Went into work today. Really had trouble getting going so ended up splurging for a coffee and bagel at Timmies.

Realised by lunch that I wasn't up to work. So on the way home stopped at the liquor store and the grocery store and got the makings for a hot brandy (I'm weird) toddy.

Spent more than i wanted to but the hot toddies do seem to help.

I'm hoping I can go to work tomorrow. I am not sure i can based on how i feel today. Thank goodness I'm salaried and get sick days.

Y

Went camping with friends this weekend.

I detest that the fact that camping includes substandard toilets. Frankly I'll go squat in the woods before I want to use an outhouse or one of those "quasi" real stinky excuses for a toilet that they supply in those types of places.

Other than that the camping was a blast. Friends took care of food for me (had the most amazing BBQ jerk pork on saturday night and the best breakfast of eggs with salsa, sausage and bacon for breakfast! The food was better than most fancy restaurants!

The company was good too! Caught up with old friends. Made new friends. Life was very good!

The weather was typical camping weather. Poured Saturday afternoon but was nice for partying on Saturday night. Sunday was gorgeous!

The drive there and back was nice. Though others had issues with directions they worked perfectly for me for once.

Went to the urologist. The man was fixated on my weight. Yeah I know I need to lose weight. But please, before you lecture me on needing to lose weight please tell me more about your concern and how it relates to the scope that you are going to do on me. Just telling me I have to lose weight with *that* look on your face makes me want to seek comfort in a pint of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream.


The good news is that I'm now booked for the scope at the local hospital in early September. A long time by US standards but not too bad - and really there is no rush for this anyways - just something I want taken care of.

After the doctor I went to the grocery store and focussed on doing a a shopping including lots of fruits and veggies. I bought a number of convenience foods and the bill shot up to $50. Yikes.

However I made a great meal of tortellini in vodka sauce, salad and fruit salad for dessert. A friend came over for dinner and we enjoyed a leisurely meal and chat on my balcony. It was a really nice night. Bonus news - 5 meals of leftovers from the bag of tortellini - Woo hoo!

I'm so happy it is friday even though when I go into work I have an entire day of not so fun spreadsheet work. It has been a while since I've had the dubious pleasure of looking forward to that. Hopefully it will make the day go fast because of how detailed it is to do.

Last night and this morning I got a bunch of small things done.

* Visa bill paid off (I pay it off monthly)
* Paid Rent
* Cheques to deposit in wallet (today's chore is to deposit them)
* Swept floors
* Dished done and shinks shine (yeah flylady)

Also last night I got to sit on the balcony when I got home enjoying my new carpet and furniture out there - definitely a purchase that if I amortize by hour used is likely to turn out pretty inexpensive.

Hope everyone has a great day!

To all you Americans here (likely the majority) I hope you have a happy fourth of July).

And yes we have one here in Canada too - it's the date between the third and fifth but we just don't celebrate it.

I think I have some sort of virus - one that makes being at work a tad on the uncomfie side.

Stopped on the way home at the grocery store for some diet ginger ale and some apple juice - both clear liquids that are easy on the system. The bonus is that both were on sale.

Also treated myself to a 10 day bouquet of flowers (despite dating my brains out these days I'm not getting flowers other than this way - and hey, at least this way I get to pick what's prettiest to me) and a small "mum". I was going to get some roses but after asking the girl in the floral area some questions I realised she was clueless - I was asking about how to pick roses that last a long time and she admitted she had no idea. Oh well. I figured the 10 day bouquet would likely last longer after realising some of the roses in the bunches on sale were already sort of drooping just below the flowers.

I'm going to take it easy for the rest of the day.

I ended up coming home early from work yesterday due to not feeling too well. I didn't get anything done on a financial note, which is unfortunate.

My goal for today is to get to the bank and deposit some money as well as to get out some cash.

I'm still struggling on the not taking lunches to work thing. I know what is doing it - my social life on the weekend is too active to do anything on that front. I never complain about a good social life but ... dang.. it does have some consequences.

Had a nice lunch out with a friend today at Swiss Chalet. Last time we went I picked up the majority of the bill and this time she balanced it by picking up the majority of it.

So a nice relaxing lunch out for $7 today and the opportunity to catch up with a good friend! Life is good!

Woo Hoo...

A friend and I had tickets to see Travis Tritt last night at Casino Rama.

Despite the bad traffic we got there about an hour early (the ride took about 2.5 hours but we had left lots of time - cause it really should take an hour but with long weekend traffic...). So I decided I would spend $20 playing on the slot machines. Lost $10 on the nickel slots. Then watched my girlfriend play for a while. Then put some money in the quarter slots. Ended up with a voucher for $27.10.. so I made an entire $7.10 last night. I figured I'd stop there while I was ahead!!!

Life remains pretty busy.

Got the cheque from the insurance company for my appointment last week. Had another dental visit this week but only about 50% will be reimbursed after the $50 deductible and the 80% coinsurance.

I have bought my lunches out. That has to change next week but have been pretty good iwth my dinner. Had a lovely one out last night but it was paid for by my date. I don't mind paying my way but I also enjoy being courted and treated to a meal.

