I only got out of my pj's on Thanksgiving long enough to take a shower and then back in the jammies until it was time to leave the house to shop at 10:30 at night.
It was a relaxing day. Jenn and I had a nice dinner and I even made her real mashed potato's. I always took the easy way out and made instant. After dinner, I was just getting comfy when Jenn reminded me it was time to get ready to shop. We have gone Black Friday shopping for years and this was not the time to break tradition. We left the house at 11:00 and headed to Target. It wasn't too bad there since they had opened at 9. Then we headed to Kohl's. The line was in front of the store, down the block and around the store. We waited for the store to open and went in after the line was gone. It wasn't horrible inside but when it came time to go to the cash register we found out where all those people had gone.......it took over an hour to get to the register's. We got home at 2:30. The alarm clock went off at 5:45 and we were back out shopping by 6:30. By noon we were home. Done until next year.....
We decorated the outside of the house and Jenn loved my "if the whole set of lights isn't working ....pitch it out" mood. By the time we were done, the 5 bins of decorations was down to three.....not bad.
My birthday was fun. Jenn has gotten very good at knowing what I like. A few weeks ago she asked me about what gift did I want as a kid that I never got........the game Mystery Date. And what my favorite toy was.......Coloforms Miss Cookie's Kitchen. She got me the 1965 version of Mystery Date. The only thing that might have changed is I told her getting the nerdy guy might not be too bad since it could be Bill Gates. She found me Miss Cookie's Kitchen on e-bay but when the bidding got up to $40 she dropped out.......good thing she did or I would have had a fit. She also got me a sign that said remember to dream. I love that!!!! There were also some pineapple themed items which reminded me of Mom. Mom's wind chime kept ringing all day and made me think of her. We had sandwiches from Publix while we watched the Carolina/Clemson game and each had a cupcake for dessert. All in all not a bad day.
Tomorrow or since it is now almost 2:00 AM....today, we will decorate the inside of the house and tree. Hard to believe Christmas is just 4 weeks away.....
I thought a lot about Mom these last few days......on Thanksgiving and how the whole family used to gather and somehow she would get the turkey and every vegetable out to the table hot and ready to eat. On my birthday......I thought of her as the almost 19 year old Mom, of the cards she sent each year, her birthday phone calls and how hard it was this year without her. I am dreading her birthday next week, Christmas and the New Year when she will have been gone a full year. The last few weeks have been so hard, I have broken out in tears at the drop of a hat thinking about her. The sound of her wind chimes does remind me she is still here. I am sure my neighbors would think I was crazy if they heard me saying "Hi Mom" some days when I either am leaving the house or returning home. The chimes blowing in the gentle breeze reminds me she was here.........I just wish I could have one more conversation, one more hug, one more smile......but then again would that be enough.....probably not.......I would still want more......
Saturday, November 24, 2012
And Now The Hot Water Heater?????
Two weeks ago, I mentioned a chain of repairs that kept having to be done and the bills that they have created. I was hoping it would slow down.....no such luck.
Last Sunday morning, Jenn took the newspapers to the recycle bin. She came in and said "Mom I hate to tell you this but there is a large puddle of water under the hot water heater". OK I e-mail the home owners warranty company again. By Tuesday, I still hadn't heard from them so I called them. They said they hadn't gotten my order so they took it over the phone. Now, I already have a washing machine that doesn't work .....I sure don't need the hot water heater to go too. The repairman called Tuesday night and said he could come by the house Wednesday between 3-5. I couldn't be home at that time and the hot water heater is in the outside storage room, he said to just tape a check to the hot water heater. So that's what I did......
The repairman was running late, Jenn was here when he showed up. Fortunately, it was not the hot water heater, it was one of the pipes over the hot water heater and it had a crack in it. He fixed the pipe and we were good to go.
