This week practically flew by and I never really felt I had a chance to slow down to enjoy any of the nice weather. I worked an insane amount of hours, and managed to be awake for a full 25 hour period during the week too. I complained some at the time, but that is the nature of my work. Sometimes things just happen like that, and all I can do is go do the work and know that I will get sleep eventually.
Thursday was my second pay from the new company. As soon as I could get to the computer, I logged into online banking and transferred over a payment for the rent. Our rent is already paid for next month, so now I can start working on the other bills that seem to be creeping up in their balances. We also went and bought locking gas caps for the vehicles, which were much more expensive than I thought they would be. I'm still working on creating a budget that I can live with for those pay cheques.
Over and above that pay, the company will pay me once per month for the usage of my vehicle and for mileage that I accrue while doing the work. Sometimes, I have to travel a hundred kilometres or more to see client families and that can be hell on my transportation costs. I'm thinking that I should take the mileage cheque that I will be getting and put it in a separate account that will be earmarked just for transportation costs. Then, when I get those last minute calls to go out of town, I will have money set aside for fuel for those late nights runs.
I've set out my route for my 3Km walk to help Little Lamb celebrate her Debt Free Dash. I plan on walking this route at least twice this week for some fun and exercise. I enjoy walking, so I'm hoping that doing this activity will get me back into the habit of walking for the health benefits. I don't get enough physical activity into my daily or weekly routine, so it will be good to incorporate it back into my life.
I'm off for now. I'm hoping to be back tonight with Sunday Night Chit Chat with the lovely Carla.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
More Sinister Than Murphy
What an incredibly difficult day we had yesterday!
I sat around for several hours waiting for something and tried to get a few things done while I had some time. I made a phone call to my ex after getting another e-mail from my divorce lawyer stating that they have still not received any response to any of their letters/emails since September 2011. (They send at least one per month.) Of course, the call didn't go well at all, not that I expected it to. He was mean, made more accusations about me, called me names, etc. I have decided after this last phone call, I will no longer be speaking to him in person, for anything ever again. If there is any need for communication between the two of us, it will be in writing, or through the lawyers because I am so done with his attitude.
*deep breath*
Then the day just got weirder.
Hubby and I went to pick up Cub from daycare and planned on putting some gas in the car before heading home to make dinner. While attempting to put gas into the car, Hubby notices that the nozzle from the pump won't go into the gas tank receptacle. He looks into the hole where the nozzle should go and cannot believe what he is seeing. There is something blocking it. Thank goodness our mechanic is only a short drive away from that particular gas station. We were already on empty, but still could drive it a few kilometres.
The mechanic also stares in disbelief. He's heard of this happening, but has never seen it before. Grabbing some tools, he buckles down to work while we watch. I count as he extracts. 4, 5, 6. He grabs another tool. 7, 8, 9, 10. He uses a jack to lift the back of the car to gain access underneath. In order to make sure the entire fuel line to the fuel tank is clean, he takes off part of a hose. The clamps holding said piece of hose in place have been loosened. (This is not 'normal' loosening due to use of the vehicle. Someone has done this deliberately.) He clears the hose from that point going back up to the intake and also toward the fuel tank. 11, 12, 13, 14. Fourteen total. To be sure that there is no more obstacles in the line, he uses a probe with a camera type thingy attached. He gives us the all clear.
Fourteen sugar cubes in all were pulled from our fuel line. That, and the hose clamps had been loosened. I think we're going to file a report to the police, just in case. Thank goodness Thursday is payday. We'll be buying locking gas caps for both vehicles that day. I'll also be talking to our property management about paying for spots in the underground secured parking area.
I cannot express strongly enough in typed words how angry I am about this. God help whoever did this if I figure out who it is!
I sat around for several hours waiting for something and tried to get a few things done while I had some time. I made a phone call to my ex after getting another e-mail from my divorce lawyer stating that they have still not received any response to any of their letters/emails since September 2011. (They send at least one per month.) Of course, the call didn't go well at all, not that I expected it to. He was mean, made more accusations about me, called me names, etc. I have decided after this last phone call, I will no longer be speaking to him in person, for anything ever again. If there is any need for communication between the two of us, it will be in writing, or through the lawyers because I am so done with his attitude.
*deep breath*
Then the day just got weirder.
Hubby and I went to pick up Cub from daycare and planned on putting some gas in the car before heading home to make dinner. While attempting to put gas into the car, Hubby notices that the nozzle from the pump won't go into the gas tank receptacle. He looks into the hole where the nozzle should go and cannot believe what he is seeing. There is something blocking it. Thank goodness our mechanic is only a short drive away from that particular gas station. We were already on empty, but still could drive it a few kilometres.
The mechanic also stares in disbelief. He's heard of this happening, but has never seen it before. Grabbing some tools, he buckles down to work while we watch. I count as he extracts. 4, 5, 6. He grabs another tool. 7, 8, 9, 10. He uses a jack to lift the back of the car to gain access underneath. In order to make sure the entire fuel line to the fuel tank is clean, he takes off part of a hose. The clamps holding said piece of hose in place have been loosened. (This is not 'normal' loosening due to use of the vehicle. Someone has done this deliberately.) He clears the hose from that point going back up to the intake and also toward the fuel tank. 11, 12, 13, 14. Fourteen total. To be sure that there is no more obstacles in the line, he uses a probe with a camera type thingy attached. He gives us the all clear.
Fourteen sugar cubes in all were pulled from our fuel line. That, and the hose clamps had been loosened. I think we're going to file a report to the police, just in case. Thank goodness Thursday is payday. We'll be buying locking gas caps for both vehicles that day. I'll also be talking to our property management about paying for spots in the underground secured parking area.