There are a number of big ticket items I want but with the continiuing stresses at the office I'm conserving cash. While some are "sort of needs" most come under the heading of wants. Yes I sort of need a new couch (mine was torn up by the cats) but there no need to make the purchase right now etc...

Its a good lesson for me to start separating needs and wants again and learning to make do with what I have or adapt it. I might look into craigs list or freecycle a bit but other than that I need to stop coveting.

My date Saturday night went well. We went to my favourite neighbourhood restaurant and enjoyed a meal out on the patio I had a delicious and non creamy portabello soup followed by shrimp and bacon crepes that were also not too creamy. My date had steak. We sat, relaxed, ate, and caught up.

After we headed out to a nightclub. The floor show at midnight was "quite" something. Think latex covered "nun" with a strapless dress and two naughty school girls. Any vulgarity, of which there was quite some, was overshadowed by the incredibly bad acting. Ignoring the adult plot a third grader could do better. We walked out on it after a few minutes and found a quieter corner to chat and people watch.

Sunday I had a quiet no spend day at home. Found the floor of my spare bedroom, decluttered some drawers and got rid of quite a bit of crap. Felt good. Rest of the day was lazy which was really nice!

I got about 81% on my French test. Not bad for studying under 2 hours for it.

Had a picnic today at lunch with the french teacher and the other student in my class. That was very nice.

Boss wants to talk to me about things that will give me more challanges at work and told me he'll be needing me to do more quotes. I'm not overly excited by that. So then the big one I was to be assigned to me isn't coming to me cause someone else wants it. Seems I can't win for losing at work. They assigned me a small pain in the butt one that I'll work with the new guy on - and make it into a training exercise - that is the best of a bad thing.

I am going to go to work today - I have a french test at noon I haven't studied for so the hours before then aren't for work but to study for my french test.

Then work. Ick. But as a friend suggested to me yesterday more than a day hiding from it isn't a good thing for me mentally. I hate it when friends are right but I'm not going to bite my nose to spite my face.

So back to work. I'm pretty sure nothing more will happen with respect to the letter I'm supposed to get until next week but who knows.

Today's fun events are capped off by a dental appointment at 5pm. Those services should be paid for by my dental plan. My dental plan (my employer is my insurer, one of the "perqs" of working in insurance) isn't one of the most generous however so who knows.

Then home and hopefully I'll have some energy to do a few chores that have been put off way too long.

After the fuss yesterday I slept for 14 hours last night. Feel tired still today but like there is hope with life.

I'm going to not make any rash decisions about my job until I get the letter. But I'm going to put off any large purchases and generally tighten my belt. I have no need that I know of for going on a spending spree for the next little while, so I won't. I have an funded emergency account.. I'm well off considering.

I'll update my resume in the next week or so and start seeing what is out there too.

Also thinking about going to 4 days per week and working 10 hour days. My boss in onside with me in all of this, and focussing on other areas of my life now might be a good thing.

Got my vacation pictures uploaded to the web if anyone wants to take a look. This was my vacation a week or so ago to Nova Scotia, Canada and Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada.

I'm very struck by the beauty of PEI and definitely want to visit there again. This is not saying I didn't like Nova Scotia but I have been there many times and have had many opportunities to enjoy it's beauty.

If you care to look the pictures are available at

http://

I'm home again. Got the pleasure of grocery shopping today. $50 quickly gone. But at least have basics again, so won't be eating out too much.

Vacation was great! It seems impossible that I am going back to work on monday - I'd like another week or two off to be honest.

I Picked up my prescriptions today.

Paid 10% of the bill 43.00

Glad the rest went on the drug card and gets paid by the insurance company and I don't have to ante up first and wait for reimbursement.


A drug habit costs..

Just realised I have been blogging here for more than a year.

Thank you for all of you for your comments on my posts. I've come a long way in the last year, and you have all helped me on my journey to being more financially secure.

Money for the first time in my life has become something positive - a tool I can use to enhance my present and my future - rather than a worry in my life. Its a nice feeling!

I look forward to the rest of this my second year of blogging here....

Found an internet connection (free at the inn we are staying at) so am indulging my internet fixation. I'm so addicted it isn't funny.

The holiday has been great. The weather was great for Peggy's Cove but it rained cats and dogs while we went to Lunenburg and Mahone Bay. The Bluenose was out so we didn't get to tour that. One day I'll manage to be there for that.

Today we are on PEI. Went to Green Gables where they have done a nice job of fixing up the house to authentic late 1900's style. There was a gorgeous nature walk we did too!

Tomorrow we see a bit more of the lsland before heading back to Nova Scotia for a few days before heading back to Ontario.

Anyone know of a decent place to order cheques in Canada. Don't have to be gorgeous although that is a bonus. Would like them to be cheaper than the bank costs though and from some place reputable.

Going on holidays starting on friday so I have lots of little things to get done.

All fiddly things unfortunately and none that I really want to do so I'm pretty much procrastinating. Not a good thing to be doing but very much human nature to do so.

Oh the first part of the title has nothing to do with the date. Went for two tests yesterday in the morning - as part of my "well woman" checkup.

