Financial Actions

Last night, I went back to my previous insurance company that I switched three years ago to another. Auto insurance saved me $20 per month dropping me to$42 per month for liability only. My home insurance dropped roughly $700 per year plus property tax drop should favor heavily towards me on my next escrow analysis.

To clarify my tax amount due, I went to the county accessors website for this coming payment.

As you know, escrow analysis is adding the tax owed plus insurance owed then divide the total amount then might a cushion. Used to work in escrow for a mortgage servicing company that handles the analysis of loans.

With the good news of what I learned, I contacted my mortgage escrow department to review my numbers of the lower property taxes and the lower homeowners insurance premium. The escrow department representative told me that I should pay one half biweekly of my mortgage payment to pay down my loan quicker. He was stunned that I had information to tell him instead of the normal vice versa.

With that being stated, I encourage you to spend time reviewing your insurance policy on your homeowners. Then, check your future tax assessment of your property. In addition, credit unions offer lower interest rates on most loans and higher rates on savings. Some have open memberships to join.

Wishing you a healthy financial future!

Leslie Elizabeth David.

The Experts on Laziness

Daily writing prompt
Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?
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After some thought, I decided to witness my felines who consider themselves experts on laziness. Below are Bella to the left and Luna to the right who are Maine Coone Tabbies who I adopted as their 4th and final human.

My fur babies sleep 20 hours out of 24 at least while the awake hours are spent eating and spying on neighbors plus hunting down any stray mice and insects. Their days may be restful with their marathon naps while being alert to the surroundings and even productive when awake.

What I have learned from Bella and Luna and their predecessors of Seville, Madrid, Adrian and Suesue (Sukiyaki) is that taking a day of doing absolutely nothing once in awhile is good for the soul. On those days, myself, I have never gotten out of bed except to eat which later on proved invaluable. The rest helped me out later with situations unbeknownst to me that were tiring.

In closing, lazy days are good for the soul and to rest up for the unknown.

Glistening in Fur,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Coach Dan Campbell & the Detroit Lions

Daily writing prompt
When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?
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Growing up in metro Detroit and having lived in Michigan for most of my life, I have been to many professional sports events of the Detroit Tigers and particularly the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.

Year after year, the Detroit Lions would have never won a game for years which truthfully was depressing and shedding a dim light over the city of Detroit. In those years and even last, the Pistons, the Tigers and the Red Wings made it into postseason contention.

In 2006-2008, Dan Campbell played for the Detroit Lions with great stats although the team itself didn’t win. I remember the news of learning that he wanted to come back as a coach after he got experience as one. Fortunately, the owners were happy with it. He stated that he loved the city and the team. Dan Campbell played high school football in Glen Rose Texas and played college football at Texas A&M.

2021 was the year that Dan Campbell returned to Detroit as a coach after having coached other teams previously. That year, he worked tirelessly for many hours coaching the team and working with the owners to improve the brand for both. His first year as a coach was a losing season in 2021, the following year they evened up then afterwards, the team had success.

Now, 2025, the Detroit Lions are the hunted as well as the hunters being at 4-1 currently. The team players as well as coaches humbly admit even after a victory, they have a list of items that need to be improved upon. The home games are sell outs with the team’s own, Detroit Percussion, entertaining fans before the game begins.

Myself, living in north Texas about an hour north of Dan Campbell’s hometown of Glen Rose, I root for my hometown team of the Detroit Lions although the Dallas Cowboys are kings here. Truthfully, I don’t watch the games either because they always lose so I follow my friends on Facebook who I grew up with in Detroit to keep up with the Lions.

In closing, Coach Dan Campbell is successful along with the team and the owners of the Detroit Lions. Truly blessed to have witnessed this even being miles away.

Go Lions!

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Neighbor Exposes Coworker

Daily writing prompt
What makes a good neighbor?
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The timing of this prompt is crazy scary because of an incident early this morning that I ended up talking to a neighbor who accidentally got involved.

At 3am this morning, I heard noises outside of my bedroom window. A few minutes later, I heard the sound of the motorcycle approaching to the driver’s home next door. Immediately following, my coworker started talking to him like a best friend. I was in shock because I didn’t know what the noise was that I heard then learned it was from her. My neighbor and her chatted for a minute and then she left.
My thought was that she was trying to scare me but was caught red handed. My coworker is irritated with me, to say the least, because I keep to myself at work and barely socialize with her and her buddies. When I started at this employer, I worked closely with her because she was training me. I ended up taking most of her duties because I do them better and timely. Plus, her true colors started to show.

Today, at work, my coworker was acting guilty and feeling sorry for herself. Afterwards, I went to my neighbors house to investigate the situation further. His step son took my information and promised to contact him. I appreciated him taking time to listen and I told him that it’s his decision to contact my supervisor about what happened earlier this morning.

From my experience, one must be a good neighbor before one can expect others to be as well. Without asking, I am aware of what is occurring in our immediate vicinity. A couple of years ago, my neighbor mentioned something that needed done so I took care of it and then he offered to cut down some branches. Believe that we all have one goal to make our street better and safer plus keep our homes up to date.
Working together as a community.

Thanks for your time,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Update: My neighbor didn’t come home this morning which concerns me. Think the situation is causing him undue stress. Seriously, understand coming home from work and finding your neighbor’s coworker hanging about uninvited and acts like it’s normal at 3am. He got put into a situation that he didn’t want.

In the end, karma or as the saying goes, “ what goes around, comes around.” You get what you give.





Narrowboat Cruiser & Vlogger

Daily writing prompt
What could you try for the first time?
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During COVID, I explored many different things on TV and on YouTube when I discovered the narrowboats of England. Back then, David Johns who was the first narrowboater who documented his journey on YouTube was still cruising the canals and rivers in England.

