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Archive for July, 2005

I'm alive and well - thanks all :)

July 20th, 2005 at 04:50 am

Hi! I'm sorry it's been so long since my last entry. 16 days or so. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your messages Kashi and Esmerelda and Mrjube.

I'll try to give you a short (for me) update. Smile

On moving day I had to recruit my exbf Todd. He brought his finacee and his youngest daughter. They were only able to help with the first load - which consisted of the big/awkward/too heavy for one person things. It was a little awkward at first with his fiancee, but we got along fine. We made another load later in the day by ourselves. I fell into bed that night completely exhausted.

The next day we had more stuff to get out, so we had to do another load. Both of us were majorly dragging bu** but we managed to get it done without getting rained on (we had several downpours happen throughout the day).

I spent three days and numerous hours of frustration trying to get the Dish Satelite service working. Finally I had my dad talk to them, and by the time I got back from my Pathways weekend, we had satelite!

The Pathways weekend was ... well ... good and bad. Essentially they try to help you get to your deeper emotions/feelings through one on one groups, small groups of 5 - 7 people, and then the larger group sessions of ~40 people. My group leader didn't think I was working "deep" enough at one point and I was almost asked to leave. It frustrated me to no end that I kept getting called on having a smile on my face when I was concentrating on NOT having a smile (which truly is natural for me!) At any rate, overall I do think I got a lot out of it, and am actually going back for the second part tomorrow which lasts five days (and costs up the wazoo!)

I've been pounding the pavement half-heartedly looking for work. I haven't had any luck yet.

I am almost at the point where I have decided that after this second part of Pathways is over (called The Walk) that I am going to get serious about heading on out to Lincoln, NE. I feel like I am stagnating by staying here, and need to do something to get a move on with my life. I also am worried about how fast my "take this job' fund is being depleted, and feel like I need to do something serious to get it going back in the right direction.

I haven't been keeping track of my spending at all lately. It's difficult to track spending when I'm not totally in control of what bills are coming in. I know I just need to get 'r done. Smile

I'm having to use my dad's computer as well as using dial-up which is part of the reason I haven't gotten back here in so long. I promise to do better in the future. Smile Smile

Trying again to ...

Keeping It Frugal In Texas,
Laura

a bit frustrated, feeling ugh!

July 4th, 2005 at 05:05 am

This morning dad and I went to the laundromat and got our laundry done. While we were waiting for it, we sat out in his car and listened to "Prarie Home Journal". I'd heard of the program before but had never actually heard it. Parts of it were very funny, but um,, other parts were well, lame. Smile

It took awhile once we got back to get motivated to actually start packing. Once I got going though, I got quite a bit done. Dad was moving a bit slower (to put it nicely). About 4 or so my mom called and asked me to meet her and her fiance at a halfway point to get the gate openers and garage opener. I was slightly annoyed because I was just hitting my stride with packing - but knew we couldn't get in the house without the openers.

When I got back I made supper for dad and I while he carried down all the boxes we'd packed to his Jimmy to take to the house.

He attempted to find a couple guys to help him move the big stuff tomorrow, but had no luck. He asked me to keep trying after he left. I did, and no luck. But I did get ahold of Todd, and he said they could come, but a little later than 10, and that they would have his youngest daughter with them. I never met his girls while we were dating, but I heard enough about them that I feel like I know them without seeing them.

