Oh sooooo ya.
Lolo's passport is in, and it's almost time to hit the road
Monday, May 21, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Upcoming trip
Just one week until my vacation! My lovely two sisters and I are headed off for a month of backpacking, train hopping, friend visiting and cheese and pastry tasting in the land of western Europe. I know, such a cliche! But it's so beautiful!
The bad news is that Laurel's (youngest sister) passport still has not arrived. She applied for it March 7th. Yikes.
The trip's budget has grown since we first had the idea to go. Originally, it was $2250. (That's including everything...airfare, food, train pass and tickets...) Now it's up to $3745. Oh boy. That's a lot of money for a girl getting ready to become a full time student and a part time employee.
But it IS a memory that none of us will soon forget. When I was living in London, I dreamed about doing this with the girls...now they are old enough (16 and 14) and both working so it's a dream that is coming true!
* Flight (Seattle to London) $880
* Flight (London to Amsterdam) $170
* Eurail Pass $400
* Misc. Tickets $395
Lodging
* Staying with friends 12 nights $0
* Apartment in Rome (4 nts) $200
* Apartment in Cinque Terre (3 nts) $90
* Hostel in Paris (8 nts) $200
* Hostel in Tuscany (3 nts) $95
Food (Hopefully we can cut costs here. We'll see!)
* 12 days @ $15 day when with friends $180
* 21 days @ $25 day when not $525
Sights (museum fees etc.) 25 days @ $15 (a very rough estimate) $375
Spending Money $200
Misc. (gas for ride to and from airport, phone cards) $35
I'm going to try and keep good records and compare actual costs at the end of the trip to my budget. I'm not sure how far I'm off in different areas.
What an adventure!
The bad news is that Laurel's (youngest sister) passport still has not arrived. She applied for it March 7th. Yikes.
The trip's budget has grown since we first had the idea to go. Originally, it was $2250. (That's including everything...airfare, food, train pass and tickets...) Now it's up to $3745. Oh boy. That's a lot of money for a girl getting ready to become a full time student and a part time employee.
But it IS a memory that none of us will soon forget. When I was living in London, I dreamed about doing this with the girls...now they are old enough (16 and 14) and both working so it's a dream that is coming true!
So, here are the numbers!
Getting Around* Flight (Seattle to London) $880
* Flight (London to Amsterdam) $170
* Eurail Pass $400
* Misc. Tickets $395
Lodging
* Staying with friends 12 nights $0
* Apartment in Rome (4 nts) $200
* Apartment in Cinque Terre (3 nts) $90
* Hostel in Paris (8 nts) $200
* Hostel in Tuscany (3 nts) $95
Food (Hopefully we can cut costs here. We'll see!)
* 12 days @ $15 day when with friends $180
* 21 days @ $25 day when not $525
Sights (museum fees etc.) 25 days @ $15 (a very rough estimate) $375
Spending Money $200
Misc. (gas for ride to and from airport, phone cards) $35
I'm going to try and keep good records and compare actual costs at the end of the trip to my budget. I'm not sure how far I'm off in different areas.
What an adventure!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Finance Tool
There are so many interesting blogs out there! I've been discovering some great ones...mostly personal finance, living more simply and sewing your own clothes. No matter your hobby, apparently there's a blog out there for you!
One cool thing is this neato finance tool to help keep you on track with your net worth. Now, I'm not into the whole "How rich can I possibly get in my lifetime?" mindset. I think it's wise to carefully control your budget and save, but I also know that while I have some money in my savings account, vast amounts of people are sending their children to bed hungry and working very hard to keep a roof over their heads. No matter what, I don't want to forget that fact.
But it is great to keep saving and working toward goals...if only to be able to manage manage well enough to have more and more to give every year. I think this tool could help. It's a simple way to manage how much you have and how much you owe and keep track of that online. See what I mean at www.networthIQ.com.
Of course, you could just do that in excel, but it seems cooler this way.
One cool thing is this neato finance tool to help keep you on track with your net worth. Now, I'm not into the whole "How rich can I possibly get in my lifetime?" mindset. I think it's wise to carefully control your budget and save, but I also know that while I have some money in my savings account, vast amounts of people are sending their children to bed hungry and working very hard to keep a roof over their heads. No matter what, I don't want to forget that fact.
