Happy belated anniversary

2/2/08 was a VERY monumental day for Mr. Producer and I.

It was B.I.G.

Bigger than Christmas big.

Bigger than Disney world big.

Bigger than wedding day or baby big (well almost)

2/2/08 was the last day of guilt in our lives.

2/2/08 was the last day of panic, the last day of frivolousness, the last day of paying 1800x more for anything than it is worth.

2/2/08 was the LAST TIME WE USED A CREDIT CARD FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES!!!!

Yes, you heard me (or rather, you read me) correctly.

F.O.R.E.V.E.R.

E.N.D. O.F. T.I.M.E

D.O.N.E

Not even a back-up. No emergency card, no gas card, no hidden ones tucked away for there-is-a-major-diaper-sale-going-on-and-I-have-to-stock-up -NOW-sale.

N.A.D.A.

Now, to make this more understandable to some of you who either have never had a credit card (stay away, far, far, away) or who have one and constantly pay it off (they are still a bad idea even then) or who have become debt free, we were credit card addicts!!!

Yes, ADDICTS!!!!

That seems kinda harsh you say. Well, when we 1st meet, Mr. Producer had 2 credit cards and I had 2 credit cards. Not so bad, maybe even manageable. The 4 become 6 and 6 became 8 and our credit cards multiplied faster than our children did until we ran into real problems. We decided that we needed help. We signed up for credit counseling and in just 5 long, err, short years, they were paid off!!!!! YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! And we swore we would never get another credit card AGAIN!

B.U.T..........................................................................................................

The house needed a new roof. Mr. Producer was a SAHD+I was a teacher+we had NOTHING in savings+Home Depot/6 months same as cash=BUMBUMBUM...............

It always starts out innocent. I will pay it off before the 6 months (we had furniture we were going to do this with and sold it after 5 years of owning it before we even paid it off:( I will pay the balance due every month, I will double the minimum payment.

Then life happens and you don't, or rather we didn't.

1 child became 2, then 3 and 4 arrived along with a whole lot of grocery bills, medical bills, clothes bills, diapers, you get the idea.

Before we knew it we had 1 gas card, 2 dept store cards, 3 visa's, a mastercard, a platinum mastercard and a TA-DAH Discover card (man we thought we were IT)! Now not all of them were maxed (actually on 3 were and a couple did not have a balance) but I could see where we were headed!

Enter Stage left: DAVE RAMSEY!!!!!!!

I do not think God had ever picked a more opportune man to walk into my life. Dave did for me what no other man could (sorry babe)! Dave, oh Dave!

If you have never read or heard of Dave Ramsey, you need to immediately call 911 and have them check your pulse, then ask them to deposit you at the library so you can check out a book by him!! Dave Ramsey, envelopes, baby steps and all things cash rock! If this makes sense to you then you get it, if it doesn't then you need to get it!

Anyway, this wonderful short little message was just my opportunity to say happy belated anniversary to myself, Mr. Producer and Dave Ramsey!!

Here is to living like no one else so later we can live like no one else!!!!!

My who's on 1st moment

The following conversation takes place between me and United Healthcare.

It is true, it is accurate. I couldn't make this one up.

From this moment on I will refer to me, Tracy, funchaos.
Tracy will refer to Tracy, UHC representative.

