I have not updated my weigh-in results. I lost 4 pounds this month. That is 10% of what I need to lose overall. However, the (BMI ?)index thingy did not change...so I still have much more work to do. But I am happy with the results as I am eating healthier but not feeling deprived in the process!!

We received our stimulus check today finally! The whole thing is going into the 09 vacation account at ING.-- This will pay the rest of the trip to PV entirely (yes!!) ...Now it is just a fun wait and get healthy 10 months to go!!

Our camping trip this weekend with the grandbabies was cut short. The mosquitos were just too many and too big (ouch!) I did not want the kids out in them (I have always been a stickler about little ones being victims to mosquitoes..and am even worse with all the encephalitis and bird flu scares)... so we decided to spend a great day boating, fishing, wading...and then we headed home so that the kids could play outside...or at least have more room to play inside. It ended up they fell asleep on the drive home and did not wake up until 5:30am Saturday.

I am on vacation today, but as luck would have it...I have been 'enjoying' a freakin migraine most of it. I am on my second vicodin---but am still hurting pretty bad. Oh well, at least I didn't have to try to focus at work...but I could sure think of better ways to spend a vacation day!!!

The hub and I sat down and figured out a food and drink plan for his birthday this August. I had budgeted $400 for food and drink...but the guest list is up to 80 and he wants some concoction called Jungle Juice...which will be fairly expensive to make (many bottles of liquor in it)...so I am going to save an extra $100 to cover the additional guests and extras.

Hey, what is up with the monthly contest this month??? I thought the 10 things I regret contest was going to end May 31...and that we would see a new contest for June.

Anyone know whats up???

Ugh. Tomorrow is weigh in day for our wellness challenge at work.. I KNOW I have lost at least a couple of lbs but I still have not found my comfort zone with the scale. I will post the results here nonetheless...I need to be accountable!!

Today was definately a SPEND day.. I have been wearing the same 2-3 tops at work and they are all at least 7 years old...so I bought 3 new tops (all on sale) I also bought some artichoke hearts and romaine lettuce...yummy summer salads!!

2 more days until we take GS (4) and GD (2) camping and fishing. They are both getting excited. I will try to remember to post pictures. I am taking another 4 day weekend...and am very much looking forward to it.

The check for the deposit for our PV vacation cleared the account today, which makes it feel real.

Why the heck does it cost $100 for a passport?????? Ugh. But I will pay the fee...not turing back now. uh-uh---too darned excited!! (and I only have 10 months to go!!)

This weekend we have had access to free movies that are on HBO, Showtime, etc. We do not subscribe to these--so it was interesting to have a few extra choices...but really, the freebies only confirmed what we already knew...it is not worth paying for. While we did watch a few movies, documentaries...There wasnt really anything that we would miss by not having it.

We do pay for satellite tv...but where we live there is NO reception without it...and we pay extra to have the east cost channels so we can watch our favorites at an earlier time...and my mom has free service to her home because we subscribe...so it is worth it for now.

I have been weighing my food and spending choices against the PV trip...and so far, I have made much better choices because of it...perhaps I should plan some kind of big trip each year if it helps me to get healthy (which I really want to do) and to save money (which is what I really want to do)...we will see how well I do after the newness of the plan wears off.

We borrowed my DS and DIL's bicycles...we want to try them out for a couple of weeks to see if they are something we will use if we have. IF so, we will probably buy a set...if not, well, we arent out any money to find out. We got them yesterday...and they both have flats...the hub promised to fix them when he gets home from golfing (which is where he is currently at)...again, we will see how it goes.

Four day work week this week for me. I took next Friday off as we are taking GS (4) and GD (2) camping in a YURT that we won at an auction a couple of months ago. Camping, fishing, row-boating, etc...should be fun. In any case, I am looking forward to ANOTHER long weekend next weekend!!!

Happy Fathers Day to all of our resident DADS!!!

I arranged for a massage therapist student to come to my job yesterday and provide 15 minute chair massages. I suggested that everyone tip her $10 (since she can't "charge" as a student.)

The turnout was amazing...we filled all spots and everyone was very pleased with their $10 of relaxation. I will probably schedule her to come back every-other Friday (payday) and see how it goes. The student was thrilled, as she was not expecting to make anything...and she left after 3 hours with $110.

