May 2010

[Honeylioness]

MittenKitten - 05/03/10 04:30 PM

Question of the Week QOTW: What unusual ways have you made money or saved money? What unusual ways do you think would work for you now?

Challenge of the Week COTW: Accomplish something you have been putting off. Be it paying a bill, going to the doctor, a home project. Whatever just do it.

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Honeylioness - 05/04/10 11:14 AM


QOTW - I am not sure any of the ways I have made money in the past would be considered all that "unusual" actually. Fast food, baby sitting, pet sitting, sewing commissions, yard sales - all pretty standard boring stuff. As for what would work now - I have actually been thinking about this lately. Ideally it would be great to be paid to do some of the "geeky" historical things I like to do - or perhaps get paid to write my commentary on news and social observations. I just am not sure how one would even get started on that though.

COTW - I may have done this in advance and just did not wait for the formal posting of the challenge!

I have been really lax in keeping my spreadsheets and check register up to date - and so I took my lunch hour yesterday to do that. Along with a whole slew of things I have been "meaning" to do for quite a while.

honeylioness.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=thoughts&thread=160




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Honeylioness - 05/12/10 09:44 PM[/u]


Sorry all - guess it's mine turn for a rant. Not about the quilt show - which I will be lucky to survive - but by the injustice of certain "norms" of the current society.

My mother called a little while ago to tell me my brother had been arrested and was in jail.

Seems a little boy from the girl's school was at their house and they were out on the putting green in the backyard ... but the boy was instead hitting balls towards the house and almost broke a window twice. My brother told him to stop ... but he didn't. So my brother went outside and said "You need to stop ... NOW" At this point the young boy mouthed off with rather inappropriate language. When M asked him what he had said the kid hit another ball towards the window.

M then went up to the boy, took him by the arm and told him he was out of there ... walked him to the front door and then closed it behind him. The kid went home and told his mother M had "assaulted" him.

ed note - this kid spends a lot of time in other people's homes since mom has 12 kids and at least five different men are the fathers ... and most of the kids are just taking care of each other.

I understand that the law has become overly sensitive to protecting children ... but I am sorry ... things have gone too far in my opinion. You should have the right to remove anyone from your home who is acting in an inappropriate manner or is threatening your property. M is the adult ... the kid is a kid .... in my mind the adult's word is IT and Final. why should M have to deal with all this for just doing the responsible thing and exercising his parental rights? By the way, this is far from the first time this kid has been to the house - so he knows there are rules and M enforces them.

Anyway, she called the police and they came to brother's home and arrested him in front of his kids. Needless to say my nieces and SIL are really upset.

I know that in the end, or at the hearing in two weeks, it will be resolved but meanwhile the stress and cost in the interim is going to be unreal I am sure.



Sharing the Simple Lifestyle - 05/13/10 07:55 AM


Honey[/b], Oh what horrid news. This is so wrong on so many levels. Do you know, I would have been in your brother's place. I can't stand destruction of property and would have done just as your brother did. Has it come to this, that we cannot step in loco parentis as a "firm, judicious parent" to quote our province's expectations of a teacher? I can scarcely imagine any adult not taking the time to do precisely as your brother did. Of course it will be sorted out, but my gosh! The toll! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I think the Pink Posse needs to pay this woman a visit ASAP.

E.T.A. Do send this message of support to your brother if/when you think it will let him know we see it his way, also.


shanendoah - 05/13/10 11:05 AM


Honey: [/b]*grrr* That makes me so mad. The child has already learned how to game the system, and bet you anything the mom is after some sort of settlement (read $$$) to drop the charges.


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13 May 2010


I got a call from my parents this morning … my brother was released and on his way home. However he was on the verge of tears. They are charging him with a third degree felony – assault of a minor - because he made physical contact with a child that was not his own.

