Gramma Ray's Blog

Disney Steve...all my kids, grandbabies, etc are headed for Disneyland!! The kids grandma (ex's mom) is celebrating her 80th birthday with a big party this weekend...so they all headed down for that and then next week, the kids will all be at Disneyland. The babies will have so much fun. There was a caravan of 16 going-- look out Mickey Mouse...

On a more calm note...the hub and I are heading to the beach this weekend for the anniversary celebration. (unconventional as it is) We will enjoy the ocean, waves, maybe even a toasted hot dog on a bon fire...I savor quiet time...so I am really looking forward to it!

Tonight, there is a meteor shower expected...I have my inflatable matress ready...and am looking forward to star gazing and watching the show. I love the freebies that nature sends us...it is supposed to be quite the show tonight.

Oh..on another frugal topic....I have really been practicing on the home done manicures and pedicures and have gotten half good at it...saving a bundle while continuing to look pampered. Ive even ventured off clear polish to RED...actually looks ok guys!!!! Who says you cant teach an old...(lady) new tricks...lol. Old? of course not--

Job is going great...VERY BUSY...but very good!!!!

Life is very, very good!

Yesterday was my 20th wedding anniversary. An unusual event however, as the hub and I are currently separated- but getting along very well. Odd to say the least.

When we first met, he was in the military and, having gone straight from high school to military life, he had never really been his own boss. So, as things are now, he finally has an opportunity to run finances, food, schedules, etc...exactly as he wants.

And after raising four kids- while he worked nights, I am enjoying 'me' time.

Its not perfect...but for now, it works. He is learning to be financially responsible...and I am learning that I can take care of myself....just fine.

As I mentioned in my prior post, I recently inherited the full time responsibilities when a direct report was let go...her job + my job = a very busy day. But I am learning so much in the process, that I really dont mind.

Weekends are often busy with any of my six grandbabies...but for the next two, they are all gone on a trip. FREE TIME...oh my! The hub and I are going to the beach for three days this weekend as a simple celebration of surviving 20 years together. lol.

All in all...life is very, very good. I am blessed to be surrounded by healthy kids, grandbabies, a job I love and a home I am proud of.

I assumed an eliminated positions responsibilities this week. An employee left...but we will wait to rehire...My job just doubled.

I am ok with the learning opportunities from this change..just a tad worried about combining my already full plate with another full plate. However, I am sure this is becoming more and more common with companies in this troubled economy.

Work smarter...not harder. Yes...a year ago that was the case...now...well it is simply work as hard as possible then work a little harder..while not forgetting to breathe.

I love my job...and we are having to work harder for the good of the community... I hope the light is somewhere at the end of this tunnel...not just for me and my co-workers...but for everyone in the community that really need a little relief from a really cruddy financial reality.

I always wrongly assumed I was too clumsy to paint my own nails...Actually, I would try once, fail miserably and give up...But my desire to have pretty toenails on a tight budget got me determined enough to give it an honest effort. First try...pretty lame...next try...a little better (emphasis on little)...but learned that q-tips and nail polish remover can work wonders on boo-boos. Now, while not 'perfect'...I am happy to say that I do a nice enough job for me. I now have 4 colors of polish in my stash, am saving a bundle...and love seeing the newly painted fingers and toes anytime I want to do it! Such an inexpensive way to give my day a boost.

Tonight, the hub is over and we are bbqing for friends. We seem to have figured out that we get along well living apart. I am not sure where this road will lead....but it is nice to be friends during this separation period.

Babysat my youngest grandbaby (7mos) this morning for a couple hours...nothing like a baby sleeping peacefully in your arms to remember what is really important in life...loved it! Cleaned house...and now just waiting for everyone to show up for a nice night of friendship.

Good to be back at this blog...and catching up with all of you...what a great group of folks that hang out here...hugs.

Life...is very, very good.

Hello Friends.

It has been a while. Losing my mom, separating from the hub, changes at work, kid issues have set me back on many levels...but I am slowly figuring out life.

I have been on my own for several months...and feel so good that I am self supporting in my own home. Of course, that means budgeting and making choices...but its been very healing.

I am still settling my moms affairs...boy, that takes longer than I realized. And it is tough...I miss my mom.

I joined a Biggest Loser challenge and lost 15 lbs...but more importantly, I learned how to properly exercise and eat well...so now it is just a matter of implementing that knowledge daily! So far, very good!

