My Finds

I have posted before (and again and again and again ) how I love estate sales and thrift stores. This weekend was a good one... I took my chances at an estate sale advertised as having great stuff, despite being in a bad part of town. "You can find awesome knick-knacks while dodging bullets." Great marketing, folks.

If I was still Ebaying, oh how I would have spent so much money. As it was, I had to limit what I bought as I have a quasi-policy of buying only items I need or have an idea of exactly what I will do with my purchase.

So what will $15 buy you at an estate sale in Houston?


Books! An illustrated Bible story book published in 1939.

1960 printing - Why It's A Holiday

Oh look... a fitting holiday... Do I get that day off?


Do you remember when I said a few sentences ago where I buy only things that I have an actual purpose for? Forget that. This thing has no purpose other than to make me smile at its freaking adorableness. I love this! And I have no good reason to have it. It doesn't match anything at all in my house. So yea, this was something I just had to have.

And Kitten had to get in the picture. She is something that I did not have to have. She is completely Not Craig's fault.


I do have a problem with collecting coats, purses and small bowls that hold sauces. Granted, I use a lot of honey mustard, barbecue sauce and other dippables, but it doesn't really make any sense to have as many small bowls as I have. Nor does it make any sense why, when I live in a subtropical climate, that I own 14 coats.


Astroworld closed sometime ago. Any time that I spy any Astroworld stuff I get it. I will most likely sell them.


I love this shallow metal pan. I have no idea what to do with this either, but really, how could I not bring it home. I will probably either hang it somewhere or will use it is a catchall by the door.
My habit of collecting purses continues. Does anyone have a closet I can borrow? I am just not a shoe girl. Instead, I collect coats and purses.

(There is one other book I bought, but I am not showing you. If I ever get around to mailing things - ahem - Jamaica prizes - ahem - Kaytabug will have a present. So look for it sometime in 2011.)

If Only All The Pundits Paid Their Two Cents

I rarely talk about money on here. If you keep an eye on the various links I post off to the side (which I have not updated in forever – but, Whatever), you will see financial things pop up quite frequently.

This bailout/credit crisis/end of the world gloom and doom being splayed all over the news problem affects us all. It affects our jobs, our homes, our credit lines, hell, it affects what I will be giving for Christmas.

I was completely against the bailout as it was presented in the House. I believe I will be against the Senate’s version as well.

I am against it, knowing full well that several of my family members and friends will probably lose their jobs and homes as a result of it not passing. I am against it in spite of that because if it doesn’t pass, they will still lose their jobs and then their homes. If they are in a difficult position now, that position is not going away due to a quick bailout.

We are in a recession. It is not going away. One article I read stated it simply, we are only in the second, maybe third inning of this ballgame. So if it is all going to hell way before the seventh inning stretch, why spend $700 zillion dollars. It will only delay the inevitable breakdown for a very short time. Injecting cash the nation does not have into a broken economy built on people living beyond their means is not going to fix anything.

The only thing that is going to get us out of this mess is what we should have been doing all along. Save money. Don’t buy things you can’t afford. Spend less than you earn. Don’t use credit. Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman, David Bach and countless other financial hacks had it right all along. Hope you aren’t sick of them already, they will be everywhere for the next few years. Because they have it right! Although personally, let’s get rid of them, because I would rather hear from Trent at The Simple Dollar.

During Friday’s debate, McCain suggested a spending freeze. To which I shouted, "Amen!" The government needs to do exactly what I do when I run out of money. Quit spending. No dinners out, no dry cleaning, no movies, no quick runs to the grocery store. I make do with what I already have. Why? Because that is what you do when you are broke. I don’t go and charge things in order to make it to my next paycheck. I stop spending money until I have more money. What a novel concept.

The government has to freeze their spending. Cut it down to the very bare basics. There is no other way. Spending more and more money will not get you or me out of this mess. It won’t get the government out of it. It won’t get the country out of it.

By the time this is posted, it may be too late to contact your congressmen regarding this bailout. However, keep in mind that this problem is not going away even if the bill passes, so keep their contact info handy. You need to vocalize your opinion. Tell your elected officials what you think. Don’t hesitate to let them know that you will vote them out of office for ignoring your desires.

Click here to find out how to contact your Senators.

Click here to find out how to contact your Rep.

