posted on February 25, 2001 11:36:48 PM new
It's so cool when the universe gives ya stuff. I mean I think we always get spiritual stuff, more so if we look for it. But I have to say, it is also a big kick when the universe gives you actual material "stuff"! Ya know my back's been killing me cos I have a spine partially made out of metal (had spine reconstruction surgery in 96), and my desk chair broke a few months ago, so I've been using a metal folding chair. This DOES NOT FEEL GOOD for my back. I really need some back support. I was looking and looking for an office chair of some kind, but they're so expensive, and I have been having some real financial problems, so buying a chair was out of the question. Two nights ago, I was standing at the Lexington Avenue train station, and right there, just sitting all alone on the train platform was what looked like a brand new desk chair, with the hydraulic lift, the whole nine yards. Then I saw the back was pretty loose and shaky, some loose screws. I am looking at it like "Okay either this is really trash and it's too broken to be used, or there has to be an owner attached to this around here somewhere" and I'm looking around... also feeling like a dork cos I don't want anyone to see me picking garbage. But no one claimed it and no one took it, and as my train finally pulled up, ya know, I did that real fast walking thing towards the chair like "Nope I don't feel like a jerk at all and yup this is my chair" and I picked it up and got onto my train. When I got home, Scorpio (the girl who lives with me) got some screwdrivers out and helped me out with it, put the screws in tighter which weren't even stripped at all, and there is not one mark or one worn spot on this chair. Clean as a whistle. (And I cleaned it again anyway.) Now I am sitting on this almost new chair that I got for free from the universe on Lexington Avenue. And my back is very happy. Okay that's not all. It gets better. I also needed a new VCR. Now again I cannot afford to buy this kind of thing but I was dying for one. Scorpio started talking about buying a new one, which I thought was very cute, cos I know she doesn't need one, she already has one, I know she was only looking around for one to give to me. So.. last night, I was walking down my block to go to the corner store for milk, and just a few houses down I see this old VCR out in the garbage. Of course ya think "Okay this can't possibly work, it wouldn't be in the garbage", right? But in the back of your mind ya say "Hmmmm just maaaaaybe...??" (And I know a lot of people on the Ebay Outlook have regular garbage nights they find all kinds of cool stuff to sell!) I was right by my house, so I figured it can't hurt to check it out, so I carried it home. GUESS WHAT. YUP it works like a charm. It is one of those old ones, bigger and bulkier than the ones they make now. But it is a perfectly good VCR, and I think someone probably threw it out cos they got a new one. Now I got a chair and a VCR I needed in the last two days. I showed my best friend everything today, and I said "I usually don't like to pick garbage, it sceeves me, but look how nice these things are!" She said "Oh I pick garbage all the time but Linda yells at me, she won't let me bring it in the house, but I find the greatest stuff!" Can you believe how lucky I got this week? Has the universe given you any cool stuff lately, material or emotional or spiritual??
posted on February 25, 2001 11:49:36 PM new
Hi Rocker, the universe has given me something pretty special too. A new friend all the way across the world. Thank You.
posted on February 26, 2001 12:00:32 AM new
Hey Rocker that's great! Isn't it nice when things come to you like that? You probably deserved it that's why they found their way to you.
You can take an office chair on a train in New York? How weird.
Sorry to say my Universe has not been so kind to me the last couple of weeks. Only able to get out of bed for short periods, to come and see what's happening here. But, I know I'll get better and back to "my" normal, till the next time, so that's OK.
posted on February 26, 2001 12:02:32 AM new Aaaaahhh shucks Nettak - thank YOU - you are my true pal And just think, if you didn't come into the party thread with me that night, none of this would've happened! Yup - the universe sure does give us many cool things
posted on February 26, 2001 12:03:06 AM new
Ooooh, good thread my pal Rocker!
I must chime in and say the universe has been very kind to me recently too. For those of you who don't know, I've been in serious financial straights myself for several months due to a disability. We almost had our one and only car repoed last week and were on the brink of foreclosure on our house. Not to mention the many "pay us or we'll disconnect you" notices I've been getting. All of that really sucks when you don't feel good, are on heavy duty drugs and have to fight with the insurance company too!
