tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892586343227955282024-02-18T21:16:25.623-05:00Twice Around The BlockCathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-62749633299268462492015-09-16T10:02:00.001-04:002015-09-16T10:02:43.707-04:00MulliganWow, I haven't blogged in like, forever. Last year, when I quit my job, my plan was to set goals and blog about my progress. I think I'd like a redo on that. So here goes:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Goals, year 2:</span> (after what amounts to a year long vacation, apparently)<br />
<br />
<b>Save $200 per month</b>-this is a passive goal, sort of. I mean, I don't have to get up in the morning and DO something. Sounds easy, eh?<br />
<br />
<b>Turn the attic into an office for my husband</b>. I have started this, but that doesn't really count, because OH LORDY is it a project. I have given away or sold approximately 1/4 of the detritus up there, this year I NEED to finish. I think I have to break it down into smaller goals:<br />
<br />
1. Handle (completely) one box or bin (minimum) each week. This means that everything that is in that box or bin has been placed in it's permanent home, whether it's someone else's home, Goodwill, or where it belongs on our home.<br />
<br />
2. By January, be ready to organize what's left and theoretically belongs in the attic.<br />
<br />
3. Paint.<br />
<br />
<b>Paint the Living Room</b>. (or move)<br />
<br />
<b>Paint the Dining Room</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Turn the Coat Closet back into the coat closet (</b>currently the downstairs version of the attic<b>.)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Date Nights. These need to happen. We'll start with a goal of once a month, and up it as we hopefully progress.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>This is enough to start. Wish me luck.</b><br />
<br />Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-63524450908401223622012-07-09T10:15:00.001-04:002012-07-09T11:27:00.351-04:00<span style="font-size: large;">Today I am thankful for so much. My husband actually has appointments today! Yay! On Saturday, we participated in a community yard sale/flea market that was waaaaay too hot for any sane people to attend, and yet we made a little bit over what we paid to be there, so we came out a wee bit ahead, and got rid of some stuff we didn't need. We also got to meet some new people. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While hubby was baking at the yard sale with the little guy, I was with a friend picking blueberries.* Talk about HOT, man was it hot. We sweated in places we didn't know could sweat. Best part of that-the blueberry fields belong to a family from our church, so......free! And the friend I was picking with? Gave me her old (working) sewing machine.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then yesterday, we had our quarterly family get-together with my husband's siblings, and my awesome SIL gave me her old (working) treadmill. We had a wonderful dinner together, great conversation, lots of laughs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Before the weekend began, I emailed our landlady, who is the sweetest landlady EVER, and explained our situation. She is so patient, and she told me that she knew it would work out somehow, and if she could, she'd tell us to just not worry about it at all. I am feeling a little more at peace.....</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We are truly blessed. God is good.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;"><em>Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.</em> </span><span style="color: black;">Psalms 37:4</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* those awesome sweet blueberries made some amazingly wonderful dishes - I made blueberry donut muffins from this recipe at <a href="http://amysfinerthings.com/glazed-doughnut-muffins">The Finer Things</a>, and a blueberry cobbler to take to SIL's. Both delicious. How happy am I to live in the blueberry capital of the world. Sorry no pics, but I can attest that the muffins are every bit as good as she claims! (And we kept them home for us!)</span>Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-69584449971080795292012-07-05T14:53:00.001-04:002012-07-05T14:53:41.894-04:0011 Reasons My Husband Rocks1. He is a good man, and always wants to do what is right.<br />
2. He has a never-say-die attitude.<br />
3. He loves me.<br />
4. He tells me my hair looks great when I'm having a bad hair day, and he doesn't tell me that it looks great when it does look great, because then I wouldn't believe him on those bad hair days. <br />
5. He mostly has me figured out. (See #4.)<br />
6. When I ask him to heat up the coffee maker, he makes me a cup of coffee.<br />
7. He makes the best cup of coffee!<br />
8. He is a great Dad.<br />
9. He lives with a crazy woman, and puts up with my irrational obsessions, and even complies with them. (I'm not totally nuts, but I don't want my comforter to be lop-sided, and it shouldn't touch the floor, ever. I don't think that's asking too much.)<br />
10. He sings.<br />
11. He loves to cuddle.<br />
<br />
Twelve years ago today, we met in person for the very first time. It was an evening that changed our lives forever, and I am so thankful to God for bringing us together. Even when it's bad, it's good. Happy anniversary, babe!Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-13712573170510557802012-06-29T14:56:00.002-04:002012-06-29T14:56:26.044-04:00Two days in a row!How 'bout that???<br />
So today is a very depressing day for me. My husband is a salesman, and works solely on commission. The rent is due by Thursday. We have $0.00 coming in this week. My check is only enough to pay the bills, and buy health insurance (1/4 of my salary!) So I can't even juggle any money; there is none. This recession has hit us hard. First we lost our business, then our home, now we are living paycheck to paycheck, and not even making it. I am trying so hard to trust in God, to have faith that he will provide. Somehow, it's easier when we're not in such dire straits.<br />
<br />
