Thanksgiving Day tips for dudes - From my WW newsletter

For some of us, Thanksgiving is a simple turkey dinner and a time to give thanks. But for many, it's an eating orgy and a six-week countdown to the same lose-weight-and-get-back-in-shape New Year's resolution that we make year after year…after year. Break the cycle this holiday season. Enjoy Thanksgiving but don't overindulge; head into the New Year feeling confident, slimmer and in control.

Ready, set, eat
Consider the worst-case scenario: If you were to eat a serving of dark meat turkey with all the fixings and sides in the plate above it would total a whopping 36 POINTS® values. Yup, more than twice the POINTS values some people eat in a day. Here's how to slash that number in half.

Make classic recipes light
If you're hosting dinner or bringing a dish to someone else's house, consider trimming the fat from your recipes. For instance:

• Make your mashed potatoes creamy with naturally low-fat buttermilk instead of butter
• Pour your turkey pan drippings into a large glass bowl (or you can use a gravy/fat separator) and allow it to sit for 5 minutes so you can skim off a layer of fat. Use some of the fat in your gravy, not al
• Slim down your pie by making a light cookie crumb layer instead of a traditional pie crust
• Leave off the top (or bottom) crust instead of using both. Or forget all about the crusts and bake your pie filling in small ramekins for mini soufflés instead
• Use whole-wheat bread, not white, for stuffing to increase the fiber and decrease the POINTS values (not to mention upping its vitamin and mineral profile)

Opt for tasty Weight Watchers recipes
Compare the POINTS values for some traditional Thanksgiving dishes versus our sure-to-please renovated recipes:

Traditional Recipe	POINTS Value	Weight Watchers Recipe	POINTS Value
Green bean casserole (3/4 cup)	4	Green beans with almonds (3/4 cup)	1
Candied sweet potatoes (1 cup)	8	Candied sweet potatoes(1 cup)	3
Garlic mashed potatoes (3/4 cup)	6	Garlic mashed potatoes (3/4 cup)	3
Mashed sweet potatoes, canned (1/2 cup)	2	Mashed sweet potatoes (1/2 cup)	1
Canned cranberry sauce (1/3 cup)	3	Cranberry-orange relish (1/3 cup)	2
Bread stuffing (1 cup)	8	Bread stuffing (1 cup)	2
Pumpkin pie (1 slice)	9	Pumpkin pie (1 slice)	3
Pecan pie (1 slice)	12	Pecan tartlets (1 item)	3

Know your portions
To help you size up your servings, come armed with some visuals:

• 1 cup of mashed potatoes is about the size of a tennis ball or your fist
• 3 ounces of turkey equals a computer mouse or a checkbook
• 1/2 cup of green bean casserole fits into a small cupcake wrapper or an ice cream scoop
• 1/4 cup of gravy equals 4 tablespoons; measure out some water in your gravy ladle to see how many tablespoons one full ladle holds

Comparison shop
Look up the POINTS values of common foods before the meal so you can make smarter choices. Here's a mini guide:

Item	POINTS Value	Item	POINTS Value
White meat turkey (no skin; 4 oz)	4	Turkey leg (with skin; 4 oz)	6
Mashed sweet potatoes (1 cup)	4	Candied sweet potatoes (1 cup)	8
Apple Pie (1 slice store-bought)	7	Pecan Pie (1 slice store-bought)	10
Wine (2 fl oz)	1	Vodka (2 fl oz)	3

Employ a Leader's own tactics
New York-based meetings Leader Elizabeth Josefsberg shares her tricks of the trade at the Thanksgiving table:

• Don't sit down overly hungry; eat a decent breakfast and lunch
• Drink alcohol only when you're eating dinner
• Fill half your plate with vegetables
• Only go for one round of food (aka Liz's "one-plate rule")
• Eat the middle of your pie and skip the crust
• Even if you just take a bite of a puffed pastry or pecan pie, count each taste as 1 POINTS value (great rule of thumb for those random BLTs — bites, licks and tastes)

Go for the two-for-one side dish special
Hopefully not all the vegetables are drenched in butter. Opt for two spoonfuls of vegetable side dishes for each starch-based one that you take (and no, potatoes are not a vegetable in this case).

Plan on eating leftovers
There are usually more than enough side dishes for a few meals. Whatever you don't taste today, you can taste tomorrow.

Seek satisfaction
Think about what's worth eating and what's not. You can make yourself a baked sweet potato anytime, but your Aunt's sweet potato pie is a once-a-year specialty.