The grandbabies are all doing great! They really are the joy in my life!

Bottom line, I have put to use so many of the thoughts and ideas that I learned here over the years and am proud of what I am able to do on my own at this point in my life....

Life is very good.

My goodness.

I bought my house last summer and have enjoyed watching something new bloom in the yard almost weekly since. But let me tell you...Spring is like a daily surprise party here.

The previous owners obviously paid close attention to what they were doing...because my yard is so beautiful right now. There are so many different things blooming..and it is a rainbow of colors everywhere I look. I had no idea...and the really cool thing, there are new plants popping up all over the place...I cant wait to see what's next! Best of all...the surprises are free!!!

I visited an auction site today for a local radio station and there was a gift certificate for window cleaning. $100 would take care of inside and out for a mid size home (which is what I have)...and the asking price was only $50!!!!! So I nabbed it...now I just have to make an appointment and my windows will be professionally cleaned! (yay!)

My job gave each employee a $50 gift card to wherever we wanted at Christmas...I chose a local day spa...I used mine today to book a side by side massage for the hub and I for this Saturday. (we will have to pay $90...an hour massage followed by a stay in the sauna...ummmm wow!!) Since we are going to try saving this relationship...I thought this would be a nice kick-off treat. On Sunday, I hope we can drive up to a place with natural waterfalls and have a picnic lunch. Cost for the day...gas to get there...

So...slowly life is working out...just continuing to take it day to day.

But ultimately, Life is very, very good.

Yesterday was the service for my mom (and dad). It was so nice. Very simple, yet very thoughtful.

My daughters shared their childhood memories with my parents and all the wonderful adventures they took. After my brother died, my parents sold all their stuff and became rv gypsies, traveling all over the country. My brother had $16k in life insurance and my parents used every penny of it giving my kids memories all over the US every summer.

The people at my job are amazing. they had come to my house while we were gone and we arrived to a full spread of lunch, desserts, sodas and juice and flowers. WOW. I knew that a couple of people were stopping by but I had no idea of the degree of thoughtfulness they were going to bestow on my family and guests.

The hub and I have done a lot of talking the past several weeks and reevaluated things...we are going to give this 20 year marriage another try. He still might go back to Alaska when jobs open up, but we are going to work on communicating better.

So..the daunting task at hand is paying all of my moms final bills and going through their home to determine what goes to whom.

I really REALLY appreciate all of the kindness from our blogging family here. You all have given me such comforting words during this painful time. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

life is good.

Tonight I went to DD1s house and went through family pics to display at the open house after the service. Seeing those pics of my mom, dad, brother and I brought back such a flood of memories.

Each day is getting a little easier. Thank goodness time eases all things.

DD1 made spaghetti for dinner...so enjoyed a meal with her and her family. I have been alone so much lately that it felt good to be around them and to visit while eating. I also worked a full 8 hour day today...which was a great distraction. I have some big projects I am working on, so I worked through the day, no lunch....and that was the quickest 8-9 hours Ive spent in quite a while...I loved it.

I also enjoyed getting off at 5pm and having a good couple hours of daylight left!!!

I think I am going to splurge on a hammock for my backyard this week so I can lay out in the evenings and stargaze. One of my dads favorite things to do when we camped when I was younger was to look for satellites...I want to do this with the grandbabies too...

The memorial service is this Saturday. I want to do this right, but I am also ready to have this experience behind us.

Im emotionally worn out...but life is very good.

It is a blessing that our minds go numb when we have had enough. Mine did just that at the funeral place yesterday when the guy felt the need to explain cremation (which was my moms wish).

Final expense $1425. Fortunately, my mom had enough money to pay that and the medical bills that I am sure will follow and still have a little left to provide a small token inheritance to the grand and great grandkids. I always told my mom to enjoy her money, that I would much rather sell her last teacup than have money left that she could have used and enjoyed. Of course my kids are eager to learn what is theirs...sigh. Settle down kids. Mom needs to deal with the grief and we need to let the bills trickle in and be paid first. I have to wonder where I went wrong here..when my grandma died I didnt ask for anything but accepted the little musical statue with pleasure when it was offered....and I cherish it to this day.

