The spending slashes are working. The money is starting to not run out quite as quickly. I am also catering my shopping list, other than produce, milk, and meat, to stuff on sale. Really, not much difference between Simply Orange and Florida's Natural-so if one is on sale for $3 and the other is $5...you get the idea.
But, money, of course, is never simple. Moira, my college roommate and one of my closest friends, has lived in LA for the 6 years since we graduated from college. She is leaving LA mid-September to move to South Africa. And, well, it's very unlikely that I will be getting to South Africa any time soon. So, she asked me to come to LA for the 2nd weekend of September for her Adios LA Bash (my name, not hers.)
I struggled with this. I really don't want to push my luck with my very generous and understanding employer regarding time off. Eduardo, Johan, and I are also going to be in LA the first weekend of October to visit other friends and for a wedding in La Jolla. That is not going to be a cheap trip. So, you know, disposable income is scarce.
But this is one of my closest friends for 10 years. And I don't know when I will see her again after this. I have no trouble turning away from stuff I might want- clothes, haircuts, waxed brows, new fancy cell phones. But when it comes to a close friend asking me to share in her goodbye; for me to come for one last weekend of roomie time, and then when she offers to split the ticket with me, how can I not do that?
I tend to make financial decisions for "extras" with a litmus test: When I am an old woman, will I look back and think this was money well spent? The answer to that question for expensive haircuts, electronics, or yet another pair of black shoes is probably NO. But a weekend with a dear friend who I may not see for a very long time? I don't think that could anything but YES.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Tony! Toni! Tone!
Is that the 3 brown-boy group that sang "It's your an-iv-er-sar-y-y?" I don't really know. I was too busy listening to Joan Baez in the mid 1990s.
But this is Edo's and my 5 year wedding anniversary. I might be a little bit biased, but I think it may have been the best party in the history of the world. As we were planning the wedding, my dad told me he was surprised I wanted such a traditional type wedding and reception. I told him that there is really no other time in one's life when you can gather almost everyone that's important to you in one room to eat and drink and dance and celebrate. Graduations? Nope, believe me, I've graduated from lots of things.
Anyway, I remember looking out at everyone from the head table at the wedding dinner and realizing that there had never been so many of my favorite people all together in one room. And there probably won't be again. Then, when my dad and I were dancing at the reception, we looked around at the room, and he said he understood what I had been talking about. He "got" it.
I should also mention that it's been a big 5 years. In our fledgling marriage, a law degree has been earned, a house has been purchased, a baby has been born, a toddler has emerged and smacked both of his parents in the face. All awesome, except that last one.
In thinking back to 5 years ago, one grandparent (Eduardo's Grandma) had died just 4 days before our wedding, and 2 grandparents (my Grandpa Lund and Grandma Smith) have died since our wedding.
Anniversaries are interesting to me. Of course, it is fun and great to celebrate the relationship and how we have grown as individuals and as a family, but it's also a time to think about how things have changed over the past 5/10/15/20 whatever years. For good and for bad. For gain and for loss. For better and for worse.
Tonight, I am drinking wine and watching "Grease" on TV. Eduardo is at work. Johan is sleeping. Tomorrow, Eduardo and I will go downtown to stay at a 4-star hotel and raise a glass to the past 5 years. And the next many.
But this is Edo's and my 5 year wedding anniversary. I might be a little bit biased, but I think it may have been the best party in the history of the world. As we were planning the wedding, my dad told me he was surprised I wanted such a traditional type wedding and reception. I told him that there is really no other time in one's life when you can gather almost everyone that's important to you in one room to eat and drink and dance and celebrate. Graduations? Nope, believe me, I've graduated from lots of things.
Anyway, I remember looking out at everyone from the head table at the wedding dinner and realizing that there had never been so many of my favorite people all together in one room. And there probably won't be again. Then, when my dad and I were dancing at the reception, we looked around at the room, and he said he understood what I had been talking about. He "got" it.
I should also mention that it's been a big 5 years. In our fledgling marriage, a law degree has been earned, a house has been purchased, a baby has been born, a toddler has emerged and smacked both of his parents in the face. All awesome, except that last one.
In thinking back to 5 years ago, one grandparent (Eduardo's Grandma) had died just 4 days before our wedding, and 2 grandparents (my Grandpa Lund and Grandma Smith) have died since our wedding.
Anniversaries are interesting to me. Of course, it is fun and great to celebrate the relationship and how we have grown as individuals and as a family, but it's also a time to think about how things have changed over the past 5/10/15/20 whatever years. For good and for bad. For gain and for loss. For better and for worse.
Tonight, I am drinking wine and watching "Grease" on TV. Eduardo is at work. Johan is sleeping. Tomorrow, Eduardo and I will go downtown to stay at a 4-star hotel and raise a glass to the past 5 years. And the next many.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Pinch!