Anyways, seems after they booked him he was shackled hand and foot and put into a prison wagon with guys who had committed murder, a drug dealer, a wife beater and a guy caught for an unpaid parking ticket … all treated equally as felons …. He is really really upset right now and off balance.



SES_Books - 05/13/10 04:47 PM

Honey--Sending all the juju I can your brothers way. That is a revolting turn of events. What is sad is that the police can no longer use common sense in situations like this. I hope the mother of the kid has to face some consequences as well.



red_wagon - 05/14/10 11:26 AM

honey - that is ridiculous. Had he not removed the boy from the house, that would give the kid too much power in his own house. There is a big difference between an adult firmly gripping a child to make sure he is held securely (this kid sounds like he might have lashed out or something, so I'd want him firmly in my hands), and outright beating a child. ARGH! This is like schools that don't allow kids to hug or teachers to hug kids. I loved getting teacher hugs!

[Honeylioness]

Honeylioness - 05/21/10 11:27 AM


Okay, a little something for those of you who have already survived having teenagers and for those who are still facing that struggle.

Anne has been saying she wants to have a party or some kind of get together to say good bye to her friends before she goes back to Germany. Fine. We had discussed a sort of open house at my place with German foods.

Well, last night she comes into the living room and says she wants to talk to me about the party idea - then proceeds to lay out the following scenario she and a friend at school came up with. Right there I knew this was going to be a doozy.

First she mentions that she has SO many friends from school, the exchange program and Show Choir that she thinks she should do THREE different get togethers one for each group. Ummm ....NO!!! So what that not all of them know each other - they will deal.

Secondly she says that she and this friend had a brilliant idea. Renting a house for one night, a Saturday, in Hampton Beach, NH and charge each kid $5 to cover the cost. And of course they would tell everyone no alcohol. And as of last night they were up to 30 kids for this little shindig.

The list of things I can say "NO" to in this idea is amazingly long. I must have given her quite the look because she looked genuinely surprised and said "You don't like the idea?". Gee, what gave me away? *RME*

Is it the fact that you never once mentioned just which ADULTS would be there to monitor things? Oh, you were "hoping" I would come and chaperone. You're kidding right? Me alone to keep an eye on all these kids all night? Yeah - like I would be going to sleep so someone can sneak out at 2:00 am to go god knows where. Nice try. I see, so and so's dad "might" be able to come as well. And just where do you think he and I will be sleeping in between taking shifts? And I don't think your friends parents are going to be all that keen on letting their kids go either.

Or the fact that it is all to easy for kids to sneak in alcohol regardless of what you tell them about not doing it? Or that you and your friends of course won't mention to any other kids you meet at the beach that you are having an all night party? And of COURSE those kids won't try and crash said party and bring along more adult beverages.

Never mind that you showed me listings for "houses" that had some glaringly obvious issues. Like they show as only sleeping five people. What is that? Your friends are okay piling up like cord wood on the floor? Really? And how do you think the owner/landlord of the house is going to feel about that? Cramming two dozen teenagers into their investment - AND there only being one bathroom. And YES we have to tell them in advance. Besides, I highly doubt they would even CONSIDER renting to someone under 18. And no, I am not doing it for you.

And let's not forget that the front page of the web listing may say $200 night but oh look ... there is a 2 - 3 - 4 night minimum. And a condo is no good - do you really think the neighbors are going to let you go full bore until the early hours of the morning?

Then there is the other matter of the local cops who have a well deserved reputation for being incredibly hard nosed and give no leeway when it comes to teenagers and parties on the beach. And you seem to have neglected to factor in any cost for food or beverages for this hoard of kids.

*SIGH* Just when I see a glimpse of what a mature young lady she is - something like this comes up and I see just how young she really is.

Is it Five O'Clock yet? I need a glass of wine.


shanendoah - 05/21/10 11:56 AM

Just when I see a glimpse of what a mature young lady she is - something like this comes up and I see just how young she really is.

