Darn money doesn't grow on my trees

So I really want a shredder attachment for my Kitchen aid Mixer. Really really badly want this thing. I have been searching Ebay for a good deal, but even the used ones seem to be highly priced. I finally decided that I would just break down and buy a new one. But they are $50.00.  However I have a hard time justifying that amount. My sales person soul just won't let me. 

So I got brilliant and decided to get a 20% off coupon from Bed Bath & Beyond. I would use my coupon and get my shredder attachment for $40.00.  That would work. So I looked in the bank account and sure enough I had just the amount for the attachment w/tax.  So I went to work Monday and found a coupon. (I had to sign up for emails from BB&B to get it.)  

I took myself to the store and found that they only had 2 on the shelf. I grabbed one but the box was all torn up, so I grabbed the other and walked around the store a bit to see what's there. I never go there as I can't afford most of what they offer.  I found a couple of other things I could use that were in my price range and thought to myself  that I would go back on payday.

I went to the counter and handed over my earned coupon and went to pay. My card was declined. huh.... I asked her to run it again. Still declined. I knew I didn't have enough on any of my other cards to pay for it, because it's almost pay day. (3 days away).  So I said I would have to come back. The girl said she would hold it for me. I asked if she could hold it until Wednesday as one of my banks post my paychecks a day early. She said she would.

I wasn't upset because I have "opted" to not have the bank pay it anyway and charge me an over limit fee. I would rather not pay for it that way. I went home and looked online at the bank account and found that . Oops! I had a check out that just happened to go through. Grrrr.

So now I have to wait until payday which is sort of OK. because I can still get my item and use the coupon and now buy the other couple of things too. But I really wish Money grew on my trees. however just my luck it would have been the dead tree we pulled upon Saturday.

I didn't scream, but I did almost dial 911

As you know my niece Tiffany and her boyfriend Ben have been living with us. It's been nice because they are slowly cleaning my house and although I feel guilty, I am trying to get over it. lol

Last night they went out and bought some brandy and got back after I went to bed. I'm OK with this as they are both well over drinking age. They are usually asleep when I get up to get ready for work and since they leave their door closed, I feel OK to do a mad dash to the bathroom or basement in my undies. This morning I got up and got mostly dressed when I remembered that my shirts were in the laundry room downstairs. So I traipsed down the stairs in my pants and bra, and walked into the laundry room to get a shirt.

Then I went into the downstairs bathroom to pee and brush my hair. The door never stays closed unless you pull it tight, so it swung open when the cats came in. I was talking to them and to myself. Silly things like reminding myself of stuff that needed to be done, and teasing the cats.

I went to my desk and got on Facebook and left a few comments on status that were posted after I went to bed. I was still talking and I think I was singing to myself too. I decided that I couldn't wear my slippers to work because the sole isn't hard enough.  I was telling myself I needed to find my black socks which were in a bag on our computer table. So I got up, turned the light on, and went to the table to look for my socks. I found the bag and in it was also a package of underwear that I had bought. I even said out loud: "ah, there's the underwear I bought."  I grabbed the socks and walked back to my desk and sat down to put my socks on when I heard someone talking. I stopped and stared into the rest of the family room because I thought maybe the cats had hit one of the kids toys that makes noise. I even had a moment when I thought the evil Dora kitchen was talking again. But it was upstairs.

Suddenly I looked at the couch and laying there petting a kitty was some random guy who was quietly talking to the cat. I paused and things running through my head was 1: to scream and 2: to grab the phone and call 911.   But my silly calm caused me to get up, shut the light off, and walk up the stairs. Dan happened to be in the shower so I went into the bathroom and calmly said: "Do you know who that guy is downstairs on our couch?"  Dan said: "Oh, I didn't know he was still here. He's a friend of Ben and Tiff's."  I took a deep breath and was glad I hadn't freaked out. I thought maybe they had drank too much and that's why he stayed. I'm actually OK with that. I mean I truly would not want someone who's been drinking to drive anywhere. I'd rather they stay.   But I was upset that SOMEONE didn't warn me. A note, lipstick on the mirror, wake me up! something.