When I got home.....there was a letter from my homeowners association telling me we had a violation. Our shed needed to be power washed. Well, I took a good look at it and yes, it does look like it is in need some TLC.....but right now?? I mean I am juggling the bills with Bob out of work and so far am making it work but these extra darn bills keep popping up. I called the HOA and told them I would do something about it in the spring but I would not be taking care of it now. I wasn't quite that nice and the words I used were far more colorful. I can't wait for the management company to hear my message on Monday. I did tell them if they felt strongly enough about it they could come and power wash the shed and pay for it themselves. I can't wait to see what happens when they call me back.
Oh and remember that I have to take the dog to the vet once a week FOR LIFE to have his ears cleaned? Well, Jenn noticed a rash on his stomach.....so now he is back on med's and the $5 I had budgeted for the weekly ear cleaning turned into $60 of course with a return exam in two weeks......well at least I can combine that visit with the weekly ear cleaning......
Maybe I shouldn't ask that the bills stop.......I am going to try reverse psychology and maybe my luck will change.........I am not going to say it can't get worse because as we all know........it always can.......
Last Sunday morning, Jenn took the newspapers to the recycle bin. She came in and said "Mom I hate to tell you this but there is a large puddle of water under the hot water heater". OK I e-mail the home owners warranty company again. By Tuesday, I still hadn't heard from them so I called them. They said they hadn't gotten my order so they took it over the phone. Now, I already have a washing machine that doesn't work .....I sure don't need the hot water heater to go too. The repairman called Tuesday night and said he could come by the house Wednesday between 3-5. I couldn't be home at that time and the hot water heater is in the outside storage room, he said to just tape a check to the hot water heater. So that's what I did......
The repairman was running late, Jenn was here when he showed up. Fortunately, it was not the hot water heater, it was one of the pipes over the hot water heater and it had a crack in it. He fixed the pipe and we were good to go.
When I got home.....there was a letter from my homeowners association telling me we had a violation. Our shed needed to be power washed. Well, I took a good look at it and yes, it does look like it is in need some TLC.....but right now?? I mean I am juggling the bills with Bob out of work and so far am making it work but these extra darn bills keep popping up. I called the HOA and told them I would do something about it in the spring but I would not be taking care of it now. I wasn't quite that nice and the words I used were far more colorful. I can't wait for the management company to hear my message on Monday. I did tell them if they felt strongly enough about it they could come and power wash the shed and pay for it themselves. I can't wait to see what happens when they call me back.
Oh and remember that I have to take the dog to the vet once a week FOR LIFE to have his ears cleaned? Well, Jenn noticed a rash on his stomach.....so now he is back on med's and the $5 I had budgeted for the weekly ear cleaning turned into $60 of course with a return exam in two weeks......well at least I can combine that visit with the weekly ear cleaning......
Maybe I shouldn't ask that the bills stop.......I am going to try reverse psychology and maybe my luck will change.........I am not going to say it can't get worse because as we all know........it always can.......
Protien Shakes, 14 Step Make-Up Application and the Scale
In my quest to change things up a little, I now drink a protein shake on the way to work in the morning. I bought the powder for the drink at GNC. One serving has 25 grams of protein. The first morning I tried to make it without my glasses. I could barely make out the milk line on the shaker container. Then I wasn't sure if one scoop was one serving or not. I didn't see a line on the scoop provided so I just used one scoop. It was a chocolate flavor drink. Once I had the two ingredients in the shaker bottle, I added the small ball that serves like a wisk to mix the two ingredients. I wasn't thrilled about the 8 ounces of skim milk and then adding the powder..... I wasn't sure how it would taste but as I drove to work, I kept taking slugs and it really was not bad at all. I don't know if it was psychological or not but I wasn't hungry all morning at work. I am trying to work up to 100 grams of protein a day.....ugh......
I also once again tried yogurt. I know it is good for me but for some reason I just haven't acquired a taste for it. I need suggestions on which brand people like and how to get used to eating it. I bought a plain or vanilla flavor and it had pomegranate flavor to mix with it but once I saw the expiration date was only a week from now I decided the taste was tainted. I am sure it wasn't but that is the way my brain works.
