(NEW) SMART SPENDING CHAT THREAD

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Hee hee hee .... he just called from the plane in Phoenix and said "Whatcha doing?"
"Washing sheets," I said.
"Why are you doing that?"
"Well, I haven't washed them since you left this last summer, and I figured it was time."
"REALLY!?!?!?!"
"hee heee, no, silly .... I was going to switch sheets for the flannels for you."
"Oh, good. I am planning to crash and sleep all day as soon as I get in."
"

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

WIFE FAIL ~ Hmmm, I probably should've TOLD my wonderful DH that one of our friends is picking him up from the airport BEFORE he called and said "Hey, where are you?" (I didn't have the heart to confess that I didn't drive his Explorer enough and the battery's dead... and his luggage doesn't fit in my Mustang) Bad wife, bad wife (grin)

[TheOtherMe]

Molly How did he take the news that you aren't picking him up?

Let hubby get rested and then we don't want to see you online.

I went to see Mannheim Steamroller last night. I had to make a return at Kohl's. After doing that, I decided to pick up a small item. I looked at a few other things and decided I didn't need them. I was so sorry when I was stopped at the door by two associated. I didn't know what was going on and then I was informed that I was the store's Dream Receipt winner of the day. Grand total of my dream receipt was $4.27! I did get a $10 gift card.

I heard them call over the intercom for an associate to go to the door. Usually they say the registers. Guess that is the giveaway.

Just wish I had a large total on my receipt.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

He was a good sport! ;D

He came home, admired all the painted rooms, ate lunch, and slept all afternoon on the couch. I woke him for dinner at 6:30pm and he's sleeping on the couch again. It's nice to have him home.

I wish my cough were better.

[marvholly]

Molly
Fine if DH takes a 3 day snooze. Then take the weekdays off and enjou being w/him. You BOTH deserve it.

I am planning a MAJOR cooking day for Sun while I watch our 'bad news" Bears. I have everything on hand for
chicken caccitore
Clam chowder
Onion soup
Zuchinni fritters
Cauliflower fritters
Several kinds of muffins
It will NOT all get made this week but I want to do the chicken & fritters for sure.

[Jaguar]

Molly that is wonderful news that he is home.

[Sharon]

Molly I am glad your husband is home and safely snoozing on the couch.

[motherto2]

Hello all~ Molly, I am so glad that your DH made it home! Please tell him from all of us glad he's home and thanks for his service!

Sharon, how in the world does your DD's daughter get out of school so early? DD finishes on the 17th, and DS finishes on the 19th. Now, DS goes to a military college, so he only gets about 3 weeks, so that is a little different. I think they don't want them away from school too long, or they might quit. They actually do lose several after the Thanksgiving break and Christmas break. I think once they get away from the strictness and realize what they are giving up, some don't go back. We just heard last week that one of the rats had outprocessed right before Thanksgiving and then committed suicide right after Thanksgiving. No details on what was going on with him, but so sad. I called DS and had a chat with him, reinforcing once again that to please come to me if he's having any feelings of desperation and that we can work on it.

Iwent and spent the day with my grandmother yesterday. She was talking about how she used tosing on the radio back in the day. I had no idea. She's my stepgrandmother, so I was not particularly close to her my growing up years. Fascinating to hear some of her life stories.

Also, I am having trouble finding the tahini sauce for making hummus. Can someone please tell me where in the grocery store I can find it? I went to the local store and couldn't find it, and there was not one person to ask. Thanks!

[nalto]

Dec 8, 2012 5:53:40 GMT -5 marvholly said:

while I watch our 'bad news" Bears.

Sorry about last week ;D

[Sharon]

Sharon, how in the world does your DD's daughter get out of school so early?

DD's school is on quarters instead of semesters. They do three terms in a school year instead of two semesters. She won't be done with school for the year until the middle of June instead of the end of May like the semester schools.

[marvholly]

Even college semester schools that I am aware of (experience w/in state, west coast & east coast) get a month winter break. Most go back the first week of Jan so being off Dec 7-Jan 6 is reasonable.

Guess I am learning my way around my new computer. Today I was easily able to alter my printer setting to print in greyscale since 90+% of what I print is personal excel pages, recipes & coupons. This saves the more $$$ color ink & is going to be easy and FAST to change back if/when needed.

Sat started our holiday-runs 8 days. Family met up at DD2 for appetizers, gifts & dinner. Kids gave me chocolate candy & gift cards to 2 restaurants I LOVE. I am already shopping for grand’s bday gifts and copying blogger ideas for next year.

[mrsdutt]

I've been flat on my butt since Monday. Doctor gave me antibiotics, strong ones, and they are working slowly. Good thing my Christmas things are done. Time to go back to sleep.

[motherto2]

Dutt, sorry to hear you are under the weather. Hope you get better soon!

I did absolutely nothing yesterday. Well, I did wrap 2 presents, made some homemade GF bread, and took a nap. The pup kept scolding me - I think he wanted to go for a walk, but I resisted ;D. I'm going to make up for it today hopefully. I have one of those closets from h e _ _ that I clean out every January when it's time to put Christmas decorations back. But I seem to get rid of a few things, and then just rearrange what's left. Then through the year, it gets junked up again. I need to do some serious organizing in there.