I guess we will have to have a talk with my roommates. 

cocka-doodle-who?

OK someone in my neighborhood brought home a Rooster.  Yep, you read it right, a rooster.  I know this because said rooster likes to crow at 6:00 AM. Every morning apparently. It started I think Thursday. I didn't pay too much attention on Friday. (I suppose I was just too tired).  But Saturday morning at 6 am, I hear:  Cocka-doodle-doo!   Over and over. I think he stopped about 8. This was a wash, rinse, repeat on Sunday and again this morning. 

I was so annoyed, that I actually thought about sic-ing Princess on the Rooster. Except just my luck, Fog Horn's owner has a BB Gun and would shoot my cat.  Dan says he's gonna call someone. It wouldn't be so bad if he only crowed a couple of times. I can live with that. But constantly from 6 to 8? 

I tried to look up on line if it was legal.  Nothing for Kearns, but it is for illegal in West Valley and Taylorsville to own a Rooster. You can have Hens, but no Males allowed!

Now I just need to find where that guy is and have roast chicken for dinner.

Oh what a night.......

OK. So first I was not really wanting to go out last night. I mean I was so down and tired and everything.....  but it was Beth's birthday and she was determined to go out and have some fun!  I got home and Tiff and I got ready to go out. We were supposed to be at the restaurant, Olive Garden, at 6:30. But Beth is always late. Oops! She was actually on time and we were late. About 30 minutes late. We got sat and I was introduced to some of Beth's co-workers and her friend Mary. April was there as was Josie. We laughed and enjoyed our dinner. As usual I got Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. YUMMY!!!!  I've tried other stuff, but honestly?  I go there for that.

We then decided that we were going to go to Club Allure.  We got there at 9 and it was DEAD. They said it would pick up in about an hour. But the whole time we were there all they played was hip hop. Now I like a little hip hop, but Honestly?  I don't like it enough to get my ears blasted for hours, and drink awful diet coke.

We left at about 10 because the DJ told us that if we didn't like the music we were in the wrong place. NICE! So we took ourselves off and went to the Westerner because Beth wanted to karaoke. We got to the Westerner and thank goodness Friday is ladies night. So we got in and Beth climbed on the mechanical bull.  She was funny. Fell off a few times.

Then we were trying to get to the other side of the dance floor but couldn't carry our drinks over. I didn't realize I could walk to the front, and I saw a little walk way between the dance floor and the bar. I asked our waitress if I could walk through there, and she told me yes. I don't know if she didn't hear me, didn't understand me, or really was too new to know better, but she told me yes. So I walked through and the security stopped me at the other side. He told me I couldn't walk back there. I told him the waitress said I could, or I wouldn't have. He asked who she was, and I said, I didn't know her name. I still have my credit card receipt in my hand so I said to him: " would her name be on here?" He just continued to say he couldn't have me walk behind the bar. I finally said: I'm sorry, do you want me to go back?" I was so exasperated. I realized that I shouldn't and I had already apologized a couple of times. He was sort of beating a dead horse. He gestured for me to go ahead and then continued to stare at me every time he walked by our table.

So we watched the dancers as I have decided that Country music is not meant to be danced to w/out a partner. Unless you know how to line dance. Which I don't.  Beth's friend Mary apparently had started the party really early as she was drunk as a skunk. She had a bottle of something in her purse I guess. I don't know how much she drank, but she was three sheets to the wind by the time we were at the Westerner. She doesn't hold her liquor well either.  She could barely stand up. I felt bad because only Beth, Mary and the girls went out to dance. I just couldn't do it. lol

Then we took off to the Karaoke room. Way too small and the music was way too loud. I think the appeal of Karaoke is if the music itself is loud enough, then the singers feel good about singing. There were a couple of girls who sang really well. The only table available at the time was right in front of the damn speakers. Why the hell do I always get the speakers?  Josie and Tiff got up to sing Voodoo. It was kinda funny because they were not dressed for a western place. But it was cute. Beth and the girls got up to sing and Mary stumbled her way up there too. Then Beth got a chance to sing by herself. It was really good. She sang Better Things to Do, and change the lyrics to Better Men to Do. LOL,

There was a guy there who's friends were teasing him because he looks a bit like Toby Keith. He sang a couple of songs and one what I like this Bar. Which is a fav of mine. He sang it really well. He also sang  Little Whiskey Girl. Which is another good one. He was cute!  I guess he realized I really liked both songs because I swear he was singing to me. He kept staring over at me and gesturing. When he was done and I was cheering he smiled at me and nodded his head.

