Range Day

As I mentioned yesterday, Range Day is one of my favorite days of the year. Brave Friend and I loaded up and headed to the Firing Range at about 7:30. We got there around 8 and helped our PD friends set up for the rest of our group who would start trickling in around 9. I must say, those guys thought of everything to keep us as comfortable as a 98 degree day would allow. Several tents -- one for sitting in to wait your turn, and two to house the tables for the hardware and ammunition as well as the eye and ear protection for everyone. Huge bottles of sunscreen, and coolers upon coolers of water and sports drinks to keep us all hydrated. I absolutely cracked up as the guys seemed positively bumfuzzled by setting up the tents, so I had to kick in my former soccer mom knowledge and show them how to get the tents set up without smashing your fingers and uttering all kinds of colorful words!

Brave Friend brought along her own personal Glock, so it was great to try it out. I'm not half bad with it quite honestly, although I could probably do a lot better if it didn't make me so nervous:

We also were able to use several guns that your average person just doesn't have --- one of my favorites to try was the MP-5. We started out with it just firing once but I worked my way up to full automatic. I was actually pretty darn good with this gun. But its definitely not a toy.

The last gun we tried out was a LaRue Gas Powered 308 -- also known as a sniper rifle. That is a powerful machine! I felt a bit sorry for my instructors as they constantly had to readjust their thinking to accomodate my left handedness! The gun itself is incredibly heavy and gives me an amazing amount of respect for those that have to haul it into position to deal with certain situations. To make adjustments in the site lines I had to rest part of it on my fist, and my hand today is sore and bruised from those few minutes with it... but it was incredible --- and I hit the target!

I came away from the day with and even greater respect for what our Blue Line does to keep us safe. The training, knowledge, patience and cool-headedness they have to have in order to do their jobs day in and day out is absolutely mind-boggling. And although it was an extremely FUN day, it wasn't just fun and games. These aren't toys and safety and education came first on every weapon we were given the opportunity to try.

Experiments in Air Drying

I think I MIGHT have mentioned the freakishly high temperatures we've been having. Just maybe. And that the AC runs all day, but it never gets below 80 in the house. So, I've been hoping for a break in the weather and have put off doing laundry because I really didn't want to heat the house up with running the dryer. Well, I just can't put it off any longer. And these temps aren't breaking.

I've always hung most of my work clothes up to dry and quite a few of our nicer clothes. They tend to last longer that way, and black doesn't fade as fast. Honestly, most of them are some sort of blend, so they do really well that way. I tend to just put them on hangers, hang them up over the shower curtain rod, and when they are dry, just pop them in the closets. No ironing required. That works for us.

I have never been a fan though, of air-dried towels, undies, sheets, towels, socks, etc. However, at this point I'm desperate enough to give it a try. I figure I'll air dry them and then pop them in the dryer for about 10 minutes after they are all dry and crackly to soften them up. However, that shower curtain rod isn't going to handle the weight of a full load of laundry (that includes jeans), so I need another solution. I just didn't see myself draping wet clothes all over my wood furniture. Clothes lines are not really an option where I live. So I dragged a plastic utility table out onto the deck and have laid the heavier clothes out there to dry. The shape of my house and the elevation makes to where the neighbors would have to really look hard to see it the clothes up there. So I'm testing out the air drying today on one load of clothes. I'll see how well the 10 minutes in the dryer works, and if it works well, I'm heading out tomorrow to buy an actual rack for this purpose.

Regardless of the outcome of this experiment, I don't see it becoming a  year round thing, as its kind of labor intensive. However, I can see it as a summertime thing. We will see how it goes.

Firing It Up

Today looks like it will be super super fun! I am heading to the firing range with our Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. Range Day is one of my favorite days of the year. Let me start by saying, I don't really like guns. They scare me. What one can do with them really scares me. However, I do believe that everyone should be educated about guns and gun safety! You just never know when you might need that knowledge.
That being said --- I simply adore range day.

Our local PD sets it up for the alums, (if you have the opportunity to take a Citizen's Police Academy course in your area I HIGHLY recommend it --- it gives you an incredible insight into what our finest do day in and day out to keep us safe in our little bubble!). Anyway, throughout the day we'll fire a number of weapons with proper instruction, guidance and supervision. Safety is the first priority, but it is a LOT of fun and a great education!

The heat will hit the upper 90s again today so the main challenge will be staying fully hydrated and avoiding a nasty sunburn. I can't wait!

The Heat is On

The last few days have seen record heat recorded for this time of year in Alabama. Yes, generally Alabama is hot in the summertime. But its not generally hitting record highs in early June. It has been positively miserable. The AC wasn't working properly in my office at the beginning of the week. Fortunately they seem to have resolved the issue. It is AMAZING how much more productive one can be when working at the proper temperature!

Our AC at home has been running constantly for days. And I'm not one of those people that sets it on 70! Its running constantly on 80. Two years ago we had to remove two huge shade trees because of structural and disease issues with the trees. I miss those trees and the afternoon shade they provided. We are using plenty of fans to keep the air circulating.

