September 2011

[Honeylioness]

Honeylioness - 09 Sept 2011 at 11:32pm


Since someone else mentioned it - for those interested in the roller coaster that can be life with teenagers I am again keeping a journal this year about my students:

honeylioness.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=monse

honeylioness.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=milla


SES - I received your package this afternoon. Thank you so much. Did you know there were some hand tatted lace pieces in there? The work is wonderfully done.

azmom - Thanks for the mention on your blog. I feel like such a superstar now!


Okay, I have thought about how much detail to go into about what has me in such a funk this week - and thought I'd just do a short list:

* I lost $40 cash somehow. It was in my pocket - then it was "poof"
* We ate out twice over the weekend and one of the meals was a lot more than I had thought it would be
* I let myself get talked into making a quick decision about going downtown. Because I was feeling peer pressure and felt I had to hurry I wound up driving instead of taking the subway and it cost me $35 for parking.
* I spent money on some Christmas gifts I had not planned on buying this week, and could not resist going into the Borders that was closing - another spend I had not planned on.
* And I got a call from my phone carrier that between them the girls ran up $323 in long distance charges on my phone in just under 10 days.
* Oh, and tomorrow I get to call my mortgage company, whom I HATE, and find out why they sent me money back in an odd amount.

Anyways, if I seem a bit distracted, these would be some of the reasons - the money ones at least.

[Honeylioness]

mrslynch - Sept 6, 2011, 7:52am

well, i thought i was going to be able to keep up this month. unfortunately, i am so mired in my own drama that i just don't have the energy to be a good friend and support system to anyone else.

i guess it's time i filled you all in. my husband cheated on me. it was apparently a one-night stand and that's all, but it has absolutely rocked me to the core. everything i know and believed in is now gone and i'm having to start from the bottom. i have no confidence left in anything i do or say or think or feel. my life is in flames and all i have is an eyedropper to put it out. and i have no idea what i'm going to do. some days i want to work it out but other days i hate him so much all i can do is think of divorce.

we are both in individual therapy and while we're still living together, mainly due to financial reasons, we are separated. we are doing whatever we can to insulate our daughter from what's going on and it appears to be working. it's also made me reflect on what i want out of my life which has been good. i have figured out that, financially, i can raise my daughter by myself and that's helped calm some fears. but emotionally, i'm a disaster. i can't think about anything else except this. it is all consuming.

so there you go. i apologize that i'm not going to be able to provide all of you with the support that you need this month. i'll be here lurking and occasionally commenting but keeping up with my spending is just too hard.


mrslynch - Sept 7, 2011, 7:26am

thank you all, again, for all of your kind and supportive words. if i wasn't at work, i'd be hysterical crying. i've never had a ton of friends and to know that you all are here is worth something i could never encompass in words (yeah, and i call myself a writer. some writer).


midwesternjd - Sept 7, 2011, 8:15am

Mrs L[/b], I'm fairly new to WIR so I don't know you well - I just wanted to say that what your husband did is not your fault. It never is. A man can be married to the most beautiful, engaging, wonderful person out there and if he wants to cheat, he'll cheat. It doesn't reflect upon the woman at all.

Whether you want to leave or stay, I don't know, but either way just know that what he did is no reflection or indictment of you - it is a sign of HIS weakness.

And you can get through this. It takes a strong woman but it certainly sounds like you are one. My best friend's husband cheated on her about 2 years ago... I don't know the inner workings of their relationship but they are still together today and seem to be very happy. And if you decide to leave, that's OK too. You just need to do what is best for you and your kiddos.


mrslynch - 9 Sept 2011 at 9:26am

so, i thought i was handling the money aspect of all of this. but then today i realized that i had overdrawn our account by almost $40! fortunately, there's automatic overdraft protection from our savings account which has plenty of money in it (around $6500) so the check didn't bounce but WTF?! i just cannot get my shit together. i can't function at any sort of normal capacity at all. everything is slipping--my finances, my parenting, my work, my blog, my housekeeping. everything. i feel like i'm living outside of my own body. it's starting to hurt because i feel like i'm a total failure at life. i've always been able to compartmentalize and the fact that i can't do it now is frustrating the hell out of me. i am doubting all of my capabilities and intelligence. you know that little undo button in microsoft word? i wish i had one for my life.

clearly today is not a good day.


shanendoah - 09 Sept at 9:57am

mrsl: [/b]You are an amazing woman! You can get through this. DO NOT beat yourself up about the little things, and frankly, right now $40 is a little thing. You are allowed to have bad days. You are NOT allowed to beat yourself up. And if you need to take a break from something, take one. I'll bet everyone here would be willing to do a guest blog post for you if you need a week or so away from that. If you're worried about letting your fall group down, I'll do the visits and comments for you.