Well anyway, enough of the bad part, yech!
I started doing my taxes last week and I figured I'd get something back since I pretty much didn't work for 6 months, but not that much! And the state refund was huge too. I've been lucky to get under $100 back from state in the past. Plus out of the blue last week I got a direct deposit from my employer. I had no clue what it was since I haven't been there since last Sept. Turns out we got a bonus for last year. Very weird since my brother's plant (same company) is laying people off. But they're different divisions. But hey, no complaints from me on that one!
Oh, and Rocker, I can relate with the bad desk chair. That will be one of the first things I get with the refund (after paying the bills of course).
~~Angels fly because they take themselves lightly ~~
posted on February 26, 2001 12:09:05 AM new
Choco - many hugs to you. I'm sorry you're having a hard time. I don't know what happened but feel free to tell us about it here if you want to. Or come to the party thread and we will cheer you up!!! The universe can dole out some pretty hairy stuff to deal with too, I know it. But when ya look BACK on it, I think it's like "OH now I see why that had to happen." Of course when you're in the middle of it, I think you wanna smack the person who says that. LOL! But you WILL get something good from this too. I was almost dead from my spine surgery, and now when I see what it taught me and the next place it brought me to in my life, I would do it all over again if I had my life to do over. Made me stronger and proved how resiliant we human beings can be. Absolutely amazingly resiliant. Hang in there buddy.
Rocker
posted on February 26, 2001 12:13:55 AM new
Mouser - I was so happy for you when you found out about that refund!! YES run out and get a GOOD CHAIR!! LOL - we spend too much time in front of these d@mn computers to not have a good one! I am so grateful, my back feels so much better now, I can't begin to tell you. Beware of folding chairs, they are not our friends.
Rocker
posted on February 26, 2001 12:21:05 AM new
PS: Choco -
You can take an office chair on a train in New York? How weird.
LOL!! You would not believe the things I have seen on NY trains. LMAO - where do I start? An entire Mexican band with guitars and accordians playing throughout the whole ride, a Maltese dog sticking out of a woman's pocketbook, HUGE paintings - I mean like barely-fit-into-the-train HUGE, I have even seen other people bring chairs on the train and SIT on them the whole way home. LOL!! Not me, I was very busy pretending I didn't really have a chair.
posted on February 26, 2001 12:24:57 AM new
Thanks Rocker. I have Fibro (as do a few people here)and I've learned to live with it. What I really hate is the time that it wastes. Things to do, people to see.
Sorry to hear about your back. Oow! But, you see how small things like a chair is like finding a pot of gold? We just learn to appreciate these small gifts a little more.
posted on February 26, 2001 12:39:02 AM new
Yes choco - exactly! Certainly puts things into perspective, huh?
I hope you're feeling better pronto!!!
Oh and my back really is doing great now.
Rocker
[ edited by nycrocker on Feb 26, 2001 12:40 AM ]
posted on February 26, 2001 09:05:16 AM new
I have to agree with nettak here, through this board, I have met some new friends, some right here in "my backyard" and some miles and miles away Now I may not know them by face or real names (lol) but I consider them my friends, because I spend alot of time here chatting with them! Friendship is truly a gift and I thank each and everyone of you guys...for brightening my days, making me giggle and giving me great advice! {{{{hugs}}}} to you all!
Kaffro duh, I can't spell today
[ edited by Kaffro on Feb 26, 2001 09:11 AM ]
posted on February 26, 2001 10:27:47 AM new
rocker...good fortune has smiled on you! I have always believed that our good words & deeds come back to us in magical and mysterious ways...usually when we least expect it!
My favorite expression is "Life is Good!" and I use it often. Even if it just means the sun has managed to peek out on a cloudy day. It's important to find reasons to rejoice and then pass on those good feelings.
posted on February 26, 2001 01:21:13 PM new
ROF LOL Pocono
Kiss my....
Isn't there a Gilligan's Island re-run you should be watching right now?
HUGS to everyone... HOW TRUE what you all said about the friendships we've formed here at AW and about positive things coming back to us. That really is the truth. Ya know when I was sick with my spine, it was my friends who took care of me, took me in, fed me, etc. I would not have made it without them. We never have to do anything ALONE. I would do ANYTHING for my friends. By the way I'm getting the COOLEST email from people at AW... I am constantly happily surprised with email from my new AW friends and it really makes me SO HAPPY!!!
