#and I got 35K notes in about 6 hours

[ao3commentoftheday]

This blog has enough followers now that if I reblog someone, there is potential that it could end up ruining their notes for days. I'm curious:

[fisherfurbearer]

It's almost 6 am. I've been awake for HOURS buzzing about apple trees and orchards and animals and genetic conservation and my chest hurts SO BAD from anxiety because my hands won't type fast enough.

I want to write paragraphs and paragraphs for you folks so you can be up to speed with what's happened while I've been Gone, it's been so much, I want to explain my series of Realizations and my plans for the future but I'm so worried I'll be ridiculed or it'll all go wrong and my hands won't type my thoughts fast enough anyway so it'll never be finished.

Bottom line? I realized my biggest passions in the past 7 years (reptiles, inverts, rodents, poultry, conservation, gardening, and art) all have a common theme (animal welfare, environmental welfare, caring for people, Growing and Raising and Making cool stuff that makes people/animals/myself happy) and one thing clicked after another and basically I'm tired and Fuck college it's just not for me, I don't need $35k in loans every year (after $20k in scholarships) to learn illustration and be guaranteed a job in something I don't even see myself doing.

Nah bruh I want to raise little geckos and make vivariums/inverts/reptiles my hobby and make needle felting and sheeps and tree crops my main gig, it all fits together,, I'm so tired and I feel like I'm going to pass out from the anxiety I've been awake for so long and rewrote this so many times,

But basically I was so horrifically depressed and couldn't leave bed or go to work for days, for many reasons but mainly because it hit me that I spent the past 6 years going to school/trying to be in school for Nothing and wasted so much of my life and was Sick of it all and feeling like I had nowhere to go, until it hit me. My life is Fucked and the world is Fucked and everyone is miserable and not ok and I'm not fine and I can't do anything about it.

Or can I?

In college, I had a class called Visual Thinking where I only did needle felting for my projects and told people, I do art because my goal with my work is to make someone else Feel. I want them to Feel how my inspirations and view of things makes me feel. I want them to laugh, smile, cry, feel enraged, invigorated, spark CARING of themselves, one another, and the world, just make people Feel and give a damn about other living things. That's why I care so deeply about animals and the enviroment and domestic/wild animal welfare and the state of everything. Why I dreamt for so many years of raising rare lizards and growing vegetables permaculture-style.

But then it hit me again, I like, no I love my geckos and I love my inverts but let's be honest, it won't pay the bills and I don't think I'd be happy making it my career, either. I still want to raise/breed Eurydactylodes and maybe japanese Goniurosaurus and have a nice amount of reptiles and spiders in the future, but maybe it won't be my Everything. And that's a GOOD THING. I've learned with experience now that it's better for them and myself to keep it compact and a hobby, not a profession. Then I realized. I want to do needle felting, I want to make animals and plants out of wool and make pets and wildlife and talk about welfare and conservation with my art, and both Make Cool Things and Send a Message with what I do. But I thought of sustainability and where my supplies come from and thought wait. I like small livestock too. I just never really wanted a farm 'cause it wasn't my deal, but I literally learned how to work with miniature donkeys as my graduation project in high school, my SO's mom literally owns and breeds them and has a little farmette, I'm not completely out of my league as I already have years of research into gardening and poultry care, dude what if I raised my own sheep for wool and made art with that and oh my god what a journey that thought started.

It would take HOURS AND HOURS to write let alone read the disorganized disaster of a story of how I got to where I am now, with my Goals/Dreams, but basically...yeah I know it's becoming mainstream I guess but I seriously want a farm and we're gonna make it happen, one day. We have a rough plan for building up savings (our tentative goal is to be ready for a property in 2025, which is 5 years after Jessie graduates and gives us time to build up finances and figure out where he's working) and starting small (I already have button quail, so coturnix quail is a great first step for 'livestock' and in the next year or two angora rabbits are looking to be a great option for our first fiber animal...) and I've really refined my "Niche."

It's uhh hard to explain, in the sense of I'm very tired and it's 6:07 am and I'm losing track and my chest hurts and it's a long winding story, but the end result is for Many Reasons is I've fallen in love with heritage/landrace breeds and specifically northern european short-tailed sheep (finnsheep, gotland, icelandic, shetland, soay, etc..) and diversified farming, and especially concepts like agroforestry and using native forages/pastures and rotational grazing, to not just benefit the livestock but also the environment! I have SO MUCH RESEARCH DONE and I've learned SO MUCH and the best part is my past knowledge/notes has already given me a FANTASTIC head start so these concepts aren't hard for me to grasp and I'm just so excited. I want to focus on perennial crops (fruit/nut trees and berries, mostly...heavy inspiration came from our local orchard, which also kickstarted this idea) and grazing livestock in orchards (IT'S ALL CO-DEPENDENT IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND I LOVE IT ALL SO MUCH I COULD CRY,, WHY IS PIG WELFARE SO BAD WHEN THEY COULD BE OUT UNDER THE FRUIT/NUT TREES LIVIN' LIFE,, OTHER COUNTRIES DO IT AND ITS SUCH A GREAT IDEA [p.s. check out 'HogTree' for more awesome ideas on that! Not entirely unique but that lady has some awesome ideas]) and focusing on conserving heritage/landrace/localized livestock and crop varieties....for both conservation and practical reasons! It's...Ihave it all worked out mostly I swear I'm just very tired and anxious right now haha!! Oh jeez!!

But basically it's still in tne works and I have a good 5+ years to iron it out but instead of going to college I'm going to take workshops on orchard and livestock management and take felting/spinning classes (like yarn, I mean, I want to learn more fiber arts) and start small with quail and angora and we'll also go on trips to the local state parks and around campus here and learn more about our native environment and I'll maybe raise bees someday soon and I'll never ever stop loving inverts and reptiles ever but maybe instead of keeping 200+ Ts lots of reptiles one day I'll keep my home guys compact and give them lots of love and care and switch some of my attention to the NATIVE guys too...my biggest goal is for a more sustainable approach to agriculture (I KNOW IT CAN WORK, DAMMIT, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE PROVEN IT AND HOW ELSE DID FOLKS FEED THEMSELVES FOR SO LONG hshdbfjfush but that's an argument for another day) that balances human needs with animal welfare and environmental impact and hopefully turn the same land we use for agriculture (ex. grazing pastures, fruit/nut orchards) into land for native flora as small species as well, like birds and insects and such, and even bigger things if we did managed grazing in woodlands because...AHH THAT'S A WHOLE BIG DISCUSSION AND I'M TO EXCITED ABOUT IT ALL TO EXPLAIN AHH JEEZ

ANYWAY I'M GOING TO MAKE A DANG DIFFERENCE IN MY OWN DING DANG WAY AND I DON'T NEED NO COLLEGE EDUCATION TO DO IT, NOT THIS TIME AROUND

I'm going to combat my inner demons and also the Outside problems with the power of Sustainable Agriculture and Fiber Arts and prove that people and animals (domestic AND wild) and the environment can have a SYMBIOTIC relationship that CAN be profitable AND sustainable for ALL parties involved and it'll take a whole lot of doing but goDDAMMIT I'VE GOT MY SPARK BACK AND I'M GIVING IT MY ALL!!!!!

[kichanzo]

Infinix Zero 8 Review – The Devil is in the Details

Infinix Zero 8 DEALS

Jumia

ksh28999 VIEW

It’s obvious to those that read my reviews that I’m not a fan of either Infinix or Tecno. But with the Infinix Zero 8, it seems that they have realised that 2020 is the year of the Camera phone.

Just in case you think I hate Infinix phones, here is a sample of what people say about them.

What people say about infinix phones

https://bit.ly/336ryKJ

Of course you can’t ignore the fact that Kenyans spend their time complaining on Facebook. Neither can you ignore the fact that one should be changing their Smartphone every 3 years and not wait until it dies.

That’s one of the reasons I got interested in the new Infinix Zero 8. It’s a competitor to the new Tecno 16 Premier. Hopefully, this review shall make it easier to make an informed choice.

What You Will Read

Things to Consider Before Buying A Mid Range Phone in Kenya

Infinix Zero 8 Specifications

Chipset /iOS and Performance

Display and Design

Battery Life and Performance

Camera and Video Capabilities

Infinix Zero 8 Price in Kenya

What Comes with the Zero 8

Alternatives to the Infinix Zero 8

Samsung Galaxy M31s

Tecno Camon 16 Premier

Nokia 5.3

Our Verdict

Things to Consider Before Buying A Mid Range Phone in Kenya

For most manufacturers, mid-range phones are their bread and butter. They have better specs than than cheap smartphones but at the same time keep costs lower. Some of the things you should consider before you buy one include:

The Processor Type – A better processor means a better performing phone for you.

RAM – You are likely to stay with a mid-range phone for some time. A minimum of 4GB RAM is what I would suggest. Unless, you want to spend your weekends cleaning old files.

Battery Size – A good mid-range phone should have the battery capacity you need to do your work. In 2020, I’d suggest you take a look at phones with quick charging features.

The Price – Price matters and at between 25k to 35k you should get a durable phone that you will take pride in.

Brand – Yes, the brand matters. Android update frequency, user interface and brand value does matter in mid-range phones.

Choose wisely as one of the main reasons you buy a mid-range phone is longevity. It is not fun buying a ksh. 25k phone that breaks after a year. Trust me, I’ve been there and it’s not fun.

Which brings us to the Infinix Zero 8

It’s coming into an already crowded mid-range phone sector. We already have the Samsung M31, Huawei Y8p and my favorite Nokia 7.2. But I have to say, this a better offering than it’s predecessors.

Infinix Zero 8 Specifications

Display:  6.85 inches 1080 x 2460 pixels | CPU: Octa-core (2×2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 + 6×2.0 GHz | RAM: 8 GB | Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / Yes | Rear camera: 64 MP (wide) + 8 MP (ultrawide) + 2 MP (macro) + 2 MP (depth | Front camera: 48 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.0″, 0.8µm | Platform: Android 10 | Battery life: Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable

infinix zero 8 in kenya

Chipset /iOS and Performance

    The Zero 8 comes with Android 10 but they have to include their custom XOS 7 skin. I don’t mind an Android 10 but the XOS 7 skin can be annoying at times. The moment you turn on the phone, you get tens of notifications from apps that you will never use.

It will take you some time to set it up the way you wish to. Every app seems to come with it’s own permissions settings. If you forget to to turn them off, you end up with more notifications. This can be great for people who want to seem busy. But it’s a put off for those who are truly busy. In my view, those extra apps and permission settings need to go. Who knows what type of data I give access to the moment I turn it on.

Having said that, I do like the parental controls features on the phone. It’s not easy controlling kids with access to phones. It allows you to setup strict gaming parameters.

It also has a clever background resource optimization scheme. This lets you select apps that you want and app that you don’t want. Very handy when you need to control access to your apps.

The Infinix Zero 8 is based on a Mediatek MT6785 Helio G90T chipset. It performs very well compared to others such as Redmi Note 8 and even the Samsung A21s. That came as a surprise.

The performance of this chipset is truly a surprise. Of course you can’t compare it to the higher end brands. However, if you need a phone with a smooth experience without the price tag, then it’s a good choice.

Display and Design

Though it’s plastic and I do hate plastic based phone, it does come with a unique design especially at the back. It’s cameras have been setup in a diamond shape that looks kinda cool. But the plastic will make you keep a wiper handy. Smudges and fingerprints are part of owning the phone.

I still can’t get my head around the plastic though. The camera bump requires proper placement on a surface or at least a larger than normal phone case.

Having said that, the phone feels study and easier to handle than previous Infinix phones which were the very definition of bulky. It is heavier on the lower side but that’s OK seeing that it comes with better features at the price range.

It comes in different colors such as Silver Diamond, Black Diamond, and Green Diamond. Someone in the company was really stuck on the diamonds this time.

Battery Life and Performance

Inside, the 4500mAh large-capacity battery matches your pace through the day, and with its 33W SuperCharge speed, Zero 8’s battery recharges rapidly even when you only have 30 minutes to top up. #InfinixZERO8KE#VisionMaster pic.twitter.com/yzSR322Sei

— InfinixKenya (@InfinixKenya) September 7, 2020

Infinix has stuck to it’s original specs. They just love huge batteries. At 4500 mAh it’s not their biggest but will do very well for those who hate charging their phones. One extra cool thing is that it also has fast charging capabilities. For those who love big batteries, this is a great choice of phone.

According to GSM Arena, they weren’t very impressed with the excessive battery size versus the phone perfromance

However, the flip side of the story is that the Zero 8 is clearly leaving unused battery life on the table and outright wasting it in its 90Hz mode. That’s not a stab at the 90Hz mode, directly, though. It does what it is supposed to do – manually fix the refresh rate at 90Hz regardless of what is currently on screen, like a video player, playing our 24ish fps sample video GSM Arena.

In other words, better battery life does not equate to better performance. My pet peeve with these huge phones with huge batteries.

The saving grace is the 33W charger that allows you to fully charge in about an hour 20 minutes. For people like me who charge phones when asleep or in the office, it isn’t that great.

