Ugh. But tomorrow is the fair!
Bill Clinton was amazing last night. Makes me upset that I'm so fickle. One good speech and all is forgiven... fickle
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Busy week at work
Busy at work this week.
Down time at work has been spent researching how CC and I are going to keep our condo warm this winter. Problems are the large (8 by 3) foot windows that flank two sides of our place. And since we sort of have southern exposure on those same two sides, I've always wondered if there wasn't a way to utilize solar something...
Thank you internet - here it is!
http://home.att.net/~cleardomesolar/cleardomehome.html
Looks like there are certain solar curtains that will warm up in the sunlight. We'll see. Considering that our heating bill more than doubles in the winter (we have electric heat), it will likely be a worthwhile investment.
Called Pottery Barn Kids this afternoon and unsubscribed to their catalog (unsure how I ever got on that list...). Another one of my new projects is calling each retailer that sends us a catalog. Part of our new life entails less time and money spent consuming. Less shopping will help. And it has finally (!) dawned on me that flipping through catalogs makes me want to replace/"upgrade" too many things at home.
Down time at work has been spent researching how CC and I are going to keep our condo warm this winter. Problems are the large (8 by 3) foot windows that flank two sides of our place. And since we sort of have southern exposure on those same two sides, I've always wondered if there wasn't a way to utilize solar something...
Thank you internet - here it is!
http://home.att.net/~cleardomesolar/cleardomehome.html
Looks like there are certain solar curtains that will warm up in the sunlight. We'll see. Considering that our heating bill more than doubles in the winter (we have electric heat), it will likely be a worthwhile investment.
Called Pottery Barn Kids this afternoon and unsubscribed to their catalog (unsure how I ever got on that list...). Another one of my new projects is calling each retailer that sends us a catalog. Part of our new life entails less time and money spent consuming. Less shopping will help. And it has finally (!) dawned on me that flipping through catalogs makes me want to replace/"upgrade" too many things at home.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Lighter Still !
Another 3 more pounds down. Yay!
A resolution: Next year AB and I will enter items in the Minnesota State Fair! Unsure what I'll submit - but I'm going to scope this year. Jams - fancy oils - bread - who knows!
A resolution: Next year AB and I will enter items in the Minnesota State Fair! Unsure what I'll submit - but I'm going to scope this year. Jams - fancy oils - bread - who knows!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
My kingdom for a dab of fat-free mayo!
1. Budget revealed
Not to you.
I worked on the budget yesterday afternoon and ran through it with my resident budget guru, Carol. She had several great ideas on final cuts so the whole thing might balance (always good behavior for a budget).
And then later last night I debuted the budget for CC. Overall, he was pleased and didn’t freak out too much. Seeing each of the high individual credit card balances was a bit of a shock, but he handled it well. And seeing that we will actually, and finally, receive allowances that can be used to buy guilt-free clothes seemed rather freeing.
So we’re off! The plan to start on the 15th with the allowance pieces, finish making capital improvement purchases (a coffee maker for CC’s office so he can avoid the local coffee shop, etc.) and have everything set up with the budget program for September 1.
2. Little packets of condiments!
Yesterday my package from minimus.biz arrived. It bothered me when we started the bring-lunch program that if you add mayo or mustard to your sandwich in the morning, by noon it’s always a bit nasty, you have to worry about refrigeration, etc. After searching high and low – thinking that someone must offer handy “picnic” packs – I came up dry. Thankfully minimus.biz allows you to order single serving sizes of several different mustards, ketchups, mayos (including fat-free), salad dressings … list goes on and on.
So today I enjoyed my ham and swiss sandwiches with Grey Poupon!
Not to you.
I worked on the budget yesterday afternoon and ran through it with my resident budget guru, Carol. She had several great ideas on final cuts so the whole thing might balance (always good behavior for a budget).
And then later last night I debuted the budget for CC. Overall, he was pleased and didn’t freak out too much. Seeing each of the high individual credit card balances was a bit of a shock, but he handled it well. And seeing that we will actually, and finally, receive allowances that can be used to buy guilt-free clothes seemed rather freeing.
So we’re off! The plan to start on the 15th with the allowance pieces, finish making capital improvement purchases (a coffee maker for CC’s office so he can avoid the local coffee shop, etc.) and have everything set up with the budget program for September 1.
2. Little packets of condiments!
Yesterday my package from minimus.biz arrived. It bothered me when we started the bring-lunch program that if you add mayo or mustard to your sandwich in the morning, by noon it’s always a bit nasty, you have to worry about refrigeration, etc. After searching high and low – thinking that someone must offer handy “picnic” packs – I came up dry. Thankfully minimus.biz allows you to order single serving sizes of several different mustards, ketchups, mayos (including fat-free), salad dressings … list goes on and on.
So today I enjoyed my ham and swiss sandwiches with Grey Poupon!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Coping with uncertainty
BUDGET!!
I hate uncertainty.
I like creating budgets only to the extent that I can minimize the uncertain items. Which include food, electricity, medical expenses. Little things like that. UGH!
But the budget is coming along. I had hoped that with the beginning of August I’d have everything lined up and we’d just tick along, food, health, budget, morning walks, etc. But I have to consider the positives:
Stuck to menu for over a week! (previously inconceivable)
Stuck to diet for over a week!
