typical' Coloradan that loves Winter sports.) (Far from it.)

Anyway...

Wanna join me?

For the next 90 days, I'm committing to 5 actions :

1) Eat healthier 

2) Exercise regularly

3) No internet the first 3 hours after work (when at home)

4) Cash envelope system with a written budget

5) Honestly & transparently account for all of the above with a weekly check in.

Why wait for New Year's Eve to make life-changing resolutions? Now's the time to act!

Let's do this!

 

Say Yes To The Internet!!

Other than my realtor and a former client, I knew not one IRL soul when I moved to Denver. I worked out of my home 5 days a week and while I got lots of calls from friends left behind in FL and my family in CA, the only visitors I had in CO were the coyotes that frolicked in my front yard every night after midnight.

Nothing against coyotes...I'm sure they are lovely animals, but I was more interested in meeting humans, not animals. Especially animals with sharp teeth.

So I did what any blogger would do...I searched out local blogs to read. I went to the Denver Post online site and found a link to Denver bloggers. Started at the bottom and read my way up. I'd started reading a Denver Blogger called Hot Doctor's Wife just prior to buying my new house in CO and while we'd started commenting on each others blogs, we'd not met each other IRL. Then we decided to do just that! And in a nutshell, my life hasn't been the same since that awesome night at Elway's!

Bouyed on by one positive meet-up, I met another blogger. And another. And started reading more blogs. Met more people. And then I met Rosie , whose blog I'd somehow stumbled upon. She was funny and vibrant and charming and authentic...not to mention darlingly cute! Her boyfriend-at-the-time Kevin thought she was nuts for inviting over an internet stranger but thank God she did, cause that was the start of an awesome Denver Blogger friendship.

(Rosie and I at the John Common/Railbender concert at The Oriental - the first day we met!)

Thanks to Rosie, the new lawn that I'd just installed was lush and green all summer (she came over to set the controls for me. After several glasses of wine!). Thanks to Rosie the phrase "you live all the way out in fucking Kansas" was born! Thanks to Rosie I got invited to some cool parties, met some cool peeps (talking to you Jess and Emily) and I even got to witness my first ever Grand Lake wedding almost a year ago when Rosie and Kevin tied the knot surrounded by friends, family and the beautiful Colorado outdoors.

Since day one Rosie and Kevin have been their very own breath-of-fresh-air here in Denver-town. And tomorrow, they'll leave Denver for Asheville, North Carolina where their next adventure awaits.

I'm so proud and happy that they're taking the steps to follow their dreams....but also sad cause Denver will have lost a little of its charm once Rosie and Kevin (and Chloe-dog too) exit the city limits.

Best of luck to you guys as you venture forth to NC. I hope and pray the blogging will continue so we can still be a virtual, if not IRL, part of your lives.

I'm forever grateful that Rosie said yes to the Internet, cause my life here in Colorado just wouldn't have been as awesome without Rosie and Kev in it.

Love you guys...go forth and kick ass!

 

Blessed...

So grateful & so blessed for the following :

* My family

* My friends that are family

* My awesome job with extra awesome coworkers

* "Smiles Are Free" Mentors

* For being included in so many of your lives and special events

* For living in the GORGEOUS state of Colorado. If you've never been to Colorado, you are so missing out!

* For my health, excellent insurance, gym membership

* That my truck is still holding up at 134,000 miles

* For a lovely place to call my temporary homes

* For having a positive attitude

* For knowing when to say when and when to keep trying

* For you. Yes, you!

nnsd xo  ♥

It's The Little Things...What I Want The World To Know About My Dad

See that guy up there?  That's my Dad. I call him Dad...used to call him Daddy. Everyone else calls him Ern...short for Ernie.

I am the oldest of 5. Got off to a shaky start at birth (neck broken, paralyzed on my left side) but eventually things got better. My Mom was freaked out by my injury and having to wear a full body cast. So my Dad fed me, took care of me and helped my Mom deal with a situation that neither of them expected or wanted. My Dad also lit votive candles and made a bargain with God that if I turned out ok, he'd be an exemplary Catholic for the rest of his days. Which he is to this day.

My Dad is so many things...devoted to my Mom and their 5 kids and 9 grandkids, one of the best friends you could ever hope for, always willing to help anyone and everyone, and in general one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet. Yeah, I'm biased, but really...he's a great guy! 

My Dad led by example. He never believed that Dads 'babysat' their kids. He was a hand's on Dad...diaper changing, feeding, cleaning, laundry...nothing was below him and he raised us all with the expectation that when we had kids (when, not if!) we would work together with our future mates to raise our family where there was no such thing as 'women's work'.  

My Dad didn't have a lot of rules, but the ones he did have we followed out of respect and 'maybe' just a little bit of healthy fear of avoiding punishment.  His rules were :

* Respect your parents, ESPECIALLY OUR MOM

* Be accountable for our actions

* Use our manners

* Act in such a way that our actions could be published on the front page of our hometown paper and not embarrass anyone

* Keep the 10 Commandments

* There are no 3rd warnings

 

That was pretty much it!

He taught us to think for ourselves even when it went against his beliefs. We had battle after battle when I decided I didn't want to go to church anymore. Same for when I wanted to buy a 'gasp' foreign car!!

We sat in the family room and went back and forth for close to 2 hours (with my brother Brian observing us - his head swerving back and forth as if  watching a tennis match) and ended with my Dad saying ' Oh to hell with it...you're paying for it anyway, it's your money so buy a damn foreign car if you want"!

So I did!  And two days later when I pulled up in front of the house with my shiny new Toyota Celica ST, my Dad came out to check out my purchase and said 'Let's go for a spin'. He was wordless as I drove him around our neighborhood. When we returned home he said 'Kathy, I'm proud of you! You stood up for yourself, you had all your facts lined up, you knew what you wanted and you went for it. Good for you!

My Dad has always been my champion, even when he didn't agree with my priorities. I wanted to go to college, he said I'd have to pay my own way, so I did just that. When I started observing Judaism and told he and my Mom 10 years after the fact, he supported me even tho he didn't agree with my choice of religion.

Which is why I broke down uncontrollably when he and my Mom sent me a 'Happy Hannukah' wood carving that December...their support just meant so much. 13 times I picked up the phone to call and thank them. 13 times I hung up cause I was crying so hard.

So many times he's had my back. So many times he's been the voice on the phone offering encouragement and telling me 'No matter what happens, you will ALWAYS land on your feet". And I have!

My Dad's given me so much and I doubt I'd be half the person I am today without his guidance and love. So this is my Father's Day gift to Ern. To let everyone in Internet Land know just how very special he is to me and to our family.

Love you Dad - always have, always will!

xo -

Kathy