Officially Done with Grad School, 13 Years Later

Back in November, I wrote a check that I hoped would close a chapter of my life that seemed never to end: paying off my grad school loans.

My original loan paperwork for my repayment of US Government Student Loans was for a 10-year repayment cycle.

But all of my professional life I have worked for one non-profit and/or school or another. Things were a little tight, and this was long before this outgoing federal administration had put new measures in place to forgive loans. Instead, I inquired about an additional five-year extension.

So, after graduating with my Masters of Library and Information Science from the Palmer School of same at Long Island University in 2003, at the end of 2015, I managed to pay my loans off late/early, depending on how you look at it.

But...something was ... unresolved. After a monthly relationship for nigh on 12+ years, there was a distinct lack of closure. I was expecting SOMETHING to commemorate the end of this back and forth dance of paperwork. But, nothing ... For weeks. And weeks.

Until today.

Two loans.

Two pieces of paper.

NOW I have closure!

Finally.

Now I can spend that budget line on paying off this iPhone for the next two years.

Easy come. Easy go.

~some photos and entry by iPhone

Photo of the Day

I'm not greedy.

A couple tens of thou would be good.

And a hug.

And a chocolate bar.

Actually -- just a hug.

Kids! Don't Do Drugs!

Way back in November, I had to pick up a few things at the local convenience store. 

When I got home, I just chucked my stuff down on my bed. 

It wasn't until I went to everything away that I saw my change came with a message.

 Kids. No matter what your money may say ...

Don't do drugs!








And yes, I know what date this is. There's a reason why I posted this today.

GILBERT wouldn't have done drugs.
Nor Grandmary!

43 Ideas for Birthday 43: Wipe My Slate Clean

I am working on it. Really. In fact, I should FINALLY be able to pay off my grad school loan this year (on the Year 12 of the extended 15 year deferred payment plan schedule, but still. Whoo hooo! Way to use that library degree, me.)

However, if there's a real life Birthday Fairy looking to make an impactful major gift ... and I'm not saying for HOW much here, but in fund-raising terms MAJOR GIFT is a key phrase, ... I would be ever so humbly grateful.

This is my blog, and I can make random, impossible dreamy birthday wishes here if I want to.

Until then ... it's my hole. I dug it. I'll dig myself out of it.

(Kids, follow your auntie's advice. Don't dig yourself big holes. Literal or metaphorically financial.)

 

 

 

Dreaming Out Loud - Sabbatical

Photo from here

As you have seen, last month's cruise was a delightful sampling of vacation travel. It just whet my appetite for Canada, the Maritimes, sea sailing, travel, and being away from the City, the stresses, and all kinds of things.

I'm saving my pennies for a future trip. (Not my Canadian pennies, however.)

Ah ... some of my vivid dreams are to go back, go on other journeys, sail on a tall ship or yacht - but I'll cover that in another months.

Dreams, you see, can shift, and drift, and sail, and wisp away on currents ...


I came back and have been in the midst of all kinds of sea changes at the office. I find myself in familiar turbulent waters. To move the metaphor back to a land setting, I find myself approaching a crossroads.

I see the intersection coming up on the horizon.

The decisions are, go straight on full steam ahead, turn left ... or turn right -- both into the unknown.

Right now, I can't see the forest for the trees. I'm in the weeds.

Photo from here

To be totally pragmatic, my dream this month is about all about money.
Benjamins. Currency. Funding. Cash. Grants. Dollars -- and "Sense"

Image from here

Image from here

Money: So I can take a "sabbatical" to find out what I really want to do with the other half of my life.

If I wasn't worried about paying off my debt(s), paying my bills, and/or paying my rent, would I escape from current scenario and try new things, explore new locations, spend time with family, take my time and get re-educated/re-trained, and really plan what to do, instead of just lucking into career opportunities?

Yes.

Hell yes. 

In a gold-plated heartbeat.

Image from here

Life is too short to be this stressed-out and stuck behind a computer in a cubicle in an airless building.

But the reality is, this is just a VERY expensive dream. I don't have the kinds of fairy godmothers who have this kind of  discretionary giving. The ability to just to wave a not-insignificant money at a random person to wipe the slate, waive the monthly bills, build a nest egg, and fund a series of journeys down a new set a paths.

Maybe this isn't a really a sabbatical I'm dreaming about?

Time to keep stashing my coins in the wish jars.

Faux Twits

This blog is my only foray into social media. I don't LiveJournal, Facebook, or Twitter. I just don't have time or opportunity. I do understand the allure of Twitter, but the format of 140 characters is limiting. Getting me to be succinct is usually the trouble.

I've been a bit busy this week, and had a bit of bloggers block, so I decided to keep a post-it filled with notes, as if I had a Twitter account. These are some of my musings. After reviewing them, I don't think I'll be getting an account anytime soon:

Here are my Treat or Tweets (times are estimates, since they weren't really posted):

Posted 12 hours ago:
Leftover chocolate cake with purple frosting from Magnolia Bakery makes the afternoon go by much easier.

Posted 16 hours ago:
Do I know anyone who wants a pair of Carnegie Hall symphony tickets? UM, HELLO? ME! Thanks people with box seats and other social plans.

Posted 18 hours ago:
RT @mooshinindy: the moosh ended her prayer today with dot com. As in "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Dot Com." [c.11/18/09 ]

Posted 18 hours ago:
I did this but it was after a shift at Mickey Dees and was all like "Welcome to McDonald's, may I take your order please?"

Posted 18 hours ago:
Saddest thing? No one in family noticed when I broke off mid-phrase trying not to laugh.

Posted 25 hours ago:
Dear #Castle Location People: You can't fake Grand Central Terminal with LA locations. NOPE. NOT AT ALL. We have a better ceiling in NYC.

Posted a day ago:
Yes, my e-mail friend. Rainy days and Mondays do get me down.

Posted a day ago:
Is it time to go home yet? I need me some Big Bang Theory and some @NathanFillion charm.

Posted a day ago:
Hoping that outstanding invoices come in ASAP so I can have money for laundry, Dt. Coke and rest of rent. Though it should be rest of rent, laundry and THEN Dt. Coke.

Posted a day ago:
Processing two checks for working totaling $150,000 just makes me feel even more poor. When is pay day again?

Posted a day ago:
It doesn't bode well for your work out if you manage to strain your neck muscles and almost dislocate your shoulder just trying to put ON your sports bra. Just saying.

Posted 4 days ago:
Spring is here. The biggest sign in NYC? The Mr. Softee trucks are out on the street corners. It’s 2:15. Time for an ice cream run. Chocolate Ice Cream mid-afternoon = YUM!

Posted 4 days ago:
Saw a want ad that said: "you must love books." What if you just "like like" them?

Posted a week ago:
#overheard in office Excessive spreadsheet manipulation can apparently lead to softening of the brain.

To Twit or not to twit? That is the question ... Perhaps I will continue to accumulate these Faux Twits in a post-it until I have something worth Twitting.

Weehaw --- Now, show me the money

As we type, on its way to the National Endowment for the Arts via FedEx, is over five pounds of paper, two CDs, and weeks and weeks (and weeks and weeks) worth of work in the form of a work-related application for funding. YIPPEE SKIPPY!

Now I just have to wait more than a year to find out if the Big J will get the money for 2009-2010. (No, I'm not kidding ... over a year before notification.)

SHOW ME THE MONEY!