Sandy - Glad to hear you made it to Florida safely! And YIKES on the gas. It really does suck we get the same pay but have to fork over more money for food and gas.

Had a relatively good weekend. Did some shopping. I bought the cat a new litter box that sifts and it’s covered. So far, he’s not impressed. I’ve kept the old one in case he decided it’s a no-go.

I also went to Macy’s but couldn’t find a thing I wanted to buy. I guess that’s a good thing! It happens that way for me. Whenever I want to shop, I can’t find anything I like. And when I don’t want to shop and I’m not looking, I see stuff all over the place.

I did get some writing in this weekend. It’s slow going, though. Mostly because I’m trying to make sure this opening chapter is good and that it doesn’t reveal too much (and isn’t an infod dump). I have a feeling this is the way that book is going to go…S.L.O.W. Better than nothing I suppose.

This is the last full week of school. On Thursday, he has a “Celebration Assembly” so I’ll be going to that. I’ve taken a vacation day becuase I have to get my driver’s license renewed this year. I’m a little disturbed I have to bring along my Social Security Card and give them my number to get it renewed. First they wanted your thumb print, now this? Like I really want some $12/hour worker having access to that…

And… the new Indiana Jones movie comes out this week! I’m so excited about it! I’m trying to decide if I want to fight the crowds to see it this weekend or wait a few weeks. I should, instead, take the kiddo to see Prince Caspian or Speed Racer… I just haven’t decided yet.

It’s going to be hot today - a high of 98. YUCK. I guess summer is here finally. Looks like we’ll be in the 90s all week, too. And it’s time for the AC to be on full time. I changed the filter this weekend to get ready for it.

That’s it for me. Gotta get ready for school and work. Hope everyone has a smashing Monday!

I’m not the only one concerned about the rising cost of food prices. Yahoo shared some tips about keeping the grocery bill down, but I already knew those.

After analyzing my budget yesterday, I decided I would try something new with my food budget. I got myself a calendar marker board ($6 at Target) with a dry-erase market and made up a menu for the next two weeks. I went through several magazines (I use Woman’s Day and Fitness) for nutritional and easy recipes. What I love about Woman’s Day, too, is they have a monthly menu planner with shopping list on their website. But that doesn’t really work for me because I know my son. He’s not going to eat most of that stuff on there. So what I did was flip through the magazines and found good recipes - some you can even get two meals out of one. So I clipped the recipes. And the best part is I have most of the ingredients on hand already. The others I would buy anyway. I love those kind of recipes!

Anyway, then I clipped my coupons from two weeks worth of Sunday newspapers. I set aside the ones I knew I’d use when I shopped and put the ones I knew I wouldn’t in my organizer.

Man gave me his old grill so I now have that as an alternative cooking option. I have scheduled into the menu grilled chicken and hamburgers.

Now armed with a menu for the next two weeks, I started to make a list. I always forget something, though. So I went to the Internet and found a great online grocery checklist tool. I thought this was great! I simply check off what I’m going to buy and then print it out.

I went to the store this morning and spent about $7.00 less than normal. I also saved $4.00 in coupons. Even though it might be a pain in the butt to clip the coupons, I think it’s so worth it in the long run. On average, I save about $4-$5 per two weeks. That’s $117 a year!

I feel so…organized. And it makes me happy to know what I’ll be cooking for the next two weeks - and there’s not one repeat the entire two weeks. Of course, I have factored in “no cook” days. I call them “Free For All” days. hehe

So, tonight we’re having beef tenderloin wraps. And tomorrow… chili dogs!

Recently, I ran a report on my expenses for last year. I wanted to see what I paid on certain things - like gas, food, utilities - as compared to what I’m spending this year. Yes, I’m becoming my own financial analyst. Anyway, I took the total annual payout and divided it by 12 to get my average monthly billing for my utilities and compared to what I’m doing so far this year. But that wasn’t the shocker.

The shocker was realizing I had paid out over $17,000 dollars in credit card debt. YES. You read that right. SEVENTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.

I had the Giant Inward Sucky Noise of Horror.