Fend off food-pushing relatives
Don't eat something just because your mom wants you to. Compliment her outfit, ask for a recipe, enquire about an old friend — anything to change the topic from why you didn't touch both her pecan pie and pumpkin cheesecake.

How to properly set your Facebook Page for privacy

Alot of us out there want to be able to have our Facebook page work in two ways... one view to be the "everything" view for close friends and family, and the other view to be "restricted" to non-close friends and other facebook types. It takes a little work, but you can get your page to be that customized in Facebook, so that only the people you want will see WHAT you want, and you can actually use your Facebook page to display all those things you wanted. You can talk about your life and dreams and close thoughts and feel good knowing that only the people you WANT to know this stuff actually see it!!!

Facebook allows alot of granualarity in how it lets your page and private information be viewable. By default, Facebook allows everyone to see everything. This can be too wide open and let people you don't care to know about your daily life privy to those details. But FB allows you to let your page and info be viewable to those you want and NOT to those you don't.

These are the steps you should take to get your Facebook page setup so that those you want can see and those you don't.... don't. It takes some work, and you'll need to invest a little time, but in the end, you'll have a system in place that allows you to add people in the right places so that those you want can see and those who don't.... don't.

The real key to privacy starts with your Friends and putting them into lists. The lists are what is going to give you the power to decide who has the ability to see what. We'll start by having 3 basic lists (personally, I have like 10 lists). You should have a list for close friends, for family, and for Others. Now, go to your friends section in FB and start adding them to one of the lists. ALL your friends should be in one of the lists. This takes some time, but its VERY important. The more granular you get, the finer your control, but it also adds that much "admin" to the process because there are more items to be in control of.

Now, you've put all your friends into lists. Go to your Settings page and then go to your profile page. Here is where you're going to set the permissions to control who see's what on your page. I'm not going to go into detail about which options to choose for each section cause that would take forever, but what I will tell you is this... permissions to the various sections of your profile will fall into 3 categories, depending on the type of permissions allowed by that particular section of FB...

• NO ONE can see but me, with exception to ONLY these lists (example, close friends and family)
• EVERYONE can see EXCEPT these lists (example, Others)
• Only the chosen lists can see (example, close friends)

Based on these 3 styles of permissions, you'll decide what type of access you want.

Photo's have their own section for permissions, they also fall into the same 3 permission levels.

A HUGE trick to remember, when you're done setting permissions, is to go back to the settings\My Profile page and at the top you'll see a section that says "check how your profile looks to someone else". It's here that you can type in someones name and you can see how your profile will look to that person. This is extremely helpful when you want to see if a particular person can or cannot see your page.

I'm tired and don't want to write anymore, but that's really the gist to locking down your FB page. The lists are the key, without having your friends in lists, you can't get the granular control you are looking for. But with those lists, you'll have all the power. And don't forget about the tool to look at your page like someone else, this is huge for testing your permissions.

Have fun, ask me questions, take care!

7 Weeks to 100 Pushups - Week 3 Day 1

Yesterday I started my first week (which is actually week 3 of the program) of the 7 weeks to 100 pushups program. I started in week 3 because the instructions said that if I was able to do more than 20 pushups for my initial test that I should jump ahead. However, I'm not sure that I should have because I wasn't able to do all 5 sets required for the day. Thursday, when I go for Day 2, I'll actually be re-doing Day 1 again. If after this time I still can't finish the sets, when I get to the next day I'll go back to Week 2, probably pick the 3rd day of that weeks program, and see if I can finish that.

Not quite sure when or how I'll be integrating this but I also have another program I'm going to start so that I can do pullups. It's another several week course that works in the same way as the pushup program. Do many sets at low reps for one week, then the sets decrease and the reps increase each week until you can do 10 pullups. I have never been able to do even one pullup in my whole life. So, if I can do ONE pullup, I'll know that I'm in better shape than I have ever been. If I ever get to 10 pullups, as the program is supposed to get me to, then I'll know that I'm on my way to feeling and looking better than ever I could even imagine!

Pushups and pullups are so effective at creating functional strength and developing your build throughout your entire upper body, specifically shoulders, arms, back, and chest. But it's true as well that good pushups also work your whole body as you need your legs and a strong core to keep you in the "good form" position (straight as a board). Pullups aren't quite the all body workout that pushups are (you shouldn't be using your legs in the slightest for pullups, if you are you're swinging so you're cheating!), but they build upper body strength like no other. Pullups will help build that explosive power in your upper body. And not to mention... if you ever need to save your own life and pull yourself over the ledge of the cliff, you'll be happy you could do so many pullups and pushups, lol!

