Getting Ready to "RIDE"

Part of my preparing for my trip is to become more physically fit for this incredible journey.  I am so out of shape!  I am a LONG way from being the high school star athlete I once was.

I am not one of those "quick" fix type of people.  I refuse to eat processed, portion controlled food!  My fear with that is that once I stopped eating "their" (and you know whom I'm talking about food) I'd go back to my old habits.  The other diet alternative costs way to much financially, not to mention the time it takes to count points.  Although I do LOVE their giant fudgecicles.  I joined a gym so I too could "pick things up, and put them down", but at 10/month at the rate I was showing up my average cost per workout was $80.00/hour.  

Something finally clicked in me.  It is not about shedding the points quickly, its about changing my lifestyle one way at a time and I am on my way.  

I went out to our local bike swap and found a "sturdy" island cruiser perfect for the city.  I did not buy it to climb Maine's steep, muddy mountains.  Or to join a group of hard core street riders with their matching jerseys, which by the way, I'm pretty sure they would fit me like spanx!  

So for today, when I need to go that extra mile, I'll put on my floppy hat, hoist my ample ass upon the large shock fortified seat and ring my bell off into the sunset!

What's Your Credit Score?

When I'm dead and cremated; family and friends, as well as a small village in Guam, have encapsulated me in a miniature silver trinket to wear around their necks, ankles, or if you know my kids, in their tongue, will my credit score really matter?

Judging from the amount of calls, snail mail, and junk I receive it matters ALOT.  I feel like I'm back in middle school receiving demerits for bad behavior.

"I didn't cross my t on a paper, 10 demerits".

"I got caught smoking in the girls bathroom, 3 demerits," lets see..times 30 known offenses....it really adds up.

I'm pretty sure I left my school with over 3,000 demerits.

The banks are now my principle disciplinarian.  I don't pay a bill on time, 200 demerits.  My net worth is at 84%, too high....800 demerits. 

The big question I have is...."What happened to all those demerits?  Can I trade them in like skeeball tickets? Better yet, can I apply them towards my credit score?"