Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter Excitement

Good Friday turned into not-so-great Friday as H. called to say he'd been laid off.  They went from 150 trucks a week down to 20....when he asked his supervisor for his paycheck on his lunch break, he was referred to another supervisor who handed him his check and a yellow 'HR' envelope confirming that Friday would be his last day.  Because H. found out early (by asking for his check at lunch), they let him leave mid-day.  To say he's disappointed would be an understatement.  My reaction was considerably stronger.  He and I had been having a stressful week towards each other as he burned through more money than I would imagine he could spend in a week - despite my admonishments that he needed to keep a cushion, etc..  His roommate starts his new job tomorrow - and H. has been helping him out a bit and I'm OK with that.  They keep careful track of who's paying for what - and then pay each other back....but still.  I was already so flipping mad at H. I could barely speak....and then the news that he is once again unemployed.  Not a great day.

I kept telling him that they hire 'temps' as a classification of employees so they can weed them out.  He said he was doing great - but then acknowledged he was late one day.  And to me, he never seemed that 'happy' about the job.  It wasn't driving equipment like his old job - it was serious manual labor loading and unloading trucks by hand.  He would come home everyday and crash - just exhausted.  We've not seen much of him since he started that job.  I think he wasn't exactly setting himself apart as a 'stellar' employee - and consequently, when the time came to cut down staff, he was (again) on the list of the soon-to-be-departed.

He swears he's learned his lesson and he promises he will not spend as much.  Girlfriends are expensive and he takes his girlfriend out a lot and always treats.  I try to educate him on the 'new economy' where you just don't spend $50 a night over and over - it's just not feasible.

OH - and when I looked at his pay stub for the two weeks he was paid for (and they gave him his final week separately), it turned out he'd only been working 30 hours a week, not 40.  I pointed that out with a 'did it occur to you that your budget - which you overspend regularly anyway - was based on a FORTY HOUR work week?  And you've only been working THIRTY HOURS?  When were you going to mention that small MAJOR detail - 'cuz you are seriously short to make your rent on thirty hours a week'.

Boys.  My boys.  They have always sucked at math.  Considering what I do for a living, it's ironic.

H. and I went to the bank together yesterday to deposit his final paycheck - and we stopped at a desk to have them completely un-link his savings from his debit card.  If he doesn't have money in his checking account to cover, his debit will be declined.  The bank rep said 'you are so lucky to have your mom be such a help to you.  My mom just threw me out on my own'.  I don't know if she meant that literally - but I said 'I'm not sure he thinks it's always a 'bonus' to have me be his bookkeeper'.  She said 'he should'.  H. replied 'I do appreciate her help and I am lucky'.  So there's that.

I'm pretty sure he feels lucky 'cuz we are his cushion.

On that note, I head full speed into Easter Sunday cooking.  J. just hooked up the TV in the family room to Amazon Prime so I can watch Good Wife all day while I cook up a storm.  H. and his roommate are coming for dinner at 4 - looking forward to a nice meal.

And I'm off tomorrow - sliding into another reasonably short work week - I'm usually off during Spring Break so it will be different to be working part of it.  Should be quiet.  Schools closed.  Plan to get a lot done!

OH - we got a letter from B. on Friday - he's busy but doing well.  He clarified for me that he's not going to Ranger School - he's entering RASP - the school is primarily for Officers seeking Ranger training.  He's being sent in to the selection process and upon completion, will enter a Ranger unit.  So he'll be at Ft. Benning for at least another 11 weeks....

