Jan. 8 2025

Again, I'm so grateful for all the help you guys gave me last year in meeting my bills.

Things have not changed - actually, they've gotten a little worse recently. I'm going to have to declare bankruptcy because I still have no job. I was in a debt management program and was just about to have everything paid off when I got fired in Aug. I now have to discontinue it until I can get back on my feet. And I don't know when that will be.

I've raised $500 for the initial attorney fees, but the remainder I need is $995.

The good news is that when I do, I can re-start with the debt management program again. So that's the Plan B when my unemployment ENDS. But right now, I don't know when I will have another job to be able to do that.

Gary has a GoFundMe for our Jan. rent - we did make it, thanks to so many of his friends that donated. That's more good news, and we're working hard to make Feb.'s rent. We have 1/2 already.

He got a contract job driving for our local Bentley dealership. He only works when they call him out to deliver a car (driving a Bentley? Like he's going to turn THAT down? LOL) but they've been giving him a lot of work, so that is VERY helpful.

I'm still doing the one-day-a-week auction driving job - $10/hr for four hours, but it's gas money (and I got to drive my own Bentley in four recent auctions! I think it finally sold, much to my disappontment. LOL) :(

Also with his friends' donations, we are now able to take our cat, Nutmeg, to get her help with another of her sneezing bouts. She gets these every so often and we think it's allergies but we haven't been able to get her to my vet to find out conclusively. She's gotten both a steroid & an antibiotic shot the last few times she's gone but the $170 cost is just crazy.

Now that a new year has arrived, I'm starting to really put my shoulder to the wheel and bring the job search back up to speed.

I've started a blog, www.quillandcrypt.com, that's kept me sane throughout all this so please do visit and subscribe!

Thank you all again SO SO much. Hopefully I will have good news to share soon.

Love,

Lara