Just wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday season. We had a quiet little christmas this year, but it was still quite enjoyable.

Here are some pictures from our holiday celebrations.

The state of the economy in the world is quite sad.

Everyone seems to be struggling this holiday season.

I read a story online that made me want to cry on many different levels.

On one level it saddens me to see so many facing such hard times. On another level, I recall living the very same way…

The story I read can be found here…

Midnight In The FoodStamp Economy

The summary reads:

At 11 p.m. on the last day of the month, shoppers flock to the nearest Walmart. They load their carts with food and household items and wait for the midnight hour. That’s when food stamp credits are loaded on their electronic benefits transfer cards.

And I recall doing the very same thing.

Though Canada does not have foodstamps, they do have financial benefits for parents. And those benefits come in every month on the 20th, and you could guarantee where you would find me 11PM on the 19th. I would be walking through the isles of Walmart, working out the months budget, trying to figure out how I was going to ensure that I had enough food to last till the next 20th. I no longer have to live that way, but I lived like that for much too long.

So for those of you struggling this holiday season, remember all you really need is each other.

And for those of you doing better this holiday season, remember there are those out there not doing so well, perhaps share your wealth, help those less fortunate than yourself, and that all that really matters is that you have your health and your family.

There are always people out there doing worse than you, so be thankful for what you have, and if you can help others have a little more, than do it. Because too  many in this day and age are living in the FoodStamp economy, too many are going hungry, too many are dying and wishing they had another tomorrow.

Happy holidays all, and best wishes to all.

As many of you know I have been quite ill, hospitalization ill. And it really has been a week of blood, sweat and tears. They’ve taken so much of my blood in search for the illness, sweat from the fevers and chills and tears from the pain. Such incredible pain.

I’ve given birth naturally to 5 children and this pain still brings me to my knees. Something has gone wrong with my left kidney and the doctors aren’t quite sure what it is, or how to treat it. They know there are some stones, not sure of the size, because being thin is working against me, without the fat needed for the ultrasound to work, they can hardly make out my kidneys and other parts to see the issue.

I could enter myself into the hospital where they would put me under the knife and find out from the inside what is wrong, but I am terrified to death of what they might find, or not find, and my body does not heal well. The surgery itself could do more harm then good. So here I am with a month worth of drugs, knowing that they may or may not work, a month worth of painkillers, so I can carry on or somewhat carry on with my daily life and the knowledge and thought that I will get through this and my body will heal itself. I have to have faith, I have 5 children and a husband and many friends in my life that I refuse to leave behind.

So I put a smile on my face. And get up and take the pills and decide that nothing is wrong, the mind can heal the body, and I now just have to have faith that my mind can do it, and my body will follow through with it.

For those of you reading this, tell the ones you love that you love them, let go of the grudges and upsets, because in the end, do the little things really matter? Or would you rather leave this world, without regret?

As some of you know, life has been more than a little rough right now, lots of illness going around my home, lots of fun stuff to deal with in life. But I keep on trucking on and when I find a deal that can save the world, a large corporation and their inept staff take it from my fingers.

You see recently came into my possessions (through the wonder of the barter world) a high end jewellery item, that was to pay my bills and my rent. Those of you familiar with Barter Arbitrage and cash converting, this was the “big deal” we keep our eyes out for, this is one of those make or break your whole month deals that are one in a million perfect shots. So I grab it, and we get ourselves a buyer for this item…and we ship it from Pittsburgh to my good ole boy Vegas Vince to take to our buyer….AND IT NEVER GETS THERE!!! Yep, that’s right! FEDEX has taken from me and my children our rent, our bills our food….talk about the grinch stealing christmas.

Now I know what some of you are saying, come on Syl just do it again. And I would in a heart beat. Except that nice little chunk of cash that was supposed to land nicely in my lap drained my barter account for the time being,so we are right back at square one! Actually we are way back behind square one because no item, no barter dollars etc etc. So that screwed up little corporation has taken from me the last shot, the last chance…and they have done it just weeks before christmas.

Wanna see what I mean… here is the tracking info: 868147469301 punch that little baby into FedEx.com

See?! No destination, no estimated delivery date…NOTHING that should be there and would be there and WAS THERE! earlier yesterday. This pretty little peice was supposed to land in Vince’s hands at 1:30 YESTERDAY… and they have no idea where it is. It ain’t on no truck, isn’t on a plane, no where to be found.

Check out Vince’s blog for his rant on this and stay tuned to the radio show for our FedEx- The Grinch Who Stole Christmas From Five Children Epsiode.