However, it’s a must have for those always on the go as it allows you to get to at least 50% charge in half an hour.

Camera and Video Capabilities

All their adverts are selling the camera capabilities. And unfortunately one is judged by their own words. You can’t compare this to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra but the Zero 8 has made a major step towards creating quality phones.

The phone design is not a mistake. They wanted to show that they can compete with the big brands known for camera quality. But having tested the Samsung M and A series, the phone still has some ways to go.

The Infinix Zero 8 can capture video at up to 4K@30fps on its main camera. The video as you can see below is not that great.

But for vloggers in Kenya, the selfie camera mode is great. They have done a great job with the front camera with a lot of color and auto focus. It’s great for a starter phone without those huge bills from the Samsung brands.

  Infinix Zero 8 Price in Kenya

Launched on August 28th 2020, the current price of the Infinix Zero 8 in Kenya is about ksh. 28500 to 29000. This is one of their most expensive phones based on it’s new features.

You can check out our other other reviews of the latest smartphones in Kenya

What Comes with the Zero 8

I personally like the quick charger at 33w. But as usual Infinix goes further than other brands when it comes to accessories

Free Wireless Ear Bud

Free Bluetooth Speaker Black Diamond

Charger

Ear Phone

Manual

Alternatives to the Infinix Zero 8

As stated earlier, the mid-range smartphones market in Kenya is very competitive. It’s harder for brands that are known for cheap phones try to compete in the sector. There are a few great alternatives to the phone not least being the Samsung Galaxy M and A series phones

Samsung Galaxy M31s

It’s hard to fault the M31s. If you really do need that extra battery power, then the 6000 mAh in the Galaxy M31s should satisfy you. They are priced in the same range but the M31s is a superior option.

The only problem is that you can only find a Dubai version in Kenya which doesn’t come with a warranty.

If warranties matter to you, then stick to the Zero 8

Tecno Camon 16 Premier

This was released just 2 days before the Zero 8. The phones are exactly the same in terms of specs. No wonder as they are both owned by the same Transission holdings company. If the brand name matters to you then you have a choice between the two phones.

Nokia 5.3

I am biased towards Nokia phones but this a review of the Zero 8 not a personal opinion. The Nokia 5.3 is just as good and in areas such as the camera build, 3x better. It’s a study phone and comes at a lower price point. The only difference is the battery size at 4000 mAh.

But I’m sure a difference of 15 minutes in battery life won’t deny you the pleasure of owning the better phone.

  Our Verdict

There is a huge improvement in the Infinix Zero 8 in Kenya over previous versions of their phones. But one can’t escape that nagging feeling that there’s always something left on the table by Infinix and Tecno phones.

Granted they serve a huge market for those who cannot afford higher priced phones. This would be a good phone for someone who doesn’t care much about brand names and would prefer to have a smooth phones without gimmicks.

The Review

Infinix Zero 8

3.7 Score

The Infinix Zero 8 is surprisingly a great phone that performs as well as other higher priced models. Infinix seems to have upped their game with this new phone.

PROS

Good enough Camera

Great Videos at a Reasonable Price

CONS

It's an Infinix

Too much bloat in the XOS 7 Skin

Plastic Body

Review Breakdown

Battery

Display

Camera

Performance

Value

Infinix Zero 8 DEALS

We collect information from many stores for best price available

Best Price

ksh28999

Jumia

ksh28999 Buy Now

[prorevenge]

I was doing you a favor by playing the long game...

I too was playing yet another long game by holding on to this for so long.

SO I had read earlier today the owner of a previous job of mine passed away. This was a place that tried to screw me pretty hard and I took some pro revenge on. It drug up some angry old feelings, so why not take an equal dose of catharsis?

WARNING: This is a doozy so strap in if you dare, no TL;DR it wouldn't do justice.

So this takes place almost a decade ago. I was working as a department manager for a fairly large privately owned pest control company. Their color scheme was black and yellow, much like the taxi's the owner's dad used to drive. Since the taxi industry would be around for ever(hello Uber/Lyft) so would this pest control company, (this is important later) or so the owner used to parrot constantly. My job was to over see the techs doing treatments and set their stops and generally manage assorted insect control services, inventory, payroll for that dept, etc etc. I had taken the job from the owners son who took it from the previous manager who they demoted and yet stayed in the dept...this is important later. The owners son was a late 30's early 40's man child. I mean if he had dialed it back a few degrees he would have been an awesome guy, but anytime booze was involved he was a mess. If it was weed, he turned into the stereo typical obnoxious stoner making nothing but bad Jamaican accented jokes. He also hit on anything younger than him that moved...while being married w a pregnant wife. But I digress, the owner was a piece of work too, old Jewish guy who was as racist as he was old, not with any kind of seething hatred. Just a "this is the way it is" type attitude. My fave line of his, "The sky is blue, Ch#@ks know math, N@&ers are lazy, Jews know gold. What else is new" Like it was the most clever thing of all time. Finally now on to the revenge and need for such.

I had been at said job for about two and a half years, while there I had gotten engaged about 6 month earlier. Due to the awesomeness of my staff I invited about 10 employees to my wedding(it was going to be big due to the wife's family and mine's tiny so..) including the owner his son and the previous manager. I should have felt the ripples in the water when I had planned the trip to propose. The day before I go the owner comes in to do something with a big job and I tell him of my vacation plans as he is looking at the schedule. After I tell him of the somewhat expensive accommodations (I was proposing to my then gf), he literally says, "that's a great idea I haven't been there in years, I think I'll go tomorrow too!" I think he is joking, but he immediately tells his son who was taking over my work that he needs to take over for him and be a presence at the job site. Then tries to demand I clear a day out of my booked vacation schedule for us to meet up with him so he can take us out to some expensive place or some crap. On that one day during the trip he ended up no call no show-ing after we invited him to meet and hang with our family. We spent about an hour trying to call/message/email the guy and he never responded the entire trip. I get back he starts cracking lame jokes about how I ditched him to get engaged...that really pissed me off.

It gets better. Over the course of the next few months strange shit starts happening. I am forced to let go of a few of my techs for BS reasons like the 3 strike rule of attendance randomly being enforced without writ-ups or even verbal warnings. One guy had a 3 month old kid with his GF and I had to let the guy go because of a 3rd lateness of over 5 min from almost 90 days earlier and the previous two being almost 2 years old with the notes of in-climate weather and no routes that day (they also denied him unemployment and tried to enforce a 90 day no compete clause that would have stopped him form getting a job w the competition). Then I get a high priority job of going through back logs of unpaid services and start trying to preform collections with me receiving a % of what I collect(that I was never paid). Over the next month or two I keep getting odd things thrown at me to make money which don't have much to do with my regular job. Till one week where the entire office gets the flu. The owners son, previous manager(now just an officer worker), my assistant and about half the techs call out over the course of the week. I still come in with a 102 fever and goddamn doctors note in case I need to bail, just to get everyone set up and do as much as I can before almost passing out 3 days in a row. I get the entire day's work done by 1pm and leave all with the boss's son's approval. He was thrilled things were still working while the plague rampaged on. But not the owner apparently. I got pulled into the office and yelled at about not taking initiative and calling out all these days...he sounds like he is about to fire me before he asks me if I have anything to say for my self. So I correct him and he looks really shaken and then tells me some BS about the EPA stepping in and making us reduce the number of services we are allowed to do from quarterly (4x a yr) to a trimester schedule (3x) all while paying the same price. Guess who got to call almost every paying customer and try to get them to swallow that? ::raises hand::. So I take care of that over another two weeks and once again get called in to the office. Saying we cannot have this anymore and the EPA is crashing down hard on us and I just keep giving out too many services because the EPA really said we are not allowed to treat more than 2x a year and they lied to me throwing me under the bus(turns out that was a lie too they were trying to get up to stop treatments all together). Knowing I never had the power to authorize a single extra service without consent from the owners. So they had to let me go...only 4 month before I was going to get married. It got a bit intense as emotions ran high, the asshole of a son tells, "My dad told me to fire you a while ago for attendance but I knew you were getting married and I didn't want to mess that up so I played the long game for you man...." In an office with no strict punch schedule for the office workers as we were salary and constantly did things like get food for the office or have to run errands for the business and get stock from another location. Along w/ the EPA bullshit he tells me he just couldn't have a dept with two other managers in it who made less than I do doing the same job. They also tried to block my unemployment with falsified paperwork, claiming unsatisfactory attendance. Tons of bullshit and I never got a strait answer as to why I was let go till I did some investigating. Turns out the old manager who was just an office hand was being put back in the spot she was fired form because she offered to take a 33% pay cut form her old salary and the son just didn't want the extra work.....So they tried to scapegoat me for EPA violations and tried to tell the rest of the office my fuckups were the reason people were let go and the department was going to close.

So now that you've read all that you may have a bit of a feel for why I took my revenge so far and for so long. Luckily I had snapped a few pics of the paperwork I signed upon leaving stating it was due to the EPA infractions. That gets printed out and sent to the department of labor with the rest of their awesome tactics(shorting over time and flat out not paying for paid vacations, time card edits). That lead to tens of thousands of dollars lost in pack pay and fines being levied. The guy w/ the 3 month kid I had to let go told me he eventually settled for almost 35k in back pay... My next stop was the EPA, who much to their surprise didn't even know the company had kept doing the treatments at all as it was supposed to be stopped altogether. Luckily they knew the deal and that it wasn't just me making treatments all willy nilly like. More fines, for each and every treatment performed by them from about 3 months before they fired me. That had to be in the 6 figure range as there was well over 1.5k treatments done in the time and the fine was supposed to be over 1k each. The problem with the treatments were they were too effective, and were wiping out the type of insect that has beneficial and necessary environmental roles. So the mfers were actually hurting the ecology of our goddamn state for their own profit. I created a few fake FB profiles to still be able to follow the owner and his son on FB and find out not 30 days after their EPA issues my department closed down.

Okay so that was 2006ish, two years pass and I keep seeing my POS old boss, speeding around the area (I lived near the place) in his old ass little red Mercedes. Guess who called the cops worrying about the safety of those on the road around this dangerous car? Guess who eventually got caught for DUI at 2pm in the afternoon?

Fast forward a few years to 2011. Mr Whiz Kahlifa drops the song Black and yellow. Decent track. But remember how my old boss was a super racist fellow? Remember the business' color scheme? So I spent about a month sending him different youtube links to that song, from random email accounts. And finally one of a commercial for the company with Whiz's song over it vs the lame jingle they used. Not two weeks after I stop they change the goddamn color scheme of the place to a horrible red white and blue one. But not exactly red white and blue like the American flag more like the Blue white red of the French one. I wait about a month after the Black and Yellow attack and send him a vid of the French national anthem while a the flag is waving in the background. The next goddamn day the place is covered in that cheesy car dealer red white and blue American bunting and American flags everywhere.

Fast forward again to about 2014 and fuck me if I am not out for a walk, and see that company's sign in a lawn advertising that same old treatment on the same old signs from 06'...guess who got sent yet another email to the EPA w pictures? That one got them in major and local news as being "no friend to the environment".

Last time I went by their place they seemingly had half fleet of what are now used blue white and red covered mini trucks. Plus their call center building was emptied of furniture. Unfortunately they are still in business but are sitting at about a 3 star rating on Yelp and that was after they did the damage control to get it back from 1.5 stars.

Sorry(not sorry) guys, I was just playing the long game for you....

(source) (story by StendhalSyndrome)

[castielwarriorangel]

I’m doing better and I’m gonna shout it from the rooftops.

The past few years and months have been quite a challenge for me, for anyone who actually looks at my blog will know. This time last year I would have never seen myself where I am now; Yes, I am currently unemployed and not getting and income and will probably go into credit card debt, but for some reason that feels so much less stressful than everything else I’ve been dealing with and going through.

I quit my job because I really didn’t have a choice; I was being walked on, used, and was sacrificing my life for a job that didn’t pay enough. When something happened it was always my schedule that got changed and nobody else’s. I always had to deal with cancelling plans I had made months in advance because nobody, not even the full-timers or the manager of my department, could bother with sacrificing their lives for the job. My health was going downhill, I was relapsing to times I had thought were long passed, I started struggling with my alcoholism and and my depression and anxiety got to a bad point where even my medicine wasn’t helping. So I quit my job because it was being more detrimental than rewarding. I have and always will be a hard worker, but there are only so many times I can go above and beyond and get nothing in return while others are getting raises and promotions for doing jackshit. This has always been my life story when it comes to jobs. There was only one job that never happened in, and unfortunately it was a job that I had while I was at college. It didn’t pay enough for me to get an apartment and live on my own down there, so I had no choice but to return home. 

My life has always been about me not having a choice. For my whole life I was always doing stuff that other people wanted me to do. I was always doing what my parents wanted me to do even if it wasn’t what I wanted to do (like going to college). Almost 5 years later and that college education has given me nothing but a 35K+ debt. I finally awoke, realizing that the only one who knows what’s best for me is myself. Please, PLEASE, don’t let your parents persuade you that they know best because sometimes they do not. Everyone is different and have different life paths. Just because your parents did it doesn’t mean it’s what’s right for you. It certainly wasn’t right in my case.

