All Entries

In my last entry, I mentioned that I was planning to take 2 weeks off the end of the month.  I've just finished the first week off (note, I wrote this on 7/26 but published it belatedly).  However, I did have a client meeting in the middle of it, which meant that I did spend at least a full day (three partial days) in the office in preparation for it.  My firm has an unlimited PTO policy, with the rule being that, for my position (since I am an associate, not a lead,...
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I just received an email telling me that Apple's subscription bundle is going up in price, from $38 to $40 a month.  Yeah, it seems like everything is going up in price these days.
To be fair, a $2 a month increase is not the end of the world, but I have also been working for months to migrate all my personal data from Apple's iCloud to my own local storage, because if I can save $40 a month, I would still like to do so.  So, I guess this latest price increase is all...
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If I get around to it, I will top off my 'tracking spending' posts through the 15th 18th, and maybe leave it at that.
Today I am in decluttering mode.  Trying to get rid of:
--4 Chairs (more to follow next week, when I can access)
--3 2 Bikes (note to self, might list next weekend)
--Swamp Cooler (I thought DL threw away the box so I couldn't return; have since found box)
--Electric Skillet
--Clock Radio
--Kids' Games (10)
--Laptop & CD Bags (FIL)
--Hodge Podge...
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July 11
NSD - across the household
I was preparing to go take care of my mom, and the schedule was switched on me at the last minute.  I ended up staying one extra day (that I hadn't planned for).
I was mostly dreading everything about this.  The last time I stayed with my mom was just after she was released from the hospital 2 years ago.  My Dad had a trip planned, that he refused to change.  My Dad isn't honest with himself about my mom's mental state,...
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Apparently the new working term is "No Waste Kitchen" and many people are jumping on the bandwagon to claim they have it.
Sadly, I do not. Of course I've tried to keep waste to a minimum. Since I've moved in the little town, recycling is nonexistent, although after seeing some stories, one has to wonder how much of the recycling stuff that is picked up at the curb or the bag bins at the grocery stores really are recycled, but I'll stop there as far as those topics.
I was raised...
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I just want to warn everyone in advance that this entry will put us uncomfortably close to politics again.
Though, the great irony is that I am personally a self-proclaimed Independent, who is willing to vote either side, depending on who is most qualified.  I've voted Republican before, and I've voted Democrat before as well.
In fact, I strongly believe that when you call for emergency services-- be it law enforcement, the fire department, or emergency medical services--...
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Turtle Lover, I definitely should have taken before photos, but I didn't. It was a matter of goodbye, good riddance.
But here's the new (2) back doors in my kitchen. This being an old house, they are 4" narrower than the standard 36" wide door. That can create challenges when moving large items like furniture in or out.

The style of the new fiberglass door is actually very similar to what I had before, with the wood door.

As mentioned, I absolutely love the Andersen storm...
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I had a large silver maple along my back fence dropping large limbs in my neighbor's yard. I had it removed this week, along with 4 much younger trees which were all too close to my house. I'm glad to have it done but it set me back $4500.  I used my credit card to pay and will pay the balance from my Roth IRA in 3 weeks, when I am 59.5.
I am planning some other expenditures as well. New siding is next. There are a couple of spots with dry rot; we will see what removing the...
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I'm holed up in my office at the computer while Home Depot's vendor replaces my 2 back doors. I did stay down there and watch for a while and he said he didn't mind, but I figured my questions and comments would only slow him down, and that back patio will really heat up by noon.
Luckily this is a very pleasant day with low humidity and not too high temps. He is working alone.  His company has 6 installers like him, and they do much of the door and window install business...
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A buddy called me up out of the blue and asked if I wanted to hang out today.  It was a little surprising because I know he is normally very busy, but come to find out, the temp agency he works for decided to pause his work schedule for roughly a month so as to not pay him any benefits.  I've never heard of this, but then again, I am also not surprised at all.  He's not happy about it either, and hopes he can remedy this in the near future.  For now though,...
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Fidelity Investments started their own YouTube finance channel not too long ago.  One of their videos is about "single finances".  I thought it was interesting that not only is "single finances" a subject matter, but that somebody out there would actually make a video to talk about it.  Sadly, I can't say I found it all too helpful, but please let me explain.
What they are saying is that personal finances for single people are basically no different than personal...
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July 9 
$9 Lunch Out
I ate out and redeemed my free soda.
TM(21) requested homecooked chicken and dumplings (birthday dinner).  A newer recipe of MH's, that is more of a chicken soup gravy with biscuits.
The cake did not last long. 
 
