Better than shopping

I just spent about 20 minutes going through my Amazon wishlist and adding several of the titles to my "holds list" at the public library. Out of the ten, only two are available now, which is not such a bad thing--I can be assured of having books to pick up for the next couple of months, at least.

I get every bit as excited waiting for books to be ready to pick up at the library, as I do waiting for a package to arrive in the mail. And better yet, it's free!

A little more on the credit scores...

I'm not sure whether my credit scores jumped so much higher just as a result of the bankruptcy coming off my record. A month or so ago, I also made an effort to raise the credit limits on my two credit cards to improve my debt-to-credit ratio. I was able to get one card's limit raised to $30,000 and the other to $17,000. I also got the interest rates lowered to 10% and 12.24%, respectively. I am carrying approximately $16,000 in debt. (You read that right.)

The increased "activity" probably affected my credit scores negatively, though who knows how much. With the improved debt-to-credit ratio, I likely still came out ahead. At worst, maybe it's a wash? Need I even say how ridiculous it is that it's such a mystery?

Obviously, the $16,000 debt will come up again in future posts. But I think that's enough for now. :)

It's OFF!

My bankruptcy, that is. Off my credit reports, that is! My credit scores jumped about 60 points since last October.

Just in time for house hunting!

I am thrilled.

FREE gardening resources from King County agencies

The Seattle area is filled with eco-conscious folks. As a result, there are tons of resources available to residents who are new to composting, organic gardening, and integrated pest management. I've received several free gardening guides from a number of King County agencies including Seattle Public Utilities and King County Solid Waste Division. There is also a Lawn and Garden Hotline operated by Seattle Tilth where area gardeners can receive free expert advice.

The most fabulous thing I've received has been a photo guide to beneficial insects, of which an electronic version is available here. The photos are incredibly clear, unlike other publications I've seen. I've seen this little book selling for $3.95, though it is available for free from local nurseries.

All of the brochures I've received are available from the Lawn and Garden Hotline or these sites:

Soil and composting (King County)
Yard and garden topics (King County)
Natural lawn & garden care (City of Seattle)
Water conservation, indoors and outdoors (Saving Water Partnership)
Washington State University Master Gardener information
Less toxic gardening and pest control (Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County)
Choosing the right plant for the right place
Native plant information
(Links reprinted from the brochure, "Natural Yard Care," produced by King County Solid Waste Division, Seattle Public Utilities, and the Saving Water Partnership.)

Finally, the Solid Waste Division also operates a site called EcoDeals where King County residents can find information and coupons for "green" companies and products.

Have you ever noticed...

...that when you don't have a real job (and are looking for one), your life just doesn't have the "flow" that it normally would? These last two months I've felt like I've not had much of a handle on anything. As a result, things like housecleaning and organizing and, yes, blogging, have suffered somewhat.

However, I am happy to report that I now have a real job, and I start tomorrow! It's not exactly what I was looking for, but it's an "in" to an organization I've been wanting to enter, and the people are all very nice and I can see myself working there happily for a year, at least. And, best of all, I didn't have to take a lower salary than what I was making in Massachusetts!