Back to more recent times...

The past 2 years has been rough for me. 2016 started off pretty good, but everything went downhill about halfway through the year. I lost two people I cared about within a few months of each other, my grandfather had passed a few days before 2015′s Thanksgiving and I had to come to the realization that I no longer have anymore grandparents just like my parents no longer have anymore parents. I felt guilt, regret, and shame about it. I felt that I should’ve spent more time with them the years prior, but I didn’t get that chance. 

I ended up being put in the Crisis Intervention unit at the hospital, even if just for a day shortly before my grandfather passed. I had to go on health leave from work for a month or two. Upon returning to work, within the first week I had to take off again because I almost shattered my kneecap at work and was unable to walk comfortably for over a week.

Once the beginning or 2016 came around, I finally switched from the Bakery to the Meat Department at my old job which was great at first. It was fantastic. Things were looking up and I felt very positive about that year, until those two deaths came around. 

Now, I just want to give you guys a bit of insight. Yes, I understand that death happens.. But from 2014-2015 I had lost 7 people. 7 people in as little as a year. Only one out of these 7 died of natural causes; my grandfather. He passed at the age of 93. The majority of these 7 deaths were friends from college and people around my age. I’m 26 now. I’m 26 and I had lost 5 people around my age; either from an accidental overdose or a suicide. All these deaths were sudden except for my grandfather’s. 

Death is never an easy thing to deal with, whether it be from natural causes or just comes as a shock. I feel that shocking deaths are more damaging than expected ones. At least expected ones you can somewhat prepare for. It still hurts and it still sucks. I’m not saying that those who expected deaths are better off. I’m not invalidating anyone. I am just referring to me as a person and how I feel. My grandfather’s death wasn’t shocking but the 6 others were. And they all happened within WEEKS of one another. That took a huge toll on me. It was so much grief that I didn’t know what to do. I hadn’t even had the time to grieve for the previous death before the next one came along. So at the end of this death streak, I was completely destroyed. I didn’t know how to handle all them. It triggered my suicidal tendencies that had not been as frequent as they were when I was 12 years old. It caused me to become a workaholic and start drinking more frequently again. Many of you saw this happen with my seemingly random and out-of-the-blue changes in themes and content I was posting. Several of you messaged me, and I appreciate every single one of you who did, even if I didn’t reply; but it meant a lot to me. It was very comforting that I had people whom I had never met supporting me more than those who I actually knew. Your messages pulled me through even if it didn’t seem like it; but I suspect that if I hadn’t received those anons and other messages I probably would not be here anymore.

Now, things have changed again. This year is looking up, and hopefully it stays that way. I may not have a job right now, but I do indeed actually have a plan for the future which I have not had in years... because honestly I never thought I’d make it to 26. But now, I have received validation for what I plan on doing. My best friend’s mother is a medium and does card readings. Now, I know some will disagree with me and say it’s a crock of shit, but I was at my best friend’s house earlier today and had her mom do a reading for me that answered the biggest questions I had since I quit my job; what do I do next? What path should I go down? Am I heading in the right direction?

My best friend’s mother answered all these questions as clear as day for me when she did the readings. They were all pointing in the same exact direction; new beginnings, have faith, be strong, go back to school, time to do you. Note: She did 5 readings. 5 that all had the same exact message. If that’s not a sign, I’m not sure what is.

So now I plan on going to trade school. I want to go for mechanics and I wanted to go to the tech school after Middle School but my parents didn’t hear me out and sent me to regular High School instead. Which did me no good. Now that I am seeing a therapist who is very smart and has connections and knows practically everything, I’ve been talking to him about my future. Over the past month, I have received several signs and validations that are telling me to go to trade school. It was literally an idea that came out of the blue for me one day before I decided to quit my job. I had never mentioned it to anyone, and then one day my therapist and I suddenly got on the topic of it...And he just so happened to have a number on file I can call and they will cover the tuition ENTIRELY, no loans or nothing, since I am technically “disabled.” That was the first sign and from there things just started manifesting. I was unsure if I was going in the right direction, but tonight after the reading I got... Everything just made sense. It was like having an epiphany.

I plan to call the people who can cover my tuition at the start of next week, since it is now the weekend and they are probably closed during my waking hours lol. And... It all just suddenly feels right. I am much happier, I am doing what I want to do and I am finally making my own decisions. I have not had a drink since New Year’s, and in two months will mark my 1 year anniversary of quitting smoking. I have not abused any prescriptions I have had in several months.

And as someone who has been through hell and back for 14 years consistently, I have to say; the phrase “It’s always darkest before the dawn” cannot be more accurate. 

As a recovering addict and alcoholic, a survivor to self-harm, bullying, and abuse (all kinds)... We all have that inner strength to pull through the tough times. Relapses will happen, situations will get sticky and it will seem that their is no hope or light in the world anymore... I am saying that it does get better. I know we’ve all heard that before, but I feel I can connect to many people of various walks of life, and if I can encourage them or give them the faintest glimmer of hope they thought was lost; I will stop at nothing to let them know that their feelings are validated. That it’s ok if you fall off the wagon. That it’s ok if you go backwards instead of forwards. Success never happens overnight ad nor do accomplishments... But when you do accomplish those things you thought you never could do... That is what you will learn to hold on to. 

You’ll defeat your demons. For some people it takes longer than others, because we all fear them. Fear is natural and giving into temptation is as well. We all are but human. Everybody has different paths to take, different obstacles to overcome, and difficult times to tough out.

2017 I challenge you; don’t disappoint me.

To all those looking for a sign; here it is. This very post.

Don’t be discouraged. You are exactly where you are supposed to be right now.

Please feel free to reblog this, and I encourage you to do so. It could save someone’s life.

[royvelasco]

Traveling Indochina: Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand for 9 days for only ₱20k! All-in!

This might be the cheapest and a less stressful Indochina itinerary one can ever encounter. I’ve seen posts with a budget soaring up to ₱35k, some even with lesser days and/or a very challenging itinerary. I am so grateful that I am now able to share to you all my well-researched, organized, and budgeted trip to Indochina (LOL!). 3 countries, 4 cities, 9 days, no overnight bus rides, no 1 country-1 day, for only less than ₱20k ($400)! All-in!!!

Grand Palace, Bangkok Thailand

The plan actually started as early as 2014 but since that would be our first ever out-of-the-country trip, we changed plans to take the easier and safer option of Macau and Hong Kong. Backpacking Indochina has never been that easy. With the language barrier, unfamiliar places and customs, rampant scams, and even the heat make traveling to South East Asia very difficult. It’s indeed a backbreaking backpacking. But these reasons should not make you stop in traveling to this magnificent region. You’ll indeed have a feast of breathtaking sceneries, colorful cultures, and wonderful people. I testify to all of these as together with my friends, we had fun on our 9-day Indochina trip which definitely is our most memorable travel experience up to date.

Cu Chi Tunnels, Saigon Vietnam

Now here comes the tricky part, “Is it expensive?” I would say that it is actually not as everyone thinks about. Given the duration and vastness of our itinerary, our budget of ₱20k per person was already the cheapest I could think of. Another question would be “Can I do it?” Of course, you can! With enough research, wise budgeting, and of course enthusiasm to travel, this is achievable. Well if you’re not much of a planner and always appreciates the spontaneity, you can ditch the researching part but a lil’ bit of it to know the basics wouldn’t hurt. ;)

Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom, Siem Reap Cambodia

Three countries: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Four cities: Saigon, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Bangkok. Our itinerary was perfect for a 9-day plan. Some would even add Ayutthaya and/or Pattaya in Thailand which is exciting for sure but that would definitely make our itinerary more jam-packed and possibly stressful. If we just had more days and budget, we will surely try to visit them and maybe add more places like Laos and Phuket, Thailand.

Royal Palace, Phnom Penh Cambodia

Below is an overview of our itinerary with a breakdown of expenses. This can serve as a guide as I include a few tips and related links which hopefully would be helpful for those who aspire to travel Indochina as well. Please take note though that we were four in a group that time so please adjust your budget accordingly.

Day 0: Goodbye Manila. Hello Saigon, Vietnam!

10:50PM (PST) – Departure Time from Manila (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) via Cebu Pacific

GrabCar from Home (Pasig) to NAIA Terminal 3: ₱160 [₱320 total divided by 2 (I was with a friend)]

Roundtrip Airfare (Manila-Saigon & Bangkok-Manila): ₱3370.98 (Booked on promo via Cebu Pacific)

Philippine Travel Tax: ₱1620 per person

12:20AM (ICT) – Arrival Time to Saigon, Vietnam (Tan Son Nhat International Airport)

Airport Pickup: ₱200 [₱800 (389,300VND/$17) total divided by 4 (We were four in the group)]

Tip: Please take note that there is a time difference between two countries making the Philippines an hour ahead.

1:00AM (ICT) – Hotel Check-In (Blue River 3 Hotel)

3 Nights 3 Days Inclusive of Free Breakfast: ₱1307.44 [₱5229.78 (2.6M VND/$111) total divided by 4] (Booked through Expedia)

Click HERE to check on my review for Blue River 3 Hotel.

Tip: Vietnam’s local currency is called Vietnamese Dong that has large denominations being 500,000 as the highest note. Together with their local money, US Dollars are also widely accepted here. As far as I know, there is no money changer here in the Philippines that sells Vietnamese Dong so I would suggest changing your Peso to US Dollars, then maybe change the half of it to Dong once you get in Vietnam. That’s what I did actually.

Total Expenses: ₱6658.42 ($142)

Day 1: Saigon, Vietnam (City Tour and Cu Chi Tunnels)

8:00AM - War Remnants Museum

Entrance Fee: ₱30 (15,000VND or less than a dollar) per person

10AM – Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)

Entrance Fee: ₱65 (30,000VND/$1.3) per person – We didn’t bother to enter anymore as I read a lot of reviews that it was not worth it. Just a picture from the outside made me contented already.

10:30AM - Notre-Dame Cathedral

There was no entrance fee but it was said that there was a 9:30AM mass held every Sunday which unfortunately we’re not able to attend to. :(

11:00AM - Saigon Central Post Office

Despite of its old yet elegant design, it is still a working post office though souvenir shops can also be seen inside. Admission is free.

11:30AM – Lunch @ Popeye’s: ₱150 (720,000VND/$3)

12:00PM – Back to Hotel / Rest

Taxi: ₱15.5 [₱62 (30,000VND/$1.3) total divided by 4]

Read on:  Starting In Saigon #Day1

1:00PM – Cu Chi Tunnels

Tour Fee (Inclusive of roundtrip bus ride and a tour guide): ₱275 (131,000VND/less than $6) per person (Booked through our hotel)

Cu Chi Tunnels Entrance Fee: ₱232 (110,00VND/$5) per person

Tip: Doing a DIY tour to Cu Chi Tunnels is not advisable as tour offered by hotels were already cheap and worth it. Aside from hotels, you can also directly book your preferred tours to a travel agency as it comes cheaper.

Read on: Underground Stories: A Tour in the Cu Chi Tunnels #Day1  

7:00PM – Back to Saigon

Back to hotel/Rest

8:00PM – Saigon Square (Souvenir Shopping)

Taxi: ₱18.75 [₱75 (35,000VND/$1.6) total divided by 4]

My friends were able to score original North Face Backpacks for less than a million Vietnamese Dong each. That’s less than $40 or ₱2,000 for a genuine North Face bag!

10:00PM – Dinner at a nearby Pho restaurant

Pho Bo & Banh Mi: ₱177 (850,00VND/$3.8)

Tip: Your Vietnam experience will never be complete without trying local dishes like Pho and Banh Mi. Satisfy yourself with a hot bowl of Pho, a famous Vietnamese rice noodle soup with herbs and meat of either beef or chicken, partnering it with Banh Mi, a cold cut meat sandwich.

Read on: What and Where to Shop and Eat in Saigon?

10:00PM – Back to hotel / Lights out

Total Expenses: ₱898.25 ($19)

Day 2: Mekong Delta & Saigon Souvenir Shopping

8:00AM – Mekong Delta Tour

Tour Fee (Inclusive of roundtrip bus ride, a tour guide, boat rides, and lunch): ₱459 (220,000VND/$11) per person (Booked through our hotel)

Non La (Vietnamese Conical Hat): ₱46 (22,000VND/$1)  – For OOTD purposes LOL! 

Coconut Candies (for pasalubong): ₱230 (111,000VND/$5)

Read on: Like a Local in Mekong Delta #Day2

5:00PM – Back to Saigon (Back to hotel/Rest)

8:00PM – Ho Chi Minh City Hall

Taxi: ₱18.75 [₱75 (35,000VND/$1.6) total divided by 4]

Starbucks Vietnam Mug: ₱522 (250,000VND/$11)

9:00PM – Ben Thanh Market

Souvenir Tshirts: ₱300 (143,000VND/6)

Tip: Always carry with you your best haggling techniques in shopping here. Start from 40-50% of the original asking price and negotiate from there. Another great technique is stepping away from the stall if you’re not satisfied with the price. Every step would lower the price eventually. A lil’ bit of your drama skills might be helpful here as well. LOL! Just be careful though as vendors here are very persistent and sometimes violent.

