April 8, 2024: Solar Eclipse

One thing about Texas weather, it a crazy. One day you are in the 90s and in a few hours you drop right down to the 50s. It can be clear skies and in 15 minutes, it cloudy. On April 8, 2024 mother nature wasn’t cooperating to loosen it grip on the the sky for a one in a life time chance to see the solar eclipse.

Unlike the eclipse that happened in October 2023 where I didn’t need to leave the house. This time along with a family member, we went to Kerrville, TX. Hoping the sky condition would improve. We arrived in Kerriville just about noon and the sun had broken free and the the clouds were retreating. It look like we now had a clear view of the solar eclipse. It wasn’t until a few minutes that the eclipse began, the clouds began to roll in again. These were those dark thick clouds, basically taking our clear view away. It convinced several people to leave the area, but we stuck around. There were small break in the clouds to see the eclipse and to see when totality occur. That was the best part and I feel some people don’ t understand that. That it different then what we experience every day when the sunset and it get dark. This is in the middle of the day where the sun it high in the sky and then it become dark. Then after four minute in totality the light of day return. It a cool experience and a once in a life time experience.

Tried to capture a photo using my binocular with solar filter.

Daily Prompt: Playtime

Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?

Well, depends on what your definition of “playtime” as an adult. Playtime can be different for every adult. Playtime for me is just enjoy the simple things like being outside with my dog. During the summer it may be giving my dog a bath outside. Am sure my dog would say, “getting a bath is not playtime!!”. Playtime for me can also be taking a walk downtown or going to the gym, but other time it doesn’t involve being physically active. I also enjoy drawing and watercoloring.

Daily Prompt: Biggest Challenges

What are your biggest challenges?

My biggest challenges is finding a stable full-time position. 2023 wasn’t to bad as far as employment. I was working, made progress in my financial goals, but for 2024 would like to find a job that is stable. If I can accomplish that ASAP, then my other challenges should take care of themselves such as financial independence, paying off my student loans, and saving/retirement.

Student Loans repayment

Next month repayment will restart for student loans. If you have a student loan(s) you are aware of this. This month, September 1, interest began accruing on student loans. I, myself have student loans with two different lenders. I know a lot of people were disappointment that student loans forgiveness didn’t come through. If you are one of those I hope this is a lesson learned that you shouldn’t be waiting on the government to settle your debt. I understand the financial difficulties having to repay these loans and seeing the interest adding up.

Covid brought a opportunity for people to make head way in reducing their debt. It pause repayment and interest. The are some who took advantage of this and their are other who didn’t. Now with repayment weeks away, people are worried. If you are one of those individuals, it not the end of the world. You need to make adjustment to you financially situation and lifestyle. Live below your means. Cut out unnecessary spending, like eating out. Take a lunch to work instead of going to chick-fil-A. Cancel those subscription to hulu, amazon prime etc.

I have two student loans with different lenders. During covid I was paying one down, giving $200 every pay check and reduce the interest on other by giving $20 dollars or so. I didn’t spend like crazy or eat out. I took a lunch to work and save some money. Two day before interest started to accrue, I paid off one of my student loans with one of the loan lender. I used money I save up every pay check in a high yield saving account. All just by living below my mean. Now am starting to repay my other loans. Giving something every pay check and putting a little in my saving account. The more consistent you are in making your payment, giving something to you loans, you will see your balance come down.

It been awhile..

It feels like it been years since I typed a post, but it only been about five months. Since my last post, I had resigned from my job because of transportation issues. Long story short I was a contract worker and I had to report on-site to a military base. Since I don’t have a car, my ride wouldn’t be able to get on base to drop me off. I was told this wouldn’t be an issue from the person who hired me. From the main gate to the building I need to be at, it about a 20 minute walk in hot and humid weather. So it was back to job hunting. It wasn’t until late June I got a call from a job temp agency who happened to have my resume on file. They had some positions to fill for clients. The job agency presented me to the client, but they decided to go with another person. A week later they had another client, who needed someone for three weeks. The job agency was able to get me the position without having to interview for the position. Yeah, three weeks is nothing, but it was something to start with. Three week came and the client decided to extended my stay to finish the task they need to be done. It was extended for a month, but then decided to extended again for two more weeks. Who know what will happen after the two weeks, maybe they keep me on full-time.

