I'm a Numbers Guy...

Ok, so I hate to admit it but I really dig numbers. I mean in a totally useless and trivial way. A few examples:


1) When my wife and I first met, she told me her favorite number was 3. So I waited until March, Third, Two Thousand Three (03/03/03 for the slow, sorry) at 3:30pm to ask her to be my girlfriend. Now at this point some of you are already asking, "Hey @W, why not 3:33 and 33 seconds?" and to you I say "Overkill is quite memorable, but never romantic, I'm sure she got the point." lol


2) When my wife and I got engaged, I already knew exactly what date the wedding would fall on. (Though I still had to sell her on it plenty at first) July, Seventh, Two Thousand Seven at 7:00pm. 07/07/07 @7:00pm -- actually the 7pm was her idea -- heck, it even fell on a Saturday! Everything lined up perfectly and it served as a perfect Freudian nod to the way we began.


So why am I like this, who knows? I'm the classic case of what Dave Ramsey calls a "Nerd". Those types of things just seem to jump out at me. Like Jan. 23rd, 2004 (01/23/04) @ 5:67am (1234567) I just have an appreciation for those moments in time, because when they come around, it usually indicates that they won't be witnessed again in our lifetime.


Now, quick question for you. Did you catch it? In the last paragraph there's an intentional typo. See it yet? Just for kicks it thought I'd throw a "nerd barometer" at you. There's no such thing as 5:67am you silly-billy-gumdrops! You can see where you rate below:

If you:

A) STILL have not noticed what on earth I'm even talking about, STOP reading and re-enroll at your local elementary school... go now... Grade: F

B) Noticed and thought that 5:67 had something to military time... Grade: D (But that really was a nice try.)

C) Noticed and thought nothing of it, you're probably normal. You might be the type that would say "Maybe it's just a typo." or "Surely he meant 5:57 instead, either way it's no biggie." You'd probably fall into what Dave Ramsey calls the "Free Spirit" category. Grade: C

D) Not only noticed but actually yelled at your screen and could not continue reading the rest of post because it frustrated you so much. Sadly you get lumped into the "Nerd" category with me -- you're certainly not a free spirit -- even though your nerdiness is a little bit more over the top than mine, which is why in this case I've got to diversify the description more. Grade: B+

Which leads us to...

E) Noticed and thought to yourself, "I bet he did that on purpose to make a point later in this post...", and you'd be correct. We are what I'm going to call the "Observant Nerd" group in this equation: Detail oriented, always alert, and gifted with a higher dose of deductive reasoning than our peers. M'hmm that would be us. *enlightened sigh* Grade: A+

It's only fitting that the Nerds would get the best grade right? Just like back in school, but hey, such is life.

Be blessed,

@W

Today was a day for the ages...

Today's post is brought to you by the number 3...

Do you remember watching Sesame Street? Even when I was very little I somehow caught on to the way that each show was 'sponsored' by a letter or a number. That was very clever right?

Well today's post is dedicated to the number 3 and if you pull up a seat -- Yes, I realize you're already sitting, lol -- I'll tell you why.

I've had an AMAZING day! Today I achieved 3 (THREE!!) of my life-long/career-long goals and watched my wife achieve an important one as well. I wish I could insert a *dramatic pause* for you as you read that last sentence. The days have been few in my life where I could even say that I checked even one goal off the list. But God somehow allowed me to hit for a trifecta today.

If you're still here and reading I'd like to share them with you below, but if you have to step away I understand... go do what you have to do and then get right back here just as soon as ya can.

1. Today I became a Manager. Wow let me type that again just so that it can truly sink in for ME. Today I became a Manager! It took me 5 years, 7 job changes and plenty of situations where I was pulling Manager-level weight, and making Manager-level decisions (and sacrifices) without Manager-like titles or Manager-like pay.

I was actually told about this promotion last Thursday, but it was officially announced to my company today. During the meeting, my boss told me that with the promotion I would be getting a 8% 'bump' in my salary. (which is purely unheard of at our company.)

An 8% 'bump'... (If they call that a 'bump' it makes you wonder what comes next?!) Hmmm did I tell you that this is a blog about Dumping DEBT?!? Do you have any idea what an 8% increase will do to our efforts? Remind me to come back to the 8% later.

2. I started this blog. This is a BIIIGGGG step for me, HUGE. I've spent most of my adult years online, but going to other people's sites and other people's forums to voice my thoughts and opinions. But this here, this is mine yo. MY brainchild. My rants. My insight. My life. And It's truly my prayer that what you see here will be of great benefit to you. Not only financially, but most important spiritually.

Since we're on the subject of my brainchild, and also since this is the inaugural post, let me take this moment to basically tell you what this site is all about. And where the name came from.

This blog is my attempt to somehow document just how hard it is to be true to yourself, how hard it is to be @ RISK all the time. Sometimes my life looks like it's touched by God' favor. At other times it's touched by the mundaneness of this daily grind toward a better life for my family. It's all the same life though.

See, it's not so much that I started this blog that I claim as the accomplishment. It's the fact that I've stopped being afraid of how my voice sounds to others. That's the main victory I'm taking from this. My fear was not that I would say the wrong things, but simply that my voice sounded wrong to the outside world.

3. Today I actually considered the possibility of bringing a child into this world for the very first time. This thought occurred to me not long after being told that my promotion would be made official. I'm deathly afraid of bring a child into this world while we're in the financial situation we are right now. Today gave me a glimmer of hope that it may actually come faster than I ever thought. And again, the fact that I arrived at this thought all on my own speaks volumes as to how my thinking is changing. Wow!

4. As a bonus to all of that, I watched my wife start her blogging career today as well. Her blog will naturally serve as a sister site (more like wife site) to this one. Please lend your support by checking her out here http://basicallywright.blogspot.com/. I love you Mrs. Wright, and I'm so very proud of us today.

Well this was a lengthy introduction, so let me wrap up. In the future, posts won't nearly be this long... but before I forget, I promised to tell you about that 8% 'bump'.

Today just before he made the announcement to the company, my boss called me back into his office and told me he was wrong about the raise part... it's actually going to be 10%. In the seconds after he told me this I learned what comes after a 'bump' in pay... speechlessness.

These 3 -- actually 4 -- things made this a day that will long be remembered in my family. It marks the beginning of the next phase of our journey towards debt freedom and so much more.


Thanks for sharing in this with us!
@W