SmartyPig :o)

You have most likely heard of the old Christmas Card Clubs. Well, there are some new sites out there that let you save for something specific you want. You can save for a specific goal with a free account at Smartypig.com.

I have not yet opened an account, but it was referenced in my BottomLine publication, so I am sure it has been properly vetted :o)

Here is how it works: Sign up, describe what you're saving for and when you want it, and the free service will suggest a savings plan to be automatically deducted from your existing checking or savings account. You know what they say, pay yourself first!!!

You can keep your account private or open it up to contributions from friends and family toward a group birthday, wedding, graduation, or other gift.

Once you reach your goal, you can transfer the money into your main account or put it on a gift card. Best yet, deposits earn a 3.9% annual percentage yield :o)

We have started saving for the 2012 Superbowl and 2016 Olympics, and I will be investigating SmartyPig accounts to facilitate the process.

One Minute Manager Tips :o)

People Who Feel Good About Themselves Produce Results

Quality is simply giving people the product or service that they really want and need.

A problem only exists if there is a difference between what is actually happening and what you desire to be happening.

Help the Working Poor - Kiva II

As I investigated more about the Kiva.Org site, I figured out that I could establish a team. If you would like to become a member of the Nutwood Junction Team (described as a group of blogger friends who care), please go to www.kiva.org/team/nutwood_junction and join.

Alternately, send me an e-mail at buckoclown@aol.com and I will send you and invitation.

Peace to you all :o)

Help the Working Poor - Kiva

I have heard of microfinancing/lending in the past and have wanted to check it out. In the recent issue of Time Magazine, there was satirical article from Joel Stein, grounded in fact, about Kiva.org.

Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.

Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.

Their motto is: We Let You Loan to the Working Poor

I decided to check it out today, and made two loans, one to Helen Azimi Cloth & Dressmaking Supplies, in Nigeria;

and one to Shahnaz akhtar Waqar Masood Group Manufacturing, in Pakistan.

I started out slow, $25 each, and will periodically let you know what type of correspondence and experiences I have. I am very excited to be able to help others, and to show that the America that a lot of people perceive, it not the only America that there is. That is one of the reasons I chose Nigeria and especially Pakistan.

The people you see on Kiva's site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.

Kiva partners with existing expert microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to outstanding entrepreneurs from impoverished communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them. When you do, not only do you get a unique experience connecting to a specific entrepreneur on the other side of the planet, but our microfinance partners can do more of what they do, more efficiently.

To learn more, visit their website at: Kiva.org

Sunday Silliness - Burnout :o)

Attitudes are contagious. Mine might kill you.

Life Lessons - How Do You Deal ???

Are you accountable for your own actions, or are you a victim?

Accountability – when you make a promise, you have to deliver. Do what you say you will do! Recognize, Own, Forgive, Analyze, Learn, Renew…TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

SEE IT – Obtain the perspectives of others, communicate openly and candidly, ask for and offer feedback, hear the hard things.

OWN IT – Be personally invested, acknowledge your involvement, create and maintain a sense of alignment, own personal and team objectives.

SOLVE IT – Constantly ask “What else can I do?”, redefine boundaries, creatively deal with obstacles, stay focused on results.

DO IT – Be proactive, follow-up relentlessly, do what you say you will do, and measure progress toward you intended result.

Victim Loop: Deny, Ignore, Hide, Resist, Rationalize, Blame.

Attitude: Life is 10% what happens, and 90% how we react to it.

One of the lessons I have learned is that - People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care! Choose how to respond! Do not deny how you feel! So show that you care, learn to count ten so you can react with facts and not emotion, and do not be a victim.

Moving Day in Our Future :o(

No you Silly Billies - Not Beth and I.

Several years ago, I received a call from my Mom that she and her husband (my step-dad) were moving to Oregon to be near her daughter from a previous marriage. At the time, I was a little hurt that there was not a discussion, because I told her that they could have moved here just as well. But we were good sports and went out and visited several times (the Bend Oregon area was absolutely beautiful). About a year and a half ago, they decided to move back to the Springfield, Missouri area. I flew out to Oregon and drove the U-Haul back to Missouri and unloaded it. They had moved to Springfield MO to be near my Step-Dad's daughter. It was a good choice since they had retired to and lived in the area for many years before they moved to Oregon.

