I'm feeling pretty good today. It was a struggle getting out of bed, but once I got up, I felt great.

SO mentioned Mexico again this morning. Has he done his taxes? No. I have already allocated the money for other things - like new glasses, since mine have disintigrated. How many times did I tell him to do his taxes? Arg!!

I need to stop using my cards and get back into only using the cash that I have in the bank. I pay off the cards every month, but I'm starting to get too dependent on them again. I tend to live a month BEHIND instead of a month AHEAD.

Last night I had a brief epiphany. I should be making a lot more money. Now, I know I've been saying this a lot lately...but I finally believed it. My talents and my education are not being utilized. I need to do something about that.

I can't quite figure it out.

Last night for dinner I made fettucini alfredo (dried pasta, brand new jar of sauce) with frozen asparagus (the kind in a microwave steamable bag). I put spray butter and italian seasoning on the asparagus. I made Koolaid with tap water and Splenda. Within an hour, I was very ill, and SO fought it all night until this morning. I can't figure out what did it. I just bought the asparagus not too long ago, and it went right from the freezer into the microwave, like it is supposed to. Could it be the tap water? We've made Koolaid with it before. Last time I drank tap water at work, I got super sick. Is the city pumping something bizarre into the water? My stomach is still wobbly today and SO is at home hugging the toilet. I have no idea what caused it.

I had an eye appointment this morning and insurance only covered half of it. I was very disappointed by that. I don't know if it was their state-of-the-art machinery or what. What I thought would be a $20 copay turned out to be $83. Perhaps that is the trade-off for my insurance paying a big chunk for my new glasses.

I have a very weird right eye. Every doctor I've seen has said something similar to what the new doc today said - "In all my 29 years of practice I've never seen an eye like yours." I have what looks like a tear in the macula, which should render me half-blind, but I can see just fine (with correction, of course). I also have a weird, permanent infection that's been there since I was 13, and no one can identify it. (No - I really don't look like a red-eyed, bug-eyed freak! I promise!) The infection thing only flares up when I'm super tired or stressed out.

The doc wants me to have a surgery for dry eyes that involves inserting a

lacrimal plug. I'm not so sure about this. More research is definitely needed on my part.

I had to take vacation time for my medical appointment. Bummer. I was allowed to use sick time at my last job.

Another interesting thing today - the doc studied in Portland, Oregon. I mentioned that I've been thinking about moving there and he became a vertiable Oregon tourism board commercial. He really loved it.

Just wanted to add - the doc said I definitely should NOT get Lasik and he was shocked that no one had taken everything into account, like my large pupils, dry eyes, macular tear thingy...I'm SO glad I did not go through with it. He said having large pupils alone would most likely have resulted in my having halos and glares for the rest of my days.

My friend's baby is here! He is adorable. He's very light-skinned, but maybe he will darken up. He looks like a little eskimo baby right now! Labor sounded like fun...the placenta broke off. Ewww!!! I am so not having kids. I love holding other people's kids, though. We ended up spending about $20 on flowers and a gift bag.

I successfully distracted my sister for a day. We had a good time shopping. I spent more than I had planned, but I tried to keep it in check.

Last night SO and I stopped at the Indian grocery store for a few staples. We were completely out of basmati and jasmine rice. It is so nice to have that resource! I picked up some naan bread, too...oh I how I love it.

I am dragging today from just one lost hour. How is that possible? Why is one measly hour so important? I got out of bed 20 minutes before I had to leave this morning...not good.

April is a busy month! The next three weekends are already planned. I have this feeling that I won't be able to keep my spending in line with my budget...but I'm really, really going to try.

Thanks for all your thoughts. I got the dreaded phone call this morning. I am going to either visit my sister this weekend or have her come visit again. That's all I can really do, I guess. I told my parents to consider coming to visit next month, too. It would be good for them to get away. I wish this was the end of it...but they have a 28 year old horse. *sigh* It is particularly difficult when all of the animals are up there in years.