The tech was gentle. The first two mammogram x-rays were easy. A bit of flattening and done. No where near pancake flat.

The second two involved sticking the (thankfully slightly rounded) edge of the machine in my armpit, rotating each girl in turn and squishing them. Not comfortable but less painful than all those gyn things where they warn you that you may experience some momentary discomfort.. Actually easier than those dental bite wing xrays (I hate those) - as at least it didn't trigger my gag reflex.

The build up was painful. The exam was fine. I probably need to make sure from here on in to say how bad it was to scare the future generations of women like I was scared before I went (traditions are important)

The bone density test was fine though it had my foot and hip in a weird position. Most amusing was all her questions about my undies. Do they have zippers? metal? pins? buttons? Obviously there is a whole category of panties I have yet to explore. A zipper on underwear?

Thanks to our provincial health care these tests were free. I'll contact my doctor in a bit about them although I'm sure if there is anything his office will be contacting me fast.

Spent some money on self maintenance after that with some waxing and a pedicure. Then got the end of McD's drive through for brunch.

A nap and some quilting were my afternoon. In the evening I went out on a date. It is nice to be taken out. Was a nice evening and I enjoyed his company.

We won't see each other for a bit as we both have trips out of town scheduled but we are planning to see each other again!

I was almost giddy at the license bureau today. I had to go there to replace my license (I think I threw the new one I got out and kept the old invalid one).

1. It was only $10 to replace my card

2. It is a picture license but I didn't have to get a new picture. This is a big deal when you go there on a friends bike and have major helmet head hair.

I got off easy. The new license cost me $60 in Oct - I had figured I'd have to pay that amount this time again as a "pay up cause you are stupid and lost your card" tax! They didn't need a new picture cause thanks to modern technology they already have my picture scanned in and will use that one.

Of course now the "thought thrown out" license will mysteriously reappear but that's just life right?

Summer is here. The time when my thoughts to to finding my mittens.

You'd think with all the memos we get about doing things efficently and effectively at the office and about how we must keep our expense margins low that they'd not be cranking up the air conditioning every evening come 5pm. Can't get it too warm in here just in case the night security guard falls asleep?

The office no longer supplies styrofoam cups as an effort to be greener but they freeze you if you stay late. 5pm and they crank up the air conditining so much that I have goosebumps and find it hard to type my hands are that cold.

Welcome to summer. The time when construction blooms outside and you need snowsuits at the office. Seriously I think I'm going to bring in a pair of gloves. I'd bring in mittens but not sure if I can type with mittens on.

So as not to violate copyright law this pattern is called "Amanda's Purse" by Sherri K Falls and was published by LIttle Scraps from This & That.

The purse is cute. The pattern is passable though it would have been better had there been more pictures. I still am confused about a couple of things it it that I think should have been better described. Yes it all fit on and regular piece of paper but I'd been more impressed had it showed the steps more clearly.

I go to the deli counter at the grocery store. The two clerks are talking to each other. The one is standing in front of me and I hear the sentence "I have a small hiney" just as I decide what I want.

I looked at her and asked he if she and her small hiney could help me. My tone of voice was more amused than anything else . Had her and her small hiney not came over I'd have been not so amused but she came right over and got my order and we started laughing.

We started talking and compared hiney's. Basically we came to the conculsion that she had a small white girl hiney and I have a black booty of a hiney.


So we got into a discussion of large vs small hiney's - she's the opposite body type to me - I luck out in that mine is the lower risk for a heart attack (small upper body relative to my large hiney, hips and thighs).

A surreal moment while grocery shopping.

A friend is coming over and for the first time in ages I'll likely quilt - this is a sewing date, she's bringing her machine too!

I have needed my creative energy sparked and I'm happy that I'm having the opportunity to today!

Should also be a no spend day.

I keep wondering if i should join the site and be a "club member" but the cost per month will quickly add up.

Then I remember that poppit on pogo is pure evil. It steals your time, ,numbs your brain and causes your wrist and hand to hurt.

Last thing I need is to join that site and waste money too. I'd be better off banning the site from my computer..

Went out to lunch with some of the folks from work. Was a nice, abet unfrugal, ending to the week.

I had plans to go out tonight and I was going to treat my friend - but he ended up having to cancel so I had a pretty quiet weekend here at home.

I'm happy it is friday. It has been a busy week but a busy week in a very nice way!

Did a strange deal with a friend this week! Thursday there was some deal if you bought a subway sub that some of the money went to charity (no idea which one right now though I did go at one point). I was going to the store the night before to get salad stuff. So my colleague bought me a sub and I brought her a container of spring mix for her lunch as well as half of the 1lb clamshell fool of spring "lettuce" mix. Worked nicely for both of us because neither of us can ever finish the 1b container on our own.

Went out on a date last night! That was fun. Someone I have known for a long time. and like! Had a yummy steak dinner once I returned the medium steak for a medium rae one. Second time in a row that I've overed medium rare and got medium and had to ask the waiter replace it with what I wanted.

Going out to lunch today with the gang at work! So not too frugal but fun and necessary after a long week at work!