Gramma Ray's Blog

Ok.

I have posted about our recent problems with NY DMV and an old citation that is not my DHs, but he is having to prove it isnt him....

So today I contacted my credit union and asked them to fax a copy of my February 2002 statement.

OMG

Whew....here is just a small recap of what I saw of my life in 2002:

The first clue...the statement was TEN PAGES LONG! EEK

The day before Valentines Day, I spent a total of $123.96 (this year I spent $2 on candy and wrote DH and DD3 a poem- which they enjoyed, DD3 kept hers.)

The weekend of the anniversary that we MET (huh?): $260 (this year we remembered...umm I think)

My lunches out with friends...over $200
(I go out once month for an average of $15 per month now)

I got $100 PER WEEK allowance. Mochas, pick-me-ups after a long day, birthday gifts bought at last minute, etc...(now I get $20 and many times it lasts all month.

I wont go into detail (cause Id cry tallying it) about the number of Target, Fred Meyer and Walmart trips I made...(one trip alone $195....oh how I wish I remembered what we spent that much on....)

Then there were all the credit card payments...but I made more than the minimum payment ...I just turned around and recharged anyways...

It only cost $22.50 to fill my car...now, its $34.50


This was an eye opening experience...

But I am proud that my statements now read like a book...every expense is budgeted for (even the unexpected) and it is only TWO PAGES.

Our monthly income is more than $2800 LESS than it was then...but yet, we are HAPPIER NOW.

This was a good reminder for me today that this decision (staying home) was the right one for us!!

Is there any sweeter sound in the whole world than when they learn to say 'wuv ou' and then do so out of the blue? I am in gramma heaven.

I received the coupon train in the mail today. Great timing..as I am in need of a MAJOR shop. So my Friday night will be sorting through coupons, perusing the sale ads and making a shopping list...sigh...when did it get to this being the highlight of my Friday night??? lol

Coupon train will go back in the mail MONDAY.

No big money news here...and I don't think that is a bad thing. There is great peace of mind in having a predictable financial life.

DH did make a little overtime, but it will have to go back into the clothing fund since Ms. DD3 has drained it this summer.

This weekend will be all about wood for DH...and so I am going to help and also try to squeeze in some crafting time.

On Sunday, we have been invited to a bbq with a caveat...all the men have to bring their chainsaws and help cut up this friends wood...us women-folk will tend to the cooking and supplying the drinks...

I have been asked to bring that mexican layer dip (you know the refried beans, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, etc..etc..) So I need to get any of those supplies onto the list that I dont already have. These particular friends have a pretty home right on the river...so it will be a fun afternoon.

I dont know if you all have noticed, but DH and I rarely do things with friends together...it is usually with family or he goes with his friends riding or me out to lunch or dinner with mine...So it will be nice to do a 'couple= friends' outing.

The business phones were fairly busy today... Thats a good thing...we have some big bills due right now...yikes.

Have a good one!

The citation arrived from NY today. Appears the person who was driving the vehicle had NO ID and NO INSURANCE..Just gave a name, a bogus NY address and a DOB. Two out of three matched my DHs so they are saying we have to pay $825 or prove it wasnt DH.

So, we have collected work records and I will submit proof that we were insured on that date and whatever else I can find. (Cell phone records, cc records, etc.)

So much for INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty...

In this case, we are GUILTY until we prove DH is innocent...

GEEZE.

7:30am- meet SIL to pick up GD (9 mo)and babysit for the day...

8:00am...get home, play with GD

8:15am.. put GD in jump-up and watch her bounce gleefully

8:17am...'waaah'...me thinks GD wants breakfast...make some rice cereal, find dutch-apple baby food in diaperbag...mix some into cereal...

8:18am...OK Kaitlyn...grammas coming....

8:19am...sit on floor by jump up and start feeding..(mental note...next time, we need a feeding chair of somesort)..up down up down....OOPS...got some of that in your ear, sorry kaitlyn...(Kaitlyn is smiling now)

8:25...Kaitlyn back to bouncing happily...