Tracy: Thank you for calling United, this is Tracy, may I please have your name.
I: Tracy
Tracy: Yes it is.
I: No, my name is Tracy also.
Tracy: Hi Tracy Also, may I verify some personal information with you please, what is your subscriber ID #?
I: (chuckling) Yes, my member ID# is 55555555 and my name is Tracy Ko...
Tracy: I am sorry ma'am I do not have a member ID # 55555555 for a Tracy Also
I: I am sorry, there has been a misunderstanding, my name is Tracy K0%(!#
Tracy: Ok, yes that is the name on the account. (This is where we accurately verify more personal info) How can I help you today?
I: I am calling about a bill and an explanation of benefits that I received for my daughter Katie and my son Jason. (We verify the date of service and provider)
Tracy: What seems to be the problem?
I: I am curious as to why I am getting billed for this service and what the code on the bottom of the EOB means?
Tracy: The code EJB means that we need proof of pre-existing conditions and that is why we have not paid the bill and you are receiving it.
I: Ok, but this was for a stomach virus, not something that would be a pre-existing condition.
Tracy: I understand.
I: ok, what do you need from me?
Tracy: What we need from you is a letter certifying you had prior insurance coverage
I: What does a letter about having prior coverage have to do with having a pre-existing condition?
Tracy: Is this a pre-existing condition?
I: No ma'am is was a stomach virus, you just said I needed a letter certifying prior coverage because you won't pay the bill until you have proof of a pre-existing condition.
Tracy: I am sorry ma'am. Code EJB means we need proof of pre-existing coverage.
I: Ok, prior coverage from when?
Tracy: Your policy with us started on 2/1/2008. We need proof that you had insurance prior to this?
I: The claim in question is from after that date, it is from December 8, 2008
Tracy: Yes, however, we need to make sure you had continuous coverage prior to this before we can pay the bill.
I: You need to make sure I had coverage before February to pay a bill for lab work from December?
Tracy: Yes
I: I have had insurance with you guys since Sept. of 2005
Tracy: My records indicate your insurance began 2/1/2008
I: Okay.
SILENCE (I=slightly wore out and tired of this conversation)
I: What do I need to prove to you that I had insurance through you since 2005?
Tracy: Have you had a different employer from 2005 to 2/1/2008?
I: Yes my husband has, but we had united health insurance with both.
Tracy: Yes, but your group # is different with different employers..
I: Ok, can't you just look in your computer and see we had insurance with you under a different group?
Tracy: No, sorry.
I: Ok, what do I need to do in order to get this bill paid?
Tracy: You need to provide us with proof of insurance.
I: How do I do that?
Tracy: We should have sent you a certificate of prior coverage when you cancelled your previous insurance.
I: Ok, let me look (searching to no avail)
I: I can't find a letter. Is there anything else I can do?
Tracy: You can call customer service and request another letter be sent to you.
I: Aren't you customer service?
Tracy: Yes
I: Can't you then just look it up?
Tracy: No ma'am, that is not my department.
I: Can you just call the other dept. and get a copy of the letter from them?
Tracy: No, only you can do that.
I: So let me get this straight, you need a letter from yourself proving that I have had insurance with you from before February 2008 for a claim from December 2008?
Tracy: Yes.
I: Furthermore, if I do not have this letter than I can call you and get a copy of this letter.
Tracy: Yes
I: But you can not look up this letter yourself
Tracy: Sorry, we need to have a printed copy of this certification.
I: What happens when you get this letter
Tracy: We will list the information under this group number
I: Can you just look up the information on another computer and put it under this group #
Tracy: No, sorry
I: But, your dept. can look up this information?
Tracy: Yes, but we need a printed copy.
I: Do your computers have printers?
Tracy: I'm sorry?
I: Sorry, it just seems if your dept can give me the information that I need and you have access to printers, then why can't you just pull the information off your computer, print it and then re-enter the information into this group number?
Tracy: I am sorry, I am not authorized to do that.
I: Ok, just to clarify, I need to send you a letter, that I can get from you if I do not have it, to show you that I had insurance with you so you can input that letter back into your computer.
Tracy: That is correct
I: But you can not just copy that information from one screen to the next.
Tracy: I am not authorized to do that and I need.....
I: a printed copy, I know. I will find my copy. Thank you. Can I fax it to you.
Tracy: No, sorry, we need a hard printed copy.
I: What is the address I can mail it to?
Tracy: You can mail it to the address found on the back of your insurance card or on the bottom of your letter.
I: Great, thanks.
Tracy: If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know.
I: No, thanks you have done enough already.



AND WE WONDER WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY? All of this to get the insurance company to pay a $680 bill for lap work for a stool sample of all things. Excuse the language, but all of this crap for them to test a bunch of crap!

U.G.H!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why am I a Christian?

Did I even have a choice, the Lord called me to be his child, He spoke my name.

I am a child of God because I know I can NOT walk this world with out my Father's guidance and love.

I am a child of God because I know the joy of always having my Father around, always be able to speak to him, to know that he hears me, he answers my prayers.