I am hoping for a phone call today - it's a long shot but I still hope.  Mom's all over America are anxious to hear from their soldiers and it's Easter.  Here's hoping.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Woo Hoo - Not

The woo hoo of a three day work week is now like a slap in the face 'Holy Crap what was I thinking?'.  As the 'final' workday dawns - awakened from a dream state (very rare) by my alarm and still somewhat groggy from that - I am stumbling to the shower and out the door.  Starting the day as early as possible because while yesterday was a joyous day of no meetings (it felt like puppies and flowers all day just toiling away on my list of 'stuff'), today is the opposite of that.  Back-to-back-to-back meetings all the day long.  Even trilling that like a song or nursery rhyme (sing-songing "all the day long" lightly with a touch of merriment while picturing myself in a field of flowers with a basket to gather with accompanied by my sweet little Chloe) does nothing to ease the discontent that is upon me as I face a day where my calendar is blocked solid.  As a co-worker and I added yet another meeting yesterday and she gently inquired 'how does that work with all the other meetings we have tomorrow' and I replied gently 'not great but it's do-able'.  We'll just eat lunch at 11 and drink as little as possible during the day 'cuz we have no time for potty breaks - or breaks of any kind.

The running tracks we installed at three of our sites over the summer (last) will soon be open to use and I can't wait to take my workout clothes to work with me and change into them at the end of the day and use the track to walk/jog a bit before heading home!

We haven't heard from B. in two weeks now - at least by letter.  The weekend of his pass with plenty of contact has left us with no letters since they are out in the field learning tactical maneuvers, living off rations and schlepping 80 pounds of gear with them wherever they go.  He warned us he wasn't sure how much he would be able to write so I know he's fine.  I'm pretty sure bringing paper with you to write your mother would be a bad thing to do - and he'll write when he can.  We do know that he was able to go to the National Infantry Museum on the base for a movie and lunch on Sunday - and that is where the graduation will be held so we can look forward to seeing the museum also.

We will be in Georgia three weeks from today (!) and we are really excited about the trip.

Birds just started chirping so it's almost sunrise.  I'd better get going.

I'd love to insert a pic of puppies and flowers - but it's just too much effort for me at the moment.  More soonest -

Monday, March 25, 2013

More Shoes!

Happy 23rd wedding anniversary to us!  Time has flown by....seems like yesterday.  Though the gray hair, wrinkly skin and tricky joints would confirm that a lot of time has passed.

We spent the day at our lawyers office updating our trust documents.  We get annual reminders and have been a little remiss in getting things modified as needed.  At $250 an hour, you tend to put it off until you just have to.  Traveling together in the near future was my final 'must do' - so we did.  Feels good to have the updates in process and I will be traveling easier knowing it's all worked out the way we want.  Though the most recent changes won't be in effect until after the trip to Georgia in a few weeks but we'll just have to play the odds on that one.  I feel confident we'll be fine - and if we aren't, we won't know about how it turns out...it will be what it will be.  Even our intentions outlined are not 'real' until we've all signed and it's all notarized....so that will be done before Cancun.

The second stop of the day was Fleet Feet in Pleasanton.  J. has put over 300 miles on his shoes and they were in need of replacing - so we stopped there to get him the same shoes he purchased there before.  On the way there, I asked if he would be OK with me getting fitted - and he said 'I was thinking the same thing!'.  So I took the time to have a fitting - and found out that I'm wearing shoes that are 1/2 to a full size smaller than my feet actually measure!  Hello, bunion issues and ingrown toenails - pleased to meet you and guess what?  I've been causing my own misery for as long as I can remember by not having been fitted for shoes in many decades - and my feet have changed.  I'm also more flat-footed than I ever recall and inserts to correct that are perfection!  It was a crazy amount of money to spend - but heck!  It's our anniversary! 

Is 23rd the year of shoes?  Should be.  Was for us.

I also got two good fitting sports bras, a pair of capris, a t-shirt, some socks and a hat - all NOT cotton and all washable.  That's the other monumental change - DO NOT WEAR COTTON.  All these years of wearing cotton socks and cotton t-shirts or shorts.  NO!  Cotton doesn't wick water and it takes a long time to dry out.  Moisture in shoes is NOT good for feet - so socks that stay dry and/or dry out very quickly.  The salesperson Sara who helped us was so great - patient and really took a lot of time.  I tried on 3 pairs of shoes - and not just tried them on and sat there.  Tried them on, walked in them, tried different lacing techniques, walked some more, added inserts, walked some more and then did a side-by-side of the two that felt best.  And I was pleased as punch that the ones that truly fit and felt the best were also reasonably attractive - with purple in them.  I love them!  Though I told Sara 'I will never again buy a pair of athletic shoes based on looks - who cares what they look like?  The right shoes feel 1000 times better than anything I've ever worn before - and that will hopefully help me stick to walking.  It has certainly worked for J. and I will never again think twice about spending money for quality shoes. 