I'm glad there are people here who understand what it's like to lose a pet. My parents are getting no sympathy whatsoever from co-workers, and my sister's "friend" rolled her eyes at her! No compassion. Maybe we get too attached...but I'd venture to guess that those people are too afraid to let themselves GET attached in the first place.

I went home early yesterday. A migraine started building around 9:30am and I knew I wouldn't make it through the day. I slept - a LOT - and I'm feeling a bit better today. This is the weirdest cold I've ever had. It hit me like a freight train but I'm recovering fairly quickly.

Let's see...in other news...I won a keyboard on eBay this morning! I have been planning to return my hypnosis CDs (the woman's voice is way too annoying to even concentrate), and my massage has been canceled again this month, so it all evens out in the end. I got a great deal on a 76-key professional keyboard, stand, and gig bag. Looking forward to playing again.

SO still hasn't done his taxes. I want to get some sand between my toes, but that Mexican island trip might have to wait until next year. Maybe we can land a cheap flight to San Diego for a long weekend instead.

I've decided that Neutrogena is a great company. I bought their new mineral powder foundation but wasn't happy with it at all. I wrote them a nice complaint email and told them I was disappointed in the product. They sent me a refund check immediately! I am impressed. I've loved their other products that I've tried, so I figured it was worth an email to them, and it was!

As predicted, the Target/groceries/eating out budget for this month was a bust. We went grocery shopping last night and bought a lot of things to build up the pantry and freezer again. I am happy though, because it will keep us stocked for a while, which means I am more apt to cook.

Of course, that was negated by the Indian takeout we picked up for dinner, but that was wonderful as always, and I don't regret it. How could I anyway, when SO so sweetly insisted on paying?

I'm reading Secrets of Six-Figure Women (thanks to the person who recommended it!). It's fascinating. I need to develop more self-confidence in my abilities, that's for sure. I also have to stop thinking that making that much money is an impossible goal! It's possible! I am an intelligent, educated, strong woman! (rinse, lather, and repeat)

Friday's evening spending consisted of all of $12 for dinner. Not bad. We ended up staying at my house all night. No spend days on Saturday and Sunday, yay! I have to go to Target though (we're out of kitty litter and several other things, like milk and eggs), so I am totally not going to meet my goal this month. If I spend as much or less than I did in February, I'll be ok with that.

On Saturday I made homemade donuts and french bread. I made dinner both Saturday and Sunday, too. I love cooking on the weekends! I need to build up my pantry a little more, to make it easier.

We did get another five inches of snow, but it is melting already. Hopefully it will be gone soon! I can't wait for summer (funny thing to say on the first day of spring, I suppose).

I think I could do the 8 day/7 night Mexico trip for $1075. I'd need to dip into some savings to pay for it. Still debating whether or not I should go for it! I'd really like to! If I really scrimp in April, I think I could.

My credit card bill is massive this month, but it's all because of my car repair. Luckily, I have the emergency fund to fall back on. It is quite nice to have that safety net - I've never had it in the past. Now comes the task of building it back up again. Speaking of car repair, I updated the totals in my previous post. It makes me sick to see how much they charged me vs. what they should have charged me.

More snow today! We're expecting 5-8 inches, and it's been falling all night. I hope we don't get that much. I made it to work this morning, though, and on time, so I'm pretty pleased with myself. The bus showed up this time (though 20 minutes late)!

I'm doing great on my driving challenge - I've only driven to work twice so far. I will not be able to meet my savings goal because of the car repair, but I can live with that. I'm still putting away $75, which is better than nothing. I'm doing fairly well on my eating out/Target/groceries challenge this month. I have about $42 left to spend.

With two weeks left, though, I hope I can make it. I'm going out with friends tomorrow night to celebrate St. Patty's Day, but we're going to avoid the crowded Irish pubs. Hopefully we can have a good time rather inexpensively.

A friend of mine is about to have a baby, and I'm so excited! I bought a gift a few months ago when baby stuff was on clearance. I am looking forward to the phone call!

Otherwise, not much going on...this is a slow month, and I'm greatful for it.