<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></sup>Do not be anxious about anything, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29449A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29449B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup><span class="text Phil-4-7" id="en-NIV-29450"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">7 </span></sup>And the peace of God, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29450C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>which transcends all understanding, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29450D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Phil-4-7">I could use your prayers. Thank you.</span>Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-15556026322456929512012-06-28T16:32:00.003-04:002012-06-28T16:32:58.618-04:00I am a miserable failure.........<span style="font-size: large;">Look at this, it is the END of JUNE. I am only here because someone stopped by, and I linked back to my pitiful blogsite and read my last post.......from JANUARY. (I didn't even realize I was still linked through my comments.) Just for kicks, here is the progress I've made thus far:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">coffee table - same condition as 6 months ago</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">headboard - what headboard?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">dining room chairs - re-covered! YAY! (and I lovelovelove them!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">attic - (insert maniacal laugh) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I did caulk the vanity top in my bathroom, which took all of 1/2 hour, so I hardly think that deserves a pat on the back. And I almost finished my bible-verse-chalkboard-made-from-an-ugly-yard-sale-painting project, but I taped over the painted frame too soon so that I could chalkboard paint the inside, and now I have to sand and repaint the frame. Live and learn. That was about 2 months ago......</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But what was going on instead of all the crazy housekeeping and D-I-Y-ing? I was working 2 jobs (delivering papers and my "real" job) so I was T I R E D all the time. And my thyroid medication is still not right, I believe. Or at least I'm going with that....... Anyway, I quit the delivery gig, since the price of gas was going up, making it stupid to get up at 3 a.m. for the net pay. Of course, NOW gas goes back down, but I'm betting it won't stay down.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Also, we learned that my son is allergic to corn, soy, rice, peanuts, walnuts, and almost every tree there is. The blooming allergies we deal with-Claritin and Singulair daily. But the food allergies have rocked our world. Of course, there is corn and/or soy in virtually everything that is in any way processed. In looking for foods without these allergens, I discovered how disturbingly prolific GMO corn and soy is, and so now all three of us are eating organically. So that's been a bit of a time thief. And I've been cooking/baking more, since whole foods are in order, and I defy you to find a cookie or twinkie-type product that doesn't contain corn, soy, or rice. So now I am periodically baking the BEST chocolate chip cookies ever, thanks to EnjoyLife chocolate chips and King Arthur flour (from whence the recipe comes.) Those chips are seriously the bizzomb - such a better flavor than those "enhanced" fakey ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And last but certainly not least - we got a Guinea Pig. His name is Patrick, because we were supposed to get him on March 17, but he was too new and we had to wait until March 21, and I don't know any famous person who has a birthday on March 21 (not that I looked) so we kept it. He is thecutestlittleguineapiginthewholewideworld and I tell him so every day. He's abbysinian, which means he has a bad hair day every day, but he wears it like a rock star. Maybe I can find a picture of him. That's what this blog needs, more pictures, less words.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have a wonderful 4th of July. And Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving......I kid. I hope.</span></div>Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-9172432703615229512012-01-16T15:35:00.000-05:002012-01-16T15:35:51.388-05:00I will, I will, I WILL post this year.I don't do resolutions. I try to do better, though - continuously. Last year our bible class was reading the bible in chronological order. I couldn't keep up. So I decided to do it on my own this year. So far, I'm not keeping up.<br />
Last year, I was keeping notebooks on my drugstore spending & saving. That ended sometime before summer. I thought I'd pick that up again. So far, not so much.<br />
Last year, I had a list of projects to get to. For the most part, they didn't get touched. This year, I think I will tackle a project and see it through before I start another. That means I have to paint or stain my sad found-on-the-side-of-the-road coffee table, and THEN start my headboard. Or vice-versa. They are both taunting me from different areas of the house. Oh, yes, and I need to organize the attic.<br />
<br />
Today, I am just going to pat myself on the back because all of Christmas is finally put away.<br />
<br />
Ta-ta.Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-61004975923294723242011-09-16T10:26:00.002-04:002011-09-16T10:26:26.404-04:00WOW.It's been 7 months since I've posted. Surely I've had SOMETHING to say.<br />
<br />
Be back soon.Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-43573838057030891082011-02-21T15:24:00.002-05:002011-02-21T16:03:50.609-05:00WHATTAWEEKEND!!!I am on a money-saving high, don't mind me.<br />
Technically, this should be split into 2 posts. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. I'm kinda lazy that way.....<br />
On Saturday I went to RiteAid. As you know, Saturday is the end day for most sales (as far as I know, everywhere except Acme) and on Sunday morning I went to ShopRite. I do have a picture of my RiteAid booty, but of course it's on my SD card still in my camera at home, and I'm here working hard at my place of employment. Maybe I'll come back and insert it later; read that thing about lazy up there...<br />
So here's what I bought:<br />
<br />