Njr - yup LIFE IS GOOD
POCONO!!!! Get your dirty XXX offa my clean chair! AND stop watching those dirty movies on my clean VCR!
posted on February 26, 2001 01:41:21 PM new
What great stories!
My hubby and I are convinced that his Search & Rescue team has the hand of God right on it. It seems everytime we need anything for the team it just magically appears. This is true whether it's cash or an item or even if we're looking for a new member with a specific kind of skill - they just show up! It's almost eerie but we're very grateful.
The wierdest thing that happened to me on a personal level happened quite a while back. I was taking a $500.00 deposit to the bank. While I sat in the bank drive through I was lamenting the fact that the $500 wasn't going to be enough to cover the bills, etc. I was really upset and started praying about it. I told God that we really needed twice that amount and could he please double it for me. When it was my turn to deposit my check the cashier returned my deposit slip for $500.00 AND accidently included $500.00 cash as well.
Of course, my first thought was that it was a miracle and that God had answered my prayers. It took me a few minutes of staring at the "God-send" before I came to my senses and realized that God wouldn't have answered my prayer by hurting someone else. So, I fessed up and sent the cash back... I kinda held on to it for a minute like Whoopi Goldberg in the movie Ghost. LOL It almost killed me to give it back. But, the teller was happy.
Within the next week we received three different checks from completely unexpected sources. They totaled almost $1,500. I like to think that God rewarded me for resisting the temptation to keep the $500.00 that wasn't mine.
posted on February 26, 2001 01:50:25 PM new
I'd have to say my ticket here. My first trip to Maui was 3 years ago today, a free flight... the perk of working for a Hawaiian tour operator. I was separated from my now ex and in a classic outta the mouths of babes, my younger son, then 5, said "Why can't we just live here?" We made two more trips that same year and I became hopelessy hooked, as did my kids...and I began dreaming of moving here but didn't have anywhere near the $ for the move. Then in a good thing/bad thing scenario, the company I was working for merged with another in San Jose and 200 employees got da boot, including me. But they gave us each a $5000 lump sum severance. (ssh, don't tell my ex, lol) 6 months later my divorce was final, my car was on a ship and I was on a plane with my kids Maui bound. I've never regretted it, not for a single second.
posted on February 26, 2001 02:38:38 PM new
Wow, what great stories!
Mybiddness, I'm sure it was tough to give that $500 back, but great that you ended up being "rewarded" in a way for your honesty.
I've really decided that it never pays to be greedy, and that, like Suze Orman says in her financial books, generosity will end up coming back to you.
My closest experience to that was on my honeymoon. My new hubby and I found a coupon for an Italian place and we went there for dinner. It was small and the woman who waited on us and owned the place was so nice and the food was so excellent that we decided we didn't want to use the coupon after all since it was well worth full price. But she insisted on taking the coupon, and we left with happy bellies and happy hearts after leaving a big tip. Later that night we stopped by a casino and decided to have some fun playing the nickel slots, and after only a few spins I hit the thousand coin jackpot! $50 in nickels, LOL. Even though logic tells me not to believe in such things, I've always felt like that woman sent something good along with me that night that was like a universal good luck charm, and that by not being cheap I was repaid many times over.
posted on February 26, 2001 03:48:30 PM new
Bought a copy of MS Site Server at Goodwill (new) for $4.99. It's got a bid of $999 at eBay (list price $4,600). Easy money. Nice.
posted on February 26, 2001 04:37:37 PM new nettak,
That was one of the sweetest posts I've ever read.
Rocker
KARMA!!
Your wonderful attitude has brought so much joy to these boards.
How lucky for us that you picked AW's boards as your playground.
Frankly, you ROCK!!!
(P.S. If the VCR dies, let me know. I have an older one that is just taking up space in the closet. I would like to fill that space up with something else. My gift to you, including shipping.)
posted on February 26, 2001 05:27:59 PM new
Hey we have a curb side clean up going on down the road. I think I will have to go and scrounge the neighbours rubbish. LOL
Rocker {{{{{hugs}}}}} from Australia to New York!!