Read on: What and Where to Shop and Eat in Saigon?

10:00PM – Dinner: ₱150 (72,000VND/$3)

11:00PM – Grocery Shopping (Chips, Biscuits, Coffee, Water, etc.): ₱200 (95,600VND/$4.2)  – We were just letting go of the Vietnamese Dongs that we still have. :D

11:30PM – Back to Hotel / Lights out

Total Expenses: ₱1,925.75 ($41)

‘Got more time to spare? Click HERE to check out more awesome things to do in Saigon!

Day 3: Off to Phnom Penh, Cambodia!

8:00AM – Hotel Check-Out

8:30AM – Departure Time

One-Way Bus Ticket to Phnom Penh, Cambodia via Long Phuong Cambodia Bus Company (with Bottle of Drinking Water and Wet Wipes): ₱480 (229,000VND/$10) per person (Booked through our Hotel.)

Lunch at the Bus Stop (somewhere in Bavet, Cambodia): ₱70 (33,000VND/$1.5/6,000KHR)

Tip: Restaurants on the border normally accept Cambodian Riel, Vietnamese Dong, and US Dollars so no need to worry if you haven’t exchanged your money yet.

Read on: Saigon to Phnom Penh: Moc Bai, Vietnam – Bavet, Cambodia Border Crossing #Day3

3:00PM – Arrival Time in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (1 hour late due to traffic and road constructions in the city.)

3:30PM – Hotel Check-In (Aura Thematic Hostel)

1 Night Stay with Free Breakfast: ₱356 [₱1426 (124,000KHR/$30.64) total divided by 4] (Booked through Agoda)

Click HERE to check on my review for Aura Thematic Hostel.

5:00PM – Leisure Walk

Tip: Just like Vietnam, USD is widely accepted here in Cambodia. Locals actually might prefer it more than their local money.

National Museum of Cambodia

Entrance Fee: ₱235 (20,000KHR/$5) per person – Unfortunately, it was already closed when we got there. Opening hours are from 8AM to 5PM.

Sisowath Quay

8:00PM – Dinner (Happy Pizza): ₱250 [₱1,000 (87,000KHR/$21) total divided by 4]

9:30PM – Back to Hotel / Lights Out

Read on: Overnight in Phnom Penh #Day3

Total Expenses: ₱1,156 ($24)

Day 4: Phnom Penh City Tour

Tip: Make sure to have your face mask on if you’re touring Phnom Penh via tuktuk as this place is very dusty.

8:00AM – Royal Palace

Tuktuk Half-Day Tour: ₱175 [₱700 (60,000KHR/$15) total divided by 4]

Entrance Fee: ₱300 (25,000KHR/$6) per person

Tip: Visit the Royal Palace as soon as it opens in the morning to avoid the crowd. Opening hours are from 7:30AM to 5:00PM but please take in mind that they close at noon from 11:00AM to 2:00PM.

Silver Pagoda (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

Read on: A King for a Day: A Tour in Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace #Day4

10:00AM – The Killing Fields at Choeung Ek

Entrance Fee: ₱140 (12,000KHR/$3) per person

Tip: Though there are few storyboards that explain the history of some spots, it’s advisable to have an audio guide (which is available in 15 different languages) as this place looks nothing but just a piece of land with trees and excavations.

11:00AM – Toul Sleng Genocide Museum

Entrance Fee: ₱140 (12,000KHR/$3) per person

Tip: An audio guide can also be availed for an additional fee to help you more with your tour.

Read on: Cambodia’s Dark Past: The Killing Fields and S-21 #Day4

'with our Tuktuk driver in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

12:00PM – Back to Hotel / Check-Out – Chips and biscuits for Lunch LOL! It was raining so hard that time we cannot go out. Silver lining was we were able to save money! ;)

2:00PM – A van picked us up from the hotel to the bus terminal.

One-Way Bus Ticket to Siem Reap, Cambodia via Mekong Express Limousine Bus (with Free Snack and a Bottle of Drinking Water): ₱600 (52,000KHR/$13) per person (Booked through our Hotel)

3:00PM – Departure Time

8:00PM – Arrival Time in Siem Reap, Cambodia

8:30PM – Hotel Check-In (Le Tigre Hotel)

2 Nights 2 Days with Free Pickup: ₱470 [₱1878.14 (163,000KHR/$40) total divided by 4] (Booked through Expedia)

Click HERE to check on my review for Le Tigre Hotel.

10:00PM – Late Dinner at a nearby restaurant: ₱150 (13,000KHR/$3)

11:00PM – Back to Hotel / Lights Out

Total Expenses: ₱1,975 ($42)

Day 5: Siem Reap, Cambodia (Angkor Wat and More Temples!!!)

4:00AM – Breakfast (Biscuits and Coffee)

4:30AM – Tuktuk Pickup

5:30AM – Angkor Wat Sunrise

1-Day/Small Tour with Angkor Wat Sunrise:  ₱212.5 [₱850 (73,000KHR/$18) total divided by 4] (Booked through our Hotel)

Tip: Almost all accommodations in Siem Reap offer Angkor Temple Tours. You can go for a tuktuk, private car, join-in group on a bus/van, or even rent a bike. For fast-paced travelers, a 1 or 2 days will do but there are also tours that last for a week! Make sure to inquire through your hotel to know what suits you and to avoid the scams as well.

1-Day Pass: ₱930 (81,000KHR/$20) per person

Tip: The ticket is like an ID card as it shows a picture of you. Always keep your ticket during your visit as there are some officials who regularly check it before you enter the temple. Avoid it from being torn and wet or you will need to purchase another one. The 7-day pass is laminated though for better protection.

Tip: Though we didn’t have a tour guide, it’s actually advisable to have one to explain all the stories and meanings behind every corner of Angkor Wat. As everything was beautiful in the eye, it was also interesting making you want to know more about it.

Read on: A Beautiful Morning in Angkor Wat #Day5

9:00AM – Angkor Thom

South Gate of Angkor Thom

Bayon Temple

Baphuon

Terrace of the Elephants

Terrace of the Leper King

@ Bayon Temple

11:00AM – Lunch: ₱325 [₱1,300 (113,000KHR/$27) total divided by 4] – This might be the most expensive meal we had on the entire trip! It was such a rip-off!

12:00PM – More Temples!!!

East Gate of Angkor Thom

Chau Say Tevoda

Ta Keo

Ta Phrom

Banteay Kdei

@ Ta Phrom

Read on: Temple Overload in Siem Reap #Day5

3:00PM – Back to Hotel / Rest (We actually planned to have a swim but due to exhaustion, we slept and woke up by night time. LOL!)

8:00PM – Angkor Night Market / Pub Street

Dinner: ₱100 (8,700KHR/$2)

Souvenir Tshirts: ₱150 (13,000KHR/$3)

10:00PM – Back to Hotel / Rest

(3:00AM – Swimming) ;)

Total Expenses:  ₱1,717.5 ($36)

You’ll never run out of things to do in this wonderful kingdom. Click HERE to find out the things that I missed in Cambodia!

Day 6: Siem Reap, Cambodia to Bangkok, Thailand

8:30AM – Hotel Check-Out / A van picked us up from the hotel getting us to the Poipet border.

One-Way Ticket to Bangkok, Thailand: ₱560 (48,700KHR/$12) per person (Booked through our Hotel)

11:00AM – Arrival Time in Poipet Border / ‘Cleared Immigration

Read on: Siem Reap to Bangkok: Poipet, Cambodia – Aranyaprathet, Thailand Border Crossing #Day6

1:00PM – Lunch: ₱130 (96THB/$2.7)

2:00PM – Van Ride to Bangkok, Thailand

6:00PM – Arrival Time in Khao San, Bangkok / Hotel Check-In (The Secret Service Bed and Breakfast Hotel)

3 Nights 3 Days: ₱1,725 [₱6900 (5100THB/$149.40) total divided by 4] (Booked through Agoda)

Click HERE to check on my review for The Secret Service Bed and Breakfast Hotel.

8:00PM – Dinner @ KFC: ₱200 (148THB/$4) – This dinner gave me a terrible tummy ache that lasted throughout the remaining days. :(

9:00PM – Strolling in Khao San

10:00PM – Back to Hotel / Lights Out

Total Expenses: ₱2,615 ($56)

Day 7: A Grand Day in Bangkok, Thailand

8:00AM – Breakfast @ McDonald’s: ₱200 (148THB/$4)

9:00AM – Grand Palace

Tuktuk Ride from Khao San: ₱17.5 [₱70 (50THB/$1.4) total divided by 4]

Tip: If your hotel is just somewhere in Khao San just like us, you can actually walk to the Grand Palace for around 20 minutes or opt to ride a tuktuk for only 50THB or less than ₱70 ($1.4). Since we were four, I already settled with that though he offered me 60THB at first. So haggle first and make sure to get out of Khao San Road to not get ripped-off. Prices there are starting from 100THB above and very difficult to haggle with.

Entrance Fee: ₱670 (500THB/$14.5) per person

Tip: A dress code is strictly being implemented in the Grand Palace compound. Avoid wearing inappropriate and revealing outfits.

Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

Read on: A Grand Day in Bangkok #Day7

12:00PM – Lunch (Pad Thai and Mango juice): ₱150 (111THB/$3) – I shared the Pad Thai with one of my companions as my tummy was still not fine that time. :(

1:00PM – Wat Pho

Entrance Fee (with One Bottle of Drinking Water): ₱135 (100THB/$3)

How To Get Here: Wat Pho is located just south of the Grand Palace. Make sure to drop by here as well if you’re having a tour in the Grand Palace. A short 10-min walk or a cheap tuktuk ride will get you here. Ditch the tuktuk ride if I were you.

3:00PM – Wat Arun

Cross-River Ferry Boat (Rountrip): ₱8 (6THB/$0.1)

Entrance Fee: ₱70 (50THB/$1.5) – The central tower was closed for restoration that time so no admission fee was asked.

How To Get Here: Wat Arun is almost directly opposite Wat Pho with the Chao Praya River in between. If you’re coming from Wat Pho, have a short walk towards Tha Thien Market until you reach the cross-river ferry pier which is just beside the Tha Thien ferry pier. The boat will take you on the other side of the river where Wat Arun is. Fare was just cheap for only 3THB or ₱4 (less than a $ cent). The Tha Thien / N8 Ferry pier is your drop-off point if you’re coming farther away using the Chao Praya Express Boat. To go back to the other side, just take the same cross-river ferry.

Read on: Can’t Get Enough of Temples: More Wats in Bangkok! #Day7 #Day8

5:00PM – Back to Hotel / Rest – Early lights out as my tummy ache was getting worse. My other friend was feeling the same thing as well. Damn that KFC coleslaw that we ate last night! :(

Tuktuk Back to Hotel in Khao San – ₱26.75 [₱107 (80THB/$2) total divided by 4]

Click HERE to know different ways to reach Khao San.

Total Expenses: ₱1,207.25 ($25)

Day 8: More of Bangkok!

8:00AM – Breakfast (Noodles and coffee from our supplies)

9:00AM - Wat Saket (The Golden Mount)

Tuktuk Ride from Khao San: ₱17.5 [₱70 (50THB/$1.4) total divided by 4]

Entrance Fee: ₱27 (20THB/Half a $)

How To Get Here: Take the not-so-tourist-friendly Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat and drop off at Panfa Leelard ferry station which is just near Wat Saket. The ride might not give you the most scenic view but it will definitely take you to your destination. It will also let you feel the local life as people here ride this going to work and anywhere else. People from the city center going to Khao San also drop off to this station as it’s just near the area. Another option and probably the easiest would be riding a taxi or a tuktuk. If you’re staying in Khao San like us, a 20 minute walk or a 50THB or less (depending on your haggling skills) tuktuk ride will take you here.

Read on: Can’t Get Enough of Temples: More Wats in Bangkok! #Day7 #Day8

11:00AM – Terminal 21 Mall

How To Get Here: Terminal 21 is very accessible as two rail systems intersect just literally beside the mall. Sukhumvit Station will be your drop off point if you’re taking the MRT Subway. But if you’re somewhere near the BTS Sky Train (Sukhumvit Line), take this train and unload yourself in Asok Station then access the mall directly via the Skywalk. Don’t worry if the Silom Line of BTS Sky Train is the nearest to you as you can get out in Central/Siam Station then change train to Sukhumvit Line.

Taxi Ride: ₱50 [₱200 (150THB/$4) total divided by 4] – Since there’s no near MRT or Sky Train in Wat Saket, we just decided to have a comfortable 15-min taxi ride going to Terminal 21.

