(NEW) SMART SPENDING CHAT THREAD

[motherto2]

Today was my last day for the week.  It's off to stay with my grandmother tomorrow.  I don't know if I've ever said, but she owns quite a bit of land that they have been trying to sell for a few years.  They finally got a hold of a real estate person that's been working the circuit, and I think they might be close to having it sold.  They have a signed contract, so hopefully it will all go through and she will have some breathing room to help care for her.  Sad thing is it brings all the nastiness out if some of the family members.  Theo, no matter what you have been going through with your folks, at least the family continues to get along.  Not that there haven't been moments I know, but this is downright greed.  And it is so hard for me to watch (or rather listen) to things. 

Still waiting for some warmer weather to get the kayak out on the lake.  My mom said she's heard of conversation pieces, but thinks I've gone a little too far (it's in my living room ).

Not much to report.  DS called me yesterday morning and told me they had  a suspicious package in their library, so everything was all cordoned off.  It made our local paper, but it didn't say what it was.  I need to call him and ask. 

Is everyone having really horrible pollen these days?  It's absolutely crazy here.

Happy Friday everyone!

[TheOtherMe]

I'm sorry people are being greedy with about your grandmother.  I've seen some of that in my extended family and it isn't pretty.

I have more good news today.  DN and his bride have each secured jobs for the upcoming academic year.  They will be in the job market again next year, but will have experience on their side.  They are not at the same school as they had wanted, but they are within about an hour of each other.  DN said they will rent an apartment in about the middle and both will commute.  He indicated interest in Grandma and Grandpa's car.  I don't know if they want to sell it or if they would give it to them.  

They will receive their PhDs in August.  She can not graduate until then or she would lose her student visa.  She is leaving for Ukraine on April 30 and DN said he would be joining her "shortly".  They are going for two months.  Since she is still an employee of the university she attends, she will be earning money and has health insurance for both of them.  

DS is thrilled but disappointed they did not accept jobs about 60 minutes from here.  She never understood why I moved 700 miles from home when I graduated college.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Theo ... Yay for their jobs!

Motherto2 .... my world is completely yellow from pollen!

Holly ~ yay for successful shopping.

My 10-day forecast is all in the 90s.... 90 on up to 96. Yep, spring's done and summer's here. (sigh)

My Friday plan is Petco and kittens.
My Saturday plan is Petco and kittens.

[marvholly]

Going to 'try' for another good shopping day.  Want more of the CHEAP (0.50 ea) chicken kievs at my fav fruit/veg mkt.  It is not a brand I prefer BUT at that $ it is an easy decent meal.  Also need brocolli (0.39/lb for crowns) and apples (0.59/lb for cameos).

Hoping for some decent weather as I really want to thro chicken & some pork I bought on the grill.  right now it is still too cold. 

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Mmmmm.... there's something nice about grilled food.

Those sound like great prices for broccoli and apples!

I am off to Petco in a few minutes.

[mrsdutt]

I'm heading out for some fun with a friend tonight.  Tomorrow DD1 has to work the snack shop at baseball and the kiddos are coming home with me.  I have a garden tub so the 7 yr old will want to 'swim' for a while.  As long as baseball dirt goes down the drain, it's OK.

Missing you know who today. 

I wish all the best for all of you in all of your endeavors.

Stay safe.

[Sharon]

Beautiful day today, almost 80 degrees.  Worked several hours in the yard after work today, it felt sooo good.  Tonight I am going to cook up some taco meat and then DD and I can eat off of that this weekend.

DD is coming home again this weekend to collect more plants for her botany class.

[TheOtherMe]

Talked to mom tonight.  Buyers wanted to come over and look at house to see how they could put in gas for a stove in the kitchen.  She definitely sounded peeved they had to leave AGAIN while they did this.  When they returned, closet doors were open that weren't near the kitchen.     I thought I'd best remind her they will have to leave during the appraisal, which I did earlier in the week.  She again asked why they need an appraisal.  I told her again if you want to sell the house, the buyer has to have an appraisal done to get the loan.

[marvholly]

Was only able to get 1 more kiev.  Apples were mealy feeling so did not buy any.  Stocked up on broccoli-ate some in a chicken stir fry.