To date, I watch “The Mindful Narrowboat”, “Ben and Emily,” “One Day More Aboard” and “Country House Gent,” lastly who also documented his motorcycle tour of his travels in Europe plus David Johns who is back on the cut. Mr. Johns even helped a few Americans experience the cut on a narrowboat. All of the above mentioned log their journeys on YouTube.

In order to make it happen, I would need to get my passport which might take awhile. Then, investigate where I can rent a narrowboat and who could instruct me on how to navigate one through the canals then plan my short trip on them afterwards. Naturally, I would share my adventures on YouTube as another American who experienced this unique adventure. Plus, extended time off from work and the funds to make it happen while my feline divas are boarded.

Truthfully, we all have our dreams and our aspirations to travel and for adventure. The narrowboats have caught my mine. Although, it will likely never happen which is good because I am content watching the dedicated narrowboats cruising the cut on YouTube.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Me to the Core

Daily writing prompt
What principles define how you live?
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My core values are truth, honesty, integrity, personal responsibility, thankfulness and being present in a relationship. Truthfully, growing up, personal responsibility of not being able to admit my mistakes and correcting them was a learning experience that helped me and still does make me a better person. As far as being truthful and honest, people who I have known in my past have offered me money not to be. Of course, they were cheap about it plus it would destroy my integrity. Being thankful comes easy especially driving in a metro area where you get home and happy to be alive. Finally, being present in a relationship truthfully depends on what that person means to me.

The journey of life isn’t promised to be an easy one but one of constant challenges that tests our core values/principles to the maximum. Lots of potholes on the path to be mindful of.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

OCD, Responsibility & Neglected Areas of My Life

Daily writing prompt
What have you been putting off doing? Why?
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Because of my OCD, I truthfully admit that I rarely let things slip by regarding myself, my cats and my house. Even the things that take up time but necessary like cleaning and laundry, I find time for.

Currently, I work full time with a thirty minute commute each way plus I work on my online closet then making proper time to be here. Then, spending time with my cats and cleaning my house while doing finances all keep me busy. Told a LinkedIn connection that I feel that I have 80 hour weeks that most tasks are scheduled in. His response was my 10-12 hour days of nonstop working.

Admittedly, I don’t have enough fun in my life. My joys are found in travel and adventure plus “window shopping” for a new residence in Connecticut. I miss the water, the cold and the tumultuous weather of the north. My moments of spare time are spent cruising through Facebook seeing what my childhood friends are doing. The conversation with them is light and sweet with occasional outbursts of emotion and some laughter. Grateful for them in so many ways. My neglected areas in my life are about social time and taking care of myself.

Living a balanced life of time for self care, family, friends, career and other responsibilities puts a lot of demands on one’s time.

Happy Friday!!

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Discretion

My coworker who sits on one side of me announced to her boyfriend who sits on the other side of me and one chair down that she forgot to take her birth control pill today. I about fell off my chair after the announcement.

In my experience, one doesn’t announce it although everyone might know it.

Discretion is always important especially in the workplace environment.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Sewing It Together

Daily writing prompt
When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?
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When I was in junior high school in the metro Detroit area in the 1970s when home economics was a requirement to pass. At that time, we made grocery lists with a budget and made a final meal. Most of us had helped our parents with cooking prior so we were all familiar with the basics.

But, the one experience that made me feel like an adult in the class is when I had to sew. My Mom rarely sewed so I relied on my knowledge and logic to get my project done plus she didn’t want to get involved in case I failed. The top was a flowered top with a brown background v-neck with lace and a belt.

First, I had to cut the fabric so that pattern continued correctly so I had to find starting points and ending points that would match up. Then I had to be brave to cut the fabric to the markings that I have made which was nerve wracking.

Afterwards, I had to prep to sew my handpicked project together knowing that one wrong move could cost me on my grade. My teacher said that I should have chosen something easier but appreciated my determination to see it through. All pinned up correctly and to the max, I finally was able to sew it together which went without a hitch.

Grateful for my grade which was an, “A,” for the sewing portion of the class. I felt like an adult from start to finish knowing that I can resolve problems on my own without any adult supervision. This directly led to if I could take this project on, I knew that I could handle situations that could be solved by logic and by thinking without the emotional state of interference.

This project made me feel grown up because my parents and my teacher allowed me to make the choices on how I was going to succeed. Believe that Home Economics and Shop classes do the above of testing students to solving problems to create something beautiful and useful.

Thanks Again,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

A Cool Mill to Spare

Daily writing prompt
If you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to?
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If I had a million dollars to spare and to use freely at my discretion, I would use it to help Texas with a couple of its shortfalls.

Half of the funds would be allocated to the population of people who are living on the streets. Every weekday when I drive to work, I drive by a community of people who have taken over empty field to sleep and to ask for money from people who are driving by on the State highway and freeway. They refuse going to a homeless shelter. The funds would be used to take care of physical and emotional needs. Months later, a man who was there temporarily said, “Hello,” to me at a local fuel station/convenience store. He was dressed well and very polite. Believed that he recognized me driving by daily to work.

The other half of the funds would go to a pack of dogs who happened to have been on my street a few times late at night. These canines were all beautiful dogs at odd times. I called the police about it but never learned what happened. The canines seemed that they were well fed and taken care of. It freaked me out the first time that I saw them. Funds would be finding good homes for them if there’s problems with their humans plus food, water and a roof over their heads. Rounding them up and finding their humans would take time and expense with people who have been around canines to understand their nature.

If I had a cool mill to spare, I would use it for the betterment of others who are a bad place whether human, canine or feline. Believe that there’s a lot more to both situations than what I had mentioned above and both would require experts in various disciplines to even make a smidge of difference.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.