A Tragic Disease: Pancreatic Cancer

     My uncle James had not felt well in about six months, but he could still perform his daily and weekly duties around his house. He went to the doctor because he was feeling extremely sick and his doctor advised him that his sugar level was high. Uncle James was determined to lower his sugar levels before his next visit to his doctor. The next visit showed that his sugar levels had actually increased instead of decreased, so the doctor ordered another series of tests. After the tests were completed, he visited his doctor once again, but the news was very heartbreaking. In the middle of October, Uncle James was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a very progressive cancer and it will spread throughout the body very quickly. His doctor gave him approximately three months to live.

     I took my children to see Uncle James on Halloween because I knew he was not feeling well. As soon as we walked in, Uncle James knew exactly who we were. This reassured me that he was still alert. I told him that we would beat this disease and that everything would be alright. He advised me that he was ready to go and he knew exactly where he would be going in his afterlife. After we left his house, I sort of took his words for granted because I felt as if he would live for at least year or so.

     Every day, my mother would call me to give me updates on Uncle James’ condition. She told me that he was in a great deal of pain. He had to have doses of morphine administered to him because he could not bear the amount pain he was feeling. About two after I visited Uncle James, he began to lose recollection of the world around him. He could not think very well and he did not know exactly who his family members were, but he could recognize their voices. He also became immobile; he could no longer get out of bed. I found this to be very peculiar because it has only been two weeks since I saw the man I knew as my Uncle James.

     On Sunday, November 20, 2011, my mother called me at about 4:00 p.m. to tell me that Uncle James had passed away. I was completely shocked because no one saw his death coming so quickly. My whole family was very devastated by our loss. I was told that his services would be today at Simpson’s Funeral Home in Webb City. Uncle James was a very simple man and he did not want any elaborate services for his funeral. He had written out his death wishes, so everyone knew exactly what he wanted.  Today, I attended his funeral services and I realized how much I would miss him. It is very hard to cope with a death in a person’s family, but it must be done. I know he is in a better place and he will be happy. He is out of pain and can live in a better world.

     To My Uncle James:  We miss you, we love, and you will never be forgotten. We will think of you always and you will be in our hearts forever. 

“Know What I Mean, Vern?”

     One of the most loved comedians was Jim Varney. He was better known as Ernest P. Worrell, his most famous alias. Jim Varney brought slap-stick comedy to life. He trademarked famous lines such as “KnowhutImean?” and “Hey Vern! It’s Ernest”. Even though Jim Varney portrayed a dumb-founded character, he was actually very close to being considered a genius for his intelligence.  Jim Varney made his first national appearance in 1974 at the age of 25. Shortly after that he was cast a regular on the television series Johnny Cash and Friends. Some of his famous movies are: Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Saves Christmas, Ernest Goes to Jail, Ernest Scared Stupid, Slam Dunk Ernest, Ernest in the Army, the list goes on and on.

     Moreover, Jim Varney’s first movie, Ernest Goes to Camp, was released in 1987. Ernest Goes to Camp is my all-time favorite movie because I think his character is hilarious. I also love this movie because it shows how having a little faith in kids brings about hope and determination within the kids. Ernest lives at Kamp Kikakee, where he is a handy-man and dreaming of becoming a camp counselor. When one of the counselors has an accident, Ernest replaces the counselor. Ernest must look after a group of delinquent boys and teach them the path of the brave. None of the other kids at Kamp Kikakee like the new group of boys; Ernest is the only one who will befriend them. Then, Krader Mining Company decides to overtake the land that Kamp Kikakee was located on, to mine for minerals. Ernest and the boys decide to have an all-out war with the miners. This movie shows how friendships develop and it teaches people to stand up for what they believe in. I would highly recommend that everyone watch this movie. It is funny and also teaches a lesson at the same time.

     Next, another favorite Jim Varney classic movie, which was released in 1988, is Ernest Saves Christmas. This is one of the best holiday movies that I have ever seen. Ernest is a taxi driver in Orlando, Florida. He picks up Santa Claus at the airport and gives him a ride to the Orlando Children’s museum. Santa is in search of Joe Carruthers to name his successor. Joe refuses to go along with Santa because he does not believe in him. As Christmas draws closer, Santa is running out of options. Ernest soon finds himself as the hero who steps in to save the day. My favorite clip, Ernest’s Truckload of Snakes, is in this fabulous movie! Basically, at the end of the movie, Ernest saves the day.