Honey: I think you just summed up the teenage years, and why they're so hard on all parents. (And I don't even have kids.)


GLDNLUVLY - 05/21/10 12:13 PM

Honey[/b]-Come back with your own list. In my hometown we had an armory that could rented out for parties. I'm thinking to minimize thing. Here's what I'd do. I'd get a list of the other exchange parents (in the area) and the Show Choir parents. See it they are amenable to doing a joint party/picnic. Do it committee style where someone handles the food (I vote you for goodies), music, set-up/clean up, security (just a couple of people watching out there's no funny buiness), etc.


Firebird. - 05/21/10 12:46 PM

First she mentions that she has SO many friends from school, the exchange program and Show Choir that she thinks she should do THREE different get togethers one for each group. Ummm ....NO!!! So what that not all of them know each other - they will deal.

Wow, Honey, I am amazed at your restraint. I would've been like "Um... maybe you can pay for the whole 3 parties yourself, dear"

[Honeylioness]

Honeylioness - 05/24/10 04:02 PM

Why is it that things have to break whenever I am getting ahead?

Angel -[/b] because they hate us - at least that is my story based on this weekend.

Ladies - I lost it yesterday and have cried three times this morning at least. Not something I like to do at work. Yesterday started well but quickly imploded.

However I was feeling stressed before yesterday as I have really back slid when it comes to being a grown up with my money, saying NO to Anne at the Grocery Store and spending too much energy justifying why I should get _____ and why it is a good deal etc etc etc ... as a result I was cutting it too close for comfort this week anyways regarding being able to pay bills and eat. I was thinking I needed to move $100 from my severly depleted EF into my checking account.

Just a few months ago I had over $2500 is my EF - then came bills, an increase in condo fees, utilities that spiked due to weather and teenager usage, and I made the decision (which in hindsight I think was one of the worse ones I have made this year) to pay off my auto insurance premium in full. Then I got behind on some utilities, and had a large payment due to my homeowners insurance and my EF plunged to just about $400.

Then yesterday happened.

I come back from a nice lunch with my best friend (her treat) to find a note on my windshield that the guy next door to her had backed out too fast with his Blazer and hit me square over the part of the truck bed where the gas cap is. I called the number he left - it's a cell and he tells me he was "in a hurry" and was now at work and does not have his insurance information with him but will call me tonight.

*Sigh* I know the truck is old, but is is my only vehicle. When he calls me around 9:00 pm and makes comments like "glad you have not made a claim yet", and "the truck is old I would just drive around with the damage" and "can we settle this between us". Well, some alarm bells start to go off. I need to have my guy made sure there is no damage to the gas tank or intake valve before I talk to this guy again.

So I go home, spend an hour or so in my office downstairs then head up for a drink. First thing I see is a huge puddle on the kitchen floor and I think "D**m, one of the cats pissed on my clean floor". But this puddle is actually a lake covering most of the kitchen. AND there is standing water on the counters AND the sink is full. What the H3LL?? I had set the dishwasher to run while I was out so the water all over the kitchen is soapy and dirty. I see the drain strainer is closed so I lift it out - nothing happens. I use the plunger - nada. I then get out my auger/snake. Now something happens - I exert too much pressure on the first turn clamp of the J trap and the two pipes pop apart. NOW the sink is draining - it is shooting like a fountain out from under the sink all over me and everything else before I can grab a bucket to get some of the overflow.

I then realize one key tool I do not own. A pipe wrench or something that size. So with soaking wet clothes and squishy feet I go out to approach some neighbors to see if they have any such animal. One guy does - but in exchange he bends my ear for 20 minutes about how another trustee was rude and disrespectful to him and do we have a condo law to levy a fine on somebody for that? REALLY??? What ever happened to just $uck it up and if you don't want to be called a pain in someone's A$$ - then stop being one!!!!