On a more personal scale, everyone should be working on their own spending freeze. Save your nickels and dimes. They will turn into many dollars over time. Be prepared for the recession.

I loved these links:

http://www.bripblap.com/2008/how-the-bailout-failure-affects-us/

http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/back-to-the-basics/

http://www.wisebread.com/whats-the-big-deal-about-banks-refusing-to-lend

However, there are so many more resources to figure out ways to cut your spending, save money, do the right thing with the money you have. You can find a ton of blog posts on all possible personal finance related issues at pfblogs.org.

And that is my two cents.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4^th. I sure did. We live on the edge of downtown. Very close to city center, very close to where the fireworks are shot off. The nation’s largest firework display – in Houston. I figured if we could watch the fireworks from our place, it would be awesome.

You know what is so much more awesomer? Being invited to a new friend’s house that is blocks from the actual launch site of those fireworks where you are at a perfect eye level just above the tree line, you can feel each firework go off, they feel like they are exploding within just a couple feet from your face and you are drinking the best mojitos gay men can make. I heart living downtown.

We will be moving when the lease on this place is up. There have been weeks worth of discussions and internet searching for where we go next. Do we buy? Do we rent? Where? The ultimate consensus after all these talks is that we will continue living down here. No suburbia for our future.

With the move (in 5 months) in mind, my Type A personality has been freaking out about downsizing our crap stock. I closed shop on my Ebay store a month or so ago after dismal sales. I have pulled all my Ebay stuff together and plan on sorting and selling it in lots, most likely to other sellers.

I have gone through my closet pulling things to get rid. I have gone through the cabinets with the same intention. All in all, I have only 2 garbage bags full of stuff to get rid of outside of the Ebay piles.

This really surprises me. However, I have downsized considerably each time I have moved over the past 3 years. I am now at the point where there just isn’t much more to go. I have quit buying unnecessary knick-knacks and I get rid of clothes as I buy more. And if anyone dare chimes in that a Wii and a Roomba are unnecessary, you are off the Christmas card list. Well, you would be if I ever sent Christmas cards.

I am quite pleased with myself that my consumerism ways have been checked. My savings account reflects it and my closets reflect it. One more way, my Frugal McFrugalitis is working in my favor.

How did you spend your long weekend?

Go Go Gadget!

When I went to my sister’s for a family get-together this past week, I really didn’t mean to spend a fortune on gadgets.

Ok, that is a lie.

I totally planned on buying a Wii as they are known to be quite populous in that area. And where my parents live. Yet Houston, nowhere. Houston, we have a problem. Well, not anymore because I have a Wii now, but we did. I guess…

I did not plan nor expect nor even ponder buying a robot floor cleaning wizard. It was a decision thrust upon me by my pushy big sister.

That’s my story.

And the store was going out of business so it was a steal.

And I have always really wanted one.

And with the recent death and resulting thoughts surrounding wasted time and pointless arguments that I would always regret, over all things, housework… I needed a Roomba.

That may be the real story, although my sister? Really good for the economy. Dubya may want to give her a call.

The Roomba? I lurve it. With all my heart.

It works wonderfully, sucking up all the stray cat fur, litter and various crumbs that 3 cats and 2 humans shed.

It has caused me way too much happiness for being just a simple cleaning tool.

My love for the Roomba Vs. the Wii?

A close race.

Frugality's Image Problem

I don't know if anyone pays attention to my not-so-frequent additions to the right side section of this blog titled, "In Case of Boredom..." I not-so-frequently add links from around the bloggy world of various things that have caught my eye/attention. Many of these have to do with personal finance of some sort.

I don't write about money, but I work quite hard at saving, scrimping, and frugality of all sorts.

I do this for several reasons: I find it fun to figure out ways to save money, I like collecting cash, I want to buy a house soon, and I want to retire early so I can tan on my patio nekkid on a Tuesday morning when, if the pool boy just happens to walk up on me, he won't scream out of fear.

I catch a good amount of ribbing from a few friends of mine and from Not Craig for my habits, what they consider my cheapness. They don't get my thrift store habit, they don't know why I don't want to stop and get Starbucks daily, or go out to eat several times a week.

Trent over at The Simple Dollar, (hands down, my favorite PF blogger), has written an excellent article that I want to tape to Not Craig's and my silly friend's foreheads. Instead, I will post it here. I would rather not waste the paper.