This is for Russell (and anyone else interested in car repairs):

- Lube, oil & filter ($29)
- Tire rotation ($24)
- Replace exhaust flange ($70 labor, $32 parts)
- Exhaust replace, converter back ($100 labor, $125 parts)
- Replace LS inner tie rod ($199 labor, $74 parts)
- 4 wheel alignment ($90)
- Brake adjust & clean ($50)
- Belts R&R - A/C belt ($50 labor, $70 parts)

- Supplies $47
- Disposal $2.50

That's the repair shop's list on the invoice. $900 total WITH a $92 discount. Ouch!

Yikes, thanks for that article, DivaJen! I've been without Excedrin since Monday. No super excruciating headaches to speak of since then. I will definitely start limiting myself more - is that why my massage friend is always telling me my stomach is bad??

Good news:
I had a job interview yesterday and it went quite well. I'm not sure if I want the job, though. It would be slightly more interesting than what I'm doing now, but I can't see myself staying there forever, either. It may give me more graphic arts and Macintosh experience, though, which appeals to publishers. We'll see. They are going to let me know in the next couple of weeks. If it's more money, I'll definitely take it.

Bad news:
I brought my car in to the shop last night (finally). Russell will be pleased to know that I am no longer attempting to asphyxiate myself by driving the Deathmobile. However, the shop called this morning and it's going to cost $900 to fix (and that is WITH a AAA discount). Ouch. I was expecting it to be high, and I have an emergency fund to fall back on, but I am still bummed. I hate handing over my carefully saved money for something like this.

I may decide to use my tax refund for a Mexico trip instead of using it to pay off part of one of my college loans. I am tired of being practical! and I want to go to Mexico!!! I guess we'll see how I feel once I have the money in my hot little hands.

I have a potential opportunity coming up. I'll post more when I know more.

What a relaxing weekend. Dinner with the in-laws was wonderful - they opened up more than usual. I should have stayed out of the stores yesterday, though. I bought a magazine, a book, and a cookbook - tsk tsk! Also picked up the dreaded Girl Scout cookies and some crafting things. I'm way overbudget, as always. I rarely plan for these "others" like books and beads and cookies. They just happen, and then I scramble to cover the deficit. It's a recurring theme.

I was thinking about using my tax refund for my college loans, but you know what? I'd much rather go on vacation. I found a beautiful, secluded beach resort in Mexico that is just what the doctor ordered. We'll see.

I was going to attempt to live without Excedrin for one week...and failed miserably on the second day. My head was just killing me yesterday. I haven't touched the bottle today, though, so here's me, trying again. I want to make sure they aren't just rebound headaches.

Thanks for the support! I guess I did do pretty well with my goals for February. Hopefully March will be better.

I think you're right, baselle, taking the bus will be a lot easier once it is lighter and warmer. I was horrible about taking the bus in January because of the weather. March is a notoriously bad weather month in MN, too...hopefully this year will be different! We always get at least one huge snowstorm in March.

My smaller college loan is going to take a little more to pay off than I thought. Somehow I had calculated the outstanding bill to be about $400 less than it is. I still think I can pay it off by August, if I am diligent.

I'm going to a movie tonight with a friend at a cheap theater and hoping dinner won't be too expensive. I'm trying to watch my diet a bit better, too, so I'll be avoiding the theater candy (and that extra cost).

I chose a restaurant and printed my $25 Entertainment Book dinner gift certificate because SO and I are planning a date night for later this month! Yippee! The old

Guthrie Theater is closing after 43 years and reopening at a new location, so we'd like to take in Hamlet before the old theater is closed.

