Posts by moogiesue13

Call your school and set up an appointment in the financial aid office. They'll walk you through the different types of loans available and all of the expected costs of your particular school and whether or not the school can provide you with a better financial aid package. If your parents aren't supporting you, make sure they aren't planning on claiming you as a dependent on their tax returns next year.

For government loans the interest rates are good and they are more flexible in terms of deferments/forbearance/consolidation later, you should try as much as possible to limit yourself to subsidized stafford or perkins loans. Private loans are all over the place so I'd try to stick to government loans or any loans that your school offers.

Also, start working so you can pay some of your living expenses yourself because gigantic monthly loan payments are no fun when you graduate. But at least you got the first 2 years free, right?

Oh a week will be tight, but I agree with Kaffwyn that Florence is the best! Of course, I spent a semester there as well. With only a week I would stick to Florence and Rome, it's not enough time for either, but it's where all the famous art and architecture is so your trip will be jam packed with things to do and places to see. Both are super touristy cities, but for good reason. Also, try not to go in the summer when it will be at it's hottest and most crowded because half of your day will be spent waiting in line. Seriously, you're going to have to get to the famous museums an hour before they open unless you want to wait in line ALL DAY.

However, if you can add a few days to the trip, Venice is so worth seeing. It's so romantic and pretty and there are no cars, only boats, so it's like you're floating around in the 1500s.

zhowe - the OP said this was her "afternoon snack."

As a loyal Kaffwyn journal reader, I know she's not starving or undereating.

So I just registered for Bay to Breakers. It's $44 if you register before 4/30 and for the money you get a free t-shirt and all the corn tortillas you can eat. Or you can save $44 and crash, I won't tell...

I have an afro and am planning on a 70's workout vibe for my outfit.

Anyone else up for it?

Oh, Michelle and I are trying to work out a bike ride in GG park. So far I've flaked on her but am hoping to settle on a date when she get's back from her trip overseas. We can start our own biker gang.

I want to be invited to any food tasting activities :-)

I started in the 280s or 290s in October 07 I think and finished it on my own schedule last summer. I had to take a break for a few months in the middle because of treadmill/daylight savings issues.

I also jog really slow, like a 13-14 min mile, and when I started it was about a 15 min mile. But I can finish a 5k now, no problem.

Original Post by crazineko:

Original Post by hkellick:

Original Post by crazineko:

Original Post by hkellick:

Original Post by crazineko:

At this point, it might just be better to cut everyone in America a check for 15-20 thousand dollars, which would roughly total to 900 billion.  Save us the headache.

No, it's a lousy idea.

You've got a Check for $20,000. What do you do with it?

Do you use it to pay debt, pay off a mortgage? That's fine. That might at least help the current credit crisis, etc.

Do you use it to pay for Goods and Services? That's where it gets tricky. If you give me $20,000 and I use it to buy a Boat made in Canada, how does this stimulate the economy? You help the guy selling boats AND THAT'S IT.

We need to invest money HERE. We need the money to be used HERE. And cutting everyone a check doesn't guarantee that.

See, I don't think I agree with that.  I do think folks would pay off there credit cards or they would use it for a down payment on a house.  Maybe they would purchase a new car, or spend it buying a new TV.  This would be one heck of a jump start.  A heck of a lot better then what's being proposed in congress.

OK.. so let's say they buy a TV. Let's say they get a Samsung 34" HDTV.. built in japan.

How does buying that TV help our economy?

 Well, it would help companies like Best Buy who primarily sell electronics.  This is what Bush/Pelosi were hoping for last time around with the last stimulus.  They were hoping that people would go out and buy a TV, computer, mattress etc to get things going again.  Didn't work, because it wasn't enough.  You give people a check for 17 grand, and they are definitely going to go on a spending spree.  Last time around, the checks came in waves over the period of 4/6 months, right?  Imagine 4/6 months of people receiving 17 thousand dollars.  That, is what I call a jump start.

 Instead of getting a cash rebate we should get gift cards. Like food stamps, that we get to choose. And it would include things like your local ford dealership (to buy hybrid escapes only) or Planned Parenthood. Economy=stimulated! Contraceptives=paid for! Dependence on foreign oil=curtailed! And then after I buy my new car and all the birth control pills I can swallow I can use the left over money at Target and Starbucks and personally help all those laid off workers get their jobs back. Win! Win! Win!

If anybody would like me to solve the whole "peace in the middle east" thing, let me know.

I prefer the Rohnert Park Diet of Red Lobster, Olive Garden and El Torito :-) 

Although the smell of cow manure in the air may spoil your appetite, I don't believe the Rohnert Park Diet would be very conducive to weight loss.

Use them to defend yourself from zombies

Benefit. I'm a sucker for their cutesy packaging and silly names. And it looks nice too.

Faith by George Michael, because I start with my back to the audience and shake my butt.

Or Total Eclipse of the Heart, because I can belt that one out like a crazy person.

Although the ladies here all have great suggestions, none of us know your wife and her taste. I'd go shopping with her and see if she starts dropping hints or ask her best friend/sister/mother what she wants. It's kind of like cheating, but you can use the other women in her life to find out exactly what she wants without asking her. If they're sneaky about it your wife will never know.

Hands down my best work party ever was a booze cruise. We had dinner on the boat, an open bar and a dj. Good times were had by all.

Except for the receptionist who hadn't gotten her sea legs yet.