8:26 Kaitlyn is asking for her bottle now...'waaaah'......

8:28...hold on sweety, grammas making it...

8:30...snuggle up on couch, kaitlyn happy again...

8:32...kaitlyn wants to lay on Grace...Grace has nudged in next to us and has her head on Kaitlyns legs...(Grace does this often)...

9:32...Shhh...Kaitlyn is napping...Grace is napping, all's quiet..

Seriously....I am confessing my naiveness here....but I have been watching that counter on the home page...

U.S. Personal Revolving Credit Debt: $750,170,768,554.45

Its not growing...every time I open a new page, it has reset to 750,170,75something...

Has anyone else noticed this? Am I admitting I am slower than slow...

Are you all ROFL at this??

Am I just too darn bored...

did I just state the very simple obvious???

Is it another April Fools joke?

Or, are we Americans at a debt standstill?? (OK, that one Im just throwing in for fun.)

C'mon, I know at least ONE other blogger has wondered???

So what did Ms. Mail-lady bring today:

$20 rewards check from using my rewards CC for everyday (budgeted) purchases.

Sample of Tsyon premium Chicken Breast. (Foil pouch 7 oz)

Head and Shoulders 'Ocean Lift" shampoo sample from Walmart.

Walmart Samples are alway nice. They are big enough to get at least a couple of uses. I am now in the habit of visiting their site for free samples weekly...and am having fun trying things out and enjoying a 'free' experience (yeah, does a load of laundry constitute an 'experience'...I dunno, but you know what I mean.)

DD3, nana and I stopped at WalMart on the way to the movie.

I needed one of those jumbo mega-bags of dog food (for the 4 adult labs) *cough, cough...back strain... Some lunch supplies for DH, DD3 got the rest of her summer clothes (4 tops, 2 pair shorts) and some new undies and socks...and whats up with teenage girls wanting BOXER SHORTS??? One pair of boxer shorts...sigh...
$98 dollars. cough again.

Filled the tank with gas... $34...ugh...

Then, we had about an hour to kill...so we went to a little mexi diner...One of those not-fast food, but not quite restaurant places...great food...Nana and I split the 'Jr Big Burrito' and were both stuffed if that tells you how big these things are! $11.75 for the three of us...

Then $10.50 for the movie...The Lake House. Reviews weren't so good, but we enjoyed it. I probably enjoyed it just because going to a movie is so rare. (Candy from walmart somehow made its way into my purse to snack on during the show...oops, howd that happen? )

An expensive but fun afternoon. (appx $155!!!!) But I am DONE with DD3s summer clothes shopping (She is going on a camping trip with a school friend for 9 days next week and needed enough clothes to get through most of that time.)

Tomorrow...a NO SPEND DAY FOR SURE! Rather, I will be hitting the wood yard for a day of splitting...let's see, did I pick up Ben-Gay....aicheewawa

**disclaimer: I am not for or against moms working outside the home. I am pro-whatever works for you and your family. This is my story...and the names have not been changed to protect anyone.

As most of you know, I work from home. I used to work long, long hours at a pretty stressful job. (Paid well, but at what cost to my family?)

I wanted to try something new...I wanted to be home with DD3 (13 at the time) and I wanted to be here for my mom and dad.

And in all honesty, I didn't like the person Id become. I was not a very nice person at home...the house was NEVER clean, I was cranky, I didn't have time to spend with those I loved.

At materialistic sacrifice (I dont think thats a bad thing) we adjusted and now I have been home for over a year.

And here is what Ive noticed:
* We eat out as a TREAT rather than a routine.
* I can cook
* DD3s grades have come up
* DH and I can now say we are "happily married"
* I have spent less than $50 on clothes for myself this past year. (and have not bought pantyhose once!!!)
* DD3 is able to be involved because someone is here to taxi her as needed.
* I spend lots of QUALITY time with my g-kids.
* the family stress level is so much lower.
* bugdeting is fun
* water softener does make whites whiter
* grandbabies kisses are pure gold
and the list just goes on.