    In conclusion, Jim Varney is a great actor and comedian. I want everyone to watch an Ernest movie. I cannot think of anyone who does not like Ernest. It is sad that Jim Varney died in 2000, at the age of 50, but his movies and comedies will live on. If you like comedy, you must watch an Ernest movie. So go to Family Video and rent an Ernest movie today!

Thanksgiving Day Lunch

     About two weeks ago, my husband and I were invited by the daycare director to have Thanksgiving Day lunch with our children. We were very excited because having lunch with our children is something out of the normal routine. We were looking forward to joining them for lunch. Today was the big day. At about 11:30 a.m. my husband and I left work to head to the daycare. Once we arrived at the daycare, I saw our son, Malakai, waving at me. We went to join Malakai at the table that had been set up by the daycare staff.

     The tables had gorgeous tablecloths and the “dinner room” had been decorated with autumn and Thanksgiving décor. The setting was beautiful. After Malakai sat down, I went to go get our daughter, Myrissa, so she could join us. When Myrissa saw me, she started screaming, “Mama, Mama, are you going to eat with me?” I told her, “Yes, me and daddy are going to eat with you and Malakai.” I was very happy because she was so excited to see me! When Myrissa and I walked back in the “dinner room,” she immediately saw Malakai and her dad. She became even more excited and began jumping up and down. I was thrilled that our children were happy and excited to have lunch with their parents.

     Next, the director of the daycare, Ginger, announced her appreciation for all of the parents and grandparents for coming to join the kids. Pastor Russell also led us in a prayer before we started eating. After Pastor Russell was finished, I got up to go get our plates of food. Myrissa decided she wanted to help me get my food, so I allowed her to come along also. We joined the other parents in buffet line. We got choose from a variety of different foods. My plate consisted of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green beans, and a roll. Myrissa, Malakai, and my husband all had the same.
     As we sat at the tables, eating our lunch, I noticed a little boy named Braxton sitting across from us. I could tell that he did not have a guest, so one of the preschool teachers sat with him to keep him company. I felt really bad for Braxton because it was very sad to see him all by himself. My husband and I began talking to him so that he would not feel alone. He seemed to enjoy us talking to him. Braxton started talking to Malakai and Myrissa; I could tell that he did not look quite as sad as he did before. I was happy that Braxton could also enjoy his meal with us.

     When we all were finished eating, I told Myrissa and Malakai that my husband and I had to go back to work. They were a little upset but I knew they would alright once they went back to their classrooms to play. When we left the daycare, I could not stop thinking about Braxton. His parents may have unavailable to join him for lunch, but I still felt sorry for him. I think family is the most important thing in a person’s life and my family always comes first. I hope everyone gets to enjoy the holidays with their families, just as I will. Have a great Thanksgiving with your family!

My Work Life: Chaotic and Exhausting

   I am looking forward to Christmas break because I will get a much needed break from work and school. I become very tired from working all day at work and then, I must come home to do homework. I know going to school full-time and working full-time is my choice, but sometimes I just need to rant a little about my life.

     Work has been very hectic lately and sometimes I dread even going to work. My place of employment has decided to make some changes and of course, these changes involve me as they always do. The managers at DLT have decided to change my duties and relocate my work area. Well, actually I will have two work areas, whereas now I only have one central work location. When I first heard about this possible change taking place, I became very nervous and I immediately knew that I did not want my work area to be moved. All the employees involved in this change held a meeting to go through the possible changes that were going to take place.

      We had another meeting this past Thursday, which was more detailed than the first meeting. I know; it seems as if all we do is have meetings all day long. Anyway, I was told I would have my second work area setup by Monday, November 14, 2011. I became so anxious that I just wanted to go home. I do not like moving, because I have already had my work area moved two other times in the past three years.

     My biggest complaint about having two separate work areas is that it actually makes my job harder than more efficient. I will have to run all over the plant just to complete the job at hand. I also do not want to be pulled away from the co-workers that are around me now. I have adapted to them and I love being around them. They are like my second family and who would want to be pulled away from their family?

     Now, I am going to hate coming into work. I have spoken to my boss about this whole situation and he basically feels the same as I do. He does not believe setting up a second work area for me is any more efficient than where I sit now. I feel there are no justifiable reasons for this change. I hope he will argue his reasoning to the other managers to try and change their minds about this whole change process.