Alright, that's the progress so far. I'll continue to blog about my success (or lack there of if that's the case!) and keep track of my progress. Let's see if I can really do it!!!

Getting to your goals

Before you can set your goals and your strategies and plans, you have to understand and accept a basic philosophy if you're going to be successful making life long and life changing decisions...

Slow and steady wins the race.

A simple statement with plenty of meaning. My take and meaning on it is that the way to meet your goals isn't done in one day, or even one week or one month. Most goals are achieved, with success and with continued commitment, by taking the small steps necessary that make the big goal possible.

Most of us fail to meet our goals and plans because we decide to change everything at once. In one day you're going to lose weight, exercise, cook at home, blah, blah, blah. We set our standards to these impossible, A+ levels, tell ourselves there is no middle ground, so when you have a setback or a bump in the road, you've failed... and worse, give up.

The truest and best way to making the big goal ("I want to lose lots of weight") is to take care of the small things, to fix the basic foundation of bad behaviors, and to take on tasks and goals that you can realistically achieve... do it for a while... adjust it into your life as now PART of your life... then mark it off your list and move on to the next item. You'll find that, after some time has gone by, you've knocked several items from your big list and you're so much closer to the end all big goal.

Now... how do you do it? How do you get there?

The first step to making your goals happen is to start at the beginning and write them down. You start with your big goals, and remember, while "I want to lose weight" IS a goal, being just a bit more specific with it will add a level of significance and an actual reward at the end ("I will fit into a size X dress" gives you a definitive target to reach, and you are in fact "losing weight" as you wanted). Next, start to break down that big goal into smaller and smaller pieces. With each piece or sub-goal or whatever you want to call it, comes tasks that need to happen to be successful in reaching the higher goal. Break it down as much as you can or want to, giving yourself as many tasks, jobs, mini-goals (whatever) as you want, and in a way that you like. Online, on paper, or even all in your head if you're that good, but have your goals put down somewhere that you can see it and make the right plan to achieving it by knowing what it take to get there.

I would advise you to think of goals in "one day at a time" or "one week at a time" for timelines, end dates, ect. "I want to eat breakfast everyday" literally means everyday until you're dead, right? So, it's "one day at a time" to get there... but before you know it, it's just part of the daily routine and no longer even "day to day" because it's PART of the day!

Think small, definable, achievable things that you can really, really do and really change, and start there. Soon enough, even your small goals will be bigger and better than your best goals used to be!

One of my small steps that I started doing when I first started Weight Watchers, when I needed to shave a point off my daily points total, was to switch from regular hazelnut coffee creamer to the fat-free kind. It was just a little sacrifice, one I could easily make and stick to. I did it, and now it's just the way it is, and it saved me a point a day. A goal I could realistically do, DID it, and then moved on to bigger and better.

In the race of life, it's the tortoise who wins in the end and not the hare. He takes it slow, he takes the right turns, and he minimizes his mistakes. The tortoise is kinda boring and not super flashy, but he gets to his goal each and every time. He always finishes the race, and usually in front of the crash and burn hare's who thought they could win in one day but are now gasping for air on the sidelines.

Think about it. Think about your goals. Get them OUT of your head and ON to some paper or a computer and start checking things off the list!

Let's see some results. Let's see a list. Let's see some dates. Let's see some rewards for making goals. But what I don't want to see is more talking or more not making things happen. Take action now.

Let's be about it People.

Thanks to everyone who became a Fan!

I am always surprised by how many people became Fans of my Mike Custer's Thoughts page aka my blog. Thanks for joining and I'll try not to be too boring.

I do tend to say what I want, often rambling, but often enough actually droppin a little knowledge here and there :-)

Thanks again!

7 Weeks to 100 Pushups - Initial Test

I maxed out at 23 good form pushups, which 6 months ago would have been absolutely amazing to me :-) but for now, it's a good starting number. I get to skip 2 weeks of the program because I can do more than 20 already, so this could very well be 5 weeks to 100 pushups!

I begin again next Monday. If I start on Friday, I'll throw off the timing, so the extra couple of days off won't hurt. Not like I won't do some other kind of workout till then anyways!

Thank you again to MakeUseOf.com for providing another good article! I was very happy to find this program (or shall I say it found me!) because I wanted to do more pushup workouts to get more upper body development, and bam, here's a program to do it. I'm a "tell me the routine and I'll do it" kind of guy, so having someone do the work for me was a big help!

Along the way I'll still be doing the basictrainingSF classes as well, which are such good workouts (if you've ever worked out "bootcamp" style, you'll know what I'm talking about!). These ladies know just how to kick my butt, but I feel so good for it later!