Finally the night was wrapping up. Last song was sung and everyone was leaving. But suddenly Mary decided she wanted to get up and sing. April and I walked out the door while Beth was trying to get Mary to leave. Somehow she convinced the DJ to let her sing. We weren't in the room but April said the lyrics on the screen were to Casper the Friendly Ghost. We watched as Mary walked to the stage and was going up the ramp when she lost her balance and fell over. It was really embarrassing.  And then Beth said when she was standing on the stage, she didn't even sing.

LOL

Best Freaking Bread ever!!!

So I made the bread. Oh that recipe is awesome! I have made zucchini bread a lot over the years since I worked at Mac's Hobbies and Crafts and the owners wife of the restaurant next door would sometimes make it. I remember trying my first piece and was in heaven. She would only make it sometimes because she got busy doing other things, and I would be so disappointed on those off days.  I researched (before Internet) for a zucchini bread recipe and could never find one that was exact. It's always been too moist. The kind that falls apart when you pick it up. It  was tasty good, but not what I wanted.

Now I have found it. The recipe that matches. It's so dense and yummy. Totally perfect for that awesome bit of butter. I practically ate one whole loaf by my self. (Please note that it is not an actual bread loaf size. I use mini loafs which is half a regular bread pan.)

Of course I should not have eaten so much. But DARN IT! I loved it. I put in an order for 6 more zucchinis. I am going to shred and freeze and everyone will get a fresh loaf for the Holidays. (again small loaf).

I also failed on my lunch today. :(   *feeling some shame*   After the weekend of getting Tiff and Ben's room done, and trying to clean my kitchen up enough I could make the bread, I had to go back to the store for more chicken so I could grill it and put it on my salad. I'm sorry to say by the time I went and came back I didn't have the energy to do more than shove it in the fridge. So I had to buy lunch at Arctic Circle today. Luckily Brandy didn't bring lunch either. So this is our one-off day, and we will eat at work the rest of the week. 

Tonight will also be a eat out night. We have to run to a Viewing for Nate, and I just don't have the time to throw a dinner together. *bad planning on my part for sure! *   So we will stop and grab.  Tomorrow I leave work early for the funeral and I'm sure there will be food, but just in case I will eat my Wal-Mart salad before I leave work.  Once I get home I will grill my chicken for the rest of the week and such.

Rachelle, I will take you up on your menu planning, I promise. I am just waiting to get my act and finances together.  I would like to be able to have the ingredients on hand after we plan. I want to make sure that I can afford to buy stuff to make some different things.

Well Dan should be here soon so I must go. I need to at least brush my hair. It's going to be a very casual viewing and funeral as Nate would have wanted us to be comfortable. Please no more death, pain, hurt, or sickness. I just don't think we can take it.

Moving In

So my niece Tiffany and her man Ben are moving in with us for a bit. Normally I would have said no way. I enjoy my privacy way too much. But they need some help and Dan and I are in a position to help, so it seems the logical thing to do. They have two kittens with them. The kittens are not fixed nor have they had their shots. I'm torn, because it's cheaper to have them take the kittens to the spay and neuter clinic for both to be done, but at the same time, they don't have the money, and I don't have the cash. I can have them take the kittens to the vet that takes care credit, but then it's more expensive. I need the kittens to be fixed. I worry about the female going  into heat and the other is a male, so hum..... bad.....

It's going to be an adjustment too. Having two other people in the house. I don't want to be picky and such and I don't want them to feel uncomfortable. But I worry about things changing.