No, this is not another post about Johan's antics. He hasn't learned to pinch yet. But I have. After a couple checks-run-out-before-the-month experiences, I decided we need to cut down on some expenses. However, we pretty much like our lifestyle and don't want to a) quit drinking wine, b) quit having cable, c) or spend the summer cleaning our house.
However, reviewing our expenses, we were able to make some easy changes that I think will make a noticeable difference:
-I called the cable company and threatened to switch to satellite dish, even though I don't think we can because of our front yard tree. Cowering before our mighty threat, the cable company reduced our monthly cable/Internet bill from $120.00 to $70.00. They also gave as twice as many channels, including Soap.net which has old episodes of 90210. And HBO. Uh, awesome. Savings: $50.00 per month.
-I talked to our cleaning person who comes once every two weeks and got a quote for just cleaning the main floor and cutting out the basement (which pretty much just needs to be vacuumed once in awhile. We rarely use that bathroom and it's "Eduardo's bathroom" anyway...). She said she'd charge $50.00 per clean rather than $65.00. Savings: $30.00 per month.
-We agreed to switch to Target brand diapers. Pampers really are better quality, but crap, it's crap. So, Johan, the economy is tough and we all have to do our part. We buy approximately 2 large boxes of diapers per month. Pampers large box is $20.00. Target large box is $13.99. Savings: $12.00 per month.
-I have reduced yoga from 2x per week to 1x per week. I do a treadmill workout when I would be at my Tuesday yoga class. 5 classes cost $60.00. Average monthly savings: $60.00
TOTAL MONTHLY SAVINGS: $152.00.
Not too bad, considering we won't even notice these changes. Except that I get to watch more 90210.
What else are some good cost savings that don't involve huge sacrifices?
However, reviewing our expenses, we were able to make some easy changes that I think will make a noticeable difference:
-I called the cable company and threatened to switch to satellite dish, even though I don't think we can because of our front yard tree. Cowering before our mighty threat, the cable company reduced our monthly cable/Internet bill from $120.00 to $70.00. They also gave as twice as many channels, including Soap.net which has old episodes of 90210. And HBO. Uh, awesome. Savings: $50.00 per month.
-I talked to our cleaning person who comes once every two weeks and got a quote for just cleaning the main floor and cutting out the basement (which pretty much just needs to be vacuumed once in awhile. We rarely use that bathroom and it's "Eduardo's bathroom" anyway...). She said she'd charge $50.00 per clean rather than $65.00. Savings: $30.00 per month.
-We agreed to switch to Target brand diapers. Pampers really are better quality, but crap, it's crap. So, Johan, the economy is tough and we all have to do our part. We buy approximately 2 large boxes of diapers per month. Pampers large box is $20.00. Target large box is $13.99. Savings: $12.00 per month.
-I have reduced yoga from 2x per week to 1x per week. I do a treadmill workout when I would be at my Tuesday yoga class. 5 classes cost $60.00. Average monthly savings: $60.00
TOTAL MONTHLY SAVINGS: $152.00.
Not too bad, considering we won't even notice these changes. Except that I get to watch more 90210.
What else are some good cost savings that don't involve huge sacrifices?
Saturday, July 11, 2009
and then i was born
I am 28 now. Johan just laid down for his nap and when he wakes up, we are heading to my cousin's for some celebration. I've been feeling like late 20s are a time when birthday celebrations aren't quite as big of a deal. Obviously kids birthdays are exciting and fun and over the top. Then, as people grow older, birthdays become reflective and a celebration of aging gracefully and beautifully.
I suppose part of my problem is that most of my friends live far away and my husband works weekends. I didn't even have totally firm plans until 9 last night. Lots of ideas floating around, but nothing confirmed. Then, as Johan and I were playing in the grass this morning, giggling and sharing cheerios, I decided that this birthday isn't less celebratory, just happiness in a different way. A different way that will still include lots of wine and good food.
I suppose part of my problem is that most of my friends live far away and my husband works weekends. I didn't even have totally firm plans until 9 last night. Lots of ideas floating around, but nothing confirmed. Then, as Johan and I were playing in the grass this morning, giggling and sharing cheerios, I decided that this birthday isn't less celebratory, just happiness in a different way. A different way that will still include lots of wine and good food.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
4th of July
Me: (asked sort of tongue-in-cheek): So, what's your favorite thing about America.
David: Diversity. Well, either that or steak.
David: Diversity. Well, either that or steak.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Some Thoughts on MJ and Pop Culture
I'm back in the cable news world. I'm watching a mass of people outside the Apolo theater holding up radios and dancing. It's strange. Keith Olbermann, how I've missed you. Thanks for taking me through this evening.
My first thought when I heard that Michael Jackson died was of him as a little boy. As someone who didn't really get to be a kid, and how that likely set him up for a tragic life and maybe predictably tragic ending. That maybe if he was just playing with trucks and hanging out at the pool when he was a kid, he might have lived a happier life?