The resulting changes to my body are coming along pretty slowly, true, but I have to admit that there are results. Not going to be winning any bodybuilding contests (hahaha!) of course but I'm glad to see changes instead of just hoping for them.

So, I guess I have my first ever fitness goal... beyond "do more exercise, get in shape", which we all know is the biggest load of crap "goal" you can have! 5 weeks from now and Kathi will be here for our Anniversary... and maybe I'll have something to show her!!! :-)

OK, that's the report for now... status reports to come!

Looking for a new home for my loving cat Nizzle

Dear Friends and Family,

As many of you may know, I’ve made a big decision in life and I’m going to be moving to Munich, Germany, to live with my girlfriend Kathi. One of the hardest choices I’m making in order to go forward with my decision is to find new homes for my cats. I love my cats like my own furry little children, but I have come to the conclusion that it is in the kitties best interest not to make this long journey with me, but instead to stay here in America with new, loving owners. To force the journey on the cats is too selfish on my part… the long, stressful flight, the possibility of exposure to unknown kitty diseases, possibility of them running away, ect, ect. I think the cats will be better suited to staying here and being put into loving homes.

I wanted to reach out to my friends and family first since I trust you all the most, know many of you to be pet lovers, and I would know that I could feel secure if Nizzle was with one of you.

I’m looking for the right home for Nizzle. I think Nizzle would be best suited to move into a home where he is either the only cat, or the other kitties are very calm and\or older cats. Nizzle has grown up with his buddy Sylvester and he’s rarely ever had any issues with being around other cats, but he’s always been more of a solitary kitty, content with eating, sleeping, and the affections of his owner!

Nizzle is the sweetest, most loving cat I have ever had the pleasure of being around, and the right home is looking for just such a cat! He’s like a sweet, little teddy bear… every night, Nizzle snuggles up in my arms and sleeps the night away! (well there is a routine, first he lays his head on my face, then I push him away, then he goes to sleep… typical cat!). Nizzle loves affection, he can’t get enough, and he is a great lap cat and will give his new owner more love than they could ever imagine! He’s also small, cute and adorable! Nizzle is a funny blend of brave and skittish. He’s the first cat to sniff the new dog in the house, but move too fast or make too loud of a noise, and he’s gone in a grey blur! It’s his special personality that endears him to people and what makes him such a pleasure to own!

Nizzle has been around quite a few dogs and doesn’t have any problems with them… he’ll let them know if they got too close!

I want to find the right home and the right owner for Nizzle. He isn’t complicated and only demands the basic cat needs… feed him and love him! But he definitely makes sure he gets what he needs! The right home and owner wants a cat that is low maintenance, is very loving, is outdoors (Nizzle is a fully trained indoor\outdoor kitty, he will “go” outside or use a kitty box), and probably won't want any more cats (other than perhaps those you may already own). Nizzle won’t need anything additional to come into your home… he’s micro-chipped, he’s gotten his 3 month flea treatment, he is current on all his shots, and he has a clean bill of health from the vet (as of his recent appt a couple of months ago). I’ll provide him with his first bag of food, and if you’d like, with a kitty box.

I only have one special request of his new owner. I’d like to ask that if Nizzle is to become an outdoor cat (which is my preference), that for the first 3 months (minimum), up to 6 months, he remain an indoor cat while he becomes adjusted to his new home, owners, and feeding schedules. He needs to learn where the food is and where home is so that he doesn’t try to run away first chance he gets! I ask because I think Nizzle has a small chance of getting freaked out and taking off before he realizes that he's in a new home for good and I think everyone would feel pretty bad in that situation!

Please believe me when I say that I do NOT want to part ways with Nizzle, but if there is a cat that would definitely have a very hard time with such a crazy move as Germany, it would be him. He is a joy and I love having him in my life. I know this isn’t something that most people would agree to, but I would take him back in a second if\when I moved back to America (though if YOU had Nizzle, you wouldn’t want to give him up!!!).

So, in conclusion, if any of you, my trusted friends and family, think you have a place in your home, but most especially in your heart, for a warm, cute, loving, adorable cat that is sure to make you fall in love with him, please reach out to me and let me know that you’re interested in adopting Nizzle and giving him the awesome home he deserves!!! I’d like to kindly ask that, if you can’t do it or don’t want to, just send me a quick reply that you aren’t interested, and I’ll make sure I don’t bother you with this request again!

Thank you again… pictures included… I definitely hope it’s one of you who take my baby Nizzle home!

