This BLOG SUUUUUUUCKS!: 2013

Sunday, December 01, 2013

'HAPPY whatever doesn't offend you'!!! Version II

Welcome to the 2nd annual... Because I like MOST of you, I'm here to give you some knowledge about finance, computers, cars and a few things in between so YOU can have a net worth of $1 MILLION DOLLARS like me! HA!!!!!! KIDDING OR AM I!?!??!!? You decide............. SO YOU KNOW, being this is the 2nd edition, I add links as I think about them throughout the year and they are in RED!
The majority of stuff I am about to give you is FREE and info that I think will help you out! WOO HOO!!!

FINANCE:

https://www.mint.com/ It's a great way to MANAGE your finances. It downloads all of your bank and loan accounts.
https://www.creditkarma.com/ https://secure.creditsesame.com/signup1 These give your credit score ###### NOW IT'S NOT YOUR TRUE FICO SCORE BUT IT'S CLOSE AND GIVES YOU A 'BALL PARK' FIGURE!######
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp -It's your RIGHT as an AMERICAN CITIZEN to be able to pull your credit report each year FOR FREE!!!! DO IT and check for errors. The credit reporting agencies are NOTORIOUS for that kind of stuff!
http://www.clarkhoward.com/ and http://www.daveramsey.com/home/ -THESE two are my 'GO TO GUYS' when I have ANY financial question, WORDS can't describe what I have learned from them!!!!!! They rock like KISS at the Thomas and Mack Center at Las Vegas in 88!!!! I KNOW BECAUSE I WAS THERE AND 'Rock 'N' Rolled All Night and Partied Every Day'!!!!!!
http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clark-howard/personal-finance-credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/nFbL/- THIS is one of the only ways you can protect yourself if your ID is stolen. It's not 'STEEL CLAD' but it's worth doing because if someone that has stolen your I.D tries to apply for more credit then they will get rejected because your 'credit' has been frozen and only YOU have the codes to thaw it....So in conclusion, DON'T believe all the crap companies like LifeLock and others try to sell ya (They work like this, they monitor your credit AFTER it's been stolen! This is the ONLY way to protect yourself!!!! BE PROACTIVE!!!
https://investor.vanguard.com/ -THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT so settle down! More than likely WE, anyone under 50, will NOT have social security or it will look completely different when it's our time to retire. IT'S SIMPLE MATH!!! Two ways that you can prevent being on the 'Alpo retirement plan' (That is when you can't afford 'people food' and you have to eat dog food to survive). They make it as easy as a prom date to set up an I.R.A and their customer services reps are knowledgeable and NOT a freakin' call center in India! They can also help you set up a 529 plan. Watch out because I am about to get on my soap box!!!!! Being an expert on MY opinion, I think it's YOUR duty as a parent to save for your child's education. You need to start right when you find out you're 'knocked up'!!! Don't be that mom/dad that has to expose your child to student loans because YOU weren't prepared and you have to look your child in the eye and say 'I'm sorry' when they are 23 and have over $30+ in student loans they have to pay back.
http://www.missingmoney.com/Main/StateSites.cfm, http://unclaimed.org/ Almost ALL 50 states participate in this... Any $ that is owned to YOU has to be given back to YOU! Use these site to find any $ that MIGHT be owed to you and the state HAS to give it to you.

COMPUTER:

http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage -This is a FREE anti-virus program for your home computer. It's all you need TRUST ME ON THIS! I have been using it for YEARS and I have had no problems ever!!!
http://www.openoffice.org/ -So you're all set to pay a lot of $ for Microsoft Office? WELL!!!! This looks a little different BUT is basically the same thing and it's A LOT cheaper then Microsoft Office!!! IT'S FREE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!
http://www.iobit.com/advancedsystemcareper.html -This FREE program scans your computer and fixes 'issues' that are making your computer run slow.....