Awhile I’ve been working at this job for about two months, it has me thinking a lot and reflecting. Is a 9 to 5 job right for me? I love interacting with co-workers and people, but can I do this long term. Waking up, going to work and just doing the same thing over and over. Not to mention only having two or three hours to myself when I get home before I need go to sleep and then repeat. Maybe I been watching to much youtube about people leaving their 9-5 job and starting there own business because of the similar reasons.

Jobs and being car less

Last year I wrote a post, Welcome to my world:car about me being car less. I have never owned a car and I would like to further discuss what I have experience not having one. Here in the United States it a must to own a car so you can get to and from work. Of course there are some state where that not the case like New York. Not owning a car, I have learned that people, society have these sterotypes for us car less individuals.

I like to first say that I would love to have a car. Having that freedom to move around and to go place. Places that not your public transportation can take you nor your urber driver or taxi. I can’t just take a bus or call urber, take me to the lake. The main reason why I don’t own a car is I can’t afford it. The math with my income and other bills, the number don’t add up. As they say numbers don’t lie

I consider myself a introvert. I don’t drink nor smoke which probably make me less popular to hang out with. Not having a car adds to that cause most people or friend wouldn’t want to travel to the other side of town to pick me up or take me home if it late at night. They don’t have to say it, it just obvious. Am not sure about you, but not having a car, you aren’t on people top 5 list to call to go out on a Friday or Saturday night.

Now take that a step further and tell a future employer that you don’t have a car and you take public transportation. Your name will probably be put at the very bottom of their call list. In my opinion employers see that as a red flag. That you will be the employee who will be late for work, a no show, unreliable. Am begin to see the pattern. I remember applying at Macy’s for the holiday. I was talking with the manager about the hours I could work and mention I can’t stay late. The latest I can stay is 1030pm , maybe 11pm, because I don’t have a car and I would be taking the bus. Their response was something like that stores like them wouldn’t get things done nor profit, if they hired people like me. Who don’t own a car, relay on public transportation.

In my current job, now former job, which last week was my last day, during my interview I informed them that I don’t have a car. Is that okay? I will be getting drop off and picked up. Is there any problem with this? Will there be any problem for my ride to enter the job site just to drop me off and picked me up. The job site is a military base. The person who interview me, “that no problem.” I stress to them, “are you sure” He said,”it isn’t a problem.” So for that past 5 months there was a few set back for the job since it is a contract position. Not on my part, but the government side. During this time, I stress this with the people who are leading this contract, is this going to be a issue? Do you have any information or someone I can ask about my ride being able to enter the job site(the base), to drop me off and picked me up. Nothing, not even maybe. So two week ago, I get a email that I been place with someone in the government who I will assist(work for). Again, no one given me answer. So I contact the person I will be working for since I now have their number. I find out a few hours later, I shouldn’t have done that. Another administrative assistant call me saying what I did about ask about get drop off etc raised some red flags. The red flags that they see I don’t have a car, I will probably be unreliable, late to work. Fast forward 24 hours later I found out well my ride won’t be able to enter the job site to drop me off/pick me up. I will have to walk from the entrance gate to the the building am working at, which is about a 20 minute walk carrying a labtop.

So I had to make a decision, what am I going to do. We are heading to the summer months and around this time we usually get our spring time rain. Do I just do the 20 minute walk to get to work and 20 minute walk back to meet my ride right outside the gate? I decided to quite. I can see this being an issue and I hate to be fired from being late. Especially if it raining and having to carry a company labtop. I really don’t mind walking, but then am not a fast walker. So it back to looking for work.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!! Hello 2023. As we begin this new year, I feel pretty good and positive it will be a good year. Even though we are seeing inflation sky rocketing, am keeping a positive attitude. I left 2022 finding another job and I hope to keep that momentum going. Continue on with my financial goals and excel career wise. My financial ambition is to reduce my student loan debt and to invest my money in the market. I already have a Roth IRA and planning on opening a brokerage account to grow my money over the long term. Awhile doing that continue on with school which has been going pretty smooth. Been getting “A”s in all my classes and should be done by the spring of 2024. From there, hoping it lead to other career opportunities or open other doors.

Every new year I do my best to staying healthy physically and mentally. Leaving 2022, I drop about eight pounds. That what the scale say. I gain about ten pound during the two years of the pandemic. I believe it was from sitting down a lot at work. This really wasn’t a goal or something I planned, but with things returning to normal, going to the gym more often and doing my weekend walks around town, the weight began to fall slowly. Mentally, well I keep a written journal and been writing in the same one since April 2021. For 2023, am starting a new one. Journaling is awesome. It another way to let whatever you have on your mind and put it on paper. In life, sometime we might not having someone to talk to about what going on in life, so journaling is the next best thing. Of course this blog is somewhat like a journal.