Flash forward two hours later. I have finally wrestled the J trap off and it is not clogged - same for the sink drain and I have tried to snake out as far as I can with my hand turned auger - all to no avail. So I am forced to call Roto-Rooter who show up an hour or so later, try the same things in the same order as I did (duh, TOLD you already what I had tried!!!) then attached my snake to their power motor thingy. Two tries down the pipes that feed into the main sewage pipes and nothing. Finally he gets the BIG auger cable - as thick around as my thumb which bangs and bashes against the inside of the pipes - AND you have to sign an indemnity form that they are not responsible if the pipes break while doing this.

40 feet of snake later and whatever was clogging the discharge pipe is FINALLY dislodged and we can hear the WHOOSH of a lot of water draining out. And the price for this little adventure? $362.00.

At that point I broke down. I have a measley $400 in my EF/Savings account. This essentially wipes me out. Now I have little to no chance of saving enough to cover the cost of a cheap rental to drive to Vermont next month because I really don't trust my old clunker to get Anne and myself there and back. So as I see it I need to call and cancel my Vermont Festival registration and rooms and eat the $25 processing fee and get my $400 back and just forgo my vacation. I really cannot see any other way to get a cushion again.

Yes, I am panicking. If even one more small thing goes wrong I am scr3wed. As it is I had to borrow $20 from a friend to get some juice for Anne and a few fresh vegetables for the week.

Sorry to be such a downer but there are not many people I can freak out to in regards to money without them just pooh-pooh'ing my anxiety. I HATE being back here .. I am in my 40's ... when am I going to feel like I FINALLY have my financial act together???


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startsmart - 05/24/10 04:53 PM

Honey- I am so sorry for your string of bad luck. Yes, luck. A clogged drain could happen to any of us. Some idiot hitting our car could happen to any of us. Listen, hindsight is 20/20 and you are already identifying past mistakes and I know you won't repeat them. Deep breaths. I'm sorry you cancelled vacation, a $25 fee is still better than a $400 loss - more if you could eating out and renting a car. You've already done the right things, contacted the guy who hit you, tried to fix the drain yourself, cut expenses. Continue to focus on what you can control in the coming weeks and months.

What recipes and meals can you make from your amazing pantry at home?
How can you and Anne cut back on utilities?
What expenses can you reconsider or eliminate?

One thing at a time. One dollar at a time. You'll rebuild that EF, I know it. Age is irrelevant, your determination is not.



Firebird. - 05/24/10 05:05 PM

Honey-- Ooh, that sucks! I second what startsmart said. Tough times don't last, tough people do



GLDNLUVLY - 05/24/10 05:15 PM

Start-You're right. Although, I do see another alternative for Honey. She is gifted in many of the home arts. I know that she could make a tiny EF by selling those delicious elixirs and goods she produces. She's skilled with a needle. Graduation is a great time to sell a quilt or two as a present to college bound students.



startsmart - 05/24/10 06:12 PM


GLDN- definitely, Honey is most talented in the kitchen and many artistic fields. I completely endorse her goodies and the raspberry liquer most of all! You're a great example of taking a passion like baking and turning it into a business venture!

Honey- you can do this. I'm proud that you're not hiding the situation or your feelings. We're all here for you.


Sharing the Simple Lifestyle - 05/24/10 06:19 PM

Honey[/b], What a kicker. Too many bad things at once for you to catch your breath. How might we help? You deserve to be on the helped side for once.


cdarrow26 - 05/24/10 08:20 PM

Honey [/b]I'm so sorry you are having to deal with all of this at once... HUGS Just remember "this too shall pass." I know it doesn't feel like it when you are in the thick of it. I was there just a couple months ago. I honestly did not know how I was going to survive and was seriously considering filing bankruptcy. I felt so helpless and so hopeless. I owed almost $1000 in taxes that I didn't expect. I had several hundred dollars in car repairs. It just felt like I was getting kicked over and over and over. My EF went down to $500, I took the dreaded refinanced retirement loan that I will be paying dearly for, but now, a couple months later, things are SO much better. I was able to get out of my car that I hated, was SO upside down on and was terrible on gas. Yes, it cost me a bit up front (the EF is only back up around $750 now) but what a huge relief to be paying almost $60 less a month car payment and cut my gas bill by another $50-60 a month. I still have to watch every cent, but, I can BREATHE. You will get there too. This is just a momentary set back. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you!