The (initial) downside of not having money is a thing of the past...My family has adjusted and we live well (which means we are happy, NOT that we spend whatever we want)

And last night, on the way to DD3s Color Guard practice...DD3 said "mom, I wouldnt get to do all of this if you were still working would I"...and I said probably not..and she said "I am really glad your home mom, thanks"....and thats really, all I need.

I need to set up a new line item in the budget, get $70 into it asap and make a weekly deposit to it...I will label it "High School Expenses" YIKES.

It has been a while since I have had a teen in a HS activity.
Day ONE: $70 for the uniform!!!

So I will be massaging the budget today to see how/where I can come up with this new money.

Practice= 2X per week. I live 13 miles outside of town, so I am working on a plan with DD1 & DD2 that will save alot on gas!

DD3 is also working (volunteering) at the library 2X per week in the little town that is 7 miles from home. (other direction) Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Tonight is our first Girls Night Out. DD1,2 &3, nana, me and a couple of friends are going to see the Lake House. Should be fun!

Looks like a great sunny day. Perfect for all the laundry!

Have a good one!

I received two $10 GCs to Linens n Things today. Those will go into the Christmas stash .

I have received the items I odered thru QVC and Ebay last week, so I need to send in the shipping cost rebates to Insiders Club.

Doing all of these little projects is like a fun, part-time job. It is certainly not going to make me rich, but it is definately worth the effort. I figure I spend and hour or two a week...and so far Ive made over $200 in cash and GCs. Money I would not have had otherwise.

I am piling more stuff up for the dump run this week. I tend to collect 'containers'that stuff comes in, just incase I need it for something someday...and I have decided that most need to go. I cant declutter and not change my thought process....It just hurts the brain when you first start. (DD1 aka Budgetmomma, if your reading this, please stop laughing now).

Bbq chicken for dinner tonight....
and that won't be until DH comes home from golfing...
and then DD3 has to go to her first Colorguard meeting (her first extra-curricular for High School)
So a busy night.

Have a good one!

We took the 'dads' out to dinner last night...except for DD1 and her DH...'cause DD1 is sick

We went to mexican and enjoyed some great food and some margarita's. Everyone shared the bill...so it came to about $20 per person. More than we normally like to spend...but oh so much fun...and it was for Fathers Day. (The dads all loved it!)

Then we came here and nana had made strawberry pie on chocolate crusts! Yum!

Fun, fun, fun!

The flowers my friend sent me for my b-day had their final hoorah this weekend.

But the basket that they came in has found a new life and inspired me to get cracking on my craft fair projects.

I took the handled basket and added a dollar store wreath to it...and then a few embellishments that are left over from last year and here is what I came up with.

Now mind you, this is 'rough'. In it's final form, there sill be more color and some little lights and everything will be arranged better...but I wanted to share a successful story on a little recycled basket!

Here goes:

I invited nana to go shopping today. She loves to get out and go, and my dad is just not able to go much anymore. So when I get a free day, I try to take nana along.

We went to the department store that is changing to Macy's in a couple of months and has everything on clearance. Nana got a couple of great deals for Christmas (since DD1 is a member of the site, I can't divulge everything...but nana did good!!)

I bought my DIL a really pretty silver bracelet for Christmas. It was normally $18...clearanced down to $2.34 She loves silver jewelry so I think she will really like this!

That was all I bought today. I used to drop at least $100 each time I went to this store...and when there was a sale, look out! But anymore, I am pretty focused and frugal. (nana spent about $65 today...all great deals)

I can tell you about nana's new moo-moo...Nana loves to wear these...and the brighter, the better. {shaking my head smiling} So we were in the lengerie dept and way across the room I notice this super bright, hawaiian moo-moo that stands out like no other..."Look Nana, there is a great moo-moo for you" (tongue in cheek...or so I think.)

So, off we go to the register...moo-moo in tow...and $10.07 later, she is the proud owner of it. lol

When I get old I want to wear purple...no ...bright moo-moos. LOL---sorry, but it was too cute.

Is it safe to get out of bed?