Take whatever time YOU need to deal with this.

[Honeylioness]

dakota4600 - 11 Sep 2011 at 10:50pm

Thanks to Reenee for being our first captain and kicking us off on the right foot.

Here is my QOTW/COTW. Since it seems many of us our doing it right now anyway.

QOTW: When was the last time you reviewed your budget? How often do you typically do so? Or what makes you review the budget?

COTW: Look over your budget for the year and start identifying adjustments that need to be made. Increased gas costs? Winter heating bills? Need to beef up retirement savings? Paying for services that you don't really use anymore?



mittenkitten - 12 Sep 2011 at 9:07am

QOTW:[/b] I look at ours probably once a month on average. I actually know the numbers pretty well but with DFs new job we are still adjusting. Also tough with the rental. I know what I get in but the water/sewer/trash bill can vary quite a bit and the odd repairs that pop up don't help.

COTW: There is one bill I am going to cut, our home phone. We use less then 100 minutes on it (I mean it is like 30) so while it is only $14 a month may as well save that money. I wanted to make sure DS#1 knew my cell number first. Other then that we are very lean.


midwesternjd - 12 Sep 2011 at 9:10am

I'm torn on my grocery spending. On one hand, I am saving more (used to save 10-15% - now am saving 25-30% per trip) and have really been building a mini-stockpile of deodorant, shampoo, pasta, pasta sauce, TP, paper towels, etc. On the other hand, I'm still spending the same dollar amount per week as I was last month, and I was hoping to get that down a bit. We shouldn't need much now other than weekly replenishing of bread and dairy products, but it is a little discouraging to have $100 left in the grocery budget only a week and a half into the month...

I think my worry is stemming from the QOTW/COTW...


QOTW I'm starting to see some cash flow issues coming down the pipe. Apparently I spoke too soon re: our ability to absorb DH's tuition/books, $850 for the fuel tank, and my quarterly SL payment all in one month. It's not dire yet, but I'm not sure we'll be able to cashflow DH's last semester (spring 2012). So I've been looking over our budget with a fine-tooth comb for the last week or so.

Our budget has us teetering on the edge, and that's without any unforeseen expenses. Thankfully I just got an Amex Blue Cash with 0% interest for 12 months, so I can float some expenses for a little while.

COTW I need to call my mortgage company and ask them to do an escrow analysis. They are withdrawing $240/month for escrow and our insurance and taxes run about $2200/year (high estimate). There is currently $2,700 in the account and insurance/taxes aren't due until April. Apparently the reason they escrowed so high is that the previous owners' tax payments were never on time, so their "taxes paid" always included about $800 in late fees.

This is something I've been meaning to do for a while, but the combo of cash crunch + encouragement from COTW might push me to actually make the call


sapphire12 - 12 Sep 2011 at 9:21am

QOTW:[/b] I don't look at my budget very often. However, I have 3 checking accounts and they each have a purpose; unfortunately not always distinct, but somehow it works.

COTW: My retirement goals are on track at 15% into the TSP every pay period. This happens before I see my check, so it will stay. Savings goal of 10% of net pay is on track. The additional savings of 10% is off slightly, primarily due to med costs. These are one time medical costs related to PT and surgery mainly because I chose a crappy health plan for those services and failed to plan accordingly with money in my FSA. It happens. It's not the end of the world. MY EF is overfunded, so in theory I'm set. My budget is more of a suggestion. The budget has me saving for property taxes and home/car insurance throughout the year. I don't execute it that way. I tend to save for these expenditures in about four months so I can be done with them and I can spend money on fun things. Misguided, but it's only me.



sheilaincali - 12 Sep 2011 at 9:34am

QOTW:[/b] I don't review our budget anywhere near often enough. But with some recent threads on the YM board I am really motivated to get it tackled and set it up so it's easier to follow.

COTW: Now that last night was the season finale of True Blood I will be canceling our HBO, plus I have an extra receiver for the DirectTv that we don't use- it isn't much but I think they bill us like $5 a month for it. Will be contacting them to send that back too.


mizbear - 12 Sep 2011 at 9:54am

I am still watching the boards and tracking, but my aunt died overnight- look for me in a few days.

QOTW- I look at my budget at least once a month (always trying to figure out what I can tinker with).