Oh, almost forgot! Scott emailed me this morning about one of the people in the singles group in NE offering to split the cost of renting a house in a town about 15 miles out (she owns the house). I wrote him back (Monkey had woken me up begging for food) that I wanted to know more. I'd just crawled back into bed when he called. From what he told me, I'm not sure if the house is going to work or not. But in many ways I wish it could. I'm just worried about what would happen in the middle of winter and a major snowstorm hits - the town where this house is would be amoungst the last places the snowplows would visit. Also, the only kind of internet I could get there would be dial-up, because they don't even get cable. I *do* however really relish the idea of living out in the country in a house with a front porch and a front porch swing and a basement with a laundry area. Smile Smile

*Warning: Possible TMI*
I've always had a pretty strong stomach - that's probably what makes it possible for me to ride any rollercoaster man's imagination can come up with Smile -- but sometimes when you're feeling queasy, like I have been, it would be nice to NOT have a strong stomach, and just be able to release some of it with the expectation of maybe feeling better. I'm also just feeling SO tired. Not a good way to be feeling when you're supposed to be packing and moving. Maybe its just stress and nerves playing havoc with me. Hopefully by the time this weekend rolls around and I go to Pathways I'll be feeling more myself.

I was thinking about going to a fireworks display tonight in the Botanical Gardens, but just didn't feel like going by myself. I really need to call Tammy and let her know what all is going on. Maybe I can go early for the PW weekend and spend a few hours with her and the kids - that always makes me feel tons better - and she gives me good perspective.

Well, better sign off. The dishes in the kitchen won't pack themselves. Frown I hate packing!!!!!

Laura

Plans

July 2nd, 2005 at 04:05 pm

Last night dad and I talked with my mom and her fiance and finalized our agreement for us to move into the house on Monday. Her fiance was being a bit of an arse about the weedeater and blower which dad very nicely asked for the use of so he could make the house presentable again (which were really supposed to *stay* with the house in the first place!) Oh well, at least that part of my life is finalized.

Dad and I went on a box hunt yesterday afternoon. We found a whole load of boxes at Wal-mart. I had packed maybe 20 boxes or so in the apartment, so after we got the new boxes up there, Dad and I took the packed boxes to his GMC Jimmy. He's going to take them to the storage place. I had a bit of a mishap with the last box. It was full of Danish Plates so it couldn't be taken down by the dolly. I was almost to the very bottom (thought I *was* on the bottom!) and ended up slipping in my bare feet on the last step, landing *hard* on my bum, and dropping the box. Luckily my pride was hurt more than my body or the dishes. Frown

As far as Scott and I .... Well, if I end up going to NE, I will be going with the idea in mind totally that he and I will *just* be friends. I already know several other people in that area whom I also think will make good friends. If something else were to happen with Scott, I wouldn't be opposed to it, but certainly won't be counting on it.

Yesterday I got my very last paycheck from my teacher contract. It was a little bit sad, but I'm still glad of the decision I made. I am a little bit worried about how all this extra moving and upheaval is going to affect the longevity of my financial cushion. I planeed on it lasting me at least six months - even 8 or 9 months if I was very careful. I've had a LOT of unexpected expenses come up - and see in the future a LOT of expenses I wasn't counting on.

I know it's foolish to do this, but I've been putting some of the big ticket items on my credit card rather than paying them with cash. One big ticket item was my share of my last doctor's visit. They did a number of tests that I wasn't aware of them doing, which shot the cost way up. I ended up having to pay $350!!! I guess that's better than what I would have had to pay w/o insurance (which is where I am now - as of July 1, no more insurance). I also didn't get a very good scholarship amount to the first part of Pathways (coming up this next weekend) so I had to put the balance on my CC of nearly $400.

I guess I'm wanting to hold onto my cash as long as possible - even if it means I have to pay finance charges for the "priveledge". I know that's backward thinking - but I guess for me right now, the security of seeing the cash balances in my various accounts outweighs the nastiness of finance charges.

It's a beautiful day today. I'm thinking about going to the Botanical Gardens and taking a book and a blanket (if the grounds not too muddy). Then of course I need to get some more packing done.

I hate my weight. I've gained 5 lbs just in the last week. I'm not even sure why. I haven't been eating that much more, and I've even done some really good exercise a few times. If this doesn't stop, I'm not going to be able to fit into any of my work appropriate clothing. Frown

Oh well, enough ballyhooing. Better get a start on the day.

Hope ya'll have a beautiful, sunshiny Saturday.

Laura