I think most Americans are finding ways to cut back these days. And I'm certainly no exception. In fact, I'm proudly announcing today that my efforts are paying off. Our power bill this month was about $80 less than last month's. Praise the Lord! I'll give part of the credit to the cooler days now that it's fall, but I also believe it's because I'm constantly walking through the house turning off lights in empty rooms. Empty rooms have no need for burning light bulbs. I'm trying to get that through to our son. I told him last night that I was going to start charging him a quarter everytime he walks out of his room and leaves the light on. His response? "Are you going to start charging Dad if he leaves a light on in a room, too?" To which my husband replied, "I'M the one who PAYS the light bill." A minor detail my son seemed to have forgotten.
My grocery money is going farther, too. We're eating take-out a lot less than we used to do, which is not only healthier for us but cost-saving as well.
I truly believe that eventually the economy will naturally get back on course, but I plan on continuing my cost-saving plan. Money is much too hard to earn for it to be wasted.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Family Time
Thanks to some unknown incident on a local highway I was traveling on my way home from work yesterday, I got home about thirty minutes later than usual. I call it an "unknown incident" because I never actually saw the reason for the traffic jam. Oh well, I already had my dinner cooked (left over roast beef from the night before), so I didn't let the delay get to me. I walked in the door, and my son said, "Mom, the power's been out . . . it just came back on." It wasn't storming or windy so again another unknown incident. Knowing that a delicious meal was only a microwave moment away, I non-chalantly took my roast out of the refrigerator and put some rolls in the oven. What a smart woman I was (I thought to myself) to have cooked this big roast the night before. As I was patting myself on the back, it happened . . . complete darkenss and silence. The power was out again. And there on the counter sat my beautifully sliced, COLD roast beef. I waited for a few minutes, hoping that the power would come back on . . . but it didn't. So, since my oven was still warm, I decided to put the roast beef in the oven . . . that would at least take off the chill. My rolls were fully cooked, at least, and I did have some potatoes that I had baked in the microwave. So, there we were, my husband, my son, and me - feasting on semi-warm roast beef in the dark.
After dinner, the power was still out (according to the power company, it should be on by 10:30). That meant that we had three hours to keep ourselves entertained with only one flashlight! It's a good thing we're a close family and enjoy each other's company. We played charades, then I made finger puppets on the wall (I make a pretty good finger bunny rabbit). After all of that fun, we decided to take a walk. We could see the power trucks going up and down the dirt road behind our house. So they were working on the problem (whatever the problem was).
The evening continued with our son playing his guitar as we sang some old hymns. And then we talked . . . we talked about school, work, politics and we talked about the September 11 events (since this is the 7th anniversary week).
The power came back on a little after 10:00. I had dirty dishes and clothes that all needed washing, but it was too late for all of that. Even though the evening chores didn't get done, we all enjoyed our family time together.
After dinner, the power was still out (according to the power company, it should be on by 10:30). That meant that we had three hours to keep ourselves entertained with only one flashlight! It's a good thing we're a close family and enjoy each other's company. We played charades, then I made finger puppets on the wall (I make a pretty good finger bunny rabbit). After all of that fun, we decided to take a walk. We could see the power trucks going up and down the dirt road behind our house. So they were working on the problem (whatever the problem was).
The evening continued with our son playing his guitar as we sang some old hymns. And then we talked . . . we talked about school, work, politics and we talked about the September 11 events (since this is the 7th anniversary week).
The power came back on a little after 10:00. I had dirty dishes and clothes that all needed washing, but it was too late for all of that. Even though the evening chores didn't get done, we all enjoyed our family time together.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Talking Politics
Like many Americans, I watched Governor Palin's amazing speech last night. It was one of the best political speeches I've heard throughout my lifetime. One thing that impresses me so much about Governor Palin is the way in which she articulates her thoughts. I noticed that from the very first time I heard her speak when Senator McCain introduced her as his running mate. And like so many Americans, I'm becoming more impressed with her as time passes. My husband and son are both impressed with Governor Palin as well. My son's reasons for liking her so much are not only because of her political views, but because he think's she's "hot". I'll have to agree that she is a very pretty woman.
So, I'm excited and proud to be a McCain/Palin supporter. I'm looking forward to helping make this team the next President and Vice-President of our wonderful country!
God Bless America!
So, I'm excited and proud to be a McCain/Palin supporter. I'm looking forward to helping make this team the next President and Vice-President of our wonderful country!
God Bless America!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Flip Flop Witness
Over a year ago, my 71 year old mom was mugged and robbed by a worthless thug! After months of investigating, a suspect was apprehended. The loser has been in jail for the past few months. Yesterday my mom had to appear before a grand jury regarding her case. Now my mom has always prided herself as being a fashionable woman. So she arrived at the courthouse dressed in her, as she described to me, "cute, pink capris pants, matching t-shirt, and flip-flops". Present in the courtroom were the presiding judge, an assistant district attorney, and the panel of 16 jurors. My mom said that she was somewhat nervous but composed as she answered the questions from the judge and prosecutor. When the hearing was finished, my mom left the courthouse and met a friend for some shopping.