Tee for Myself: ₱130 (100THB/Almost $3)

Lunch @ Pier 21 Food Court (Hainanese and Fried Chicken with Rice and Soup, Mango Smoothie, Sticky Mango Rice, and Ice Cream): ₱150 (115THB/$3)

Tip: Food Courts in Bangkok are different as you need to buy first a prepaid card that you will be using to purchase your meals. Proceed to the coupon counter upon entering Pier 21 Food Court and avail of the card amounting to your desire. Don’t worry if you will not be able to consume everything in your card as you can get the unused amount refunded on the same counter. Or if there are only few bahts left on your card, I would advise to just keep it and have it as a souvenir. ;)

Read on: Shop Around the World at Terminal 21 #Day8

3:00PM – Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha)

MRT Subway from Sukhumvit Station to Hua Lamphong Station: ₱34 (26THB/Less than a $)

How To Get Here: Take the MRT subway and drop off at Hua Lamphong Station. From there, it’ll just be a short walk to Wat Traimit. Just look up and once you see the tall white temple structure with a golden spire, that’s it!

Entrance Fee (Golden Buddha): ₱50 (40THB/$1.2) – Admission to the museum costs an additional ₱130 (100THB/Almost $3).

Tip: Have a side trip to Chinatown as it is just literally behind Wat Traimit. Visit the temple late in the afternoon then visit Chinatown afterwards at night to see it alive with colorful lights and people everywhere. Indulge yourself with authentic and delicious Chinese food for dinner anywhere here. Another suggestion is to have a walking tour in the morning to visit the Chinese temples and shop for cheap finds.

Read on: Can’t Get Enough of Temples: More Wats in Bangkok! #Day7 #Day8

5:00PM – Back to Hotel / Rest

Taxi Back to Hotel: ₱50 [₱200 (150THB/$4) total divided by 4]

8:00PM – Dinner Somewhere in Soi Rambuttri in Khao San (Fried Pork Noodles and Coke): ₱80 (60THB/Less than $2)

9:00PM – Souvenir Shopping @ Khao San

Souvenir Shirts and Tank Top: ₱335 (250THB/$7)

Grocery Shopping @ 7-11 (Chips, Breads, Noodles, etc.): ₱65 (50THB/$1.4)

Coconut Ice Cream: ₱65 (50THB/$1.4)

11:00PM – Back to Hotel / Lights Out

Read on: Around Khao San

Total Expenses: ₱1,053.5 ($22)

Day 9: Back to Manila!

4:30AM – Breakfast (Noodles and Coffee from our supplies) / Pack-Up

5:30AM – Off to the Airport

Taxi Ride to Suvarnabhumi International Airport: ₱266 [₱800 (600THB/$17) total divided by 3 (My other friend had a late flight)] – The price was a total rip-off!!! Normally, it can just cost you around 300THB. I’m not sure if I was hypnotized or just didn’t have enough breakfast that time or I really didn’t know of the right fare. :P

9:40AM (ICT) – Departure Time from Bangkok, Thailand (Suvarnabhumi International Airport) via Cebu Pacific

Nissin Cup Noodles and Water: ₱150 (111THB/$3)

2:00PM (PST) – Arrival Time to Manila, Philippines (Ninoy Aquino International Airport)

Airport Taxi to Home: ₱150 [₱300 total divided by 2 (I was again with my friend)]

Total Expenses: ₱566 ($12)

Bangkok has a lot to offer. Click HERE to check out more things you can do in this marvelous city.

Over-All Expenses: ₱19,772.67 ($419)

This trip gave me overwhelming experiences that definitely taught me a lot of significant lessons. I was able to witness and learn different cultures and certainly tried my best to speak and understand new languages. I couldn’t believe that I can maximize our small budget for this kind of trip and challenge ourselves for a new kind of adventure. Most importantly, we met new friends along the way that made our travel more fun and memorable. Traveling may not be for everyone but it is definitely one of the things that makes one fulfilled. This 9-day journey is for sure my best experience so far that I will forever cherish.

Previous Post: Feelin’ at Home: Where Did We Stay in our 9-Day Indochina Trip?

DISCLAIMER: Prices may change depending on the exchange rate, season, and/or inflation.

NOTE: I own all the images used in this blog post unless otherwise stated. Please don’t use these for any purposes, unless you acknowledge the owner. Thank you

If you have questions, feel free to contact me HERE. :)

[captainalwayslazycollectort-blog]

Car insurance?

"Car insurance?

how much would insurance for a 16 year old female cost for a 2000 Plymouth Neon Highline

BEST ANSWER:  Try this site where you can compare quotes: : http://saleinsurancequotes.xyz/index.html?src=tumblr 

RELATED QUESTIONS: 

Does anyone know of a good /cheap health insurance?

I need to get health ins. for a nursing program I'm going into, do you know of a cheap one? I have no pre-existing ailments, an 46yrs. old and in good health. I live in San Antonio, Tx. thx.""

How does the affordable care act apply to me?

Right now, I live with my Mom and she earns about $120000 per year. I work and earn about $22000 per year.""

Does the Affordable Health Care law really prevent insurance companies from denying pre-existing conditions?

They say that now, insurance companies can no longer deny insurance to people with pre -existing conditions. So what was HIPAA passed in 1996 for? This law states that insurance companies CAN NOT deny people with pre -existing conditions. The only change I see is it gets rid of the 12 month exclusion period. I had two aunts with lupus, both lived in California and had insurance, until they moved to Texas. If they could have kept their insurance, they would have, but for some odd reason liberals are against insurance across state lines. They had no problem finding insurance, they just had to be out of pocket for 12 months. HIPAA also states that if you can go six months without any medical visits, advice/procedures, insurance companies are not allowed to look further than that and must not apply the exclusion period. So did the Affordable Care Act really stop insurance companies from denying coverage for pre existing conditions, or was it ALREADY a law? http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_hipaa.html""

Insurance settlement following motorcycle accident - GA?

The accident was ruled the other driver's fault. I had three pelvic fractures, dislocated tailbone, and fractured elbow. My health ins isn't paying, but the med bills have been reduced to the negotiated rate that my ins would normally pay. So my TOTAL OWED is about 2/3's of the initial total. Since pain & suffering is based on med bills times a multiplier, which amount will the ins co use? The larger total or the negotiated total? An attorney told me that this hospital is notorious for requesting the rest of the owed amount after the settlement has been reached, so obviously, I want the most money that I can get (and 13 weeks missed work!) Thanks""

Motorcycle insurance full coverage!?

how much will it cost me? im 18 and im going to take the MSF course...my bike is a honda cbr 600rr 2005 i could i put my dad under my motorcycle? he is 50 and no tickets he had his m1 for like 10yrs but not no more

Can i own a bike without insurance or license?

ive got my mod 2 soon and will have my license soon enough. ive seen a bike that i would like to buy and am going to buy it. can i have the bike in the garage? it wont be ridden until i have my license and insurance. just wondering if its against the law yet to own a bike without insurance

""Is it cheaper to be put on your parents car insurance, or get your own?""

I'm 16 and I need car insurance, would it be cheaper to be put on my parents, or get my own entirely?""

I got approved for the car loan but the insurance is more than the car note?

i am so mad. okay i got approved for an 05 pontiac grand am se. that barrier has been brought down. now im stuck with this insurance deal. since i am so new, its hard for me to get a good insurance quote. most places want 600-800 down and i dont have that kind of money. my car note would be around 330 but the insurance is mor3 than the car note. what am i to do? im checking progressive and they quote me at 161 monthy/1000 for 6 months. i cannot pay 360 a month for car insurance. im so sick right now...""

""What is the MAX for pain and suffering, coverd by insurance companies in CA?""

What I'm trying find out is what is the max, and what is fair, and what is likely, to get from a car accident? IF you know someone that knows forward this to them please!! I have over $10K in Medical and another 10K for missed work, plus I'm still not back to 80% moreover, am still in pain 90% of the day and night, 18 months later. So that is that worth?? If you asked me its millions, but I was told $35,000 was the max the insurance company will cover. Which is all the lawyer will really go after, right?? The insurance is offering to pay out 35K now, what do I do!! I could hire a lawyer, but would I get any more! I think not!! Moreover I would net less; after the lawyer takes their 30% and expenses, right?? What should I do and how to do it?""

Car insurance for a Ford Mustang GT?

I am saving up to buy a 2004 Ford Mustang GT for my 19th birthday. I have no wrecks or tickets on my record and have been to driving classes. How much would insurance be if 1) I had the car put under my parents name or 2) I had it put under my name only

What is a good affordable health insurance for a part time worker?

I am a part time worker averaging 15-20 hours per week, minimum wage. I do not qualify for the job insurance since I have to be full time. Not married, no kids, 20 years old, living at home with parents still. I have been very healthy, never been hospitalized for any reason. If anyone could help me find an affordable health insurance for myself, or even better an insurance that can also cover my parents and myself at a good price. My mother had surgery 5+ years ago, other than that she has been healthy. Is there any insurances out there that are affordable for me? Please and thank you!""

""I was hit by an uninsured motorist, and I have an uninsured clause in my car insurance.?""

My car was totaled out, and since my car insurance had a non insured motorist clause then I just have to pay the deductible, and they will cut me a check. I was hurt in the accident, and I wanted to know if my car insurance (Progressive) will also pay out pain and suffering. I am considering taking this guy to small claims court, but if I do then I have no idea what the outcome would be. IF my insurance offers me a pain and suffering settlement then should I take it? can I negoiate for a higher settlement? Everyone is telling me to take whatever is offered to me because the guy that hit my car didn't have insurance, and could possibly claim indigentcy in which case I would most likely never see the money. I can get a pain and suffering settlement from my own insurance, but I believe that the person that hit me should have to pay it, and I am also assuming that I would get more money out of him directly than letting my insurance cover the pain and suffering. This is my first wreck that I have gotten into, in which, I was the party that was damaged (almost died), and the other guy only received a ticket. I know that life is not fair, but like I said before, this is my first car wreck where I was owed money and the other person did not have insurance. Any information will be much appreciated. Thank You Very Much.""

Good health insurance?

Looking for good affordable health insurance.

Why is auto insurance cheaper in quebec than ontario?

Why is auto insurance cheaper in quebec than ontario?

How much is the insurance premium on a motorcycle 125cc?

Male, 18, Passenger car probationary licence suspended once on 2 accounts of speeding Preferably in Quebec, Canada""

How do i buy car insurance and how do I find a insurance company that suits me (cheap)?

ok so I've seen a car I would like to buy, how do I get car insurance? should I ring a call or get insured online? Also a list of names of insurance companies would be helpful? thanks""

Is This Right? (Retinal Detachment/Cataract/Lens/Insur... Question)?

Let me make a very long story short and get right to the questions. I have moved across the United States by myself at the age of 20 with no insurance covered by my parents, nor will they ever if they could. I had a retinal detachment in my left eye. Paid out of pocket for an eye doctor appointment, he freaked out and told me to go straight to the emergency room for emergency surgery since my entire retina was detached. After my surgery, half unconscious too, a social worker got assigned to me because I was under 21 and legally dependent on the state. So the state paid for my surgery. I had a 2nd one too because the first failed. During my 2nd surgery I had cataracts in my eye so they removed the natural lens. And they never replaced the natural lens since they feared the retina may detach again like the first time. But it stay together and I turned 21. So therefore, legally independent by the state. My check up appointment was after my birthday which the front desk of the eye section declared I must pay $80 for every check up visit, which they wanted me to come in every other week. And if I did not pay, I could not go in. Due to my 6 months of surgeries and recover time I had no money, and was not working. I live with my in-laws, and they were taking care of me, but they are certainly not going to pay my medical bills. So here I am now, age 22 and I have been working for about a year. My job does not offer health insurance until you worked for a year, and even then, there is a certain month you can sign up. I have been walking around for over a year without a natural lens, or ANY lens in my left eye. This is in no way like being blind. My doctor had told me that if I got my license and drove, if ever in an accident, I would get in serious trouble because you are not supposed to drive this way. Not that I do, I cannot see correctly so it is wicked dangerous. Having no lens in one eyes messes with your other eye. Hard to explain unless you have literally had this situation before. Sunlight glares into my bad eye, then into my good eye. Same with darkness or bright lights in general. I am actually very blind at night because of this. This is literally ruining my life. I have no money to pay for insurance, or the surgery which can be easily be 10,000 dollars. Is this legal for a county hospital to do? I have never heard of anyone in my situation. Even the thousands of times I have googled and searched. Never heard of anyone in my shoes. What are my rights here? Is there some way I can fight this? Where is my justice? This is holding me back so badly in life. Please someone with real help and not a crappy site they copy and pasted, help! I need some real human help!!""

Auto insurance for a new driver and a new car?

I got my licenses on March 30th, 5 days after my sixteenth birthday. I was so excited to start driving to school and what not but when i got home, my mom told me she would not buy me insurance because it's to expensive. I asked her how much it would be monthly but she wouldn't tell me. My first question is about how much would insurance be for me, as a new driver, and i have a new car. My second question is if i don't have insurance, can i still drive with my mom or dad or guardian in the passenger seat? (they have insurance for themselves) If i can't drive with them, i don't get how insurance will get cheaper for me overtime if i haven't driven and can't drive since my licenses test.""

Buying Car at 17 - Is there easier way to check insurance?

My parents are getting me a car for when i turn 17, and they asked me to look around online for one. The thing is, is there a easier way to check how much the insurance would be for me without answering a million questions. I just want to check approximately how much it would be? Because i need a car that would be about under 1500 a year insurance""

Which companies do temporary car insurance for under 21 year olds?

