Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing I don’t know about you, but to me, it seems like the “future” is being shoved down our throats constantly, and it’s full of acronyms. EV, AV, AI – no thanks! As an older member of Gen-Y (remember when they called us that instead of “Millennials?!”), I’m pushing middle age since I’ll be entering the last year of my thirties later this month, and although my generation is known for embracing technology, I’m over it.  I’ve got a long list of qualms whenever anyone broaches the topic of electric vehicles. They’re expensive, and the infrastructure isn’t there yet – plus who…

Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing When I was 18 years old, I began working at a real estate appraisal management company while attending college. I planned to work there until I graduated – when I would immediately land a high-profile writing/editing job with a $100,000 starting salary, of course (hahaha, the naivety of youth)! Well, I was wrong, so I hung onto that reliable paycheck for the next 17 years, transitioning from one position to another in an attempt to make myself valuable enough to survive the layoffs that came every couple years. And I excelled in every role, becoming the top performer on my team more…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing A year and a half ago, I felt like my life was pretty much under control. I had my car, truck and motorcycle paid off and had a great mortgage interest rate thanks to my 2021 refinance. I finally had my dream job as the managing editor of some great magazines (if I do say so myself), and overall, my life ran smoothly. I understood what each day would look like and how to juggle a ton of responsibilities.  Then I took a pregnancy test. I realized immediately that my life was going to change. I’ve been around a lot of…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing My 20-year-old bonus kid recently bought her first car: a 2003 Lincoln Town Car Executive. So, basically a bus that’s the same age as she is – and also the same age as my high school diploma. I bought my first vehicle back in high school, as soon as I turned 16 and got my license, with help from my Poppop who found it and loaned me the money. Each month, I’d write him a check for $85 and fill out a coupon from a receipt book that my mom bought me so that she could teach me about responsibilities. But…