Last stop was lunch at Sansar in Livermore - and it was after 2 by the time we got there.  Then home.  Now it's moving into the evening with massive amounts of stuff to cull out from work - but that's OK.  J. is heading to church for Good Friday rehearsal and I will plow through a bunch of stuff in a couple of hours.  A very late lunch equals light dinner so no cooking tonight. 

Tomorrow is back to work but thankfully, I'm off again this Friday and next Monday - so a three day week for me!!  Woo hoo!! 

Sunday, March 24, 2013

A Tale of Two (Pairs of) Shoes

If you are over 40, think back to the days of shoe stores on every corner.  4 or more in every mall.  Remember those stores?  Think back....shopping for shoes was a big deal with so many stores to choose from.

I worked at a shoe store my senior year of high school - Chandler Shoes.  It was sort of 'uppity' as shoe stores went - lots of high heels with expensive accessories.  I worked the front desk most of the time - ringing up sales for the sales staff who were all paid on commission.  One day, I was left alone in the store and two ladies came in.  They purchased $300 of hosiery (really!) and I did a good job getting them to buy.  The sale was recorded by me and I was excited to be soon getting my first commission - and hosiery commission was far higher than shoes.  I told my boss when he returned from his break and he congratulated me profusely.

When I got my next paycheck, though, I didn't get the commission on the hosiery sale.  While my boss never admitted it, I believed he gave the commission to another sales person.  When I asked about it, he made a big deal of correcting it - but he gave me my commission.  I quit shortly after - realizing that even when you did a great job at selling, it wasn't likely you would get credit for the work.  And my boss was a dufus - as most managers of shoe stores in the 70's were.

Anyway - I am rambling...but remember the good old days when they gave you a shoe horn with practically every sale?  Needed one?  Just ask and the plastic miracle tool would be in your bag - no charge.

I need new shoes in the worst way - and I have a style I like - sturdy leather in brown and black.  Used to be I'd go to Ecco and find the perfect shoes that would last years.  Ecco hasn't been the best for me lately though - so I've been branching out.  I found perfect shoes at Lands End and ordered them....in a 1/2 size up.  One brown pair and one black pair.

Even with the 1/2 size up, I couldn't get them on my feet - and realized I needed a shoehorn to do the job.  We've searched high and low in the house - it's the kind of thing you are sure you must have someone but we can't find them.  And then I searched high and low at every store in town...nothing.  Walmart has then online - for $7!

Yesterday, I finally found an 18 inch shoe horn at Walgreen's - $4.99.  I hated to think that I would be using a tool that was designed to require no bending - but it was the only shoe horn in town.

It works!  The shoes are on my feet and being worn around the house to break them in.  The only thing troubling me is the blister that is healing on the back of my right heel - which I got the first time I tried to wear them with socks that were too thick.  When that blister heals, I think they are going to be fine - and eventually, I think I will be able to slide them on my feet without the assistance of the shoehorn.  Leather will stretch to match my feet - and then they'll fit perfectly.

J. is at church this morning - last week, we ran into a friend who works at our church and he said 'so are you not attending because you're pissed about something or because you're lazy'?  I said lazy - though the truth is somewhere in the middle of those two things.  Truthfully, I just like time alone - and the time when J. is at church is when I get some alone time.  I enjoy it.  I like piddling around the house by myself and get up and going much more when J. isn't here than when he is.  And I don't think God cares if I go to his house - or praise and worship him in mine.  I really don't.

