Education costs part 1

Hello. I know it's been a while since I posted anything, I've been having such a good time I've kind of forgotten about updating this little thing! It's 3:45 a.m. on a Saturday morning and I'm going to be going to work in a little bit, but as so often is the case with me, since I am getting up early, I can't sleep since I'm worried I won't hear my alarm. Sigh.

I was thinking that it would be interesting to post the cost of my college costs here. More for my own purposes, but also because it might illuminate some things for others too, you never know. We hear so much about the exorbitant cost of college, I've been wondering if there's any way to get a genuine degree on a budget. And without taking out a loan. Hmmm. Sounds like a job for superwoman.

By the way, I'm not factoring in loss of income due to working less hours or gas/mileage/wear and tear on the car. Just the class and book fees.

So, for this first quarter at Whatcom Community College (I'll be transferring later to Western):

15 credits...................................$915
books for three classes............$83.71*

Total: $998.71

I'll try and remember to keep this thing going more often. For now, good morning!


*Books. Interesting. I found all the books needed online, at way cheaper prices than at the bookstore. I just got the first one yesterday. It's in good condition. But, 3 books came to $18.22 including shipping and the 4th book I couldn't get cheaper than $65.49 including shipping. Still, I'm glad I did that online hunting. It saved me about $275! (no joke.) God bless the internet.

Thankfulness

I have so much to be thankful for today. I have moved, registered for my classes and gotten a job. I have great renters for the Beehive and friends who like me and who I like and learn from. My family lets me stay for the week, eating their food and sleeping on their couch, enjoying their company, and I get to work with musicians who are so good...I'm inspired and overjoyed every time I play with them. But that's not all....I have a bike too! How did my life get this good? I am so thankful. I feel like it's such a good time for me. It's a pocket valley of peace. I know life won't be this good (or easy) forever, so I just want to enjoy these moments.

Some highlights from the last week:

After a great week in Aberdeen (I went down for some music jobs) I left early in the morning yesterday to get back to Bellingham and beat traffic. (Almost successful.) My cousins and I rode our bikes about 9 miles (?) (felt like 25) to the farmer's market, where we ate dry leftover roast beef sandwiches and watched people of all different types. The biggest thing I noticed though was the smell. Delicious.


My great grandpa turned 100 years old on Friday. We had a big party at his assisted living facility. The staff brought in some Hoquiam firemen to light his candles...all 100...on the birthday cake. It was hilarious. Can you imagine...born in 1907 and seeing all those world events? Note: I bought the Beehive from him and he always tells me what a good house that is. He bought that house in 1964 and lived there until he was 98.


Zona Calda (the jazz quartet I'm so happy to be a part of) played some shows this week...one at the Pacific County Fair. Now that's a fair that makes you feel like you're on a movie set. It's tiny, but hearty. Menlo, Washington knows how to get the job done.


My sister Claire, always such a gracious person, made my favorite breakfast food ever...pear pastries and chocolate pastries. They are so fantastic. And a lot of work! She starts them several days before we eat them, letting them rise many times to become the flaky wonders that they are. She was up working on them at 5 or something the morning we ate them. Thank you Claire.


I danced with Jia Tai, my brother with the true dance floor MOVES.

Warren surprised me with his singing ability and songwriting ideas. Wyatt, Warren, Laurel, Jai Tai and Gabby (our Bellingham cousin) and I started writing a tune this week. We have it on video (scary) but there are some really good ideas in it..and a big part of that came from 9 year old Warren. He played drums and was the lead singer. Could it be that my brothers will start a band and travel the world? That would be cool. Of course getting Laurel to participate was like trying to run over a cat...difficult. She's so good but just shy, I guess. She reminds me of me, I have such a love/hate relationship with music and performing. I feel like I'm a late bloomer and am just now beginning to embrace it. I hope she does that earlier, it's more fun to accept who you are than deny it. And she is so a musician with a gift. (For the record, she's a much better musician than I...I mean that we are alike in hating to play in front of people.)


Anyhoo. I'm at my first day of work tomorrow and am looking forward to it. A-haaaaaaa!

The move

Well I've made the move. I'm nearly unpacked and I'm settling in nicely. My family is the best. They did so much work to help me get out of the house and into the trailer, and then out of the trailer into my studio. Now my family in the north is being so welcoming and kind. I feel so relaxed about everything. Even job hunting, which is unsettling. Kind of like a first date. You want so badly to make a dynamic, delightful, interesting impression....ahhh. It's hard to be that when you're nervous and your words trip over themselves coming out your mouth. Yes.

Thank you and good night. I'm tired. Tomorrow is a new day!

Simplicity

I found a journal posting from May that I wanted to share on this blog. Random but definitely on my mind...and probably many others.

I just want to live simply. And yet, I have all these wants that make me buy things like good quality coffee and organic free range chicken and nonfat milk and whipping cream that I mix together to make whole milk since, oh yes, fat molecules should be larger than they are after the hydrogenation process. It’s crazy.

Today, I threw a little surprise birthday party for a neighbor kid who’s now 8. I walked him and some of the other kids home, and then talked with a parent for a bit. I mentioned that his kids were very well behaved but having a houseful of kids is overwhelming. He laughed and agreed (he’s the father of seven, he should know.) And I know too, I’m the oldest of seven kids, but somehow, I’ve forgotten. So the party and it’s volume was kind of a shock to my system.

I just hope that when I’m married and have kids, I will be able to live simply and quietly. Am I fooling myself? My life is truly simple now. I think I’m fairly good at not being materialistic, though that’s a constant struggle, but add more people to the mix and I don’t think it would be all that peaceful. Something to think about.

New Music

Check out Sara Bareilles....wow, what a singer! www.sarabmusic.com.

Just do it

Nike was right. I want to tell everyone about how cool automatic savings plans are! Before January of this year, I would work my paychecks like this:

1st - Tithe/giving
2nd - bills
3rd - savings

Then I kept reading about how automatic savings plans were helpful...I didn't really believe it, since I thought I was saving as much as possible already. Ahh, little did I know. Now my paychecks are divided up in this order:

1st - Tithe/giving
2nd - bills and savings

By treating my savings (paying myself) as a bill, and having it taken out automatically, I've been able to save about 32% more each month. And I don't feel I've denied myself anymore than normal. Don't ask me how it works, but somehow, my brain has been fooled and there is more money stashed away.

Just want to encourage all you lovables- if you haven't tried this, start today! (And lest you think you don't have enough, start small. I opened an online account several months ago yielding a 5.05% interest rate and automatically have $15 entered from each paycheck. It's really amazing how painless this is, and since I have it earmarked for a certain event in about three years time, I know I'll have the money available when I need it!)

Weekend in Bellingham

This past weekend, some of my extended family met up in Bellingham, mostly to see my cousins, Trevor and Philip, back from West Point and China, respectively, for the week. We had such a good time! It was beautiful, we spent all day Saturday on Lake Samish at my brother and sister in law's place, and being with my family rates high on the priority list. They are fun and interesting people!

I also moved up some items to my new place (I'm renting a mother-in-law apartment from my aunt and uncle starting August 1st) and opened a checking account, got some job applications and drove around the WCC campus. I kept telling myself that this would soon be the new stomping grounds, but I can barely believe it!

I am thrilled! I am terrified! I am anxious! I am exhilarated beyond words! I just don't want to fail, I want to succeed at this.

Have you any advice for me?