Ok...I SERIOUSLY could not make this stuff up...I swear as I sit here this TRULY happened today...

(Have you read all my posts?? DH finally over leg infection scare, Neighbor kids showing up at the crack of dawn, DHs 'ticket' in NY, cranky GS, Grace eating my dinner...Its been such a day...

But in the mail today, DH got a letter from the Veterans Administration...

Seems some VA employee took home an electronic file, unauthorized mind you....and then....that file was STOLEN!!

What did the file have? Only the name, address, social secuirty number, and other ID on (a LOT of)military personnel.

But dont worry, it goes on to say...there was no financial information in the file...ummm, like.. 'they' have all they need already....

Then it goes on to tell the 'possible implications' of having this information stolen...you know IDENTITY THEFT type stuff...

And theres no way this and the NY thing are connected because the NY thing happened 4 years ago.

I swear, I absolutely could not have scripted a more frustrating day....

and now this.

sigh.

That's it!

With the day I have had today, I am calling the horse food company...any one got the number??? I can ship my donation... One 12 yo yellow lab who has just dropped the last straw.

Took DD3 to a friends for the night...on the way home stopped and bought boneless skinless chicken breast and cooked it up when I got home for dinner, and this weekends salads...and DARNED if I didn't do a SUPER job on it...nice and brown, seasoned to perfection...then gently laid out to drain and cool before going into the fridge...

Then GS woke up from his nap...so I took him up to nana and papas. Can you say C-R-A-N-K-Y...boy that lil guy woke mighty unhappy...

but wait, this blog is about horse food, not GS...

So nana asks, would you like to stay for dinner...
I proudly say, NO, we are having Chicken Ceasars...and my mouth is WATERING...

Long story, but GS needs some tylenol, so I run home to get it...and when I come in, Grace has that "oh sh*t, Im busted" stance about her...

I know that stance...what did she do???

And when I get to the kitchen, the evidence (or whats left of it- an empty paper towel) is all to clear...
Yep, she helped herself to my cooling chicken...ate it all!!!

So, I am researching horse food factories tonight...I am sure I can find one that wants an aged, WELL FED dog for the mix...

And how is Grace taking all this...Yeah, she's worried...so much so that she is napping at DHs feet, like nothing ever happened.

hmph....

No, no headlines of a Man Gone Postal in Oregon DMV today...but I wouldnt have blamed DH one bit if he did...

Oregon DMV: There is nothing we can do to help you. We are simply abiding by New York's DMV and suspending your license until you reslove the issue with them.

DH: WTF! I have never STEPPED FOOT in NY...So what you are saying is that because some *&%^$ gave a name and DOB that matches mine, I am GUILTY until I prove otherwise???

Oregon DMV: Yep. You'll have to resolve this with them.
NEXT!

OK....so now you know...if someone has no ID on them, (which is what the story is) and gives an erroneous name (not even with a middle name or initial) and a date of birth that happens to match yours...provides a FAKE address, and NOT OTHER PROOF OF WHO THEY ARE, YOU can have your license suspended and/or be held accountable for a $875 fine UNLESS you can prove that your were not in that state 4 years ago on a SATURDAY (so therefore, no work records to help prove it).

banging my head against the wall...as I try to see the logic is this beauracratic bullsh*t.

ARGH!

8:45am....

knock, knock...
me: who in the world...
open the door...neighbor girl (10) and her friend.

me: Yes?
them: Can we come in?
me: Why?
them: Cause your house is 'fun'...
DH *$#&%^!! DMV *%&^$@@ DMV
me: Dont you have anwhere else to go?
them: No, we want to see you
me: why? I dont like kids
them: Yes you do, your house is the funnest house...
DH: #(*%&% DMV
me: I suppose
them: do you have anything to eat?
(they head to kitchen and get a snack. You see, they know where the snacks are cause they stop by almost daily)
them: do you have anything for us to do?
me: think a minute...
me: Yes, here are two old plastic coffee containers,(poked holes in the bottom) some flower seeds (had to pick out of three different kinds)and some planting soil...take them OUTSIDE and plant away...
DH: *(%& DMV, Ill be back...
Door slams- and they all are OUT..
me: blessed silence...