PS – some of you may get this same letter via Facebook… thanks! And sorry if you're getting this again, but obviously, I haven't found a home yet :-)

I've never felt more alive and ready for action

I feel like I'm just living on top of a cloud. I am just as excited as I've ever been at the prospect of my own life.

I hope others around me can pick up on my good vibes and their own day's are a little better for it, because I'm really radiating positive attitude right now. You would too if you were me :-)

Europe... ahh, what a place. I could explore and get lost there and never go to the same place twice! And could there EVER be a better companion for the road ahead than my beautiful woman? I think not! Life is on it's way to being a story that I can tell and other people actually listen and say... "wow, that was hella cool, I wish I could... " :-)

I feel good, I feel healthy, I feel alive, and I want to spread the joy! Oh yeah, I feel LOVED by my family, my girl, and my friends, and nothing feels better than that!

100% cornball, that's my way of thinking, but I'm smiling and bouncing and feeling good, so you can't knock me! Maybe you'll try it yourself! You are what you tell yourself, so tell yourself that you're awesome and today is great and you wouldn't change who you are or your life in one single way! If you don't love yourself, who else can?!?

OK, enough, take my vibes and run with it!

Wednesday Thoughts

The due date is fast approaching! I'm soon to be experiencing something new and different. I'm not that guy that is all "I'm sooooo excited!", but even I'm starting to get butterflies and it's really starting to hit home that I'm doing this.

Germany is going to be an awesome place. I can't wait to see what it has to offer me.

Really what I'm excited about the most will be our opportunities to travel around Europe. Just get in the car for the weekend and take off! Get on the train and go somewhere! I'm really excited for this!!! And there couldn't be a better person to do it with than Kathi, the best girlfriend a guy could ever ask for!

There is still alot to accomplish, lots of details to take care of... but I'm so ready!

Dead Wrong - Notorious B.I.G. - Eminem lyrics

There's several different levels to Devil worshippin: horse's heads,

human sacrifices, canibalism; candles and exorcism

Animals havin sex with 'em; camels mammals and rabbits

But I don't get into that, I kick the habit - I just,

beat you to death with weapons that eat through the flesh

And I never eat you unless the fuckin, meat looks fresh

I got a lion in my pocket, I'm lyin, I got a nine in my pocket

and baby I'm just, dyin to cock him

He's ready for war, I'm ready for war

I got machetes and swords for any faggot that said he was raw

My uz' as, heavy as yours, yeah you met me before

I just didn't have as large an arsenal of weapons before

Marshall will step in the door, I lay your head on the floor

With your body spread on the bedspread, red on the wall

red on the ceilin, red on the floor, get a new whore

Met on the second, wet on the third;

then she's dead on the fourth - I'm dead wrong

Thursday Thoughts

Today, I feel good. I feel better about the way my life is progressing. There are still alot of improvements to be made, but truth be told, if you stop improving, it's probably cause you're dead or the most boring person ever :)

Losing all this weight has made me feel so good about myself. I've proven to myself that I can do the hardest thing possible, and do it well! Being on WeightWatchers and having a plan of attack (using their system) has definitely given me the right tools to get it done, but it still came down to me and only me. I love the fact that I can look in the mirror and say "yup, I did it, 100% all me". No one picked up the fork for me, no one told me I "had to eat this or that". It definitely feels good to know I made the right choices most times and that I'm seeing results for it! I can't wait for my girlfriend to see me! If she loved me when I'm pudgy and cute, she'll flip for her skinny, sexy boyfriend :-)

I've stopped talking about my finances because... well because the systems I've put in place are working! Most of my payments are automated and everything just pays itself. It's pretty awesome :-) I love that I hardly have to think about it more than a couple of times a week, at best!

I'm going to Germany! I'm going to take a cursory visit to check out the country, see the place I'll be living in, and of course, to spend time with my lovely Kathi. It's a short visit, only a week, which is not what people normally do when traveling to Europe, but hey, I think its totally worth it and I can't wait to see Kathi. Almost 6 months apart has been terrible!

Nothing else to report... just happy, loving life, and excited to see my love again!!!

Love when things go good!

A moment of frustration just adds clarity to my situation.

My frustrations have come strictly due to work. Mostly just frustrated because the things that I wanted to happen with this job never panned out. I'm doing work that I'm simply too good for. I don't mean that in the derogatory sense, but in the sense that I've trained and have experience in WAY more than I'm doing. I feel like an experienced, certified mechanic who's stuck doing oil changes at your local 10 minute repair shop.

But again, with frustration comes clarity. If there is one thing that I know, for a FACT, is that I AM A SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR. I am not Helpdesk. I am a Systems Administrator doing Helpdesk work. This week, I've come to realize that my next job, no matter how long it takes, or where, or when, will be with either the title of Systems Administrator or Windows Administrator. No middle ground, no half ways, nothing. Sys Admin or bust.

