The Royal Wedding Pictures

Below are some of the pictures taken with disposable cameras that were setting on the tables at the reception. Hope you enjoy these pictures. The wedding photographers pictures (my step daughter-law) will have her pictures to us shortly.In addition my natural parents will be sending us CD's of the pictures, that they took. 

Guests await the cutting of the cake

My wife Pat and I with my foster parents after our wedding.

Brides bouquet as it's caught by Jessica Hines.

Wedding Flutes

My former Store Manager  Roger

Wedding cards and/or gifts may be sent to


D. Kevin and Patricia Surbaugh
PO box 170670
Austin, TX 78717

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"Whether you think you can or can't, you're right" ~ Henry Ford

Sometime back, The Wall Street Journal published an article about the significance of our beliefs and the mental models, or mindsets that shape our behavior. According to the psychologists interviewed for the piece, we act and perform in accordance with the beliefs these models tell us is true.

For example:
If you think something is not possible or out of your reach, you're probably not going to commit much energy and resources to accomplishing that goal.  Getting out of debt, for example. Most Americans tell themselves that they will never save any money, and will always have a car payment. Thus making it their reality.

In order to change this, we need to change our mindsets.

1. First, begin by specifically identifying the results you want. (ex: "I WILL be debt Free.")
2. Set goals to accomplish those results.
3. Finally, examine your beliefs about those actions to determine if they are holding you back. If they are, you need to change your beliefs.  This is where Norman Vincent Peale's "Power of Positive Thinking," comes into play.  

The Power of Positive Thinking, is just another way of saying the same thing that Henry Ford said in the Quote above (in the title). Basically, if you want to accomplish your goals, you need to create a mindset made up of beliefs that support the truth you want in your future. That is the secret to becoming Debt Free, it is hard work and won't happen overnight, but if you think positively, and work hard, it will happen. The same is true, for other goals in your life to.





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Knights Inn - The worst Excuse of a Hotel Ever

As many of my regular readers know, I had planned to stay in Embassy Suites, but because of finances I went to Hotels.com and found some lower cost budget hotels. Well, that may not have been the best thing. In Oklahoma City the hotel, that was prepaid for was a Knights Inn. That hotel was the dirtiest, nastiest hotel I have ever seen. Especially for a hotel that was still in business. The hotel was so horrible, that it gives the brand a horrible name in my mind. Such a bad name that I will never stay at another hotel displaying that name.

Take a look at these pictures and judge for yourself

mold/dirt near shower in upper corner of restroom

another shower view. See spot just left of the shower? That's the closeup in the 1st photo.

water stain around air conditioning vent.

Graffiti on the wall, just inside the front door.

yet another picture around the shower.

base of the shower.  How can this place even remain open?

another water stain picture

That doesn't include how horrible the box springs looked.   If I owned the brands name, I would not want this franchise affiliated with me in any way.  If I was the Oklahoma Health Department I would want this place shut down immediately.  It is absolutely horrible.  And this was just room 129 of the hotel in the Edmund area of Oklahoma City.  The address of this horrible hotel is 11900 N I-35 Service Rd.   It should be avoided at all costs, no mater how low your budget is, it is not worth staying at this filthy excuse for a hotel.

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The Royal Wedding Ceremony (Video)

Below is the video from my personal video camera of Pat's and my wedding last Saturday. For those of you who were unable to attend, now is your chance to see the wedding.




Wedding cards and/or gifts may be sent to


D. Kevin and Patricia Surbaugh
PO box 170670
Austin, TX 78717

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Websites Annual Expenses

I wanted to know, how much I was really paying for this blogging hobby, so I set down and figured it up. Using new figures from my new address, here are the results that I came up with. In some areas, I was a little surprised. What I wanted to know is much how I needed to earn to make it pay for itself, then I would know how much I needed to earn to transform this hobby into a profitable business.

Annual Expenses	$$$
7 domain names	$174.65
PO Box (paid semi-Annually)	$100
PrinceOfThrift.com Hosting	$23.40
Internet (AT&T)	$234
Cable (Time Warner)	$ ??
Total Annual Costs	$532.05

The results:

In most cases, this blog will pay for itself. However, it is a long way from being profitable, as a sole business interest. I won't say it's not possible, because anything is possible. However, it will take a lot more hard work to get to that point. Right now I have site revenue from various sources of $500-$700/year. In order for me to do this blog full time, I would need to earn three (3) times that amount (or more) each and every month. Thank you to my loyal readers, who have made this blog what it is. Now, it is time to reach out for additional readers to make this blog (and the related sites) even more interactive.