My parents will was very simple since I was their only surviving child, everything was left for me with thier blessing to use my judgement to decide where it goes. My daughter told me yesterday that my mom had told her over the past couple of weeks where she wanted some jewelry/money to go...which is fine except her siblings might not agree and I am not sure my mom thought it through. WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO FREAKIN TOUGH when it hurts so much???? Now they want to have a meeting to discuss it and all I want to do is finish accepting that she is gone. argh.

Oh well...one step at a time.

When I first started blogging here, I had just left my job to stay home and help care for my parents. My dad died a couple of years ago...and I have since returned to work.

Sadly, Nana passed away on Friday. She has been on dialysis for a number of years and has been fraile. She got sick a couple of weeks ago and was given a grim diagnosis Friday morning...blood flow to her intestine had blocked and her intestine was dying...thankfully, she did not survive the day and the ensuing pain that was going to follow with this diagnosis.

It is so tough to lose your last parent, your mother...the one person who truly loves you unconditionally.

I have no brothers or sisters (my brother died in a motorcycle accident in 88)...so I am feeling very orphaned right now...of course, I have my kids and grandkids...but it still hurts to lose that last link to your childhood years...

Nana, you were a super mom. I will miss you more than words can say...I hope you are having a good time with papa and lyn.

Hey Friends. It has been months since I checked in...life has been full of changes in my world and I have been so busy with everything.

Wow...where to start. The hub lost his job in Alaska shortly after Christmas. He has since found another job locally, but is continuing to try to go back to Alaska when another position is available. For many reasons, we have separated. He and DD3 decided that she would be better off dropping out of high school and getting her GED...something I very much disagreed with. However, she aced the tests and now has it...actually scored in the top 10% and can get into any of the colleges she wanted.

I will continue to live in the new house, and he is moving out to the old...will be living in the trailer until he determines if he will stay local or go back to Alaska.

I am trying to work a good budget for keeping the house. THankfully the payment is much less than half my take home pay...so I have enuf to pay the bills and skimp by...I was the one to pursue the separation, so I am determined to make this work. All I can say is the trust never fully came back and I am tired of waiting for the other shoe to fall.

We welcomed grandbaby # 6 right after christmas...so staying plenty busy with babies!!

My job is great.

Life is good.

I have missed you all and will try to stay in contact much better. Hugs!!

I called in sick this morning. I rarely take time off because I am too sick to work...usually time off means I am taking care of my mom or someone else...But I hardly slept last night and woke up having a hard time breathing. So, I went to the doctor. I guess that was a good decision cause now I am on strong antibiotics, prednisone and a much stronger inhaler for the asthma. If this doesnt kick the cough and congestion, I dont know what will!

Good news...because we have dual insurance, no co-pay for the visit. My dr gave me a free sample for one of the meds (which was the most expensive and would have cost $35 if Id had to buy it) and the other two were $12 together...so little output for hopefully much needed relief.

I will probably have to have one of my DDs buy the food for Thursday. I have ZERO energy, wobbly legs and my brain just feels 'fuzzy'. Sigh...sucky time to be sick!!!

4 words that were music to my ears today. I have lost 14 lbs so far and I have had 3 people ask me if I am losing weight...

Best of all, I am doing it by being really healthy...instead of really starving or food obsessed. I am just learning good habits, thanks to Weight Watchers. ANd to think I was one of the biggest doubters of programs like this.

I came home from work early today...cough and headache won. I am ready to feel good and get ready for Thanksgiving. The kids and grandkids will all be here that morning for breakfast...and then my mom, DD3 and I will have a quiet dinner of homemade Chicken Picatta (our favorite).

Not doing Black Friday this year. I am working Friday- really, there is nothing we need from Black Friday. I am done shopping for the grandbabies and I am planning to do gift cards for the kids so they can partake of the after-Christmas sales...so no need to go with all the craziness that Black Friday promises. Good luck to everyone that does brave it.

The hub arrived safely back in ALaska...and DD3 is working tonight...so I (and all 14 less pounds of me ) am coughing in peace tonight... ugh.


Life....is very good!

The hub is off in the wild blue back to Alaska tonight. This past two weeks went by crazy fast. I woke up this morning thinking I was having an asthma attack...but as the day wears on I am more leaning towards I have caught a nasty cold. Scratchy,burning throat, cough, stuffy nose. YUCK. So our last day together was not much fun for me.

We did find a Christmas gift for his dad while the hub was in town.. This is the one present I dread, just because I have no idea what to get him...but the hub had a great idea for a pack for the back of his ATV. FIL will enjoy it and I can tackle the rest of the shopping without the hub here as he is not back home until 12-21.