Have had an accomplished morning.  Roasted a cookie sheet of veggies 9broccoli, asparagas, cauliflower, brussel sprouts & a potato.  Cooked up the pork I bought Wed.  Have a load finishing in the washer.

I will be running some local errands today (library, WAG, CVS, ?).  May hit the Sam's club open house for my lunch. 

[mrsdutt]

HOLLY:  When DH and I were bored, we'd go to Sam's for 'lunch' too!  The women always gave him the big pieces and me the small ones.

Those roasted veggies sound very yummy.

[TheOtherMe]

Remember how I bought Lucy a heated pet bed and she wouldn't use it?  She has found a bed.  I was taking some blankets off the bed for what I hope is warmer weather and had folded a blanket and put it on the floor before putting it away.  That is now where she sleeps.  No more Lucy in bed with me.  She has her blanket and she is happy.

I didn't know why I brought home my dad's four bowling balls from DS's house.  Thankfully, somebody on Freecycle is using bowling balls for some kind of a project and she will take all four, including bags and shoes.  I can't give up the last bag he used or shoes.  That is the one that he used when we used to bowl together.  
We had a beautiful spring day and another one forecast for tomorrow.  

[Sharon]

My Grandpa passed away when I was 4 years old.  My Grandma kept his bowling bag beside the back door until the day she died.  She cleaned out the rest of his things but could not bring herself to get rid of his bowling ball and bag.  That bowling ball sat by the back door for over 40 years.

My washer and dryer are crying uncle about now.  I ended up washing all my bedding because of a barfing cat.   Plus I had all my regular weekly laundry.  DD showed up today with a huge bag of laundry.  The washer and dryer have run all day long.  DD has a lot of classes this term where she gets very dirty in labs.  One class even has her out working in the cow barns so she generates a lot of laundry this term.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Petco yesterday.

Petco today.

I'm pooped! But I did get to bottle feed some babies (squeeee!) and play with fluffies and answer phones and process adoptions, etc.

Had dinner last night with my girlfriend Stacey (and her sister who was in from out of town), which was nice. Afterward I ran by Whole Foods to pick up some edible "supplies for the weekend," LOL!

Anyway, I still have a quiche, some cream of asparagus soup, and 2 slices of Whole Foods pepperoni pizza .... so I'm set for tomorrow and then some ... lunch for days with the quiche!

I am out of bananas, but borrowed one from a neighbor who wanted to bring her daughter and friend over to swim this evening. I said yes and asked if she had a spare banana. She said yes and brought it, LOL! A good time was had by all ... I popped out back for a few minutes of socializing and to claim my nanner for tomorrow's cereal. I'd talked to my neighbor earlier today when their wayward dog showed up on my front porch and then joyfully ran inside when I opened the door. (Daisy likes the cat food on our front porch, it seems.) Anyway, this neighbor (2 doors down) is a friend of mine, can you tell? This is the one I gave the lemons to!

Anyway, will probably need to make a grocery run on Monday. In the meantime, tomorrow (Sunday) will be a day of rest!

[marvholly]

Lynn
Just learned this year (winterish) that I LOVE roasted veggies.  Since I am a batch/make ahead person I ALWAYS do a FULL cookie sheet of mixed veg=multiple servings.  discovered I do not care for carrots and have not tried green beans (yet). 

did not run the errands I was thinking of doing on Sat.  Was considering NOT bothering w/Sam's club but then remember I NEED a new microwave.  Will go today after the political talk shows (11 am) to check things out so prob my lunch today.

I already hit WAG (24 hr store) & STILL no Planters PB.  Will hit CVS, Sam's, library 7 maybe local market for kale (love me some kale chips).

[Sharon]

I love roasted veggies also.  Beets and sweet potatoes are also good candidates for roasting.  I have not tried broccoli yet.

[TheOtherMe]

Apr 27, 2013 22:18:06 GMT -5 Sharon said:

My Grandpa passed away when I was 4 years old.  My Grandma kept his bowling bag beside the back door until the day she died.  She cleaned out the rest of his things but could not bring herself to get rid of his bowling ball and bag.  That bowling ball sat by the back door for over 40 years.

