by Sarah | Mar 2, 2009 | All About Erik
Archie has a new mistress*. She’s younger than me, but needs some work. She’s living at Moe’s house (our next door neighbor) while Archie consults with the plastic surgeon over the cosmetic work, the GI for the internal work, and brushes up on his own skills to do what he can by himself.
I’m not jealous, she’s pretty – and I’ve promised him that he would be able to find another mistress once we were in a better financial position. I’ve been making that promise ever since we kicked out his previous mistress for false advertising.Â
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A 1985 Mustang GT. She wasn’t rnning when they brought her home last week – but they got her started. There is some rust – in fact Archie is currently upset because they found a new rust spot in the floor board – but overall she’s in good shape, and they got her for a great price.
As expected, Archie is a little intimidated by the amount of work she’ll need to get road worthy (which in the grand scheme of things isn’t much)…but I haven’t seen him this happy in a while – he’s very excited about her…
The nice thing is our neighbor Moe is a big-huge car guy (seriously, his Mustang/Saleen resto’s have been written about and appeared in books, etc)…so we have first hand knowledge-help in this project.Â
Right now it’s up in the air whether or not they’ll just make her road worthy and sell her for a profit (to turn around and buy one in slightly better condition and do the same) – or make her road worthy and Archie will drive it himself this summer. I don’t want Archie to sell it in a quick decision like we did the last Mustang…but I will defer to Moe’s better judgment on the issue.
I’ll keep you updated as time goes on.Â
*My apologies to Archie – he doesn’t care for me calling this car his ‘mistress’ because “it’s just a car – not my family”…but I’m certain he knows I’m just teasing him…he’s been looking for a car like this for ages and this one fell into his lap. I’m very happy for him and can’t help but tease him a little bit 😀
by Sarah | Feb 18, 2009 | All About Me, Crap
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I’m sure no one noticed…but I haven’t posted in five days. This was not in my plans…but it’s what happened. The biggest reason is my life is NOT a musical…
For those that didn’t know – a little over two years ago I had my uterus and my very offensive remaining ovary wrenched from my body in what turned out to be a rather painful affair between my doctor and his scalpel (he knicked a nerve making recovery just a wee bit longer). Â
ANYWAY, it was the best thing I’ve done and I’m so thrilled to never ever have to worry about what time of the month it is or the need to spend thousands of dollars on “products” I’ve never ever complained…
Unless I’ve run out of hormone meds while simultaneously having an argument with my hubby, my BFF having plans all weekend and us not talking AT ALL, my daughters turn into raving lunatics and paint their room brown, and the most horrible of disgusting holidays occurs…ALL AT ONCE.
Which happened to all happen this past weekend. Starting Thursday/Wednesday night.Â
By the time I was feeling better it was Monday – but I was wrapped up in a few things…
1. The Wolverine movie previews that Fox was showing. I watched them OVER and OVER…I LOVE me some Hugh Jackman Wolvie…YUMM…
2. I was reading, finishing, and lamenting my wait for the next novel in the House of Nightseries. It’s YA vamp and I lurve it…
3. I was digesting my reading of that other YA vamp series that’s OH SO POPULAR…She challenged me by calling me biased (I hate that) so I read it. And to be even more fair, I picked up the other books in the series to see if I liked it more with passage (I really didn’t like the first one). I’ve read all of the second, and half of the third. I’ll post my thoughts when I finish. And no, I won’t name it because I don’t think it deserves any further recognition…and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you live under a rock.
4. Did I mention the Wolvie previews? Yeah…check them out. Yummy hotness and humor. I’m chomping at the bit here…seriously…
Oh, I’ve read about ten books in just the past month, which is half of what I read this past YEAR. I’m looking for major recommendations for more books. I’ll even take suggestions for ebooks since I’ve learned that my new laptop is rather easy on the eyes (though I’d die for a Kindle). I’ll read almost anything. I love fantasy, sci-fi, romance, historical fiction…just about anything…I’ve even read erotica (but I’m choosy on that 😉 )
So anyway…reccommend me some books. I need to build on my To Be Read pile…it shrank down a LOT in the past month!!