AUTO:

http://www.recalls.gov/ Don't be that guy/gal that has possible 'issues' with your car because you weren't aware of a recall that was issued by your auto maker months ago! Register your email and they will send you a notice if there is a recall on your car!
http://www.scangauge.com/products/scangaugee/ Sure it costs money BUT it's worth it!!!! You will recoup it by driving smarter...... I have had it for almost ten years and it ROCKS!!!! It plugs into your OBDII connection ( the computer on your car). KRIPES! It's all they do when you take your car to a mechanic.... They plug in to it to see what's wrong with it.

MISC:

http://www.ehow.com/ This site RULES!!! It shows you how to do ANYTHING!!!! KRIPES!! It helped me learn how to freakin tile and I would say it turned out OKIE DOKIE!
http://www.antennaweb.org/ It's ALL good if you think of me as a NERD, I'm cool with it, but I know about TV and radio stuff (HELLO! I'm a 'TV and radio production' degree holder from ASU, YEAP I went to college, SHOCKER HUH? ALL stations in the USA are mandated by the FCC to broadcast in HDTV! I know the reason they did this but I will spare you that info, all you need to know is that you can get a 'CRAZY' amount of channels (network TV, NOT ESPN and stuff) just with an antenna! ********** AGAIN! NETWORK TV NOT CABLE STATIONS************* BUT don't fret because you can ask Shonteea, co worker, about some reality show and she will give you detailed events of each episode (THANK GOD FOR MY iTouch!).................
https://twitter.com/, https://www.facebook.com/login.php?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhome.php%3Fsk%3Dapp_2915120374, https://plus.google.com/ Say what you want about social media, TWITTER and 'DA BOOK' aka Facebook, Google+ BUT they are GREAT because of all the info you get from them! PEOPLE! I get all the information I can handle about football and other stuff by 'following' people from current and past players of the Buffalo Bills and news outlets from around the country. KRIPES! I knew Ryan Fitzpatrick (one of MANY Ex-Bills QB) was going to throw an interception because he tweeted that he had a hang nail early in the day. HANG NAIL= INT!!!!! PLUS Famous people will reply to you if you ask them a question! KRIPES! I almost FAINTED when Thurman Thomas 'retweeted' me!!!! MY life was complete at that moment!
http://www.straighttalk.com/ - One of those contracts that most companies make you sign are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO '20th century'. Straight talk is a contract FREE phone service that RULES, been a customer since 2010. Depending on the phone you select, it works off the Verizon, AT&T or the Sprint networks..... I, ANDY McBRIDE, HAVE NEVER HAD 'ISSUES' WITH NOT GETTING OR SENDING A CALL!!
http://www.myxer.com/ - After you get your new phone, go here to make custom rings instead of PAYING FOR THEM. I made one out of this song for a call that comes from someone that I do not know and each person in my 'contacts' has their own ring tone.
http://www.startsdownload.com/picasa/ - This is for all of you that are over the age of 60!!!!! This is a free photo editor. So the next time you take pictures of your grandkids and they are sideways or scanning something and NOT cropping it. I think YOU should edit it through this site BEFORE you post and, cause me and others, a kinked neck trying to view it.
http://wncgreenblogcollective.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/amys-energy-efficiency-gift-buying-guide/ - I'm not a freakin; 'tree huggin' hippy' even though I look like one with this long hair, BUT I do like saving money and this is a ,במתיקות that's 'SWEET' in Hebrew, link of stuff that will help you save money and possibly 'live off the grid' thus stick it to 'THE MAN'.

There are other sites but I can't think of them right now but I hoped these helped ya out a little. MERRY CHRISTMAS KIDS and I hope Santa gave you everything you asked for this year.

