A Little Relief

     Payday is coming on Friday which means relief, well sort of. Harold was able to get 30 hours overtime on this paycheck so we are able to have a little breathing room and the first thing on the paycheck list is to pay the bills, all the bills. With this check I can pay everything that was overdue and anything that is due now and still leave us a good amount for gas and groceries.
     Speaking of groceries I am working on my menu and grocery list. I usually work up a menu list for 2 weeks, making a meal plan for 14 days. I know that during that time there will be days that I just don't want to cook, or don't have the time but I like to have a plan. I usually go thru the local sales ads to see what is on sale, this will usually help me decide what is best to plan for. My plan for right now is to head out to Sam's Club and either Aldi's or Save-A-Lot. I am planning on getting a some bulk items at Sam's, the stuff I use a lot of, and then getting the rest of my supplies at one of the other grocery stores.

     Moving on a little bit..... I had a job interview today. Did you hear that?

 

A JOB INTERVIEW!!!!!

 

It's doing what I've been doing for the past 12 years, insurance. I have been a billing manager for the  2 Dr's that I have worked for. It's something I enjoy and loath. It's not very challenging, a lot of staring at a computer and talking on the phone. I enjoying it because, well I'm really good at it. It seems to come natural to me, I pick up the new stuff pretty quickly. I won't hear anything on the job for a while. The interview I had today was just the first round, they plan on pulling the best from that group and doing a round of second interviews. Let's hope for that call back.

    BTW... one of the interview questions was what cartoon character do you feel represents you the best, I said Eeyore. Eeyore is me, I'm blue and purple most of the time, my mood is usually down.

I'm doing pretty good right now though, I'm in more of a middle area. That's pretty amazing for me so I'll take it.

 

     I guess that's enough for tonight, I've got to get up early and take Katy to camp. However, my plan is to have my menu plan and grocery lists up tomorrow for you to see, just don't hold me to that.  

2 years ago today

     On July 12, 2011 my little world stopped and was forever changed, a dear, dear friend was killed in an accident. Merle Faucette was a great man, father and friend, there has not been a day since he passed that he has not been missed. This man who dedicated his life to helping others was called home to Heaven to be an Angel to those of us who need his guidance.
     Merle was a strong yet loving man, he loved his wife Brenda, his son Matt and his daughter Monica with everything he was. He worked hard to make sure they had the things they needed and even in death keeps giving. Merle was an EMT and a volunteer fire fighter, he lived to help those in need. He also loved his dog Harley and his motorcycle. To Merle motorcycling was his release, but never taken for granted. He was the most conscientious biker rider, he was very careful to follow every law. He was very careful, didn't speed, wore the proper equipment but was still able to have fun. As a firefighter and EMT he had seen way too many bad ends to the motorcycle.
     Brenda, Matt and Monica have forever been changed, their lives altered from the course it was taking. They will never fully heal, never forget. They are now without the love of their life, their father, the friend. He was a great man and will forever be missed, so on this day I would like to say, Merle Faucette You are forever loved and missed.

Selling Everything (well almost everything)

     Since my last posting I have been trying to find ways to make money and so far I've succeed in making a few bucks. I posted quite a few things on Ebay, Craigslist and Facebook. I have sold a Cricut with Jukebox (125.00) 2 sets of knives (15.00) Gazelle (20.00) Apple Canisters (10.00) Blue Glass Canisters (10.00) Hamster Cage (15.00) 3 books on ebay (19.00+shipping) 2 shirts on Ebay (7.00) a bunch of the girls clothes (50.00). I am currently planning on taking all my packed up books to a used book buyer and having them make me an offer on them, the drive there sucks though so I'm putting it off. It seems like I've made a lot of money but I have had to buy groceries, gas for 3 cars, dr visits and medications. It goes quickly.