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5 Ways to Minimize Your Holiday Expenses

Note from the editors: The following is a quest post. As such the owners of this blog may or may not agree with the topic matter. We will see you all, when we get back from our honeymoon. In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy this guest post.

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It’s an indulgence we owe ourselves at least once a year; we slog it out at the office or at our business for the better part of a year, and when it’s time for a vacation, we’re glad to leave hustle and bustle of daily life behind. There’s just one hitch however – holidays tend to cost a lot, especially if you want to go abroad and see new places every time. However, if you’re cost conscious and willing to plan ahead, there are ways to minimize the amount you spend, from the time you leave till the time you get back:

• Book your tickets and hotel well ahead of time:
  This is easy enough if you know when exactly you’re planning to take a vacation. If you have kids, it’s going to be during their vacation, and even otherwise, you and your spouse could plan to take time off work at the same time. Plane tickets cost less when you book them ahead, as do hotels and resorts. You can save up to 30 percent or even more when you plan a few months ahead.
   
• Get the best rates possible:
  Ask for discounts –most hotels and resorts are willing to offer discounts if you book package deals or if you book through certain online portals. Check for the best deals online – some portals offer instant cash back offers while others let you take along a child for free when you book a package tour for two adults. And as much as possible, take advantage of off season rates for two reasons – you save money, and you beat the crowds. 
• Don’t go shopping:
  When you visit new places, enjoy the weather, the location, and the sights and sounds that the place has to offer. And other than the odd souvenir or two, don’t spend all your money shopping for things you probably won’t use when you’re back home. Explore the place you’re visiting, take long walks, laze in your hotel, eat good food, see all there is to see, and experience your holiday thoroughly instead of wasting time hunting for bargains and hopping from store to store. 
• Don’t use your credit or debit card abroad:   
While it may seem like the most convenient thing to do, when you use your credit or debit card abroad, you end up having to pay a large amount by way of fees when you get back. So before you go abroad, buy foreign currency either as cash or as travelers’ checks – take a little more than necessary because you always have the option to come back and convert it back into dollars (or your home currency). 

 
• Minimize transportation costs:
  When you’re on vacation, walk or cycle as much as possible and avoid hiring private transportation because it could turn out to be a costly proposition. Use public or mass transport where available, but on the whole, your vacation turns out better when you’re willing to walk or cycle as you explore the vicinity and go to places that are far off the beaten path – you get to enjoy locales without a crowd in tow.

Vacations don’t have to be expensive to be enjoyable; it’s the little things that make a holiday memorable and satisfactory.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Omar Adams, he writes on the topic of online accounting degree . He welcomes your comments at his email id: omaradams47@gmail.com.


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Debt Consolidation: Way to come out of debt trap

Note from the editors: The following is a quest post. As such the owners of this blog may or may not agree with the topic matter. We will see you all, when we get back from our honeymoon. In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy this guest post.

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Debt Consolidation: Way to come out of debt trap

It is easy
to get loans these days. While the easy availability of credit has made
it easier for us to realize our dreams much earlier but can at times
also lead to serious problems. A significant part of the population
in the country is today reeling under severe Debt pressure. Availing
credit is not a problem, but borrowing it beyond capabilities is. If
you too like many other people have fallen on to the Debt trap then it’s high time that you
bring in some financial discipline in your life and avail a debt consolidation
loan.

A debt consolidation
loan is a large loan, equivalent to your total debts, availed at a lesser
rate of interest and for a longer repayment period. There are many benefits
of these consolidation loans. First, you pay lower interest which reduces
the debt burden considerably. Credit card debts are usually highly charged.
If you replace that debt with a consolidation loan then your burden
will get lessened considerably. Secondly, by availing this loan, you
would replace your multiple debts and now have only one loan to serve.
Serving a single loan will bring financial discipline and will enable
you to come out of your debts very easily. And, most importantly, the
consolidation loan can be availed for longer repayment periods and hence
the repayment amount will be lesser. The various benefits offered by
consolidation loans make it an excellent and easy way to repay your
debts and end your miseries.

The Debt Consolidation
Loans are very
popular and hence are offered by most of the lenders in the country.
It is better to first check out with the current lender to find if he
would provide you a consolidation loan. If not then apply with other
lenders. Lenders charge interest rates variedly depending on the profile
of the borrower and the loan amount. You will have to look around in
the market and negotiate with many lenders to get a good deal. You can
also seek advice from loan experts who will guide you and help you get
a consolidation loan on better terms.

Author Bio

Lusi Smith
is one of the best writers in the field of Debt consolidation loans.
She has been appreciated for some quality work

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