The only exception to this would be the for the chance to get a sponsored job in Germany. I'd be willing to stay in parallel with my career as it is for the opportunity for a guaranteed job. It's going to be hard enough getting a job, so while I'm certainly applying for, trying for, and gunning for a Systems Administrator job in Germany (which is essentially a promotion to a new job in a new country where I don't speak the language), the realist in me says "take the job that comes your way, get your foot in the door and get over there... THEN you can have some wiggle room to do something else." If time were no factor, I'd only try to get the Sys Admin position, but I miss my girl and I want to get out there already :-) so any job will do, basically!

I have to say though, I'm feeling real good right now because I'm moving in the right directions. Because I've set a goal for myself, I actually have something to look forward to, something that is achievable and I can reach for. Once the decision was made in my mind to move to Germany, my path and my options all seemed to come into focus. I see where my career needs to go, I have plans in motion to get myself out to Germany, and I'm getting things done, and more importantly, getting them done right.

Challenges, problems, frustrations... these things are my teachers and they help me to grow. Without them, I'd never have the opportunity to prove that I can BEAT them! Win your challenges, overcome your problems, and work thru your frustrations. You are only a better person for it... and I'm a better person now for it as well!

What else you got for me life? Think you got a challenge I can't win, bring it on, I dare you!

My mind is set!

I'm going to be doing it... September... love knows no bounds and my love is waiting for me!

Now that I'm decided, I feel a certain empowerment. I'm becoming less hindered by negative or non action. Now that I know what I want, I can feel myself leaning in the direction(s) it takes to get there.

Alot of you know what plans I'm talking about, some of you don't... but for reasons of my own, I won't be divulging further details in blogs or facebook at the moment... but soon enough, everyone will know what I'm doing... just protecting certain interests!

But I'm excited... the chance at practically a new life is something that most people can't, or maybe won't, consider for themselves. A few years ago, I thought my life was decided and that it wasn't going to do much else... kinda boring really! Now, life has NOTHING but possibilities and adventures waiting for me! No longer will I be that guy who envies other people's exciting lives, but I'll have my own life that OTHERS will envy! And I'll have the woman of my dreams on my arm!!!

Thanks for all the support and love. I know it will be a challenge to live out my dream, but hey, if it was easy, would it be as worth it??? Probably not!

Here I come baby!!!

I highly recommend this Personal Finance Book

I want to recommend a book I've recently read that has helped me out considerably to better understand, and more importantly, take control of my personal finances and investments.

The book is called "I will teach you to be rich" by Ramit Senthi. Now, before you let the title of the book trick you into thinking this is some get rich quick scheme, you can throw that out right now. Ramit's personal definition of "rich" is varied and not based on literal money in the bank. You're "rich" when you have money for the things you want in life and money for your future, not by how many zero's are in your bank account.

If I ask you these series of questions, and you answer no or I don't know to most or all of them (or if yes is the bad answer, haha), then I am speaking directly to YOU when I say read Ramit's book and finally come to understand your finances and how you can take control!

Do you know the details of your checking\savings\credit cards?
- Are you paying yearly fee's on your checking account?
- Do you know the interest rate on your savings account?
- Are you paying yearly fee's on your credit cards?
- Do you know the APR on your credit cards?

Are you saving or investing your money?
- Do you know what a 401K account or a Roth IRA account is? If yes, are you investing into one?
- Do you think that "investing" means buying stocks? Do you think you can't invest?
- Do you know how to automate your accounts to invest in a "set it and forget it" fashion?

Do you know where your money is going?
- Are your high interest credit cards being paid reguarily?
- Do you keep a budget or do you know when all your bills are due?
- Do you know how to cut costs and save without having to be that guy that never buys Starbucks again or never goes out with friends?

And the most important question of all... are you actually doing something about your finances? Or are you like most of the rest of us and, rather than do at least something, you're not doing anything at all, or at least very, very little.

I can answer all of those questions about myself and my finances and feel very good about my answers. Since reading Ramit's book, I've had the APR on my two credit cards reduced (from 14% to 12.5% on one and from 12% to 5% on the other... and I made only one phone call to each credit card to get my APR reduced!), I've setup a high interest online savings account. I've started a RothIRA account and rolled my old 401K account (that is not receiving any more investment dollars) into it and will soon roll my other 401K account into that as well. I've cut costs in my daily life, but yet I have more money than ever. Ramit's book has taught me what I needed to know about personal finance... the different parts, the descriptions, the "how-to's", and the goods and the bads. I've learned, most importantly, that you don't need alot of money to save for your future and you don't need to bust your balls maintaining it. Save for what you want and cut out the rest!