2 Colgate Sensitive (the big 6.0!) <span style="color: red;">$3.50 ea</span>.<br />
2 Finish Quantumatic starters <span style="color: red;">BOGO, $10.99 (they were supposed to be $3.99)</span><br />
1 Almay concealer (love these!) <span style="color: red;">40% off = $4.79</span><br />
2 Bags dark chocolate Chex mix <span style="color: red;">2/ $3.00</span><br />
1 Lays Stax <span style="color: red;">$1.50 </span><br />
2 Stayfree maxi-pads <span style="color: red;">BOGO, $3.99</span><br />
1 50ct. Excedrin <span style="color: red;">$4.99</span><br />
1 80 + 20 ct. Advil <span style="color: red;">$10.99</span><br />
1 Uncle Ben's ready rice <span style="color: red;">$2.29</span><br />
2 Snickers PB2 <span style="color: red;">.88 ea</span>.<br />
2 Palmolive dish liquid <span style="color: red;">BOGO, $3.39</span><br />
<br />
Used:<br />
2 Colgate coupons (.35 each)<br />
2 Finish coupons (3.00, 1.00)<br />
Almay (2.00)<br />
Chex (.50/2 +.50VV)<br />
Stayfree (BOGO, 1.00)<br />
Exedrin (Free, in mail)<br />
Advil (1.00 in ad, 1.00)<br />
Uncle Ben's (1.00 + .30VV)<br />
Snickers (BOGO)<br />
Palmolive ($1.00, .50)<br />
<br />
I can't remember if there were any specific VV coupons besides the ones I mentioned, but I did use my $4 off $20, a $2 VV and my $13 +UP from my last RiteAid excursion.<br />
I probably wouldn't have bought the Advil if there had been a price sticker on the shelf. I'd rather have my stuff for closer to free. But it's something we use a lot of, so I took the chance. Also a splurge was the Lays, since I didn't have a coupon. (I did, however have an 8 year old boy tagging along-bad for the budget.) I was slightly perturbed that the Finish rang up at $10.99, since the shelf price said it was on sale for $3.99 (which would have utimately had me purchasing 2 for .99) but I decided to let it go, as I had the poor cashier boy all discombobulated with my coupons.<br />
<br />
I saved $41.86 with coupons and R/A coupons. My OOP was 14.82 + tax. I got back $16 in +UP's, and the most exciting part is that I hit my $100 Winter Savings, so I got my $20 reward. Woo-Hoo----I wasn't even going for that because I didn't think it was possible for me to do with my low-key spending. But, not only did I get it, I only actually spent less than $40 OOP to get there.<br />
<br />
It may not be possible to spend $20 at RiteAid in one trip.<br />
<br />
********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
A Brief Summary of ShopRite:<br />
I don't have my receipt with me, but this is close to what I got:<br />
<br />
18 boxes of Ronzoni pasta @ .74 each<br />
4 jars Ragu pasta sauce @ 3/4.00<br />
16 cans Progresso soups @ 1.00 each<br />
1 Kashi cereal @ 2.69<br />
2 Kashi cookies @ 2/5.00<br />
2 Kashi crackers @ 2.500<br />
1 box Golden Grahams @ 2.49<br />
2 Chex Mix @ 2/4.00<br />
1 Vlasic pickles @ 2.00 each<br />
1 lb. Keller butter @ 2.99?<br />
2 Eggland's best eggs @ 2.69? each<br />
2 jugs Clorox @ 2/3.00<br />
2 Horizon single serve choc. milk @ 1.00 each<br />
3 blocks cheddar cheese (Macadam) @ 1.69? each<br />
1 pkg. Borden swiss cheese @ 1.99 ea.<br />
1 pkg. Borden provolone cheese @ 1.99ea.<br />
2 Mama Rosie's ravioli @ 1.49 ea.<br />
2 Boca burgers @ 3.59 ea.<br />
2 Green Giant Valley Steamers broccoli @ 2/4.00<br />
1 loaf Arnold double fiber bread @ 2.99 ea,<br />
celery @ 2.99 ea.<br />
strawberries @ 2.49 ea.<br />
2 mangos (is it mangoes?) @ .99 ea,<br />
<br />
I had one or two $1 coupons for the pasta, making those free, and a the rest were .48 for two after the 1.00/2 coupons. I had 1.00/2 Ragu coupons. $1 Mama Rosie's coupons, $1 Vlasic, $1 Horizon (making them both free) $1 Clorox, $1 Eggland's Best, $1 Golden Grahams, $1/2 Chex mix, 4 @ $2 off any Kashi, $3 Kashi cereal, 4 @ 1.00/4 Progresso soup, and $1 off Green Giant vegs. Also, I had a $5 off any order over $40, and a ShopRite coupon for a free lb. of Keller's butter.<br />
<br />
My total after savings card but before coupons was $104, and OOP I paid $62.00. My cashier was more excited for me than I was. I feel good about this trip--I bought the bread, cheeses and produce with no coupons at all. AND I got $24 in Catalinas.<br />
<br />
Since I only just recently started posting my shopping trips, there are a couple of things I should point out:<br />
We are mostly vegetarian. (I am completely, and my husband isn't compelled to eat meat.)<br />
We have a lot of food in the freezer. Our freezer is very small, but there are only 3 of us.<br />
While I don't have a strict grocery budget, I try to keep it under $100/wk.<br />
My husband is a salesman, and is usually not home for dinner :-(<br />
Our church has a food pantry, and we donate regularly.<br />
My son (8y.o.) doesn't eat much, but we stock up on things that he will eat, and to that end, I have enough Tyson's frozen chicken and Perdue fun shapes to last him quite awhile, all purchased with coupons at an awesome sale price.<br />
For a long, long time I was a single mother with 5 kids and no child support. Using coupons combined with sales was not a hobby, it was the only way I could feed my family. My husband's ex-wife wouldn't be caught dead using a coupon, so he is particularly pleased with my dedication to conserving family funds.Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-80358353023184075372011-02-17T09:18:00.000-05:002011-02-17T09:18:44.957-05:00How About A Post Every 2 Months?...................Seems like that's how it's turning out, anyhow. <br />
<br />
Money I've spent/saved so far this week:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Walgreen's</u></span><br />
<br />
Purchased 4 Arm & Hammer deodorant for 3.96 + tax. I did NOT use RR's because there was a limit of 4 (Wags coupon) and I have one RR worth $6. I had run into Wags on my lunch hour to grab a sale flyer, and saw that these were on sale. This is the only deodorant that my husband will use, so I took this rare opportunity to get 'em cheap. I will have to spend my RR by Monday, so will look to see if I can roll it, and maybe get even more deodorant.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>CVS</u></span>:<br />
<br />
Started the week with $8 in ECB's from last week, which I had rolled a couple of times. All I did this week was purchase 2 Colgate Sensitive toothpaste for $7.98. Since I had a coupon for $1, and one for .35 I needed a filler. I bought a bag of 1/2 price Valentine candy to share at work. OOP was .63 and I got my $7.98 back.<br />
<br />
I will go to Rite Aid tomorrow or Saturday. And then ShopRite, but only if I can save big-time, as we have plenty of food, and only need milk and bread.Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-46698584136599612832010-12-16T10:16:00.003-05:002010-12-16T10:33:42.197-05:00The Rules of Christmas (according to Cathie)This will be my 52nd Christmas, and therefore I am proclaiming myself qualified to lay down some laws:<br />
<br />
1. Stocking stuffers must be small, and inexpensive. And by inexpensive, I mean less than $10 optimally. No fair blowing the whole wad on a stocking stuffer-the "big" stuff goes under the tree. And by "big" I mean meaningful. Diamond earrings? Under the tree. Cap gun? In the stocking.<br />
<br />
2. Do NOT, under any circumstance, fill the stocking with groceries. And by groceries I mean deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, etc. That is a cop-out. You may, however, purchase a nicer-than-usual body wash or fancy chapstick. Along these same lines, no Oreos, but you can do Walker's shortbread. Unless you are of a class of people that ALWAYS has scottish shortbread laying around, then you're on your own as far as cookies go.<br />
<br />
3. If you have multiple children, the number of presents per child must be the same. When your children are older, and you buy an ipad for one of them, and 5 presents for the rest of them that add up to the ipad, they MAY let you slide on the number of gifts, but that is doubtful. Save yourself the heartache.<br />
<br />
4. If your kids say they believe in Santa, keep the dream alive by buying and keeping hidden the Santa paper. If you and Santa wrap your presents in the same paper, you'll have some 'splainin' to do, and it will probably not be the same 'splainin' as their friends' parents. In this same fashion, alter your handwriting when you sign the Santa tags. Kids are precocious.<br />
<br />
5. Let the kids decorate the tree. This was the hardest thing for me, but better to let go of a little perfectionism than to kill my sweet boy's spirit. And anyway, he did an awesome job!<br />
<br />
6. Don't mortgage the farm to make an impression on Christmas morning. 'Nuff said.<br />
<br />
7. Christmas morning is for opening presents. Not Christmas eve. Although to take the edge off, I've been known to get everyone new jammies and let them open that. It's still fun. I wouldn't trade anything for the excitement of Christmas morning.<br />
<br />
8. The sad truth is that Santa can't always make it to the poor side of town. Do whatever you can to help. You will get the greater gift, and that my friends is the magic of Christmas.<br />
<br />
9. Relax. Enjoy.<br />
<br />
<br />
Here is how I've planned our Christmas:<br />
<br />
First, to keep costs down, I keep my eyes open all year long for sales. Amazon rocks. I purchased Club Penguin DS pack for a measley $10 about 5 months ago. I purchased most of my Christmas gifts this way. After Christmas I will buy wrapping paper, but only if I absolutely LOVE it. I still have enough paper for another Christmas or two, and it's all what I consider beautiful (and dirt-cheap!) I will also buy cards for next year. (Nice ones, cheap!) One of my favorite out-of-season places to shop is Hallmark. Check out their clearance racks. I purchased Keepsake ornaments for 75% off this year.<br />
<br />
Have a couple of generic gifts ready. Last year my generic gift was the Cranberry candle from Bath & Body Works, coupled with one of my giant peanut butter cup cookies. (If anyone reads this and requests the recipe I will happily post it; they are crazy-delicious!) This way, my den leader assistant felt remembered and appreciated, and I didn't put a lot of time and money into wondering what an ideal gift would be for her (something I'm notoriously obsessive about normally.) For the widower at church, I packaged a couple of easy yet yummy soup mixes from Harry & David, for the widows those same cranberry candles with a small box of chocolates. <br />
<br />
We will have a family "party" on Christmas Eve. This has evolved over the years from what was originally just an impromptu light dinner and cookie event into a hors d'oevres, cookie, and punch by candlelight get-together with family and friends. It's very casual, and the only occasion where my kids insist on punch. I try to have a balance of healthy finger foods as well as buttery cookies and chocolates. This is a huge hit, and probably the tradition that my kids will continue with their families. I have always wanted to have an open house on Christmas Eve, but my house may never be that together. We will read about Jesus' birth in Luke. We will pray and thank God for the gift of salvation available through his death.<br />
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Then it's early to bed. (wink wink) Hopefully at this point the kid(s) are exhausted and sleep soundly, and hopefully it's not a long haul from the stash to the tree. This year, I took advantage of my son's sleep-over at Grandma's to wrap everything and relocate it from the attic to the back of the deep (under the stairs) coat closet.<br />
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Christmas morning, child that I am at heart, I have traditionally been the first one up. Yeah, even when my kids were young. Mommy would wake them up at 5 a.m. to tell them that Santa came. We open presents, everyone is happy (or at least gracious,) and we drink coffee. I make pancakes, and we have a relaxing day with an easy yet special meal in the middle of it. This is normally spiral honey ham, macaroni & cheese (home-made) baked beans and Hawaiian rolls. Sweet potato pie and a cake of some sort for dessert.<br />
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That is our Christmas. Tell me about yours. Have a merry!Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-2667203362556589342010-10-14T14:18:00.000-04:002010-10-14T14:18:03.013-04:00Wow.Has it really been almost 3 months since I last posted here???? SO MUCH has happened! I guess soon after that last post, my husband was hired by a national company as a salesman. He loves it. Well, he at least likes it a lot. He's great at it, people love him and want to buy from him. So he got to quit that blasted courier job. We are still doing a couple of paper routes, but only until the end of the year, and then hopefully we can be a more normal family.<br />
