i am thankful

I've been reading blogs from other frugal folks, watching the news, and going through the information sent to us from our bank. They all say the same things.

• Have a budget
• Use cash
• Save while paying down debt

We've been doing all of the above for four years and I'm just now realizing what a blessing it is. I believe we were pointed in this direction intentionally. I can't remember exactly how or why we started using cash only but I know it had something to do with ATM fees. The cash-only system needed a budget to give me an idea of how much cash we needed. After hearing a few different places that even with debt we should be paying ourselves (aka saving) first, I started a college fund for the big kid and IRAs for the Baron and me.

I've never been as pleased with the Baron's job (USN) as I am now. I know things will work out and we will be provided for but I do hope the economy will be on the rebound by 2013, when he's up for retirement.

Even my bland social life with my blah schedule paid off. I had all the time in the world last year to clip coupons, chase deals, and stock up. Now, with the Baron deployed and the competition for deals on the rise, I can stay home and live off what we have.

I want to put out there how thankful I am and how blessed I feel to have been given the opportunity to learn about budgets and frugal living. I think the crunch is still a part of our lives, but we've been living differently for so long, we haven't needed to make drastic changes.

i really am an old dog

I enjoy the company of friends. I tell myself I am miserable without it. I feel sorry for myself when we move and I leave good people behind. I pick myself up and make an effort to meet new people. I'm starting to feel a part of the community after a year and a half into this duty station. Once again, I'm having good times with good people.

I was the girl who would do it all. Thank goodness I'm slowly learning to say no. I hate saying no to people. Will they still like me if I tell them no? I have to hope they will and remember my own peace of mind and body, because I'm dragging. It won't stop me from offering help. I feel good when helping people. I love getting help when I need it and I truly enjoy making what comes around, go around.

But...I'm tired. I guess I really am getting older? Two kids :hiding from those of you with big, lovely families who will roll their eyes at me: must take more of my energy than I realized. Being a temporary single parent probably contributes a little, too. We had such a fun, busy weekend that I really need today off to today to recover.

I notice the kids can't go go go like I assumed they could either. The wee one's nap gets pushed back. She's either being restrained some place not kid friendly or she's left to run wild in a safe environment, both of which irritate her after a while. The big kid seems to need a break from constant kid to kid interaction, too. I assumed we would all adapt well to being busy with friends, nonstop.

We love our new friends but I'm learning we need moderation. No surprise there. This Baroness has always had a problem with moderation. While trying to rush my way to the end of this deployment, I'm rushing us past quality mommy-daughter interaction. Time to slow down.

*The above blog post was in no way directed at any one new friends and we would never want our new friends to think we are tired of them. We are just plain tired. We thank our new friends for making us tired.

judgements based on first impressions

I was that crazy lady, today. I was sitting on the couch, sipping some free tea, when I noticed a huge flock of birds taking flight outside. We have some pretty birds here but we rarely see them in any quantity worth mentioning. I quickly grabbed my camera and a sweater and the wee one and I went outside. It was roughly 48 degrees this morning and I didn't bother to put on any shoes. No big deal, I thought, because I was planning to stay right there and watch.

Fast forward 10 minutes and two blocks later, the wee one and I are across the street and into another neighborhood, following the birds. We're dodging bird poo. and rocks. and fire ants. and whatever other undesirable things come our way. All was well until, on our way back, I got a dirty look from a woman driving by. That look said, "What kind of mother are you? A baby in socks in the frigid morning air? Walking on dew soaked grass? And you, BAREFOOT? I never." I swear. The looks said all that in the nano second it took for her to drive past.

Did I mention the wee one was toting a baby wipe around, as well? That adds to the "trashiness" of the complete scene, don't you think?

does it really take a year?

I had another neighbor encounter today. She had locked herself out while wearing a t-shirt in the crisp, fall air. I knew something was wrong right away. She made eye contact with me as I pulled in from dropping off the big kid at school. We've never made eye contact. I offered to call someone for her but got their answering service. I suggested she try one of the other two doors to the house. Thankfully, for her, her husband hadn't locked the garage door and she was able to get in.

another neighbor story

Second verse, much worse.

I went to my friendly, neighborhood Walgreens today. It's not the closest but it is open 24 hours. That appeals to an early bird like me. I was chatting with the cashier, a woman I'd seen countless times, and lamenting about the weather and the upcoming Haunted House. I mentioned the school's name and how irritated the Baron is about the task. She put two and two together (which is four more than I had) and then said she was my neighbor. Not the we-live-in-the-same-general-area kind of neighbor but the we-live-in-the-house-across-the-street kind of neighbor. They've lived here almost as long as we have, which is over a year. Pathetic.

catch up

Granny is gone. We are sad. While she was here, she was able to meet all my friends aka the people who work at my friendly, neighborhood drug stores. The deals were/are hot recently. I worry she wanted to see more than the inside of Walgreens.

Seriously, we had a nice time. The kids adore her as much as I do. She's great at playing and entertaining both the big kid and the wee one.

The Baron has been busy working on the haunted house props. Here's a taste:

washing my hair? watching a debate?

Which excuse should I use for not going to PTO this evening?

We're going even though I wish we weren't. The Baron needs to relay information about the haunted house aka haunted field tent he's suddenly found himself organizing. I am supposed to show up and dazzle them with my many sources who are clamoring to be vendors at the Fall Festival.

Thanks to helpful fellow PTO members I had a list of 20 names. The only thing is, I haven't heard back from anybody. Okay, there was that one lady who said, "maybe next year" and the other lady who has moved half a continent away since the PTO acquired her business card, but other than those two, I've got zip. Oh yeah, I told them I had no contacts, no resources, which was my way of saving some dignity. Maybe I should have said I have no friends, no social connections, then I wouldn't be the Chairperson of the Craft Fair at the Fall Festival. Could I be any more pathetic?

won't you be my neighbor?

But, I am your neighbor.

I walked to the block mailbox today with the wee one. It's the same mailbox I've walked to 200 or so times in the year we've lived here. There is a house right in front of the mailbox. Today, I encountered the lady of the house for the first time. She was very friendly. We chatted about the bad reputation of the nearest school and how expensive the alternatives are. She invited us to her child's birthday party that's on the same day as our big kid's birthday party. She also asked if we'd just moved in.

how desperate are you?

I am so desperate for friends, I seriously considered going to a debate watch party last night. I was going to look up a friendly location and just show up. Maybe this isn't strange to some people but I try to avoid "sticking out" as much as possible.