Everyone i find wants you to be over 21. Is there a company that give me temporary insurance? I am 18 years old Thanks

I am a new driver with insurance queries.can anyone help me?

i am a new driver and i am thinking of buying a cheap,affordable,small car (ford ka). The problem is that if i put my father's name as the main driver,who has his licence since ages,and put my name as a 2nd driver, how much approx. will my insurance come down to?+ i got my pass plus.""

Metlife Autoinsurance claim. Will rate increase?

I am under my parents metlife auto insurance.. recently my 03 DTS was hit in a hit and run while parked in the parking lot and my right bumper is cracked and tailight is slightly damaged.. I took it to local body shop and got an estimate of $932.00 for repair. Insurance deductible is $250 There are no claims on my familys auto-insurance, My parents are to worried that it may increase their insurance rate if a claim is filed... When I called Metlife to ask them would there be an increase if claim was filed they gave a B.S. answer saying that they dont know until after everything is done and then they decide.... So from your guys experience do you think rate will increase?........ If I cant proove that it woulnt increase its looking like Im gonna have to pull $932 out of my pockets""

Auto insurance question?

Ok, I have a friend who is going out of state for two weeks. I do not have a vehicle that runs and therefore do not carry any auto insurance coverage. My friend is wanting me to take her to the airport and drop her off in her vehicle that she carries insurance on, then she is willing to let me use her car while she is gone, and me come pick her up from the airport when she gets back. My question is, do I need to get me auto insurance for the two weeks she will be gone which seems silly to me, or does her insurance cover me???""

Are insurance rates high for classic cars?

Are insurance rates high for classic cars?

Help with finding individual health insurance?

I'm 16 and my parents do not speak English. My sister and I (16 and 18) have Child Health Plus and my mother has insurance through her job. My dad currently has no health insurance because he could no longer afford to pay over $250 a month for insurance. He has diabetes and is having trouble controlling his blood sugar. How do I find an affordable insurance company? They said we can't have family health plus since we make a little over $3,000 a month but half goes to rent. What should I do? What is Healthy NY? Any advice??? thank you""

Car insurance?

how much would insurance for a 16 year old female cost for a 2000 Plymouth Neon Highline

I need some help with car insurance please.?

About a year ago my husband and I sold a car. We went through the usual channels with dealing with the plates, calling the insurance company and so on. Well today we got our yearly insurance cards in the mail and didn't recognize one of the cars they had given us a card for so I went over the statement. It turns out they have been billing us for insurance on a car we sold over a year ago. We never really noticed how much we should be paying in insurance for our cars and only get our statement once a year with these cars. We only pay $1504 a year for what we thought was two cars and I had assumed that was pretty good. In fact we were paying for three cars and an extra $663 a year on the car we sold. I haven't contacted the insurance company yet but my question is what are my options here? Will they give us the money back for the year we payed on a car we legally sold and what do they need, if any, proof of that? We have paperwork of the sale but no real proof we called them to inform them to take the car off the insurance. Will that we enough?""

What is the best health insurance company in Canada?

from your experience. just a student on a budget. i have two little ones as well.

Cheapest insurance in Washington state ?

Cheapest insurance in Washington state ?

My husband needs life insurance but has diabeties?

My husband needs life insurance about 50,000 but want payments cheap payments 40.00 monthly. We been trying to find some life insurance but some dont take with diabeties. My husband doesnt take insulin. Hes ranging about 100 to 180 every month on sugar level.. Any ideas on life insurance we should quilified!!!""

How long does it take for insurance rates to go up after getting speeding ticket?

how long does it take for your insurance rates to get affected if you get a speeding ticket.. does it apply right away or do i have time to go to traffic school.. and if i go to traffic school will all evidence of there ever been a ticket disappear?

""Im from the UK.Around how much would insurance cost for me a 17 yr old girl, buying a 1999-2000 toyota celica?

All helpful answers appreciated. Stupid answers are not welcome !

Mega life and health insurance?

What is the location of Mega Life and Health Insurance?

Do you have health insurance?

if so, how much is it per month? how old are you? what kind of deducatble do you have? Feel free to answer also if you do not have insurance and do you support obamacare?""

Insurance Status of a car buyer?

I am selling my car. Somebody comes to view and test drive my car. He doesn't have any car before so no insurance of his own. If he test drive my car and have an accident. What would be the insurance status? (I am on admiral by the way) UK People only Please. Thank you.

Health insurance for foreigners?

I am from India & I would like to know about the health insurance options for indians working in Malaysia. My husband is working but I am a housewife. His company takes care of his insurance. We are trying for a baby and I would like to know about the health insurance options for foreigners in Malaysia.

""How to go about getting a motorcycle, license and insurance...?""

i am from kansas and am going to get a motorcycle. can i get a permit? do i get a motorcycle first, then a license? how can i get a license first if i dont have a motorcycle? what is the order of getting a motorcycle, insurance, license? what do i do first second and third??""

""I am 17 years old, got my driving license 8 month ago, but i don't have insurance on my car! What would happen?""

What would happen if the cops would stop me? I have my mom's insurance, for my car , can it be helpful with the cops?""

Motorbike insurances?

hi,just wondering whats the best and most cheapest motorbikr insurance right now on the market.at the moment iv got insurance qoutes from ebikes and is quite cheap.but the thing is,if its any good?somebodys got any experience with ebikes?sounds cheap but if there any good to insure with them?got a kawasaki vn900 almost 1 year ncb and a EU full motorbike license.age 25 full motorbike lisence 8 years almost 9.""

""I am 18, how much approx will car insurance be?""

I am going to be getting my first car soon, i'm not sure what kind of car yet. But, I was wondering if anyone knows an approx. price for what car insurance could be for me?""

""The shutdown has cost 22 Billion in 11 days, how much health insurance would that buy?

in your opinion

Shopping for car insurance?

what are some good car insurance agencies out there?

My fiance got hit in my car is it an insurance problem?

I bought a car about 5 months ago and got full coverage insurance through State Farm with myself listed as the driver of the car and only my name on the insurance. My fiances car recently broke down so we sold it to salvage and canceled her insurance for it. I have two cars so I let her borrow the newest one today because its an automatic. Pulling out to turn a woman struck her passenger side with a minivan. I haven't seen it yet but the damage she says is very light a scratch and the front corner of the headlight broken. The other woman agreed it was totally her fault and provided all her insurance info but they didn't call the police to make a report :( So will this cause a problem when I call the womens insurance company or if I have to call mine if her insurance won't pay and who should I contact first just her insurance or mine and hers? I don't want to tell my company if I don't have to I turn 25 in a week and my rate is suppossed to drop big time and I don't want to screw that up.

Car Insurance Liability?

Should I go around and get $2000000 in liability, or should I just go with $1000000?""

How much would a personal health insurance policy cost for a family of 5?

My friend is thinking about quitting his job to play poker for a living. I abolutely don't think it's a good idea because he has three kids, so you don't have to tell me that... Although over the past month of doing that in AC, he is averaging $450/day, and he is smart about how much he risks and an amazing player. Anyway he had a union job with great medical insurance; but if he did this for a living at $450/day... he'd still be making like three times what he did/year. His medical insurance would have to be purchased individually now. I was wondering if anyone knew what that could cost for a family of 5? I'm thinking like 6-10K per year... that sound about right?""

What is with health insurance?

Americans and whatever other country has health insurance. what happens if you don't have health insurance? What is health insurance? Why do you need it? I live in Australia and I don't understand why you need health insurance when we don't.

Car insurance!?

im looking to get a car and insurance on my own is outragous. the question is my mum has her own car with her policy with NIS. on direct line i want my mum to be the main policy holder with me as an additional driver. is this possible for my mum to have 2 policies on 2 different cars?

How to get cheaper car insurance?

I'm 18 and want to get insured. How much would it be? I've been passed since July? What if I get my dad the registered keeper and me second driver? My mate she's 18 and she's got insurance. Come on, there must be a way!""

UK: Are there any other cheap car insurance companies besides Tesco?

I am sick of Tesco, but they seem to be substantially cheaper than any where else!""

Do you need full coverage insurance to take a driving test?

How does that work? Me and my boyfriend just got a car & I still need to get my license in order to get full coverage insurance, but can I take my driving test without full coverage? I'm in a bit of a pickle here any opinions would be great! I live in California.""

""If i study a childcare apprenticship, how much will i be earning a month?""

I am considering a childcare apprenticship, however i also have alot to pay out for, such as my car and insurance and rent, so i need to know how much i will earn before going ahead with this??? Does any one know?""

Car insurance?

how much would insurance for a 16 year old female cost for a 2000 Plymouth Neon Highline

Does my aunt need insurance to drive with a learners permit in CA?

My aunt just got passed the written test in the DMV and got a learners permit. I will be the one who will teach her how to drive. I have a valid CA license and the car we are driving is my uncle's. It is insured in his name, but he added me to his policy. Do we need to go to the insurance company and add my aunt to the policy or can I just teach her because I am insured with the car.""

How to stop the direct debit car insurance and switch to another?

I want to stop my current policy with RAC.. and switch to another car insurance which is cheaper. How do I go about doing this? I pay monthy.

Any suggestions on Pet Insurance?

Hi I've been looking at pet insurance from lots of different companies, and I've found that the high street insurances have so many ifs and buts in the policies that if my pet became ill or needed treatment I think it'll be very difficult to claim any funding. I've also looked at Pet insurance by companies specialising in pet insurance they seem to be more accessible but at the same time they are far too expensive monthly! Any suggestions as to a good insurance policy? I really want one because I'd hate it if anything happened to my dog and I couldn't afford the treatment!""

Why is insurance higher on sports cars?

I pay high insurance on my camero.But some of these non-sport cars seem to drive faster than me. But I do drive the speed limits.Do you think its fair I pay higher?

What is Aflac? Insurance? Something you add on to insurance?

They are offering a meeting at work with an Aflac rep but really gave no information. I currently have no insurance at all. Is this something I would want to look into? Thanks!

How much would it be to insure a 2nd gen. Dodge Ram 2500 with a Cummins Turbo diesel for a 16 year old boy?

Im looking for better gas mileage, and it appears the Cummins has better mpgs than its 5.9l counterpart. (dont be a smart *** and say no trucks get good fuel economy) But i would wonder if a diesel would yield higher insurance costs for someone my age rather than a regular gas engine.""

Where can I apply for free or low cost health insurance?

Im a poor student that works less than 20 hrs a week. I am a permanent resident (not a citizen). Please help. I think im going to die soon (see my other question). I also live in montgomery county maryland if that helps

Baby insurance?

Okay so my fiance and I aren't married yet. I am on my moms insurance until I am 19 and they wont cover the baby. He has his own insurance through WI called Hirsps. I can't change my license yet because my moms insurance will drop me and we dont want that to happen because it will be hard to get insurance to cover hospital bills. How do we get the baby insurance? Can we put the baby on his insurance?

I'm looking for decent but affordable health insurance that includes maternity...anyone know of some?

I'm looking for decent but affordable health insurance that includes maternity...anyone know of some?

How can I lower my car insurance?

I have a 2010 Chevy cobalt LT. I pay $420 a month for insurance! I understand I'm 21, and it's a sports car. But I've been driving for 5 years, I've never got in a crash nor gotten any tickets. Why could this be? I know lots of younger people with much more expensive cars but they don't pay nearly as much.""

Can anyone be added to insurance?

I was curious if my dad could get me on his insurance plan (medical)? I can't afford insurance and I'm suffering from tooth pains, psychological illnesses, and need medical attention. I'm supposedly too old (26), but I wanted to know if my father could add me onto his insurance another way? Thanks.""

Who is the best student insurance provider?

i'm looking for health insurance and don't know who to trust?

""No license, but yes insurance?""

What happens if you drive a car that does have insurance but you don't have a license, and, lets say you crash.""

What is the average rate of car insurance for 16 year old driver?

I am going to be 16 and i am just wondering how much will the insurance charge is i get added on right when i get my license?

How much is car insurance for a 17 year old?

I know it all depends, but I'm talking on average, I live in the Manchester area and I've heard it depends on your area aswell?""

""I am 26 and currently a student and i dont have a job,i was looking for an affordable health insurance.?""

I am 26 and currently a student and i dont have a job,i was looking for an affordable health insurance.?""

Who offers affordable and reliable car insurance?

Money is really tight right now, and my car insurance is around $120 a month with Liberty Mutual. I'm looking at other agencies that offer great service and are less expensive. Is Geico good? Are there any other agencies I should look at? My record isn't too bad. One speeding ticket.""

Lawyer or insurance broker?

Lawyer - job offer, 35 000 as a trainee, but 6/7 months in advance doing course for it earning nothing...so pro rated less - after 2 years goes up to 70 000. It involves researching, managing documents, photocopying, proof-reading, filing in and submitting forms and paperwork, dealing with clients, managing their expectations. 9:30-8pm job. Insurance broker for a very big firm - job offer, 30 000 straight away pretty much, will go to about 50 000 after two years. Involves speaking to people over the phone negotiating risk on insurance products pertaining to companies, war, politics etc. Liasing with underwriters. Trying to get the best deal for clients. Less intellectual, more numerical, more oral than written communication. 9-7 job.""

