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Sunday, April 19, 2009
Love and Money Balance by S.K. Smith. What do you think?
Times are tough at the moment - for just about everyone. Even if you're not struggling, odds are you're more aware of your money and more cautious about how you handle it. With the economy in recession and our collective financial future uncertain, it's no wonder you're thinking about it - and no surprise that you're stressed.
However, just because you've got money on the mind doesn't mean it has to ruin your relationship. While it may seem as if the only reason for financial fighting is that there's not enough money, the truth is much more complicated than that. Even the most comfortable of couples can find themselves in heated arguments about the purse strings.
That's because each of us has a different relationship with personal finance - one that started long before any of us even knew it. So try this three-step guide to see why money causes trouble in relationships and how to handle it.
1. Perception is key
That's right, just like so many other areas of life, our parents inadvertently shaped how we deal with money based on their perceptions of it. Whether we've grown up to mirror their attitudes, contradict them altogether or more likely, some combination of the two, each of us has long ingrained emotions that relate to the meaning of money and we bring those feelings to our relationships. Trouble arises naturally because no two people have exactly the same feelings.
Before you can address the financial issues that arise in your partnership, it's important to identify both you and your partner's emotional attachments to the green stuff and where they came from. Ask yourself, what were my early experiences with money? How did they make me feel?
2. Your money motivators…
Now that you know how you both feel about money, it's time to assess how those feelings are affecting you now. For instance, one of you may be an impulse buyer who spends whenever they have it while the other analyzes every purchase for weeks and months on end even when cash is plentiful. Your partner may always know where every single cent is spent while you're the type who finds twenties in your pockets each year when the winter coats come out - even if you were broke all summer!
You may consider yourself a conservative investor with a solid understanding of the market while your mate takes risks you see as equivalent to rolling the dice. According to experts, how you spend, allocate and handle money is motivated by one of the following four objectives: enjoying freedom, enhancing security, showing power and building relationships. It's vital to your relationship that you and your mate know what motivates each other to pull the trigger and pull out your wallet.
By coming to understand both of your individual objectives, you'll be able to approach financial issues - before the struggle starts - with a mutual end game in mind. Which is why the third step is the most important…
3. Face your financial issues
One of the most popular definitions of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. If you and your mate continue to dance around financial issues without being as open about your thoughts and feelings as you are about the bottom line you're faced with, the vicious circle will never end. As you weather a crisis (or 20!) the same issues will continue to arise when you have an overall difference of objective or opinion - about how to do what with what you have. That's why it's important not only to lay out mutual goals and set parameters to achieve them, but to work toward them together, mindful of each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Financial harmony doesn't come overnight - it also requires maintenance and regular check-ins. The goal is to stop fighting about finances and start feeling like you're on a joint course together. There may be hard times sure, but with open, honest, non-judgmental communication, you'll be able to support each other through the valleys and emerge successful, with your love intact.
Sound scary? You're not alone. It's hard to be vulnerable - after all, so many of us attach money with self-worth. However, by allowing yourselves to be 100% honest with each other, you're fostering intimacy and giving your relationship - and your bank balance - a chance to flourish for the long-term.
Formula 1 - who is the king of the wet? Vettel or Hamilton?
For the full coverage click here
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Pts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | Sebastian Vettel | RBR-Renault | 56 | 1:57:43.485 | 1 | 10 | |||||||
| 2 | 14 | Mark Webber | RBR-Renault | 56 | +10.9 secs | 3 | 8 | |||||||
| 3 | 22 | Jenson Button | Brawn-Mercedes | 56 | +44.9 secs | 5 | 6 | |||||||
| 4 | 23 | Rubens Barrichello | Brawn-Mercedes | 56 | +63.7 secs | 4 | 5 | |||||||
| 5 | 2 | Heikki Kovalainen | McLaren-Mercedes | 56 | +65.1 secs | 12 | 4 | |||||||
| 6 | 1 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 56 | +71.8 secs | 9 | 3 | |||||||
| 7 | 10 | Timo Glock | Toyota | 56 | +74.4 secs | 19 | 2 | |||||||
| 8 | 12 | Sebastien Buemi | STR-Ferrari | 56 | +76.4 secs | 10 | 1 | |||||||
| 9 | 7 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 56 | +84.3 secs | 2 | ||||||||
| 10 | 4 | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | 56 | +91.7 secs | 8 | ||||||||
| 11 | 11 | Sebastien Bourdais | STR-Ferrari | 56 | +94.1 secs | 15 | ||||||||
| 12 | 6 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | 56 | +95.8 secs | 11 | ||||||||
| 13 | 5 | Robert Kubica | BMW Sauber | 56 | + 106.8 secs | 17 | ||||||||
| 14 | 21 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Force India-Mercedes | 55 | +1 Lap | 20 | ||||||||
| 15 | 16 | Nico Rosberg | Williams-Toyota | 55 | +1 Lap | 7 | ||||||||
| 16 | 8 | Nelsinho Piquet | Renault | 53 | +2 Laps | 16 | ||||||||
| 17 | 20 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 50 | +6 Laps | 18 | ||||||||
| Ret | 17 | Kazuki Nakajima | Williams-Toyota | 43 | +13 Laps | 14 | ||||||||
| Ret | 3 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 20 | +36 Laps | 13 | ||||||||
| Ret | 9 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | 18 | +38 Laps | 6 | ||||||||
Friday, April 17, 2009
First it was Valissa and now it is Lena (4 today)
From: "Lena"
To:
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 12:45 PM
Subject: Beautiful Russian women waiting to meet YOU!