One of my infamous spending cycles is threatening to ruin my March goals. I can think of all kinds of crap that I want to buy, and the urge to buy it all is SO ridiculous. Resist! Resist! I'm really good at justifying it, too - like yesterday, when Almay wrote back to me and said that yes, they have discontinued my favorite moisturizer. I promptely went to eBay and purchased a few bottles of it. Granted, they were $5 cheaper than in stores, and I'm going to have a heck of a time finding it now that it's not being made, but.... *sigh*

FEBRUARY GOALS:
~ Pay double on my smaller college loan: YES
~ Change Roth IRA setting: YES
~ Cancel extra credit card (discovered in credit report): YES
~ Limit groceries/Target/eating out to $220 (was $370 in Jan): NO - went $107 over the goal, but better than Jan
~ Drive to work no more than 4 times: NO - drove 7 times, but better than Jan at 12 times
~ Have $1000 in emergency fund by March: YES

MARCH GOALS
~ Pay double on my smaller college loan
~ Limit groceries/Target/eating out to $250 (was $327 in Feb)
~ Drive to work no more than 5 times
~ Put $300 into savings
~ Donate $25 to one organization of choice

I've done a few crazy things already and it's not even March. I ordered a set of hypnosis for weight loss CDs, since I almost called in "fat" this morning. Not really, but NOTHING in my closet fits and I am sick of it. If the CDs don't work, I have one year to return them.

I bought several hair products that I had run out of from an online discount place. I had to order $50 worth to get free shipping. I don't know why free shipping was so important to me.

I ordered an Entertainment Book per retire@50's post. I'm hoping we can find some good deals in it. I did get $10 off and the $25 restaurant coupon, but still, not something I desperately needed.

Finally found out that my massage friend is trapped in another country (I don't quite know why), so that monthly expenditure is zapped for the time being.

AAA renewal is up in March too...haven't used it for a couple of years but I feel better about driving my car when I've got it. I have used it with this car more than once.

March is a long month. I need to reign in my spending already! eep!

Had to take a prescription painkiller to make it in to work today. Ugh. I hate these headaches. All I have to do is think about Paula Kamen's

All In My Head, though, and I am thankful that my headaches are not nearly that bad.

I went out to eat and back to the grocery store this weekend, so I am over on my challenge. I also forgot that I was tracking cash food purchases, too, so I am significantly over on my challenge. I have done better than last month, though, so that's a good thing. It helps that it's a short month.

Did my taxes this weekend and I'll be getting a nice chunk back. Now I just have to mail the forms in and wait for my payment. I'm not quite sure what to do with it, though....pay off my smaller college loan sooner? Fix my car? Put it all in savings? I suppose that will depend on how much the car fix costs.

I helped a very pregnant friend clean up her house this weekend. I did a good deed but it took up half of my weekend, and this headache took up the other half. I could use another one!

I drove to work again yesterday (didn't get out of bed until 7:15am). Booooo. SO brought me to work this morning, even though I got up early enough to catch the late bus. I don't know what my problem is. I go to bed around 9 or 10 and still can't get up in the morning.

I went from one extreme to the other. In my last job, I couldn't get people to stop talking to me. I was a veritable unlicensed psychologist for my boss. At my current job, people won't even look at each other when they pass in the hallway. They either plod around with zombie-like stares or travel in packs. It's totally bizarre. Happy medium, anyone?

I've still been looking at Mexico vacations (thinking May now) and used cars (thinking I should take my own to the shop). I probably shouldn't do anything until I bring my car in and find out how much it's going to be to get it back into relatively good shape. Then decide on everything else.

Life! It gives me a headache.

Our party was nice. Not too many people could make it, but the mojitos and snacks were worth it. I wasn't feeling that way the day after, but the body is amazingly good at healing itself. I might lay off the mojitos for a while though.

A little too much drama for me this weekend. I am a definite drama-avoider until it involves me directly. I'm just prepping myself for the next time it comes around. Sometimes I'd like to move away from everyone and live in a quiet cabin in the mountains (ocean view required). I didn't grow up with extended family around, so I am new to this constant-family environment and the drama that comes with it. Ish.

Spent more on groceries than I intended, but we won't have to go again this month. We spent what I thought we would on the party, but a little more on beverages. Oh well, liquor keeps, and at the rate we normally drink it, it should keep for a long time.

I'm about $20 over on my groceries/eating out/Target challenge. I also drove to work this morning because I had to carry a homemade cake in. That brings my driving total up to 5. No more driving for me this month! All I have left to pay for is rent, a prescription, and my credit card bill (in full).

Groceries/Eating out/Target: $30.30 left. So far, doing well with my not-driving-to-work challenge.