I have a crockpot of black bean and chicken soup on...so that will be dinner/lunch for the next few days. I love the stuff and it is so healthy and cheap.

Otherwise, it will be a quiet night tonight. DD3 is at work, the hub is gone and I am dealing with a cold...

but...Life is very, very good!

Wow. A local station is sponsoring a program this year where families submit their 'story' and the community votes on the story/family that needs $1000 the most... and the family with the most votes will receive a nice gift card for Christmas.

I was reading some of the stories and was shocked by the number of parents whose entries were on the order of "I want to give my (4, 5, 6) children the Christmas they deserve"....um, huh?

I am by far 'scrooge' when it comes to Christmas...and being in the financial industry, I completely understand how hard the economy has hit people...but c'mon! Children deserve love, a home, a hot meal on the table....but a lavish, commercialized Christmas?? I had plenty of lean years as a single mom...and my kids Christmases were very memorable without being expensive. We just made do...

It made me sad to read entries where the $1000 prize would give the kids a 'Christmas to remember"...'A christmas they deserved"

My vote went to a young couple with an infant who has been in and out of the hospital that need the money for a deposit on a rental home...since their home was foreclosed on because of the mounting medical bills...

However, the stories all made me greatful for where my kids are in life...they are all healthy, happy and working. They have all been somewhat immune to the ails of the economy. (thank goodness) We have MUCH to be greatful for...

And...I will be dropping a little extra into the collection jar each week for the family (s) that are chosen in this give-away. there are an overwhelming number of families that are experiencing true hardships this year that I am compelled to help with what I can.

Life is very, very good here.

Today was my moms court appearance for the careless driving ticket she got last month. Poor thing just KNEW she was going to lose her license...or at the very least have to take a driving test...so she literally memorized the driving test book.

Her turn came and she stepped up to the bench and pled 'no contest' and the judge asked her for her comments. She was well prepared...had a letter from her doctor that shes not incapacitated, a letter from dialysis that they wont let her leave sick again, and I was there to attest that I will make sure she gets home on days she isnt feeling well.

The judge asked if she had any other tickets and she explained that this was her first ticket in 55 years of driving...

The other offenders in the court burst out in laughter and applause when the judge said she deserved the chance to go to traffic school then. So, he reduced her ticket and signed her up for traffic school and the case is closed!


(yay nana!)

and best of all, Nana knows the driving rules backwards and forwards now!!

Don't you just love it when you need a gift, you find it online and it comes with FREE SHIPPING? Time and gas are always factors when gift shopping...and it is such a treat to be able to order something I KNOW I want ONLINE and then get it at a great price delivered straight to my door at NO ADDITIONAL COST. Got a few gifts like that so far this year. Great time savers!! I certainly appreciate those stores that understand us who want a good deal and an opportunity to take advantage of it in the comfort of our own homes!

Tonight our GS (age 5) is spending the night. He and the hub bought the movie 'UP' this afternoon and we are watching it now. The hub is here until Sunday, then he goes back to Alaska until Dec 21. Good news is that he will be home for Christmas this year AND more importantly, DD3s 18th birthday (which is Christmas Eve). GS and the hub always have a sleepover at least once each time the hub comes home...they are (and always have been) tight buddies.

Tomorrow is the court date for nana's ticket...my fingers are crossed that all works out and she can maintain her license...but we will know after the judge rules tomorrow.

Life is good!!!

Greetings from the vacation house! Everyone is still in bed this morning so I am enjoying Sunday morning coffee and perusing the SA blogs. Our weekend has been wonderful. There is snow everywhere, the house is beautiful and we are all enjoying each other! Yesterday we went to some nearby outlet stores and our fav little bbq joint (yum) today we will stay 'home' and our friends are making prime rib for dinner. (double yum)

I was very pleased this morning when I plugged in my address on Zillow and learned that my new house has gone up $34,000 in value since I bought it in July. Our other house has gone up a little, but is still well below its high point (which seemed ridiculously high to me at $330k)...However, at just under $300k it is still valued $160k more than we originally paid for it 17 years ago.

Additionally, my 401k has almost doubled this year..so I am pretty pleased with our financial performance this year so far!