I am also fascinated by the way that *we* build famous people up, celebrate them (hence "celebrities), then tear them down and crucify them. Then they die and *we* glorify them again. I don't know that I have any insight into why, but I think it's irresponsible and in some ways, inhumane.
I was out for happy hour with folks from work when one of my paralegals got a text saying MJ had died. On my way home a couple hours later, I turned to B96, which is the main hip-hop station in Minneapolis. I think it has the most street cred among pop/rap stations, know what I mean? Anyway, it's not a station I listen to, but I turned to it to hear what they had to say. They were playing a bunch of old MJ songs, including Man In the Mirror and Black & White. Totally awesome. Then, the DJ started giving some commentary- he pointed out how MJ was the first black artist to get airtime on MTV. How his videos were unprecedented in form, content, and length. He ended by responding to those listeners who were calling MJ's character into question, especially the criminal accusations. He pointed out that he was found not-guilty. An obvious statement, but I'm glad that he said it. Does that mean innocent? I don't know- but that's the justice system we have. Trials, juries, the presumption of innocence. Sometimes the results aren't what people want but it's a pretty phenomenal system and I don't think any of us would really have it any other way.
There are moments in pop culture that remain vivid in my memory. I remember watching the OJ car chase on TV with my mom the night before I went on a church trip to Washington. I remember wearing black to school for 3 days after Kurt Cobain died, even though I didn't really listen to Nirvana. I remember the Challenger exploding on TV at Kindergarten. I remember the phone calls and text messages on Election Night 2008- watching MSNBC and realizing that Obama only needed California and Oregon to win.
I remember singing a version of We Are the World at pre-school. I remember watching the world premiere of Black & White, the MJ video with Macaulay Culkin and all those multi-racial people's head and shoulders during an episode of The Simpsons while laying on the floor in my dad's sun room. While I wasn't a huge Michael Jackson fan, his impact on music is extraordinary and his impact on anyone born in the 1970s or 1980s can't be disputed.
My first thought when I heard that Michael Jackson died was of him as a little boy. As someone who didn't really get to be a kid, and how that likely set him up for a tragic life and maybe predictably tragic ending. That maybe if he was just playing with trucks and hanging out at the pool when he was a kid, he might have lived a happier life?
I am also fascinated by the way that *we* build famous people up, celebrate them (hence "celebrities), then tear them down and crucify them. Then they die and *we* glorify them again. I don't know that I have any insight into why, but I think it's irresponsible and in some ways, inhumane.
I was out for happy hour with folks from work when one of my paralegals got a text saying MJ had died. On my way home a couple hours later, I turned to B96, which is the main hip-hop station in Minneapolis. I think it has the most street cred among pop/rap stations, know what I mean? Anyway, it's not a station I listen to, but I turned to it to hear what they had to say. They were playing a bunch of old MJ songs, including Man In the Mirror and Black & White. Totally awesome. Then, the DJ started giving some commentary- he pointed out how MJ was the first black artist to get airtime on MTV. How his videos were unprecedented in form, content, and length. He ended by responding to those listeners who were calling MJ's character into question, especially the criminal accusations. He pointed out that he was found not-guilty. An obvious statement, but I'm glad that he said it. Does that mean innocent? I don't know- but that's the justice system we have. Trials, juries, the presumption of innocence. Sometimes the results aren't what people want but it's a pretty phenomenal system and I don't think any of us would really have it any other way.
There are moments in pop culture that remain vivid in my memory. I remember watching the OJ car chase on TV with my mom the night before I went on a church trip to Washington. I remember wearing black to school for 3 days after Kurt Cobain died, even though I didn't really listen to Nirvana. I remember the Challenger exploding on TV at Kindergarten. I remember the phone calls and text messages on Election Night 2008- watching MSNBC and realizing that Obama only needed California and Oregon to win.
I remember singing a version of We Are the World at pre-school. I remember watching the world premiere of Black & White, the MJ video with Macaulay Culkin and all those multi-racial people's head and shoulders during an episode of The Simpsons while laying on the floor in my dad's sun room. While I wasn't a huge Michael Jackson fan, his impact on music is extraordinary and his impact on anyone born in the 1970s or 1980s can't be disputed.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Johan the Barbarian
I don't know if it's nursery school influences or just the toddler inability to control emotions and reactions, but Johan has started hitting and kicking. Not fun. When he does it, Eduardo and I look him in the eye and sternly tell him NO, we don't hit. If he does it again right away, then we say NO and place him on a chair for a 1-minute time out. It seems to work for the moment- after the time out he doesn't hit again, until the next time he's frustrated...
Anyone have any other creative solutions to deal with this problem (that don't involve hitting or kicking him back thankyouverymuch.)
Anyone have any other creative solutions to deal with this problem (that don't involve hitting or kicking him back thankyouverymuch.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)