This will give her a way to make up her tuition this summer...and give my co-workers an opportunity to wrap up their week a little more relaxed.

Unfortunately, she went over on time and most people got 18-20 minutes and so I had to forfeit my timeslot so everyone else could get fit in...next time, I am scheduling mine FIRST. lol.

I think it is a nice perk for staff...even if they do tip...and I think $10 is about right....

thoughts?

I mailed the check for our deposit on the PUERTA VALLARTA trip today. We won't be going until May 09- so there is plenty of time to do things like passports, airline, etc...4 other couples are going with us...the final payment is due next March. YIPPEE! We really are going!!!

Today was DD3s first day of summer vaca. She called and asked me to bring her home Arby's for dinner. They have a deal of $5.95 for 5 items...so I bought her 4 sandwishes and an order of fries...she can have leftovers tomorrow..and her dad will probobly want one or two when he gets home (about 1am)

I also spent $2 on a large passion tea at lunch.

My mom gave me $20 to buy an eye pillow for my birthday and I found one at Kohl's on sale for $7!! The other $13 was used to buy the tea and dinner for DD3 (I ate left overs)...so I have $5 left- I will be adding that to my TRIP fund!!!

I ate healthy today...Although my employee stopped and as a surprise, bought us each a frappacino...she is on such a tight budget, I know this was a very sweet splurge for her...so I ENJOYED the treat...

Good day today!!

Our stimulous check is finally showing as in progress on the Where's my stimulous payment website. Because of how we filed this year, we had to wait for a paper check...But it is not really a big deal that we did. The money is going to be used for our first big vacation ever...we are planning to go to Puerta Vallarta next May with 4 other couples (yeah!)

My DD2 called today and asked if I could go to lunch. I debated whether to go for two reasons..1. I am trying to save money...and 2. I am trying to lose weight...neither are very easily achieved by eating out. But she rarely asks...so I happily went and had a great time. I spent $15 and had a nice Harvest Salad (grilled chicken, lettuce, artichoke hearts, feta cheese, dressing on the side and an iced tea). I did not offer to pick up the tab, but I did split the bill--which still helped her as her and GS's portion was substantially more than mine.

I felt weird NOT picking up the tab, but I need to make changes--and it was OK for us to split the tab. (Isn't it??)

Then, tonight my mom asked if I could go to dinner with her and her brother/his wife who are in town for a visit. I went and was going to (again old habit) pick up the tab...but my son/his wife were there too and he said the business would buy tonight...wow- the kids are having a FANTASTIC year and are finally doing so well that they feel comfortable doing something like this...which I really appreciated. It saved me just under $100 for the tab I thought I was going to pay. (Thank you JJ)

So...my days spending - $15.

We will see how the rest of the week goes. It is a busy, stressful week this week at work...so I am staying plenty busy there and will not likely spend much else.

Ugh. Needed gas. $70.07 to fill up. While I was paying, I got to thinking...I wonder if employers might offer some sortof offset for gas...I know I am paying ALOT more to get to work these days.

Well, I got back to work...and my boss says...I have been thinking about doing something to help our staff with gas expenses....HUH??? No wonder he and I get along so well, I honestly think we share a brain sometimes!!!

So, I spent part of the afternoon researching what employers are doing to help their employees cope with the higher cost of getting to/from work.

I spent $9 at the library...I knew I had some overdue books...but I was anticipating a higher fee...thankfully, they stop charging after 21 days and just mark the book 'lost'. Since I still had the books, I just took them in and paid my fee. I now vow to return ALL books on time!!!

I spent $36 at Walmart. We needed a few groceries. I bought enough to get us through the week---and $36 to get us through is ALOT cheaper than eating out.

So...that is the days expenses. I should be able to make it through the week with little other expenses!!

Lunch: leftover chicken on a salad- with blue cheese crumbles.
Dinner:leftover steak on baked potato with green beans.


Good day!

I spent a great deal of time thinking about our financial choices this past weekend.

I am going to make a committment this next week to the Puerta Vallarta trip with the others who will be attending(which we have a year to save for)...We will be taking that family trip to the resort house next New Years, followed by the DC trip that my job is paying for...We would also like to remodel our downstairs to create a nice Master Bedroom/bath out of our current family room/patio. And surprisingly, the hub would love to go back for another spa treatment...which can be an occasional treat.