I made some homemade butter this morning. It doesn't seem to have a lot of taste, but I think it's because it lacks chemicals and stuff butter bought at the store. Interesting though.

[TheOtherMe]

Woke up to this white fluffy stuff falling from the sky. Lucy seems to be quite intrigued by it. On last night's news, said snow would go north of us. Wrong! It's falling harder than it was 2.5 hours ago and shows no signs of letting up.

My nephews are both done with college classes on Friday. Go to two different schools. One gets 4 weeks off and the other gets 5 weeks off.

The newlyweds had a disappointing week. Bride did not get the job she was counting on. They are leaving from Ukraine on Tuesday and will be there a month. That will leave her with 9 months to spend in Ukraine. They think the time she has to spend in Ukraine hurt her with this job as it was teaching what her dissertation is on. She is their second choice and was told if first choice turns them down, she will receive an offer.

Having her sister and baby living with them gave them a new outlook on becoming parents. They are now in NO hurry to have a baby. That is a new outlook from what they used to say. Guess that what happens when you spend 4 or 5 months with a whiny, crying baby who almost toppled the television just before they left. He was just learning to pull himself up and was trying to pull himself up on the television stand. Nephew was not happy, but got there in time to stop him.

[mrsdutt]

MOTHER: Did you forget to put the salt in the hm butter? If so, just use this batch for all the cookies you're about to bake. (and eat) ;D

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Motherto2 ... you can buy Tahini from Amazon

All is well. He's home. We went out to dinner with friends last night. We went to a bake sale today and then to the pet food store and grocery store. He's sleeping on the couch again.

Hi Hi Hi!

[Sharon]

Today DD and I decorated the tree. We actually got the tree yesterday and got it into the stand but were just to busy to put any lights or ornaments on it. Fortunately the cats seem to leave the tree alone. If any one of them messes in the tree it is usually the older cat. If there is an ornament near the chair that sits by the tree she will knock that off. She doesn't seem to do much with it other than knock it on the floor.

I am working on getting the house in order and it looks much better this afternoon. DD's room is a mess with college stuff but that is her problem.

[motherto2]

Dutt, hope you are feeling better! I went by the breadmaker directions, and there was no mention of salt. I'll try that next time.

Molly, glad all is well in your little part of the world! What a wonderful Christmas present for you!

I am seriously worried about my mother. She just seems to be getting worse and worse about the memory thing. She seems to repeat herself so much these days. And can't remember anything. They came over today to get dates straight once again. I don't have the obsessive personality like she does (hope that bodes well for me later), but according stepdad, it took her 2 days to come up with this "list" of activities that are going on. And really, it's not much. When DD finishes her last exam/heads out of town (same day), when she comes back, when DS comes home from college, and when we go on our graduation celebration for DD graduating from college (which is just overnight). I'm not even sure why she cares, because pretty much everything is while they are getting ready for their trip and are gone on their trip. I've told her these dates at least a half dozen times. The sad thing is, she won't admit it or seek help for it. I've tried telling her about a coworker that was going through her mother's alzheimer's a few years ago, hoping she would take the hint and see a doctor. She was very interested in the things the mother was going through, but that's as far as it went. Unfortunately, the longer she puts it off, the worse it will get. Oh well, maybe something will break through soon.

I started to go through the kitchen cabinets when the folks came over, so didn't get too far. Took a nap after they left, and now I'm watching Christmas movies. Have a great Monday!

[Deleted]

Oh, Motherto2.. I'm sorry. I hope your mom realize she needs help before too much time lapse. In the meantime, take good care of you.

[TheOtherMe]

My mom sent my DS a check to buy me a Christmas present and also sent me the same amount. She said she was too embarrassed to call DS to see if she had sent her a check. DS doesn't want to buy what I want, so she said she will give me the money and I can buy the vacuum that I need. Mom said she would be fine if I bought something I need. My DS thinks Christmas is for buying fun things. I need a new vacuum, not other stuff. So now she doesn't have to figure out what to get me.

I sent her links to the vacuum I want on Amazon, Kohl's, Bed, Bath and Beyond. They were very close in price. She has a 30% off from Kohl's that starts Wednesday, so I will buy it either that day or Thursday when I am in town to sign papers for my refi. However, I can't use it until after Christmas, which I do not understand.

[marvholly]

Lynn
Feel better soon.

Theotherme
We have not had ANY snow yet (VER unusual), let alone one that sticks. I think that is a record for snowless days here. It just might change soon though.

[TheOtherMe]

It was a wet, slushy snow. Neighborhood kids did lots of skiing and sledding in the backyards as well as building snowmen. It's quite cold this morning.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Monday and my wonderful DH is back at work. He thinks he needs to work most of the week, dealing with inprocessing and paperwork, then he can take some time off. He's already told me that he's spending February and March in Texas. Oh well, at least they have internet and cell phone coverage there, right? And he can actually sleep in a nice bed with an adjacent bathroom. I am trying not to be dismayed by the fact that he's only going to be home 50 days before he has to leave again, and just be glad that it's not Afghanistan that he is heading to in February, ya know?