And......we moved! Into a much nicer home. It's actually older than the house we moved out of, but has had much more TLC put into it. Although it's 100 yrs old, we have drywall! Yay for smooth walls. There is a sweet little dip in the dining room floor, but other than that and a little uneven-ness above the kitchen cabinets, I absolutely LOVE it. We are now located on the quaint little main street of our quaint little village. It's where I've wanted to live for awhile.<br />
All things work together for good........Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-36528464158177377922010-07-20T10:59:00.000-04:002010-07-20T10:59:11.534-04:00Nothing to see here, folksMy life at the moment:<br />
Deliver newspapers 5a.m.-7a.m.<br />
Work at day job 8:30-5:30<br />
Home with son from 6 on<br />
Husband @ courier job every evening from 6-1:30 M-F<br />
Husband gets up at 3 a.m to deliver papers to first route, brings me mine<br />
Weekends try to make up for lack of housework during week.<br />
daily loads of laundry and dishes<br />
Run to VA for daughter's baby shower and grandson's birthday<br />
Anticipate run to VA for birth of baby<br />
Shop at lunch hour<br />
Lather Rinse RepeatCathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-37673419315880172822010-07-10T09:10:00.000-04:002010-07-10T09:10:20.774-04:00charleston style - Its like that - Run DMC<object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/VbYYFPFZCR8/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VbYYFPFZCR8&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VbYYFPFZCR8&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-34756752169836747672010-07-08T22:56:00.000-04:002010-07-08T22:56:27.200-04:00charleston style<object style="background-image:url(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/339ixMtHrVk/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/339ixMtHrVk&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/339ixMtHrVk&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-75192898804948687652010-06-07T19:57:00.000-04:002010-06-07T19:57:58.624-04:00Down With The SicknessI've got some kind of sinus virus. Went to the doctor today and she ruled out strep (at least with the instant test, I have to call in the morning for the results of the longer test) but my throat is ON FIRE! Which is making my ears burn, too. Fun stuff, this. I've not felt like doing anything much. Which means that even though I sent my husband to the store for enough onions and garlic to make a pot of beans and black bean burgers, I don't think I'm really going to make them. Tomorrow is recycling day, so I have to schlep all the recycle-ables to the curb, and frankly, I think that's enough work for me tonight. Plus, I <s>threatened</s> promised a hair cut to Gabe, so I still have that to look forward to. No menu plan here, folks. We had pancakes for dinner. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. We have a meeting for Fall Travel Soccer right after I get home from work. Bible class on Wednesday night, School portfolio viewing on Thursday night, and husband and I will probably do his courier route together on Friday night, since that new job has taken the date out of date night. You wish you were me.Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-34132270046297242612010-06-01T12:26:00.000-04:002010-06-01T12:26:59.378-04:00Not A Total Failure.......Last week's MPM started out wonderfully, with dinner ready when I got home, and us sitting at the table (!) to eat in about 20 minutes. I have just a few things to work out:<br />
<ul><li>I love to cook, but my husband doesn't eat a lot of meat, (and I don't eat ANY) so I always have left-over meat. Our 7 yr. old is a "taster." There isn't a problem with leftovers, specifically, but I need to be more diligent about using them. Reincarnating them would be optimal.</li>
<li>The afore-mentioned husband is starting a new courier job today, which means that he will not be home for dinner. This leaves me and the kid, aka the vegetarian and the taster. I don't think I'm creative enough for this particular challenge. I see a salad, veggie burgers and chicken tenders in our future. Did I mention that my son is very, very picky? </li>
<li>Last week's menu plan got side-tracked on day 4. I don't remember exactly why, but I couldn't get it back on track. I think my husband eventually ate the leftover ribs for lunch. I used the remaining cole slaw mix to make more cole slaw for yesterday's barbecue, so we never did have fried cabbage. On Saturday I had a migraine and slept most of the afternoon away, and husband went out and purchased a cheese hoagie, which he saved half of for me for when I woke up. That was about 3:30, so it became too late to eat anything for dinner after that, and my son was at Grandma's, so we basically skipped dinner. On Sunday, the kid went swimming with a friend after church, so my husband and I went to buy some new sneakers and grabbed a quick bite at Pizza Hut Bistro.</li>
</ul>So I'm taking this week off from menu planning, and I'm gonna see how things work out for Gabe and I. I will try to plan some dinners that might possibly appeal to both of us. (Cheese quesadillas?, Grilled cheese? See a pattern?)<br />
In other news, if I can talk the husband into it, we are getting a d-o-g! I may have to be a <em><strong>very, very</strong></em>, good wife for this one!Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-79964546767357605592010-05-23T22:51:00.000-04:002010-05-23T22:51:33.031-04:00Woo-Hoo, Houston, we have a menu!Monday-Country Style BBQ spare-ribs (slow-cooker) and cole slaw<br />
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Tuesday-Baked Chicken, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach<br />
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Wednesday-(Bible class after work) Greek salad<br />
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Thursday-<a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Homemade-Black-Bean-Veggie-Burgers/Detail.aspx">Black Bean burgers</a>, sweet potato fries<br />