So...to accomplish all of this, somethings gotta give.

Our biggest expense lately has been eating out...so we have agreed to forego this habit in exchange for more important wants.

The next thing to go will be my new do. I will go back to having my hair cut only and so the coloring myself.

And we will be more aware of our frivulous spending.

I started to beat my budfgeting up this weekend...and then reminded myself that we are saving 15% in the 401k, and $500 per month to an emergency fund...so it is not like we arent saving, we are.

The final piece is going in and asking for the raise. I have procrastinated long enough. I will do this by the 15th of June.

So, that is our simple plan for making our short term goals occur. I will be updating progress.

While we were at the rental, we ate no meals out. Tonight, we used up the leftover breakfast supplies and ate yummy omlettes....so far, so good.

We spent $21 today to restock some of our supplies here. We needed olives, steak sauce, a few potatoes, zucchini...and a fun ice cream dessert for our last night.

Today we worked a jigsaw puzzle...went for a bike ride, watched a movie, enjoyed the jaccuzi twice, made omelettes, bbq-d and took a nap and a drive. The hub even hit the driving range.

I am sad to see our mini vaca come to an end tomorrow.

We had a message tonight that my dads only surviving sibling, a sis, passed away yesterday. A very sad event...that is the last of my dads generation...but Aunt Betty has battled cancer for years..she was my dads older sis...and was heartbroken when her "little" brother died this past December.

I am relaxing and enjoying this last night away...why does time fly so fast when you are away and having RnR????

Oh well, this has been a great long weekend...and we are starting to plan our next getaway already.

Hugs all. Have a great rest of the weekend.

Hi Everyone!

The hub, my mom and I are at the rental house for 4 days and having a great time. We got here yesterday afternoon and invited the hubs dad and his wife for a barbque last night...We found steaks on sale for $1.99lb and baked some potatoes...yum. then we sat in the hot tub.

Today my mom and the hub went to town. My mom to dialysis, the hub took her and then went to visit his dad. I stayed home and relaxed- watched some TV, read, tidied up the house...

Tonight we enjoyed grilled chicken salads...took a long walk and then enjoyed another soak in the hot tub.

Tomorrow will be more barbquing, walks and hot tubs...sigh. Blissful rest!!

I read the news about oil, Dow, etc...but that is a concern for another day. Tonight...its all about carefree and loving it!!!

I had a wonderful day today!!

I was treated to lunch, afternoon pies, dinner...work buddies were so kind with wishes, cards, balloons, flowers, gifts and gift cert for a pedicure!!! My family was also very kind, thoughtful and generous with cards and candles and dinner...

The little guys thought they were so big singing happy birthday to gramma. WOW

I just went to Walmart.com and requested several free samples. I love the freebies...I keep a little basket of them and use them whenever I want a free pamper session.

I truly feel blessed tonight. Fantastic day.

(missing you papa)

I am only working Mon-Wed this week and taking a long weekend next weekend away at a resort. We rented the same house that we stayed in back in February...and this time, we are taking Nana. She has been very lonely lately, so I think the get-away will do her good. (Ive been trying to plan mini-trips for her since my dads death to keep her looking forward to something.) We are taking a puzzle and will have a couple of movies, some books and I am taking a knitting project...so it should be a relaxing fun trip.

I am looking forward to the break.

Today was a pj day. I stayed home and got some laundry done, took an afternoon shower, and just recharged the batteries.

The hub spent the day finishing up a "tree foit" - the name our 4yo gs gave it. He doesnt do "r's" yet so fort sounds like foit. (log play house for the rest of us)...out in our yard. A friend recently remodled and had a truck full of wood shingles that the hub used to top off the foit.

They have been working on it for a couple of months. It is about 8 X 10 and is adorable!!! Because he is so into that wood business, our expense was only nails and a little gas to pick up things...so under $20. GS is VERY proud of the tree foit that he and papa built together!! The hub put up a couple of shelves and built a little table for them...too cute!


Today was our first no-spender in a while!! yay!

About eight months ago, my job gave me a gift certificate for a little pampering at a local spa. ($150 value with all sorts of fancy stuff tacked on to a massage.)

