Adios 2008! Bienvenidos 2009!

This has been a terrible year in many way yet I know I'm blessed. Even so, I'm not sorry to see 2008 from the rear view mirror.

2009 is going to be much, much better!

I'm spending the final moments of this year south of the border. See y'all next year!

Cheapest Gas

I've been using Gas Buddy for quite a while* to find the cheapest gas prices around but I discovered another tool they have. You can get local gas prices sent to your mobile phone from wherever you're at.

Before I give you those instructions though, Gas Buddy has localized gas prices for your area. To keep an eye on gas price trends, I tend to use orangecountygasprices.com which means I don't have to go to the main site first. They have localized listings for many areas. The first time you put in your city or zip code in to the main site, look at your address bar to see where it redirects you.

Now, for the mobile directions:

1. Compose a new text message to the phone number 368266

2. Type "gasbuddy" + zip code or city, state as the body of the message.

Ex: gasbuddy los angeles, ca
Ex: gasbuddy 55428

3. Send the message. You should receive a response within a few seconds.

*These services are offered free of charge, but your standard mobile carrier text messaging rates may apply.

Easy enough eh? That's my Christmas present to you. Feliz Navidad A Todos! (even though it was yesterday)

*I have no affiliation with GasBuddy and I'm not compensated for this endorsement.

Make That Call

There is someone you need to reconcile with. I know you don't think it was your fault and maybe it's not. But, if you didn't work it out, you bear the responsibility. Make that phone call and work it out. You had a fight, bitter words, bad circumstances, a gross misunderstanding with a good friend. You think he or she should call you first. Abandon your pride and make the call, you won't regret it.

I had a friend for a long time. Early this year we had a falling out. I should have worked it out and I didn't. I thought he was wrong, he thought I was wrong. Doesn't matter who's wrong. Reconcile. Work it out. Don't abandon a good friendship over an argument of some sort.

It's hard to do. I didn't want to make the call. But I did. It will take time. Trust has to be rebuilt on both sides. We've just got to be adults about it. And we will be.

If by some chance you make the call and the other person isn't willing to respond, you can walk away with a clean conscience. Forgive. Apologize. Let it go. Yes, you need to apologize even if you're convinced the other person is to blame? Why because you let it continue. You didn't work hard enough to resolve the conflict. You let it go this long. Chances are, you're not blameless though. You exacerbated the situation, said things you shouldn't have and made the problem worse.

By now, you already know who you need to call. It's unmistakable. So do it. What are you waiting for?