What Are Some Legit Health Insurance Agency?

I've just been told that Mega Health and Life Insurance was a rip off company. (After I've pretty much wasted my time giving them information). Humana is so darn expensive for me. I'm a single mother of two. Working from home, due to my mystery illness. As of now I have no health insurance, but get by/ struggle with Care Link. ( Basically that allows me to make low payments on my medical bills, instead of paying the full amount up front) But I feel because of this method, most doctors aren't being up front with me. I also think this limits me from being honestly tested and checked out for my current on going problems. (I think they see me as a poor person that would never pay the bill off, so why test me?) I just want to get to better....there has to be some Legit and affordable health care out there! HELP!""

Car insurance and moving?

I'm going to buy a car soon, And then move pretty much right after that...It would be a good idea to get the insurance and plates and stuff before I go, obviously, but what will need to be done once I move? I heard that as long as I live in my parent's house, the insurance would be cheaper, well, I'd be moving out...so I have no idea how to get everything straightened around.""

What is the minimum requirements for insurance for a financed vehicle?

I know full coverage is required, but what determines if its full or not? anybody have a breakdown of each of the coverages etc?""

17 year old responsible driver that can't find car insurance?

I have a 1997 Mercury Sable with an ABS. I am a full time student and also have rent to pay. I need car insurance and fast, but nobody wants me for a decent price because of my age ...show more""

How much will my second speeding ticket make my insurance rates go up?

I received a speeding ticket in January for 90 in a 70 (I-5 on my way down to San Diego), and today I received another ticket for 86 in a 65 on Freeway 85 in Cupertino. The first ticket is being taken care of with traffic school right now, and since I can't go to traffic school again so soon I'm assuming the 2nd ticket will increase my insurance rates. Does anyone know how much they will increase? I'm 21 and am on my parents' insurance (USAA) because I'm in college, but I will be paying whatever the difference in premium is so I'm trying to get an idea of what the damage is here. Also, I know I messed up, so no need to tell me in the answers. I thought I'd learned my lesson after the first ticket but apparently I still haven't, so at this point I'm just afraid to get into a car.""

What size engine should i get for cheap insurance?

It will be my first car, and i don't really want to be paying allot on insurance, but want a nice nippy little motor. So what size is cheap for insurance but not too small to be really really slow lol.""

How much would insurance cost for a Audi R8 tronic quattro?

2009 Audi r8 tronic quattro?? Per year?

Car insurance?

how much would insurance for a 16 year old female cost for a 2000 Plymouth Neon Highline

Does my aunt need insurance to drive with a learners permit in CA?

My aunt just got passed the written test in the DMV and got a learners permit. I will be the one who will teach her how to drive. I have a valid CA license and the car we are driving is my uncle's. It is insured in his name, but he added me to his policy. Do we need to go to the insurance company and add my aunt to the policy or can I just teach her because I am insured with the car.""

Questions about homeowners insurance?

I called my insurance company, and they said it wont cost anything if I add my girlfriend onto the insurance policy. My question is if I add her on and dont get additional coverage and something goes wrong. Will My insurance cmpany give me a hard time GOD for bid something goes wrong. For example if something gets stolen or my house burns down, will my homeowners insurance say that they wont cover my furnature or tv etc because they can say it is my girlfriends or will I be ok?""

How much more do men pay for car insurance than women?

If a man and a woman are the ame age, same car, clean driving record, both live in the same city, and every other variable is the same. The only difference is their gender how much more would a man pay?""

Help with Car Insurance?

My current car insurance will expire tomorrow at 11:59pm and the new one will take effect at 12:01am. Am I going to have an issue with that 1 minute of non coverage? I know this might sound silly but I just don't know if that will be some kind of an issue. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

What is the cheapest car insurance in ontario ?

I am 36 years old and employed, bought my first car in Canada, its 2000 Honda civic SE, looking to pay between $150-$200.""

Who's car insurance pays for an accident?

I lent my grandson my car one day while his car was in the shop and he had an accident. Who's insurance covers it

Hi there!Does anyone have a clue for cheap a car insurance?

i got my licence since june last year ,in november 2009 i bought a vw golf mk3 1.6 manual and i got it insured with swiftcover for 154 a month now the insurance is due for renewal and they send me a new quote for 138 a month,wich i think is still a bit too expensive! PLEASSE HELP!!! THANKS""

""I am moving from NJ to FL, what steps do i take to get florida plates, insurance, and registration?

I have a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. Which do i do first? What are the fees for each?

Statefarm locksmith coverages for auto insurance?

how much StateFarm reimburses for locksmith charges. I had to pay $139 for a locksmith to come and open my car. his service charge is 39.99 and $75 for opening car (tax and 10% credit card charge) it totalled to $139. now any of you has any idea how much StateFarm will reimburse me. Do agents play tricks to reimbruse less money. Any suggestions will be highly appreciated. Thank you

Motorcycle Insurance question?

I recently bought a motorcycle and i'm just about to buy insurance but i am abit confused, I'm thinking of getting the Third party fire & theft insurance, which means i wont get no claim if I crash my bike but what if the other drive is at fault? Does their insurance cover my damage or what? thank you""

How much do you pay for full coverage car insurance?

i'm 19 and going to buy a car soon but i'm trying to get a ball park figure on how much i can expect to pay

How much is MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE?????

I am 18. I want to get a sports motorcycle. How much will my insurance be?

So I'm a little confused about car insurance.?

So when the feeloaders who are generally poor and cannot afford car insurance, don't buy car insurance, which way is cheaper??? The gov't taxing me to purchase car insurance from the insurance companies for these freeloaders ? OR the insurance company simply raising my rates to cover the freeloaders ? You see, it seems to me that adding an additional layer of gov't beauracracy would cost more, but I have been told I am wrong. Am I wrong?""

""Can I add my wife's car to my insurance, rather then renew her own policy?""

My wife and I recently married, and it's time for her to renew her insurance. Her driving record isn't great, so her rates have been quite high. Being that we're married, can I just add her vehicle to my own policy to save money, or will she need to have the insurance in her own name??""

Why does car insurance quotes change every day?

Why does car insurance quotes change every day?

How do i transfer my brother's car to my name in california?

its a 1974 vw bus. i want it as my car. how much is it to change it to my name? and im 17 how much wud the cheapest insurance be? and the tags are a few months outdated.. wat am i getting into?

""Looking for a cheap new car (2010-2013) with good fuel economy yet sporty and cheap to insure, any ideas?""

I'm a 19 year old male so insurance pretty much sucks. I'm looking for either a new or used car that is cheap both to buy and insure, but is also sporty and fun to drive, and good on gas. Anybody have any ideas?""

Does mods affect car insurance?

Hey guys I have a honda civic 2000 and i was going to to add some mods such as an intake and a BOV as well as body kit and other engine modifications. I was just wondering what would happen if i didn't tell my car insurance provider about these what would happen?

Where should I get life insurance for my parents?

Hello, I would like to buy life insurance for my parents without them knowing about it because we're Asians and Asians are usually superstitious about this and considered this as a jinx. However, my parents are both a lot older now. My dad is 67 and my mom is 57. They are both pretty healthy as of now. We are not very well off and so I worry. I just want them well taken care off even after death. I really want to send my parents back to their homeland and have them buried over there. It's really sadden me to think about it because I love my parents a lot. With that being said, can I please get some guidance on what I need to do? Are there any good companies out there that I can work with? What's a good life insurance plan? Is it true that after a certain age, you are no longer eligible to buy life insurance? Any other additional advice and tips are appreciated. Thank you for all the help!""

Help for purchasing Private Health Insurance?

I am self-employed and need to purchase Health Insurance. I've talked to sales people from Kaiser and some other companies-- but they all seem shady and they don't really seem to know what they're doing. Do you guys know of any insurance companies that you're happy with? Like good customer service-- happy with everything? Please let me know the names of the companies and a phone number I can call. Preferably in California... Thanks...

I got an unbelievably low quote from Response Wordwide Auto Insurance.Should I switch from StateFarm?

Their quote is about 1/2 that of all others

What exactly is a lapse in car insurance ?

What if I decided to ride my bike instead or what if I will be out of country for 2 months and want to save 200 Dollars and cancel the insurance? How do they define lapse ? I heard even when you don't own a car you will be considered to have a lapse in insurance and you pay more money even when you did not touch your car or didn't even have one.... that dosen't make any sense to me!

How to reduce payments for young car driver insurance ?

how to minimize it ?

Why does registration for a newer car cost more than an older?

Registering my 2011 vehicle in California costs 2.5 times ($249) more than my '94 vehicle ($99). I understand with auto insurance there's a premium to insure the newer vehicle because it is valued more, and if I get into an accident, it would cost the insurance company more for repairs/replacement for the newer vehicle. I can't imagine an accident with either car would cost the gov't any differently, so why is there an age discrimination being applied here? I have a feeling this is some BS fee. Am I right, or can someone please clarify.""

How much does blue cross health insurance cost?

I need it for a individual, 20 year old, with good health. This is for a project.""

Car insurance?

how much would insurance for a 16 year old female cost for a 2000 Plymouth Neon Highline

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/term-insurance-vs-whole-life-wilson-branch"

[tryingtobe21-blog]

Letter to myself, from 24 year old Diana

Hi there.  I’m 24 year old Diana. Tomorrow I turn 25. And as I go back and read all my old “letters to myself” - jokes I didn’t read any leading up to this blog, buuuuut the times when I have gone back and read them, I’m always like "welp, I’m old now.” As if something just ticks over and boom, I’m old. It also becomes more and more ridiculous to read every year I get older, cause current me who is reading the letter from past me is always like, “You were so young and naive. You weren’t old back then. You’re old now.” But every year it’s the same thing. I freak out- because all of a sudden “I’m old”.  And I maybe cry. For what? I don’t know. And then I carry on. And rinse and repeat. I actually found this old blog a week or so ago and read like, 5 sentences and was like “eh, I’ll come back to it”. And didn’t. But as I’m on the brink of 25 and wishing I had started this a few hours earlier, I find myself typing this letter to myself as appose to writing it like I usually do. I may still write one out, cause I love looking back at my old handwriting. But it’s so interesting to read and listen to the voice of my younger self. I always actually find myself thinking- wow what a cool person. She’s so nice and supportive, and so hurt and maybe a little broken, but overall a nice person. She’s always wanting the best for her future self. Always looking back at the past with sad eyes. Looking to the future with hope. And seemingly unhappy in the present.  Annnnyway. Okay- so. How do I do this? I forget. Damn I figured it would just flow out of me, but it’s not. I’m a little stuck. I don’t even know where my old letters are to go back and read- damn I hope I can find them later.. 

Okay look- the last year, the last 365 days ago starting Sep 6th has been a real rollercoaster. For the world, for my family, for myself. 1. I have to start with Trump has been elected president. What the hell. Why this. 2. I got a new job and got MY FIRST RAISE. I moved from my >35k a year job at Inkman making stamps (and hating my life) to being a Product Designer at Preno a tech start up developing a property management app. Fancy speak for “our software helps hotels do their thang- make bookings, take payments, charge extras, send invoices etc. I’m not going into detail. But yeah. I moved from 47k to 50k if I’m not mistaken.  3. I moved out and moved in with Mark for our 4 year anniversary. Wow If I had told 16 year old Diana that her parents would let her move in with her long term boyfriend at the age of 24, she would not have believed me. Although I kinda didn’t ask. It stemmed from a huge fight where papa pulled everything out of my room while I was at Mark’s for the weekend and apparently yelled at Mama and Fat. And they rang me. And like ruined my day. And CJ and Sarah came over and I was so upset and we had to leave to go back to see them I think and clear my stuff from the hallway. And then a few days later we found a house I think? I don’t know- the timeline is all a bit hazy.  4. Mark and I celebrated our 5 years and went for our first degustation at Kazyua.  5. Grandpa passed away. And Uncle Jeff and Grand Uncle Vincent passed away :( Grandpa passing away was the hardest thing I have ever gone through. I was numb for months and didn’t trust my feelings or thoughts to not be grief stricken. I wish I had taken to writing at that time. Because I swear some hauntingly and honest things would have come out of me. Damn, I wish I had. Fuck. I also low-key struggle to remember how bad it was. Although I guess I could go back and listen to old Whatsapp voice notes. I really struggled with that.  6. I got Grandpas signature, a circle for a story Grand Uncle Vincent told me, and a tooth tattooed. 