I got one the scale after a week and I was down a few pounds on the scale......I may have been down anyway since I hadn't been on the scale in a few weeks. Either way.....it was good news!!
Now the make-up thing.......a while back I went to a Mary Kay party. I bought all kinds of make-up. I had finally finished most of my old make-up so I was read to start using the new stuff........the problem was it involved using 14 different things. Here was the order.......moisturizer for my face, hands, arms and legs. Then primer on my face followed by under eye consealer, base coat and blush. Next primer on my eyes, eyeliner, 3 shades of eye shadow, eye lash primer and mascara. Lastly, lip primer and lipstick.
I was given some free samples of hair gel and hair spray that will help volumize my hair, so that was another step added to the beautification process. I really liked the gel and spray but it is more time I need in the morning......
I normally don't have an extra 20-30 minutes for hair and make-up application so now it means I have to get up earlier. But I have also read I need to get more sleep and that not getting enough sleep can also slow down weight loss.. So I need to go to bed by oh maybe 8:00.......the problem is most nights I am not home from work until then.....it is a vicious cycle. But at least now I have my weight struggle figured out......it is because of the make-up.....
I also once again tried yogurt. I know it is good for me but for some reason I just haven't acquired a taste for it. I need suggestions on which brand people like and how to get used to eating it. I bought a plain or vanilla flavor and it had pomegranate flavor to mix with it but once I saw the expiration date was only a week from now I decided the taste was tainted. I am sure it wasn't but that is the way my brain works.
I got one the scale after a week and I was down a few pounds on the scale......I may have been down anyway since I hadn't been on the scale in a few weeks. Either way.....it was good news!!
Now the make-up thing.......a while back I went to a Mary Kay party. I bought all kinds of make-up. I had finally finished most of my old make-up so I was read to start using the new stuff........the problem was it involved using 14 different things. Here was the order.......moisturizer for my face, hands, arms and legs. Then primer on my face followed by under eye consealer, base coat and blush. Next primer on my eyes, eyeliner, 3 shades of eye shadow, eye lash primer and mascara. Lastly, lip primer and lipstick.
I was given some free samples of hair gel and hair spray that will help volumize my hair, so that was another step added to the beautification process. I really liked the gel and spray but it is more time I need in the morning......
I normally don't have an extra 20-30 minutes for hair and make-up application so now it means I have to get up earlier. But I have also read I need to get more sleep and that not getting enough sleep can also slow down weight loss.. So I need to go to bed by oh maybe 8:00.......the problem is most nights I am not home from work until then.....it is a vicious cycle. But at least now I have my weight struggle figured out......it is because of the make-up.....
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Another busy week....from elections to birthdays...
Last week, I started to wonder what is going on in my life......
Sunday, I was in my PJ's at 4:00 in the afternoon. OK since when do I put on my pj's in the middle of the afternoon. I guess I justified it by saying if it wasn't for the time change it would have been 5:00. We watched the Giant game....which they lost. The funniest part was watching Jenn watch the game.She screams at the TV. Yelling "fundamentals guys, come on fundamentals!!!!" Yes, she comes from a family of football fans. By the time she was two she knew the signals for clipping, offsides, time out and touchdown. Jenn would be watching a game with us and someone would yell "that was a clip" and Jenn would give the appropriate signal. Her cousin Jill is just as passionate about football. Get those girls together in a room and watch out!!
Tuesday, Election Day......people were coming into work telling horror stories about the polls and how long they were taking to vote. Things were a mess in Richland County where the polls closed at 7:00 and the last vote was cast after midnight. I gave those people a lot of credit for standing in line all those hours to exercise their right as a citizen. I arrived at my local polling place at 6:59:59 PM. I was the last person on a very long line but I was home by 8:30. As I entered the gym to cast my vote a news clip came across my IPhone that Romney had carried SC. It is hard to believe there were still people on line in Richland County SC when President Obama was declared the winner.
A four day weekend!!!! I have vacation time I need to use before the end of the year so using time for a long week-end worked for me.