My only purchase yesterday was a Christmas present for my grandson-to-be, who is due right after Christmas. Itty bitty Nike tennis shoes...How stinkin cute are baby shoes? Normally $24 but on sale for $14. A splurge for something he wont wear for long and doesnt even need...but too darned cute to pass up..

My moms surgery went VERY WELL last week. The doctor was able to repair the fistula again. So no plastic tubes or chest tube...Thank goodness!

AND..I am now up to 12 lbs lost!!! yay

Well, the hub is up now...so time to visit with him.

Life is very, very good!

WOW...after a month of being alone and doing everything myself around here I came home tonight to a nice home cooked meal NOT made by me! Pot roast, potatoes and salad!! His: lots of beef smothered in gravy, mashed potatoes with butter and sour cream and salad somewhere under that dressing!!! Mine- a slice of beef the size of a deck of cards,(no gravy) potatoes (boiled) and mixed with some horseradish(only), and salad drizzled with low fat ceasar...Who says you cant eat the same food and lose weight!!

Now my xbox addict is playing the game he bought today while I am catching up with my SA friends!

I mentioned that we are going on a getaway with friends this weekend to the mountains. This will actually be a fairly frugal get away. 1st, we are splitting the cost of the house...but even better, it was pay for two nights get two nights free...(cost = $180 per night for two nights and two nights free...so $45 per couple per night)THEN we take all of our own food and each family splits/shares meal planning and prep. We WILL eat one meal out while we are there...a fabulous little bbq place that we all enjoy...but its also one of those places where an entire meal is $10 or under per person. Entertainment will be games, movies, (all supplied in the house) hot tub, walks, and visiting...so no cost there. So its really an inexpensive way to spend a weekend away.

Tomorrow is a holiday where I work but I am working 1/2 day so that I can take a 1/2 day off on Friday. The hub is going to work with me (we are testing disaster recovery generator power while staff is off) so I can go to work in tennis shoes and jeans rather than a suit...it should be an easy fun work day.

I suspect GS (age 5) will be spending the night tomorrow...which is fine. We always enjoy him and he so loves being here.

Much to be greatful for...life is good.

Another month has passed and the hub is on his way home tonight. He gets in at midnight and will be home for two weeks. While he is home this time, we have a trip this weekend with friends to the mountains. We rented a house for the weekend and are taking their son and our daughter (both are seniors in HS this year and they've been friends since they were both babies). I am really looking forward to the get away. There is a hot tub at the house...and it is always so nice to sit in it when it is really cold outside.

The following weekend we will have our youngest granddaughter & her aunts birthday party (GD was born on aunts bday) it is also close to GD's dads bday...so we get a three-fer in one party!!

Then the hub will leave and will be gone until just before Christmas. While he is home on that trip, and if all goes as planned, we will welcome our newest grandson...who is due Jan2.

I joined weight watchers about a month ago and have lost 10 lbs!! I want so much to get healthy and have decided that I am never going to get there on my own. It feels good to have those 10 lbs gone...and I plan to keep going until I get to a healthy-for-me weight. Brave words as we enter the Holidays...but I have set a goal for 6 more lbs lost by the end of the year.


Because of this, I haven't gone out to eat since the hub was last here. I have been training myself to fix healthy meals for one at home. (and it is much cheaper too)

Ive gotten a good start on Christmas shopping. ALmost done with the grandbabies...and I am going to give gift cards to all the kiddos. Ive finished shopping for my friends...and so I feel good about the holidays being less stressful this year! (yay!) Christmas is one of my fav times of year...and I have always saved money in every check for it so that I have a comfortable, guilt free budget to spend. I will even have time for baking this year, which will be alot of fun!

Life is very good!

"Mom, can you watch (GS-14months old) for the weekend"...sure..+ "Gramma Ray, can I come spend the night" (GS- 5yrs)...sure = ONE POOPED GRAMMA!!! But we had a blast!!

Wowza. Thankfully, my playtime ends at 10am today and I can have a few of my weekend hours to catch back up this afternoon!

Last night when the hub called he said that the company had laid off one of its employees until December..???? He doesnt know if any more employees will be laid off or not. Oh boy...THIS WAS NOT IN THE BUDGET!! I am hoping that he doesn't get laid off... I am suddently second guessing my decision to buy this house...but...it is what it is. We will make it work if the other shoe falls...somehow.