I promise… Iwll NOT forget to call in my hormone patches again next month. It was seriously not pretty. Of course that horrible psuedo-holiday VD won’t be around to bother me then…
by Sarah | Feb 11, 2009 | All About Kennedy, Crap
Sometimes it’s all about the timing. Monday I received a phone call from the children’s hospital. It was the pulmonologist confirming Angel’s appointment for Wednesday. It was not on my calendar, but I confirmed it and added it to my calendar. Monday night, Riley started sneezing. By yesterday it was a full blown cold and Angel woke up coughing (mildly – nothing panic inducing).
Last night Angel fell out of bed, and the end result was a big, barky coughing fit. I looked at Archie and in relief said, “Thank goodness her CF clinic is tomorrow. Now I don’t have to call.”
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Today we all woke up miserable. My throat was sore and it was tough to swallow. Riley is still snotty and miserable. Angel’s cough is getting worse, and when she talks it sounds like she has gravel in her throat.
I am ever so grateful that we’re going to the hospital today. OTherwise I would have had to make an annoying Mom phone call because she’s starting to make me worried!
On a good note…her mood is still pretty good – if a little tired. Hopefully it stays that way!
by Sarah | Feb 10, 2009 | All About Family, Crap
Since my last post five days ago (*gasp* FIVE days?!)…here is a snippet of where we’ve been…
*Archie’s been A-OK with homeschooling…
*Archie’s been not-so A-OK with homeschooling (for Brandon)
*I posted a review over at TwoBroomsUp – get your romance on 😉
*I started making chocolate-covered cherries 3 days ago – and I’m still working on it (almost done – must finish today or they won’t be ready for Friday)
*I’ve given away our old crib (Just need to deliver it now) – and the girls are crib free…
*Which has led to a permanent time-out of sorts where they are both under strict observation
*Which has also led to near-potty-trained-ness for Angel – with Riley having no choice but to follow behind now.
*I’ve been attempting to make plans to finally get my BFF Jess out here for a visit…which should happen in the next couple of months (I hope)
*I’ve hinted at Archie that we need to go to where Jess is for a family vacay this year – after all then we could go to Williamsburg! The really long car ride is giving him pause, though (and me)
*I’ve researched membership fees to museums around here
*I gave the blog a facelift finally (you like? It’s been done for weeks – just haven’t bothered to switch it 😉 )
*I barely touched my computer over the weekend
*And yet have managed to (maybe-possibly, hopefully) convinced hubs to let me use a wee-bit of the tax refund to get a MacBook. (Hey, if we’re homeschooling we’ll need more than one comp, right?)
*We’ve had a slew of discussions w/ Brandon about homsechooling. Archie is still on the fence.
*We went out to eat as a fam, then picked up a new keyboard and mouse (wireless) for the computer. You can once again see all the letters on the keyboard!
*I spent hours researching doggies on Saturday. Archie was curious. No dog in this house yet, though.
*What the HECK is THIS? Seriously? Yes, teaching my child to grab their crotch in public is GREAT FUN!
*Because I got called out by Holly about my bias AGAINST the Twilight books – and I HATE being called out like that…I started reading Twilight last night. I’ll let you (and her) know what I think when I’m done. No opinions yet, I just started (Opinions about the PMS book, though…predictable much?)
*I’ve (re)written another chapter in my novel. Things are progessing differently, and hopefully better. I still feel like I’m lagging a bit, but the first three days are important. Hopefully it will all move much faster from here. We’ll see what happens.
*I’ve reopened my writing blog, though I haven’t posted yet. I’m working on it slowly. Real life has been so hectic.
And that’s the big slew of randomness for today. I know I’ve forgotten the past week has been so crazy-hectic. Everything is going well…just hectic!!
Time for me to go visit the blogs on my neglected list. I seriously haven’t even visited…much less commented! So off I go!!
by Sarah | Feb 3, 2009 | All About Learning
The process has begun. The discussions are proceeding as expected.
The effects on our family have already begun.
Homeschooling.
When Brandon was very young I heard of homeschooling and was so intrigued by the idea. At the time I was a single mother and never imagined it was possible.Â
Archie and I married shortly before Brandon started elementary school and I was working full-time. Homeschooling seemed still something that wasn’t possible. We needed the two incomes, we thought…and so it was only mentioned in passing by me.Â
There was also the fact that I have little good self-discipline. So often in the past I’ve not followed through on things. Even Archie said to me just a few weeks ago that he didn’t think I had the discipline and I agreed with him whole-heartedly.