The dishwasher is churning away.  We worked on the garden yesterday and sadly, are having to give up the plan to use the raised beds.  J. pulled out dozens more grubs from the beds - so we are pretty sure that the grub eggs are still in there and the grubs continue to grow - and they will be there for quite awhile.  I think I'm going to just use some flower seed and if they come up, great - if they don't, that's OK too.  We'll leave them empty if they don't grow....

So we planted some herbs and tomatoes in our patio pots and put two pole bean plants in a planter under the dining room window (full sun a good part of the day).  We are going to put the squash plants in the front yard in an empty area that has plenty of room for them to spread.  May not work but it's worth a try.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Spring-ish

In the time it took me to run to one of our schools to check on something, stop to get a prescription at the pharmacy down the street and then go to Starbucks for an iced tea and the Taqueria for a breakfast burrito to split with my beloved, the weather turned from lovely to wind-storm.  Drat!  My day off of gardening will still happen - but since one of the things we need to do first is 'mix' old dirt with new dirt, amendments and manure, that project won't happen today.  Too windy to put dry dirt products on a tarp and mix...it will just blow into everything.  Luckily, we have plenty of weeding, trimming, etc. to keep us busy.

I am off on Monday also and we will spend our 23rd wedding anniversary with our attorney - shoring up our trust documents in anticipation of multiple trips where we will both be on the same plane at the same time.  I just like to have all my ducks in a row....

This weekend is a 'must finish taxes or die trying' weekend....among zillions of other things that need doing.

I went through a bit of withdrawal this week, returning to being 'out of touch' with B..  After watching on Facebook as it counted down the number of minutes, then hours since he'd last logged in - until finally, at day three, I think, it just stopped counting and shows him 'silent'.  It was so great to have those couple of days of hearing from him off and on with calls, texts, etc..  He's in two really busy weeks of field work - where they live in the forest for days and practice tactical maneuvers - so we don't expect to hear from him via letters much the next few weeks.  I brace myself for when he is in Ranger School 'cuz we will absolutely not hear from him much...and I know that will be very hard.

Once again, we've been able to find videos of Ranger School - so we know a lot more about it.  We even know that when he finishes - if all goes according to plan - he will graduate the day after we leave Cancun - which means we will likely fly from Cancun to Atlanta and then spend a long weekend with him and come back home from Atlanta.  That's going to cost a fortune - but oh well.  I don't care what it costs - we are going to be there.  It's still possible his graduation may be moved a bit depending on scheduling, etc. so we're not changing plans at this point - we'll just wait and see what happens.

The training will be incredibly intense.  I watched the videos just gob-smacked about the things they will be doing.  They actually do three weeks at Ft. Benning; then 3 weeks at a base in Northern Georgia for 'mountaineering training' and then the final three weeks in Florida in the swamps!  With alligators!

So after Basic, it's three weeks in Airborne (at Ft. Benning), then nine weeks in Ranger School and then he will finally get a couple weeks leave to come home and visit.

I continue to be in awe of his motivation and determination and have no doubt he is going to make a great Army Ranger.  So proud of him....

Son #2 is arriving here this evening to pay us back the $ we fronted him last week.  I'm not going into too much detail except to say he's on my last nerve about keeping his agreements.  Not to mention that it seems highly doubtful he will be able to pay his rent in two weeks - but at this point, I'm stepping off the 'monitor H.'s budget' roller coaster and leaving him to it.  Pass or fail, it's up to him - and we aren't going to provide 'easy money' for work he rarely ends up doing.  Always a reason why he can't come over to help do the things he committed to doing and was paid in advance for.  Argh!

Tonight is pizza night!  We haven't ordered pizza in a long time and I can't wait!




Monday, March 18, 2013

Should Have...

taken the entire week off.  Monday mornings suck - especially after four days of sleeping in.  The thought of repeating this torture next Tuesday (after FIVE days off) is almost more than I can handle.  I thought of calling my boss and leaving a message - but calling in 'absent' for the entire week when I've been expected for a few days, at least, is probably not the best career move.

But oh how I wish I would...could....

It's 6:30AM and I'm just heading to the shower.  Reset the alarm a few times this morning.  Sometimes, those extra 30 minutes (times a couple) are the best sleep I get all night!