I sat on it for all these months for several reasons...most high on the list was fear of the unknown...Not one to venture into spas very often ( ok, never)....So I decided I would use this certificate as a birthday treat (my birthday is June 3)...and when I called, I asked if I could trade in all the "extras" for a side by side massage with the hub. (They said sure and it was $10 cheaper)...

So my hurdle, was convincing Mr. Macho-lumberjack-man that he would enjoy the experience...lol. NOt an easy feat.

But, because of the birthday thing, he begrudgingly went...wearing his suspenders and steel toed boots. (good grief)...

Would you like a foot soak while you wait??? we were asked...Me: Absolutely...him: "Im good thanks"...

We had our necks swaddled in warm wraps...I had a yummy foot soak, we filled our a few papers and closed our eyes as we chose the massage oils. Funny, the hub said yes to the first one..he said it smelled just like sawdust..(I bet they did that on purpose)....I chose a mix of sandalwood and orange...

Then I was offered a nice pair for slippers as we walked to the room...the hub just clomped up in the steel toes...

We were asked to put all our clothes (to our comfort level)into these beautiful baskets and climb on the tables between sheets.. candles, comforting music, and such a cozy atmosphere...thankfully the hub discarded the suspenders and relaxed a little...

And an amazing 1 hour massage followed...

wow.WOW. Even the hub loved it.

THEN, we were provided yummy robes, cold water and were led downstairs to the sauna...where we sat and sweated feeling quite pampered for about 15 minutes...then a nice candlelight shower...and we left having enjoyed a very relaxing, pampered afternoon for FREE as a thank you for something I did at work about a year ago....WOW.

The rest of the day....from 7am until massage and even now as I type...has been a marathon babysitting day with all 3 of the grandbabies...#3 will be picked up in about an hour...What a full, blessed day.
And the price was so right!!!

sigh...wow.

I made it 8 weeks...but I was in dire need if I wanted to keep up the new do. I have to say, it looks way better now...but is it worth it?? I really do love the cut, the color and the shapely brows...but it is so expensive. I am still struggling with the whole cost/benefit analysis...8 weeks...that would be just about $2 per day...hmm...

I told you all the good news from the doc yesterday...but there was a part 2....(darned doc, couldn't just leave it at that)

The whole weight thing got hammered home big time. It is so frustrating. I was thin most of my life...and the last 10 years I have had weight creeping up that I have just not paid that much attention to. I would say I am heavy, but not fat...that is until they were talking on the radio a couple of mornings ago about a size "10" being PLUS SIZE...huh?

Bottom line, I need to lose 40 pounds. that is like five 8 lb babies!! ugh.

so...I am going to spend this 3 day weekend putting my plan of attack together...

Looking very forward to the long weekend...how bout you??

Thumbs up guys. I appreciate all the positive thoughts, and all of the prayers. I am relieved!!

I spent this afternoon moving into my new office. I went to Ross yesterday and found all of the pictures and accessories that I needed to decorate it...and I have to say, for $160 I was able to turn it into a very warm, inviting space to spend a great deal of my time in.

Passers-by all commented how much they liked it. I am excitited to finish moving in to it tomorrow..and then I am home for good.

Again, thank you all for your kind words...I did not tell anyone besides the hub...so, you were my support--and I very much appreciated it!!

There is NOTHING to worry about. So I am not worrying. I am simply waiting...until Wednesday...when my doctor shares the results.

Seems I just have one lumpy pancake...and whatever is causing the lump showed on the ultrasound...and so, lucky me, "got" to go back for a second round of the mammogram machine...first time, piece of cake compared to the follow up...aich.

But apparently they have all the pictures they need to diagnose..whatever it is. But there is an 'IT'---my instructions- "don't worry"...yeah right.

So I find out on Wednesday when I see my doc for all of the blood test and other tests.