Check it out!

Dell-y Smelly

Over the next few days, major surgery is occurring on my little laptop. I have a Dell laptop, purchased just over 2 years ago. If you were blind and sitting where I am currently sitting, you would assume it was a steam engine locomotive in front of you, not a computer. The thing is noisy. And slow.

A couple weeks ago, Not Craig wiped the whole thing out. Blanked out my computer, reloaded everything, cleaned and polished up my computer.

It has not helped at all.

In order to be Frugal McFrugalitis, instead of buying a new computer, I searched out a new hard drive.

Could someone explain to me, how, just over 2 years ago, I bought this laptop for $1,400, enough to feed a South American village for 18 months, and now, I want to replace the very mostest importantest piece of equipment in it and it costs $75. How the hell does that compute? Guess what, Michael Dell! It doesn’t.

(The above paragraph contains 7 commas. That is excessive comma use, but I am too impatient to try and delete pieces of text. That is extremely burdensome for my poor piece of crap computer. Now this paragraph has 8 commas. And a run-on parenthetical. And sentence fragments. My 8^th grade English teacher who attempted to teach me how to diagram sentences is rolling in her grave, if she is dead. Kaytabug?) The parenthetical is now longer than the paragraph itself. I may be extremely bad at the English.

So if I disappear from the face of the innernets, it is because I became impatient and tried to replace the hard drive myself instead of waiting on the much more capable, technical guru in my household. One day, I should tell you how I bought a new Ipod battery and tried to replace it myself. In the middle of it, I decided that was a bad idea and hired Not Craig to be the supervisor. Unfortunately, this project failed miserably in the end. My Ipod is instead just defective. It works for approximately 15 minutes and dies a horrible death. I will tell you that story one day. Or not.

Wish me, Not Craig and the Dell luck. If this doesn’t work, a $1,400 piece of crap will be flung from a 3^rd story window. Although perhaps it is powerful enough in its chuggin, chuggin, chuggin to fly on its own accord.

Free Book Download

Oprah.com is providing a free download of Suze Orman's book Women & Money through tomorrow night at 8 PM.

Suze is not my fave personal finance guru, as I am just not so touchy-feely in love emotionally with my finances, but she does offer great advice on some topics. I just don't want to make out with my cash. Or ask what it is thinking about. It won't respond. Money is more out of touch with its feeeeelings than a man.

Anyway, check it out. I am always looking to learn more about managing money, as one day, I want to take over the world, Pinky.

Thanks to My Open Wallet for the info.

Provide (nce)

I have noted before how I am living a bit sparsely at this time. I also have mentioned before how I love estate sales, garage sales and thrift stores. I am Queen Frugalite Fianna. Where is my crown?

I have come across some rather fortuitous purchases recently. Things to make my life a bit easier without spending much money. One day, hopefully very soon, I will have a full house - man, cats and furniture. Until then, I am making do.

A few weeks ago, I visited the thrift store in my neighborhood. When I first walked in, I spied a chair that would be perfect for me, living alone for now, with cats. A chair that I could sit in, watch TV, read a book and that would transition perfectly to my foyer, where once I have a couch, I can lounge and read a good book:


Cost? $8.00. See the dejected camping chairs, yoga mat and wedge. I am living the high life, baby.

I didn't participate in the recent Bedside Fun Monday because it made me too depressed. I was severely lacking in the bedside table realm. Today, I went garage sale-ing and found a perfect bedside table.

It cost $5.00. While there are few scratches, it was a great deal and just the right thing at the right price. I got home, cleaned it up. I pulled out the drawer in order to clean it and found some papers in it.


See that $5.00 bill?

Overall price: $0.00.

Thankful

When I am stressed, when I am tired, when I feel beaten up on, I withdraw. I pull into my own little shell which has a wonderful cozy chair where my thoughts just sit and chat, rebuilding my tough (as a marshmallow) exterior.

This rebuilding process frequently includes a few key elements. Thrift stores, garage sales, estate sales, some place to rummage through piles of crap and find hidden treasures. Coffee shop, a book and a patio. Comforting food and dark beer.

I found so many treasures this weekend. Many things to post on Ebay, many things I will keep.

