Over the past few years I have found a topic that I know a lot about and that may be pretty foreign to others - the stressful world of probate and estate planning!
I thought I would share some of my knowledge through a new blog. It may help someone figure out that they need an estate plan or give direction to someone who has to deal with a probate court process.
I will try to add the bulk of the information in the next few months (I already have about 30 posts in my head that I need to write) and then add more specialized information as time goes on.
Check it out: http://miprobate.blogspot.com/
Friday, July 18, 2014
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Beware of... stupid people?
Yet another news article about a child, this one only 19 months old, being mauled by a pit-bull. What happened this time? Oh, the child decided to give the pit-bull a hug - while the dog was tied to a pole. And of course the dog looses its life. Thank god the child survived. Where was the parent to this 19-month-old? Who in their right mind would allow a child to hug a dog they didn't know? Let alone a pit-bull tied to a pole, hello people it is a muscular dog with sharp teeth, like most dogs. I'm sure the dog felt threatened. The guardian of this child should take responsibility for this one under the law and is lucky if they are not charged with neglect.
It makes me stare in disbelief when people allow kids to interact with strange dogs. All people should respect the animals more and not assume they can walk up and pet a dog they don't know. Most dogs are much more protective and feel threatened when they are on a leash, behind a gate or fence, in a crate/cage, or tied up. Parents should teach their children to always ask before approaching a stranger's dog and then dog owners just learn that the answer is always "No." Why risk your dog's life and a person's safety by giving into the person for no reason at all? Your dog does not need to be pet by strangers.
Justin and I adopted a dog, Scooter, who was either from a puppy mill or badly abused, which pretty much goes hand in hand, and he is terrified of new people. It takes at least 10-20 times of consistently being around Scooter for him to like a new person. Scooter was so scared when we first adopted him that he literally peed on my sister-in-law's head when a stranger came through the door and the few times my dad tried to pet him or take his leash, it scared the shit out of him - literally. He's gotten much better but is still generally scared when not around his trusted circle of humans or when idiots shoot off fireworks for weeks on end throughout the summer.
Scooter is the most amazing and sweet, cuddly dog I've ever experienced and I couldn't be happier with him. It's people that baffle me; I totally understand Scooter. For some reason people take offense to the fact that he is scared of them. Others think they are the dog whisperer and that there isn't a dog out there that could possibly not like them. We tell everyone - just don't look at him, please ignore his terrified howling. What do they do? Walk right up to him as he cowers and backs away barking more and louder trying to get Scooter to come to them or let them pet him. Don't you get it? This dog is terrified and does not want to be pet. If he bites you, you provoked him, consider yourself warned.
It makes me stare in disbelief when people allow kids to interact with strange dogs. All people should respect the animals more and not assume they can walk up and pet a dog they don't know. Most dogs are much more protective and feel threatened when they are on a leash, behind a gate or fence, in a crate/cage, or tied up. Parents should teach their children to always ask before approaching a stranger's dog and then dog owners just learn that the answer is always "No." Why risk your dog's life and a person's safety by giving into the person for no reason at all? Your dog does not need to be pet by strangers.
Justin and I adopted a dog, Scooter, who was either from a puppy mill or badly abused, which pretty much goes hand in hand, and he is terrified of new people. It takes at least 10-20 times of consistently being around Scooter for him to like a new person. Scooter was so scared when we first adopted him that he literally peed on my sister-in-law's head when a stranger came through the door and the few times my dad tried to pet him or take his leash, it scared the shit out of him - literally. He's gotten much better but is still generally scared when not around his trusted circle of humans or when idiots shoot off fireworks for weeks on end throughout the summer.
Scooter is the most amazing and sweet, cuddly dog I've ever experienced and I couldn't be happier with him. It's people that baffle me; I totally understand Scooter. For some reason people take offense to the fact that he is scared of them. Others think they are the dog whisperer and that there isn't a dog out there that could possibly not like them. We tell everyone - just don't look at him, please ignore his terrified howling. What do they do? Walk right up to him as he cowers and backs away barking more and louder trying to get Scooter to come to them or let them pet him. Don't you get it? This dog is terrified and does not want to be pet. If he bites you, you provoked him, consider yourself warned.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Retreat
People are typically surprised when they ask about my weekend plans and I respond that we're going camping. I'm not sure why people don't think I'm outdoorsy - the right outfit makes anything fun, just kidding. Not related to camping but random thought: my favorite part about the co-ed softball league was my matching knee-highs and shorts. Anyway, I love camping because of exploring new places, nature, slow-paced days, taking the dogs for walks, food, campfires, and walking around 100% of the time with a beer in hand. I especially like camping in areas with no cell phone service because of my husband's obsession with stupid Clash of Clans. I don't know how many times I've threatened to take his phone and throw it in some body of water from which it shall never return.