Cooking is a real issue when its this hot! Dinner still has to be served. (I did a post on this previously, but a blogger flip out ended up deleting it so I'll repeat myself). I don't like heating up my kitchen when it is already ridiculously hot and the AC is working overtime as it is. So I've found a few helpful solutions.

1. The toaster oven - uses less electricity and puts less heat into the kitchen. With just two of us to cook for, often times it makes a lot more sense to pop rolls into this instead of firing up the oven!

2. Stovetop - while I'm not a fan of always slaving over a hot stove, it can be a much more economical choice than the oven. And don't forget what we learned in Home Ec 101 - putting a lid on the pan when you're bringing water to a boil makes it boil faster -- the less time you are spending getting it to the proper temperature, the less energy wasted, and the less heat pouring into your kitchen!

3. Microwave - Now don't roll your eyes. I was NOT a fan of microwave cooking until this came into my life:

The Pampered Chef Deep Covered Baker. This is microwave and oven friendly and has become my new best friend in the kitchen. Gone are the days of rubber chicken from the microwave! I can do fajitas in a flash. Baked Ziti in almost Zero time! Enchiladas are super easy! A whole roasted non rubber chicken in 30 minutes. Sigh. I LOVE this thing!

4. The Fridge --- yes, we're consuming our share of pasta salads, fruit salads and any other salad you can think of. Sometimes, its just too dang hot to have a hot meal!

5. The Grill --- why heat up the house when its already blazing outside! Take the food prep outdoors -- then bring it inside to enjoy in the relative cool. Honey Bourbon Rosemary Chicken is a particular favorite around here!

Y'all keep it cool now --- I'm off to face another day of wilting heat!

Still working on that budget

Maybe I'll be lucky enough to have it done by the END of the month?!?!?! Yikes. I had plans to work on it until it was done when I got home from work. But then at 330 I got a phone call. A customer from my side gig with buyers remorse. I think I've got her issue dealt with, but I had to do some research on it, I explained that I was still at work but as soon as I could get home and research the problem I'd call her back. I called her back as soon as I could get the research done. She was in traffic so said she had to call me later. I anwered on the first ring and tried to provide her with the necessary information she needed to resolve the issue. She cut me off because she had houseguests.... (ummm.... didn't she call ME?) Anyway, I'm still waiting for her to call me back. However, if she calls after 930, I'm not answering because I am going to bed! If it can wait through her dinner party, it can wait til tomorrow.

I know that sounds tacky but I've spent a good four hours on trying to get her situation (which by the way was of her own doing) resolved and it will be at great cost to me in lost commission that has already posted. And I'm tired. And I have another full day of the real job tomorrow. So I'm going to bed. End of whining.

On the bright side though --- I resisted the urge to grab takeout since my day had gone to hades in a handbasket, and cooked at home instead. Day 2 of June's No Eating Out... I'm rocking that!

Maybe I'll work on the budget tomorrow!

Planning Ahead

In previous months I have done a lousy job of planning ahead for irregular expenses. Quarterly life insurance payment always seems to take me by surprise. So do things like car tags. And back to school registration expenses. For me, those three things will all hit again the month of August. That is roughly $450 worth of expenses that I know will occur in that month but I never seem to plan for. Added to that will be the cost of things like graduation announcements, senior portraits and cap and gown rental as Princess Penelope's senior year progresses.

Well NO MORE! I am going to try and PLAN for these costs! I'm reworking my budget to include a separate savings goal for these things. I am tired of this stuff busting the budget! It is definitely time to make a plan for those. I'm in the process of re-working my budget. I need to account for my raise that goes effective July 1 -- as well as these costs. I need to figure out how to cut more unnecessary spending so that I can quit freaking out every month.

Part of my plan is to go on a no eating out binge for the month of June. Laziness and convenience led to major overruns in the eating out category for the month of June. And most of that was drive-thru convenience and not anything I remember actually enjoying! The one exception to this rule is travel days for work, because I am reimbursed for that, but I'm not reimbursed for the cost of food if I brown bag it.

So in analyzing thus far, this is where I can cut expenses easiest. I think I can do this ---- a stress free August looms on the horizon if I pull it off..... and wouldn't that be nice?

Worst Mother EVER?

I swear I looked like the world's worst mom today at Publix. I went in to take advantage of the deals and the $5 off $30 coupon in today's paper and of course the penny item. Since summer is here, there's a lot more munching going on in my house with teenagers in and out the door. So, time to stock up on junk! But as I was checking out, the guy in front of me had organic yogurt and fruit. The guy behind me had all kinds of fruits, veggies, meats, plus some junk. Me, basically, I had junk. I plan to hit Aldi later this week for produce and other "good" stuff. Anyway, here's how I did:

1 Publix American Singles (Penny Item)
10 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
2 Taco Bell Dinners
2 Cesar Dog Treats
4 Publix Shells & Cheese
3 Bailey's Coffee Creamer
4 Coffee Mate Creamer
2 Doritos
4 Ramen Noodles
1 Mrs T Periogi
1 Nestle Cookie Dough
1 Stouffers Family Sized Dinner
1 Tombstone Pizza
Wine
3 Country Crock
1 Pillsbury Frosting
1 Breakstone Sour Cream

Spent: $49.42
Saved: $67.04 or 58%