My wife and I had our 341 hearing for our bankruptcy today. It went better than we expected, and much better than the first guy. He and his lawyer got ripped because only he was filing bankruptcy, but all the money went into the wife's name recently. The trustee didn't like that. Anyway, when it was our turn, he just asked some questions, asked if we wanted to make an offer for the land lease and then take the payments back. (he wants nothing to do with it). He congratulated me on my job. When I told him what I do he said well, you won't get rich doing that. You can go have a good day. So now we start the 60 day clock. It was amazingly easy.

My job is going very well. I finally finished orientation. I've been there a week now, and have actually only worked my position for about 12 hours of it. We get unlimited overtime, so I am going to start working as much as I can. We need the money. It drives my wife nuts, because my workaholic nature kicked in.

Speaking of my wife, she had her second interview at the same hospital yesterday. They said she did well and the director likes her, so we will see what happens. They will let her know by the end of the week. But we will see if that happens.

My kid starts school next week, and we can't wait. Maybe our food bill and the electricity we pay will go down, since no one will be home during the day anymore. That would be a huge help.

Anyway, that is just a quick update.

I don't know if I mentioned but the hospital called last week and want me to start this Wednesday. I start and then go thru orientation when everyone else does next week. I am very excited. Anyway, I went for my physical and after being poked and prodded the lady says you pass, but, (there's always a but) we need a release from your surgeon that you can sit for 8-10 hours a day. Really?! It takes this guy three weeks just to return a message and I am supposed to get a faxed release by Wednesday 8 am? Needless to say discouraged as heck. But I called, and I must have made a heck of an impression, his nurse remembered me from 5 mths ago, and rushed thru the release for me. So they had it within 3 hours. I am so stoked. So I actually get to start on Wednesday.

My wife and I went to open an EF at the bank on Friday. They probably think I am nuts because I realized I will have a paycheck next week instead of 3 weeks away. I did my happy dance in the bank. I'm sure they will have a good laugh at the weekly meetings while they watch the security footage.

My wife had an interview tonight at the same hospital. Different company/department but same place. That would be nice if she got it and we could car pool. If she would get it would save about 70 miles a day in driving. So gas would go down. The real kick in the shorts is she would make $1.30 less an hour than she does now, but would bring home $25 more a paycheck than she does now. (and that doesn't include the gas savings) At the hospital she would work 40 hours a week, at her current place she is lucky to get 35 hours a week, but usually 32. So we are hoping.

My son is disappointed, he didn't get the job he wanted. I have to remind him he is only 14 and not many people will hire him, plus his sports schedule is not real work friendly. Someday, someone will have to explain to me why high school fb coaches don't give a rip about anything but their practices. (they change practice days, times, don't communicate things).

Our Bankruptcy hearing is next week, so I am excited to see that coming to an end. Now if I can just get a hold of the attorney. I tell you, a person wins one election and all of a sudden you aren't good enough for them.

But that's all for now.

Well, wouldn't you know it, there was a hiccup with my drug test for my job. I failed it. (actually it was inconclusive) I apparently I tested positive for Meth and Opiates which to me is really funny. So they had to send the drug test out for more detail. I finally heard back today and I passed the test. The moral of the story here is don't go and have any kind of procedure where you get injected with something right before a drug test, you will false positive. Of course because of that they wouldn't even do the physical, so that has been rescheduled for this Monday, which means I won't start until August 22nd. Of course that is 2 days before our bankruptcy hearing. I will be interested to see how the courts handle that. I know what I will make and the hours I will work, but nothing about take home (insurance, 401k etc). I just know some of my expenses like gas and food will go up. Driving every day changes your usage, and I'm sure as heck not going to the cafeteria everyday for lunch. they have this thing where you can swipe your name badge and get your food deducted from your paycheck. No thanks. That would be trouble for me.

My wife's hours keep changing. It is getting very frustrating. She drives about 90 miles a day roundtrip so sometimes the hours she gets in the week doesn't even cover her gas bill. She is going to start looking closer to home. There is a job at the hospital that I got hired at. The nice thing she would be under a different company and a different department so we wouldn't get see each other. It would be about 20 miles roundtrip from home. I think she is going to apply, I hope so.

My wife and I decided talked to the bank the other day and they have a savings account that doesn't require a huge amount of money in it each month. Since we don't have credit cards, this way if either one of us gets into a jam, we can just transfer the money and hopefully pay for the jam. Eventually, I am going to open an ING account for a Christmas fund. That way I don't spend more than I have available.

I finally feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel, so I am not as stressed and sad. And with that, I am going to make some stir-fry for dinner.

Today has been eventful. We went to register my son for high school. He is going to be a freshman this year. We had to pay 161.00 to register him. Of course some of that is because he had to pick classes that required him to pay extra to take the class. I guess public school isn't that cheap anymore.

We had some extra cash come in the other day. That was a nice surprise. We were actually able to pay off my car repair as well as put a few hundred dollars away for the future.

And the big news. I finally got a job. After all the health crap and financial stuff, I finally got a job. And it is something I want to be doing. I get to work in a hospital doing billing. I start Monday. I just have to pass the physical tomorrow. I'm sure I will get popped for my weight, otherwise I hope everything else goes well. Of course this could throw a wrench in my bankruptcy, but I am not going to miss an opportunity to make money just to make bankruptcy go smoothly. But it shouldn't do to much damage, the creditors are already going to get almost 100% of their money, between my health lawsuit and our land lease contract that we get paid each month. I am so excited. I can't wait.