Yesterday I bought four sweaters for $20. Not bad. I am quite pleased with myself.

I haven't taken out cash for a while. I am tempted to keep myself in check by not taking out cash. I like having it in my wallet 'just in case' but then 'just in case' turns into 'gone in two days.'

We were supposed to get slammed with snow today, but not a flake has fallen (I'm not complaining).

Perusing a billion different makes and models of small SUVs...I made an Excel chart to keep track of what autos.msn.com says about each model's reliability for years 1998-2005. It's been very helpful. Now if only I could find one of the reliable ones for $10,000 with less than 50,000 miles. or even 60,000 miles. Not an easy task.

I found a 2002 blue Mustang on craiglist.com with 44,000 miles on it for $9500. People, this is my car. I have been pining for a Mustang forever (and preferably one in blue). I've daydreamed about rims, the sound system, the exact color... I hate the new design, though, so it's going to have to be an older one. I wish Mustangs were a little better in snow and got better gas mileage (though this one is a V6, so not as bad as the V8). Hmmm.

I was checking out all the small SUVs around me on the way home yesterday, and liked the Nissan Pathfinder and the Toyota Highlander too. I'll be looking them up today. The CR-V looks like a toy car next to them.

SO and I are having a joint birthday party this weekend (he's a February baby too). We need to come up with vegetarian appetizers and decide just how many mojitos we're going to make. I'm looking forward to it.

The cookies turned out great! I would have made a double batch if macadamia nuts weren't so darn expensive.

I bought a pair of dress pants for $6 and a sweater for $7 at Old Navy the other day. I love the sweater, so I'd like to go back and get another one in a different color before they disappear. Not in the budget, but how can I pass up $6 pants, when all of mine are tight? You can't beat that.

Speaking of tight pants...I feel like a hibernating bear. I need to get some sort of exercise regime going on here, and kick the carb addiction. Only a couple more months of winter!

I drove to work again this morning. Boooo. That is number four this month. Can I go the next nine work days without driving? We'll see.

I am so tired. I've been having nightmares every night this week, which doesn't lend itself to restful sleep. Throw in the furry monsters who insist upon tearing apart the bedroom at 5:00am every day, and the result is a very crabby me.

SO made me breakfast and lunch this morning...very sweet. I'm going to bake him white chocolate macadamia nut cookies tonight.

I now have $42.28 left in my eating out/Target/groceries category. Doesn't seem like much for only being halfway through the month.

I love edmunds.com. I think their information is so incredibly helpful.

This morning while driving through the freezing rain (the roads were sheets of ice), I noticed a Honda CR-V next to me that was spinning its tires like mad. It could hardly get going. The tires didn't look threadbare. My car had no problem getting going because it's so heavy. It made me think twice about the CR-V...maybe I should just get my car fixed.

Still haven't heard from the massage lady. Her phone is not accepting voicemails anymore either. Strange. I guess that will save me $80 this month if she doesn't call or show up. Hear that noise? It's my back muscles screaming in protest.

I have $61.14 left in my groceries/eating out/Target money for this month. It would be so great if I could hit that goal and not go over!

I have driven to work three times this month already. It will be hard to stick to the goal of four times, but I am trying. I sprinted to the bus this morning and made it. Bus culture is such an interesting thing. I always have entertaining stories after riding them.

Still wishy-washy about the car thing. Should I fix mine? Should I look for a new one? I'm sure SO and my FIL would help me look. It's such a daunting task for me, and I can't figure out why. Maybe because my parents only went car shopping once, for me. All the rest of their cars came from relatives or friends. I hate being around salespeople because I always wonder if they are trying to pull a fast one.

My sister is doing a charity event so she asked me to donate. Not in my budget, but I am going to contribute anyway to support her. I should also start contributing to other things (NPR, my former employer, NARAL, wildlife conservation organizations, breast cancer research, etcetcetc) but I'm not there yet. I suppose even an occasional contribution would make a difference, though.

Looking forward to this week - nothing is planned whatsoever until Saturday night.