     On the other side of making money I have been applying for jobs, any job (well sorta) NO Fast Food. Hopefully something will come along. The fact that I refuse to work outside of a certain area also hurts me a little, but with Harold working in Durham (30 minutes away) I need to be close by. I will find something I just know. Pray for me.

Well back to posting things to sell, also check out my Etsy Shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/CanYouCatchMe
Adding more stuff soon.

'Night All

Still Around......

     I'm still here, just have a hard time blogging. Really want to blog just don't think anyone really wants to hear my crap. Here's my update though.
                                            No JOB (which means no money)

     With this update I am adding a new topic----Financial Strain (severe financial strain.) I have got to find a job, even if it's part time. I would prefer to be at home with the kids and dogs but until we can get in a better financial state that can't happen. We were doing fine when Harold was able to get loads of overtime, that has since stopped. >>>his boss is an ass<<< With Harold's return to work today (more on that in a moment) he found that they will be returning to a more normal schedule which means overtime will be returning. Even with the overtime returning we have fallen behind on a lot of things. Collection agency have been calling and as of today I have been avoiding the calls. I have NO money to give them, heck I have no money for anything. Groceries are almost nonexistent and my small stockpile is beginning to run dry, the freezer wont even get us through the month. I'm seriously kicking myself for not doing to garden when I had the money but we had other plans then. We will survive, we always do. I'll just be ignoring the phone calls and pinching every penny I can find.

     So from the earlier statement of Harold's return to work, we went on vacation. I know your asking how can we afford that well it was something we paid for with my profit sharing money from my previous job. Several months ago things were going good, so we decided that with the money I got, we would pay off some bills and use the rest for a family vacation. We paid the condo rental fee and put money aside for spending. Since then we have gone from doing good to bad but we couldn't get our money back on the rental and losing the $950.00 was not an option, so we went on vacation. The money we put aside had since been used for other necessities so a credit card was used for spending money, which meant groceries and 2 meals out. We're home now and I am back to struggling with even more debt.
                      
                           Here's some pictures of our fabulous time.....

.

 

    With all the worries that I have, my depression is taking a beaten. I worry all the time and it's affecting my sleep and energy level. I can't fall asleep or even stay asleep which then affects how I feel when I get up. Can't really go to the doctor since I have no extra money so I will struggle with then lack of sleep and the crappy feelings.

     Guess that's enough for now, hopefully I will be able to do more updates. Stick with me, I'm new at this and don't like to talk about my problems. My plan is to start talking about the financial issues, my depression and my attempt at becoming a more self reliant person. I am going to be delving into the world of stockpiling, gardening, canning and more homemaking stuff. Here goes nothing........

My Weird Husband.......

     ..and I have pictures to prove it.

 

 

     Two weeks into November my husband Harold decided to start growing our his beard, he wanted to participate in the No Shave November. Now it's January and he has yet to shave. When I say not shaved I mean at all, no trim, no shaping, no nothing.

 



                                                                   December 2012
    
     Let me explain a few things about Harold, he gets bored easily AND he likes to annoy me. Harold is ex-military, 6 years in the Army, Airborne Division. During that time he had to be clean cut and clean shaven so when he got out he decided to play with the hair. We have gone thru many different hair styles and facial hair styles. His been clean shaven, slim beard, and goatee but never done the full on mountain man look until now.  I have dealt with all these changes by just accepting them, until now. I HATE the beard, I HATE the Mountain Man look. I find it very unattractive.

                                                                      January 2013

     I asked him recently why he felt the need to continue with the beard growth, he's reply--- "Because I (me) cut off all my hair." Now let's give you a little fact, I hate my hair long. I can't do anything with it and I think I look horrible. Harold-- Loves long hair. I have ,over the 15 years we have been together, had many different hair styles but I guess the current one is the shortest. I can't make my hair grow out over night so I get to be punished with the above look. Ugggg........

     Tonight he came home from work and announced he was gonna shave his beard before he went to bed. The girls and I were overjoyed, we even cheered. Boy were in for a surprise...........