I'm having a hard time giving away the bag that dad used when I was a kid.  It doesn't even zip any more.  I did load it in the car, but we shall see if I actually drop it off.  The third bag belonged to an aunt.  I knew it wasn't mom's bowling ball or bag, but knew it was too light to be dad's.  Had a name tag in it and it was my aunt's.

I did take the very worn name tag off the bag I may not give up.  I'm too sentimental, but my parents owned a bowling alley when I was born.  I was taken directly there when mom was released from hospital.  I have the box of trophies my DS brought up here.  She said I could dust them.      

I totally get why your Grandma kept the bowling bag there.  If they were still in the house I grew up in, I'd probably have bought the house and put it back like I remember it.  I wanted to do that the last time the house was for sale but mom convinced me that you can't go back again.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

OK, one week down for my wonderful DH in Peru, two more weeks to go (he returns mid-May). Then it looks like he'll be home for about 3 weeks before heading off to Texas. I confess, after 10+ years of this, I am growing weary of this constant travel/deployments. Oh well... onward and forward, right?

I definitely will make a grocery run tomorrow.... I need fresh veggies and bananas and almond milk and some other basics. (I am, of course, extremely well stocked with toilet paper!)

[marvholly]

today I am going to roast the chicken I bought Fri - outside if weather is good, oven if not.  Also planning on making some buckwheat.  goes GREAT w/chicken.  need to put out trash & recycle.

As per usual I was disappointed at Sam’s Sun. That is probably one of the reasons I do NOT belong (even though they are prob my closest store) plus the fact as a small family & current single the pkg are WAAAY too big for my usage. They had NO microwaves. The shredders were the same brand & price as any office supply stores. The Jennie O turkey burgers were 25% higher than Dominicks shelf price for the same 3 lb pkg. The jar of artichoke hearts worked out to be about the same $$ as the sale price at my local independent store.

Furthermore, the ‘samples’ they were passing out were not large enough to fill a tooth cavity. I do NOT expect to have a meal but I do expect to get enough to actually taste the item.  And do NOT ask about the people 'manning' the taste counters.  They were WAAAY more interested in talking to their fellow booth people, Sam's stff filling counter & shelves and/or just staring off into space  than talking up the product on offer.  I say this last as someone whoi DID product demos when my kids were under school age.

[Sharon]

I am headed to S. Cal this morning for a few days.  It is for a work related conference but hopefully we shall have some free time to do a little bit of sight seeing.  It will be nice to not have to go into the office for a few days.

[mrsdutt]

I picked up items to make a NY cheesecake yesterday.  I did, however forget the crackers for the crust.  I'll run out to get those in a bit.  Since it's raining all day, I'll be getting wet (and melting!) no matter when I go out.

That's my big project for today.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

(sigh) We lost one of our bottle baby foster kittens this morning.... so I'm having a teary morning. When they're just a day or two old when we get them, they are so very fragile. I was crying on the phone. I was crying when I had to post it on the rescue's Facebook page. I am crying when I read all the comments. Sheesh. I need to shower and hit the grocery store this morning and I look LIKE A TRAIN WRECK!

[TheOtherMe]

So sorry about the kitten, Molly.

Sounds like we are in for a night of severe weather, so I'm turning the sound on the weather radio off.  I don't need that going off every hour all night.  There have already been two severe storms go through.  I didn't get the hail in the second one.  During the first one, I was bringing my munchkin home for day care and wondering if my windshield would survive.  It did.

The newlyweds head for Ukraine tomorrow.  She posted about her position on FB.  So far DN has not posted about his.

[marvholly]

theotherme
Seems like we may have missed your storms here.  That is unusual.  We usually get hit about 12-18 hr later.

[mrsdutt]

Apr 29, 2013 13:34:24 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

(sigh) We lost one of our bottle baby foster kittens this morning.... so I'm having a teary morning. When they're just a day or two old when we get them, they are so very fragile. I was crying on the phone. I was crying when I had to post it on the rescue's Facebook page. I am crying when I read all the comments. Sheesh. I need to shower and hit the grocery store this morning and I look LIKE A TRAIN WRECK!

MOLLY:  I'm so sorryyou lost a little kitty.  Any loss is heart wretching.