We got the spare room cleaned out though. Wow what a pain. But Ben and Tiff were tons of help and now the carpet in there has been cleaned. They will use my bed, and the entertainment center and cherry wood desk will stay in there. I am assuming all the games will be in there too. I'm very pleased with that as I feel that the room should be theirs and should be off limits to me and Dan. We'll see what happens. I just know that I would not want them going into my room. (except I think next weekend we're moving my room around so the carpet can be cleaned there. I hope they are OK to help us with that.

It's good about the spare room. It really needed it in more ways than I can count. Hopefully all kitty smell is gone and it will be a good room again. After my room I would like to do the craft room. I've really got to get it done. I need to go through the boxes in the living room. (moved from the spare room) and get them somewhere. I'm thinking probably the garage, but who knows. I should spend a little of the spare money and buy some more totes. Put stuff in the totes I need to keep but not worry about, and put them in the shed instead.

I'll be taking my salads next week to lunch so I need to get my chicken grilled today. I need to grill it up, and then cut it up. After my past experience putting chicken on my salad, I think it might be easier for me to grill a piece for each day of the week today, and the cut it up individually.  I was taking a piece and cutting it up at work. It took so long and was such a pain, that I would only use half the chicken.  I don't think I was getting enough protein, and I know it wasn't as filling as it should have been. So lesson learned. I need to find some Wendy's/ Dee's sized containers for salads. That way I can make them on Sunday for the whole week. I think too that will help me.  Dan has been awesome about getting up and doing breakfast for us. I'm so proud of him. Now if I can just get him to not get on the computer before work, he won't run out the door w/out his lunch. lol.   

Well I'm off to make my zucchini bread. It has to be made as I think my Zuc's are getting beyond ripe. I'm also gonna try for some Banana Bread as Brandy says she likes it. I want to bring her a small loaf.
And if my zucchini bread recipe works out, I will need lots more zuc's from Meredith.

kinda proud

So for the most part Brandy and I have been very good about bringing lunch to work. Today was a treat day and we went to Arctic Circle for lunch. It wasn't hard for me to do it as I have been eating Chicken Tacos for like 3 days.  Next week we will try for the whole week. I know it's saving money, but funny enough I'm not really seeing the savings. It's there I just can't see it.

I'm also very proud of Dan. He has gotten up every morning this week and made us breakfast. Tuesday through Thursday it was cereal and a carton of Fiber One yogurt, but it's nice to not have to try to figure out what I am going to eat, let alone be able to skip McDonald's. This morning (Friday) He made me scrambled eggs, hash browns, and bacon. He made too much potato, but it was so yummy. 

We have also been really good about eating at home. We made it 3 out of 4 days. Tonight neither of us was up for cooking. (we were going to have chicken and well frankly I got tired of chicken. lol)  I ran to Ab's drive thru. It was pricey, $15.00 for both of us, but it was nice to just grab it and eat at home. Tomorrow we will eat at home. We might have to go grocery shopping, but we will eat at home.  Chicken for dinner tomorrow. :(

I also want to make my breads tomorrow. Zucchini and Banana bread. I want to test my recipes and see if they taste good. If so, then I will make them for X-mas and freeze them. Or at least freeze the Zuc's. Then I can make them fresh in December. I was going to make Cherry Jelly for presents, but since I waited too long to pick the cherries, I don't think I will have enough to make more than a couple of jars.  But there is always next year!

I got Cantaloupe from Meredith. They must be pretty ripe because I can smell them so well.  They made me fruit high while I was at work. and of course because I bought two, jokes were around aplenty. When I was leaving I had to carry them out. One of the guys I work with said something about needing help carrying my Melons. I couldn't help it. I looked at him and said: "I've been waiting all my life for someone to say that to me."  It was great.

Well it's late. 9/11 is here.  Crazy how time dulls the pain. I will never forget where I was or what I was doing when I first heard the news, but now it's become more of a past thing. I don't want to down play it all. I'm just saying that I've started to become a bit numb.  However once I wake up I will hold my own respectful silence and say a prayer for the Victims and Survivors.  I will hope for peace and pray for our troops.
God Bless America!