I remind myself that B.'s return to reality this morning was likely a hundred times worse.  I don't have a drill Sargent yelling at me to wake me up! 

So there's that.....at least. 

Sunday, March 17, 2013

RASP!

Yesterday, J. was awakened by B. calling - forgetting that it's 3 hours earlier here?  He told J. some good news and bad news.  Upon my awakening (a couple hours later), I got to talk to B. - no timer!  The bad news: he's not going to get a week off after Basic Training so no trip home.  The good news?  He was offered and signed a RASP (Ranger Assessment & Selection Program) contract last week!  He is so excited - and deservedly so!  The kid has worked his heart out to reach that goal - and what a great thing to accomplish.  I've been afraid to think about it too much - fearing I would jinx it and/or preparing for the disappointment.  I thought he had a PT (Physical Test) still to come - but it turned out they called him into the 'office' and offered him either Special Forces or RASP - he took RASP.  It's an honor to be offered either - both is a dream.  B. chose RASP because it's more of an 'action' position.  But Special Forces is still an option...

He will finish Basic in a few weeks; then head to Airborne training for two weeks then to RASP.  He finishes RASP at the end of June - and who knows where from there.  If he's selected as a Ranger, he would be based at one of three bases - two in Georgia and one in Washington (the state - not DC).  He hopes for Washington 'cuz at least it's on the same coast as home.  If he doesn't make RASP - then we'll see.  That's the part that scares me - but I am working hard at not worrying about all the 'what-if's'.  I'm just going to enjoy the moment - continue to be incredibly proud of him - and pray about it all as often as I can.  It will work out....

He sounds very good and thoroughly enjoyed his 32 hour pass.  He had dinner at TGI Fridays last night with a bunch of his friends.  They stayed in town, enjoying comfortable beds and hot showers and eating with no time limits!

His pass ends in a couple hours.  He called again this morning - another nice long-ish call.  And we've been Facebook IM'ing off and on all weekend.  It's been so great to hear from him - he sounds so great and so happy. 

We also got a really long letter from him - and after describing one of the activities they engaged in the past couple weeks, he commented that he still frequently thinks 'I can't believe I just got paid to do that!'.  Good sign when you love what you're doing and getting paid is a bonus!

I am cooking quite possibly the smallest corned beef ever - and J. keeps gently reminding me that it's just the two of us and it will be plenty!  I know he's right - but it's so odd to cook such small portions of things.

I've been enjoying my long weekend - and looking forward to another long weekend next weekend when we celebrate our 23rd!  It's Sunday and I'm sort of wishing I had just taken the entire week off - but oh well.  Three days will fly by and I do have plenty to do. 

We are waiting for the arrival of son #2 who will be working for four hours today to earn the $ we advanced him mid-week so he could go out to dinner and a movie with his 'friend'.  H.'s budgeting skills continue to be lacking...but we're getting by.  He won't be thrilled about working for us today but oh well.  I'm not exactly thrilled about spending my Sunday supervising, either - but that's life.  Yard work!

We've got 70's and 80's music blaring in the family room - doors and windows open to let in fresh air.  It's Spring-like!  J. and I've celebrated the weekend by eating out a lot and shopping a little.  J. has needed new clothes for a really long time - and I'm taking advantage of a tidier closet that makes knowing what I need to 'add' so much easier.  My goal is to get to a solid set of work outfits that I feel really good in - and then giving away the rest.  It's time... I bought a pretty skirt and top to wear to B.'s graduation in April - and if it looks nice, I might just shock the heck out of everyone at work and wear a skirt to work!  That would be a surprise.

Chloe got her shots on Friday and she's a little 'off' this weekend.  Not her usual bouncing off the walls self.  It's like when your kid is sick - you just feel so bad for them and would do anything to get them back to normal.  I'm sure she will feel better in a couple days. The vet complimented J. on how great she looks - she's got a nice hourglass shape (thanks to more walks and fewer treats!) and she's looking really svelte! 