A few weeks back, I had a bad experience with an extremely rude dealer at an estate sale. Miss Politeness, Daughter of Mrs. Uber Manners, actually spoke up and told this woman how rude she was. I passed up quite a few desired items from that sale as I just couldn't give that mean woman my cash. Imagine my surprise when I found one of the items at a church bazaar. Aren’t these napkins fabulous!

At the same sale, a set of aprons were found. Check this one out.

Matching oven mitt and pot holder! Cat was not included in the sale.

I am feeling more like myself, got some rest, recharged my batteries a bit. However, there is nothing like going home, to my parents and then to my love.

Turkey, sweet potatoes and Paula Deen stuffing.

If I don’t check back in soon, I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Cutting Out

We are working on saving for a large goal. And we are trying to reduce expenses. I believe I am a pretty darned frugal girl already. So cutting more is worrisome…where? We live quite sparse already. What do you cut next?

We don’t have car payments, therefore our car insurance is quite cheap. We don’t have a Starbucks in town so we have no latte factor. We don’t pay for cable. We do pay for internet. But I dare someone to cut that from my cold dead hands. I bet I would still fight!

I don’t get mani/pedi's because it weirds me out to have someone do that for me. I don’t buy new clothes. I come home each day for lunch and cook nearly every night at home.

I unplug a good amount of appliances already. We could turn up the AC a bit and sweat more…

We could cut my cell phone, but we don’t have a home phone. And I drive a car with nearly 180,000 miles. I feel much safer having a life line should my beloved car go kaput.

One area where I refuse to cut anymore is on food costs. I am way behind on my Quicken updates and since we haven’t combined our finances yet, it is hard to get a real feel for the grocery costs, but trust me, I do quite well in this area. I buy generic, I load up during sales. I shop at different stores to get cheaper prices on certain items. So I refuse to go down to ramen or macaroni and cheese or beans. Nope, uh uh.

Help! What other extreme ideas do you have? What problem spending areas do you have that you know you should cut? Where do you try and cut small corners? What do you try and do when you can’t cut anymore but need to?

Free Stuff is Cool

In my personal finance journeys, I started requesting samples on a regular basis. I love free stuff and trying new products is great! I can't say that I buy the product because I get a free sample. I am still a cheapskate and buy generic on most goods, but it sure is nice that Dove, Tide, Revlon and others send ya free stuff to pamper yourself!

My favorite sites are:

Absurdly Cool Freebie Finder

Fat Wallet Forums

Free Stuff Times

Saving Advice dot Com

I just stepped out of the shower after using Dove's new Cherry Blossom & Almond Scent Body Wash. MMMMMM..wonderful stuff. But way too expensive for me to actually buy. Samples are so nice.

Look at my stash:



I try to use my samples shortly after receiving them, but these have been tucked away in cabinets and forgotten. And sometimes you just have too many travel deodorants to use all at once. Point being, this is just what has been collecting, I have received 10x this much stuff!

I try to go through the websites once a week and sign up for all samples I WILL USE! I don't sign up for something unless it will actually be useful to me. Except for that one time I ordered saddle soap. I don't know what happened there!

I recommend you get a junk email address via Yahoo or Hotmail for submitting on the forms. You will get lots of emails from the companies, no point in junking up your primary account. The requirements for each offer vary, but usually you submit your address, email address, maybe answer a couple questions and the product is on its way.

Go forth and get free stuff, folks!

Let Me Show You the World Through My Eyes

I am woman...watch me shop...

I know that when I am out at the various places I buy my Ebay wares, that I should be buying strictly for business. Only for others, not thyself. I pass on quite a few things that I desire. There, of course, have been times when I buy things for myself. However, more often than not, the things I end up keeping, are things that at the time, I had all intentions of selling, but get home and either can't figure out how to sell it, find that it just won't sell, or that it is worth nothing...or sometimes just fall in love....

So today, we shall have a picture show!

Welcome to my kitchen.

These trivets are so pretty.



You woulda thunk that I bought them as a set. You woulda thunk wrong. The bottom trivet was the first to join this household. It was so pretty, I snatched it up at an estate sale in Big City #1, approximately 2 hours away. This was an intentional "I want this" purchase. My house is varying shades of brown, which I am trying to brighten with various shades of red and orange. It sat alone on my counter for a long time, with no idea exactly where to put it. The top trivet, which I call the male trivet, joined our cozy shack just a week ago. I found this here in town, at a warehouse that a family is trying to empty out. I have found lots of treasures there so far...but to find the matching trivet! I was thrilled. I brought it home and hung these tout d'suite. What luck that I was able to obtain a matching set!