Kaffro How go doing, it is alway a pleasure to see you. You are like a bouncy little puppy and You make me smile.
Pocono how right you are about Rocker being HAPPY, she is the happiest person I have ever met. It doesn't matter what bad things might be happening to her, she always puts on a happy face for the rest of the world.
kiheicat & maui it sound to me like you two have been given a pretty awesome gift as well. Friendship
Femme, what a generous offer. That is wonderful, and has given me a real lift today to read you post.
Enchanted, I think we have been pretty charmed as well, because we have been blessed with you friendship. Good luck with the books.
posted on February 26, 2001 09:05:44 PM new
{{{{{FEMME!!!}}}}} Many big hugs and many thanks!!!! Oh my god, what you said was so sweet, and your offer was so generous!! I really won't need the VCR, maybe you will run into someone else who will need it - OR -I personally think you should auction it But I can't thank you enough for what you said.
Wow there are some really great stories here, I LOOOVED your story Mybidness about the 500 that turned into 1500. Yup I absolutely believe in KARMA. NO DOUBT.
{{{Nettak}}} Hugs from NY to Australia
Twinsoft!! {{{Steve!}}} Wow that's great news! And I am VERY happy to see you here!! How's the you-know- what? (Four letter word, begins with a C, ends with a P, has a couple O's in it.)
I can't take all this happiness, that's it, I'm getting a noose and my chair.
Pocono - coming from YOU being called a rockhead and cornball touches my heart. ROF! Yeah yeah I'm the happiest. I have three words for you:
posted on February 26, 2001 11:38:47 PM new
Oh wow, I am loving this thread
What a great bunch of stories and people!
Rocker, you really have touched a lot of people on this board and I am one of them! I am very fortunate to have found you my friend
Netta, your posts in the middle of the night not only keep me company half way around the world, but give me a good chuckle too! Those things have been sorely missed in my life since my back has gotten so bad.
Kaffro, you just crack me up and your bouncy attitude is such a pleasure. Please don't ever change!
Chococake, here's to getting back to 'your' normal soon! If you don't mind me asking, what is Fibro? I don't think I've heard of it?
I enjoy the posts from everyone in here so far. While I may not post much myself, I do enjoy reading yours! Here's to good friends, good karma, good laughs and good health (which I hope to be in soon! )!
~~Angels fly because they take themselves lightly ~~
And my back is very happy. Okay that's not all. It gets better. I also needed a new VCR. Now again I cannot afford to buy this kind of thing but I was dying for one. Scorpio started talking about buying a new one, which I thought was very cute, cos I know she doesn't need one, she already has one, I know she was only looking around for one to give to me. 
So.. last night, I was walking down my block to go to the corner store for milk, and just a few houses down I see this old VCR out in the garbage. Of course ya think "Okay this can't possibly work, it wouldn't be in the garbage", right? But in the back of your mind ya say "Hmmmm just maaaaaybe...??" (And I know a lot of people on the Ebay Outlook have regular garbage nights they find all kinds of cool stuff to sell!) I was right by my house, so I figured it can't hurt to check it out, so I carried it home. GUESS WHAT. 
Aaaaahhh shucks Nettak - thank YOU - you are my true pal 
And the state refund was huge too. I've been lucky to get under $100 back from state in the past. Plus out of the blue last week I got a direct deposit from my employer. I had no clue what it was since I haven't been there since last Sept. Turns out we got a bonus for last year. Very weird since my brother's plant (same company) is laying people off. But they're different divisions. But hey, no complaints from me on that one! 
~~
I don't know what happened but feel free to tell us about it here if you want to. Or come to the party thread and we will cheer you up!!! 
The universe can dole out some pretty hairy stuff to deal with too, I know it. But when ya look BACK on it, I think it's like "OH now I see why that had to happen." Of course when you're in the middle of it, I think you wanna smack the person who says that. LOL! But you WILL get something good from this too. I was almost dead from my spine surgery, and now when I see what it taught me and the next place it brought me to in my life, I would do it all over again if I had my life to do over. Made me stronger and proved how resiliant we human beings can be. 