What happens when SO goes to the grocery store without me? He comes back with Fritos, popcorn, chips, chip dip, donuts, the most expensive olives, a huge box of chocolate...

I'm not complaining about the chocolate, of course, but I never buy donuts, and I always get the cheapest olives. Oh well. At least he got some things that we needed, too.

Thanks, baselle. It's easy for me to feel like a complete weirdo sometimes. I do want to buy a house someday, just not here. and I'd sooner do that than get married!

The massage lady did not come last night. I will have to call her today to find out why. I'm pretty sure I had the right date written down.

Yesterday I went through every month of my budget and shuffled things around to make sure I only spend what I actually earn (crazy concept!). We'll see how that works out.

Thanks for the birthday wishes!

I had a fabulous birthday. SO and I had a delicious long lunch with my former boss (she paid). He and I went to Ikea afterwards and chipped away at a gift card we received for Christmas. I got a new dresser! I am so excited! After Ikea, we went to dinner with another couple at a great Thai restaurant (SO paid for me). Back at my place, we had ice cream cake, and I got a few very nice gifts. All in all, it was a great day. The sun was even shining - what luck! The art institute was closed, so that's why we didn't go there.

The concert on Friday was excellent, and we did eat dinner at home beforehand. I got to catch up with an old friend there, too.

We went to Brokeback Mountain on Saturday with another couple (SO had free tickets) and I paid $11 for concessions for both of us. It was a good flick. Heart-wrenching, but good.

I stayed home all day on Sunday. A migraine was building and culminated on my birthday, but I squashed it with drugs and some alternative therapy that my massage friend suggested. She's coming again on Wednesday, so I'll have to tell her that her suggestions helped.

So, not much spending on my part this weekend. It was so nice to have three days off. Wouldn't you know it, my co-workers didn't even notice I was gone! and my cube is right by theirs! Nuts. I'm glad I decided to spend the day with SO and friends instead.

Groceries/Eating Out/Target ($220 goal): $54.37 spent

Driving to work goal (4/mo): one down

Tonight's dinner is simmering away in the crockpot. We'll be dining on black bean soup. I altered the recipe a little, and will toss in some corn when I get home tonight. I hope it will still be good.

Preparing tonight's dinner this morning made me late, of course, so I had to drive to work. I was still 15 minutes late anyway. I'm so glad I took next Monday off. I'm having so much trouble getting up in the morning!

I'm trying to convince SO that we do not need to buy each other birthday gifts. We have a large Ikea gift card left over from Christmas. I think it would be fun to go together and pick out presents - they'd be free, and we wouldn't feel deprived. He seemed to think that was a good idea. My birthday is first, so we'll see. Neither one of us is rolling in the cash right now, so it would be nice to do it that way. We certainly don't love each other any less if we don't buy birthday gifts. Besides, we might throw a joint birthday party later this month and invite all of our friends.

Ditto with Valentine's Day...I'd rather make dinner together and give him a big batch of homemade cookies than go all out!

Four other birthdays this month...ack!

JANUARY GOALS:

~ Get the Deathmobile fixed: NO

~ Get renter's insurance quote from my auto insurance company: tried but they responded too late

~ Have $800 in emergency savings by Feb: YES

~ Pay double on my smaller college loan: YES

~ Read starting your own craft business bk: started it but got distracted by other books


Spent more than I earned (I've never had a month when I haven't, so I'm not surprised).

FEBRUARY GOALS:

~ Pay double on my smaller college loan
~ Change Roth IRA setting
~ Cancel extra credit card (discovered in credit report)
~ Limit groceries/Target/eating out to $220 (was $370 in Jan)
~ Drive to work no more than 4 times
~ Have $1000 in emergency fund by March

Friday at 3:15pm, can't ask for much better than that...except Saturday and Sunday, of course.


The weather is beautiful. We're at 46 degrees, and might hit the record. Tomorrow there is a chance of rain - not really ideal for skiing, but we'll see. The forecasts have been pretty wrong as of late.

