Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, its off to Disney World we go!!

Ok, I now see why we never travel.  Money, number one (which is on the road to change) but... WHAT A HASSEL!  I hear so many horror stories.. now I have my own.

Truth be told it is not really bad, just a big old pain in the butt.  It's never easy organizing six kids and two adults while traveling - we have only had to deal with it by car and that has gotten much easier since the kids are out of diapers.

Air travel.  Very different.  First off my hand has finally de-cramped from filling out eight passport forms, not to mention having to do 3 of them over again as the kids "signatures" went over the line.  I did find out later that I just needed to put a sticker over it rather than re-write the whole darn thing! ARRGG!

To the point, this morning at 8:25 am on the dot was 24hrs before we leave.  I jumped on the computer already shuffling the kids in my head as to who and how I would seat them.  After 20 min of typing ( having to enter in all the passport info) I was denied my on-line check in.

At first I thought the computer just timed out or something or maybe I entered in the wrong passport #.  I stayed calm while shooing the kids away from my intense task.  DENIED! DENIED! DENIED.

OK, panic.  Our travel agency was not open yet so I did the next best thing and called Delta direct.  Can you say useless?  (Sorry, Delta but this was pathetic).  All he said was, "Yep, looks like for some reason you all can't book in.  Don't know why."  Duh, yes, I know that, that is why I am calling you.

Travel agent was sympathetic but it was out of her hands.  I called Delta again.  She did help me by saying that I would have to check in tomorrow morning and it was nothing I did, but for some reason it was not working.  She made a note on our file that we could still pay the luggage fees ( yes, you have to pay for luggage) based on the on-line amount.  Which works out to be about $2-$3 less then if I pay at the counter.  Well, thanks.  But it still did not help me.

I decided the only way to do this without stressing out tomorrow morning was to drive out to the airport and do it myself.  First I tried their kiosk - not one but three of them all said that they did not recognize my confirmation #.????!!

I searched out the Delta counters and 2 gentlemen were busy talking amoung themselves - nobody was in line and so I quickly scooted up and explained my situation.  "Oh, well see that lady over their helping that "other" lady.... she can help you when she is finished."  Well, gee sorry to interrupt I thought.  I think I am getting a bit bitchy right about now.

The "working lady" was finishing up and I explained again my situation and the first thing she did was check her watch and let me know she only had 10 minutes to help me before she was due to go on her break!!!  Yikes.

I smiled and thanked her for all her time.  Remember honey works better then vinegar.

Well after 20 minutes, she finally got us set up and I was very thankful that she gave up her break or at least put it on hold to help me out.  Sarcasm aside - I really am thankful for her help.  I walked away with my tickets and tomorrow all we have to do is book in our luggage.

Positive note... I made it out of the airport without paying a dime in parking - one minute to spare.

See how easy it is to make me happy?

Girls/Womans Luncheon

It is not what it sounds like.  Well, it is a "slash" sort of lunch.   I just thought I would enter this post as it has nothing to do with finance but alot to do with life in general.

When I was 11 or 12 years old I loved the book Are You There God It is Me Margaret.  The reason I loved this book so much was that I couldn't WAIT to get my period.

I know, I know, many of you think I am nuts but I just thought it was the ultimate in maturity and womenhood.  I remember in grade 5 how all the girls would be shepherd out of their homerooms and brought into the teachers lounge to watch a video about what goes on in your body when you hit puberty.

I felt so wise and mature, thinking that I now knew a special secret and was about to join a very exclusive club of sorts.

This is why after having 5 girls I decided that I would celebrate that day.  I wanted to make getting your period not something to dread and despise but to celebrate.

So when my eldest daughter, got her period at 13 I immediately asked when she would like to go out to lunch to celebrate.  She was excited to be able to pick out the restaurant and have that all elusive one-on-one time with mom.  We had a fabulous time and she throughly enjoyed it.

Three years later my 2nd oldest got hers and the first thing she asked was when we would be going for our luncheon.  I jumped up and down, clapping my hands and gave her a big hug and kiss, "Congrats!"

We went this past Sunday and had such an amazing time.  I find I learn so much about them as their is nobody to interrupt our talks.  We ordered special drinks and shared some great spicy food, which we both love.

Daughter #3 is not to far behind as their is only 16 months between them and am thoroughly looking forward to our special luncheon together.  They go into it with a positive attitude, cramps, mood swings and all.

Two down, three more to go.  Happy luncheon ladies.

I have an addiction...

I've been warned, hand slapped and tsk,tsked.  No, it's not my utter free-for-all, lack-a-dazy attitude of letting my kids watch t.v whenever they want.  Or my perpetual believe that slicing cookies and baking them is the same as making them from scratch.

 It's my addiction to buying stocks.

This one little itty, bitty penny stock is driving me mad.  It's like a child that I see so much potential in but can't seem to convince it of the same.  My Golden Hope Mines Ltd. (GNH) stock had a bit of a growth spurt about 2 weeks ago and I was so proud.  But I let the ball drop too soon (I bought it at .66 and sold it at .73) and watched from the sidelines it rise to .97!  I cheered it along by sneaking back in at .77.  Ok, you think that is pretty good.  BUT I COULDNT STOP!  I see it steadily climbing and don't want to miss the peak, the mountain high of $1.00.

My finger itched, I bought and bought; .85 (stupid) .82 (dumb), .80 (stupider).  But I was reasoning with myself that it would stop the fall.  And it was a nasty fall.

I see my child trip and I can't get there fast enough to catch them.  But I tried...yes, I bought more shares at .79 in the belief that I was "averaging down"  but honestly, all I was doing was paying out of my "ying yang" in commission fees.  Remember those nasty $30 charges??  I know, I know.  Dumb, stupid and stupider.

So even though it went down to as low as .49 I kept my trigger finger firmly tucked away in my pocket. I had to stay away from the computer.

I still am banging my head against the proverbial wall but I know my baby will walk, no run soon.  It closed at .60 but went as high as .63 on Friday (Oct. 1) and new results are looking good.

If you want to join the time - welcome, I love having fellow cheerleaders to choreograph new dances with.  The stands is always a good place to be...but I prefer to be IN the game.

Getting the word out there.

I know I just started this blog experience, but I have discovered that I am a tiny fish in a very big pond.

I want to get the word out there and help other moms deal with fiances and learn that you can easily make some money by investing (stock trading made simple).

But if nobody is reading, how do I do this?  I searched google and now hopefully have joined some sites that will give me more exposure and hopefully help me learn how to be a better and more interesting blogger.

I have so much to learn and have decided that there is no way for me to NOT let my family life affect my blogging.  It is who I am and what I do and they are the ones who have inspired me to be more.

Heres to new experiences!!  Happy blogging and stock watching!