COTW- I want to get everything set once I get doing my MT and CH (that's the side business) set up that I use the side money strictly for savings and funding that business. My MT business would be for paying bills. I would race my debts down, get an EF started, some other savings, and start looking for a house.

[Honeylioness]

mizbear - 15 Sep 2011 at 1:42pm

Funeral Update- Aside from all of the usual family quirkiness of badly timed jokes in poor taste- there were 2 fights. Someone referred to me as the B**** who had my father sent to prison and one of my cousins (whom I haven't seen in 20 years) went after the woman. Luckily, her sister had on sandals and I can still kick out of a pair of heels fast. Then I got in the woman's face and asked her if she was there to pay respects to my aunt or start trouble- if she wanted to start trouble, I could have her tossed. Then the 2nd husband decided to start in with the family about stuff- as though any of us wanted to hear from him anyway. He made the comment in earshot of my father that it didn't matter that we inbred lowlifes planned the funeral because he was going to get her entire estate. My father clocked him. I pulled my father off of him and told him the only reason I wasn't going to let him beat the crap out of him for that was because it was too hot to do CPR on my dad when he had a heart attack from the fist fight! My father immediately started laughing, gives me a hug and refers to me as "the practical one".

My one aunt comes over afterward, gives me a hug, and says Aunt J would be very proud of you- you didn't throw the first punch. ;D

[Honeylioness]

Honeylioness - 16 Sep 2011 at 3:02pm


Ladies, thank you all so much for the support. I am feeling a little more centered today. Speaking with the Agency's main office yesterday helped. AND getting some feedback regarding what her parent's are saying. It seems what I have been told about her parent's pressure may be mostly created in this girl's head before it rolls off her tongue. I guess I was supposed to just cave in because her real mom said it.

I will keep updating on my home page the ongoing developments with both kids to keep most of the drama off this board.

azmom - Congratulations on the blog and thank you so much for the kind words. After some discussion with a mentor I do believe there is a spiritual component to what is going on. I will be re-inforcing specific "shields" this weekend. Time to break out the Blessed Salt again.





“If I had a shiny gun
I could have a world of fun
Speeding bullets through the brains
Of the folks that cause me pains ”
― Dorothy Parker

[Honeylioness]

sheilaincali - Sept 19, 2011, 10:26am

QOTW: [/b]How do you accomplish your meal/grocery planning for the week?

COTW: Shop your pantry! Go through your pantry and freezer and try to create a meal plan for the next week or so with minimal shopping at the grocery store.

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

Honeylioness - 22 Sep 2011 at 10:11am


17 NEO Goal: 25
16 NSD/CSD Goal: 20

Ladies, has anyone refinished an antique trunk? This one is from the 1850s and has a lot of moisture damage inside (it's wood and the liner is peeling). Mom wants to line it with fabric and use it to store her quilts.

startsmart - Let me know if this query has already been answered please?

MrsLynch - I was able to check out your site - it looks great. Remember - some of us are still willing to do guest posts for YOU if you get to feeling too burdened.

SES (2) - I had to laugh when you said "...Something about it being September starts my internal "year" and I am now ready to get things organized. It sort of feels like "vacation" is over and real life is starting. I'm sure some of it has to do with the fact that I don't so well with extreme heat. " I think it has more to do with you being a teacher for decades!


QOTW: I get the weekly flyer from my supermarket in my e-mail and take a look at the front and back covers for the loss leaders to see if I can plan several meals around them. I try to do roasted or fried chicken, a roast or stew once a week as it gives me a second evening meal and some lunches. I keep a small pad of paper in the kitchen next to the phone and when I run out of something, or notice for instance there are only two eggs left, I jot down the item. Then the day before I shop I consider what three main dinners I am going to make and check to see that I have all the ingredients. I also do a quick check of staples, paper goods and cat food. Then I tuck the list into my coupon holder so I don't forget either one - and unless I see a great unadvertised stock up item I try HARD to stick to my list.

But I am only human and cookies have been known to jump unseen into my cart.

COTW: Hmmmm, I will have to do this next week as I had already planned this week's menus and besides the week is almost over.

Actually, this COTW has gotten me thinking about something I worry about whenever we get a big storm - losing power for days on end and therefore having to toss the contents of my freezer.

The pounds of fruit I could deal with - if they get too mushy I just make more jam, or blend them into smoothies. But it's the meat that would just crush me. When I see whole chickens for $0.59/lb or ground beef for $0.99/lb I tend to stock up. to combat the lost food worry I had considered a generator. However I don't know A) where I would store it and B) If I could run it on my back deck and use an extension cord to plug in my freezer.