Congratulations to B. on an amazing accomplishment.  When he sets his mind to something, he is unstoppable!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Spring-Like-Break

I am off today and tomorrow!  Yippee!  J. just returned with a breakfast burrito (to share) from the Taqueria and a trenta black iced tea to jump start the day.  Many, many things we want to accomplish around here and while I took days off 'cuz my psyche needs them, I do not want to look back on this time and think I wasted it.

I came home Monday evening to take advantage of the daylight that results from the time change - after the longest day on the planet 'cuz it was a struggle to get up that morning - and J. and I turned the soil in the raised veggie beds.  As I shoveled, I noticed some curled up caterpillar like creatures - and we started pulling them out of the beds.  We think we took out over 100 that first night - and thanks to the power of the Internet, we were able to identify the creatures as Japanese Beetle larvae!  Yuck!  Had we left them in the bed, they would shortly awaken to feed on the plant roots - so glad we didn't just plant this year - but instead took the time and effort to work the soil - 'cuz if we had just planted, we would have essentially provided just the smorgasbord they would need to come out of their winter sleep, eat away all the roots and then surface as full grown beetles which devastate any plants they can!  They are voracious eaters and can strip trees, shrubs and flowers bare in a matter of days!

We are still turning the earth over and over and still pulling out beetle larvae like crazy....and I was so 'in the mood' to garden that I decided to split what was to be a full week off into two long weekends...thus making today and tomorrow officially non-work days.

There is so much happening at work that my head (and heart) are spinning and slipping and sliding all over the place lately - and I think my boss understood that I just needed to step off the slippery treadmill for a couple days.  I know it won't help as much as I wish it would 'cuz Monday will be here in the blink of an eye.  But then I'm off next Thursday, Friday AND the following Monday to celebrate 23 years with my husband!  No plans - just time together piddling around the homestead.

I am looking forward to long conversations with B. who will be on a 36 hour 'pass' this weekend!  Talking to him with no time limit AND possibly texting back and forth a bit is something I can't wait to do.  I miss that young man!

Time to get showered and dressed in my garden clothes and ready for a day of yard work!  The lawn needs fertilizing, patching, etc. and there are plenty of things to trim and pull and plant!  Son #2 has been hired for Sunday (prepaid 'cuz he needed money for a date - his envelope system is working well and he knew that he really didn't have budget for a date - so he asked for an advance on Sunday work and we happily obliged.  Now we just have to see if he really shows up at the appointed time 'cuz being late for 'work' is never a good thing) and so it's going to require some thought of what things to leave for him vs. doing them today.

Spring is here - blue jays are nesting in the trees as they do every year - and we hear them 'scolding' anytime the stray cat that hangs around our yard appears.  He is a 'Scottish Fold' - can't believe he's out and about and seemingly abandoned - and he walks along the fence really slowly which freaks out the jays something fierce!

Saturday, March 09, 2013

Boys!

Home alone always sounds better than it ends up being....not that it's not fun to have the run of the house.  It's just that alone is...well, lonely....a bit, anyway.

Around 3PM I decided to head upstairs to read and rest a bit...didn't really take a nap but sort of rested.  Took the phone with me just in case - I always hope for a call from B. .

There was a letter today!  I think the mail is slow 'cuz of the weather back east - it was postmarked March 4th but we just received it today.  He told us that a week ago Wednesday or Thursday (so the end of February), the Drill Sergeant called off 10 RN's (Roster Numbers) and asked if those 10 were interested in Ranger Assessment & Selection Program!  B. was one of them and was thrilled!  He's been improving his PT (Physical Test) every week and is very close to the score needed.  The letter sounded like it was pretty much a 'done deal'....I was so excited!  He has worked so, so hard for this - and getting a RASP contract out of Basic was his dream.  The original dream was to go into Basic with a RASP contract - but for so many reasons, that didn't happen for B..  He's never given up on that goal and has obviously worked diligently towards that goal.  He's doing so great!  So happy.