     Lastly, if I must have two work areas, I hope it is only a temporary change. I hate complaining about things that may seem minute to some people, but I have been freaking out about this idea of changing things at work for about three weeks now. I hope the situation works out and I hope I can de-stress over the weekend. I feel everything will work out at my place of employment, but I have not gotten used to the idea yet. Well, I am glad I got my true feelings off my chest and thanks for listening to me rant. I am exhausted and now, I can go to bed. Until next time...

Saving a Little Green

     70% of Americans are in debt.  What an unbelievable staggering percent! Many people have too high of a debt-to-income ratio.  This means people owe more money on the things they have then the income they receive, commonly referred to as being upside down.  Several other people live beyond their means, fully knowing they do not have the money to pay for the things they buy.  I know saving money is a hard thing to accomplish, but I feel I must implement a strategy into my life to be able to save money.  I have found some very interesting tips on how to save money and I hope these tips will be beneficial to me as well as anyone else who has the same need for saving money.

    First, the most crucial strategy for me would be to take my lunch to work every day, rather than eating at a fast-food restaurant. Eating out for lunch every day adds up very quickly. I feel eating out is very convenient, but it is also very expensive. Just think, if one eats out every day spending a minimum amount of seven dollars, it would add up to thirty-five dollars a week spent just on meals for lunch. Since I get paid on a bi-weekly schedule, eating out would add up to a total of seventy dollars every paycheck spent only on dining out at lunch. In this situation, I feel it is smarter to buy more groceries to accommodate lunches, than to eat out for lunch. Yes, buying more groceries can result in spending more money on groceries, but it does not make up for the money spent on a daily basis to eat out. I can implement this strategy into my lifestyle by packing my lunch each night before I go to bed. Also, since I would like to eat a healthier meal at lunch, I can pack a better choice of food than the choices that fast-food restaurants offer. As a result of taking my lunch every day, I would save more money and eat healthier at the same time.

     Next, another important tip would be to avoid impulse buying. Impulse buying is making unplanned, spur of the moment purchases on something that interests a person.  Whenever I go into a shop, I have a bad habit of buying merchandise that I absolutely do not need.  I always tell myself “that item would be nice to have” to excuse the purchases I make on the stuff I do not need.   If I stopped and thought about the item I was planning on buying, I would possibly make a better decision. I would recommend thinking about whether one wants or needs the item they plan on buying. Eliminate the want factor and I guarantee it will help you save money.

     Last, but not least, create a visual reminder of your debt. Create a tracking sheet of all of your debt. Then, every time a payment is made, take off the payment amount from the actual balance owed until it ends at zero. This method creates a daily reminder to know where one’s money is actually going and what money is being spent on other things. I, personally, keep a bill book that lists the date of every paycheck I receive and what bills must be paid with that paycheck. My bill book helps me by keeping track of weekly or monthly bills and until all bills for that paycheck have been paid, I try not to spend any money.  I believe this strategy would greatly help anyone who has a problem with money managing or saving money.

     In conclusion, I want to save money! Even though saving money is hard, there are many strategies to use when trying to save money. When times are tough and money is tight, saving money is crucial. I am determined to implement one of these strategies into my life. I have chosen to take my lunch to work rather than to eat out. I am going to track the results of this strategy for two weeks and report back in another blog. I hope everyone can use at least one of these strategies to help them save more money.

Do You Love Your Plastic?

    I love to shop for my kids, my husband, and myself; however, I cannot always afford to spend money directly from my checking account. When this situation occurs, I use my credit card to purchase the items that I want. Millions of people use credit cards to buy miscellaneous items and pay a specific monthly payment on their credit cards. Credit cards are very popular among people in the United States, but some people overspend and cannot manage their credit cards properly. Some people end up spending the maximum limit on their credit cards, which creates an even higher amount of debt and can result in lowered credit scores, hassle from debit collectors, and even filing bankruptcy.   

