True, it hasn't been easy. True, I really wish I hadn't put myself in this situation....but, you know, my financial problems helped me take a good look at my priorities and, I can now say, this (crisis) would have happened sooner or later (most probably later, when I wouldn't have had as much room to "maneuver" so to speak!)...

Also, the crisis hit while Ale was very young and, thus, still didn't have that sense of entitlement she might have had if we had continued to live "the good life" on credit! ...being aware of money from a young age will be benefitial for her...most of her classmates don't have a clue! (after all, they're only 7!)...but, Ale at least has an idea of the value of money and, she knows getting into debt is a bad idea....

I have learned that you CAN have fun without spending much...as a matter of fact, you can even have fun -GASP- for free!...

I also learned that your true friends won't leave you just because you can't "keep up", but will try to schedule more cheap/free activities into their lives so you can participate!...

So....eventhough some parts of THIS ride have been awful, at least it has been worthwhile!

And, no, I'm by no means "out of the hole" yet, but, I can look back and see the progress I make and, I can look forward and see the end of it all!...

And, who knows, maybe I'll have gained enough sense to NOT fall into the trap again!

well, we have our first orders and, there are a couple of new customers, too...they still haven't placed their order, but they seem truly interested...we'll see if it works out!

We need to contact the school to see about the new supplies list, too, so we will be ready to start working on THAT as soon as the Xmas season for toys is over (which should be about Dec 5-10)

There's the usual stack of bills, and no additional income in sight...ah, how I long for November, when I will have: 1. An additional payperiod, 2.The year-end bonus, 3.The payments for all those translations!...The promise of November makes me think of 2008 with optimism!...

while I do hope to get more translations in October, I don't think I'll be as active as last month (I hope I'm wrong, though!)....so, we'll see how this month unfolds!