My mom left dialysis very sick a couple of weeks ago...they usually call me when this happens and I go pick her up...but for some reason they didnt. On the way home, she swerved into the other lane and caused a driver to go off the road. There was no accident, so she just kept driving...(???) A few mins later a sheriffs officer arrived at her house and cited her for careless driving...and now she has to go to court and may lose her license. If she does, there is a likelihood that she will have to stay with me at least 3 nights a week so that I can take her to dialysis. I really love my mom...but she and I can be oil and water...she sees the negative first and always...she always assumes the worst and she is very suspicious of others motives...and I tend to see the bright side until there is no alternative and then I am still looking for it... Her negativity drives me crazy.

Oh boy...could you imagine if the hub (who tolerates just small doses of my mom) gets laid off and my mom moves in...I may be heading back to live with Ima Saver or Boomeyers....lol.

Aside from all of that, life is good. We are just about caught back up financially from the new house stuff. I am about half way through with Christmas shopping! And my job is going great!

I tried a new soup recipe yesterday and it was GREAT (and easy!) A can of black beans, a can of Rotel Tomatoes (has peppers, jalapenos in it), chicken broth (about a cup) about a 1/4 cup red wine, a couple tablespoons of lemon juice and a shredded left over chicken breast. YUMMY.
I will be making this for dinner for a friend who is coming over tonight.

Life is good!

This past weekend was out annual 'girls trip'. This is an annual trip that my three daughters, DIL, mom and I take to Portland each year in October to kick off our holiday shopping.

We stay at a Residence Inn that we can stay together in and enjoy a free breakfast each morning.

This year was a little different than most...but it was still a very memorable trip that we all enjoyed.

First change, the hub joined us this year so that he could spend some extra time with us before heading back to ALaska...this meant getting a second room so that there was ample sleeping arrangements for everyone.

On Saturday, we went to Roloff Farms, which is owned by the family who star on 'Little People, Big World". It was very busy there, but we still managed to meet mom, Amy, and sons Jeremy and Zach...and had photo ops with the other Roloffs. Amy was so gracious and just as down-to-earth as she comes across on her show.

On Sunday, we took a 4 hour train ride that included brunch on a gorgeous trip with all the wonderful fall foliage.

We shopped, dined and played our way through Portland and had several days of girl time bonding.

Last night, the hub flew back to Alaska for a month...

What made this weekend costly is that the hub and I paid for the hotel rooms this year AND the train trip, which was totally my idea. We were in a better place to pay than our girls, so we did. Fortunately, I booked the rooms using AAA membership and saved about 1/2 the cost. The train trip...well, that was just an added treat that I wanted to do.

Tonight, I am home getting ready for the busy week ahead, thankful for the weekend of fun that we were able to spend as a family, together.

I visit this site several times a week..and try to read up on how everyone is doing. I have even started a few posts of my own...only to delete them after a sentence or two. Why? Well, much has happened..and not all financial, inspiring or even interesting...

The hubs job is going well. He LOVES working in Alaska. I have to say, it is tough to have a long distance marriage..but so far, it is going ok.

The new house is coming along. The work on the kitchen is still 'in progress' I anticipate 3 more weeks before we are done. When the hub comes home he says he likes 'my house'...in other words, this is my house...not ours...

However, I LOVE this house and if it is 'mine' then so be it.

GD (age 2) had her steroid shot to hopefully put her arthritis into remission for a while...and so far, it seems to be working. Her doctor is concerned about her weight, which is a mere 20lb. She is very petite like her mom. It is just concerning, considering hse has a cousin who is a full year younger, who weighs 3 lbs more than her already. She is a little cutie pie...looks just like her dad when he was a baby...she is just a tiny girl...

Next weekend, we have our annual girls trip planned. My mom, daughters and DIL are going to Portland for a weekend away without kids. The hub is joining us this year...since we only see him for two weeks out of six...he can just catch the plane out of Portland on his way back to Alaska.

A co-worker sadly lost her husband to a motorcycle accident last week. He was only 32. They have a 6 year old son. It brought back so many feelings from my brothers motorcycle accident/death...21 years ago. My brother was only 29.

Ok...enough of non-financial stuff.