> Hi sugar,
> Have not heard from you for ages! Have you forgotten about me? Hope not!
>
> How are things going?
>
>
> I am still single and spring has come.. all of my friends are hnaging out
> with their boyfriends and I am alone L
>
> Though we might get to know each other better and perhaps this Spring will
> be the last lonely spring for us?
>
> I have registered my profile at http://girlnewtwo.com/?idAff=32 -
> why don't you come and see my new photos? And perhaps even email me..
>
> Will be waiting:
> http://girlnewtwo.com/?idAff=32
My reply
BuyaGift 9th birthday celebration - 20% off
3878 Alton Towers Tickets for Entry in 2009
3911 Chessington World of Adventures and Zoo Tickets
3929 Thorpe Park Tickets for Entry in 2009
3912 LEGOLAND Windsor Tickets for Entry in 2009
4059 LEGOLAND Windsor Tickets for Next Day Entry
4087 Madame Tussauds Easter Special Offer Tickets (after 4:30pm)
1831 Madame Tussauds Tickets 9am - 11am
1835 Madame Tussauds Tickets 11am - 3pm
1836 Madame Tussauds Tickets 3pm - 5pm
1274 Birmingham National SEA LIFE Centre Tickets
1275 Blackpool SEA LIFE Centre Tickets
1278 Brighton SEA LIFE Centre Tickets
1280 Great Yarmouth SEA LIFE Centre Tickets
1289 Hunstanton SEA LIFE Sanctuary Tickets
1291 Loch Lomond SEA LIFE Aquarium Tickets
4060 London Aquarium SEA LIFE Centre Tickets
1293 Scarborough SEA LIFE and Marine Sanctuary Tickets
1295 Scottish SEA LIFE Sanctuary Oban Tickets
1287 The National Seal Sanctuary - Gweek Tickets
1297 Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure and Marine Park Tickets
3973 London Dungeon Tickets - General Admission (Monday-Friday)
3981 London Dungeon Tickets - General Admission (Weekend)
4054 York Dungeons Tickets - General Admission (Monday-Friday)
4055 York Dungeons Tickets - General Admission (Weekend)
4056 Edinburgh Dungeon Tickets - General Admission (Monday-Friday)
4057 Edinburgh Dungeon Tickets - General Admission (Weekend)
are just some of our venues
Formula 1 - Hamilton back in form for this weekends Chinese GP?