I started reading Ramit's blogs on his website (same name as the book) and I was instantly interested because of his directness, his good advice, and the fact that Ramit talks like someone I feel I might know personally and about things that directly relate to my life. He doesn't talk or sound like some boring, stuffy old finance guy, and he knows what's happening in our, younger, daily lives. So when I saw his book was coming out, I pretty much knew I had to get it and finally get some understanding of what's happening to my finances... or I might say what was NOT happening to them.

If you're sinking in debt... if you're trying to invest for your retirement... if you're planning to save money for a wedding\downpayment for a house\vacations... then Ramits book "I will teach you to be rich" is the PRIMER for your financial future. This is the book for all of us who just want to know more about our money and how to make it work for us!

Big things on the horizon

I feel life changing for the better. I can see ahead and I see great things. I can't wait to move forward and start to see these goals actually come to life.

Some of you out there know what I'm talking about. I have a big change coming up, and it's actually closer to due date at this point than ever before! The details are looming ahead and can feel a little daunting, but hey, if it was easy, it wouldn't be exciting right!

That's it for now, just wanted to write to keep in the flow... maybe I'll do something more later!

Friday's Positive Self Talk

I wake up today with my mind clear and free of yesterday's troubles. Today is a new day, one where I will achieve what I need to get done.

Today is a good day. I am clear of mind, I am energized, I only think positive, healthy thoughts.

What was an obstacle for me yesterday and the days before is no longer a problem for me. Today, and each day going forward, I make sure I conquer the goals of the day before and that I leave all those problems behind.

Today there is no challenge I can't face or problem I can't beat. Today I am productive, I will get things done, and I will have a good day.

Today I face the dragon and I slay him. I fight the battle on my terms and I will win.

They took the wind out of my sails!

This is going to be one of the very few complainer blogs I'll write, but dammit, I've been frustrated for days now and I'm having the damnedest time trying to get over it!

I know I'm smart and that I do good work. I also know that I have PLENTY of flaws and that I'm far from the perfect worker. But I do feel that I give more than enough back and that I should feel wanted. But I don't right now.

Whatever the reasons or excuses, I'm not wanted and that's hard to swallow. I am my own self confidence and my own positive attitude, but right now, I'm having a hard time bringing that to bear. No, I'm not feeling down on myself, but I'm also not feeling like Mr. Confident either.

I'll get the positive feelings back, I'll get that ball rolling downhill again, but right now, the ball is giant and heavy and won't fucking move! I'm going to have to put some back into it and MAKE that fucker GO!!!!

So, to any and all who doubt me, who don't think I'm good enough... FUCK YOU. I'm not smart enough, funny enough, hard working enough, good looking enough... FUCK YOU. Don't want to take the chance on me, don't think I have what it takes.....

FUCK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maintaing my composure

Today was a pretty frustrating day, but I think I managed to keep myself under control and not let my emotions take over. I wanted to be mad today... I was (still am somewhat) frustrated about my situation and left questioning myself, which definitely could have led to self doubt and excuses, but I feel that I stopped the negativity from taking control.

It is frustrating that I've been denied the opportunity to move ahead, career wise, on two different occasions, and both within a year's time. I'm can't help but question my skills and my work effort. But honestly, if I didn't question myself, and if I didn't try to examine the situation deeper, how am I going to find the area's I need to improve in?

All I can do right now is to try harder than ever. I admit that I'm kind of angry, which is something I don't like to be, but in a weird way, it's a positive anger, one that will help fuel my desire for more.

I'm SO ready to move on. I just need to get that opportunity. I can DO THIS!

Tuesday Frustrations

You know, it's really tough on the ego and self esteem when you find out that you won't be promoted. It's just as tough when you find out it's because they don't think you can handle it, or when it's disguised as "we want someone more qualified". Basically, you're not good enough.

I'm extremely frustrated, I admit it. But I'm fighting inside to not let this problem\frustration become a roadblock, or more to the point, an excuse.

"Obstacles are for winners" - as quoted by my mom, as it was quoted to her from a good man, Mr. Pinney. There is no wall I can't climb, no problem I can't face, no obstacle I can't conquer. A weak man will see the challenge and wilt. I will face this challenge and I WILL WIN.

I plan to show anyone who matters that I can do all I said I can and that I'm as good as I said I was. If anyone thinks I'm going to try less or be all butt-hurt, then you have me figured all wrong. I will prove that I am as capable as anyone else, if not better.