OH AND ONE MORE THING! I'm just sitting enjoying the fact that my Bills are going to keep the record of NOT making the playoffs for the 14th year!! WOO HOO!!! I have a sweet drink for you to enjoy during the winter months. It consists of Baileys or the knockoff stuff I get at Aldi, hot chocolate, a Keurig (you are a SIMPLETON if you don't have one) a generic K- cups adapter you get at Dollar General.............. Put 2 shots of Baileys in a mug and fill the K-cup with some hot chocolate. run your Keurig. Mix the hot chocolate with the Baileys, AND VOILA!!! After two or three you will feel 'comfortably numb' and enjoying the great holiday season! YOU'RE WELCOME!!!

I finally leave you with another example of the human race being WELLLLLLLLLL HUMANS! We are soooooooooooooooo screwed!!! That money you saved by going out on black Friday can now be used to pay your bail!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS KIDS!!!

Friday, November 01, 2013

Piddling!

It's how I roll!

The last two months have either consisted of me whining or giving you wayyyyyyyyyy too much info about me. SO ENOUGH of that crap!! It's time to get back to basics and to what this blog was originally created for. HA! Isn't that what EVERY band says when they are on the 'downward spiral' of their careers? ANYWAYS, let the 'projects' ROLL! Usually on a Friday Boike (DANG RIGHT WE MADE UP!!! My cousin Christine sent me a cool email pretty much saying that love, no matter what kind, is stronger than pride) will ask me what I have planned for the weekend. Nine out of ten times, I say "Nothing in particular just piddling." HA!!! No I am not a 75 year old man, I just work on many things instead of just one.....

*********** Now as you can tell by the pictures, I take my time with working on stuff!********** I did this in the spring. New stone edging I got at Lowes because it was on clearance! HA!!!!!!!!

After 5 years of my mother bugging me to, I FINALLY painted the rocking chairs black with the paint that pops gave me. HA!!! I love being my parent's and brother's 'Good Will'!!

While PIDDLING, I have my neighbor's yappy @$$ miniature Dachshund giving me wonderful background noise of barking!!!! I tried to get a picture for ya but the little poop runs away when I start walking towards him. Oh, and he barks the whole time. Where was I? OH YEAH, I really can't go into detail BUT with the help of A LOT of coffee grounds at work, FYI- we are some coffee drinkin' MOFOS, and my cousin Chris and his girlfriend Sue...

I have been doing some MAJOR stuff to get the back yard looking presentable and NOT like it's Sanford And Son's lawn. This is just a hint of what I have been doing, all I will say is BACK YARD FEST 2013-14 is going along just fine!

I also built a freaking long @$$ wall out of really cheap bricks I found at everyone's antichrist store, Walmart....

Have a groovy November and THANK GOD that AWFUL month of October is over!!!!! New process at work= a very frustrated Andy and other stuff from the past that I REALLY don't want to divulge.

Tuesday, October 01, 2013

UGH!

