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Home > Archive: April, 2011

Archive for April, 2011

Clothes, Clothes, and More Clothes

April 22nd, 2011 at 05:39 am

DD is at the point where she's outgrown most of last year's spring and summer things--as well as all the shoes from last spring. She's been wearing suede faux Uggs to school most of the winter, and now needs all sorts of new shoes. Plus an Easter dress and a sweater.

I bought myself some khakis for work and DH a new blue oxford cloth shirt with Kohl's cash from DD's shoes last week. In the meantime, it seems I'm shoveling outgrown clothes of here every day. I heartily admire all of you who manage this with several kids!



The Cold Etc.

April 21st, 2011 at 06:15 am

It's another cold lousy day here weatherwise. I love the headline from the locals weather site: More Dreary Cold Dullness. But after seeing the tragic tornadoes in the South, I guess cold dullness isn't so awful.

Busy day, but I did manage to get two of the capstone projects graded. They pay me on the grand academic piecework scale for those, but at least it'll cover DD's dental co-pay and the week's groceries! It's super-busy at the university, so not much else will get done for the next few weeks.

Anyone heard from CB? Is she traveling?

A Little Stuck

April 19th, 2011 at 05:18 am

What's stuck? House not clean enough, can't seem to stay on a diet, still behind in my grading, don't feel like cooking. Diagnosis: Last three weeks of the semester.

I'm not really all that frustrated as the end of the semester is always like this. They're hanging on; I'm hanging on.

I listed a few things (not selling) on cragislist and ebay. They're stuck too.

I think I need smaller baby steps, so I did declutter a little, giving away outgrown kid's clothes and an apron from my mom's things.

Hoping to be unstuck soon, but work is sticky now.

A Few Things Off the List

April 18th, 2011 at 05:02 am

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I just finished our taxes. They've been almost done for weeks, but one of my editing jobs didn't send me a 1099, and I spent days trying to track it down. They are done now--with a refund (thankfully) heading our way. I do wish DH would pay some attention to this stuff.

I made less last year as I didn't teach a summer class, and unless we're overdrawn (never) or I'm very fixated on money, he doesn't even blink at anything. it does have its good side, but I often feel like I'm alone in my battles with money.

We got the stuff for another raised-bed garden, got to the grocery store, bought DD some Easter things, and even went out last night to see a play. It was an expensive Saturday night, but since we seem to go out about four or five times a year, I guess it all averages out.

My decluttering continues. More on that soon.

Quiet Day

April 12th, 2011 at 04:57 am

Lots of school work to be done. I was going to whine a bit about it, but just read Save More's news and feel I nothing to whine about. Thinking about all of us out here as we face such perilous waters.
Hang in there, folks. We've got such a helpful community, and you've all been so supportive. I appreciate you all.

Sunny Sunday

April 11th, 2011 at 03:41 am

What a nice day. We had a special musical production at church of Schubert's Mass in G--which was spectacular. DD and I spent several hours outside cleaning up the yard and potting the pansies we bought on Friday. It was great to be outside--plus we planted radishes, our first seeds of the season.
I finished up some household tasks, we had an easy dinner, and I indulged my Anglophilia with the new "Upstairs Downstairs."

I need to spend an hour or so on prep for the week, but hope to get some extra sleep in. I've been feeling poor. Isn't that strange? I think I wish we had a bit more discretionary income, especially with plenty of things that need to be done around the house. And I'm still in shock about the cost of our summer airfares to the UK. I can't find anything for our dates less than $1200 each. But it'll work out; I'll just pinch the pennies elsewhere and look for a summer editing job. Lots of my colleagues are thinking about waitressing over the summer. Ugh. it probably depends on when the state budget "repair" bill hits my paycheck.

For today, I'll just enjoy today.

My Promotion Went Through

April 8th, 2011 at 05:47 pm

I was antsy and anxious all morning yesterday before the big meeting, but everything went fine, and my promotion--and that of my colleague-- went through. We celebrated with a glass of wine and a pizza.

It's not that much money, but the job stability that tenure offers is pretty darn valuable in an economy like this. I'm relieved. I wish there was a little time to celebrate, but I've got lots of papers waiting to be graded!

Leftover pizza for lunch today!

Counting Down Till the Semester Ends

April 7th, 2011 at 04:07 am

My students have started counting down the class days until the semester ends. I heard them talking amongst themselves before my first class started, and they've come up with 11 more of our classes. That seems so doable!

We had a jam-packed day today, and tomorrow is my big promotion meeting. Cross your fingers!

Cheap Day

April 6th, 2011 at 04:40 am

Cheap day here because I'm so darn busy at school. The last six weeks of the semester are always frantic. The only money spent today was for DD's piano lessons. Her teacher didn't want to charge us because she canceled last time for illness. She's a SAHM and her husband is the church music director. Of course, I paid her!

There may be big news brewing at the university--I'll keep y'all posted.

Hope to return to sanity by the end of the week!

A little bit spendy

April 5th, 2011 at 04:21 am

No big deal today, but DD's school bus was late, which meant I had to park nearby the U and pay for parking or be late to class. And I ate a little too much, schlepped around a little too much, and didn't feel very productive today. Guess I need a long bath and a good night's sleep.

We started our taxes on Saturday but I'm short a 1099 from the publisher I did some editing for this summer. I've e-mailed them, but have heard nothing.

I did manage to fill a big bag of stuff for the women's shelter, give one of DD's outgrown jackets to the dept secretary, and haul the plates to my office for another colleague.

Bigger better things tomorrow. One of my co-workers said she was having the "hamster caught in the wheel" sort of month, and I know the feeling. But I'm caught up on my evening class grading, have tomorrow planned, so here's to a more satisfying tomorrow.

Quiet Day

April 3rd, 2011 at 11:03 pm

We're having a quiet day--which is lovely. Fire in the fireplace and lots of reading.

Yesterday I finally got rid of my great aunt's dishes. I'm going to start a sort of freecycle/classified service in my university department, and yesterday was a way of testing the waters. I couldn't sell these darn dishes for love or money, yet seven folks all wanted them for free. I'll be glad to declutter them.

I'm teaching the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks tomorrow in my Bestsellers class. I really enjoyed the book, so it should be fun to teach.

We've had the oddest weather. When DD and I were leaving church, it started to rain, hail, sleet in huge bucketfuls. We were soaked, and my new shoes leaked badly. Glad to be inside!

Divesting China

April 2nd, 2011 at 05:15 am

No, this isn't a political opinion, I just can't seem to find a home for my great aunt's china. I took it to two consignment stores today, and while they'd take it, they weren't hopeful it would sell. Indeed there were HUGE sets of china for sale very cheaply at each place. It didn't sell on ebay, it doesn't look promising at the consignment store, I guess I'm just giving it away. I don't really care, but I'd like it out of my house!

After multiple meetings at school and the consignment visits, I picked up at few things at Al Green's including free toothpaste and shaving cream. Homemade pizza for dinner, and now though I'd like to stay up and watch some Netflix, I'm going to bed.

Not a successful day on the diet; I suspect tiredness from the vestiges of this cold have taken away all my zippity-doo-da.