And for the wide shot, Yoda decided she needed to be in this pic.



Look at those sunflowers! Recently added to the baskets. There are cookbooks piled by Yoda that I have obtained from various sources over the years. The top one is a Better Homes and Garden Cookbook that is in a bit of rough condition and couldn't be sold. I also have one from my grandmother from 1947 that my mom almost threw out years ago.

I always shop alone. I can move faster, buy less. I have a system, man! But...on one trip to the Big City, the dear joined me as we dealt with the what seemed to be never-ending problems with his super bad-ass computer. I, of course, wanted to hit a few sales while there...and did. However, we picked up something for ourselves as well.

He spotted these bookends.



There were a similar set of horses, I was requested to make the final decision on which to buy...I decided on these. Yes...you spy a Houston Texans little mug or shot glass there...I am a die-hard long-suffering fan...that was also an intentional buy for the gentleman of the house. And . . . in order to keep it real...I did have to pre-clean this area. Here is the left of that table....




I sure wish I could sell the 12 pairs of sunglasses that are scattered around our place....And that is the remaining Jolt gum from this weekend's fun festivities of sleeplessness.

Unfortunately, although Sammy commented that I knit...I do not...I tried and failed. I do, however, sew an awesome pillow. A crafty project I have undertaken many a time. Here are the latest ...


Along with the two sewing bags I have also ended up with recently.


These both were bought with the intention of reselling. The knitting bag on the right was purchased full of old patterns that are available on Ebay now! The mushroom bag on the left was meant to be sold; however, it has a few spots where the plastic is worn so I decided not to post it. My original sewing bag can be seen at the very bottom of the Mushroom Bag...A Giraffe Print Kate Spade Handbag! Once upon a time, in a very scary part of Houston, there once was a Goodwill that sold all of its items for $1.00. The vast majority of my handbag collection came from this magical kingdom. I bought this particular bag specifically because it was a Kate Spade...but then noticed it was a kinda nappy material and turned it into a sewing receptacle. It was overflowing before I obtained the Shroom Bag.

My current dilemma is .... (oh the dilemmas I am plagued with...what should I eat for breakfast, should I shower today, when should I lay on the couch and watch TV....oh the stress!) which bag do I use? I am partial to the mushroom currently as it holds everything so nicely. If the knitting bag on the right, had the material choices reversed, it would win hands down. Check out the inside.


I love it! The outside is brown...and the brown-ness in my home is choking me to death. So I am not sure that bag will make it through my next Salvation Army run. Pray for it please.

And just off to the left of the couch...is stored a portion of the motherload, usually camouflaged with extra pillows.


And . . .now this is the part where Lady K shakes her head in disgust...the book stash.



We do not have bookshelves here...although we are prepared with the Saintly Bookends now! So...underneath my end table, we have stashed all the books that my dear ever used in his college years that he refuses to part with for some insane and illogical reason. Not that this bugs me..no ...of course not. But that is where you will find our books. Mine are nicely held in the box.

And wait...what is that cross stitch thing I spy....a post for another day!

Well folks, thanks for spending some time viewing my world. I am off to drive around town in my repaired go-cart. Braking for no other reason . . . than I can! BooYaa.

(Oh I am such a helpless white girl!)

Thank God for Good Directions . . . And Turnip Greens

In order to get edumacated and rich, I read the Ebay forums quite a bit. Several different boards in order to learn how to best raise my sales, find products, handle persnickety people, how to ward off Nigerian scams, etc., etc. They are a wealth of information. I was always so jealous when people would post how they happened upon the motherload of selling items. They were walking down a dark alley one night, heard a noise, jumped into a doorway, the door fell down and they found 1,000,000 Elmo dolls. They received a call from dear Aunt Jolene, who happened to have 16,000 1961 Betty Crocker cookbooks she needed to get rid of – in mint condition. They were driving along and a box of Tommy Bahama clothing fell off the turnip truck.

