The rhythm of the rain

April showers bring May flowers!

And I can hear my favorite part of Spring on the rooftop tonight...the rain!

I'm still working on the song of the rain. I invite everyone to listen for it tonight.

Online Bill Pay

Lately I've been "old fashioned" - mailing checks and entering stores to pay my bills, but I thought this pay period I would try the online bill pay thing again because I was wondering why I stopped using it so much.

I remember now.


Taking two-three business days just to see it update on my account has been ridiculous. I can mail the check and have it clear in a time period that is actually quicker than the automatic withdrawals on most of my accounts. I'll mail the check first thing in the morning and see it out within two days. Insanity! The extra money I pay on postage is worth the less of a wait period I have on my accounts. Everyone keeps telling me to go green and have it "automatically" withdrawn from my account, but I can go green and call the company with my debit card and it actually shows up FASTER than when I have payment scheduled to withdraw from my account. And Verizon charges me a dollar to pay cash at sight - why? I am giving them a direct payment and they want an extra dollar. I can call the company and give my credit card for no charge with an equally immediate account update but when I hand them the money upfront I have to pay an extra dollar. The concept is stupid. I understand everyone wants to go from cash-plastic or even better plastic-internet, but I have to pay for it if I am old fashioned?  It's crazy - gas stations give you a discount at some places if you go in and pay cash- why do some companies punish me for it?

I understand we're all trying to get rid of paper, and I'm all for going green, but in the case of online bill pay going green has been nothing but a hassle. I sit waiting for the money to be withdrawn from my account, fearing I did something stupid like type the number wrong or there was a glitch in the system where my payment got lost in limbo (which can still happen - yes checks can get lost, but you know sooner if they have reached the company verse if an incomplete payment is denied). Then when my bank clears it I wait for my credit card company or loan company to get the update from the bank. When I pay with check or cash it's a one shot deal.

I'm staying old fashioned until I can't anymore. Hopefully until then they don't decide to take away the money order or debit card. Otherwise I'll probably have to find a way to disappear off the face of the earth so I don't stress the impending payment that will someday come out of/update my account.

Thee day Weekend, ending

It's amazing how fast your days off go. I had so many things to do that I ended up canceling to simply relax. I don't regret canceling all my plans to get things done and spend money I did not want to spend. I would regret NOT taking the time to hang out at home or go for a long hike.

I'm also watching family guy. Hilarious. How do they get away with these things? Ha!

"Lost" in old memories

I got to see my friends Christina and Lance today. They came to visit me! We went to Ferncliff forest to go on a hike. Christina and I have known each other since we were in college and lived together for the last year. All our talk of memories and now made me realize how much I love my life. It was totally worth getting lost and having to walk on the street for a while until we knew where we were.

I love living in wooded areas for the natural scenery. Yes, the "energy" in cities is unbelievable, but something not human made the world we walk on, and when I can actually take a few moments to stop and look at the world around me I remember why I write - to describe that world.

Perhaps tonight a poem will find it's way in my pen, or I'll sleep easy and smile at the wonderful day I had. I got to take the dog for several walks in the sun and walk in the woods with friends. I'll replay this memory ten times over every day if I have to :)

Across the USA

I keep having dreams of me taking a trip across the country.

It's starting to make me think I need to take one in the next couple years.

Day off to drive

I took a trip down memory lane today. I miss some of the people I only see once in a while that I used to see everyday from the past.

But it's good to be home, regardless.

Dream

I went to bed the other night after a few nights of restless sleep, and I decided to sleep on my back for the first time in (I don't even know how many) years. It was the first night in weeks I slept until my alarm woke me up.

- Lesson? Change is good thing.