(NEW) SMART SPENDING CHAT THREAD

[mrsdutt]

Four more days - if it doesn't rain - and I'll have a no care yard.  I'm getting excited now.

I returned something to Bed Bath and Beyond yesterday.  She saw 2 coupons in my hand and asked if I'd like to apply them to something on the receipt.  HUH?  You'll use a coupon after I purchase an item?  Yes mam.  I can use a coupon on every item I purchase.  I best not throw them out when they come in the mail anymore.  I can use them even if they expire.  Woo Hoo!!!  I'm good for it.

I spent the afternoon with DD3 and the kids yesterday.  What a hoot.  They keep me young and happy.

DD2 is expecting a girl at the end of the month.  She told her husband NO MORE!  It will be her third.  She's in her late 30s so it gets a bit rough on her body.  I'll go to see her (NY) in a few weeks.

Stay healthy and safe.

[Peace77]

Holly, 

Why not bring lunch with you?  Use a small cooler or insulated lunch bag.

 Molly,  
Thanks for the prayers.  I may have spoken too soon.  The 2nd job possibility has invited DH for a site visit on Friday.  This job is much closer to home.  It's not what he went to grad school for but he's very good at this kind of work. The company offers benefits and sick leave which is an improvement over the last 2 jobs.  

[TheOtherMe]

The last two days were in the 70's.  Today, it is winter again.  Yesterday, I had windows open and poor Lucy was going from window to window chasing the chirping of birds.  Today the heat has kicked in.  We have a cold wind out of the north.  There is snow in much of Iowa.  The Winter Weather Advisory goes up to the county next to mine--all of about 10 miles.  Think if it snows, it knows that is the line over which the snow must stop!!!

I will be so glad to be rid of my rep payee client.  Supervisor at the agency has been contacted by the son and an attorney who said he was representing my client.  She told them as of June, we were no longer involved.  Son wants to be reimbursed $5 the bar charged him for the check where I put a stop payment.  No way.  He has drank enough of his mother's money over the years.  Supervisor told attorney she could not discuss the situation without a release.  

I'm counting down the days and hours now until I head for Memphis to see my Paul.   

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Peace, encouraging! WIll keep praying!

Upper 90s again today, augh! And tomorrow. And Saturday's rescue Open House fundraiser (boo!)

Did some yardwork today and filled feeders, then jumped in the pool to clean off and cool off!

Otherwise, things are pretty quiet around here.... laundry in progress.

[marvholly]

Lynn
DD2 is 34 and expecting end of June.  This one has been both harder (MUCH more tired, throwing up all along, heart burn.....) and yet easier as has not had issues requiring bed rest like w/the first.  Only way to GTY NO more is for someone to get 'fixed.'

Peace
After 20+ years of carring lunch to work I HATE the very concept & also knew I would get fed up/tired enough to give up in the lunch time bracket.  Since I bought rye bread & lunch meat while I was shopping I could easily have eaten in the car.

Molly
Laundry was also 'in progress' here when we posted yesterday.  Now put away & linens changed.

Had two days of no jacket. One day of blazer jacket. Today it’s back into winter weight jacket. Unbelievable for the 3rd of May to have to turn the heat on but I did this am & it has been clicking on regularly.

Cat is………..very upset w/me. I interrupted his nap & made him move so I could change my bed linens.

DDs made plans w/me for Mother’s Day/bday as DD2 may not be around for my bday. Asked what I wanted & I at first had NO clue. However, I realized I have a pretty long list of stuff on my watch for good $$ list so I will need to call DD today.

[TheOtherMe]

I know all about cats and changing bed linens.  They do not like to be interrupted.

Very tired of another day of cold, rainy, dreary weather.  At least we didn't get snow.  Mom said Dad was outside shoveling just 3 hours for here.  Some schools have been closed for 2 snow days in May!  Unbelievable for this area.

I was sorry I called Mom.  She says she doesn't feel better, but she's not calling the doctor and she doesn't need to refill the prescription.  She said she will never see the apartment up here because we will have held her funeral by then.  I told her to quit talking like that.  I told her with that attitude, she will not get well.  Called DS and she is going to call her and threaten to go down Monday and drag her to the doctor.

I really think my mother has become a drama queen and neither of her daughters like it.

[Sharon]

Theo isn't it tiring dealing with someone who is always dying.  My Grandma tended to be that way, she lived to be 93 years old.  

I have been dealing with the insurance company today.  What a mess.  Their CSR's gave me the wrong e-mail address twice.  I had already send the information to them a month ago then get an e-mail while I was gone that implied they had never received any of the information.  The CSR's decided that they also needed an EOB in addition to the information that I had sent earlier.  I do not trust them since they don't seem to even know their company e-mail address.