Now, not all of that was frivolous stuff. Most of it was things I needed to set up housekeeping. Appliances and what not. Other things included paint and home repair to fix up the house and make it decent (it had been a rent house and was sadly neglected in a lot of places). So, some of the money spent was money well spent. (I’m pretty sure I didn’t need the five Coach bags I bought last year, huh? Kinda makes me want to list them on eBay and get some of that money back.)

So after seeing this gigantic number I spent in credit card debt… I scrolled down to see what I spent on my mortgage. The amount was staggeringly less.

I’m turning over a new leaf. Not that I wasn’t already. I’m pinching pennies tighter than I ever have. I’ve cut out unnecessary expenses like fast food, dining out, Starbucks coffee (weep) and other things. But I’m going to work very hard to get this stuff gone and paid off. I don’t need to spend that kind of cash on effing credit cards at 21 percent interest. Especially with the rising cost of fuel.

Incidentally, at this time last year I had spent $509.12 in auto fuel. This year? I’m already at $632.58 - and I drive a Kia Spectra.

Insert Giant Inward Sucky Noise here.

Woke up to temps in the 50s this morning! We’re only supposed to have a high of 79 today. That is incredible considering it’s the middle of May!

Lost - WOW. Great episode. And the numbers have reappeared!

Grey’s - I think Meredith is about to get her act together.

Tonight is Moonlight!

And we only have a few more weeks of shows and then…summer hiatus…

That’s about all I have today. Off to work and school!

Okay. I confess. I headed into last night’s game with the attitude that the Stars would lose. After all, I had to prepare myself for the sweep. I didn’t want to get my hopes they could win, knowing their season would be over and I would have to wait until October to see my guys again.

However… it was probably one of the best playoff games I’ve ever seen. No score in the first, and then the Stars went up in the second. They came out strong and hard and got the lead first. Granted, Detroit came back and scored again to tie it up, but the Stars didn’t allow them to get ahead. Ever. There were some very intense moments. Especially when the Stars went up 3-1 in the third period. Morrow and Modano both got penalties with 40 seconds to spare… and Detroit had pulled Osgoood to get an extra attacker on the ice. Talk about tense! I was sitting with my hands in my hair the entire time…and yeah, those were the longest 40 hockey seconds of my life. I’m sure they were for the Stars, too.

I’m happy for Marty Turco. He played a helluva game. He only allowed one goal through. I know it’s a huge long-shot for them to pull another win out on Saturday, but if they can keep the offense up like they did in this game (and the penlty killing as excellent as it was), then they MIGHT be one of those historical teams that comes back from a 3-0 deficient. Might.

The playoff mantra has been “Believe” and it certainly looked like they believed last night!

Tonight, all eyes will be on the Eastern Conference to see if the Flyers can pull a Dallas Stars trick out of their hat.

At any rate, here are 5 reasons why I love the Stars:

1. We have hotter men than Detroit
2. Our captain, Brenden Morrow
3. Penalty killing and Power Plays can be and quite often are supurb
4. Our fans are nicer than Detroit fans
5. AND we have Bill Ollerman, the voice of the American Airlines Center. haha

Oh, and, I got a sports related injury during the game. When they got their third goal, I did a “YAY” and jumped up with my arms straight up…and my hand went in the ceiling fan. My knuckle on my third finger immediately turned blue. It’s bruised. And ugly. But you know? Totally worth it.

Now for American Idol. Okay - um - DUH. I think we all knew the Davids would be in the finals. I’m curious to see how they do next week. I’m still rooting for David Cook! I’m also looking forwars to Lost and Grey’s Anatomy tonight.

As for writing… I did manage to eek out five pages. Okay, so it took me two days to do that BUT at least I’m writing again. I’m completely rewriting the opening of my fantasy with romantic elements. I want the main story element that pushes her into her quest to happen in the first 30 pages and, really, if you think about it… that’s pretty quick!

Okay that’s it for me. I’m wrapping up and headed to work and school. Happy Thursday!

It’s rainy this morning. In fact, it’s supposed to rain all day.

Stayed up late and watched P.S. I Love You last night. Cute, sweet movie.

Not much else to say today. Very short entry here. I have two birthday cards to get in the mail!! Today is my big sister’s birthday.

