As this year comes to a close, the re-evaluation process needs to start. I need to analyze my goals from 2011, what got accomplished and what didn't, I also need to plan for new ones for 2012. This will be a big year for us. Princess will graduate from high school and head off to college.
But today, I don't want to do that. I just want to sit back, relax and enjoy the first stressfree day I've had in a long time. Today, I am happy and joyful and full of optimism about the future.
Farewell 2011! And a bright, happy "Hello!" to 2012! Y'all stay safe tonight!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Back to Reality
I hope each and every one of you had a wonderful, peaceful and blessed Christmas. Ours was wonderful. I spent the days leading up to in a flurry of baking, cooking, cleaning and last minute trips to the grocery store. The fabulous thing about having a teenager that drives is that you can send them with a list to pick up those last minute things. The not so fabulous thing? Even with a list they forget something!
I spent yesterday relaxing and getting the house back in some semblance of order. Its not the
re yet, but its slowly is getting there. I also went out to Target to get slip covers for my hand-me-down den chairs. I got several Target gift cards for Christmas and this is what I wanted them for. I also managed to pick up a couple of ornaments for next year gift giving, but passed on the Justin Beiber and Spongebob gift wrap (that's all that was left that late in the day). I will keep my eyes open over the next few days for paper I like because although I only had to purchase ribbon and gift tags this year, my paper is stock is now very low.
Today, I head back to work after 6 days off. Its hard to get motivated this morning. I'm drinking my coffee and wishing I could just snuggle back in bed! Cold, rainy weather isn't helping my motivation either!
I hope you all survived the insanity of the Christmas season with joy, laughter and love. Now, back to the real world!
I spent yesterday relaxing and getting the house back in some semblance of order. Its not the
re yet, but its slowly is getting there. I also went out to Target to get slip covers for my hand-me-down den chairs. I got several Target gift cards for Christmas and this is what I wanted them for. I also managed to pick up a couple of ornaments for next year gift giving, but passed on the Justin Beiber and Spongebob gift wrap (that's all that was left that late in the day). I will keep my eyes open over the next few days for paper I like because although I only had to purchase ribbon and gift tags this year, my paper is stock is now very low.
Today, I head back to work after 6 days off. Its hard to get motivated this morning. I'm drinking my coffee and wishing I could just snuggle back in bed! Cold, rainy weather isn't helping my motivation either!
I hope you all survived the insanity of the Christmas season with joy, laughter and love. Now, back to the real world!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Well, That Was a Close One!!!!!
Sunday morning, Murphy paid a visit in the form of a car that wouldn't start.....not the happiest thing a week before Christmas. Yesterday morning, my Dad picked me up to take me by the mechanic's place to drop off the keys and then take me on to work. We got there a little early before they opened and my mechanic walked out saying he was just about to call me since my car was sitting there. I explained to him what was going on, gave him the key, asked him also do the preventive maintenance while he was at it, and went on to work.
Shortly before lunchtime, I got a phone call...... he'd retested the battery and it wasn't showing as well as it did when it was tested the day before. He felt they have a better machine in his shop for testing. Good news was that since I had gotten it there, it was still under partial warranty, so only $25 for the replacement. He also replaced a valve that should take care of that belching exhaust, $18 for that and he was waiving the labor because he felt his guys should have noticed the corrosion on the battery when they did my last oil change. He had a coupon for me for the fuel system cleaning, and were doing the transmission servicing. Total damage, with tax, was $166.88. Phew! I had budgeted $200 for the two maintenance services (mainly because I couldn't remember exactly what they quoted me before but knew it was over $150 but below $200 and gave some wiggle room!).
So, $33.12 under what I'd planned even with Murphy coming into the picture!!!!!! I am SO relieved.
Shortly before lunchtime, I got a phone call...... he'd retested the battery and it wasn't showing as well as it did when it was tested the day before. He felt they have a better machine in his shop for testing. Good news was that since I had gotten it there, it was still under partial warranty, so only $25 for the replacement. He also replaced a valve that should take care of that belching exhaust, $18 for that and he was waiving the labor because he felt his guys should have noticed the corrosion on the battery when they did my last oil change. He had a coupon for me for the fuel system cleaning, and were doing the transmission servicing. Total damage, with tax, was $166.88. Phew! I had budgeted $200 for the two maintenance services (mainly because I couldn't remember exactly what they quoted me before but knew it was over $150 but below $200 and gave some wiggle room!).
So, $33.12 under what I'd planned even with Murphy coming into the picture!!!!!! I am SO relieved.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Murphy Arrived For A Pre-Christmas Visit
My weekend was humming along nicely, until Murphy decided to show up for a visit. Yesterday morning, I hopped in my car to head our for a quick errand. I put my seatbelt on, put the key in the ignition and "whirr, whirr, whirr, whirr", but it didn't turn over. Took the key out, put it back in and tried again. Crap. One more time. Same result. Ugh. Ironically, I had just been telling a friend of mine that I needed to take the car in this week for transmission service and fuel system cleaning. Perhaps I put that off too long?
Anyway, so I called my Dad and he came over and looked under the hood. There was some corrosion going on around the battery and the connector cables, so he cleaned those off well, then took the battery out and took it to AutoZone to have it tested. The battery was fine and dandy. He put it back in and we tried to crank it again. Same result. This means it needs to go into the shop. So we decided to go ahead and try and get it over there, even though they were closed. Thought it might be easier to get it up and going then instead of stressing over it on Monday morning. So, after several attempts to jump start, it finally cranked with a massive belch of exhaust and I drove it over to the shop.
My Dad will pick me up this morning and take me over to the shop to give them my key, as well as to discuss the potential problems. I SO did not need this right now --- of course do we ever REALLY need it?
