Friday, July 20, 2012

so sorry it has been so long since I posted.  I have been busy trying to find a way to make this trip happen.  Money is still really tight, my disability doesn't cover the bills I am obligated to pay when I take into consideration that I have a MONTHLY deductible to maintain health insurance of $1500+.  Insurance only covers anything over that amount.  That leave me a bit over $300/month to take care of everything else!  To date I have been able to meet this deductible with medical bills I hae previously incurred, but starting in Sept. I will have to start meeting that requirement again.  My rent is $657, electric is over $200/month (with a/c and oxygen 24/7) other utilities about $100/mo........obviously I am in the red every month.

I have been blessed with a friend- Billy Briggs who has started a fundraiser on my behalf to help me get a trailer.  Several people have graciously contributed to this fund and we are about 1/4 the way to the goal of $2000.  Once I can get out of my apartment and all the bills that it brings then I will be able to save to get the oxygen concentrator I need.  It is awesome and will replace both my home concentrator and my "to go" system (currently small tanks that go in a carrier I can use on my shoulder. The new unit is small and works on electricity and with a battery backup thus replacing both the other units.  It will cost between $2500-3000.

I have started going through stuff at home and will be listing some on Etsy, some on Ebay and some of Craigslist.  This will take a lot of my time but hopefully will raise some much needed $$.

I am excited about all this and can hardly wait to get going.

I do have some ideas that will allow me to "pay back" everyone's generosity.  One thing I would like to do is start a non-profit that will be available to provide short term, interest free loans to people facing unexpected on the road expenses.  This would be a membership plan with monthly contributions so money is available when needed.  Billy, Arthur & I hope to have something in the works by end of the year.  Membership will be income based so the people on the fringes will be safer and less stress.  Any ideas or comments are greatly appreciated and encouraged.

Guess that's all for now.  Feel free to ask me any questions, I won't be offended with the tough ones, I promise. If you ask me something I choose not to share publicly, I will indicate that.

Thank you so very much again for taking the time to read this and for all your help!

hugs,

barb

ps-still working on blog design so it is more fun and you can find stuff.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Join me as I start to prepare for my "bucket list" trip which will follow a cross-country camping trip I took when I was 10. That trip was with my mother, 3 of her friends and me in a 1963 Pontiac Tempest station wagon. We spent 7 weeks camping in a tent from Gainesville Florida to the west coast and back to Florida. To this day I have fond memories of this trip and always longed to redo.

Follow me as I trudge thru preparation to get ready for the trip and then embark!!