Then I got the thought under my skin. I’ve been researching…I joined a state-wide homeschooling group. I made the decision based on situations to pull Riley out – and because she’d be ticked if Angel kept going, decided to pull Angel out as well.
The wheels are in motion for those two – and we are in discussions of pulling out Brandon as well. Those discussions are more intense, with more variables affecting our feelings and imaginings of the outcome.
But just in that time, during a week full of snow days, a change has come over our family. We are spending more time together. We are getting along better. Brandon is talking to us a little more. Riley is not beating up Angel as much, and her mood is vastly improved.Â
It’s still scary and sometimes overwhelming to think about. But I’ve made some choices about what we’ll do about curriculum, and found some great field trip places and ideas that cater directly to homeschoolers.
Riley’s last day of preschool will be Friday. Angel’s will be next Thursday. No matter what our choice, Brandon will finish out the school year.
Wish us luck as we figure out this new aspect of our lives…it’s going to be exciting, scary, fulfilling and overwhelming…a learning process for us all.
by Sarah | Jan 31, 2009 | Personal
All Related Posts
I haven’t done weekly updates, I admit…but I HAVE gotten better about posting in general *LOL* But, I figured weekly was too much. I’m sticking to monthly updates. It’s easier to keep track of the credit issues that way. So anyway, onto the goals and what I’ve done about them!
Goal #1 Body Image
1. I have lost six pounds. I’m down to 151. My jeans are fitting differently, but I don’t think it’s because of the weight so much as the:
2. I’ve started doing yoga just about every day. I did not exercise every day in January because there was the whole broken toe to deal with, and getting used to kids being home…but I did start it and really liked it. This is something I’m keeping up with.
3. I have cut BACK on my pop drinking, but not enough. I still have bad days that I drink a LOT. I’m also not drinking more water. Hopefully that will get better.
4. I have also cut back on my grazing. I still do it, but not as much – I often try to replace food with a cup of coffee, but it doesnt always work.
In all I think this goal is going well. It’s not perfect yet, but I’m happy with the baby steps I’ve taken.Â
Goal #2 Finances
1. I did start keeping a check register…
2. And we started out strong w/ the budget
3. I’m still using the debt tracker spreadsheet…
But over all this goal went kerplunk before we got more than two weeks into January. I blew my grocery budget, we only lived on ‘cash only’ for one week. We didn’t follow any sort of budget and I didn’t track the spending like I should have.Â
Our goal is refocused for February. We have our tax refund coming in, but we’re still going to live on the budget while we pay some things off, and fix our truck. Hopefully we’ll do much better this month.
Goal #3 Home & Family
1. I made vague meal plans – but didn’t write them down…
2. I blew our grocery budget within a couple of weeks (not severely, but I definitely went overy by at least $50)
3. I’ve done fairly well with starting the cleaning. The ktichen at least. I’ve done dishes almost every day, and doen a good cleaning of it once a week. I need to improve. I started doing the laundry once a wk (mostly) – but putting it away is not good.
4. And I’ve made tons and tons of breads…more than we needed some weeks.
5. We’ve had a few family game nights. Not quite every week…but we’re working on it.
On a side note about this…this goal has evolved a bit. I’ve decided to start homeschooling the girls – and am strongly considering homeschooling Brandon, too. This has led to me doing some PT-HS w/ Brandon (it’s helped that we’ve had so many snow days). So, as we approach that goal, this goal will shift and change a bit. I may end up with my own goal set aside for homeschooling. For now, I’m goign to keep on the track I’m going.Â
In all, I feel our family unit is stronger already – and that was the main goal for this…so we’ll keep working on it!
Goal #4 Personal
1. I’ve started writing again – not quite twice a week every week, but this past week I’ve gotten closer.
2. On that end, I’ve rewritten 6 chapters of the novel and am pretty happy with what I’ve done so far.
3. I’ve gotten better about posting here again, even though I’m struggling some days for posts.
4. I haven’t officially re-opened my writing blog yet, but I’m close to it…I’m just wrapping up the site’s design and adding in some pages that I think are needed.  Hopefully that will come soon.
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Total wrapup: I’m feeling mostly good about how January went. Not completely great because of the financial road bump…but over all with all four goals – I’m happy. Baby steps is the point of this…so I’ll focus on my accomplishments and just hope to do better next month!!Â