It has taken 4 calls so far to try and get this straightened around.  I'm still not sure that it is resolved.

[marvholly]

Sharoin
Dealing w/ANY insurance company (home, car, health) is ALWAYS the pits because you never deal w/the swame person twice & have to explain everything all over again from day/call #1.  Late DH had a LOT of health issues the 3-4 years before he passed on.  He FINALLY arranged for a CSR to be assigned to him/his file.

[marvholly]

Forgot:  My plan for today is to hit a couple of reasonably nearby resale stores.  I trashed several winter weight tops & some general use blouses in the last 2 weeks.  Need to replace.

Sun I will need to hit CVS before they run out of all the sale stuff I want/need.  One of my nearby CVS stores is closed for at least the next several days.  A car hit it and did quite a bit of damage.  Sounds as if there might be structural damage and the town would want to inspect the repairs before they could re-open so might be a LOT longer.  In fact, might just close the store as ther are 2 others each 1.5-3 mi away from that store.

[Sharon]

We don't have CVS in this area only Walgreens.  I thought we just about had a wags on every corner but when I was in Calif last week I was amazed at how close together the CVS stores were.  I did get to use the CVS gift card that I won over a year ago.  

Today is supposed to be in the mid 80's so I am going to try and get some more yard work done.  Then of course there is the usual pile of weekend laundry.

[mrsdutt]

MARV:  Fixing it will be!!!

I feel so dang lazy this morning.  I'm trying to muster up some energy to make jello to take to DD3's house for the kiddos.  She's making dinner for all of us.

I have to check emalsl today and delete a few.  Even that has become a regular chore.  Not one of my favs.  Even if it is easy to do.

The weather has been cool here for this time of the year.  Rain and wind will be our 'friend' today.  The yard is suppose to be done on Monday.  No rain, please!!!  Oh well, it won't be the end of the world if they have to pospone it.

Stay safe this day.

[TheOtherMe]

May 3, 2013 19:45:14 GMT -5 Sharon said:

Theo isn't it tiring dealing with someone who is always dying.  My Grandma tended to be that way, she lived to be 93 years old.  

Yes, it gets old--especially when she refuses to see a doctor.  She's been like this ever since she had pneumonia 2 1/2 years ago.  She seems to like the attention that illness gave her.  I will call DS later to see if she has talked to her.  Mom does not know this, but she will be going to the doctor once she lives up here.  You can see the doctor's office from their window.  Mom sees the ER as her primary care physician and that costs Medicare, their health insurance and her more money--and upsets those who love her.  

[dogmom]

I couldn't help but smile on your observations how your cats don't like change.  I was doing some spring cleaning/regular cleaning today, and Sierra absolutely refused to move from the loveseat for me to change that slipcover.  Heck, she even waited through me cleaning windows, dusting, and YES, that awful vacuum cleaner.  She didn't budge.  But, I guess dogs can be bribed (after about an hour)... leash, collar and a walk did it.  I was able to change the slipcover while she was getting a drink of water.   

Theo, I hope things get better soon for your folks move.  Sharon, YEA for free shopping!  Molly, hope all is well with you.  Lynn, after some spring cleaning, I'm beat.  Please give Marley a slobber for Sierra and a hug from me.  Sierra is now curled up with a pillow on the loveseat, watching the world go by.  Maybe I'll curl up with her for a little bit...

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Today was a long, hot day ~ but the rescue's Spring Open House fundraiser was a rousing success and we raised more than $25,000 ... yay! The best part? I successfully managed to volunteer out there ALL DAY without buying anything from the silent auction! YAY, me! (And I was tempted!!) Another volunteer also bought me lunch (hot dog, chips and a drink) ~ so I even got a free lunch out of the deal! Woot! Woot! Of course, I could've done without the mid-90s and was sweaty, grouchy, dusty, itchy and fur-covered by the time I got home. I immediately stripped off everything and cooled off in the pool for nearly an hour!

I was feeling especially slothlike, so I did a drive-through run on the way home for some comfort food (green beans, taters and Kentucky Fried Chicken) ... that was dinner and will be lunch tomorrow and probably dinner again tomorrow night. After which point, as usual, I shall be thoroughly sick of that! (grin)

Of course, the weather is forecast to cool down a bit now that the big outside event is over with, right?

I need to get some grocery shopping done ... probably Monday if not tomorrow. But I am thinking Monday. I also need to get gas in the car since I'm down to 1/4 tank and that makes me nervous. I wrote the check out to the City for the sewer/trash/water bill, so I will get that mailed on Monday, too.