My hair really looks great, and the highlights that were already there are peeking out more than they were before. I'm trying not to get down about the fact that no one (except my SO and boss) has noticed (not even my best friend!). Or maybe they have noticed and had nothing good to say. I was a little paranoid earlier this week about it looking like early 90's soccer-mom hair (no offense to soccer moms, but I'm not one). I'm over it now. Who cares! When I have more cash, I'll go to my colorist and get big slashing rockstar highlights put in, and no one will confuse me with a soccer mom.

I went through categorizing posts, and realized a few things: I'm sick more than I should be, I spend way too much money, and things rarely turn out like I expect them to. Interesting.

Spent $40 at Michaels this weekend on beading supplies. Tsk, tsk. Spent $12 at the grocery store. Another $55 used up at Target, mainly for groceries. I need to stay out of Target next month, period.

We had the in-laws over for dinner last night. That's all I did all weekend, that and beading. I made a couple of things for my mom, which I hope she'll enjoy.

I'm thinking about using part of our Ikea Christmas gift card on a dresser for myself. I've been using a tv armoire for the past 5 years, and it is starting to irritate me. The cats get inside and throw everything to the floor (plus, having no drawers makes it pretty tricky to keep things neat). We'll see if I can find anything nice. Luckily, it will be free to me.

Getting my hair cut tonight at a new salon. I decided not to go to my regular styist because she does incredible things with color and it would be way too tempting to get new highlights. I don't need to spend $90 on my hair right now. So, just a cut (most desperately needed, since I've been wearing my hair in a ponytail for weeks).

Probably more eating-out spending this week....ever feel like you are just swept away by what other people want to do? I enjoy seeing people, and it normally revolves around food, but sometimes I just can't have them over to my house (lunch dates, for example). Plus, I'm going skiing with the gang this weekend, which I'm not super thrilled about but doing anyway. I'm sure it will be fun...I'm just afraid I'll break something.

I am giving my emergency fund priority over the Deathmobile. Maybe it will get fixed sometime this spring!

Head hurts today. I decided to stay home rather than inflame it further by dragging myself to work. Lying down seems to be dislodging the hatchet in my forehead, somewhat..that and a hefty amount of Excedrin (which my masseuse friend keeps telling me to lay off of because it's hurting my stomach). Sigh.

I'm invited to a friend's birthday party tonight. It's supposed to be low-key, just a few people in someone's home, quiet. We'll see how I feel later. My friend's birthday gift still hasn't arrived in the mail. I think she will be upset if I don't go.

I'm tempted to take advantage of the Victoria's Secret online sale. I stopped in the store last weekend and they only had one style of bra on clearance, but they have everything online. Have to spend $100 to get free shipping though. I'm going to think about it for a few days. I'd rather get the sale price now than have to pay full price down the road.

I'm reading a library book, Women in the Material World, published in 1996. It's interviews and photos with women in 20 different countries. Fascinating, and disturbing. It says that in Albania, a bride's parents give the groom a bullet to show him just how much power he has over his new wife (their DAUGHTER). So many of the women walk hours each way to buy food for their families, and they scrub their clothing on rocks in dirty river water. I'm far too lucky...not only because I have a car and a laundry machine, but because I can be true to myself and not have to allow any man to dictate how I live my life. How I value my independence and freedom.

You know you need a vacation when you wake up wishing you had some sort of ailment that would keep you at home. Maybe I'm not in the right field...maybe I'm not at the right workplace. I don't know what to do about it. My skills are not being used and I am not getting much of anything out of my work. I am the equivalent of a human grammar and spell check. It wouldn't bother me as much if the work was varied, but we are talking about the same correspondence, with the same mistakes, every single day.

Massage tonight - I'm sure she will work her magic and I will feel better. It's like stuffing a piece of chewing gum into a small hole in a giant leaking dam, but little things count, right?

I bought concert tickets for an event in a few weeks. It is an early birthday gift to myself - a bassoon concert. SO is going with me. I'm looking forward to it. We split the cost, so $27.50.