And then, at 4:30 - after I came back downstairs - the phone rang and it was B.!  OMG - I was so excited.  He immediately asked if I could put Dad on the speaker phone and I had to remind him that Dad was in Visalia this weekend.  He had 10 minutes - which is the longest call we've had so far.  He sounded good - though at first, I wasn't sure.  He's still really congested - he says he feels fine but when I said 'you still sound really stuffy', he said 'I don't really know how I sound anymore'.  Moist Georgia air, I think.

It was great to talk to him - and he will have a 36 hour pass next weekend - all day Saturday and part of Sunday.  He thinks they will have access to their cell phones so he can call and talk as long as we want.  I asked him how this week's PT test went - and he moved up 7 points - still has 5 to go.  His last PT is the Tuesday after his 36 hour break (3/19).  He said it's about a 50/50 chance - I said 'so if you hit the score, it's not guaranteed?'.  It's not - it will depend on how many openings they have for this group.

If he gets RASP, he won't come home after graduation - he will head straight to Airborne there at Ft. Benning.  If he doesn't get RASP, he will get seven to ten days off between Basic and going into the infantry battalion he's been assigned to.  He says if RASP doesn't happen out of basic, he will sign up when he's in the battalion and he feels confident he will still get in.

It's so hard to wait....I can't imagine how hard it is for him - but he said 'I'm going great and I'm happy' - so that's an awesome attitude.  He has worked really hard....

I called J. as soon as I hung up from B. - felt so bad that he missed the call.  Then H. arrived - he had apparently come over when I was upstairs...I thought I heard a door but I always hear things when J. isn't around and I've learned to ignore them....but it was him.  So he came back when I was up...and we went over his budget.  He is doing OK but still struggles with monitoring how much he's spending.

We went over the budget we've put together for him - and this week, I resorted to the budgeting method I used when I was his age - in college, living with my brother and not working.  I made H. envelopes:  Gas, Discretionary and Groceries.  I put his weekly budgeted amount for each in cash in the envelopes.  I told him 'you shouldn't even use your debit card - you have no $ in your checking account and now, all the money you need for the week is in these envelopes.  When the money is gone, it's gone.  If you blow your entire discretionary budget in two days on the weekend, that's it.  You have nothing left for the week...so don't do that!'.  I hope this works.  I offered to get cash for him every week when I get our weekly cash - maybe going to cash basis is best for him for now.  He will get paid next Friday.

I've talked to J. a couple times today - just quick touch base calls.  He played golf with his brother this morning.  He should be home by early afternoon tomorrow -

Time for working on taxes; finishing up laundry; and other stuff before bed.


Friday, March 08, 2013

Creaking

I hear J. up - it's 5:30AM!  The floorboards creak overhead - and it's not a kid!  This is the earliest he's been up in a long time.  He's heading to Visalia today for his 45th high school reunion.  Today is golf, then cocktails tonight.  Tomorrow he'll visit with his brother and our nieces and then the 'big' reunion event is tomorrow night.  Home sometime Sunday.  I will miss him -

I went to his 25th with him and knew no one.  It was OK.  I actually 'know' some of his classmates now - they are Facebook friends that I 'talk' to and play games with.  Try as we did, we couldn't get them to go to the reunion.  If they would have, I would, too....but oh well. 

I am looking forward to a weekend of solitude - which means that this evening, here all alone, I'll be missing him like crazy.  And all the things that go bump in the night will probably worry me.  Still, it will be nice and I am always crazily motivated when he's away. 

The man cleaned out my closet yesterday - and built new shoe shelves so I can really 'see' where things are.  He's organized it in a way that will greatly assist me in culling stuff out - it was just too much of a mess for me to ever want to dive in and clean stuff out - but now, everything is neat and tidy - making identification of things I haven't worn in ages easy-peasy!  So I plan to use the time to really plow through years and years of things I don't use or wear and get them out of here!

He was a little worried that his reorganization would stress me out - but holy cow!  What's not to love about a guy that dives into a messy closet, organizes, categorizes AND builds additional shelves in one day? 

I am the luckiest girl on the planet!