How about you? Looking forward to anything in 2023? Goals or changes you want to make?

Daily Prompt: When are you Most Happy?

When are you most happy?

When am I most happy? Am most happy when am just doing my hobbies and being with my dog Lilly. These hobbies are going for my walks around town and just taking random pictures with my film camera. Walking just calm your mind and then just greeting people or they greeting you as you pass each other. Since I have a film camera, I’ll get approach by someone. The best part of my walks is seeing all the dog owners walking their dog. Love seeing these little furry guys just walking and waggling their tail. My other hobbies is just drawing, watercoloring or coloring using color pencil. I find that lift my mood and since I do most of my art work at night, it makes it easier to go to sleep. One hobby that I haven’t done in awhile and make anyone who does it happy is dancing. I enjoy dancing salsa and merengue.

I can’t forget about my dog Lilly. Seeing her and being around her makes me happy. When I come home, whether it from work, walking around town, running errands, she is happy to see me. She a dog that stay inside our house when we leave and once we return home and open that door, she off, running toward me to greet me. Everyone else is second priority, she running full steam towards to me. Nothing beats that feeling, especially since she a dog, she so happy to see me.

Good News: Yes!!!!

After six months and a half, I found another full-time job. After my last updated post on my job search, I started getting a few replies back for job interviews. All these job interviews were over zoom or some other video app. This whole job interview over video is new to me. Well the entire video conferencing is. It does make it so convenient and not have to worry about driving to the job site to do these job interview. In my case, I don’t have to ask family members to drive me to a job interview. O if you new here, I don’t own a car.

This new job I got, I just applied, really not expecting any response. The job position is for a administrative assistant. I was hestiant in apply because I couldn’t find if they had an actual office location where I live. Am kind of cautious with those position where the company doesn’t have a office located in the city. Am thinking will there be traveling required, is this some type of remote and on the work-site position. So I decided let see what happens. A few days later I get an email saying that they will be in touch with me. A week later got an email about my availability for a job interview over zoom. So I did the interview, kind of straight forward and got a offer the next day. Question for all of you. Is it me, but when a job interview is to easy or doesn’t feel like the job interview stories you hear about or the questions they are most likely to ask, but don’t. Does it make you feel like something not right? Hope that made sense. I had several job interview that are to easy, they are not the job interview that you hear people talking about. They are very causal, laid back.

Well am excited for the new job position. It look very promising as far as learning and developmenting professionally. It couldn’t have come as a better time because I was beginning to worry about my financial situation. I’ve been tapping into my saving these past six months. I give more detail in another post about what I’ll be doing and a little about the company.

8 years of drawing

I’ve been drawing for 8 years now and it been an amazing learning experience and fun at the same time. What have I learned within these eight years? One important thing I learned is that there isn’t a right way to start and draw something. Just start drawing and eventually you will find out what works and what doesn’t. It kind of like a two or three year old kid trying to learn how to walk. They will just start doing it, by grabbing on to something and holding on awhile they walk. One step at a time. Some will let go and just take one step and then fall down. The important thing that little two or three year won’t give up. The same goes with art. You can’t give up because your art work isn’t great. That something I’ve leaned and re-learned through out my life. Any new skills you need to practice and practice to get better. You need to be the two or three year old kid again, that is eager to learn how to walk.

Having fun awhile learning to draw. Again, what does the two or three year kid do for fun once they learned how to walk. They enjoy running away from mommy, running to mommy or in a direction that give mommy a heart attack. With learning how to draw you got to have fun and even laugh at your silly art work. Even if it a bad piece of art work. Don’t throw away that silly art work cause with time as you get better you will see how you have improve over time.

Time, that the key thing I’ve learn from drawing and many other things I learn threw out my life. It take time to learn and improve. Don’t give up cause you don’t see improvement within a month or two. You need to give yourself time to develop that artistic skill, but at the same time commit to drawing every day for 30 minutes at least. How do you expect to learn and get better? If you don’t commit time or setup some routine to practice drawing or any other skill. For me I committed at least an hour every night drawing. Today I still commit about a hour drawing or working on a drawing from the previous night.