I know that of my own flesh I am incapable of having enough patience, love, grace and forgiveness.

I am a Christian because I can freely admit that I do bad things daily but I am forgiven them; I also know that my father loves me unconditionally.

I am a Christian because I know that I am a better person when I make my Father happy, when I do his will and tell of his love.

I am a Christian because I know that there is a better place, I know that when the end comes I will go home.

I am a Christian because He has called me to teach my children of his love and mercy.

I am a Christian because I know the road is not easy, the best things in life never are, but the reward is worth it.

I am a Christian because He loves me, because He called me.

SUPER WAY TMI..........

I snuck in here a few minutes ago.

Quiet amidst the chaos.

Peace amongst the noise.

Alone within the house full of people I call family.

I was hoping to read me some pioneer woman.

I wonder how long it would take someone to notice, the cord no longer attached to the computer.

Bellowing as if from the heavens, "DID YOU TAKE THE LAPTOP IN T.H.E.R.E?"

Giggling and slightly meek, "Yeeeeeeees........................."

The Bellow again "R.E.A.L.L.Y?????????"

More giggle, no meekness, "Yep"

Again with the voice from the heavens, "YOU NEED HELP!"

Through the laughter "What difference would it make if it were a book or the laptop?"

If you are still following this post, here is where it gets funnier (assuming you have found the humor thus far in the bathroom/laptop/bellowing journey)

Bellow man "YOU ARE ADDICTED"

Little man "She's DIPPING IT????????" "G.R.O.S.S."

Laughter and Bellow simultaneously "No, she is/I am A.D.D.I.C.T.E.D"

Little man "Oh, ok, carry on"!

This is when I have to exit my quiet haven, my silent oasis, my solitary nirvana. The echoing of my laughter has ruined my moment with pioneer woman and Marlboro man!

Guess I will have to reread that chapter when the kids are in bed and the laughter has ended.

For the record, I really was just having Ree (and mm) withdraws (I am at the part where she has decided to stay in Texas)! For the record, I have really small closets and nobody ever questions your alone time in "there", right? That is the 11th commandment, Right?

Anyone?

Hello?

Anyone?

Dang, I knew I lost ya.......... I thought it was TMI

Will you come back? Helloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Be forwarned, I am sure to offend!

I would like to start with an apology to those of you I am about to offend.


I really wanted to write a blog and give a tongue lashing to some of my fellow bloggers for their willingness to speak such hateful words against another person. My head races with the words that I want to say about how judgemental you seem. My heart cries for how you appear to other people, Christian's, Muslim's, nonbelievers.


After I read some blogs last night via blogger and myspace, then I read some more this morning, I felt uuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I can't not even find the right word!


I know that most of you were just expressing your personal opinion, something we all do and have the right to. I respect that we do not all like the same people. I did not vote for the man that you all speak of so negatively. However, I can not sit here and say I am a Christian and then say that I hate him for this or I think he desecrated the bible when he was inaugurated. I can tell you there are policies I have read about that he seems to agree with that I do not. But I can not and will not attack his personal character and moral fiber based on what the media feeds me. Only he and God know their relationship together! I will trust in the Lord, I will watch the man in action and I will pray for him. To do anything less would make me a hypocrite!


Lastly, I will leave you with the admittance that I know very little bible verses by heart and the ones I will post below came from the service at church last week. Do with them what you will!


Matthew 7:1-6
Proverbs 6:16-21
Galatians 5: 26 and 6:5

"Hate the sin, not the sinner"


Political and religious....MOM, help, I am forgetting my manners! Your grandkids might need you to come visit soon...quickly...now (before I throw in some sex, hey, anything is possible:)!!!!

bittersweet

As with most things in my life, I am not very vocal about my politicalness.

Call it growing up under the adage "You never discuss, politics, religion, or sex in mixed company"

But... sometimes I forget my manners.

Let's talk about sex baby....................................

J.U.S.T. K.I.D.D.I.N.G.


Let's talk politics, because, really on this inaugural day, is there really anything else to talk about?