Because it may be nothing, I have not told anyone besides the hub. No need to cause concern with any of the family at this point. Hopefully, this blip in the radar will not be anything...and I can get back to taking life for granted again. (For those of you who don't know me...Im exaggerating of course...I really do try to treasure each and every day)

In other news, we bought DD3 a new bed this weekend. She has lived with the hand-me-down twin bed for long enough. (It has been through 2 other kids...and was not very expensive to begin with.- I think we got it for $189 about 10 years ago) So we bought her a queen. When we bought, I asked if they ever went on sale...and the salesman said no...but I was able to finaggle the price down from $699 to $424 by simply asking for the best cash deal....so I was happy. It is a nice pillow top. DD3 is thrilled. I guess it never hurts to ask for a discount..

The hub gets an extra paycheck this month, so that will more than cover the price of the bed.

I am sure we are running up a nice electric bill here with the record breaking heatwave we are having...thank goodness for air-conditioning! I will pay the higher electric for a good nights rest.

Havve a good week friends!

I have been keeping an eye on a house that I want to vacation in...it is finally done being built and the price is now posted. I just have to find 4 other couples to feel the same way about it...which I don't think will be a problem.

I have never taken a really special vacation. The hub and I married the night before he shipped off to Kuwait in 1990...and we have been raising kids ever since. I have taken a long weekend to Vegas...and a week off here and there to camp...but as far as a "WOW" vacation...it just has never been in the cards for us.

So, is it time to take that vacation of a lifetime...or do I recarpet the house, or save the money for retirement???

When do you know if it is worth it and if the time is right??? Or is the whole extravagant vacation thing something foolish and a waste of money...

http://www.bluepacificvacationrentals.com/villaazul/index.htm

I am thinking of putting my Stimulus check in a savings account and adding to it until we have the cash saved to go..(about a year from now).

And in the intent of full disclosure..I am taking a week in Jan (New Years) with the family to a home in the mountains not far from where we live...and will also have an expense paid trip (because I will be working) next Feb to Washington DC...

I want to go really badly...this is a DREAM trip...
Does anyone else takes trips like this??? I would be interested in opinions...

What a fantastic Mothers Day weekend.

Yesterday, my mom, DD1 GD and I all spent the day together. We went to a small town festival where people were dressed in civil war clothes..there was a Saturday market...and a dutch oven cookoff...and all the tastings were FREE. We walked around, litened to fiddlers, ate some great food out from the cookoff, let the little ones play in the bubbles from a bubble machine and enjoyed some cotton candy.

After, we went to a new Goodwill that has just been built...I found a Princess House vase for $4 and a couple of books that I had wanted to read. Spent $9.97.

Today, we got to go over to DD2's boyfriends parents house for a bbq. They were very sweet and invited all of the kids, grandbabies and my mom to come to... We have met them before and they are really nice people...during dinner, a surprise announcement...I am going to be a gramma AGAIN. Now I have TWO gradbabies coming this year...which will bring me to FIVE!! by Christmas. DD1 is due in August and now DD2 is due at Thanksgiving...

I wished the kids had gotten married before this..but I know they will both be good parents...and I think they have a good shot at a happy life.

Wow...I do not know how we could have squeezed anything else into this full and happy weekend...I did get two batches of roses...and some wonderful pictures and cards...thank goodness Ive driven home the point with the kids that I dont want or need things...but just really want to spend time with them....and that we did.

I am a happy, blessed mom indeed!

I received a form letter today...very generic and short...1 paragraph and two more sentences letting me know that one of the pancakes needs a closer look...

Don't worry...but call as soon as I can and make a second appointment.

I am not too concerned about it--I knew that some old scar tissue might make for a confusing first look..so I will go back and have the second look- thankfully this test will have no crank.

But a form letter?? I guess thats a sign that these modern tests aren't very diagnostic the first time around.

I am glad to see Friday rolling around..this week has been a very busy, hectic week and a nice quiet weekend sounds WONDERFUL.

I didn't think about a great perk we have at my job when I was dealing with the $400 repair to my laptop...

But my job, in an effort to keep staff up to speed with computers, offers an interest free loan for up to three years. My puter loan was low enough that I was able to add the cost of the repairs to my loan interest free!! and it doesnt change my payment amount!! Woo-hoo...so I was able to put the $400 back into my emergency fund today. Gotta love those work perks!

I am so thrilled to have my EF back up...I have been working really hard to build that account and am remotivated to stay the course.

For the first time ever, I had to use my cell phone to dial 911 today.