Gin1984 - 05/24/10 09:15 PM

Honey-[/b] Do you have anything you can sell to bump up your EF?


MuttleynFelix - 05/24/10 09:41 PM

Honey [/b]- Hugs.


Angel 33 - 05/24/10 09:44 PM

Honey [/b]Hugs. Sounds like a totally CRAPTASTIC day. How about you come on over...I will bake us a pie, some coffee, and we can sit on my back deck relaxing.


SES_Books - 05/24/10 09:49 PM

Honey-[/b]-You are looking at your life backwards. In the past year your household has doubled and two can live as cheaply as one is a lie--especially if one of them is a teenager. You have given so much of your time and yourself to others, bent over backwards to make sure Anne has every experience and adventure and friendship possible and you are just now emptying your EF. You have done a fantastic job. Don't forget that. If a CC has to be used occasionally, with responsibility, so be it. DO NOT give up on VQF until the very day before you have to. You need it. I was so excited and proud of you when you decided to take the step and enter your beautiful artwork. Will Anne still be here for the quilt festival?

What ever came of the examination of your truck by your guy? Don't let the guy who did the damage get off easy. I'm always suspicious when someone tries to squeeze around things until everyone has all the facts.

Will Anne still be here for the quilt festival?


shanendoah - 05/24/10 10:16 PM

Honey:[/b] When it rains it pours. Sending thoughts of a rainbow (maybe with a pot of gold) your way. Don't regret your decision to pay the car insurance all at once. Think about how stressed you'd be if you were still having to figure that monthly payment in to your budget. Tell Ann no, and tell her why. She's at a great age to be able to understand and needs to be learning about how to handle money, but also that even the best of us have setbacks we can't anticipate and here's how we deal with them responsibly, and without blaming ourselves for things we had no control over. And really, who better than you to teach her.


SES_Books - 05/25/10 11:00 AM

Honey--I was reading the VQF contest rules and have a question. If you do withdraw your quilt this year can you resubmit it next year? Don't do anything too soon, perhaps things will fall into place.



Honeylioness - 05/26/10 11:37 AM

SES -[/b] I was not thinking of withdrawing the quilt but myself. If I did withdraw the quilt it would not be eligible for next year's show due to the completion date requirements. I was speaking about canceling my registration, housing and the class I signed up for - along with canceling Anne's arrangements as well. Doing that would get me back almost $400 but it will take almost a month to receive - I have until June 1st to make my final decision.

I will try and post an update on the money situation later this afternoon after I hear back from a certain someone. Thank you all for your positive thoughts and support.



Honeylioness - 05/27/10 03:51 PM

Okay, as promised I have an update on my financial meltdown situation of last weekend.

First - My parents, my bosses, my friends ... all have told me to NOT cancel my Vermont trip. And they have made the following offers to let me attend.

My parents put a check in the mail to help defray some of the plumbing costs. And one of my bosses has told me I can put in as much overtime as I would like the next couple of weeks to help me get the money for Vermont. I plan on starting that next week as this week has been retarded in that nothing is getting done on time!

Second - I had my "garage guy" look at the truck and he has determined that the gas tank is okay and the supply hose has no damage so I will not leak gas nor explode - THAT'S a good thing!! He also agreed with the amount I should offer the other driver in order to not get the insurance companies involved (this is the other driver's idea) - $500. I am waiting to hear back whether this is acceptable to him or not.

