Quote of the Day

"Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new."

Og Mandino

Let's Go Shopping With Me

Wow, long time - no blog. Hi to Sam my loyal reader. And hugs to Sam too.

Kay over at The Rustic Cottage and I have been doing some serious couponing and coupon organizing this week. Here are the results of today's shopping:

Walgreens - I have to say I am not a loyal shopper, don't go weekly, don't do the rebate thing like I probably should. Hubby had to get a prescription filled, so I asked him to pick up the $1.99 Chapstick True Shimmer because it would generate a Catalina for $2.00. He brought it home and it's da bomb. Seriously, I love it. He got me Botanical Berry.

I went to a different Walgreens later in the day, and purchased 2 boxes of Quaker granola bars and a package of Hall's cough drops. Had a $.75 coupon for the granola bars and a coupon for free cough drops. Used my $2.00 Catalina and spent $2.25 out of pocket. PLUS I got another $2.00 Catalina for buying the granola bars. In my second transaction I bought 2 packages of Cottonelle tissue for $5.00. Had a $.50 coupon and used my $2.00 Catalina. Total cost out of pocket was $2.50. Yeah, there was tax but I am not including it in the above calculations.

Then it was on to Safeway. They had several good coupons in my local paper and in their weekly circular. I purchased the following:

5 lb. bag C&H sugar
1 pkg. Hershey's chocolate eggs
1 pkg. Oreo cookies
2 pkgs. Wheat Thins Artisan crackers
2 24 packs diet Coke
2 boxes Kleenex tissue (large boxes)
1 Pillsbury Orange Danish
1 gallon milk
1 lb. butter
2 lb. block Tillamook cheddar cheese
2 Soft Soap anti-bacterial soaps
1 pkg. hot dog buns
2 pkgs. Hebrew National hot dogs
1 9-0z. pkg Foster Farms honey roasted turkey
1 3 lb. Honeysuckle boneless turkey breast
1 Safeway pepperoni pizza
1 can Del Monte tomatoes

Total with coupons: $42.56

There was a married couple behind me and I heard the husband say to his wife "oh, she's got a ton of coupons" in a somewhat annoyed tone. Then he watched as my total dropped from almost $100 down to $42.56. He said "Wow, you saved a lot of money!"

The Day

I so need to get a new profile photo.

Anyway....don't have much to write about tonight. My son thinks I am annoying and my husband is worried about me. A pretty normal day. I actually AM an annoying person. I mean, I get on my own nerves frequently.

Let's see, we had a delivery from FedEx and then two minutes later, a delivery from UPS. It was cold and windy. Felt more like November than the end of March. I love it!

I went to two grocery stores and to my friend's house. Using my coupons seems to override the fear of being in another accident. At least it did tonight.

My son burst through my office door like he was raiding the place. "I need a bleach pen! I need a bleach pen!!" he shouted. Seriously, close to hysteria over a splotch of mustard on his shirt. We aren't the bleach pen type. Luckily we do have a sink and the mustard was drowned before it knew what hit it. Another teen tragedy averted, another crisis solved.

Question of the Day ~ The Information Age

Okay, I admit to putting my head in the sand when it comes to current events. I don't want to be anywhere near a television if it's tuned to the local news. There is always some horrific story of a person who had 30 sick dogs and couldn't feed them, let alone provide adequate medical care. The animal and children stories lay me out. I'm a wimp.

Since I spend so much time online, it's impossible not to notice the headlines. Lately the headlines are scarier than anything Stephen King ever dreamt up. I read enough to keep myself semi-informed, but not enough to be immersed in the news of the day. It's so easy to become paralyzed by all the doom and gloom which surrounds us.

How much reality do you put on your plate each day?

This Is Cute ~ A Real Waker Upper

My former husband's wife sent this to me. We are buds. So are these bunnies.

I don't think of this photo as being pornographic. Perhaps I am wrong - it's been known to happen.

Work at Home Moms

Work at home Moms have nothing but time on their hands. They can do anything, at any time, with no notice, because....they are at home. This is by far the biggest misconception there is, concerning work at home Moms. We could form a support group. Or, at the very least, have a weekly bitch session to vent our frustrations safely, among friends.

If you've been a WAHM for longer than six months, you know exactly what I mean. Even the closest of friends don't "get" it. If you are at home, certainly you are free to chat on the phone or drop everything and run over for an hour or two. Then there are family members who file back and forth down the hall in silence as long as the door is open. But close the door and suddenly everyone has something of the utmost importance they must share with you.

The third bedroom of our house is designated my office/studio. Although to use those words dignifies a space which is more accurately described as "where my stuff is." Nothing really office like, or studio like, about it. There is also a twin bed in here. I prefer the door closed. It's quieter and it prevents two large canines from coming in and out, scanning the carpet for leftovers or shoving their noses under my bad arm and lifting up abruptly. This is dog for "pet me NOW."

Anyway....(not anyways - just like Happy New Year and not Happy New Years) I told you that story to tell you this story. My son and I were discussing the differences between his girlfriend's mother and myself. He felt I was being negative about his future mother-in-law and informed me, in a rather terse tone, that she wasn't a stay at home Mom, therefore she didn't have the time to do things like I do. My, my, my. Eh tu, Brutus?

