Hold Me Up Just A Little Bit Longer, I'll Be Fine I Swear

I work in a collection agency, as anyone who is paying attention knows. In our industry we are governed by the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act), which is a law that outlines how, when, and where we can collect past due debts from consumers. With all the new technology since the FDCPA went into effect (sometime in the seventies....), there are new methods of collecting that I think would be fun to explore...

This would more than likely be a violation of the FDCPA, but I think it would be fun if we could set up an office profile on MySpace. Then we could start befriending all of our debtors that have MySpace accounts, and send them friendly reminders that they owe us money, or that their payment is due. I think it could be fun....

While we're at it we could also buy ad space on one of the digital billboards here in Salem, and every week have a new list of people. Something that would reel people in like, "Hey! If your name is Joe Smith; Bob Brown; Tim Jones... etc. Please Call Us At 503-555-1234!" (I am not crazy... you didn't think I would post my REAL work number on here did you?) Again, this could be fun... They could think they won something.

I happened across another interesting street name, this is one I would NOT want to live on. Tidball Lane... It is interesting because of the word ball being in it. I know that is childish, but I take what I can get to make me laugh at this point (even childish toilet humor).

A good sign that you may be a little tense: Small kitchen appliances scare the crap out of you.
For example: You jump a little when the toaster pops up. Even though you are waiting for just that, it scares you a little when it happens. Or the coffee maker makes a gurgly noise (you know how they do) and you are in another room and almost do a kung-fu-ninja roll into the kitchen with your hands held like a pistol (kind of a Charlie's Angels bad ass move).

Yea, stress isn't healthy.... That's why us humans develop addictions aka coping mechanisms. I'd like to think I manage my stress in a healthy way. I don't drink in excess (nor do I drink to "feel better"), I don't do any drugs (except smoke ultra light cigarettes at work which I know is still not healthy), I have yet to "see red" and run some poor bastard over with my car (though there have been some close calls...), and I don't bottle it up anymore... I find a quiet place and stare at a wall or ceiling and process what is stressing me. I ask myself, "Is this something I have the power to change?" And if the answer to that question is yes, I find out what I can do to remedy the situation. If the answer is no, I may cry a little for lack of control and move on. If I can't control it why should I waste my energy stressing on it.

This method doesn't always work. There are still times when I get pissed off because I can't control a situation, and I can't fix what it is that is creating the situation. It's at those times I rely on my husband, and family, and friends. I know that at least one of those people will be able to talk me down from the proverbial ledge...

I got a new CD this weekend that I LOVE. It's a band that I recently started listening to more and more of their stuff and decided I needed one of their CDs. The CD is title "No Really, I'm Fine" by The Spill Canvas. I love every song on the CD so it was totally worth buying. That's how I rate my CD buying experiences, if I can listen to EVERY song then it was completely worth it, if I have to skip one or two songs, eh, still a good buy if on sale, and if I think I only like one track on the album I just don't buy it... Why waste the money?

Now I am going to go practice my mental kung-fu. (Which is mostly me daydreaming about kicking random people's asses Chuck Norris style... It's fun.)