Excel

I've been spending my free time creating Excel spreadsheets that track our financial info. Back when I worked for the local hospital I created budget and billing sheets that were interactive. Now, because I haven't worked intensively with Excel since then, I'm having to re-teach myself all the little tricks I used to use on a daily basis.

Anyone out there use Excel for this and have any tips/tricks they'd like to share?

Thank You

I still can't believe how many people emailed me for links to the local news and also sent along prayers, reiki, positive wishes.

Since this is technically off-topic for the year, this will be my last post on the bus crash.

What happened?
A van with an unlicensed, 23 year old driver at the wheel was traveling (very fast, though that's not yet "confirmed"), ran a stop sign and broad-sided the bus. The bus tipped over onto a pickup truck. The driver of the van has been arrested.

4 children died. A third grader, a fourth grader, and two 13 year olds. Two that died were brothers. All the other injured are in stable/fair condition, with the exception of our friend's son who is still in ICU.

There were more than 20 ambulances on the scene, 4 helicopters, more fire trucks and rescue rigs than could be counted. One of the boys (who has a pelvis that's broken in 3 places) was helping to round up the kids from his mom's daycare at the scene, he was up and walking around trying to help. To say that the heroism displayed that day is staggering would be a gross understatement.

To say that it's a miracle that more weren't seriously hurt or killed would be an even bigger understatement.

Pause in Posting for today

I was prepared to post an "on topic" entry today.

A very serious bus crash occurred near me. My partner, Fidget, is an RN and is working at one of the receiving hospitals. My former ambulance crew was one of the primary responding crews.

3 people are dead, at least one student. Several are critical. Many, many students have other injuries: imagine, a bus that's FULL (there were 40 students on board) rolling on it's side. No one is buckled in except the driver, and many of the windows were likely broken. A terrifying scene to say the least.

UPDATE 6:43PM: One of the news stations is now reporting that all 3 that are dead were students. Jesus.

Please send your prayers, positive thoughts, etc. to the rescuers, doctors, nurses, ancillary staff, parents, friends, students, and anyone else you can think of.

For those who aren't aware, I live in a very rural area. For the most part, everyone knows everyone else. One of the children that's in critical condition is a friend of Fidget's oldest, he's also the son of a friend and fellow RN.

In this area, every time a pager goes off, a code is announced, a disaster occurs: heroes rush to the scene and to their staging areas. That happens everywhere. When it happens here, the lives you are trying to save are friends, relatives, neighbors, and maybe even your own kids.

This and That

Things are progressing fairly well in our decision to decrease our debt.

Many readers (more than I realized I had) have asked me to disclose our income. I'm not ignoring you, I'm just still thinking about it. My hesitation has everything to do with protecting Fidget and the boys. If the time comes when I determine that absolutely no harm can come from disclosing our income, then I will absolutely do so. Until then--sorry. No can do.

In somewhat related news, I'm trying to learn what I can about investing. So far, for the amount we're willing to invest, it would seem that CDs would be our only option. If I come up with anything else, I will certainly mention it here.

Glitches and Taxes

Anyone else have trouble signing in to blogger last week? Don't know if it was on their end or my end, but my password wasn't working. Apparently whatever the glitch was, it's fixed.

Put together our "stuff" from 2007 for our tax appointment. Normally I'm anal retentive about saving and filing anything that pertains to taxes. This year was a mad scramble, as apparently I lost my head (and a number of receipts) last year.

I have heard rumors about the great "tax rebate" the most Americans are supposed to qualify for. I could go on and on whilst standing on my soap-box about what a hair-brained idea that is, but won't. The sheeple of our great nation are excited, and that seems to be enough for them. In the meantime, Bush has proposed a $3 TRILLION dollar budget for '09--complete with MANY cuts that will impact the same people he's throwing a few hundred dollars at in the form of the rebate. Nice.

As for me? I am in a most unique financial position: I have more money than my own government. I could not be less happy about that. Think about it--unless you were starting a new business (alone or with others), would you consider working for a company with less money than you? Perhaps, if it was a hobby, but then don't they call that volunteerism? I am most disturbed at what is going on in our country. I have written letters, emails, made phone calls--hopefully I'm not the only squeaky wheel.