Now I enjoy a little mental ping-pong, and my son, at age 14, has already proven himself a worthy opponent. I took aim and fired the following back across the net: "Listen Slick, I guarantee you I work twice as many hours as she does, so don't even start with me." Game. Set. And Match.

Poetry and Rhyme (sorta)

I happened upon two of my son's English assignments, due tomorrow, and still warm from the printer. Both works are untitled. First, the poem:

You can scold

Or we can converse

We can talk

Or we can curse

Form a team

Or fight to be first

But not both

You can stand

Or you can be pressed

You can be cursed

Or you can be blessed

You can cling to hope

Or you can be depressed

But not both

You can forsake who you are

Or hold steadfast to your soul

You can conform to the world

Or gain strength as a whole

You can make your own name

Or live your life dull

But not both

Okay, that was deep. Teenagers are deep. Kind of a glass half empty/glass half full poem. I'd like to think it's got an overall positive tone to it. Now, the limerick:

There once was a pig from Miami

Who sat inside a tannery

Little did he know

That he was in a stove

Now bacon is abundant in Miami

There once was a pig in Moscow

He became friends with the cows

When they were sent away

Soon he would have to pay

So the pig ran away from Moscow

How random was that? I love how his brain can move so easily in so many different directions. Silly and serious. Random and profound. Mental multi-tasking....gotta love it.

A Soul is a Terrible Thing to Waste

This photo was taken by my sweet stepdaughter Sara. She is 20 years old and one of the nicest, most giving people I've ever known. I find myself looking at this photo when I am upset. It instantly calms and comforts me.

Last night they had the awards ceremony for the basketball teams at my son's school. He received the Christian Character award for being an inspiration to his teammates. This comes less than a month after receiving the same award from the Middle School itself. His faith is, and always has been, very strong.

I know at least two mothers who read my blog are struggling with the pain of children who have turned away from God. Children who were raised in the word but have now chosen to ignore it. My son will be 15 in September. Since I'm a great worrier, I began to worry several years ago about how his faith would fare during the teen years. I did my best to give my worries to God, and trust that He had a plan for Jacob. So far, so good.

I was raised in the word, and I strayed very, very, VERY far away from it while traveling through my 20's. I know I gave my mother fits. I know she prayed with a vengeance that I would return to the fold. She never missed an opportunity to remind me of what I was missing. And of course that got old and I got cranky and learned to tune her out. This went on for years.

Then there came a day when we were talking on the phone (she lives in another state) and I began to share with her my fears and hurts and frustrations. Of course she jumped onto her pulpit and began to beg me to pray with her. That's all she wanted, just for me to pray. I wanted her to shut up. Not be quiet mind you - shut up. So I took a deep breath and muttered to myself "FINE." I entered into prayer with her, and my only motivation was to get her to stop nagging me.

We finished our conversation and I felt different somehow. But it wasn't anything I could put my finger on. It wasn't like thunder roared and suddenly I saw things in a new way. BUT, the next morning I awoke and began to systematically turn away from the sinful things in my life. I was determined to follow Jesus no matter what the cost. I was truly reborn, remade as I slept.

I don't share this story very often. Accepting Christ with the goal of shutting your mother up is not something one brags about. I guess it doesn't matter how my change came about, only that it did. But still....geez. I told this story to offer hope. Don't give up on your daughters. Keep reminding them that a soul is a terrible thing to waste. Wait for your moment - God will bring you one, I'm sure of it.

I've Come a Long Way (Beanie) Baby

I've had three main jobs in my life. I worked for a police department for 10 years. I worked for a large dental office for 10 years. And I've been selling online for almost 10 years. Am I due for a career change? Nah, I'm happy doing what I'm doing. Every few months I get the hankering to learn a new craft, so I do. Short attention span here.

I just finished putting a few things on eBay. I/we have 1,201 active listings. That's a lot of listings. We also have a web site and are thankful when buyers choose to purchase there. Fees on "the Bay" are sky high. We have some things on eCrater and also on Bonanzle. No wonder it's standing room only in my head. Oh, I almost forgot Etsy. Not doing too well there, but I am determined to keep trying.

Every once in a while I pause to reflect that it all began with....yep, Beanie Babies. I remember the first one I ever sold - an owl, NWT dontcha know. I was thrilled. And I am still thrilled when I sell something and even more thrilled when the person who bought it is happy. That's a very good thing.

Last Day of Historical Tour.....Not

Jacob should have been landing right about now, but Mr. Murphy had other plans. The plane they were scheduled to take had mechanical problems (just like the plane they originally boarded on their way to Baltimore) and after four hours of waiting (and missing their connecting flight in Chicago), they were taken via bus to a very nice hotel, where they were given dinner and what Jacob called "care packages." Their luggage is in Chicago, the airline thinks.

So they will fly out of Baltimore (hopefully) early tomorrow morning and change planes in Denver. My husband, who worked for the TSA for four years after he retired from the Coast Guard, says not to worry, the airline will get their baggage to Denver before they arrive.