If you have followed my blog, you know that we have had many labrador dogs over the years. We currently own 3...a black, chocolate and yellow. Unfortunately, the hub failed to keep up on their heart worm shots before he left...and they have all been diagnosed with heartworms now....so almost $1500 later, we have them all in treatment and kenneled so that they are as inactive as possible while they recover. Thankfully, DD2 has agreed to be the caregiver for them...(for which I will gladly repay her)

I am working hard on paying off debt incurred from buying and fixing up this house. I am confident that I have it up to a standard that I could recoup the amount I have put into it if we decided that we had to sell it. However, I would definately argue moving back to the country at this point. I so enjoy living in town. And DD1 is loving living in the old house...

Otherwise, things are plugging along. My job is good, kids are doing well...and I am looking forward to the time off next weekend and getting away with the girls.


Oh...got a free flu shot at work...my arm is a little sore, but otherwise, no side effects...hopefully, this will keep me from getting sick this winter!

My son and dil learned today that their new addition is a boy!!! They are the parents of my gd who was recently diagnosed with JRA. Theyve been so focused on taking care of her that they were not sure they wanted to know the sex of this baby....but now, they are very excited about this news!! This means that my three older children will each have a boy and a girl! 6 grandbabies at 48. WOW.

The hub is en route tonight. He will get home in about an hour and a half...he has been traveling all day long, so I am sure he will be pooped. He will be home for two weeks...then back to Alaska he goes. While he is home we will celebrate his birthday with a bbq here at the new house. Our first gathering!! We also have 3 other birthday celebrations...gd (2) and DD2/gd (4) share a birthday all the first week of September...busy time for us for sure!!!

Lots of fun coming up!!

Buying and updating a house is EXPENSIVE, time consuming, hard work, frustrating...and very rewarding.

I have gotten everything done that I wanted with the new house...except the kitchen. I have $$ set aside to do most of it...since other stuff cost more than Id planned, I will need (?)...(um, ok- am choosing) to use a credit card to finish... The good news is that our new budget will provide for that being paid off fairly quickly.

I LOVE THE HOUSE. I love the convenience of being closer to work, stores, library, etc.

Even though it has taken more $$ than I anticipated, Id do it again, no doubt.

On a different note...our grandaughter was diagnosed with JRA. She turns two next month. When she can walk, it is with a noticable limp. She will be getting a steroid shot in her knee next month, which if it goes well, may put the arthritis into remission for up to a year...(?) However, this is the type that can cause blindness, so she will have to have her eyes tested every 3 months... We dont have a pediatrician here who specializes in arthritis, so the kids have to drive 5 hours each way for treatment. I have asked the other 3 grandparents to chip in with me to buy airline tickets so that the kids arent taking extra days off for these trips.

This is the first child in our family thats ever had a serious health issue. It is so hard to see a small child struggle...and hard to watch her parents cope with it.

The hub comes back for two weeks tomorrow. He has been at this job for almost 3 months now. He still loves it, and I have stayed so busy that the time he is gone has flown by...so, it seems to be working.

I do notice that I am watching much less tv and I have taken up reading again...which I love. Right now I am reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett"....so far its excellent.

By the way, even though I havent posted much lately...I am trying to read your blogs as often as possible!!

GD went to the doctor on Friday, but it will be at least a couple more weeks before we learn something definate. In the meantime, we are hoping and praying that her knee is just injured and will heal- making this just an unnerving waiting game.

This weekend was not a frugal one. I have been getting things for the new house and BOY, it adds up quickly. Also, I went so long without replacing furniture that I am opting to buy some new things for the new house. I think it will be really nice when I am done...but all this spending is making my head spin.

Yesterday, I had a stroke of luck...Our local radio show had an auction going...and I scored bigtime when I bought $600 in gift certificates for $330 that I was planning on buying some of our furniture from. That was an instant savings of almost 50%! Used the certificates today and they worked perfectly.

The wood floors are almost installed and the carpet in the bedrooms will be installed on Tuesday. Electrical work was done yesterday and the drywall/painint will be finished this week. So...the big project left is the kitchen.

I got to meet Bill Engvall last night...even got a pic with him!!! The show was very funny...and free!!

Today I spent with my mom and girls...and bought the dining set and couch/loveseat.

Tonight I am relaxing and getting ready for the week ahead.

All in all, an expensive, but good weekend.

One of my grandaughters (22 months) has a potentially serious symptom that showed up this week. Her knee has swollen for no reason. They have ruled out infection and will be testing for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis this afternoon. Boy, it is a whole differnt ball game when you not only have a sick baby...but also have to watch two young parents deal with the pain and helplessness of having their baby sick. Her appointment is in about 5 hours...