Michael Jackson Trivia

Monday morning thoughts

Understanding your past is a key ingredient to being sane in the present.

We all have our pasts. We all have good times and bad. For some of us, the bad times feel like they weigh more heavily than the good times. Reversed for those lucky others.

I've watched and listened to many people, just like we all have. Friends, family, strangers. We watch and we learn, and hopefully, we apply what we learn to ourselves. What I've come to observe about the more positive people in my life is that they have that focus on what's good for them, especially right now. They have great mindsets and they never dwell on their past... at least not for the rest of us to see.

I'm trying more and more each day to stay a positive person and continue living for new and better experiences. I have had my issues and demons in the past, but what I think I've done real well is to look at those issues, analyze them, come to the best possible conclusions about it, and most importantly, mentally "save" it and then "close" it and "file" it away (yes, I'm a computer!). Bad stuff happens, no doubt, and I'm lucky enough that nothing so terrible ever happened to me, but I still choose not to dwell on it, and I think that makes me feel better about myself right now. I don't focus on the negative, I don't dwell on things that I can't change, and I don't try to re-live my past (to be honest though, I still do all of that, just not like I used to, I'm not perfect, every day I still have to try!).

My personal zen opinion is that you can't move forward with your life until you let go of the past. Forget? no. Comes to terms with? yes! Accepting your demons, taking your experiences and learning from them, and then moving forward with these newly learned tools, life can't help but get a little easier, and then maybe it'll be easier to get that positive mindset into motion!

Your own best friend or your own worst enemy

As I get older, I've come to realize that most important person in the success of my own life is... ta dah! Me! I hold all the keys, all the power and control, to get things done... or to not.

I've come to learn that no one else in the world, including my family, work, and friends, has any control over what happens in my life. To claim they do is an excuse to myself. I chose my job and my career and, though I don't choose my co-workers or manager, I control how I interact with them and the rest of the job. If I tell myself "it sucks, they suck, work sucks", then I'm just deluding myself to the reality that all those things control me and not the other way around. I obviously didn't choose my family :) but I do have the control over how I feel around them and how to interact with them. Friends too... what they say and what they do does not control my world, but instead, how I choose to interact with my friends does.

I think the point I'm trying to make is that my life is my own and I take full responsibility for it. My emotional state, my financial state, my place in society, all of these things are in my power to change and control. Positive self-talk keeps me uplifted and positive and programs my mind to stay organized... which in turn makes me become better in control of my finances and my personal goals... which in turn places better value on my position in society. None of these things were controlled for me (well, to a mild degree there is outside control... government, medical probs, ect), and none were decided for me, so the outcome is my own.

To take on that responsibility makes me feel like a better person and improves on who I am. I enjoy the feeling that at the end of the day, good or bad, the choices I made were my own, they were positive, and hopefully, they benefited me and progressed me further in life. I'm glad to be me and I get better at it everyday!

My blogs posted on Facebook... and you can too!

So today I created a fan page on Facebook, customized for the express purpose of posting my Blogs onto my Facebook page!

So, I created a Fan page for myself and setup the link to import my blogs from mikescrill.blogger.com. Now, whenever I post up a new blog, it'll appear automatically in my notes section and will post on my page!

So, all of you out there, you can become a "fan" and read my blogs... I mean, if you care :-)

Here is the link on how I set this up, for the rest of you out there who might want to be blog nuts!
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-promote-your-blog-using-facebook-pages/

You do need to have a blog to post though. I signed up here at blogger.com, Google's free blog pages, so if you don't have a blog but want one, sign up here. Free and easy!

OK, that's it for now... thanks everyone!

No anger in my life

I choose to live my life without anger. I choose a life that is peaceful and calm and not negatively influenced by anger.

I do not get angry. Anger only leads to hurt and pain for myself, my friends, and my loved ones. Anger helps no one and only serves to make situations worse

I do not let anger cloud my judgment or determine my actions. I do not allow anger to influence events in my life or those around me. I choose to release my emotions in positive, calming fashions and never allow anger to direct my emotions.

I never get angry. Situations that would provoke my anger are either avoided, analyzed, or met head on and confronted. I do not get angry over situations that I cannot control. I do not get angry over the past because I know that to live in the past, especially to relive past hurts and bad memories, only gives strength to my anger and I refuse to allow that.

I choose a life of peace and love. I choose to live my life with the best possible feelings and thoughts inside myself. I choose to avoid anger and the people who choose to exhibit constant anger in themselves. I choose happiness over anger, this day and every day after.