My first camping experience was at Ionia State Park in Michigan where Justin and I rented a tiny cabin. It was a pretty big shopping trip just to be able to camp in a cabin but it was so much fun. The cabin just had two bunk beds, a small table, two chairs and a wall heater. We couldn't bring Hailey because no dogs are allowed in State Park cabins. We "camped" there in October so the weather required hats and mittens but we were able to go on hikes without being eaten alive by mosquitos and we stayed up all night playing beer pong just the two of us next to the campfire. Redbull played an important role in the late night beer pong and we paid for it the next day.
The following year we went tent camping for my family reunion at Wagener County Park in Harbor Beach, Michigan. We were the only fools there with a tent. It was pouring rain upon arrival but we still decided to "quickly" get the tent up so it would just be done with. Our tent leaked the entire weekend. The worst part about tent camping is sleeping on an air mattress with someone who is close to 75 lbs heavier than you. The entire night I clung for dear life onto my side of the air mattress like hanging on to the side of a cliff. Again no dogs in tents.
After the tent experience we decided to purchase a pop-up camper because it would be awesome to sleep on something that did not require air and we would be able to bring our dogs camping! One of the main points of camping is being able to get away for a weekend without having to pay to send our dogs to Camp Bow Wow or whatever other brilliant pet resort we use (I still want one, venture capitalists??). I scored a pop-up for just $1,800 - I don't know why I thought they would be way more?
It served us well for a year until the cables broke at the family reunion that following year and we turned the lights on inside of it, in the middle of the night, spending about an hour trying to prop it up and open with boards, as I watched thousands of bugs swarm the lights - inside the camper. I think we slept with 5,000 bugs that night inside our pop-up camper and hoped the 2 x 6's holding up the roof stayed-put. The next day I went to my Aunt Doris's place across the street from the campground and borrowed a dirt devil to vacuum those suckers to their deaths. It was gross.
My first camping experience was at Ionia State Park in Michigan where Justin and I rented a tiny cabin. It was a pretty big shopping trip just to be able to camp in a cabin but it was so much fun. The cabin just had two bunk beds, a small table, two chairs and a wall heater. We couldn't bring Hailey because no dogs are allowed in State Park cabins. We "camped" there in October so the weather required hats and mittens but we were able to go on hikes without being eaten alive by mosquitos and we stayed up all night playing beer pong just the two of us next to the campfire. Redbull played an important role in the late night beer pong and we paid for it the next day.
The following year we went tent camping for my family reunion at Wagener County Park in Harbor Beach, Michigan. We were the only fools there with a tent. It was pouring rain upon arrival but we still decided to "quickly" get the tent up so it would just be done with. Our tent leaked the entire weekend. The worst part about tent camping is sleeping on an air mattress with someone who is close to 75 lbs heavier than you. The entire night I clung for dear life onto my side of the air mattress like hanging on to the side of a cliff. Again no dogs in tents.
After the tent experience we decided to purchase a pop-up camper because it would be awesome to sleep on something that did not require air and we would be able to bring our dogs camping! One of the main points of camping is being able to get away for a weekend without having to pay to send our dogs to Camp Bow Wow or whatever other brilliant pet resort we use (I still want one, venture capitalists??). I scored a pop-up for just $1,800 - I don't know why I thought they would be way more?
It served us well for a year until the cables broke at the family reunion that following year and we turned the lights on inside of it, in the middle of the night, spending about an hour trying to prop it up and open with boards, as I watched thousands of bugs swarm the lights - inside the camper. I think we slept with 5,000 bugs that night inside our pop-up camper and hoped the 2 x 6's holding up the roof stayed-put. The next day I went to my Aunt Doris's place across the street from the campground and borrowed a dirt devil to vacuum those suckers to their deaths. It was gross.