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Friday-Pizza (BOGO at Shoprite) Date night<br />
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Saturday-Clean the Fridge leftovers<br />
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Sunday-Italian Sausage sandwiches, Fried Cabbage<br />
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I usually buy a head of cabbage for cole slaw, but I was at Sam's earlier this week, and a bag of cole slaw mix was cheaper than a head of cabbage at the supermarket, so I bought it. Since it would make enough cole slaw for an army, I decided to also use it for my fried cabbage. This will be a first, so I'll let you know how it comes out. Basically, my fried cabbage is just thinly sliced cabbage and thinly sliced onion fried in a frying pan with olive oil and butter until browned and somewhat carmelized.Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-43009902697140997012010-05-18T15:24:00.001-04:002010-05-18T15:26:03.923-04:00Randomness<ul><li>For most of my adolescent-thru-adult life, I believed I was fat. (And I wasn't.) Now I AM fat. Life is a riot.</li>
<li>Why do I keep buying magazines/reading articles that purport to tell how you can save hundreds of dollars on your grocery bill? I raised 5 kids with no support, paternally or governmentally. I KNOW this stuff. There's never any exciting revelation. Maybe I should WRITE the articles!</li>
<li>I need to find a niche here. Someone should be reading this, or else it's just a writing exercise. I guess I could use a writing exercise. I guess I could use any kind of exercise (see first bullet.)</li>
<li>I hereby vow to post a menu plan next Monday. There I said it. Now the hard part. I could post one for this week, but it would look like this:</li>
</ul> Monday-too tired from getting up at 2:30 to help husband with paper routes and then going to my 9- 5. No soup for you! (Son had nachos.)<br />
Tuesday-spaghetti (hopefully made by husband while I shop at Sam's)<br />
Wednesday- Bible class after work, McDonalds or Burger King after that.<br />
Thursday-cub scouts (we are making coffee can ice cream!)<br />
Friday-Date night wine and pizza<br />
Saturday-Guess Who's Coming To Dinner night with church couple. We are the surprise guests, and just have to bring dessert. I am trying to guess what to bring for dessert!<br />
Sunday-Care Group at church member's home. Hoagie night, just have to bring chips.<br />
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See, that would be helpful to no one.Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-7130135118707336842010-05-01T20:33:00.000-04:002010-05-01T20:33:09.635-04:00The Zoo!Today, we went to the Popcorn Park Zoo. This zoo is located approximately 40 minutes from our house if we do not make a wrong turn and circle about 30 miles out of the way and get mixed up in shore traffic on route 9. But that's another blog post.<br />
PPZ is a tiny little spot in the NJ pinelands, dedicated to helping animals who are hurt or abandoned. There is a branch of the Humane Society located there, where you can adopt a dog or cat, also.<br />
This little field trip satisfied our last Go-See-It requirement for my Tiger Scouts. Next week they will all move up into the Wolf den.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aynqnDCLmamnv4Fy1vIrWn_fdtPco3Ao6m3xF91Rh0yjetaPrZnQN_Fhigp38Ar_pPjPdNxYgDLQT50c3rI9ds6LuntVcJDCaj9vDnoEjI-EpEkg3RUHTHVrW0Crnat76C2f4iM4TiM/s1600/Popcornparkzoo+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aynqnDCLmamnv4Fy1vIrWn_fdtPco3Ao6m3xF91Rh0yjetaPrZnQN_Fhigp38Ar_pPjPdNxYgDLQT50c3rI9ds6LuntVcJDCaj9vDnoEjI-EpEkg3RUHTHVrW0Crnat76C2f4iM4TiM/s320/Popcornparkzoo+008.jpg" /></a></div> This guy was just chillin'.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAv0tTv_rOtgIt-y5voDehufGPyVzcW12K7s96ugemXOMHAMIqitBJluWsbA8ozR5WfdugCfRAJ7ticRpH68XZN088JIDEERdk4z-xZcaXjf-NgXMYJCpS_DyL4edBwlQY9xuoVHRABJ0/s1600/Popcornparkzoo+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAv0tTv_rOtgIt-y5voDehufGPyVzcW12K7s96ugemXOMHAMIqitBJluWsbA8ozR5WfdugCfRAJ7ticRpH68XZN088JIDEERdk4z-xZcaXjf-NgXMYJCpS_DyL4edBwlQY9xuoVHRABJ0/s320/Popcornparkzoo+014.jpg" /></a></div> Da Bears.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f2gb8iP4ZJ1iCwCl7_zNQVTUyjBdLW745if3EkaJ6J4S8OSoEW5A-UHPSMSM7gL-eJBSvW2ecFufVqRJUqZHwNpzV_mK90TkCgvpMo_rj5m80UpbD0_RSTSnT-0_uCcXpENJiSU-iFk/s1600/Popcornparkzoo+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f2gb8iP4ZJ1iCwCl7_zNQVTUyjBdLW745if3EkaJ6J4S8OSoEW5A-UHPSMSM7gL-eJBSvW2ecFufVqRJUqZHwNpzV_mK90TkCgvpMo_rj5m80UpbD0_RSTSnT-0_uCcXpENJiSU-iFk/s320/Popcornparkzoo+016.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pWvvmUCYjCZwJcmXplLQQYkvynO09JvxOkPS415H9Tyuoe26IQW07lYgaGgr5d_FKeuQFME7A_kMXWfwzAA-yq9MO6jBMjEmEMbKVukfXPEHRqKxOOZvy4BtgAluY4woerDZlcIdzYg/s1600/Popcornparkzoo+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pWvvmUCYjCZwJcmXplLQQYkvynO09JvxOkPS415H9Tyuoe26IQW07lYgaGgr5d_FKeuQFME7A_kMXWfwzAA-yq9MO6jBMjEmEMbKVukfXPEHRqKxOOZvy4BtgAluY4woerDZlcIdzYg/s320/Popcornparkzoo+017.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I thought she looked kind of sad.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAOGdc_PvrJkheUE6BSzSJAeZxj8ufwSN_QfvktI5s3UyRpQYv066NicqOq9L97K5Q2TTcEabnRugyjNyhiXD2knBNoSPGVwn_ZNlwDCdwzqqVMCFtVxgpgXy2UqIM4m0LlhRbrhHTYU/s1600/Popcornparkzoo+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAOGdc_PvrJkheUE6BSzSJAeZxj8ufwSN_QfvktI5s3UyRpQYv066NicqOq9L97K5Q2TTcEabnRugyjNyhiXD2knBNoSPGVwn_ZNlwDCdwzqqVMCFtVxgpgXy2UqIM4m0LlhRbrhHTYU/s320/Popcornparkzoo+026.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I like this picture. I'm not a great photographer (if you couldn't tell) and it turned out just like I wanted.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvC2zqcV-tqbngtP8OPSw3k0OrJGuzsXcdC3q-JDOoX4_f66Mp1BETd3Ff2J38JVjWNnxYK9ctNCZvaqAkondFS3CK5dyqnlu_bCWdyiZFMZNPCkiJrdSjRfL2jtxDMikF4p0mnYNlOc/s1600/Popcornparkzoo+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvC2zqcV-tqbngtP8OPSw3k0OrJGuzsXcdC3q-JDOoX4_f66Mp1BETd3Ff2J38JVjWNnxYK9ctNCZvaqAkondFS3CK5dyqnlu_bCWdyiZFMZNPCkiJrdSjRfL2jtxDMikF4p0mnYNlOc/s320/Popcornparkzoo+022.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QnZHYpSN5kcj5NTqD4rF5p7MBC4edw7U2nrNJhidl7BO44UZSnzxeevBWFk_9NLyvcMKhfXRRICtsKci2vEF-PxtNabyUJJ26fV71bIiqOK0oxNbu_Gbxjyllh4VQN5tn95fGL-tKhc/s1600/Popcornparkzoo+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QnZHYpSN5kcj5NTqD4rF5p7MBC4edw7U2nrNJhidl7BO44UZSnzxeevBWFk_9NLyvcMKhfXRRICtsKci2vEF-PxtNabyUJJ26fV71bIiqOK0oxNbu_Gbxjyllh4VQN5tn95fGL-tKhc/s320/Popcornparkzoo+021.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvefSToVIHjsQGmikKVe-7Ss1zkn4x4M6Vpkp1DjTiPE45e2ICHFqcF8-huZnkdXtqX0UIY5yryxzIASUI1RQNR-4oCP0xnd9kjglYvgaaWiClvvHHsedwxwFzTves0T9AARYfUm_blOE/s1600/Popcornparkzoo+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvefSToVIHjsQGmikKVe-7Ss1zkn4x4M6Vpkp1DjTiPE45e2ICHFqcF8-huZnkdXtqX0UIY5yryxzIASUI1RQNR-4oCP0xnd9kjglYvgaaWiClvvHHsedwxwFzTves0T9AARYfUm_blOE/s320/Popcornparkzoo+032.jpg" /></a></div><br />