So I then started thinking about buying a pressure canner. This way I could make stew, stock, soup, or just cooked meats and they would be shelf stable and not affected by any power outages. I have a gas stove so I have the ability to cook or reheat even if the electricity is out.

I know there had been concerns in the 40s and 50s with the canners exploding or being hard to control. Anyone have any reccommendations?



And finally - Updates and selected Low-Lights of the past few days:

honeylioness.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=milla&action=display&thread=234

honeylioness.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=monse&thread=233&page=1

[Honeylioness]

mrslynch - Sept 26, 2011, 12:14pm

I'm so excited for my financial blogger conference this weekend. Interestingly enough, both Donna and Mia will be there. It's pretty much all paid for at this point and I just need a little bit for drinks and maybe some food at the airport.

Along those lines--would any of you like to write a post for my blog? I'm trying to plan the next few weeks out, and I have bunch brainstormed but I think it would be good to start highlighting some other writers. You can either message me here, on FB or on my personal email (if you have it). I have no real requirements except that it's about personal finance, is not offensive and is somewhat noncontroversial.


Honeylioness - Sept 27, 2011 at 12:14pm

mrslynch [/b]- I would be willing to write a guest post for you. I even think I have a topic:

"What to do when you get laid off"

Yep, in addition to everything else going on - unless something changes radically in the next three days - I am probably going to be told on Friday that I am being laid off my job.

Even if the worse doesn't happen and I escape this round ... it has made me consider "survival mode" and what I would do first, second etc....


mrslynch - Sept 27, 2011 at 1:49pm

honey--i would love to have a post written by you! and I'm so, so sorry about the job. My god, girl. The lemonade you're going to make with the lemons you're being handed to you better be spiked with a whole lot of alcohol!


Honeylioness - Sept 28, 2011 at 12:12pm

MrsLynch[/b] - I have some questions for you about the blog post. Do you want me to use your gmail or yahoo account to send an e-mail?


spruby - Sept 28, 2011 at 7:26pm

Honey -[/b]

A couple of things before I forget:

(1) I know a few folks in your area - I'll be out of town for the next couple of weeks but when I am back I am happy to pass on your resume to any appropriate folks (I know folks in a wide variety of places - so something may be a fit) if you are looking for something.

(2) Any chance your front door is part of the homeowners association responsibility? Sounds odd I know - but in my old place it was part of the HMA responsibility. You could paint it if you wanted to (an approved color only!) - but if repair was needed the HMA found and paid a contractor.

I'm glad the girls are going - in the best of times they would be difficult - now I just feel like they have brought nothing but bad luck with them.

Hugs

I'll post more later with an update.

[Honeylioness]

mizbear - Sept 27 at 9:54pm

EVERYONE PLEASE TOTALLY FORGIVE ME I AM SUCH A DUNCE![/b]

I was supposed to start as captain on Sunday and post a QOTW and all... *sigh*

QOTW- So far this month we have discussed organization (mail), review (budget), and planning (meals). When you look at the leaks in your budget- where do the leaks come from- lack of organization, planning, review- a combination- or something else?

COTW- Try to identify at least one leak, its most likely cause and a possible solution.


QOTW- My leaks usually are in the form of a lack of planning and organization. They glare at me when I review.

COTW- I have to make sure that I don't keep feeding the Starbucks Monster. And I need to follow the budget to the letter. I budget my fun money, so it's already there.


3catslady - Sept 28, 2011 at 12:06am

COTW:[/b] in order to fix my leak, I have to commit murder. But that would leave the Grandkids without parents. The two of them working and I have to bring home diapers because they bounced a check for DGD's cheerleading stuff. I know you all know I would not leave my grandkids without anything "necessary" and if there were no grandkids those two would be out on the street and I would not care one bit and I would not regret it.


sheilaincali - Sept 28, 2011 at 8:01am

QOTW:[/b] Most of my leaks come from lack of planning I would say. Forgetting to return a movie and having to pay a late fee. Forgetting to take out something to defrost for dinner and deciding to eat out.

COTW: I have found a couple of small leaks that I can plug- extra receiver for our Direct TV that we don't need ($5/month), extra thing on Netflix ($10/month), etc.