Oh, but funny story about getting the dirt devil. My mom randomly left full cans of beer in totally random places that weekend - for example on the hitch of my camper underneath a queen size pop-out bed, why would she duck under this huge mattress platform to put down her beer? No clue. Anyways, so she also left a full can of opened beer on the back bumper of Justin's truck, which I drove out of the campground, across traffic, and up a steep driveway to Aunt Doris's. It did not fall off! Wow! I'm still surprised! I knew I was a good driver.
Then after spending a half hour popping and cranking and pulling and propping and loading and unloading the pop-up camper when we got to campsites around 10 pm Friday nights after work, while everyone else simply pulled in and hooked up made us decide to sell the pop-up and get a travel trailer. I did some online research (found the first one I liked and bought it without seeing it) and two days later Justin went to Dewitt to pick up our 2008 Palamino Gazelle. I LOVE it! I never imagined how nice it would be to have a shower and a toilet in the camper that is so easy to use! Sure beats showering with killer green hoppers and squatting next to the woods all night. I no longer have to convince myself how sanitary pee is. We love being able to drive in, put out our rugs, pull down our awning and be drinking in less than 5 minutes. Waiting an hour to drink before while we popped and cranked was unacceptable according to my fellow campers.
Then after spending a half hour popping and cranking and pulling and propping and loading and unloading the pop-up camper when we got to campsites around 10 pm Friday nights after work, while everyone else simply pulled in and hooked up made us decide to sell the pop-up and get a travel trailer. I did some online research (found the first one I liked and bought it without seeing it) and two days later Justin went to Dewitt to pick up our 2008 Palamino Gazelle. I LOVE it! I never imagined how nice it would be to have a shower and a toilet in the camper that is so easy to use! Sure beats showering with killer green hoppers and squatting next to the woods all night. I no longer have to convince myself how sanitary pee is. We love being able to drive in, put out our rugs, pull down our awning and be drinking in less than 5 minutes. Waiting an hour to drink before while we popped and cranked was unacceptable according to my fellow campers.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Anti-Anxiety
One thing that really helps me wind down at the end of a stressful workday is watching other people's crazy lives on television. I admit, I LOVE reality television! There is something about watching mindless nonsense that really helps bring a relaxing end to my day. I have always told myself that I have so much intelligence going on in my brain that I can't possibly watch a tv drama with good acting because there simply is no more room to process that sort of thing. It's a work-life balance.
I would say I'm the garden variety reality tv watcher - somewhere in the middle of Dance Moms and National Geographic March of the Penguins. My all-time favs are The Bachelor/Bachelorette, The Challenge (MTV), 19 Kids and Counting, and The Little Couple. I also really like shows on HGTV, Discovery, Travel but they really are not the ridiculous reality tv I am looking for at the end of the day. Once in a while, when I really need to relax, I will watch Honey Boo Boo - one show that literally makes me laugh out loud. So redic.
I Wanna Marry Harry got me hooked and then it was cancelled, really? I didn't think it was that bad! Lucky for me, Fox then released all remaining episodes online and On Demand. My friend Jill just text me the critics reviews of the show: "No one could possibly be watching the show except the losers of bets and people who had just died in front of their television sets." Other outlets proclaimed it was "the worst and weirdest" reality tv show. Annnnd, I had just watched an I Wanna Marry Harry marathon On Demand this weekend. Great, apparently the show was so stupid that I needed it this weekend - must have been a rough week at work.
I would say I'm the garden variety reality tv watcher - somewhere in the middle of Dance Moms and National Geographic March of the Penguins. My all-time favs are The Bachelor/Bachelorette, The Challenge (MTV), 19 Kids and Counting, and The Little Couple. I also really like shows on HGTV, Discovery, Travel but they really are not the ridiculous reality tv I am looking for at the end of the day. Once in a while, when I really need to relax, I will watch Honey Boo Boo - one show that literally makes me laugh out loud. So redic.
I Wanna Marry Harry got me hooked and then it was cancelled, really? I didn't think it was that bad! Lucky for me, Fox then released all remaining episodes online and On Demand. My friend Jill just text me the critics reviews of the show: "No one could possibly be watching the show except the losers of bets and people who had just died in front of their television sets." Other outlets proclaimed it was "the worst and weirdest" reality tv show. Annnnd, I had just watched an I Wanna Marry Harry marathon On Demand this weekend. Great, apparently the show was so stupid that I needed it this weekend - must have been a rough week at work.
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