Third - As much as I know some people will say it is the WRONG thing to do, I have temporarily halted the 401(k) contributions from my paycheck for the next month or so - that should let me see about $60 more per week in my take home pay which I can use to get my bills caught up and add to my savings.


Fourth - I just learned that my dentist's office has a $150 CREDIT showing on my account! I called them today to tell them to send it back! They best not try to talk me into using it for yet another expensive procedure I cannot afford

Fifth - I had a talk with Anne about how money was going to be tight for a bit because of this pipe repair bill. I then had to crack down last night when I went past her room and her lights were on as was the fan. Hello? You are downstairs doing a homework project and I have the central AC on .... what the H3LL? I am going to be a lot more proactive about her electric usage this month - hopefully this heat wave will break and we can get back to normal temps.

Sixth - There is almost nothing to cut from my expenses that I can see. My monthly fixed bills consist of:

$1200 - Mortgage
$100 / $40 / $33 - Insurance (Home/Auto/Disability)
$210 - Condo Fees
$110 - Electricity
$60 - Natural Gas
$20 - Water/Sewer (paid quarterly)
$12 - Cable (basic service, 12 channels including 3 PBS ones)
$130 - Telephone (w/ unlimited long distance & Internet
$160 - Automatic transfer to Savings each week

My "variables" (in that the amount can fluctuate quite a bit) are in my current budget as these approximate amounts:

Groceries - $300
Medical - $30
Gas/Maintenance - $50
Meals/coffee out - $40
Miscellaneous - $20
Credit card (airfare from Christmas) - $45
Bad for you stuff (and YES I am working on quitting) - $60
Charity/Church - $70
Household - $50

There is really NO wiggle room here at all!!! I get paid every Friday so occasionally there is an "extra" check - but usually I have to slide by month to month.

Wow, I did not realize how scary it would be to put my numbers out there!


While I truly appreciate the suggestions such as selling my canning, baking or even sewing projects - frankly I would have no idea where to even start. Unfortunately it is probably too late to look at graduation gifts since even a simple quilt would take 2-3 weeks depending on pattern etc.


Firebird. - 05/27/10 04:36 PM

Honey, [/b]I am so glad that others are making it possible for you to go on your trip How much take-home income are you working with for that budget?


spruby - 05/27/10 08:04 PM

Honey [/b]- is it possible to drop your charity/church contributions for the rest of the year until things settle down financially? Maybe donate time (not sure you have any extra of that either!) or a quilt to a fundraiser in exchange? In terms of second sources of income - not for the short term - but maybe longer term - let it be known (church, work, quilting guild) that you are to make 1 or 2 quilts for sale for x-mas - and price them so you make good money for your time? Something to think of when you get past this bump.


MuttleynFelix - 05/27/10 08:14 PM

Honey [/b]- Good for you.


Sharing the Simple Lifestyle - 05/27/10 10:13 PM

Honey,[/b] So glad to hear it! We stand by to fill in any gaps. Glad you've got great peeps in your corner. My DOD used to threaten us with a painful death (I think he was kidding, he was awfully mild-mannered) if we didn't Turn those darned lights off. The house is lit up like a Christmas tree!


GLDNLUVLY - 05/28/10 09:02 AM

Honey-[/b]Those sound like good suggestions. As to selling your quilts as grad presents, I think now would be the time to take orders to have them ready for August. Put it out among your family/friends/co-workers and see what they say. As to selling the delicious goodies you make, check out local farmers/flea markets and church sales. I did a yard sale last weekend and got great contacts/feedback and intel on what other places I may be able to setup.


Honeylioness - 05/28/10 02:39 PM

Question of the Day:

[/b] What is your secret insecurity about your appearance that you know on an intellectual level nobody notices, but it still bothers you?[/quote]

I would have to say there are two things. One is that when I was growing up we had very little money and my parents could not afford braces for me - so I have one tooth in particular that partially overlaps it's neighbor - as result I try to never smile that big so you see my teeth in pictures - I also think they are not white enough.