There were all kinds of families at the zoo today!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr7ltuQGQiY0QenRvnIwwHzSoc5g1wVxmeIbgik2ngHDL7B9iD-kIcdj8Fvq3IBkB6T5bZkp1DI7pTpTOo1dSE47zuD2QtbwsYXwjqG67S5A1EsOVU4VQt2H1HxYzP2EEDfMIteK2QVM/s1600/Popcornparkzoo+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr7ltuQGQiY0QenRvnIwwHzSoc5g1wVxmeIbgik2ngHDL7B9iD-kIcdj8Fvq3IBkB6T5bZkp1DI7pTpTOo1dSE47zuD2QtbwsYXwjqG67S5A1EsOVU4VQt2H1HxYzP2EEDfMIteK2QVM/s320/Popcornparkzoo+033.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KH4fi5kvlaYWC3bPD-C0Ut3DMj9uI7aPRsuv1Jjin7sIAiILO8dPKPvP8fe3aWBKMb2LcRKSjLaeEqZ5gZzexbfU2KqoCqT3cbK1yhQvHALXkmB7oVCvglBYx7b2-1NDfHX2hrjvNjM/s1600/Popcornparkzoo+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KH4fi5kvlaYWC3bPD-C0Ut3DMj9uI7aPRsuv1Jjin7sIAiILO8dPKPvP8fe3aWBKMb2LcRKSjLaeEqZ5gZzexbfU2KqoCqT3cbK1yhQvHALXkmB7oVCvglBYx7b2-1NDfHX2hrjvNjM/s320/Popcornparkzoo+038.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Gorgeous colors!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCudCh-ZSq6WOU6ZBKO65b-aBuSivSxLPd3R7_ZVmhwzXFCXhxU7V2B0-XQHbV6ntzByAt7OyQ3J3knlD8-Uyq3s3tVSIJ85fjp5J4iVP7XfSsiJYZBmtdKHI1AWAFOcZa_Gwoqez4tB4/s1600/Popcornparkzoo+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCudCh-ZSq6WOU6ZBKO65b-aBuSivSxLPd3R7_ZVmhwzXFCXhxU7V2B0-XQHbV6ntzByAt7OyQ3J3knlD8-Uyq3s3tVSIJ85fjp5J4iVP7XfSsiJYZBmtdKHI1AWAFOcZa_Gwoqez4tB4/s320/Popcornparkzoo+040.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This guy was at the Humane Society. Apparently he flew away from his owner who had him for 12 years when he was spooked by a loud noise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An awesome time was had by all who didn't wear crocs that kept getting full of sand and so they had to sit on their dad's head and were a little hot and whiny, but once again, that's another blog. It became "all good" once we stopped at Wawa for some cold drinks, and then came home and napped.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A perfect Saturday!</div>Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-7595139132557299322010-04-28T09:23:00.000-04:002010-04-28T09:23:40.509-04:00Love and LogicOne of the million and twenty reasons I love my husband is that he not only has the ability to dream, but he believes that he deserves good things, and that good things are coming his way. <br />
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I can tell you that I don't know what on earth he loves me for, but he told me that he fell in love with me on the night we met because I was able to close my eyes and imagine that the cars that were zipping by the little al fresco pub were actually ocean waves. (Every so often a tractor-trailer would plow by and ruin the illusion, but on the whole, it works.)<br />
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But in defining myself, the first word that comes to mind is logical. I pride myself on being practical. People ask me for advice, and they usually appreciate my point of view.<br />
<br />
So it would only stand to reason that Practical Patty and Dreamer Dan would not always see eye-to-eye. One such moment was this morning, when he wanted to imagine life with the 100 million dollars that he believes we will win in the Mega-millions lottery. I probably rolled my eyes, and immediately dismissed him. I hurt his feelings, and he didn't want to talk any longer.<br />
<br />
We have dreamed this dream together a hundred times, and Practical Patty was tired of it. We will not get out of our inadequate little house. We will not get new clothes. We will not get a mansion and a yacht. Practical Patty was logical, and mean.<br />
At what cost?<br />
Dreamer Dan was hurt. How much energy would it really have taken to entertain his musings? I didn't even really have to participate, just react positively.<br />
<br />
I think I need to go sit by the highway and listen to the waves.Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-16591583565000410582010-04-26T14:22:00.002-04:002010-04-26T14:22:35.612-04:00GIVEAWAY!!Over <a href="http://atsecondstreet.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-first-giveaway.html">At Second Street</a>.Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-92190805203145113312010-04-20T10:20:00.001-04:002010-04-20T13:24:08.732-04:00I've been godsmacked!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2P65PSXFkNJjHyRz4uvCYKWa_rXJqx5ABuIB_1nNSV6usroU_X_wAqk3ObTEgGwSPXmzghgv4Tj8sNwFECzkWwZ4QYj4xsOMihRz9opxX18a-kefORfDFz4qnp-5a7AMghPjRqsVVrxs/s1600/do+not+enter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2P65PSXFkNJjHyRz4uvCYKWa_rXJqx5ABuIB_1nNSV6usroU_X_wAqk3ObTEgGwSPXmzghgv4Tj8sNwFECzkWwZ4QYj4xsOMihRz9opxX18a-kefORfDFz4qnp-5a7AMghPjRqsVVrxs/s320/do+not+enter.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div> <br />
<br />
This morning I left my house with exactly enough time to drive through Dunkin Donuts and then make it to work. I was pleasantly surprised that there was not a long line at the drive through. The parking lot there is a little nutty, because the access road is actually behind the building, so you have to drive around to get to the place where you can get in line. UNLESS you enter in the back where there is clearly marked "Do not enter"-then you can just jump in right at the speaker if the timing is right.<br />