     Can you believe in 2008, it was reported that approximately 176.8 million people owned credit cards? Also, the average credit cardholder owns at least three different credit cards. The top ten credit card companies in regards to customer satisfaction are American Express, Discover, US Bank, Wells Fargo, Chase, Barclaycard, Bank of America, Capital One, Citi, and HSBC. The average American carries approximately $3500 in revolving debt. Revolving debt is mainly acquired through the use of credit cards. Also, the average American household has approximately $7500 in revolving debt. It has been reported that the amount of debt either an individual or household carries has decreased significantly since the economic downturn in 2009, but credit card usage remains to prevail. The use of credit cards is not necessarily bad, but one must take precautions when making purchases on their credit cards. I know I personally have two credit cards. It is very hard to limit the amount of money I put on my credit cards, but I must watch the balance because it affects the amount of interest applied to my bill, which increases my monthly payment.

     Moreover, interest rates can greatly affect a person’s use of their credit cards. The annual percentage rate, commonly known as APR, is a fee that one will pay as a result of the ability to spend money on their credit cards. The national average APR ranges from 14% to 28%. Outrageous, right? Interest rates can lead to higher payments and over-the-limit charges, which can quickly get out of control. To avoid interest rates, a person would need to pay off the statement balance on their credit cards before the billing due date. I know this is easier said than done, but it is a good guideline to follow. Also, if one is late in making their payment, another fee will be applied to their credit cards. All these various fees can add up rapidly and can exceed the amount of purchases if the amount is not kept under control.

     Overall, I do not feel that credit cards are bad because they are useful in case of emergencies or times of hardship. However, I do firmly believe it is greatly important to closely watch your spending and the balance on your credit cards. Credit card usage is not for everyone, but they are convenient. If used properly, credit cards can raise credit scores and help a person learn to manage their financial budget. I strongly recommend at least owning one credit card to every person. They can help, but you must remember the guidelines. Remember; do not spend without thinking about the consequences.    

Spirit Week was a Huge Success!

     Last week, I spoke of the fun activity, known as Spirit Week; we were having at work this week. We planned each day of the week to have a certain theme. Monday was mismatch day, Tuesday was crazy hat day, Wednesday was pajama day, Thursday was retro day, and Friday was sports fan day. The purpose of Spirit Week was to raise money for one of our other facilities that had been affected by Hurricane Irene and to have a little fun at the same time. The stipulation to this event was that every person had to donate a dollar for any days that they participated on, which would result in a maximum donation of five dollars. Also, people could donate money even if they did not want to participate on certain days. For every donation, Ducommun LaBarge Technologies would match dollar for dollar. Some of the outfits that people wore were hilarious and creative.

     On Monday, many people wore mismatching clothing. For example, I wore a camouflage t-shirt, a black vest, jean capris, neon purple and blue sock, and tennis shoes that had pretty flowers on them. On Tuesday, several people wore outrageous hats. One hat in particular, worn by our Quality Manager, was a gigantic, red cowboy hat made out of foam. He looked so funny, but I am glad he participated. Wednesday, I wore duck footie pajamas, a polka-dotted robe, and bright turquoise slippers. I was so comfortable! I decided it would be fun to sort of flash everyone by first tying my robe around my pajamas and then ripping the robe open to make it seem like I was flashing people. I was trying to get everyone to become enthusiastic about Spirit Week and I was showing them how much fun I was having from being able to wear my pajamas to work.

     Thursday was going to be the best day for me because I bought many items to wear to look as if I jumped out of a time machine that dated back to the 1980s. I was a blast from the past! I wore neon pink stilettos, a black bodysuit, a black, frilly skirt, a neon pink tutu, a one-should sweatshirt that read “Heartbreaker” on the back, and I added a bunch of accessories to top off the outfit.  I teased my hair to make it fluffy and I adorned it with black and pink lace headband. It was awesome!  Jenny, one of my good friends and co-worker, decided to wear leggings, gym shorts pulled up to her chest, a tank top, and a fur-lined, puke green vest. She also wore a sweatband around her head and carried weights around to complete her outfit. I called her MacGruber and she called me Trixie. We went around to other co-workers and performed a skit to make our costumes seem even more real. I think everyone really like our little performance. On Friday, everyone wore their favorite sports attire. I had to wear my favorite OU sweatshirt. Go Sooners! Everyone looked great!

     Overall, our Spirit Week was a huge success because we ended raising $1600 on donations alone. Since DLT will be matching our donation, we actually raised $3200 for the relief effort of Hurricane Irene. I am very proud of our work family for participating in Spirit Week. I hope we can do some type of fun activity next year and donate to another worthy cause. I am so glad that DLT allowed us to have Spirit Week! What a huge success!