I made the cheesecake and it is absolutely delish!  Seven packs of cream cheese and 5 eggs later.  I'll give most of it to family and freeze a couple slices for myself.  I popped some of the peach jam I made last summer on top and was in heaven.  A small piece is all one can eat at a time because it's so rich.

I have one of those single serve coffee makers.  I'm appauled at the price of the little cups it uses.  (I use them 2x, one for a large cup and once for a smaller cup.)  Eureka!  I found reuseable ones at Bed Bath and Beyond. Four for 9.99. The maker had a metal mesh one for 19.99, but I by passed it for the nylon mesh ones with no name. Now I can use the Dewey Egbert coffee my girl friend sent me. I'm a happy girl.

The Coast Guard Exchange has a sale on fip flops (good ones with an arch) so I think I'll mosey on over and grab the one pair I'll need this summer.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

We're breezy here today. I ended up with a windblown butterfly in our garage, resting on my yellow car. I left the garage door open and it eventually fluttered off.

[Peace77]

It seems that DH is still without a full time job.  He got a phone call stating the letter stating he was to start on May 1st was a mistake.  He was told a new letter would be sent that day but a new letter never arrived.  He called after waiting a week and was told he would not be hired.  

He had another job offer that paid less so he contacted them but so far no response. 
That seems odd as the said he was perfect for the job during the interview and the job is still on the company website.



.

[TheOtherMe]

Apr 30, 2013 6:11:26 GMT -5 marvholly said:

theotherme
Seems like we may have missed your storms here.  That is unusual.  We usually get hit about 12-18 hr later.

Those storms never materialized that night.  

I've been having issues with my rep payee clients--actually one.  Yes, the one where the bank gave out my phone number.  The agency where I volunteer is no longer going to be the payee as of the end of the month.  Son is mad because a stop payment was put on check. Daughter is scared out of her wits.  I will be so relieved to have this client out of my hands.  My supervisor at the agency is great for support.

Today, I called mom and dad's health insurance to make sure  they will be covered here for the remainder of the year.  I was told they are covered anywhere in the state.  Since dad needs a new pacemaker, that is good news.  Would hate to have to drive him back and forth to Des Moines for procedure and appointments.  Now to get an appointment for him.  DS said we need to find out what exactly he needs before we make appointment.

I was a bit surprised as they have the Walmart drug plan.  Company said to call in new address to them also.  Would it be possible to transfer prescriptions from one Walmart to another?  

There is an excellent health care plan here that is less expensive than what they are paying now that we will get them during Open Season.  Then we will need to find a drug program with one of the pharmacies that delivers.  We don't want to have to drive 30 minutes to Walmart to get their meds.  We will be happy to do it until the new year.

I pretended to be mom and got congratulated on my 65 year marriage!  

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

May 1, 2013 11:18:48 GMT -5 Peace77 said:

It seems that DH is still without a full time job.  He got a phone call stating the letter stating he was to start on May 1st was a mistake.  He was told a new letter would be sent that day but a new letter never arrived.  He called after waiting a week and was told he would not be hired.  

He had another job offer that paid less so he contacted them but so far no response. 
That seems odd as the said he was perfect for the job during the interview and the job is still on the company website.



.

That is very disappointing. I will keep praying.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I haven't seen our front yard feral, Black Fuzzer, for at least 5 days. I am hoping he's OK and still around, but I'm worried. I keep watching for him. (He's been with us for 3 winters)

I didn't grocery shop today, so tomorrow for sure.

The rescue's big Open House fundraiser is Saturday. It's supposed to be HOT. (yuck)

[marvholly]

We jumped into summer for 2 days. Temps hit low 80’s Tue & Wed. Peony bush roared to life (3 inches to >15). Next 5ish days will be back to upper 50’s/low 60’s (spring).

Had my bedroom window open & cat LOVED it. Took him a while to figure out how to get up there but he has now done it multiple times. Not sure how as he is NOT doing it off the edge of the bedlike he used to do it.

I have boatload of stops (15) on my to do list for today. I know blamed well I will NOT get all of them done. Will get too tired & hungry for lunch + WAAAAY too cheap to eat trash out when I have good, healthy stuff already in my fridge.

ETA: 2 more stops