Thursday was Jenn's birthday. We started it by dropping her car off to be repaired (a master cylinder needed to be replaced), next a pedicure, the cupcake store, lunch, the supermarket to get steaks for dinner and then a break while Jenn taught her University 101 class. After class it was off to Victoria Secret, American Eagle and Belk. The stop at Belk was for her Frye boots. Actually, it took 2 stops about 30 miles apart since the first Belk didn't have any Frye boots and the one 30 miles away did. We left the house at 8:00 AM and didn't get home until almost 11 hours later......what a day.
Friday was a little more relaxed but did involve errands and the gym.
Saturday was the gym and college football.
Today more errands and football.
I was very good and didn't look at my blackberry once. I only turned on my work laptop once and that was to delete e-mails so I would have hundreds of them when I go back to work tomorrow. But the days flew. The good thing is I only work 3 full weeks between now and the week of January 7th. I can handle that!!!!
OK just one more note: last week I wrote about needs vs. wants. Under the wants I wrote I would like to have enough money for the next big repair bill that comes along. This morning the washing machine stopped mid-cycle....ugh. I do have a homeowners warranty so I left a message to schedule an appointment. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon and for not much more than the service call.
In the last few months we have had to replace a water pump in the car, the lawn mower overhauled, a sewer line replaced, pest control in for a treatment on the house, the outside of the house treated for termites and now the washing machine. I also spent time on the phone with my insurance agent trying to find out why my homeowners insurnace premium is now more than my property taxes.....the answer was....... a claim I filed almost two years ago when I had a flood in my house. Cha Ching Cha Ching ........ I know I promised not to complain last week and I am not complaining.....really I am not......but can someone just cut me a little slack in the repair and bills department.....just a little......please......
Sunday, I was in my PJ's at 4:00 in the afternoon. OK since when do I put on my pj's in the middle of the afternoon. I guess I justified it by saying if it wasn't for the time change it would have been 5:00. We watched the Giant game....which they lost. The funniest part was watching Jenn watch the game.She screams at the TV. Yelling "fundamentals guys, come on fundamentals!!!!" Yes, she comes from a family of football fans. By the time she was two she knew the signals for clipping, offsides, time out and touchdown. Jenn would be watching a game with us and someone would yell "that was a clip" and Jenn would give the appropriate signal. Her cousin Jill is just as passionate about football. Get those girls together in a room and watch out!!
Tuesday, Election Day......people were coming into work telling horror stories about the polls and how long they were taking to vote. Things were a mess in Richland County where the polls closed at 7:00 and the last vote was cast after midnight. I gave those people a lot of credit for standing in line all those hours to exercise their right as a citizen. I arrived at my local polling place at 6:59:59 PM. I was the last person on a very long line but I was home by 8:30. As I entered the gym to cast my vote a news clip came across my IPhone that Romney had carried SC. It is hard to believe there were still people on line in Richland County SC when President Obama was declared the winner.
A four day weekend!!!! I have vacation time I need to use before the end of the year so using time for a long week-end worked for me.
Thursday was Jenn's birthday. We started it by dropping her car off to be repaired (a master cylinder needed to be replaced), next a pedicure, the cupcake store, lunch, the supermarket to get steaks for dinner and then a break while Jenn taught her University 101 class. After class it was off to Victoria Secret, American Eagle and Belk. The stop at Belk was for her Frye boots. Actually, it took 2 stops about 30 miles apart since the first Belk didn't have any Frye boots and the one 30 miles away did. We left the house at 8:00 AM and didn't get home until almost 11 hours later......what a day.
Friday was a little more relaxed but did involve errands and the gym.
Saturday was the gym and college football.
Today more errands and football.
I was very good and didn't look at my blackberry once. I only turned on my work laptop once and that was to delete e-mails so I would have hundreds of them when I go back to work tomorrow. But the days flew. The good thing is I only work 3 full weeks between now and the week of January 7th. I can handle that!!!!