Let's start with George. How is he feeling? Really feeling? Is he sad to see it end? Excited that he is no longer sleeping with the weight of the country/world on his shoulders? Grateful for the chance? Bitter of the circumstances that quickly followed and ended up shaping his otherwise perfectly thought out presidency? Hoping to be re-liked? Disappointed that he is seemingly not? Calm that he did my Father's will? Nervous of how he will be remembered?

I have to think that him leaving is akin to us releasing our children when they are grown. They are always ours. We can always call and give advice, but ultimately, we are no longer in control. We can look back on the memories, both good and bad and know that decision we made, we did the best we could with what we had. We raised, shaped, loved, errored, learned right along with our children. I know how difficult this can be with 1, 2, 3, 4 kids. Imagine having millions of kids. Whether you like President Bush or not, think of the difficult task he was handed. How would you have handled it? It is easy to sit on your couch and think about what you would have done, but with other personalities influencing and stopping you, think about what you could have, would have done. Mostly remember that he is HUMAN too. The presidency is not a job I would ever want, I have a hard enough time running a house for 6. I admire anyone who aspires to this position. I wish you hugs, prayers and luck President Bush. You lead us through times this country never thought they would see. I personally admire the man you are. You have always stood by your convictions, you have never waivered in your beliefs and you have lead this country with your strongest desire to see us through to safety and love! Thank you for all you gave us. While hindsight is 20/20 may you leave today with nothing but well wishes for your follower. May you have great memories of your "child rearing" years and may you enjoy your "empty nest" as well.

Obama, as you were standing in the hall of the capital getting ready to walk out and be sworn in as president, what was going through your mind? Were you nervous? Did you have second thoughts? Because even the most seasoned parent gets slightly nervous over the impending birth of their next child. Were you elated and relieved that the moment was finally here? Were you praying that you fulfill His desire? Were you praying you didn't trip walking out?

As I said before, I don't envy you. Yours will be a lonely job. Lonely in spite of being surrounded by many. No one other than yourself will truly know what you are going through. Even those who have forged before you will not have had the same experiences and problems. You will have advisers, friends, employees and Michelle, but you will be alone. I imagine this office takes a certain courage and faith in the unknown. You are an eloquent speaker, a man with many dreams and beliefs in all things equal. I hope and pray you can unite a nation that defines a person by the color of their skin and the belief of their God. I wish you Godspeed and good luck! May you prove critics and naysayers wrong, may you gain the support of those who voted against you and those who are unsure. May you be the man your supporters think you are!!!!

Now unto the religion and sex.............................................................

I.

I.

I AM ...thinking that it is getting late, 24 rocked and I really should get to bed.
I WANT... it to warm up because now that I have decided to get a tattoo, I wanna do it now!
I HAVE ... hoped that ex-boyriends have facebooked or myspaced me and wished they hadn't let me go, yep, sure have!
I WISH I COULD ... be as brave as my kids think I am.
I HATE ... sweeping the kitchen floor, pea's, pettiness and my nose.
I FEAR ... roller coasters, big ones. TERRIBLY.
I HEAR ... the giggling and loudness of my kids and love it.
I SEARCH ... for long adjectives, big words, my pre-mommy brain and body while still being a mommy.
I DON'T THINK ... sometimes I just don't.
I REGRET ... nothing, for everything got me to where I am.
I LOVE ... my life, really, in spite of the improvements I want, it is an awesome place to be.
I ACHE FOR ... for everyone I know to have the relationship I do with my FATHER.
I ALWAYS CRY ... the week before, over stupid things.
I AM NOT ... weak. At all.
I DANCE ... for my kids...to be silly...to feel better...with no one watching.
I SING ... horribly, but I love to.
I NEVER ... go a day without worrying or obsessing about something. Not ever. Not a day. Although I REALLY want to.
I RARELY ... am on time. TRULY try to be, but...
I CRY WHEN I WATCH ... video's of my children's birth, and at least 2 ER's a season.
I AM NOT ALWAYS ... awake.
I HATE THAT ... I never have enough to give to whatever cause I want.
I'M CONFUSED ABOUT ... the purpose of roaches, the scent that comes from my children and yo gabba gabba.
I NEED ... to color more.
I SHOULD ... find a way to do less laundry.



JUST THOUGHT YOU'D WANNA KNOW!