I have a skeeter bite on my tummy, next to my belly button. (scritch scritch scritch)

My wonderful DH is doing fine in Peru, but I can tell he wants to come home. It may SOUND like fun living in a hotel for 3 weeks, but it gets old. And he says that his brain is tired from having to mentally translate everything he sees, hears, reads, etc. They are not allowed to leave the hotel unless they travel in at least pairs, and the guys he's with (he didn't know any of them before this) are all drinkers (and my wonderful DH isn't) and not at all interested in most of the things my wonderful DH likes (nature, museums, cultural, exploring, etc.)


I have a dry, tickly allergy/asthma-y cough for the last 24 hours, and I hope it passes. I'm trying to stay well hydrated tonight and am hoping that an inside down day tomorrow may be just the ticket.

Alas, my laudry was abandoned days ago in the dryer (dry), but probably impressively wrinkled at this point. I shall extricate it tomorrow and see if I can avoid rewashing/redrying.

My new purple shorts arrived. You'll recall that my overzealous decluttering and purging had me accidentally give away my much-loved pair. This new pair just isn't the same, but will probably do. I also ordered a nifty striped tank top which looks fun and cool and comfy. 

Hope y'all are doing well. I am jealous of those of you with rain. We're on track to be our 6th dryest year, ever ... droughts are the suck. 

[marvholly]

Only hit 2 resale stores on Sat.  Did not find any of the tops I was looking to get BUT did find a bright pink 3 pc (pants, top, jacket) outfit in washable silk & cotton.  Paid $6 so real happy.  This was at the store I have never before found anything I wanted/was willing to pay for.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

It's 77 degrees here today. 77! Why couldn't it have been in the 70s yesterday!?!?!? LOL!

Gusty winds here ... had to fish a patio umbrella out of the swimming pool

All is well with my wonderful DH. He's home a week from today!

[Sharon]

We have hit 88 degrees today.   I have been doing yard work.  Molly I think I may stop by for a dip in your pool if you don't mind.   I am hot, hot, hot.

[TheOtherMe]

Molly wrote:

My wonderful DH is doing fine in Peru, but I can tell he wants to come home. It may SOUND like fun living in a hotel for 3 weeks, but it gets old. And he says that his brain is tired from having to mentally translate everything he sees, hears, reads, etc. They are not allowed to leave the hotel unless they travel in at least pairs, and the guys he's with (he didn't know any of them before this) are all drinkers (and my wonderful DH isn't) and not at all interested in most of the things my wonderful DH likes (nature, museums, cultural, exploring, etc.)

Those are the rules my ex has had to follow for over 10 years when he travels overseas.  While he does drink, he is also interested in the nature, museums, culture, etc. but he's not military.  He's State.  I've heard so much complaining about staying in hotels for a few weeks and how old it gets and how old eating in restaurants get.  My ex is lucky in that he often goes to places where their interpreter will invite them to their house on a weekend to do laundry.  

When he was going to be in Kiev for a year, several of them ended up going together and renting an apartment so it felt more like a home.

[TheOtherMe]

I was supposed to babysit the kids tomorrow afternoon, but great niece fell Friday evening and won't walk on one foot.  It's been x-rayed, but results won't be back until tomorrow.  DS is going to keep her all night and she can take her in if doctor wants to do something about her foot.  

I have been asked to go to a box office and buy tickets for her dance recital.  DN was told it sells out quickly, so we are figuring if she can't dance, DN can sell them at the dance studio.  I will do that after I deal with my rep payee clients.  I could buy them on TM but they add a fee of $5.90 per ticket.

Then I have to get my glasses fixed.  The nose piece broke and I have had a headache every day since that happened.  

Three weeks from tonight I will be in the presence of my true love, Paul McCartney, 7 rows from the stage.  
First show of tour was last night in Brazil and there were 8 new songs.  Paul usually changes out 2 or 3 songs from the last tour so this is huge.  Fans are saying the pre show movie is new as are all the stage graphics.  Now I'm glad I decided not to pass this tour.  

[motherto2]

Hello all my chat buddies!  Sorry it's been a few days.  Work has been busy, DS has 2 more days before he finishes his junior year of college, and DD is coming up quickly coming up to speed in the OR.  It's been very chilly these days, which is unusual for this time of year.  Kayak is still sitting in the living room.  Not sure when that will make its maiden voyage - we are forecast for rain every day this week.  I've been doing a lot of yard work on the weekends, when it isn't raining or cold.  Looking pretty good though. 

The pup and I went to town to the local farmer's market yesterday before his spa appointment.  I didn't realize that they were having some sort of health day to do.  I would have gone much earlier.  Even had a band playing.  I had to chuckle because they had one of those food trucks at the corner selling french fries, corn dogs, etc.  Not too healthy .  I've been trying to do some more research on places to possibly retire to in North Carolina.  I have found 3 places that sounded very promising, but did a crime rate check on all three and it was scary.  They were all almost twice as bad as the NC rate and the national rate.  Not sure what that means.  I joined a forum that is similar to this site to start asking questions.  Only had one response so far .  One place is on the way to Camp LeJuene, only about 30 miles away.  I told DS that if he's allowed to leave the local area when I come to visit in June, we could take a road trip to check the place out. 