7. I build Preno’s new marketing website and and I’m the process of refreshing it.  8. We redesigned Settings and Reporting.  You know- actually. See I wanted to do a year in review and a goals and values uhm, setting? Reflection? But this letter to myself is turning into that.  Okay, look I wanna make this more personal. I’m gonna tell you- a lot of bad things have happened this year. We’ve had a lot of deaths in our family. I watched grandpas casket burn. It’s etched into my memory. But I also celebrated a milestone with my work and boyfriend. I up-skilled in my job. I became really good friends with Amanda Teo. I’m leaning eyeshadow. I started a blog that has yet to launch. I moved out. I’m pretty happy. I’m trending upwards. And the bad stuff- well, I guess that’s got to happen. Right? Death is inevitable.  I want to tell you, 24 was a happy year. It was an incredibly sad year but also a good year. You’ve grown so much, looking back to the incredibly dark and unhappy girl you once were. You did design and got a job in it. You followed your dream and worked hard. Continue to work hard! Oh! You’re going to the gym now! It’s great! You’ve never been so fit and strong. When people ask “do you even lift?” you can say “yes, yes I do”. Wonder Woman came out and never have you ever heard your name said that many time. You have a Naruto tattoo in mind. Uhm. Please look after Grandma. She’s you last one. And she’s old. You currently give her money when you can. And visit her every week. Please go with her to buy a sari. It may be your last chance. You asked mama and papa for jewellery for Christmas. I’m/you’re (wow I’m bad at this like 1st person, 3rd person thing, I’m gonna stick to I) I’m really excited. You’re happy. And you’re doing well. I’m so proud of you, of where you came from and where you are now. Our parents rarely said they were happy for us. But I am happy for us. Remember you cant fight every idiot that you come across, or you’d get nowhere. But don’t be afraid to express yourself. Talking to the opposite sex isn’t flirting. You don’t owe anyone a relationship status. If they read you wrong then that’s on them, you can’t assume everyone is “up for grabs you pig”. You’re a feminist and be proud of it. Don’t get mad at Mark, just explain things to him calmly. He will learn. Talk to him. He loves you. It’s okay not to know things, and it doesn’t show weakness to not know things, just go an find out. Take your vitamins. Looks after your body, it’s the only one you have. Think about in input versus the output. The investment versus the return. Is the energy you put into a certain action going to be worth the outcome? Sometimes it’s best to think of the desired outcome and find the best path to that. Life is like a big chess game. Too bad I’m shit at chess. Tell mama and papa you love them whenever you can. It’s hard to type but you don’t know how long you have the people you love. Treat Mark every now and then, he looks after you. And pays for shit for you. SAVE YOUR MONEY. Think about the long term happiness over the short term. Please. This year you have not been good with money, although you have a bunch of cool things. OMG you have your USA trip coming up - for CJ and Sarah’s wedding, how grown up is it to be travelling for a wedding. Ooh-la-la. What a grown up. Jokes I had chocolate for breakfast yesterday.  I hope Aunty Yvonne buys me that Hello Kitty balloon.  I don’t know what else to say. I’m rambling at this point. And always leave things too late. Things being to write this letter. I will review my year and goals etc. tomorrow. What’s another day. Hahah. Uhm, yeah. Look after yourself and the ones you love. Try not to worry and stress too much. Try do what’s best for you and those around you. Be selfless but selfish when you need to. You don’t owe anybody anything except those who are important to you. Love yourself. Be safe. I love you and I’m proud of you. Be good to yourself. Stay cool. Be lame. Continue to not care what people think (although we know you kinda still do).  Lots of love

Kind regards

See you next year (although hopefully before then), 

24 year old Diana. 

[tanmath3-blog]

My next victim is Brian Minekime. He is a great guy and really is passionate about his writing, art and life in general. He is always glad to help a fellow writer or a friend in need. Being supportive comes easy for him and he is always very genuine. That is a trait I have always admired about him.  Having had several opportunities to beta read for him is always fun and always a great story. He has a lot of talent and you really want to read his stories! They have never disappointed me. He has a wonderfully creative mind. Recently he painted some gourds and they are beautiful. He is a man of many talents! The quote that follows is one of my favorites that an author has shared. Please help me welcome Brian Minekime to Roadie Notes…….

    I think the most important thing I can say about myself is that I work my butt off-putting my heart and soul into my writing or my art when I’m doing that. I don’t do it for fame or fortune and continuing has come at great personal sacrifice along the way. Some days I think I should just call it quits and get a “normal” job, basically give up, then a new idea renews the creative spark and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I only hope that anyone out there reading this enjoys my work. I promise I’ll keep writing it as long as you keep reading it!! 

    1. How old were you when you first wrote your first story?

I got a late start. When I was young I didn’t have the patience or focus to be able to write though I tried. I don’t count anything until around ’07 or ’08 when I was 35-ish I began writing a few stories. I didn’t get serious about it until 2012 when I decided I was either going to try to fail or create something worthwhile… I’ve been writing practically non-stop since.

2. How many books have you written?

I honestly haven’t kept count but I’d guess I’ve written at least 40 to 50 short stories, flash fiction, novellas and one novel (not yet published). My short story “Hell Awaits” was my first published story in Kill For A Copy from Dark Chapter Press. Then a flash fiction piece (1000 word story), Tamed Brute, was published in the eBook Flashes of Darkness: Halloween Special 2015 and lastly my short story, “The Bones of Baby Dolls”, was published in KIDS: Volume I from Dark Chapter Press. Most of what I’ve written are short stories and novellas but I do have my first novel written (which won the Dark Chapter Press 2016 Prize – a novel-writing contest), another novel approximately half done but another is bursting to come out so I’ll be starting on that very soon probably in the next couple of weeks. I have it plotted out as much as I ever do which isn’t much so getting it started is the next step but I have some other things to clear off my plate first.

3. Anything you won’t write about?

I don’t really find anything is off-limits depending on the setting though I can’t see myself writing about pedophilia from the predator’s point of view. My novelette Harvester of Sorrow (available FREE!) is about an abused altar boy getting his brutal revenge and the first short story, The Demon’s Name Is Surveillance, I ever posted on my website is about a child molester/murder being punished in hell but neither glorifies the molester, quite the opposite. That’s one of the things I love about horror is that there are no real taboos. My job as a horror writer is to take a reader where he/she wouldn’t go otherwise but for me there are shoes I don’t want to walk the proverbial mile in. When I write a character I am that character experiencing what they experience so rape and molestation are things I stay away from for the most part but again it all depends on context.

4. Tell me about you. Age (if you don’t mind answering), married, kids, do you have another job etc...

To me age is just a number, I’m 44 but it’s only what you make of it. I really don’t think of it much unless it’s my birthday. I’m single now and in kind of “it’s complicated” relationship. I have a 22-year-old son who most mistake for my little brother when we’re out together. I did a fine job of turning him into a comic, horror and metal lover who also dabbles in some writing and music so I hope he finds his own success with his art. Creating has become the all-consuming beast in my life whether I’m writing or creating art. I started my website in 2014 (originally with a partner) to have an outlet for my writing which was getting rejected all over the place then it blossomed to also doing movie reviews and metal album reviews as well as some other fun stuff. I’ve slowed it down this year to concentrate more on my writing career.

5. What’s your favorite book you have written?

I’m all about whatever I’m working on currently. I like to think I improve with each new story though admittedly some can be duds, it happens. Ironically I’m currently re-editing the first real story I wrote back in 2012 which ended up as a novella at just under novel length with about 35k words. I had proofed and edited this story a couple of times but it’s amazing how much I’ve learned about writing and editing since then making for a much slower process than I originally anticipated. With any luck folks will get to read it soon though I can’t reveal the title because I plan on changing it but the working title is “Impending Doom.” It’s about a banker who wakes to his worst nightmare which only gets worse as it goes along with a few twists along the way. It might be important to note that I worked in the financial sector for about 15 years so the inspiration is a little obvious perhaps.

6. Who or what inspired you to write?

I could give you a laundry list of writers I admire but they weren’t the spark that got me in front of the keyboard. I was an avid reader for years devouring books but often finishing a book thinking “I could do better than that” and after a long run of books I read that I literally hated the ending of I decided it was time to put up or shut up. It took me about a week of thinking what I wanted to do then I sat down and began. I haven’t looked back since. So to answer the question, what inspired me to write were bad, uninspired and predictable stories. I didn’t start writing with delusions of grandeur but rather just to see if I could. People seem to like it so I think I’ll keep at it.

7. What do you like to do for fun?

Drink beer, watch hockey or UFC and eat chicken wings – real wings can only be found in Western New York! I also love watching movies especially horror obviously. Also if you can keep a secret *peeks around to make sure no one’s eavesdropping* when I’m completely alone I like to crank up some metal, head bang and sing along (generally poorly). Shhh, that’ll be our little secret.

8. Any traditions you do when you finish a book?

I do but nothing anyone would probably even notice. I almost always finish with a flurry generally after an extraordinarily long writing session. I get excited when the end is within sight so 12-24 hour writing sessions are pretty much the norm when I’m near the end. Once I finish I lean back put my hands behind my head and try to take a deep breath, kind of basking in the accomplishment. In a sense patting myself on the back then I usually crawl into bed and pass out from exhaustion. Not much of a tradition but a tradition nonetheless.

9. Where do you write? Quite or music?

I write almost exclusively at my desk but occasionally I’ll sit in my TV chair which is more comfortable if I’m going to be writing for several hours. As for music, well, I couldn’t write without it. I have different playlists depending on what I’m writing but generally I listen to doom metal almost exclusively. Doom is very powerful, emotional music which helps put my mind in the right space to write. If I’m writing some action I might play some Slayer or something fast but it’s usually brief. A couple of albums I always listen to for a story of any real length are Kongh – Sole Creation, Pallbearer – Sorrow & Extinction and my personal favorite YOB’s Clearing The Path To Ascend. Music has gotten me through the worst times in my life so every tale I write shares a title with the music that inspired the idea. It’s my way of paying respect to something that has given me so much through my life. The only rule I have in that regard is that my story and the song must have different subject matter which is generally not any problem.

10. Anything you would change about your writing?

I don’t think I’d necessarily change anything but I do strive to take what I’ve learned to make the next one better. I make fewer typo mistakes than when I started which makes proofreading quicker and I’ve edited enough of my own work and others to recognize subtle errors I used to miss like redundancy. The only major thing I’d like to add, not necessarily change, is more complexity. I believe in working your way up to things and what I’m building toward is an epic trilogy that’s been rolling around in my head for years. I don’t think I’m a good enough writer to pull it off yet but I’m getting there.

11. What is your dream? Famous writer?

I have no dreams about being rich and famous, if it happens it isn’t something I have much control over. My dreams are far more humble. I’d like a nice comfortable life that I can enjoy. No longer worrying about where I’ll live tomorrow or what I might have to eat. I’m a simple man with no extravagant taste. A small house with a small yard, a couple of dogs & cats and Satan willing even a good woman by my side. That’s all I really want, a nice quiet life and to continue writing until the day I die.

12. Where do you live?

Right now I live in the middle of nowhere in the country about one hour south of Buffalo, NY just above the Pennsylvania state line. It’s nice and quiet here but who knows where I’ll be tomorrow.

13. Pets?

Currently I’ve been adopted by a 13-year-old cat named Corky though he responds better to Boobers, don’t ask me why bc I don’t know. He enjoys disrupting my writing process by trying to lay on my lap while I sit at my desk that’s when he isn’t outside trying (but failing) to catch chipmunks.

14. What’s your favorite thing about writing?

The rush I get when I get a killer idea or when I’m on a roll and my fingers can’t keep up with the story. Athletes call it being “in the zone” but for a writer it’s when you breeze through a few thousand words in just an hour or two. I’ve spent days “in the zone” and I’ve spent weeks or even months waiting to be. Much like a surfer you just have to ride the wave as far as it’ll take you then paddle your ass off to catch the next one.

15. What is coming next for you?

I really wish I knew but I do have tons I’m waiting for an answer on. First off, I’m one of 14 finalists competing in “The Next Great Horror Writer Contest” through HorrorAddicts. The grand prize is a book contract with Crystal Lake Publishing! The contest involves numerous writing challenges until the winner is announced in October. You can keep up with my progress simply by listening to their podcast. Then my (not so) short story “Cold Heart, Cold Soul” has been accepted by Stitched Smile Publications for a Seven Deadly Sins anthology with a tentative release set for late this year, sometime between October and December if all goes well. Stitched Smile also posted a short story I wrote for fun, Smoke & Stone, just a few days ago if you want to read the last thing I wrote. It was completely written in one day so don’t judge it too harshly. Aside from that I currently have six short stories and novellas pending approval with various publishers. My goal for this year was to submit, submit and submit some more so to that end I have a list of over a dozen anthos I plan on submitting work for as well as the novella I’m re-editing currently and the novel itching to get out of my head. It should be an exciting year for me so all I can really say is “like” my Facebook page where I post updates as I receive them. I should hear about some soon but you never really know in this business. All I can guarantee is that I’ll be pumping out the horror this year including some fun ones like a Mrs. Claus anthology! I’ll be posting updates as often as possible on my website, Thy Demons Be Scribblin, where you can also find a ton of short stories I’ve posted over the last couple of years.

  Feind on the web:

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01AH12BVM?ref_=pe_584750_33951330 Website: http://www.thydemonsbescribblin.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FeindGotteshorrorwriter/ Twitter: @FiendGottes Tumblr: Feind Gottes

  Some of Brian Minekime’s books:

  Getting personal with Brian Minekime My next victim is Brian Minekime. He is a great guy and really is passionate about his writing, art and life in general.