OK just one more note: last week I wrote about needs vs. wants. Under the wants I wrote I would like to have enough money for the next big repair bill that comes along. This morning the washing machine stopped mid-cycle....ugh. I do have a homeowners warranty so I left a message to schedule an appointment. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon and for not much more than the service call.
In the last few months we have had to replace a water pump in the car, the lawn mower overhauled, a sewer line replaced, pest control in for a treatment on the house, the outside of the house treated for termites and now the washing machine. I also spent time on the phone with my insurance agent trying to find out why my homeowners insurnace premium is now more than my property taxes.....the answer was....... a claim I filed almost two years ago when I had a flood in my house. Cha Ching Cha Ching ........ I know I promised not to complain last week and I am not complaining.....really I am not......but can someone just cut me a little slack in the repair and bills department.....just a little......please......
Sunday, November 4, 2012
And I thought I knew what the week was going to be like...
When I wrote my blog last week month end at work and Halloween were all I really thought about for the week.
Over last week-end I had heard about "Sandy" but hadn't given it too much thought. I mean how often does a hurricane hit NY? They had already had Hurricane Irene last year. I had Monday off and got a lot of things done that I had planned. Around 3:00, I decided to look on the news and see how things were going. I ended up sitting there for a long time watching what was going on......
I kept in touch with my family to see how they were making out. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Trees down on houses, broken windshields, noise sounding like jets were flying past their houses and no electricity. Schools closed, businesses closed, no gas........
I remember getting cranky when I lived in NY and we didn't have power for 2 days.......talk about a wimp.....
Is there something wrong with me that I keep having to be reminded how lucky I am????
I have a roof over my head, I have a job I really like, no serious health issues, enough money to meet the monthly bills even with Bob out of work ( I have become very creative in the meal department) and a daughter who can make me laugh even when I don't want to (now that can make me crazy!!!).
I really have everything I need......maybe not everything I want.....
Needs and wants.......very very different.....
Needs:
roof over my head
enough $ to pay the bills
good health coverage
good health
a loving family
good friends
a good job
Wants:
extra $ in the bank
not to have to worry about the next big unexpected bill that rolls in (and you know they always do)
more time with my family
Dreams:
If I start on this list it would go on forever and you might think of me as shallow (hey I dream big!!!)
But once again after a week like this past one.....I come back to reality and thank God for what I do have and at least for this moment I am satisfied. It has been a humbling experience for me this week.......I am sure any of those people I watching this week after that devastating storm would give there eye teeth to have my life right now.
And maybe I need to think about that more often........
Over last week-end I had heard about "Sandy" but hadn't given it too much thought. I mean how often does a hurricane hit NY? They had already had Hurricane Irene last year. I had Monday off and got a lot of things done that I had planned. Around 3:00, I decided to look on the news and see how things were going. I ended up sitting there for a long time watching what was going on......
I kept in touch with my family to see how they were making out. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Trees down on houses, broken windshields, noise sounding like jets were flying past their houses and no electricity. Schools closed, businesses closed, no gas........
I remember getting cranky when I lived in NY and we didn't have power for 2 days.......talk about a wimp.....
Is there something wrong with me that I keep having to be reminded how lucky I am????
I have a roof over my head, I have a job I really like, no serious health issues, enough money to meet the monthly bills even with Bob out of work ( I have become very creative in the meal department) and a daughter who can make me laugh even when I don't want to (now that can make me crazy!!!).
I really have everything I need......maybe not everything I want.....
Needs and wants.......very very different.....
Needs:
roof over my head
enough $ to pay the bills
good health coverage
good health
a loving family
good friends
a good job
Wants:
extra $ in the bank
not to have to worry about the next big unexpected bill that rolls in (and you know they always do)
more time with my family
Dreams:
If I start on this list it would go on forever and you might think of me as shallow (hey I dream big!!!)
But once again after a week like this past one.....I come back to reality and thank God for what I do have and at least for this moment I am satisfied. It has been a humbling experience for me this week.......I am sure any of those people I watching this week after that devastating storm would give there eye teeth to have my life right now.
And maybe I need to think about that more often........
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