The second is the scar on the slope of my right breast leading to the cleavage area from a biopsy I had done almost 16 years ago for what turned out to be a benign growth. At this point I think I am the only one who can really 'see" it but at times it still makes me self conscious.


*********************************

Okay, I had to make a few changes after looking over yesterday's post.

My monthly fixed bills consist of:

$1200 - Mortgage
$0 / $40 / $33 - Insurance (Auto/Home/Disability) - Auto paid for this year
$210 - Condo Fees
$110 - Electricity
$60 - Natural Gas
$20 - Water/Sewer (paid quarterly)
$12 - Cable (basic service, 12 channels including 3 PBS ones)
$130 - Telephone (fixed package w/ unlimited long distance & Internet)
$160 - Automatic transfer to Savings each week

My "variables" (in that the amount can fluctuate quite a bit) are in my current budget as these approximate amounts:

$ 300 - Groceries
$ 30 - Medical
$ 50 - Auto Gas/Maintenance
$ 40 - Meals/coffee out
$ 20 - Miscellaneous
$ 45 - Credit card (airfare from Christmas)
$ 60 - Bad for you stuff (and YES I am working on quitting)
$ 70 - Charity/Church
$ 50 - Household


$2,800 - Net take home for an average month ($700 per week for
June & July then back to $640 per week)
$1,975 - "Fixed" expenses
$ 665 - Average "Variable" expenses

$ 160 - Theoretical "extra" for catch up on utilities, entertainment, clothes, vet visits, doctor co-pays etc.


I took a hard look at my phone bill the other day (which is another big looming bill that I am not ready to talk about - because of WHY it is going to be a monster) and found that I am being charged for two things I do not need and have never used. One is some sort of online games package - I think this goes back to my ex-roommate who used to play these all the time, and the other is a pseudo malware filter. I talked to my computer guy and the firewalls he installed are more secure than anything Verizon is offering - so I called and had these items taken off the monthly bill - that will bring it down about $25 a month.

[Honeylioness]

Honeylioness - 05/26/10 11:37 AM


I was not around yesterday as a group of eight people from work went up to Sebago Lake in Maine to put in a day of physical labor on behalf of Camp Sunshine

www.campsunshine.org/

It is a beautiful place and we met the most amazing staff. 13 paid staff run this year round camp for terminally ill children and their families ... hundreds of families a year. The rest is all done by donations and volunteers. Last year over 65,000 volunteer hours made the camp run - everything from landscaping to painting to the on site doctors is donated time.

It was a sweltering 95 degrees as we spread 12 yards of top soil and prepped land for sowing grass seed, we raked clean paths and boat launch areas, weeded, finished tending multiple planters and spread over 10 yards of bark mulch on the mini golf course and various garden areas. And we sweated .. a LOT. And must have gone through more than a case of bottled water. I felt bad about that until the staff told us that Poland Springs, which is based in Maine, donates all the water they need each year. Great, pass me another bottle!

At one point, even though I was under some trees and it was a bit more shady, I was starting to feel not so great. J said my face was beet red and I was banished back inside for 30 minutes to run cold water over my pulse points and put cold water compresses on my face and neck. Guess I over did it a bit.


I will try and post an update on the money situation later this afternoon after I hear back from a certain someone. Thank you all for your positive thoughts and support.

[Honeylioness]

MittenKitten - 05/30/10 07:59 PM

Question of the Week[/b]: How have your holiday plans changed since watching your budget? How much do you think you save by doing this?

Challenge of the Week: Plan a thrifty outing for yourself or your family. Be it a picnic with the kids, a bike ride somewhere you have been wanting to go etc.