July 10
$20 Groceries 
Another chaotic day.  My employer will be out of the country next week and so was pushy about needing certain things done.  While also having planned a work event.  & then...
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Before I forget, I am switching DL's name to TM.  From Drama Llama to Teacher Monkey.  He's more had an evolving identity over the years.  I think Musical Monkey or something like that would also suit him (more of his long term personality) but MM is already taken.  
July 8 
$3 McDonalds - coffee for cake
$16 rental liability insurance
TM(21) is the only one in the house who likes coffee at all.  I ordered him a cake (with coffee) last year...
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The Northeast is again blanketed with wildfire smoke said to be extremely unhealthy to breathe. For the most part, I've been wearing a mask when having to run out for an errand, and not spending any unnecessary time outdoors, though yesterday I joined a friend for lunch and we were enjoying each other's company so much that as we walked out, I suggested we go for a walk, and so we did, with her dogs. We were in woods with a lot of shade, so I'm hoping the dense canopy above us...
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SOOooo my 990T tax penalty finally got wired out, and my balance has been updated now.  That and plus the latest war update in Iran has created a net drop in my portfolio by -$20k.  Fun times. I hope to never hear of 990T anything again in my life, if it's the last thing I do.
Speaking of which, Dementia Don keeps taking credit for supposedly clearing up the Strait of Hormuz situation, but does so by paying them vast amounts of American tax payer money, only for them...
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Here the month is half over and I'm just now thinking of posting my June recap. I've been distracted. Let's blame the heat.
June was kind of a high-spend month. I paid the balance of my gift to my unemployed son. He is not unemployed at the moment, but he took a lowly position that he hopes he will not have to keep. It's in a casino. It doesn't pay much and the hours are terrible. But it's a job. He had a phone interview today for a job in his field, and I am hoping so hard that...
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We were supposed to close tomorrow but it's been delayed.  This is the first time in all of our home purchases journey that we have not been able to close on time.  Technically we are still early sinec we initially said 7/24 then 7/17 and now 7/15.  It's a little frustrating.What is missing?  Seriously they told me today that they couldn't get our taxes from the IRS.  It wasn't processing. I was like I uploaded it. They said we need to see that you recieved...
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July 7
$2 Lunch Out 
$8 Groceries
$10 DL Birthday Gift (chips & salsa)
$33 Dinner Out
$50 savemooncamp.org
I've always been surprised by the 'rewards to spending' ratio when it comes to loyalty accounts and apps.  Historically not much of an eater outer, this means Round Table rains free pizza on us, though we might average one pizza every 8 weeks.  & then I signed up for the McDonald's app when it was clearly easier for their employees.  (Hindsight...
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The temperature is glorious today, due to cloudy rain throughout the day.  I should be out there somewhere, but it's also wet and rainy.  Where though?  It's almost 2pm.  Quickly what should I do?  Where would you go?  The rest of the week is going to be atrocious at 95F+ (35C+).
edit: Hmm, so I ended up going to this mall that I rarely go to, because it's mostly outdoors, and therefore, it kind of sucks when it's really hot or really rainy out.  Even...
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July 5
$22 Movies
$31 Groceries
$57 Target
MH & went to the movies today.  I had sticker shock.  $14 for a 9am matinee?  Something like that.  We saw the new Minions movie.  (I very rarely buy a movie ticket, so in my mind a matinee is still $6 or something?  I don't know).  MH has his unlimited movie pass, and I bought a snack.
The most amazing cheesesteak place *was* by my new office, and then it went out of business quickly. ...
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