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Time/Retired | Gap | Laps | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:37.334 | 22 | |||||||
| 2 | 22 | Jenson Button | Brawn-Mercedes | 1:37.450 | 0.116 | 18 | ||||||
| 3 | 23 | Rubens Barrichello | Brawn-Mercedes | 1:37.566 | 0.232 | 19 | ||||||
| 4 | 2 | Heikki Kovalainen | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:37.672 | 0.338 | 23 | ||||||
| 5 | 14 | Mark Webber | RBR-Renault | 1:37.752 | 0.418 | 20 | ||||||
| 6 | 9 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | 1:37.764 | 0.430 | 19 | ||||||
| 7 | 16 | Nico Rosberg | Williams-Toyota | 1:37.860 | 0.526 | 24 | ||||||
| 8 | 10 | Timo Glock | Toyota | 1:37.894 | 0.560 | 21 | ||||||
| 9 | 7 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 1:38.089 | 0.755 | 19 | ||||||
| 10 | 11 | Sebastien Bourdais | STR-Ferrari | 1:38.195 | 0.861 | 24 | ||||||
| 11 | 4 | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | 1:38.223 | 0.889 | 23 | ||||||
| 12 | 15 | Sebastian Vettel | RBR-Renault | 1:38.274 | 0.940 | 20 | ||||||
| 13 | 12 | Sebastien Buemi | STR-Ferrari | 1:38.307 | 0.973 | 26 | ||||||
| 14 | 20 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1:38.319 | 0.985 | 18 | ||||||
| 15 | 3 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:38.418 | 1.084 | 20 | ||||||
| 16 | 6 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | 1:38.456 | 1.122 | 21 | ||||||
| 17 | 21 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Force India-Mercedes | 1:38.460 | 1.126 | 19 | ||||||
| 18 | 5 | Robert Kubica | BMW Sauber | 1:38.463 | 1.129 | 18 | ||||||
| 19 | 17 | Kazuki Nakajima | Williams-Toyota | 1:38.730 | 1.396 | 25 | ||||||
| 20 | 8 | Nelsinho Piquet | Renault | 1:38.825 | 1.491 | 20 |
Pre race comment
Jenson Button - “After the excitement of the first two races, it has been great to have the chance to relax and reflect for a few days since the dramatic race in Malaysia. I am understandably delighted with how our season has begun however we are only two races in and everyone at the team is aware that our competitors will not stand still. We fully expect a tough fight from here if we want to continue our early successes.”
Rubens Barrichello - “It seems strange to be returning to China already but I’m looking forward to the weekend as Shanghai is an impressive facility and the circuit provides an interesting challenge for the drivers. The track holds some good memories for me as I won the first race here in 2004. With the car that we have this year, it is so exciting to be able to return with the opportunity to compete at the front again. The BGP 001 has gone well at the two very different race tracks in Australia and Malaysia so it will be interesting to see how the car performs in Shanghai which is quite a unique circuit. You need to have a very good aerodynamic balance combined with a stable car and good straight-line speed to take advantage of the long straights.”
Giancarlo Fisichella - “We need more downforce now, but we have a clear direction to improve and I think this is really positive. I think it’s too early to start hoping for points yet, but we need to keep the momentum going and get as much information as possible so when we introduce new parts we can really see an improvement. Last year we were struggling everywhere, but this year it’s just downforce. We need more grip in the corners. I know we have some developments in the pipeline so at this point in the season I am hopeful. The car has potential, definitely.”
Adrian Sutil - “This year I’ve got a 100% finish record so far, and I want to keep this up. We’ve seen that some of the other teams are having problems with KERS and the order is not so fixed at the moment so if you get to the finish there’s a good chance you could do well. I think this should be our goal for now but when we get back to Europe I want to be racing on merit, not just waiting for something to happen to another driver.”
Kazuki Nakajima - "Shanghai is definitely a challenging circuit, but at least I've now had some experience of it so it's not new for me anymore. Last year, we struggled on tracks like China, but now our car is looking quite strong. It's well balanced in the high and low speed corners so I'm hoping we'll go much better there this year and I can score my first points of the season. Starting the race lower down the grid [at Sepang], I was alongside a lot of the KERS car who are able to make better starts so my aim is to improve my qualifying position in China,”
Niko Rosberg - “Sepang showed that the team seem to have fixed the problem we had last year on these types of circuits so it's now looking like we have consistency. I'm confident that we'll have another competitive weekend in China. Top eight for sure.”
Timo Glock - "We have finished on the podium in both races so far and we have deserved to be there. Our car is really quick and everyone is doing a good job. We have shown what we are capable of so now we have to keep pushing hard and we can continue to be one of the top teams this season. We are second in the constructors’ championship and we have had both cars in the top four in both races so far this season so our aim has to be to finish on the podium again in China. I was in the points in China last year but now our car is much more competitive. It is more stable, you can push more as a driver and it is obviously faster relative to the competition. I’m really looking forward to China."
Fernando Alonso - “I believe in this team and we saw last year that they know how to fight back and find performance from the car. It's still very early days and everyone in the team is working hard to develop the R29 so that we can be more competitive in the next few races. I was disappointed not to score points in Malaysia as my aim is to score points at every race this season. Obviously it's difficult to change the car until we get back to Europe, but we have learnt a lot from the first two races and we certainly made progress in Malaysia. We need to take another step forward in Shanghai and hopefully score points.”