My heart is broken. This is the worst year ever!

Nothing wakes you up more than hopping on Facebook to find out that your (adopted) Brother-in-law is dead. Lorie has been my family for ever. She has shared her brothers and sisters and parents with me for so long. I have been so lucky. But now I have to wonder how lucky that is when it causes so much pain.

This year has been awful for so many things.  In January I have a heat attack and finds out that practically every artery in my body is clogged. I am a walking death waiting to happen. I spend 3 months off work and dealing with issues I don't want to.

Not long after returning to work a Friend whom I have never met in person but who I have developed a good friendship with through work dies. My heart is bruised. 

My sweet friend Charlotte goes to have a simple gall bladder surgery only to have it turn into a nightmare from hell. She ends up going to a month of issues, almost dies but does pull through. 

Then as I am just getting back to dealing with life, my husband is forced to take a decrease in pay and a demotion. This of course happens right after my student loan payments goes up by $200.00 a month.

Then My beloved Aunt goes into the hospital and care centers and is miserable.

Then my (adopted) brother Brian dies an accidental death.  My heart is cracked almost beyond repair.

My Aunt dies not long after and my heart is crushed to almost nothing. But I am trying to repair it.

My niece is addicted to drugs and can't seem to shake it. I'm so sad and scared for her and just want to take her away to make her better. 

I just spent the weekend consoling a good friend over the death of her beloved dog. He lived 16 good years but it's still hard. I cried for her, for him, and for myself.

I find out that Charlotte has to be in the hospital because of the screwed up gall bladder surgery and now has an infection that is life threatening because of the screw up. 

And now Nate, Jo's husband dies.  My heart is completely broke. I don't know if I will be able to put it back together. I can only wish to get us the hell out of this year. Who next?  I'm terrified.

First Day back.

This morning I did not want to get up. Really. I tossed and turned all night long. It was to say very annoying. But I made myself get up and go. I am glad I did. I have really missed my office wives. What a great group of Women I work with. How fortunate for me that I get to work with people I like?

I was kind of tired though, so it made the first part of my morning hard to get a handle on. After that though it was smooth sailing. I did however forget to take Jill her packages, and a lunch for me, but I feel pretty good since I made it there.


I will bring my lunch tomorrow, and then again next week. It's really important that I do that now, because I am broke. well, OK not down to scrounging for Pennies broke, but I'm close enough.

I need to get on the ball w/my meal planning. Rachelle I'm planning on taking you up on your offer, just let me get my head in the game.  You just get ready to throw those 1800 calorie diets meals my way......

I will get there soon.  Ahhhhh now I'm going to relax a bit before Dan gets home and then I am BBQ-ing chicken and making steamed potatoes. Yummmy!

Waste of my time

So I went to the doctors office today. I saw the physician's assistant instead of the actual Doctor. Listened to my lungs, took my blood pressure, and asked how I was doing.  Spent more time in the waiting room than I did with him. Suddenly the nurse the assistant and everyone was concerned that I hadn't had the ABI done. Huh?

Didn't I tell them that he wanted me to have one? Why, yes. Yes I did. After explaining for the 3rd time that I tried, they decided that I would have one. So I got to schedule it again. Then the PA decided that I needed to see the actual Doctor. Really? How special for me. So they tried to set up an appointment. I'm not sure weather to be annoyed, or feel special, because the Doctor doesn't have a fee appointment time until..... Wait for it.....

OCTOBER 29, 2010.  Yep. The man is booked solid until then. The scheduler tried to set me up to have the appointment with the PA on a day the Swanky Raccoon is in, but Alas, they called me back after I left the office to advise that I really need to spend time with the Doctor. This of course worries me as if I need another procedure I want them done before the end of the year, and I would really like to not have to have TG while recuperating.


I was really kinda pissed by the time I left the Doctor's office. Honestly...... $30.00 for that?  I wish I had a b*tchier attitude. Because I would start refusing to make an appointment. or at least start refusing to pay for them!