I was on my way home from work and was taking the fwy offramp when the car ahead of me started doing odd stuff...a passenger had a door open and it just didnt look right...then, the car quickly b-lined it for the opposite side of the offramp and parked on the side in the dirt...and three guys hop out and start walking towards the fwy...holding their hands in the air with a "you want some of this" look...

I look in my rearview mirror and there is a pickup STOPPED in the middle of the offramp...and it starts backing up and suddenly spins around a speeds THE WRONG WAY back down the offramp heading for the freeway...

The guys all turn around and run back to the car laughing...and get in the car.

So, I called 911 and reported it. I hope they cite someone for reckless behavior...

What would you have done??? I definately was in reaction mode when I called, but I still think I did the right thing...but I am curious what others would have done???

I took a mental health day from work yesterday...I can't tell you how amazingly refreshing it was to get up thinking I was going to work and then be able to stay home and recharge the batteries...A WHOLE DAY of guiltless indulgence...I really needed it. I have to say, I had to do double duty today to catch back up (11 hours, with a 15 minute lunch) but I definately feel the unplanned day off was worth it!!

I did things like wash my curtains, sort clothes, sort old mail, read....THANK GOODNESS there are days like that in the craziness of life!!

The next week and a half are going to be very hectic and then things will slow down a little. My next time off is at the beginning of June...so I need to pace things between now and then.

My friend is living a financial nightmare right now.

A few months ago, her son was in a horrible car accident. He was using his vehicle for work...and was transporting two disabled patients for his job. Both cars were totalled and there are some very substantial medical bills..

Long story short, sons job is refusing to pay anything, the sons insurance is pointing to the job and saying they wont cover it...and the son has nothing. (He is the one who I blogged about that just married)

So, the other party is coming after my friend because her name was on the title...Her home, which is very expensive, is paid off...and so there are definite tongues wagging at the prospect of socking it to her...so today she retained a laywer for $2500/215 per hour...and the ticker is now ticking away...money that she is having to toss at an attorney because she did not think about taking her name off the title of the car. Her only crime was procrastination...I sure hope the attorney can sort through this tangled web and come up with a better answer for my friend than anything she has heard so far..

I have double checked all of our kids car records tonight and we are off everything...how about you???

EGADS.

Guys, if you are male, you may want to skip this post...if you want a good laugh...cmon in, sit down and enjoy! HOWEVER, this has NOTHING to do with finances...

My doctor has been after me for 7 years to have a mammogram. Each year, I say "oops, that's right I was supposed to do that"...

Ok, lets stop the story to add a disclaimer here...I support routine care and preventative tests...I just have this fear of pancakes when it is in reference to my body (kidding guys, I have no good reason)

Anyways...today was the day...bright and early I am sitting in a waiting room full of nervous nellies...

and they call my name. I look at the woman next to me and ask if she would like to take cuts...and it relieves some tension as the room fills with nervous laughter...

The testing starts and I am lifted, rolled and manuevered until everything looks right..and this big glass comes down from the sky ans starts flattening....the tech says" I need you to lift your chin"...um I can't lift my chin and watch at the same time...and I am mesmerized (or terrified) by the shape I am taking on....thinking to myself, ok it can stop now, which thankfully it does...then, the tech quickly turns this crank....ok, you girls know what Im talking about here...WTF???...a little tighter just to make sure??? and she says, don't move...LIKE IM GOING ANYWHERE WITHOUT MY BOOB! and then she says hold still and don't breath...LIKE I COULD IF I WANTED TO...I am afraid even a breath of air in my lungs will make things worse...

And then, relief as we prepare for the next side....and part two starts...but for some reason, this time I get TWO FLIPPING CRANKS....(wait till I get my hands on her...if I can ever move again)I think to myself...

She comes back and says, ok now we need a side view...WHAT??????????? Surely you flattened them out enough to see anything thats lurking in there...and if there is anything lurking SURELY you just killed it....???

But to no avail...she smiles and says "Were almost done."...um yeah, In my dictionary it says HALFWAY....

This time I get to hold this bar and twist around and stand up on my toes (ok, the toe part was after the crank)...and what is it about when they say "Ok don't breathe, you suddenly have to breathe???

