I am way overdue to see the dentist. The last time I was in to get my teeth cleaned was in February of 2005 — that long ago! I’m actually embarrassed to admit it, even if it is somewhat anonymously on the Internet.
Anyway, I need to look for Bethesda sedation dentistry, because at this point I’m sure I’ll need to have some fairly major work done, and the thought of feeling the pain of it kind of scares me! I could probably stand to look for Washington DC teeth whitening too — though who knows, maybe a thorough cleaning is all I actually need.
A Washington D C dentist is pretty easy to find — just look in the phone book or Google it online. Realistically, though, finding a good dentist is not my problem — I need to get up the courage to just go!
I’ve never been a big fan of the dentist, which is why I haven’t been in over 3 years. At some point though I’m going to need to get over this. It wasn’t until the last few years that I was going that I finally had any cavities, so I don’t know why I dislike it so much. I guess because it’s just so uncomfortable — and such a hassle to do. Heck, I probably wouldn’t remember to go to see my doctor every year, either, if I didn’t have to get new prescriptions periodically!
Wall Street has been struggling since Friday. Today (well, technically now, yesterday — Thursday) I saw this article: Bush Emerges After Days of Financial Crisis.
It sounds like our esteemed president (sarcasm intended) has been in hiding since the troubles on Wall Street began. When the press accosted him and tried to get him to say something, he neatly sidestepped the subject. And when he finally did speak today, he said virtually nothing of value.
The recent stock market troubles have a lot of people worried. The article referred to it as “the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.” Honestly I think that’s a bit extreme — wasn’t the same kind of thing being said after 9/11? — but it certainly is a problem, and Bush’s behavior is therefore troubling to many.
I wonder what people with Emini futures training think of all this? Are people who make their money — either as a business, or as their own personal investments — via managed forex trading and futures trading worried about this, or do they know something the rest of us don’t? I would think they’d be concerned, but maybe they’ve seen enough ups and downs in the market to know the signs of recovery to watch for.
In any case, a good friend of mine said she hasn’t even dared to check her retirement account, and I don’t blame her one bit — I don’t even want to know how much our accounts have lost, though I would like to know what our government is going to do about it!
Many people dream of owning their own business. However, that could mean virtually anything, because there are so many different types of business opportunities available. Whether you want to start your own business, or find a business for sale so that you don’t have to do everything from scratch, you need to consider the range of available opportunities to make sure you choose one that is the best fit for you.
Here are a few examples of businesses you could get into:
Affiliate businesses selling product for a parent company. Examples include Avon, Mary Kay, and dozens of similar companies. These companies usually require salespeople to buy the merchandise up front, and then resell it for a profit. Long considered an ideal home business for mothers and homemakers, success is generally dependent on how much time and effort a person is willing to put into their business. However, since a lot of selling is involved, and since it’s not a genuinely independent business, this isn’t an ideal opportunity for everyone.
Franchise businesses. A franchise business is similar to Avon and Mary Kay setups, except that the owner is responsible for much more — leasing space, paying employees, etc. Since it operates under the parent company’s name, the franchise is required to offer the same products, services, and prices at all the other stores. The parent company also gets a cut, but since the franchise attracts customers with familiararity and consistency, franchises can be highly profitable. Examples of these kinds of arrangements include Subway and Ship on Site.
Business startup. If you want your own independent business, you can take the plunge and start a business from scratch. This is more satisfying for many people, but it also carries a higher risk factor than opening a franchise. However, if you know what you are doing, write a good business plan, and get financing as needing, your chances of success are much better than those who venture into these waters unprepared.
Not every small business offers complete financial freedom — in some ways, you are more of a slave to your company when you are its owner than when you are just an employee. Even so, the experience and investment of owning one’s business is well worth the extra work for many people. As long as you pick a business that is a good match for you, you are sure to love owning your own business!
Years ago, when I was still in college, I had a summer fling with the contractor that was doing some work on one of my employers’ houses. Throughout most of college, I babysat and did odd jobs for different employers. This woman was an older woman with no kids — I’d met her once by babysitting for her cousins at her daughter’s wedding, and after that she started hiring me to do odd things around her house, such as organizing her computer files and doing her grocery shopping.
She was also having some work done in her house, which is how I met Steve, her contractor. He drove a Toyota truck with truck accessories such as a ladder rack and a headache rack, so he certainly looked the part of a contractor, but I later found out that he was also something of an artsy guy with an acting degree and a recently-left desk job as the city’s summer event planner.
We dated for the summer, but Steve was 10 years older than me and made it pretty clear that he intended to remain a bachelor forever. As a result, our relationship ended later that fall. I learned something valuable with that relationship — don’t waste time on guys who aren’t interested, because there are plenty other who would be!
I see a ton of new "custom" homes going up every day. Custom home builders in Florida certainly have their hands full — and each of these unique homes is certainly beautiful. But sometimes I can’t help but wonder, does it really take a FL custom luxury home builder to create a perfect home?
What really makes a perfect home? Sure, these custom homes are beautiful, but does that make them a home? Call me an idealist, but I think a happy, loving home beats the showroom-perfect home any day. High ceilings, large kitchens, and a bathroom for every member of the family are all great features in a house, but in some ways modern houses also support the lack of communication that has become a centerpiece for many families.
Now, I’m not saying anything against anyone who chooses to hire a luxury home builder in Florida. I think if you have the money and the inclination, a beautiful custom home is certainly in your rights. What I am saying, though, is not to make the mistake of thinking that keeping up with the Joneses will make you happy. Perfection isn’t something that you can measure in square footage!