Well, because I am a stickler for the rules, (and also because in my Lucy Ricardo life if anyone is ever going to get a ticket for doing something that everyone else does all the time it would be me) I drove around the right way. And as I got to the drive-thru, there was a big ol' Xterra that came in through the back (the WRONG, illegal, way!) In righteous indignation I gestured (not THAT gesture!) and mouthed "didn't you see the sign???" Then I glared at the woman driver with my best evil eye.<br />
Almost immediately, what came to mind was the sermon I'd heard on Sunday morning about forgiveness. How we should forgive someone, even if they don't <em><strong>know</strong></em> we're forgiving them. So I took a deep breath, and I asked God to help me with this. I decided to let it go. She was probably in a hurry, just like me.<br />
So I ordered my coffee, and added a Coffee Roll, because I hadn't had time to eat breakfast. The guy who took my order said, "ok, that'll be $1.60"<br />
"Did you get the coffee roll?" I asked, irritated, because I knew it should've cost more.<br />
"Yes, the woman in front of you paid for your coffee."<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">S M A C K !</span><br />
Oh yes, I felt it. I was humbled this morning.<br />
And that woman, who for a brief moment was the target for my daggers of contempt, was used by God to turn me around in my tracks.<br />
<br />
I looked in my rear view mirror just in time to see the look of surprise on the face of the man behind me when the cashier told him that I'd paid for his coffee. I hope it made his day, too.Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-13280045714931618302010-04-19T09:44:00.001-04:002010-04-19T09:51:32.481-04:00The Irony of (no) Time ManagementI love my weekends. Well, I love the idea of a weekend, anyway. I imagine Saturdays spent with my 7 yr old at the wonderful park across the street: me with a riveting novel, he playing with his friends on the playground. I imagine Sunday afternoons much like those of my childhood-coming home after church, eating "dinner" and then relaxing, maybe even napping before heading back for evening services.<br />
Of course, all this depends on the imaginary upkeep of my house during the week, allowing for the leisure time. <br />
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The reality is that I have a 9-5 M-F with about a 45 minute commute each way. My husband delivers newspapers from 2:30 a.m. until 7 and then gets the boy off to school. Then naps. Then does all the errands that I can't get to from work. Like some men, my husband-God bless him-does not see the things that need to be done in the house like I do.<br />
About 3 weeks ago I scored a gorgeous large(r) dresser for my husband. (FOR FREE!) He'd been using a small-ish one, and he has a lot of clothes. Which means that we had piles of his clothes here, there, everywhere in our room. This new (to us) dresser sat in the middle of our living room for 3 weeks, making it difficult to keep the room neat, let alone clean.<br />
So my teensy goal for myself this weekend was to simply switch out his dressers and get the living room vacuumed. That is all. Win. And I even got some laundry done, and some papers sorted/discarded. My house is still a hot mess, but I feel good about accomplishing my goals. Because I was able to do it despite our weekend schedule looking like this:<br />
Friday night Cub Scout Pack meeting @ 7 pm (I get home from work at 6:15)<br />
Saturday morning deliver my husband's second paper route (he likes to be at my son's soccer games, and needs to catch a little sleep)<br />
Saturday morning Soccer Pictures @ 8:15<br />
Saturday morning Soccer @ 9<br />
Saturday afternoon schlep son to Grandma's<br />
Saturday evening pick son up<br />
Prepare for bible class (I teach the 3-4 yr olds)<br />
Sunday morning deliver my husband's second paper route (this is so he can get a quick nap in, thus maybe staying awake in church.)<br />
Sunday morning church @10 (till about 12:30, then much "congregating" afterward)<br />
School-mate's karate-themed birthday party at Amerikick @ 2 (til 3:30)<br />
Cub scout's birthday party at Sahara Sam's indoor water park @ 3:30 (til 6:30)<br />
<br />
And to top it all off, my husband was knocked out by his allergies this weekend, so he spent a lot of time out of commission (he skipped church, and slept through my dragging that huge dresser up our un-carpeted wooden staircase!)<br />
The bottom line is, I think I got more done than I would have if I'd had all weekend un-scheduled. There is some kind of a MUST-DO that kicks in when my time is limited. I like it. Maybe not as much as I'd have liked that Sunday afternoon nap, but I don't feel any of the guilt that I sometimes am left with after taking that nap.<br />
We'll see what happens next weekend, when all we have is soccer.Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-22134881402065284182010-04-14T11:54:00.000-04:002010-04-14T11:54:42.032-04:00Welcome, welcome, welcome!!!<span style="font-size: large;">A big, fat, heart-felt welcome to my very first follower here: Jolyn from </span><a href="http://budgetsarethenewblack.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Budgets Are The New Black</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. Thank you for signing on.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cathie</span>Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589258634322795528.post-19396327612220104832010-04-12T10:56:00.000-04:002010-04-12T10:56:59.771-04:00I'm a Lucky Girl!!<span style="font-size: large;">On Friday, I went to Goodwill at lunchtime and found a few or four summer shirts for my boy-child. That would be lucky enough for me, normally. But a local radio station was there doing a promo, and giving away scratch off lottery tickets. I grabbed a ticket (I said "thank you!") and headed back to work. I sat at my desk, and scratched my ticket, and I won $10! That was, by the way, more than I'd spent by about $6! But it gets better! I checked my email, and found out from <a href="http://onceamonthmom.com/time-to-clean-giveaway/">OAMM</a> that I won the Seventh Generation giveaway! I'm walking on air! And I'm excited to be getting paper towels, since I don't usually buy them.</span>Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05166568107358549586noreply@blogger.com0