But it is great to keep saving and working toward goals...if only to be able to manage manage well enough to have more and more to give every year. I think this tool could help. It's a simple way to manage how much you have and how much you owe and keep track of that online. See what I mean at www.networthIQ.com.
Of course, you could just do that in excel, but it seems cooler this way.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Great Leadership Interview
I like this interview...it made me think!
http://www.codymckibben.com/2006/12/how-to-get-a-life-beyond-code-an-interview-with-rajesh-setty/
http://www.codymckibben.com/2006/12/how-to-get-a-life-beyond-code-an-interview-with-rajesh-setty/
Get a life!
Is "getting a life" a subjective thing? Or are there some hard and fast guidelines in how to build a life?
A "life" could be described as meaning, or purpose. You may have a friend who spends most of her spare time watching sitcoms, going to the movies, playing video games and eating out with friends. That friend, for instance, may or may not be happy, but the point is, she finds her meaning (evidently) in entertainment. A lot of people do (at least in the western world). It's so easy to in our pleasure driven society.
The key is to find meaning in those things that last. What lasts? I think: Relationships- how we "deal" with God, the impact we have on people and that people have on us (good or bad), the Bible ("Heaven and earth shall pass away but my word shall remain...") and mmmm, not much else. Right? Am I forgetting something important?
Now, other things matter too (I think): Godliness (Paul says it is "great gain") and work to help people ("faith without works is dead" and "true religion is this: to look after widows and orphans..."). I also think that God creates each of us with a distinct purpose in life: (in my mother's womb...you formed me, you knew each day before I lived- Ps. 139, I can't remember it word for word) I think the purpose ALWAYS equals people choosing Christ because of us.
Specifically for instance, I think part of my purpose in this world is to:
Love and encourage my brothers and sisters to live for God
Be a musician who honestly and creatively relates to people in terms of songs about God, life, people etc.
Help orphans in desperately poor countries
So, when I say "Get a life!" I'm meaning..."Find your life purpose and get on it. Define the dream and start working towards it." I'm not saying "Medicate your pain, or entertain yourself by cooking, reading, watching tv or hanging out with friends." (Those aren't bad things...it's just what form we let them take in our lives.)
Any thoughts on this HUGE topic?
A "life" could be described as meaning, or purpose. You may have a friend who spends most of her spare time watching sitcoms, going to the movies, playing video games and eating out with friends. That friend, for instance, may or may not be happy, but the point is, she finds her meaning (evidently) in entertainment. A lot of people do (at least in the western world). It's so easy to in our pleasure driven society.
The key is to find meaning in those things that last. What lasts? I think: Relationships- how we "deal" with God, the impact we have on people and that people have on us (good or bad), the Bible ("Heaven and earth shall pass away but my word shall remain...") and mmmm, not much else. Right? Am I forgetting something important?
Now, other things matter too (I think): Godliness (Paul says it is "great gain") and work to help people ("faith without works is dead" and "true religion is this: to look after widows and orphans..."). I also think that God creates each of us with a distinct purpose in life: (in my mother's womb...you formed me, you knew each day before I lived- Ps. 139, I can't remember it word for word) I think the purpose ALWAYS equals people choosing Christ because of us.
Specifically for instance, I think part of my purpose in this world is to:
Love and encourage my brothers and sisters to live for God
Be a musician who honestly and creatively relates to people in terms of songs about God, life, people etc.
Help orphans in desperately poor countries
So, when I say "Get a life!" I'm meaning..."Find your life purpose and get on it. Define the dream and start working towards it." I'm not saying "Medicate your pain, or entertain yourself by cooking, reading, watching tv or hanging out with friends." (Those aren't bad things...it's just what form we let them take in our lives.)
Any thoughts on this HUGE topic?
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
BIG NEWS FOR OUR FAMILY!
Well, we just found out today that in about six months time (barring any delays), a baby girl will be coming to meet her new family in the U.S. My parents are adopting a little Chinese girl named Wen-Jing, who is almost two years old. She has the sweetest little face and a partly repaired double cleft lip and her profile says that she loves music. I tried posting her picture but couldn't get it to upload.
Big news, and very exciting!
Big news, and very exciting!
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