We didn't plan for leftovers with dinner last night so I wouldn't have had anything for lunch today. Rather than fall into that whole "I'll just grab something at McD's" route. I grilled up some brats that we had defrosted and brought one with me for my lunch today. Now I have 2 more ready to go for the next time this week I forget to plan for my lunch in advance. Baby steps

3Cats: Ah family- how does the saying go? You can pick your nose but you can't pick your family? I am sorry that they keep coming to the bank of mom with their hands out. I don't blame you one bit for not wanting to punish the grandkids for their parent's mistakes. Hugs to you.


shanendoah - Sept 28, 2011 at 10:13am

QOTW: I'd say lack of planning/organization. I'm a routine kind of girl. When we're in our routine, there are very few leaks, thanks to the allowances we are both given. But when we get out of our routine, it all goes down hill from there. I can usually recover from one non-routine part of a month, but like this month when there were almost no routine days, I've managed 4 NSDs- only 1/3 my goal. It's been months and months since I've had that few NSDs in a month.

We are back in the routine (mostly) starting yesterday, so here's hoping we can get it under control.

3Cats: I'm with Reenee and MizBear- I'd like to come smack some sense into the grown up kids over there. I hope the GKs realize what an amazing woman their grandmother is.


COTW: That would be this weekend. I'm flying in to Reno tomorrow afternoon. I've got Firebird's bachelorette party on Thurs night and her wedding on Saturday. I'll be staying at my mom's, but I'm from the area, so I'll be trying to get together with some other friends, too. My challenge is going to be to keep the spending under control, because when I get back on Monday, we're still going to need to grocery shop for the week.


redwagon - Sept 28, 2011 at 11:39am

QOTW:[/b] I'd say our leaks are eating out and planning for gifts. All our gift money went to weddings this year and I'm scrambling to save up for the holidays. I just emailed my brother and SIL to say we should just do cards for birthdays, not gifts, especially as I know we all struggle to find good gifts. And they've never gotten blue a gift, which ticks me off now that I've realized it lol. So hopefully they agree to that, cause their birthdays are in the next week or two. Anyways. I'd say going to Target generally leads to overspending. And holidays. I need to make a holiday budget, seriously. I love Halloween and Christmas decorating. This year I'm attempting to do some crafting, so there are some startup costs there. All the other holidays I don't really care about lol. So next year I'll do a holiday savings account for decorating only. Maybe that will include plants/flowers for summertime too, we'll see.

I guess I'll work at not eating out (I say after having ordered Chinese last night while my leftover pasta sat in fridge... just couldn't eat it two days in a row! But I did buy with fun money, not house money, so it's fine) and budgeting for holidays next year.


Honeylioness - Sept 28, 2011 at 12:12pm

Update:

24 NEO Goal: 25
18 NSD/CSD Goal: 20

Doors [/b]- I have been putting this off but I think I really need to look into replacing my front door. It has warped and has not sealed well for several years which means I am leaking heat in the winter and AC in the summer. One of the things holding me back is that it is metal and I don't know what that will do to the cost - and then there is my fear that the entire jamb will need to be re-worked. I am looking into the possibility of swapping it out with the door in back on the first floor. It doesn't get nearly the exposure of the front door. And the front door because of the warp is making feel as though the locks could be easily jimmied.

mizbear - I got to thinking about your question of a few days ago and wrote up an essay about the Chrism and Blessed Salt which I put on my home page, so to not derail the thread. It can be found here:

honeylioness.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=thoughts&thread=237

3cats - Thank you for not choosing the manslaughter route for dealing with your budget leak! Most correctional facilities these days dress inmates in these really awful orange jumpsuits which are NOT flattering to any body type or complexion - and I would so hate for you to be so un-chic!

I do understand the pull of a grandmother. And that the parent's may want to do something extra for their daughter - like cheerleading. But that for me would be an optional expense before diapers. And if the girl is old enough for cheerleading - wouldn't she be old enough to bag groceries, baby sit or mow lawns to help pay for it?

startsmart- Way to Go!!! ... So nice to see when our friends are complimented and validated by complete strangers for being the amazing woman we already knew you were. And regardless of what else is going on with me at the moment I am still counting on seeing you in November!

That's right ladies - startsmart is going to be in my neck of the woods for a seminar and we have already made some plans for a long weekend of sight seeing and hanging out.

reeneejune - I am still willing to captain a week. Will give me a chance to focus on something else besides my chaotic life.

MrsLynch - I have some questions for you about the blog post. Do you want me to use your gmail or yahoo account to send an e-mail?

muttley - Congratulations!

redwagon - Great news on the referral bonus, bet it feels good to have the cruise paid for up front.