****** I wrote the following in April and being that some people do not want to be identified in this then each person will be referred to as 'person 'A' and person 'B' BUT you have to be one of the dumbest people EVVVVVER not to know how they are.....****** So everyone knows now, and frankly I could give an EFF if you don't, BECAUSE THEY WERE A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE!!!!! Anyways, after a very long time, person 'A' and person 'B' are no more. When all this was told to me, I talked to another friend about it and I will NEVER forget this person asking "McBride why are you so upset?" OH I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THEIR EFFING KID!! What they, said I did! KRIPES!! They could of have told me to jump and I would ask “how high?”. EVERY aspect of my life since college was ALWAYS ran by them first…. From “hey y’all, what do you think of this back splash, tile for the kitchen?” “Do you think, the next time I am there, we can go get some of those shoes that you two wear? They look really comfortable” and "Can you teach me how to ride a horse? I saw someone in a music video do it and I really want to learn." I saw person 'B' about to dry some clothes and I asked why she didn't put in a fabric sheet in with the clothes and she explained to me that they are bad for the environment SO I don't use them and will NEVER. I had the ‘barometer’ when it came to girls. If they weren’t too sure of them and raised a ‘red flag’ then I would pay heed. They were also my voice of reason when I had issues with life or work! They were there for me when I knew I had some health issues and JAEL a supervisor from HELL decided to TRY to play hard ball with me!!!!! KRIPES!!!! Just look back in my blog and you will see me talking about them in some way or another. They were my ‘ROCK’, sure they had their ‘quirks’ BUT who doesn’t????????????? My life changed at 4:10PM on 4/19/13 when the words “we are getting a divorce” were uttered! It was one of two of the most traumatic events in my life! The first was in 1988 when we moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. I at least had some 'fair warning' with that, this was a SUCKER PUNCH!!! I was in shock then and I think I will ALWAYS be…..First thing ANYONE asks is “WHAT HAPPENED?” and sure I have some suspicions but I’m kinda cool with not knowing. I just know that it’s a game changer for me! NO more playing on the farm and collecting rocks and exploring on the four wheeler driving a tractor and bush hogging a field and there are some people I'm pretty sure that I will NEVER see again! A stop at their farm was ALWAYS a MUST on my annual tour and with all that happened, this year’s trip was ‘altered’. I had a friend brew me some of his YUMMY ‘oat meal’ stout, and I was planning on drinking it with person 'A' on the front porch BUT………… Y’all, I could give 2 $hits about my ‘issues’, I worry about others! It’s just the way I have ALWAYS been and will ALWAYS be!!! I emailed his mom this when I found out, “Remember when we saw Dr. Patel the last time and I was soooooooooooooooooooooo upset that I couldn't talk to ya because I would bust out crying???? Well that is how I have felt since 4:10PM on Friday...” This all reminds me of what Kathy K., Mary’s mom, told me when she told Keith, her dad (PEACHY), that she wanted a divorce, he asked “Well what am I gonna do?” And she took it as he was being selfish but as a man and as difficult he could be, not just with me but EVERYONE, I can see where he was coming from when he said that. Basically he was sayin’ that she was ALL he knew for the past 20 years and he basically was ‘lost’ without her! It’s funny how the big ‘D’ (divorce) trickles down and affects everyone…..KRIPES! It’s the direct reason why person 'A' and I don’t talk anymore. We have different philosophies on certain things and so………. I guess it’s a new chapter in my life. Is it not ALWAYS throwing you curve balls and you just have to deal with it. Do I think about it?? YEAH!!!! Like everyday! I have an email that I have been writing, deleting and rewriting for a few months ready to go to him but I know I am one stubborn S.O.B and I know he is too. WHAT THE CRAP, he 'willed' himself to read the crappy 'Tale Of Two Cities' even though we all told him it was a terrible book!!!! Now I am not saying it will be easy BUT you have to be like the Marines who ‘adapt, improvise and overcome’ situations. Let's hope 2014 is a better year!!!!!
UGH!!!!!

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

NANAFEST 2013!!!!

It’s NANAFEST 2013!!!! Comin’ attcha like one of Joann's marriages!!!! HA!!!!! YEAH I SAID IT! These are the pictures and misc. stuff that ‘Catholic Kate’ AKA mother got from the Nana estate which also included a Tappan microwave that could fetch $2 on Ebay. OH NELLY!!!!!!!! Because I am feeling FEISTY, I don't have some people's email (I'd rather be waterboarded then have it) so feel free to give them the link….. You are thinking, that I am a self righteous, smart @$$ and I say to you, I am Nana’s grandson so the apple didn’t fall far from the tree did it!?!?!?!

******** ATTENTION!*********

Nana didn't label most of the pictures so DON'T get all riled up because I didn't mark what the picture is of. OKIE DOKIE?
If you want the picture EMAIL MOTHER AKA KATE McBRIDE NOT ME!!!!!
Sorry it took so long but Nana SAVED EVERYTHING and I could only scan one picture at a time.
ENOUGH OF ME!!! Sit back with your can of Michelob beer and enjoy...