I cannot express strongly enough in typed words how angry I am about this. God help whoever did this if I figure out who it is!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Around The Inter-Googles
~ 20 Things Bloggers Should Stop Doing
~ This 14 year old girl just bought a house in Florida.
~ That's Why You Should Learn To Pick Your Battles. *note: although very funny, there is vulgarity in this post*
Thanks to Mini-Me for the title suggestion.
Happy Birthday Cub!
And Happy St. Patrick's Day to the rest of you!
(DD2: And all enjoy your Shamrock shakes~! :D )
~ This 14 year old girl just bought a house in Florida.
~ That's Why You Should Learn To Pick Your Battles. *note: although very funny, there is vulgarity in this post*
Thanks to Mini-Me for the title suggestion.
Happy Birthday Cub!
And Happy St. Patrick's Day to the rest of you!
(DD2: And all enjoy your Shamrock shakes~! :D )
Thursday, March 15, 2012
My Hands Have Not Been Idle
Cub modeling a 'hat'. It isn't a hat really, but it sure looked like it at the time.
Shortly after our trip to visit with Gail Vaz-Oxlade , she posted about her love for knitting. This is something that we definitely have in common. Gail doesn't use patterns, instead changing up the yarns and needle sizes to create as she goes along.
I, too, am a renegade knitter at heart. I despise following even the simplest pattern. But I will use one until I am understanding how a piece is put together (like the Swiffer cloths) and then recreate it with my own imagination and creativity.
2012 is the year I decided to work through my enormous stash of yarn and crafting supplies. I promised Hubby I would not buy any more yarn until I got rid of what I already have. (This may have been a mistake, but oh well.) I got the idea from Creating A Family Home who is, for various reasons, trying to work down her stash.
The 'hat' that Cub is wearing above, is one of those stash busting projects. The charity I work with, Keeping Kids Warm is often gifted the stashes of family members of the donors. This often includes lots of little balls of leftovers from long ago finished projects. Not wanting these little bits to go to waste, I have gathered bags and bags of them to make something with. Some of it will be for using with plastic canvas. Some bits are so small though, it's difficult to figure out the perfect project for them.
Enter the "Rainbow Snake' idea.
Some time ago, the volunteer knitters at KKW used several balls of yarn in varying colours and textures, knitting in the round, to create a yarn snake that grew several feet long. To complete it, it was stuffed with batting, and sealed on both ends. The flexible finished product called the Rainbow Snake, was then donated to a children's facility where it has been laid upon, jumped on, sat on, twisted into varying configurations and loved fiercely by many a baby and toddler. So much so that the facility has requested another one as it is getting worn from so much love.
I started working on a new snake, when DD2 took a keen interest in what I was making. I explained how it would be stuffed and sewn up as a plaything for some babies. She mentioned that if it was the appropriate size, even a young lady such as herself would like a 'pillow' made in a similar manner. She thought that lots of folks might like to have such a creation as well. My biggest worry was what to call it. A Pillow-something? Rainbow something?
We went to the park during some really nice weather the other day. I was thinking about our family, and all of the great-nieces and great-nephews I have. I've tried to give them all a special nickname from Auntie, and I started thinking about those nicknames. One jumped out at me....Inchworm. That's the special name I have for my great-niece whose name is Alaska. Her and Cub are only a few months apart in age. Inchworm Pillows. They grow inch by inch on my needles, made with only a few inches of yarn at a time. How fitting.
I'll post pics when I have one or two finished. I think the first one should go to DD2 and the second to Inchworm - as thank you for their inspiration.
Are your hands creating anything these days?
The 'hat' that Cub is wearing above, is one of those stash busting projects. The charity I work with, Keeping Kids Warm is often gifted the stashes of family members of the donors. This often includes lots of little balls of leftovers from long ago finished projects. Not wanting these little bits to go to waste, I have gathered bags and bags of them to make something with. Some of it will be for using with plastic canvas. Some bits are so small though, it's difficult to figure out the perfect project for them.
Enter the "Rainbow Snake' idea.
Some time ago, the volunteer knitters at KKW used several balls of yarn in varying colours and textures, knitting in the round, to create a yarn snake that grew several feet long. To complete it, it was stuffed with batting, and sealed on both ends. The flexible finished product called the Rainbow Snake, was then donated to a children's facility where it has been laid upon, jumped on, sat on, twisted into varying configurations and loved fiercely by many a baby and toddler. So much so that the facility has requested another one as it is getting worn from so much love.
I started working on a new snake, when DD2 took a keen interest in what I was making. I explained how it would be stuffed and sewn up as a plaything for some babies. She mentioned that if it was the appropriate size, even a young lady such as herself would like a 'pillow' made in a similar manner. She thought that lots of folks might like to have such a creation as well. My biggest worry was what to call it. A Pillow-something? Rainbow something?
We went to the park during some really nice weather the other day. I was thinking about our family, and all of the great-nieces and great-nephews I have. I've tried to give them all a special nickname from Auntie, and I started thinking about those nicknames. One jumped out at me....Inchworm. That's the special name I have for my great-niece whose name is Alaska. Her and Cub are only a few months apart in age. Inchworm Pillows. They grow inch by inch on my needles, made with only a few inches of yarn at a time. How fitting.
I'll post pics when I have one or two finished. I think the first one should go to DD2 and the second to Inchworm - as thank you for their inspiration.
Are your hands creating anything these days?
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