QOTW - Interesting that this question came up this week considering everything else going on. I find that when my budget has gone haywire - as I feel it has done this month - the source is more emotional than anything physical. For instance, I incurred two overdraft fees this month. Because I was so stressed I did not pay attention to the due dates or plan their payments properly. And because in an effort to keep the peace at home I caved on eating out on two occasions and for some items at the grocery store that were not on the original list.

COTW - Two big leaks as I mentioned earlier revolve around food. Having told the kids about this current situation I need to stick to my guns, and my list, when at the grocery store. I am also going to say "NO" to any more eating out requests from now until they leave in a few weeks. Or say that "That is not in my budget - however if you have the money and want to pay for yourselves that is fine".

I also will need to just stop smoking cold turkey.


mittenkitten - Sept 28, 2011 at 1:53pm

QOTW: Mine would probably be my grocery budget and DF purchasing alcohol. You know I don't think he has ANY idea how much he spends a month. I asked him and the amount he stated I would be fine with but I think it is at least twice what he thinks it is. Maybe I will keep all the receipts for Oct and show him.


midwesternjd - Sept 29, 2011 at 9:52am

QOTW-[/b] So far this month we have discussed organization (mail), review (budget), and planning (meals). When you look at the leaks in your budget- where do the leaks come from- lack of organization, planning, review- a combination- or something else?

My leaks occasionally come from a lack of planning, but mostly just laziness. My biggest leaks are probably eating out and drinking out. If my boss asks me to lunch, I'd rather go out with him than sit at my desk and eat whatever I brought from home. And after derby practice, a group of us always goes out to the bar... 2 beers and an appetizer + tip runs damn close to half my weekly grocery budget!

COTW- Try to identify at least one leak, its most likely cause and a possible solution.

Start drinking cheaper beer I did forgo last night's bar trip, I guess that's something. And I've brought my lunch every day this week


moneysquirrel - Sept 30, 2011 at 8:28pm

QOTW-[/b]- My major leak is not sticking to my list at the grocery. It is all those items I place in the basket as snacks for lunchtime. I will eventually eat them but could find healthier snacks. I don't need the candy.

COTW -- I need to skip the areas of the store[image] where these items are stored.

[Honeylioness]

Honeylioness - Sept 28, 2011 at 12:26pm


Ladies, thank you all so much for your supportive words these last few days. There is a slim chance I may not be on the list of people losing their jobs - but it is only a slim chance. However even if it was no chance I am not sure that would stop my mother, her prayer circle, family and friends from praying for a change of heart in the corporate folks who hand down these decisions.

I had my first major meltdown over this Monday night. I really wanted to just get falling down drunk - but had started taking Vicodin for my broken(?) molar and it's not a good idea to mix an opioid with booze. I must have looked like a deer in the headlights when I dropped off the prescription and they asked me for a photo ID. I had forgotten that this medicine is a Schedule III narcotic and apparently quite popular on the streets.

After downing 1/2 of a pill (because I am a complete light weight when it comes to medications they affect me so strongly) I called my best friend who works in our industry and sent her my resume. She is going to review it for me, make editing suggestions then send it on to all the head hunters that regularly call her.

I also gave a heads up to my mother which is how I know she sent out a blast e-mail to friends and family asking for their prayers.

I went online and did a quick review of my state's Unemployment Insurance guidelines. Made a list of temp agencies that cover my area and took a quick look at my budget spreadsheet and what is due. I also told both girls about this possibility - and that it meant I would be much more vigilant about leaving lights on, the thermostat setting and grocery shopping - though they both think I am already pretty clenched about these things.

Not sure if I mentioned this here yet, but both girls will be moving - Milla first. The complete gory details are on my website under each girl's name. OH ... for what it's worth I think I have determined that my dentist is the "family" Milla told YFU that she had found on her own that would take both her and Monse. He was way too nonchalant Monday on the subject of my students, Milla especially. And when I mentioned that things were tense at the moment his response was "Is there anything I can do?" REALLY??? We are not friends, have never socialized outside of his having his hands in my mouth and suddenly he is Mr. Helpful? Yeah, definitely time to change dentists.

The glass replacement company came out to my office yesterday to replace my rear windshield. However, and you knew of COURSE there would be glitch considering my month this far, they were not able to finish the job. Seems that the screws that connect the window latch to the wiper unit are corroded and they were unable to get them out of the housing. So they have ordered a new mechanism, which will be covered under the initial insurance report/incident - and they will hopefully be here tomorrow to finish the job.