I didn’t post today because I was too tired last night to write anything. And then too busy during the day at work to write anything. (which I try not to do anyhow)

But then you see, I counted up how many weekends I’ve given up for my job this year. I’m almost reaching double digits.

‘Give up’ is a small exaggeration. It means setting off a process, then baby sitting it. It still means I can go have a beer and go out and have a life, but it means no out of town weekends without a high speed connection.

I took the opportunity today to remind my boss that I got lowballed with my salary and I think an adjustment is in order.

Madame X and Jane Dough have been highlighted at the Grey Lady in an article that was published on Sunday.

Thanks Madame X for the link!

To new readers, welcome! I don’t have too much to say about myself other than I’m glad you’re here. Please feel free to use the HALOSCAN comment system on the left side of the bottom of each post. Those publish immediately and anonymous posting is allowed. (But I discourage that in the interest of being civil adults. *winky*)

I’m feeling chatty, but expect small posts today. Very busy at work. Coding is wonderful stuff.

Found a new blog for Oracle g33ks. Jonathan Lewis has a new blog. God bless the man. His CBO Fundementals book has been a godsend for performance.

Enough of the nerding. Today I am a Crawly Amphibian. Thanks to LAMoney Guy, The Frugal Duchess, Justin Henry, et al for links.

I ran up those credit cards like you wouldn’t believe. It’s time to break out the ramen. That is all.

Current stats on why getting a college degree is so valuable.

High stress at work. Been there. Done that. Won’t do it again. (Read my comment at Freedumb’s blog on the next link provided.)

In regards to Freedumb’s recent experience, signs you’ve stayed too long. This is a really good list. I should know. I cried a lot at my last job. I was bored. I was stuck doing one job function and I was irate all the time.

Dealing with the insecure boss, luckily this hasn’t happened to me… Yet. I am sure one day I will be dealing with a lunatic. For now, it’s all good.

NPR has got a great story about ARMs. The figure that intrigued me most is the 1.5% foreclosure rate in 2002, during the recession. The expert on the program basically said that a 1.5% rate was unlikely.

They also had an article about falling home prices. I didn’t have a chance to listen to this one today, but that’s ok. I’m not in a position to start buying investment properties.

In a strange coincidence, Madame X posted this about work versus life in terms of financial management.

Last night I was talking with a friend about the very same thing. She’s a retail store manager. Recently, she took over an ailing business and has turned it around. Her one comment is that if she hadn’t been so poor while a student, she never would have been able to manage the finances of a business. She told me that her cash management and budgeting practices come directly from being an impoverished student.

In a subtle way, I suppose that’s true for myself. I learned some basics about treasury management while working an executive seminar for a business school. Later I had to reserve enough cash from a program that I was running to keep an office going through an entire fiscal year. From that, I guess I learned that you can always keep operating if you have enough cash to see you through, hence realizing the importance of an emergency fund.

Work and real life don’t have to be a disconnect. And the things you do at work can be positive on your personal life if you let it.

Anyhow, other updates, I’m feeling MUCH better and I’m using Purell like a fiend at work since I’m still coughing all over the place. (Time waits for no man and this stuff has to get done.)

I also will be transitioning over to WordPress and a new domain later on in November. Please keep your eye out for that. I will be extremely grateful for the updates!

I have horrible headaches and a sore throat. I’ve been this way for a few days. I can only offer you this recipe for leftovers:

1 roasted chicken carcass from the supermarket (This is the leftovers)
Garlic cloves
Large pot of water

Boil the leftover chicken and garlic. Throw in enough salt, pepper and Tabasco for taste. Eat with toast and butter. Lay on couch and try not to vomit. (Yes, I’m feeling pretty terrible.)

I really feel like crap, but even in sickness I am frugal. Plus I’m too damned lazy to leave the house. Thank god the last time I got a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket, I had enough sense to throw the rest of it into the freezer because I couldn’t finish eating it before spoiling.

What do you like to eat when you’re too sick to cook? Raid the pantry? Eat frozen food?

Ok, I’m still on this career and networking kick. I get this way about once a year when I reassess what I’m doing at work and if I really like this place and where it’s going.

Latest tip is professional networking websites. There is one that I’ve been using that has actually resulted in some high-quality inquiries. I pooh-poohed it before in the comments, but in the last week, all that has changed. LinkedIn.com is like those annoying social networking sites, Friendster or MySpace, but without the stupid photos. It’s all about finding business opportunities. Recently I was solicited from a connection at LinkedIn, and I was curious enough to reply.

There’s only one other site I can recommend because I’ve personally used it. But it’s primarily a social networking site. The reason why I like it is because it’s locally-based. It’s called MeetIn.org. Now I admit, I know the founder personally. I signed up for it ages ago when he started it and I rarely attend their events. (I have quite a full life without it.) But every time I go, I meet folks who are in the same metropolitan region as me. I make new contacts and friends who are willing to help me find a new job if I ask. The key with MeetIn is that it’s local. I can’t stress that enough. Few people are going to spend the effort to completely relocate for work. Geographic moves are catastrophic upon your life. Take it from me, I’ve moved cross country twice.

Make Love Not Debt has by far the best post of the week. Knowing the warning signs of financial trouble is the first step to getting out. Good on them for getting motivated.

Financial Freedumb on leaving work. I’ve SO been there. Who hasn’t? Learn from his example and take the classy way out. Don’t burn your bridges. This little mapgirl has done that before, and it’s not pretty.

Millionaire Artist points us to the Rent-O-Meter. You can guess why I like the name of that site.

You’ll find no quarter at Single Ma’s. Get your butt saving money. Today. NOW. She means it!

Queercents on splurging or self-sabotaging. This article is as much for me as it is for anyone else. I’m not sure if I’m ready to confess which it is for this month’s spending. (I am going to a yarn show after all.)