Hopefully I can post this afternoon that this was a much less serious symptom.

First of all, I have to thank all of you that post regularly here...my primary form of entertainment the last week has been reading your blogs on my blackberry at night as I have been settling into the new house and waiting for internet...which was turned on TODAY!

The new house became ours one week ago today. We ripped out all the flooring and took out a wall that day. And each day we have been doing what we can until the new flooring is installed this weekend. Tomorrow our satellite tv service is being installed. Once the flooring is installed I will finish moving. This past week, we have been living on dusty plywood floors with the bare essentials. Ironically, my friend from California came to visit and stayed with me...it was interesting to entertain with minimal towels, dishes, etc. But we had a great time. She (and her hub) left early this morning..so tonight is my first home alone night in the new place.

Hopefully, I will get to move in completely in the next two weeks.

The hub had his first homecoming and left again Sunday for a month. Things were so busy while he was home and the time flew by. He is loving his new job...and we found out Monday that he got a $7 an hour raise!!! (he was supposed to get $3, but they decided he has the experience to earn the going rate...) Holy smokes!! The way his hours work, that is a $30k a year raise!!! He is now making almost TRIPLE what he made here.

I am loving our new home. The lady who owned it before me was elderly and took very good care of her yards and flowers...she has some beautiful things growing here. It is so peaceful on the back porch in the evenings.. I have a gardener coming on Saturday to give me a bid. I have never taken care of a yard like this and do not want to kill it...so I plan to hire someone to help teach me...Sadly, the previous owner got very sick during escrow and passed away a few days before the closing...her funeral was on the day her home became mine. Not only do I want to enjoy the yards, I feel a resposibility (to her)to make sure they are cared for.

The Fair is this week...and on Saturday night I get to go see Bill Engvall. He is so funny- I am really looking forward to it. My job got free tickets, so it wont cost anything. (even better!!)

I have to say, lately....life is good!!!

The hub will be home tomorrow night for his two weeks off. Hard to believe its been 4 weeks since he left. If all goes well, the new house will close escrow on the 16th and we can get some things done there before he heads back to Alaska on the night of the 19th.

I am saving as much as I can to pay for the upgrades, etc. that I want to do at the new house. Hard to believe that after 15 years in this house, I am moving...but I am looking forward to it--very excited, actually.

Lots of things happening in the next couple of weeks...

The hub will be home in a week. The last month has flown by, primarily because of all the things that have happened.

First, DD3 had surgery. She is recovering nicely and started back to work Friday night. She is still sore, so she's taking it easy. Her whole disposition has changed- I am sure it is part surgery, part counseling, part getting creepy boyfriend out of the picture. She learned that after she broke up with him, he started doing hard drugs and has gotten into some serious trouble. THANK GOD she realized his demons were bigger than her and she made the break. Unfortuantely, we decided that a restraining order was in order...but thankfully, he now legally can have no contact with her. Honestly, for a family that has no history with drugs, this feels like we are in the twilight zone. Its been a blessing and a nightmare....but thankfully, it is behind us.

Second, the new house. Everything is progressing nicely and I am hoping that we can push the escrow up a week so that we take possession while the hub is here. I am so excited about this.

Finally, nana. Oh boy. She has recovered from her surgery, but she is NOT ok with my move. She has told me that I am letting my dad down by not taking care of her, she has said she has nothing to live for now, she has her doctor concerned that they need to bring in senior services to see what I am doing, she feels like I am deserting her and will not see this any other way. I dont know what else to do or say...I have every intention of making sure she is taken care of. sigh.

Financially, the hub is making amazing money...and when he returns after his two weeks off, he will be making $3 more an hour. Expenses here are much less now. Dinners have been really cheap...usually and artichoke or sandwich for me. I went to Costco yesterday...only spent $6.99, which was for a big tub of red grapes. I have NEVER been to Costco for under $50-100!

This first two weeks home will be expensive. He is wanting some things in Alaska to help pass the time...ie, a tv and an ipod. I can certainly understand why, so, we will get them. He also wants to ship some stuff up there- not sure what yet.

And as a slurge, I made an appointment for a full hour side-by-side massage for us. I think it will be a wonderful treat that we will both enjoy.

The kids/grandkids are all out of town this weekend, so it has been quiet. Plan to sort and pack today.