Honeylioness - 05/30/10 11:32 PM

Question of the Week:[/b] When I was growing up my family never really spent a lot of money during any holidays - even Christmas. It was usually just a time for family get togethers and traditional events like local parades, observances or perhaps a trip to a local beach or state park. I think there was only one year where my dad probably went overboard with buying fireworks. Of course I have in the past used the extra day to do projects around the house - so that would have been a spendy weekend (i.e. paint, flooring etc)

Challenge of the Week: I think I have already done this. Tomorrow we are going to a morning Memorial service at a local cemetery, then off to the pick your own farm I frequent for strawberries, then s a stop at a small local carnival for a little while. Tomorrow evening I want to watch the annual Memorial Day concert from D.C. which is aired on PBS.

[Honeylioness]

Honeylioness - 05/31/10 11:21 PM

Boston Air -[/b] We have been so smoggy today. Seems we are getting affected by the smoke wafting south from all the fires in Quebec. Rather surreal.

We had wanted to go to the pick your own farm today - but apparently yesterday was so busy they closed today .. boo. We did go to the carnival where I let Anne talk me into doing some rides with her. The bumper cars were fun - she had never done that before. We then took the ferris wheel - with round cars that can seat six - WHY did I agree to that? I am terrified of heights and she though it might be "fun" to make the car sway back and forth .... NOT for ME!!!!!

We then rode what they call the Polar Express. More swinging cars that move rather quickly around an undulating track. My stomach had a brief moment of considering coming up to talk to my throat and ask what the heck was I thinking?? But just as the ride slowed and I thought - okay, I survived that - the stupid thing started up again .. BACKWARDS!!!!! OY I am really not a fan of this much altered physical states.

It was about 80 degrees and with no shade so as we were headed home I stopped at part of the riverfront park that allows access to the Merrimack River - this area has a small sandy beach as well where the current is not strong and the bottom slopes out gently ... it felt really good to take off my shoes and wade in the water for a bit. But then .. well ...I was REALLY hot. And what do you do when you really feel like a swim and don't have a suit with you?

You remove your earrings and glasses and place them into your purse then while your "daughter" is looking at you as though you would not dare ... you take several running steps then dive under the water ... fully dressed!! Yep, bras, undies, black cotton skirt and button down shirt. Man did it feel good - sometimes you just have to do something crazy and impulsive.

The look on Anne's face when I finally sloshed my way back to shore was priceless. Of course I then had the issue of trying to drive home in sopping wet clothing. Oh well, stand in the parking lot - strip off the skirt - toss it into the back of the truck bed and when you get home grab the blanket from behind your seat to wrap around you as you walk to your back door.


Sharing the Simple Lifestyle - 06/01/10 08:11 AM

Honey!!![/b] YOU ROCK! WTG! Bet that felt sooooooo good.


kath74 - 06/01/10 08:35 AM

honey [/b]- I love that you swam in your clothes! Love love love it!


cdarrow26 - 06/01/10 08:50 AM

Honey [/b]Good for you, except I was expecting you to say you got nekkid for a swim!


Honeylioness - 06/01/10 10:36 AM

cdarrow -[/b] Now Now ... it was a family beach after all. And I did not need anyone calling Greenpeace because they thought there was a rare albino baby whale stuck upstream in the river. Although I did consider removing the skirt first as the shirt would have covered my panties. AND considering that what some other people were wearing IN public ... my cotton jockey panties would have been considered almost nun-like ...*RME*


Gin1984 - 06/01/10 07:42 PM

Honey[/b]- You go girl!!!! Should I send you a pink hat (ala the red hat society)?


Honeylioness - 06/02/10 12:04 AM

Gin -[/b] A pink hat? .... maybe purple I am going to be one of those crazy eccentric old ladies that seem to be a requirement for each neighborhood to have here in New England.


red_wagon - 06/02/10 11:48 AM

honey [/b]- LOVE your story about diving into the River. Sometimes you just have to! We're working on getting our pool balanced correctly and it's been pretty much torture to stare at it on such hot days and not be able to go in. Hopefully by this upcoming weekend!