366 Random Acts of Kindness

No act of kindness,
no matter how small,
is ever wasted.

Aside from using blogger as a personal outlet, I have also been able to connect with others that are similarly sharing about their lives.  I follow blogs by both people I know as well as people with public blogs that I have found on blogger.

One such blog that I have come to enjoy reading on a daily basis in my reading list is 366 Random Acts of Kindness.  The site is run by Ryan.  He has this blog, a facebook page, and a twitter feed that are all updated every day to tell us how he used his day to help one or more people.

Examples of the random acts of kindness Ryan has performed this year include everything from donating old shoes and clothes to taking a military family out to a game to paying for someone's train pass to cleaning trash to saving dolphins.  Ryan has set a goal to do at least one act of kindness each and every day of 2012.  He is asking nothing in return and has promised to give a minimum of "10 cents will be donated to charity for every Like and Follow."

I am just one of the 2475 blogger followers and 2951 facebook page followers.  I find it inspiring that Ryan is so willing to go out of his way each and every day to help others, asking only that those around him can pay the kindness forward.

Take the time today to visit Ryan's blog and facebook pages.  Be sure to 'Like' what you see.  As he points out, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."  What kindness can you pass on today?

30% Discount? Yes Please!

Although I work at a bank, money is not my forte.  By this, I don't mean I am bad at managing my income--I mean I am having trouble finding a job to increase my income.

Based on the Occupy Wallstreet/1% vs 99% movements, I was curious how my individual part time income stacked up against the rest of America.  My take-home pay ranks me in the 12th percentile.  However, seeing as I work part time in a hourly job, I think it is decent enough to not be fretting about having a full time position relating to my degree.

Since for the time being I am unable to increase my income, I simply need to make it stretch further.  One way I am doing that is through Progressive.

I've had a few less than smart moments while driving.  I currently have two speeding tickets and a fender bender on my driving record as well as a pretty and new(ish) Civic.  These are pricy to have.  A 6 month policy for me ranges between $925 and $1350.  As with my previous policy, Progressive continued to be on the lower end and promised opportunities to save further.  Needless to say, that is who I chose at renewal.

The Snapshot discount was a deciding factor in again choosing Progressive.  I have a small device that I plug in my car that monitors my driving habits so that I can save up to 30% on my insurance rate.  I figured I might as well try it out since 1) 30% is a difference of almost $300 2) I don't really drive much to begin with and 3) the device cannot make your rate increase.  The device monitors when, how far, and how fast I drive (and break), but not where I drive or if I am speeding.  Yea--it is a little big brother like, but I have my initial discount taking effect right now!

I never thought I would qualify for the full 30% discount, but I am not complaining!  I'll get a check soon as a refund for my current policy as well as huge savings for as long as I stay with Progressive!  While I don't know exactly how the discount number is calculated (as many other online reviewers with much lower discounts also desire to know) I am one happy camper right now :)

Oops...It's March!

I wish I could say I have neglected making a new post because I have been super busy with a new job and out enjoying a delightful early spring... but only the latter is true.

My job search has not had any more rejections...but I don't have a 'yes' yet.  My most recent prospect has not yet decided whether or not the company will actually be hiring someone...but I did make it to the top three list of prospects after my interview!  I suppose that is all good news so far...I'm just hoping they do decide they want to 1) hire someone and 2) that someone is me!

In regards to the other aforementioned positive news, spring has sprung!  While I will not deny the winter that I am fully aware HAS graced some parts of these United States, I will agree with my fellow Ohioans that say 'We skipped winter."

Friends, Family, Co-Workers, and my hometown minister all agree!  I was home the first weekend in March during the 'Great Snowstorm of 2012' as my minister called it.  Said snowstorm, in my definition, was merely a light flurry in the mid morning hours...

Having essentially skipped the normal brute force of the cold snowy winter, I find that the groundhog was wrong this year.  The large majority of February was quite warm...despite having predicted six more weeks of winter.

Just as the February 2nd Groundhog's Day is weather folklore, the merry month of March is too.  As depicted, if March comes in like a lamb (fair weather) then it will leave like a lion (stormy weather); if March comes in like a lion then it will leave like a lamb.  As I have observed thusfar, the March of 2012 in my little corner of the great Ohio has been mostly mild--turning stormy on the ides of March with more storms to come!  I diverge--the 'ides' really just means it is the middle day of the month--every month has one!  In months with less than 31 days, the 'ides' is on the 13th!

Regardless of what the weather related folklore tells us, some may be true...or just a coincidence.  Whatever happens though, you won't see me complaining with this beautiful spring among us.

In closing today, I wish to see all of you right here again soon!  Happy Spring!

Happy Leap Day!

Happy Leap Day!

This 'extra' day won't arrive again for another 1,461 days, so enjoy the uniqueness of our leap year!  Personally I'll celebrate by baking half of a cake because I only have the opportunity to celebrate my half birthday once every four years :)

Many true Leap Day babies take pride in only aging numerically older at one-fourth the speed of anyone born on another day.  Some celebrate on either the day before or the day after or both days in the years without February 29th.

As suggested by the word-visual above, many people take advantage of Leap Day as a time to be bold and courageous by saying "YES" to everything!  Jim Carrey Could do it!  So Can You!

Coming only once every
four years, the next Leap
Day will be in 2016!

Where did the origins of leap day come from though?

We understand a year to be the 365 days it takes the earth to orbit the sun.  Right?  Almost.  Leap day was added to account for the extra partial day à a technical whole year on earth is 365.24219 days long!  As an extra sense of technical thought, if the year is divisible by 100 (1900, 2100) but not divisible by 400 (2000, 2400) then the leap day is skipped!

In the time of Emperor Julius Caesar, the first 'leap day' was created by simply adding an extra 24 hours to February 24.  This was necessary to keep seasons arriving at the same time each year.  Also, during his reign, the Julian Calendar was in use whereas we now abide by the Gregorian Calendar. 

Does the one extra day on our calendar really make a difference though?  

Yes!  While you may not notice a difference or think leap day as necessary, Julius Caesar estimated that without leap day, the calendar would be "a mess.  If you lived to be 90 years old, your birthday would have drifted by three weeks" due to changes in the seasons!  Crazy to think about, Right?

Let me know what you think!  Post a comment below and tell me how you celebrated your Leap Day and said YES!

It's A Great Day!

Happy Monday Everybody!

Hopefully you are receiving this in the A.M.  I want you to tell yourself that TODAY WILL BE A GREAT DAY!!!  Why is it going to be a great day?  You were blessed enough to wake up and start a new day.  You have the option to start well by telling yourself it will be a great day!

I don't want to hear any more of this from YOU:

 I want to hear more of this from everyone:

And more of this!  Even if I wasn't involved, it always makes me feel better knowing my friends are doing well!

As the beginning of a new work week, YOU have the power to make it start on good terms!  Think positively as your Monday begins and it will progress smoothly!

Post below and let me know how your day is beginning!  Even if your day begins on the wrong side of the bed, remember:

"It's great to be great, but its greater to be human."

-Will Rogers

(If you don't know who Will Rogers is, ask Google!

He is very interesting to read about!)