Feeling much better

I am back in the land of the living (and out of the bathroom) today. Yesterday I was either in bed trying to get warm or in the bathroom; my sweet daughter came over and did household duty while I recouperated.
Today I feel back to normal. I have to take my scooter in for repair--there seems to be an electrical connection problem such that it simply stops and does not go. Not a good thing since that is the scooter that I use for work, grocery shopping, and general getting out and about. Since I am on vacation this week, this is a good time to take it in; I can use my little house scooter while it is in the shop.
For dinner today, I am making More Casserole and Salad which is what I'd planned for yesterday. I'll post the recipe later as it is a really good, inexpensive meal for a crowd or for the freezer.
I finished reading Paula Deen's autobiography It Ain't All about the Cookin'. She's made an amazing journey and I'm glad things turned out well for her. I've just started The Grand Weaver by Ravi Zacharias; it looks like it is full of food for spiritual thought.

Thought for the day:
What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family. Mother Teresa

Great Day...Awful Night

We went on a birding trip down the Texas Coast Saturday. It was too cold and windy to do much out of the van but we had a great time. One of the fun things about birding is that you never know what you will see. We went totally surprised to see a flock of 100 or so Sandhill Cranes in a field along a lovely Texas back road. I love the low burbling sound they make as they feed. The big surprise though was that we got to see a pair of Whooping Cranes at the Aransas National Wildlife Area. That was the good day.

The awful night started at 2:30 with nausea and diarrhea; it is gradually getting better today but has thoroughly wrecked my plans for today. Ack!!

More tomorrow when I hope I am feeling better.

Planning the new budget

I am in the process of re-working the budget. For the past 5 years the budget has been necessities + paying the house off and that was just about it. I want to stay on a written, planned budget because 1. I know how easy it is to fritter a lot of money away on little things and 2. I like to be in control of my money. Experience has shown me that either I take control and make my money do what I want it to or money issues take over and run me. So there is some thinking to be done--what do I want to accomplish with the income that previously went to paying off the house??
1. Retirement savings--I called last week and resumed 15% going into my 403b.
2. New vehicle savings--I'd like to save $1000 per paycheck but I'm not sure that is doable; we'll see.
3. My WTHIPO list--Since this will vary from one month to the next, I'll need to find an amount that I can build up for more expensive items.
4. Travel--I'm not a good traveler but JMM and TSM like to travel so that will need to be in the budget.
5. Charitable / Church giving -- I am embarassed that I really have given very little in this category for the last several years. I wonder if I could just jump in with a tithe? or would it be better to choose a smaller amount??
6. Property taxes / Homeowners Insurance / Homeowners Assn.--I will have to have a savings account just for this--probably $450 per paycheck will cover it.

OK, now to put pen to paper to flesh out just how much goes to each new category. (Pen to paper?? more like keyboard to Excel spreadsheet...)

Thought for the Day:
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Benjamin Franklin

Goal 2009 (+27days) Update #23 (Final)

Free at last! Praise God, I'm free at last! I got a cashier's check from the bank for the payoff amount and sent it overnight by FedEx to the mortgage company. It is finished and I will never again have a house payment hanging over me. My main feeling is one of relief. I generally anticipate that things will take longer and cost more than originally planned but sheesh I never thought I'd be paying on a frigging house until I was 62. Oh well, hindsight is always 20-20. At least I won't be paying on a house when I'm 63. Hallelujah, I'm debt free!! I wonder if I can get through to Dave Ramsey???

Happy Birthday Mom

Today would have been my mother's 100th birthday. She died of cancer in 1978.

A Busy but Productive Day

I was up and out the door by 8 am this morning which wasn't easy since I didn't get home from work last night until well after midnight (long, sad computer meltdown at work). First stop was to get my hair trimmed. I wear my hair rather short and it is amazing how much difference 3/4 inch can make. From there to Hobby Lobby for candles and candle holders--I had a decorating moment--to put on fireplace mantle. Last stop was at Whole Foods for dinner makings--salmon for me and daughter and cod for husband who won't eat salmon, potatoes, milk, eggs, and a carrot cake. This will be the last time I cook until next Wednesday as I am working the next 4 evenings. I was back home eating my favorite WF sandwich and reading blogs online by 11:30. Now I am fighting off a nap with cats...lost cause...

Good Reading (Listening) and Watching

I have a long commute (70 miles round trip) to work 4 days a week. Since this commute plus work time cuts into my time available for reading, I have come to really appreciate books on CD. You know the book is really good when I am driving slowly on the way home so that I can "finish one more chapter". Such a book is Uncommon Carriers by John McPhee. Last night I was creeping along so that I could finish the section on towing the barges on the Illinois River. I had already finished the chapters about the HazMat chemical trucker driver and the one on the school for ocean going sea captains. McPhee just puts you up there is the cab of the 18 wheeler or the pilot house of the tugboat and gives you a real appreciation for the skill of these men. How I wish my father who was a Merchant Mariner could be here with talk to about this book.

I've been waiting for Dr. Finlay to become available through NetFlix and it finally did--It was worth the wait. It is a series about a young doctor who comes home to Scotland after WW II to practice medicine in the village of Tannochbrae. Warm, touching, understated humor, and the beauty of Scotland. Enjoy.

Thought for the Day:

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." Leo Buscaglia