Oracle is not an old blind lady.

Let’s just say that life is good.  My wife is healthy, with two big healthy babies getting ready to come out in just a few more weeks.  I got a new job in accounting, the field I’ve been studying for for the last four years.  And next week I will be back in school working on my Master’s and down to weekends at my other job– meaning more family time because school means less time away from home than work.

I’ve got health insurance for my family.  No small feat getting that as a server; it generally means when paychecks come out I have to ante up out of pocket to cover the premiums.  But that will be easier now that I have a new job, and in a couple of months I should be getting health insurance through the new employer.

My wife, as I mentioned, is healthy.  She’s also beautiful and strong.  We have a baby room with a changing table and a play pen and some baby clothes.  My wife painted it and decorated it and it’s so cute.  She is my hero.

My new job is with an IT Services firm, basic staff accountant position.  I will hold off naming names for the time being.  It is incredible for me because I have just achieved more success than anyone else in my family ever has.  And I am the youngest.  It is incredibly encouraging because I now feel some confidence that I will always be able to provide for my family because I have a marketable skill and proof enough of that to get hired for it.

If college truly does afford me that, how much more will a Master’s in Accountancy?  And a CPA certificate?  I don’t plan to be ridiculously wealthy, I just want to be able to buy security for my family, unlike anyone has done in my family for generations.

Anyway, my new job uses Oracle for their accounting system.  Actually, they are in the process of converting from some proprietary systems to Oracle, which I get to be a part of.  That’s a fairly big name in accounting systems, so I am excited that I get this experience in learning how to use it, not to mention test and break it.

Finally, the feeling is indescribable of knowing that I will be able to pay all my bills by the end of the week– and possibly never be behind again.  I highly recommend working to improve your life’s conditions to all who have the opportunity.  Which, in the US is a lot more of you than do.

Coming this fall…

My wife and I went to the perinatal specialist today for a sonogram.  The babies are healthy, 14 ounces each, and are opposite genders.  Baby A is now officially River Jack Carey, and Baby B is now officially Scarlett Hope Carey.  They will be born in October.  I can’t wait to see them!  It was exciting seeing their brains and spines and femurs and ribs and feet and hands and everything on the sonogram screen.  They are both so perfect.

I will be posting the new sonogram pictures on Flickr tonight.  Watch this space!

Where does life lead?

My children,

For many years now my focus has been on money.  That is because I had none.  And that is because I am white trash.  All of my ancestors as far back as I can track have been white trash.  Well, I haven’t really tried, but it seems like it.  Anyway, I want you to know why.  It’s not because money is the most important thing in the world.  It is not.  I don’t love money.  I am not going to forsake all other pursuits in order to make as much money as I can.  I will probably never be a billionaire, and I am fine with that.  You can do anything you want.  We live in a free country with great infrastructure and mobility which facilitates almost any direction one chooses for their life.  The problem is, when you’re so poor that you can barely afford to survive, you can’t take advantage of that freedom.  You’re free on paper but in reality you are chained to the grindstone.  True freedom requires capital.  That is why so many free people are trapped in a substandard existence in this country.  And that is why I am working so hard right now, why I have been so focused on money.

I’m doing this so that you don’t have to.  When you go to college, you won’t have to work full time too.  Focus on college.  And have fun.  Whether you decide to be a businessman or a musician, that is fine with me.  I hope you will let me teach you to manage your money, and provide for yourself.  But after that, you can be a writer, or a manager, or travel the world with a backpack.  Whatever you choose for yourself.  You should know that I love you no matter what, and that I’ve got your back.   I want you to live the life that you find satisfying, and never worry about the trite, insignificant, or menial things.  Let the details take care of the details.