I desperately need a haircut, need to get my car fixed, and need to pay for renter's insurance this month. The electric bill was WAY more than I had planned on - what is sucking up all the energy?! and how do you get your significant other to shut things OFF? I feel like I am always shutting off lights that are needlessly on. Perhaps I should try to get him to use candles more often, since we have a ton of them! I can't figure out what else it is...maybe too many loads of laundry? I have energy saver light bulbs in place where I can. I have a programmable thermostat, so I lowered the temps even more. My mom flipped out when I told her I keep it at 62 and 67, because she thought that was way too cold! Now it's lower. I hope it helps.

Ahhhhhh, the weekends. Where do they go?

Friday night: Stopped at a craft store and picked up yarn on sale and a few beads at 40% off. I plan to crochet a new hat. Mine is looking a little ragged. Also stopped by the grocery store to grab a few things I forgot, and spent about $17. Won't shop at that grocery store again - way too expensive.

Saturday: Cleaned, did laundry, made vegetable noodle soup from scratch, and baked the best brownies ever. Went to bed early. Didn't leave the house!

Sunday: SO wanted to go out to breakfast, so we did. Also spent a fair amount at Target. I crocheted for a while, cleaned more of the house, and made vegetarian stroganoff for dinner. We played Scrabble (no keeping score, but I did great!) and again, went to bed early. I sent in a rental insurance quote request, so we'll see what they come up with.

I could NOT get out of bed again this morning! What is up with that??? The bus was very late on top of it, so I was 15 minutes late for work. The good work news is that I will be getting an evaluation and potential raise before mid-year, and then again at the end of the year! I guess I'd better start getting to work on time.

Not one piece of jewelry made all weekend...I'm rather bummed about that. Won't have time to try again until Thursday.

Looks like lost of people went grocery shopping yesterday - me too! I spent more than I meant to, and good grief, we have a lot of food now. I need to do some meal planning. Didn't buy a lot of fresh produce because it all was either ridiculously expensive or looked nasty. Ahh, winter.

SO went to the doctor yesterday and he just has a viral infection. I am glad he went. I half-expected the doctor to send him off to the ER, but he didn't, thank God. He should be over this illness soon, which is good, because I've discovered I'm not a great caretaker! I can be for a few days, but after that, I can't take it.

Yesterday I ordered the latest Spanish-language Shakira CD and the book DivaJen mentioned from amazon. I love, love, love Shakira, but only when she sings in Spanish. I am so happy that she put out a new Spanish-language CD. I'm also interested in trying the migraine/SAD therapy book - maybe it will help. Seriously, winter in the tundra sucks. I haven't seen the sun in weeks, and it is really getting to me. I take Sam-e, which helps, but doesn't replace the sun! I'm not the only one who misses it:

link.

I bid on a couple of beading magazines on eBay, but lost. I'm not too disappointed. I don't need to spend the money anyway! I started reading the book about starting your own in-home craft business last night. It is pretty good, and should help me make a decision.

Quiet weekend in the forecast! I just want to stay home, catch up on laundry, cook a little, bake a little, and make jewelry. Shouldn't be too difficult!

Once I get on a spending roll, I find it really hard to stop. Let's take the holidays, for example. I bought most of my gifts two months ago. Everyone is getting more gifts than they need. I know my family is going to yell at me for spending too much (though I didn't, of course, because I get good deals). Yet I can't seem to stop browsing the web for new deals...thinking about other things I "need" to purchase (for myself)...contemplating after-Christmas sales....buying beverages in the cafeteria that I don't need to drink...etc. The gluttony of the holiday season is invading my every thought process. I just ordered chocolates for SO because I feel guilty about not being with him on New Years. Silly! Like he needs chocolates! Like I need to feel guilty! We are rolling in sweets at our house as it is (sweets we prepared, of course).

I'm fiddling around with some goals for January...like eating out of the pantry to drop our grocery bill a bit, tracking all dining out spending (mine, and his when I'm with him, anyway), and throwing as much money as possible into my emergency fund. I am putting off the car fix until January (who gets their car fixed the week of Christmas? I realized that was ridiculous). So I have that to take care of as well. The car hasn't been driven since December 12. It is interesting living without it when it is still sitting in the driveway, perfectly driveable, apart from it being a cancer machine.