And finally, the exam is over and although she now knows "the twins" better than my spouse, she doesnt even look up when she says I can go....(whatever! I didnt ask her name so I guess we are even)

I get dressed and head back through the lobby...I look at the ladies and say it's not so bad afterall...just watch out for that crank...

And I head to work, surprisingly relieved that I have taken the right steps for my health.

Ladies, it is not so bad...and it really can save your life...If you haven't had one lately, make your appointment...JUST WATCH OUT FOR THE CRANK!

That was one expensive uh-oh. A while back my LCD screen on my laptop was damaged and slowly, the black blob that followed took over the screen...each day, a new blob shape...not unlike ink blots you would find in a shrinks office...each day, I would cringe as I noticed, first a guppy and finally a whale of a blob taking over the screen...first I lost the abilitiy to see the date in the lower right corner, and then the ability to scroll, and then over half the screen took on a life of its own....so I took it to the repair shop where it currently is--until the $400 in repairs is done.

So, I have been bringing my work puter home and at least can stay connected...but I am looking forward to have my own pc back.

I have been putting in lots of hours...and finally today, had an opportunity to come home early...and as often is the case when the kids get wind mom is home, I am babysitting. GS will be here to spend the night and will be here all day tomorrow (I see waffles in our future!) I will be very tired tomorrow night...Sunday, is the day to relax.

My moms tests are all done...the most serious remain undiagnosed...suspicious, but because of her age and health the doctors want to "wait and see"...so six months to know for sure. At least we didnt get definate BAD news.

I am looking forward to catching up to all of your blogs now...cant wait to hear how everyone is doing!

I talked briefly tonight to the hub about saving for our DC trip next February. I have blogged a little about being invited to attend a conference there for my job.

We will have a week there, all expenses paid...but I will be at the conference each day--which won't leave much time for all the things we want to do. So we are planning to take an extra week and see some sites in DC and surrounding areas...but I have also always wanted to visit NYC. So, we need to budget this in so that we save an ample amount oof money. Problem is, I have no idea how much we should save- and the best way to plan our extra week. Any suggestions?

I am excited to make these plans now so that we are sure to have enough money saved to get to see everything.

The final results are disturbing. A couple, aged 28 & 29 decided to burglarize a home, stealing saddles and other items and immediately sold them over the internet. To cover their crime, they posted a hoax ad on Craigslist saying that the owner of a home had left the area quickly and was posting his stuff free for the taking on Craigslist. Lots of folks showed up and were taking what they wanted when the owner came home and discoved all these stranger going through his stuff.

The perps have been arrested...but the owner is out several thousands of dollars worth of stuff because of the crime. Unreal.

I am getting ready to go on vacation...I cant even begin to describe how much pressure there is when you are responsible for a CEO and are leaving for 10 days....To make it worse, he is gone this week and so I am communicating via email with him to finalize everything. My saving grace is that I have an AWESOME employee who will take over for me..but I want to make sure that she is prepared for anything that will come up with...in any case I am READY for this break. We fly out on Thursday...and I fully plan to RELAX for at least two hours...(just kidding)...I fully plan on totally relaxing while I am gone so that I am ready to tackle everything that is waiting when I get back.

Oh well, that's aworry for a different day..tonight is all about making a good packing list....just incase I make it through the next couple of days with the sanity intact..

Well, this is blog #600 for me! Have I really had 600 different things to blog about???? Seems incredible. I will dedicate # 600 to Jeffrey and Nate.

Jeffrey and Nate, if you are reading this, I want to THANK YOU- from the bottom of my heart for giving us a site that we can come to and share experiences (good, bad, savings related or not) and know we are among friends. I know that Saving Advice was once just a thought...and you guys took that thought and turned it into a reality...(did you have any idea of the success you would realize with that thought?)

I often wonder if you are proud of your site...if you know all of us like we know each other...if you ever learn something new...of if you are ever truly amazed by an entry...or surprised???

I am sure it is a combination of at least a little of all of the above.

I just want you to know that I am grateful to you for making this site available for all of us to learn, share, challenge, and enjoy. I do not know if you will ever fully know the impact you have had on our lives. Hugs to you both!!!


And now, on with my original post...

....ok you know its a major transition on your head when even the IS guys notice the new "do"...lol. Sassy was my new nickname at work today...followed closely by :wow, what happened to your eye!" argh.