While we were down at my Mom's house for Thanksgiving, and after the recent divorce of my Step-Sister and her Husband (who is an absolute great guy and great friend), and after some love and tears from Beth and I, we told my Mom that we would love it if they moved up to our neck of the woods to spend the time they have left with us, who love them, and with Beth's family, who love them as well.

Guess What - tonight, my Step-Dad called and he said, you had only been gone a little while before I was accosted by your Mom! He indicated he had no reason to live down there anymore, and that he was touched that we wanted them to live near us. So, by the end of May, they will be moving-on-up and be living near us. Lots of logistics to work out, but we will deal with that.

My heart goes out to my bride, when we talked about this on the drive back last Monday, and I thanked her for her support, she said, "Of course, they are family." We are so excited and pleased that they will be near us with a family that loves them, and has been and will always be there for them :o)

How Deep Can You Dig?

In yesterday's post, I indicated that one of our nuclear units would be shut down through at least September 2009. I learned today, that the announcement was made at the end of the day on Monday, after the Stock Market had closed for the day. The length of the shutdown (one year plus), and the potential costs ($330M plus) are considered material statements, and if the announcement was made while the market was open, the SEC would have suspended trading of our stock.

As evidence of these material statements, our stock closed down more than 4% yesterday (after dipping down more than 6% during the day) even though the market was up more than 2%, and our peer utilities had slight gains. So today, our investor relations group was again in New York to explain what the numbers mean, how much of the costs will be covered by insurance and rates, and that there is expected to be little impact to our 2009 earnings.

It is a reminder that in these difficult economic times, what and how things are reported can have a significant impact on the finances of companies. Its not just about electricity and what customers pay. It is also about one of the largest utility companies in the nation, that employs more than 20,000 people. It is also about investors, about the value of the company and the ability to raise capital to make infrastructure improvements, which in turn helps support the economy.

As Beth indicated in an e-mail to me today, we tend to think in terms of immediate impacts such as work schedules and such, but the true impact is much wider and affects many people. So as we experience the roller coaster ride of the current economy, try to not only focus on your immediate impacts, but give thought to the downstream impacts. It may be a neighbor that works for a supplier to your company, it may be a grandmother that has her savings in investments that are under performing, it may be a friend or family member that lost a job.

Try to dig as deep as you can to support your local food bank, Toys For Tots, and local charities during this difficult time and holiday season.

Schedule Smackdown

BRIDGMAN, Mich., Dec. 1, 2008 – American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) continues work to repair Cook Nuclear Plant’s damaged Unit 1 turbine generator. A repair option may allow operation at reduced power, but the rotors will ultimately be replaced to ensure the long-term viability of the unit. The expected return-to-service timeline ranges from the second half of 2009, if repair is successful, to 2010 if the rotors must be replaced before operation. AEP anticipates that all costs incurred to return Cook Unit 1 to service will be recovered through insurance, vendor warranty or the regulatory process. Repair and replacement of the turbine rotors is estimated to cost up to $332 million.

So, again the sucking sound of the forced outage comes calling. The week of Christmas, I will be on nights (reduced work week, we will get a four day weekend), and the second week in February, five nights. I will be the night Shift Outage Manager. Nice to get recognition for being the head on the horse so to speak, but messes with the rhythm. I also found out that I will be doing day-shift for the spring outage for Unit 2 (32 days, 6-12 hour shifts, with one day off per week); again, nice to be recognized for having something to contribute, but a hassle.

I welcome my chance to do my share, and never complain publicly, but it is the same old syndrome of 5% of the folks doing the heavy lifting. I fully expect that after the Unit 2 outage, I will then move into an every seven week rotation on the Unit 1 forced outage until the unit is back on line. I just want to know the schedule so that we can plan the rest of our life :o)

Hope your post holiday week is going well as you prepare for the Christmas Holiday.

Sunday Silliness - Blogging :o)

Sorry it is a little late, but we did not go out on Sunday :o)

Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few.