Okay - off to work and school. I hate driving in the rain. Blah!

Why is it…when you tell your kid it’s time for bed, they think of 5000 excuses NOT to go to bed? He needed 5 extra minutes in the tub (which he managed to splash all the water out and onto the ceiling - HELLO! - not to mention down the side of the tub. I so love cleaning up a sopping wet floor…) He’s hungry. He’s thirsty. He needs to be tucked in. Again.

It seems that when 9 pm rolls around, I am ready for him to be IN BED and to be left alone for the rest of the evening. And I have a short fuse when it comes to that. I just want him to go to bed. Is that so much to ask? And I’m sorry, even when school is out, he’s still going to bed at the alotted time of 9 pm.

My patience has been running very thin lately. I’ve also had sleeping problems. That could be why I’m so short-tempered. It’s not that I’m not sleeping - because I am. It’s that I wake up every morning with a sore neck. What the bloody hell am I doing in my sleep?

Doesn’t help my allergies are bothering me. Not enough to take something, just enough to be annoying. Just enough to give me the throat clearing syndrome.

Plus I burned my hand on the oven last week and it’s looking pretty bad. Better - but bad.

I have other complaints but I guess I’ll keep them to myself.

We won’t even talk about the hockey game (except they actually played way better than in Detroit and - oh - the announcers are EFFING STUPID). They drain me just listening to them.

I’m going to start setting aside one night a week (for sure) to focus on the writing. Plus I’m going to try and get back to it during my lunch hour. At least make hand written notes on my already printed pages. That woulbe something, wouldn’t it?

Anyway - I have some birthdays coming up. I need to go get cards today!

I hate Mondays.

I had a fairly decent weekend. Saturday went to a wedding shower and then headed to Mom’s for dinner and hockey. Stars lost. Another dismal game. I have a lot of complains about that game - especially the cheap shot Osgood took at Riberio when the game ended. He’s lucky he didn’t get more than a retaliation stick in the upper chest. But that’s all I going to say about that game.

Got home close to 10 and I was exhausted. I decompressed in front of HGTV and quickly fell asleep on the couch. Finally dragged myself to bed.

Got up early Sunday and started laundry, cleaned the house and the cat box. Made breakfast. Then we headed off to church. Afterward, we had some lunch and then went to see Iron Man. I have to say - it was a really good movie! A little intense for my baby boy in some parts, but he hid his eyes. hehe Robert Downey Jr is quite excellent in the movie.

Went to Pei Wei for dinner. Came home, put the kid in the tub and then in bed. Watched a couple of shows and tried to be depressed that gas is $3.59 a gallon and milk is $4.00 a gallon. These high gas prices are starting to take a toll on me. I’m beginning to wonder if I’m going to make it week to week and that’s scarey.

Not much else going on. It’s off to work and school now.

The Stars lost bad last night to the Red Wings. It was tragic. Hopefully they can pull out a win in Detroit on Saturday.

I’m blogging today ofter at RomErotica. Check it out here!

And not much else to day here. It’s Friday! I’m happy about that!

Well I’m sorry to see Jason Castro go on Idol, but I think it was probably due. He really didn’t do well Tuesday night. Frankly, I’m surprised Syesha is still there. My top think pick was David A., David C. and Carly. Now it’s down to the final three and I still think David Cook is going to come out on top as the winner.

Low key evening last night. I love those.

I’m having some focus issues lately with the writing. I think because my weeks are so… busy and hectic I just haven’t found the rhythm again. I miss it. I want it back. I was thinking about it last night and I’ve decided now that it’s about to summer, I’m going to allow one full evening of writing. Which means I’m going to be a bad mom and park the kid in front of the Wii for three hours. But it will allow me to have an evening back. I’m just so tired after he goes to bed, I have a hard time staying awake. I need my writing time back, dammit! I miss it. I also miss getting to work early before the crowd but that’s something that can’t be helped either. I’d much rather have time with the kiddo instead of time at the office.

I have GOT to get to the bank today at lunch. It’s been rainy and gross the last two days so I haven’t wanted to get out at lunchtime. Today, I must go.

Gotta get the the kiddo ready for school and then we’re off. Thank goodness it’s nearly Friday.

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