Now, can I share a little excitement with you guys???

As part of my job, I arrange hotels, flights, reservations, etc...and I recently purchased CATS tickets to our local theatre for my CEO who wanted to surprise his team with Dinner and a show..I booked dinner this weekend at a great little Japanese restaurant that specializes in Chop/chop show style cooking...

This morning my boss let me know that he included me and a guest in those tickets I bought and dinner reservations I made!!! How cool is that??? One of the many perks I've enjoyed since re-entering the job. So, when I get back from my vacation, I get to go on a spectacular night out!!! I have no idea about CATS except that Ive seen commercials on the East COast channels that we get here.

Several of our senior leaders have been challenged to open ING accounts and to check out the opening process...(huh? they dont have one???) So tonight, I sent them all referrals in the hopes that they will use my link and I will earn some referral money!!!

Tonight we pulled some steaks out of the freezer and the hub bbq-d dinner before I got home...so a cheap, but yummy meal.

If I overlook DD3s teenage (& p'd off)attitude this morning and the major hub blowup from GD once again destroying the house before we got home while mommy was busy in the office, I would consider this a great day!!

Afterall, how many grammas get the title of SASSY after one haircut??? lol

ps...Jeffrey and Nate, please don't sell us to the loan sharks tomorrow... teehee

I joined a local winery's wine club last year. I am committed to purchasing a "shipment" every three months (under $40 for two nice bottles of wine)...and in return, I have a discount on their wines, am invited to some spectacular events- which are free...and I can take up to 6 friends wine tasting any time I want, for free. I enjoy wine tasing, so this seemed like a great deal...and I have not been disappointed.

So, today I needed to get by and pick up my shipment and asked my mom (71)if she would like to go with and do some afternoon tasting.

We went about 1pm...and we were the only tasters there. Of course the gal behind the counter took one look at me and said "Oh boy, what happened to that eye"...argh.

We sat at the little counter and proceeded to have a few samples while visiting with the gal working there. Then, these two other ladies came in and the 5 of us began chatting about our roots...all 5 of us were from Southern California. (not uncommon here in Oregon)...pretty soon a man came in and he was just passing through on his way back home...to California...lol. My mom actually became the life of the party, telling some great stories...reminiscing...and even got to talk about my dad. Any of you who have ever lost someone you love dearly know how wonderful it feels to say their name out loud and talk about the good ol days...

We noticed that it was starting to snow outside...and we all enjoyed the fact that the sun was out AND it was snowing!

A couple came in then, by now my mom and I had been there about and hour and a half..the young couple was there to check on wedding locations...so I mentioned that my SIL and DD1 do DJ and photography...and they took their numbers.

Nana and I decided to head home and everyone told my mom how much they enjoyed getting to know her. On the way home, my mom was glowing...and mentioned that she might consider getting out a little more...she said she'd forgotten how nice it was to socialize.

Wine tasting = FREE
Nana being the center of attention for a whole afternoon while she told tales about my dad....absolutely ....well= need I say more?

Gads. Call it Murhpy's law. You get a great new "do"...and are all excited about getting up and fixing it all special only to look in the mirror and see a GROTESQUELY RED EYE. Ugh. Not sure how or why, but a blood vessel has let me down and turned my eye a yucky bright red. My first day of trying "vanity" on for size and now this...(of course, it's instant karma for wanting to enjoy vanity for day...lol.)

Oh well. I guess thats why they made sunglasses...lol so watch me do my laundry on a dreary cloudy day...in my dollar store sunglasses with my lovely new do...lol.

I have to admit, I was a little nervous about the reactions from my SA friends about my extravagance yesterday...and could not have been more surpised ( and pleasantly) at the support you gave me and how many of you said I was "worth it".

As a mom, wife and frugal wanna-be, it is hard to justify things that are just for ME. Thanks for helping me understand that many of you splurge on yourselves and that it is important to do that (once in a while anyway)

Today is laundry, housework and getting ready for the next work-week...but first a morning cup of coffee and visit to this site!!

I hope you all have a good one!


ps...it just occured to me that this thing will take 10-14 days to go away...and I will be on my vacation for most of that.....ARGH. My sunglasses will be a very familiar site!!!