When my mom arrived home from shopping, she was changing out of her "cute capris" and noticed that she was wearing one green and pink flip-flop, and one red and white flip-flop. Not only had she worn the two different colored flip-flops shopping, but she had worn them at the hearing! When my mom was telling me her story, she told me how embarrassed she was that she appeared in court that way. I told my mom that she shouldn't worry because perhaps the jurors just thought that the entire mugging incident had left her so distraught that she wasn't even able to dress herself appropriately. This may even add a few years to the sentence.
When my mom arrived home from shopping, she was changing out of her "cute capris" and noticed that she was wearing one green and pink flip-flop, and one red and white flip-flop. Not only had she worn the two different colored flip-flops shopping, but she had worn them at the hearing! When my mom was telling me her story, she told me how embarrassed she was that she appeared in court that way. I told my mom that she shouldn't worry because perhaps the jurors just thought that the entire mugging incident had left her so distraught that she wasn't even able to dress herself appropriately. This may even add a few years to the sentence.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Womanhood
The symptoms are there . . . I'm tense, I look as if I'm three months pregnant, and I feel like my back-side weighs 50 pounds. I know my "monthly time" is nearby. That's okay, though. I'd rather be HAVING it than NOT having it. If I weren't having it, that would mean that I was either pregnant, or post-menopause. And I wouldn't want to experience either of those conditions at this point in my life. So I'm perfectly content in experiencing a little discomfort and inconvenience for a few days each month.
Finding out about entering womanhood is a memory forever etched in my mind. You know how we always remember where we were when we heard about a major event? Like when the space shuttle exploded, I was at work and one of my co-workers who was watching the launch on television came out of his office to tell us about the explosion. And when I found out about John Lennon being shot, I was at my high school. Well, when I found out about womanhood, I was in my bedroom (which was decorated with bright floral drapes and bedspreads - it was the early '70's). I can still remember where I was sitting. My two older sisters had taken it upon themselves to tell me all about growing from a child into a young woman. However, they only told me "part" of the story. These are their exact words, "when your b_ _ bs get bigger, you have to start wearing these" (and they were holding up a maxi pad). It was kind of like "show and tell". That's it. That's all they told me. And I suppose I was in too much of a shock to ask any questions. I don't remember anything else about that fateful afternoon.
Okay, so I then knew that when my breasts got larger, I had to start wearing pads. I'm a fairly smart person so I deducted from my sisters' information that I had to stuff the pads down my shirt. They didn't tell me WHERE I had to start wearing the pads, just that I had to start wearing them. So for the next year or so, waiting for my breasts to grow, I would discreetly look at older girls and women to see if I could tell if they were wearing a pad underneath their shirt. Surprisingly to me, I never could tell which really made me feel better because I was concerned that everyone would be able to see the pads.
As time passed, my sisters never mentioned the subject again (and I certainly didn't ask). So I went until I actually entered womanhood thinking that maxi pads were stuffed down your shirt when your breasts grew larger. Needless to say, when I did enter womanhood, I immediately deduced where the pads went.
Several decades later, my sisters and I still laugh about this. This clearly shows that it's always best to tell the WHOLE truth.
Finding out about entering womanhood is a memory forever etched in my mind. You know how we always remember where we were when we heard about a major event? Like when the space shuttle exploded, I was at work and one of my co-workers who was watching the launch on television came out of his office to tell us about the explosion. And when I found out about John Lennon being shot, I was at my high school. Well, when I found out about womanhood, I was in my bedroom (which was decorated with bright floral drapes and bedspreads - it was the early '70's). I can still remember where I was sitting. My two older sisters had taken it upon themselves to tell me all about growing from a child into a young woman. However, they only told me "part" of the story. These are their exact words, "when your b_ _ bs get bigger, you have to start wearing these" (and they were holding up a maxi pad). It was kind of like "show and tell". That's it. That's all they told me. And I suppose I was in too much of a shock to ask any questions. I don't remember anything else about that fateful afternoon.
Okay, so I then knew that when my breasts got larger, I had to start wearing pads. I'm a fairly smart person so I deducted from my sisters' information that I had to stuff the pads down my shirt. They didn't tell me WHERE I had to start wearing the pads, just that I had to start wearing them. So for the next year or so, waiting for my breasts to grow, I would discreetly look at older girls and women to see if I could tell if they were wearing a pad underneath their shirt. Surprisingly to me, I never could tell which really made me feel better because I was concerned that everyone would be able to see the pads.
As time passed, my sisters never mentioned the subject again (and I certainly didn't ask). So I went until I actually entered womanhood thinking that maxi pads were stuffed down your shirt when your breasts grew larger. Needless to say, when I did enter womanhood, I immediately deduced where the pads went.