We had an email on Friday morning from our ED.  We were supposed to be getting our Furlough letters tomorrow, and he said that they are holding off on them for right now.  Apparently there's "workings" going on, so maybe there will be another change.  We went from 21 days to 14.  Hopefully they will get more days reduced.  I'll keep you posted.

Well, that's about all I've got.  Not much excitement going on here these days. 

[marvholly]

I was a bad girl at home this weekend. Did not do any of my routine monthly chores (or any others either). Caught up this am by flushing my sinks & sharpening my regular use knives. Also started the bleach laundry load I have been telling myself to run for about 10 days.

[mrsdutt]

SHARON:  It's been rainy and cold here, too.  It's a little upsetting when NY weather is warmer than VA.

There are a  couple of towns south of the VA border, on the ocean you may like.  Curituc is the only one I can remember.  A few miles west we can go into NC using route 17.  Nice area there too.  Many people from NC come here to shop as it's only 10 minutes away.

No new yard today.  Rain.  Oh well, it will get done eventually.  I keep telling myself we need the rain.  That trumps my wants.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

My wonderful DH got to visit the zoo yesterday, yay.

I am currently watching the entire Season 7 of West Wing on Amazon Prime streaming. 7 episodes down, so far. (Yep, no productivity here!)

[TheOtherMe]

Drama Queen great niece does not have a broken foot, so Grandma convinced her to walk and all is now well again.  Crazy kid.  Grandma said she wouldn't even try.  Once she got the call that it was not broken, she told her she had to walk.

Got the ballet recital tickets purchased.  People were buying 20 and 30 tickets.  I was 19th in line and I got there at 9:10.  Box office opened at 10.  I was told the two women at front of line were in line at 8 AM.

Hope the furlough letters never go out--to any agency.  

[Sharon]

Today has been a very long day.  For months I have been arguing and telling people at work that they have misunderstood this federal regulation.  Imagine a federal regulation that could be ambiguous.   Anyway today they finally listened to me and this was a great surprise and why didn't I tell them before.

I went to the doctor again for my knee.  He has been trying to tell me that I have gout in the knee and I kept telling him that I have never had gout and wasn't sure what it would feel like but to me this felt like the knee was injured.  He really poked around hard today and finally decided that geez I did have ligament damage in my knee.

Now I have this crazy exercise for my knee.  I am to hold a roll of paper towels between my ankles and then raise my legs up so they are straight out and hold it that way for 3 minutes.  Thankfully he doesn't expect me to be able to to do this for 3 minutes right off the bat, I am to work my way up to 3 minutes.

[Sharon]

<< Crickets chirping >>

Hope everyone has had a good day. 

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I have a West Wing hangover ... from watching the entire 22-episode season between 4pm Sunday and 4pm Tuesday, LOL. (It was good, but my brain is fried!)

I was filling bird feeders today when a fledgling landed on me while bouncing from branch to branch. He stayed a moment, pooped on me, then fluttered off. It was pretty cool.

I was unmotivated to figure out something for dinner, so ordered pizza. A friend was over and she enjoyed her share. Sausage, pepperoni, and double artichoke hearts.

Tuesday night.
Wednesday night.
Thursday night.
Friday night.
Saturday night.
Sunday ~ HE COMES HOME! (Yes, I'm counting down!)

[TheOtherMe]

It's not long until Sunday.

Lucy actually let me comb her tonight.  First time she didn't run.  She thinks one of the brushes I got is her new toy.

Called mom today.  She is still having panic attacks and says it isn't worth getting over them.  She sounded much better until that happened.  My wonderful niece, who has medical POA called and got oxygen arranged for mom and cardiologist appointment set up for dad!  I'm so happy she is helping us.  She knows my sister and I have our hands full dealing with mom--not dad since he doesn't talk on the phone.  

Great niece limps but is walking.  Tomorrow's dance lesson should be fun.  

We still need to arrange for wheelchair for mom.

[Peace77]

I'm happy to be back home with DH. 

[marvholly]

Got my homeowners insurance renewal notice Tue. It ‘only’ went up 4.2% which is WAAY better than the 10% it has been climbing most years. I have been saving the expected amount and am only short a bit which is NOT hard to make us since I do not budget every penny.

going to check for my newspaper to see the gerocery ads starting today or thur.  Want to make sure I get the best $$ when I hit the fruit market I did not hit Tue.