I have hoped and prayed that my day would come. And boy howdy, did it. I was driving along on Saturday with my trusty phone book map, detailed with all the spots where I was to hit, used in conjunction with the paper that is marked numerically. I could very well be a freak. If I spot a sale that is not on my carefully numbered list, I peek and stop, if and only if, it is not stained baby clothes and broken toys. An hour and a half into my journeys on Saturday, an extremely hot and humid morning, more like a Houston morning than a desert, I saw a sale, the signs were good. No strollers or car seats. I stopped. I was in the garage when I heard that they were selling what was in the house as well. An Estate Sale. Sweet.

These don’t happen that frequently in my small town, but they are the best source of stuff! This house was packed, thousands of LP’s in the living room, they had a hat collection that had to number in the thousands as well. I had found a few crafty items in the garage. In the living room, I happened upon a bookshelf full of books, I loaded my arms full. And went about my business. Until I hit the dining room. MECCA!

Boxes upon boxes of patterns, crafty books, vintage fabrics. The entire room was packed. There was barely any space to walk. I heard the angels sing. Heaven! On Saturday, I walked away with 3 boxes of stuff, for $10.00, a bargain at any rate. I told my love that I was not allowed to go shopping again the following weekend as I was getting behind on all that I had, even before I hit the motherload.

On Sunday, I knew the estate was reducing prices. So, I was alone and bored yesterday. Now, the additional 5 boxes and 3 bags of stuff should keep me busy. Folks, I filled the truck bed with all that for $3.00. That is also more than they were asking for. $3.00. Wowsers.

My house is stuffed. All those places where I had cleaned out crap and returned it to Salvation Army, now are filled. And I am so not allowed to go shopping this weekend! I have enough to keep me working for a month at least. Woohoo. I hit the motherload. It must be a blessing that I am so undesirably unhire-able in this town.

Giving Back

I have mentioned before that I shop at estate sales, garage sales and thrift stores to feed this Ebay work I do. Well, I also fill my home. I buy knick-knacks, clothes, shoes, Purses (with a capital P), kitchen things, and so on.

I also have mentioned that I am a bit clean freaky.

Today was the day I returned a bunch of that stuff to the friendly thrift stores. I filled my little car full. You know the old circus act of stuffing 20 clowns in a car...they should totally do that with my Corolla. That car has been stuffed so full, so many times. For such a little car, it holds a ridiculous amount of things. You can fit most of my worldly possessions in that car. And I have been told by my roomie that I have ALOT of worldly possessions, and purses, and coats...

So we have a little more room in the office and in the bedroom. And you should totally hit up the Army for some really cool stuff. Including used cat toys. I decided to not sell those on Ebay this time. Although someone in Rio de Janeiro has Yoda's last set. Weirdos.

Oh....and I think it would be a bit icky to do a link off to the side, so I am gonna bury it here. You wanna see something sick? Go to Ebay right now....

ya there?

Ok... now search "Well Worn"...




I could be making millions...






Ewww.

Here Comes the Sun

Today is a rainy day. I love the sound, smell, feeling of rain. Except when it comes through the roof.

Last week, we found that the roof was leaking when we were going to bed. I walked into the bedroom, found a huge wet spot on the bed in the corner where the cat normally sleeps. At first I freak, what is wrong with my beautiful kitties that they pee on the bed! Then, I bravely smell it. Nope, not the cats. Ask the love, did you spill something on the bed? Nope. He points skyward. Ah...the light fixture. Shit.

We try and reach the apartment management throughout the next day. Their working hours consist of something like 1:21-1:24 daily. Well, we never got them. The next day, I call again, leave a voice mail. (Which has still never been returned btw) And then decide to call the emergency maintenance line. Speak with maintenance, he says he will see about it. Nothing for the rest of the day. About midway through the next day, I call him back. He advises me that the manager said they had to wait until it dried out to do anything. Ok. Fine. We are in the desert. It doesn’t rain much. I can be patient. These are the same people that took over a month to address a water leak under the sink that had completely rotted out the wood underneath. And then repaired the moldy wood, with bleach and a new piece of wood. Oh no, not removing the moldy wood, just putting a new piece of wood on top. Um. Not cool.

These are also the people that told me that if the USPS, Fed-Ex, my mom, drop off a package in the office, they will accept it. But they have no obligation to tell me that it is there. They can accept highly confidential documents from Busy Law Firm, but be responsible for them? Pwaah. They are also the guys who were too busy to fix the A/C. The lawns needed mowing! Come on now, do you really want the grass to get out of control or get heat exhaustion. Quit yer bitching and start sweating.