Daily ritual during the summer...and I dont even like kids...

DH is on a rampage...and Im staying outa his way...

Seems that 'someone' in NY got pulled over in 2002...The person had no ID, but told them a name and a birthday....

Which is a match to my DH (He has a common name)

NY DMV is saying he either has to pay the fine (over $800) or submit proof that he was not in NY...Hello? we live/work in Oregon...

and it will take 2-3 MONTHS to get it removed!!

Mind you, they are suspending DHs license here....and his job requires him to have a commercial DL...

So, now he is taking his day off...to spend in the DMV and argue his case...

for those who know him...DH has said he is going to make Dennis Leery look like a saint today....(oh boy)

As I said, Im staying outa his way...

(** Cost so far: 1 HOUR phone call to NY, gas to get to DMV...

** future possible costs: court fees for a husband who went POSTAL at the DMV....

egads.

And sure enough...$109 and change for me today!!!

However, they had the heavy duty leather work gloves that DH and I wear when processing the wood...and normally I spend $16 per pair. Costco sells them for 3pr for $18...so I bought both of us a box (he wears large and I need S or M)...My box will probably last 3 years since (so far)I only go through a pair each year.

Then I bought lunch meat, hamburger, bread for my mom and for my family, romain lettuce, margarita mix , and cheese. Was able to pass up all the 'fun' stuff without any of it landing in the cart!

DD3 started her volunteer job at the library today...came home with a red "damage noted" stamp on her forehead...oh to be 14 again. Today was story time so she got to help with all the little kids. She seemed to have enjoyed it!

Tonight we are grilling hamburgers and having Ciabatta Burgers (yum!)

DHs leg is on the mend!! So hopefully he wont have to have any more shots.
** Wierd thing happened today. He received a notice from the Oregon DMV that his license was suspended in NEW YORK and that he will be unable to have his Oregon license until he clears it up...DH has never even been to NY, much less had a license there....I am hoping, hoping that it is a mix up and not a case of identity theft....I'll know more once he gets home because he called NY today to try to find out what was up. :|

The sun is out today...so laundry is on the line.

And life is very, very good.

Have a good one!

Two more shots for DH this afternoon...and two more tomorrow...They are giant and hurt...but the alternative is to go into the hospital!
In addition, he is taking 1000 mg 2X per day...Leg is still red, but the swelling has gone down a little.

Today was a no spend day (yes!). Since the phones were fairly quiet, I got quite a bit of housework done. So I feel like Ive made some progress!

I have postponed laundry for a couple of days in the hopes of some sunny weather to line dry...but no such luck so I am going to tackle some of it tonight and resort to the dreaded dryer...

Chicken picatta for dinner tonight (yum!) One of my very favorites!!!

Have a good one!

I emailed Cercis to find out how she was and here is her reply:

"I'll be back, probably in the fall. Things got REALLY busy and I was letting some commitments slide, so I had to cut back somewhere.

Hopefully in the fall I'll have more time and can report some great financial progress.

C"

So she is still out there, just sounds very busy!!!

Just FYI!

Christmas is coming...here's how I know:

Each year we do a 'girls trip' in October. My mom, daughters, dil, and I all caravan up to a place called Lake Oswego (a small town near Portland) and stay at the Residence Inn...

We get the 'penthouse'- which is a nice, two story apartment that sleeps all 6 of us comfortably, has a kitchen, a bath upstairs and downstairs (good for nana, who doesn't do stairs well) a fireplace, and comes with complimentary breakfast and nighttime dessert.

We stay for 2 nights and hit the Saturday Market (artsy, craftsy stuff) Trader Joes (we dont have one here- so a real treat), the outlet stores, a mall, a movie, dinner out one night. Just some good bonding time and a nice kick off for the Holidays. (little ones stay home with their daddies)

I made the reservations today.

- Because we split the cost 6 ways, it is fairly reasonable for a weekend away and we always have a great time...this is year 3 for us!

