About sixteen years ago, I met him for the first time. My trainwreck sibling brought home this adorable puppy he had no business adopting because he had not one thing in his life that wasn’t a mess. I was furious at my sibling – he didn’t even take care of himself, how could he drag
Read More
February 17, 2009
Between online billpay, Yodlee, and automatic credit card billing, I rarely write checks anymore. At most, I write two checks a month, so I’m pretty laissez faire when it comes to balancing my checkbook. Lately, all I do to balance it is highlight uncashed checks and cross out cashed checks. Plain and simple. 1) Make sure the money’s transferred in to cover the check, 2) put a line through it.
If this seems a little flippant for a normally neurotic financier, there’s a very good reason for it. I’m breaking myself of the habit of tracking each single penny in my checking accounts because I’m normally tempted to mess with the cushion in there. It kills me to see any balance that’s not earning its keep. Never mind that it IS earning its keep by serving as insurance against those times I have a boneheaded moment and pay bills in my sleep out of the wrong checking account, the risk of assuming that I won’t screw it up this time is too great.
Clearly that upsets the delicate balance of my banking system, so I intentionally close my eyes to the checking account. Mostly.
I’m on check number 863 now, so I keep checking back on that single uncashed check from seven months ago. I had a sneaking suspicion that if I looked away, it’d jump up and go commit dastardly deeds. And so, it’s with great relief I raise my arms in triumph and announce, the man has finally cashed his check!!
I can now go about my business. Halleluhjah!
February 16, 2009
Seriously need to stop these consumerist cravings:
1. Electric blanket
2. Down comforter
3. Duvet cover
4. Water bottle/thermos
5. Cheese grater
6. Cheese slicer
7. Lifetime supply of block cheddar cheese and Jeno’s pizzas (at 50 cents a pop).
8. Oversized mugs
9. Cool new Tupperware
10. All new cooking implements of my very own
11. A new home to put everything in!
12. Chibi Chun Li keychain
13. New Lone Wolf and Cub books
14. Cinnabon
15. Full sized bed
16. All new bedding (but I still love my memory foam pillow)
Someone please make the list stop!! At least I still have my two front teeth. *sigh*
February 15, 2009
While arranging a baby shower, I sent out all the emails to the family invitees, but had to call the grandparents because they don’t use email. The extended family is like my adoptive family, and I’ve celebrated countless holidays and life events with them, but I’d never really just called up and chatted with them. Sent holiday, birthday and thank you cards, talked to them on the phone when they called friend’s home, yes, yes, yes, and yes, but this was a first.
You know you’ve got an entirely different generation on the phone when the second question they ask, 90 seconds into the conversation is, “where are you calling from? Home? This call is going to cost you a fortune!”
š
“Sorry, I misunderstood what you were asking; I’m on my cell phone and have unlimited minutes, don’t worry!”
And with that, I had a lovely 30 minute conversation with each grandma, each happily assured that they could chat with me as long as they liked without incurring long distance charges. They’re great!
The first one wondered why I was doing “so much work” for the shower, and why I was doing it. Well, I said, gosh, her momma told me to. š Oh, and besides, she’s my BFF. (Haha, her mom really did, but I would have anyway. The girl’s like my sister, and her family’s always been so good to me, there’s no hesitation in making parties happen for her.) She cracks me up, she told me that Grandpa wanted someone in the family to marry me so they could keep me around. Well, the boys are like my brothers, so that’s totally out.
The second one wanted to know all about how I was doing, and we talked about the economy, the family, her kids, how she’s taking care of herself. I subtly suggested that we get her computerized to get rid of her paper files since she was having trouble finding some boxes since the holidays, but she’s a packrat. The second I asked, so you really want to do this? She backed out! Oh well, thought I’d give it a try! š
Sometimes I forget how great family can be when they love and support you. And they’re hilarious too, because G2 tried to freak me out telling me that she was fine because all her investments were “with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and AIG. You know, all the financials.”
“…….. you’re just trying to give me a heart attack.”
“haha, no no no …. ok, yes, I am.”
February 13, 2009
It just occurred to me that the silver lining to the car thing? Is that it eliminates the car payment, due to end in August, right now. The total amount deducted from the insurance settlement is a blow, as long as we get a used vehicle for less than $5000 – I’m willing to kick in a few hundred, up to a thousand – it increases their cash flow.
Now I can reproject the 09 family budget. Happy Friday?
Oh, and I guess I won’t be paying for car insurance in the meantime, either.
Am I numb because I’ve balanced out negative thoughts with positivity this week? Or is it because … well … it figures??
The car is totaled. It will cost more to fix than the book value. After the deductible, after they cut the check, after the car is paid off, we’ll have a bit more than $3000 in cash. Instead of a working family sedan.
Now we need to car hunt.
I’d curse but I just don’t have it in me.
February 11, 2009
Gripey: Upon receiving my email about feeling worse than yesterday, I got a call from work: “Well, I just wanted to talk to you about [whole slew of projects] before [that person] leaves.”
Yeah, no. I’m not going to remember anything from this conversation so let’s try this later. I might even be less grumpy about it. C’mon people, I’m home SICK. Not home until you think of something for me to do!
Gravy: Food! There’s food in the house. I so love food. Whole wheat bread, peanut butter, eggs. Leftover tofu soup. Leftover pasta and meatballs. Bin bin rice crackers? Where have you been hiding? Peach carrot juice. Um, what? Whatever, tastes fine.
I’m going to be eating myself into oblivion if you don’t mind, and perhaps even sating the craving for an awesome bacon cheeseburger later this afternoon if my friend will indulge me and go with. In my diseased state of mind, $4 doesn’t sound bad at all for what I’m assured will be a Fantastique! burger experience.
P.S. I love Twitter right now, it’s slowly making me feel human again after not talking to anyone for what feels like days on end.
February 10, 2009
Status: Miserable
But am seriously glad I’d the luxury of deciding at 6:30 am that, no, the hour+ long train ride to sit at my desk and be miserable, possibly a little productive and a whole lot irked was just not worth it. With plenty of sick hours on my account, there’s no financial reason to be torturing myself.
And thank heavens for my FSA and that stop at the CVS over the weekend: I picked up two boxes of Nyquil/Dayquil combo packs which I’ve already gone through half of, and will be set for a few more days.
I only wish that I were coherent enough to use this time to get better and apply for more jobs. Drat. No multitasking for me today.