Vacation!

Finally. I'm getting a vacation! I'll be going to Branson at the end of October with my Mom, Sis, and Brother-in-law. I'm really looking forward to this trip. It's just for a few days, but it will be a welcome getaway for me after all the days and hours I've spent at work since becoming the General Manager of my store.

The great thing about this trip is that I can see shows that rival those of las vegas hotels. This is probably the next best thing to being in Las Vegas since so many of the acts have theaters set up for those of us in the central part of the country.

I'll be saving part of my next two paychecks for shopping and shows. We'll be staying in Sis' camper trailer, which is well-appointed and quite comfortable.

Business tool

One of the best tools I have for my own home based business and for my job is my laptop. I take it with me everywhere I go. I use it for my regular job, making schedules and creating forms and flyers for work. I also use it to keep track of appointments and to keep track of my money.

I journal with my laptop and write my shopping lists with it. I create documents for presentations at work and I go online to do my online business.

There is no place I go that I don't take my laptop with me. In fact, my bag is getting worn out and I need to get a new one. The laptop bag has all kinds of neat pockets to store pens, pencils, note pads, memory cards, card reader, cords, aircard, and many other things I would now feel lost without.

Job hardships

With all the media hype about the economy, the rise in gas prices, and the fear of banks, insurance companies, and mortgage companies failing, it may be time for some to be looking for jobs in Las Vegas or in other areas of the country. Locally, a couple of the really big companies closed down awhile back. This left many families with some tough decisions to make since some of them had both husband and wife working at the same place.

Things to consider when looking for work in an area away from your home are:

• Cost of living in another area
• State and local tax rates
• Schools
• Housing costs
• Homeschool laws
• Climate and weather
• Culture and history

It could be that you're just as well off staying where you are if some of these factors don't fit your lifestyle or standards.

Mobile office

I have made a major purchase recently, and I'm hoping I can use it for business so that I can take it off my taxes next year. See, I bought a Ford Explorer. It's got lots of room in the back for hauling things, like things I buy to put on eBay. It's even got a luggage rack on the top.

I can use my laptop in it just by using my inverter, the one I have in my car, so my laptop battery won't run down. That means that I can blog or keep track of expenses right on my laptop without having to keep notes on paper.

The Explorer isn't new, but it's in pretty good shape. I think it will get me everywhere I need to go if the weather gets bad this winter plus it will be like my mobile office for other purposes.