But yesterday, I am plugging along on Ebay, and I hear that there is a 50% chance of rain. I call maintenance man again. I say that I know he is under orders to wait until it dries out and the lawns really need mowing and wow, look at all the edging that needs to be done around the complex, but um, my roof, still leaky…water + electricity not good. So…please fix. He isn’t all that reassuring, stating he will look into it. I have heard this before…. After discussing it with the love…I write a friendly letter and drop it off in the apartment office. When I give the letter to the assistant manager, I reiterate that it is supposed to rain, and well, there is electricity involved. Electricity,…water…fire? Um…possibly?

Yes, I expected them to come out. Did they? Nope.

So it rained last night. Thunder made me jump out of my skin in the wee hours. Followed by an intense dread when I heard the pounding rain. And this morning. Not a drop of water. Did they fix it? Did they sneak up on the roof in the middle of the night and put a tarp down? My guess is the mold just blocked all possible entry points.



Or, bird poop.

Up and At 'Em

I am up, official MST is 5:43 A.M. Eating oatmeal, drinking coffee. Heading off to the big city. Not sure if we will have the pleasure of having updated llama/alpaca/gnu photos today. I am in the big truck as my little car is at the airport driven by the love. Not sure about pulling over with a big honking truck. Much easier with the little Rolla. I am excited today because the big city is having their annual garage sale at a fairgrounds. First time visitor of course, but I love love love community wide sales. Always have! Even before the lure of printing my own money came into the picture, I was getting up early to go to Trade Days in the Houston suburbs. Which brings up one of the most difficult aspects of the shopping aspects of my job, not buying for self. I have bought myself a fair amount of items while I have been the Ebay maven. In fact, the clothes I am wearing today....My coat fetish has been fueled, my home has been decorated. All for pennies.



As I have mentioned, the desert is beautiful. No snow overnight. I am looking forward to watching a beautiful sunrise this morning.

And....

I decided not to go to Big City #1 today. I stayed up late finishing "The Center of Everything" by Laura Moriarty. Highly recommended!!

So I am a bit tired today. After 5 hours of sleep, my alarm beeped like mad. I decided that since tomorrow in Big City #2 is going to be quite fruitful, or at least busy, that maybe today I should just stay home and rest the bursa. And sleep in.

So I must go to bed early tonight as I plan on getting up at 5 AM tomorrow. One thing I did not know when I moved into the state adjacent to Texas, is that the Mountain time zone begins on the TX-NM border. So, while this is quite nice for TV watching. We get big city channels from Texas and the NM stations. So, each night, I get 2 opportunities to watch any show on the major networks. Very nice. I hated waiting another hour when Heroes was on! Please come back soon Heroes! Tangent over, sorry.

The time change really messes me up when I go shopping. The big convention center garage sale starts at 8 TX time and the estate sales mostly around then as well.

And the entire reason I started this second post today....



Picture of the Day. The desert is amazingly beautiful. This is at Carlsbad Caverns.

Tomorrow - that would be Friday the 13th

Well, my man, my roomie, my love, has done left town. He landed in Nashville a short time ago to visit some family that lives there. I hate sleeping alone now. Which is really strange because for a long time, I had a hard time sleeping with someone in bed with me. I would keep waking up. It is nice, though, to feel this way.

I am going to Big City #1 tomorrow for some Ebay shopping. Garage sale season is really heating up. There are alot of community sales as well, so it should be a success. On Saturday, Big City #2 is having a community wide garage sale at a fairground. I hope to get lots of stuff to post and make millions off of. Wish me luck.

What really kills me, all week, the weather is good. The weekend comes and it turns. Tomorrow is supposed to be really windy. Alot better than rain or freaking snow like last week!!

My hip is not nearly as angry today. I hope it survives this weekend's activities. I need to have a good weekend to increase my sales. This week's posts were good and hopefully will result in a nice finale, but I need to keep it up and make sales in the store.

The resume was prepared today; however, so the countdown to a regular ol' job has begun. I guess.... I am still only slightly motivated. I like my life. However, the stress involved in not having a steady income is wearing. I need to contribute more to the coupledom financially, before we have kids and/or move to Dubai, or Rio, or Switzerland.

So dear diary, wish me luck in all my endeavors.