The Great Financial Gathering is almost complete
Driving only on the weekend
So the new goal is to have the budget in place and tweaked for September. But to still act and spend as though we were on the budget.
Project Runway tonight!
I hate uncertainty.
I like creating budgets only to the extent that I can minimize the uncertain items. Which include food, electricity, medical expenses. Little things like that. UGH!
But the budget is coming along. I had hoped that with the beginning of August I’d have everything lined up and we’d just tick along, food, health, budget, morning walks, etc. But I have to consider the positives:
Stuck to menu for over a week! (previously inconceivable)
Stuck to diet for over a week!
The Great Financial Gathering is almost complete
Driving only on the weekend
So the new goal is to have the budget in place and tweaked for September. But to still act and spend as though we were on the budget.
Project Runway tonight!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The Great Financial Gathering
Watched Mr. Smith Goes to Washington last night at Movies in the Park. The intro band sucked, but the movie was actually pretty fun. I don’t often say it out loud, but apart from Arscenic and Old Lace, I’ve never enjoyed Capra's films. Not even It’s a Wonderful Life (my Christmas movie ritual involves Auntie Mame).
But Jimmy Stewart was occaisionally cute. And the writing was good. And there weren’t too many earnest children (after the first 20 minutes).
As of today, I’m 80% done assembling our financial data. It’s daunting to see how much we owe overall. But financial health is more than just credit cards – and even though they’re huge, seeing the student loan and mortgage balances decline will feel really nice.
I just need to add CC’s student loans and then I’ll be done with the Great Financial Gathering. Well, completely done once I get a handle on this silly student loan I have from North Dakota. It’s this little old lady who administers a trust – so nothing’s online – and I have no idea how I’m going to figure out what the outstanding balance is. Perhaps a project best saved for next year!
Watching last week’s Shear Genius tonight with the Trio – so excited to who’s work “didn’t make the cut”!
But Jimmy Stewart was occaisionally cute. And the writing was good. And there weren’t too many earnest children (after the first 20 minutes).
As of today, I’m 80% done assembling our financial data. It’s daunting to see how much we owe overall. But financial health is more than just credit cards – and even though they’re huge, seeing the student loan and mortgage balances decline will feel really nice.
I just need to add CC’s student loans and then I’ll be done with the Great Financial Gathering. Well, completely done once I get a handle on this silly student loan I have from North Dakota. It’s this little old lady who administers a trust – so nothing’s online – and I have no idea how I’m going to figure out what the outstanding balance is. Perhaps a project best saved for next year!
Watching last week’s Shear Genius tonight with the Trio – so excited to who’s work “didn’t make the cut”!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Lighter in the loafers!
Discipline paid off last week – I’m down 6 pounds!
Of course the first few weeks on a diet have the biggest punch, but this was a happy way to start the week. And it didn’t even seem that hard. Thanks to careful menu planning, we had lots of good food. And, in honor of our dear friend Holly’s wedding, we basically took the weekend off (much happiness led to much late-night drinking and eating).
Our 30-something bodies have quickly forgotten how to party-hardy. We slept late both Saturday and Sunday, but still managed to get through some of the to-do list items. I got a mini fridge through Craig’s List ($30, $15 less than Target) and delivered it to the office. The shelves in the bedroom still aren’t hung up, but I finally put away the rest of the bedroom furniture, vacuumed, and organized the cleaning supplies.
For Sunday’s lunch I made steel-cut oats – which were very good! Sort of like oatmeal (which I’ve never been fond of – but in that way that I can’t remember the last time I tried and hated them), but not mushy. It made us feel all crunchy and healthy.
Vegan picnic and a movie!
Tonight we’re going to see “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” in the park. There’s a band first and then the movie at dusk. Every summer the Walker Art Museum organizes a movie series – I think I’ve made it thrice. But tonight we’re meeting the Trio to make a night of it. Fingers crossed for cooperative weather.
Of course the first few weeks on a diet have the biggest punch, but this was a happy way to start the week. And it didn’t even seem that hard. Thanks to careful menu planning, we had lots of good food. And, in honor of our dear friend Holly’s wedding, we basically took the weekend off (much happiness led to much late-night drinking and eating).
Our 30-something bodies have quickly forgotten how to party-hardy. We slept late both Saturday and Sunday, but still managed to get through some of the to-do list items. I got a mini fridge through Craig’s List ($30, $15 less than Target) and delivered it to the office. The shelves in the bedroom still aren’t hung up, but I finally put away the rest of the bedroom furniture, vacuumed, and organized the cleaning supplies.
For Sunday’s lunch I made steel-cut oats – which were very good! Sort of like oatmeal (which I’ve never been fond of – but in that way that I can’t remember the last time I tried and hated them), but not mushy. It made us feel all crunchy and healthy.
Vegan picnic and a movie!
Tonight we’re going to see “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” in the park. There’s a band first and then the movie at dusk. Every summer the Walker Art Museum organizes a movie series – I think I’ve made it thrice. But tonight we’re meeting the Trio to make a night of it. Fingers crossed for cooperative weather.
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