Anyway, so I called my Dad and he came over and looked under the hood. There was some corrosion going on around the battery and the connector cables, so he cleaned those off well, then took the battery out and took it to AutoZone to have it tested. The battery was fine and dandy. He put it back in and we tried to crank it again. Same result. This means it needs to go into the shop. So we decided to go ahead and try and get it over there, even though they were closed. Thought it might be easier to get it up and going then instead of stressing over it on Monday morning. So, after several attempts to jump start, it finally cranked with a massive belch of exhaust and I drove it over to the shop.
My Dad will pick me up this morning and take me over to the shop to give them my key, as well as to discuss the potential problems. I SO did not need this right now --- of course do we ever REALLY need it?
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Tis The Season to be Stressed!
This Christmas season has seemed to fly by faster than most. I'm not sure why that is. My Christmas Shopping is completed. The decorations are up. But nothing has seemed to so incredibly smooth. Perhaps it was getting the cruds right at Thanksgiving which had me somewhat down and out for 2 weeks and that are still hanging around a bit even now. Maybe its starting a new position at work. Maybe its the fact that I haven't walked in the door before 8 p.m. except one single night for 2 weeks. And when I do, I'm exhausted. What ever it is, it seems to be speeding up the countdown to Christmas. Or at least my timeline.
I have cookies to bake. And sausage balls. And sweet potato biscuits. And cheese grits. And casseroles. And various other things. I haven't made a recipe list. I haven't made a shopping list. I'm not even sure if I have flour in the pantry, much less the other required ingredients!
I haven't wrapped the first present. I haven't even checked my stock to be sure I HAVE the appropriate wrapping. Sigh. I need an extra 12 hours in each day for the next week. THEN maybe I'll feel caught up. Anyone else feeling the time pinch this year?
Friday, December 16, 2011
Celebratory Shopping
Earlier this week, the Princess sent me a text from school exclaiming that she'd pulled a 96 on her final project for a class she has been struggling in! Whoop! An hour later, she sent me another text stating she'd maintained her final grade in another class and would therefore get to exempt that exam! (Exams tend to hurt rather than help the Princess's grades so exempting is a cause for high fives all around). A few minutes later she sent yet another text requesting her favorite dinner in celebration. I did a quick mental check and new I had most of the ingredients at home, so even though it would require an unplanned trip to the store, I said sure.So, here is what a got:
Milk Bone Dog Treats (no that is not part of the celebration dinner, I promise!)
Wine (celebratory for me, not the Princess)
Publix Sour Cream
Publix Crescent Rolls
2 Simply Potatoes Hashbrowns
Bic Razors
Sesame Seeds (on clearance for $1.25)
Spent: $15.90
Saved: $11.67
That's 42% for an "on the fly" trip. Not too bad!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Facing Facts
I met a wonderful friend for dinner last night. We took the chance to catch up on everything that is going on each others lives. This friend, Rescue Girl, has always been super successful and in the past couple of years has really become heavily involved in animal rescue. As I've watched her posts on FB, I've always admired and marveled at how much passion, time and energy she devotes to giving animals a second chance. I also knew that she was putting some of her own money towards the cause she so ardently believes in. Since Rescue Girl has always been so successful, I just thought she'd found a great outlet for her time and energy.
After the check came, the talk turned towards finance. I was paying for mine with my debit card and Rescue Girl was paying with cash and I remarked that I needed to get to a cash basis, so that I'd really feel the pinch when I paid for something. It was then that she said she didn't have a choice, her credit cards were gone. I then said something about that being my goal too and that's when she told me that her credit cards weren't gone by choice, that she was in real financial trouble -- the close to losing her house kind of financial trouble. My mind flashed back to the numerous fb posts showing her very flashy car filled with huge bags of dog food for donation, the numerous nights out on the town she posts, all things that appeared to show a hugely successful person living a really fun and fulfilling life. I asked Rescue Girl if she had a plan, and she just said "it will all work out". I was astounded. This super successful friend whose drive and energy I had always admired was in a deep hole -- and basically just thought it would work out. I tried to press a little more, but she changed the topic abruptly. Sigh.
I hope she will see that these kinds of things usually don't just "work out", That there needs to be a plan, and it needs to be put in place asap. There's really not much I can do except to suggest ways to make a plan if she asks, and to definitely be sure we don't meet up for any more dinners out, maybe pizza at my house instead?! You can't make someone face reality if they don't want to, all you can do is be there and help out when reality finally sets in. I'm hoping it sets in sooner rather than later.
After the check came, the talk turned towards finance. I was paying for mine with my debit card and Rescue Girl was paying with cash and I remarked that I needed to get to a cash basis, so that I'd really feel the pinch when I paid for something. It was then that she said she didn't have a choice, her credit cards were gone. I then said something about that being my goal too and that's when she told me that her credit cards weren't gone by choice, that she was in real financial trouble -- the close to losing her house kind of financial trouble. My mind flashed back to the numerous fb posts showing her very flashy car filled with huge bags of dog food for donation, the numerous nights out on the town she posts, all things that appeared to show a hugely successful person living a really fun and fulfilling life. I asked Rescue Girl if she had a plan, and she just said "it will all work out". I was astounded. This super successful friend whose drive and energy I had always admired was in a deep hole -- and basically just thought it would work out. I tried to press a little more, but she changed the topic abruptly. Sigh.
I hope she will see that these kinds of things usually don't just "work out", That there needs to be a plan, and it needs to be put in place asap. There's really not much I can do except to suggest ways to make a plan if she asks, and to definitely be sure we don't meet up for any more dinners out, maybe pizza at my house instead?! You can't make someone face reality if they don't want to, all you can do is be there and help out when reality finally sets in. I'm hoping it sets in sooner rather than later.
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