The Forty Dollar Coat

On Black Friday I sat surrounded by family enjoying the fleeting time I had with all of them.  In the mountains of West Virginia there wasn't a Walmart or Best Buy to get into a frenzy about for over fifty miles. 

When I saw a woman on CNN proclaiming that her favorite purchase from Black Friday was a coat she bought for $40 from Eddie Bauer I almost thought, "That's a decent deal."  But then she continued talking and said, "And I don't even need it!"  To this I yelled at the television, "So donate it!"  It was instantaneous and on gut instinct.  If  you don't need it, you probably will not use it.  If you do, it's not something you actually need anyway, so why not give it to someone who does.  I swear.

I am a purger.  As much as my mother-in-law and own mother like to comment on the status of my basement we purge that thing every few weeks.  Books, toys, clothes, household items are always being donated.  I throw bags into the local PlanetAid box near my house regularly. When Lupus, Purple Heart or AmVets sends a card, I put out a bag or box.  I send food to my local food pantry throughout the year and do Toys for Tots each holiday season.  This is not to say that I'm a better person than anyone else.  However, I do think that by doing this it makes me a better person in that I realize just how much waste and over consumerism I can and could be prone to on a frightfully regular basis. By continuing to donate and give to these organizations an individuals I become more aware of how little I need and how much I have.

To me, giving to others regularly all year has been a great way to visibily and routinely show my kids why and how we can help others who have less than us.  We may not be rolling in it but we have so much more than others and why not spread that wealth?  Why just throw out our new and/or unused items when we can find new homes for them? 


Find a new home for things in your house at these places-

Find a Food Bank
Freecycle.org
Habitat for Humanity
Lupus
AmVets

Cry for Help

I'm a good little blogger. I think. I write posts daily, sometimes more than once on several different blogs. I do copy for some other sites, pick up projects and in all show that my love is for writing. It's my passion. My addiction is blogging. If BlogHer '07 was feasible this year I would be right there in the thick of it sucking up information like a good little sponge while slurping down fun drinks and geeking out meeting "the cool" bloggers.

But, like any addict the more I get, the more I seem to want. Awards are more than wonderful. They help me get through the dark days. Fan mail, presents, additional work, and comments all feed my black addict hole of need. I think we bloggers know what I'm talking about. They keep me going on some days when I think that absolutely no one cares or reads. The desire for recognition can get pretty damn desirable and infectious. Are we as good as so and so? Will we ever be in the realm of that person? Do they read us and think "Pffft! What a hack!"

There is just one thing that this little blogger wants and has been trying to do for quite some time. Get ad space on Blogads. However, this requires a SPONSOR from someone already involved and reaping the Blogads benefits. That is my CRY FOR HELP. Won't someone please sponsor me? Some nice blogger out there already involved in Blogads must want to do it and help a fellow blogger out. If anything you can feel good in the fact that by helping me out you are also keeping me from squeezing T.D.'s feet into too small shoes. All good bloggers need a chance. SPONSOR ME!

Yes, it's shameless begging. What blogger doesn't have a few shameless moments here and there?