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We have quite a shopping list this year. As per usual I always purchase everything possible online. Usually the deals start days before Thanksgiving.

So far we have already purchased a tool set and a new tv and mount. Today I just purchased both my parent's Christmas presents. Just waiting on husband's gifts to go on sale tomorrow and I will purchase them as well.

We still like to go Black Friday shopping at the stores but since all our "needs" are already done it is much...
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Closing is scheduled for Monday. I’m excited. I’ve already set up sinking funds for the HOA, and home repairs.

I’m trying to decide if I want a separate account for the mortgage, I’m opting into auto pay, or combine the HOA and mortgage accounts. I need to decide before the next pay day so I can have those funds direct deposited vs me trying to transfer.

On a different note, yesterday SO and I donated a meal to a family. It’s something we do every year. Usually...
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My prayers have been answered. There has been a complete turnaround. This afternoon DS went out and bought green beans and carrots then asked me where the steamer was. I don't know what the doctor said to him but he is taking it seriously.

I finished my tenth day of fasting. I wasn't hungry and could have continued but the holiday season is coming up. I had an apple. It tasted sooooo sweet and filled me up for the rest of the evening. My stomach has shrunk. The trick...
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Wow it's been a while since I've blogged! I don't completely remember what happened in September but we celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary last month by going out on a motorbike ride to a nice lunch and then visiting wineries, which was definitely a treat!

At the start of this month we went on a short holiday to Perth, which is two states away, to visit one of DH's old friends who only just moved back to Australia, to spend time with him and meet his family. We had a...
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So what is my current Situation?

I currently have a job that allows me to be an almost full time help to my friends that most need it. Meaning outside the time I work at my job I spend time with these people. I am a surrogate Father to Two(make that Three, the one I spend less time with, different household) young ladies. The children that were missing me so much that I moved back to Canada are now getting me 75% of the time(I actually am only not there 1 or 2 days out of...
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I took the turkey out of the freezer on Saturday and except for a bit in the center it is thawed out. So one more day and it should be fully defrosted. The ham is also thawed. I'll be making the picnic ham in the crock pot, 4 hours on low with one cup of water. It comes out perfect that way every time.

Tomorrow I will be tearing up bread for the stuffing and making it so that all I have to do on Thursday morning is put the stuffing in the bird.

DH and DS are on potato...
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Just wanted to share for you rate chasers out there. PNC bank is currently paying 2.35% to online savings accounts. No fees, minimum is $1.

Please note that PNC has brick and mortar banks as well as an online presence. Their traditional savings accounts pay the same sort of rates most brick and mortar banks pay. You must choose the online savings to get the 2.35% rate.

The following is not a referral link. I am just sharing for your convenience.

Text is https://www.pnc.com/en/personal-banking.html...
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I got another mystery shop payment yesterday, but it was a reimbursement, so it doesn't add to my extra earnings. Still expecting more. And still expecting the check for my poll work.

I did get the $3 from Pine Cone for the survey that I wasn't sure was a survey.

I got my hair cut yesterday. I didn't have any coupons this time, so it was $18. In the afternoon, I picked up the boys at their individual schools and took them to music lessons. That tied me up until 6 pm.

Today...
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We are heading out today (after work unfortunately) to drive over 1000 miles to see our girls. I cannot wait to see them. It has been a rough few months being empty nesters and moving. I definitely need hugs!

I would rather fly, but the decision to go was very short notice, thus plane tickets were expensive. But the main reason, was our cat. We do not know anyone here yet to watch her, nor do we yet know who to trust to kennel her. She is 14 and has never been boarded. I also...
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I am concerned about DS' health. He has the same back issues as me and is currently unable to work. He has been advised to lose weight but his diet habits are not good. He has stopped eating fast food but now he just cooks some meat or fish and has it in a white bun. He hates all veggies except potatoes and always has. Thank goodness the Reagan administration declred tomato sauce to be a vegetable.
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Here is a picture we took after my ring was ready.



We took that picture in our little yard. The spring and summer just ended we had an outdoor living space next to the creek, which is just a stone's throw from our front (and only!) door. It evolved as the weeks rolled by; we ended up with a large awning in addition to the one attached to the travel trailer, a dinette set, a nice grill, two zero-gravity reclining camp style chairs, a mister, and a nice 3 ft tall inflatable...
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Grocery = $55.91, a fairly regular shop. Got a good deal on broccoli, 4 heads for a dollar, it was great baked with cream and cheeses.

Clothing = bought a dress for a wedding that we are going to be attending this month, that was for $46.

Cleaned the Garage & Hired a Skip = we spent most of our weekend cleaning the garage and throwing out stuff we couldn’t get rid of during our annual hard rubbish collection. Mainly broken bricks, building materials and we also dug up...
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I’ve been saving for Christmas all year, I’m really surprised at this. My goal was $500 but I saved $245.69 as of today. Next pay day I’ll be adding $40 and another $40 right before Christmas, brining the total to $325.69. Not bad for the first year of doing so.

Reason why I didn’t hit my goal was that I had a few car repairs pop up and I chose to pay off the credit cards.

I was planning on getting my nephews a zoo pass for the year. The cost is $174 for two adults...
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I headed off to work this morning only to find a completely flat front right tire on my car. After my local garage ascertained that the puncture was on the sidewall and thus not pluggable, I drove off to BJs Tire Center where I'd bought the tires just a year ago.

Unfortunately, I did not have an appointment there, but then, when do you know a flat tire is going to happen? The man told me I was in luck because the tire was in stock, but the bad news was, they were all booked...
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Cramming 3+ months of work into 2 weeks (10/31 deadlines for old employer) - DONE!

20 hours of professional continuing education - DONE!

{I still have four hours left to do, but I am done with the more time-consuming self-study portion. & I get a reprieve for 2 weeks}.

Organizing/Filing Old/Forever employer work files - DONE!

This last task has been driving me *crazy* all year. I was bringing home files that I needed/wanted to keep, but in dribs and drabs. Because...
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My grandson's recital was held at a venue called the Jazz Showcase. It was right next to Dearborn Station and it was an old building with a twenties nightclub atmosphere. Many greats have played there, including Dizzy Gillespie. Fun.

Anyway, his performance went very well -- only one little hitch in tempo. They compared very well to others. And he even won a raffle prize -- a jazz CD.

We were also treated to a short set by a professional jazz quartet, which was pretty...
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Out
soy milk 2.49
rice crackers 1.29

I was given a ticket for the Returned Services Choir. Great singing but the chairs were really uncomfotable, I got a backache.
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When we started trying to save for a house these last few months I made up a white board to show our progress but so many things have happened the last few months and we still don't have anything marked off...my lowest amount is only $2500 but just wish I could sign it off everytime we get close we have another specialist appt...so I am disappointed but here's hoping next year we get some signed off...anyone else ever feel bad for not reaching their goals each year...

I set...
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I'm getting ready to go to my grandson's Chicago debut! He will be playing a jazz piano duet with his best friend. The event is some kind of educational jazz festival.

I made Laura's chili yesterday, but instead of setting the crockpot on high, I set it on low. So I looked it up and found I needed to cook it for four more hours. Since I had started it in the afternoon, I was ready for bed when it was done! I put the crock in the fridge and later today I'll shred the chicken...
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I did it, I told my SO to move by December 31st. He didn’t say a word, other than “what?” So I told him I want him out by December 31st again.

I don’t know, but I have a knot in my stomach from it. I feel bad but I know it’s for the best. He can not afford to live with me, he has way too much baggage he just refuse take care of.

Now the countdown begins.

I’m going to start looking for a part-time gig
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