January 28, 2013

     Lovely, isn't it? It just keeps getting worse. So, I need everyone to please help me in my desire to get him to shave. I'm not sure how much more of The Beard I can take before I go crazy.

Help!!!!!!

Long time no write

     Wow!!!! Do you feel neglected or what? Time sure flies when you try to participate in life.

     UPDATE

Still no Job (constantly looking though)

Still Crazy (doubt that will change)

 

     Anywhoo...... Life is crazy even without a job. Harold works ALL the time, somewhat out of necessity and some because his job requires it. Being without a job for the last 3 months has put a but of a strain on our finances. A bit??? how bout a lot. We are barely making and it is getting harder everyday. This being said I have decided to try and find money. I have been trying to sell some of our unneeded/unwanted stuff, we have acquired a lot of crap over the last 15 years. The more I get rid of the happier I will be and the less crap I will have.

     I am also going to try my hand at couponing, easier said than done.I have a good start with the coupons though, my mother-in-law had her papers form the last 2 months, ready for recycling, I searched through them and got a lot. She has also agreed to give me her coupons from her weekly newspapers. While this will help I will also need to scour the Internet for many more. Anyone willing to donate coupon packets please do.

 

 

 

     On another note I have found that I have more energy now that I am not working 9 hours a day, the down side is that I have all these ideas running around in my head and financially not capable of doing them. I would really like to do some redecorating around the house, basically impossible in the current financial situation. Hopefully once I find a job I can maintain some of my energy level and be able to do some decorating.

    Speaking of redecorating..... my in laws were very generous this Christmas, they gave us the installation of our hardwood and slate tile. We have had the hardwood and tile for 2 years and I was really getting tired of looking at the space they were taking up. They foyer and "formal" living room now have beautiful floors however they need some additional decorating. I would really like to paint both rooms and add some accessories. Slowly I will do the work I want to do.

 

 

     Enough rambling for tonight, better go to bed going to see Justin Bieber tomorrow with my beautiful daughters. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it. Also throw up a little pray for me, with the money situation, health situation and job situation. I did have an interview on Thursday so cross your fingers on that one. Enough said for tonight though, tell we meet again.......



Tired

     Yesterday, October 27 we had a party at our house. We decided a few weeks ago we wanted to do something before it got cold so we decided to have a Brunswick Stew party.

     After we made the decision to have the party, I got to planning on what I wanted to do an how I was going to decorate since we would be outside. I spent loads of time on the Internet (mainly Pinterest) trying to find ways to decorate. I had everything planned out until life stepped in, I QUIT MY JOB. So what was I to do when my budget had been chopped down to $0. I improvised..... I paid my nephews Logan, Jamey and Ben to pick up Pine cones and Pine Straw; total $5.00 (my bribe to them). I dug though my cabinets until I found 10 tea light holders, a couple of vases and 4 dinner candle holders. I had my decorations and was willing to make do with them.

     The week of the party I scrubbed my house, top to bottom. I wanted it to be clean and ready for company. I worked my butt off all week long wanting everything to be perfect. Then the unexpected happened, SANDY. Dear old Hurricane Sandy decided to make her presence known, she moved slowly up the coast finally reaching my state of NC. The weather people called for rain all day Saturday, what were we going to do with Hurricane rain and wind. Luckily I have a spacious 2 car garage. We decided to clean it out and place the table and chairs inside. I begged a friend to bring his Canopy and a outdoor heater. We made the plan that we would place the canopy over the stew cauldron and nix the bonfire we had planned to do.  All day we readied ourselves for the party and rain.

     Saturday night was a success, we had a fantastic time and best of all NO RAIN. We partied hard, of course drinks were flowing, food was eaten and fun was had. We had the bonfire, we had the best Brunswick Stew and a good time. It was exactly what I needed to take my mind off all the crap that had been going on recently. I was able to just relax and enjoy my family and friends, something I have been desperately needing.