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DaRk AnGel : Why Home : November 2006 : You Got a Good Excuse??

You Got a Good Excuse??

I just received a couple of things I always wanted. A black duster and a metal detector. I had a metal detector years ago and never used it. This one will get some use, especially since I found the hand forged object in my yard. I am not sure what it is, but it was underground and I accidentally dug it up. It is iron, rusted, and I can tell it was hammered not poured. Since I have lived here 17 years, I also can say it is nothing I placed or lost. My only guess is that it may be a coffin handle from an old coffin. If this be the case, there may have been a coffin there at one time or the other. I am not sure how I could ever go about identifying for sure what it is. I live on the side of a hill - A great place to bury someone.

I am proud of these items. Why? Because I did not charge them, I paid for them. Usually it is throw it on a credit card and forget it. And since I have no real responsibilities to anyone, I want something - I buy it. Hence the debt I have on credit cards.

I could have put both items on a credit card and then paid more when my balance comes in. But I want to get out of the habit of using the cards whenever and for whatever…. For the past two years it has been my New Years Resolution to get rid of my Credit Card debt. 2007 is the year.. As long as I have no more major house repairs. I swear this year I will do it.

It is just a symptom of having too much money and too much time.

I just charged something before sitting down and beginning this. One final thing..

Each year I have told myself that I must do something about giving to Toys for Tots. It is a great cause run by the Marines and has been for years. I always had an excuse. I was too busy, did not know where the drop off center was, needed to clip my toe nails… I forget all of the excuses. When ever I see the firemen with their boots out, or the Salvation Army Santa or even someone on a corner with a sign, I dig deep.

It is not that I think about doing it. They are there, it is convenient and it takes no real effort or time from me. I don't have to shop for a gift, wrap it, then find a place to drop it off at. Pretty lame excuse for someone who claims to love and help people I must admit.

Well today I caught the end of Dr. Phil. And he and his wife are the chair persons for Toys for Tots this year. And sure they want and need gifts. But the one point they brought up is that there are teens and sub teens out there and that most of the gifts collected are in appropriate for those age groups. They would use donations along with the Dr. Phil buying power to get a lot of toys and age appropriate gifts for less money. All one has to do is go to their site and donate.

Two statistics that they shared are worth noting.

First, 98 cents out of every dollar is used for the kids. No other fund raiser can claim that. Most charities use at least 30 cents of every dollar for administrative and advertising.

The one statistic that got me really though is that last year 7.5 million toys were collected. An astonishing amount.

For 12 million kids in need.

I have no more excuses now. It was faster than any internet shopping I have ever done, and of course it is Tax Deductible.

And I feel good about charging that amount.

You got a good excuse?