Several decades later, my sisters and I still laugh about this. This clearly shows that it's always best to tell the WHOLE truth.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Shopping for School
By now we're all finished with our "school" shopping (supplies, clothes, backpacks). I've discovered that the older my son gets, shopping for the supplies becomes easier. Last weekend, with list in hand, I joined the other moms in the school supply aisle, reaching over small children's heads, and around moms with babies on their hips, grabbing the necessary pens, pencils, notebooks, and binders. I was in and out of the store in just a few minutes. I can remember when my son was younger, school supply shopping took longer because it seems there was always that one item I could never find (like that aqua colored folder with pockets).
Although school supply shopping has become easier, school CLOTHES shopping has become quite an adventure. The jeans HAVE to be that certain brand, from that certain store at the mall. So my teenage son and I headed out to the mall a couple of days ago. As we entered the "store", my first thought was "they need to turn on the lights". Well, then I realized the lights WERE on but they were very dim. I told my son that I was glad his dad wasn't with us, because his response would have been "Son, if I'm going to spend this much money on a pair of jeans, I at least want to see what I'm buying."
So, after "feeling" my way through the "store", we found the jeans. As I'm following my son back to the fitting room, he turns around and gives me this look. "What?", I ask. "Mom, you don't have to go back with me." "Well, of course, I'm not going INSIDE with you", I replied, "I'll just stand out by the door to see how they fit." So this conversation goes back and forth (it seems that I embarrass him . . . I can't imagine why. I mean, when we've gone shopping in the past, I usually just tug at the waste-band a few times, make him show me a front view, side view, rear view, front view again, etc. Now, why would that embarrass him?) So, we ended up compromising this time . . . I stood outside of the dressing area (with the other moms), and then my son just gave me a very quick look once he had on the jeans.
So, we leave the dark dungeon, and head down the mall to another store with much better light. We went through the same routine as before, and finally decided on our purchases. We were standing in line waiting to pay, and there was a display of really cute thongs on a table next to where we were standing. I was so tempted to browse through them for myself, but I could only imagine the horror that my son would have experienced being there with his mom looking at thongs! So, I decided against doing that.
Overall, our clothes shopping experience went well. We ended our day with lunch at the food court. We had such a fun time, we've decided to have a mall shopping day at least once a month.
Although school supply shopping has become easier, school CLOTHES shopping has become quite an adventure. The jeans HAVE to be that certain brand, from that certain store at the mall. So my teenage son and I headed out to the mall a couple of days ago. As we entered the "store", my first thought was "they need to turn on the lights". Well, then I realized the lights WERE on but they were very dim. I told my son that I was glad his dad wasn't with us, because his response would have been "Son, if I'm going to spend this much money on a pair of jeans, I at least want to see what I'm buying."
So, after "feeling" my way through the "store", we found the jeans. As I'm following my son back to the fitting room, he turns around and gives me this look. "What?", I ask. "Mom, you don't have to go back with me." "Well, of course, I'm not going INSIDE with you", I replied, "I'll just stand out by the door to see how they fit." So this conversation goes back and forth (it seems that I embarrass him . . . I can't imagine why. I mean, when we've gone shopping in the past, I usually just tug at the waste-band a few times, make him show me a front view, side view, rear view, front view again, etc. Now, why would that embarrass him?) So, we ended up compromising this time . . . I stood outside of the dressing area (with the other moms), and then my son just gave me a very quick look once he had on the jeans.
So, we leave the dark dungeon, and head down the mall to another store with much better light. We went through the same routine as before, and finally decided on our purchases. We were standing in line waiting to pay, and there was a display of really cute thongs on a table next to where we were standing. I was so tempted to browse through them for myself, but I could only imagine the horror that my son would have experienced being there with his mom looking at thongs! So, I decided against doing that.
Overall, our clothes shopping experience went well. We ended our day with lunch at the food court. We had such a fun time, we've decided to have a mall shopping day at least once a month.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Weekend in Review
After an exhausting weekend, I started the work/school week somewhat rested. This weekend was our annual southern gospel concert that my family promotes. This weekend was the culmination of working for over six months on this yearly event. It's always hard work, but it's also fun and exciting! But I'm ready to get back to life NOT working on a concert.
Speaking of concerts, our son saw Journey over the weekend. He had an absolute BLAST!
Last night I watched some of the Olympics. I was able to see the end of the men's relay in swimming. The men's team won the gold! Even though I could live WITHOUT the Olympic games, it was exciting to watch this event and to watch the medal ceremony.
So, that was my weekend.
Speaking of concerts, our son saw Journey over the weekend. He had an absolute BLAST!
Last night I watched some of the Olympics. I was able to see the end of the men's relay in swimming. The men's team won the gold! Even though I could live WITHOUT the Olympic games, it was exciting to watch this event and to watch the medal ceremony.
So, that was my weekend.
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