It IS nice to have my "picky eater" home, lol. I had Sunday's dinner all planned ~ tri-tip roast, fresh asparagus, and twice baked potatoes. So ... what did I eat? Tri-tip, fresh asparagus, and potato. What did HE eat? A can of Progresso Soup, Doritos, ham salad, and an apple. Ummm.... ok. The weird thing is that when were AT the grocery store and I asked about the roast, asparagus and potatoes he said "that sounds fine" ..... so, I guess that means he thought it sounded fine for ME to eat, lol. BOYS! Even when they grow up into men, some of them are still picky eaters. I've already decided to just buy and eat what I want, and he can just place grocery shopping orders or otherwise fend for himself. (I must say that he's never wanted to eat a regular dinner of whatever I am eating ... so nothing's really new.)

Looks like I will be eating leftover roast for a while, lol. (Breakfast and lunch, so far today! And dinner for me, too!)

The weather is nice enough here ... sunny this afternoon after a foggy morning. Some rain coming this week.

I've been doing his laundry for 3 days .... I think it's multiplying! (grin)

[motherto2]

Theo, Christmas is for getting presents you want. If you want a vacuum, then you should be able to get a vacuum. I would love to get a new crockpot that has a timer on it, but I already have a big one, a medium size one and a small one (actually 2 small ones, but whose counting). Can't really justify it. My folks just announced to me that we are each getting $100 this year for Christmas. We normally get like $200. So much for the mattress fund .

Molly, your DH sounds like my kids when they come home. Laundry weighs more than they do ;D.

Today was the last day for regular classes for DS. Exams start on Wednesday. DD had her first exam today. It was an interview. Each student had to write up a resume and then the instructor and some other lady interviewed them as if they were applying for a job. Apparently what he said he was going to do was not what he ended up doing. Of course, she waits until about 9 this morning to ask me to review her resume and cover letter, so I did. Along with additional blow ups happening at work, and the computer she emailed it to me in my office was not working. After it was over, she called to vent. Said he tore up her resume, that it was too long. I said I had thought the same thing, but since I don't sit in class, I wasn't exactly sure what she was doing it for. Blows up at me, saying I could have said something to her. Really?!? Sheesh. She's like me in the respect that we don't like being told we've done something wrong, and will obssess over it, so I let it go. She also had her last 2 evals at her clinical sight, and then had her sit down exit interview with her second half of semester grade from the lady she's been working under. It's been a difficult semester working for that lady, but she ended up getting a B, so I guess that's the important thing. She even told my daughter week before last that she would like to assault her, just because DD forgot to put a date on a piece of paper (they have a cross reference sign in sheet, so it wasn't difficult to get the date). The woman made that comment in front of one of the deputies and another lady, and the deputy made a comment to the woman. I made DD go and talk to someone at the college about the things that have been going on there this semester. They are going to address it with the woman after DD graduates and is gone, so there wouldn't be any repurcussions. Tough day.

[TheOtherMe]

I am getting a vacuum cleaner with the Christmas money. I need a vacuum and that is all I asked for aside from more time with my family. It's doubtful that part will happen.

Kohl's sale starts Tuesday and I'll probably order it online. It will come in a box anyway if I buy it at the store. DS has a 30% off coupon. I will check Amazon to see if it is cheaper there. With the two checks, I can get the pet hair model, which I was going to forego.

My DS just thinks you shouldn't get things you need for Christmas. It should be about wants. When money is tight, how do you get the needs if you don't use the money for stuff you need.

[Sharon]

My Christmas last year was a vacuum. It was what I needed and what I wanted. I still like it and don't have any regrets getting it with my Christmas money. Mom doesn't usually like to give money at Christmas but knew I wanted a vacuum so she handed me a check and told me to pick out my present.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

My present this year was a brick mailbox

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

My wonderful DH just surprised me with a present: 6 cheesy movies on DVD. How cheesy, you ask? TWO of them are about giant people-devouring piranhas and one movie is called "Attack of the Giant Leaches." (happy sigh) I love my wonderful DH.

One of the movies is also about a giant squid. ;D The best price? 6 blockbusters for just $4.99. Yep, I'm a cheap date. ;D

[marvholly]

Molly
When I had a DH & 2 DDs at home laundry ALWAYS seemed to be like guppies or rabbits: constantly reproducing.

Seems like I usually get needs for gifts, too. New printer, new answering machine right after mine died……

[mrsdutt]

Thanks for the well wishes. I'm human today. So I'm beginning to think about what my food contributions will be for Christmas dinner. I think I'd like to try a couple of new things this year. The wheels are turning. It does take a bit longer to come to conclusions about such important things. ;D

Christmas is a time for giving and thinking of others. THEO, your DS needs to say Merry Christmas and drop control over your gift choices. If you need me to, I'll send Marley to kiss the hey out of her until she lightens up.

MOLLY: Yeah for Molly, Yeah for DH, Yeah for Doritos! Have fun sweet lady.

MOTHER: