Back To Normal?

Eh.... probably not! I keep thinking that  everything is going to settle down. I keep being wrong. I spent a good portion of the week on the road for work (remembered my suitcase this time!!!!) Had a health screening at work, and discovered what I already knew.... I need to lose weight and eat healthier and do some exercise. Seeing my actual bloodwork numbers though made me wake up in ways that my too tight jeans just haven't. I'm rethinking a lot of my choices at the moment.

While I was on the road this week, Princess Penelope developed a Migraine. A lovely 48 hour excruciating headache. Fortunately she was staying with my VBFF who is like her second Mom, so she was well cared for until I got back. This morning had us at the doctor's office to do something about these headaches (they've kind of been blown off or blamed on sinuses in the past). Four hours later, I think we're on the right course now.

The doctor gave me a signed State form allowing Princess to keep the medicine on her at all times. I dropped the rx at the drugstore and ran to the school to turn in the forms. The school nurse informed me that she can't have the rx with her, it has to be turned in to her in its original bottle. Which means in order to have some at home and some at school, the pharmacy has to give me each rx with two bottles. I run back to the pharmacy and the rx is ready, but since I need the extra "original" bottles, I have to wait another 15 minutes. I take the meds back to the school to give to the school nurse, only to be told that the forms aren't valid because they were written with the namebrand name and the pharmacy filled with generic. So, back to the doctor's office to have him fill the forms out with the generic names of the rxs. Then back to the school to turn the meds and forms in. That whole episode took me about 3 1/2 hours of running around and waiting... and cost me about half a tank of gas and a missed full day of work. Ugh.

I MUST go grocery shopping!

I couldn't tell you why, but I am just not feeling the grocery vibe lately. Probably because I've had zero time to plan out anything. But its definitely time to get back on track. So, I guess I will go and peruse the publix ad, then get to work on that HUGE stack of coupon inserts that I have yet to clip! How's that for a fun Saturday night?!?!?!?!

Took longer than I thought...

This week seemed endless.... I can't believe how much I have crammed into it! Had the big work conference, regular office days, worked the side gig, traveled some and in the midst of it all.... a root canal. Completely and 100% wiped out my cafeteria plan for the year in one swoop. Yeah, I'm hoping we don't get sick.

That toothache that was nagging me a week or so ago? Came back with a vengeance Tuesday. Wednesday I was just praying for the conference to end. Soon as it was over I called the dentist and begged to be seen. They worked me in.....thankfully.But all that time in the chair means my jaw still hurts. Today, I had real food for the first time since Wednesday morning. Sleep has been virtually nonexistent. I haven't figured out the budget and now I have to rework it completely to make sure I have money to cover any medical or dental care (copays, deductibles, etc) we may need over the nine months.

I think I'm going to take a nap now.

Missed Me?

I have been totally out of pocket for the last few days and I sincerely apologize. Its been a horrendously busy time! I've gotten really kicked off with my side gig and that seems to be going great, but it has taken up quite a bit of my so-called free time. Added to that, we've had our huge industry state conference this week for my real job  --- I haven't walked in the door at night yet this week until at least 8 o'clock (last night was 9:30).

Can you say TIRED? I am absolutely positively worn out. Tomorrow, I should be home by 7, with several hours of work to do when I get home and Thursday it will probably be at least 9 before I get to change into my comfies!

I haven't checked my facebook, only glanced through my email and haven't earned the first swagbuck in DAYS! But I should be better settled into a regular routine within the next few days. I hope, at least!

There ought to be a law....

I really think there ought to be a law that if you cut your grass on Sunday it should not grow so much that it needs it again the following Friday!

Last Sunday, I cut the grass for the first time this spring. I have a big yard, that is on a big slope. It takes quite a while to get it all cut. Of course it rained not long after and rained all day Monday too. In the Spring, rain is like speed for grass. I got back in town yesterday and then this morning walked out on the deck with my cup of coffee. While I was gone, I swear that grass shot up 8 inches! So, I had to cut it again when I got home from work today.

Every year I toy with the idea of paying someone to do it for me, but then I realize that I'd rather get keep that $200 each month, so I still do it myself and will probablly continue to do it myself. I have a great mower that I LOVE and it was quite an investment. I paid about $350 for it in 2006. Considering that grass needs to be cut here well into October, and the quotes for having someone else cut my yard were about $100 every two weeks.... I think I'll continue to cut it myself! But you might here me complain about it some more!

Time to figure it all out....

Obviously with my grand screw-up of Tuesday I've got to figure out how far I've pushed our budget out of bounds. I know I've blown out the clothing budget since I had to get work clothes and such for two full days. I know I've blown out the "Misc" budget. I think I'm still under budget for groceries. The gas bill is teetering dangerouly close to the brink because of skyrocketing gas prices.  And, we're only halfway through the month. 

So tomorrow, when I get back in town, its time to do some serious number crunching!!!!!

Sure wish my tax refund would hurry up and get here!

A Costly Mistake

As I've mentioned before I have to travel a bit for work. I generally go out of town 4-5 times per month. That's not quite as bad as it seems because most of my trips are day trips, there and back in the same day. Today, however, I left to head down to Mobile. I packed my suitcase up, dropped Thing 2 at the vet for boarding -- Princess Penelope and Thing 1 are staying with a friend of mine while I'm gone. (This friend has a 3 pound chihuahua so Thing 2 visiting over there is not really an option.) I got to my office and realized I had left my GPS at home, so I made a mental note to swing back by on my way out of town and grab that.

My rental car was delivered at 10, and I hit the road around 11, ran by the house and grabbed the GPS and hit the road. I left out one very important step. I didn't get my suitcase out of my car. And I didn't realize it until I pulled up to my hotel ---- four hours from home! I'm in this town until Thursday and I had no clothes, no makeup, no toiletries. Fortunately my hotel was able to give me (gratis) toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc. But I had the issue of needing CLOTHES for the next two days that are work suitable.

So I hopped in the car and headed to Target. The Target close to my house always has a HUGE clearance section with lots of stuff marked 75% off. Not the case at this one. I walked out of there having spent $141 on stuff that I have at home, or rather in my car!!!!!!!! Just on stuff to get me through work the next couple of days!

So after my Target spree, I met my Aunt and Cousin for dinner (which was a budgeted expense) and that was wonderful! I did manage to swing by Kohl's after dinner and managed to pick up two items that I bought at Target for $45 combined, for $13 combined! Will be making another trip to Target tomorrow to take those items back.

I hope I've learned my lesson, because this was simply painful. So much for thinking I was going to possibly break even this month! ugh.