Off to the trenches soon - Happy Friday!

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Vamos!




Vamos a la playa!




I made the label above for the box of stuff we are gathering for our trip - to signify we are in full-blown preparation mode for our trip to Playa del Carmen in July.  There are things that 'gather' during the year - like new flip flops and travel sizes of lotions, bath gels, etc. that I save for our beach trips - and it's time to get them all in one place and ready to go.  Over the next couple months, we will continue to hunt and gather what we need for the trip - and lists are started.  I don't want to forget Benadryl cream because I know I will be eaten alive by mosquitoes and that cream is the only thing that works and it's completely not available in Mexico.  Believe me, I've begged - it's not there.  Cortisone?  Yes.  But not Benadryl.  Remember when I was so desperate I bought the liquid Benadryl and smeared it on my legs?  This year, I am not forgetting 'the good stuff'.  

I am proud I was able to recall how to say 'We are going to the beach!' in Spanish!  

Getting excited for 11 days and nights with J. - just the two of us!  It's like a second honeymoon!

Friday, March 01, 2013

Early Friday

I struggled to get the keys out of my purse this morning to unlock the office door.  Had to put down multiple things:  purse, iced tea, notebook, papers from the meeting I attended yesterday that were still in my car since I came straight home.  After all the fiddling around, I put the key in the lock and realize the door is already unlocked.  I hadn't noticed a co-worker's car - 'cuz she was driving her daughter's car.  She greeted me warmly and said excitedly 'I brought you something'.  In her hand, a Starbucks latte!  Just what I needed to get the remaining cobwebs out of my brain.

We chatted hurriedly about stuff - she is off most of next week for a medical procedure that will have her out for a few days - and we're working through the 'new' budget process (necessitated by our new finance system).  Great way to start the day - but since I went in early to prep for a big meeting, I felt a little on edge.  Thing that needed doing weren't getting done - but oh well.  You have to let these moments happen and being a manager means time is never (rarely) my own and my agenda at any given moment is subject to change.  Go with the flow.  Enjoy the moment.  Think back to where we were six years ago and marvel how far we've come and savor it.  It pays to be consistently and persistently nice - 'cuz most folks come around eventually.

Of course it also helps to have leadership at the helm that sets fairly firm expectations of professionalism and courtesy - so the shit that used to happen doesn't happen anymore - or if it does, there are consequences.  Our building is a nice place these days and I'm happy about that.

The morning moved quickly and the big meeting went swimmingly well.  Major task lists still in play but you have to feel good when your boss says 'thank you for all you've done on the massive pile of stuff I've dumped on you lately'.  Yes, you have....but that's OK.  That's what he's supposed to do and I'm doing what I'm supposed to do by getting it all done.  :-)

Shortly after the meeting, I emailed to let him know that I was planning to leave around 2PM today - AND I DID!  The only bad part of that is the overwhelming urge to take a nap - which I am fighting because it will inevitably lead to me feeling terrible upon awakening and then I won't sleep soundly tonight.

A wonderful weekend looms ahead with much to do around the homestead.  The weather appears to be holding at 'beautiful' and the yard is beckoning for some Spring clean up.  I'm also anxious to get veggies in the ground but it's still early in March and I think I'm going to wait just a bit longer.  We will likely get more rain - we typically do.

J. is taking B.'s car (in one of B.'s recent letters, he confirmed her name is Monica) to get a non-operating fan checked out.  We have a buyer! and with luck, the car will be off our insurance entirely and out of our driveway!  A win-win.  B. knows we are working on selling it - he is already thinking about buying a used Jeep when he's officially stationed somewhere and has privileges to leave the base.

Tonight, a great night's sleep and sleeping in tomorrow - then getting busy.  First on the list of tasks is to get the damn taxes done so I can get that off my shoulders.  Three sets this year - us and each 'kid'. It's always a task and a half...but it must be done.

Happy Friday!  We are having fish 'n chips for dinner!

March

I'm starting to think maybe I will just do a monthly post and call it what it is - whatever month we're in.  Here we are winding dow...