Jingle bells, jingle bells...

DH has had some pain in his leg the last couple of days. We thought a wierd infection had started...although no fever or sign of anything oozy...no injury...just pain...

DH just called and the doctor suspects a sizable blood clot. Huh?

I am not familiar with a sudden, unexplained blood clot...

So DH will be going for an ultrasound in about an hour...the Dr mentioned the possiblity of the drug Cumadin?

Have any of you had or know someone who's had a blood clot come out of the blue like this??? Im off to google this...

** Update- Ultrasound did not show clot, but Dr is concerned about the size of his leg (swelling)...poor DH got a shot in EACH hiney cheek...and has antibiotics...they suspect infection down near the bone?...if not better by tomorrow, DH goes into the hospital. In the meantime, off his leg... tick, tock, tick, tock...the wait and see game begins.

Here are the dynamic duo just after graduation last night...

Notice DD3s attire...she has on the beautiful dress...but was determined to go out 'her way'...hence the sweat pants and tennis shoes...lol

DD3 just left for her last day of school for the year. It is a half day today- and they are just signing yearbooks.

It has been raining here for several days...A wonderful thunderstorm that brings such drama with the loud rolling thunder. I am very much enjoying it.

The weather is supposed to clear up tomorrow. So I am holding off on laundry until I can use my clothesline again.

I requested a $20 check from my rewards card this morning...and DHs ING account is complete...so there is a $25 bonus that can be withdrawn in a month.

So, my challenge is at:
$354.29
+ 25.00 ing bonus
+ 20.00 cc reward bonus
$399.29!!!

Mail call--- I received a $25 Pier One gc in the mail today. This is what I finally chose from Gift Certs .com.

I sure enjoy opening envelopes like these!! Mail is fairly profitable anymore!!!

This is going into the gift pile for b-days and Christmas!

A milestone tonight. DD3 is graduating from middle school. It is an odd feeling to have your last child moving into her high school years. She has grown up so much in middle school.

I am happy and sad at the same time.

She is wearing a beautiful pink formal that we bought several months ago (on clearance, of course )

She will be beautiful and mom will be teary. And life goes on.

I thought I would dovetail the lynch mob blog that yummy saves wrote.

I had an experience on Friday that would have got them lynching if it were going to happen....

This was the day that I wrote the check for $61, after shaving over $70 off the bill...

First sign that this was not going to be easy:

Checker "Hi, how are you? This is my second day checking"
Me: gulp...um, I have alot of coupons...
Checker: "That's ok"

So I carefully laid out my coupons, separating store from manufacturer, doubles and my $10 off for $50...and finally my COKE COUPON for 5 free....

I wont go into detail about how many times she interrupted her buddy checker that was on the next register over...or how coupons weren't ringing up so she just kept rescanning the items and my bablance kept increasing...or how the buddy said "THERE IS NO COUPON FOR 5 ITEMS..." WHATS THAT??? IVE NEVER SEEN THAT?? and how a manager had to come and override the 5 cokes...

Or how another checker was called to open her line and take the poor lady who had walked up just after my order was being rung up (she only had two things)...
Or the next lady in line who was laying across her shopping cart when I finally finished...

Or how when it was all over, the manager took me to another register to refund what Id been overcharged...

or how when I got home I realized they did not take off $1.78 for one of the coupons....

I'll just say...I did not get lynched...I might have turned a shade of red or two...but no public hangings...

For the most part, all involved were patient and kind...

But I bet the poor checker will remember day 2 for quite a while.

I haven't had a blender for years. I have thought it would be convienient..but it was never high on the priority list.

I was at a department store that has revcently sold to Macy's and they are getting rid of things at a deeply discounted price....and the floor model of the blender (Farberware, i believe is the brand)....for $16!!! So I nabbed it!

I have "home improvement" built into my budget...and we havent used it in a while so there is well over $200 in it...so I was able to easliy pay for this new appliance...Ok, so it is stretching the definition of 'home improvement' a little, but it works for me .

Now I just have to find ways to put it to good use!!!